Sands Point Risk, a multi-program managing general agency platform, has acquired Launch Environmental Underwriters, a provider of environmental general liability insurance.
Jersey City, New Jersey-based Launch focuses on complex risks across the energy, infrastructure, construction, chemical, mergers and acquisition, and industrial sectors.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Stamford, Connecticut-based Sands Point said Launch will serve as the cornerstone of its environmental practice.
Sands Point Risk was itself launched in 2024 to serve the transaction liability insurance sector with the support of private equity firm Avesi Partners.
Dennis Kearns, who founded the transaction risk program at DUAL, is chief executive officer of Sands Point. Dan Simnowitz and Patrick Darragh, who were also part of the DUAL’s transaction program leadership team, are executive vice presidents at Sands Point.
With the addition of Launch, Sands Point said its combined gross written premium (GWP) will exceed $250 million in just two years.
“This transaction not only accelerates that momentum but also underscores Sand Point’s strength and its appeal to complementary organizations and individuals seeking to join our platform,” said Kearns.
Tampa-based HCI Group, now in its 20th year and its 18th year as a publicly traded company, reported a healthy profit for the first quarter of 2026 and significant growth in premium across most of its property/casualty insurance firms.
“HCI Group had an excellent start to 2026, delivering record first quarter results for earned premiums, net income and earnings per share,” HCI Group Chairman and CEO Paresh Patel said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The group reported net income of $85 million for Q1. That’s down significantly from the $108 million for Q4 2025 but up from the first quarter of 2025.
HCI reported modest to strong first-quarter growth in gross premiums earned for three of its insurance carriers: Homeowners Choice, TypTap Insurance, and Tailrow Insurance Exchange. A fourth insurer, Condo Owners Reciprocal Exchange, saw gross premium earned drop sharply from Q1 2025. It was the second straight quarterly drop in premium for the condo insurer, also known as CORE.