National
Under writer
THE LEADER IN PROPERTY & CASUALTY NEWS
January 10, 2011
VOL. 115, nO. 2
$5.00
NASA/Commercial Partnerships
Bring Opportunities
Page 17
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Recent High M&A Deal
Level Unlikely To Continue
The high number of mergers and acquisi-
tions announced since December 2010
does not foreshadow an active year ahead,
according to a consultant who believes the
rate of broker deals over the past five weeks
will not be sustained. E Page 6
Private Market Should Insure
Both Wind & Flood, ABA Says
The American Bankers Association is call-
ing for “wholesale” overhaul of the National
Flood Insurance Program. E Page 7
Allstate Sues Countrywide Over
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Allstate Insurance filed a federal lawsuit
against Countrywide Financial Corp. late
last month, seeking damages related to its
purchases of more than $700 million in
mortgage-backed securities. E Page 8
Accounting Changes Could Make
Radical Difference For Insurers
Proposed changes in U.S. accounting
standards aimed at bringing them in line
with those used by European firms would
increase earning volatility for insurers, according to an investment firm. E Page 10
Market Active Despite Multiple 2010 Disasters Increasing Cancellation Risks See page 12. Event Insurers See Potential Losses
BREAK-UP INSURANCE
Specialty Coverage For Divorce
Expenses Unveiled
Page 18
