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In the News
Applied Underwriters® founder, Steve Menzies, acquires insurance companies from Berkshire Hathaway in $920MM transaction
“A” rated national insurer has started construction on new Omaha operational center to house up to 2,000 in staff, as planned expansion continues apace (Omaha, Neb. Oct 16, 2019) Applied Underwriters, Inc. and its subsidiary North American Casualty Co. (“A” rated, A.M. Best), a group of diversified, national financial services companies, has been acquired by […]
Applied Underwriters Petitions NJ Regulators for Confirmation of Captive Reinsurance and its Use in its Widely Accepted Workers’ Compensation Format
The action holds that regulators have misinterpreted the longstanding, essential role that reinsurance plays in a widely used workers compensation insuring format and has attempted to restrict the program in direct violation of section 531 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which precludes state insurance regulators from rewriting the terms of an out-of-state reinsurance contract. The Petition requests confirmation that Applieds program is a valid captive reinsurance arrangement under New Jersey law and should be affirmed at a time when the formats desirability among businesses is growing as a preferred risk transfer vehicle among Applieds many New Jersey based clients and their employees. The Petition protects the clients of independent agents who have implemented the Applied programs as a sound, wise choice, an alternative to off the shelf policies in which the buyer has little influence on costs and little benefit from favorable outcomes.
Court Decision on Regulation 208
Contrary to the Supreme Court’s July 5, 2018 determination, the Appellate Division found that Insurance Law Section 6409(d) (concerning the giving of “other consideration or valuable thing”) is “unambiguous,” has a rational basis, and is subject to broad construction by DFS. Although Regulation 208 is now considered “a valid exercise of DFS’s general legislative authority […]
Supt. Vullo Confirms Her Departure from the DFS in 2019
The New York Law Journal announced today that Maria T. Vullo has confirmed she will be stepping down from her position as Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services at the end of January. The rumored replacement is Linda Lacewell, Cuomo’s current chief of staff who has served in several different capacities […]
Governor Signs Big I NY’s License Renewal Consolidation Bill
Late last night, Governor Cuomo signed Big I NY‘s bill to simplify the license renewal process for agents and brokers. Now instead of three separate dates, all agent and broker business licenses will renew on the same date every two years. Your Big I NY team developed this legislation and championed its passage. The Big I members who […]
PIANY, Big I NY File Joint Proceeding Against NYDFS Regulation 187
ALBANY, N.Y.New Yorks two most influential insurance agent and broker associations announced today they have filed a lawsuit against the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) over amendments to NY Insurance Regulation 187, which would alter the agent/broker-customer relationship in the sale of life insurance and annuities, and ultimately harm consumers. The Professional […]
SCOR Welcomes Standard & Poor’s Decision to Affirm Its “AA-” Rating
SCOR has been informed of the decision by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to affirm the financial strength rating for the Group and its main subsidiaries at “AA-,”, with a “stable outlook,” and to maintain the counterparty credit ratings at “AA-/A-1+.” In its most recent report¹, S&P highlights SCOR’s: “Very strong business risk profile,” with a […]
UJA-Federation of New York Honors Macia and Hearn
UJA-Federation of New York honored Seraina Macia, CEO of Blackboard Insurance, executive vice president, AIG, and Peter Hearn, president and CEO of Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, at its General Insurance Annual Event on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The event drew 600 attendees and raised $1.2 million […]