Germany
Allianz considers renewable funds
German insurer Allianz believed to be planning the launch of closed-end investment funds focusing on renewable energy in the future.
Solarif extends PV cover after customer demand
Solar Insurance and Finance has expanded its policy terms and conditions for solar photovoltaic insurance to "align with customer wishes".
Indian PMI insurer Apollo Munich Health aims for profit in 2013
Indian health insurer Apollo Munich Health Insurance has recorded gross written premiums of Rs 475.9 crore and aims to turn a profit next year.
Munich Re posts €1.6bn profit for H1
Munich Re posted consolidated profit of €1.6bn for the first six months of 2012, €812m of which derived from the second quarter.
Markel International returns to underwriting profitability and COR of 84%
Markel Corporation has reported gross written premiums of $514m for the six months ended 30 June 2012, compared with $483m for the first half of 2011, and a combined ratio of 93% for the six months compared with 107% for the same period in 2011.
German Mutual Insurance downgraded after wind strom hits results
German Mutual Insurance Company has had its financial strength rating downgraded to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and issuer credit rating to 'bbb-' from 'bbb'. The outlook for both ratings is negative.
Allianz Group 'robust' despite lower operating profit in P&C
Allianz Group has posted revenues of €25.2bn in the second quarter of 2012, up 2.5%, or €24.6bn, on the same period in 2011.
Allianz, Generali and Munich Re dominate as European travel insurance market prospers
European markets for travel insurance and assistance continue to flourish with Allianz, Generali and Munich Re heading the market.
Generali sees profits boost from premiums outside Italy
Generali Group has posted net profits up 4.5% to €842m (2011 H1: €806m) for the first half of 2012, with the operating result stable at €2.34bn despite significant catastrophe events.
1350 jobs at risk as ERGO 'streamlines' sales
Munich Re-owned primary insurer ERGO said today it plans to cut up to 700 salaried sales posts as part of a "quality and efficiency plan" intended to streamline sales.
Half of CEOs responsible for risk management as terrorism tops concerns
The chief executive or chief operating officer has formal responsibility for risk management at 50% of European companies, according to a new survey which found that companies feel underprepared for terrorism and political violence risks.
EC approves acquisition of Groupama's Gan by Allianz France
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation Allianz's proposed acquisition of a non-life insurance portfolio of Groupama-owned Gan Eurocourtage.
Top five European news stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Talanx subsidiary HDI-Gerling Industrie opens in Bahrain
Talanx subsidiary HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG is opening a branch in Bahrain.
Allianz champions sustainability with 'first' ESG advisory board
Allianz has established an advisory board for company-wide environmental, social and governance issues which it says is the first of its kind.
Travel cancellation insurance must be opt-in, ECJ rules
Online travel agents can no longer automatically include travel cancellation insurance in the price of plane tickets bought on the internet, following a ruling by the European Court of Justice.
IMD2 - a level playing field?
Legislative proposals released this month by the European Commission for the Insurance Mediation Directive have met with mixed reviews. Victor Fornasier asks whether they will finally create a level playing field.
European Union liability trends raise 'supra-national' challenges
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted that he wants to rein in Europe's legislative power. Ralph Savage looks at the effects it is having on European insurers.
Hannover Re installs Agencyport 'what if' risk management suite
Hannover Re has installed Agencyport risk management software in six of its Worldwide offices and will roll out to further offices in due course.
Magma gets IRDA nod for joint venture in India
Asset financing company Magma Fincorp has gained approval from India's insurance regulator to start a general insurance joint venture.
View from the top: Eyes wide shut?
It is hard to read news reports that do not contain stories about the latest cyber data breach, or information on 'spyware' and computer espionage.
Analysis: Major events in the Russian insurance market in Q2 2012
Highlights for the Russian insurance market for Q2 include a number of important personnel reshuffles, several companies being sold and problems with a high roller. Paul Koshik reports.
XL seeks to increase "regional presence" with German appointments
XL has expanded its underwriting team for middle market firms in Germany with the appointment of two senior underwriters.
Asia’s next big growth market
Asia-Pacific is still very much the place to be in insurance terms but as Jenni Marsh reports the less traditional markets, outside of China and Japan, are expected to be the real growth stories in the coming years.