Business Insurance

Wholesale broker buys Toronto-based MGA

One80 Intermediaries Inc. has acquired Strategic Underwriting Managers Inc., a Toronto-based managing general agent for property, casualty and other specialty insurance products.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Origami Risk, AI firm partner

Origami Risk LLC and Gradient A.I. Corp. have formed a partnership allowing Gradient’s claims and policy modeling capabilities and predictive analytics resources to be used on Origami’s digital platform, the companies said in a joint release Tuesday.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Comp insurer issues early dividends for 2020

Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, a member of AF Group, announced Tuesday that it has granted $3.5 million in early dividend payments to chambers of commerce, associations, hospitality and other groups who achieved targeted safety results i...

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Secondary perils drive global insured cat losses in H1

Global insured property losses from disasters totaled $31 billion in the first half of 2020, up 34.8% from $23 billion in the first half of 2019, Swiss Re Ltd. said in a report Tuesday.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

No Zoom for babies in the background

The pitter-patter of little kids in the background is a work-from-home video conferencing etiquette no-no, according to a survey of 1,000 telecommuting workers in July.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Tennessee Senate greenlights COVID-19 presumption bill

The Tennessee Senate introduced and passed a bill Monday that would make COVID-19 an occupational disease for essential workers under certain conditions.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Alera acquires middle-market brokerage

Alera Group Inc. has acquired Chicago-based brokerage Alper Services LLC, Alera said in a statement Tuesday.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Judge blocks Uber, Lyft from classifying drivers as contractors in Calif.

A California judge on Monday granted the state’s request for a preliminary injunction blocking Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. from classifying their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Ruling overturning provisions of family virus act murky

Last week’s ruling by a federal district court judge in New York that overturns provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act leaves employers in New York and elsewhere with questions as to how to proceed.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

D&O insurance premiums rise 100%

A survey by U.S.-based Marsh LLC found that rates for directors and officers liability insurance surged rose more than 100% in the United Kingdom in the second quarter of the year as insurers fear that the coronavirus pandemic will lead to hefty liti...

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Only 30% of Beirut blast damage insured

The Association of Insurance Companies in Lebanon said that only 30% of the damage caused by the Aug. 4 explosion at the Port of Beirut is insured.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Axa mulls sale of Singapore unit

French insurer Axa SA is considering the sale of its Singapore unit.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Typhoon hits South Korea, causes widespread damage

Typhoon Jangmi made landfall in South Korea's Gyeongsang province on Aug. 10, and killed 42 people and damaged more than 14,000 facilities.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Ship carrying 4,000 tons of fuel at risk of splitting

Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines-operated bulk carrier MV Wakashio, carrying thousands of tons of fuel, is at risk of splitting apart off the coast of Mauritius.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Brazil proposes ILS regulatory framework

Brazil has proposed regulations to allow for the issuance of insurance-linked securities to help grow its insurance and reinsurance sector.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Attempt to shut damaged gas well fails again

Oil India Ltd.'s second attempt to close the damaged well, which has been spewing gas for 76 days, at Baghjan oil field in the state of Assam failed when the iron cable to lift the well's lid snapped.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Sydney Airport loses $37 million due to pandemic

Australia's Sydney Airport booked a loss of nearly $52 million Australia ($37 million) for the first six months of the year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

China issues yellow alert ahead of typhoon

China's National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert for typhoon Mekkhala, which is expected to bring gales and heavy rains to the country's eastern and southern coastal regions.

Posted: Aug 11, 2020

Two return to NLRB as GOP majority continues

One Republican and one Democrat returned on Monday as members of the National Labor Relations Board, which will continue to have a Republican majority at least through the end of next year.

Posted: Aug 10, 2020

D&O pricing up 74% in Q2 for Aon clients

Directors and officers liability insurance pricing increased 74.4% in the second quarter for Aon PLC clients, which was a slight increase over the percentage reported for the first quarter.

Posted: Aug 10, 2020

Beirut losses will hit multiple lines of insurance

The insured loss arising from the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, will hit multiple lines of insurance and is a reminder of the risks posed by hazardous materials in the supply chain, marine experts say.

Posted: Aug 10, 2020

Gallagher sues Alliant in poaching accusation

In the latest industry poaching lawsuit, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has filed suit against Alliant Insurance Services Inc. and other defendants, charging them with conspiring with its former employees to steal confidential information and trade secret...

Posted: Aug 10, 2020

Fiat asks judge to deny GM request to reopen racketeering case

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV on Monday asked a U.S. federal judge to dismiss a request from General Motors Co. to reinstate a racketeering lawsuit against its smaller rival, comparing a recent GM filing to a “third-rate spy movie, full of preposterou...

Posted: Aug 10, 2020

Michigan introduces COVID-19 presumption legislation

A Michigan lawmaker introduced legislation on Thursday that would create a presumption that essential workers in the state who contract COVID-19 did so on the job.

Posted: Aug 10, 2020

Tugboat captain may have contributed to engineer’s injuries

A tugboat engineer can proceed with his negligence claims against the owner of the boat for back injuries he sustained while trying to secure a barge.

Posted: Aug 10, 2020