Latest Underwriting Headlines

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

HCC Closes Minority Stake in Lloyd’s Heritage Underwriting Agency

Mar 15 2006 // HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, reported it has received regulatory and Lloyd’s of London approval to its previously announced acquisition of 23.6 percent shareholding in Heritage...

U.K.’s Catlin Group Appoints Banas President, CEO of New U.S. Company

Mar 10 2006 // The U.K.’s Catlin Group reported from its Bermuda operations center that Richard Banas has been appointed as president and CEO of Catlin Inc., the Group’s new U.S. subsidiary. “Rich Banas will be...

M.E. James Surplus Lines Names Chang Underwriter

Mar 7 2006 // M.E. James Surplus Lines Insurance Brokerage Inc. has hired Scott Chang as an underwriter in the new Los Angeles-based office. Chang began his insurance career in 1989 at Singer Insurance, an managing general agent in...

SCOR Premium Income up 25%

Mar 6 2006 // France’s SCOR Group noted a 25 percent rise in worldwide premium income follwing the January renewal season. Non- life and credit & surety treaties totaled €1.041 billion ($1.256 billion). The reinsurer said...

Gormley Promoted to Senior VP at Lighthouse Underwriters

Mar 6 2006 // Lighthouse Underwriters, an Anandale-Va.-based program underwriting company, announced that Sean Gormley has been promoted to senior vice president. In this position he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at...

XL Insurance Notes New Developments in Global Aerospace Operations

Mar 6 2006 // David Duclos, COO for XL Capital Ltd’s (“XL”) insurance operations (“XL Insurance”), reported changes within XL Insurance’s global aerospace business. London-based Peter Bilsby has been...

Understanding the rules of rescinding policies

Mar 6 2006 // Underwriters must do their homework and take a close look at legal and business requirements before deciding to rescind an insurance policy, executives attending the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) 18th...

Texas Windstorm Underwriting Workshops Planned for May/June

Mar 2 2006 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association announced it will hold “underwriting basics workshops” in various locations throughout the state. TWIA noted that these workshops will help new agents/agency personnel...

Best Assigns Singapore’s First Capital ‘A-‘ Ratings

Mar 1 2006 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has assigned a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and an issuer credit of “a-” to the Singapore-based insurer First Capital Insurance Limited, with a...

Mich. Requires Life Insurers Make Amends for Race-based Underwriting

Feb 28 2006 // The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services issued a statement this week saying that a consent order requiring the Western and Southern Life Insurance Company was issued requiring the companies make amends for...

Stone Oak Underwriters to Provide Public Officials E&O, EPLI and Law Enforcement Liability for Public Entities

Feb 27 2006 // San Antonio, TX – Stone Oak Underwriters, LLC, of San Antonio, Texas has entered into a Program Administrators agreement with Berkley Underwriting Partners, LLC, to provide Public Officials E&O, EPLI and Law...

Stone Oak Underwriters Adds PL Products for Public Entities

Feb 27 2006 // Stone Oak Underwriters, LLC, of San Antonio, Texas, announced it has entered into a program administrators agreement with Berkley Underwriting Partners LLC, to provide public officials E&O, EPLI and law enforcement...

Hurricanes Drive 39% Decline in Net Income for Giant State Farm

Feb 26 2006 // Hurricane losses and loss adjustment expenses totaling $6.3 billion (after reinsurance) contributed to a reduction in State Farm’s 2005 net income. The company is reporting an after-tax net income from all sources of...

King’s Bay Insurance Services Adds Cratem as Sr. VP of Underwriting

Feb 24 2006 // Michael Cratem has joined Florida-based King’s Bay Insurance Services as senior vice president, Underwriting. In this position, he will be responsible for the underwriting function of this Florida licensed Managing...

Lloyd’s Underwriter Survey; ‘Cycle’ Remains Primary Concern

Feb 22 2006 // According to Lloyd’s newly released annual underwriter survey, “managing the insurance cycle as the most important challenge facing the global industry for the second year running.” The survey also found...

Midland Company Reports Strong Fourth Quarter Earnings

Feb 22 2006 // Cincinnati-based The Midland Company, a provider of specialty insurance products and services, today reported fourth quarter 2005 net income of $20.0 million, or $1.03 per share, including 3 cents in realized capital...

Often overlooked, accurate insurance-to-value should be a priority

Feb 20 2006 // When underwriting for commercial properties, insurers need to obtain accurate insurance-to-value (ITV) calculations so they can charge the right premiums for the risks they assume. Adequate ITV is not an issue to be taken...

How to keep your non-standard auto clients

Feb 20 2006 // When selling non-standard auto insurance, do you know how to retain your clients or are you driving away the business? There are a number of factors that affect retention, including: Finance method and...

Often overlooked, accurate insurance-to-value should be priority

Feb 20 2006 // When underwriting for commercial properties, insurers need to obtain accurate insurance-to-value (ITV) calculations so they can charge the right premiums for the risks assumed. Adequate ITV should not be taken lightly. If...

Unusual circumstances surround dropped sale of Universal Underwriters

Feb 20 2006 // Most failed company mergers remain a secret, except to a handful of insiders.That was not the case with the collapsed attempt by Zurich Financial Services Group to sell its affiliate, Universal Underwriters Insurance...