February 2006/2

Bermudian reinsurer PXRE has lost its crucial A- (Excellent) financial strength rating following its downgrading to B++ (Very Good) by ratings agency AM Best today (17 February).

London-based broking proposition Oxygen Holdings plc has lured a senior duo from Aon to join former Marsh executives in creating a specialist broking team. Craig Kingaby, the former head of international property, energy and casualty at Aon...

French reinsurers SCOR and AXA Re – the reinsurance arm of insurance giant AXA – were linked last week following an article in Les Echos. The potential acquisition of AXA Re would give SCOR further scale while...

Following the weeks of turmoil between American International Group (AIG) and the Hank Greenberg controlled Starr agencies, AIG has overhauled the management team of its aviation unit. Long-serving AIG executive David Hupp has replaced...

Only a month after Lloyd’s unveiled an ambitious three-year strategic plan, the Corporation has parted company with its head of business strategy as of last week. Since joining Lloyd’s in 2003, Stuart Degg led the development of Lloyd’s...

SVB, the Lloyd’s based insurer wrestling with its legacy of US professional liability (re)insurance losses, revealed bold plans on the 10 February to form a new UK-based insurance company while finally dealing with its back-year losses.

Bermudian (re)insurer Max Re reported an $11.4mn or 20 cents a share, fourth quarter net loss and a full-year net profit of $6.7mn, or 13 cents a share for 2005, primarily as a result of a $129.7mn loss development on a prior-year contract.

A $313.9mn net negative impact from Hurricane Wilma hit Renaissance Re’s fourth quarter results with the Bermudian reinsurer reporting a $206.9mn operating loss. For the full year RenRe announced an operating loss of $274.5mn, down from an income...

Broker Willis reported profits of $300mn for 2005, down 30 percent from $427mn the previous year on higher costs and the loss of so-called Placement Service Agreements, or contingent commissions.

Analysts were divided in their reaction to the January renewal season advice that Hannover Re released last Tuesday (7 February) with a EUR11 difference in price targets set on its stock. The German reinsurer summed up this year’s renewal season...

Ewen Gilmour, the chief executive of quoted Lloyd’s insurer Chaucer plc, is set to become the next deputy chairman of Lloyd’s when the Society’s ruling body, the Lloyd’s Council, meet later this week.

Martin Sullivan, the chief executive of insurance giant American International Group (AIG) heralded last week’s $1.64bn regulatory settlement as “a major step forward in resolving the legal and regulatory issues facing AIG”.