Wawanesa Insurance has bought High River's Western Financial for a reported three-quarters of a billion dollars ($775-Million)

Western Financial employs about 1,700 people, mainly in Western Canada, and will continue to operate independently under it's brand name.

Western Financial had been bought by Dejardins for $440 million back in 2010, and the Wawanesa buyout is part of a consolodation of the insurance industry according to market experts.

The deal is expected to close sometime this fall pending regulatory and other approvals.