Hartford-based S.H. Smith & Co. Inc. has merged with Chicago-headquartered R-T Specialty LLC, effective immediately.

"We join a private broker whose people are driven and experienced. Being part of R-T Specialty will enhance our risk transfer solutions. Nothing will change here at S. H. Smith & Company except for our name and teammates," Scott Smith, S.H. Smith & Co. president, wrote on the company’s website on Sept. 16.

Specialty brokerage S.H. Smith & Co. Inc. was founded in 1982. It was recently named one of the 2013 top workplaces in the Hartford area by The Hartford Courant and FOXCT.