INSURANCE NEWS
Ryan Companies to Pay $350K Over Sexual Harassment at Iowa Site
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of the Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Ryan Companies US Inc. to resolve allegations that the federal contractor’s employees faced sexual harassment, a hostile work …
ALKEME Acquires Iowa’s Relion
ALKEME announced the acquisition of Relion Insurance Solutions, one of Iowa’s largest insurance agencies with over 140 years of history serving Iowa and surrounding areas. Relion Insurance Solutions, formed through the merger of two of Iowa’s largest independent agencies in …
Virginia Approves 12% Loss Cost Decrease for Workers Compensation
Virginia has approved a 12.0% loss cost decrease in the workers’ compensation voluntary market along with rate decreases in the assigned risk market, effective April 1, 2025. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved the proposed voluntary loss costs, along with …
Senators Say US Must Boost Security After Chinese Salt Typhoon Telecom Hacking
The United States must do more to address hacking threats after China’s alleged efforts known as Salt Typhoon to infiltrate American telecommunications companies and steal data about U.S. calls, senators said at a hearing Wednesday. “This attack likely represents the …
CEO of Large Vocational School in Court on 23 Charges Of Insurance Fraud
The CEO of one of California’s largest vocational return to work counseling centers appeared in court this week after being charged with 23 felony counts including insurance fraud, theft and forgery. Hazel Ortega, 53, of La Habra, was charged after …
BHP, Rio Pressured Women to Sign NDAs After Sexual Harassment Complaints: Lawyer
BHP and Rio Tinto have used confidentiality agreements to prevent female employees from speaking about sexual harassment at work, according to a lawyer leading Australian class action lawsuits against the miners. Brisbane-based law firm JGA Saddler filed a class action …
Top Carriers Connecting: How Agents Rank Insurers On Digital Experience
Carriers are on the hunt for quality agencies to make new appointments, according to a new report, which also found that the top way they’re finding them is at industry tradeshows and events. While face-to-face connectivity still works to corral …
Hacking Rooftop Solar Is a Way to Break Europe’s Power Grid
All it takes is one hacker and a batch of faulty solar panels to threaten the safety of Europe’s electric grid. Vangelis Stykas, a cybersecurity consultant, said he figured out how to do it. Using a laptop and smartphone at …
BMS Group to Acquire Spanish Broker Rasher and Its Latin American Subsidiaries
BMS Group, the London-based specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the leading insurance broker Rasher, subject to regulatory approvals. The Rasher business is based in Spain, with Latin American subsidiaries in …
Hermes Family in Talks to Invest in French Insurer Albingia
A family office backed by members of the Hermes fortune are among the likely buyers of French insurer Albingia, in an investment that signals a goal to diversify their wealth away from luxury. Krefeld Invest, the family office of heirs …
Relm Launches 50-State MGA to Be Led by Lavigne
Specialty carrier Relm Insurance said it has launched a managing general agent licensed in all 50 states. Relm also said Keith Lavigne has joined as head of underwriting – US. He will report to Relm CEO and founder Joseph Ziolowski. …
Guy Carpenter to Research Parametric Solutions in California, Florida
Guy Carpenter said it is starting a research project to explore the use of parametric insurance solutions in California and Florida for wildfire and hurricane risks. The effort will focus on the use of a “community-based parametric reciprocal exchange,” the …