XL unveils environmental policy for airports' fixed-base operators
XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd., unveiled a pollution insurance program designed to address environmental exposures of fixed-base operators (FBOs) and other aviation services at the nation's airports. FBOs provide airlines and airport visitors with aircraft refueling, de-icing, flight training, aircraft parking and ground services such as baggage handling, lavatory cleaning and aircraft cleaning.

XL Insurance's pollution and remediation legal liability policy offers coverage for loss, remediation expense and legal defense from covered airport locations, protection for contractors liability and coverage for storage tanks in a single policy form. The insurer's environmental risk control and claims administration services are also available to FBO clients and include assistance with emergency-response planning, fleet-safety assistance and access to the carrier's specialized claims assistance.
For more information, visit www.xlinsurance.com. Travelers offers coverage for underground utility contractors
Travelers announced its construction unit is offering coverage to a wider range of underground utility contractors. Liability coverage includes “Damage to Property Endorsement-Limited Coverage for Certain Underground Property” for the primary general liability policy; an electronic data liability endorsement, which protects contractors for damages related to loss of data arising from a utility line being hit; and coverage for contractors who work on pipelines, including natural gas and petroleum transmission lines.
The insurer offers underground utility contractors the following value-added programs:
–Excavation, trenching and work zone safety academy.
–Industrial hygiene laboratory services.
–Crisis-management services.
–Rapid-response catastrophe claim services.
For more information, e-mail Janice DiLuciano at [email protected] or visit www.travelers.com.
Fireman's Fund launches coverage for senior-living facilities
Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. announced Property-Gard, a product that protects residents, guests, property and income streams of senior-care facilities.
The product addresses such risks as contaminated food, communicable diseases, emergency vacating, property of residents and medical staff, employee theft, lost keys and mobile medical equipment. The policy also offers:
–Crisis-management coverage to protect the reputation of senior-care facilities.
–General and professional liability on an occurrence basis.
–Prior acts coverage.
–Coverage for sexual misconduct and physical abuse vicarious liability.
For more information, visit www.firemansfund.com.
American Safety increases limits on excess casualty product
American Safety Insurance Services Inc. is offering increased limits of $10 million on its excess casualty product. The insurer offers umbrella and excess liability coverage over both its own and other carriers' general liability policies on both a claims-made and occurrence basis. Eligible classes of business include residential and commercial contractors; industrial, commercial, consumer and non-invasive medical products manufacturers and distributors; and real estate risks.
Premiums begin at $1,000 for low- to medium-hazard risks and $1,500 for high-hazard risks, subject to overall policy minimums of $2,500 and $7,500, respectively. This product is offered in most states on nonadmitted paper, rated A VIII by A.M. Best.
For more information, contact Jackie McLaughlin at (732) 671-5837 or Pat Hindle at (212) 744-0979.
K&K Group enhances fitness, dance instructor program
K&K Insurance Group announced several enhancements to its fitness instructor program, designed specifically for instructors and trainers working as independent contractors and available in all states. In addition to lowering rates by up to 28%, the company added discounts for instructors who purchase the two-year coverage option. There are no membership requirements, and coverage is available for both certified and non-certified fitness professionals.
Eligible instructor activities include aerobics, aquatic exercise, boot camp, cardio kickboxing, children's fitness, dance, exercise, gyrotonic outdoor fitness, personal training, pilates, spinning, strength, tai chi and yoga. Coverages include liability for bodily injury and property damage arising out of premises, operations, products and completed operations, personal and advertising injury, legal liability to participants, and professional liability arising out of the instructor's activities. Coverage options of $500,000, $1 million and $2 million are available.
For more information, visit www.kandkinsurance.com.
XL and U.S. Brokers Network to provide agents E&O program
XL Insurance announced an underwriting agreement with U.S. Brokers Network Inc. of Monument, Colo., to provide an E&O insurance program for insurance agents and brokers.
This E&O program, designed for agencies with revenue up to $10 million, is available to retail agents nationwide. The program is provided by two XL Insurance companies, Greenwich Insurance Co., an admitted primary insurance company, and Indian Harbor Insurance Co., a non-admitted insurance company.
For more information, visit www.xlinsurance.com.
MiniCo introduces GL only policy for self-storage facilities
MiniCo Insurance announced a general liability-only policy as part of its self-storage specialty insurance coverage. Optional specialty coverages, including sale and disposal liability and customers goods legal liability, also are available. The insurer is approved to offer the MiniPak Silver policy in 39 states, with approval in additional states pending.
For more information, call (800) 528-1056, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.MinicoInsurance.com.
R.E. Chaix announces artisan contractor program
R.E. Chaix & Associates announced an artisan contractor program for new custom home work, residential repair/remodel and commercial work. The carrier has an A.M. Best rating of A- VII. Minimum premiums begin at $3,500 and coverage for blanket additional insureds is available, as well as primary wording and waiver of subrogation. Applications can be downloaded from the carrier's Web site.
For more information, call (949) 722-4177 or visit www.rechaixinsurance.com.
Travelers announces EPL coverage for small businesses
Travelers announced a stand-alone employment liability policy for small businesses. The product provides both employment practices liability and identity fraud expense reimbursement coverage. The latter product covers lost wages, daycare and eldercare expenses, and credit application fees, among other expenses. Customers have full access to Risk Management PLUS+ Online, a tool designed to help businesses decrease their exposure to employment suits.
The coverage is not yet available in every state.
For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
NIP Programs introduces program for greenhouses and garden centers
NIP Programs expanded its green industry insurance offerings by introducing GrowPro, a program designed to cover greenhouses, nurseries and independent garden centers across the country. Coverage options include general liability premises and operations, auto liability, property (including equipment breakdown), product liability, umbrella liability and workers compensation. Additional special coverages include losses due to wind, collapse, failure of utility services, and boiler or equipment breakdowns; wind and hail for outdoor plant inventory; and seasonal fluctuations of inventory and crops. The minimum premium is $2,500.
For more information, call Esther Wolfe at (866) 249-6376, Ext. 249, or e-mail [email protected].
Fireman's Fund introduces coverage for collectible cars
Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. introduced insurance for owners of collectible vehicles like the Ford Model A; Chrysler DeSoto and Packard; and vintage racecars, hot rods, vintage pickups, American “muscle” cars and sports cars.
Coverages and features include the following:
–High-value car coverage, whether for a historic automobile or a newer, exotic car.
–Agreed-value coverage, which pays the full-insured amount in the event of a total loss and reflects the insured value of the car. For partial losses, it includes diminution in value as a result of the loss.
–Flexible usage. Although most collector cars are maintained primarily for use in such functions as exhibitions, club activities and parades, the policy has no specific mileage restriction.
–Repair shop of choice. Policyholders can choose any restorer or even do repair work themselves, with no reduction in loss settlement.
–Optional liability limits up to $1 million. For collectors who own multiple cars, blanket liability coverage is available.
–”For display only” coverage, which is specially priced coverage for large car collections that are primarily for display (garaged or exhibited) and driven only to maintain the vehicles.
Coverage initially was made available in 18 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The insurer said it planned to make the product available in most states by the end of 2008.
For more information, visit www.firemansfund.com.
ACE Westchester announces product for retired directors
ACE Westchester, the U.S.-based wholesale-focused property-casualty operation of the ACE Group of Cos., announced Retired Directors Assurance, a stand-alone policy designed to protect the personal assets of retired directors who have served on boards of directors for publicly traded, private or nonprofit organizations and companies.
The insurer said it also established a strategic alliance with Retired Directors Assurance Underwriting Services (RDAUS), which will be the program agent for the product. Coverage will be provided by Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co. and other ACE affiliates.
The product insures retired directors for six years, which covers the statute of limitations imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. It provides a dedicated limit of liability for individual directors and cannot be cancelled or rescinded for any reason, except for nonpayment of premium. Coverage is written on a broad form that offers difference-in-condition terms and gives directors the right to select counsel.
For more information, call Steve Wilson at RDAUS at (866) 212-3030, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.retireddirectors.com.
Fireman's Fund adds to coverage for durable goods manufacturers
Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. announced the following coverage and service enhancements for durable goods manufacturers:
–Property-Gard Select extension, which adds an assortment of coverages including protection against hidden costs for contract penalties, extended warranties, damage to prototypes, and loss of research and development documentation.
–Product Recall Plus insurance, which provides coverage for both a manufacturer's and its customers' expenses to recall a product when defects due to design, manufacturing, labeling or product tampering are detected. Coverage is also provided for advertising expenses to restore a manufacturer's reputation in the marketplace. An additional option is available for costs to repair or replace recalled products.
–Key employee extra expense coverage, which pays for extra expenses incurred to recruit, relocate and train a replacement should a key employee die or become permanently unable to work.
–Manufacturing errors and omissions coverage. Higher limits are now available, as well as options for defense costs outside the policy limits in many states.
–SmartCARE workers compensation insurance. The product is integrated with accident prevention and claims management services.
For more information, visit www.firemansfund.com.
OTHER MARKET NEWS
o Treiber Agency, the wholesale brokerage operation of The Treiber Group, expanded into New Jersey. The agency offers commercial- and personal-lines products, serves over 400 independent producers and expects to have more than 500 producers in the New Jersey-New York-New England territory by early next year.
For more information, call John Paterno at (516) 622-2552.
o NSM Insurance Group acquired Brandon, Fla.-based Target Insurance Group, program administrator of the Express Hotel Motel Program. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
For more information, visit www.nsminc.com.
o Shand Morahan & Co. Inc., a Markel Corp. company, announced the acquisition of Cambridge Alliance, which Shand will use to offer professional liability insurance to investment advisers.
For more information, visit www.markelcorp.com.
o Argonaut Group Inc. shareholders approved the merger agreement between Argonaut Group and a wholly owned subsidiary of PXRE Group Ltd. The proposed merger was to be completed in early August 2007. The combined entity will do business as Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. Argo Group will become the Bermuda holding company for PXRE Group's existing insurance. The Argonaut Group has $3.8 billion in assets.
For more information, visit www.argonautgroup.com.
o The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. announced its formation of a “green energy” team, made up of experienced underwriters and loss control specialists. The team will further develop core commercial insurance products and services geared toward customers that operate within this sector.
The insurer said it will broaden its strategic scope for clients in these areas:
–Power generation (including wind, solar and geothermal).
–Renewable and clean fuels (ethanol, biodiesel and fuel cells).
–Alternative energy devices (solar panels, wind turbines and other devices).
–Energy-efficient products (compact fluorescent lighting, HVAC systems, office equipment and other products).
–Renewable energy users, including businesses with energy-efficient and environmentally friendly properties.
For more information, visit www.chubb.com.
o Liberty Mutual Group announced that it finalized its acquisition of Ohio Casualty Corp., which is the holding company of The Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. and five other property-casualty insurance companies.
Ohio Casualty will join Liberty Mutual Group's Agency Markets business unit, which consists of regional property-casualty and specialty insurance companies that distribute products and services through independent agents and brokers. Liberty Mutual said the addition of Ohio Casualty increases the business unit's written premium to $7.3 billion, which it said makes it the nation's largest regional provider of property-casualty products distributed through independent agents.
Liberty Mutual said the acquisition of Ohio Casualty would immediately result in the following realignment of geographic regions covered by its Agency Markets companies:
–America First Insurance: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
–Indiana Insurance: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
–Montgomery Insurance: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
–Ohio Casualty: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.
–Peerless Insurance: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Hawkeye-Security Insurance operations will be split between America First Insurance and Indiana Insurance. Three other insurers will continue to operate in their current territories:
–Colorado Casualty: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
–Golden Eagle Insurance: California.
–Liberty Northwest: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
The specialty lines operations of Liberty Mutual Agency Markets and Ohio Casualty will be combined into the Specialty Products Group, whose products include surety and fidelity bonds, excess casualty and umbrella liability insurance.
For more information, visit www.libertymutual.com.
o AIG Private Client Group, a division of the personal-lines property and casualty insurance subsidiaries of AIG Inc., expanded its Hurricane Protection Unit to serve policyholders throughout Suffolk County, N.Y. Previously available in coastal Florida, the unit works to alleviate wind and water damage. Hurricane specialists monitor a storm's progress and projected landfall, and catastrophe response units assess exterior damage to residences in affected areas. Approved vendors make short-term repairs, such as taping holes in the roof and boarding breached doors. If necessary, fine-art risk management professionals safely remove and transport pieces.
For more information, visit www.aigpcg.com.
o The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. announced that it introduced its admitted excess flood insurance policy in Texas. So far, the insurer has introduced flood insurance products in 27 states and the District of Columbia as part of a nationwide rollout that began in April 2006. Chubb-appointed agents and brokers can access the new flood insurance products through WNC First Insurance Services ( www.wncfirst.com).
o Merchants Mutual Insurance Co. announced the formation of a subsidiary, Merchants Preferred Insurance Co., that began accepting business in Pennsylvania on Sept. 1. The new company targets preferred risk individuals and businesses, while the parent company focuses on standard risks. Both companies are rated A- by A.M. Best.
For more information, visit www.merchantsgroup.com.
o Federal Motor Carriers Risk Retention Group is now accepting new members in Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. The group offers a $1 million CSL automobile liability policy for truckers with good loss experience that have fleets of 40 or more power units hauling non-hazardous commodities. There is a $100,000 per-occurrence self-insured retention.
For more information, visit www.fmcrrg.com.
o Westrope announced the creation of its Transportation Division, located in Kansas City, Mo. The wholesaler broker team will service all the company's clients, focusing primarily on placing insurance for all aspects of high-risk commercial transportation, including trucking, garage, paratransit, livery and fleet.
For more information, visit www.westrope.com.