AIR Worldwide updates U.S. hurricane model

BOSTON—AIR Worldwide Corp.'s latest version of its hurricane model for the United States has been updated to better differentiate between risks based on factors such as geography, construction, occupancy, year of construction and individual building characteristics, the Boston-based catastrophe modeling firm said in a statement.

AIR's Version 12.0 incorporates detailed claims information and other data from recent storms to provide a more comprehensive view of U.S. hurricane risk, AIR said in the statement.

Three states—Illinois, Indiana and Missouri—have been added to the model, AIR said, which reflects the risk of inland storm damage such as that caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Zurich offers workers comp cover for temporary staffing

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—Zurich North America is offering workers compensation insurance to temporary staffing companies.

The program is administered through a partnership with Artex Risk Solutions Inc., which has been a workers compensation program administrator for Zurich for 15 years, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based unit of Zurich Financial Services Group said in a statement.

The program is offered to temporary staffing companies focusing on clerical, professional, medical professional and light industrial markets.

“In response to a declining economy, many temporary staffing firms have reduced in size over the past few years,” Rosemarie Rogers, head of the workers compensation segment in the programs unit at Zurich, said in the statement. “This temporary staffing program will give customers an alternative to consider that may have been lacking previously.”

Artex Risk Solutions specializes in workers compensation for professional employer organizations and will combine its marketing force and temporary staffing knowledge with Zurich's underwriting capabilities, according to the statement.

For more information, contact Mike Muehling, workers compensation profit center manager for Zurich, at 847-605-6978 or mike.muehling@zurichna.com.

Benchmark reporting service available from Marsh

NEW YORK—Marsh Inc. has launched a benchmark reporting service for clients and risk managers.

The service offers risk managers real-time, on-demand benchmarking analytics for U.S. purchasing and pricing trends across 20 major industry groups, the New York-based brokerage arm of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. said in a statement.

The benchmarking tool also generates cross-industry reports on property/casualty and financial and professional lines, shifts in limits and retentions, and pricing in relation to exposure.

It is available through Marsh's global benchmarking portal, which includes information on 90,000 policies covering $50 billion in premium placements, $4 trillion in limits and $15.5 trillion in total insured value, according to the statement.

For more information, contact Dusan Jovanovic, senior vp and global benchmarking leader for Marsh, at 212-345-1870 or dusan.jovanovic@marsh.com.

Manchester Specialty offers home health care cover

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Manchester Specialty Programs Inc. has introduced a national program offering coverage to home health care providers and medical staffing firms.

The program offers all lines of coverage on admitted and nonadmitted paper, including general and products liability, excess coverage, fidelity bond, and directors and officers liability, among others, the Manchester, N.H.-based managing general agency said in a statement.

Everest National Insurance Co. is the exclusive carrier and will underwrite the coverage, according to the statement.

Manchester Specialty Programs is a newly created subsidiary of Avoca Insurance Holdings, licensed nationally to provide specialty commercial property/casualty coverages through licensed agents and brokers.

For more information, contact William D. Thompson, president and CEO of Manchester Specialty Programs, at 603-264-5486 or wthompson@manchesterspecialty.com.