Merger-and-acquisition activity, cloud computing, transportationand cyber risks are just four of the noteworthy topics scheduled tobe covered at the Target Market Program Administrators Associationmidyear meeting next month.

Specialty insurance market participants who are planning theircalendars for the weeks ahead should also make room for this week’swebinar on the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act, sponsored bythe National Association of Professional Surplus Lines OfficesLtd., and for NU’s webinar later this month, “You Can MakeMarket Cycles Work For You!”

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May 9-11: 2011 TMPAA Midyear Meeting

Keynoter Tom Peters, the business-management guru who authoredbestselling book “In Search of Excellence,” and industry speakerJohn Doyle, CEO of Global Commercial Business, Chartis, aresure to draw crowds for their presentations at the TMPAA midyearmeeting taking place at The Westin Copley Place in Boston nextmonth.

With eight additional educational workshops on the three-dayschedule—in addition to networking events—NU editorsselected what they think are the most-intriguing hot topics andcan’t-miss sessions on the schedule:

• Evaluating The Financial Strength Of Program Markets,Market Conditions, And What To Expect In 2011/2012

May 10, 10:30 a.m.

We all want to know how close the industry is to a market turn,and speaker David Paul of ALIRT Insurance Research has insights—andnumbers—to share with TMPAA members.

Paul gave NU a preview of his presentation, comparingkey financial data from the years leading up to the last marketturn and the current market. He’ll also give his assessment of thefinancial strength of TMPAA member carriers based on a proprietaryALIRT scoring method. (See related article, “NoRed Alerts In Program Business Segment.”)

• Financial StatementFacelift—Improving Your Financial Statements For Presentation ToCarriers, Reinsurers, Lenders, Or Equity Partners.

May 11, 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

“Balance Sheet Botox” and “Income Statement Scrub” are among thecatchy phrases that drew our eyes toward the summary of thissession scheduled to be presented by Kelly Drouillard, presidentand CEO of Quivira Capital LLC, a Kansas City, Mo.-based consultingfirm.

She promises to explain how “classification and cleanup” of abalance sheet can strengthen the financial perception of yourcompany.

“Owners typically have their own understanding of the financialperformance of their business, which is not always apparent tooutside parties. Many times there are basic and simple changes youcan make to your financial statements and projections that willimprove evaluation from an outside third party,” according to thesession summary.

• Cloud Technology—What You Need To Know And UnderstandFor Your Program Business Operation.

May 11, 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

In the clouds about cloud technology? Wondering if you shouldeven care about it when new IT concepts just seem to add to yourexpenses?

Barry Ogletree, senior IT manager, Overby-Seawell Co., aims tohelp you over the hurdles during a workshop designed for businessowners and managers. He’ll explain what cloud technology is, how itwill help your bottom line, who is using it and whether its use iswithin the reach of small and midsize companies.

TMPAA Midyear Registration information, the completeagenda, and carrier and vendor information summaries areavailable at http://www.targetmkts.com/index.cfm?page=_meeting.

April 19, 2 p.m. Eastern: NAPSLO’S NRRA Webinar

NAPSLO says the status of implementation of surplus linesreforms and the impact on surplus lines brokers and carriers willbe the subject of its upcoming webinar—“Will You Be Ready in Julyfor the NRRA?”

NAPSLO executives and lawyers are scheduled to review stateactions taken to date to implement NRRA—the package of surpluslines reforms contained in the federal financial services reformbill approved in July 2010.

Then they’ll explain what agents, brokers and carriers shouldknow—and expect—when the law goes into effect.

Briefly, NAPSLO notes that beginning July 21, NRRA mandates thatthe insured's home state will be the only state with jurisdictionover surplus lines transactions and the only state that can requirea tax be paid by the broker.

In order to comply, states are revising their laws.

Many are also considering forming a tax compact to handleallocation of surplus lines premium taxes. This may impose someadditional reporting requirements for brokers and could impactcompanies, NAPSLO says.

Scheduled webinar speakers are:

• Richard Bouhan, NAPSLO Executive Director

• Steve Stephan, NAPSLO Director of Government Relations

• Libby Baney, Vice President, B&D Consulting, NAPSLOWashington D.C. Lobbyist

• Michael Byrne, Partner, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP

• Dan Maher, Executive Director, Excess Line Association of NewYork.

The same lineup of speakers participating in the April 10webinar provided an early overview of the law last year.NU’s coverage of the prior event was detailed in thefollowing articles:

• Dodd-Frank Delivers Single-State Tax, Single-State Regs ForMulti-State Risks

• NAPSLO Work Continues On E&S Reforms; State Action StillNeeded

There is no charge to attend the April 19 webinar. Toregister, click here orlook for a link on the NAPSLOwebsite.

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April 28, 2 p.m. Eastern: NU Cycles Webinar

The webinar, “You Can Make Market Cycles Work For You,” featuresPaul Romano, president of OneBeacon Professional Insurance, andJohn Chace, OBPI senior vice president and chief underwritingofficer, who promise to give “an inside look” at what’s drivingtoday's specialty insurance market cycles.

They will also share insights on how you can use these forces toyour advantage.

There is no charge to attend the April 28 webinar. Toregister, click here or look for the link under the web seminar channelof NU’s website at www.PropertyCasualty360.com.