Business Insurance articles from November 2007

Business Insurance archives from November 2007

AIG offers new portfolio of trucking coverage.(Industry News)(American International Group Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... NEW YORK-American International Group Inc. has launched a new unit dedicated to providing insurance solutions for the U.S. trucking market. AIG Transportation Solutions will offer a broad portfolio of insurance products to trucking...

AAIS releases expanded guide to state forms.(Industry News)(American Association of Insurance Services)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... WHEATON, Ill.-The American Assn. of Insurance Services has released an updated and expanded guide to state policy forms and rating information compliance requirements. For 18 years the AAIS has provided its members with a free annual guide...

Chubb converts Shanghai unit into subsidiary.(Industry News)(Chubb Corp.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... WARREN, N.J.-Federal Insurance Co., a unit of Chubb Corp., has received approval from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission to convert its Shanghai branch into a wholly owned insurance subsidiary. The new subsidiary, Chubb Insurance...

The quote.(Industry News)
November 1, 2007... `The moral of the story is that at the end of the day, it's still all about the customers and the customers' experience.' -Patrick Brandt, CEO, Skywire Software CAPTION(S): Patrick Brandt

IT investment gives insurers edge: PCI.(Industry News)
November 1, 2007... DES PLAINES, Ill.-Information technology investments improve insurers' position in the marketplace, according to a newly released survey by the Property Casualty Insurers Assn. of America and Gartner Inc. The second annual joint IT...

Industry urged to awaken online promise; Phase two.(Cover Focus: Web Services)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Rodd Zolkos DALLAS-A September gathering of a cross-section of players involved in doing insurance business online was seen by many of those attending as a harbinger of the next phase of online insurance business. The first...

P/C commercial lines insurers' outlook stable, says Moody's.(Industry News)(Moody's Investor Service)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... NEW YORK-The outlook for North American property/casualty commercial lines insurance companies is stable, according to Moody's Investors Service Inc. Subject to the level of catastrophe activity, the New York-based rating agency said the...

AIR unveils property valuation service.(Industry News)(Air Worldwide Corp.)
November 1, 2007... BOSTON-AIR Worldwide Corp. is offering a new service to assess insurance-to-value of U.S. residential property portfolios for reinsurance contract renewals. The service, which is available for insurers, reinsurers and brokers, draws upon...

Hartford P/C agents encouraged to cross-sell benefit products.(Industry News)(Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... HARTFORD, Conn.-Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. is implementing a program aimed at helping property/casualty agents cross-sell Hartford's benefits products to their P/C clients. "P/C agents are looking to deepen their relationships...

Complex global markets beg new oversight approach.(Feature: Gatherings)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Meg Fletcher FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-The increasing complexity of the global insurance market is making insurance supervisors of many nations consider the merits of a principles-based oversight approach rather than maintaining...

RLI to use CATEX's Pivot Point system for reinsurance underwriting processes.(Industry News)(RLI Insurance Co.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... PEORIA, Ill.-Recently formed facultative reinsurer RLI Reinsurance will use the Catastrophe Risk Exchange Inc.'s Pivot Point Web-based reinsurance transaction system to manage its underwriting processes. The reinsurance division, announced...

On the move.(officials and employees of Aon Corp.)(officials and employees of Wells Fargo Insurance Services.)(officials anmd employees of Marsh Inc.)
November 1, 2007... Wells Fargo Insurance Services has named Paul Baldwin COO of its San Francisco-based American E&S operations. Before taking his new position, Mr. Baldwin was managing director for insurance brokerage operations in Southern California, Arizona...

Industry must heed social, business impact of Web 2.0.(Tech Focus)
November 1, 2007... Byline: James H. Bisker The widespread use of data networks over the past two decades marked a new plateau in the world of commerce. In the insurance industry, these networks allowed insurers to reach into operational and business...

Three Questions.(Industry News)(officials and employees of Property Casualty Insurers Association)(Interview)
November 1, 2007... In September, David A. Sampson was named president and chief executive officer of the Des Plaines, Ill.-based Property Casualty Insurers Assn. of America. Before joining the PCI, Mr. Sampson was deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of...

Online arbitration valued by P/C industry.(Cover Focus: Web Services)(Arbitration Forums Inc.)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Meg Fletcher Arbitration Forums Inc. is nearly 65 years old, but it's seizing the advantages of today's technology to boost inter-company dispute arbitration to new levels of efficiency. The nation's largest nonprofit provider...

In focus.(Tech Focus)
November 1, 2007... As they look for the information technology power they need to do business effectively, many insurance industry companies often find it most efficient to look to outside partners rather than attempting to create systems in-house. Whether it's...

Arbitration Forums leader hailed for innovative tenure.(Cover Focus: Web Services)(Arbitration Forums Inc.)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Meg Fletcher During her 37-year career, D. Kay Smith has developed a management style that has produced quantifiable results and earned the respect of her colleagues. When she retires next year as president and chief executive...

Underwriting volatility study links ERM to shareholder value.(Feature: Trends)(reports of Aon Corp.)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Rodd Zolkos A recently released study suggests that the underwriting volatility of nearly every line of insurance exceeds the one-year volatility of the Standard & Poor's Corp. 500 index. According to the study, released last...

Paris puts on business attire.(First Word)(political activity of Christine Lagarde)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Rodd Zolkos So how would you feel about placing business at L'Oyd's? I started thinking about this after I read an article last month from the International Herald Tribune that suggested that French officials are making plans to...

Stick to the facts for solid ERM plan.(Last Word)(analysis of enterprise risk management)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Eric Brosius Enterprise risk management is a hot topic. And with good reason. Primary insurers that demonstrate effective ERM differentiate themselves with a range of key stakeholders: from reinsurers and shareholders to...

Industry expands Web presence through 2007.(Cover Focus: Web Services)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Meg Fletcher The insurance industry has expanded its use of online and Web-based products and services in a variety of ways over the past year, according to an Industry Focus review of new offerings. A North Hollywood,...

The new world web services.(Cover Focus: Web Services)(usage of internet services by insurance industry)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Meg Fletcher U.S. insurance companies are expanding their use of the Web to advertise, sell and service products, but they are still challenged when it comes to meeting customers' high expectations concerning usability, privacy and...

Comings & goings.(officials and employees of Willis Group Holdings Ltd.)
November 5, 2007... Brokers: Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has made several senior-level promotions: Shoji Ohashi has joined as the new representative director and chairman of Willis Japan Holdings K.K. in Tokyo. He joins Willis after retiring from his...

Tort reform crucial to ensure access to health care services; Pro.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann Q: Why is tort reform necessary? We believe tort reform is necessary because it affects many important aspects of our society. Probably the most significant for most people is access to health care. We see clear...

Current system often relieves wrongdoers of responsibility; Con.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Q: Why is tort reform unnecessary? Tort reform is really nothing more than laws that take away a victim's right to go to court or take away the power or authority of a jury to decide compensation. Some of these laws are quite cruel-in...

Companies face new media exposures with online publishing; Cyber risk insurance market grows as more companies purchase coverage to avoid lawsuits.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: KRISTIN GUNDERSON HUNT As technology continues to change the way companies do business, more insurers are broadening their coverage to help meet the expanding legal exposures companies face as a result of publishing content online,...

Avoid film interruption with a pre-production plan.(Perspective)(insurance of entertainment industry)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Neil Gibson Tabloids are flooded with stories of the mishaps that befall certain actors and actresses. For most, it may seem like mere gossip fodder. What is often overlooked, however, is that these celebrities are a main component...

Failed insurer saga shows wider woes; New state liquidation chief vows change.(News)(company forecasts of Union Indemnity Insurance Co.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD NEW YORK-Union Indemnity Insurance Co.'s collapse was one of the more spectacular insolvencies of its day, but many people may not remember that far back. It was 1985: Ronald Reagan was president, Microsoft Corp....

Union Indemnity a case of how not to operate.(cases of Union Indemnity Insurance Co.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... A RECENT DEVELOPMENT in the 22-year insolvency of Union Indemnity Insurance Co. signals some good news for the failed insurer's creditors, but the historical facts remain disturbing. The New York Liquidation Bureau, which has administered...

Reformers and plaintiff attorneys take battle to the states; At the federal level, however, many agree that Democratic majority in Congress makes tort law changes highly unlikely.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN Tort reform, never the easiest of tasks on Capitol Hill, isn't likely to be getting any easier any time soon, say civil justice reform advocates. Last year's elections that created Democratic majorities in both...

TOP 10 SETTLEMENTS.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)(List)
November 5, 2007... The biggest wage and hour settlements entered into or paid in 2006: $98 million: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. $89 million: UBS Financial Services Inc. $87 million: United Parcel Service of America Inc. $65 million: IBM Corp....

Alienation of affection strips duty to defend.(End Page)(cases of State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. with Thomas G. Harbert )(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... A surgeon who allegedly enticed a medical clinic manager into an extra-marital affair is not entitled to an insurer's defense of a lawsuit filed by the manager's husband, South Dakota's Supreme Court ruled. The case of State Farm Fire &...

Explosion of class action lawsuits focus on wage and hour violations; Certifying class easy under Fair Labor Standards Act.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS When an employer is sued for employment practices violations today, the suit likely doesn't allege discrimination or sexual harassment, but rather violations of state and federal wage and hour laws. The ease by...

Positives, negatives debated should Europe move to differential pricing.(International News)(prices and rates of insurance)
November 5, 2007... Byline: RICHARD MILLER BADEN-BADEN, Germany-To address concerns raised by the European Commission in September in its sector inquiry final report of possible anti-competitive practices in the reinsurance and coinsurance business, industry...

Workplace gun mishap one for the books, legs, wall.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... "Colt 45, it works every time,'' a once-popular beer advertising tagline, apparently held true for a 47-year-old insurance agency worker. Last week, while at work near Fort Worth, Texas, John Collins apparently shot himself in both legs...

UP CLOSE Charles Rosen.(Comings & Goings)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... NEW JOB TITLE: Chief executive officer of Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. in San Francisco START DATE: Jan. 1, 2008 BEFORE THE PROMOTION: I was an employee benefits practice leader for three years, and have 16 years experience in employee...

Organizations formerly at odds find themselves aligned to improve system.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Joanne Wojcik The National Consumer-Purchaser Disclosure Project is a collaboration of employers, consumers and labor organizations that previously were at odds. "Organizations that 15 years ago were at loggerheads over the...

Supply chain insurance can fill gaps in business interruption cover: Panel; Wider protection helps organizations cope with disruptions.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: KRISTIN GUNDERSON HUNT ITASCA, Ill.-Business interruption coverage only goes so far in protecting a company from catastrophic losses, and risk managers should consider additional insurance to cover serious disruptions in their...

UNION INDEMNITY ACCOUNTING.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Facts in the 22-year-old insolvency of a property/casualty insurer Former parent: Frank B. Hall & Co. Ordered liquidated: July 16, 1985 Liquidator's first report on Union's financial condition: Oct. 10 Assets: $106.4 million...

House lawmaker floats TRIA extension proposal; Says temporary fix would aid negotiation.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Supporters of a federal terrorism insurance backstop remain optimistic that differences between the House and Senate approaches to the issue can be worked out before a key House member introduces a bill...

UnitedHealthcare to pay $775M for Fiserv's health businesses; Insurer says purchase will boost PBM, managed care base.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: JEFF CASALE and DAVE LENCKUS MINNETONKA, Minn.-UnitedHealth Group Inc. unit UnitedHealthcare has agreed to acquire Fiserv Inc.'s health-related businesses for $775 million in cash. The deal includes Fiserv Health Plan...

In brief.(News)(Ironshore Inc to acquire Stockbridge Insurance Co.)(Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge L.L.P and Kendall Freeman to merge)
November 5, 2007... Ironshore acquires U.S. shell company Ironshore Inc.'s U.S. subsidiary, Ironshore Holdings (U.S.) Inc., has acquired Stockbridge Insurance Co., a Minnesota-based admitted insurance company, from Folksamerica Reinsurance Co. The deal will...

COBRA SINCE 1986.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... How Congress has expanded the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1986: Landmark COBRA law enacted allowing former employees and dependents to continue group health care coverage. Former employees can buy COBRA coverage up to 18...

Piracy on slight upswing so far in 2007.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Sally Roberts Last week's deadly pirate attack on a North Korean cargo vessel in the waters near Somalia is one of a growing number of incidents occurring in the maritime industry today. After trending downward since 2004, the...

Nov. 14 Online Executive Forum to explore comp terrorism risk.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Business Insurance on Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time will host a free Online Executive ForumTM on "Workers Compensation: Protecting People in the Age of Terrorism.'' The threat of terrorism has not abated since Sept. 11, 2001, and...

Trade bill would extend COBRA cover subsidies; Measure could signal more changes ahead for health cover plan.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Employees who lose their jobs due to foreign competition and older pension plan participants whose plans fail would receive bigger health insurance premium subsidies under trade legislation approved by the...

Multiple injury claims trigger court battle; Self-insured employer says excess insurer shuns accepted practice.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS LOS ANGELES-A self-insured employer is involved in a legal fight with its excess workers compensation insurer over the insurer's attempt to stop what the employer says is a common method of settling multiple...

Gift of health now includes debit card.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... What do you get for the person who has everything? Maybe a chest X-ray. Or a root canal. Highmark Inc., a Pittsburgh-based health insurer, last week launched the Healthcare Visa Gift Card. The gift card covers out-of-pocket health care...

Asbestos still No. 1 among mass tort risks; Insurers may exclude emerging exposures; risk managers advised to avoid anti-stacking.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS Risk managers who want to take measures now to protect their organizations against potential mass tort claims have an abundance of possible concerns, including the next incarnation of the greatest mass tort of all...

'Beyond transparency'.(Questions & Answers)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and chief executive officer of Willis Group Holdings Ltd., has been an outspoken advocate of transparency in broker compensation. Industry panelists at the recent biennial conference of the Federation of European...

TERMS OF AGREEMENT.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Under an agreement with the New York attorney general's office, CIGNA Healthcare will: * Ensure that doctor rankings are not based solely on cost and clearly identify the degree to which any ranking is based on cost. * Use generally...

Employers learning from Enron's mistake.(Opinions)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Remember when employers matched employees' 401(k) plan deferrals exclusively with company stock and then prevented-for decades in some cases-employees from divesting the employer contribution? Only a few years ago, that practice was...

Canada ruling may provide way to avoid class action lawsuits.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ A recent Supreme Court of Canada decision strongly supporting arbitration to resolve disputes between businesses and consumers will be a useful tool in managing class action litigation risks, legal experts say. ...

330 attend REBEX conference.(News)(Conference news)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Kristin Gunderson Hunt ITASCA, Ill.-Nearly 330 people attended the 2007 Risk and Employee Benefits Conference and Exhibition in Itasca, Ill. The Chicago and Wisconsin chapters of the Risk Insurance Management Society Inc. hosted...

Wage, hour coverage available.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Sally Roberts While wage and hour claims generally are excluded from employment practices liability insurance policies, employers can obtain limited protection for such risks from a handful of underwriters. Beazley Group...

Experts question whether global warming lawsuits can succeed.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)
November 5, 2007... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS While state government and private plaintiffs continue to attempt to hold industry accountable for its contribution to climate change, legal experts question how soon or even whether such efforts can succeed. ...

A difference of opinion.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... The question of whether and how the civil justice system should be reformed has played out in both the states and on Capitol Hill for more than two decades. Business and professional groups have advocated tort reform as a means to guarantee...

Reinsurance pricing pressure builds; Many buyers seeing softer rates except U.K. areas with wind, flood claims.(International News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: RICHARD MILLER BADEN-BADEN, Germany-As market players staked out their varying positions in reinsurance contract negotiations last month, most could agree on one point: Corporate insurance buyers can expect to continue benefiting...

WHAT TO AVOID.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Companies must be careful to avoid a host of legal pitfalls when publishing content, regardless of what medium they use to publish, that include: Defamation: Untrue and harmful factual statements about another person. ...

Federal backstop vital to national security.(Commentary)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann Nothing's more permanent than a temporary federal program, according to what often passes for common knowledge about official Washington. Everyone has heard the bureaucratic horror stories about some...

Swiss earthquake pool delayed at least a year; Ideas include passing law to mandate coverage.(International News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD BERN, Switzerland-Plans for a mandatory earthquake insurance arrangement in Switzerland by 2008 have been delayed as many of the country's cantons, or states, struggle with how to structure a pool or other...

Furniture buyers win thanks to BoSox.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... For a second Red Sox World Series victory in four years, management at a Boston-area furniture dealer was willing to give away the store. The BoSox came through in the fall classic, completing a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies on...

Aon to cut 2,700 staff in latest restructuring; Analysts expect cost-cutting efforts will help brokerage's profits during softening market.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS CHICAGO-With its three-year restructuring program nearly complete, Aon Corp. last week said it is embarking on another, similar restructuring effort that will cost the brokerage $360 million and eliminate 2,700...

CIGNA could set trend with doctor ranking deal; Rating will emphasize quality considerations in addition to pricing.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW YORK-CIGNA Healthcare's agreement with the New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office to revamp its doctor ranking program may become the standard for similar programs at other health insurers. The...

Pirate attack on ship part of recent surge; Risk remains small; marine hull, cargo and war policies cover.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Pirate attacks like the one that occurred last week on the North Korean cargo vessel near Somalia are generally covered by the marine insurance market. Whether piracy is a covered peril under a marine hull or...

On the web.(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... BI VIDEO Re Views features Aon's Ted Devine Reinsurance industry leaders discuss trends in Re Views, a series of video interviews at BusinessInsurance.com. In the latest interview, Aon Re Global CEO Ted Devine discusses how insurers...

Where Aon, Marsh stand on U.K. fee.(Questions & Answers)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... In response to BI requests, Aon Corp. and Marsh Inc. released statements. Aon stated: "We have had our 2.5% ISB (brokerage service fee) in place on fee-based business in the U.K. since 2001. It was introduced following a commitment to the...

Online Poll at www.businessinsurance.com.(Opinions)(Report)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Does your employer offer automatic enrollment in a 401(k) plan? Yes: 32.2% No: 12.9% Not considering: 29.1% Not sure: 25.8% Next week's poll: Is your defined benefit pension plan: frozen to new enrollments; not frozen but...

Cyber Risk coverage.(Spotlight: Liability & Litigation)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Specific coverages that may be, but are not always, included in a cyber risk policy are: * Errors & omissions * Virus * Unauthorized access * Security breach * Personal injury * Advertising injury * Loss of use...

Genetic test for toxic exposures tapped to fight workers comp suits.(Spotlight: Workers Compensation)
November 12, 2007... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA New DNA technology could help reduce baseless lawsuits aiming to collect money for alleged toxic exposure, especially in the workers compensation arena, according to one of its developers. Los Angeles-based...

1,600 attend SIIA conference.(News)(The Self Insurance Institute of America Inc.)(Conference news)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Kristin Gunderson Hunt CHICAGO-The Self Insurance Institute of America Inc. hosted its 27th annual national educational conference and exposition for nearly 1,600 attendees Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Chicago. The participants had their...

Germany extends terrorism backstop; Extension beyond 2009 is likely, but at a lower level.(International News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: RICHARD MILLER BERLIN-Germany's Finance Ministry has agreed to a two-year extension of its e8 billion ($11.6 billion) backstop of EXTREMUS A.G., the country's terrorism insurance pool. After the end of 2009, the government will...

Local authorities plan mutual; New insurer would be third created by U.K. governmental entities.(International News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: STUART COLLINS LONDON-A group of large local government authorities in the United Kingdom has pushed ahead with plans to establish a mutual insurer in a bid to allay the fears of public sector insurance buyers of a potential...

MIT claims architect has a crooked angle.(End Page)(Massachusetts Institute of Technology)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... An architecture critic wrote that it "embodies serious thinking...and at the same time shouts the joy of invention.'' The shouting isn't all joyful these days. MIT is suing renowned architect Frank O. Gehry and contractor Skanska USA...

Measuring a risk manager's value; Ask A Casualty Actuary.(Perspective)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Richard E. Sherman This month's column on actuarial issues in the casualty field is written by Richard E. Sherman, president of Richard E. Sherman & Associates Inc. in Ashland, Ore. Q: Can the value a risk manager adds to an...

Softening market will test reinsurers' pricing discipline.(News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD BOSTON-A key question for cedents and reinsurers in the months to come is how disciplined the market will remain. "If the price adequacy isn't good, we won't be looking at (the business),'' said Pierre L. Ozendo,...

Workers comp PBMs can help employers control drug costs.(Spotlight: Workers Compensation)(Pharmacy Benefit Management Companies)
November 12, 2007... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Since employers in most states cannot require employees in workers compensation cases to use certain pharmacies, particularly for their first prescription, they need to find a way to intervene early enough in the...

Privacy issues loom for disability benefits; Sharing employee data among vendors can get messy if information isn't protected properly.(Spotlight: Workers Compensation)
November 12, 2007... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS While many employers understand the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's implications for health plans, far fewer realize that state privacy laws apply to disability benefits, several...

Greenberg ups ante in tussle with AIG; Seeks shareholder talks over insurer's 'direction'.(News)(American International Group Inc.)(Hank Greenberg)
November 12, 2007... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD NEW YORK-Maurice R. Greenberg's proposal to discuss American International Group Inc.'s performance and strategy with fellow stockholders and others is likely motivated by concern over AIG's stock price, a desire to...

Observers have mixed opinions on whether Greenberg will be able to get backing from other AIG shareholders.(News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Judy Greenwald Will former American International Group Inc. Chairman Maurice R. Greenberg win support from other AIG shareholders for possible changes at the company? Observers have mixed opinions. In his Nov. 2 filing with...

Products & services.(ACE USA to launch first party coverage)(Aspen Publishers to issue guide for private employee benefit plan)(ABD Insurance & Financial Services to provide global risk management)
November 12, 2007... ACE coverage tailored for global exposures PHILADELPHIA-ACE USA has launched first-party coverage tailored for domestic and global exposures of midsize to large U.S. companies. The ACE USA Global Property - Corporate Risk Program offers...

Marsh seeks extra commissions in U.S. Higher compensation to be paid by insurers on midsized accounts.(News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS NEW YORK-First there were contingent commissions, then there were supplemental commissions. Now there are "enhanced commissions.'' Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., in an effort to correct what it sees as a competitive...

MMC's earnings fall short of mark, CEO comes under fire.(News)(Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.)
November 12, 2007... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS NEW YORK-Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. chief Michael G. Cherkasky came under fire last week after the company reported far worse than expected financial results. After taking some blame for what he described as...

Construction firms focus on safety; Avoiding worksite injuries seen as key objective for all in industry.(News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN ORLANDO, Fla.-Eliminating deaths and injuries at construction sites is more than a matter of following procedures and guidelines, construction industry executives say. In fact, "zero incidents is very much the...