Around the P&C insurance industry: October 30, 2019

QBE North America, an Integrated Specialist Insurer, announced an agreement in which QBE has extended its title sponsorship of the QBE Shootout through 2022. A mainstay on the PGA Tour for over 30 years, The QBE Shootout, which is hosted by Greg Norman, will be held December 11–15 at Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Profits generated from the event are donated to make a positive impact in the world, having raised millions of dollars for a number of meaningful causes including CureSearch, the Wounded Warrior Project and other relief efforts that aid in recovery after natural disasters.

Risk Strategies, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, announced that it has acquired Dash & Love, Inc., a full-service specialty brokerage based outside of Philadelphia. Terms of the deal were not announced. Founded in 1930, Dash & Love provides insurance placement and risk management advice to organizations and successful individuals and families across Pennsylvania and the tri-state area.

Israeli startup Ride Vision announced it will partner with Sara Assicurazioni, a leading Italian insurance provider and a partner of the Automotive Club of Italy (ACI), to reduce motorbike accidents in Italy. Sara Assicurazioni and Ride Vision are partnering together to reduce these accidents and improve Italy’s overall road safety. Motorcyclists insured by Sara Assicurazioni could be eligible for a significant discount on their yearly premium when they retrofit their vehicles with Ride Vision’s system. This offer will take effect next year when Ride Vision’s system officially hits the Italian market.

One Call Corporation, an ancillary services provider for the workers’ compensation industry, announced the successful completion of a comprehensive recapitalization in which the company’s debt has been reduced by nearly $1 billion, all near-term maturities have been eliminated, annual interest expense has been reduced by approximately $90 million, and liquidity has been “substantially strengthened,” according to One Call. The transaction was facilitated through a new investment of $375 million led by existing lenders KKR and GSO Capital Partners, the investment arm of Blackstone, who became shareholders at close.

Aon has formed a regional insurer group in the U.S. focused on the needs of U.S. regional insurers, headed up by Brad Melvin, previously co-head of global reinsurance clients. The group currently serves the U.S. market but has plans to expand globally, and will fit across and work in conjunction with all of Aon’s lines of business, Aon said.

Additionally, Aon has appointed Michael Moran, previously CEO of its Aon Inpoint unit, to a new role scaling best practices across the firm. Rohan Dixon has been named the new CEO of Aon Inpoint.

Technology company HOVER and Hancock Claim Consultants, a roof inspection services provider, have announced a partnership to create a more efficient and cost-effective process for scoping and settling roof and property-related claims. HOVER, which provides technology that transforms smartphone photos of any property into 3D models and measurements, says the partnership aims to provide carriers with “the most accurate and complete property data package for estimating roof and property damage to allow carriers to reduce the time it takes to resolve claims, giving policyholders a superior customer experience.”

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) announced that it has completed its purchase of a minority stake in Edelweiss Insurance Brokers Limited, a subsidiary of India’s leading diversified financial services conglomerate, Edelweiss Group.

SCM Insurance Services, a North American provider of insurance and risk management services, announced that Michel & Cully Claims Service (MCCS), a comprehensive claims services provider, will join its Nixon & Company team. MCCS is an independent insurance claims firm that has served Central Illinois since 1973 providing a variety of property, auto, and liability claims services.

The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, announced the winners of the ALTA Our Values Awards. The awards program showcases the title insurance industry’s Our Values initiative, which serves as the industry’s cultural compass and highlights the core ideals ALTA members embrace.

Diane Evans NTP, an ALTA past president and vice president of Land Title Guarantee Co. in Denver, won the We Lead Award for her leadership on the Land Title Association of Colorado’s Remote Online Notary Task Force. Lauren Vanni Kinard, president of First Excel Title in Fairfax, Va., won the We Deliver Award for going the extra mile to ensure her customers’ transactions are smooth, safe and on time. Amy Gregory, chief administrative officer and president of the Florida Agency Network, won the We Protect Award for pulling out all the stops to help a real estate wire fraud victim. Finally, Liberty Title, which has multiple offices in Michigan and Florida, won the Team Award. Liberty Title’s internal motto is, “If we can’t close it, no one can … or should,” summing up the company’s commitment to their customers.

Related: Around the P&C insurance industry: October 16, 2019