Spain
Ocaso appoints new Manchester office head
Spanish insurance company Ocaso UK has promoted Paul Costigan to manager of its Manchester office.
Are you listening to your customer?
The perception in the insurance market is that all customers care about is price but, as Geoffrey Godding and John Cooper reveal, a recent survey highlighted that brand, financial security and insurer interaction are just as important.
The challenges of the solar market
Solar power is a firm part of the green movement in Europe but, with government cuts becoming increasingly common, Jakki May asks whether this renewable energy will continue to be affordable and efficient.
Alvert appointed CEO for Mapfre Assistance
Pablo Alvert has been appointed CEO and regional director for Mapfre Assistance, the UK arm of Mapfre Asistencia.
Mapfre names Pablo Alvert as UK boss
Mapfre’s UK arm Mapfre Assistance has named Pablo Alvert as CEO and regional director.
Mapfre begins assistance operations in Malta
Spanish insurer launches Maltese subsidiary of Mapfre Assistencia.
Mapfre buys bank's stake in Mapfre America for €244m
Spnaish savings bank Banco Financiero y de Ahorros has agreed to sell its 10.36% stake in Mapfre America to the insurer's parent company for €244m.
CED continues expansion in Spain with Tebex takeover
Loss adjusting and claims management firm CED has reinforced its position in Spain with the takeover of Tebex Daño Corporal.
Dissatisfaction could affect credit insurers' ability to recover in future
European credit insurers would be less able to rebound in a future crisis than they were in 2008/2009, according to Moody's latest insurance industry outlook.
European insurers win ground in Solvency II debate
European Union insurers could be spared the full impact of solvency rules owing to a last-minute agreement on Thursday between senior lawmakers.
China loses out as Mapfre targets more 'liberal' Asian countries
China's hostile environment for foreign investors has led Spanish insurer Mapfre to seek acquisition targets elsewhere in Asia in order to expand within the region.
Asia helps Bupa shore up drop in European revenue
Healthcare group Bupa has announced revenues of £8bn for the year ended 31 December 2011, with strong performances in Asia.
Mapfre expects 6% revenue increase in 2012, as 2011 rises 3.2%
In 2011, Mapfre achieved a net result of €963m, a 3.2% rise on the 2010 full year results.
Mapfre's new chairman predicts growth
Antonio Huertas has said the Spanish insurer expects to achieve revenues of more than €25,000m in 2012, equivalent to a 6% increase, in a year that will be "hard" and "demanding".
Admiral overseas losses increase to £15.1m but policycount soars to 4.1m
Admiral Group has reported that its two international operations – motor and aggregator – increased their losses to £15.1m (2010: £12.8m loss) in 2010.
Admiral COO describes 2011 as a year of two halves as profit hits £299m
Admiral has reported group profit before tax up 13% at £299m in 2011 (2010: £266m) on a turnover up 38% at £2.19bn (2010: £1.58bn).
Kiln launches into specialist property with appointment in Paris
Kiln has appointed a new underwriter in Paris to focus on a broad range of property facultative reinsurance risks across Europe.
European construction – back to good health?
Construction markets have suffered across the globe with the financial downturn biting hard. Edward Murray investigates whether there are any glimmers of hope for the European market in 2012.
Asian results help JLT offset difficult European trading period in 2011
Strong retail revenue growth and margins in Asia helped Jardine Lloyd Thompson offset difficult trading environments in Europe and deliver profit before tax of £147.6m for the full-year ending 31 December 2011.
Narec joins with Spanish Idermar on offshore energy project
UK renewable energy finance and insurance company Narec Capital has been appointed by Idermar, developer of Europe's leading offshore wind meteorology platform technology, to advise on finance, insurance and UK market entry.
Protection needed for consumers to embrace 'mobile wallets'
Consumer interest in mobile transactions would be "exponentially higher" if secure protection products were an option, according to a survey on mobile trends by specialty insurer Assurant Solutions.
Eurozone crisis biggest challenge for life insurers
Continued eurozone crisis will affect insurers in 2012, but it is difficult to quantify how severely, according to Fitch senior director Federico Faccio.
Mapfre and CEA join forces to target French travel market
Mapfre Asistencia has signed a strategic agreement with French firm Compagnie Européenne d'Assurances for joint operations in the French travel insurance sector.
Countdown to ISE: Q&A with guest speaker Kurt Karl
Kurt Karl, managing director, chief economist and head of economic research and consulting at Swiss Reinsurance, will be presenting the session on 'Recent economic challenges and risk management' at Insurance Strategy Europe in Brussels on Wednesday 21…