Monthly Archives: <span>December 2006</span>

2006 New Markets Report

E&O, Professional/Management Liability New P/C Insurance Agents’ E&O Rockwood Programs partnered with certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London to offer professional liability coverage specifically for property/casualty agents licensed less than three years. The newly licensed agents program provides a liability …

October, November see 29 M&As; stock prices continue to vary

Stock Prices: Stock prices have varied year-to-date among brokers. Brown & Brown Inc.’s (NYSE:BRO) stock was down 4.4 percent through Nov. 30, 2006, while Hub International Ltd.’s (NYSE:HBG) stock was up 19.2 percent for the same time period. Holding the …

3. Reinsurers Enjoy the Sunshine

Except for claims adjusters, 2005 was a disastrous year for the industry. Swiss Re’s sigma report logged almost 400 catastrophes, which caused damage totaling more than $230 billion: about one third, or $83 billion, was covered by insurance. Miraculously most …

How to hold your ground against the Internet marketers

Just because some individuals purchase policies over the Internet doesn’t mean that everyone is similarly inclined. Many personal lines prospects simply aren’t comfortable buying their insurance online or over the phone, at least not yet. This uneasiness gives local-only agents …

4. Lloyd’s Insurers Boost U.S. Presence

They’ve long had the expertise. Now they have the money and the technology to go with it. A number of U.K. insurers, who started at Lloyd’s, continued to expand their U.S. presence in 2006, mainly in the surplus lines market. …

2006:a big year for P&C buyers and sellers of all shapes and sizes

JANUARY Hallmark Acquires Fort Worth, Texas-based Hallmark Financial Services Inc. has completed its acquisition of Aerospace Holdings LLC, which markets general aviation insurance products. Hallmark underwrites non-standard personal automobile insurance. American National Bank Acquires Dallas-based Sleeper, Sewell The American National …

Top Stories of the Year – International

1. Climate Change Facts Multiply Climate change or global warming is the 800-pound gorilla in the insurance industry. More reports this year added to the growing body of evidence that the planet is heating up, and potential disasters on a …

2006: a big year for P&C buyers and sellers of all shapes and sizes

The year 2006 was a boom year for mergers and acquisitions within the property casualty insurance world. An Insurance Journal Special Report: 2006 Mergers & Acquisitions in the P&C Insurance Industry shows that almost 200 deals were reported and/or completed …

Editor’s Note: Down to mirth

Insurance is a serous business, with contingent commissions, credit scoring and natural disasters making news in 2006. It’s not easy finding humor in the headlines. Yet a few stories that brought a smile snuck through the disasters and dire warnings …

Top 10 Stories of the Year – West

In the era when cowboys and gold panners roamed, the West was characterized as a wild yet adventurous place to live. Judging by 2006’s insurance industry headlines, those sentiments don’t seem to have changed. In the past year, agents and …