Italy
Mapfre opens Milan office
Spanish insurer Mapfre has opened a representative office in Milan to serve the Italian market.
Italy's GI sector weathers major changes
Legislative changes, industry consolidation and on-going economic difficulties are changing the landscape of Italy's general insurance market, according to AM Best.
Q&A with Lloyd's' Enrico Bertagna
Lloyd's Italy country manager Enrico Bertagna discusses the impact of recession, the country's growth sectors, and why he believes natural catastrophe provision in Italy needs a major overhaul.
Lloyd's Italy sees 20% growth in H1
Lloyd's bucked the European economic trend to grow 20% in Italy in the first half of 2012.
European floods: keeping the funds flowing
Floods are an on-going threat for Europe, yet the approach to insuring and recovering from them is wide and varied. Francesca Nyman investigates how Europe is tackling the issue and what the future is likely to bring.
DLG drafts in management trio as part of international shake-up
Direct Line Group has further bolstered its international standing following the "high calibre" addition of three new members to its expanding management team.
Milliman and EagleEye target European insurers
Actuarial firm Milliman and insurance technology provider EagleEye Analytics are expanding to offer products for the European market.
Top five European news stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Outlook for Italian insurance sector remains negative despite improved profitability
The Italian insurance sector's rating outlook remains negative, according to ratings agency Fitch.
New member joins Ferma board
Isabel Martinez, a member of the Spanish risk management association AGERS, has joined the board of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations.
The impact of European downgrades
This year has seen an increasing number of downgrades by ratings agencies for European insurers. Anne-Louise Fogtmann investigates how seriously these are taken and their impact on insurers.
Guernsey signs tax agreements with Italy and Latvia
Guernsey has signed tax information exchange agreements with Italy and Latvia in an effort to increase transparency with the two European Union member states.
Generali seeks improvements with management reshuffle
Italian insurer Generali has reorganised the management structure for its Country Italy and Corporate businesses in an effort to improve growth and profitability.
Italy increasingly important for London market
Italy is becoming a more important jurisdiction for the London insurance community, according to international law firm Norton Rose.
Charles Taylor opens Italian office
Charles Taylor Insurance Services has hired ex-Aon broker Dario Giovara to lead a new office in Italy.
Generali reaches new agreement to sell Israeli Migdal
The Generali Group has reached a new agreement to sell its entire 69.13% stake in Israeli firm Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings to Eliahu Insurance Company.
Direct Line confirms staff cuts
Direct Line Group could make up to 891 staff redundant as part a plan to claw back £110m gross annual costs by 2014, the firm's chief executive said today.
Ace poaches Zurich's surety head
Ace has recruited Zurich head of credit and surety Luc Reuter to drive the expansion of its surety division into continental Europe.
Italian motor policies five times those of European average
Third-party car insurance policies in Italy are five times more expensive than the European average.
Italy misses opportunity to open PI market with compulsory legislation delay
Italy has postponed the introduction of compulsory professional indemnity for professional bodies just days before implementation was due.
Admiral's international arms report £8.9m loss in 1H 2012
Admiral's international insurance business has reported significant growth in turnover and total premiums written in the first half of 2012 to £79.7m and £74.4m respectively (H1: 2012 £53.9m and £49.5m).
Uniqa posts earnings up 43.2%
The Uniqa Group has posted first-half earnings before tax up 43.2% to €106.5m (2011: €74.4m).
Admiral to slow UK growth despite 9% rise in profit
Admiral's pre-tax profit rose to £171.8m in the first half of 2012 (H1 2011: £160.6m) having increased the number of vehicles insured by 11%, or 350 000, to 3.5 million.
Italian motor and property markets offer opportunities, according to new report
Italy stands at the crossroads of economic and social change, and therefore offers interesting opportunities for the insurance industry.