Latest Commercial Lines Headlines
All the headlines from our Commercial Lines Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Liberty Mutual Offers Commercial Fleets Tool to Reduce Costs
Mar 5 2009 // Portland, Ore.-based Liberty Northwest, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company, is offering commercial fleets in its five-state territory Onboard Advisor, a fleet management product that is designed to help...
IMA Forms Unit to Focus on Small Commercial, Personal Lines Business
Mar 4 2009 // Wichita, Kan.-based IMA has formed a new subsidiary, Signature Select LLC. This new entity, a retail insurance broker, will provide personal insurance services and business insurance solutions for small to mid-sized...
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...
PGI Commercial Acquires Assets of Michigan’s Underwriters & Brokers
Feb 11 2009 // PGI Commercial has acquired the assets of Underwriters & Brokers, Inc. of Troy, Michigan. PGIC said it will merge the platform and staff of UBI with its existing Michigan office. Underwriters & Brokers, Inc....
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...
Aon Insurer Survey Confirms Desire to Increase UK Commercial Premiums
Jan 28 2009 // According to the Aon’s newly launched “Market Pulse,” underwriters expect motor [auto] insurance premiums for UK companies to increase in the first quarter of 2009. Aon said its new quarterly index...
ACE Europe Launches Insurance, Risk Management for Mid-size Firms
Jan 27 2009 // ACE Europe has announced the launch of “ACE Evolve,” which it describes as a “coordinated insurance and risk management solution for mid-sized companies with overseas subsidiaries or assets. ACE Evolve...
