The deal is $458 million less than the $1.2 billion AIG paid for the company back in 2000, when then Chairman Maurice Greenberg explained the rationale for the purchase as, “The moon and the stars were in the right orbit.”

AIG is under pressure to sell off assets of the company to repay a more than $60 billion federal government bailout loan it agreed to in order to keep itself in business as it dealt with the fallout from the subprime crisis.

HSB, headquartered in Hartford, Conn., provides machinery and plant and equipment breakdown insurance, inspection, certification and engineering consulting services.

The deal is expected to be completed near the end of the first quarter of next year, Munich Re said, and is subject to regulatory approval in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Munich Re said it would purchase the company utilizing internal resources that do not affect the insurer's share buyback program.

“This acquisition of HSB is a perfect fit for our U.S. strategy,” Peter R?der, Munich Re board member responsible for U.S. business, said in a statement. “It is another step in developing our position in high return specialized niche segments. This is one of the declared aims of our 'Changing Gear' program for profitable growth.”

He added that the specific business model offered by HSB and similar specialty insurers helps reduce the volatility of traditional reinsurance business.

“Munich Re offers HSB new opportunities to grow our business profitably and expand our offerings in North America globally,” said Douglas G. Elliot, president and chief executive officer of HSB Group.

Paula R. Reynolds, vice chairman and chief restructuring officer for AIG, said the HSB sale indicates “AIG's restructuring effort is gaining momentum.”

She added that the transition should be seamless for HSB agents, customers and employees.

In a presentation explaining the rationale for the deal, Munich Re called it an “ideal strategic fit,” noting the risk management approach and product know-how of HSB closely relates to Munich Re's reinsurance business.

The company went on to explain that the specialty business is “a natural evolution” of its own business model, offering specialized products and services.

The deal also helps with Munich Re's U.S. market strategy to “develop client strategies and reinsurance solutions” and establish a “dominant position in the U.S. specialty business.”

Other positives of the deal for Munich Re are HSB's continued top-line growth and its underwriting performance that has stood at an average of 73.8 combined ratio since 2003.

Munich Re said HSB will operate as a subsidiary of Munich Re America. The company plans to maintain HSB's business model, keeping its brand and retaining the management team.

Back-office functions previously carried out by AIG will now be assumed by Munich Re America, where the company expects the only cost savings in the deal.

The company also expects to expand HSB's business through selling specialized Munich Re products and growing the company's international business through the Munich Re footprint.

In an interview on CNBC's “Squawk Box,” Edward Liddy, AIG's chairman and CEO, said the entire deal would be worth around $825 million, but sidestepped the issue over whether the company was making less on the deal than it had originally paid for HSB saying “it's a lot more complicated than that.”

Commenting on the deal, Bruce Ballentine, an analyst with Moody's Investors Service called it a “small step forward in the divestiture plan for AIG,” noting that it is a difficult market for selling businesses based on the weak economy and the limited availability of credit for potential buyers of any business. He called Munich Re a strong buyer who brings a good strategic fit for HSB. (Reported by Mark Ruquet)

Richmond, Va.-based Markel Insurance Company, a division of Markel Corp., announced that on Dec. 31, 2008 it acquired the property and casualty insurance renewal rights of Child Welfare Insurance Services.

The company did not disclose financial terms for acquiring the firm which provides insurance, risk management and loss control services to non-profit businesses that serve the needs of disadvantaged children.

Markel said Rhonda Sciortino, founder and chief executive officer of Child Welfare Insurance Services, has joined the firm as business development specialist to expand its business with nonprofits.

Ms. Sciortino, the firm said, is an expert in insurance and risk management for foster care and child welfare business operations. Child Welfare Insurance Services has been a producing broker for Markel since 2000.

“I am delighted to join Markel because of their long-term support and future commitment to protecting people and organizations that help children and families. Markel's reputation for managing risk, providing meaningful loss control education resources and expert claims handling was key to my decision,” said Ms. Sciortino.

“Markel will continue our significant commitment to child welfare organizations. Rhonda's expertise and experience in this important social services niche adds value to our policyholders and retail producers. We will provide additional resources to grow this business,” said Britton L. Glisson, president and chief operating officer of Markel Insurance Company.

“Underwriting will continue from the Richmond, Va., and Alameda, Calif., offices of Markel Insurance Company, and we are excited about Rhonda developing producer and industry relationships nationwide,” said Thomas K. Smith, vice president of Marketing.

In early January, Houston, Texas-based HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. announced that it acquired VMGU Insurance Agency, an underwriter of the lumber, building materials, forest products and woodworking industries.

HCC said the acquisition will further extend HCC's reach in the specialty commercial package insurance market.

Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, VMGU is the only lumber and wood products underwriter that operates on a national basis in all 50 states, HCC said.

VMGU is headed by President Richard D. Hayes, who will remain with the operation. VMGU, which is expected to write approximately $20 million in gross written premium in 2009, will become part of HCC's Professional Indemnity Agency subsidiary.

Wilmington, Del.-based Rockwood Programs, the wholesale brokerage and managing general agency, announced it in early January that it has partnered with Modern Insurance, the Miami-headquartered retail agency, to establish a new subsidiary company.

The new enterprise–named Modern Insurance Consultants, LLC–will focus on Modern's core expertise of errors and omissions insurance for insurance agents, insurance companies and miscellaneous professional liability classes.

“We feel this new arrangement capitalizes on the unique strengths of each partner,” said Rockwood President Glenn Clark.

Mark Lann, Modern's president, and his team have “a proven track record of success in the E&O arena,” noted Mr. Clark.

He added that Rockwood Programs possesses the markets, distribution outlets and legal status to transact business on a national scale.

“Our aggregated resources will be used to bolster our business relationship with two key groups–Target Markets and the Strategic Independent Agent's Alliance (SIAA) members. The partnership will also benefit the P&C agent retail community, as we will be able to offer a wider array of pricing and coverage term options,” said Mr. Clark.

Mark Lann will serve as the president and chief executive officer of the new entity. The operation will be located in Homestead, Fla.

Mr. Lann explained, “For some time now, we have been looking to affiliate ourselves with a larger agency. To accomplish this goal, we retained the services of Mystic Capital Advisors Group LLC. They helped identify Rockwood as a potential partner and have advised both parties on all aspects of the merger. We are excited to be a part of this new enterprise.”

More information about Modern Insurance Consultants, LLC is available by contacting Mr. Clark at 800-558-8808 or [email protected]

E-Risk Services has completed a management buy-out from Wachovia Corporation on the same day the bank was acquired by San Francisco-bank Wells Fargo & Company, the firm announced on Jan. 2.

Terms of the E-Risk deal were not released.

Paul Tomasi, president of the Flanders, N.J.-based online managing general agency said E-Risk is very optimistic about its future in its niche. “We feel very good about our growth potential going forward,” Mr. Tomasi said. “We will be able to operate and control our destiny. We are very excited about this.”

E-Risk provides an online suite of management liability insurance products for privately held and not-for-profit organizations through its “Business and Management (BAM)” package of products. The MGA writes about $90 million in premium.

Founded in 1998, E-Risk was acquired by Wachovia in 2002 and remained a division of the bank until yesterday, Mr. Tomasi explained.

He said E-Risk management was in discussion with Wachovia for about a year, long before the merger talks began between the bank and Wells Fargo. Mr. Tomasi added that there was a feeling at the time that E-Risk was not a strategic fit for Wachovia and that the management buy-out made the most sense.

The current management team making the deal consisted of Mr. Tomasi, Michael Bigger, Neil Kransdorf, Steven Dyson and Neil Coffee.

As E-Risk announced its independence, Wells Fargo said it completed its merger with Wachovia, which included the acquisition of its insurance brokerage services.

According to Robert J. Lieblein, managing partner with Hales & Company in Harrisburg, Pa., who discussed the deal at the time it was announced in early October (See National Underwriter Magazine, Oct. 20, page 10), the deal would make Wells Fargo the fourth largest broker in the country with about $1.7 billion in insurance revenue and 213 offices throughout the country.

In a statement, Wells Fargo said it would be the largest bank-owned insurance brokerage in the country. It also said it plans to proceed with a three-year integration plan between the two entities.

Discussing E-Risk's future, Mr. Tomasi said future growth of the firm depends on convincing and educating business owners of the value of management liability insurance products. What many business owners–especially small business owners–fail to realize is the true value of management liability coverage. He said, noting that the suite of products goes beyond coverage of individual officers and directors and provides indemnification to the business entity itself.

The small business market share the firm is aiming at is about $38 billion, underscoring the tremendous opportunities for E-Risk going forward, he added.

Mr. Tomasi said the firm has the online technology to efficiently handle these accounts. The firm will be working with the Scottsdale Group as its issuing carrier.

Additional information about E-Risk is available at www.eriskservices.com.

(Reported by Mark E. Ruquet)

York Township, Pa.-based Glatfelter Insurance Group will acquire Professional Underwriters Company of Exton, Pa., the companies said in mid-January.

Anthony P. Campisi, Glatfelter president and chief executive officer, and William Kronenberg III, CEO of Professional Underwriter, in making the announcement did not disclose financial terms.

Mr. Campisi said that John Solari, who leads the Professional Underwriters underwriting team, will be promoted to executive vice president and chief underwriting officer of Glatfelter's Public Practice division and, along with his team, will continue to operate out of Exton.

Mr. Kronenberg said, “I am pleased to see Professional Underwriters become a part of the highly respected Glatfelter Insurance Group. The acquisition of Professional Underwriters by Glatfelter represents an excellent strategic and cultural fit and will strengthen the mutual commitment and capacity to serve the public entity sector.”

Owned by its 480 employees, Glatfelter Insurance Group, founded in 1951, is an all lines, full-service insurance broker marketing property, casualty, life, accident and health insurance products and risk management services on a retail and wholesale/specialty basis throughout the United States.

Birmingham, Ala.-based wholesale insurance broker CRC Insurance Services Inc. said in mid-December that it planned to acquire Burlington, N.C.-based TAPCO Underwriters Inc. before the end of the year.

Terms of the deal were not released.

TAPCO is a managing general agency founded in 1983 by Tapley O. Johnson Jr. with just three employees. It has grown to five offices employing 175 people servicing 8,000 agencies and writing in 16 states and Washington, D.C.

The MGA specializes in high-volume, middle-market excess and surplus insurance lines and operates regional offices in Clearwater, Fla., and Manassas, Va.

TAPCO uses a proprietary underwriting technology model and call center to quote and bind a high volume of business on the phone in five minutes or less, where its competitors can sometimes take days to quote and bind similar policies. TAPCO last year provided more than 500,000 telephone quotes to 20,000 agents and producers, placing more than $200 million in premiums, CRC said.

Separately, in mid-January, TAPCO said its service model is now available to retail agents in Washington and Oregon, as part of a national growth plan that started with expansion into California and Texas in 2007, followed by New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania in early 2008.

Referring to the acquisition, Tom Curtin, chief executive officer of CRC, said, “We are thrilled. TAPCO is the industry leader among managing general agents in efficiency, profitability and ease of doing business.”

“We look forward to not only continuing TAPCO's significant growth but to bringing their highly efficient technology model to Southern Cross Underwriters,” he said in a statement.

TAPCO will operate as a division of CRC's managing general agency Southern Cross Underwriters. The transaction is expected to be completed by Dec. 31.

CRC acquired Jackson, Miss.-based Southern Cross Underwriters in 2003. CRC is the wholesale subsidiary of BB&T Insurance Services, which is a subsidiary of Winston-Salem, N.C., bank BB&T Corp.

A division of BB&T Corp. plans to purchase the U.S. premium finance operations of Aon Corp. brokerage.

Financial terms were not released.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based bank BB&T's AFCO Credit Corp. said it plans to buy the U.S. operations of Cananwill, an international premium finance business owned by Chicago-based Aon. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter, AFCO said.

AFCO is the primary insurance premium finance subsidiary of BB&T, which also owns BB&T Insurance Services, an insurance brokerage firm based in Raleigh, N.C.

BB&T said it is the second largest provider of insurance premium financing in the United States and the largest in Canada. The premium finance unit is part of BB&T's Specialized Lending division.

“We are strongly committed to insurance premium finance loans and this acquisition will significantly strengthen our franchise in the United States,” said Tol Broome, manager of BB&T Specialized Lending. “Cananwill employees share our values and our common goals of providing outstanding client service and helping clients achieve financial success.”

BB&T said its insurance premium finance operation is made up of Pittsburgh-based AFCO Credit Corp. and AFCO Acceptance Corp. that operates nine offices across the United States; AFCO's affiliate CAFO, which maintains three offices in Canada; and Prime Rate Premium Finance of Florence, S.C.

In an e-mail statement, David Prosperi, vice president, global public relations for Aon said, “The decision to sell Cananwill is part of Aon's ongoing effort to focus on its core strengths of risk brokerage and human capital consulting.”

In its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Aon said third-quarter losses in 2008 in its Cananwill business, along with soft market conditions, offset revenue gains in the Americas operation. (Reported by Mark E. Ruquet)

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance brokerage Brown & Brown Inc. announced it had acquired R.E. Sutton & Associates LLC, of Brownsburg, Ind.

Financial terms were not released in the mid-December announcement.

Brown & Brown said R.E. Sutton & Associates, with annual revenues of approximately $1.5 million, specializes in providing employee benefits consulting services to individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Indiana.

R.E. Sutton, it was noted, has developed a specialty in serving school districts, libraries, municipalities and other public entities throughout Indiana.

Richard E. Sutton, principal of R.E. Sutton, and his staff will operate as a separate specialty unit within Brown & Brown, under the R.E. Sutton & Associates name.

A new company, Mainstay Insurance Group Inc. in Bellevue, Wash., announced its launch in early December as a program administrator and specialty wholesale brokerage.

The firm said it will provide umbrella and excess insurance solutions for U.S. retail brokers and focus on the commercial real estate industry and risk management needs of the green movement.

“We have consistently and widely heard from our distribution network that they are looking for more strategic and effective solutions in the umbrella and excess arena to differentiate their package products,” said Dusty Rowland, Mainstay president and chief executive officer.

This feedback, he said in a statement, “is a key motivation for our new business and an area in which we have deep experience. We look forward to providing strategic and comprehensive program solutions that will help our retailers further differentiate themselves and succeed in the marketplace.”

The company said that through strategic relationships with top-rated carriers and an extensive network of regional, national and global retail distribution, it will market value-added products by way of three separate divisions: Strategic Umbrella, Mainstay Programs and Specialty Brokerage.

Eric Arthur, Mainstay co-founder, said the firm is “excited about achieving greater business efficiencies and better serving our retail agents and brokers by combining leading-edge technology with our program management experience.”

Mainstay, he said, has selected XDimensional Technologies' Nexsure Internet agency management system as its platform for operations and growth.

Mr. Rowland and Mr. Arthur are both specialty insurance marketplace veterans. Prior to launching Mainstay, Rowland co-founded National Specialty Underwriters “NSU” and was instrumental in growing it into one of the nation's leading program administrators with premium volumes in excess of $100 million.

Mainstay said it will operate nationally out of new offices in Bellevue, which Mr. Rowland noted was recently voted the #1 city in the country to live, and launch a new company by Fortune Magazine. The firm, he said, looks forward “to tapping the highly skilled workforce in this area to help grow our business.”

More information about Mainstay Insurance Group is available online at www.mainstayins.com, or by contacting Mr. Rowland at 425-453-5157 ext. 1000 ([email protected])or Mr. Arthur at 425-453-5157 ext. 1001 ([email protected]

Montvale, N.J.-based wholesale broker Jimcor Agencies Inc. has acquired Zaloom Associates Inc. of Lodi, N.J. Financial terms of the transaction were not released in the early December announcement.

Founded in 1993, Zaloom is a wholesale managing general agency operation writing with admitted carriers, both privately and publicly held, Jimcor said.

Gerald Zaloom, chief executive officer of Zaloom Associates, and seven employees will join Jimcor in its Montvale office.

Mr. Zaloom will join the firm as president of the newly established Zaloom Associates Division.

James Mastowski, Jimcor chief executive officer, said in a statement, “With Jimcor's 20-plus years of placing excess and surplus lines business and Zaloom's broad experience with admitted carriers, we are confident this merger will provide our clients with access to the markets they need with the quality of service they have come to expect. This transaction further develops our already solid brokerage and binding authority capabilities.”

Bermuda-based insurer Hiscox Ltd. said it plans to expand its offices to several cities in the United States and will increase its offerings of specialty insurance.

Hiscox said that in addition to its existing offices in Armonk, N.Y.; Manhattan; Chicago; Geneva, Ill.; and San Francisco, the group plans to have established offices in Lexington, Ky.; Boston; Kansas City, Mo.; Miami; and Los Angeles by the end of 2009.

In the United States Hiscox's terrorism, media and technology, small ticket director, officers and equine teams are being strengthened with 10 key appointments.

Hiscox said it plans to set up new lines in property, construction and inland marine insurance. The company will also enhance the service it currently provides to the Latin American kidnap and ransom market with a new team based in Miami.

Bronek Masojada, chief executive, said in a statement that “the tide is continuing to turn in our favor. The changing insurance market has presented us with a number of excellent opportunities particularly in the [United States] and we are enhancing our local expertise to take full advantage.”

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd announced the recent opening of two new Allied World U.S. offices in California, located in Costa Mesa and Los Angeles.

The Bermuda company said these offices were opened to expand distribution of Allied World's specialty products throughout the Western region of the United States, and to affirm Allied World's ongoing commitment to service and innovation.

Bobby Bowden, Allied World U.S. executive vice president, marketing/ business Development & Western Regional manager, will oversee Allied World's West Coast operations, including the two new offices and the existing office located in San Francisco.

Mr. Bowden joined Allied World on October 29, 2008, and brings with him over 18 years of insurance experience. He spent time at AIG as well as Marsh & McLennan, working out of New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, Allied World said.

Mr. Bowden commented, “The opening of these two new West Coast offices is another example of Allied World's continued commitment to expanding our U.S. geographic footprint to get closer to our customers, as well as using our significant local underwriting talent to provide the solutions that our customers need.”

Allied World's Costa Mesa office, located at 600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1100, will serve as a distribution point for Allied World Specialty, a division of Allied World U.S. that primarily trades with wholesale broking channels. Mark Kleabir, senior vice president of Allied World Specialty, will oversee General Casualty products and serve as branch manager.

The Los Angeles office, located at 550 South Hope Street, Suite 1825, will serve as a distribution point for Allied World Brokerage, a division of Allied World U.S. that primarily trades with retail broking channels. John Verhoorn, vice president, formerly working out of the San Francisco office, will head the professional lines team. Lana Lee, assistant vice president, casualty, brokerage, will oversee general casualty products.

The existing San Francisco office, located at One Sansome Street, Suite 1650, will continue to serve as an Allied World Brokerage distribution point, offering general casualty, property, professional lines and healthcare products.

The federal Office of Thrift Supervision gave Hartford Financial Services Group permission to buy federal savings banks and become federally regulated bank holding companies in January.

Hartford said it was making the arrangements in an effort to become eligible to participate in the federal Capital Purchase Program, part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Hartford is acquiring Federal Trust Bank, Sanford, Fla., a savings bank, and the bank's parent, Federal Trust Company.

Hartford has offered to “inject a significant amount of capital” into the bank to re-capitalize it, according to the OTS.

OTS has issued an order approving Hartford's application with some conditions.

Hartford, for example, must consummate the transaction within 30 days and must ensure that 40 percent of the savings bank's directors are independent from Hartford.

A few weeks before the announcement, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the financial strength rating of the property-casualty business of Hartford Insurance and the life and health business of Hartford Life, the insurance subsidiaries of The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. based in Hartford, Conn.

The companies have a financial strength rating of “single-A-plus (Superior)” The outlook is negative.

Best said the ratings were placed under review on Oct. 6 after The Hartford said it entered into a binding agreement for Allianz to provide a $2.5 billion capital investment to The Hartford, following significant realized and unrealized investment losses and other charges incurred through third quarter 2008.

Despite concerns about losses from investments, Best said the company's rating reflects the fair amount of cash on hand and marketable securities that gives it access to a $500 million capital facility and $1.9 billion revolving credit facility. The action, Best said, did not reflect the potential for the company to access funds through the U.S. Treasury Department's Capital Purchase program.

The p-c operation ratings recognize the Hartford's solid risk-adjusted capitalization, strong underwriting fundamentals, continued core operating profitability and excellent business position within the p-c industry.

Best added that these strengths are somewhat offset by the significant realized capital losses reported during third quarter 2008, dividends taken out of the p-c companies to support the life and health operations and continued softening throughout most commercial lines, driving low single-digit premium decreases and modest pressure on underwriting margins.

Despite increasing competitive pressures, Best said it expected Hartford Insurance to maintain a sound underwriting performance and pre-tax operating earnings over the near term. Nevertheless, the negative outlook acknowledges A.M. Best's concerns that continued uncertainties surrounding Hartford Life could lead to further strains throughout the enterprise, should the capital markets remain volatile or decline further.

Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., the high-profile insurance recovery law firm, which lost 55 attorneys last year, announced today it has expanded by merging its national practice with Ventura, Calif.-based Wood & Bender LLP.

The firm said the merger, which became effective Thursday, adds 14 attorneys to Anderson Kill's group of 79 lawyers and adds a California location to offices in New York; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia; Greenwich, Conn.; and Washington.

Wood & Bender has represented Fortune 500 companies, construction companies and financial institutions in insurance recovery matters since 1995, said Anderson Kill.

Nationally, the combined firms will retain the name Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., while the practice in California will be Anderson Kill Wood & Bender LLP. All of Wood & Bender's attorneys will continue to work for the new entity.

In January 2008 Anderson Kill announced that 55 of its attorneys, including 26 of 69 partners or “shareholders,” were leaving to join the giant global law firm Reed Smith. Among those who left were Lawrence Kill, a partner and co-chair of the antitrust/unfair competition group, and Jeffrey L. Glatzer, the firm-wide president and chief executive officer. Anderson Kill said at the time that it was an “amicable departure.”

A spokesman for Anderson Kill said the expansion shows the success of a firm focusing on policyholder recoveries and having no ties to insurance companies.

Founding partner Eugene Anderson pioneered insurance recovery as a discrete practice area in 1969. The firm has represented large corporations, governments, charities, major religious and not-for-profit organizations, small companies and individuals.

The firm said that in addition to securing millions in recoveries it has worked with the nonprofit United Policyholders, filing over 250 amicus briefs that have been cited by numerous courts nationwide, including the United States Supreme Court.

Robert M. Horkovich, Anderson Kill managing shareholder, said in a statement that the Wood & Bender merger is a strong marriage of skills and cultures.

“The Anderson Kill brand always has stood for zealous representation of policyholders in a world in which many insurance companies assume they always hold the upper hand,” said Mr. Horkovich. “We are thrilled to join forces with a firm with such a strong track record whose practice, philosophy and strategies mesh so thoroughly with our own.”

David P. Bender Jr., managing partner of Wood & Bender, commented, “Combining with Anderson Kill will give us the best of both worlds–extended reach and resources without any of the conflicts or encumbrances that joining a large firm often entails. We are joining the best of our peers, who share our focus and our commitment to policyholders' interests.”

Wood & Bender attorneys joining Anderson Kill Wood & Bender include four partners: Mr. Bender, David E. Wood, David A. Shaneyfelt and Caroline R. Hurtado.

The Wood & Bender magazine “Enforce,” the journal of insurance policy enforcement, will now be produced by Anderson Kill Wood & Bender, the firms announced.

Anderson Kill said Wood & Bender's tag line “Settle For Everything” will now be adopted by the combined firms.

In addition to insurance recovery, Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., offers solutions in anti-counterfeiting, complex commercial litigation, corporate transactions and securities, labor and employment, taxation, trusts and estates, and bankruptcy.

Anderson Kill said the merger permits Wood & Bender to offer high-level service in these practice areas to its clients.