Know What's Happening in Insurance
Know What's Happening in Insurance
NY Court Says Post‑Cutoff Acts Don't Void D&O Run‑Off Coverage
A New York federal court held that acts occurring after a D&O run‑off policy’s cut‑off date do not bar coverage unless the acts are unlawful. Judge Jed Rakoff found AmTrust’s 2019 preferred‑share delisting to be a lawful corrective disclosure, so the insurer’s reliance on the subsequent‑acts exclusion failed. The ruling clarifies that a “Wrongful Act” under New York law must involve unlawful conduct.
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed a lower‑court dismissal and revived insurers’ claims against Blackbaud for costs incurred after the 2020 ransomware breach. The insurers, who paid more than $2 million for forensic, legal, and credit‑monitoring services, met the state’s notice‑pleading standard by identifying the common contracts and alleged data‑safeguard failures. The high court’s decision allows the insurers to pursue recovery from Blackbaud and sends the case back for further proceedings.
Munich Re’s primary insurer, Ergo, will eliminate roughly 1,000 positions in Germany, driven by AI automation of routine telephony and claims‑processing tasks. The reductions will be phased over five years, ending in 2030, and support the group’s goal of €600 million...
A wave of strategic moves reshaped the global insurance landscape on Feb. 17, 2026, as Aon secured a major reinsurance appointment and Zurich received an extension on its Beazley bid, while Ardonagh acquired a controlling stake in a Hong Kong...
Aon announced that Nick Fraccalvieri will assume the role of CEO of global facultative for its Reinsurance Solutions division effective March 1, succeeding Andrew Laing after a decade at the helm. Laing will transition to UK CEO of Reinsurance Solutions while retaining his...
A new study presents a cloud‑native microservice architecture designed for insurance analytics, leveraging Docker, Kubernetes, Kafka, and Spark to replace legacy monolithic systems. The design enables real‑time data ingestion, continuous AI model deployment, and automated scaling across services. Performance tests...
Most Wisconsin dairy producers have yet to enroll in the USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, with only 1,616 of the state’s 5,116 licensed farms—31.5%—signed up as of Feb 17. The enrollment deadline is Feb 26, prompting FSA officials and risk‑management advisors...
Global reinsurance broker Howden Re announced two senior hires to strengthen its catastrophe analytics capability in the Asia‑Pacific region. Renuka Janwalker was appointed Head of Catastrophe Analytics, Asia, bringing over 16 years of modelling and validation experience from Gallagher Re....
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration ordered two Houston construction firms, Rise Construction LLC and Niko Group LLC, to reinstate two workers they fired for raising asbestos safety concerns during a hotel repair after Hurricane Beryl....
Bayer AG is set to announce a $10.5 billion settlement initiative to resolve Roundup litigation, combining a $7.5 billion class‑action proposal in Missouri with $3 billion for existing U.S. cases. The German conglomerate has already spent more than $10 billion on verdicts and settlements...
Artificial Labs has created AgLabs, a new division focused on research and product innovation for agentic AI in specialty insurance. The unit targets the pre‑bind interaction layer, using autonomous broker and underwriter agents to share, verify, and standardize risk data....
The episode examines UnitedHealthcare's new policy requiring primary‑care referrals for specialist visits in its Medicare Advantage HMO and HMO‑POS plans, a change that will fully take effect after April 30. Through the stories of seniors like Theresa Schwartz and Pamela...
Legal & General Investment Management will keep its catastrophe‑bond exposure despite recent spread compression. The firm’s portfolio, estimated at a minimum of $400 million, remains in diversified multi‑asset funds while it waits for more attractive entry points. Turner and Dietz note...
Fitch Ratings projects a surge in European insurance mergers and acquisitions in 2026 as soft non‑life pricing and stable investment yields curb organic growth. The agency argues that deals can deliver diversification, scale and technology access, but warns of integration...
In a recent InsuranceAUM interview, Chris Gudmastad, Head of Private Credit, discusses the growing convergence between public and private credit markets. He highlights how blended financing structures are blurring traditional asset class boundaries and reshaping investment opportunities. The conversation underscores...
Vanessa Slowey, CEO of TelyRx, highlights a growing shift as millions of Americans, burdened by rising premiums, limited ACA subsidies and fragile telehealth policies, are opting for cash‑pay digital care. Uninsured rates sit at 27 million, and roughly one‑quarter of insured...
Florida Attorney General announced the arrest of six suspects linked to an organized cargo theft ring responsible for 32 cargo thefts and one vessel theft across six counties, causing nearly $7.8 million in losses. The ring, classified as a Major...
Hannover Re has named Ridwaan Patel as Chief Financial Officer of its Hannover ReTakaful B.S.C. and Bahrain branch, subject to Central Bank of Bahrain approval. Patel, who has served as Chief Risk Officer and Head of Compliance and Risk since...
Reinsurers are re‑engaging with Florida property carriers as 2022‑23 legislative reforms have removed much of the litigation uncertainty that previously drove them away. Adjusted risk models are prompting a reduction in litigation‑related loadings, which could translate into roughly a 5%...
S&P Global Energy and Verisk have launched a data‑sharing partnership that combines S&P’s Sustainable1 climate risk platform with Verisk’s catastrophe modelling to deliver insured and uninsured loss estimates for future climate events. The integrated solution will provide decision‑grade exposure data...
Intrepid Travel, the B Corp‑certified adventure operator, has signed the Safer Tourism Pledge, the travel industry’s leading framework for traveller risk, health and safety. The company runs more than 900 small‑group trips in over 120 countries, and the pledge adds...
Lockton Re, together with Lockton International and Armilla AI, released a report urging insurers to treat artificial intelligence as a distinct risk class. The study maps AI‑related exposures across cyber, errors‑and‑omissions, casualty, D&O and employment lines, exposing coverage silences and...
Hiscox Re has rebranded its reinsurance and ILS business and launched Hiscox Capital Partners, a unified platform that consolidates nearly two decades of capital‑partner activity. The new unit is led by Liz Breeze, who brings over 20 years of insurance...
A ValuePenguin study finds that a median‑income American household would need to allocate about 7.3% of earnings to afford a two‑milligram monthly supply of Ozempic, the flagship GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug. In the poorest states, the cost can approach one‑tenth of...
Experian has launched an Insurance Marketplace app on ChatGPT, enabling users to compare auto insurance rates from 37 carriers via conversational AI. The service offers real‑time quotes, customized recommendations, and leverages Experian’s data expertise. The company says the tool could...
AIG announced that its generative‑AI platform, AIG Assist, has dramatically outperformed the aspirational goals set at last year’s Investor Day. The tool now handles over 370,000 commercial‑line submissions, edging toward a 500,000 target for 2030, while cutting processing time without...
Challenger Life, an Australian life insurer, reported that its catastrophe bond and broader insurance‑linked securities (ILS) investments outperformed the Plenum CAT Bond UCITS Fund Index over the last six months. The cat bond segment delivered a return above the index’s...
#CSN buying Scottish Widows Europe SA in Luxembourg for total cash €110m. Adds 46,000 in-force policies and €1.7bn Assets Under Administration. Enables CSN to enter Luxembourg market. ShareScope showing fwd Dividend Yield 7.2% rising to 7.5%; still tasty.
The episode examines the evolving cyber‑threat landscape of 2026 and its implications for insurance carriers, focusing on rising ransomware, supply‑chain attacks, and AI‑driven exploits. It highlights how insurers must adapt underwriting criteria, pricing models, and claims handling to address more...
Convenience has made ultra‑processed foods a staple, but emerging scientific evidence links them to chronic diseases and early‑onset cancers. A CDC study shows children obtain roughly 62% of daily calories from these products, prompting early product‑liability and public‑nuisance lawsuits. Casualty...
In this episode, Steve Bowen of Gallagher Re explains why climate risk is non‑linear and why relying on historical loss data can be misleading for pricing and capital decisions. He highlights key findings from Gallagher’s 2025 Natural Catastrophe and Climate...
Brian Deephouse, chief actuary at Auto Club Enterprises, was elected chair of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) board for 2026, succeeding Allstate’s Ginger Purgatorio. Dawn Lee, PEMCO Mutual’s chief product and underwriting officer, will continue as chair of...
OpenAI’s latest IRS filing removed the word “safely” from its mission, replacing it with a broader pledge to benefit all of humanity. The change coincided with a legal restructuring that split the organization into a nonprofit foundation and a for‑profit...
California’s surplus lines market is undergoing a structural shift accelerated by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The Surplus Line Association of California reports surplus‑line policies have jumped over 500%, rising from about 50,000 in 2023 to 320,000 in 2025, while standard...
In this episode, Visualping co‑founder and CEO Serge Salager explains how his company is turning real‑time web monitoring into a "Google Alerts for insurance," delivering instant risk insights to underwriters. He outlines emerging data sources—such as property changes, environmental alerts, and...
Radiology societies, led by the Society of Interventional Radiology, have asked Cigna to reverse policy 0539, which labels implantable peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for chronic pain as medically unnecessary. The groups cite robust randomized trials, FDA clearance, and a favorable...
Epic Systems, which commands over 35% of the U.S. hospital IT market, is extending its AI capabilities into the payer space through a stack that relies heavily on Microsoft Azure and OpenAI. The article warns that this architectural dependency creates...
UK‑based AI InsurTech mea Platform announced a €42.2 million minority growth equity investment from SEP to accelerate product development and customer engagement. The company, founded in 2021, has remained bootstrapped and profitable for four consecutive years. Its domain‑specific AI platform, already...
A year ago, CDS on Alphabet and Meta didn't exist. Now they're among the most actively traded single-name contracts in the US market Nobody creates a default insurance market for fun... $GOOG $META
Medicare Advantage insurers are confronting a perfect storm of rising medical costs and a flat payment increase of less than 1% announced by CMS for 2026. The new risk‑adjustment formula and stagnant reimbursement fall below the medical‑cost trend, compressing margins...
Telefónica Tech is launching a unified digital identity platform for Spain’s insurance sector, enabling secure, self‑sovereign access to digital services. The initiative builds on a 2023 European trial and integrates cloud, IoT, big‑data and blockchain capabilities. Partnering with the insurance...
Employers who actively manage workers’ compensation claims can dramatically lower expenses, according to Kinetic Insurance’s new guide. Reporting injuries within 24‑48 hours reduces medical utilization and litigation risk, while delayed reporting can increase costs by 30‑40 percent. The guide identifies...
Gallagher has appointed Hassan Ashtari as senior executive officer of its joint venture with Artex, delivering alternative risk management (ARM) solutions in the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Ashtari will spearhead the expansion of the ARM offering, cultivate key client relationships,...
Insurance Australia Group (IAG) warned Australian policyholders of upcoming premium increases after a wave of severe weather events strained its loss portfolio. Over four months, 17 storms and bushfires across Queensland triggered A$800 million in claims for RACQ Insurance, which IAG...
IRB Brasil Resseguros SA reported a 35% jump in net income to 505 million Brazilian reais ($97 million) for 2025. Underwriting profit surged 64% year‑over‑year to 741 million reais, while written premiums fell 12% to 5.8 billion reais. The premium decline reflects a wave...
Spain‑based Mapfre Re Compañía de Reaseguros SA has secured regulatory approval to open a branch in Gujarat, India. The reinsurer plans to commence operations within weeks after completing pre‑opening procedures with local authorities. This marks Mapfre Re’s first dedicated presence...
MS Amlin reported a 380% jump in gross written premiums, marking a dramatic turnaround for the Lloyd’s syndicate. The surge stems from robust growth in specialty underwriting and reinsurance contracts across Europe and Asia. The company also highlighted improved loss...
Insurance Revolution has teamed with CM.com to embed WhatsApp into its broker workflow via the Mobile Service Cloud. The move has driven a 50‑fold rise in message volume, cut email traffic by 22% and reduced calls per agent by 11%....
The editorial highlights a surge of insurance‑broker poaching lawsuits, ignited by Howden’s aggressive hiring of hundreds of producers from rivals. It exposes a broken industry approach to employee mobility, where firms cling to proprietary data while brokers argue their client...
Insurance brokerage M&A activity has settled into a lower‑than‑peak but sustainable level. Total reported transactions fell 12% in 2025 to 691, aligning with a ten‑year average of 686 when the 2021‑22 surge is excluded. Private‑equity‑backed (PE‑hybrid) firms continue to dominate,...
Mixed-use mega venues such as SoFi Stadium and The Sphere are expanding beyond traditional sports arenas to include retail, dining, residential, and high‑tech features. This diversification creates broader, more complex liability exposures, prompting owners to purchase higher limits and layered...
