South Africa Advised by World Bank on Climate Insurance, Contingency Fund Options
The World Bank is advising South Africa’s National Treasury on a climate risk strategy after floods in recent years caused billions of dollars of damage. The country may take out climate insurance or establish a contingency fund to deal with …
People Moves: Morisato joins Sentry Board of Directors
Susan Morisato has joined Sentry’s Board of Directors. Sentry is headquartered in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin. Morisato, based in Des Plaines, Illinois, brings over 30 years of health insurance experience to Sentry’s board. She is a former president of insurance solutions …
SageSure and SURE Close $130 Million Gateway Re 2024-2 Catastrophe Bond
SageSure, a managing general underwriter focused on catastrophe-exposed markets, and SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (“SURE”), a policyholder-owned reciprocal exchange, announced the close of the Gateway Re 2024-2 second and subsequent event catastrophe bond at $130 million, with pricing 75 basis …
Viewpoint: Insurance Sector Adopts Easy-to-Use Technology for Digital Transformations
Upgrading or changing legacy platforms and enterprise software can be a nightmare to disentangle, particularly when dealing with existing operating systems, data storage, and payment processing software. When planning an upgrade, there have historically only been two options: Buy pre-made …
McKinsey Faces US Criminal Probe Over Opioids Work, Sources Say
McKinsey & Co is under criminal investigation in the United States over allegations that the consulting firm played a key role in fueling the opioid epidemic, with federal prosecutors homing in on its work advising OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and …
Viewpoint: Insurers Face Added Role in Curbing Workplace Violence With California Law
New legislation aimed at reducing workplace violence in California vastly increases employers’ responsibilities and hands workers’ compensation insurers an unprecedented oversight role that is likely to trigger lawsuits and affect rates and capacity. The Workplace Violence Prevention Bill SB 553, …
4,800 Claims Handled by Unlicensed Adjusters in Florida After Irma, Lawsuit Says
Two south Florida lawsuits against property insurers argue that two major carriers employed a business strategy of hiring inexperienced or even unlicensed claims adjusters after storms, practices that have led to “lowball” damage estimates that fall below deductibles. In one …
PCF Insurance in Utah Secures $400M in Financing
PCF Insurance Services in Utah closed $400 million in incremental debt financing led by Blue Owl. The financing was materially oversubscribed and was upsized from $300 million to $400 million in response to demand from new and existing lenders. The …
Ex-Nebraska Women’s Basketball Assistant Denies Sexual Relationship With Player
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Former Nebraska women’s basketball assistant coach Chuck Love denied ever having a sexual relationship with former Cornhuskers player Ashley Scoggin but acknowledged in a court document that he did meet with her late at night in …
Youth, Environmental Groups Sue Maine to Force Action on Climate
A youth organization and a pair of environmental groups are suing the state of Maine to try to force the state to reduce carbon emissions in the era of climate change. Maine Youth Action, the Conservation Law Foundation and the …
People Moves: Folk Joins Alliant; Law Firm Clyde & Co. Adds Maroney
Timothy Folk has joined Alliant Insurance Services, headquartered in Irvine, California, as executive vice president, Alliant Specialty, in the firm’s agribusiness industry vertical. Folk focuses on food and beverage manufacturers and distributors and maintains a healthcare focus on aging services …
Jury Rules BNSF Contributed to 2 Deaths in Montana Town Exposed to Asbestos
A federal jury said BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago when tainted mining material was shipped through a Montana town where thousands have been sickened. The jury awarded $4 million …
People Moves: Liberty Names Rubin Senior Vice President, Benefits
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers named Neal Rubin senior vice president, benefits. Rubin is based in Irvine, California. Rubin has more than 40 years of experience in the Southern California employee benefits sector. He spent seven years as vice president …
GM Ends OnStar Driver Safety Program After Privacy Complaints
General Motors Co. has ended its OnStar Smart Driver program after customers complained it violated their privacy. OnStar had cut deals with LexisNexis and Verisk to share personal driving data as part of the program, which they then shared with …
People Moves: BHSI Names Humble as Head of Customer & Broker Engagement for South Central
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) today announced that it has appointed Hart Humble to the newly created role of Head of Customer & Broker Engagement (C&BE) for the South Central U.S. Humble has spent more than 30 years in the …
Chubb Wins Latest Battle With New York Diocese in Bid to Avoid Sex Abuse Claims
A New York state appeals court has reinstated Chubb insurance companies’ bid for judgments declaring that they are not obligated to cover thousands of sex abuse lawsuits brought against the Archdiocese of New York (ADNY). Chubb insurers have maintained that …
AM Best Downgrades Credit Rating of Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Group
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a-” (Excellent) from “a” (Excellent) of Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas and Texas …
Marsh McLennan Agency to Buy Fisher Brown Bottrell for About $316M
Marsh McLennan Agency, a subsidiary of Marsh, said it has a definitive agreement to acquire one of the largest agencies in the Southeast—Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance, Inc. Marsh McLennan Agency will pay $315.9 million in cash, subject to customary purchase …
Berkley CEO: Property E&S Momentum Slows but ‘Some More Hay’ to Be Made
When it comes to observations of the excess and surplus lines market, there is a difference between the momentum of liability and property lines, said W.R. Berkley CEO W. Robert Berkley, Jr. Addressing some talk that has painted a picture …
Oakbridge Adds Strawn & Co. in Georgia
Atlanta-based OakBridge Insurance Agency has continued its rapid expansion with the acquisiton of Strawn & Co., headquartered in McDonough, Georgia, south of Atlanta. Strawn is one of the Atlanta area’s oldest and largest independent insurance agencies and has been in …