Latest Excess Surplus Headlines

All the headlines from our Excess Surplus Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Lloyd’s CEO Outlines ‘Strategic Challenges’ Facing General Insurance Industry

Apr 8 2005 // Lloyd’s CEO Nick Prettejohn, speaking at the FSA insurance conference on Thursday, April, 7, outlined six “strategic challenges” facing the general insurance industry, which he also indicated was by no...

Merkle and Rojas Join Monarch E&S

Apr 7 2005 // Monarch E&S Insurance Services has hired Matt Merkle as assistant vice president and Doris Rojas as an underwriter in its new Simi Valley, California office. Merkle will manage the overall operations of the office and...

S&P Sees No Change in Lloyd’s Ratings

Apr 7 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services joined A.M. Best in stating that its ratings and outlook on the Lloyd’s Market (“A” / Stable) and The Society of Lloyd’s (also “A” /-...

S&P Publishes Comparison Study on U.S. Surplus and Specialty Lines Insurers

Apr 7 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services named Houston-based HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. as the leader in surplus and specialty insurance lines, in a new report – “Peer Comparison: U.S. Surplus And...

Western Security Surplus Offers Free Tough Products Liability Seminar May 11

Apr 6 2005 // Western Security Surplus announced a free Tough Products Liability Insurance seminar on May 11, 2005. The hosts for the seminar will be WSS’ Northern California office and Shand Morahan. The topic is “Insuring...

Lloyd’s Recorded Strong 2004 Profit Despite Hits from Natural Catastrophes

Apr 6 2005 // Lloyd’s of London announced an annually accounted profit of $2,605 million in 2004. Although below profits of 2003, this result was achieved despite net claims of $2.3 billion from the U.S. hurricanes, in the...

Target Insurance Services Launches 3 New Programs: Home Inspectors, Large Law Firms, Accountants

Apr 5 2005 // Avon, Conn.-based Target Insurance Services is making available new markets for home inspectors professional liability, including optional general liability; professional liability for large law firms (50+ in size); and...

Argonaut Group Acquires Renewal Rights of Fireman’s Fund Binding Authority Business

Apr 4 2005 // San Antonio-based Argonaut Group Inc., a national underwriter of specialty insurance products in niche areas of the property and casualty market, announced it has reached an agreement with Fireman’s Fund Insurance...

Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Lost $8.2 Million in 2004

Apr 4 2005 // Chicago-based commercial property/casualty program carrier Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. reported a net loss of $8.2 million for 2004. Total revenues were $300,000, representing investment income earned after...

Agents Beware: Due Diligence is Now Required

Apr 4 2005 // Transactions between retail agents and brokers they place business through just became more labor intensive. I recently testified as an expert in a federal case involving a reputable agency’s failure to conduct...

Agents Beware: Due Diligence is Now Required on Brokers

Apr 4 2005 // Transactions between retail agents and brokers they place business through just became more labor intensive. I recently testified as an expert in a federal case involving a reputable agency’s failure to conduct...

S&P Report Notes Slower Growth in U.S. P/C Surplus

Apr 1 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has published a report comparing the past two years of U.S. P/C surplus growth, titled “U.S. Property/Casualty Surplus Growth Slows In 2004.” S&P credit...

Ind.-Based Leisure/Sports Specialty Broker Launched

Mar 31 2005 // announced its official entry into business with the opening of its corporate headquarters in Fort Wayne, Ind. LSS said in a statement that it has an exclusive insurance relationship with niche property/casualty carrier...

AIG Again Delays Filing of 10-K Annual Report; Discloses Details About Gen Re, Offshore, Starr Dealings

Mar 30 2005 // American International Group, Inc. announced that the filing of its 2004 Form 10-K will be delayed beyond the March 31, 2005 extended due date in order to provide AIG, its board of directors and its new management more...

Hylant Group Promotes Hall to President of Specialty Programs

Mar 28 2005 // Toledo, Ohio-based agency Hylant Group announced the promotion of Brian K. Hall to president of Hylant Specialty Programs/National Insurance Specialists. Hall is responsible for the overall operations of Hylant Specialty...

Health Care Revolution Delivers Opportunities for Surplus Lines Industry

Mar 21 2005 // How long do you plan on living?” asked a wholesale broker at a recent industry meeting. The trends facing every aspect of our health care system seem daunting at best. Yet most people would hope and plan for a longer...

Agents Beware: Due Diligence is Now Required on Brokers

Mar 21 2005 // Transactions between retail agents and brokers they place business through just became more labor intensive. I recently testified as an expert in a federal case involving a reputable agency’s failure to conduct...

STATE FUND FILES 2004 FINANCIAL STATEMENT WITH CDI:

Mar 21 2005 // In an annual statement filed with the California Department of Insurance, State Compensation Insurance Fund documented that its policyholder surplus–assets minus claims reserves and other liabilities–increased...

Agents Beware: Due Diligence is Now Required

Mar 21 2005 // Transactions between retail agents and brokers they place business through just became more labor intensive. I recently testified as an expert in a federal case involving a reputable agency’s failure to conduct...

Best Affirms AIG’s Lloyd’s Syndicate ‘A+’ Ratings

Mar 18 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of “A+” (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1414 with a stable outlook. Best...