March 2005/2

Listed Lloyd’s insurer Amlin rode a year dominated by record industry natural catastrophe losses to register year-on-year improvements in its earnings per share and combined ratio for 2004.

Benfield Group Ltd posted flat trading profits and a slide in revenue last week while outlining a strategy to grow its primary operations in response to the turmoil facing the US insurance industry.

Hank Greenberg may be set to stun the insurance industry by stepping down from his post as chief executive of the world’s largest insurance company American International Group (AIG).

But viaticals and bail bonds continue to pose questions... GoshawK has announced a post-tax $3mn loss for 2004 in its full year results – with claims of $40mn from Q3 hurricanes and other catastrophes blamed as the main reason for the losses.

FSA chief executive John Tiner may turn the regulatory spotlight on finite reinsurance in the UK, it emerged last week.

The sentencing of flamboyant insurance executive Michael Segal was postponed from 6 April to 29 June last week under a motion approved by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings has agreed to sell around half of its share in AXIS Capital, the Bermudian (re)insurer it helped found in the wake of 9/11.

As UK insurer Royal & Sun Alliance (R&SA) continues the hunt for a solution for its discontinued operations in the US, it revealed last week that it also plans to sell part of its ongoing business with the divestment of its non-standard auto unit.

Bermuda-headquartered London listed insurer Catlin last week (11 March) announced record premium and profit figures for 2004, despite the year’s record hurricane losses. The company booked gross premiums of $1.43bn, a 20 percent increase on 2003’s $1.2

Lloyd's has settled its £500mn Central Fund dispute with its six reinsurers, following the second phase of its arbitration tribunal, for a total of £152mn.

Insider Week’s sister publication The Insurance Insider is sponsoring a series of free briefings on the UK regulatory compliance landscape during April.

Specialist insurer Markel International has set its sights on continental Europe, announcing last week that it will open an office in Spain. Markel International España will be based in Madrid and will focus initially on Professional Indemnity and Dir