Around the P&C insurance industry: October 7, 2020

MyFloodInsurance.com has gone live for consumers and agents to quote, compare and purchase flood insurance policies from multiple flood insurance companies and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by FEMA. The free site aims to give users the ability to research and select from competitive flood insurance rates and customized coverages to help best protect their property in the event of flood damage.

The Hanover Insurance Group received the 2020 Company Award of Excellence from the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. The presentation was made on September 23, 2020, during the annual fall meeting of the PIA National Board of Directors. “The Hanover has done a tremendous job partnering with agencies across the country to help solve the challenges of today, while also building for the future,” PIA National president Dennis Kuhnke said in presenting the award. “Its focus and dedication have remained constant throughout the years, consistently reinforcing the value of the independent agent.”

Agency principal Ariel Rivera at Deer Insurance Agency received the 2020 Excellence in Social Media Award from the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. The award was presented on September 23, 2020, during the annual fall meeting of the PIA National Board of Directors.

DeForest Group awarded 2020 Managing General Agency of the Year Award by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. The presentation was made on September 23, 2020, during the annual fall meeting of the PIA National Board of Directors.

USI Insurance Services acquired Hildi Incorporated. Founded in 2004, Hildi is a regional actuarial consulting firm specializing in actuarial retirement plan services, including the design, administration, accounting and valuation of defined benefit pension plans like cash balance plans, post-retirement health and welfare plans. The company’s operations will be combined with USI Consulting Group, a division of USI, and a premier provider of defined contribution and defined benefit plan consulting and administration services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

USI Insurance Services announced the impact of its seventh annual USI Gives Back campaign. Throughout the summer, team members representing more than 160 USI offices took individual action, completing more than 2,000 volunteer initiatives in local communities throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

Allstate Insurance Company was selected to provide commercial auto coverage to Lyft in California, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia. The policies managed by Allstate Business Insurance provide coverage throughout the cycle of a Lyft trip, from when a driver turns on the Lyft driver app, to pick-up and trip completion. Riders are automatically protected by Allstate at no additional cost. Coverages vary by state and during the period of engagement and may include bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist liability, and collision and comprehensive coverage, subject to policy terms, conditions and deductibles.

Worldwide Facilities acquired Hunt Jorgensen, LLC, a general underwriting firm specializing in professional liability insurance and related risk management services. Hunt Jorgensen, LLC is headquartered in Maywood, N.J., and focuses on providing professional liability insurance products and services through its CPAGoldTM, LawGoldTM, AdvisersGoldTM, and FiremarkTM programs to accountants, consultants, lawyers and registered investment advisors.

Mobilitas Insurance, a commercial insurance company serving players in the gig economy and mobility sector, announced it was selected by Lyft to provide ride-sharing commercial insurance coverage in 11 states: Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Coverages went into effect on October 1, 2020.

Wholesale Trading Insurance Services, LLC and Jencap, LLC acquired privately held Landmark E&S Insurance Brokers, LLC, a wholesale brokerage firm. Jencap is part of Galway Insurance Holdings, which was formed along with The Carlyle Group’s addition of EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, earlier this year.

Insurance advisory firm Strategy Meets Action and Boundless Consulting, a management consulting group, announced their partnership in the North American P&C insurance market. SMA and Boundless Consulting are working together to provide “strategic advice, research-based insights, and actionable consulting services to help commercial lines underwriting organizations transform, enabled by the right technology, but putting a focus on people and culture first.”

Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. announced the official launch of the GB Transportation Major Case Unit, a claims handling center within the GB Transportation integrated practice group. The unit was established to focus solely on the clients’ most severe, complex and high exposure claims.

Related: Around the P&C insurance industry: September 30, 2020