QBE North America announced it has sold Farmers Union Insurance to National General Insurance. The agreement will be effective in the first half of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.
The Committee for Economic Development (CED) recognized Thomas J. McInerney, a CED Trustee and the President and CEO of Genworth Financial, Inc. with the Leadership in the Nation’s Interest Award. The CED Award is reserved for business executives who lead their companies with the utmost integrity and purpose, and champion issues for the common good.
GuideOne Insurance launched an online quoting portal speeding agent business in a growing insurance segment. GO BOP, GuideOne’s Business Owners Policy portal, delivers instant quotes and binds business in eight small business categories.
RIMS and the BIMTECH Institute (India) have announced a working agreement to further support the development of risk management and insurance educational opportunities for both aspiring and experienced risk professionals through “The RIMS Corner” publication center. RIMS and BIMTECH will develop preparatory courses for BIMTECH students that will cover the content and knowledge required to achieve the RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional certification (RIMS-CRMP).
The Navigators Group announced that Navigators’ stockholders approved the adoption of the previously announced merger agreement relating to the proposed transaction between Navigators and The Hartford Financial Services, whereby Navigators will become a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hartford.
Guidewire Software announced the addition of specializations to its PartnerConnect Consulting program. Specializations have been added to aid insurance companies in selecting the best partner to lead or staff their Guidewire projects.
Allianz Life Ventures and Securian Financial have joined forces with gener8tor to establish an organization that will invest in tech startups: the OnRamp Insurance Accelerator.
Each year, five startups will be accepted into the three-month, concierge accelerator program in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Each will receive a cash investment of $100,000, office space and access to gener8tor’s global network of mentors and investors. Applications are now open for the first OnRamp Insurance Accelerator cohort. Startups may apply on their website.
Avalon Bay Communities received the 2018 Gary E. Bird Horizon Award for their “innovative fire suppression methods” at the IRMI Construction Risk Conference held on November 5, 2018. The award is presented annually to recognize a demonstrated commitment to improving construction risk management through the implementation of innovative, cost-effective, and efficient risk management techniques.
Travelers announced 11 new states where eligible customers can access discounts on smart home kits through their digital storefront on Amazon. Travelers’ smart home kits are designed to help protect homeowners from some of the most common causes of loss. They include security camera, water sensors, motion detector, a smart home hub, and an Amazon Echo Dot. A list of eligable states can be found on their website.
In recognition of Veterans Day, SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance) raised more than $30,000 in funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.
MAPFRE is joining the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), along with 15 other insurers, to assess the impact of climate change and to incorporate the recommendations of the Task Force on climate-related Financial Disclosures (TFCD) in the insurance industry. This working group is developing a series of tools to assess the risks, to provide relevant information to investors about the effects, and to help in the transition toward low-carbon climate-resistant societies and economies.