North Carolina News

Private Firm WSI Cuts U.S. Hurricane Forecast to 19 Named Storms

Private weather forecaster WSI Corp cut its forecast for named storms in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday, but still sees an active season with water temperatures and wind conditions conducive to violent storms. In its latest tropical storm …

Tennessee Sommet Group Signaled Financial Stress Before FBI Raid

A payroll services company that had naming rights to Nashville’s arena gave off signs of financial trouble for several months before FBI agents raided it July 6. Sommet Group of Franklin, Tenn., is embroiled in a federal criminal probe for …

Business Moves

First Mercury, Valiant First Mercury Financial Corp., based in Southfield, Mich., reported that its principal insurance subsidiary, First Mercury Insurance Co., is acquiring Valiant Insurance Group Inc., a subsidiary of Ariel Holdings Ltd. The purchase price for Valiant, an amount …

People

Steven D. Johnson has been named CEO of the Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet). Johnson is an association professional who has experience with five associations over the last 26 years. Most recently, he was executive director of the National Association …

Business Moves

NetComp NetComp Insurance, a newly-formed program manager based in Columbia, S.C., has opened its online program (www.netcompinsurance.com) for small to-mid size workers’ compensation business to all independent agents in Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. NetComp said it …

Business Moves

AJ Gallagher, Bowen, Miclette Insurance brokerage and risk management services firm Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired the operations of Bowen, Miclette, Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc. in Fort Smith, Ark., from Bowen, Miclette & Britt Insurance Agency …

People

Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West’s (IBA West) education division, Insurance Skills Center (ISC), entered into an agreement with Cheryl L. Koch, president and CEO of Agency Management Resource Group, to manage ISC education and training programs. In her …

North Carolina Crime Rate Down

Law enforcement officials say North Carolina’s crime rate in 2009 was the lowest in a quarter-century. The statistics released by the office of Attorney General Roy Cooper show particlar improvements in violent crimes. Murders were down 19 percent and robberies …

Crop Insurers Reluctantly Agree to $600 Million a Year Subsidy Cut

All 16 private insurance companies that participate in a federal crop insurance program have signed off on the new federal reinsurance agreement that cuts the subsidies they get by $600 million a year for the next 10 years. The insurers …

Reinsurance Tax Debate over HR 3424 Heats Up at Committee Hearing

Both sides presented their views at a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, July 14. Compromise over whether or not to disallow deductions for premiums paid to purchase reinsurance from “affiliated companies,” who are located outside …