May 2008/1

Collins Stewart analyst Tim Young suggested a break-up of the RSA Group could be on the cards after it announced a 15 percent rise in group net written premiums to £1.7bn in the first quarter of 2008, compared to the prior-year period.

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has been downgraded by Standard & Poor's (S&P) following a review of its risk profile, just days after receiving a renewed extension to QBE Insurance's merger offer.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) has slipped to a $210mn first quarter net loss as a result of a $425mn goodwill writedown at its security consulting arm Kroll.

Canopius down in March; Price Forbes in Bermuda launch; WR Berkley recruits Brit exec...

The UK High Court has set a 4 July date for scheme meetings for 82 companies involved in the EW Payne Underwriting Pools scheme of arrangement.

Our monthly column keeping a check on recent US and EU legislative and regulatory developments, in association with Sidley Austin LLP

An approach from former European chairman of Marsh, McLennan Co's (MMC) security consulting arm, David Buchler to buy the firm for $1.5bn has been rebuffed.

A mixed month for sidecars as Swiss Re renews while Dresdner Kleinwort withdraws

(Re)insurers will need to dig deep on unprecedented losses fuelled by record commodity prices

The two former Marsh Inc executives who were sentenced to jail time last month for their part in bid-rigging have had their sentences postponed pending their appeal.

GC Securities, Guy Carpenter & Co's specialist investment banking arm, is understood to be one of the areas affected by the firm’s widespread cost cutting with the expected closure of its newly formed M&A arm.

Naturally, RBS has indicated it would prefer to sell the insurance operations as a whole, but this could pose problems for potential buyers, not least the ability to raise sufficient funds and competition issues.