May 2007/5

Marsh Inc has announced the creation of Marsh Oman LLC, a joint venture with the Omani business Zubair Group.

Aon Corp has announced the planned departure of its influential chief financial officer Dave Bolger, who will leave once his successor has arrived.

Lloyd's insurer Heritage Underwriting Agency plc is to add an international treaty team later this year headed by former Ascot underwriter James Braddock.

Munich Re has announced plans for a EUR1bn subordinated bond issue as it continues to restructure its capital base.

A temporary restraining order has been issued against Bermudian (re)insurer Arch Capital Group (Arch) over its poaching of a 30-strong property fac team from US rival General Reinsurance Corporation (Gen Re), The Insurance Insider can reveal.

The laws of European Union countries are moving into line as the effect of insurance directives increases, according to a report by reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter and legal firm DLA Piper.

Bermudian headquartered PartnerRe confirmed last week that it has acquired the international reinsurance renewal rights of Mutuelle Centrale de Reassurance (MCR).

QBE Insurance (Europe) has merged its London casualty operations to create an £850mn premium-income underwriting unit.

Judges in the UK High Court last week upheld the £48mn divorce award to the ex-wife of John Charman, the former Lloyd's deputy chairman and founding president of AXIS Capital.

Specialist financial services investment bank Fox-Pitt, Kelton (FPK) announced a merger with its peer Cochran Caronia Waller (CCW) last week.

Rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has updated its insurance capital model to include an explicit allowance for diversification.

A good year driven by strong margins and a low loss environment were the main themes from trading statements released by four Lloyd's-based insurers last week.