United States News

Southeast’s Top Stories: Disasters That Happened and 1 That Didn’t

The top insurance stories in the Southeast in 2010 included several disasters that caused considerable death and destruction in the region and one that didn’t do as much harm as feared. The April 20 blowout of BP’s Macondo well while …

Ratings Recap: Beazley (U.S.), Atradius Trade Credit, HDI-Gerling America

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Connecticut-based Beazley Insurance Company, Inc. (BICI), both with stable outlooks. These ratings reflect “BICI’s solid stand-alone risk-adjusted capitalization, in addition to …

Democratic Congress Productive But Unpopular

Perhaps never before has a U.S. Congress done more and been liked less than the one controlled by President Barack Obama’s Democrats that ended Wednesday. It wrapped up its two-year legislative cycle with a crush of action in its final …

2010’s Top Insurance Stories in the West

In 2009, independent insurance agents and brokers faced a “perfect storm” with the economic downturn, premiums at a fraction of what they used to be, and unemployment and home foreclosure rates up, said Kevin Baker of San Jose, Calif.-based Suhr …

President Obama Expected to Sign Food Safety Overhaul Bill

The ailing U.S. food safety system moved closer Tuesday toward its biggest overhaul in more than 70 years after the House passed legislation that would increase inspections and give regulators the power to recall tainted foods. The House voted 215-144 …

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Tribeca Strategic Advisors

Itasca, Ill.-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.announced it has acquired Tribeca Strategic Advisors LLC located in Mesa, Ariz. Terms of this transaction were not disclosed. Established in 1999, Tribeca is an alternative risk and captive consulting and management company providing …

Alabama Tornado Survivors Still Coping 10 Years Later

Whitney Crowder doesn’t remember the day her father died. What happened Dec. 16, 2000, has gone down in state history: Eleven people, including her father and baby brother, died when an F4 tornado hit south Tuscaloosa. It was the single …

SPECIAL REUTERS REPORT: Inside AIG’s Tortuous Turnaround

During a rainstorm in Washington in early 2009, amid the furor over Wall Street’s post-bailout bonuses, an American International Group employee pulled out an umbrella that had the insurer’s name on it. “Somebody came by, grabbed the umbrella and broke …

Marsh Agency Buys Pennsylvania’s Trion

Marsh’s retail agency business has acquired Trion Group Inc., the largest privately held employee benefits specialist in the United States with $74 million in annual revenue. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based Trion offers consulting, brokerage, group …

$81M Punitive Damages in Massachusetts Cigarette Case

A tobacco company that had tried to hook black children on cigarettes was ordered to pay $81 million in punitive damages to the estate and son of a Boston woman who started smoking at age 13, in what an attorney …