Market Insights

COVID triggered a series of events (and Mother Nature didn’t help) that spurred unprecedented supply-and-demand imbalance and price hikes in the lumber market. The impact on building products is well documented, but implications extend well beyond wallet woes at the Lowe’s checkout. Here, we take a look at key considerations for insuring woodworking operations and other property placements during this state of rapid change.

Businesses of all types rely on the laboratory testing services industry to perform tests on items ranging from consumer goods and food products to construction materials and industrial components. Since testing labs span numerous industries, each with their own regulation standards and risk factors, insureds need a policy that is designed to specifically address their unique needs. This article highlights four areas that should be thoroughly considered when developing a coverage plan for testing labs.

Cyber events don’t always just result in financial loss but can also cause first or third-party bodily injury or physical damage. In response, many insurers have adopted various exclusions, sub-limits and changes to non-cyber insurance policies. This issue of non-affirmative coverage for cyber events is known as silent cyber. Through various claim scenarios across coverage lines and industries, this article explores the wide range of insureds that are at risk of a silent cyber incident.

​Product recalls are one of the most damaging events a business may encounter. In order to effectively respond to an incident, companies must be prepared with proper risk management strategies. As policy wording varies, it's also critical to ensure your clients have the right policy type in place to appropriately address their first- and third-party exposures.

The Casualty market’s response to COVID-19 is continuously evolving. With a wide array of factors already impacting this sector pre-crisis, segments of the Casualty marketplace are responding to the pandemic differently. In this article, our industry specialists share overall themes in the Casualty market and take a closer look at how various segments are being impacted.

In November 2018, the FDA released new guidance on how and why it will utilize its statutory power to mandate recalls under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). To adapt to the new requirements, companies face a financial burden related to improving technology and allocating appropriate labor. This article provides insight into the FSMA and the importance of an insurance policy that responds to government intervention and mandated recalls.

Many businesses that depend on the export and import of goods contract with freight forwarders to manage the intricate logistics of international trade. As the number of freight forwarders operating in the United States continues to grow and their roles continue to expand, new risks are being generated that require quick adaptation and innovative underwriting solutions. This article identifies the ever-evolving risks that freight forwarders face and explores coverage options for this growing market.

The manufacturing industry contributed to over 12% of the U.S. economy in 2015, and this number is expected to increase. While new growth in production and sales is a positive development for businesses, it may also open the door to an elevated and often misunderstood insurance risk: financial damages not caused by bodily injury or property damage.