October 2009/1

Munich Re's recent decision to reinstitute its share buyback programme to the tune of EUR1bn in "unneeded" capital could act as a catalyst for further returns, according to analysis by Oriel Securities.

Achieving $3-4bn total ILS issuance for 2009 will be "quite a stretch" but "attainable", as a number of trends converge to boost interest in cat bonds in the fourth quarter, according to reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter (GC) and its capital markets arm GC

AJ Gallagher's London operation confirmed it has hired the trade credit team that defected from former HCC-owned broker Rattner Mackenzie before the entity was sold to Guy Carpenter - a move first revealed by The Insurance Insider.

Typhoon Melor has caused substantial disruption to a number of companies in Japan, after making landfall on 8 October near the city of Nagoya, with winds of 139 kph (86 mph).

North American commercial property and casualty insurance renewals are still at "deeply depressed rates", according to the latest Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Benchmark Survey of Q3 activity.

Verisk Analytics - the holding company for the family of risk analysis and assessment firms that includes ISO and modelling firm AIR Worldwide - has staged a successful initial public offering (IPO) of shares.

An unimpressed Buffy sees third party capital on the rise in 2010...

Global stocks play catch up with (re)insurers; Multiples begin recovery; Lloyd's continues to enjoy premium

A US district court ruled that the statute of limitations bars the action brought by insurers against law firm Milberg and four former partners, which is attempting to rescind professional liability policies and recover $4.8mn in costs.

Despite the uncertainty thrown up by the Scottish Lion ruling, administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers is pushing ahead with the proposed solvent scheme of arrangement for Minster Insurance Company.

Dan Ozizmir, convergence market rainmaker and former Swiss Re Capital Markets (SRCM) head, has joined the judging panel for the Trading Risk Awards 2010.

Industry loss warranty (ILW) buyers are returning to the market after a very quiet trading season, seeking cheap stopgap cover for the remainder of 2009, according to broker-dealers.