November 2007/2

Trading activity has started at the cat derivatives trading platform Insurance Futures Exchange Services (IFEX) with cumulative trading volume totalling 1,209 lots, equivalent to over $12mn of (re)insurance limit, at the end of October.

Kamp Re 2005, Zurich Financial Services’ (ZFS) catastrophe bond, hit by losses from Hurricane Katrina soon after its launch, is due to be tested within the next month, after the bond’s administrators finally filed a proof of claim notice on 30 October.

It was a familiar tale as Bermuda's (re)insurance community booked third quarter figures that set strong profits from two years of benign underwriting conditions against a backdrop of falling rates and a less positive outlook for the sector.

Bermudian (re)insurer XL Capital dismissed rumours of significant sub-prime related losses in its financial and professional lines portfolio last month, stating that the crisis provided "an attractive opportunity" for the class.

A new wave of fear gripped Wall Street this week, symbolised by the sub-prime related exposures of the monoline credit insurers to a new credit crisis, dubbed "Version 2.0" by industry insiders.

Michael Moran, the aviation broker who is at the centre of a controversial poaching dispute between Marsh Ltd and Willis Group Holdings, has resurfaced at HSBC Insurance Brokers.

AJ Gallagher International's (AJGI) new onshore/offshore energy and utility broking subsidiary is set to begin operations in the New Year.

The first steps may have been tentative. But, in the past two months, London market and European insurers have been confronted by a quick fire succession of demands for additional commissions from brokers.

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

Banking interest grows with Goldman Sachs Lloyd's entry; Towergate firm swoops for Erinaceous teams; GA sells down Xchanging stake; Aviva in £350mn UK cost cutting programme; Canopius and Talbot make Lloyd’s Asia move...

Tawa plc, the UK quoted run-off consolidator, has acquired the US firm PXRE Reinsurance Co (PXRE US) from parent Argo Group International Holdings Ltd in a $114mn transaction.

The fees collected by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the administrators of the defunct UK insurer Folksam UK, outweighs the collections made on behalf of creditors by almost £3mn, the latest report to creditors reveals.