Operations News

Iowa: Certificate of Insurance Forms Must Be Approved Beginning Sept. 1

The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) recently issued a reminder insurance companies and insurance producers that effective Sept. 1, 2010, certificate of insurance forms must be approved before such forms may be used. Iowa Code section 515.102(2009) authorizes the IID to …

Business Moves

First Mercury, Valiant Michigan-based First Mercury Insurance Co. is acquiring New York-based Valiant Insurance Group Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $55 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Valiant’s existing classes of business to …

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

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 …

Webinar to Help P/C Agents Benefit from Health Insurance Boom Under Reform Law

For independent insurance agents, upcoming healthcare reform could be an opportunity to gain a bigger share of the health insurance and benefits market, provided they can properly advise their customers about their options, according to experts. Insurance Journal is partnering …

Casabona Agency Joins SAN Group

Springfield, Vermont-based Casabona Agency has joined the Satellite Agency Network (SAN) Group Inc, according to agency principal Steve Casabona and Matt Masiello, president and chief operating officer of SAN Group Inc. A licensed agent since 1994, Casabona purchased the 20-year-old …

Survey: Risk Managers More Concerned About Total Cost of Risk

Corporate risk and finance managers, faced with the lingering effects of a global financial crisis, dramatically downsized staffs and reduced budgets are becoming increasingly concerned about managing those expenditures as part of their total cost of risk, according to a …

Connecticut’s American Heritage Joins SAN Group

American Heritage Financial, an insurance agency in Wallingford, Connecticut, has joined the Satellite Agency Network (SAN) Group Inc., both firms announced. “American Heritage Financial wants to remain an independent agency while representing the buyer in multiple markets,” said agency owner …

Cooper Gay, Swett & Crawford Complete $3.5 Billion Deal

In a joint announcement from London and Atlanta, Swett & Crawford and Cooper Gay, the London-based independent wholesale, reinsurance and specialist retail insurance broker, announced that they have completed the combination of the two firms [See IJ web site – …

Reed Insurance Agency Joins San Group

Reed Insurance Agency based in New Windsor, New York has joined the Satellite Agency Network (SAN) Group Inc. Agency Owner Kevin Reed and Matt Masiello, president and chief operating officer of New Hampshire-based SAN Group, announcing the move, said the …