Monthly Archives: <span>January 2010</span>

New York-based Equity Firm Invests $20M in Michigan Brokerage

Greenhill Capital Partners LLC announced it has invested $20 million in Acrisure LLC, a Midwest insurance brokerage company headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich. Formed in 2005, Acrisure has acquired 17 insurance agencies since inception and currently places approximately $350 million …

Two Execs Join Zurich’s Energy Casualty Business Unit

Insurer Zurich said it is expanding its presence in the U.S. energy casualty insurance market by adding two new executives to its Commercial Energy Casualty business unit. Greg Cropp, vice president of Energy Excess Casualty, joins Zurich’s U.S. Energy Excess …

Calif. Insurance Commissionr Insurance Says His Post Should Be Appointed

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said that his position has become too politicized and should return to being one that’s appointed by the governor. Poizner, who is seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination, made the comments during a meeting of the …

Oklahoma Under Emergency Declaration as Winter Storm Shuts Down State

Oklahoma, Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties and state officials implemented emergency response preparations as a winter storm blanketed the state overnight with freezing rain, sleet and snow. The state capitol and most …

Louisiana Comp Costs Per Claim 35% Higher than Most States

The costs per all paid workers’ compensation insurance claims in Louisiana averaged 35 percent higher than the typical study state, according to a Massachusetts-based research group that studies workers’ comp. In its “CompScopeBenchmarks for Louisiana, 10th Edition,” the Workers Compensation …

Congress to Probe Toyota Recalls

Congressional investigators Thursday sought documents from Toyota Motor Corp and U.S. safety regulators about a pair of safety recalls the automaker was racing to address. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman said he would hold a hearing next …

Hurricane Ike Claims Total Nearly $12B in Texas

Hurricane Ike, which struck Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008, has proved to be the costliest weather catastrophe in Texas history by a large margin. The storm racked up nearly $12 billion in windstorm and flood insurance claims in the state. …

Texas Agent and Former Windstorm Association Chair Dies at 81

Corpus Christi independent insurance agent and former Texas Windstorm Insurance Association chairman, Lloyd L. Grove Jr., passed away Jan. 24 at the age of 81. Throughout his 50-year career Grove was actively involved in windstorm insurance issues and was the …

AIG Financial Product Employees Accept Retention Pay Cuts

Most current employees at the financial products unit of American International Group Inc. eligible for money owed them under a retention plan told the company they would accept less money in return for an earlier payout, a source familiar with …

2010 Will Challenge Calif. Insurance Agents, But Bright Spots Ahead

In 2009, independent insurance agents and brokers faced a “perfect storm” with the economic downturn, premiums at a fraction of what they used to be, and unemployment and home foreclosure rates up. But 2010 may be just as tough, said …