Autonomous trucking collaboration is expanding. Bot Auto announced Thursday a strategic partnership with Ryan Transportation to launch driverless autonomous freight operations. The Houston-based autonomous trucking and technology company and the Overland Park, Kansas-based top 20 freight brokerage will launch driverless autonomous freight operations between Houston and Dallas. The release notes that Ryan Transportation has emerged as a pioneering brokerage partner willing to showcase the viability of aut ...

Core Insights - Marsh Risk has launched Nimbus Casualty, an insurance facility aimed at providing excess general liability coverage during the construction phase of digital infrastructure projects in the US [1][2] - The facility offers coverage capacity of up to $75 million, with a minimum attachment point of $25 million, and is backed by A+ rated insurers from Lloyd's and the London market [1][2] - The introduction of Nimbus Casualty is part of Marsh Risk's strategy to address the complexities and challenges faced by clients in the US casualty market, particularly those involved in large-scale digital infrastructure projects [2][3] Coverage and Features - Nimbus Casualty employs Marsh Risk's proprietary XSellence excess casualty form, which simplifies claims handling and enhances coverage clarity [2] - The facility is designed to provide clients with the necessary advice and coverage certainty to protect their digital infrastructure investments effectively [3] Market Context and Financial Performance - The launch of Nimbus Casualty follows the extension of Marsh Risk's Nimbus facility, which supports large-scale data center construction with coverage limits of up to $2.7 billion for various insurance types [3] - In the fourth quarter of 2025, Marsh Risk reported an increase of $3.7 billion in revenues, marking a 10% growth compared to the same period in 2024 [4]

Trisura Group (OTCPK:TRRS.F) Fireside chat February 19, 2026 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsDavid Clare - CEOConference Call ParticipantsDoug Young - Managing Director and Senior Equity AnalystOperatorGood morning, everyone, and we apologize for the delay this morning. Thank you for joining us on today's call with David Clare, CEO of Trisura Group, and Doug Young, Bank and Insurance analyst at Desjardins. A quick reminder before we begin, as attendees, you are in listen-only mode. You will be able to submi ...

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, today announced that Michael Lewis has been promoted to President, Marsh Risk Canada, effective April 1. In this role, Mr. Lewis will lead the strategic development and execution of Marsh Risk's Canada commercial strategy, which encompasses its risk management, corporate and commercial client segments, risk consulting services, and specialty insuran. ...

Core Insights - US employees are increasingly choosing to remain with their current employers amid economic uncertainty and AI-related anxieties, presenting an opportunity for companies to foster long-term loyalty [1][2] Economic Pressures - Economic volatility is a significant concern, with 70% of US employees reporting increased financial stress due to inflation and market fluctuations [1] - The leading unmet needs among employees include covering monthly expenses, job security, retirement readiness, and work-life balance [1] - Short-term financial pressures have eased, with fewer employees reducing discretionary spending (38%, down from 51% in 2023) and tapping into savings (32%, down from 37% in 2023) [1] Pay and Benefits - Pay remains the strongest driver for both attraction (37%) and retention (32%), with healthcare benefits as the second most important factor [1] - More than 40% of candidates would not apply for jobs without disclosed pay ranges, indicating a shift towards pay transparency as a baseline expectation [1] AI Adoption and Employee Sentiment - Despite recognizing AI's potential, many employees are anxious about its impact on job security, with 53% believing new technology will affect their job security [1] - Only about 25% of employees regularly use AI tools, highlighting uneven adoption across industries, particularly in retail and healthcare [1] Industry Variations - Employee experiences vary significantly across industries, with lower-income and hourly workers facing heightened financial and mental health challenges [1] - High-tech and financial services sectors report stronger engagement, particularly among on-site workers and those with five to ten years of tenure [1] Flexibility and Engagement - Nearly 78% of employees can fully utilize their paid vacation time, and 70% feel that paid time off supports their mental health and family care needs [1] - Employee engagement remains high, with 73% not seriously considering leaving their organization, an increase from 68% in 2023 [1] Conditional Commitment - Employees are recommitting to their employers but with conditions, closely monitoring internal job postings and development opportunities [2]

Core Insights - The report highlights a significant turnover risk due to underutilization of employee skills, indicating that many employees do not foresee a long-term future with their current employer if their capabilities are not fully realized [3][4]. Group 1: Employee Sentiment and Turnover - 67% of surveyed U.S. adults would leave their company within a year if their skills remain underused, with nearly half considering departure within six months, including 17% who would leave in less than three months [4]. - A majority of employees (69%) feel their skills are not fully realized in their current roles, which can lead to stalled career growth, disengagement, and increased turnover [8]. - 77% of respondents indicated that not being utilized to their full potential has hindered their career progression, suggesting a strong correlation between skill underutilization and job dissatisfaction [8]. Group 2: Leadership and Organizational Insight - 80% of employees believe that leaders either do not recognize the lack of opportunities for employees to reach their full potential or are aware but fail to take action [5]. - Many organizations lack a comprehensive understanding of their employees' strengths, resulting in roles that do not align with individual capabilities, which can lead to feelings of being overlooked [6]. - Ineffective leadership has been identified as the primary people risk for U.S. companies, with concerns raised about the ability of leaders to develop and deploy talent effectively based on skills [7].

Group 1: Core Offering - Cowbell has launched its Prime One cyber insurance program in the Australian market, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with annual revenues of up to A$100 million [1] - The insurance policies are underwritten by Zurich Australian Insurance, combining Zurich's financial strength with Cowbell's technology-driven underwriting and claims processes [1] Group 2: Coverage and Features - The coverage offers limits of up to A$5 million per claim and utilizes an AI model to assess each client's cyber risks [2] - Each Prime One policy includes access to Cowbell's resilience resources, which aim to enhance cybersecurity preparedness before incidents occur [2] - Cowbell Factors provides AI-based risk assessments tailored to individual businesses, while Cowbell Insights offers specific recommendations based on the organization's risk profile [2] Group 3: Additional Services and Leadership - Cowbell Resiliency Services offers guidance on micro penetration testing, cybersecurity training, vendor risk management, and connections to trusted cybersecurity providers through the Cowbell Rx marketplace [3] - Anthony Wall has been appointed as head of underwriting for the local operation, bringing experience from AIG, Munich Re, and Chubb [3] - Alric Lal has been named head of business development for Australia, with a background from UBT, Marsh, and Aon [4] Group 4: Strategic Partnerships and Vision - Cowbell's partnership with Zurich aims to provide Australian organizations with a reliable foundation for cyber resilience, supported by continuous underwriting and risk intelligence [5] - Cowbell's CEO, Jack Kudale, emphasized that cyber protection should be straightforward, instilling confidence in businesses [4]

Marsh has reported net income attributable to the company of $821m for the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 2025), a 4.2% increase compared to $788m in the same period last year. Revenue for the three months ending 31 December 2025 reached $6.6bn, an 8.7% rise over the previous year’s quarter. Operating income increased by 6.7%, standing at $1.2bn. Notably, as part of previously announced brand restructuring, Marsh has begun reporting results for what was formerly referred to as the Marsh business under a ne ...

Core Viewpoint - Marsh (MRSH) reported quarterly earnings of $2.12 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.97 per share, and showing an increase from $1.87 per share a year ago [1] Financial Performance - The earnings surprise for the quarter was +7.61%, with the company having surpassed consensus EPS estimates in all four of the last quarters [2] - Marsh's revenues for the quarter reached $6.6 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.18%, compared to $6.07 billion in the same quarter last year [3] Stock Performance and Outlook - Marsh shares have declined approximately 4% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 1.9% [4] - The company's earnings outlook is crucial for investors, with current consensus EPS estimates for the upcoming quarter at $3.22 on revenues of $7.4 billion, and for the current fiscal year at $10.26 on revenues of $28.17 billion [8] Industry Context - The Business - Services industry, to which Marsh belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 29% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [9]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for European M&A activity, expecting continued momentum into 2026, with a strong case for consolidation across various sectors [3][4][6]. Core Insights - European M&A deal value increased by 12% in 2025, reaching approximately $820 billion, driven by a shift in investor asset allocation towards Europe [3]. - Corporate profitability in Europe has risen by 50% from pre-2008 levels, yet many companies remain sub-scale, indicating a strong need for acquisitions to build capabilities [5]. - A robust pipeline of announced but uncompleted deals, along with favorable capital availability and regulatory conditions, suggests sustained M&A activity in 2026 [6]. Summary by Relevant Sections 1. Banking Sector - European banking M&A has seen a doubling in deal volumes since 2020, driven by restored profitability and regulatory support for consolidation [13]. - Banks are expected to generate over $500 billion in excess capital above regulatory minima over the next three years, which will be increasingly deployed in M&A [15]. 2. Asset Management - The asset and wealth management sector is facing consolidation due to profit margin pressures, with predictions of a 20% reduction in the number of asset managers by 2030 [17]. - M&A activity is expected to intensify, with 100 to 200 transactions anticipated annually in Europe [19]. 3. Telecommunications - The European telecom market is maturing, necessitating M&A for value-accretive deals amid high investment needs for 5G and fiber [20]. - The average EU operator has about 5 million subscribers, compared to 107 million in the US, highlighting the need for consolidation [20]. 4. Defense Sector - Military spending in Europe is projected to grow at approximately 9% annually through 2030, leading to increased demand for production capabilities [23]. - M&A is shifting towards acquiring production capabilities, with a focus on modernizing technical advantages [25]. 5. Logistics - The logistics sector is prioritizing transformative M&A strategies to address e-commerce growth and traditional mail network contraction [28]. - Acquirers are focusing on contract logistics and technology capabilities as core to deal value capture [31]. 6. Pharmaceuticals - Pharma dealmaking is becoming essential as companies face patent expirations and pipeline gaps, with a focus on high-value assets [33]. - Transaction activity is expected to be dominated by selective, de-risked acquisitions and structured deals to manage valuation risks [36]. 7. Chemicals - The chemical industry is leveraging M&A to refocus portfolios on specialty segments and secure cash flow amid economic challenges [37]. - Larger transactions are aimed at building global platforms and enhancing sustainability efforts [39]. 8. Insurance - M&A activity in the insurance sector is driven by private equity consolidation, accounting for about 90% of transactions by volume [42]. - The report anticipates continued acquisitions of specialty underwriting franchises by strategic buyers [45]. 9. Private Equity - European corporates hold approximately €2.6 trillion in cash, creating opportunities for trade buyers of private equity-backed assets [48]. - In 2026, over 1,500 European PE-backed assets, representing $760 billion in enterprise value, could potentially come to market [49]. 10. Portfolio Rebalancing - Portfolio rebalancing is becoming a core theme in European M&A as companies respond to economic headwinds and high capital costs [56]. - One-third of European corporates deliver returns below their cost of capital, indicating a need for divestitures of non-core assets [56].