Delaware News

Alterra Capital Rebrands U.S. Carriers

Alterra Capital Holdings Limited has renamed Max Specialty Insurance Co. as Alterra Excess & Surplus Insurance Co. This is part of an overall rebranding of Alterra following the May 2010 merger of Max Capital and Harbor Point to form Alterra. …

Enforcement Issues Complicate Mississippi’s Efforts on Texting Drivers

Undoubtedly bills will be filed to strengthen Mississippi’s texting-while-driving ban during the 2011 legislative session, and questions about enforcement are sure to be raised. A law enacted in 2009 banned beginning teenage drivers from sending text messages from behind the …

Best Affirms QBE US Subsidiaries Ratings; Upgrades Praetorian and NAU

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a” from “a-” of Pennsylvania-based Praetorian Insurance Company and Minnesota-based NAU Country Insurance Company. Both are operating companies …

Federal Court to Hear West Virginia Families’ Claims Against DuPont

A federal court will hear the complaints of 14 West Virginia families who blame illnesses ranging from cancer to rashes on long-term exposure to toxic waste piled up at a former DuPont zinc-smelting plant. Lead plaintiffs Rebecca Morlock and Waunona …

Southwest Insurance Partners, Lightyear Delos Acquisition to Merge

Lightyear Delos Acquisition Corp. (LYDAC) and Southwest Insurance Partners Inc. (SWIP) announced they are merging in a transaction that is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. The merged entity will be led by Stephen L. Way. …

Ratings Recap: Alterra (notes), Gulf Ltd., Barents Re, Middle East Insurance

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of “bbb” to the recently issued $350 million 6.25 percent senior unsecured notes due 2020 of Delaware-based Alterra Finance LLC. The senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Alterra Capital Holdings …

Volunteer Fire Companies Face Funding Woes in Delaware

Volunteer fire departments across Delaware are having to scrimp and put off buying new equipment just to stay afloat as local, state and charitable funds are harder to find. Kevin Wilson, president of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association, says government …

People

K&K Insurance, based in Ft. Wayne, Ind., named Todd Bixler president and CEO. Bixler joined K&K Insurance in 1986 as controller, responsible for financial reporting and accounting operations. His subsequent positions of increasing responsibility with K&K included chief financial officer, …

Ohio Insurance Institute: State’s Insured Losses from Ike – $1.255B

For some Ohioans, the memory of Hurricane Ike is only surpassed by the damage it caused last Sept. 14 as it made its way across the Buckeye State packing winds at speeds equal to a Category 1 hurricane (up to …

People

Aon Consulting has named Shelly Blackstone as vice president of business development in its Richmond, Virginia office. In her new role, Blackstone will develop new products and services clients in Central and Southern Virginia. Prior to joining Aon Consulting, she …