Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

2005 P/C industry in a word: Resilience

Jan 2 2005 // The property/casualty insurance industry reported a statutory rate of return on average surplus of 9.5 percent through the first nine months of 2005, marginally below the 10.5 percent average return recorded during...

Rios Joins Compass as Underwriter/Broker

Dec 29 2004 // California-based The Harry W. Gorst Co. and Compass Insurance Group of Agencies Inc., announced the hiring of Evon Rios as a broker and will be situated in the San Diego area. This year, Rios celebrated 21 years in the...

Best Reports P/C Industry Maintains Underwriting Profit, Despite “Unprecedented Cat Events”

Dec 28 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has released a year-end report on the U.S. P/C industry, which indicates that, “despite the colossal hurricane losses posted during the third quarter of 2004,” it “reported very strong...

SeaCoast Underwriters Inc. Acquires Franzese & Assoc.

Dec 28 2004 // SeaCoast Underwriters Inc. has announced its acquisition of Franzese & Assoc. of Orlando and Franzese & Assoc. of Florida. According to R.C. Chaffin, SeaCoast president and CEO the acquistion became effective...

Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Underwriters Exercise IPO Over-Allotment Option

Dec 21 2004 // Dallas-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. announced that Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc., William Blair & Company and Cochran, Caronia & Co., as managing underwriters and representatives of...

Industry Sees First 9-Month Net Gain on Underwriting in Nearly Two Decades

Dec 20 2004 // Benefiting from profits on underwriting, the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry’s net income after taxes rose 28.3 percent to $26.7 billion in the first nine months of 2004 from $20.8 billion in the first nine...

Brand Joins GE Ins. Solutions London Marine Team

Dec 15 2004 // GE Insurance Solutions announced that Tom Brand has joined the company’s marine team in London as a cargo underwriter.He has 17 years’ experience in the London market, and in addition to his expertise as an...

Zurich Names Fairhead Chief Underwriting Officer

Dec 10 2004 // Zurich Financial Services Group announced the appointment of Alan Fairhead (45) as Chief Underwriting Officer – Global Corporate, effective immediately. He will report to Geoff Riddell, CEO – Global Corporate,...

Swiss Re CEO to Open 2005 LOMA International Underwriting Congress

Dec 8 2004 // Swiss Re CEO John Coomber will deliver the keynote address at the 2005 LOMA International Underwriting Congress (IUC) scheduled to take place April 17-20 at the NogaHilton Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. Coomber, the first...

Outside on the Professional Liability Playground

Dec 6 2004 // The PLUS 17th Annual International Conference held in San Diego, Calif., Nov. 3-5, opened with an insightful panel discussion of well-known “outside the industry” professionals who routinely play the game of...

Partners Continue to Come and Go, But It’s a Great Time to Jump in the Game

Dec 6 2004 // Partners Continue to Come and Go, But It’s a Great Time to Jump in the GameProgram business over the past 10-15 years has been a rocky road for the insurance industry. Companies are in the game today, but gone...

A.M. Best Finds Improved Earnings Boost P/C Industry’s Surplus Position

Dec 6 2004 // The capital surplus for U.S. property casualty insurers increased by 21.8 percent in 2003, fueled by “vastly improved operating earnings” and a big boost in unrealized capital gains, according to A. M. Best...

Best Study Finds P/C Industry “Well Capitalized;” 21.8% Increase in Surplus

Dec 6 2004 // A special report released by A.M. Best Co. cites “vastly improved operating earnings” recorded in 2003 and a considerable boost from unrealized capital gains, as fueling a 21.8 percent increase in the U.S....

That’s Entertainment Disability Insurance

Dec 6 2004 // Twenty years ago, no one envisioned top entertainers earning $20 million for a single film, or for 90 days of work. Unusual work schedule aside, the dollars involved in protecting these individuals creates a unique...

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: Come 2014, Industry Should Look Very Familiar

Dec 6 2004 // 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...

Wellington Completes Acquisition of AXA’s U.S. Surplus and Excess Units; Best Assigns ‘A-‘ Rating

Nov 26 2004 // The U.K.’s Wellington Underwriting plc. announced that it has completed the purchase of AXA Corporate Solutions Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Company, first announced on June 25, 2004.The bulletin noted that...

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

Nov 22 2004 // PCI Execs Contend Current Players Will Adapt to Maintain AdvantagesTen years from now, some of the players within the property/casualty insurance industry will have changed but the industry itself will not look...

Best Study Finds P/C Industry “Well Capitalized;” 21.8% Increase in Surplus

Nov 19 2004 // A special report released by A.M. Best Co. cites “vastly improved operating earnings” recorded in 2003 and a considerable boost from unrealized capital gains, as fueling a 21.8 percent increase in the U.S....

Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Prices IPO

Nov 18 2004 // Dallas-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 12,700,000 shares of its common stock at $9.50 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions. The...

Pair of Zurich Underwriters Plead Guilty

Nov 16 2004 // New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Tuesday that two employees from a third insurance company- Zurich American Insurance Company (Zurich) – have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with a bid...