Evolving Commercial Risk

Insurers and risk managers discuss emerging trends in commercial risks.

AM Best TV & Audio: Homeowners at Risk of Being Underinsured Because of Multiple Property Structures, According to ZestyAI CEO: Professionals also explore insurance procurement and a program to help defense contractors with cybersecurity and discuss the 2025 U.S. economy.

AM Best Webinars & Briefings: Panelists To Discuss the Growth Potential, Challenges and Opportunities in the DUAE Sector: Professionals also will examine the state of the U.S. medical professional liability sector in an upcoming AM Best’s Briefing.

App Store: AM Best Updates Its Mobile App Experience : Improved graphics, functionality and analytic tools highlight the newest version of AM Best’s mobile app.

Artificial Intelligence: Leading AI Platforms Explore Emerging Commercial Risks: Artificial intelligence models provide an overview of a variety of new, emerging risks facing the business sector.

Asia-Pacific Insurance: AM Best: China’s New-Energy Vehicle Boom Transforms Motor Insurance Market: Some companies in China have been delivering constant underwriting gains over the past seven years while the rest of the market has shown losses, according to a recent AM Best report.

Asia-Pacific Insurance: Largest Asia-Pacific Insurers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2023 gross premiums written.

At Large: Growth in the Global Life Market: The United States, China and India accounted for much of the global life insurance sector’s growth in the past decade, a recently updated ACORD study found.

Bookstore: Unraveling Claims-Made Insurance Policies: In his book, Frederick Fisher explores the intricacies of claims-made insurance policies, providing a comprehensive guide to their evolution, key components and challenges.

Carbon Credit Fraud: Marsh’s Quintal and We2Sure’s Wigzell: Insurance Facility Tackles Carbon Credit Fraud Risks: A new insurance facility can help businesses address the growing risk of counterfeit certificates and nonexistent projects, Jackie Quintal, managing director of Marsh McLennan’s Financial Institutions Group, and Simon Wigzell, co-founder and chief underwriting officer of We2Sure, told AM Best TV.

Chemical Liability: Chemical Liability Is Seen as an Emerging Risk Every Business Must Tackle and Manage: Insurers are addressing the growing legal risks of “forever chemicals” exposure as well as evolving regulations and the need for proactive risk management, said Grant Nichols, senior vice president at CAC Specialty.

Commercial Risks: Insurers, Buyers Face New Challenges With Emerging Commercial Risks in 2025: Political change, artificial intelligence and cyber are among the many risks insurers and their clients face in 2025, companies say.

Cyberrisk: Cyber Insurance Survey Highlights Systemic Risk, Particularly on SMEs: AM Best, which sent its cyber questionnaire to the largest cyber insurers globally, summarizes the 41 responses received in the report.

Executive Changes: Lloyd’s To Welcome New Chief Financial Officer as Former CFO Moves Into Strategic Adviser Role: Zurich NA names chief data officer, Ryan Specialty International taps general counsel and HDI Global appoints chief operating officer for UK and Ireland.

From the Editor’s Desk: Risky Business: AI, Litigation and Cyber in the Spotlight: The April issue reports on key risks ahead of Riskworld next month. Best’s Review also includes a ranking of the largest Asia-Pacific insurers.

ILS Market: AM Best: ILS Market Hits $107 Billion as Cat Bonds, New Capital Drive Growth: ILS market capacity reached new heights, bolstered by supply-and-demand dynamics in the insurance-linked securities market, AM Best Director Matt Tuite recently told AM Best TV.

Industry Updates: Louisiana Commissioner: Phasing Out Nonrenewal, Cancellation Rule Will Boost Homeowners Competition: Removing such restrictions will allow carriers to better manage their risks, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said.

Insurance Bloggers: When It Comes to Insurance Blogs, Traditional Media Hold Sway: Traditional media have tremendous reach, but “owned media” such as blogs, podcasts and social media content can amplify an insurer’s messages.

Insurance Industry Research: Cyberrisks Develop as Emerging Risk in the Insurance Supply Chain, Report Says: A SecurityScorecard report found that the insurance industry had the highest rate of third-party breaches, more than double the global average.

Insurance Professional Resources: Letting the Machines Do the Driving Leads to Unclear Claims Litigation Landscape, Legal Panelists Say: Attorneys from Rathbone Group LLC and Tressler LLP discussed issues of fault and regulation around self-driving vehicles during the AM Best webinar Claims Litigation in the Automated World.

Issues & Answers: ISSUES & ANSWERS: Evolution of Risk: John Lopes, Executive Vice President, Nationwide Alternative Ventures and Emerging Markets, said that given the size and scope of the company, Nationwide is one of the most diversified carriers in the U.S.

Issues & Answers: ISSUES & ANSWERS: The Strategic Advantages of Captives: Aaron Hillebrandt, Principal and Consulting Actuary, Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, said diversification of risk is important—and a great strategy.

Life Impairments: 2023 US Life/Health Impairments Update: Ten U.S. life/health companies became impaired in 2023, according to an AM Best Special Report. Impairments rose following annual declines since 2019.

Life Mutuals: New York Life, Other Mutual Life Insurers See Value in Boosting 2025 Dividends: New York Life declared a record-high dividend of $2.5 billion payable to participating policy owners in 2025 and has paid out more than $1 billion in annual dividends every year since 1990.

Malaysia Outlook: Market Segment Outlook: Malaysia Non-Life Insurance: AM Best is maintaining a Stable outlook on Malaysia’s non-life insurance segment, citing anticipated premium growth spurred by economic recovery.

Preferred Podcasters: Insurance Uncovered Podcast Explores Issues Important to the Mutual Community: The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies podcast captures the latest trends in the industry, according to host Justin Hakes.

Preferred Publishers: Carrier Management: More Insurers Expect To Boost Top Lines Than Headcount: Jacobson Group and Aon’s Insurance Labor Market Study found a large gap between those expecting revenue growth and anticipated hiring, Carrier Management reported.

Retirements: Retired NCCI Chief Saw Sweeping Technology, Workforce Changes in Workers’ Compensation: Bill Donnell recently stepped down as the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s president and chief executive officer after expanding the reach of the NCCI’s dataset and leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Rate Filings: NC Commissioner Rejects 42.2% Home Rate Request, Negotiates 7.5% Average Hike: The settlement with the North Carolina Rate Bureau also caps increases at 35% for any territory and prohibits another increase request until June 2027.

State Rate Filings: North Carolina Homeowners Multiperil Approved Rate Filings by Overall Effect With Increases of 15.4% or Greater: Based on an effective date beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025.

Thailand Insurers: Strong Profitability for Thailand Non-Life Insurers in 2023: Thailand’s non-life market posted an underwriting gain in 2023 as capital levels rebounded due to favorable profitability.

Third-Party Litigation: Betting on American Justice: Lawmakers, Regulators Target Third-Party Litigation Funding: Debates are continuing over how to address third-party litigation funding, with the federal and some state governments taking steps to curb social inflation.

Trending: Best’s News: Top Stories Include a Feature About Industry Leaders Who Announced Retirement Plans in 2024: Other popular items include an interview with John Barrett, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Western & Southern Financial Group.

Trending: Best’s Research: Trending Research Includes Reports on US P/C, Life/Health Impairments and on the Pet Insurance Business: Other trending research includes reports on P&I clubs and California wildfires.

Underwriting & Loss Control: Training Key To Helping Air Ambulance Services Get Off the Ground : Best’s Underwriting Reports and Best’s Loss Control Reports provide insights into the risks and lines of coverage for air ambulance services.

Web Traffic: Web Traffic: Visits to Asia-Pacific Insurer Sites: Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. leads web analytics provider Semrush's ranking of most-visited Asia-Pacific insurer sites.

What AM Best Says: AM Best: Sustained Growth Potential For DUAE Market Segment: AM Best conducted a market-wide survey of its rated carriers on delegated underwriting authority enterprises, and the results painted a picture of a segment that is highly valued for its specialization, agility and adoption of technology, said Dawn Walker, associate director, AM Best.