October 2007/5

Integro Ltd has hired well-known broking figure Guy Bessis from Aon as a managing principal in its London operation.

London market broker Alwen Hough Johnson Ltd (AHJ) has increased its Scandinavian presence by taking a stake in Norwegian firm Nilsen Brokers Re AS.

One of the UK's leading fund managers, Standard Life Investments Ltd has acquired 29 million shares in Lloyd's insurer Chaucer Holdings plc, representing 9 percent of the voting rights in the company.

Broking giant Aon Corp is being sued by a long-term client, Caterpillar Inc on charges of fraud and anti-competitive behaviour.

The House of Lords upheld a Court of Appeal decision last week, ruling that employers are not liable to compensate employees who develop symptomless pleural plaques after exposure to asbestos.

A US securities-law case, currently being heard in the Supreme Court "could be the legal equivalent of Hurricane Katrina" for professional liability insurers, according to William Wilt, analyst at Morgan Stanley.