Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

Chubb Continued Performing at ‘High Level’ in Q3

Oct 30 2019 // Global insurer Chubb reported a banner 2019 third quarter, even though the company’s net income took a hit largely from losses relating to an accounting adjustment.Net income for the insurer reached $1 billion...

Beazley Appoints Smith as Miscellaneous Medical Underwriter in Georgia

Oct 30 2019 // Specialist insurer Beazley has appointed Hannah Smith as a miscellaneous medical underwriter within its U.S. healthcare team.Based in Atlanta, Ga., Smith will underwrite a range of miscellaneous medical professional...

How Specialty Carriers Approach Product Innovation: Research, Repeat and Reuse

Oct 30 2019 // “The industry really does look to specialty writers to be at the forefront of innovation,” says Gail McGiffin.Specialty insurance carriers have a unique “toolset” that helps them grow through...

Accredited Surety Unveils Program Underwriting Partnership for Western States

Oct 29 2019 // Accredited Surety and Casualty Co. Inc., a Florida-domiciled insurance company licensed to write admitted business in all 50 states, has entered into a new program partnership with M.G. Skinner & Associates Insurance...

Beazley Beefs Up U.S. Large Property Team with Berkshire’s Westhoff, Ironshore’s Irwin

Oct 29 2019 // Specialist insurer Beazley has appointed Matthew Westhoff as head of U.S. large commercial property based in New York.Westhoff will manage the US-based team, working alongside the property team in London. He brings 16...

BHSI Forms Construction, Casualty Teams in France, Led by AXA XL’s Antiphon, Bonifay

Oct 29 2019 // Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced it has commenced underwriting casualty and construction insurance in France and filled two key in-country leadership posts, naming Olivier Antiphon as head of...

Schweisthal Named Asst. Surety Underwriter at J.M. Wilson in Indiana

Oct 25 2019 // Managing general agency and surplus lines broker J.M. Wilson has added Grant Schweisthal as an assistant surety underwriter in its Carmel, Indiana, office. He is responsible for assisting surety underwriters on a wide...

Profit Lessons in Commercial Auto, Workers Comp and Other Business

Oct 25 2019 // Progressive has a competitive edge over long-term players in the commercial auto insurance market and national carriers outpace regionals on workers compensation profit measures, according to a new report from Guy...

New Mexico Explains Role in Enabling Applied Underwriters Sale

Oct 24 2019 // The growing drama behind the $920 million sale of Berkshire Hathaway-owned Applied Underwriters to its founder Steven Menzies got another voice added to the story.The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance on...

Reinsurers Maintain Upward Pricing Momentum-But Will It Last?

Oct 24 2019 // Positive pricing momentum—it’s the favorite phrase of many reinsurance executives, who are hoping that the momentum they’ve seen in 2019 will continue during the coming January renewals and beyond.The...

Applied Underwriters Responds to California Department of Insurance Effort to Halt Sale

Oct 23 2019 // Applied Underwriters executives have responded to efforts by the California Department of Insurance to halt the sale of one of its subsidiaries and threaten to upend a reported $920 million deal that’s been in the...

Velocity Risk Underwriters Expands Coverage to Coastal Homeowners in New Jersey

Oct 23 2019 // Velocity Risk Underwriters LLC has expanded its home insurance products and now offers coastal homeowners policies in New Jersey. This makes New Jersey the sixth state where the company offers homeowners insurance to...

Risk Strategies to Offer Cyber Risk Management Platform Underwritten by Berkley

Oct 23 2019 // Risk Strategies, a privately held national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has launched the Cyber Resolute offering that combines new technology with smarter processes and specialized coverage.Cyber Resolute...

California Balks at Applied Underwriters Sale, Questions Subsidiary’s Move to New Mexico

Oct 21 2019 // The California Department of Insurance has denied an application for approval of the sale of California Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Applied Underwriters that was sold in a massive deal that has been under scrutiny over...

How Risk Management is Transforming Risk in Commercial Property

Oct 21 2019 // Commercial property underwriters are adjusting to a market defined by rising catastrophe losses and dwindling profits. From increasing rates and higher deductibles to fewer classes of business and stricter underwriting,...

Insurtechs Discovering the Value of Agents

Oct 21 2019 // Insurtechs have been making headlines for several years with how they are changing the insurance business and the threat they pose to traditional insurance distribution. But as these fledgling insurance technology firms...

James River Insurance Retains Rating After Dropping Its Biggest Customer, Uber

Oct 18 2019 // Ratings agency A.M. Best said its ratings of James River Insurance remain unchanged after the insurer said it would be cancelling its business with ride-hailing giant Uber affiliate, Rasier, its largest client.A.M Best...

London-Based MGA Castel Specialty Enters Construction and Engineering Market

Oct 17 2019 // Castel Specialty, the London-based division of club-style MGA formation platform Castel Underwriting Agencies Ltd., has entered the construction and engineering market, primarily focused on the UK, North America,...

Applied Underwriters Sold to Founder in $920M Deal

Oct 16 2019 // Applied Underwriters Inc. and its subsidiary North American Casualty Co. has reportedly been acquired by Applied Underwriters founder Steve Menzies, who was joined in the acquisition by the Quasha Group led by Quadrant...

Skelly Joins Southern Insurance Underwriters in Atlanta

Oct 16 2019 // Atlanta-based Southern Insurance Underwriters has named John Skelly as Commercial Marine Practice leader.In this position, he will direct the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of commercial inland...