Monthly Archives: <span>February 2012</span>

A Valentine’s Kiss Warning: Lead Poisoning!

If you’re going to be on either end of a kiss this Valentine’s Day, you might want to consider smooching bare-lipped. Most lipstick contains lead. Lead has been banned in paint since 1978 because of its toxicity at low levels, …

Reagan Survey: Organic Growth and Profitability Continues to Improve for Privately-held Insurance Agencies and Brokerages

Atlanta, GA, 02/12/12 – Reagan Consulting released its 2011 year-end Organic Growth and Profitability Survey (OGP Survey) results today. The OGP Survey, now in its fourth year, is a real-time indicator of quarterly growth and profitability results for privately-held insurance …

The Hartford’s Biggest Stakeholder Wants to Split Up the Firm

The Hartford Financial Services Group’s biggest stakeholder is not happy with its stock price and wants The Hartford CEO Liam McGee to do “something drastic,” including splitting up the company’s life insurance and P/C businesses. Speaking at the company’s earnings …

Italian Court Sentences Businessmen to Jail in Asbestos Case

A billionaire Swiss industrialist and a Belgian executive were sentenced to 16 years in jail on Monday by an Italian court and ordered to pay millions of euros in damages for negligence that led to more than 2,000 asbestos-related deaths. …

BP Wins Dismissal of Part of Investor Lawsuit Over Gulf Oil Spill

A U.S. federal judge dismissed a large part of a nationwide lawsuit accusing BP Plc and top executives of fraud for misleading shareholders before and after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill about the oil company’s ability to respond …

Oregon’s ‘Second Lawsuit’ Legislation Tabled

The Oregon House Judiciary Committee on Monday tabled HB 4136, a bill its detractors said would have imported “the legacy of bad faith litigation” from neighboring states into Oregon. A handful of insurance trade associations urged the committee to reject …

Earnings Report: Montpelier Re

Q4 2011 Q4 2010 Gross premiums written —- $91.7 mn $102.3 mn Full year – 2011 2010 $725.5 mn $720.0 mn Net premiums earned ——- $148.3 mn $162.2 mnn Full year – 2011 2010 $622.7 mn $625.4 mn Net income/loss …

Best Special Report Spots Insurance Market Rebound, Growth in Mexico

A special report from A.M. Best Co. concludes that “competitive pressures will continue for Mexico’s insurers as they look to build on the industry’s low penetration level and tap a growing middle class segment. Small amounts of growth anticipated across …

Willis Re Appoints Melia as CEO Willis Re International

Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of Willis Group Holdings, announced the appointment of Tony Melia as CEO of Willis Re International, effective immediately. He has been with Willis Re since 1988, and will lead the International Business Unit, which covers …

Marsh Names Dundas Global Head for Marketing and Communications

Marsh announced the appointment of Doug Dundas as its Global Head of Marketing and Communications. He is based in New York and will report to Peter Zaffino, President & CEO of Marsh, Inc. Dundas joins Marsh from Doug Dundas Communications, …