Latest Excess Surplus Headlines

All the headlines from our Excess Surplus Topic Page, ordered by recency.

U.K. Experts Warn of Continuing, Evolving Global Terrorist Threats

Jan 5 2006 // A leading U.K. intelligence expert and a specialist in terrorist underwriting at Hiscox Plc have warned that the threat of terrorism will not diminish in the year ahead with the continued potential for attacks around the...

Lloyd’s Reminds Companies on Importance of Recall Coverage

Jan 4 2006 // A bulletin on the Lloyd’s Web site (www.lloyds.com) reminds companies of the importance of having sufficient coverage in force to handle potential recalls of the consumer products they sell.Lloyd’s interviewed...

N.J.-Based E&S Broker Jimcor Adds Seigel, Promotes 2 Others

Jan 2 2006 // Jimcor Agencies, a Northeast excess and surplus lines wholesaler based in Montvale, N.J., made several management changes. Frank Seigel has joined as the North New Jersey branch manager. Seigel brings with him more than 30...

Artisan contractors run for liability cover

Jan 2 2006 // Artisan contractors are being squeezed in the insurance market as general contractors and insurers do what they can to transfer and limit their exposures, especially in so-called “pain” states.Artisans are...

Sizing Up The Construction Market

Jan 2 2006 // The list of insurers is hsorter and restrictions longerWhen he is presented with a construction account at his office on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, Rubin Alspector can quickly determine which insurers might write it. He...

Lots of stability

Jan 1 2006 // When he is presented with a construction account at his office on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, Rubin Alspector can quickly determine which insurers might write it. He knows his standard markets well enough to know that only...

Artisan contractors run for liability cover

Jan 1 2006 // Artisan contractors are being squeezed in the insurance market as general contractors and insurers do what they can to transfer and limit their exposures, especially in so-called “pain” states.Artisans are...

Insurers’ Income, Surplus Rise Despite Record Catastrophe Losses

Dec 28 2005 // The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry’s net income after taxes rose 4.4 percent, or $1.2 billion, to $28.8 billion in nine-months 2005 from $27.6 billion in nine-months 2004. Reflecting the industry’s...

Burns & Wilcox Offers New Contractors’ Environmental Market

Dec 26 2005 // Burns & Wilcox has launched a new environmental program with ACE Westchester Specialty Group Environmental for environmental contractors and consultants. Rated “A+” by A.M. Best, ACE Westchester Specialty...

S&P Assigns Lloyd’s Assessment Rating to Amlin’s Syndicate 2001

Dec 23 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its interactive Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessment (LSA) of ‘4’ (low dependency) to U.K.-based Amlin Underwriting – Syndicate...

Specialty Risk Services Names Ryan Southeast Account Management V.P.

Dec 22 2005 // Michael Ryan has been named vice president of the Southeast Account Management Division of Specialty Risk Services of Hartford, Conn. Ryan will be based in Atlanta and will oversee the account management team in the...

GMAC RE Establishes New Excess & Surplus Lines Unit

Dec 20 2005 // GMAC Insurance Group announces the formation of a new operating unit, Strategic Risk Specialists. The new unit will commence operations on Jan. 1, 2006, and will specialize in excess and surplus lines property business,...

Best Rates U.K.’s Hiscox, Lloyd’s Syndicate, Bermuda Start-Up

Dec 19 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has announced its credit ratings on U.K. specialist and Lloyd’s insurer Hiscox plc. and its operating entities. It affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A-” (Excellent) and the...

Lloyd’s Hurricane Losses Top $ 5 Billion

Dec 19 2005 // In an updated statement, Lloyd’s acknowledged that it now estimates the London market’s combined losses from the three hurricanes that struck the U.S. will exceed $5 billion. The new figures are based on the...

Excess Liability Coverage

Dec 19 2005 // Nuts & Bolts: AIG Excess Casualty, a division of American Home Assurance Co., has introduced xsInResponse to provide excess liability coverage for risks previously covered by an insurance carrier that is now...

Best Affirms Amlin Plc, Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001 Ratings

Dec 16 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed its Syndicate Rating of “A” (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001, managed by Amlin Underwriting Limited...

Best Assigns Amlin’s New Bermuda Company an ‘A-‘ Rating

Dec 16 2005 // Following its affirmation of the parent company’s ratings (See previous article), A.M. Best Co. announced that it has assigned a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating...

Prime Secures Lloyd’s Binding Authority to offer Independent Producers Lloyd’s Paper on Certain Liability Risks

Dec 13 2005 // SANDY, Utah – The Prime Insurance Syndicate, Inc. (“Prime”) is pleased to announce that effective October 1, 2005; Prime secured additional binding authority from certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of...

Dorr Joins Mass. Office of HCC Specialty Underwriters

Dec 13 2005 // HCC Specialty Underwriters, Inc., a specialty underwriting agency subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., announced that Glenn B. Dorr III has joined its Wakefield, Mass. office. Dorr has been in the insurance industry...

Lloyd’s Dropped from R.I. Nightclub Suit

Dec 12 2005 // A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered Lloyd’s of London dropped from a civil lawsuit filed by victims of the 2003 fire at the Station nightclub. Finding that the insurance policy issued to nightclub owner...