Latest Property Casualty Headlines

All the headlines from our Property Casualty Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Double-Digit Returns Absent From Year-End, 2013 Financial Forecasts

Jan 11 2013 // Although analysts following the property/casualty insurance industry expect underwriting results for 2012 to be better than 2011 when full-year numbers are tallied, double-digit overall returns-on-equity are still not...

10 Insurance Ins and Outs, Ups and Downs of Year of Dragon 2012

Jan 2 2013 // In Chinese astrology, the year 2012 was the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of unpredictability and uncertainty. The dragon represents mystery because its head and tail cannot be seen at the same time, according to Chinese...

Looking Back at Insurance News of 2012: The Year’s Biggest Stories

Dec 31 2012 // With less than a day left until the end of the year, here’s a look back at some of the biggest property/casualty insurance news stories in 2012 that impacted the Northeast region, in chronological order: Top Investor...

Program Specialists: Thriving in All Market Conditions

Dec 31 2012 // There is a strain of thinking that says generalists can adapt and survive in most environments whereas specialists are more at the mercy of their environment. That may be the case for some species but it’s...

P/C Insurance Agents: What Did You Sell This Year?

Dec 31 2012 // Was 2012 a good year for you? Did you close some good accounts? How did it feel? Tell us about it. You don’t have to give away names but share your stories. Boast a little. Take some credit. Give credit to others....

P/C Industry’s 9 Month Results Show Insurers Can Handle Sandy Losses: ISO, PCI

Dec 28 2012 // Before Hurricane Sandy hit, private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ net income after taxes grew to $27 billion in nine-months 2012 from $8.4 billion in nine-months 2011. Insurers’ overall profitability as...

P/C Insurers’ Loss Reserves Continue to Surprise Analysts

Dec 27 2012 // Analysts at two rating agencies, Fitch and Moody’s, believe property/casualty insurers’ prior-year loss reserve takedowns will continue to outpace reserve additions in 2013. The analysts spoke about P/C...

AssuredPartners Acquires Two Agencies

Dec 18 2012 // AssuredPartners Inc., based in Lake Mary, Fla., recently announced the acquisition of two independent insurance agencies. In its first significant expansion west of the Mississippi River, AssuredPartners acquired...

P/C Insurance Analysts’ Expectations Climbing: Accenture

Dec 18 2012 // Although returns-on-equity for the property/casualty insurance industry are lagging in the mid-to-upper single-digit range, equity analysts expect companies they recommend with “Buy” ratings to garner returns...

Best Affirms W. R. Berkley Corp and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings

Dec 17 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of’ A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of the property/casualty members of Berkley Insurance Group – Admiral...

Double-Digit Returns Absent From Year-End, 2013 Financial Forecasts

Dec 17 2012 // Although analysts following the property/casualty insurance industry expect underwriting results for 2012 to be better than 2011 when full-year numbers are tallied, double-digit overall returns-on-equity are still not...

2013 Buyer’s Guide

Dec 17 2012 // Welcome to Insurance Journal‘s Annual Buyer’s Guide, your A-Z for P&C. Looking for insurance services, products, and solutions? Save this valuable directory – it’s listed by category so...

People

Dec 17 2012 // Associated Agencies Inc., based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., has promoted Joshua Herz to president, making him the fourth person in the same family to hold the position. Herz succeeds his cousin, Max (Skip) R. Schrayer, who...

P/C Insurers’ Capital at ‘Historically High’ Levels: Fitch

Dec 14 2012 // Fitch Ratings has maintained its stable outlook for both the commercial and personal lines sectors of the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry. Insurers have withstood less favorable underwriting and economic...

Best Affirms United Services Automobile Ass’n. and Subs ‘A++’ Ratings

Dec 13 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A++’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aaa” of United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and its property/casualty...

W.R. Berkley Names President of B F Re Underwriters in Conn.

Dec 5 2012 // Greenwich, Conn.-headquartered W.R. Berkley Corp. announced Gregory A. Douglas has been named president of its B F Re Underwriters unit. The appointment is effective January 1, 2013. Douglas succeeds Daniel L. Avery, who...

W.R. Berkley Names President of FinSecure Unit in Baltimore

Dec 4 2012 // Greenwich, Conn.-headquartered W.R. Berkley Corp. announced Michael P. Dandini has been named president of the company’s FinSecure LLC unit. Dandini has nearly 20 years of experience in the property/casualty...

Fitch Downgrades Argentine Insurers Ratings after Sovereign Downgrade

Dec 3 2012 // Fitch Ratings has downgraded the long-term National Scale ratings of 12 insurance companies in Argentina, and has also revised the companies’ rating outlooks to negative from stable. Fitch said it took the rating...

Business Moves – East

Dec 3 2012 // Onex Corp., USI Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp. 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...

Lynch Named Kemper P&C Group Executive; Schulte Resigns

Nov 30 2012 // Kemper Corp. announced that Denise I. Lynch has been named property/casualty group executive effective Dec. 1. She will report directly to Donald G. Southwell, Kemper’s chairman, president and chief executive...