Netherlands News

Cat Bond Market Set for Active Fourth Quarter, Reports Guy Carpenter

The catastrophe bond market is poised for an active fourth quarter in 2009, according to a new report. The report by Guy Carpenter & Co., LLC, and GC Securities, a division of MMC Securities Corp. concludes that a number of …

Architect: Floating House Could Ride Out New Orleans’ Floods

A house capable of floating atop rising floodwaters made its debut Oct. 6 in New Orleans alongside more than a dozen other homes built through actor Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation. Called the FLOAT House, the unique home aims …

FERMA Welcomes 1100 to Prague Risk Management Conference

The Federation of European Risk Management Associations convened its bi-annual conference in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on Monday, welcoming some 1100 attendees, and two new members. Newly installed president, Peter den Dekker, Corporate Insurance Risk Manager for …

Bank of America, Execs Owe Investors ‘Billions,’ Says Ohio AG Lawsuit

Investors in a class-action lawsuit against Bank of America Corp. over the Merrill Lynch & Co. takeover are trying to collect “billions of dollars” in damages, Ohio’s attorney general said Monday. Attorney General Richard Cordray spoke after filing a 155-page …

People

Zurich in North America named Marcus Cooper as senior vice president for national sales and strategic relationships, effective immediately. Cooper replaces Mike Vaught, who is retiring. Cooper will continue serving as South Central regional executive until a replacement is hired. …

Guy Carpenter Report Updates European Legal, Legislative Changes

Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC has published its annual update on legislative and legal developments affecting insurers and reinsurers in Continental Europe. The report – available at: www.GCCapitalIdeas.com – “addresses the implications of the ongoing global financial crisis and highlights …

S&P Lowers ING’s Ratings; Outlook Stable; Hybrid Ratings Lowered To ‘B’

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its long-term counterparty credit ratings on The Netherlands-based ING Groep N.V. and ING Verzekeringen N.V. to ‘A’ from ‘A+’ and its long- and short-term counterparty credit ratings on ING Bank N.V. to ‘A+/A-1’ …

Ratings Roundup: Glencoe (RenRe), Aegon, IGI

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘A+’ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings to Glencoe Insurance Ltd., Stonington Insurance Co., Lantana Insurance Ltd., and Stonington Lloyd’s Insurance Co. (collectively referred to as RenRe Insurance) with stable outlooks. “The …

Hacker Indicted in Huge ID Theft: 130 Million Credit Cards

Federal officials announced the indictment of a Miami man in what they say is the largest identity theft ring ever exposed in the U.S. Albert Gonzales, 28, was indicted for conspiring to hack into computer networks supporting major American retail …

People

Will Weston, vice president and principal of Blanchard & Calhoun Insurance Agency in Augusta, was elected president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, Inc. (IIAG) during the association’s recent annual meeting. Weston has been a member of IIAG’s Executive …