Business Insurance ranks largest surplus lines insurers

Lexington Insurance Co. ranks No. 1 in the 2011 Business Insurance ranking of the largest U.S.-based surplus lines insurers.

Boston-based Lexington Insurance, a unit of Chartis Inc., maintained the leading position from last year, reporting $4.61 billion in nonadmitted direct written premiums in 2010.

Maintaining the No. 2 position from last year, Schaumburg, Ill.-based Steadfast Insurance Co., a unit of Zurich Financial Services Group, reported $1.07 billion in nonadmitted direct written premiums in 2010, according to the ranking released Monday.

Rounding out the top five are Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Scottsdale Insurance Co., a unit of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.; New York-based Chartis Specialty Insurance Co., a unit of Chartis Inc.; and Chicago-based Columbia Casualty Co., a unit of CNA Financial Corp. All maintained the same position as last year’s ranking.

To view the rankings or to purchase copies of the 2011 Business Insurance Directory of the Largest U.S.-based Surplus Lines Insurers, go to www.businessinsurance.com/directories.