XL Insurance, the global underwriting operations of XL Capital Ltd., and American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd., a specialised program administrator, have announced a new joint underwriting agreement to provide the Wholesalers' Insurance Program(R) the WIP(R) - a comprehensive insurance program for the durable and non-durable goods wholesale distribution industry.

John Hartman, XL Insurance's chief underwriting officer of programs, said: "XL Insurance values industry expertise. In this new underwriting agreement, that is exactly what American Wholesalers Underwriting brings to the table. With their experienced staff and thorough industry knowledge, they have carved out a 'best in class' approach to service the wholesale distributors' insurance needs. We are looking forward to a long-term relationship that will yield strong results for us as well as the customers we'll serve together."

American Wholesalers Underwriting president Ken Lewis: "We are very excited to be working with XL Insurance. We both value technical underwriting expertise and loss prevention that can help our clients manage their risk exposures effectively.

"WIP is a recognised program in this industry. Over the years, we have tailored and streamlined the underwriting, policy servicing, accounting and claims processing to specifically address issues that are unique to wholesalers."

WIP is a national insurance program designed to meet the needs of the durable, non-durable, and food distribution industries. These industries encompass a broad scope of Standard Industrial Classifications ranging from 5,000 to 5,199, including motor vehicle supplies, industrial supplies and equipment, material handling equipment, metal services, electrical and plumbing, hardware, and food and beverage distributors.

The program provides property, inland marine, auto, general liability, workers compensation and umbrella coverage with numerous industry specific extensions. Available in all 50 states, coverages and limits are tailored to meet individual distributor's specific risk management needs. The program will be provided by XL's Greenwich Insurance Company and its affiliates, licensed to write property and casualty insurance throughout the US.