Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh made history on Friday night, becoming the second-fastest player in the team's history to reach 100 career strikeouts. This milestone adds to the impressive start to his Major League career, as he and teammate Brady Singer are proving to be key players for the Royals' rotation both now and in the future. Marsh's strong performance against the Orioles, including a 5 2/3 scoreless innings and 12 whiffs on 40 swings, speaks to how he has been able to slow down the game and learn from his previous starts.
Host Kym Marsh shares her personal connection to the annual Mariposa Ball, which honors those affected by baby loss. This year's event held a special significance due to a recent law change recognizing the grief of parents who lose a child before 24 weeks. The victory was a result of a decade-long campaign by the Mariposa Trust founders and CEOs, with support from Kym as the charity's ambassador. The lively atmosphere at the ball was a mix of celebration and emotion, as they finally felt their loss recognized and validated. Kym also reflects on her own experience with baby loss and the impact it has had on her family.
Despite a decrease in mergers and acquisitions due to economic and geopolitical challenges, Marsh saw its third busiest year in terms of transactional risk insurance placements. The demand for R&W cover and other transactional risk policies remained strong, with Marsh placing nearly $50 billion in limits across 1,200 deals. The market also saw declines in pricing for primary layer R&W insurance, a shift in Marsh's client base composition, and an increase in insurance underwriting capacity in Asia and the Pacific. Claims activity also saw an increase in North America and EMEA.
Despite challenging global economic conditions, Marsh reported a third consecutive record-setting year for transactional risk insurance. The report highlights the growth and resilience of the market, with representation and warranties (R&W) cover becoming increasingly popular in various industries. Although there was a decline in M&A activity worldwide, Marsh was able to place $49 billion limits on over 2,000 policies, with a notable increase in corporate/strategic insureds. The market also saw a softening in pricing and significant capacity available, leading to a notable uptick in claims activity in North America and EMEA.