Client Coverage
ANV Group has acquired Associated Specialty Insurance Agency (ASIA), a US-based wholesale broker specialising in workers’ compensation, as it continues to build out its presence in the segment.
The deal follows ANV’s recent acquisition of Specialty Comp Insurance Solutions and builds a broader platform alongside its existing Risico business, combining wholesale distribution, program underwriting and risk management across high-hazard industries.
“ASIA’s 30-year track record in workers’ compensation, deep broker relationships, and expertise in artisan contractor risks make it an ideal addition to our growing platform,” said ANV CEO Adam Karkowsky.
In this interview with InsureTV at BIBA2026, Alex Smith from Carrick Holdings explains that the bar for MGAs has shifted significantly, with success now dependent on far more than access to niche capacity.
He highlights growing scrutiny from carriers, with a clear expectation for robust data, disciplined underwriting and a well-defined value proposition.
Carrick is responding by prioritising MGAs that can evidence performance and differentiation, focusing on those combining specialist expertise with strong technology and aligned capacity, to better support clients in an increasingly competitive and demanding market.
Dale Underwriting Partners has strengthened its North American casualty reinsurance offering with the appointment of an experienced underwriter from MS Amlin, as it continues to build out its platform.
The hire supports Dale’s expansion across Workers’ Compensation and General Liability lines, reinforcing its strategy to grow a specialist Casualty portfolio and deepen relationships with brokers in key markets.
Commenting on the appointment, Peter Cordell said: “His deep expertise … will be instrumental as we continue to build out our presence in Workers’ Compensation and General Liability and further strengthen our casualty reinsurance capabilities.”
HDI Global has partnered with mea Platform to deploy artificial intelligence across its underwriting and claims operations, as the insurer looks to enhance efficiency and data handling across its global business.
The collaboration focuses on improving how data is captured, classified and processed, helping to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort and support faster, more consistent decision‑making at scale.
Commenting on the partnership, HDI Global said it aims to enable teams to focus more on higher‑value tasks, including risk assessment, advice and client service, as part of its broader digital transformation strategy.
MS Re reported a net income of $341m for the first nine months of 2025, an increase driven by premium growth and benign loss experience, according to Reinsurance News.
The reinsurer benefited from continued portfolio expansion, improved underwriting performance, and stronger insurance service profit, alongside an improved combined ratio, reflecting disciplined risk selection, and favourable market conditions.
Commenting on the results, MS Re said performance was supported by “continued business expansion across a well‑managed and diversified portfolio,” coupled with benign loss activity in the second and third quarters.
In an opinion piece for Insurance Day, Max Richter, EMEA chief executive and global growth leader at mea Platform, argues that insurers must stop treating artificial intelligence as a tool that simply supports existing operating models and instead reposition it as the foundation of a new one.
Richter outlines how agentic AI can redesign end‑to‑end insurance workflows, reducing fragmentation, accelerating turnaround times and shifting human effort toward judgement, negotiation and relationship‑driven tasks, rather than manual processing.
“The biggest mindset shift for insurance leaders is to stop treating AI as a tool that assists the existing operating model,” Richter writes, arguing that outcome‑based KPIs are essential for the AI age.
AM Best has upgraded the financial strength rating of IQUW Re Bermuda to A (Excellent), with a positive outlook, reflecting improved operating performance and strengthened capital following its acquisition by Starr.
The ratings agency also lifted the reinsurer’s long‑term issuer credit rating to A+, citing underwriting discipline, financial flexibility and integration into Starr’s global platform.
Commenting on the upgrade, Jeff Greenberg, Starr’s chairman and co-chief executive said: “It demonstrates the depth of our balance sheet, our global reach and the value of experienced teams delivering clarity and consistency in the market.”
In an interview with Reinsurance News, Gavin Lillywhite, senior vice president of business development at Xceedance, discusses how data and artificial intelligence are reshaping the MGA business model.
Lillywhite explains that while MGAs have traditionally relied on speed and niche expertise, rising expectations from carriers and brokers are driving the need for consistent, data‑backed underwriting, portfolio management and claims insight, particularly as markets soften.
“There has been much hype around the potential of agentic AI,” Lillywhite said, adding that applied wisely, data and AI can give MGAs “the opportunity to stay ahead of their competitors by delivering superior levels of service and efficiency.”