January 2008/1

Insurance specialists Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP (EAPD) and London-based Kendall Freeman have completed their merger.

US insurer Chubb Corp has confirmed it will redomicile its European holding company from Brussels to London, as revealed by The Insurance Insider last year.

Another equity analyst increased the pressure on reinsurance intermediary Benfield Group's share price by lowering its forecasts and reiterating a SELL recommendation on the company’s stock last week.

Swiss-headquartered reinsurer Glacier Re is poised to launch a London underwriting platform later this year to write insurance business, Insider Week can reveal.

Marsh Inc made its second management reshuffle in a matter of months last week as new CEO Dan Glaser stamped his authority on the ailing broking giant with an organisational restructure to "improve efficiencies".

A duo of proposed special purpose syndicates (SPS) to provide quota share reinsurance to Ark Syndicate 4020 and Hiscox Syndicate 33 respectively have gone live for the 2008 year, Insider Week can reveal.

Recently listed UK run-off firm Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings (R&Q) has appointed ex-Wellington executive John O'Neill as chief operating officer of its UK Insurance Services Division.

Fast growing QBE is to expand its US presence after signing an agreement to acquire North Pointe Holdings Corporation for $146mn.

The new version of the German Insurance Contract Law came into force on 1 January 2008 placing more emphasis on consumer rights and information.

US broker Arthur J Gallagher & Co has acquired AVRECO, a managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker based in Chicago from The Park Group.

US financial services firm State Street Corp's decision to establish a $618mn fund to cover sub-prime related lawsuits has set alarm bells ringing among directors' and officers' (D&O) insurers offering defence costs coverage.

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) has once again returned to the capital markets with a $496mn continuation of the Redwood series of cat bonds.