Bermuda-based Relm Insurance has appointed former Euclid Fiduciary CUO Keith Lavigne as its head of underwriting – US, coinciding with the launch of its own MGA in the United States.

The Franklin Fire has scorched 3,983 acres in Malibu as of Wednesday afternoon, with containment at just 7 percent.

Guy Carpenter has announced a research project investigating how the reciprocal exchange insurance model could support community-based parametric covers for wildfire and hurricane risks in California and Florida.

Markel said it would maintain a “constructive and ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders” following reports that activist investor Jana Partners has called on the company to separate or sell its Markel Ventures investment business.

Hub International Limited has acquired the assets of Otter Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency based in Washington state.

Aon-owned NFP has acquired Midland, Texas-based benefits and P&C broker Capstone Strategies.

Inszone Insurance Services has acquired Commercial Insurance of Texas Agency Services, expanding its footprint in Texas and bolstering its capabilities in the automotive, heavy truck aftermarket and equipment dealer insurance sectors.

The board of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has approved a $485mn budget line item for ceded reinsurance and catastrophe bond spend for next year, up 22 percent from the figure in 2024.

New US casualty market entrants are leading to rate stabilisation in excess of $10mn, while the London market is “becoming a bit more aggressive” than domestic carriers, according to Risk Placement Services.

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in Malibu near Pepperdine University, prompting evacuations due to hazardous conditions fuelled by strong Santa Ana winds.

Bridge Specialty Group, the wholesale broking division of Brown & Brown, has acquired the assets of Madison, Wisconsin-based specialty wholesale environmental insurance brokerage platform American Risk Management Resources Network.

Hub International Limited has acquired the assets of Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services, an independent insurance agency based in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Homeowners insurance and vertical software platform Porch Group has outlined a goal of achieving $500mn in gross written premium through its new reciprocal next year and growing this to around $3bn in approximately 10 years.

Michigan-based wholesale insurance broker Burns & Wilcox has expanded its Wildfire Defense Program to Texas and New Mexico, The Insurer can reveal.

Arthur J Gallagher chairman and CEO Pat Gallagher has said the additional tools his firm can provide AssuredPartners producers will help drive organic growth and new business opportunities as he also highlighted the minimal overlap between the two brokers’ tuck-in M&A pipeline.