July 2007/2

Companies who think more astutely about managing their risk exposures will reduce the volatility in the cost of financing risk, according to a report by broker Marsh.

Hannover Re is to open a branch office in Bahrain to support the (re)takaful business it opened in the kingdom last year.

Lloyd’s listed company Amlin plc became the latest insurer to obtain greater control of its distribution networks when it acquired the underwriting agency Allied Cedar Insurance Group last week.

US insurer The Travelers Cos announced last week it has settled one its largest asbestos cases for a total of $449mn.

Insurers are electing to retain more risk, which is fuelling greater competition among reinsurers, according to Willis Re’s review of the mid-year renewals published last week.

Forecaster Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) has lowered its prediction for the North Atlantic hurricane season from 55 percent above the norm to 40 percent.

Bermudian (re)insurer Validus Holdings said last week it expects to raise around $311mn in net proceeds assuming an offer price of $25 in its forthcoming initial public offering (IPO).

Relations between Catlin Group Ltd and AM Best appear to have thawed with the Bermuda-headquartered (re)insurer welcoming the agency’s move to assign ratings to its US admitted lines operation, and upgrade Catlin Specialty Insurance Company (CSIC).

On the eve of publication of the European Commission (EC) Solvency II directive, (re)insurance groups and niche players are set to benefit from the proposed capital changes, but mid-sized, generalist companies may lose out, according to accounting firm P

The scale of the UK’s flood damage is now likely to cost the insurance industry more than £1.5bn, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Lloyd’s members’ agent Hampden Agencies Ltd is set to derail the proposed merger of AIM-listed insurer Heritage Underwriting Agency plc’s syndicates, after it recommended that Names reject the plan.

Liechtenstein-based liability insurer Gable Insurance had its shares suspended from the AIM stock exchange at 16p after missing the deadline to post its audited results for 2006.