November 2005/1

Ousted AIG legend in legal tit-for-tat over rights to $20bn stake in former employer... On the 17 October former American International Group (AIG) chief executive, Maurice “Hank” Greenberg launched the latest round in an increasingly acrimonious...

A bullish stance on the insurance broking sector by analysts at Numis Securities fuelled a price hike in the shares of brokers Benfield and JLT last month. In the research note, released on 10 October, Numis analysts...

The pace of growth at medium-sized brokerages on both sides of the Atlantic last year far outstripped that of the industry’s big names. And the trend is likely to accelerate in 2005, with the “Spitzer Effect” expected to play an increasing role.

It was a mixed bag as the big three global brokers announced their third-quarter results. Although Aon’s net income was unchanged from 2004 at $122mn it was below analysts forecasts.

Lloyd’s insurer SVB has sold its SME property focused underwriting agency to the fast-expanding insurance consolidator Towergate Partnership in a deal worth up to £25mn. After several months of talks, Towergate and SVB agreed terms for the transfer...

Lloyd’s based broker Fabien Risk Services Ltd has gone into liquidation with debts of over £700,000 and questions over the behaviour of some of its former directors. The company, which was formed in 2001 and...

Allstate cuts Gulf Coast homeowners’ exposure America’s second largest personal line insurer Allstate has said it will reduce coverage of homeowners’ risks in the Gulf Coast region after being hit by a $1.55bn loss in the third quarter as a result of..

Last month, Lloyd’s chief executive Nick Prettejohn confirmed that he was to end his ten year association with the Corporation and join Prudential plc at the beginning of next year. It was widely regarded as a successful reign, and Prettejohn can...

Cat specialists get roughest ride as 3Q losses mount... The pain inflicted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita is clearly reflected in the third quarter reporting of Bermuda’s (re)insurers, a period set to go down in history as the costliest ever quarter...

Despite successful fundraising efforts to repair balance sheets battered by spiralling hurricane losses, a slew of rating downgrades has begun, with AM Best leading the way. The agency’s response appears to be toughest on those bearing the biggest...

Lloyd’s capacity for 2006 looks set to come close to its record £15bn capacity level in 2004 as a host of the market’s syndicates plan to increase their business in the wake of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Only a few months ago, most...

Crisis-struck (re)insurer breaches banking covenants; details emerge on FSA action... Shares in UK quoted GoshawK collapsed almost 40 percent on 4 November to 5.75p as the company revealed it is no longer able to get access to funds in its Bermudian...