Auto Insurers News

Arbella Reduces 2008 Mass. Auto Rates Again

The Arbella Insurance Group reported that it has received approval for new private passenger auto rates in Massachusetts that will result in another one percent average drop on top of an earlier 7.7 percent decrease. The company estimates that this …

S&P: Rising Claims, Competition Squeeze Canadian P/C Insurers

“Lack of premium growth nationwide and diminished results in the Ontario auto segment restrained results for Canadian property and casualty insurers in the past year,” according to a newly published report from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. The study – …

Insurers and Agents Applaud New York Auto Rating Change

Trade groups for New York insurers and agents alike are praising a recently passed bill by state lawmakers that will allow auto insurers to raise or lower their rates by 5 percent over the course of a year without first …

Business Moves

Mapfre, Commerce Spain’s largest insurer, Mapfre S.A., said it has completed its acquisition of The Commerce Group Inc., the 20th largest auto insurer in the country. Mapfre paid $36.70 per share of Commerce’s publicly traded stock, with a total merger …

Auto Insurers Seek to Attract Latinos

Majority of Advertising Appearing in Spanish-Language Media Automobile insurers are hungering for the Hispanic market’s premium dollars, according to a report by Hispanic Market Weekly that analyzed marketing and media trends being used by the industry. Automobile insurers spent $78.7 …

Mercury Provides California Policyholders $61 Million Rate Reduction

George Joseph, founder and chairman of Mercury General Corp. announced the company has filed for and was approved for a 33 percent rate reduction for homeowners and 10 percent rate reduction for renters insurance policyholders in California. State Insurance Commissioner …

Mass. Agents, Arbella Challenge Managed Competition Rules

Massachusetts insurance agents and one of the state’s biggest auto insurers are going to court seeking to overturn rules that they say give new carriers an unfair advantage under the state’s new managed competition system. They are also challenging a …

Spain’s MAPFRE Completes Acquisition of U.S. Insurer Commerce

In a joint announcement Spain’s largest insurer, MAPFRE S.A. and The Massachusetts-based Commerce Group, Inc. announced that MAPFRE has completed its acquisition of Commerce. The parties reached agreement on a deal last October (See IJ web site – https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2007/10/30/84650.htm). Along …

Spain’s Mapfre Completes Acquisition of Commerce Group

Spain’s largest insurer, Mapfre S.A., said it has completed its acquisition of The Commerce Group Inc., the 20th largest auto insurer in the country. Mapfre paid $36.70 in cash per share of Commerce’s publicly traded stock, with total merger consideration …

Case Watch

Exclusions United Fire & Casualty Co. v. Keely & Sons, Inc. Ill. App. May 2, 2008 Commercial policy does not provide coverage to policyholder for claims of spoliation of evidence. A policyholder was sued when employees were injured after falling …