All About Surety Bonds

Richard Li’s FWD Rises in HK Debut, Reversing Earlier Drop

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:58:09 -0500

Billionaire Richard Li’s FWD Group Holdings Ltd. rose in its Hong Kong trading debut, reversing earlier declines, after an initial public offering that raised HK$3.5 billion ($442 million). The insurer’s stock climbed 1.1% to HK$38.40 on Monday, reversing a drop …

North Dakota Unifies Insurance and Securities Departments Under New Law

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:49:12 -0500

North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread announced last week that the state’s Insurance and Securities are unifying into following the passage of Senate Bill 2214 during the 2025 legislative session. The new law allows the insurance commissioner to assume the …

CRC Group Agrees to Acquire Lloyd’s Managing Agency Atrium Underwriting Group

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:41:13 -0500

CRC Group, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based wholesale specialty insurance distributor, has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Lloyd’s managing agency Atrium Underwriting Group Ltd. from investment funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC and other investors. Atrium will retain its …

Tax Increase on Litigation Funders Does Not Make Final Budget Bill

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:59:36 -0500

When Trump’s huge tax bill was signed into law July 4, missing were changes to the taxes third-party litigation funders pay. Once included within the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) was language to tax earnings by litigation funders at a …

WalkerHughes Acquires Missouri’s Apogee

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:41:13 -0500

WalkerHughes Insurance, a privately held, founder-led retail insurance brokerage headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is pleased to announce the addition of Apogee Insurance Solutions, LLC, a St. Peters, Missouri-based insurance agency, to its growing Missouri platform. This marks WalkerHughes’ second acquisition …

Business Moves: Insurtech Wefox Raises €151M to Build New MGA Focus, Core Markets

L.S. Howard — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:18:19 -0500

Insurtech wefox has secured funding of €151 million ($177.8 million), which will enable the company to build its core market positions in Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland as well as its asset-light managing general agent (MGA) and smart insurance distribution …

A Look at Some of the Deadliest Floods in the US in the Last 25 Years

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:12:38 -0500

Flooding has caused an average of more than 125 deaths per year in the United States over the past few decades, according to the National Weather Service, and flash floods are the nation’s top storm-related killer. Here’s a look at …

ICE Raids Derail Los Angeles Economy as Workers Go Into Hiding

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:55:08 -0500

Los Angeles was already struggling to revive its fragile economy after the most destructive wildfires in its history erupted six months ago. Now, immigration raids are driving workers crucial to the rebuilding into the shadows. Framers and landscapers are abandoning …

People Moves: MEMIC Hires Ennis and Promotes Lagasse

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:50:18 -0500

The MEMIC Group, headquartered in Portland, Maine, promoted Karl Lagasse to vice president of business technology and hired Jason Ennis as director of architecture and innovation. Lagasse oversees the project management, software engineering, and quality assurance teams while spearheading the …

California Wildfire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, Forcing Evacuations

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:13:18 -0500

A wildfire on the central coast of California has grown to 84,080 acres, prompting evacuation orders and closing part of a highway. The Madre Fire, the biggest the state has seen this year, started on Wednesday and is burning in …

MarketScout: Q2 Composite Personal Lines Rates Up 4.6%; Commercial Up 2.8%

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:49:35 -0500

According to the MarketScout Market Barometer, the composite rate for U.S. personal lines increased in the second quarter to 4.6%. U.S. personal lines rose an average 4.9% during the firth quarter. Dallas-based MarketScout, a division of Novatae Risk Group, said …

Scientists Transplant Corals to Help Save Miami’s Reefs From Climate Change

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:43:23 -0500

A team of scientists from the University of Miami, the Florida Aquarium and Tela Marine in Honduras is working together to transplant crossbred coral fragments onto a reef off Miami’s coastline that was devastated by coral bleaching two years ago. …

Chantal Rain Brings Flash Flood Worries in Carolinas, Virginia

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:03:14 -0500

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Chantal was downgraded to a depression Sunday but raised concerns of possible flash flooding as it makes its way through central North Carolina toward south-central Virginia. Chantal made landfall near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, at …

Marsh Suit Against Alliant Alleges Poaching of Commercial Surety Team, Accounts

Andrew G. Simpson — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:54:58 -0500

Insurance broker Marsh USA is suing rival Alliant Insurance Services, this time for allegedly poaching key commercial surety employees and clients. New York-based Marsh is accusing California-based Alliant of inducing key commercial surety employees to breach their non-solicitation and confidentiality …

Maryland Unveils Details of Telematics Programs, Practices and Popularity

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:33:35 -0500

The number of Maryland auto insurance policies enrolled in a telematics program has been consistently growing, increasing by about 45% from 2021 to 2023. About 55% of the enrolled policies experienced an increase or decrease in premiums, according to results …

Ship Hit in Red Sea as Israel Strikes Houthi-Controlled Ports

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:05:41 -0500

Multiple small vessels attacked a ship in the Red Sea near Yemen’s Al Hudaydah port, causing a fire on board and prompting the crew to abandon ship before the Israel army carried out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen. The …

UK Business ‘Struggling to See’ What’s Pro-Business About Labour

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:53:48 -0500

Before taking office last July, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves met business leaders over a series of breakfasts that became known as the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs offensive. British bosses were clamoring for change after 14 years …

Louis Vuitton Korea Suffers Cyberattack as Customer Data Leaked

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:54:29 -0500

Louis Vuitton Korea suffered a cyberattack that compromised some customer data, the second time in recent months that hackers have targeted the world’s largest luxury group. The Korean unit of LVMH’s flagship brand said an “unauthorized third party” accessed its …

Texas Officials Under Scrutiny Over Lack of Warning Systems in Deadly Flood

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:53:02 -0500

Before heading to bed before the Fourth of July holiday, Christopher Flowers checked the weather while staying at a friend’s house along the Guadalupe River. Nothing in the forecast alarmed him. Hours later, he was rushing to safety: He woke …

South Korea Penalizes ‘Negligent’ SK Telecom Over Major Data Leak

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:42:27 -0500

South Korean authorities ordered on Friday SK Telecom to strengthen data security and imposed a fine after the country’s biggest mobile carrier was hit by a cyberattack that caused the leak of 26.96 million pieces of user data. The measures …

Czech Republic Hit by Major Power Outage Triggered by Fallen Cable

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:28:59 -0500

A power outage in large parts of the Czech Republic, including Prague, trapped people in public transport and lifts and idled factories on Friday after a fallen high-voltage cable disrupted the network. The incident is likely to add to concerns …

Big I Celebrates Continued Tax Deduction for Many Independent Agents

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:29:57 -0500

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) last Thursday celebrated the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” “The Big ‘I’ would like to thank the U.S. Congress and President Trump for their work to bring more …

Lululemon Gets Aggressive About Lookalikes With Costco Lawsuit

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:18:03 -0500

Lululemon Athletica Inc. is accusing Costco Wholesale Corp. of copying its apparel designs in a lawsuit — and the upscale sportswear company shared images with the court to back up its case. Here’s a look at the specific products that …

A Majority of Companies Are Already Feeling the Climate Heat

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:08:50 -0500

Climate change is already having an impact on companies around the world. Over half of the firms surveyed in a recent Morgan Stanley report experienced the climate’s impact on operations within the past year, including increased costs, worker disruption and …

NC Carrier Sanctioned for Pressing Workers’ Comp Claim it Had Denied

William Rabb — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:01:05 -0500

What happens when an employer and its workers’ compensation insurer deny a claim, then face a wrongful death tort suit, then attempt to have the comp claim reinstated, going so far as to pay weekly wage amounts to the deceased …

Study Examined Liability Insurance for Adult Family Homes in Washington

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:56 -0500

A report submitted to the Washington State Legislature examines the state of the liability insurance market for adult family homes in Washington, finding the market to be largely sustainable—but it does provide suggestions for increasing the appeal of AFHs to …

People Moves: WCIRB Names Sanders Chief Customer Operations Officer

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:47 -0500

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California named Eric Sanders senior vice president and chief customer operations officer. Sanders will oversee the WCIRB’s customer experience, marketing and communications, classification and test audit, contact center and human resources functions. Sanders …

New Jersey Skydiving Company Says Plane Went Off Runway

Admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:24 -0500

The pilot of a skydiving team encountered mechanical issues that prompted an emergency landing at a small New Jersey airport but could not get the plane stopped at the end of the runway, the company said in a statement Thursday. …

Deadly Floods Reinforce Texas’ Challenge as Crisis Epicenter

Admin — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:29:42 -0500

Before dawn Friday morning, city manager Dalton Rice went for a jog along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas. He finished his run around 4 a.m. as a light rain set in. An hour later, he began receiving emergency calls: …

‘Preventable’ National Grid Failures Led to Heathrow Fire: Report

Admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:12:17 -0500

A fire that shut London’s Heathrow airport in March, stranding thousands of people, was caused by the UK power grid’s failure to maintain an electricity substation, an official report said on Wednesday, prompting the energy watchdog to open a probe. …

SFAA has updated its Small Business Loan Step by Step Guidance https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/govrel-pub/SBA-2020-04-24.pdf …. Additional COVID-19 resources can be found at https://www.surety.org/page/COVID pic.twitter.com/bXunH6jBW

(@SuretyFidelity) — Tue, 19 May 2020 08:18:57 -0500

SFAA has updated its Small Business Loan Step by Step Guidance https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/govrel-pub/SBA-2020-04-24.pdf …. Additional COVID-19 resources can be found at https://www.surety.org/page/COVID pic.twitter.com/bXunH6jBWE

SFAA and NASBP commend DOD for taking Action to Provide Common-Sense Solution for Execution of Surety Bonds During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Order Will Provide a Safe Working Environment and Allow Critical Infrastructure Projects to Move Forward - https://c

(@SuretyFidelity) — Tue, 05 May 2020 20:18:43 -0500

SFAA and NASBP commend DOD for taking Action to Provide Common-Sense Solution for Execution of Surety Bonds During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Order Will Provide a Safe Working Environment and Allow Critical Infrastructure Projects to Move Forward - https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/news/NR-2020-05-05.pdf … pic.twitter.com/V5DPtfRORh

Check out the most recent updates to the Small Business CARES Act Guide from SFAA. Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that adds $310 billion in funding for the SBA Paycheck Performance Program (PPP). https://c

(@SuretyFidelity) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 08:11:27 -0500

Check out the most recent updates to the Small Business CARES Act Guide from SFAA. Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that adds $310 billion in funding for the SBA Paycheck Performance Program (PPP). https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/govrel-pub/SBA-2020-04-23.pdf … pic.twitter.com/LVziK7pcUl

SFAA issues Advisory Paper compiling best practices titled: COVID-19 - Cyber Criminals Exploiting Company Teleworking Platforms to Access Sensitive Data. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/covid/SFAA_CyberAdvisory.pdf …pic.twitter.com/M

(@SuretyFidelity) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 07:58:11 -0500

SFAA issues Advisory Paper compiling best practices titled: COVID-19 - Cyber Criminals Exploiting Company Teleworking Platforms to Access Sensitive Data. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/covid/SFAA_CyberAdvisory.pdf … pic.twitter.com/MBnZ9Lbot8

Please find SFAA and NASBP's press release below, highlighting the need for federal, state and local officials, to take emergency action to expand the acceptance of electronic bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/s

(@SuretyFidelity) — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 09:52:21 -0500

Please find SFAA and NASBP's press release below, highlighting the need for federal, state and local officials, to take emergency action to expand the acceptance of electronic bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sfaa-and-nasbp-request-emergency-action-requiring-acceptance-of-electronic-execution-of-surety-bonding-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-301035927.html?tc=eml_cleartime … pic.twitter.com/xbfLXGMJq0

SFAA and NASBP commend the GSA for issuing the order to accept e-signatures for surety bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Press Release: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/news/NR-2020-04-09.pdf … The order allows critical infrastructu

(@SuretyFidelity) — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 08:02:20 -0500

SFAA and NASBP commend the GSA for issuing the order to accept e-signatures for surety bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Press Release: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.surety.org/resource/resmgr/news/NR-2020-04-09.pdf … The order allows critical infrastructure projects to move forward. GSA Order: https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/CD-2020-05_0.pdf …. pic.twitter.com/dth8bLyniy

Please find SFAA and NASBP's press release below, highlighting the need for federal, state and local officials, to take emergency action to expand the acceptance of electronic bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sf

(@SuretyFidelity) — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:38:33 -0500

Please find important updates to the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program in the link below. Loan applications open today! https://lnkd.in/em272AC

(@SuretyFidelity) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 07:24:09 -0500

Please find important updates to the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program in the link below. Loan applications open today! https://lnkd.in/em272AC

Thank you @USChamber for the great walk through on the SBA's new Paycheck Protection Program. See how your small business construction clients can take steps to access new Paycheck Protection Loans - https://lnkd.in/em272AC

(@SuretyFidelity) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 17:45:37 -0500

Thank you @USChamber for the great walk through on the SBA's new Paycheck Protection Program. See how your small business construction clients can take steps to access new Paycheck Protection Loans - https://lnkd.in/em272AC

COVID-19 Executive Orders on Non-Essential Business and Construction Exemptions by State https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/covid-19-executive-orders-on-non-21153/ … | by @DorseyWhitney

(@BuildingLaw) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:17:17 -0500

COVID-19 Executive Orders on Non-Essential Business and Construction Exemptions by State https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/covid-19-executive-orders-on-non-21153/ … | by @DorseyWhitney

Thank you @SuretyFidelity team for all you are doing remotely to serve our members!!! Great to see everyone on Zoom this morning during our team meeting! #surety #bondingmatters #sfaapic.twitter.com/dqaxLdtOkA

(@LeeCovington) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 14:42:47 -0500

Thank you @SuretyFidelity team for all you are doing remotely to serve our members!!! Great to see everyone on Zoom this morning during our team meeting! #surety #bondingmatters #sfaa pic.twitter.com/dqaxLdtOkA

Cheers to @ASAupdate #Subexcel2020 and tonight's Award Winners!!!! @SuretyFidelity is excited to sponsor tonight's festivities!!!pic.twitter.com/sF0Ya6TxsD

(@LeeCovington) — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 20:01:44 -0600

Cheers to @ASAupdate #Subexcel2020 and tonight's Award Winners!!!! @SuretyFidelity is excited to sponsor tonight's festivities!!! pic.twitter.com/sF0Ya6TxsD

Great to support @ASAupdate at ASA's #Subexcel2020!!! Thank you Richard Bright, Mike Oscar and all ASA Members for your partnership!!!pic.twitter.com/zCN3xyhKOM

(@LeeCovington) — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:39:18 -0600

Great to support @ASAupdate at ASA's #Subexcel2020!!! Thank you Richard Bright, Mike Oscar and all ASA Members for your partnership!!! pic.twitter.com/zCN3xyhKOM

Thank you SFAA members and @nasbp members for participating in SFAA's 2020 Legislative Fly-in. We appreciate your hard work as surety advocates in Washington. @ZurichAdvocacy @fwbondman #surety #Congresspic.twitter.com/ucel7FubHC

(@SuretyFidelity) — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 08:43:09 -0600

Thank you SFAA members and @nasbp members for participating in SFAA's 2020 Legislative Fly-in. We appreciate your hard work as surety advocates in Washington. @ZurichAdvocacy @fwbondman #surety #Congress pic.twitter.com/ucel7FubHC

Thank you @SenJoniErnst for recognizing the importance of #suretybonds on #infrastructure projects...protecting taxpayer funds ... local construction companies and workers. @SuretyFidelity @nasbp @LBT1823 @MerchantsBond @CNA_Insurancepic.twitter.com/meYeL

(@LeeCovington) — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 22:45:01 -0600

Thank you @SenJoniErnst for recognizing the importance of #suretybonds on #infrastructure projects...protecting taxpayer funds ... local construction companies and workers. @SuretyFidelity @nasbp @LBT1823 @MerchantsBond @CNA_Insurance pic.twitter.com/meYeL4ZNCW

Thank you @RepPeterDeFazio for your leadership on infrastructure reform... great to meet w/ your team about importance of #suretybonds on these vital projects...protecting taxpayer funds ... local construction companies and workers. @SuretyFidelity @nasbp

(@LeeCovington) — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 22:40:40 -0600

Thank you @RepPeterDeFazio for your leadership on infrastructure reform... great to meet w/ your team about importance of #suretybonds on these vital projects...protecting taxpayer funds ... local construction companies and workers. @SuretyFidelity @nasbp @LBT1823 @MerchantsBond pic.twitter.com/8ZqhdTGCld

Great to meet with @RodneyDavis regarding importance of #suretybonds to the success of infrastructure projects...protecting taxpayer funds...local construction companies and workers. @SuretyFidelity @nasbp @LBT1823 @MerchantsBond @CNA_Insurancepic.twitte

(@LeeCovington) — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 22:34:05 -0600

Great to meet with @RodneyDavis regarding importance of #suretybonds to the success of infrastructure projects...protecting taxpayer funds...local construction companies and workers. @SuretyFidelity @nasbp @LBT1823 @MerchantsBond @CNA_Insurance pic.twitter.com/YSRP73j06q

Today, @ZurichNA's @GWhidby and Mary Jean Pethick were on Capitol Hill discussing #suretybonds while supporting the @SuretyFidelity (SFAA) #FlyIn! #SFAAOnTheHill #ZurichAdvocacy #AdvocacyInActionpic.twitter.com/jlmNbsAm9P

(@ZurichAdvocacy) — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 17:17:45 -0600

Today, @ZurichNA's @GWhidby and Mary Jean Pethick were on Capitol Hill discussing #suretybonds while supporting the @SuretyFidelity (SFAA) #FlyIn! #SFAAOnTheHill #ZurichAdvocacy #AdvocacyInAction pic.twitter.com/jlmNbsAm9P

Great meeting with @RepSamGraves to discuss the important role #surety #bonds play in the #infrastructure projects. #suretybonds @SuretyFidelity @CNA_Insurance @MerchantsBond @LBT1823pic.twitter.com/2Za7yTswk8

(@LeeCovington) — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 09:55:16 -0600

Great meeting with @RepSamGraves to discuss the important role #surety #bonds play in the #infrastructure projects. #suretybonds @SuretyFidelity @CNA_Insurance @MerchantsBond @LBT1823 pic.twitter.com/2Za7yTswk8

Requiring that surety bonds are in place to protect state and local entities as federal money comes in to improve our nation’s #infrastructure is vital to insuring the infrastructure work we need to move quickly on. Read more about Zurich's position here:

(@ZurichAdvocacy) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:07:11 -0600

Requiring that surety bonds are in place to protect state and local entities as federal money comes in to improve our nation’s #infrastructure is vital to insuring the infrastructure work we need to move quickly on. Read more about Zurich's position here: https://bit.ly/36Dzwfm pic.twitter.com/RTBZzHSStP