Standard & Poor’s lowered the insurer financial strength rating of three Bahraini insurers while affirming the financial strength of three others domiciled there after lowering the sovereign rating of the kingdom of Bahrain.

Crump Property & Casualty said it has reached a “standstill agreement” with a former employee and a competitor, Ryan Specialty Group's R-T Specialty LLC, pending the outcome of litigation.

Just like buying a home, investing in a claims system is a major financial decision, and making the right choice means knowing how to look beyond the showy bells and whistles of a demo.

In a changing marketplace, excess and surplus lines executives affirmed the importance of, and their commitment to, the wholesale distribution system but noted that the ability to innovate and develop new products will be critical to the survival of that distribution system.

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services has downgraded the counterparty credit and financial strength ratings of American International Group Inc.’s (AIG) Chartis subsidiaries after the company reported a 2010 fourth-quarter underwriting loss of $5.2 billion.

Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings said losses from natural catastrophes in Australia during the first quarter are expected to be between $60 million and $80 million, while Validus Holdings said last week’s Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake could cost the company between $25 million and $50 million.

Welcome to Morning Minute, a 60 second or less podcast that gives you a preview of the breaking news we’re covering today, Feb. 28, on PropertyCasualty360.com.

United Heartland recently launched a new public Web site, redesigned to better market their workers’ compensation services.