Market Moves

Insight Catastrophe expands U.S. coastal capacity

NEW YORK—Insight Catastrophe Group has expanded its property insurance capacity in 18 U.S. coastal areas through an agreement with three subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Insight, a New York-based property catastrophe risk management provider and underwriter formed in 2005, said Coastal Risk Underwriters L.L.C., its wholly owned managing general agency, would offer up to $5 million in limits for commercial businesses as well as residences with a value in excess of $1 million.

The coverage will be underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway surplus lines arms Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Ltd., National Indemnity Co. and National Fire & Marine Insurance Co., all of which have a Standard & Poor's Corp. rating of AAA.

The additional capacity will "take on the growing demand for catastrophe-exposed risk," said Insight Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew DiLoreto in a statement.

The 18 coastal areas affected are within the states served by the program, which began writing cover this month. The states are: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Crawford adds Puerto Rico to Lloyd's Agency services

ATLANTA—Crawford & Co.'s Global Marine & Transportation Services unit has been named as the Lloyd's of London agent for Puerto Rico, Atlanta-based Crawford said in a statement.

The Crawford unit responsible for Puerto Rico, Crawford Marine, will provide survey and adjusting services to underwriters for Lloyd's and other insurers using Lloyd's Agency Network, a worldwide system of 360 businesses with the primary function of providing surveying services to the maritime market. Crawford Marine already provides such services in the United States, Canada, Colombia and Sweden.

Crawford & Co., a claims management provider to insurers and self-insured entities, has 700 offices in 63 nations.

New Regence Group office targets health care debate

PORTLAND, Ore.—Regence Group has opened an office in Washington to be part of the "critical" debate on the future shape of U.S. health care, the Portland, Ore.-based nonprofit health care plan announced.

Jason Daughn, director of federal public policy for Regence, will oversee the Washington office and work with national policymakers.

"This is a critical time for health care in our country," Mr. Daughn said in a statement. "As Congress, presidential candidates and national policymakers consider how they might improve the nation's health care system, it's important for these groups to listen to voices from other parts of the country."

Regence operates in the northwestern part of the United States. It includes Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield in Washington state.

Regence Group provides health, life, vision, dental and long-term care insurance to nearly 3 million members, the company said.

Victor O. Schinnerer sponsors Web site

CHEVY CHASE, Md.—Professional liability and specialty insurance underwriting manager Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. said it is sponsoring the Practice Matters section of Architectural Record's Web site.

The site, www.archrecord.com, and the magazine are owned by McGraw-Hill Cos.

Chevy Chase, Md.-based Schinnerer said as sole sponsor of the Practice Matters section, it would link the Architectural Record site with its site to provide information concerning design firms, consultants and other topics related to the insurance industry.

Schinnerer said it has about 25,000 construction industry-related clients, about half of which are architects.