Oct 4-10, 2026

Insurance Market

Aviva launches U.S. Specialty Insurance Business - Aviva plc

Aviva has launched Aviva Specialty, a wholly owned U.S. specialty insurance platform headquartered in New York City that will begin underwriting commercial property risks in the fourth quarter of 2026 through open market brokerage and program administrators. The business will write on Aviva Insurance Limited paper and plans to expand into cyber, specialty and financial lines, and specialty casualty.

Warren, Hawley Press Insurers Over Closed, Unpaid Claims

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley have written to six major insurers, including State Farm and Allstate, questioning a rising share of homeowners and auto claims closed without payment. The senators asked for data on unpaid claims, factors driving them, and any changes to claims-handling policies over the past decade, citing concerns that aggressive practices may be contributing to higher industry profits amid rising premiums.

Reinsurance Market

Reinsurance price declines expected to slow at 1/1 implying stabilisation: JP Morgan

J.P. Morgan expects property catastrophe reinsurance rates to decline 10–20% at the January 2027 renewals, a slower pace than the 12–15% drop at the prior 1/1 and the deeper mid-year reductions, which the firm views as a sign of stabilization. Terms and conditions are largely holding, though some loosening is appearing around aggregate covers, while excess capital and new third-party capacity continue to pressure pricing.

SageSure Makes Strategic Investment in Pillar Capital Management

SageSure has made a strategic investment in Pillar Capital Management, a Bermuda-based insurance-linked securities fund manager with over $4 billion in institutional assets under management. The investment adds Pillar’s reinsurance risk underwriting capabilities and institutional investor relationships to the SageSure platform, expanding its reach across the property catastrophe value chain while Pillar continues to operate independently under its existing leadership.

Commercial Lines

Large Commercial Property Rates Drop 14.5% in Q2 to Highlight Latest Willis Report

Willis reports that large and complex commercial property rates in its portfolio dropped 14.5% in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an 8.4% decline a year earlier, with shared-layer programs seeing reductions of about 23.4%. The broker also noted softening treaty reinsurance renewals, abundant capacity, and first-half catastrophe losses of $42 billion, the lowest since 2020, while cyber rates held between a 5% decrease and a 5% increase.

Markets/Coverages: Amwins Launches MGA illumin Specialty

Amwins has launched illumin Specialty, a new managing general agency that will offer primary general liability and excess liability insurance exclusively through wholesale brokers for challenging exposures. Led by Rebecca Gitig, an underwriter with more than 20 years of experience in environmental and primary liability, the MGA expects to finalize capacity and begin accepting new business in the fourth quarter.

New Investment: Dauntless U/W Limited

B.P. Marsh has acquired a 30% equity stake in Dauntless U/W Limited, a newly formed London Market underwriting agency specializing in marine hull insurance for niche, brown water, older, and distressed tonnage, and has provided a £2.0 million loan facility. Dauntless was co-founded by Des Keane and Charles Scott-Hopkins, both former senior underwriters at Lloyd’s syndicates, and will operate as an Appointed Representative of DA Strategy Limited with support from A-rated Lloyd’s carriers.

OAK Global launches dedicated portfolio insurance underwriting unit, OAK Partnerships

OAK Global has received Lloyd’s approval to launch OAK Partnerships, a new strategic business unit that will provide multi-class expertise and capacity for portfolios of insurance risk, with capacity from OAK Syndicate 1440 starting January 1, 2027. Elisabeth Groehe has joined as Chief Underwriting Officer of OAK Partnerships and Joint Active Underwriter of Syndicate 1440, bringing more than a decade of portfolio insurance underwriting leadership experience.

Report Shows Growing Professional Liability Claim Costs in Physical Therapy

A new HPSO and CNA report shows the average total incurred for professional liability claims involving physical therapy professionals rose 20.3% to $162,174. Physical therapist assistant claims, though fewer in number, were 40.4% more costly on average at $208,546, with improper performance of manual therapy remaining the most common allegation for physical therapists.

Litigation & Mass Torts

AI Pricing Lawsuit Against McDonald’s Raises New Antitrust Questions

A federal antitrust lawsuit claims McDonald’s is using AI-powered pricing tools to pressure its franchisees into coordinating menu prices, potentially raising costs for consumers. The case, filed in Chicago federal court, is the latest in a series of lawsuits alleging that companies in various industries are using shared algorithmic tools to collude, and courts have so far reached mixed results on similar claims.

Climate Science Under Political Attack Reaches US Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in Suncor v. Boulder, a case that will determine whether climate lawsuits against oil companies can proceed under state tort law or are preempted by federal law. The outcome could open or close a path for dozens of similar suits, with climate attribution science now central to establishing causal links between greenhouse gas emissions and specific harms.

Google Faces $3.2 Billion Damage Claims on Ad-Tech Monopoly

A New York federal judge has ruled that USA Today, Daily Mail, and a class of about 5,000 publishers can seek more than $3.2 billion in damages over Google’s alleged monopolization of advertising technology markets. The decision allows jury trials to proceed on harm related to Google’s AdX exchange, following a Virginia ruling that Google illegally monopolized two ad-tech markets.

San Diego Sues AppLovin Over Explicit Ads Shown to Kids’ Devices

San Diego County has sued mobile advertising company AppLovin, alleging it bypassed parental controls to serve explicit adult content, alcohol, and vaping ads in children’s games while collecting sensitive location and device data. The complaint, filed in San Diego Superior Court, is one of three actions brought by the county’s new Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Unit.

Starbucks Sued Over ‘Sugar-Free’ Claims for Protein Beverages

Consumers have filed a proposed class action against Starbucks, alleging the company falsely advertised eight protein beverages as “sugar-free” because they contain lactose and 13 to 21 grams of sugar per venti serving. The Seattle federal court complaint seeks damages for false advertising and violations of state consumer protection laws, citing federal rules that prohibit the “sugar-free” label for drinks with more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving.

States Challenge Corteva Spinoff as Bid to Evade PFAS Liabilities

Fifteen U.S. states and Guam have sued Corteva, alleging that its spinoff of the seed and genetics business into Vylor was designed to shield valuable assets from tens of billions of dollars in potential PFAS “forever chemicals” liabilities inherited from DuPont. The lawsuit, filed in Indiana state court, claims Vylor received the company’s most profitable assets without assuming responsibility for environmental contamination claims.

Emerging Risks & Technologies

Chaucer and Indemni launch Lloyd’s US Cargo proposition targeting strategic theft

Chaucer and Indemni have launched a specialist Lloyd’s US cargo insurance proposition targeting strategic theft, covering single-trip transit, annual contingent cargo, and standalone strategic theft risks. The offering pairs insurance protection with technology-led controls such as driver verification, shipment tracking, and logistics visibility, with Chaucer leading the program and Indemni underwriting as a newly approved Lloyd’s coverholder.

Ledgebrook raises USD 200 million in primary equity financing co-led by Allianz X to scale AI-native specialty insurance platform

Ledgebrook has raised $200 million in primary equity financing co-led by Allianz X and Rockefeller Capital Management to scale its AI- native specialty insurance platform for U.S. excess and surplus risks. The company, which writes general liability, professional liability, and specialty cover through wholesale brokers and is on track to surpass $1 billion in cumulative premium since 2023, will also enter a multi-year reinsurance agreement with Allianz Re.

Markets/Coverages: Specialty MGA Banyan Launches Red Fox Risk for Wildfires

Specialty MGA Banyan Risk has launched Red Fox Risk, a new underwriting venture focused on wildfire-exposed property risk in the United States, led by CEO Brian Espie and Chief Underwriting Officer Sarah Kennedy. Red Fox will initially offer up to $10 million in primary non-admitted limits for commercial properties and high-value homes in California and the Western US, using geospatial data and catastrophe analytics and backed by Argenta Syndicate 2121 and reinsurance partners.

Trust Is the New Frontier in a World of AI Synthetic Content, Digital Doppelgangers

Experian’s 2027 Data Breach Industry Forecast warns that AI-generated synthetic content and digital doppelgangers are making it harder to distinguish authentic interactions from fraudulent ones. The report says verification will become a critical cybersecurity investment as criminals use AI to build detailed victim profiles from stolen data and improve social engineering attacks.

When AI Becomes an Attack Tool: What Claims Teams Need to Know

Alan Gray warns that AI agents can now identify vulnerabilities, obtain credentials, and initiate transactions with limited human involvement, creating complex multi-party claims that may implicate cyber, crime, E&O, and product liability policies. Claims teams must preserve prompts, model versions, logs, and permissions in the first 72 hours, map emerging AI exclusions, and separate the actions of the model, the user, and vendors before allocating the loss.

People Moves

Aon Expands Denise Perlman’s Leadership Role to Advance Middle Market Growth Across Risk Capital

Aon has expanded Denise Perlman’s role to Executive Managing Director and Middle Market Segment Leader for Reinsurance, in addition to her work on the Integration Management Office for the proposed USI acquisition. Perlman, who previously served as CEO of Middle Market for North America at Aon and as President for National Business Insurance at Marsh McLennan Agency, will focus on helping middle market insurers pursue growth and strengthen distribution strategies.

Everest Names Mani Group Chief Claims Officer

Everest Group has named Nandini Mani senior vice president and group chief claims officer, succeeding Andrew McBride, who is retiring after five years with the company. Mani previously served as Everest’s chief compliance officer and earlier led Chubb Overseas General Claims, a global organization of more than 2,000 employees.

HOME | SI Re Reinsurance Ltd

SIGNAL IDUNA Reinsurance Ltd (SI Re) has appointed Beatrix Dodgson as Chief Underwriting Officer, effective 1 November 2026, reporting to CEO Dr. Arnold Löw. Dodgson joins from Korean Re Switzerland AG, where she served as CUO, and previously spent more than two decades at Swiss Re in casualty treaty underwriting and client roles.

Jensten appoints Clive Buesnel as Group Chief Executive - Jensten Group

Jensten has appointed Clive Buesnel as Group Chief Executive, effective November 2, 2026, succeeding Rob Organ. Buesnel joins from Insurance Advisory Partners, where he is Managing Partner, International, and previously served as Group CEO of Tysers, which he led through a sale to AUB Group in 2022.

Lockton Expands U.S. Casualty Leadership Team | Lockton

Lockton has appointed Vince Gaffigan to lead its U.S. Casualty practice as the company expands its casualty solutions. Gaffigan, who has more than 30 years of casualty experience and has held several leadership roles at Lockton, will partner with Jessica Cullen, whose role is expanding as Executive Vice President, U.S. Casualty, Excess & Product Leader.

SecondSight Closes Series A and Names Insurance Veteran Jamie Bouloux as President

SecondSight, the AI operating system built for insurance, has closed its Series A and appointed insurance veteran Jamie Bouloux as President. Bouloux, former CEO of Ryan Financial Lines and Celerity Risk, will lead commercial strategy and client relationships as the company expands beyond cyber into additional lines using its SHAPE platform that learns from insurers’ own data.

Tokio Marine Kiln continues Energy growth strategy with Head of Energy hire

Tokio Marine Kiln has appointed Oliver Wilcox as Head of Energy within its Marine and Energy division, reporting to Alex Barnes. Wilcox brings more than 15 years of energy underwriting experience across upstream, midstream, downstream, and renewable lines, and will lead underwriting strategy, portfolio performance, and team development.