Germany
XL expands German PI business
XL Group has appointed a new professional indemnity manager for its German business as it looks to expand its team in response to rising demand.
Q&A: Dr Sebastian Herfurth: Digital friends with benefits
Dr Sebastian Herfurth, co-founder and managing director of Friendsurance, discusses the future of peer-to-peer insurance, how the industry is not getting the most out of social media and why meeting customer needs is key to insurers succeeding in the…
PRA expects total UK insurance capital to drop under Solvency II
The Prudential Regulatory Authority’s executive director of insurance has forecast that total capital held by insurers in the UK will likely drop under incoming Solvency II rules.
Europe: Q&A with German risk managers
Walter Minnik speaks to German risk managers Christian Boehm of Freudenberg Group and Lutz Kalkofen of Hochtief, about current issues surrounding the European market
AA counter-fraud head calls for 'tough action' after fraud task force unveiled
The new government fraud task force is ‘a step in the right direction’ but more needs to be done to tackle the ‘out of control claims management industry' according to the AA's head of counter-fraud intelligence.
Blog: Diff'rent strokes to move the world (of insurance)
As a popular 1970s/80s US sitcom noted: ‘the world don't move to the beat of just one drum; what might be right for you, may not be right for some' - a theme tune that is as relevant to insurance markets as it is in the wider world.
Markel sees income fall in Q3 but remains up over nine months
Markel International reported comprehensive income to shareholders of $36.5m for the third quarter of 2014, down from $144.4m (£22.8m) for the same period of 2013.
Munich Re hikes 2014 profit forecast beyond €3bn
Munich Re is confident it will now exceed a forecast full year profit of €3bn for 2014 following strong performance in Q3.
Innovation Group signs deal with Zurich's German business
Innovation Group has agreed a business processing contract with Zurich's German business giving the insurer access to its motor repair network.
AGCS expands board and adds mid-corporate business line
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE has expanded its board of management and added a new business line for mid-tier companies.
RFIB hires two from Willis to grow German business
RFIB Group has appointed Colin Pinder and Gary Blakesley as divisional directors to develop a predominantly German marine account.
Markel buying German travel broker MDT
Markel is to purchase Frankfurt-based managing general agent and broker MDT, which focuses on the German travel sector.
Europe: Commission disclosure - disaster averted?
The Insurance Mediation Directive has been the subject of much conjecture in recent times. So what will the trialogue decide on - and what will the impact on insurers be?
DLG to sell international businesses to Spain's Mapfre
Direct Line Insurance Group has agreed to sell its Italian and German businesses to Spanish insurer Mapfre for €550m (£430.5m).
Mapfre reported to have bid €500m for DLG's Italian and German units
Direct Line Group is believed to have been offered €500m (£393.2m) by Spanish insurer Mapfre for its Italian and German operations.
Conservative peer awarded top EC finance brief
Conservative peer Jonathan Hill, a former PR man and education minister, has been appointed as the new European commissioner for financial stability and regulation.
German insurers pay out record claims for 2013
Germany’s non-life insurers settled €50bn in claims over 2013, the highest recorded total for a twelve month period.
Acturis buys German software provider NAFI
Acturis Group has acquired German motor insurance software provider NAFI creating an international group with £40m annual revenues.
Guy Carpenter rolls out new European hail model
Guy Carpenter has launched a probabilistic hail model for Europe.
Compre expands German footprint with HIR acquisition
Reinsurance legacy specialist Compre has completed the acquisition of Hamburger Internationale Rückversicherung from Tawa after obtaining approval from German regulator BaFin.
Uber’s Berlin ban overturned
A ban on smartphone taxi firm Uber operating in Berlin has been suspended until further notice following a decision by the presiding judge of the Berlin Administrative Court.
Berlin unveils Uber ban
Smartphone taxi company Uber has been hit with a ban from the city of Berlin on concerns over insurance for passengers.
Insurers behind banks on mobile offerings
Insurers continue to lag behind their banking counterparts when it comes to mobile websites and apps, according to research from CP consulting.
Interview: Christian Hinsch and Richard Taylor: a winning strategy
HDI Gerling’s chairman Christian Hinsch and UK managing director Richard Taylor tell Post their firm is entering a new phase in its evolution – and reveal what they’ve learnt from the German World Cup-winning football team