Claims Business: Davies, Liberty Mutual, EFI Global and

Davies, an international claims management provider based in London, continued its expansion in the United States with acquisition of SKWeston & Co and IAS Claim Services.

SKW, headquartered in Towson, Maryland, has been re-branded to carry the Davies name and was folded into the firm’s consulting and technology business led by Chief Executive Officer Mark Grocott. Steve Weston, managing partner for SKW, and other management team members will continue to lead the company’s day-to-day operations.

IAS, based in San Antonio, Texas, specializes in property, commercial, catastrophe and large loss claims using a network of independent adjusters serving all 50 states. Walter Leddy, IAS’ CEO and the existing management team will continue to lead the day to day operations and the wider team will continue in their roles within Davies, the company said.

Davies began been aggressively acquiring affiliates worldwide after BC Partners signed a deal to take a majority state in the business in March. The company employs 4,500 in the United Kingdom, United States, Bermuda, Canada and Ireland.

Liberty Mutual Insurance has teamed up with Accuweather to warn customers when their vehicles are threatened by oncoming hailstorms.

The carrier said auto insurance customers in 21 states may op in to its free service, which sends a text message when hail is forced in their area. The hail alert program was developed by Liberty Mutual’s innovation center, Solaria Labs.

Liberty Mutual said 44% of respondents to a recent survey indicate that they had used the service to move their car to a safe location when alerted about an approaching hail storm.

Hail produced more than 2.8 million insurance claims from 2017-2019, according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau review of Insurance Services Office claims data. In 2020 alone, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration recorded more than 4,600 major hailstorms.

Liberty Mutual offers Hail Alerts in in Ala., Ark., Colo., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Minn., Mo., Miss., Mont., N.D., Neb., N.M., Okla., S.D., Texas, Tenn., and Wyo.

EFI Global, a division of Sedgwick that specializes in forensic engineering, environmental claims and fire investigations, has acquired Synergy Forensic Engineering.

Synergy operates a metallurgical laboratory in Milwaukee. Purchase of the company augments Tampa-based EFI’s expertise in electrical fire analysis, electrical/mechanical analysis, mechanical failure analysis and material/image analysis, the company said in a press release.

“The firm provides high-quality forensic analysis services that uncover the root cause of electrical, mechanical, environmental, material and metallurgical engineering problems,” Sedgwick said in a press release.

GTCR, a Chicago-based investment house, announced that it has purchased Global Claim Services, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

GCS uses proprietary databases and custom applications to provide cost-containment solutions to the property and casualty insurance industry, GTCR said in a press release. The company assess damaged flooring, roofing, siding and cabinetry. It also provides temporary housing for policyholders who have lost use of their homes.

Chief Executive Officer Bob Logan and the management team at GCS will continue on with the company.

GTCR said GCS’ “mobile-first” products and databases provide insurance companies with decision support tools for property claims. The company serves all of the top 100 carriers in the U.S. and the top 30 carriers in Canada.