Insurance Level News and Press

AM Best Rating Acitivity and News

Kemper Swings to Fourth-Quarter Net Loss, Takes $35 Million Charge on Florida Excess Auto Profits
Kemper Corp. swung to an $8 million loss in the fourth quarter from a $97.4 million net income a year earlier, stung by higher automobile claims frequency and severity and a $35 million ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Worldwide Medical Assurance, Ltd. Corp.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Worldwide Medical Assurance, Ltd. Corp. (WWMA) (Panama City, ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Sofimex, Institucion de Garantias S.A.
AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Willis Appoints Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Asia in FINEX Business
Willis, a WTW business, appointed Mareli Vermeulen as head of mergers and acquisitions, Asia, within its financial and executive risks business. Based in Singapore, Vermeulen will lead the ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Globe Life Sees Sales Rise in Fourth Quarter; Net Income Up in Period
Globe Life Inc. reported net income of $266.1 million in the fourth quarter, up from $255.2 million a year earlier, as it continued an effort to boost both sales and its agent force. Net sales of ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Florida House Passes Bill to End Citizens Arbitration Requirement
A bill that would end Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s ability to require policyholders to mediate claim disputes through arbitration passed the Florida House of Representatives on Feb. ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Markel CEO: Reinsurance Exit Caps Year of Long-Range Structural Changes
Markel Group Inc. posted higher fourth-quarter net income as it closed a year of big structural changes capped by its exit from the $1.2 billion global reinsurance business, its chief executive ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Canopius Group Appoints Successor to Retiring Chief People Officer
Canopius Group appointed Adrian Phipps to succeed Barbara Turner as chief people officer, effective June. In his new role, Phipps will lead the business’ people strategy, with a focus on talent ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

MetLife Exec: Family Leave Insurance Provides 'Nice Tailwind' as More US States Require It
MetLife's U.S. head said paid family leave insurance stands to make up a bigger share of the group benefits business as it expands to more states across the country. Ramy Tadros, regional ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Sampo CEO: UK, Nordic Industrial Lines See Rising Competitive Pressures
Sampo plc posted sharply higher fourth-quarter profit as the group's chief executive officer said digital and commercial lines advanced amid competitive pressure in certain areas. For the year, ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

As Allstate Doubles Fourth-Quarter Net Income, CEO Calls for Auto Reform to Address Affordability
The industry needs to focus on regulatory and legislative legal reform countrywide to improve automobile insurance rates and affordability, according to Allstate Corp. Chair, President and Chief ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Cigna CEO: FTC Settlement Outcome Manageable
The Federal Trade Commission’s settlement with pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Inc. will have a minimal impact on margins, according to the Cigna Group, which saw fourth-quarter net income ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Marsh Risk Names Exec for Newly Created Global Supply Chain Practice Leader Role
Marsh Risk, a business of Marsh, appointed James Crask to the newly created role of global supply chain practice leader.  In this role, Crask is responsible for combining Marsh Risk’s existing ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Everest Group CEO: Specialty Lines Advance as Property Rates Soften
Jan. 1 reinsurance renewals revealed continued property price softening as Everest Group Ltd. deployed capital selectively while seeing growth in specialty lines, its chief executive officer ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

Hannover Re: Jan. 1 Renewals Featured Property Price Declines
Hannover Re saw significant price declines in some areas at Jan. 1 renewals as the reinsurer reported an average risk-adjusted price drop of 3.2% as treaty renewal premium income in traditional ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Partners Life Limited
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” (Excellent) of Partners Life Limited (Partners Life) (New Zealand). The outlook of ...
Date:
Source: BestWire

---

Insurance Information Institute News (IIHS & HLDI)

---

Insurance Journal News

Danone Recalls More Infant Formula in Europe
Danone is withdrawing batches of infant formula in Austria, Germany and France, the company and an Austrian government food agency said, expanding an industry recall sparked by contamination with the toxin cereulide. Cereulide, which can cause nausea and vomiting, has …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

EU Needs Smart-Car Data Security Rules And Can Learn From China, Group Says
The European Union needs to implement comprehensive regulations to manage the growing security risks posed by intelligent vehicles, particularly Chinese cars that are increasingly popular with consumers, according to a think tank. Intelligent cars, typically electric or hybrid vehicles, allow …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Tankers Speed Through Hormuz Chokepoint on US-Iran Tensions
Some supertanker operators, nervous about rising US-Iran tensions and potential risks to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, are speeding their vessels through the chokepoint. Very Large Crude Carriers are traveling around the narrow, congested waterway — through which about …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Leading South Korean Insurers Explore India Entry, Sources Say
South Korean firms Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Mirae Asset Financial Group and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. are in exploratory talks about entering India’s $130 billion insurance market, three Indian sources said. The interest comes as India has …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Study Ties Particle Pollution From Wildfire Smoke to 24,100 US Deaths Per Year
Chronic exposure to pollution from wildfires has been linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States, according to a new study. The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, found that from 2006 to 2020, …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Planet and Goosehead Insurance Announce Franchise Partnership
Independent personal lines agency Goosehead Insurance and newly launched Planet Insurance Agency said they have a strategic franchise partnership for customers shopping for homeowners insurance. Meriden, Connecticut-based Planet Insurance Agency was launched last month through Planet Financial Group. Through the …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Aon Agrees to $15 Million Settlement With Pennsylvania Teachers
A unit of Aon Plc agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that calculation errors and faulty investment advice caused Pennsylvania public school teachers to make millions of dollars in extra contributions to their pension fund. The firm’s Aon Investments …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Assignment of Benefits Bill Passes Washington Senate
A bill prohibiting post-loss assignment of benefits agreements passed the Washington Senate on Thursday on a unanimous vote. Senate Bill 6178 was backed by Washington Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, halting post-loss assignment of benefits, an agreement that allows a third …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Uber Jury Awards $8.5 Million Damages in Arizona Sexual Assault Case
Uber Technologies Inc. was hit with $8.5 million in damages in a trial over a 19-year-old woman’s claim that she was raped by her driver in Arizona, raising the rideshare giant’s risk of a costly settlement to resolve thousands of …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

People Moves: Trucordia Names Reid as Vice President on M&A Team
Trucordia hired Kim Reid as a vice president on its mergers and acquisitions team. Reid comes to Trucordia after more than two decades with Arthur J. Gallagher, where she helped build and lead the firm’s due diligence and integration programs. …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Insurance Ad During Super Bowl Aims to Win Over Frustrated New York Fans
New York football fans may not be happy that neither the Giants nor Bills nor Jets made it to Super Bowl 2026 but there is a reason for them to tune in on Sunday anyway. During the New England Patriots …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Maine Plane Crash Victims Worked for Luxury Travel Startup Led by Texas Lawyer
The six people killed in a fiery plane crash in Maine were flying to France’s Champagne region to scope out the next travel destination for high-net-worth clients when their small jet flipped on the runway during takeoff. They included an …
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

People Moves: XPT Specialty Hires Goedeke as Underwriter/Broker
XPT Specialty, headquartered in Plano, Texas, hired Kyle Goedeke as an underwriter/broker. Goedeke has nearly a decade of experience across wholesale brokerage, underwriting, and excess and surplus (E&S) line placements. In his role at XPT Specialty, Goedeke will underwrite and …
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Texas Anti-ESG Law Declared Unconstitutional by US Judge
A federal judge declared unconstitutional a 2021 Texas law restricting state investments in companies seeking to rely less on fossil fuels or boycott that industry. In a decision made public on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Alan Albright said the law …
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Forever Chemicals Quietly Contaminate Drinking Water Wells
Kristen Hanneman made a small decision in 2022 that would upend life for her entire town. State scientists were checking private drinking water wells across Wisconsin for a widely used family of harmful chemicals called PFAS. They mailed an offer …
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Trial of Ex-FirstEnergy Execs Charged in $60M Ohio Bribery Scheme Begins
The $4.3 million payment that Ohio-based FirstEnergy made to veteran lawyer and lobbyist Sam Randazzo in 2019, shortly before he was appointed as the state’s top utility regulator, is at the center of the latest criminal trial to get underway …
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Cheaper Auto Insurance Zip Code: