France
Helvetia bidding for Groupama's French marine portfolio
Swiss Insurance Group Helvetia Group has confirmed it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Groupama to acquire its French marine insurance portfolio.
A mutual future?
Regulations like Solvency II will have a significant impact on mutuals across Europe. Francesca Nyman asks whether the model will survive.
Groupama UK fights back over S&P downgrade
Groupama Insurances in the UK is strong and secure, according to CEO François-Xavier Boisseau.
S&P drops Groupama's rating to BB
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its long-term counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on France-based insurer Groupama SA and its guaranteed subsidiaries to 'BB' from 'BBB-'.
Grupo Catalana Occidente enters motor insurance top five after Groupama swoop
Grupo Catalana Occidente and INOCSA have signed a binding purchase agreement to acquire Groupama Seguros y Reaseguros SAU, Groupama's Spanish subsidiary.
Broker demand persuades Casualty & General to rebrand as CGICE
Casualty & General Insurance Company (Europe), the Gibraltar-based specialist in liability cover, has rebranded as CGICE after broker calls.
Axa moves to loans to diversify investment portfolio
Insurance group Axa will offer loans to mid-cap companies in France as the firm looks to diversify its investment portfolio.
UK insurers face capital hike under RMS v11
UK insurers may see increases of up to 97% in their capital requirement for catastrophe exposures under Solvency II rules when making calculations under the new RMS model version 11, with French and German insurers facing similar though not quite so…
German financial watchdog on the hunt for new insurance head
Germany's financial regulator Bafin is seeking a new head of insurance supervision following Gabriele Hahn's move to a new role after only 18 months in the job.
Coface expects lower profit margins due to Europe debt crisis
Credit insurer Coface SA has said it may post lower profit margins from underwriting as Europe's debt problems fuel higher claims.
Allianz France agrees deal for Groupama's Gan Eurocourtage
Groupama has agreed to sell the property and casualty brokerage-related activities of its Gan Eurocourtage subsidiary to Allianz France for an undisclosed sum.
View from the top: The French connection
London's cosmopolitan nature means it is well placed to capitalise on emerging market opportunities, says Nicolas Aubert.
Norton Rose bolsters French practice with new appointments
Global law firm Norton Rose has recruited Hogan Lovell's Bénédicte Denis as a corporate partner in its Paris office.
Moss exit and senior management shake-up keep Aviva rating under review
Aviva's financial strength rating of A (excellent) has been reviewed and maintained by AM Best Europe while remaining under review with negative implications.
Political risks: Economic unrest triggers interest and questions over cover
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain have all been re-rated 'medium risk' from 'low risk' by Aon Risk Solutions, as part of a downgrade of 37 countries in the firm's annual Terrorism & Political Violence map.
Scor and key subsidiaries upgraded to A+
French reinsurer Scor has had its insurer financial strength rating upgraded from A to A+ by Standard and Poor's along with core subsidiaries.
Grupo Catalana Occidente in exclusive negotiations for Groupama's Spanish arm
Grupo Catalana Occidente and French insurer Groupama have entered exclusive negotiations regarding the acquisition of Groupama’s Spanish operation, Groupama Seguros Sant Cugat.
Towers Watson builds IMC business with senior European appointments
Towers Watson has appointed Sabine Leboulanger in France and Henning Maass in Germany to lead the growth of its Insurance Management Consultancy practice in Europe.
Gable reports 37% profit growth amid unstable market conditions
Gable has reported a 37% rise in pre-tax profit to £3.7m in the year ending 31 December 2011.
Terrorism and civil unrest: Risky business
With several parts of the world engulfed by violence and civil unrest, is traditional terrorism and political risk cover increasingly irrelevant?
Aviva announcement on senior staff shake-up expected
Aviva is understood to be preparing to inform staff this week of details of the next stage in its plan to "simplify" its business.
Amlin to integrate French unit
Amlin France, known as Anglo-French Underwriters before its 2008 acquisition by Amlin Group, will be integrated into Netherlands-based Amlin Corporate Insurance as part of the insurer's European growth strategy.
Axa fails in bid to re-enter Taiwan market
Taiwan's insurance regulator has refused to allow Axa to re-enter the market owing to concerns about the French insurer's commitment.
Amlin consolidates European operation
Amlin has consolidated all commercial insurance activities in mainland Europe with the integration of its French operation into its Netherlands base.