• X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Show more sharing options
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Insurance Insider is part of the Delinian Group, Delinian Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX, Registered in England & Wales, Company number 00954730
Copyright © Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies 2024

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

October 2005/4

  • Industry veteran Don Kramer has agreed to buy the infrastructure of GoshawK’s Rosemont Re to establish a new $750mn+ private equity backed Bermudian reinsurer.
  • Lloyd’s insurer Catlin announced today (19 October) that it expects to be hit with estimated net losses of $60mn from the damage caused by Hurricane Rita.
  • Rating agency AM Best has slashed its financial strength ratings of distressed Bermudian reinsurer Rosemont Re from A- (excellent) to B (Fair) with negative outlook. The reinsurer – which announced on the 17 October it was close to run-off after...
  • Former American International Group (AIG) chief executive, Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, is countersuing his former company through Starr International Company (SICO) in a growing dispute over control of a 12 percent stake in AIG worth nearly $20bn.
  • Although the industry has learnt the business lessons of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, only those companies that suffered actual loss of life in the tragedy have developed sufficient risk strategies, according to research released today (17 October).
  • For those in the insurance industry who shudder at the very mention of his name, some satisfaction may be gleaned from New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer’s double defeats last week. On 13 October 2005 – on the eve of the anniversary of his...
  • Advent’s ‘future viability’ in doubt... Canadian holding company Fairfax has received another savaging at the hands of Morgan Keegan analysts John Gwynne and Matthew Cantrell. In a research note released on 10 October, the US based analysts...
  • GE Insurance has announced the merging of its South East Asian operations within its Singapore office with the Malaysian being placed into run-off immediately. The move is part of a business restructure and the Singapore office will handle all...
  • Former Morgan Stanley insurance analyst Alice Schroeder has seen publishers push up the bidding rights to $7mn for her forthcoming biography on Berkshire Hathaway legend Warren Buffett. Schroeder left Morgan Stanley in 2003 to co-operate with...
  • Professional Indemnity veteran Reg Brown has retired from the board of Lloyd’s insurer Kiln plc with immediate effect. In an announcement to the London Stock Exchange today, Kiln’s chairman Nick Cosh explained: “Some months ago Reg indicated his wish..
  • Risk is being underestimated and ignored in boardrooms around the world, leaving many organisations in danger from unforeseen hazards, in an increasingly risk-filled world. That was the overwhelming message from a survey, “Taking Risk on Board”,...
  • A US federal court has overturned the $700mn damages awarded against the French firm Artermis SA for its role in the Executive Life scandal. Judge Howard Matz of the US District Court for the Central District of California ruled on 4 October that the..
  • A new report from insurance boker Aon has predicted that reductions in airline insurance rates will slow in the final quarter of 2005 as the sector feels the knock-on effect of the year’s hurricane season. To date this year, liability and hull...
  • Property catastrophe specialist IPC Holdings said last week that it is now expecting a loss within a range of $650mn to $750mn due to Katrina and Rita, currently the largest actual loss estimate figure issued by a Bermudian (re)insurer.
  • Analysts at Morgan Stanley have highlighted concerns that (re)insurers have under-estimated their losses from 2005’s unprecedented hurricane season. In a research note released on 13 October, Morgan Stanley analyst William Wilt observed that...
  • GoshawK is set to become the first corporate insurance victim from 2005’s devastating hurricane season after the UK quoted company confirmed this morning (17 October) that it is likely to go into run-off. The insurer – which after the demise of its...
  • Recently formed reinsurer Glacier Re announced this morning (17 October) the successful raising of $100mn from a common stock issue, increasing underwriting capital in response to “favourable market conditions” following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  • 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 week. In the research note, released on 10 October, Numis analysts Nick Johnson and Nick Gradidge...
  • Lloyd’s insurer Amlin has appointed Peter Tavner as deputy group actuary. Tavner joins Amlin from Lloyd’s Risk & Reserving Unit. Tavner has worked in the industry for 15 years for Commercial Union, Swiss Re and Lloyd’s and is a member of the...
  • Lloyd's chief executive Nick Prettejohn is to end his 10-year association with Lime Street and join the UK insurer Prudential plc at the beginning of next year. Prettejohn, aged 45, will replace Mark Wood as the chief executive of Prudential's UK...
  • Following the impact of 2005’s devastating hurricane season, Lloyd’s insurers are preparing to take advantage of expected rate rises next year, according to announcements made on 12 October. Kiln, which has already pre-empted its 2006 capacity to...
  • Marsh has appointed the former HBOS head of group regulatory risk Paul Moore to the new role of head of compliance for Europe and the Middle East at the broking giant. At a global level, Moore will report to Marsh Inc’s head of compliance...
  • Bermudian (re)insurer White Mountains announced Steve Fass as its newly elected president and CEO today (17 October). Fass has been at White Mountains for almost a decade as a senior partner in its reinsurance operations. He will succeed Ray Barrette..
  • US insurer HCC Insurance Holdings (HCCH) has announced that Barry J Cook has been appointed to the new position of chief executive of the company’s international operations.
  • As Europe braces itself for a potential influenza pandemic, broker Aon warned today (17 October) that businesses remain unprepared for “the greatest threat facing their business today” and called on companies to “take action to protect their performance”.
  • In his capacity as Market Reform Group (MRG) chairman, Lloyd’s outgoing CEO Nick Prettejohn has written to the London market outlining the next practical steps to be taken toward achieving contract certainty.