Just a few years ago, amid strong profits and solid premiums, the private equity world was keen on getting into the insurance industry. But that was then. Now, given the soft market and the current difficulties of the down-cycle, those moves by private equity firms, banks and other non-traditional buyers in the early part of the decade seem, in hindsight, like botched thinking. So says Alan Kaufman, head of Burns & Wilcox, who recently spoke with Insurance Journal. In this interview, Kaufman analyzes private equity’s brief love affair with insurance and gives his expectations for future mergers and acquisitions in the insurance industry.
The alternative energy market has many complicated angles to it, including solar warranties, which are essential to solar manufacturers as well as to the development and funding of solar projects.
According to Mike McMullen, president of PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services, banks are hesitant to lend against some larger solar projects because of the severe credit [...]
Engle Martin & Associates is an independent adjusting firm providing claims services to the insurance industry. In this interview with Claims Journal, Susan Froman, Engle Martin’s Director of Sales, discusses the growth of the company and providing service to their clients when they need it most.
Too often agency principals find themselves facing a forced sale as a result of not having a proper perpetuation plan. In this podcast, MarshBerry president John Wepler discusses the many difficult and “uncomfortable” decisions required of an owner seeking to properly–and profitably–perpetuate the firm. Listen to this frank conversation as John offers some good news: [...]
The Internet makes it easier to get into business but it also makes it easier to steal others’ ideas. The Web is also expanding the notion of what materials, images and designs need to be protected. Intellectual property attorney David Branfman advises agents on questions to ask clients about intellectual property exposures and warns about [...]
Moving companies face a number of exposures in their daily operations, including workers compensation, cargo, fleet and general liability. Priority Moving in San Diego, Calif. is no exception. A Wheaton Van Lines agent, Priority Moving has created a series of internal procedures, reinforced by a strong employee screening process and training program. Analytics software [...]
Stroz Friedberg is a consulting firm that does computer forensics, mobile phone forensics, electronic discovery and cyber crime response, operating at the intersection of law, technology and behavioral sciences. David Garrett, managing director of Stroz Friedberg’s San Francisco office, explains why clients may or may not have cyber risk insurance, whether those that have the [...]
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is introducing the first coverage for retailers that experience a breach of their payment card security system. A single breach of a payment card security system could cost tens of thousands of dollars in penalties and extra expenses.
For a number of years, Florida has had a program allowing insurers to take policies out of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance. The original deal was that they took them out and had to stay on the policies for three years. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is relaxing that rule and allowing some of the insurers [...]
Every business, regardless of size, should be considering its environmental exposures. According to William McElroy, senior vice president, Environmental, Liberty International Underwriters, there is no avoiding the fact that environmental liability is a highly technical area. Thus, a close working relationship between the broker and an experienced environmental carrier is the key to getting the [...]
October 13, 2009 at 9:29 pm