Catastrophe Experts Tap AI to Tackle Soaring Insured Losses
Insurers are betting on a suite of new AI-driven techniques to better predict surging losses from climate-driven weather catastrophes ranging from unprecedented wildfires to hurricanes and floods. Less than three months into the year, natural disasters are already causing major …
Crews Battled Helene-Fueled Wildfires for Another Day in the Carolinas
Firefighters in North and South Carolina were battling multiple wind-driven wildfires Monday in rugged terrain that complicated containment efforts, officials said. Millions of trees knocked down by Hurricane Helene last year combined with long stretches of dry weather this spring …
South Korea Battles Wildfires as Death Toll Rises to 18
Wildfires ravaging South Korea over the past week have killed at least 24 people, making it the country’s worst forest fire disaster in about three decades, as firefighters struggled to contain multiple blazes that have broken out in the country’s …
How Cincinnati Insurance Does E&S
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies have grown business for 75 years through relationships with a carefully selected set of regional independent agents—and business in the surplus lines segment is no exception, executives report. That sets the insurer apart from other E&S …
Kroger Fights Suit by Albertsons Over Failed $24.6 Billion Deal
Kroger Co. is fighting back against a lawsuit brought by Albertsons Cos. over its failed $24.6 billion takeover of the rival grocery chain, escalating a dispute that began after US antitrust enforcers succeeded in blocking the deal last year. Albertsons …
Allianz Global Investors Says It Is Cutting Some Roles
Allianz Global Investors, the smaller of the two asset managers owned by German insurance giant Allianz SE, is cutting some roles as it looks to make changes to its organizational structure. “Some tasks and elements of our operation may no …
Spain Opens Antitrust Probe Into Generali, Sanitas Agreement
Spain’s antitrust watchdog said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into Italian insurer Generali and local health insurance provider Sanitas over potential anti-competitive practices. The CNMC watchdog said the probe focused on an agreement signed in October 2022 under …
Florida Senate Panel Wants More Rate Comparison, Cost, Profit Info on OIR Website
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation provides a rate comparison tool on its website for homeowners’ and auto insurance, allowing consumers to view estimated premiums for limited types of properties and policyholders. Under a bill approved by the Florida Senate …
New Fire Maps Put Nearly 4M Californians in Hazardous Zones
New bursts of yellow dot the hills of Mendocino County. Smears of burnt orange now span the aqueduct near Bakersfield. A fresh splash of crimson juts east of Chico like a fresh wound. With the release of its fourth and …
Ardonagh Set to Raise Up to $2.5 Billion to Fuel Expansion Spree
Ardonagh Group Ltd. is nearing a deal to raise as much as $2.5 billion from investors to help fuel the private equity-backed insurance broker’s rapid growth. The London-based firm is expected to close the capital-raise this summer in an oversubscribed …
Los Angeles Presses State for Help With $1B Deficit As It Rebuilds From Fires
Los Angeles is looking to California for financial help as the city faces a nearly $1 billion budget deficit projected for the next fiscal year. Mayor Karen Bass and a group of city council members went to Sacramento, the state …
Delaware Lawmakers Approve Bill Overhauling Corporate Law
Delaware lawmakers approved on Tuesday an overhaul of the state’s corporate law in a bid to keep powerful business leaders like Mark Zuckerberg from moving their companies’ legal home to another state, although opponents call it a giveaway to billionaires. …
Pawtucket Dismantled Iconic Apex Pyramid Building. Here’s Why.
Earlier this month wind damaged the iconic Apex pyramid building in Pawtucket Rhode Island prominently visible from Interstate 95. Now, the city of Pawtucket has removed the remaining exterior panels of the iconic structure, leaving only the skeletal frame. Removal …
Major US Bridges at High Risk of Being Struck by Ships: Johns Hopkins Researchers
New analysis by Johns Hopkins researchers finds some bridges are likely to sustain catastrophic hits within the next few decades Ships are highly likely to collide with major bridges across the United States, with potentially catastrophic collisions happening every few …
Premium Growth Is Good but Disciplined Growth Is Better: Lloyd’s Execs
The Lloyd’s executives said the market has continued to demonstrate its value to stakeholders by delivering 6.5% premium growth while maintaining underwriting discipline. Lloyd’s saw a continuation of positive returns with profit before tax of £9.6 billion ($12.4 billion) during …
Markets/Coverages: QBE Introduces Media Liability Endorsement; Travelers Offers Product Liability for Life Sciences
QBE North America Introduces Media Liability Endorsement QBE North America announced a new media liability endorsement for media organizations facing legal actions brought under consumer protection laws. This endorsement provides affirmative coverage should these laws be leveraged to challenge the …
States’ AI-Related Legislation Aimed at Insurance Is ‘Unfounded’, Says NAMIC
Policy discussions on the use of artificial intelligence in insurance are “unfounded” and “detrimental to policyholders,” according to a analysis from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. The use of AI in insurance underwriting and rate making has led …
OKReady Pilot Program Accepting Applications From New Zip Codes
The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) has expanded their initial pilot launch of OKReady, the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes (SOH) program. The application process opened earlier this month, and the first testing period has been successful, OID said. Two new zip codes …
Missouri DCI Deploys Specialists to Aid Storm Victims in Phelps County
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) said that consumer specialists will participate in a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to answer insurance questions and help those impacted by the severe storms in Phelps County. An EF-2 tornado struck Phelps …
AM Best Downgrades Wisconsin’s Cities and Villages
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “a-” (Excellent) from “a” (Excellent) of Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company (Cities and Villages) based in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin …