The Life Settlements Report - March 04, 2010

As investment banks and most hedge funds either back off or exit the life settlement market, providers and others are seeing signs of interest from new types of investors from around the world.

The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) may consider writing model legislation to regulate the secondary market for annuities with death benefits.

Georgia state Sen. Ralph Hudgens plans to convene a hearing Saturday before a national group of state legislators to determine whether insurers ban their life insurance agents from discussing life settlements with clients. Full Story

Life settlement players in Europe said they support greater transparency in their market after an official with the U.K.'s Financial Services Authority said he would be concerned to see a "rapid increase in the size" of the life settlement retail market, where the agency sees marketing abuses and high commissions. Full Story

• Prosecutors Decline to Take Up Deutsche Bank Case, Attorney Says
• Keydata International Fund Redemptions Suspended
• AXA Producer Wins Arbitration in Life Settlement Case
• Longevity Risk Transactions Growing
• Coventry Wins Appellate Reversal in Record Confidentiality Case
• GAO Sends Survey to Providers Seeking Transaction Information
• Fortress Launches New Life Settlement Fund
• New York Insurance Department's Kermitt Brooks Goes to AXA
• Wisconsin Senate Passes Bill with Five-year Waiting Period
• Utah Removes Premium Financing Provision from Legislation
• Life Partners Hires Ernst & Young as Its New Auditor
• Alabama House Takes Up Bill Along Lines Favored by Industry
• Headway Made on Michigan STOLI Definition, Senator's Aide Says
• Maine Legislative Committee OKs Revised Settlement Bill
• Hirings and Firings