Latest Commercial Lines Headlines
All the headlines from our Commercial Lines Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Texas Lawmaker Proposes More Tax Exemptions for Small Businesses
Jan 27 2009 // Texas State Rep. Brandon Creighton has filed HB 720 to give more small businesses an exemption from the state business tax. Current law exempts businesses with revenue under $300,000 and gives discounts to those who make...
Study: Recession Pressuring Middle Market to Value Price Over Service
Jan 26 2009 // As the U.S. economic slowdown deepens, middle-market companies are reassessing their relationships with insurance brokers and adopting a more bottom-line approach to securing insurance coverage. Historically, middle-market...
Employers Holdings Reducing Staff By 14%
Jan 23 2009 // Reno, Nev.-based Employers Holdings Inc., a Nevada-based company whose subsidiaries are specialty providers of workers’ compensation insurance focused on small- and medium-sized businesses, announced a strategic...
Liberty Mutual Drops Direct Sales to Middle Market Businesses; Puts Faith in Independent Agents
Jan 22 2009 // Liberty Mutual Group is throwing in the towel on direct distribution of insurance to middle market businesses. Since it couldn’t beat independent agents and brokers — who dominate sales in this segment —...
Survey: Small Businesses Plan for Contingency; Expect Cutbacks in 2009
Jan 22 2009 // Many small business owners say that they’re prepared to eliminate some positions or reduce the number of hours employees work as part of their contingency planning for 2009, according to a recent survey. Almost half...
Bill Would Add Oklahoma Small Businesses to Do Not Call List
Jan 20 2009 // Oklahoma House of Representatives Democratic Leader Danny Morgan, D-Prague, filed a bill that he says will help small businesses reduce costs by adding Oklahoma businesses to the state’s Do Not Call...
Insurance Industry Sees Commercial Airlines as Safe
Jan 16 2009 // With the world’s attention focused on the US Airways Airbus emergency landing in the Hudson River and the successful rescue of passengers, the insurance industry points out that the commercial airlines industry has a...
New York Audit: Unqualified Drivers Received Commercial Licenses
Jan 15 2009 // An audit finds that the New York state Department of Motor Vehicles has incorrectly scored some tests for some commercial drivers and given licenses to people who were not qualified. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says...
Michigan Businesses Oppose Mandatory Workplace Rules
Jan 14 2009 // Business groups want to halt efforts to adopt mandatory workplace ergonomics standards in Michigan. Commissions set up by state regulators are scheduled to take preliminary but key votes on potential rules next week. A...
North Carolina Workplace Fatalities Rise as Economy Slows
Jan 13 2009 // Workplace deaths in North Carolina rose in 2008 after three years of declines, and officials worry that the nation’s sagging economy is partly to blame. Preliminary data provided by the North Carolina Department of...
Florida High Court Nixes Business Liability Waivers Affecting Children
Jan 11 2009 // The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that a parent can’t execute an injury liability waiver for a minor child when the liability release involves participation in a commercial, as opposed to community or nonprofit,...
