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

Best Raises PARIS RE and Affiliates Ratings to ‘A’; Outlook Positive

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a+” from “a-” of PARIS RE and its affiliates. Consequently Best has removed the ratings from under …

Validus Prices Debt Offering; S&P Rates Issue ‘BBB-‘; Affirms Ratings

Validus Holdings announced that it has priced a registered offering of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 8.875 percent Senior Notes due 2040. They are to be sold to the public at a “price of 98.71 percent of principal.” The …

Researchers: Climate Change Expected to Increase Storm Activity in Texas

Climate change will likely increase the frequency and severity of storm activity in Texas, an area of the country that is especially vulnerable to the “triple threat” of hurricanes, hail storms and tornadoes, weather researchers said at a conference at …

Rhode Island Lawmaker Wants to Ban Phone Use while Driving

A Rhode Island lawmaker is renewing his push to ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel. Pawtucket Democrat Peter Kilmartin introduced a bill Tuesday that bans drivers and bicyclists from using mobile phones that are not …

Poll: Connecticut Voters Want Seat Belts on School Buses

A new poll says almost three of every four Connecticut voters support legislation requiring seat belts on school buses in the state. The Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday says the proposal has strong support across party lines and in all …

White Mountains Re to Buy Troubled Nebraska-Based Insurer

White Mountains Re Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. has agreed to acquire Central National Insurance Company of Omaha, Neb., from Drum Financial Corporation. In runoff since 1989, Central National has been operated under an …

Bramlett Agency in Oklahoma Named Trusted Choice Agency of the Month

The Bramlett Agency, headquartered in Armdore, Okla., has been named the Trusted Choice Agency of the Month by Trusted Choice, the consumer branding program for independent insurance agents and brokers. The Bramlett Agency was founded in 1948 by Jim and …

Six CAA Members Retain Best Practice Agencies Status for 2009

Austin, Texas-based Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) announced six of its member agencies – Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts Insurance Agency, The Bridges Group Inc., Bryan Insurance Agency, Ed Berrong Insurance Agency, Pierson & Fendley Insurance Agency and Weatherby-Eisenrich Insurance Agency – have …

Amtrak Cop: Worn-Out Holster Led to Foot-Shooting

An Amtrak police officer is suing the railroad, claiming it’s liable for a woman who grabbed his gun and shot him in the foot. Sixty-five-year-old James Bullard says he was working at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station last March when he …

Safety National Launches a New Large Casualty Program

St. Louis, Mo.-based excess workers’ compensation coverage provider Safety National has introduced a comprehensive large casualty program, which combines the company’s large deductible workers’ compensation product offering with commercial auto and general liability coverage. New products previously developed by Safety …