Singapore Shipowners Face War Risk Policy Cancellations
Singapore’s major shipowners are confronting a wave of war‑risk policy cancellations as insurers pull back coverage linked to heightened Red Sea tensions. The move leaves vessels without protection against hostile acts, forcing operators to seek costly alternatives or self‑retain risk. Insurers cite escalating geopolitical uncertainty and rising loss ratios as justification for the pull‑back. The abrupt loss of coverage threatens charter rates and could disrupt regional trade flows if not mitigated promptly.
OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Plan to Face Audit
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General has added a fiscal year 2026 audit to its work plan, targeting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) workplace violence prevention program. The audit will evaluate OSHA’s actions since a...
Captive Owners Use Hybrid Structures to Add Stability
Hybrid insurance and reinsurance structures that blend traditional coverage with alternative risk transfer are gaining traction among captive owners seeking flexibility and cost stability. Experts highlighted that such hybrids let companies leverage markets, create arbitrage, and retain control of their...
Group Captives Evolving, Still Have ‘Headroom for Growth’
Group captives have transformed from a niche risk‑financing idea into a fast‑growing segment of U.S. commercial insurance, now generating about $6.5 billion in premium. Over 90 captives serve the market, accounting for roughly 6.5 % of the $100 billion commercial casualty space. Retention...
Aviation Insurers Impose New Rules on Middle East Flights
Leading aviation insurers, including Germany’s HDI Global and Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, announced new underwriting requirements for flights to several Middle Eastern countries. Operators must obtain advance notification and explicit insurer approval for destinations such as Iran, Iraq, Israel,...
Spain Competition Watchdog Investigates Insurers
Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has opened an investigation into the country’s insurance sector over alleged coordination on compensation claim coverage and the exchange of client information. The probe focuses on potential collusion that could distort pricing...
CG Re Launches Aviation Practice
CG Re announced the launch of a dedicated aviation practice, expanding its reinsurance brokerage services into commercial airlines, aircraft lessors, OEMs, and emerging drone operators. The new unit will provide underwriting, risk‑management, and claims expertise, leveraging CG Re's global network...
Court Revives Suit over Water Worker’s Death in Flooded Vault
An Illinois appellate court revived a wrongful‑death suit filed by the estate of 20‑year‑old water worker Matthew Heiden, who drowned after being sent alone into an underground vault without required safety measures. The court found the plaintiff’s claims were not...
Federal Law Bars Cannabis as Treatment for Injured Worker
The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that cannabis cannot be deemed a reasonable and necessary medical expense under the Longshore Harbor and Workers’ Compensation Act because it remains a Schedule I drug under federal law. The decision cites the...
Lockton Hires Former Marsh Energy Leader
Lockton, the world’s largest privately‑owned insurance broker, announced the appointment of a former Marsh energy division leader to head its energy practice. The hire brings roughly two decades of underwriting and risk‑management experience across oil‑gas and renewable sectors. Lockton aims...
New York Bill Would Codify Access to Out-of-Network Comp Pharmacies
New York Assembly Bill A.B. 10413 would codify the right of injured workers to fill workers‑comp prescriptions at pharmacies outside employer or insurer networks when delays, authorization gaps, or emergencies arise. The measure mirrors regulations the Workers’ Compensation Board adopted...
Survey: Most Americans Ignore Insurance Until Something Beeps
A new Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America survey shows that only 31 % of Americans review or shop their insurance policies each year, despite 88 % believing insurance is crucial for financial security. Most consumers wait until premiums rise, life...
Commercial Insurance Renewal Hikes Slow in February: Ivans
Ivans, Applied Systems' analytics unit, reports that commercial insurance renewal hikes eased in February compared with January. Commercial auto rates rose 5.18% versus 5.62% in January, while business owners policies increased 6.81% from 6.89%. Property and umbrella coverages still posted...
NFP Establishes Group Captive Practice Through Acquisition
NFP, an Aon company, launched a property and casualty group captive practice by acquiring Trinity Risk Advisors, a Charlotte‑based brokerage. Alan Wise, former Trinity Consulting seller, will lead the practice as managing director and report to Meg McSherry, head of...
WCRI Research Shows Uptick in Comp Costs as Workers Lose Medicaid
WCRI’s preliminary study links the 2023 Medicaid work‑requirement policy to a 2‑3% rise in medical payments per workers‑comp claim, especially for lower‑wage, male employees in construction, manufacturing and leisure. About 12% of the labor force lost Medicaid coverage, prompting higher...
Insurers’ Earnings Plunge 90% After Convective Storms
A wave of severe convective storms across North America and parts of Europe generated unprecedented loss ratios, pushing insurers’ first‑quarter earnings down roughly 90 percent from a year earlier. The storms triggered billions of dollars in property and casualty claims,...
MS Re Names Bruniecki as New CUO
MS Re announced the appointment of John Bruniecki as its new Chief Underwriting Officer, succeeding longtime CUO Michael Anders. Bruniecki joins from a senior underwriting role at a leading global reinsurer, bringing over 20 years of property‑casualty experience. The transition...
US Zones Rank Outside Top 10 in FM Resilience Index
The latest FM Resilience Index shows all U.S. zones falling outside the top‑10 rankings for the first time. The index, which evaluates climate adaptation, business continuity, and operational robustness, placed European and Asia‑Pacific regions ahead of the United States. Analysts...
Employer Can Contest Causation Before Authorizing Alternate Care: Iowa Appeals
The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling that forced LJ & J Corp. to approve a total knee replacement for employee John Henry. The court held that an employer disputing causation cannot be compelled to provide alternate...
The BI Top 10 for the Week of Feb. 23, 2026
The week’s Business Insurance Top 10 highlighted Howden’s aggressive U.S. expansion, accompanied by litigation with Marsh, while AI‑related claims surfaced, prompting insurers to reassess policy language. Marsh secured a partial injunction against former staff, and EPIC added a former WTW real‑estate...
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ Profit up 19%, Group Net Income Jumps
Swiss Re’s Corporate Solutions unit posted a net income of $988 million for 2025, a 19 % increase despite a 5 % drop in insurance rates on a risk‑adjusted basis. The broader Swiss Re group saw net income surge 47 % to $4.76 billion, driven...
Florida Court Rejects Broader Comp Drug Dispensing Rule
A Florida appeals court struck down a 2023 rule that would have forced workers‑comp insurers to reimburse medications dispensed by physicians, ruling the measure exceeded the statutory “free, full, and absolute choice” language for pharmacy selection. The court held that...
Louisiana Bill Would Limit Evidence in Comp Medical Treatment Appeals
Louisiana lawmakers introduced S.B. 162 to amend the state workers' compensation medical treatment schedule. The bill would keep the existing appeal framework but restrict the evidentiary record on further appeal to only what the medical director or associate medical director...
Liberty Launches Lender Collateral Insurance Program
Liberty Co. Insurance Brokers announced the launch of Liberty Collateral Protection, a new collateral protection facility aimed at lenders and loan servicers with large, multi‑state portfolios. The offering blends lender‑placed insurance, real‑estate‑owned (REO) coverage, and collateral protection insurance with centralized...
Gallagher Buys German Brokerage
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Krose GmbH & Co. KG, a Bremen‑based brokerage with roughly 70 employees. Founded in 1920, Krose places commercial insurance and reinsurance for complex programs, covering property, casualty, cyber liability, marine, directors‑and‑officers...
Munich Re Posts 12% Drop in Fourth-Quarter Profit as Weak Dollar Weighs
Munich Re reported a 12% decline in fourth‑quarter net profit, posting €945 million versus €1.068 billion a year earlier, missing analyst expectations of €1.030 billion. The drop was primarily driven by adverse currency effects from a weaker U.S. dollar. Despite the quarterly dip,...
U.K. Sanctions Maritime Mutual over Dark Fleet Coverage
Britain has placed sanctions on New Zealand‑based Maritime Mutual Insurance Association and its Gibraltar affiliate, accusing them of insuring dark‑fleet tankers that transport Iranian and Russian oil. The measures include an asset freeze and the disqualification of company directors. Maritime...
Santam Hires Munich Re Exec as CEO
Santam, South Africa's leading insurer, announced the appointment of a senior Munich Re executive as its new chief executive officer. The move follows a strategic review aimed at accelerating growth and deepening reinsurance capabilities. The new CEO brings extensive global...
McLarens Names Former Crisis24 Exec to Lead Crisis Management
McLarens has appointed former Crisis24 executive Kevin Moran as executive general adjuster and U.S. team lead for malicious assailant, war, terrorism and political violence within its crisis management practice. The newly created role will oversee incident investigation and insurance reporting...
Volvo Cars to Recall 40,000 Electric SUVs over Battery Fire Risk
Volvo Cars announced a recall of 40,323 EX30 electric SUVs after discovering that the high‑voltage battery packs can overheat and pose a fire risk. The recall targets both single‑motor extended‑range and twin‑motor performance variants, requiring replacement of the faulty modules....
Nevada Approves 21.6% Increase in Comp Loss Costs
The Nevada Division of Insurance approved a 21.6% increase in workers‑compensation loss costs effective March 1, citing state‑specific pressures rather than a national trend. Elevated large losses, flattening claim frequency, rising claim severity, and a $36,000 payroll cap that skews premium...
California Appeals Court Says Exclusivity Bars Asbestos Tort Claims
The California 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that workers‑comp benefits are the exclusive remedy for San Diego city employees who alleged asbestos exposure, rejecting the fraudulent concealment exception. The workers claimed the city knowingly exposed them and hid the risk,...
Swiss Re to Buy QBE’S Trade Credit, Surety Business
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions announced it will acquire QBE Insurance Group’s global trade credit and surety business, though financial terms were not disclosed. The acquired unit operates primarily in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and is projected to generate...
Amwins Unveils Hospitality Practice to Support Retail Brokers
Amwins, a leading specialty insurance broker, announced the launch of a dedicated hospitality practice aimed at supporting retail brokers that serve hotels, resorts, and related venues. The new unit brings a team of underwriters with deep sector expertise and access...
Court Limits Scope of Pollution Exclusion in Herbicide Case
Delaware Superior Court limited the scope of a pollution exclusion in liability policies covering Syngenta’s herbicide paraquat, ruling it does not apply to injuries from normal product use. Travelers must defend six test cases filed between 1974 and 1977, where...
Being Tracked Keeps Drivers on Track
University of Pennsylvania researchers found that usage‑based insurance programs with real‑time feedback and up to $100 cash incentives significantly improve driving behavior. Speeding dropped up to 13 percent, while hard braking and rapid acceleration fell as much as 25 percent....
Westfield Specialty Reports $1.93B in Gross Written Premium
Westfield Specialty posted $1.93 billion in gross written premium for 2025, delivering $87.2 million of underwriting income and a 93.1% combined ratio. The U.S. segment generated 55% of the premium base, while London‑based international operations contributed the remaining 45%. Business‑line breakdown shows...
OSHA Inspector Ranks Fell Sharply Before Projected 2026 Increase, Agency Says
OSHA’s federal safety‑inspection workforce dropped sharply, falling from 812 officers at the end of fiscal 2024 to 629 by September 2025. The agency projects a rebound to roughly 1,720 inspectors in 2026, a figure that includes staff from state‑plan programs....
Delaware High Court Rules for Insurers in Ransomware Case
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...
Car Ownership Cost Estimates, Reality Are Miles Apart
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 Makes Reinsurance Appointment
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...
IAG Sees Pricing Pressure After Bushfires, Storms
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...
Brasil Re’s Net Income Jumps 35%, Premiums Tumble 12%
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...
Mapfre Re to Open India Branch
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’s Premiums Surge 380%
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...
Editorial: Time to Find a Fix for Poaching Suits
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 Broker M&A Stabilizes After Surge
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 Venue Projects Create a Whole New Ball Game for Insurers
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...
View From the Top: Manny Padilla, RIMS
Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS) has elected Manny Padilla, a veteran risk executive at MacAndrews & Forbes, as its 2026 president. Padilla, who transitioned from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Auxiliary to insurance, emphasizes that risk management is...
Suits Arise as Tariff Questions Raise D&O Risk
Securities class-action lawsuits are emerging as tariff uncertainty under the Trump administration creates new D&O exposure. Although overall federal securities filings fell 10.7% in 2025, four suits specifically cited tariff‑related misstatements, targeting companies such as Dow, CarMax and Tronox. Insurers...
