Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

Weiss: Insurers Earn $28B in First Three Quarters of 2004

Feb 28 2005 // Despite a hurricane-ravaged third quarter, property/casualty insurers reported profits of $28.1 billion in the first nine months of 2004, representing a 22.4 percent increase over the $22.9 billion earned during the same...

Max Re Announces New Appointments

Feb 24 2005 // Bermuda-based Max Re Capital Ltd. announced that its subsidiary, Max Re Ltd., has made the following appointments in its reinsurance division: — John Doucette has been appointed president and chief underwriting...

Pa.-based Harleysville Insurance In Transition to Restore Historic Results

Feb 22 2005 // Several events stand out in the history of Harleysville Insurance. There was its launch as an auto theft protection association in 1915 in the Pennsylvania community whose name it shares and there was its debut as a public...

Best Sees Underwriting Discipline in January European Reinsurance Renewals

Feb 21 2005 // European January reinsurance renewals confirm A.M. Best Co.’s expectations that underwriting discipline is being maintained, despite wide capacity availability. The rating agency noted that overall premium rates have...

Is the Industry Repeating the Past – Yet Again’

Feb 21 2005 // In a collection of works titled The Life of Reason, the philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Currently there’s a momentous shift underway in...

Insurance Agents’ E&O: Are You Properly Covered’

Feb 21 2005 // Have you heard the story of the shoemaker’s children? Although their father was a shoemaker, they always had the most worn shoes. The reason is their father spent so much time and effort taking care of his customers,...

Fiduciary Liability: Obtaining Effective Insurance

Feb 21 2005 // As discussed in part one of this series in the Feb. 7 issue (page 34), fiduciary liability is one of the most misunderstood of management exposures. However, once one grasps the concept of personal liability embedded in...

Specialty Underwriters Alliance Names Philip to Board

Feb 15 2005 // Chicago-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc., a commercial property and casualty insurance holding company, has appointed Paul Philp to its Board of Directors. Philp has held numerous senior executive...

Kingsway Notes 54% Gain in Net Income

Feb 10 2005 // Toronto-based Kingsway Financial Services Inc. announced financial results for the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2004, and the declaration of an initial quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share.For the fourth quarter net...

XL Capital Notes $288M Q4 Profit

Feb 9 2005 // Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd. reported net income available to ordinary shareholders for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2004 of $288.0 million, or $2.07 per ordinary share, compared with a net loss of $314.8 million, or a loss...

Crossing the Border: Mexico Travel Offers Opportunities for Agents

Feb 7 2005 // Mexico is a country rich in cultural heritage and scenic landscapes. From colonial villages to majestic desert panoramas to pristine beaches, our bordering neighbor to the south offers something for everyone. Steeped in...

Crossing the Border: Mexico Travel Offers Opportunities for Agents

Feb 7 2005 // Mexico is a country rich in cultural heritage and scenic landscapes. From colonial villages to majestic desert panoramas to pristine beaches, our bordering neighbor to the south offers something for everyone. Steeped in...

Montemayor Sees No Basis for Credit Scoring Ban

Feb 2 2005 // Texas Insurance Commissioner José Montemayor recently delivered to Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature the final report on a credit scoring study conducted by the Texas Department of Insurance.In a letter...

Are We Repeating the Past — Again’

Jan 24 2005 // I fear we are entering a period of cyclical amnesia. We are once again setting aside underwriting discipline. Recent market forecasts are projecting deteriorating terms and conditions.In a collection of works titled...

Are We Repeating the Past … Again’

Jan 24 2005 // In a collection of works titled The Life of Reason, the philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There’s now a momentous shift underway in the...

Quanta Capital Appoints Byrne European Chief Underwriting Officer

Jan 19 2005 // Bermuda-based Quanta Capital Holdings Ltd., which provides specialty insurance, reinsurance, and risk consulting services through its subsidiaries, announced the appointment of John J. Byrne as Chief Underwriting Officer...

Applied Underwriters Adopts Proposed Calif. Rate Reduction for Workers’ Comp

Jan 19 2005 // Applied Underwriters, a provider in integrated workers’ compensation solutions, adopted the January rate reduction recommended by the California Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau. After a strong 2004,...

Bass Underwriters Opens Northern California Office

Jan 11 2005 // Florida-based Bass Underwriters Inc. has announced that the opening of their Northern California division that provides service to California. The office is located at 3433 American River Drive, Suite A, Sacramento, CA...

Best Affirms Rating for The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association; Outlook Stable

Jan 6 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Ltd (Steamship London) (London, England). The outlook has been changed to stable from negative, in...

Focus on the Future: Come 2014, Industry Should Look Very Familiar

Jan 3 2005 // Ten years from now, some of the players within the property/casualty insurance industry will have changed but the industry itself will not look dramatically different from what it is today:Smaller companies and independent...