Shareholder litigation involving mergers and acquisitions continued its upward trend in 2013, with 94% of deals valued over $100 million during the year challenged by shareholders.

Hiscox USA has been selling commercial-insurance products direct to small businesses since 2010, and while the company has bet on a bright future for this distribution method, CEO Ben Walter still believes in the value of agents and brokers as well.

The P&C industry reported favorable 2013 results, but the environment in which carriers are operating appears to favor a softening market. See a visual breakdown of the industry's performance for 2013.

The P&C industry reported favorable 2013 results, but the environment in which carriers are operating appears to favor a softening market. See a visual breakdown of the industry's performance for 2013.

For 48 publicly traded property and casualty companies across various industry subsectors, aggregate operating earnings increased by 30% in 2013 compared to 2012, thanks to improved underwriting results due to lower catastrophe losses.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins attempted to clarify her amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act last week through statements to a Senate committee and the introduction of legislation, moves that Moody's says is credit positive for systemically important insurers.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins attempted to clarify her amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act last week through statements to a Senate committee and the introduction of legislation, moves that Moody's says is credit positive for systemically important insurers.

Uncertainty and risk aversion trumped other, more favorable mergers and acquisitions factors present in 2013 to drive U.S. property and casualty M&A activity to its lowest level since the 2008-09 fiscal crisis, a new report says.