Europe
US consultancy Imaginatik to target UK and European insurers with Ingenin deal
US-based innovation consulting and software provider Imaginatik is to target the UK and European insurance sector after striking a partnership with Ingenin.
Axa quits investing in tobacco
Axa has announced it will stop investing in the tobacco industry where it invests more than €1.7bn (£1.3bn).
Beale, Tulloch appointed to UN and World Bank Group-backed steering committee
Lloyd's CEO Inga Beale and Aviva global chairman Maurice Tulloch have been added to a committee guiding the United Nations and World Bank Group-backed Insurance Development Forum.
C-Suite Europe: Ageas' Bart De Smet on mergers and alliances
Recent consolidation moves must not overshadow the business opportunities offered by joint ventures: the acronym M&A could be redefined as mergers and alliances.
Moreau to leave Axa in June
Nicolas Moreau, chairman and CEO of Axa France, is to leave the insurer on 30 June after 25 years.
Rapid rise of urban populations driving climate change risk, says World Bank
Assets worth $158 trillion (£109 trillion) could be at risk from river and coastal flooding by 2050 unless more is spent on disaster mitigation according to the World Bank.
Generali sees adverse market conditions impact results but COR improves
Market conditions hit Generali’s bottom line via its investments for the first quarter, with net profit down 13.8% (or €588m), but combined operating ratio improved to 92% from the previous quarter.
Geo-blocking changes in Europe could have ‘substantial impact’ on insurers
The Actuarial Association of Europe has called on the European Commission to consider the definition of justifiable geo-blocking, especially in the context of insurance.
Zurich returns to profit in Q1
Swiss-headquartered Zurich's after tax global profits fell 28% from $1.22bn (£845m) in the first quarter of 2015 to $875m (£607m) in Q1 2016.
Allianz sees global profits and revenue fall in Q1
Global insurer Allianz's revenues and profits fell by 6.4% and 3.5% respectively in the first quarter of 2016.
Europe: Competition law - all over for Iber?
The Insurance Block Exemption Regulation is set to lapse on 31 March 2017, and the European Commission is not looking for a replacement. What will this mean for cooperation and competition?
Norway loses top spot to Switzerland in FM Global’s 2016 annual resilience index
Insurer FM Global’s 2016 survey into business supply chain resilience saw Norway drop to second behind Switzerland, making the central European nation most resilient to disruption according to the index.
Brexit would ‘significantly damage’ London Market, says IUA
Underwriters have raised concerns Brexit would limit access to markets and “significantly damage” London Market companies, according to the International Underwriting Association.
Insurance Europe calls for changes to UFR to wait until Solvency II review
Europe’s peak insurance body Insurance Europe says there is some misunderstanding around how Solvency II liabilities are calculated, particularly its relationship to the ultimate forward rate.
RPC Consulting opens Paris office
RPC Consulting, the consulting arm of law firm RPC, has appointed former founding partner of EMB France Stéphane Chappellier to head up its new Paris office.
Europe: Building success for construction firms
The improving Spanish infrastructure sector offers an opportunity for local insurers.
JLT expects £34m in ‘total exceptional costs’ for 2016
Global (re)insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson anticipates £34m in “total exceptional costs” for 2016, but remains on target to achieve its objectives for the coming year.
UK insurers given hope over European Commission compromise for “unenforceable” Vnuk ruling
A senior executive from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau has offered the UK insurance market hope that the European Commission will review its response to the Vnuk ruling as it comes to understand the level of unintended consequences the decision might have…
United Nations secretary-general asks for industry's help on climate change
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has urged the insurance industry to work with the organisation in a meeting at the UN's headquarters in New York this week.
XL Catlin appoints head of insurance strategic client and broker management
XL Catlin has named Philippe Gouraud as its head of strategic client and broker management for its insurance division.
Europe: Join the caravan
Caravans and motorhomes are increasingly popular and many vacationers are choosing to take them to Europe. What insurance challenges does this pose?
Hit-and-run interim report to be published in next few weeks
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau expects the University of Leicester to publish an interim report into hit-and-run motor accidents within the “next few weeks” as it aims to get a better understanding of the reasons why people leave the scene of a collision and…
Europe: The Insurance Distribution Directive: Looking under the bonnet
The Insurance Distribution Directive came into force on 23 February 2016 and European insurance distributors - namely brokers, agents and other intermediaries - will have to comply with it from 23 February 2018
Willis Re sees "encouraging signs" as reinsurance renewal rates fall again
Willis Re's latest reinsurance report has identified some encouraging signs for the market despite April reinsurance rates falling for the fourth year in a row.