December 2002/1

For the first time in over a decade, private capital has increased its underwriting participation at Lloyd's - over-turning a trend which a few years ago appeared terminal.

In the nineteenth century, American railroad companies sold land to Europeans using a timeless method: fraud. Cold, inhospitable prairie was advertised as warm and fertile farmland with a year-round growing season. Badlands were billed as tropical paradis

Reserve increase likely as Equitas' parsimony threatened after arbitration ruling Equitas, the Lloyd's run-off reinsurer, may have suffered a serious blow in its strategy of fighting off asbestos claims which it believes are unwarranted, leading to fe

Expectations of 2002 year profits for Lloyd's, after several disastrous years, could push the market’s capacity over £14bn for 2003, according to ratings agency Fitch. Karen Sinden, an analyst with Leadenhall Insurance Consultants, sees this as a reali

The WTC dispute ignites again as Swiss Re strives to prevent Silverstein from appealing pro-insurer decision In a strongly worded response to Silverstein's attempts to appeal the New York Court's decision to deny summary judgment against Travelers Ind

GE’s Employers Re – unloved and up for sale “ERC does not fit GE’s business model” said General Electric chairman and chief executive Jeff Immelt on 21 November as he revealed its reinsurer would cost the company another $2bn.

Insurers have claimed JP Morgan Chase “tricked, deceived and defrauded” them into underwriting approximately $2bn of finance deals with Enron, as the much-anticipated New York federal court trial finally got underway on 2 December.

Berkshire Hathaway stake in GAUM confirmed, but joined in ownership by Munich Re and Converium AG In a move that seals his grip on the international aviation insurance sector Warren Buffett has taken a 40 percent stake in leading aviation insurer Glob

Speculation is mounting that a small Lloyd's vehicle could be the next for expansion beyond the confines of Lloyd's. Reports suggest that Creechurch Underwriting, the integrated Lloyd's vehicle, has plans to expand out of the Lloyd’s market, including

The lead story in last month's Insider focused on Aon 77, the disastrous energy lineslip placed by Aon to devastating effect in the London market. The lineslip participants - which include the Cotesworth Syndicates 535 and 228, together with 62, 187 and 1

Managing agency under pressure - Lloyd’s grant stay of execution as funding deadline extended The Lloyd's insurer Greenwich Insurance Holdings PLC, and its Syndicate 994, may close unless a last minute funding deal can be arranged that will provide th

US Government terrorism insurance backstop causes concern for non-US carriers Insurance and reinsurance companies face a period of uncertainty as they try to understand the implications of the US Terrorism Risk Insurance Act 2002, announced on 26 Nove