Europe
Helvetia posts 8% boost in profits for H1
Swiss insurance group Helvetia increased its profits by 8% to SFr 258m (£208m) in the first half of 2017.
JLT acquires Belgian broker Belgibo
JLT has acquired Belgian specialty broker Belgibo from Exmar Group to further secure a post-Brexit presence on the continent.
Axa's Tanguy Touffut on how Big Data is enabling parametric insurance
Big Data and satellite technology are enabling parametric insurance, explains Tanguy Touffut, CEO of Axa Global Parametrics.
Vienna Insurance Group completes merger with Wiener Städtische Osiguranje
Vienna Insurance Group has completed its merger with Wiener Städtische Osiguranje and the two Axa companies it acquired last year.
Insurance Europe responds to Vnuk consultation
Insurance Europe and the Council of Bureaux have issued a joint response to the European Commission’s inception impact assessment on the Refit review of the Motor Insurance Directive.
German insurtech start-up raises $10m seed investment
Berlin-based insurtech start-up Coya has raised a seed investment of over $10m from global investors including Brolly backer Valar Ventures.
QBE's Grant Clemence on moving CSR forward
Insurers must think more ambitiously about their corporate social responsibility, says QBE Foundation's chairman Grant Clemence
Aviva sells stake in Italian insurance business
Aviva has sold its stake in its Italian joint venture Avipop Assicurazioni SpA.
Vnuk ruling could lead to next hunting ground for CMCs, ABI warns
The Association of British Insurers has warned that the Vnuk ruling could lead to the next ‘lucrative hunting ground’ for claims management companies due to the vagueness of implications.
Umbria Italy quake loss up 64% to €108m
Estimated insurance industry losses from the earthquake that struck Italy in August last year has been increased by 64% to €108m (£99.4m), according to Perils.
MIB urges European Commission to take action against consequences of Vnuk ruling
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau has urged the European Commission to take action against the unmitigated consequences of the Vnuk ruling.
Analysis: Insurers want PI to be left out of the European services e-card
The European Commission wants to create a professional indemnity certificate for cross-border activities but insurers and brokers find the proposal unworkable.
German non-life premiums to continue to rise
German general insurers will continue increasing premiums to offset declining yields in their investment portfolios.
Perils pegs Storm Thomas loss estimated at €249m
Perils has pegged insurance and reinsurance industry losses for Storm Thomas at €249m (£229m).
Global Reinsurers feel the pressure in H1
Global reinsurers continue to feel the pinch of sustained pricing and earning pressure at the half year results, according to Fitch Ratings.
Analysis: Aviation insurers prove adaptable
Insurers are adapting to aviation's latest trends, despite low premiums.
Updated: Zurich looks to cut headcount in HQ reshuffle
Zurich Insurance could cut the headcount in its Swiss corporate centre as part of a process to streamline the finance department.
Vienna Insurance Group reports pre-tax profit of €220.5m in H1
Vienna Insurance Group has reported a 9.6% rise in its pre-tax profit to €220.5m (£202.0m) during the first half of 2017 compared to €201.3 (£184.42m) in the same period last year.
IGI Holdings reports improvement in COR despite 'challenging market'
Dubai registered International General Insurance Holdings Limited has reported an improvement in its combined operating ratio from 89.8% in H1 2016 to 81.9% during H1 of this year.
Elite Insurance falls £9.7m short of SCR
Gibraltar-based insurer, Elite Insurance has fallen £9.7m short on its solvency capital requirement in the year to 31 March 2017, despite a sizeable strengthening in its reserves.
Increase in cyber insurance take up to boost commercial sector, says HDI Global CEO
Cyber insurance cover is an increasingly important focus area for HDI Global, according to CEO Christian Hinsch.
HDI Global eyes up international expansion as premiums top £2.5bn in H1
German commercial insurer HDI Global has reported gross written premiums of €2.8bn (£2.5bn) as the business continued to grow in the first half of 2017.
Compre snaps up legacy book from Norway's Gjensidige Forsikring
Compre has acquired a legacy portfolio from the Norwegian insurer Gjensidige Forsikring for an undisclosed sum.
LV's Martin Milliner on the future of vehicle technologies
Wtih the European Commission looking to mandate 19 vehicle technologies to be fitted as standard, Martin Milliner, director of claims at LV, asks how ready the public and insurers are for advanced driver assistance programmes.