Europe
Belgium train crash firm broked locally
The company which owned the two trains involved in a head-on collision on Monday at Halle, south-west of Brussels, is understood to have placed its insurance with a local broker.
European regulation to boost insurance M&A
According to Pricewaterhouse Coopers merger and acquisition activity in the sector is considerably brighter, as the move to Solvency II is likely to attract fresh interest in the insurance industry from a wider range of capital providers.
Marsh sees trade credit rates increase up to 50% across Europe
Increases in financial institutions' insurance ranged from more than 40% to 50% in Turkey, to 10% in Switzerland and South Africa. In the UK and Ireland, increases ranged from 10% to 30%.
Allianz in board shake up
It follows the announcement Dr Gerhard Rupprecht is to retire at the end of the year.
European insurers must rebuild capital
As insurance companies wait for the world economy to slowly recover, they must work to rebuild capital, reassess risk management, integrate changing regulations and aggressively seize opportunities for growth, both via acquisition and new product…
Blog-re: Buzztacular
As part of a series of guest blogs from reinsurance personalities, following yesterday's announcement of the launch of social media platform Goggle Buzz to rival Twitter and Facebook, Peter Dunkley of Total Objects explains how the reinsurance market can…
Allianz Global enters D&O market
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty is expanding into commercial directors' and officers' following its market entry into professional indemnity in 2009.
PMI group strikes newspaper deal
Readers of The Telegraph will be offered advice and products through a new partnership between the newspaper group and The Private Health Partnership.
Axa strikes new insurance deal with oldest bank in the world
Axa and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena announced today the extension of their bancassurance agreement in Italy to the 1000 branches of former Banca Antonveneta.
Bank claims first with free football fan insurance
BBVA Seguros and Spain's professional football league, LFP, have signed an agreement under which all fans attending first division Liga BBVA and second division Liga adelante matches will be covered by free accident insurance merely by virtue of being a…
Willis to broke multi-billion pound helicopter deal
Willis has won the broking rights to a major UK government helicopter account, Reinsurance has learnt.
Beazley profits pass £100m and GWP hits a £1bn 2009
Beazley chief executive officer Andrew Horton said "our underwriters delivered again in 2009" as it reports improved profits.
Hannover Re and Swiss Re shares in market sell-off
Shares in Hannover Re and Swiss Re were battered in trading on Tuesday on continuing capital concerns.
Allianz strikes deal with motor giant
Daimler Financial Services and Allianz SE conclude agreement under which the insurance group becomes Daimler's strategic partner for the international automotive insurance business.
Delta Lloyd up in GI, but down in life
Aviva subidiary reports gross written premium of €5.1bn in 2009, down from its record year 2008 (€5.9bn).
Hyperion boss Howden: we are on track to hit £100m by 2012
Insurance group Hyperion reports an operating income of £57.2m and EBITDA (excluding exceptional items) of £8.8m for the 12 months ended 30 September 2009, up 19% and 7% respectively on last year.
Aon reports drop in UK revenue
Aon has reported that UK organic revenue decreased 9% in the final quarter of 2009 due to weak economic conditions, soft pricing and lower new business.
Compre opens new Swedish operation
Compre Group has opened a new service company Compre Services (Sweden) AB with offices in Malmö and Stockholm.
Zurich proposes new director
Josef Ackermann is expected to be elected to the board of directors of Zurich Financial Services on 30 March at its 2010 AGM.
Aviva in Polish online push
Aviva Poland has launched an online short-term travel insurance product aimed at people who are planning a single trip outside Poland.
Aviva Spain merges websites
José Manuel Jiménez, Aviva Spain's marketing manager, said: "This website brings major advantages for users."
Aviva improves quarterly life and pensions sales
Insurer Aviva has announced life and pension sales of almost £8bn for the fourth quarter 2009 – a 21% increase on the figures for Q3 2009.
Mapfre's earnings fall in 2009
Mapfre, the European (re)insurer, said that earnings for the year fell in 2009.
Zurich sees GI COR improve to 96.8% as GWP drops 4%
Zurich this morning said its 2009 general Insurance business operating profit was US$3.5bn, down 2% in USD but up 1% in local currencies.