A specialty property-casualty insurance company, based in Richmond, Va., recently became certified to write business on a surplus lines basis for all U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Mutual Insurance Services, a Federal Way, Wash.-based managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is acquiring S. A. Freerks & Associates, a St. Louis-based managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker.

Selective Insurance Group is buying an excess and surplus lines subsidiary of Montpelier Re U.S. Holdings to provide it access to a nationally licensed platform that will improve its efficiency.

A Branchville, N.J.-based holding company announced that its subsidiary entered a renewal rights and asset purchase agreement with an Alterra Capital Holdings subsidiary to add excess and surplus lines (E&S) to its portfolio.

February’s composite rate for U.S. property-casualty insurance coverages showed a 5% decline, according to MarketScout’s monthly analysis.

A piece of President Barack Obama‘s State of the Union Address may offer hope to the property-casualty insurance industry, struggling with a soft market and limited construction projects.

Alterra Capital Holdings Ltd. renamed two of its companies, rebranding them under the same name as the holding company.

Argo Group International Holdings announced plans to merge two of its excess and surplus lines businesses, Argonaut Specialty and Colony, to form Colony Specialty.

Kinsale Capital Group, a Bermudan holding company for insurance operations, has announced the formation of a new U.S. excess and surplus lines insurance company based in Richmond, Va.