November 2007/5

Brit Insurance Holdings PLC has renewed its binding authority agreement with Augsburg Re.

Tawa plc, the UK quoted run-off consolidator controlled by French billionaire Francois Pinault, has launched Tawa Consulting Ltd, which will take on consulting and advisory operations.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) saw its share price climb almost ten percent in the last week following the firm's announcement of a share buyback programme.

Swiss Re's share price continued to fall this morning after losing almost 15 percent of their value last week following the firm's shock SFr1.2bn ($1.1bn) mark-to-market loss from credit default swap exposures.

Quoted Lloyd's insurer Novae Group plc is set to open a bloodstock account next year following the capture of a Brit Insurance underwriter.

Bermudian reinsurer Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd has extended the employment contract of its founding chairman and chief executive Tony Taylor until 2009, it confirmed last week.

Aon Re Global Fac is to launch a dedicated residual value insurance division.

London-based electronic trading platform Ri3K is streamlining charges for its services in response to "market criticisms" over the firm's pricing structure.

For the second time this year wildfires have forced thousands of Californians to evacuate their homes.

Lloyd's insurers Beazley Group plc and Hiscox Ltd disclosed moderate share buybacks last week, continuing the trend in the (re)insurance sector for the repatriation of capital to shareholders.

Directors' and officers' (D&O) rates are predicted to fall by a further 10 percent in the final quarter of the year, according to a survey by broker Willis Group.

Caribbean firm Sagicor Financial Corporation - which acquired Lloyd's insurer Gerling at Lloyd's and its Syndicate 1206 earlier this year - has announced a profit of Bd$136.7mn for the first nine months of the year...