Around the P&C insurance industry: July 31, 2024
This week's update includes insurance industry news from Applied Systems, TransUnion, vQuip Specialty and more.
Applied Systems acquired Planck, the leading artificial intelligence company for the insurance industry. This strategic acquisition will significantly expand Applied’s AI capabilities, accelerating its vision for the next generation of the digital roundtrip of insurance and creating more value at every stage of the insurance lifecycle for the benefit of agencies, carriers and their clients.
Jewelers Mutual Group acquired Union Life & Casualty Insurance Agency. JM Insurance Agency Partners, Inc., a Jewelers Mutual Group company, joined forces with UL&C, expanding the Ggoup’s expertise, helping strengthen both the pawn market and the insurance industry, and helping meet customers’ needs for best-in-class pawnbroker coverage.
Connect Group launched specialty reinsurer, Stability Re. This follows the launch in September 2023 of Stability Risk, a London-based MGA created to allow Connect Underwriting Limited to focus on its core business lines of excess of loss, property, energy and war & terrorism.
ZestyAI received approval for use in rating and underwriting from the Texas Department of Insurance for its complete suite of severe convective storm products. ZestyAI’s Z-HAIL, Z-WIND, Z-STORM and Z-PROPERTY Roof Quality products now join ZestyAI’s predictive wildfire risk analytics product, Z-FIRE, as some of the first AI-powered property-based risk models to be approved in the state.
Ryan Specialty announced the unification of Ryan Financial Lines and the expansion of its product offerings. Ryan Financial Lines’ formation was announced in December 2023. The first phase was implemented in March 2024 with EmergIn Risk rebranding into RFL Cyber. Ryan Financial Lines has now completed the rebranding, unifying operations of StartPoint, Ryan Specialty Nordics, Capital Bay and the three professional liability programs of Ryan Specialty National Programs platform.
AXA XL has established dedicated cyber underwriting teams for their client bases in the Americas. Rachel Rossini leads the middle market team while Deuayne Crawford is leading the cyber wholesale underwriting team. Both report to Michelle Chia, chief underwriting officer for cyber in the Americas.
TransUnion announced an extension to their partnership with global cyber security business, NCC Group. The updated arrangement enables enhanced incident response services for U.S. insurance carriers and their portfolio policyholders, including forensics and remediation. In 2023, the companies partnered to deliver TruEmpower Scam Blocker — a preventative solution guarding against a wide variety of sophisticated digital scams.
Enstar Group Limited has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Sixth Street acquired Enstar, with Liberty Strategic Capital, J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC, and other institutional investors participating in the transaction. Enstar shareholders will receive a total of $338.00 in cash per ordinary share of Enstar payable upon closing of the transaction, representing a total equity value of $5.1 billion.
Cowbell has closed a $60 million Series C equity investment from Zurich Insurance Group, a leading global multi-line insurer. With the $60 million investment, Cowbell plans to scale operations to meet growing demand, extend its presence in key international markets, bolster cyber resilience services, introduce new cutting-edge products to the market and further strengthen strategic partnerships.
Carbon Underwriting Limited and Lloyd’s syndicate CBN 4747, announced that Lloyd’s has granted in principle approval for the launch of Syndicate 5757, effective January 1, 2025. This marks a significant milestone as it represents Carbon’s second syndicate at Lloyd’s, and further expands its territorial footprint to further its ambition to become a global lead in delegated authority business.
Mirick Insurance Agency of Shelburne Falls, Massaschusetts., and Albert B. Allen Insurance Agency of Greenfield, Massachusetts., partnered with Wheeler & Taylor Insurance, a large insurance agency in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The two long-established insurance agencies joined Wheeler & Taylor, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, to broaden their insurance offerings locally, regionally and nationally. Both firms retain their name, staff, location, and management.
SiriusPoint Ltd. and Hellenic Hull Management, a marine hull and machinery underwriter in Greece and Cyprus, announced a strategic partnership. HMA is a leading marine insurance management company for all types of vessels. It has been at the forefront of the shipping industry in Greece and Cyprus for the last 30 years and was the first marine MGA to embrace the United Nation’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance.
Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program Director Chris Reeg and Dayton-area volunteer Connie Blum received national honors from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the U.S. Administration for Community Living Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling national conference on July 15 in New Orleans.
vQuip Specialty announced an initiative to expand beyond its origins as an embedded marine insurance provider. This initiative reinforces the company as a specialty program architect focused on a variety of adventure markets, powered by proprietary loss control technology to assess, mitigate and transfer risk.
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