E&S/Specialty

Property and casualty insurer employment rose in June for the fifth straight month, raising hopes that carriers have reversed the downward employment trend that began in 2008.

Commercial and personal lines rates continued to firm in July as all lines of business in both sectors increased by single digits compared to the same month a year ago, says MarketScout.

For the vast majority of main-street FEC businesses, market capacity is still strong.

Philadelphia Insurance Cos. has long been known as a primary carrier that will provide coverage for specialty lines that are otherwise unavailable except through the excess-and-surplus market. This spring, though, it decided to go a step further and institute its own E&S division.

Phillys execs run the extra mile to service specialty niches.

When Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. announced it would acquire Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. for $4.8 billion in July 2008near the height of the global economic meltdownmarket-watchers were impressed but not overly surprised at the hefty price tag. Some four years on, many agree, the deal still looks smart.