January 2007/3

Marsh Inc has been awarded China’s first Wholly-Owned Foreign Enterprise (WOFE) insurance broking license, it announced yesterday (22 January).

Senior management at Windsor plc, the UK-quoted insurance broker, made public the terms of their £33.7mn acquisition proposal for the firm this morning (22 January).

Hannover Re has re-visited the capital markets in order to boost its Kaith Re "K5" securitisation to $520mn and expand the reinsurer’s underwriting capacity.

Validus Holdings Ltd and Greenlight Capital Re Ltd have become the third and fourth reinsurers formed after Hurricane Katrina to confirm plans for initial public offerings (IPO).

Gallagher Re index alternative to ILWs for Cat capacity; Endurance upgraded to A by S&P; MMC Putnam deal welcomed; BMA’s fees quadruple; Max Re launches US platform...

Mitsui appoints PRO for US business; Capita in short-list for Axiom sale; Bridges appointed to Quanta board; Cane appointed Whittington Europe CEO

Markel calls for greater Franchise powers; Beazley increases capacity with Santam acquisition; Amlin Bermuda’s business increases; Aviva grows Moss; MAP launches sidecar syndicate; Lloyd’s Central Fund trial set for January 2008

Castlewood Holdings Ltd, the Bermuda headquartered run-off acquisition and consultancy firm, has bought Inter-Ocean Holdings Ltd for $57mn.

Equitas' senior executives will share a bonus pool of £10.4mn once the landmark agreement with Berkshire Hathaway is finalised, it was revealed last month.

The fate of UK insurer Royal & Sun Alliance Group plc’s (R&SA) attempt to cut itself free from its US run-off business will be decided at a public hearing later this month.

Our monthly column keeping check on US and EU legal and regulatory developments

US insurer St Paul Travelers is to terminate the payment of contingent commissions to brokers by the end of the year, according to Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal.