Listed Securities

Compensation review of officers of publicly-listed insurers based in Bermuda

April 27, 1997

Brian O' Hara, chairman and chief executive officer of both excess liability carrier Exel Ltd. and its main operating subsidiary X. L., was by far the best paid officer in 1996 of all the executives of Bermuda-based insurers that are publicly-listed in the United States, according to a salaries survey conducted by Offshore Business News & Research.The review shows that O'Hara took home a financial package worth $5.52 million for fiscal 1996, more than $2 million greater than the next highest-paid officer, Michael Butt, president and CEO of property catastrophe reinsurer Mid Ocean Ltd.

NimsTec shares list on BSX

April 27, 1997

NimsTec Limited, a hi-tech firm which produces 3-D cameras and printers for the medical and photographic industries, has begun listing its ordinary shares on the Bermuda Stock Exchange, where they will be traded in minimum blocks of $100,000.

Charles Collis accused of altering Bermuda Fire & Marine minutes

February 28, 1997

One of Bermuda's most influential businessmen, lawyer Charles Collis, has been accused of doctoring the minutes of a crucial committee meeting to hide evidence that directors of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance knew the firm was in financial trouble before they stripped it of $40 million in assets.

Aristocrat Endeavor Fund Ltd.: Information Memorandum, 1996

July 22, 1996

Information Memorandum for Aristocrat Endeavor Fund Ltd.

Mutual Risk Management fires auditor

October 14, 1995

Bermuda-based Mutual Risk Management, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, has dismissed its auditor of 18 years, KPMG Peat Marwick, and replaced it with Ernst & Young - but will not officially say why.

BF&M policyholders’ ‘not at risk’

October 12, 1995

Long-term policyholders with BF&M Ltd. are not at financial risk because of a multi-million dollar lawsuit brought against the firm by the liquidators of its former parent, BF&M's lawyers have claimed. Although BF&M Life Insurance Company Ltd. is named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit, long-term policyholders are protected under Bermuda law, said lawyer Timothy Marshall, of Marshall & Company.

Mutual Risk Management acquires CFM Insurance

September 28, 1995

Mutual Risk Management has agreed to acquire CFM Insurance Managers, a Bermuda company which provides risk management services to captive insurance firms based on the island. Several CFM clients are subsidiaries of European companies and many are involved in the international marine insurance market, a release announcing the deal stated.

Bermuda Stock Exchange to set up investors’ compensation pool

August 29, 1995

A pool of money to help compensate investors who will lose out in the event of a trading member of the Bermuda Stock Exchange collapsing is likely to be in place by the end of the year, we have been told. To get the pool started, each trading member of the Exchange will be asked to contribute a one-off lump sum.

Entertainer sues owner of Henry VIII restaurant

August 24, 1995

Entertainer Peter Stoney is suing the company that owns the Bermuda-based Henry VIII bar and restaurant for $32,600, claiming wrongful dismissal.Mr. Stoney, who claims he is contracted to work for the business until at least December 31, 1995, has had his contract terminated by Henry VIII boss Any Allan.

RenaissanceRe goes ahead with IPO 18 months late

June 30, 1995

Bermuda-based property catastrophe reinsurer Renaissance Re is going ahead with a $50 million initial public offering of its shares, 18 months after canceling an IPO of more than $100 million due to a decline in the world investment climate.Renaissance Re. will offer 2.7 million shares, which represents ten per cent of the company's capital.

Bermuda Fire & Marine lawsuit nears for top businessmen

May 25, 1995

A decision on whether to sue some of Bermuda's most influential local businessmen for millions of dollars, stemming from the collapse of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance, is expected to be made over the next couple of months. At stake is over $100 million owed to creditors of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance and the credibility of Bermuda's regulatory and legal system in relation to protecting the rights of foreigners doing business with Bermuda-based insurers and reinsurers.

Shoreline Mutual moves away from mutual insurance

February 23, 1995

Bermuda-based Shoreline Mutual, which issues certificates of financial guarantee for vessels entering US waters, has arranged further reinsurance for all its members to protect them against supplemental cash calls being made in the event of substantial claims.The policy, which has been placed by Willis Faber & Dumas and Sedgwick Marine & Cargo and is underwritten 100 per cent at Lloyd's, is expected to strengthen Shoreline's product in the battle for business with its main rival, First Line, which is also based in Bermuda.

Bermuda firms battle for share of COFR market

December 22, 1994

Insurance executives aligned to two groups in Bermuda have been working frantically over the last few weeks to provide the first certificates of financial responsibility now required of shipowners whose vessels will enter US waters. Up for grabs are tens of millions of dollars in annual premiums. David Marchant looks at Bermuda's newest reinsurance product and assesses the winners and losers.

Possible insider trading in BF&M shares

December 22, 1994

BF&M Ltd announced a ten per cent stock dividend to shareholders yesterday - only days after some of the largest volumes of trading in its shares for several months. A decision to reward long-suffering shareholders of BF&M Ltd, who have seen their capital investment drop from $10.50 per share in June, 1993, to $6.75 currently, was taken by BF&M's board of directors on December 20.

BSX to start accepting member applications

December 14, 1994

Stock brokers in Bermuda and overseas will be able to join the Bermuda Stock Exchange as of next week, we can reveal. Literature explaining how to join is due to be sent out over the holiday period to investment firms locally and in North America, where there has been a lot of interest from brokers.

Telco files lawsuit in battle for control of Bermuda Cablevision

December 8, 1994

Bermuda Telephone Company Ltd has legally challenged the control and ownership structure of Bermuda Cablevision, in which it is the largest shareholder.Telco filed a writ against the cable television supplier at Bermuda Supreme Court on Tuesday under Section 111 of the Companies Act 1981.The section allows shareholders to sue their company if they believe they are a victim of "oppressive or prejudicial conduct".

Bermuda investors seek to sell Turks & Caicos property

November 29, 1994

FOR SALE - 1,375 acres of undeveloped land in uninhabited East Caicos, 50-100 yards from the ocean, asking price: in excess of $563,750.The seller is Solar Enterprises, the only local company listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange whose shares have never traded.

Dubious Canadian firm forms Bermuda subsidiary

November 24, 1994

A Canadian company described as "a disaster waiting to happen" has incorporated a subsidiary in Bermuda to promote the firm's interests overseas.International Hi-Tech Industries Inc, which is listed on the notorious Vancouver Stock Exchange, has a net worth of CDN$4 million.But the company's market capitalization — the value placed on it by investors in the marketplace — stands at a staggering CDN$335 million even though Hi-Tech reportedly has no sales revenue and no contracts for any sales.

Bermuda Fire directors stay silent despite allegations of fraud at Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance

November 3, 1994

Despite the strong criticisms of the collapse of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance, the company's vice-chairman, lawyer and former UBP MP William Cox, yesterday maintained his year-long public silence on the affair."I have no comment," said Mr Cox, who is the senior partner in law firm Cox & Wilkinson.Bermuda Fire's chairman, former government Senate leader Charles Collis, the senior partner in law firm Conyers, Dill & Pearman, was not available for comment.Other directors who voted to approve the controversial split-up of the company in 1991 have steadfastly refused to comment publicly on their actions since Bermuda Fire went into provisional liquidation in November, 1993.

Bermuda attacked by US politicians over Bermuda Fire ‘fraud’

November 3, 1994

A powerful political body in the US has launched a blistering attack on Bermuda over its handling of the collapse of Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance.Over $40 million in assets that were dividended out to the insurer's shareholders in 1991 has been described as "a prime example of outrageous irresponsibility by an offshore insurance company".The matter was "exacerbated by a cavalier disregard for the consequences on people living elsewhere", said a report released this week entitled ‘Wishful Thinking: A World view of Insurance Solvency Regulation.'

ACE shares fall due to extra reserving for implant claims

July 21, 1994

Shares in excess liability insurer ACE Ltd. fell by $2 per share on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday in unusually heavy trading after the firm announced it was setting aside another $200 million to meet breast-implant litigation claims.

BF&M shares – Time to Buy or Sell?

April 20, 1994

It's either the best buy on the Bermuda Stock Exchange - or the worst. What is it? The common stock of BF&M.

ACE downplays exposure to breast implant litigation

February 23, 1994

Potential losses from breast implant litigation in the United States should not cause undue problems for Bermuda-based excess liability carriers ACE and XL, both companies said this week.

ACE and EXEL do not expect losses from breast implant coverage to cause undue problems

February 23, 1994

Potential losses from breast implant litigation in the United States should not cause undue problems for Bermuda-based excess liability carriers ACE and XL, both companies said this week.

Bermuda Fire & Marine can still honour its debts, claims chairman

November 9, 1993

Bermuda Fire & Marine chairman Charles Collis said yesterday that the company has between $50 million and $60 million in reserves and was put into liquidation to avoid "a feeding frenzy" by its creditors.

United Kingdom: Parkfield Group Plc (‘Securities Fraud’)

November 18, 1992

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence from Maljack Productions, Inc. and Union Bank - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from the United Kingdom - for a criminal investigation into suspected securities fraud involving Parkfield Group Plc.