Lloyd’s keeps Hormuz insurance cover available as war risk rates jump
Lloyd’s will keep insuring Strait of Hormuz voyages, though shipowners stay away as war risk premiums jump and underwriting shifts to case-by-case review
News
Delaware court says insurers don’t have to defend Meta Platforms in lawsuits
Delaware judge ruled Meta insurers owe no duty to defend social media harm lawsuits, citing intentional conduct not covered under liability policies
Startup Mandel AI raises €3.6 mn seed to automate supply chain coordination
Sofia-based Mandel AI secured €3.6mn from Y Combinator and others to automate supplier coordination, detect disruptions, and streamline procurement
SpaceTech startup Arkadia Space lands €14.5 mn from EIC to scale green satellite propulsion
Arkadia Space secured €14.5 mn from the EIC Accelerator to scale green propulsion systems for satellites and push commercial rollout in Europe
OpenUp raises €20 mn to expand employee mental health platform in Europe
Amsterdam-based OpenUp secured €20 mn from Smartfin and Rubio to expand across Europe and grow its employee mental health platform
Fannie Mae updates property insurance standards and condo project rules
Fannie Mae revises condo review, reserve, and insurance rules, giving lenders more flexibility while tightening standards for long-term project stability
Fannie Mae opens door to crypto-backed mortgages with Better, Coinbase
Fannie Mae will accept crypto-backed mortgages through Better and Coinbase, letting buyers pledge bitcoin and other holdings for down payments
First Mutual Insurance extends AI home inspection deal with Chrp to cut risk costs
First Mutual expands Chrp AI inspections, speeds underwriting, cuts review time 50%, and flags home risks across NC, SC, TN markets
Insurtech Kayna raises €1.5 mn seed round to expand in the UK and US
Irish insurtech Kayna secured €1.5 mn in seed funding to grow in the UK and US and expand embedded insurance for vertical SaaS platforms
Allianz reshuffles Board of Management as Tomas Kunzmann joins in 2027
Allianz announced board changes effective 2027, including Tomas Kunzmann’s promotion, new regional responsibilities, and a CFO mandate extension
Vienna Insurance Group reports record 2025 profit and proposes 12% dividend increase
Vienna Insurance Group posted strong 2025 growth, lifted profit above EUR 1 bn, and proposed a 12% dividend increase as expansion plans continue
Health insurtech Alan reaches $5.83 bn valuation after new $116 mn funding round
French health insurtech Alan raised $116 mn at a $5.83 bn valuation, backing AI investment, international growth, and further platform expansion
Cloud underwriting platforms help insurers defend margins under rising risk
Insurers are using cloud platforms, analytics, and real-time underwriting tools to manage climate risk, claims inflation, and tighter margins
Insurtech Loxa closes £2.7 mn seed round to expand retail insurance platform
UK InsurTech Loxa raised £2.7 mn in seed funding to expand across Europe, grow retail partnerships, and broaden product protection coverage
Neptune Flood launches ChatGPT quoting app as growth accelerates
Neptune Flood introduced a ChatGPT quoting app, extending automated flood insurance access while reporting strong 2025 growth across revenue and written premium
Insurtech Akur8 acquires Slope Software to expand into life actuarial technology
Akur8 acquired Slope Software to enter life and annuity actuarial modeling, broadening its platform beyond P&C with cloud-native tools
ZestyAI expands US insurer partnerships to sharpen property underwriting
ZestyAI partnered with Harford Mutual and AEIG to improve property-level underwriting, pricing precision, and portfolio risk management
Cytora launches Autopilot to automate insurance risk workflows
Cytora introduced Autopilot, an agentic AI capability built to automate underwriting and claims workflows across fragmented insurance data flows
Insurtech Azos raises $24 mn to expand AI push in Brazil life insurance
Azos secured R$125 mn ($24 mn) to scale AI tools and grow in Brazil’s individual life insurance market, where Bradesco and Prudential still dominate
Insurtech mShift launches Quantum AI to automate commercial insurance workflows
mShift introduced Quantum AI, a platform built to structure submissions, automate insurance workflows, and support underwriting across commercial lines
Oklahoma Senate advances bill mandating liability insurance for events
Oklahoma Senate passes bill requiring $1mn liability coverage for special event alcohol licenses, raising concerns over costs for small businesse
P&C insurers using AI outperform peers on profitability and growth
WTW survey shows North American insurers investing in AI and analytics achieve lower combined ratios and stronger premium growth
North Carolina court backs insurance firm in agent exit dispute
North Carolina Court dismisses most counterclaims by former agents in dispute over client poaching, leaving wage claim as sole surviving issue
US vehicle thefts fall 23%, National Insurance Crime Bureau data shows
Vehicle thefts fall to multi-decade lows in the US, with sharp declines across states and cities, NICB reports
US urges tighter Microsoft Intune security after Stryker cyberattack
CISA warns firms to secure endpoint systems after cyberattack disrupted Stryker operations and exposed risks in Microsoft environments
Florida mitigation program faces scrutiny over roof funding and limited insurance savings
Florida’s My Safe Florida Home program draws criticism over roof funding, limited insurance savings, and inspection challenges
Florida bill easing permit rules raises risks for insurers
Florida lawmakers approve bill exempting small projects from permits, prompting concerns over inspections, contractor practices, and insurance claims
Virginia ruling expands workers comp insurance coverage for incidental workplace acts
Virginia commission awards benefits for injury during workplace courtesy, reinforcing broad interpretation of employment scope
Tesla sued over Cybertruck crash linked to electric door failures
Lawsuit alleges Tesla door systems trapped occupants in fatal Cybertruck crash, adding to growing scrutiny over electric door safety risks
US $20 bn maritime reinsurance plan may fall short without liability cover
Moody’s warns US maritime reinsurance program lacks liability coverage, limiting impact on Strait of Hormuz shipping risk
Insurtech Sure launches digital jewelry insurance platform with Jewelers Mutual
Insurtech Sure partners with Jewelers Mutual to launch scalable digital jewelry insurance with flexible coverage and global protection
Federal lawsuit accuses CVS Health and CaremarkPCS over drug pricing practices
Lawsuit claims CVS Caremark steered drug rebates through affiliate, raising costs for health plans and members
NAIC launches working group to tackle rising health care costs
NAIC forms working group to address health care costs and premiums, aiming to deliver policy solutions for states by late 2026
Washington requires life insurers to add lapse notices and third-party alerts
Washington mandates insurers notify policyholders and third parties before life insurance lapses, adding delivery proof rules from 2027
Ohio auto insurance drops 6% in 2025 but remains up 44% since 2021
Ohio auto insurance costs fall slightly in 2025, though long-term increases persist, with urban drivers and litigation costs driving pricing trends
Iowa advances HMO tax hike to cover Medicaid funding gap
Iowa lawmakers push HMO tax increase to 3.5% to address Medicaid shortfall, sparking insurer backlash over rising costs
Delaware primary healthcare reform bill advances after lengthy hearing
Delaware lawmakers debate primary care reform bill after 3-hour hearing with strong turnout from health systems and providers
Trump administration probes states over abortion insurance mandates
HHS investigates 13 states requiring abortion coverage, citing Weldon Amendment disputes and renewed federal enforcement stance
ACA insurance premium hikes strain US households as subsidies expire
Rising ACA costs force US households to cut essentials, switch plans, or drop coverage after subsidy expiration, new KFF survey shows
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updates reduce insurance costs, ease condo access for US homeowners
FHFA updates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac insurance rules, lowers costs, but stricter condo reviews raise concerns over loan delays
Hippo partners with Progressive to expand homeowners insurance reach
Hippo teams up with Progressive to distribute homeowners insurance across eight US states, expanding reach through tech-driven underwriting
Louisiana captive insurance bills reshape regulation and market risks
Louisiana reviews three captive insurance bills affecting flexibility, trucking risks, and regulatory structure ahead of the 2026 session
US unemployment insurance rules shift access and eligibility across states
US unemployment insurance access shrinks as states cut benefit weeks and adjust earnings rules, leaving gaps for many workers seeking support
HSB launches AI liability insurance for SMEs amid rising legal risks
HSB introduces AI liability cover for SMEs, addressing gaps in general liability policies linked to AI-driven claims and exposures
Brookings proposes US Re to stabilise homeowners insurance market
Hamilton Project outlines US Re federal reinsurer to address climate-driven losses, rising premiums, and volatility in US homeowners insurance
Willis partners Qover to scale embedded insurance in UK affinity market
Willis teams with Qover to expand embedded insurance capabilities, combining APIs, analytics, and market access for UK businesses
Fitch flags Iran conflict risk for Lloyd’s and specialty insurers
Fitch warns Iran conflict could hit marine, aviation, and energy lines, with indirect risks from inflation, asset declines, and defaults
AM Best: US P&C insurance upgrades exceed downgrades in 2025
AM Best reports more upgrades than downgrades in US P&C insurance, driven by commercial lines while personal lines face pressure
Certua Life launches as first new UK protection insurer in 20 years
Certua Life enters the UK market with embedded life insurance products, targeting unmet demand through fintech, benefits, and wealth platforms
Lloyd’s posts £10.6 bn profit in 2025, sharpens strategy for returns
Lloyd’s reports £10.6 bn profit, £57.9 bn premiums, and stronger capital in 2025 while launching a five-year strategy to improve returns
Lloyd’s selects 12 insurtech startups for Lab Accelerator Cohort 16 after Pitch Day
Lloyd’s names 12 InsurTech startups for Cohort 16, focusing on efficiency, new products, and Ireland-led resilience themes
Insurance Europe pushes simplification agenda to defend EU competitiveness
Insurance Europe urges EU leaders to cut regulatory burden, strengthen capital markets, and expand insurers’ role in long-term investment
Insurance Europe backs EU Digital Omnibus to cut regulatory load
Insurance Europe outlines its stance on the EU Digital Omnibus package, pushing targeted rule changes to ease compliance and reduce complexity
Marsh rolls out BX1 Bermuda facility with $50 mn excess casualty capacity
Marsh introduces BX1 in Bermuda, offering $50 mn excess casualty capacity for US clients with streamlined claims and broader punitive damages cover
Tennessee court denies workers’ comp benefits in Kroger back injury case
The Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims denied benefits to a grocery employee who alleged a gradual back injury tied to increased job duties
Kansas moves to modernize children’s health insurance eligibility rules
Kansas lawmakers approved legislation updating income eligibility rules for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, ending a formula tied to federal poverty levels from 2008
Texas Supreme Court allows insurer and contractor to seek recovery from subcontractor
The Texas Supreme Court ruled that a contractor and its insurer can pursue recovery from a subcontractor following a multimillion-dollar workplace injury settlement
California bill proposes statewide rules for wildfire smoke insurance claims
California lawmakers introduced legislation designed to standardize how insurers handle wildfire smoke damage claims. The proposal follows major fires that contaminated thousands of homes
Farmers Insurance sues former Oklahoma agent over alleged client diversion
Farmers Insurance filed a lawsuit accusing a former Oklahoma agent of redirecting customers and policies to competing insurers before leaving the company
Iran-linked cyberattack on Stryker raises geopolitical risk for US companies
A cyberattack that disrupted operations at Stryker is drawing attention from U.S. officials and cybersecurity experts who see the incident as a significant escalation in Iran-linked cyber operations
U.S. cyber insurance premiums rose nearly 11% in 2025 as policy volume jumped, but weaker pricing, higher losses, and AI-driven threats added fresh pressure
Digital-asset adoption keeps rising and so do the risks tied to holding or moving value online. Insurers now face new pressure to design products that respond to crypto-specific threats
Although cyber incidents have not resulted in a significant systemic event for the U.S. financial services sector to date, they could pose risks to financial stability
Ransomware cases surge as cloud and AI adoption expands attack surfaces, driving higher losses, supply chain risk, and tougher cyber insurance conditions