School Bus Operators

Nuts & Bolts: The AIG Cos. introduced BusPlus, a new umbrella liability insurance package that offers excess auto liability insurance coverage, sexual misconduct liability coverage and terrorism protection under one policy for schools, municipalities and private bus companies responsible for the transportation of children. The BusPlus umbrella liability insurance policy includes: excess auto liability coverage providing excess bodily injury and property damage liability coverage for losses exceeding the primary policy limits of the named insured; sexual misconduct liability coverage expressly provided for the insured entity, as well as the bus driver; and automatic inclusion of terrorism insurance for claims arising from acts of terrorism that impact school buses and their passengers.

Dollars: BusPlus umbrella liability insurance is available with limits up to $25 million.

Carrier: Lexington Insurance Co., rated "A+ XV," nonadmitted.

States Available: All states.

Contact: Ben Beauvais, (617) 330- 8412, or busplus@aig.com.

Public Venues

Nuts & Bolts: AIG launched Venue Liability Protector, a commercial coverage designed to address the casualty risks of public venues and accident risks of patrons at performance and hospitality events. Venue Liability Protector is a broad, general liability coverage that includes accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance specifically to cover patrons of venues of all types. The AD&D coverage responds in the event that a patron suffers an accidental death or injury at the insured venue, providing immediate financial benefits to victims and their families. Risk management services are also offered to help commercial insureds reduce liability exposures and create a safer public environment.

Dollars: Offers general casualty limits of liability up to $1 million in primary coverage and excess limits up to $25 million. Up to $10 million in aggregate AD&D insurance.

Carrier: Lexington Insurance Co., rated "A+ XV," nonadmitted.

States Available: All states.

Contact: Deborah Coleman, (214) 932-2163 or venueliability@aig.com

Professional Liability for Agencies

Nuts & Bolts: Chicago-based CNA insurance companies and Affinity Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Aon Corp., have jointly introduced Agency Advantage, a new professional liability insurance program for property/casualty agencies. Agency Advantage offers flexibility to design coverage and limits based on the needs of property/casualty insurance agencies writing up to $20 million in gross written premium annually. Optional coverage is available by endorsement for the sale of life and health insurance and other financial products. The policy covers the amount of damages an agency is legally obligated to pay as a result of a wrongful act in the performance of professional services. Insureds include independent contractors, as well as current and past employees. The program availability is subject to state insurance department approval. Affinity Insurance Services will be responsible for underwriting, marketing and policy administration; CNA will handle claims.

Dollars: Limits start at $100,000 and range up to $5,000,000 aggregate. A wide range of retentions are available from $1,000 to $50,000, and base rate premiums are very competitive.

Carrier: CNA rated "A," admitted.

States Available: All except Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and New York.

Contact: CNA, Katrina Parker, (312) 822-5167 or Aon, Jeffrey H. Jacobs, (866) 461-1228, or visit www.agency-advantage.com.

Animal Liability

Nuts & Bolts: Chicago-based excess and surplus lines carrier Prime Insurance Syndicate Inc. announced a new animal liability product to cover hard-to-place risks on many domestic and exotic creatures. The coverage is especially targeted toward homeowners who have experienced difficulty in obtaining animal liability coverage recently. Prime's animal liability product offers coverage for domestic animals including hard-to-place breeds, hunting dogs and retrievers, and animals with a history of aggressive temperament. Exotic animals such as snakes, birds and ferrets are also considered for coverage. Animals used for business purposes such as security and guard dogs, show dogs, and performing animals will be considered.

Dollars: Policy limit up to $1 million. Deductibles and premiums to be determined.

Carrier: Prime Insurance Syndicate, rated "B-," nonadmitted.

States Available: 35 states.

Contact: Mike Johnson, (312) 983-7190 ext.7813, or mikej@primeis.com

Casualty Premises Pollution

Nuts & Bolts: ACE Casualty Risk introduced a new casualty premises pollution program offering general liability and premises pollution coverage in a single primary policy. It is designed to help companies address potential gaps in coverage by providing a broad range of pollution protection not typically found in a GL policy. Umbrella coverage specifically tailored to the program is available. The target market for this new policy includes manufacturers and distributors in the following areas: chemicals; industrial machinery; noncritical auto parts and other non-standard exposures. Coverage highlights include the following: commercial general liability coverage; coverage for clean-up costs and third-party bodily injury and property damage arising out of pollution on, at, or emanating from an insured location; and Third-party coverage for bodily injury, property damage and remediation costs arising from pollution conditions resulting from the transportation/disposal of wastes or products.

Dollars: Limits up to $10 million ($25 million available subject to underwriting criteria). Minimum premium, $150,000. Minimum self-insured retention $25,000. Claims made form.
Carrier: ACE USA, rated "A" by A.M. Best, nonadmitted.

States Available: All states.

Contact: Gerry Rojewski, (215) 640-5919 or gerry.rojewski@ace-ina.com

Defense Base Act Workers' Comp

Nuts & Bolts: ACE U.S. International is offering coverage for Defense Base Act (DBA) workers' comp exposures for prime contractors and subcontractors performing public works contracts overseas that have been authorized, approved or financed by the U.S. government, or its agencies. The ACE DBA coverage offers benefits to companies who opt for this coverage, including: dedicated international casualty underwriters with decision-making authority, located in offices throughout the United States; expert and responsive claims professionals who are knowledgeable on the complexities of DBA; and an exclusive focus on international exposures, providing multi-national customers with the best level of service.

Dollars: TBD.

Carrier: TBD.

States Available: TBD.

Contact: Larry Boyk, (215) 640-4869, or larry.boyk@ace-ina.com