American Republic Insurance Co. announced Friday it has signed an agreement to acquire Great Western Insurance Co., a Utah-based pre-need insurance company. Terms of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed. Great Western currently has 121 employees at its headquarters in Ogden, Utah, with operations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. “Great Western Insurance Company possesses the strong reputation, earnings history, distribution channels, and similar values to make an excellent addition to our family of companies,” said Tom Swank, CEO of Des Moines-based American Enterprise Group, American Republic’s holding company. “We are always looking for growth opportunities to expand our business and, with the many synergies between our two organizations, this acquisition is very logical. Together, we are more diversified and better positioned for the future.” American Enterprise said that it has retained Great Western’s key leaders and has secured a multiyear lease for the company’s Ogden headquarters building, with plans to expand the business nationwide.