Business Insurance

WHSmith to shut 25 stores due to pandemic

U.K.-based retailer WHSmith PLC plans to close 25 high street stores after it reported a loss of £280 million ($369 million) for the year ended Aug. 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Fired Amazon worker files discrimination suit over pandemic conditions

A former Amazon.com Inc. worker who protested conditions at his New York City fulfillment center sued the retailer on Thursday, accusing it of discrimination for firing him and for putting Black and Hispanic workers at heightened risk of contracting...

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Distribution firm sued for alleged coronavirus act violations

A wholesale and distribution company employee who was allegedly forced to resign after she had requested an accommodation to her working hours because her son’s school was closed, has sued her former employer, charging violations of the Families Firs...

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Court dismisses Greenberg’s defamation suit against Spitzer

A New York state court judge on Thursday dismissed a long-running defamation lawsuit filed by former American International Group Inc. chairman Maurice R. Greenberg against Eliot L. Spitzer, New York’s former attorney general.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

M&A deals continue for brokers; on the horizon for insurers: Panel

Insurance broker mergers and acquisitions continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic as private equity capital invests in the sector, a panel of experts say.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

The Institutes, I.I.I. close to finalizing affiliation

The Institutes said Thursday it plans to finalize its affiliation with the New York-based Insurance Information Institute on Nov. 16.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Auto part manufacturer to pay $1.5M for worker death

An automobile parts manufacturer has pleaded guilty to a charge of willful violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and agreed to pay $500,000 in fines and restitution of $1 million to the family of a worker who was crushed to death in Jun...

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Appeals court denies future medical costs in back injury case

A woman who injured her back while providing medical care to people in their homes but continued to run in races was denied future medical costs as part of her workers compensation claim, according to an appeals ruling issued Tuesday in Nebraska.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Aon to expand corporate apprenticeship program to six more cities

Aon PLC said Thursday it plans to expand its corporate apprenticeship program over the next five years with a $30 million investment.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Pandemic, cat losses push up commercial prices: Moody’s

Commercial insurance prices are accelerating as U.S. property/casualty insurers hit by pandemic and catastrophe headwinds seek to offset rising loss costs and low interest rates, Moody’s Investors Service Inc. said in a report Thursday.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Save money. Live better. Insure your pets.

Walmart Inc. is hoping those who are picking up dog food and cat toys will check out the retailer’s latest offering: pet insurance.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Generali delays dividend payout, profit beats estimates

Italy’s top insurer Generali Group said on Thursday it would delay the payment of the second tranche of 2019 dividends to next year to comply with regulatory demands, after reporting nine-month operating profits above expectations.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Zurich Insurance plays down impact of COVID-19 claims

Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. does not expect property claims triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic to materially affect the group, the insurer said on Thursday, adding that it planned to maintain its dividend policy.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Companies can take steps to avoid ‘nuclear’ verdicts: Experts

Companies can reduce the anger reflected in jurors’ so-called nuclear verdicts by taking steps such as having a company representative sitting at the defense table who appears empathetic, experts say.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

China to lead global insurance market recovery: Report

A report by Swiss Re Institute said that China will lead the recovery of the global insurance market, with nonlife premiums expected to rise by 10% next year.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Covea and CEO ordered to pay $24 million to Scor

A French court has ordered insurer Covea Groupe SAS and its chief executive Thierry Derez to pay nearly €20 million ($24 million) in compensation for the damage their misconduct has caused reinsurer Scor SE.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Regulator proposes cost-sharing for workers claims

The insurance regulator of the Australian state of New South Wales has proposed a cost-sharing mechanism for workers’ compensation claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Typhoon cuts power to nearly 4 million people

Typhoon Ulysses, which hit the Philippines on Nov. 11, caused power outage affecting more than 3.8 million people.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Hackers demand $11 million from Capcom

Hackers have demanded a ransom of 1.1 billion Japanese yen ($11 million) from Japanese video game developer Capcom Co. Ltd., which suffered a cyber attack on Nov. 2.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Saudi Re sees improving operating environment

A report by the Saudi Credit Bureau said that Saudi Reinsurance Co. is seeing an improving operating environment due to better pricing dynamics particularly for loss making segments.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Armed robbery, pirate attacks on ships rise 35%

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia said that the number of armed robbery and pirate attacks on ships increased 35% year-over-year to 84 in the first ten months of 2020.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

UAE takaful insurer's premiums fall 7%

U.A.E.-based insurer National Takaful Company (Watania) PJSC's gross written premiums declined 7% year-over-year to 243 million United Arab Emirates dirham ($66 million) in the first nine months of 2020.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

QBE snags Berkshire Hathaway financial lines leaders

QBE North America has hired former Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Inc. underwriters Dan Fortin and Todd Greeley to lead its financial lines business.

Posted: Nov 11, 2020

Bilingual safety program to help Spanish speakers in construction

Aiming to enhance construction safety, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health is offering a free training resource as part of its bilingual training program that helps English-speaking employers train and talk about workplace safety and health with Sp...

Posted: Nov 11, 2020

Ametros names new CEO

Ametros Financial Corp. has named Porter Leslie as CEO, the workers compensation post-settlement administrator said in a statement Wednesday.

Posted: Nov 11, 2020