In addition to Zurich's integrated management liability policy for North American boarding kennels, doggie daycares and pet groomers, insurers and services firms announced products targeting management liability and other specialty risks.

Also targeting management liability risks, but this time employment practices rather than D&O claims, Newport Scientific Research Inc. in Newport, Calif., announced that it has developed a new Web-based reporting system allowing workers to easily report instances of intimidation or harassment in the workplace.

The reporting system, called TheGlasshouseReport.com, makes it possible for employers to take quick action to avert potential legal action, the company said, explaining that the online system verifies that the report comes from an employee by having the worker touch a part of the screen with their thumbprint.

NSR said TheGlasshouseReport.com records workplace concerns, including those of possible discrimination or harassment, alerting the employer and allowing it to immediately investigate and resolve such issues directly with the complainant, which in many cases would skip several levels of managers. The resolution procedures can be set in motion “before the problems escalate into a larger, costly problem,” NSR said.

The use of a thumbprint, the company said, is a Web-based management system that links to the biometric identity of employees.

The system, created by NSR President John Shanahan, who is also the creator of Hooked on Phonics, provides all employees with immediate access to secure complaint and resolution procedures.

Once issues are reported, a physical record of subsequent actions and resolutions is recorded and biometrically verified should the dispute escalate, protecting both the employer and the employee, said NSR.

The company said the system can be tailored to organizational needs to solicit feedback from employees regarding additional workplace concerns beyond harassment or discrimination.

It can track and archive employee training and understanding of company policies and industry regulations. If challenged in a court of law or administrative proceeding, it can effectively demonstrate the employer's efforts to ensure legal compliance, the company said.

A demo is online at http://www.theGlasshouseReport.com/rims/presentation_movie.html.

ACE USA in Philadelphia launched a new loss prevention resource at the end of April–eRisk Hub, a Web-based resource to help policyholders manage cyber risks.

The eRisk Hub portal is provided to all ACE policyholders who purchase privacy and network security coverage under the ACE Privacy Protection, ACE DigiTech and ACE Digital DNA product lines.

The eRisk Hub provides triage support through its Incident HELP Hotline staffed by security experts who understand the potentially catastrophic impact of privacy and network related exposures, ACE said. The experts help companies deal with post-breach regulatory, reporting and crisis management issues, the company said.

The eRisk Hub also helps policyholders keep abreast of best practices and regulatory guidelines and prepare detailed, comprehensive response plans.

Founded and managed by NetDiligence, a cyber-security and e-risk assessment services company, eRisk Hub features news and informative content from cyber-risk experts including risk management, computer forensics, crisis communications, legal and other specialists.

Integro also unveiled a new tool last month–an analytical model allowing clients to evaluate their excess liability insurance programs. Integro said the model, XS PLUS, is based on hard data and actuarial simulations.

XS PLUS delivers clarity and certainty to an area of risk that has, traditionally, relied heavily on guesswork and inexact benchmarking, Integro said in a statement.

The output of the quantitative model is easy-to-understand graphical data, the New York-based broker said.

The tool gives clients the power to evaluate the adequacy of their current program structures and limits purchased, and it offers them the chance to stress-test hypothetical structures and limits. (PLUS stands for “Program Limit and Underlying Structure.”)

XS PLUS applies to any type of insurance coverage that requires multiple excess layers, including liability, property, D&O/E&O, aviation and marine.

Clients can purchase XS PLUS as a stand-alone product or as part of a broader program design, Integro said.

Both Zurich and AIG announced products targeting environmental risks in May.

At Zurich, the new offering from its North American environmental business unit is called “Z Choice,” allowing policyholders to customize coverages and limits (up to $50 million) to meet their business needs.

Zurich said customers can choose among core coverages such as first- and third-party bodily injury and property damage for on- and off-site cleanup for new and existing pollution events. They can also add optional coverages for natural resource damages, business interruption, mold, transportation of materials and financial assurance.

Zurich said Z Choice is available for a wide variety of industry classes such as commercial real estate portfolios, manufacturing, chemical facilities, health care, water treatment facilities, food processing, laboratories and public institutions.

At AIG, the focus is on U.S.- and Canada-based multinational companies, with the introduction of AIG Passport for Pollution Legal Liability (PLL). AIG Passport facilitates purchasing locally admitted PLL insurance to cover international operations and subsidiaries, the New York-based company said.

PLL policies provide liability coverage for cleanup costs, or third-party claims for bodily injury and property damage arising from losses due to on- or off-site pollution conditions from an owned or operated property. PLL coverage also addresses pollution conditions resulting from transporting wastes or products to sites not owned by the insured.

AIG Passport for PLL is available to address environmental risks in one or more foreign jurisdictions. Foreign PLL policies written through AIG Passport are issued by the locally licensed AIG Company, in compliance with local laws and regulations.

Claims are handled by local AIG claims examiners who are supported by a home country claims management team. AIG Passport for PLL is available for new and renewal business.

Several specialty insurers launched entirely new divisions this month, including W.R. Berkley Corp. with a new inland marine unit, and Argo Group International Holdings, which is entering the surety line.

On May 5, Greenwich, Conn.-based W.R. Berkley announced the formation of Berkley Asset Protection Underwriters, LLC, based in New York City, with product offerings designed to protect a broad spectrum of commercial and personal assets.

Products will include coverage for fine arts, jewelers block, fidelity/crime and related risks, the company said.

Berkley Asset Protection Underwriters will underwrite on behalf of two W.R. Berkley Corporation member companies, StarNet Insurance Company on an admitted basis and Gemini Insurance Company on a surplus lines basis.

Joseph Dowd has been named president of Berkley Asset Protection Underwriters. Mr. Dowd has more than 20 years experience in the insurance industry, all of which has been focused on asset protection.

Gregory Smith, a claims expert in the fine art, jewelry and other inland marine product lines with over 22 years experience, was appointed executive vice president.

Rounding out the team are Sean Missal and Nicholas Reynolds, both named as vice presidents. Mr. Missal has over 12 years of industry experience specifically in the area of fidelity/crime and other high value inland marine products. Mr. Reynolds has more than 20 years of experience in underwriting fine arts risks, both internationally and domestically.

Separately, but on the same day, Bermuda-based Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. said it has created a bond insurance unit with Robert F. Thomas as president.

The company said its new Argo Surety operation will be based in Houston and be part of Argo Group's existing Commercial Specialty segment.

Argo Group, which underwrites specialty insurance and reinsurance products in niche areas of the property-casualty market, said it plans Argo Surety branches in California and on the East Coast by 2009.

Argo Group said Mr. Thomas has 21 years of experience in both the insurance and reinsurance markets, and that before taking his new post he held several executive level positions simultaneously at HCC Insurance Holdings.

At Houston-based HCC, Mr. Thomas served as president and CEO of its Surety Group, CEO of its Credit Group, and president of HCC Risk Management, the organization's ceded reinsurance administration arm.

Prior to his work with HCC Insurance Holdings, Mr. Thomas held the position of president and CEO of American Contractors Indemnity Company, a California monoline surety that was acquired by HCC in 2004.

“We see real growth potential for Argo Group in the surety business,” said Mark Watson, president and chief executive officer of Argo Group. “Despite a downturn in housing and commercial construction, our focus for contract surety will be opportunistic undertakings that are fairly robust yet considerably less vulnerable than the general marketplace,” he said.

“Surety bonds are always going to be a necessity for completion of commercial projects, such as construction of schools, hospitals, community roads and other types of infrastructure,” he said.

Argo Group is the combined international holding company resulting from the Aug. 7, 2007 merger of Argonaut Group Inc. and PXRE Group, Ltd.

In mid-May, The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, Mass., announced Real Estate Advantage, a new program of specialty coverages targeting commercial real estate owners and managers.

The Real Estate Advantage is delivered to The Hanover's agent partners through local underwriters with a deep understanding of the real estate industry, the company said. Dedicated loss control complements the program, and claims professionals are available locally to provide industry-specific guidance for independent agents and their real estate clients.

The Hanover said Real Estate Advantage is the latest introduction in a growing list of industry-specific programs it is offering. Coverages included in the real estate program are commercial property, general liability, commercial crime, commercial auto, commercial umbrella and workers' compensation.

Program's endorsements–that normally would have to be purchased separately by a property owner–include coverage for alternative key systems, anchor store business income, denial of access, lease cancellation, lost keys, movement of property, outdoor property, paved areas, realty taxes, tenant move-back expense, and unintentional property reporting errors.

Atlanta-based American Safety Insurance announced that it is now offering ART Solutions, a product for risk retention groups, captives and small insurance companies who can benefit from access to ASI's A.M. Best “A”-rated paper.

Ideal candidates for ART Solutions have expertise in underwriting a specific class of general liability, professional liability, excess or property business and seek to grow through increased capacity or access to A.M. Best “A”-rated paper.

Brad Isaacson, director of program business at ASI, said ART Solutions provides “A”-rated paper on a risk participation or pure fronting basis.

Through approved reinsurance intermediaries, ART Solutions clients can also access traditional and structured reinsurance available from American Safety Reinsurance, Ltd., a Bermuda-based reinsurance carrier, to provide capital relief.

To further develop relationships with key reinsurance intermediaries and brokers, ASI announced that Richard Wigmore has joined the ASI team as National Business Development Manager for its U.S. Alternative Risk Transfer division.

Mr. Wigmore has more than 20 years of experience designing, developing and implementing a wide range of ART products, including captives and rent-a-captives, for both individual and group accounts. Prior to joining ASI, he held marketing and sales positions with Commonwealth Risk Services, Liberty Mutual Alternative Markets and AIG.

Lexington Insurance Company, an AIG company, increased limits for capacity for product liability and professional liability insurance provided by its SAFETY Act Homeland Protector policy.

SAFETY Act Homeland Protector provides product and professional liability coverage for companies developing and selling anti-terrorism products and technologies in accordance with the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act of 2002.

The SAFETY Act provides important legal liability protections for providers of Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies–whether they are products or services, AIG said, adding that the liability protections of the SAFETY Act require product and technology providers to obtain insurance that meets certain standards and characteristics.

Lexington's SAFETY Act Homeland Protector meets the standards, AIG said.

The latest capacity hikes mean that for products liability, the available limit is now $50 million, compared to $25 million previously; for professional, it is $25 million, compared to $15 million before.

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