Monthly Archives: <span>May 2008</span>

With Storm Season Looming, It’s Time to Update Disaster Kits

Living on a canal in Treasure Island, Fla., just six blocks from the Gulf of Mexico, Dennis and Martie Fagan don’t mess around when it comes to preparing for hurricane season. Around this time of year, they take stock of …

2008 a Record Year for Storm Damage in Georgia, Says Insurance Chief

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine says 2008 has turned into a record year for storm damage in Georgia, with more than $400 million in insured losses during the first five months. Oxendine said that documented insurance claims in Cherokee County, north …

Viacom Copyright Suit Against YouTube Called Threat to Online Media

A $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit challenging YouTube’s ability to keep copyrighted material off its popular video-sharing site threatens how hundreds of millions of people exchange all kinds of information on the Internet, YouTube owner Google Inc. said. Google’s lawyers …

ACE Europe Names Drinan Distribution, Development Director for UK & Ireland

ACE Europe announced the appointment of Pat Drinan as National Distribution and Development Director for the UK & Ireland. He will be responsible for developing broker relationships and distribution of ACE’s products throughout the UK and Ireland via its eleven …

Hongler to Lead Zurich’s European Operations; Joins Management Board

Zurich Financial Services Group announced that Markus Hongler, currently CEO of Zurich Switzerland, has been appointed CEO of Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited (ZIIL), Zurich’s main EU-wide risk carrier for general insurance. The appointment will become effective January 1, 2009, in …

Aon Receives Saudi License

Aon has been awarded a license from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), in accordance with the provisions of the Kingdom’s Insurance Law 2004. The bulletin noted that “Aon has been serving clients in Saudi Arabia since 1979 and has …

ChinaGrowth to Acquire UIB Group

ChinaGrowth North Acquisition Corporation (CGNAC) announced that it has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire the Chinese insurance broker UIB Group Limited. Following completion of the transaction, UIB will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ChinaGrowth North Acquisition …

Global Coalition Calls WTO Service Proposals Disappointing

A new set of proposals to open services such as banking and telecoms to more global trade falls significantly short of what is needed to reach a world trade deal, an international coalition of service industry groups said Tuesday. “At …

California Assembly Passes Agent-Broker Bill

The California Assembly passed a bill that would help to clarify when an insurance professional is acting in the capacity of a broker versus an agent. The Assembly voted in favor of AB 2956 by a margin of 60-6. The …

Colorado Tornado, Hail Damage Adds Up To Estimated $147M in Damage

Colorado residents in Windsor and surrounding communities are starting the process of repairing and rebuilding their homes, following May 22’s tornadoes and hail and wind storm. Meanwhile insurance companies have sent staff to the affected areas to assist customers with …