NEW YORK (Reuters) ? New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is in the late stages of talks with a number of US and foreign insurers and brokers resulting from a two-year investigation into bid-rigging and fraudulent use of finite insurance, a person familiar with the situation said on Friday.

Spitzer, whose landmark civil suit against Marsh & McLennan Cos. in October 2004 alleged widespread price fixing and bid-rigging in insurance markets, expects to begin announcing a series of settlements as early as "the next month or so", said the source, who asked not to be named.

The source also said Spitzer expects to reach settlements with smaller insurance brokers that are accused of engaging in similar bid-rigging activity, as well as several related insurance cases.

The Attorney General's office declined to comment.