National News
News for December 2004
December 31, 2004
December 30, 2004
- Search for Missing Americans Continues in Southeast Asia; 12 Confirmed Dead
- PCI Reacts Cautiously to NAIC's Partial Producer Licensing Act Adoption
- Big 'I' Recognizes NAIC Efforts, Seeks Further Clarity
December 29, 2004
- Consumers Warned Over Alleged Loan, Insurance Scam by Jefferson Financial, Watermark Insurance
- AXA New Year's Eve Survey: Most People Stay Home
December 28, 2004
- Best Reports P/C Industry Maintains Underwriting Profit, Despite "Unprecedented Cat Events"
- Berkley Engages Outside Counsel to Conduct Internal Investigation on Information Requests
- Best Affirms Ratings of Swiss Re America Group
- Best Affirms American Re Ratings; Assigns ICR; Outlook Changed to Negative
- S&P Affirms Toa Re (America) 'AA-' Ratings
- MetLife Names Rein to Chief Administrative Officer; Mullaney Succeeds Her at Metropolitan P&C
December 27, 2004
- NOAA: U.S. Reported Tornadoes Reaches Record High
- Spitzer Denies Report of Plan to Cede Probes to Feds; Vows New Action in Early Part of New Year
December 23, 2004
- HRH Releases D&O Snapshot and Forecast for 2005
- S&P Publishes U.S. P/C Industry 'Report Card'
- Multistate UnumProvident Settlement Approved
- A.M. Best Lowers Sompo (U.S.) Ratings to 'A'
December 22, 2004
- RLI Opens Commercial Auto Unit
- Saunders to Head Navigators Excess Casualty Unit
- Insurers Claim Regulators' Open Meetings Policy Ignored
- U.S.I. Holdings Unveils Expense, Staff Reductions and Plans to Sell Certain Operations
- Wells to Head Zurich Workers' Comp Unit
- RiskProNet International Elects New Officers
December 21, 2004
- S&P Puts ERC, GE Solutions on CreditWatch Negative
- IJ Online Launches 'How to Write' Educational Seminars
- Fitch Downgrades Senior Debt for Marsh & McLennan
- Chubb Unveils New Travel Accident Policy
December 20, 2004
- Industry Sees First 9-Month Net Gain on Underwriting in Nearly Two Decades
- Homeowners Insurers Reverse the 'Curse' ... for Now
- Mazda 3 Gets High Grades; Kia Spectra Doesn't Pass Frontal Offset Crash Test
- A Retrospective Look at the Nonstandard Auto Market
- Chubb Unveils New Travel Accident Policy
- Reilly Named Big 'I' Director of Federal Affairs
December 17, 2004
- Insurers Say Compensation Disclosure Amendments to Producer Licensing Model Act Still Lacking
- Insurance Education Foundation Redesigns Web site
December 16, 2004
- S&P Keeps MMC on CreditWatch Negative
- Gates to Join Berkshire Board
- St. Paul Travelers to Shrink Board
- Guy Carpenter Unveils Disclosure Doctrine
- Al Risk Updates ProgramConnect
Is It Time to Sell the Agency'
December 15, 2004
- Third Annual Report Identifies 'Judicial Hellholes'
- S&P Says WTC Verdict Won't Affect Insurer Ratings
- Aon: More than Half of Companies Studied Decide to 'Take Up' Some Kind of Terrorism Insurance
- Judge Offers Decision in GEICO, Google Dispute
- HSB Unveils Identity Recovery Coverage for Insurers Serving Home Owners, Small Business Market
- Beck Joins Willis as Practice Leader
December 14, 2004
- Survey Points to Public Blind Eye to Fake Insurance
- Feinstein to Retire; Farmers Appoints Hopkins CEO
- AutoOne Driven to Write in Several New States
December 13, 2004
- St. Paul Travelers Subpoenaed Again in N.Y.
- S&P Assigns Ratings to AIG's $25.1 Billion Debt Issue
- NAIC Adopts AAMGA Drafting Note to Broker Disclosure Model Act
- NAMIC: Scope of Change to NAIC Producer Licensing Model Should be Well Defined
- Progressive Takes 'Drive' Online
- AAIS Promotes Guevara, Luecke
December 10, 2004
- Analysts Predict Slowing of P/C Premium Growth in 2005
- Actuaries Address Concerns Over Professions Integrity
December 9, 2004
- Hurricanes Blow in Record Costs
- S&P Reports Stable Outlook for U.S. Reinsurers
- Hartford Launches 'Quote Marine' eSubmission Tool
- St. Paul Travelers Notes New Imported Products Program for Special Exposures
- Big 'I' Backs NAIC Compensation Disclosure Amendment
- IMCA Board Member McClellan Passes Away
December 8, 2004
- Aon Chief Acknowledges Employee Violations with Business Conduct Code
- AIG Environmental Enhances Its Environmental and General Liability Exposures (EAGLE) Program
- PCI Calls for More Specific Regulatory Modernization Agenda at NAIC Meeting
- APPEX Adds Five New Members
December 7, 2004
- D&O Premiums Decline for First Time Since 1999; Hard Market to Return by 2006 Predicts Tillinghast
- Jury Rules WTC Attacks Were Two Events; Silverstein Recovery May Double to $2.2 Billion
- Competition and Investigations Are Squeezing U.S. Commercial Lines' Earnings, Report Says
- P/C Insurers Positioned to Weather Hurricane Losses
- PCI Says Revised NAIC Producer Licensing Model Makes Progress, But Still Flawed
- U.S. Personal Lines Sector Remains Strong With a Stable Outlook, Report Says
- New Agents Council for Technology Report Outlines Recommendations for Privacy Policies
- SERFF Use Increases Reports NAIC
- Shimpi Named Practice Leader at Towers Perrin
December 6, 2004
- Aon Steered Clear of Insurance Wrongdoing, CEO Ryan Insists
- S&P Revises Outlook on HRH to Negative; Cites Contingent Commission Investigations
- Arch Subpoena from N.Y. AG Concerns Lawyers Malpractice Insurance Program
- NAIC Elects 2005 Officers
- Nov. Composite Rate Increase for P/C Stays at 2%
- Survey Shows Gain in Market Conduct Uniformity
- NAIC Hears Testimony on Changes to Producer Licensing Model Act; Broker Disclosure a Big Concern
- D'Arcy Named CAS President
December 3, 2004
- CIAB Endorses NAIC Proposed Disclosure Regulation
- Chubb Receives Subpoena from SEC
- AAMGA Offers Feedback on Proposed Broker Disclosure Amendment to Producer Licensing Model Act
- Clarification: Merchants Group Inc. Holding Company Chief Resigns; Merchants Insurance CEO Zak Remains
December 2, 2004
- AIG's Greenberg Predicts 'Leaner, More Responsive' Insurance Brokers in Wake of Investigations
- Court Overturns Ruling on Auto Rate Settings
- Allstate, Encompass Partner for Agents
- PCI Supports NAIC Broker Disclosure Provisions, but Recommends Changes in Written Testimony
- NAMIC Raises Concerns Over Proposed NAIC Broker Activities Questionnaire
- Bravo to Head Willis Private Client Group North America
- Insurance Journal Unveils New Stock Feature
December 1, 2004