Latest Underwriting Headlines
All the headlines from our Underwriting Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Is the Industry Repeating the Past – Yet Again’
Feb 21 2005 // In a collection of works titled The Life of Reason, the philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Currently there’s a momentous shift underway in...
Insurance Agents’ E&O: Are You Properly Covered’
Feb 21 2005 // Have you heard the story of the shoemaker’s children? Although their father was a shoemaker, they always had the most worn shoes. The reason is their father spent so much time and effort taking care of his customers,...
Fiduciary Liability: Obtaining Effective Insurance
Feb 21 2005 // As discussed in part one of this series in the Feb. 7 issue (page 34), fiduciary liability is one of the most misunderstood of management exposures. However, once one grasps the concept of personal liability embedded in...
Specialty Underwriters Alliance Names Philip to Board
Feb 15 2005 // Chicago-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc., a commercial property and casualty insurance holding company, has appointed Paul Philp to its Board of Directors. Philp has held numerous senior executive...
Kingsway Notes 54% Gain in Net Income
Feb 10 2005 // Toronto-based Kingsway Financial Services Inc. announced financial results for the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2004, and the declaration of an initial quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share. For the fourth quarter net...
XL Capital Notes $288M Q4 Profit
Feb 9 2005 // Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd. reported net income available to ordinary shareholders for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2004 of $288.0 million, or $2.07 per ordinary share, compared with a net loss of $314.8 million, or a loss...
Crossing the Border: Mexico Travel Offers Opportunities for Agents
Feb 7 2005 // Mexico is a country rich in cultural heritage and scenic landscapes. From colonial villages to majestic desert panoramas to pristine beaches, our bordering neighbor to the south offers something for everyone. Steeped in...
Crossing the Border: Mexico Travel Offers Opportunities for Agents
Feb 7 2005 // Mexico is a country rich in cultural heritage and scenic landscapes. From colonial villages to majestic desert panoramas to pristine beaches, our bordering neighbor to the south offers something for everyone. Steeped in...
Montemayor Sees No Basis for Credit Scoring Ban
Feb 2 2005 // Texas Insurance Commissioner José Montemayor recently delivered to Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature the final report on a credit scoring study conducted by the Texas Department of Insurance. In a letter...
Are We Repeating the Past — Again’
Jan 24 2005 // I fear we are entering a period of cyclical amnesia. We are once again setting aside underwriting discipline. Recent market forecasts are projecting deteriorating terms and conditions. In a collection of works titled...
Are We Repeating the Past … Again’
Jan 24 2005 // In a collection of works titled The Life of Reason, the philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There’s now a momentous shift underway in the...
Quanta Capital Appoints Byrne European Chief Underwriting Officer
Jan 19 2005 // Bermuda-based Quanta Capital Holdings Ltd., which provides specialty insurance, reinsurance, and risk consulting services through its subsidiaries, announced the appointment of John J. Byrne as Chief Underwriting Officer...
Applied Underwriters Adopts Proposed Calif. Rate Reduction for Workers’ Comp
Jan 19 2005 // Applied Underwriters, a provider in integrated workers’ compensation solutions, adopted the January rate reduction recommended by the California Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau. After a strong 2004,...
Bass Underwriters Opens Northern California Office
Jan 11 2005 // Florida-based Bass Underwriters Inc. has announced that the opening of their Northern California division that provides service to California. The office is located at 3433 American River Drive, Suite A, Sacramento, CA...
Best Affirms Rating for The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association; Outlook Stable
Jan 6 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Ltd (Steamship London) (London, England). The outlook has been changed to stable from negative, in...
Focus on the Future: Come 2014, Industry Should Look Very Familiar
Jan 3 2005 // Ten years from now, some of the players within the property/casualty insurance industry will have changed but the industry itself will not look dramatically different from what it is today: Smaller companies and...
2005 P/C industry in a word: Resilience
Jan 2 2005 // The property/casualty insurance industry reported a statutory rate of return on average surplus of 9.5 percent through the first nine months of 2005, marginally below the 10.5 percent average return recorded during...
Rios Joins Compass as Underwriter/Broker
Dec 29 2004 // California-based The Harry W. Gorst Co. and Compass Insurance Group of Agencies Inc., announced the hiring of Evon Rios as a broker and will be situated in the San Diego area. This year, Rios celebrated 21 years in the...
Best Reports P/C Industry Maintains Underwriting Profit, Despite “Unprecedented Cat Events”
Dec 28 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has released a year-end report on the U.S. P/C industry, which indicates that, “despite the colossal hurricane losses posted during the third quarter of 2004,” it “reported very strong...
SeaCoast Underwriters Inc. Acquires Franzese & Assoc.
Dec 28 2004 // SeaCoast Underwriters Inc. has announced its acquisition of Franzese & Assoc. of Orlando and Franzese & Assoc. of Florida. According to R.C. Chaffin, SeaCoast president and CEO the acquistion became effective...
