People & Places

Willis Re hires CEO, managing director:Willis Re,the reinsurance arm of Willis Group Holdings, named JamesBeedle CEO of Asian operations. Beedle will work fromSingapore, insuring clients there as wellas in Japan, Indonesia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia,Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei. Willis Re alsonamed Mark Morley managing director of South EastAsia. Both men have been with the company since 1998.

Iron-Starr Excess names VP financial lines:Ironshorepromoted Steve Horton to vice president of financial lines within Iron-StarrExcess Agency. Prior, Horton worked for Iron-Starr'sfinancial institutions division for 1 year andfor Ironshore's Pembroke Managing Agency for 2.

Mayer Brown announces antitrust partner:MayerBrown hired Robert Klotz as a partner in the agency's antitrust and competitionpractice in Brussels, Belgium. Klotz will investigate carteland abuse of dominance cases, including dawn raids. Prior, heworked as a partner at Hunton & Williams for 5 years.

Mergers & Acquisitions

AmWINS joins New Mountain Capital: AmWINSGroup partnered with NewMountain Capital in a growth-oriented recapitalization valued around$1.3 billion. Employee shareholders will continue to own more than30 percent of AmWINS equity at the conclusion of therecapitalization. AmWINS' senior, localand operational management teams will remain the same.The 2 companies expect the transaction to close within the next 60days.

Read on for New Programs atIronshore, CNA and PHLY; News from The Hartford andOneBeacon

New Programs

Ironshore introduces war, violence and terrorismcoverage: Ironshore announced its new war, political violence and stand-alone terrorisminsurance for U.S.-based companies with exposures nationallyand worldwide. War and political violence insurance will beavailable globally through Ironshore Political Risk (contact DanielSussman for details). Stand-alone terrorism coverage willbe focused on U.S. exposures and provided by Ironshore's Global Property unit (contactJames Maden fordetails). Limits will be up to $25 million.

CNA announces kidnap, ransom and extortioninsurance: CNA, along with the London-based crisisresponse firm red24, introduced a new kidnap, ransom and extortion coverage. Theprogram extends beyond traditional coverage to address a broadrange of security-related situations. Coverage is available in 35states. Contact LisaZanotelli for more information.

PHLY and Grundy Worldwide renew collector vehiclerelationship: Philadelphia Insurance Cos. announced therenewal of its collector vehicle insurance partnership withGrundyInsurance, which began 6 years ago. Grundy will now provideunderwriting, customer service, policy/endorsement processing andmarketing. PHLY will handle billing and claims.

News

The Hartford offers electric vehicle discount:The Hartford announced it will provide discounts on auto insurance policies todrivers of electric cars. This 5 percent discount is nowavailable in Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas,Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas. It will be offered nationwideby year end. Current policyholders with electric vehicles willreceive the 5 percent discount at renewal.

OneBeacon introduces OBPG: OneBeacon InsuranceGroup announced its newest speciality business, OneBeaconProgram Group. OBPG will focus on small to medium commercialbusiness written through select managing general agents, managinggeneral underwriters and program administrators. President DanBeaudette will lead OBPG. The group will offer a range of multi-line pacage products includinggeneral and professional liability, property/inland marine, auto,excess and other specialty lines.