Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

PGI Commercial Acquires Assets of Michigan’s Underwriters & Brokers

Feb 11 2009 // PGI Commercial has acquired the assets of Underwriters & Brokers, Inc. of Troy, Michigan. PGIC said it will merge the platform and staff of UBI with its existing Michigan office. Underwriters & Brokers, Inc....

AXIS Capital Q4 Net Down 57%; Full Year Declines by 66.7%

Feb 10 2009 // Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Limited reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 of $131 million, or $0.88 per diluted common share, compared with net income of $306 million, or $1.89 per diluted common...

Karen Clark & Co. Launches Mobile Inspection Technology

Feb 10 2009 // Catastrophe risk and cat modeling firm, Karen Clark & Co., launched a new software product that helps insurance companies collect and analyze data from property inspections.The application, RiskRover, is designed to...

California’s W. Brown to Underwrite Aviation Insurance For Catlin US

Feb 5 2009 // Catlin Group Ltd., an international specialty property/casualty insurer and reinsurer, reported that W. Brown & Associates Insurance Services will underwrite general aviation insurance for clients nationwide on behalf...

Morello To Lead Sequoia Insurance Co.’s Underwritng Staff

Feb 4 2009 // Carl Morello, assistant vice president for loss control at Sequoia Insurance Co., has taken over responsibility for Sequoia’s internal underwriting staff while continuing to lead the company’s loss control...

Marine Insurance Group Sees ‘Tough Times’ for Insurers

Feb 2 2009 // According to Deirdre Littlefield, president of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), “While the insurance industry may be more insulated from failure than others in the financial sector, it will not...

Ratings Recap II: Chaucer, MSIG, Congregational, Top Layer, Asia Capital

Jan 30 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a bulletin indicating that “its ‘3’ Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessment (LSA) on Chaucer – Syndicate 1084 is not affected by the announcement...

Marine Insurers Face ‘Shipping Slump’- International Union of Marine Insurance

Jan 28 2009 // “The marine insurance industry is facing one of the most crucial periods it has ever met, and underwriters, given the devastating fall in volumes and values in global trade, will have to ‘run hard to stay in...

Travelers Reports Solid Q4, Year-End Underwriting; ‘Well Positioned’ for 2009

Jan 27 2009 // The Travelers Companies, Inc. reported net income of $801 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008, compared to $1.063 billion, for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2007. Operating income in the current quarter was $939...

London’s Reach Bolsters U.S. Specialty Lines

Jan 25 2009 // Find a need, then fill it,” is a hoary business principle, but making it work is often harder than it looks. However, a number of British insurers have taken it to heart and have built substantial profit centers...

Int’l. Underwriting Association Pledges Electronic Claims Payment Progress

Jan 21 2009 // An article on the Lloyd’s web site (www.lloyds.com) discusses plans by the International Underwriting Association for making claims payment a top priority for 2009. The IUA aims to double the number of new claims...

Munich Re Webinar Provides Insights on Nat Cats, Industry Strength

Jan 16 2009 // Munich Re’s Webinar on Thursday – 2008 Natural Catastrophes – presented a detailed analysis of the increasing number of weather related events that concern both primary carriers and reinsurers. It also...

Markel International Appoints Lu as Senior Casualty Underwriter

Jan 15 2009 // Markel International Limited has appointed Louisa Lu as senior casualty underwriter in the product liability division of Markel International Singapore. Louisa will report to Peter Phillips, managing director of Markel...

Peloso Joins Liberty International Underwriters

Jan 14 2009 // Joe Peloso joined Liberty International Underwriters (LIU), a division of Liberty Mutual Group, as a vice president charged with expanding company’s casualty-driven program business. As vice president of liability...

American Pinnacle Partners Announces Acquisition of Consolidated Special Risk Managers, Inc.

Jan 12 2009 // Seal Beach, CA and San Rafael, CA, January 12, 2009 — American Pinnacle Partners, Inc. (“APP”), a holding company of specialty insurance companies, and Consolidated Specialty Risk Managers...

Glatfelter Insurance Group Acquires Professional Underwriters

Jan 12 2009 // York, Pennsylvania-based insurance broker Glatfelter Insurance Group has acquired Professional Underwriters Co. of Exton, Pa. for an undisclosed sum.Glatfelter is one of the largest insurance brokerages in the country;...

People

Jan 11 2009 // Markel Corp. has promoted Henry Lopez to executive vice president for the Markel Midwest region.Lopez has been with Markel since 1995 and most recently was the vice president, director of business development for...

People

Jan 11 2009 // Jacksonville, Fla.-based Harden & Associates has added Chris Huber as a Commercial Insurance account director. Harden & Associates also named Kathryn McKenna as a Personal Insurance account director.Prior to...

People

Jan 11 2009 // National managing general agent Burns & Wilcox has promoted Anthony Cugini to manager of the company’s Houston office. He is responsible for increasing sales across all product lines, including professional...

NAS Appoints Hayase to Senior Underwriter

Jan 8 2009 // Encino, Calif.-based NAS Insurance Services has promoted Allison Hayase to senior underwriter for the company’s Healthcare and Social Services facility. For the past five years, Hayase has underwritten individual...