October 2009/2

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert hires Part VII transfer specialist; DUAL Ireland opens doors with AIG hire; Gregory joins Axis as international specialty CEO; Taylor to serve as non-executive chairman of Montpelier Re...

World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein has lost the latest round of his legal battle to collect $2.8bn in damages from airlines and security companies that he claims are partially responsible for the 11 September terrorist attacks.

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.

The keenly awaited case management conference for the Scottish Lion scheme of arrangement due to take place today (12 October) has been delayed. The meeting is thought to have been rescheduled for Wednesday (14 October)

Symetra - the former Safeco spin-off life and health insurer that counts White Mountains Insurance Group and Berkshire Hathaway among its major investors - has filed for a $575mn initial public offering (IPO).

Mutual insurers are increasing global market share, as the financial crisis and global recession has increased their attractiveness to customers compared to public company peers, according to a study by ratings agency AM Best.

French reinsurer Scor has built out its presence in the Dutch life reinsurance market with the establishment of an office in the Netherlands through its subsidiary, Scor Global Life.

Ahead of another key renewal date for the airline sector comes a further report that airline reinsurance prices are "generally rising" as underwriters digest a heavy loss year which is already fuelling significant primary rate increases.

Royal Bank of Scotland is again considering selling off its insurance operations...

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is yet to break the silence over its assessment of Russian-backed private equity firm Pamplona Capital Management’s plans to build an influential 29.9 percent stake in Lloyd's insurer Chaucer.

The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) has shed light on its "more intrusive" regulatory regime for approving and supervising "persons performing significant influence functions" (SIFs).

Market Reform Group rebrands; HCC Insurance Holdings forms Texas Regional Surety Office; AM Best withdraws ratings of White Mountains Re Bermuda; FSA chairman outlines factors for successful European regulation...