Latest Business Insurance Headlines

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

XL Insurance Launches Solutions for German Upper Middle Market

Mar 25 2009 // XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd., announced that it will offer insurance solutions to Upper Middle Market companies in Germany with an annual turnover ranging from approximately €30...

Survey: Commercial Lines Pricing Drops 3% in Q4

Mar 23 2009 // The commercial lines insurance market showed more signs of price stabilization in the last quarter of 2008. Commercial insurance prices saw just a slight decline of 3 percent during the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to a...

Reisling Joins Motorists Mutual Commercial Lines in Ohio, Michigan

Mar 19 2009 // Kelly Reisling is joining Motorists Mutual Insurance Co. as assistant vice president, Commercial Lines Division, responsible for the Ohio and Michigan territories. Reisling brings 20 years of experience to the position....

Survey: Commercial Lines Pricing Drops Just 3% in Q4

Mar 16 2009 // The commercial lines insurance market showed more signs of price stabilization in the last quarter of 2008. Commercial insurance prices saw just a slight decline of 3 percent during the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to...

Marsh Sets Up Mid-Size UK Broker Network

Mar 13 2009 // Marsh announced the formation of “a nationwide community of independent mid-sized UK brokers who share a commitment to innovation on behalf of clients and are looking to protect and grow their businesses.” The...

Washington Bill Would Return Workers’ Comp Premiums Back To Employers

Mar 13 2009 // The Washington Senate has approved a bill that would return some workers’ compensation insurance premiums back to employers who improve their safety records. Senate Bill 6035, which passed by a 25-24 vote, indicates...

Employers Hiring Insurance Professionals in Nevada Headquarters

Mar 12 2009 // Reno, Nev.-based Employers has launched an employee recruitment campaign to hire more than 50 professionals at its headquarters. The company’s national expansion and a recently completed acquisition have created a...

Stephens Insurance Hires Commercial Insurance Team from Regions

Mar 12 2009 // Arkansas-based independent insurance agency Stephens Insurance LLC has added eight insurance professionals to its commercial insurance services team in Little Rock. The eight-member team hails from Regions Insurance in...

Best Maintains Stable Outlook on U.S. Personal, Commercial Lines Sectors

Mar 4 2009 // The rating agency A.M. Best Co. said it continues to view the outlook for both the U.S. personal and commercial lines markets as stable. Despite the ongoing soft period in the cycle in commercial lines, a contracting...

Wyo. Senate Kills Bill to Make Small Business Fund

Feb 27 2009 // The Wyoming Senate has voted down a bill to create a multimillion dollar investment fund to foster small business growth. House Bill 291 would have created a $20 million fund with contributions from insurance companies,...

Employers Holdings Reports Net Income Dropped 15.4% in 2008

Feb 26 2009 // Reno, Nev.-based Employers Holdings Inc. reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 of $15.9 million compared with $31.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Net income includes amortization of the deferred...

Insurance Industry Advises Small Businesses Not to Skimp on Coverage

Feb 23 2009 // Insurance coverage is an expense that many small business owners might be tempted to cut back on or even forgo as they try to cut costs during the recession. They’re making a bet that they won’t need the...

Employers Holdings Reducing Staff By 14%

Feb 22 2009 // Reno, Nev.-based Employers Holdings Inc., whose subsidiaries are specialty providers of workers’ compensation insurance focused on small- and medium-sized businesses, announced a strategic restructuring plan that...

North Carolina Construction Worker Wins Case Over Hostile Workplace

Feb 13 2009 // A federal jury has awarded $50,000 to a North Carolina construction worker who says co-workers hurled racial epithets at him, shot nails toward him and even tried to hang him on a job site. The Asheville Citizen-Times...

New Jersey Agents: Allow Fees for Some Commercial-Lines Services

Feb 11 2009 // A trade group for New Jersey Insurance Agents is applauding proposal that would let agents collect fees from commercial-lines clients for some specialized services. The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey (PIANJ)...

Liberty Mutual Drops Direct Sales to Middle Market Businesses

Feb 8 2009 // Puts Faith in Independent Agents Liberty Mutual Group is throwing in the towel on direct distribution of insurance to middle market businesses. Because it couldn’t beat independent agents and brokers — who...

Pros and Cons of Running a Small Business Unit

Feb 8 2009 // Agencies Say SBUs Take Dedication, Technology But Offer Profitability Going for the big fish may bring in big returns but some agencies think having a strategic plan to go after all those little fish is just as important....

Insurers’ Stocks Down 14%; Middle Market Carriers Active in Intermediary Acquisitions

Feb 8 2009 // Stock Price: Commercial lines stocks mirrored those of major indices in 2008, trading down 14 percent. Mergers & Acquisitions: Middle market carriers continue to be major players in the acquisition market as they look...

Texas Lawmaker Proposes Tax Caps for Commercial Property

Feb 3 2009 // Texas State Representative Bill Callegari (Katy) has filed two measures to cap increases in property tax appraisals for commercial property. The bills, HB 979 and HJR 49, limit annual appraisal increases for commercial...

Michigan Senate Republicans Could Block Workplace Ergonomics Rule

Jan 29 2009 // Michigan Republicans are again trying to stop Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration from instituting mandatory workplace ergonomics rules in the state. The Democratic governor has previously vetoed similar...