Europe
Solicitors' PI: Unrated insurers – is it the long goodbye?
They may be dwindling in number, but no one knows if the end of unrated insurers in the solicitors' professional indemnity market is near
Friendsurance secures funding for Australia expansion
Berlin based peer to peer insurance firm Friendsurance has secured $15m (£10.4m) of funding for expansion.
Europe: Market realities could trump cross-border aims
Although the European Commission is considering moving cross-border barriers for insurance sales, detractors are making their voices heard.
Metlife wins 'too big to fail' court hearing
US life insurance giant Metlife has won a court victory over the US Treasury's decision to classify the insurer as a systemically important financial institution.
AIG Europe reports growth in net premiums, slight COR improvement
AIG's European arm posted stable results for the year ended 30 November 2015, including a slightly stronger combined ratio of 98.2% (2014: 98.4%) and 2% growth in net premiums.
R&Q ramps up acquisitions with Rank Insurance deal
Randall & Quilter has acquired Rank Insurance Limited, a Guernsey captive firm in run-off, from Rank Overseas Holding Limited.
Brexit too risky with no insurance policy against it, says Aviva boss
Britain leaving the European Union is not worth the risk when assessing the economic impacts, according to Aviva group CEO Mark Wilson.
Brexit offers UK insurers respite on ECJ VAT ruling for outsourced claims
UK insurers are facing significant increases to the cost of outsourced claims handling if the government is forced to align its VAT position to a recent European Court of Justice ruling, but the June vote on whether the UK should leave the European Union…
Axa chairman and CEO Henri de Castries to step down
Axa’s long-serving CEO and chairman Henri de Castries will retire and leave the board of directors on 1 September with the role to be split following his departure.
Generali appoints Donnet as group CEO
Italian giant Generali has appointed Philippe Donnet, Generali's Italy country manager, as group CEO.
VIG plans for growth as €172m preliminary profit announced for 2015
Vienna Insurance Group has targeted at least 10% growth in Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia over the medium term as the company announced a €172m (£134m) preliminary profit before tax for 2015.
Europe - Vnuk: EU ruling is a black cloud over motorsport
The Vnuk ruling - making third-party insurance compulsory - could make motorsport participation too expensive and supporters are calling for an exemption to be made.
Friendsurance remains unprofitable as CEO outlines growth plans
After six years of operation German start-up broker Friendsurance has failed to make a profit but this is part of the company's growth plan, according to its CEO.
Munich Re CEO to step down
Nikolaus von Bomhard will depart as CEO of reinsurer Munich Re in April 2017, with his role to be filled by Joachim Wenning.
Ageas settles Fortis legal claims for €1.2bn
Ageas, the insurer spun out of banking group Fortis, yesterday agreed a settlement of €1.2bn (£934m) for outstanding legal claims from the 2007 and 2008 financial crisis.
Gen Re to close Hong Kong and Melbourne offices in restructure
Gen Re, a global reinsurer owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has decided to close six property and casualty offices after an evaluation of the business.
Helvetia Holdings to reduce board size
Three board members at Helvetia Holdings will not stand for re-election, following the integration of the (re)insurer with Nationale Suisse and a planned reduction of Helvetia’s board.
Europe: Hold your horses on Brexit planning
While it makes sense for some to be examining all the contingencies, there are a range of routes which could be taken should the UK leave the European Union, and so for most, it makes sense to wait until more detail is known
Aviva benefits from Friends Life acquisition as UK profits slide
Aviva recorded a 20% increase in global profits to £2.67bn in 2015 compared with £2.21bn the previous financial year.
European insurtech investment set to grow as global fintech funding reaches £13.4bn
European insurers are set for the same levels of transformation as the banking sector, according to a KPMG report, which has tipped further growth in the insurance-tech industry in Europe in the coming years.
Zurich promotes for top underwriting role
Jane Hayes has been formally promoted to chief underwriting officer for general insurance in Europe, Middle East and Africa and Zurich Insurance Plc.
Axa invests in German digital health start-up
Axa Strategic Ventures, the €230m (£178m) venture capital fund set up by the French insurance giant, has announced it is leading an investment round in Medlanes, a Berlin-based digital health start-up.
Iprism strikes deals with QBE and Gallaghers after Gable pulls two lines mid-term
Liechtenstein-based insurer Gable Holdings has exited the tradesmen and high-net worth household lines of business it offered through the Iprism Underwriting Agency portal mid-term.
Europe: Telematics and the gender directive
The Gender Directive put a brake on insurers' underwriting purely on the basis of gender. So has it encouraged the development of telematics which helps them price in way that does not differentiate rates between males and females?