Featured Articles Blog

0

Germania Insurance Places First Cat Bond Through Handshake Re

Article 0 Comments Germania Insurance announced the placement of its first catastrophe bond, issued through Handshake ReLtd., as part of the company’s broader reinsurance and capital management strategy. The transaction became effective Jan. 1, 2026. The catastrophe bond provides $100 million of per occurrence protection from the perils of named storm, winter convective storm and complements Germania’s traditional reinsurance program. The cat bond was structured with a four-year risk period and was well received by capital market investors, Germania said in a statement. GC Securities, a division of MMC Securities LLC, was the sole structuring agent and sole bookrunner for Handshake Re Ltd. Series 2025-1 Notes. This marks Germania’s first use of the catastrophe bond market. Founded in 1896, Germania Insurance provides auto, home and life insurance for thousands of Texans. Topics Catastrophe Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Submit No Thanks Here are more articles you may enjoy. Interested in Catastrophe? Get automatic alerts for this topic.

Cemiar Inc. Achieves CSIO’s JSON API Standards and API Security Standards Certifications 0

Cemiar Inc. Achieves CSIO’s JSON API Standards and API Security Standards Certifications

Toronto, ON (Jan. 6, 2026) – CSIO is pleased to announce that Cemiar Inc. is the first vendor to achieve CSIO’s JSON API Standards Certification. Cemiar has also earned CSIO’s API Security Standards Certification, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing connectivity and security best practices. By obtaining these Certifications, Cemiar successfully implemented JSON API Standards for five use cases – First Notice of Loss, Get Adjuster Details, Get Billing Schedule, Get Payment Details, and Get Payment Status – along with the API Security Standards within their CemiarLink platform. Their achievements support the broader adoption of APIs, facilitating secure, real-time data exchange. As insurers and vendors program JSON APIs, information becomes readily available to brokers, enabling a unified and consistent workflow. Additionally, programming CSIO’s API Security Standards provides a standard authentication and authorization model that safeguards information shared between industry partners. “We are proud to be the first vendor to earn CSIO’s JSON API Standards Certification, a milestone that supports the advancement of APIs and technology innovation within the insurance industry,” said Kevin Houde, Co-Founder & Co-President, Operations of Cemiar, Inc. “Furthermore, by working with CSIO to implement API Security Standards, Cemiar is committed to stronger security measures that empower brokers to...

Beneva and Gore Mutual Complete Merger, Marking a New Era for Mutual Insurance in Canada 0

Beneva and Gore Mutual Complete Merger, Marking a New Era for Mutual Insurance in Canada

Cambridge, ON (Jan. 5, 2026) – Beneva and Gore Mutual announced today that their merger is officially complete, as of January 1, 2026. This milestone follows the initial announcement of their intention to merge, made in January 2025, and represents a significant step toward Beneva’s long-term growth strategy. All legislative approvals required for the merger have been secured. This includes endorsements from mutual members of both organizations, the Competition Bureau, and other governing authorities, as well as the adoption of private bills by the Senate of Canada and the Quebec National Assembly. Over the next year, Gore will combine its operations with Unica, an Ontario-based subsidiary of Beneva, and will eventually operate as a standalone subsidiary under the Beneva brand. Until then, both Gore and Unica will operate as two separate businesses. A stronger, more resilient mutual The merger unites two well-established, financially strong, and trusted mutual insurers—reinforcing the vital role of mutuals in Canada. The combined entity will offer brokers and consumers an even stronger, more resilient option backed by a highly diversified and purpose-driven business model. By combining expertise and resources, Beneva and Gore are well positioned to drive future growth and continue serving Canadians with trusted, innovative...

0

JPMorgan, Citi Extending Mortgage Relief for LA Wildfire Victims

Article 0 Comments California Gov. Gavin Newsom said a group of major banks have agreed to extend mortgage relief for Los Angeles wildfire victims, as the area struggles to rebuild one year after the devastating blazes. Wells Fargo & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., U.S. Bancorp and Citigroup Inc. will streamline requests for an additional 90-day forbearance period, allowing borrowers to apply verbally without paperwork, Newsom said on a press release Tuesday. Bank of America Corp. announced in November that it will offer qualifying borrowers up to two additional years of forbearance. Related: Morningstar: A Year Later, LA Wildfires Were ‘Significant Stress Event’ for Insurance Most lenders limit forbearance to 12 months under a California law that expanded an emergency agreement the state had reached with banks in January 2025. Wells Fargo, JPMorgan, Citi and U.S. Bancorp didn’t immediately reply tor a request for further comment. Last year, the Intercontinental Exchange Inc. estimated that there was $11 billion in outstanding mortgage debt in the path of the fires. Newsom, a termed out governor who’s considering a presidential run, has faced renewed criticism from the White House and other political adversaries for his handling of the catastrophic wildfires, which tore through...

0

People Moves: Novatae Group Names Juergens as CFO

Article 0 Comments Novatae Risk Group, the wholesale insurance business of World Insurance Associates, announced that Walter Juergens has joined the company as its new chief financial officer. In this role, Juergens will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s financial management, driving change and financial mindset across the organization. He will be a key contributor to the Novatae Executive Leadership team and World’s Corporate Financial Leadership team. Juergens has more than 15 years of leadership experience in insurance, professional services and complex project-based businesses. Most recently, he was the Regional CFO at AssuredPartners, and prior to that he was at KPMG. Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Submit No Thanks Here are more articles you may enjoy. The most important insurance news,in your inbox every business day. Get the insurance industry’s trusted newsletter

Accenture and Apptio Team Up with PPL to Unlock Deeper Technology Spending Insights 0

Accenture and Apptio Team Up with PPL to Unlock Deeper Technology Spending Insights

Accenture and Apptio expand business partnership to help organizations maximize technology investments New York, NY (Dec. 11, 2025) – Accenture and Apptio are working with PPL Corporation, a U.S. energy company providing electricity and natural gas to more than 3.6 million customers in the U.S., to transform how the company prioritizes and manages technology spending—all in support of delivering safe, reliable, affordable, sustainable energy and a better customer experience. As part of this effort, Accenture is delivering a new technology financial management platform for PPL, powered by Apptio’s solutions. This approach automates reporting and provides real-time financial data, enabling the company to make smarter, faster decisions on where and how to invest in technology to advance its strategic objectives. “Our recent work with Accenture is another step in our strategy to create the technology-enabled utilities of the future,” said Dean Del Vecchio, Executive Vice President—Technology and Innovation for PPL. “We’re using Apptio solutions to unlock deeper insights into our technology investments as we work to drive innovation, modernize the grid and deliver greater value to our customers and employees.” The collaboration comes as PPL is transitioning from aging legacy systems to modern, flexible and scalable solutions that support its utility...

Staying secure and strengthening cybersecurity in insurance 0

Staying secure and strengthening cybersecurity in insurance

Staying secure together: your actions, our specialty — By ReSource Pro — Cyber threats evolve daily, and the insurance industry must stay vigilant. Discover how ReSource Pro’s award-winning cybersecurity programs, guided by CISA best practices, help safeguard client data and build trust across the insurance ecosystem. At ReSource Pro, protecting client data isn’t just a responsibility; it’s a core commitment. As technology evolves, so do cyber threats targeting the insurance industry. Today’s attacks extend beyond email to include messaging platforms, collaboration tools, and file-sharing systems. That’s why we’re doubling down on cybersecurity awareness, for our teams and yours. Why cybersecurity awareness matters Cybersecurity isn’t just a priority during Cybersecurity Awareness Month; it’s a year-round commitment and a shared responsibility. When our clients are secure, the entire insurance ecosystem becomes stronger. A single compromised account can ripple across networks, causing data breaches, operational downtime, and regulatory risk. By staying alert to the latest cyber threats and working together to reduce vulnerabilities, we protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of critical business data. Building trust through vigilance ReSource Pro’s proactive approach to information security ensures your data remains protected at every step. Our teams continuously train to detect, report, and mitigate threats quickly and effectively. We also innovate to stay ahead of emerging attack tactics – from phishing to ransomware – through advanced programs like our Vulnerability Management...

0

Washington Workplace Changes for 2026 Include Higher Pay, New Tower Crane Rules

Article 0 Comments A round of changes impacting Washington workplaces now that 2026 has arrived include higher worker pay and several workplace safety alterations. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries year calculates new wage standards, including the minimum wage. L&I makes the calculations using the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Changes include: State Minimum Wage Going up Washington’s minimum wage is now $17.13 an hour. That’s 2.8% higher than the $16.66 an hour minimum wage in 2025. Employers may pay 85% of the minimum wage, or $14.56 an hour, to 14- and 15-year-old workers. Local governments are allowed to set minimum wages that are higher than those of the state minimum. Areas with higher minimum wages include Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien, and unincorporated King County. Tower Crane Safety Requirements Prime contractors must now obtain a permit and follow manufacturers’ instructions for the operation, assembly, disassembly or reconfiguration of a tower crane. L&I will consider a prime contractor’s history of safety and health violations as part of the application process for a permit. Information about the new crane tower requirements is on L&I’s website. Overtime-Exempt Workers...

0

US Rice, Cotton Farmers Get Biggest Relief in Trump Bailout

Article 0 Comments The US Department of Agriculture unveiled long-awaited details of its $12 billion aid package for farmers, with American growers of rice and cotton standing to get the biggest payments. But while the payments were welcomed by farmers and industry groups — and fell broadly within expectations — many said the amounts weren’t sufficient to rescue the ailing farm economy. Illinois farmer John Bartman said the payments for corn aren’t even enough to cover seed costs, which can run $50 to $100 per acre. “We can’t even buy a pizza for $30,” he said. President Donald Trump unveiled the package earlier this month, but the relief plan lacked specifics on how much each farmer would be paid. Growers planning for next year’s planting have awaited those details as they face financial pressure from low crop prices, the president’s trade war and high costs for fertilizer, seeds and machinery. The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program includes $11 billion in one-time payments expected by the end of February for farmers of crops ranging from corn and soybeans to peanut and sorghum, as well as $1 billion for sugar and specialty crops. Payments top out at $132.89 per acre for rice and...

0

Litigation Funding, Other New Laws in SE States Could Impact Liability Insurance

Article 0 Comments New laws in Southeastern states took effect this week, impacting several aspects of property and casualty insurance. In Georgia, Senate Bill 69 puts new restrictions on third-party litigation financing, a lawsuit funding practice that has raised growing concerns for insurers. The bill, signed into law in early 2025, now requires financiers to register with the state Department of Banking and Finance and to provide information about principals and affiliations with foreign interests. It also bars funders from making legal decisions about attorney representation, settlements and expert witnesses, and requires disclosure in discovery of litigation financing agreements, the National Law Review reported. The bill text can be seen here. The bill also added something that could affect auto insurers. The use of seat belts may be considered in lawsuits but “the failure of an occupant of a motor vehicle to wear a seat safety belt in any seat of a motor vehicle which has a seat safety belt or belts shall not be any basis for a cancellation of insurance coverage or an increase in insurance rate,” the law reads. Another new law requires that manufacturers’ warranties for air-conditioning and heating systems transfer to the new owner of...