Europe Intelligence Wire articles from December 2005

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from December 2005

Comment - Rehab farmers come under microscope.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) In the spring, Post Magazine hosted a roundtable at which was raised the issue of rehabilitation firms advertising services to claimants and promising to get them back to work in improbable timescales. Following...

News - DoH urged to act over leaks.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Guy Anker. Investigations into whether hospitals are divulging confidential patient information to claims management companies are under way. The Department of Health has been alerted to potential...

News - Code launch suspended after insurers are ignored.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Lynn Rouse and Guy Anker. A rehabilitation code of practice due to be launched this week has been delayed after insurers were left out of the initial discussions. It is understood the new code was set...

News - Politicians damn Comp Bill in report.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Government steps to reform the compensation system have come under attack from politicians, following an enquiry into the Compensation Bill. This week saw the second reading of the legislation in the House of...

News - Ex-RSA boss to head CIS.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Former Royal and Sun Alliance claims services director David Neave has returned to the market. He has become director of general insurance at the Co-operative Insurance Society, replacing Andy Watson, who left to...

News - Market set to act over fraud gang.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Guy Anker. A gang accused of organising staged accidents is being monitored, after it was found to have faked dozens of crashes that cost the industry millions of pounds. The group's actions have...

News - NU in new panel cull.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Norwich Union will not drop RAC's personal injury arm, following a review. However, the insurer, which bought the motoring giant in the summer, will slash the number of claimant lawyer firms on its legal panel. It...

News - NIG to lose 20 jobs in restructuring.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) NIG has confirmed its new business structure, unifying the commercial and personal lines divisions into a single unit, managed directly by a team of six. In recent months, the ongoing change has seen the departure...

News - Gib insurer to start writing ATE.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Gibraltar-based Litcomp will start writing after-the-event insurance this month, following the completion of funding and its application for a licence. The group is utilising the vehicle Elite Insurance, which it...

News - Towergate launch targets GBP50m spend.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Guy Anker. The Towergate Partnership will launch its new venture capital arm in January, with a war chest of GBP50m. The operation, which will target small buys, has yet to be branded, although the...

News - Major brands set to launch claims arms.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Several major brands could be set to follow the AA's lead by launching fully-fledged legal arms, once new laws are in place. Post Magazine has learnt that a number of consultancy firms are scouring the market on...

News - Groupama drops GAB Robins.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Groupama has dropped GAB Robins from its general adjusting panel, retaining Cunningham Lindsey and Ashworth Mairs, from 1 January 2006. Graham Gibson, claims director for Groupama told Post Magazine: "The decision...

News - Lloyd's interest.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Lloyd's can expect a flurry of interest from foreign capital next year, with renewed interest in takeovers expected to be shown by overseas business. According to Robert Hiscox, chairman of Lloyd's insurer Hiscox -...

News - FSA apologises over CILA terrorism snub.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Ralph Savage. The Financial Services Authority has apologised for its 'oversight' in not inviting a key industry association to take part in this week's market-wide terrorism exercise. The Chartered...

News - Names ready to back Syndicate.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Lloyd's Names have indicated their willingness to back the launch of Beazley Syndicate 3623, and to participate in the profit-taking that is being enjoyed by their Bermuda counterparts. The planned launch has been...

News - AIG looks for a personal lines Lloyd's fillip.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) AIG Europe has announced it will underwrite its high net worth business through AIG Private Client Group, from its Lloyd's box, from 1 December. The insurer aims to service this sector more effectively by widening...

News - Fortis holds off on fleet move.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Fortis will not build on its move it into commercial motor, made during quarter three, by entering the fleet sector in the near future. Chief executive Barry Smith noted that while its product, Van Guard -...

News - Manslaughter Bill comes under fire.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Ed Vinales. Lawyers have taken a final swipe at the controversial draft Corporate Manslaughter Bill, three weeks before it is presented to the government. A panel of legal professionals said, at a Post...

News - Brokers given hope over motor refunds.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The British Insurance Brokers' Association is optimistic of securing compensation from insurers, after expressing worries over updating of the Motor Insurance Database. Biba held talks with insurers last week but...

News - Government backs pay-as-you-go.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Alistair Darling, the Minister for Transport, has called on businesses to make use of innovative schemes, such as pay-as-you-go insurance, to improve the competitiveness and productivity of UK businesses. Speaking...

Claims news - West: call to cut preparation costs.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Anthony Gould and Stephanie Denton. The UK should focus its efforts on removing the huge costs related to preparation and negotiation on lower value claims from the personal injury system, insisted Ashton...

Claims news - Lack of legal nous makes injury board unfair.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The Personal Injuries Assessment Board in Ireland is unfair for claimants as most have little legal knowledge and are unable to use the system, according to John Carty, solicitor at Kent Carty Solicitors in Ireland....

Claims news - AIG: PIAB has slashed claims expenses.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Claims timescales and expenses have been dramatically reduced in Ireland with the introduction of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, according to insurer AIG. Michael Leahy, claims director of AIG Ireland,...

Claims news - Compensation draft fails to tackle issue.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The Compensation Bill has failed in its attempt to address the compensation culture, and a much bolder approach is needed, claimed Terry Renouf, national partner at Berrymans Lace Mawer. "There is very little in...

Claims news - ABI must work harder to predict trends.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The Association of British Insurers needs to work harder to ensure it picks up emerging trends from across the sector, admitted Nick Starling, director of general insurance at the ABI. Mr Starling explained the...

Claims news - Post Magazine Claims Club Advisory Board.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Chair: Anthony Gould, editor in chief, Post Magazine Board: Steve Eckhardt, director, senior claims officer, AIG - Richard Ellis, head of motor claims, Norwich Union - Tony Emms, motor claims director,...

Claims news - Opinion.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) "Section one of the Compensation Bill is probably the most useless piece of legislation that has been produced. There is very little in this Bill that will tackle the compensation culture." Terry Renouf "My...

News comment - Mediation altercation.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) With nine countries still to adopt the Insurance Mediation Directive, and France claiming it does not need to, David Worsfold reports on the tough measures the European Commission is planning to take. European...

Postbox - Medical debate needs to look to the future, not the past.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) It was interesting to see the Medical Defence Union and the Medical Protection Society continuing to debate over who provides the best indemnity for doctors and dentists ('Medical row over indemnity insurance', PM, 17...

Postbox - Old techniques, new marketing.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) I was interested by some of the comments in the article 'A synchronised approach' (PM Claims Supplement, pp11-12). The chairman of the British Damage Management Association, Bob Spencer, remarked that the US...

Postbox - Customer relations still a priority in fraud fight.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) I was pleased to see a senior member of an insurance company, Fortis chief executive Barry Smith, bringing the importance of tackling fraud, while maintaining customer relations, to the fore ('Fraud is a business and...

Comment - View from the Top - Globalisation is key to risk management.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Andrew Kendrick, chairman and chief executive officer, Ace Europe. The perception of risk has changed. Does anyone really believe that Hurricane Katrina was the big one - the one-in-100-year, or...

Comment - Lloyd's gets in on investor action.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The news that Beazley is planning to establish a new syndicate is interesting, given the amount of money that has washed up on the beaches of Bermuda recently. This has renewed the age-old talk of whether London is...

Comment - Lloyd's and london market review - Never seen anything like it.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The chairman at one of London's top five brokerages - which shall remain nameless - was speaking from 40 years' industry experience at a lunchtime meeting last month, when he piped up: "I've never known a year like...

Disaster recovery review - Building a better business.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Disaster recovery and damage management firms are a bit like doctors - everyone takes confidence in the knowledge they exist but no one ever wants to see them on their own doorstep. To say it has been a good year for...

Household: Contents - It's what's inside that counts.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) The insurance industry continues to face an uphill struggle in the battle against underinsurance - so how far is the problem compounded by one-off possessions like musical instruments or sporting equipment, where...

Career path - Spotlight on... age.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Robert Charles is associate director of Joslin Rowe's insurance There are around 19 million people aged 50 and over in the UK - a massive 40% of the adult population. By 2020, experts predict that the...

Postscript - FSA launches claims compliance campaign.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Byline: Guy Anker. The regulator's crusade to cleanse the claims handling process has begun, with insurers being quizzed on their conduct. The Financial Services Authority has written to 40 insurers, enclosing...

Postscript - Penny Black's insurance week.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) Having been in the job for a year, it appears that Association of British Insurers' general insurance boss Nick Starling is starting to attract some interesting offers. At a recent insurance dinner, he was telling the...

Postscript - What the papers said this week.
December 1, 2005... (From Post Magazine) - A muslim insurance salesman who works for Direct Line is seeking damages for "hurt feelings" under the Employment Equality Regulations 2003, after his employees offered only alcohol as a performance incentive - The...

Goldenport pulls out of London listing.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Goldenport Holdings' initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange has failed, writes Tony Gray. A brief statement yesterday said the company founded and led by chief executive Paris Dragnis had 'postponed its...

AXA retreat rocks P'I boat for shipowners.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Global giant tight-lipped over reasons for move, writes James Brewer INSURANCE group AXA Corporate Solutions has surprised the marine market by scrapping its shipowner protection and indemnity business line....

PD Ports accepts GBP320m offer from Australian equity funds.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Tony Gray For the second successive day a British ports group has agreed to be acquired by overseas interests, with a GBP320m ($554m) bid for PD Ports by a group of private equity funds. The bidder is...

Navios hit by sharp drop in short-term chartering-in.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Nigel Lowry in Athens NASDAQ listed Navios Maritime Holdings has reported net income of $16.7m for the third quarter of this year, down from $27.3m in the same quarter of 2004. The company attributed the...

BP and Sonatrach may lose Isle of Grain priority.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) UK energy regulator Ofgem is threatening to withdraw exclusive access rights enjoyed by BP and Sonatrach at the Isle of Grain liquefied natural gas terminal, writes Tony Gray. Ofgem has warned Grain LNG, a National...

Qatar puts the brakes on natural gas industry.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Qatar's booming natural gas industry is being 'forced' to slow down and some projects will be put on hold pending a review in the middle of next year, writes Tony Gray . According to the Doha-based Gulf Times,...

Sakhalin II seeks six ships to cover exports.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Martyn Wingrove SAKHALIN Energy Investment is close to chartering two more liquefied natural gas carriers and four crude oil tankers to cover exports from the Sakhalin II project. The Shell-led...

Gulf hurricanes blow Lloyd's 2005 profit hopes off course.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Analysts believe risk of ratings downgrade appears unlikely as syndicates weather the storm, writes James Brewer LLOYD'S has lost almost all hope of making a profit on the 2005 account, after potential...

DP World keeps firm focus on global growth with GBP3.3bn P'O purchase.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Hefty price tag justified through little geographic overlap, writes Tony Gray ' Growth' is a word that crops up frequently in conversation with Dubai Ports World and P'O, its friendly bid target. Both...

Shipowners claim Malacca Strait is safe again from pirates.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Marcus Hand in Singapore SOUTHEAST Asian shipowners say patrols in the Malacca Strait have put a stop to piracy in the key waterway. The Federation of Asean Shipowners' Associations, which has been vocal...

Yara may take its fleet to Oslo market.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Mineral fertiliser supplier considers separate listing for its ammonia carriers as part of shipping division review, writes Tony Gray Yara International, the leading supplier of mineral fertilisers, is...

Emsa wants two spill response ships in Med.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Justin Stares in Brussels THE European Maritime Safety Agency will beef up its Mediterranean presence with the launch of a new tender for oil spill response vessels next year. The agency, which is...

Box lines feel the squeeze as big four port operators raise terminal charges.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Carriers argue consolidation among port owners has led to inflation-beating increases, writes Janet Porter CONTAINER lines are struggling to pass on to their customers the hefty increases in terminal charges...

Bharati yard raises $85m in bonds sale.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Shirish Nadkarni in Mumbai THE Mumbai-based private sector shipbuilding yard Bharati Shipyard has raised $85m for expansion through the sale of convertible bonds. The company raised $70m by selling a...

Dry Bulk Fixtures.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) COAL Richards Bay to Hadera Castillo De Gormaz, 150,000t, $13.50 per tonne, fio scale 30000fx, Dec 18-22. (National Coal Supply) Bulk Singapore (176,000 dwt, 15L(A), 2005-built) delivery Qingdao spot, redelivery...

Irish Ferries in Cyprus FOC bid.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: David Osler IRISH Ferries has applied to reflag some of its fleet to Cyprus, while the crew dispute that immobilised four of its vessels yesterday dragged on into its sixth day. Meanwhile, there are...

Boxship rates sink as market hits the doldrums.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Janet Porter Dry Trade This is some $7,000 a day below the rate it obtained less than 18 months ago. THE containership charter market still appears to be under severe pressure, with the handful of...

Abare optimistic on Australian winter harvest.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) TIMELY rainfall and mild spring temperatures have combined to produce a remarkable recovery in the 2005-2006 winter crop, according to the November issue of Abare's Australian Crop Report, reports Lloyd's List DCN in...

Business Briefing.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) British Marine sold A LEADING hull and protection and indemnity insurer, British Marine, has announced that its purchase by insurance giant QBE has been completed. Robert Johnston, managing director of British...

Belarus ready to export grain.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Belarus will increase its grain harvest to 8.4m metric tons by 2010 from about 7m tons this year, enabling the country to export grain, the Agriculture Ministry has said, reports Dow Jones Newswires . Deputy...

Tanker Fixtures.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) CLEAN Middle East Gulf to Japan Siena, 75,000t, W300, Dec 25. (PDI) Middle East Gulf to Anyer Overseas Primar, 33,000t, W440, Nov 28. (MBK) Black Sea to Mediterranean Cape Bille, 30,000t, W275, Dec 3....

MTL to embark on five year spending spree.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) WHARF-controlled Modern Terminals has put together plans that will see the operator spending at least Yuan11bn (US$1.36bn) on expansion in China over the next five years, writes Mike Grinter in Hong Kong . If Hong...

Singapore office for Mentz, Decker.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) GERMAN shipbroker Mentz, Decker ' Co is opening a branch in Singapore, the first overseas office in the firm's 109-year history, writes Janet Porter. A local staff of three will be backed up by a rotation of brokers...

Nine bidders qualify in Izar shipyard sale.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Eight offers for single facilities and one joint proposal to buy two, writes Brian Reyes SPAIN's state industrial holding company Sepi has received 11 offers for Izar's four remaining shipyards, but only nine...

Rina broadens Russia relations.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: John McLaughlin ITALIAN classification society Rina and the Russian Maritime Register of Ship- ping last week signed a new co-operation agreement that they describe as 'significantly broadening' relations...

Maris adds rail to Italy-Spain link.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: John McLaughlin A NEW intermodal rail-sea freight service connecting Italy and Spain opened for business this week, with the partners in the operation describing it as a model for future co-operation in...

Boost for Keppel Verolme.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) KEPPEL Verolme has won €67m ($79m) in new contracts, including the conversion of the panamax bulker Geeview into a pipelaying vessel, reports Marcus Hand in Singapore. The Dutch yard is to convert the 2005...

Rhenus eyes HHLA.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) GERMAN logistics group Rhenus has declared its interest in acquiring a stake in Hamburg stevedore and logistics company HHLA, a spokesman for the Holzwickede-based company confirmed, reports B'lent Erdogan in Cologne....

Viking firms ferry plans with Aker.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Jerry Frank FINNISH ferry operator Viking Line and shipbuilder Aker Yards have firmed up plans to build a new passenger ferry with a price tag of €120m-€ 130m ($141m-$153m) and options for two...

China quashes 200 shipping trade licences.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Mike Grinter in Hong Kong CHINA'S Ministry of Communications has terminated the business licenses of more than 200 NVOCCs, brokers and agents, according to Platts. The move was made on Tuesday and...

London named the world leader for catastrophe planning.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Three years of emergency training exercises in Britain's capital has fine-tuned response times and outcomes LONDON continues to lead the world in contingency business planning for major emergencies, the...

BUNKER QUALITY REPORT.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) BUNKER QUALITY REPORT U'F = unfilterable This Bunker Quality Report is based on samples analysed by DNV Petroleum Services and is an abstract from their more detailed fuel quality statistics publication which...

EU enlargement spurs Epic recruitment.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) The European Protection and Indemnity Correspondent Network is aiming to recruit new members as the European Union landscape enlarges, writes Helen Hill . Representing the first act of the newly elected Epic board,...

BUNKER MARKET REPORT November 22, 2005.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) BUNKER MARKET REPORT November 22, 2005 Compiled for Lloyd's List by Egil Bjorn-Hansen, Oslo CONTINENT: Firm. AFRICA'MIDDLE EAST: Firm. FAR EAST : Firm USA: Generally small changes. BUNKER...

Air defence strategies.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Japanese filmgoers are reported to be enthralled by the tragic story of the Yamato , the biggest battleship ever built, which was sunk with huge loss of life by US aircraft in 1945. Even the most capable warships,...

Bunkers - Cockett Index.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) BUNKER MARKET REPORT Compiled for Lloyd's List by Cockett Marine Oil Ltd November 30, 2005 PRICES are current and based on live, average sized, bunker deals. The Cockett Bunker Price Index is based on 1000...

City brokers caught in middle of rates catfight.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Jon Guy AS MARINE insurers seek to drive through rate increases, brokers will face a fight to manage the belief of some clients that they should be immune from rising rates. According to David Allen,...

Wordsmiths wax lyrical on the benefits of good practice.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Exchanging pleasantries at the London market Wordings Specialists Gathering XII are, from left to right, John Fagan (Talbot Underwriting), Ian Grimes (Aspen Insurance), Paul Jiggens (Xchanging) and Nick Eaton (Alphabet...

Gas Market Report.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) NORTH WEST EUROPE: Large cargo propane has started to show a bit of activity but more in hope than actual requirements. A handy size cargo that was bid all week has been finally covered from within the buyers own system...

We are trusting London to give us a lead says Tokio Marine reinsurer.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Tokyo is putting its faith in the London market, but Japanese insurers say it is vital for the UK hub to maintain quality service, writes James Brewer LONDON insurance market input will be vital to support...

Failed takeover leaves Torm still enjoying major gains.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) PRODUCT tanker activities are the focus of much of the attention showered on Torm, but the Copenhagen shipping group also has a large presence in the dry bulk sector. Torm's failed move to take over fellow shipping...

Atlas maps its way to operate at optimum level on global scale.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) DRY bulk operator and owner Atlas Shipping has expanded over the past decade to an 'optimum level', says founder and chief executive Christian Levin. The Copenhagen bulk specialist, which also set up Atlas Bulk...

Why capital is a Mecca of maritime services.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) COPENHAGEN, alongside its growing reputation as one of Europe's most thriving shipowning and operating locations, is also known as a major centre for the marine services and engineering sector. The Danish capital...

Danielsens family-ownership ends.
December 1, 2005... (From Lloyds List) COPENHAGEN family shipowner Otto Danielsen has been bought up by the Danish arm of Norwegian shipping group Felix Tschudi, the erstwhile other half of the now defunct Tschudi ' Eitzen partnership. Tschudi Shipping...