Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Willis North America to Acquire Canadian Benefits Broker Avalon Actuarial
Nov 30 2012 // Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Avalon Actuarial Inc., a Canadian employee benefits brokerage and actuarial...
California Department Insurance: Streamlined Licensing
Nov 29 2012 // The California Department of Insurance announced a new process for professionals submitting insurance agent, broker, adjuster and bail agent license applications to CDI. The new process “enhances customer service and...
Associated Agencies Names Herz President and Schrayer CEO
Nov 28 2012 // Associated Agencies Inc., based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., has promoted 35-year-old Joshua Herz to president, making him the fourth person in the same family to hold the position. Herz succeeds his cousin, Max (Skip) R....
Agency E&O Outlook: Competition, Hard Market, Healthcare Effects and More
Nov 27 2012 // Firmer insurance prices and an upward trend in agency revenues are signs of good times for most independent agencies. These same trends, however, are reflected in today’s insurance market for agency errors and...
Onex Corp. of Canada to Acquire USI for $2.3 Billion
Nov 26 2012 // Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp. said today it has agreed to acquire insurance brokerage USI from Goldman Sachs Group’s GS Capital Partners private equity fund in a transaction valued at $2.3 billion. The deal...
What’s in a Blog? Insurance Blog Topics That Get You Traffic – Part 1
Nov 21 2012 // This post is part of a series on insurance marketing and training sponsored by Astonish. Having a website without blogging is like putting up a billboard in the middle of nowhere. Doesn’t matter how cool the...
Mass. Independent Agents Have Over $1B Impact on State Economy: Report
Nov 19 2012 // Five years ago, Massachusetts introduced its “managed competition” program — and since then, there has been an influx of direct writing and direct response companies coming into Massachusetts and...
OneBeacon Cuts Ties with Hagerty Agencies, Selling Essentia to Markel
Nov 19 2012 // OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd. is selling its Essentia Insurance Co. unit to Markel Corp., according to company announcements. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in January...
Business Moves – Midwest
Nov 19 2012 // Arthur J. Gallagher, Coyle Insurance Agency, Unison Inc., Aires Consulting Group Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. recently announced acquisitions of three Midwest-based firms — Coyle Insurance Agency Inc., Unison Inc....
Business Moves – Southeast
Nov 19 2012 // Confie Seguros, ABRY Partners Confie Seguros has been acquired by Boston-based private equity firm ABRY Partners in a deal under which the rapidly expanding auto insurer focused on the U.S. Hispanic market says will help...
Calif. Broker Charged with Defrauding Tom Hanks, Ex-‘Police’ Musician
Nov 19 2012 // A Southern California insurance broker was arrested on allegations he overcharged Tom Hanks, musician ex-Police band member Andy Summers and others hundreds of thousands of dollars for insurance premiums. Broker Jerry B....
Former Oklahoma Insurance Agent Headed to Prison
Nov 19 2012 // Former Oklahoma insurance agent Marshall Virden has been sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding senior citizens in Wagoner County, the Oklahoma Insurance Department announced. The punishment comes after a lengthy...
Q&A With ELANY Executive Maher on Surplus-Lines Industry’s Resiliency
Nov 16 2012 // The Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY) plays a vital role for New York’s surplus-lines industry. The group, a non-profit advisory association created by the New York statute in 1988, is charged with the duty...
Q&A: Surplus Lines Association of California Director McKay
Nov 15 2012 // Andrew G. Simpson, vice president of content for Wells Media Group Inc., recently grilled Surplus Lines Association of California Executive Director Benjamin McKay on an array of matters, including the market, new...
All Risks Expands Pet Best Insurance Product Nationwide
Nov 15 2012 // All Risks, Ltd. has expanded its Pet Insurance to be available in 32 states through its partnership with Pets Best Insurance and Independence American Insurance Co. This Pet Insurance online platform allows retail...
Nebraska Insurance Agent Sent to Jail After Winning Re-Election
Nov 14 2012 // A Lincoln, Neb., insurance agent was sentenced to jail for perjury just a few days after winning a third term on a natural resources district board. Larry Hall, 68, was sentenced to 45 days in jail and ordered to pay...
Genstar In Hunt for Another Confie-like Brokerage
Nov 14 2012 // Now that it has sold its equity stake in Hispanic-focused auto insurance broker Confie Seguros, Genstar Capital LLC appears to be on the hunt for another insurance concern. The San Francisco, Calif.-based private equity...
Indiana’s Ronk: Agents Enjoy a Healthy Insurance Environment in State
Nov 14 2012 // The current business environment for independent insurance agents in Indiana is pretty good thanks to the hard work and legislative involvement of agents and other industry professionals, according to one longtime agent...
Former Insurance Agent Headed to Prison for Defrauding Oklahoma Seniors
Nov 9 2012 // Former Oklahoma insurance agent Marshall Virden has been sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding senior citizens in Wagoner County, the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) announced. The punishment comes after a...
Milward Named VP Business Development for Council of Agents & Brokers
Nov 8 2012 // Webb Milward has returned to The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers as vice president of business development. Milward, who previously directed The Council’s political action committee from 2005-2010, spent...
