Commercial E&S

Insurance carriers and private equity firms have been approached over the last few weeks to gauge their interest in the business.

Michael Carr will report to US CEO Carlton Maner.

Brooks was the CEO and chairman of Gen Re’s excess and surplus lines division General Star for three decades.

The Dubai-based carrier will target surplus specialty lines including energy, property and political violence.

The recruitment drive comes as excess casualty rates soar in response to the social inflation crisis sweeping the US.

E&S premiums across 15 US stamping offices nationally increased 19% to $37.5bn in 2019, while the same offices recorded a total of 4.9mn filings, a roughly 9% increase from the 4.4mn filings in 2018.

WR Berkley has witnessed a surge in E&S submissions even as rates creep upward.

California recorded a 34.1 percent jump in excess and surplus premiums written compared with the previous year.

SVP Tom Jurgens told The Insurance Insider that he expects the book to grow at least 15 percent this year.

Excess rates continue to rise after several carriers early last year pulled back from the class.

Kinsale reported 41% growth in GWP to $98mn.

The specialty carrier has escaped the worst of this year’s cat season relatively unscathed.