Latest Underwriting Headlines
All the headlines from our Underwriting Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Property/Casualty Insurance: An Industry in Recovery’
Apr 7 2003 // Following the property/casualty industry’s net loss after taxes in 2001, many analysts predicted 2002 would be the year of recovery. In fact, strong premium growth and sharply lower catastrophe losses did lead to...
Are Cost, Availability of Calif. Homeowners Insurance at Crisis Proportions’
Apr 7 2003 // Today, the California personal lines industry is at the peak of a down cycle that has adversely affected the homeowners’ insurance marketplace. The downturn began in 2000, and worsened after the Sept. 11 attack on...
Property/Casualty Insurance: An Industry in Recovery’
Apr 7 2003 // Following the property/casualty industry’s net loss after taxes in 2001, many analysts predicted 2002 would be the year of recovery. In fact, strong premium growth and sharply lower catastrophe losses did lead to...
Platinum Underwriters Names Justin Cressall Treasurer
Apr 1 2003 // Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. announced that Justin Cressall has been appointed as Treasurer. He was formerly with KPMG LLP, where he held various positions serving the firm’s insurance, reinsurance and...
PIACT Opposes Bill Prohibiting the Use of Credit History in Insurance Underwriting
Mar 27 2003 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut Inc. has issued a statement urging the Connecticut General Assembly’s Insurance & Real Estate Committee to oppose Committee Bill No. 5490. The PIACT described the...
Infinity P&C Happy with 4th Quarter, Year 2002 Results
Mar 20 2003 // Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation of Birmingham, Ala. today reported earnings of its operations for the 2002 fourth quarter and full year as well as pro forma earnings as though Infinity had been a public company...
NAII Notes Positive Modifications in VA 2003 Insurance Legislation
Mar 17 2003 // “Virginia’s 2003 legislative session ended with the softening of many bills that could have made it much more difficult for insurance companies to conduct business in the state,” said an announcement from...
Lloyd’s Awards U.S. Brokers; Accredits New Asian, 2 London Brokers
Mar 13 2003 // Lloyd’s of London announced that Constance Curnow of Guy Carpenter and Gerald J. Sullivan of The Sullivan Group are the first brokers to win the Lloyd’s U.S. Broker Awards. The awards for U.S. Reinsurance...
Argonaut Posts Losses, Agrees to Sell Stock to HCC
Mar 13 2003 // Despite gains in three of its four business segments, San Antonio-based Argonaut Group said it posted a $105.3 million net loss for the fourth quarter 2002 and an $87.0 million net loss for the year. The 2002 net loss was...
Underwriting Losses Earn Warranty Insurer Lowered Rating
Mar 11 2003 // Nebraska-based auto warranty and service contract insurer National Warranty Insurance Co. has been downgraded to “B++” (Very Good) from “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best & Co. The rating action...
A.M. Best Places Rating of The Underwriter Insurance Company Under Review
Mar 11 2003 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it “has placed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of The Underwriter Insurance Company Limited (TU), United Kingdom, under review with negative...
Seeking Stability in the D&O World
Mar 10 2003 // The world of directors & officers coverage may be hanging out signs these days or posting messages on the Internet that simply read—Wanted: Stability. That commodity has been extremely hard to come by in recent...
Observations from the Storm
Mar 10 2003 // Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere for the past year or two, yes, we’re in the midst of a hardening market cycle. After a prolonged soft market period, prices seem to be firming in every segment,...
EPLI-Higher Prices, More Claims, Tighter Underwriting
Mar 10 2003 // It is often said that every situation has a light at the end of the tunnel, but the employment practices liability scene may have to squint just a little harder to see those rays of hope while higher prices, more courtroom...
Seeking Stability in the D&O World
Mar 10 2003 // The world of directors & officers coverage may be hanging out signs these days or posting messages on the Internet that simply read—Wanted: Stability. That commodity has been extremely hard to come by in recent...
Observations From the Storm
Mar 10 2003 // Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere for the past year or two, yes, we’re in the midst of a hardening market cycle. After a prolonged soft market period, prices seem to be firming in every segment,...
Va. Lawmakers Consider Tightening Use of Insurers’ Underwriting, Rating Tools
Feb 24 2003 // As the final days of the 2003 Virginia legislative session unfold, lawmakers are considering several bills that would impact the resources insurance companies currently use to underwrite and rate their products. Senate...
White Mountains Reports Improved 2002 Results
Feb 19 2003 // Bermuda-based White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. ended 2002 with a fully converted tangible book value per share of $259, a 15 percent increase for the year. The company’s comprehensive net income for 2002 was...
Platinum Underwriters Holdings Said Pleased With Finances
Feb 14 2003 // Platinum Underwriters Holdings reported on its first two months of operations that began on Nov. 1, 2002 when the company completed its initial public offering and assumed the continuing 2002 reinsurance business of The...
APCapital Reports Fewer Losses, Sees 2003 Profits
Feb 14 2003 // American Physicians Capital Inc. reported a net operating loss of $1.1 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2002, compared to a net operating loss of $14.5 million, or $1.38 per diluted share,...