Specialty D&O refers to a segment of the D&O market where a greater amount of expertise is utilized to underwrite risks within specific industries, such as technology and life sciences. It also refers to the underwriting of higher risk events or transactions common to all industries. A few examples include:

General Commercial D&O refers to all publicly traded companies that do not fall within the Specialty D&O segment and are not financial service companies or financial institutions.

Side A Coverage is available for consideration for both specialty and general commercial D&O accounts.

Hooghuis, Inc. was incorporated on July 8, 1996. Immediately thereafter, it entered into an underwriting management agreement with the John Deere Insurance Company (through its Rock River Insurance Co. subsidiary) to underwrite directors and officers liability insurance (“D&O”) on an exclusive worldwide basis. The D&O program was administered through John Deere Specialty Managers in Farmington, Connecticut (“JDSM”). JDSM was a semi-autonomous business unit within the John Deere Insurance Group established in 1994 to compete in specialty lines. The Hooghuis, Inc. program was one of seven managed by JDSM.

On September 30, 1999 the entire John Deere Insurance Group was purchased by Sentry Insurance, a Mutual Company (“Sentry”). Afterward, JDSM changed their name to “Sentry Specialty Managers” (“SSM”). For Hooghuis, Inc. and their customers it was a seamless transaction. Business continued at SSM without interruption. One year later, Sentry decided to discontinue their SSM operation. Immediately thereafter, Hooghuis, Inc. was provided with four months (120 days) notice to replace Sentry as their carrier. In the interim Hooghuis, Inc. continued to write business. There was never a moment that Hooghuis could not serve its customers.

Hooghuis, Inc. believes that its ability to replace Sentry with a D&O market leader was a strong vote of confidence in their program. Hooghuis, Inc. writes D&O on behalf of Syndicate 1218 at Lloyd’s of London. Their managing agency is Newline Underwriting Management, Ltd. (“Newline” or the “Newline Syndicate”). Newline is 100% owned by Odyssey Re Holding Corp., a NYSE listed company under the symbol “ORH” (“OdysseyRe”). OdysseyRe is a leading U.S. based underwriter of reinsurance providing a full range of property and casualty products on a worldwide basis.