Catastrophe risk modeling firm EQECAT says insured losses for the Joplin, Mo. tornado—the deadliest twister in more than 60 years—could be between $1 billion and $3 billion.

When Southwest Airlines closed its $1 billion-plus deal to buy AirTran two weeks ago, it did so knowing that language of a tail-coverage endorsement it bought for AirTrans directors and officers would synch up with a worrisome provision of the merger indemnification agreement.

The “next frontier,” in P&C technology, according to Jeff Yates, CEO of ACT (Agents Council for Technology), is real-time processing for commercial lines—a development that will have “huge payback” for independent agents and brokers.

Ryan Specialty Group, LLC entered the Lloyd’s market, acquiring Jubilee Group Holdings Ltd.