Business Moves

Indianapolis Agency, ISU Network

Walker and Associates Insurance Agency of Indianapolis joined the ISU Insurance Services Network of Independent Agencies, according to Principal Doug Walker. Walker & Assoc-iates is a full-service multiple line insurance firm servicing over 8,000 clients in central Indiana.

As a part of the Network, the agency will now brand itself as ISU Insurance Services—Walker & Associates. In addition to their main office in Indianapolis, Walker also operates branch offices in Carmel and Greenwood, Ind., with a combined staff of over 20 employees.

ISU International identifies itself as a national network of over 90 independent agencies with offices coast-to-coast and combined annual premiums in excess of $1 billion dollars. All ISU Insurance Services member offices remain independently owned and locally operated while using the collective resources of a national firm, which the network provides.

Source: ISU

International Excess, WSIB Motorsports Insurance

Cleveland, Ohio-based International Excess Companies acquired WSIB Motorsports Insurance of Indianapolis, Ind.

With offices in Indianapolis, as well as in the states of Michigan and Arizona, WSIB offers coverage specifically designed for professional, semi-professional and amateur race teams, according to a written statement by International Excess.

International Execess has have partnered with Insurance broker ProTrans, Inc. of Mahwah, N.J., a member of the Capacity Group of Companies, to make this acquisition.

The WSIB Motorsports Insurance headquarters will remain in Indianapolis and will be led by Mark Maucere, president, and Laura Hauenstein, vice president. WSIB insurance products are exclusively underwritten by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, a provider of commercial and personal insurance.

International Excess Agency Inc. is an excess and surplus lines risk placement specialist writing EPLI, D&O, E&O, umbrella, property, casualty, general liability and personal lines.

Source: International Excess

West Bend Mutual Insurance Co.

West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. says it plans to more than double the size of its corporate headquarters here in a $57 million expansion and to add about 200 employees within two years, saying those hired
will work in engineering and loss control, underwriting, claims and technologies.

West Bend Mutual uses independent insurance agents to sell property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals in Wisconsin,Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.

The firm employs about 650 people at its corporate headquarters, although the facility was built for 500.

The 150,000-square-foot corporate headquarters is to be expanded by 214,000 square feet with completion scheduled by April 2008.

The company had $141 million in written premiums when the building opened in 1991, Warren said, but that increase to $651 million last year.

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