Stop press...Charity product

Charity productSpecialist charity broker MCIS and insurer Hiscox have launched a household insurance policy aimed at charity trustees. MCIS said it recognised that charity trustees represented a safer risk to insurers and approached Hiscox with the aim of developing a suitable household product.

Wellington growthWellington Underwriting will expand into US speciality business. The move follows its proposed acquisition of AXA Corporate Solutions Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Company.

Helphire officesThe Helphire Group has opened a branch in Newcastle, bringing its total number of UK regional offices to 15. The company said it had a further five branches due to open before the end of the year. Rupert Llewellyn has been appointed as managing director, with responsibility for overseeing the group's national network of branches.

BDML awardedBDML has been named the 'best management team' in the Sunday Times Fast Track Awards, winning from a list of 100 companies. Earlier this year the company was placed 24th in the Fast Track league table for growing companies, and third in the Profit Track league table of fastest growing profits.

Marsh stress pleaMarsh has urged senior risk managers to lead from the front when it comes to dealing with stress at work. According to a recent Marsh survey of 950 companies in Western Europe, 52% of respondents said staff absenteeism and turnover were a significant threat to their businesses.Standard & Poor's has affirmed the AA- long-term counterparty credit, insurer financial strength, and insurer financial enhancement ratings for Allianz Risk Transfer (ART). At the same time, the company affirmed the A-1+ short-term counterparty credit rating on ART. It removed the ratings from CreditWatch, but said the outlook for all the ratings was negative.