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DUAL transfers excess liability renewals to AXIS Capital
AXIS targets wholesale lower middle market firms with revenues up to $15 million, offering excess liability capacity up to $5 million within the first $25 million excess of primary.
Insurance Business reports that brokers placing excess liability business through DUAL North America will renew with AXIS Capital starting as the renewal rights transition begins in the coming weeks. The companies announced the transfer of renewal rights on August 5 and said they will work together through the process to limit service disruption for brokers and policyholders.
DUAL is a specialty program administrator and the specialist underwriting arm of Howden Group. Under the change, the transfer places a larger AXIS balance sheet behind the same book of business for wholesale brokers in the lower middle market.
AXIS said its wholesale lower middle market unit targets companies with revenues up to $15 million and provides excess liability capacity of up to $5 million within the first $25 million excess of primary. The story also notes that excess liability rates rose by 15% or more on average through mid-2025, according to the 2026 RPS Casualty Market Report, with social inflation, nuclear verdicts, and sustained underwriting losses driving carriers to restructure pricing and tighten limits.
For staffing, Insurance Business reports that John Kopach, executive vice president of DUAL Excess Liability, will join AXIS as head of the wholesale lower middle market unit, based in Atlanta and reporting to Mike McKenna. The outlet also notes AXIS lower middle market is a stated strategic priority identified in its 2025 SEC filings, and that in Q2 2026 gross premiums written in AXIS' insurance segment rose 15%, with the lower middle market unit among contributing factors.