August 2011/3

UK-based (re)insurer Brit Insurance may make up to 100 staff redundant as it looks to outsource back-office services, The Insurance Insider understands. This comes just four months after new private equity owners CVC and Apollo took control of the company.

Crawford appointed E&Y global insurance leader; Fitch upgrades Louisiana Citizens debt; Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford appoints first Group CIO; Another day, another legal merger; Ironshore launches commercial crime unit; Ironshore launches commercial crime unit; Kane opens Vermont captive

Davis Selected Advisors - the Arizona-based fund that will play a decisive role in the race for Transatlantic Re - has filed with the New York Insurance Department to lift voting restrictions on its holding in the US reinsurer

Since we wrote last week the three-way tussle for Transatlantic Re has moved on apace. In précis, in the last few days the Transatlantic board has agreed to talks with Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary National Indemnity while the other bidders reached for their lawyers.

It's been a tough week or so for London. Whether it's riots on the streets or panic in the City, there have been a lot of fires to put out. Yet London's insurance sector remains resiliently well placed to lead the market's recovery