France
IUMI calls for greater access to inspection data
The International Union of Marine Insurance has written to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control to call for an increase in the level of inspection data available to underwriters.
Miller raids rivals to grow French reinsurance team
Miller has hired three senior reinsurance brokers in a bid to increase its foothold in the French market.
French insurers paid an extra €9bn in taxes in the last three years
French insurers have seen a steep increase in the amount of tax they pay in the last three years and the trend looks set to continue.
Coface premiums up 3.1% after strong Apac and Latam growth
Credit insurer Coface posted a 6.6% rise in net profit (excluding restructuring costs) to €129m in the first full year results since its re-brand.
French fiscal policy "likely to be unfavourable" for insurers
The French government could raid insurance coffers over the next twelve months as it looks to reduce the public deficit, Moody's has warned.
Data Protection: Regulation frustration
A pan-European data protection regulation may enhance transparency and accountability, but could inadvertently hamper insurance activities, harming companies and policyholders.
Motor repairs: In need of repair
A recent investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches slammed the motor insurance industry for its approach to repairs. Can the sector come back from the criticism?
Generali bolstered by P&C growth in Germany and CEE countires
Generali has reported an increase in premiums to € 70bn (+3.2%) with a 3.3% growth in property & casualty to €22.8bn.
Argo's head of aerospace to become underwriting director
Lloyd’s insurer Argo International has promoted Bruno Ritchie, pictured, to underwriting director.
Winter Sports: A downhill market?
With the Winter Olympics only a year away, winter sports are seeing a boost in popularity. Anna Pitton investigates how the insurance market is responding and asks where claims are likely to occur.
Coface restructure brings European branches under control of French regulator
French credit insurer Coface said today it had simplified and streamlined its European credit insurance activities in preparation for incoming Solvency II regulations.
Law report: Rome II regulation on expert evidence
This law report was contributed by law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
French consumers least likely to go online for insurance purchases
Online comparison sites are the fastest growing distribution channel for motor and household insurance in Europe, according to Finaccord.
France lags European neighbours for aggregator use and online sales
Aggregators are the fastest-growing distribution channel for motor and household insurance in Europe while online purchases have grown rapidly across the continent, according to research from Finaccord.
Vandalised Louvre painting uninsured
The vandalised French painting Liberty Leading the People, was uninsured according to art market sources.
Europe View From the Top: Risk engineering when growing abroad
Higher costs of living, lower real wages and reduced access to credit has had a direct impact on the profitability of UK companies. This combined with the Eurozone crisis has taken its toll on UK export growth and investment.
Scor sees 48% growth in Asian treaty business at January renewals
During the January renewals, Scor Global P&C has reported a 9% increase in gross written premiums (to Euro 2.507bn) with an expected 1.3% improvement in technical profitability for total contracts renewed and a price rise of 1.9% net of general inflation.
Beazley launches cyber product with data coverage limit
Beazley has launched a cyber product focusing on the amount of data covered rather than a financial limit.
Three Mapfre offices become branches
Mapfre Global Risks' representative offices in Germany, France and the United Kingdom are to become fully fledged branches.
From Paris with Snow
The title of this blog is slightly misleading as I am no longer in Paris and there is no longer snow. But before the thaw, I found myself in the Francophile’s playground, courtesy of Coface.
Whitehair appointed MD of SPB UK
French affinity insurance specialist SPB plans to grow its business in the UK through its ownership of Citymain Group.
Challenges and opportunities abound in 2013
Against the backdrop of a challenging economic climate and continued uncertainty over both the timescales for implementation of European regulation and varied national approaches to the adoption of it, European insurers face a number of critical…
Half of insurers doubt effectiveness of social media marketing
Marketers in the insurance sector could inadvertently turn customers off by irritating them with their online behavior, according to a new study.
AIG acquires HSBC's French GI arm and extends Turkish footprint
AIG has entered a 10-year bancassurance agreement with HSBC Group to become the exclusive provider of non-life insurance products to the bank's customers in Turkey and France.