March 2004/1

Insurers are pleased with initial developments as faults appear in arguments of WTC leaseholder Silverstein and broker Willis WTC leaseholder Silverstein Properties and reinsurer Swiss Re finally made it to court last month to decide whether the 9/11 a

Aon's 2003 results were broadly in line with analysts' expectations, with net earnings growing by more than a third and positive work done on de-leveraging the balance sheet with more debt being repaid early. But despite this progress, operating earnings

ZFS impresses, but rating agencies reserve judgment A year after booking a record $3.36bn loss blighted by equity write-downs, restructuring costs and reserve charges, Swiss giant Zurich Financial Services (ZFS) announced a return to a healthy $2.12bn ne

Willis Group finished 2003 with a healthy organic growth of 15 percent for the year as it revealed total revenues had grown 20 percent to $2076mn. Net income for the final quarter was static at $118mn with 2002 but overall earnings almost doubled for t

AIG storms back The world's most valuable insurer AIG posted fourth quarter profits of $2.71bn, or $1.03 per share, with higher general insurance premiums and revenues contributing to the bottom line. Net income for the full year rocketed 68 percent t

London headquartered broker HLF will continue to strip away its layers by transferring its troubled Australian subsidiary Heath Lambert Australia Pty Ltd to Marsh, the world's largest broker. Traditionally a strong performer, the Australian subsidiary

In our regular monthly News Digest, we round up key stories from the last month, presenting them to you in easily digestable snippets.

Berkshire Hathaway backed Lloyd's insurer Euclidian is considering an IPO that could value the firm at between £100mn-£150mn. The insurer, which underwrites via its Lloyd's Syndicate 1243 and a personal lines, Gibraltar based subsidiary, has approached

Swiss Re withdraws controversial London market letter but concerns grow over industry's exposures to US investment banks; Lloyd's sees further deterioration; Enron to cost $30bn? Cracks are appearing in the insurance industry's resolve to cope with th

Judgment to examine whether excess of loss reinsurers can expect a 'duty of care' from direct insurers The long running Aon77 energy dispute, which has been in court since the end of 2003, is nearing resolution, with legal teams believed to be preparin

Despite delivering consensus earnings and double-digit growth, Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) saw its share price decline to close on Friday 27 February at 541p, down from 595.5p at the beginning of the month. Sellers of the stock appeared to be unnerve

Troubled French reinsurer SCOR revealed the extent events of the last few months have impacted its business prospects on 26 February, admitting 2004 gross premiums are likely to fall 29 percent in non-life and 11 percent in its life reinsurance unit. B