March 2015/1

Five of the biggest insurers in the UK are exploring the sale of books of asbestos-heavy employers' liabilities that total more than £5bn ($7.8bn) of gross liabilities, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

By marrying an international retail network to a London market specialty play and a global managing general agency (MGA), Hyperion and RK Harrison are creating something that sets the group apart from competitors, according to founding Hyperion CEO David Howden.

Chubb's latest East Lane Re bond has upsized by 11 percent to $250mn as pricing settled in the middle of initial forecasts

Floridian insurer Universal Insurance Holdings said a $19mn investment from Nephila Capital and its healthy balance sheet would enable the firm to drop its quota share reinsurance cover in the June 2015 renewals

The onshore energy market is awaiting loss estimates for the fire at Exxon Mobil's Torrance refinery in California, but underwriters said it was unlikely the loss would exceed the energy giant's $500mn retention

The major GE Electric property programme has suffered two UK factory fires in the past year, with the most recent insured loss estimated at $260mn, Inside FAC understands

The strategic process around London market broker RFIB is in its final stages and the business is expected to enter exclusivity with one of the bidders within three weeks, The Insurance Insider understands.

Besso, the independent London market broker that lost its CEO last month, has been in advanced sale talks with private bank Cantor Fitzgerald, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Aon Benfield Fac has lost both its onshore and offshore energy leaders to rivals, while further GC Fac brokers have left to join Malcolm Payton at Capsicum Re, Inside FAC revealed

John Charman's Endurance and Chinese conglomerate Fosun are among the final bidders in the delayed Montpelier Re auction process, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Limit sold for ultimate net loss (UNL) retro coverage is on course to increase by around $1bn in 2015 to an estimated $12bn, The Insurance Insider can reveal

The current scramble for consolidation in the global (re)insurance space is not something Hiscox needs to take part in due to the organic process of diversification away from high-margin property cat and big-ticket business it started 15-20 years ago, according to its CEO, Bronek Masojada.