News from Sedgwick, MAPFRE, DARAG and more. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Sedgwick acquired the assets of Nautilus Investigations, a South Florida-based firm with specialized expertise in maritime claims, incidents and casualties, particularly yachts and personal watercraft. Serving clients throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. Nautilus will expand the footprint and capabilities of Sedgwick's marine solutions.

Colonial Surety launched a new digital platform to provide a single source of surety and fidelity bonds and insurance products for America's small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The new platform makes it easier and quicker for SMBs to find, purchase and manage the insurance and bond products they need to build strong, stable and safeguarded businesses in today's hybrid working environment. In addition, Colonial Surety is extending its range of SMB-focused products and services to help small businesses remain protected and compliant in a rapidly changing world.

Slice Labs Inc. and Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. are live with small business insurance built on Slice's Insurance Cloud Services (ICS) platform under Appalachian's digital brand, AERO Insurance Services. Appalachian's customer base of over 100,000 independent agents can now submit, quote, bind, pay, and service small business accounts 100% online.

Dutch insurer NN Group NV announced it is buying some of Metlife Inc.'s European life insurance assets for around $740 million, Bloomberg reported.

Brightway Insurance welcomed seven new franchisees, which opened five franchise locations in June:

  • Kevin Allen opened Brightway, The Allen Agency in Greenville, S.C.
  • Dabir Duvert and Steven Duvert opened Brightway, The Duvert Agency in Hempstead, N.Y.
  • Luan Le opened Brightway, The Le Agency in Tampa, Fla.
  • Enrique and Brittany Miron opened Brightway, The Miron Agency in Riverview, Fla.
  • Jorge Balderas opened Brightway, The Balderas in Spring, Texas

Pathpoint has raised $30 million in Series A funding, the third round of financing since the company's founding. Investors include Caffeinated Capital, who led the round and repeated investors include SciFi VC, Founders Fund, and Chubb. Hiscox and other leading carriers also participated.

Vertafore has launched the next generation of ImageRight, a workflow and content management system designed specifically for insurance carriers. ImageRight 7 provides a fully reimagined user experience in a web-based interface, enabling users to get more done with streamlined core processes and personalized task lists.

Palomar Holdings, Inc. partnered with PURE Programs, LLC. The two specialty insurers have joined together to offer owners of high-value homes undergoing complex construction projects a new specialized excess & surplus lines insurance and risk management solution. The program is designed for luxury construction projects requiring up to $20 million of coverage, inclusive of ground-up new builds, major renovations and additions.

Mercury Insurance is now offering all of its homeowners policyholders DIY inspection services using an advanced artificial intelligence assistant. The app, which was initially rolled out in New York and New Jersey last summer, guides homeowners through a self-inspection of their property and gives them the option for a contactless experience. The AI assistant is available to download as a mobile app from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies presented its Award in Innovation, sponsored by Guy Carpenter, at its 2021 Management Conference to Harford Mutual Insurance Group headquartered in Bel Air, Md. Harford Mutual received the overall award for its innovative initiative to develop current employee leadership skills and attract new talent to the insurance industry.

InsurTech Hartford (ITH), an InsurTech ecosystem with global startup, agent/broker, carrier, solution provider, and investor constituents, announced the winners of its Global InsurTech Innovation Challenge:

  • PainWorth: Top winner in the Travelers Emerging Product category.
  • Otonomi: Top in the Judges' All-Around Favorite category.
  • CoverHero: Top in the Best Emerging InsurTech category. 

Further, ITH will hold an in-person edition of the InsurTech Hartford Symposium for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will take place October 26-27 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

MAPFRE launched MotionSmart, a usage-based insurance program available to new MAPFRE policyholders in Massachusetts. Developed in partnership with Cambridge Mobile Telematics, MotionSmart assesses users' driving behaviors and provides personalized safe-driving tips based on real-time behavior. New MAPFRE policyholders who participate in the program will receive a discount of up to 10% at initial enrollment. Based on how safely they drive, they can earn up to 20%  savings on their annual premium with MotionSmart.

Merchants Insurance Group announced that Affiliated Agency, Inc. of Plainview, N.Y., is the company's 2020 Agent of the Year. A virtual celebratory luncheon was held Wednesday, March 24, 2021, between agency staff and Merchants' executives and colleagues from the company's Long Island office.

DARAG announced the formal completion of the sale of the going concern insurance business from DARAG Italia S.p.A to NOBIS Compagnia di Assicurazioni. The sale of the active underwriting business allows DARAG's operations to focus explicitly on providing legacy solutions. The relevant policies, distribution agreements and personnel dedicated to the active portfolio in Italy have been fully transferred to NOBIS. DARAG maintains operations in Italy to manage the existing Italian book in run-off and potential future legacy portfolios.

TechAssure, the international nonprofit association of insurance and risk management experts for technology-related risks, named Holmes Murphy & Associates as a new member effective immediately. With offices throughout the U.S. and an international presence, Holmes Murphy is one of the nation's largest privately held brokers.

TrustedChoice.com announced that it has added five additional insurance companies. The companies provide a robust mix of personal, commercial and life insurance products, including business owner policies, umbrella, home, ATV, and other types of insurance. The new companies added to the platform include:

  • Builder's and Tradesmen's Insurance
  • Coterie
  • Life Assurance Company of America
  • PersonalUmbrella.com
  • Prime Insurance Company

Stewart Information Services Corporation acquired Title First, headquartered in Westerville, Ohio. Title First has office locations in Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Texas, is licensed to operate in 34 states and has strategic partnerships throughout the country.

CRC Group has closed on the acquisition of Constellation Affiliated Partners. The addition of Constellation Affiliated Partners more than doubles the size of CRC Group's specialty programs division and creates one of the largest program managers in North America. CRC Group's new specialty programs division now places more than $2.4 billion in premium across more than 10 industry and specialty segments.

Hub International Limited announced that it has acquired the assets of Ward Insurance Agency, Inc. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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