Europe
Insurance sector calls for environmental action
Four insurance climate change initiatives have today launched a global insurance industry statement on adapting to climate change in developing countries.
IUA: businesses “dangerously exposed” to new environmental laws
Businesses relying on traditional public liability policies to insure against environmental risks may be “dangerously exposed” to new laws designed to make polluters pay for damage, according to the International Underwriting Association.
French tax proposals have negative implications, says Moody's
Proposed changes to the tax rates on French life products might provoke short-term switches to other insurance products, which would have negative credit implications for life insurers, according to Moody’s.
CNA ties up RSA deal to give it access to 142 countries
CNA has entered into an agreement that provides its US-based corporations with access to RSA's global network.
Insurance Insight Interview – Tara Kneafsey
Latvia’s insurance market is young and has been hit hard by the global recession, Tara Kneafsey, CEO of RSA Latvia, Balta, talks to Stephanie Denton about how the market has been able to innovate and how holding rates will be crucial to future survival.
Allianz releases cycle theft figures for 80 cities
Allianz figures on bicycle theft in around 80 German cities with a population of more than 100 000 shows that bikes are sought-after stolen goods, but thieves seem to have a strong preference for some cities over others.
An in-depth review of the general insurance market in Denmark
Denmark’s insurance market, although small, is singled out by some as the most sophisticated in Scandinavia. Ralph Savage reports on how the nation’s players have performed off the back of a testing first half in 2010.
Insurance Insight - the challenge of control
Choosing where to headquarter a business can be a challenge for any European insurer but as Jakki May explains the trend may well be to move away from UK dominance.
Exclusive online content now available
Insurance Insight September is now live with an in-depth interview RSA’s Latvian CEO Tara Kneafsey, a review of the Danish insurance market, and an analysis of where the best place is to headquarter a European insurer.
Conservatives welcome creation of Euro super-regulator
The Conservatives have welcomed an agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers over the creation of three new European Supervisory Authorities and a European Systemic Risk Board.
European super regulator could be in place by 2011 pending 7 September vote
EU authorities are to get tough new powers to settle disputes among national financial supervisors and to ban risky financial products and activities, in a revamp of EU financial supervision plans agreed on Thursday.
Omega Lloyd's managing agency boss Adie resigns
Omega Insurance Holdings has announced that Andrew Adie, managing director and a board member of its managing agency Omega Underwriting Agents, has resigned from his position with immediate effect.
Fitch affirms Ageas ratings, and revises outlook to "stable"
Fitch Ratings has today affirmed AG Insurance's Insurer Financial Strength rating at 'A+' and Long-term Issuer Default Rating at 'A'.
Catlin Europe names new liability underwriter
Catlin Europe has confirmed that Detlef Offenhau has joined the company as senior liability underwriter for Europe.
HDI-Gerling enters Irish market
Industrial insurance company HDI-Gerling is to create a new branch in Ireland.
Nordic insurers to return to growth in 2010-2011 but volatility remains
The Nordic insurance market, covering Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, should return to growth in 2010-2011, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.
MGA Ink to target small solicitor firms with new PI facility
Ink Underwriting Agencies and St Giles Legal and Professional Risks have joined forces to target what they describe as the "troubled solicitors insurance market".
BIS Countdown - Mike Morrisey: The international agenda
The International Insurance Society claims to be the largest multinational organisation of its kind, with almost 1000 members from more than 90 countries. Ahead of his keynote address at the British Insurance Summit, president and chief executive Michael…
Coface returns to profit in H1 2010
The credit insurer has recorded an operating profit of €55m compared to -€47m in the second half of 2009 and -€202m in the first half of 2009.
Moody's European insurers' H1 2010 results show stabilisation of capital and earnings but conditions remain challenging
Moody's report "European Insurers' H1 2010 Results: Capital and Earnings Stabilise, but Market Conditions Remain Challenging", assesses the impact of H1 2010 results and identifies the main future challenges for European insurers.
Allianz aims for €120m target with new Madrid corporate base
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, the insurance group's dedicated carrier for large corporate insurance customers, is opening a branch office in Madrid.
QBE brands CEO replacement speculation as "completely false"
QBE has branded speculation that it has lined up an external successor for its CEO Frank O'Halloran as "completely false".
Cigna swoops for Vanbreda International
Global health service company Cigna has acquired Vanbreda International, based in Antwerp, Belgium.
Omega confirms six-month loss
Omega has reported a pre-tax loss of $34.2m (H1 2009: $22.9m profit) for the first six months of 2010 following a series of catastrophic events.