Specialty

Rokstone expands MENA footprint with new Dubai office

International specialty MGA Rokstone has received a licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to establish a new office in Dubai International Financial Centre.

Munich Re Specialty committed to casualty even as challenges abound

Munich Re Specialty – North America retains a strong appetite to support casualty-focused programs and MGAs even as it, and the wider industry, contend with rising loss cost trends fueled in part by legal system abuse.

Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers names ex-Aon MGA head Rayner as intl CUO

Ryan Specialty has announced several leadership hires within its international specialty underwriting segment Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers International, including that of Graeme Rayner as chief underwriting officer, international.

Once gets ASIC capacity to write book of E&S jewellery business

Start-up MGA Once Insurance Group has secured capacity support from AM Specialty Insurance Company to write a book of small valuables coverage.

Cannabis MGU adds Verlingue’s Midson to spur European expansion

The European arm of US-headquartered MGU CannGen Insurance has appointed Alan Midson as development director for the UK and Europe as part of its continued build-out across the continent.

Specialty MGA UK appoints Contasta head of treaty for LatAm and Caribbean

Specialty MGA UK has appointed Humberto Contasta as its head of treaty for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tiptree stock dips 12% after Fortegra IPO scrapped

Tiptree Inc’s share price dropped almost 12 percent during Wednesday trading as investors responded to news that plans to take specialty carrier Fortegra – in which the firm has a majority stake – public had been pulled because of “prevailing market conditions”.

RB Jones adds cannabis offering to expansive platform

RB Jones has added another program to its expansive roster with the MGU unveiling a new property and liability offering targeted at the cannabis industry which Program Manager understands will be underwritten on the capacity of HW Kaufman Group bedfellow Atain Insurance Companies.

Ryan Specialty’s RTR names Batalla and Joordens co-heads of continental Europe

Ryan Specialty’s transactional risk MGU Ryan Transactional Risk has appointed Marta Batalla and Luc Joordens as co-heads of continental Europe.

James River names Bowman specialty admitted president and CEO

James River Group Holdings has promoted William Bowman to president and CEO, specialty admitted insurance.

Tiptree announces plan to take Fortegra public

Tiptree Inc has announced plans to take its specialty programs-focused insurer Fortegra public via a primary offering, with proceeds to be used to support the expansive insurer’s continued growth.

Vitale: MGAs have cemented premier role in risk transfer process

MGAs and program managers have evolved from a soft market tool for carrier growth to a permanent fixture, becoming the “premier part” in the risk transfer process by delivering profitable underwriting results and meeting the specialty needs of clients through innovation, according to Resilience president Mario Vitale.

Breach agrees Accelerant capacity deal for new Crypto Shield Pro offering

Insurtech MGA Breach Insurance has agreed a capacity deal with AM Best A- rated Accelerant to support a new program targeted at institutional clients of crypto custody solutions.

NIP’s TreePro raises excess liability limits to $25mn to better support utility arborists

NIP Group’s TreePro Insurance has raised its excess capacity limit offer to $25mn and introduced specialised wildfire liability protection, in response to the emerging risks facing arborists working for utility companies.

Berkley Equine & Cattle adds Liberty Mutual’s Egan as CUO

WR Berkley’s Berkley Equine & Cattle has recruited John Egan as vice president and CUO after six years at Liberty Mutual.

Axis hires Nationwide’s Shaw as specialty team leader in NA programs unit

Axis has recruited Andy Shaw as specialty team leader within its North American Programs business, with the new hire joining having spent the past 11 years at Nationwide.

Distinguished fine art and collectibles program launches with Core Specialty paper

Aquiline-backed Distinguished Programs has officially launched its fine art and collectibles offering on the AM Best A- paper of Core Specialty, supported by major insurers in the US and London, with a team led by former Axa XL executive Patrick Drummond.

Axa XL capacity-backed Zillion forms new partnership with jewellery chain Shane Co

US jewellery chain Shane Co has teamed up with embedded insurance specialist Zillion to provide Axa XL-backed coverage to customers who make in-store purchases.

Venbrook targets real estate and HNW growth with new Sleeper-led verticals

Venbrook’s Services Division has launched two new verticals called Select Commercial Business (SCB) and Private Client Services (PCS), which the insurance distribution platform hopes will draw in new clients as well as provide greater support to existing ones.

Nirvana sets sights on diversifying into multi-line specialty MGA

London MGA Nirvana Risk Partners is targeting the diversification of its business from its traditional media, tech and cyber focus to become a multi-line specialty MGA over the next five to 10 years, according to founding directors Rob Jones and Kabir Chanrai.