Starr International Company Inc. is expanding its efforts to make its accident and health business a global operation.
Starr, New York, is part of a family of companies led by Maurice Greenberg, the former chairman of American International Group Inc., New York (NYSE:AIG).
Earlier this year, Starr announced it had hired Edward Navarro, who previously was global head of accident and health at Zurich Financial Services, Zurich, to help the company’s group benefits unit do more business in Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Starr now has acquired Assist-Card International Holdings S.A. (Assist-Card), a travel and emergency services firm that was founded in 1972.
The company has service providers in 107 countries and sells its services to about 7 million travelers per year.
Assist-Card recently organized the rescue of Ignacio Javier Lucero, an Argentinean mountain climber, who suffered a heart attack while climbing the Himalayas in Nepal. Assist-Card helped get Lucero to Katmandu for medical treatment.
Starr is not saying how much it is paying for Assist-Card, but it says Alexia Keglevich will continue to be the firm’s chief executive officer.
PLAIN VANILLA GETS COMPLICATED
The Employers Council of Flexible Compensation, Washington, will hold a Web seminar Jan. 11 on the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (2010) health coverage reporting requirements on the 2011 Form W-2 tax form.