Best's Review articles from February 2009

Best's Review archives from February 2009

Get yourself out there.(From the Editor's Desk)
February 1, 2009... I remember when Best's Review began writing stories about insurers establishing Web sites. This month our cover story, "Crashing the Party," addresses another big online step for insurers--how they are getting involved in social media. ...

Life.(DIG DEEPER)
February 1, 2009... The Chinese Life Market Podcast Listen to WenliYuan of Celent explain how the Chinese life insurance market is growing. Click on "Podcasts" and then "Best Day Audio."

Issues & answers.(DIG DEEPER)
February 1, 2009... Multimedia Special Advertising Sections on * Agent/Broker Careers * Benefits & Benefit Selling * Captive Domiciles & Services * Technology

Special focus.(DIG DEEPER)
February 1, 2009... Top U.S. Workers' Compensation Writers Look up the top 25 U.S. workers' compensation writers by clicking on Best's Review Lists and open "Leading U.S. Property/Casualty Writers."

Technology.(DIG DEEPER)
February 1, 2009... Looking for a listing of technology companies that specialize in serving the insurance industry? Click on "Technology Guide."

Team Obama preparing financial sector overhaul.(Briefing: Highlights From BestWeek)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... President Barack Obama intends to push a major overhaul of the regulatory apparatus governing financial services by this spring, even as a new report from the Government Accountability Office suggests that Congress examine including insurance...

China's market trend stays positive for '08.(Briefing: Highlights From BestWeek)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Despite two natural catastrophes and the global financial crisis, China's insurance regulator said the industry has maintained a fast growth trend with effective risk precautions and market development. Wu Dingfu, chairman of the China...

False securities.(Briefing: Highlights From BestWeek)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: FALSE SECURITIES: The alleged Bernard Madoff securities fraud scheme will cost the insurance industry as much as $3.8 billion in reimbursements and defense costs, according to an analysis by Aon Benfield....

Worth repeating.(Briefing: Highlights From BestWeek)
February 1, 2009... "It's a four-letter word... mess." --Presidential adviser Paul Volker, describing the global financial system while unveiling his report on how the Obama administration might structure its major economic reforms.

Travelers has Supreme Court date.(Briefing: Highlights From BestWeek)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a consolidated case, on appeal from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, to determine whether federal bankruptcy courts can block private lawsuits seeking damages for asbestos exposure. Overturning the Second...

FTC orders nine home insurers to furnish credit-scoring data.(Briefing: Highlights From BestWeek)
February 1, 2009... The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has ordered nine of the largest homeowners insurers, representing 60% of the U.S. market, to submit information on how consumer credit records are used in their underwriting and rate-setting models. Handed...

Third-quarter 2008 sales of variable annuities in the United States declined to $37.8 billion, an 18.1% decrease from the same period in 2007, according to NAVA and Morningstar Inc.(Life)(National Association for Variable Annuities)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... THIRD-QUARTER 2008 sales of variable annuities in the United States declined to $37.8 billion, an 18.1% decrease from the same period in 2007, according to NAVA and Morningstar Inc. Sales have been trending downward since May 2008, and if the...

Global merger and acquisition activities in the insurance sector reached $108 billion in 2008, down 17% from the previous year, according to global deal tracking firm Dealogic.(Markets)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... GLOBAL MERGER and acquisition activities in the insurance sector reached $108 billion in 2008, down 17% from the previous year, according to global deal tracking firm Dealogic. Strategic activity accounted for 97% of total merger and...

A.M. Best Co. has launched BestWeek Asia/Pacific, a multi-media newsletter dedicated to the Far East insurance and financial markets.(Resources)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A.M. BEST CO. HAS LAUNCHED BestWeek Asia/Pacific, a multi-media newsletter dedicated to the Far East insurance and financial markets. The newsletter is all-digital, with embedded links to videos, audio podcasts and interactive features. The...

Costliest ... so far.(Best's Review's STATS & NUMBERS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... BEST'S REVIEW'S STATS & NUMBERS Costliest... So Far Last year's Hurricane Ike caused enough damage to become the fifth-costliest hurricane on record in terms of total insured loss. The new ranking: ($ Thousands) ...

P/C results hurt by deterioration.(By the Numbers: Recently published Special Reports from A.M. Best Company)(property and casualty)(Statistical table)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The U.S. property/ casualty industry's net income after taxes fell 85% to $7.3 billion during the first nine months of 2008. Insurers were hit by deteriorating underwriting results and lower investment gains. (P/C Operating Performance Plummets...

HMO impairments: mostly small firms.(By the Numbers: Recently published Special Reports from A.M. Best Company)(health maintenance organization)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The five HMO financial impairments of the past two years have mostly involved private-sector Medicare Advantage or Medicaid companies. Most of the impairments were small, single-state HMOs. (Medicare Advantage Plans Lead HMO Financial...

Could life reinsurers gain 2009 business?(By the Numbers: Recently published Special Reports from A.M. Best Company)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The U.S. life reinsurance segment has a stable A.M. Best outlook after a period of major changes. This contrasts with that of U.S. life/health direct writers, whose rating outlook was revised to negative by Best last Sept. 18. (Historic Market...

Meetings.(Briefing)(Calendar)
February 1, 2009... Feb. 10-12 Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers: Insurance Legislative Summit 2009, Washington, D.C. Web site: www.ciab.com Feb. 17-20 Reinsurance Association of America: Cat Modeling in Uncertain Times, Tampa, Fla....

Corrections.(Briefing)(Correction notice)
February 1, 2009... * The stock listing on page 14 of January's Best's Review was described as year-to-date, however a week-to-week listing was published. * The National Football League Players Association's Financial Advisors Program does not recommend...

Some industry stocks defied record dives in 2008.(Briefing: Stock Watch)(Statistical data)
February 1, 2009... Last year was the year when the impossible became reality: Too-big-to-fail failed, the average U.S. city price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline topped $4, median sales prices of existing homes fell 13.2% in the 12 months ending in...

Insurance jobs.(Briefing: Employment)(Statistical table)
February 1, 2009... Employment in the U.S. insurance industry plummeted by 5,200 jobs from November to December, as the industry closed out 2008 with 7,300 fewer positions than when it began, according to seasonally adjusted data released Jan. 9 by the U.S. Bureau...

Career wise.(Briefing: Employment)(employee trust)
February 1, 2009... Question: What role does trust play in the workplace, both for an employee and an employer? Employee trust in senior executives has a heavy impact on business and its bottom line. Unfortunately, research has shown senior executives...

National Financial Partners Corp.(Agent/Broker)(appointment of Vicki Evans)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. has named VICKI EVANS, senior vice president for the company's insurance services office, as president of its life insurance brokerage division. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Evans had served as acting head...

AON Trade Credit.(Agent/Broker)(appointment of Stuart Lawson)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... STUART LAWSON has been named head of U.K. credit insurance broker AON TRADE CREDIT, Lawson, who has been with ATC for 15 years, will oversee 100 people in seven locations in the United Kingdom. He will concentrate on such areas as debt...

Sun Life Financial Inc.(Life)(appointments of Christopher Quinn and Drew Niziak)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... SUN LIFE FINANCIAL INC.'s U.S. office has named CHRISTOPHER QUINN as the vice president and chief operating officer, and DREW NIZIAK as the executive vice president and director of sales, of its employee benefits group insurance wing. ...

New president of StanCorp: focus on disciplined pricing.(People in Insurance)(Stancorp Financial Group Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Although the United States is mired in recession, Greg Ness, who was named president and chief operating officer of disability insurer StanCorp Financial Group and its largest subsidiary, Standard Insurance Co. in September, said the company's...

Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co.(Life)(appointment of Robert T. Handren)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE CO. has named ROBERT T. "TIM" HANDREN as its executive vice president for information services. Handren joins the Omaha, Neb.-based insurer with experience as a private management consultant and as the chief...

Axa Equitable Life Insurance Co.(Life)(appointments of )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE CO. has named KEVIN BYRNE as its executive vice president. Byrne recently was elected to the post by the board of directors for the New York-based life insurer and main insurance subsidiary of Axa Financial...

Genworth Financial Inc.(Life)(appointment of Ronald Joelson)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Life and mortgage insurer GENWORTH FINANCIAL INC. has named RONALD JOELSON chief investment officer. Joelson comes to the Richmond, Va.-based company from a stint as managing director of insurance strategic markets coverage for the New...

Ace Ltd.(Life)(appointment of David Wolf)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... ACE LTD. has named DAVID WOLF as president of Ace International Life. Wolf, who will be based in New York, was formerly senior vice president of international insurance for Prudential Financial inc. He succeeds Barry Jacobson, who is...

Arch Insurance Group.(Property/Casualty)(appointments of Michael Baxter and Gordon Kerr)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... MICHAEL BAXTER, the president and chief agent of ARCH INSURANCE GROUP's Canadian operations, has been appointed worldwide chief underwriting officer for onshore energy, as well as construction all-risk and erection all-risk lines. Baxter,...

HCC Insurance Holdings Inc.(Property/Casualty)(promotion of Pamela J. Penny)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... PAMELA J. PENNY, the senior vice president of finance for the Houston-based HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC., has been named the company's executive vice president and chief accounting officer. Penny will be responsible for preparing the...

Horace Mann Educators Corp.(Property/Casualty)(appointment of Stephen Cardinal)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORP. has named STEPHEN CARDINAL as its executive vice president and chief marketing officer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cardinal is responsible for all sales and marketing strategy for the Springfield, Ill.-based...

CNA Insurance Co. Ltd.(Property/Casualty)(appointment of Paul Maidment)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... CNA INSURANCE CO. LTD. has named PAUL MAIDMENT as the company's regional director for the United Kingdom and Ireland, which is a new position. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maidment will report to JULIAN ENOIZI, the Chicago-based insurer's...

Munich Reinsurance Co.(Reinsurance/Capital Markets)(appointment of Joachim Wenning)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... MUNICH REINSURANCE CO. has named JOACHIM WENNING to a newly created seat dedicated to life reinsurance on its board of management. Wenning is currently the chief executive officer of the New Reinsurance Co., a position he took up in 2005...

Everest Re Group.(Reinsurance/Capital Markets)(appointments of Ralph E. Jones III and Thomas J. Gallagher)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... EVEREST RE GROUP said RALPH E. JONES III has been appointed the company's president and chief operating officer after having joined Everest's board of directors in September 2008. THOMAS J. GALLAGHER, president and COO at Everest since...

THB management change is part of international expansion strategy.(People in Insurance)(THB Group plc appointed Frank Murphy)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The appointment of Frank Murphy as chief executive of THB Group plc comes as the specialist broker is seeking to expand its international profile. Murphy will assume his new post on May 1, taking over from Vic Thompson, who is retiring. ...

Reaching out.(SPONSORSHIP)(Harleysville Group Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... HARLEYSVILLE INSURANCE, along with its independent agents, sponsored a Thanksgiving "Free Call Day" for U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East. The 2008 event set new records for both number of calls and phone minutes used during a single day...

Full coverage.(BRANDING)(Collins)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] REINSURANCE BROKER COLLINS recently unveiled a new ad that has things fully covered. It was created as part of a redesign of Collins' ad campaign in the Physicians Insurers Association of America's publication,...

Allstate launched a national.(ADVERTISING)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... ALLSTATE LAUNCHED A NATIONAL comprehensive advertising campaign, which ran from Nov. 24 to Dec. 26, 2008, in 14 strategic areas across the United States to support "Home for the Holidays"--a teen safe driving initiative designed to encourage...

Agents get E&O rate trim.(SPOTLIGHT)(Continental Casualty Co. introduced errors and omissions insurance)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... National Ethics Bureau members and nonmembers with clean professional backgrounds can purchase high-quality errors and omissions coverage under a new product to be issued by Continental Casualty Insurance Co., a CNA affiliate, and administered...

Insurance blog analyzes industry.(Technology)(Celent Communications introduced http.//insuranceblog.celent.com)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Financial research and consulting firm Celent launched a new insurance blog (http.//insuranceblog.celent.com), to offer thought-provoking, interesting and timely perspectives by its global team of insurance analysts...

Fidelity prepares better home page.(Technology)(Fidelity Investments)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Fidelity Investments announced it will roll out a new home page for Fidelity.com. The redesigned page will provide real-time financial market news, expert commentary and timely personal finance content, helping investors to better manage...

Markel offers ID theft coverage.(Property/Casualty)(identification)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Markel Corp. has launched DataBreach, its new information risk and privacy liability insurance product, to help businesses manage risk associated with the increase in identity theft that has plagued businesses...

Product offers fixed index.(Life)(Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. introduced variable life insurance)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. has launched Diversified Growth VUL, reportedly the first variable universal life policy to offer an indexed fixed account. The investment option accrues interest based on the change in the performance of the S&P...

The sky is falling.(SNAPSHOT)(united states top 10 metro areas)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Hail storms cause some $1 billion in damage yearly. The 10 most hail-prone U.S. metro areas in 2007: 1. Amarillo, TX 2. Tulsa, OK 3. Wichita, KS 4. Dodge City, KS 5. Oklahoma City, OK 6. Wichita Falls, TX 7....

Rating actions.(Ratings)(insurance companies )(Statistical table)
February 1, 2009... This edition reflects all financial strength rating changes--assignments, changes or placed under review--that occurred for life, health and property/casualty insurers domiciled in North America, as well as non-U.S. insurance companies, since...

Crashing the party: insurers are navigating what they hope is a path to success on the social Web.(Technology: Online Marketing)(Cover story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kristin Brewe was once asked to pull off a television ad campaign in 10 weeks. She had a $100,000 budget but her employer, Esurance, was after a new kind of brand awareness. The direct insurer wanted to generate...

Sizing up specialty lines.(Property/Casualty: Special Editorial Section)(discussion on pricing)(Discussion)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Surplus writers and wholesalers say general liability, financial institutions, D&O and E&O will be the first lines to experience price hikes as loss ratios begin to tick up. They are preparing for lawsuits that some...

Surplus lines results remain strong: an excerpt from the A.M. Best Special Report U.S. Surplus Lines--2007 market review.(Property/Casualty: Special Editorial Section)(Statistical table)(Company rankings)
February 1, 2009... Despite falling short of the record-setting profitability experienced in 2006, the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry was profitable again in 2007 as a result of strong under-writing. Increasing competition along with the turbulent...

Waits and measures: despite little opposition, surplus lines reform keeps getting sidetracked in Congress.(Property/Casualty: Special Editorial Section)(Non-admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act)
February 1, 2009... It has enjoyed arguably the broadest industry support of any recent insurance regulatory reform proposal, with endorsements from insurers and producers, both large and small, both life and property/casualty. It has moved to the U.S. House...

Bullish plans: Max Specialty talks about its strategies for 2009.(Property/Casualty: Special Editorial Section)(Max Specialty Insurance Co.)
February 1, 2009... Sometimes it's how you look at things. While some watch the financial turmoil with a careful eye, Max Specialty Insurance Co. Chief Executive Officer Stephen J. Vaccaro said the excess and surplus lines writer won't lose sight of opportunity...

Paper jam: a federal court rules surplus lines insurers aren't exempt from filing forms for Florida regulatory approval.(Regulatory/Law: Special Editorial Section)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A fundamental concept deeply rooted in insurance law appears to have been negated in Florida by the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. The decision appears to require surplus lines insurers to...

Saving grace: by quickly reaching out to injured workers, employers are reducing workers' compensation costs.(Property/Casualty: Workers' Compensation)(Company rankings)
February 1, 2009... Workers' compensation has become a prime area of focus for employers and carriers looking to save money during the current economic situation, and cost-saving measures are evolving. Speeding up the claims process, eliminating wasteful steps,...

Path of least resistance: rising MRSA infection rates have health insurers countering with education and pay-for-performance initiatives.(Health/Employee Benefits: Health Initiatives)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
February 1, 2009... Although Sarabeth Gordon heard news reports about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the stay-at-home mother of three and aspiring novelist from New Orleans never knew the powerful blow a MRSA infection cause until she was...

Regulator yearbook: the 2009 Insurance Commissioners.(Regulatory/Law: Commissioners)(briefs)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE Jim L. Ridling, Commissioner 201 Monroe St., Suite 1700, Montgomery, AL 36104 334-269-3550; Fax: 334-241-4192 www.aldoi.gov Background: Graduated from University...

Canada: provincial officials in charge of insurance affairs.(Regulatory/Law: Commissioners)(Directory)
February 1, 2009... ALBERTA FINANCE Dennis Gartner, Superintendent of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Pensions 4th Floor, Terrace Building, 9515-107 St., Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2C3 780-427-8322; Fax: 780-420-0752 www.finance.gov.ab.ca ...

A form for all reasons: a handful of insurance pros redefines the industry's producer appointment process.(Agent/Broker: Producer Appointments)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A mere 24 hours after an emergency appendectomy, Robert Hamburger, vice president of agency services for the Chubb Group of Cos., was back to work. Not at the office, per se; but he was on the phone talking to the...

Tune in tomorrow: as baby boomers retire, agencies must develop a new wave of young, talented recruits.(Agent/Broker: Selling Insight)
February 1, 2009... The insurance industry is full of baby boomers, the oldest of whom are now entering retirement. And more than half of the insurance industry's employees are over the age of 40. This generation has brought the industry into the 21st century....

Quite the contrary: investors who bought indexed annuities a year ago are sleeping much better than owners of variable annuities or mutual funds.(Life: Indexed Annuities)(Company rankings)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the stock market melted down last fall, financial advisers were busy urging clients to not panic, to be patient and to stick with their long-term investment plans. But some advisers received thank-you notes, a...

Flummoxed over bancassurance: sales of life products at banks are flat, but quicker underwriting that doesn't sacrifice quality may help.(Life: Underwriting Insight)
February 1, 2009... The word "flummoxed" best defines the intellectual consequences of trying to fathom how life insurance distribution via banks can thrive globally, but flounder here. Adding a dash of salt on the wound, a new study says consumers today are...

Group lessons: what's behind the success of group long-term care?(Health/Employee Benefits: Long-Term Care Insurance)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Group long-term care may be what Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, calls "the best underground secret in the nation," but its continued growth is anything but...

Rich in potential: the Asian-American market is fertile ground for insurance and retirement products, but succeeding in it takes special skill.(Life: Asian-American Market)(ING America Life Corp. partnerd with Asian American Insurance and Financial Professional Association )
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In March 2008, ING USA entered into an alliance with the Asian American Insurance and Financial Professional Association as a way to build distribution in the attractive U.S.-based Asian demographic. Established...

Memo to producers: heritage is strong: you should be telling clients and prospects about the stellar track record of life insurance.(Life: Selling Insight)
February 1, 2009... It wasn't so long ago that owning a life insurance policy was a clear symbol of personal responsibility. Many policyholders actually eschewed common pleasures to make sure they had the money to pay the premiums. Letting a policy lapse was...

The pandemic wager: a staid model for dealing with pandemic risk exposure marks another quiet year.(Reinsurance/Capital Markets: Mortality Bonds)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Indications are that 2009 could mark a return for an insurance-linked security that lets investors make what has been a historically safe wager against pandemic risk. It comes on the close of another modest year...

Stepping out: how Assurant's holistic view of business exposure keeps risks at bay.(Property/Casualty: Enterprise Risk Management)(Company overview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who says actuaries are only trained to understand the world statistically? This long-standing misconception not only shortchanges the value of the training; it also minimizes the diversified career paths that emerge...

Legal maneuvers: trial attorneys' unique vantage point makes them a resource for reducing risk and avoiding litigation.(Regulatory/Law: Litigation)
February 1, 2009... Risk managers work with lawyers on a regular basis, consulting with them on insurance coverage issues and transactions. One goal in working with counsel is to reduce risk, and most businesspeople probably would not think to call trial counsel...

Eye on regulation: will the fallout from the recession change how insurance is regulated?(Regulatory/Law: Legal Insight)
February 1, 2009... The tumultuous economic events of 2008 can be expected to significantly impact the insurance regulatory world in 2009. As government reins pass to both a new president and Congress, the fundamental question of whether there should be federal...

A pressing need: China offers a huge opportunity for all insurance lines, but especially for property/casualty writers.(Property/Casualty: China)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "A unique opportunity exists in China today: to be the first country ever to develop a new earthquake insurance system without the undesired incentive of a major catastrophe," according to a 2005 Risk Management...

Insurance to value: as housing prices plummet, the cost to rebuild a home is on the rise.(Property/Casualty: Loss/Risk Management Insight)
February 1, 2009... As homeowners across the country watch the values of their homes plummet, they may start to think that their insurance premiums should follow suit. Many people think it's simple logic: Reduced market value equals reduced insurance premiums. ...

Reaching out: three A.M. Best Co. E-Fusion presentations highlight ways insurers can reach customers, build smarter work forces and boost productivity.(Technology: E-Fusion)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Where economic value and information technology converge was the cornerstone of the 2028 some notable industry experts explained ways to make that happen by focusing on the economic challenges facing the insurance...

The long and short of IT: strategic cost-cutting will help carriers achieve long-term rewards.(Technology: Technology Insight)(information technology)
February 1, 2009... In today's difficult economic environment, life and property/casualty insurers are under relentless pressure to cut costs. Much of the search for savings is focused squarely on information technology. In making budget cuts, however,...

Thinc Group.(Agent/Broker)(Bluefin Wealth Management)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... THINC GROUP, the Axa-owned U.K. firm of independent financial advisers, has changed its name to Bluefin Wealth Management. The new name will also apply to Axa-owned nonlife broker Venture Preference and to employee benefits firms PIFC and SBJ...

BNP Paribas Assurance.(Asia/Pacific)(TCB Life Insurance Co.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... BNP PARIBAS ASSURANCE has formed a joint venture with Taiwan Cooperative Bank to set up a new life insurance company. The new company, BNP Paribas Assurance TCB Life Insurance Co., will aim to capture growing bancassurance opportunities in...

Highmark Inc.(Health)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... HIGHMARK INC. plans to open two retail health insurance stores in central and western Pennsylvania this year. The stores, called Highmark Direct, are scheduled to open in Mechanicsburg, Pa., outside Harrisburg; and in north Pittsburgh. The...

Lloyd's.(Companies)(Lloyd's of London)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... LLOYD'S has been awarded a license to write direct nonlife insurance business in the English Channel island of Guernsey. Until now, Lloyd's has been regarded as a "recognized insurer" in Guernsey, writing business from London as a cross-border...

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd.(Property/Casualty)(weather insurance)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE CO. LTD. has launched weather insurance in the United States with a target to reach $11.2 million in sales within the next three years. The Tokyo-based nonlife insurer said it is the first Japanese insurance...

Swiss RE subsidiary Reassure America Life Insurance Co. said it entered a reinsurance agreement with Connecticut-based Phoenix Cos.(Reinsurance)(Reassure America Life Insurance Co)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... SWISS RE subsidiary REASSURE AMERICA LIFE INSURANCE CO. said it entered a reinsurance agreement with Connecticut-based PHOENIX COS. According to a statement issued by Phoenix, the agreement covers a group of in-force term life insurance...

Chubb consolidates Europe operations, domicile in U.K.(Companies)(Chubb Insurance Company of Europe)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Chubb Insurance has moved its European domicile to the United Kingdom from Belgium. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Martin Richards, Chubb's European communications manager, said the personal and commercial insurance business in the United...

Navigating the road: Allstate is putting seniors behind the wheel with a video game to improve safe driving skills.(The Last Word)
February 1, 2009... Kids and video games go hand-in-hand. Now, parents and grandparents are getting in on the action. Allstate is piloting a new program for drivers ages 50 and older to determine whether performing video exercises on the computer will make...