QBE won’t be looking to the Greek gods or traditional Latin when deciding on a new name for QBE Mercantile Mutual. Only a few weeks after announcing it would buy ING’s 50% share in the group, QBE says the old name will be incorporated into the new brand.

CFO Neil Drabsch told Sunrise Exchange News although it’s too early to rename QBE Mercantile Mutual, “you don’t need to be Einstein to realise what the first three letters of the name will be”.

He says the $740 million-plus sale – which includes a payment of another $25 million in 2007 – is expected to be finalised by early June.

“The industry should expect to see something on the market not long after that date,” Mr Drabsch said.