E&S/Specialty

AXIS Capital Holdings’ expected financial impact of $285 million from the March 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami headlines the latest round of loss estimates from Bermuda companies.

In recent years, the use of engineered nanomaterials in consumer products like sunscreen, cosmetics, clothing and baby products has soared. As a result, substantial concern has developed because these tiny materials are often made of toxic substances, and closely resemble asbestos fibers.

With chatter about the next market turn heating up, it’s a good time to explore the impact on program business to see if there could be a replay of the gut-wrenching turmoil that left some program administrators (PA) out in the cold during the last soft-to-hard transition.

In spite of carrier angst about backing start-up programs, MGAs are having success in launching new offerings for wine collectors, auto dealers and properties exposed to earthquake risk.

Special relationships or circumstances may broaden an agent or brokers’ duty to advise. In this second article in a two-part package about agent/broker professional liability, Attorney Peter Biging examines recent relevant court rulings examining such circumstances.

The bed and breakfast market is a potential growth area for insurers as this comfy niche of the travel industry attracts a growing number of travelers seeking unique, but budget-friendly accommodations.

Although pet insurance used to be a line of coverage that did little for pet owners and proved difficult for insurers, one company believes it has found the recipe for success in the niche—product transparency for consumers and diligent underwriting to improve carrier profitability.

With chatter about the next market turn heating up, experienced niche-market participants don’t anticipate a replay of the gut-wrenching turmoil that left some program administrators out in the cold during the last turn. But that doesn’t mean program books won’t need to be mended or that some carrier retrenchment from...