US-Iran ceasefire strains marine war risk cover after Hormuz strikes
Fresh U.S. strikes near Bandar Abbas deepen uncertainty for marine insurers as Hormuz war risk pricing remains far above pre-war levels.
News
Switzerland ranks third globally as reinsurance premiums hit CHF45.6 bn
Swiss reinsurers wrote CHF45.6 bn in gross premiums in 2021, making Switzerland the world’s third-largest reinsurance location
Blitzy raises $200 mn at $1.4 bn valuation for AI coding
Blitzy raised $200 mn led by Northzone to expand its autonomous enterprise software development platform for Global 2000 customers
Vienna Insurance Group completes NÜRNBERGER acquisition in Germany
Vienna Insurance Group completed its largest acquisition, taking 99.2% of NÜRNBERGER to expand in Germany and support CEE growth
StitcherAI launches IT finance platform with $3 mn funding
StitcherAI has launched its IT finance system of intelligence and announced $3 mn in pre-seed funding. Founders Co-op led the round, with participation from Sunshine Lake VC
Commure raises $70 mn at $7 bn valuation for healthcare AI
Commure raised $70 mn from General Catalyst, Sequoia, Morgan Stanley, and Kirkland & Ellis to expand AI revenue cycle tools
Zendesk commits $100 mn to startup AI customer support program
Zendesk launched a two-year $100 mn startup program offering no-cost AI support tools, onboarding, partner benefits, and VC portfolio support
Accenture invests in Aera to scale AI supply chain decisions
Accenture invested in Aera Technology to combine agentic decision intelligence with AI-enabled supply chain tools for global enterprises
Quantum Bridge raises $8 mn to build quantum-safe cybersecurity
Quantum Bridge raised $8 mn in Series A funding to expand its DSKE protocol and help organizations move toward quantum-safe security
ICEYE secures €300 mn RCF to support satellite contracts
ICEYE secured a €300 mn three-year revolving credit facility from a seven-bank syndicate to back guarantees and global growth
Harmoney secures €10 mn investment for AI compliance platform
Harmoney raised €10 mn from Smile Sail to expand its counterparty risk platform for KYC, AML, DORA, ESG, and third-party compliance
Scope raises $20 mn to expand AI workflows for inspection teams
London-based Scope raised €17.2 mn to expand its AI platform for testing, inspection, and certification workflows worldwide
New York DFS issues cyber threat guidance for banks, insurers, and financial firms
New York DFS issued guidance for banks, insurers, and financial firms on cybersecurity steps during heightened threat environments
AI power demand puts tech climate pledges under investor pressure
Shareholders are pressing Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet to explain how rising AI data center power demand fits with their climate goals
US P&C insurers post strongest Q1 underwriting result in 25 years
S&P Global Market Intelligence says U.S. P/C insurers posted an 89.5 combined ratio and $22.1 bn underwriting gain in Q1 2026
Howden US faces WTW lawsuit over yacht insurance team hires
WTW Northeast sued Howden US and former marine brokers, alleging client solicitation, loyalty breaches, and restrictive covenant violations
Acrisure to cut 2,250 jobs by 2027 as AI reshapes operations
Acrisure CEO Greg Williams told employees the broker will cut about 11% of staff as it expands AI, automation, and digital platforms
PIMCO and L&G face claims over Brussels tower valuation dispute
Finance Tower’s owner alleges lenders pressured valuers to cut the Brussels skyscraper’s value below €950 mn amid a debt and insolvency dispute
Columbia Lloyds adopts ZestyAI property risk platform for homeowners
Columbia Lloyds will use ZestyAI’s property intelligence tools to assess roof age, condition, materials, and weather exposure across three states
AM Best says $100 bn loss needed to tighten reinsurance market
AM Best revised its global non-life reinsurance outlook to stable as property rates fall and capital remains strong without a major loss
Minnesota reinsurance waiver fight looms as commerce leaders exit
Minnesota must reapply for its health reinsurance waiver in 2026 as senior commerce lawmakers leave and premiums face renewed pressure
Florida property insurers may see lower June reinsurance costs after reforms
AM Best expects softer June 2026 reinsurance renewals for Florida property insurers as litigation reforms and better results support capacity
UK funded reinsurance capital rules may cut life insurer appetite
UK PRA plans to lift capital charges on funded reinsurance to about 10% of annuity liabilities, raising doubts over future PRT use
Everest to sell Colombia insurance unit to AIG in portfolio shift
Everest agreed to sell its Colombia general insurance business to AIG as it narrows focus to global reinsurance and wholesale specialty insurance
Aon reshapes credit reinsurance business with global hub model
Aon is moving its credit reinsurance operations to a global hub-led structure, with Rupert Evans relocating to New York
American Global signs Lloyd’s quota share deal for health indemnity
American Global Insurance secured Lloyd’s quota share reinsurance for AGII’s healthcare indemnity portfolio, with syndicates taking 50%
Workplace homicide rates stay flat as national murders rise 35%
NCCI says workplace homicides stayed near 400 to 500 cases a year from 2011 to 2024, led by risks in sales, transport, and public-facing jobs
North Carolina homeowners face 7.5% insurance rate hike in June
North Carolina homeowners insurance rates will rise 7.5% on June 1 after regulators rejected an industry request for a 42% increase
Cathay launches insurance platform with Asia Miles rewards for members
Cathay launched a one-stop insurance platform offering travel, health, home, motor, and accident cover from partners including Cigna, Chubb, and Zurich
New York budget bars ICE pacts and rewrites auto insurance rate rules
New York’s PPGG budget bill restricts local ICE cooperation, sets police mask rules, and changes auto insurance rating and approval rules
Washington wildfire town hall spotlights home insurance coverage gaps
Washington officials discussed wildfire recovery, insurance losses, underinsurance, risk scores, and retrofit grants after the 2023 Gray fire
US home insurance premiums more than double as 2025 rate hikes slow
Rate Insurance says U.S. home insurance premiums rose 107.6% since 2019, though annual growth slowed to 9.16% in 2025
Nevada utility seeks customer funding for wildfire insurance plan
NV Energy has added $250 mn in wildfire coverage but still wants Nevada ratepayers to help fund a $500 mn self-insurance policy
Reduced health insurance payments for hospital births changed U.S. sterilization rates
A new study says shorter postpartum hospital stays in the 1990s reduced U.S. female sterilization rates more than 1970s consent reforms
California FAIR Plan customers will face the insurer’s largest rate increase
California FAIR Plan premiums will rise after Oct. 15, with wildfire-risk areas facing larger increases and some ZIP codes seeing decreases
Florida home insurance premiums rise 75% as weather risks mount
Florida homeowners insurance premiums rose 75% from 2021 to 2025, nearly twice the U.S. average, as weather risk and reinsurance costs strain the market
California FAIR Plan raises home insurance rates 29% in October
California’s FAIR Plan will raise rates 29.1% for some homeowners as wildfire exposure, policy counts, and insurer pullbacks strain the market
California governor candidates focus on housing and insurance costs
California governor candidates are pitching plans on housing costs, home insurance, rebuilding, rent caps, and homelessness before the June primary
Providence exits most health insurance businesses for 2027
Providence will stop offering Medicaid, ACA, and employer health plans in 2027 as rising costs and regulation strain its insurance unit
Cyber insurance penetration among North American SMBs and SMEs remains low
55% of small and medium-sized businesses in North America lack basic email security protections. KYND found major cyber hygiene gaps among SMBs and SMEs
CFP Board urges NAIC to replace annuity sales model rule
CFP Board asked the NAIC to restart its annuity rule work, saying Model Regulation #275 lacks fiduciary duties and conflict controls
Fortegra backs insurtech Incept title insurance platform for UK property deals
Incept signed an underwriting deal with Fortegra for its UK title insurance platform, using Land Registry data to issue policies in seconds
Outmarket AI raises $17 mn in Series A to expand AI tools for insurance brokers
Outmarket AI raised $17 mn in Series A funding to expand insurance workflows, connect brokerage data, and grow its agency platform
Florida homeowners drop coverage as hurricane insurance costs rise
South Florida homeowners face high insurance costs before hurricane season, with some choosing to self-insure despite flood and wind risks
RenaissanceRe says Robert Qutub and Ross Curtis plan to retire
RenaissanceRe Holdings announced that Robert “Bob” Qutub, Chief Financial Officer, and Ross Curtis, Chief Portfolio Officer, intend to retire
Thomas Stoddard elected to the AIG Board of Directors as an independent Director
American International Group announced that Thomas (Tom) Stoddard has been elected to its Board of Directors as an independent Director
OCTO and Sedgwick partner on telematics insurance claims management
OCTO and Sedgwick will combine telematics data and claims management services to improve accident intake, liability review, fraud checks, and claim costs
Novella raises $21 mn to expand AI-powered wholesale insurance broker network
Novella raised $21 mn to hire brokers, expand US offices, and develop AI tools for wholesale E&S insurance placement
D&O insurance premiums stabilized in 2026, average limits increased to $66 mn
Baldwin and Nasdaq say D&O premiums stabilized in 2026, with most companies seeing flat pricing or moderate decreases after 2022 high
Insurtech Kin Q1 2026 profit rises as renewal book and underwriting margins build
Kin reported Q1 revenue of $56.6 mn as renewal premium rose, operating income nearly doubled, and catastrophe cover expanded
Insurance digital satisfaction falls as online policy sales grow
JD Power says 47% of new auto and home policies are bought digitally, but insurer website and app satisfaction declined in 2026
US mortgage rates edge lower as spring home sales stay weak in 2026
Freddie Mac says the 30-year mortgage rate slipped to 6.36%, while higher Treasury yields and weak affordability keep U.S. home sales muted
Annuity sales rule guidance divides insurers and CFP Board
Insurance trade groups and the CFP Board split over NAIC guidance tied to best-interest annuity sales supervision and compliance
Trump administration withholds $1.3 bn in Medicaid funds from California
The Trump administration will withhold $1.3 bn in Medicaid payments from California and audit state fraud units over program oversight
HSBC says gold demand stays strong despite Iran oil price shock
HSBC says gold demand remains firm as China buys bullion, institutions add exposure, and investors use the metal for liquidity
Freight brokers face new insurance gap after Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court ruling opens freight brokers to negligent carrier selection claims, exposing gaps in surety bonds and contingent auto coverage
US auto insurance shopping cools as policy growth slows in Q1 2026
LexisNexis says US auto insurance shopping rose 3.2% in Q1 2026, while new policy growth slowed to 3.6% after hotter activity
Neptune Insurance prices secondary stock offering and planned share buyback
Neptune Insurance Holdings, the parent company of Neptune Flood Incorporated, has priced a public offering of 9,841,395 shares of Class A common stock
Colorado passes hail roof grant plan to cut home insurance costs
Colorado lawmakers passed SB155 to fund hail-resistant roof grants through a 0.5% fee on homeowners insurance plans
Illinois Senate passes auto insurance rate notice Bill 714 for drivers
Illinois Senate Bill 714 would require notice before auto premium increases above 10% and give regulators more rate oversight
New US-Canada tariffs raise auto, property, trade credit and business interruption exposures as insurers assess higher repair and supply chain costs
US insurance sector outlook for 2025-2026: capital strength, social inflation risks, P&C returns peak, Florida reforms, life insurance resilience and alt capital trends
Teen drivers face crash rates nearly 4x higher than adults. Safer vehicle choices and smart insurance decisions can lower risk and costs for families
AM Best keeps a stable outlook for commercial lines, citing strong results, rising investment income and tech-driven underwriting amid stress in liability and auto