News

Securities Fraud Lawsuits Slide As Credit Crisis Eases

U.S. securities fraud lawsuits slid in 2009 as stocks rose and the credit crisis eased. Investors filed 169 prospective securities class-action lawsuits in 2009, down 24 percent from 223 in the prior year, according to a study set for release …

Torus Launches New Jersey-Based Renewable Energy Underwriting Unit

Specialty insurer Torus has hired three New Jersey-based executives to oversee underwriting of primary lines of general liability and auto liability for renewable energy. Angie Adams, Adam Newman and Wayne Jacobson have worked together as an underwriting team since 2002. …

Florida Peninsula to Acquire Home Insurer Edison

Boca Raton-based Florida Peninsula Holdings has agreed to acquire another Florida property insurer, Edison Insurance Group, including its two subsidiaries, Edison Insurance Co. and Edison Insurance Underwriters. The company said state regulators approved the deal on Dec. 31 but it …

Most Property Reinsurance Rates Down at January Renewal As Capital Rebounds

Reinsurance rates across most lines of property catastrophe business declined at the Jan. 1, 2010 renewal, according to a briefing by Guy Carpenter & Co., LLC. Guy Carpenter’s World Catastrophe Rate on Line (ROL) Index declined by six percent at …

Louisiana Homeowners Insurance Pricey; Texas, Florida More Expensive

Louisiana remains the third most expensive homeowners insurance market in the nation behind Florida and Texas, according to newly released data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The average premium in Louisiana for a standard homeowners policy in 2007, …

Premium Financing Specialists Acquires Universal Premium Acceptance

Premium Financing Specialists Inc. (PFS) has closed the acquisition of another Kansas City metro area-based premium finance company, Universal Premium Acceptance Corp. (UPAC). The combined company of almost 300 employees will support approximately 13,000 insurance agent and broker clients and …

Obama Labor Chief Taking Aggressive Approach to Workplace Safety

Soon after she became the nation’s labor secretary, Hilda Solis warned corporate America there was “a new sheriff in town.” Less than a year into her tenure, that figurative badge of authority is unmistakable. Her aggressive moves to boost enforcement …

Michigan’s H.E.A.T. Recovers $51M in Stolen Property in 25 Years

Since its inception in 1985, tips to Michigan’s Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (H.E.A.T.) program have led to recovery of more than $51 million in stolen property and arrests of more than 3,300 suspects involved in auto theft-related crimes Livonia-based H.E.A.T. …

Traffic Deaths Decline in South Carolina

South Carolina authorities say 2009 has been the safest year on the state’s roads in 14 years. Preliminary reports say 881 people died on the state’s roads last year, compared to 921 deaths in 2008. The State of Columbia reports …

Wet, Cool Year in Arkansas; Fewer Tornadoes Than ’08

First there was the ice that blanketed the northern third of Arkansas. Then the tornado that ripped through Mena. Next came rain – record-breaking amounts of it in 15 Arkansas cities and areas. Long, soaking rains and quick, heavy downpours …

News Archives by Month