Business Insurance articles from July 2004

Business Insurance archives from July 2004

Abundance of capacity drives down D&O prices.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)(Directors and Officers)
July 5, 2004... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS Directors and officers liability insurance is a much better buy at midyear renewals as expanded capacity drives underwriters to compete, but many market executives say that those conditions cannot last much longer. ...

Health care cost hikes continue at double-digit clip.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)
July 5, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Although health care plan cost hikes are easing, employers still should brace next year for another round of double-digit rate increases. The largest increases likely will be for health maintenance organizations...

Buyers seeing some CGL rate cuts in stable market.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)(Commercial general liability insurance)
July 5, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD and MEG FLETCHER Commercial general liability insurance buyers are hearing one word a lot more often these days, and it has a nice ring to it after years of rate hikes. "Stable'' is a word many insurers and...

E&O price hikes not as high as last year.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)(Errors and Omissions of insurance)
July 5, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Risk managers renewing their errors and omissions liability coverage this summer may not be seeing the same hefty rate increases they did last year, but double-digit increases remain the norm for most accounts,...

Property market improves as rates decrease, terms ease.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)
July 5, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN and GLORIA GONZALEZ It's not quite the good old days yet, but the hard property market that followed the destruction of the World Trade Center is rapidly receding. Double-digit rate decreases and improved terms...

Workers comp market moderates.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)
July 5, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS Pricing has moderated for workers compensation policies that renew at midyear, helping to end a trend that saw employers offsetting rising costs by raising their retentions. Offsetting price hikes by...

Marine hull rates increasing; insurers competing on cargo.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)
July 5, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER and SARAH VEYSEY Marine hull rates generally are still rising, with most risks renewing 5% to 10% higher at midyear, though some shipowners are seeing flat renewals. Cargo rates, meanwhile, are down slightly,...

Reinsurers softening rates a bit at renewal.(Spotlight: Midyear Market Report)
July 5, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD and DOUGLAS McLEOD Reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries describe a market that is softening modestly for certain property coverages but is otherwise little changed since Jan. 1. "We're starting to see...

Benefit accounting rule spurs some plan changes.(News)(postemployment benefit)
July 5, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ and RUPAL PAREKH Some public-sector employers already are changing their retiree benefit plans-including reducing or eliminating benefits-in anticipation of new accounting rules that will require them to disclose the...

Comings & Goings-Buyers.(News)(people)
July 5, 2004... Jack E. Landers has been appointed vp of human resources for Verity Inc., a capital management software provider based in Sunnyvale, Calif. In his new position, Mr. Landers is responsible for the entire human resource department, including...

Directory deadline set for July 23 for 401(k) plan administrators.(News)
July 5, 2004... Business Insurance will publish its online Directory of 401(k) Plan Administrators in conjunction with the Aug. 30 issue. The issue will include a chart of the leading 401(k) plan administrators and a Benefits Management Take-Out section on...

Comings & Goings-Industry.(News)(people)
July 5, 2004... Agents/brokers: Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has named David Cahen managing director of claims and loss control in its San Francisco office. Before joining Willis, Mr. Cahen was global claims manager with Levi Strauss & Co. Chicago-based...

NCR registers new approach to pension plan; Latest to phase out defined benefit plan.(News)(NCR Corp.)
July 5, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL DAYTON, Ohio-Another major U.S. employer is phasing out its defined benefit pension plan. Information technology giant NCR Corp. of Dayton, Ohio, plans to close off its $2.8 billion pension plan to new and younger...

FBI, insurers target fraudulent surgeries; Clinics paying people for unnecessary operations.(News)(Federal Bureau of Investigation)
July 5, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS LOS ANGELES-Surgical centers in Southern California are defrauding employer health plans by recruiting thousands of employees to undergo unnecessary operations that are then billed to the health plans, the Federal...

Worker absences presenting concerns for U.K. employers; ALARM 13th Annual Conference.(International)(Assn. of Local Authority Risk Managers)
July 5, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY MANCHESTER, England-Risk managers have a real interest in managing and reducing absences from work-related illness, says Claire Howarth, employee relations and equality manager at the Hertfordshire County Council. ...

ALARM meeting attracts over 300.(International)(Assn. of Local Authority Risk Managers)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... MANCHESTER, England-The Assn. of Local Authority Risk Managers' 12th Annual Conference drew about 310 attendees from all over the world. The theme of the conference was "Risk Management: Pushing Back the Frontiers.'' The event was held...

Lockton executives to fund scholarship in founder's name.(News)(Lockton Cos.)
July 5, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Lockton Cos. Inc. will endow a Spencer Educational Foundation Inc. scholarship in the name of its founder, Jack Lockton, who died in March after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Executives at...

Shanghai complies with new comp laws.(International)(compensation)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Bradford SHANGHAI, China-New workers compensation regulations in Shanghai, China, require employers to fund coverage that will cover workers' injuries. The regulations were promulgated by the Shanghai Municipal Labor...

Watching the Fed, with interest.(United States Federal Reserve Board's decision to increase interest)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Rodd Zolkos Having, like most Americans, spent the last several months on tenterhooks, searching desperately for any clues to what might be in store, it was a relief to finally get the answer last Wednesday. A quarter point....

FM Global finds views differ on biggest threats to revenue.(News)
July 5, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN Company executives and risk managers view their organizations' main risks differently than do the investment professionals who analyze companies' performance, a report concludes. Risk managers and corporate...

Special breaks don't benefit all.(Opinions)(Insurance industry)
July 5, 2004... ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS should reject pending legislation that would enable defunct insurer Kemper Insurance Cos. to reach commutation agreements that cannot be voided if they are later deemed to be inequitable. As we report on page 1, the...

World Updates; Financial conversions for names delayed.(International)
July 5, 2004... A proposal that would give individual investors at Lloyd's who are converting to limited liability partnerships the same tax treatment as other limited liability businesses is taking longer than hoped to be approved by the U.K. government,...

Avoid market swing to other extreme.(Opinions)(property and casualty insurance)
July 5, 2004... HAPPY DAYS might not exactly be here again, but risk managers appear to be getting what they wished for-a property/casualty insurance market that gives all signs of taking a turn for the better. As we report in a package of articles...

If flesh is willing hard to stop fraud.(News)(insurance fraud)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston The lengths that some people will go to to defraud an insurance company boggle the mind. I'm not talking about run-of-the-mill insurance fraud, such as adding extra zeroes to a claim, staging car accidents,...

'Failure to educate' claims increasing; ALARM 13th Annual Conference.(International)
July 5, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY MANCHESTER, England-U.K. local education authorities face a growing risk of so-called "failure to educate'' claims, particularly from individuals with learning disabilities, attorneys say. Such suits generally...

Eye care company seeking to fund benefits in captive.(News)
July 5, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-A Swiss pharmaceutical company is asking the Department of Labor for permission to fund benefit risks of its U.S. employees through its Vermont-domiciled captive. Fort Worth, Texas-based Alcon...

Aussies reject national comp system.(International)
July 5, 2004... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY SYDNEY, Australia-Hopes that large employers would soon have access to a national workers compensation system have been dashed by a federal government decision that private-sector workers compensation arrangements...

Late News; Senate to take up class action bill Tuesday.(Insurance bill)
July 5, 2004... The Senate plans to begin consideration of a class action reform bill late Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., had initially intended to bring the Class Action Fairness Act, S. 2062, to the floor June 1. But he delayed the vote...

TRIA extension measure attracts support from insurance industry.(News)(Terrorism Insurance Backstop Extension Act)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-A group of 10 insurance and financial services industry groups is calling the Terrorism Insurance Backstop Extension Act a "positive first step'' toward reauthorizing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act this...

Employers cite fitness benefits for gains in morale, cost control.(News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: MEG SHREVE Employers that sponsor fitness programs are seeing increased worker morale and productivity, as well as reduced health care costs, according to a new poll. The National Business Group on Health, a Washington-based...

NYC contractors must offer partner benefits.(News)(New York City)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH NEW YORK-Companies that do business with New York City soon will be obliged to offer domestic partner benefits, as the City Council on Monday overrode the mayor's veto of a bill that requires firms contracting with the...

Change in runoff law debated; Critics wary of Illinois legislation that would benefit Kemper plan.(News)(Kemper Insurance Cos.)
July 5, 2004... Byline: MEG FLETCHER Pending legislation in Illinois that would impact the solvent runoff of Kemper Insurance Cos. is sparking debate over whether the proposed changes would, ultimately, be more of a help or a harm to the insurers'...

Between the Lines; Insurer must defend Krishnas against lawsuit.(News)(International Society of Krishna Consciousness)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik An insurers must defend the International Society of Krishna Consciousness against a lawsuit alleging the Texas branch of the worldwide religious group was negligent for letting members "sexually,...

Legal briefs: Injury at mandatory company event compensable.(Perspectives)
July 12, 2004... If a workers compensation claimant is injured at a social event she was required to attend by her employer, then the injury arose in the course of employment, according to the Court of Appeals of Kansas. MCI Business Services Inc. employed...

U.K. employers cope with new bias law; CIPD Annual Employment Law Conference.(International)(Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)
July 12, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-A relatively new U.K. law designed to prevent religious discrimination has created a duty for employers to accommodate different religious requirements. The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief)...

N.Y. court upholds policies offering less coverage for mental injury.(News)(New York)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS NEW YORK-Long-term disability plans open to disabled and nondisabled employees do not violate a state law by providing richer benefits for physical disabilities than for mental disabilities, New York's highest...

Marlins strike out on claim against Lloyd's to cover injury.(News)(Florida Marlins)
July 12, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER MIAMI-Lloyd's of London syndicates are not on the hook for a claim by Major League Baseball team the Florida Marlins seeking coverage for losses related to a player's injury, a Florida court has ruled. Pitcher Alex...

Public pools wading into employee benefit coverage; Success in controlling property/casualty risks leading some to take on health care.(Benefits Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS Rising health care costs are pushing more public entity purchasing pools to consider offering their members employee benefit coverage. While most pools begin by providing property/casualty insurance for groups...

Invest in national security by extending TRIA; Renewing terrorism cover act this year would be a first step in protecting country, economy.(Perspectives)(Terrorism Risk Insurance Act)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Edmund F. Kelly The terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, understood that a nation's economic security and its national security go hand in hand. The attackers targeted the World Trade Center precisely...

'05 SHRM conference slated for San Diego.(News)(Society for Human Resource Management)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... NEW ORLEANS-More than 10,000 human resource professionals attended the 56th Annual Conference & Exhibition of the Society for Human Resource Management, held June 27-30 in New Orleans. The topics for educational seminars ran the gamut from...

Tough times make employers rethink basic benefit strategies; SHRM's 56th Annual Conference & Exposition.(News)(Society for Human Resource Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW ORLEANS-In response to continuously rising health care costs and stock market declines, many employers are going back to the drawing board to retrace the evolution of their benefit programs, making adjustments as...

Fairness of spousal, family benefit subsidies mulled; SHRM 56th Annual Conference & Exposition.(News)(Society for Human Resource Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW ORLEANS-It was a common compensation practice, from the turn of the last century into the 1960s, for a male employee, when he got married, to be awarded a hefty raise so that he could afford to start a family. ...

Improving economy, workforce worries prompt some to restore 401(k) match.(Benefits Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD With the economy showing signs of improvement, some of the employers that had cut their 401(k) matching contributions have begun restoring them. Although the total number of companies that eliminated the match...

Book review: Bermuda's insurance history is captivating reading.(Perspectives)(Book Review)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Michael Bradford "Held Captive-A History of International Insurance in Bermuda'' By Catherine R. Duffy Privately published, available at www.booksonbiz.com $150 Bermuda, perhaps as no other place, owes a debt of...

Fast-track approval encourages use of captive benefits.(Benefits Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL With a regulatory blueprint as a guide, employers are steadily expanding their use of captives to cover employee benefit risks. Ever since the late 1970s, a handful of risk management and employee benefits experts...

Big rate hikes, 'lasering' raise cost of stop-loss cover; Sole bright spot in market is smaller premium increases for consumer-driven self-insured plans.(Benefits Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Premiums for stop-loss insurance for self-insured health plans are growing at an even faster clip than is underlying medical inflation, forcing some employers to either go bare or buy less. Because of the limited...

Employers slow to seek subsidy for Medicare Rx.(Benefits Management)
July 12, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD A federal government subsidy that will cut employers' prescription drug costs beginning in 2006 is drawing the interest of some large companies, but most employers are holding off on making a commitment until the...

Got a point to make? Advice to share? Submit a Perspectives article to BI.(Perspectives)
July 12, 2004... Business Insurance accepts articles from experts in commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits management for publication in its Perspectives section. The section is intended to be a forum for readers' opinions and for the...

Hard market created stronger risk managers; Approaches adopted in difficult times should be maintained as conditions improve.(Perspectives)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Gregory Belton Hard market risk managers have proven their mettle as never before. Coming off the unprecedented soft market of 1985-2001, they've adapted remarkably to an abrupt and brutal market correction, satisfying the...

Products & Services; Chubb enhances RMIS system.(News)(Chubb Corp.)(Risk Management Information System)(RMIS Dimensions 7.2)
July 12, 2004... WARREN, N.J.-Chubb Corp. has enhanced its online risk management information system, RMIS Dimensions 7.2. The fee-based program provides customized loss information via the Internet. The enhancements include the ability to create customized...

Ontario health changes won't hit employers' hard.(News)
July 12, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ TORONTO-The introduction of new health care premiums and the removal of some covered health care services in Ontario are not expected to have a significant impact on the costs of employers in the province. The...

Regulator lends expertise to Iraq's insurance market; Pickens travels to Baghdad to aid reconstruction effort.(News)(Mike Pickens)
July 12, 2004... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH BAGHDAD, Iraq-There is huge potential for a flourishing insurance market in the "New Iraq,'' according to Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Mike Pickens, who recently returned from more than two months in the country,...

Legislators vow to address cash balance uncertainty; Conflicting rulings on age bias vex employers.(News)(Employee benefits)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Federal legislators are beginning to respond to employers' pleas for rules to make clear that cash balance pension plans do not violate age discrimination law. At a congressional hearing last week, Rep....

Safety, liability concerns spur employers to make rules on cell phone use.(News)
July 12, 2004... Byline: MEG SHREVE Recent state legislation on cell phone use and accidents involving distracted drivers are prompting employers to look closer at managing the risks of employees' cellular telephone use. ExxonMobil is one employer that...

World Updates; U.K. pension deficits fall in 2003: Mercer.(International)(Mercer Human Resource Consulting)(Lane Clark & Peacock L.L.P.)(Liberia)
July 12, 2004... The aggregate pension fund deficit of the largest employers in the United Kingdom fell by 13.5% in 2003, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting in London. Mercer determined that the total pension fund deficit of the FTSE 350...

California employers fear costs, hassles from paid leave.(News)
July 12, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD California employers may face significant and costly productivity problems stemming from the state's paid family leave law, which is the nation's first, employers and consultants say. The law, which was enacted...

Judge names trustee to watch Segal's assets in Near North.(News)(Michael Segal)(Near North National Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS CHICAGO-A federal judge appointed a trustee last week to oversee convicted insurance executive Michael Segal's assets in Near North National Group Inc. and its affiliates. Following a six-week trial, a federal...

Terminal collapse at Paris airport blamed on concrete.(International)
July 12, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER PARIS-The partial collapse of a terminal at France's Charles de Gaulle International Airport likely stemmed from deterioration of the concrete used in the 1-year-old structure, according to French transportation...

Policies may ease workplace stress; CIPD Annual Employment Law Conference.(International)(Chartered Institute of Personnel Development)
July 12, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Although it has become increasingly difficult for U.K. employees to bring successful stress claims against their employers, companies still should have polices in place to combat the condition, experts at a...

Portland Diocese seeks bankruptcy protection from harassment claims.(News)(Archdiocese of Portland)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD PORTLAND, Ore.-The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the face of potentially huge clergy sexual abuse liabilities. The archdiocese was scheduled to go to trial...

Cash balance hearing a good sign.(Opinions)
July 12, 2004... A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING last week on cash balance plans encourages us that when it comes to restoring the nation's defined benefit plan system, legislators will not fiddle while Rome burns. Most encouraging were the words of Rep. John...

SEC expands investigation into mutual fund industry.(News)(Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: GAVIN SOUTER WASHINGTON-The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has broadened its investigation into the mutual fund industry by examining payments made by funds to 401(k) plan consultants and others. Several mutual fund...

Gothaer Re planning runoff of current business lines.(International)(Gothaer Ruckversicherung AG)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY COLOGNE, Germany-Gothaer Rueckversicherung A.G. has stopped writing new business and will run off its current book. Cologne, Germany-based Gothaer Re, a unit of Cologne-based Gothaer Versicherungsbank A.G., said in...

Class action bill stalls in Senate; Reform's chances slim after close vote.(News)
July 12, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The drive for class action reform legislation appears dead in the current Congress. A motion to invoke cloture-thus limiting debate and amendments-on the Class Action Fairness Act failed in the Senate...

Paid leave to see key test.(Opinions)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... WITH CALIFORNIA'S paid family leave now in effect, we will be watching closely to see if what supporters say are the benefits of the law outweigh what critics say are the negatives. As we report on page 1, California's pioneering law,...

Edwards' record shows little employer advocacy.(News)(John Edwards)
July 12, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS John Edwards has shown little support for employer-backed legislation in his time as a lawmaker, and that is not likely to change if he becomes vice president next year, say Washington observers. From tort...

Late News; WorldCom pension settlement reached.
July 12, 2004... MCI Inc. and 19 of its former executives have agreed to pay nearly $51 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by workers who lost billions of dollars in retirement savings when a massive accounting scandal caused the telephone company...

Seeking the young, extraordinary; BI soliciting nominations for 40 under 40 feature.(News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... CHICAGO-Business Insurance is seeking nominations for its "40 Under 40: People to Watch" feature, a roundup of men and women who are doing extraordinary work in the commercial insurance industry before celebrating a 40th birthday. Anyone...

7. BB&T Insurance Services Inc.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Gloria Gonzalez P.O. Box 31128 Raleigh, N.C. 27622; 919-716-9777; fax: 919-716-9783 www.bbandt.com A combination of strong organic growth and a major acquisition in 2003 vaulted BB&T Insurance Services Inc. into...

10. Alexander Forbes Ltd.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Carolyn Aldred Alexander Forbes Place, 61 Katherine St., Sandown, 2196 South Africa 27-11-269-0000; fax: 27-11-269-1111 www.alexanderforbes.com South African brokerage Alexander Forbes Ltd. is gearing up for...

8. Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann 4951 Lake Brook Drive Glen Allen, Va. 23060; 804-747-6500; fax: 804-747-6046 www.hrh.com The name may have changed but the story remains the same: The records continue to fall at Hilb Rogal & Hobbs...

5. Wells Fargo & Co.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Rodd Zolkos 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 4100 Chicago, Ill. 60601; 312-423-2500; fax: 312-423-2508 www.acordia.com www.wellsfargo.com Three years after Wells Fargo & Co.'s 2001 acquisition of Acordia Inc., the...

Errors & omissions.(News)
July 19, 2004... Due to a reporting error, a July 12 story on medical stop-loss coverage misspelled the surname of Brian Diedrich, senior managing director at Mesirow Financial in Chicago.

1. Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Douglas McLeod 1166 Ave. of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10036 212-345-6000; fax: 212-345-3833 www.marsh.com Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. is expanding its risk services offerings as the hard market that has...

9. Brown & Brown Inc.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Michael Bradford 220 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, Fla. 32114; 386-252-9601; fax: 386-239-5729 www.bbinsurance.com Brown & Brown Inc.'s appetite for acquisitions is as voracious as ever, at a time when the...

Amid softening, push is on to ensure revenue growth.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD Last year was pretty good for brokers, but growth is going to be tougher to manage in the near future than it has been in the recent past. While brokers posted big gains in revenues and net income in 2003,...

4. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Dave Lenckus The Gallagher Centre, 2 Pierce Place Itasca, Ill. 60143-3141 630-773-3800; fax: 630-285-4000 www.ajg.com J. Patrick Gallagher Jr. characterizes 2003 as an "outstanding year'' for Arthur J. Gallagher &...

E.U. panel to review aviation cover options.(International)
July 19, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER BRUSSELS, Belgium-Officials from European Union member states are gathering in Brussels today to consider their response to the impact on the aviation industry from a planned exclusion by underwriters of certain...

3. Willis Group Holdings Ltd.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Sally Roberts 10 Trinity Square London, England EC3P 3AX; 44-207-488-8111; fax: 44-207-481-7096 www.willis.com Willis Group Holdings Ltd.'s goal of building a strong sales culture that flourishes in all...

Probes shine spotlight on contingent commissions; Given their bottom-line impact, barring such arrangements could boost buyers' costs.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)
July 19, 2004... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS What if the controversy over the appropriateness of the contingent commissions that insurers pay brokerages were to end with regulators barring such commissions? Stock analysts and some broker representatives...

Second tier of U.S. firms looks to keep growing.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)(Insurance industry)
July 19, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS and MARK A. HOFMANN Big growth was the name of the game in 2003 for several of the nation's largest insurance brokerages. Whether that came from acquisitions, organic growth or the addition of producers or...

Senate has its own attention deficit.(Commentary)(National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann Sept. 7 is National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day. Even if you're an observant individual, odds are that you have been blissfully unaware of this particular occasion. That's understandable, for this...

Brokers turning to technology to enhance service offerings to employee benefit clients.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)(Travers, O'keefe & Associates Inc)
July 19, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Brokers today are beefing up their investments in technology and talent to prove to their employee benefit clients that their promise of providing "value-added services'' is no cliche. And these investments...

6. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C.(Spotlight: World's Largest Brokers)(plans of the company)
July 19, 2004... Byline: Sarah Veysey 6 Crutched Friars London EC3N 2PH, England 44-207-528-4444; fax: 44-207-528-4185 www.jltgroup.com Further expansion in the United States, whether through acquisitions or organic growth, continues to...