E&S

Wright Flood’s FocusFlood enjoying early success as new hires eye additional offerings

Wright Flood’s newest private flood program FocusFlood continues to gain traction with the Lloyd’s capacity-backed surplus lines product now being offered in 19 states, while the MGA has made a pair of senior appointments as it readies for the next stage of its development.

Bowhead set to launch small account “flow” E&S unit Baleen Specialty

Bowhead Specialty has confirmed plans to launch a new tech-enabled “flow” underwriting platform focused on small, niche, hard-to-place E&S risks called Baleen Specialty, which is being led by Brandon Mezick and aims to begin underwriting sometime this quarter with a contractors’ GL product.

Aurenity unveils full $5mn lead excess offering on Everspan paper

Tech-enabled E&S MGA Aurenity has expanded its buffer excess casualty program with participatory front Everspan to a full $5mn lead excess offering after strengthening its reinsurance panel at its recent renewal, Program Manager can reveal.

Slice’s PHLY-backed E&S contractors’ GL program now in 47 states and DC

Slice Labs Inc’s E&S contractors’ general liability small business-focused program has broadened its reach to a further seven states and Washington DC, with the Philadelphia Insurance capacity-backed coverage now offered across the US bar Kentucky, Louisiana and New York.

AmRisc management says sidecar launch positions MGA to better meet E&S client needs

AmRisc’s management has declared the MGU’s launch of its new Trouvaille Re sidecar means it is now in an even stronger position to serve the coastal commercial property E&S market and meet the changing needs of its client base.

Incline’s new E&S carrier secures A- rating ahead of Q2 underwriting launch

Incline’s new E&S carrier already has two programs set to launch in the coming weeks after securing an A- AM Best financial strength rating.

Incline’s new E&S carrier secures A- rating ahead of beginning writing in Q2

AM Best has assigned a financial strength rating of A- to Incline Americas Insurance Company, the new E&S carrier from Incline P&C that is expected to start writing business in Q2.

Arcadian Capital enters mid-market E&S casualty with Joy on new US platform

Bermudian MGA Arcadian Risk Capital has been approved for its new legal entity in the US and confirmed the hire of Biju Joy, who will head up its mid-market E&S casualty initiative.

SiriusPoint and NIP Group partner on E&S program platform

SiriusPoint has partnered with specialty program manager NIP Group to launch a new E&S program underwriting platform.

MGA and programs space riding the coattails of further E&S growth

Eyes will be on our sister publication E&S Insurer's second annual conference next week as a proxy for the growth prospects of the MGA and programs space.

Price and Driscoll launch >$250mn SME E&S start-up with blue chip industry backing

Michael Price and Kean Driscoll are launching a new SME-focused E&S start-up called Dellwood Insurance Group backed by industry players including PartnerRe and RenRe, which will take a tech-forward approach to the business with its wholesale distribution partners.

DUAEs and surplus lines: Clear winners in the hard market

David Blades, associate director, industry research and analytics at AM Best, examines the relationship between the rapidly growing DUAE and E&S markets…

E&S property start-up Arris secures Obsidian paper for March launch

The start-up property MGA led by Liz Coakley and Caitlin Murphy on the Doxa Insurance Holdings platform is set to open for business on 1 March, after landing A- paper from hybrid carrier Obsidian supported by a panel of blue-chip reinsurers, E&S Insurer can reveal.

Risk Theory affiliate E&S carrier Amherst Specialty assigned PCA of A-

AM Best has assigned a preliminary credit assessment with a financial strength assessment of A- pca to new Texas-based surplus lines carrier Amherst Specialty Insurance Company, which is affiliated to MGA platform Risk Theory Holdings.

Blitz build-out continues with hire of Berkley Aspire’s Rieth

Start-up Blitz Insurance has continued its build-out with the hire of Aaron Rieth from Berkley Aspire as product director.

Blitz Insurance adds Ategrity’s Gent as product director

Start-up E&S MGA and carrier Blitz Insurance has added Sandra Gent to its ranks as product director, with the new hire joining from Ategrity Specialty Insurance Company.

Atain adds MacNeill’s Delestienne as head of binding authority

Atain Insurance Companies has hired Cara Delestienne as head of binding authority, with the recruit joining the HW Kaufman Group-owned carrier from Florida-based wholesaler and managing general agent MacNeill Group.

Becker: Distinguished Executive Lines to launch with focus on exclusive distribution

The president of Distinguished Programs’ new executive lines business Ryan Becker has highlighted the importance of launching the offering with an exclusive wholesale-only distribution strategy as it prepares to begin accepting submissions in the new year, writing on the A++ paper of an RSUI subsidiary.

The Hanover adds CNA’s Marohn as president of specialty P&C

The Hanover Insurance Group has recruited Stephen Marohn from CNA as its new president of specialty property and casualty, with the new hire filling the role that was previously held by Frank Baron prior to his exit earlier this year.

Ryan Specialty’s Emerald Underwriting Managers capitalizing on US casualty dislocation

Emerald Underwriting Managers has quickly gained traction since launching a year ago to capitalize on dislocation in the US casualty market, and according to a pair of its underwriting executives, the Ryan Specialty MGU is having success filling gaps on towers as other capacity providers have retrenched.