November 2005/3

As predicted by The Insurance Insider this morning, US conglomerate General Electric (GE) has reached an agreement to sell the majority of its (re)insurance operations to Swiss Re in a deal worth $8.5bn in securities, cash and the assumption of debt.

Shares have been suspended in Swiss Re this morning (18 November) ahead of an 11am GMT press conference where it is expected the reinsurance giant will announce its intention to buy the (re)insurance operations of US conglomerate General Electric (GE).

US conglomerate General Electric is close to finalising a deal to cut loose its (re)insurance operations, according to sources. Although the company declined to comment, The Insurance Insider understands GE is preparing an imminent announcement of...

As revealed in Insider Week this Monday (14 November), Bermudian start-up Flagstone Re will be headed up by former Centre Re CEO David Brown, who will be chief executive of the new operation.

US politicians offered some succour to the (re)insurance industry yesterday (15 November) with the news that an agreement had been reached on a bill to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) for a further two years – albeit under less favourable..

Greenlight Re will become the twelfth new reinsurance start-up since Hurricane Katrina after being announced by Greenlight Capital boss, David Einhorn, at a New York conference on Tuesday (15 November). The new company has already received a license...

The burden from this year's US storms will push quoted Lloyd's insurer Wellington Underwriting plc into a underwriting loss for the year, the company revealed this morning.

Broking group Integro has appointed Frank Kinnett to head its new office in Atlanta. The new office will concentrate on building new business in the southeastern US with Kinnett being joined by Quill Healey as senior advisor.

Risk management company Insurance Services Office’s Property Claims Service has announced that insurers have paid an all-time record of $40.bn on property claims during the third quarter of 2005 after seven natural catastrophes.

The former finance director of collapsed Australian insurer HIH was charged last month with the criminal offence of falsely authorising a prospectus with a material omission. Dominic Fodera – who faces six criminal charges under the Corporation Act...

Broker Benfield announced last week (8 November) the recruitment of an eight-strong energy casualty team to its recently established primary brokerage operation Benfield Corporate Risk, putting it in a position to respond to likely increased demand in...

Willis has announced a second offering for the sale of 6.1mn shares currently held by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Fisher Capital. Willis is planning to purchase 1.5mn of the shares in a private transaction with the remaining shares being...