Securities and Exchange Commission

• W.R. Berkley Sells Interest in InsurBanc to a Bank He Chairs

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com, Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 8, 2013

  W. R. Berkley Corp. has sold its interest in InsurBanc as part of a trend by insurance companies to divest their thrifts in an effort to avoid federal regulation.

• Insurers Hold $380M Exposure in Stockton Bankruptcy

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360  |  April 2, 2013

  A federal bankruptcy judge’s decision yesterday to approve the Chapter 9 bankruptcy of Stockton, Calif., increased the possibility that two bond insurers may have to make good on the $380 million in exposure they hold with the city.

• Progressive February Net Income Down, but Company Hitting Performance Target

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 14, 2013

  If February is any indicator of future performance, Progressive Corp. may be on its way to achieving a combined ratio well below 96—the number the insurer’s chief executive says is necessary to remain profitable.

• D&O Rates Rising for Small-and-Midcap Businesses: Marsh

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360  |  February 25, 2013

  Small-to-midcap businesses will be prone to rising primary coverage rates in the D&O market in 2013, led by increased litigation and regulatory scrutiny, says Marsh.

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  Aon Holds Reinsurance Payout to Iranian Carriers

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360  |  February 25, 2013

  Insurance broker Aon is withholding reinsurance payments totaling $600,000 on an aviation loss to two Iran insurance carriers due to U.S. sanctions.

• Allianz Pays $12.3M to Settle FCPA Violations

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  December 17, 2012

  German-based insurer Allianz SE has agreed to pay the Securities and Exchange Commission $12.3 million to settle charges that it bribed officials in Indonesia for the placement of insurance contracts.

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  In Social Media Age, Liability for Small- & Mid-Size Cos. Growing

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  December 4, 2012

  Because more small- and medium-size companies are incorporating social media into their businesses, insurance professionals believe their clients’ risk exposure will grow in the coming year, according to a survey released by specialty-insurer Torus.

• Ambac to Begin Making Claims Payments

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 17, 2012

  Bond insurer Ambac says it will begin making payments on claims, likely beginning this week, after a judge in Wisconsin granted the company permission to do so.

• Changing Cyber Coverage

  By Steve Haase, Allen Cross  |  July 29, 2012

  Because cyber liability coverage and state and federal legislation constantly change to address risks of an increasingly mobile world, navigating the market and convincing clients they need cyber coverage are difficult.

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  MBIA Exposure to San Bernardino $33M; More Bankruptcies May Follow

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  July 13, 2012

  National Public Finance Guarantee Corp. says it has $33 million in municipal bond exposure to the city of San Bernardino, Calif., as the city becomes the third in the state this year to file for bankruptcy protection.

• Insurers Win Exemption in CFTC Swaps Definitions

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  July 11, 2012

  Swaps definitions adopted by federal regulators Tuesday exempt the insurance industry from a new regulatory regime for the complex derivatives outlined in the Dodd-Frank financial services reform law.

• E&Y: Companies Must Be Vigilant In Face of Escalating Fraud

  By Alex Vorro  |  June 11, 2012

  A survey by E&Y suggests that tolerance for unethical conduct has risen, and corporations face myriad challenges in deterring fraud.

• JOBS Act Presents New D&O Challenges for Clients and Insurers, Says Marsh

  By Mark E. Ruquet  |  June 11, 2012

  Adoption of the federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act gives new companies easier access to capital from the general investing public—but also presents liability exposures that D&O insurers do not yet fully understand, says a report from Marsh.

• JOBS Act Presents New D&O Challenges for Clients & Insurers

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 1, 2012

  Adoption of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act gives companies easier access to capital from the general investing public, but also presents liability exposures that directors and officers insurers do not yet fully understand, says a report from Marsh.

• Aon Completes London Move

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 2, 2012

  Insurance broker Aon announced today it has completed the move of its corporate headquarters to London.

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  Top 20 Washington Insurance Power Brokers

  By Staff Writers  |  March 29, 2012

  While the insurance industry is state regulated, Washington D.C. has always remained a major player in the business. PC360 Washington editor Arthur D. Postal has compiled a list of the top-20 public and industry figures in Washington D.C.