December 2006/1

Lloyd’s insurer Hardy Underwriting announced an improved forecast for the 2005 year of account of its managed Syndicate 382 on 29 November.

Colorado-based managing agency ICAT Holdings LLC has entered into a sidecar-style agreement with the Lloyd’s reinsurer Syncro Ltd for its new Lloyd’s syndicate.

Brit Insurance Holdings plc announced last week the renewal of its contract with satellite operator Telesat Canada to supply technical advice and support for its space underwriting activities.

Three US state attorney generals have written to (re)insurers telling them that they must end special commissions to agents and brokers as agreed in an earlier settlement.

Benfield Group has gained $19.5mn from the sale of its “Class of 2005” reinsurer Lancashire Holdings last week.

Aon Corp announced that it had completed the sales of its Aon Warranty Group (AWG) and Construction Program Group (CPG) on 30 November.

A team of Heath Lambert management risks brokers – led by Calvin Barnes - have defected to the expanding Oxygen Holdings plc.

Willis Group Holdings Limited is to lose a member of its senior management as the broker confirmed that Tom Colraine is to leave the firm after 18 years.

Private equity giant 3i Group plc has hired a team led by Bruce Carnegie-Brown, the former Marsh executive who left the firm suddenly in May this year.

Hiscox plc has become the first Lloyd’s insurer to carry out a sidecar transaction, confirming its Syndicate 33 has entered into a quota share reinsurance arrangement with $360mn Bermudian reinsurance vehicle Panther Re, a deal first revealed in the Octob

Shares in the Lloyd’s based (re)insurer Amlin plc have climbed to a new high of 314p on the London Stock Exchange as the company gave another upbeat trading statement last week.

Lockton International, the former international operations of insurance broker Alexander Forbes, has swooped for the head of Marsh’s financial and professional lines operations, Neil Nimmo.