P&C Companies News

How to Fix Nation’s Flood Insurance Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking a top-to-bottom review of the efforts to reform the nation’s flood insurance program. The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has offered a set of reform proposals designed to improve the …

Texas Q1 2011 Workers’ Comp Discount, Interest Rate Set at 3.8%

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) has set at 3.8 percent the workers’ compensation interest and discount rate for the first quarter of 2011. This rate is computed by using the treasury constant maturity rate for …

Report: Some Insurers ‘Low-Balling’ Auto Insurance Claims for Bodily Injury

Some insurance companies that use computerized systems to process their claims are making unfair, “low-ball” claims offers to people injured in automobile accidents, according to a consumer advocacy group. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is warning Americans that Colossus …

Flagstone Re Places $210 Million Cat Bond Using RMS Paradex Indices

Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA and Risk Management Solutions have announced the successful placement of $210 million of multi-peril Montana Re 2010-1 Notes, the second offering sponsored through the Montana Re shelf program. RMS noted that it had “conducted the expert …

Fitch Affirms Brazil’s Sul America’s Ratings; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings Has affirmed today the following International and National ratings assigned to Sul America S.A. (Sasa), the holding company of Sul America Seguros (SAS): –Foreign and Local Currency Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB+’; –Foreign and Local Currency …

Best Affirms Progressive and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” of the Progressive Agency Pool, Progressive Direct Pool and Progressive Commercial Auto Group (collectively known as Progressive) and their respective …

Best Affirms USAA and Subs ‘A++’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A++’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aaa” of Texas-based United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and its property/casualty and life/health subsidiaries. Best also affirmed the debt rating of …

Rates Rising But Florida Home Insurers Report Still Losing Money

Many Florida homeowners expected relief from the higher property insurance bills that followed the busy 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. But more than 4 million homeowners are about to get hit by rate hikes and disappearing coverage. State regulators have …

Chartis Obtains $450 Million Cat Bond with Lodestone Re

Chartis announced that it has entered into a reinsurance transaction with Lodestone Re, which will provide $450 million of protection to Chartis against U.S. hurricanes and earthquakes. “This represents a substantial increase from the $250 million of protection originally sought …

Best Affirms Transatlantic Holdings and Subs ‘A’ Ratings of

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of new York-based Transatlantic Reinsurance Company, Swiss-based Trans Re Zurich Reinsurance Company Ltd. and Putnam Reinsurance Company. Best also affirmed …