firm to look to a presence in London to enhance business opportunities.

Led by Starr Excess Liability Insurance Company earlier this year, a number of companies have announced plans to establish an office in London.

Mid Ocean has announced that it has applied to the Department of Trade and Industry to establish a branch office in London.

And in a related move, a Lloyd's syndicate underwriter has been elected vice president of Mid Ocean Reinsurance Company Ltd., with responsibility for underwriting a Marine and Energy Excess of Loss Reinsurance Account.

Mr. Steve Adams is expected to underwrite his account from the UK.

Mr. Adams was the underwriter for Chester Syndicate number 65 at Lloyd's from July 1992, prior to which he was the underwriter for syndicate number 1125, managed by the Archer Group.

It is expected that Mr. Adams will initially underwrite the account for Mid Ocean in Bermuda and will report to Mr. Henry Keeling, senior vice president and underwriter.

President and CEO of Mid Ocean Ltd., Mr. Michael Butt, said: "A substantial amount of Mid Ocean Reinsurance's non-property catastrophe business is marine and energy excess of loss and there is an opportunity to enhance our access to this book of business.

"We have been hoping to obtain the services of a leading Lloyd's marine reinsurance underwriter and we were very fortunate that Steve was in a position to join us.'' Mid Ocean Ltd. through its subsidiary Mid Ocean Reinsurance Company Ltd., provides property catastrophe and other reinsurance to insurers and reinsurers on a worldwide basis.