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People Moves: Severino Joins Alliant’s Midwest Benefits Team; Doubtless Names Wiley as Regional President for North America
Jeff Severino has joined Alliant Insurance Services as vice president within its employee benefits group on the Alliant Affinity team. Based in Kansas City, Severino will work with clients nationwide to design and develop tailored programs, drawing on a broad …

AM Best Withdraws Credit Ratings of Hartland Mutual
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) of Hartland Mutual Insurance Company (Hartland) (Minot, ND). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best …

FTC, USDA Seek Comment on Farm Equipment Market Practices
he Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Agriculture launched an inquiry into the agricultural equipment market, including potential anticompetitive conduct. The public inquiry, announced Wednesday, seeks to address a “growing number of complaints” from farmers that they “face …

Sanlam’s $1.2 Billion Bid for Santam Would Give More Freedom to Deploy Capital
Sanlam Ltd.’s $1.2 billion bid to take full ownership of Santam Ltd. will give Africa’s top insurer more freedom to deploy capital across the continent, India and the Lloyd’s of London market, the latest step in an expansion that will …

Markets/Coverages: Aviva to Enter US Specialty Market in Q4
Starting this quarter, Aviva said it is entering the U.S. specialty market with Aviva Specialty, which will begin underwriting commercial property. Aviva Specialty will serve open-market brokerage, and partnering with leading program administrators. As a wholly owned surplus carrier, Aviva …

National Flood Insurance Program’s Authority to Expire in December
The National Flood Insurance Program is once again set to expire in two months. Early last month, NFIP’s authority to operate was renewed when the president signed legislation passed by Congress to keep NFIP running until midnight Dec. 12. According …

Heffernan Insurance Acquires Walterry Brokers of Maryland
California-based Heffernan Insurance Brokers has acquired Walterry Insurance Brokers, an independent insurance agency based in Clinton, Maryland. The Walterry team joined Heffernan effective May 1, 2026. Established in 1968, Walterry Insurance Brokers specializes in media liability, professional liability, and business …

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Irish MGA, Ornella Underwriting Ltd.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced that its specialist underwriting subsidiary Pen Underwriting has acquired Wexford, Ireland-based Ornella Underwriting Ltd. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Ornella is a managing general agent (MGA) providing a diverse range of commercial …

Six Charged for Roles in ‘Smash-and-Grab’ Robberies of Jewelry Stores
Six people have been charged for their alleged roles in “smash-and-grab” robberies targeting jewelry stores across New Jersey in 2025 and 2026, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. According to prosecutors, masked and gloved perpetrators used crow bars and/or sledgehammers to …

Google Accused of Overcharging 20 Million Consumers in UK Class Action
Google was accused of overcharging Android app developers for over a decade, leading to inflated prices on the Play Store for about 20 million UK customers. The US giant’s 30% levy for digital purchases violated competition law and consumers affected …