Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

Agents’ Wish List for Carriers in 2009

Dec 21 2008 // The past year has brought down a lot of businesses and people — but not independent insurance agents. They’re still up … for the challenge, for the future, for whatever lies ahead.Many independent agencies...

CRC Insurance to Acquire North Carolina-Based TAPCO Underwriters

Dec 19 2008 // CRC Insurance Services Inc., the wholesale insurance subsidiary of BB&T Corp. principal subsidiary Branch Banking and Trust Co., reports that it plans to acquire TAPCO Underwriters Inc.TAPCO will operate as a division...

Best Upgrades Allianz (US) Ratings to ‘A+’; Affirms Fireman’s Fund

Dec 19 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A+’ (Superior) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “aa” from “a” of Allianz Global...

The Buckner Co. Names Rons Underwriter of the Year

Dec 18 2008 // The Buckner Company, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, named Kimberly Rons, commercial lines senior underwriter for Colorado Casualty, as Underwriter of the Year.The Buckner Company nominated a dozen underwriter finalists...

OnPoint Underwriting To Acquire Commercial Insurance Services

Dec 17 2008 // Atlanta-based OnPoint Underwriting has acquired the assets of Commercial Insurance Services, based in Greenwood Village, Colo. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Commercial Insurance Services is led by Bob...

Industry Profits Dove Massively through First Nine Months of 2008

Dec 16 2008 // After-tax profits for the U.S. property and casualty industry through the first nine months of the year were $4.1 billion — a 91.8 percent decline from the $50 billion in profits earned the same period a year ago,...

Best Affirms Amlin and Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001 Ratings

Dec 3 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Amlin Bermuda Limited (ABL) with a stable outlook.Best also affirmed...

Burns & Wilcox Announces Promotions in Michigan Office

Dec 3 2008 // Burns & Wilcox announces that it has promoted two individuals at its Farmington Hills, Mich. office. Laura Colbert was named director of sales and marketing. She is responsible for developing initiatives that will...

Bryk, McGee, and Hodges Join Dallas-Based MarketScout

Dec 3 2008 // Dallas-based MarketScout has added three new associates to its Workers’ Compensation and Texas Specialty Underwriting Division.Rachael Bryk joins MarketScout as underwriter after seven years of specialty...

Catlin Strengthens Product Recall Teams in Sydney, London

Dec 3 2008 // The Bermuda-based Catlin Group Limited announced that it has “significantly strengthened its leadership position in crisis management underwriting with the addition of two experienced product recall insurance...

Burns & Wilcox Adds Derigiotis as Professional Lines Underwriter

Dec 1 2008 // Burns & Wilcox recently added David Derigiotis as a professional lines underwriter in its Special Risk Division (SRD). SRD is the company’s internal brokerage division located in Farmington Hills,...

There’s No Wrong or Right Time for an M&A

Nov 30 2008 // When it comes to acquiring an agency or selling, timing is everything. Hard market or soft market, good business environment or bad, the decision on whether to merge, acquire or sell is unique to each individual business...

People

Nov 16 2008 // New York-based Navigators Group hired Paul Hennessy as president of Navigators Holdings (UK) Ltd. He will be responsible for Navigators’ operations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and will report to President...

Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicates 609, 570 (Atrium/Ariel) ‘A’ Ratings

Nov 14 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicates 609 and 570, both of which are managed by Atrium...

Marsh’s Bowring Supports Clients with Innovative Risk Transfer Products

Nov 11 2008 // Bowring, Marsh’s International Specialist Broker, announced new efforts to make its placement leadership meet the requirements of its clients by creating “five bespoke risk transfer products covering property,...

Professional Liability Underwriting Society Honors Two

Nov 10 2008 // The Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) honored Kevin M. LaCroix with its 2008 PLUS Founders Award and John J. Degnan, with its 2008 PLUS1 Award at the organization’s 21st Annual International...

Zurich Taps Haarmann as Chief Underwriter for Specialties Unit

Nov 6 2008 // Zurich in North America has appointed Christopher Haarmann to be chief underwriting officer of its Specialties business unit. In this role, Haarmann will lead underwriting operations for Specialties products across the...

Alabama-based Infinity Reports Strong Underwriting Results

Nov 5 2008 // Birmingham, Ala.-based Infinity Property and Casualty Corp., a national provider of personal automobile insurance, reported results for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30.Stronger than expected underwriting results...

Max Capital Posts $163 Million Q3 Net Loss; $81 Million 9-Month Loss

Nov 4 2008 // The Bermuda-based Max Capital Group reported a net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2008, of $163.2 million, or $2.79 per fully diluted share, compared to net income of $66.8 million, or $1.05 per fully...

More Lawsuits, Firmer Prices on the Horizon for Executive Liability

Nov 2 2008 // More lawsuits and firmer rates for directors and officers liability coverage are almost certainly ahead as a result of the global financial crisis, which is likely to hit insurers especially hard. Given this, what are the...