Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

Sarbanes-Oxley Consulting Creates Opportunities, Risks for Underwriters

Nov 20 2005 // Underwriters and accountants will have many opportunities to advise companies in interpreting and implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, but they should be aware of the increased exposure to risk, attendees at the most...

Nov 20 2005 // The Nevada Independent Insurance Agents has elected a new board of directors and has named a new president. Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman has announced the installation of the following newly-elected...

ASU International Changes Name to HCC Specialty Underwriters

Nov 18 2005 // ASU International Inc. (ASU), a specialty underwriting agency subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., has announced that it has changed its name to HCC Specialty Underwriters Inc. William F. Hubbard, CEO of HCC...

Ark. Reminds Insurers of Rural Risk Underwriting Assessment

Nov 16 2005 // The Arkansas Insurance Department issued a reminder that the annual Rural Risk Underwriting Assessment of $200 is due to the department by Dec. 31.Under state law, the insurance commissioner may assess insurers for the...

Best Puts Platinum’s Reinsurance Subsidiaries Ratings Under Review/Negative

Nov 16 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the reinsurance subsidiaries of Bermuda-based Platinum...

U.K.’s Omega Underwriting to Raise $157 Million; Forming Bermuda Sub

Nov 14 2005 // The U.K.’s Omega Underwriting Holdings PLC, a leading Lloyd’s insurer (Syndicate 958), has announced plans to raise £90 million ($157 million), both to increase syndicate capacity and to support the...

Specialty Underwriters Report Q3 Loss

Nov 11 2005 // Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. today reported a net loss of $4.8 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2005. Total revenues were $9.1 million, comprised of earned insurance premiums of $8.2 million and...

RenRe Announces Appointments; O’Donnell to Head Reins. Sub; Branagan to Head Group Risk Modeling

Nov 9 2005 // RenaissanceRe Holdings is moving to fill the rather large gap created by the sudden departure of James Stanard, its President and CEO (See IJ Website Nov. 1). The company announced that Kevin J. O’Donnell has been...

Roy Pasini, Former Publisher of Underwriters’ Report, Dies

Nov 9 2005 // Roy Pasini, former publisher of Underwriters’ Report, died Saturday following a month-long hospitalization. Funeral services and mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker...

Credit-based Insurance Scoring Remains a Key Legislative, Regulatory Issue

Nov 7 2005 // Credit-based insurance scoring has been a contentious legislative and regulatory issue in the world of insurance for at least the last three or four years, but the nature of the debate has changed, Robert Detlefsen,...

MarketScout Barometer Shows Continued Softening in Professional Liability Market

Nov 7 2005 // MarketScout has analyzed the submissions from its agency network in an exclusive market evaluation on behalf of the Insurance Journal. Additionally, MarketScout conducted in person interviews with various industry leading...

Employment Practices Liability: Like Fine Wine, Better With Time

Nov 7 2005 // Many insurance products grow better with the passage of time, as good underwriters look for ways to structure the policy language to be more response to evolving claims scenarios, legislative and judicial developments and...

Why You Should Analyze the Professional Liability Application

Nov 7 2005 // We all know that the first step toward placing professional liability coverage is to have the client complete the appropriate application and supplements. The application affects not only the underwriting, rating and...

How to Write the Diverse Business of Lawyers Professional Liability

Nov 7 2005 // Managing the risk of lawsuits against lawyers.With more than a quarter million law firms in the United States, the lawyers’ professional liability market represents a huge opportunity for retail agents and wholesale...

People

Nov 6 2005 // Cathy DeCoulaz was recently installed as president of the Alamo Chapter, Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, in San Antonio, Texas. DeCoulaz has served the Alamo Chapter on the Board of Directors and in...

To submit a People and Places announcement, e-mail ptom@insurance journal.com

Nov 6 2005 // ACE USA announced two appointments in its ACE Casualty Risk Unit. William Hazelton has joined as senior vice president and underwriting manager for ACE Environ-mental Risk, and Mitchell Schmidt is now senior vice president...

Why You Should Analyze the Professional Liability Application

Nov 6 2005 // We all know that the first step toward placing professional liability coverage is to have the client complete the appropriate application and supplements. The application affects not only the underwriting, rating and...

How to Write the Diverse Business of Lawyers Professional Liability

Nov 6 2005 // Managing the risk of lawsuits against lawyers.With more than a quarter million law firms in the United States, the lawyers’ professional liability market represents a huge opportunity for retail agents and wholesale...

Employment Practices Liability: Like Fine Wine, Better With Time

Nov 6 2005 // Many insurance products grow better with the passage of time, as good underwriters look for ways to structure the policy language to be more response to evolving claims scenarios, legislative and judicial developments and...

MarketScout Barometer Shows Continued Softening in Professional Liability Market

Nov 6 2005 // MarketScout has analyzed the submissions from its agency network in an exclusive market evaluation on behalf of the Insurance Journal. Additionally, MarketScout conducted in person interviews with various industry leading...