Worldwide property and casualty insurer Chartis has purchased $425 million in catastrophe bond protection against U.S. hurricanes and earthquakes, the company said.

Public risk managers take note: Liberty Mutual has launched a contest so that cash-strapped cities and towns in America can vie for grants to help fund their local Fourth of July events.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brown said it has acquired four insurance agencies in Connecticut. Financial terms of the acquisition were not released.

A Kingston, N.Y., woman is accused of going to some extreme lengths in order to continue collecting workers' comp benefits while allegedly working another job.

State financial services regulators said they support having one of their members serving as a non-voting member of the Systemic Risk Council that would be created under financial service reform legislation.

Policyholders don't always accurately report lifestyle changes that could negatively affect their auto policy premium rates, according to a report from a ratings consulting firm.

Independent agencies are invited to enter the 2010 Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year Award program, run by National Underwriter and its sister publication, American Agent & Broker, with entries due by July 1.

Transocean Ltd. has filed a petition under the federal Limitation of Shipowner's Liability Act of 1851 to limit its liability for the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion to less than $26.8 million.