Former General Re Execs Reportedly Targeted in SEC Probe

May 16, 2005

The Securities and Exchange Commission is planning to file civil fraud charges against a former executive of General Reinsurance Corp., one of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s insurance companies, according to a published report.

The New York Times quoted unnamed sources as saying Elizabeth Monrad, former executive at General Reinsurance Corp., may be charged in connection with a wide-ranging probe into insurance practices.

Monrad is now chief financial officer at TIAA-CREF, the pension fund.

General Re has been under a federal probe over some of its reinsurance transactions with Virginia-based Reciprocal of America, a former liability insurer of doctors, hospitals and lawyers, and New York-based insurance company American International Group. In one transaction, AIG admitted that its accounting for a General Re deal was improper.

On May 13, Berkshire Hathaway, which is controlled by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, announced that the SEC was considering civil penalties against a senior vice president at subsidiary General Re over alleged violations of securities laws, but did not name the executive who received the so-called Wells notice on May 2.

The Wall Street Journal and New York Times said Richard Napier, a current executive, received the notice.

Berkshire has maintained that officials at General Re and Berkshire have cooperated fully with investigators from the SEC, the Department of Justice and the attorneys general of New York and Virginia.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York

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Latest Comments

  • May 16, 2005 at 3:54 am
    Notes says:
    Thank you Bryan. I'm tired of seeing the lower echelon take the heat when all along the upper echelon knew of it. To toss Ms. Monrad out to the wolves is a reflection of the u... read more
  • May 16, 2005 at 2:52 am
    Bryan says:
    Probably because Generous Re was guaranteed a profit in the transaction. Knowing it was merely a way to circumvent the proper accounting entries, the reinsurer colluded with t... read more
  • May 16, 2005 at 2:05 am
    James Bradley says:
    If General Re Berkshire Hathaway Inc is offered a reinsurance deal from a ceding company and the purpose of the deal is to mis state the ceding coys stuff earnings revenue etc... read more

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