January 2011/4

Aon's attempts to impose a new 3.5 percent commission on London market placements are facing a wall of resistance from insurers, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Germany's third largest insurer has fought off competition from rivals such as Markel to win the auction for the Dutch insurance group BV Bloemers.

Despite widespread predictions that 2011 could be the year that finally sees a flurry of M&A on Lime Street, KBW analyst Chris Hitchings is taking a contrarian view.

As international insurers and their reinsurers seek clarification on the quantity and quantum of mining claims, the issue of business interruption that contributed the lion's share of insured losses after flooding at the start of 2008 is once again at the forefront of underwriters' minds.

Among the many unknowns in evaluating the ultimate burden to the (re)insurance industry of the Queensland flooding of recent weeks is the impact on the mining sector and those that insure it.

With state premier Anna Bligh announcing an independent Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland flood disaster last week, attention is focusing on the role of the private insurance sector in the state.

Bermudian headquartered reinsurance group Endurance Specialty Holdings has bought out founding activist shareholder Perry Corp in a $321.5mn transaction.

Our Aon Carrier Charge story (see page 9) shows that the juggernaut issue of enhanced broker commissions continues to rumble, ruffling feathers and provoking sideways glances wherever it goes.

Munich Re has the highest reinsurance market share in Australia and has significantly expanded its book of business over the last two years.