Zurich Unit Accepts New Biz for Some in Midwest

Zurich North America Commercial announced that its new Zurich Integrated Products unit is accepting new business submissions from agents and brokers in several Midwestern states for commercial customers in the small-to-middle market segments.

Zurich launched this new unit to fill a commercial insurance need for businesses generating between $5 million and $25 million in annual revenues. Submissions are now being accepted for new business policies effective Oct. 1 from distributors in Zurich's North Central region -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The new unit offers a core package of auto, general liability, property, workers’ compensation and umbrella, with the ability to integrate specialty lines such as directors & officers, employment practices liability insurance, crime and fiduciary. This integrated product offering –– will help Zurich’s distributors better respond to customers in this growing segment while keeping transactional costs in line. Through Zurich Integrated Products, customers reportedly now have access to a broader range of products and services and a streamlined, easy-to-administer program appropriate for companies that typically do not have staff dedicated to risk management.

Zurich Integrated Products' offerings will reportedly enable distributors to target companies in the manufacturing, artisan contractors, finance, retail, wholesale and services industries that fall between the traditional definitions of “small” and “middle market.”

In the first quarter of 2009, Zurich is scheduled to begin writing renewal business in the North Central region. Following this region’s launch, other regions will follow on a rolling schedule until nationwide operations are in place in the third quarter of 2009.