Spain
Fitch: eurozone stress analysis concludes further rating actions unlikely
Fitch Ratings says that it does not expect to take any further rating actions on European insurers as a result of its most recently updated eurozone stress test analysis.
Reinsurance rates in Spain fell at January renewal
Reinsurance rates in Spain fell at the January 1, 2012, renewal, despite the effects of the European financial situation on the primary market.
Aon acquires 80% of Spanish broker GDS
Aon Corporation has agreed to acquire 80% of Spanish insurance broker GDS from banks La Caixa and Banca March.
Mapfre appoints three chairmen across the business
Rafael Casas, Javier Fernández-Cid and Pedro de Macedo have been appointed chairmen by the boards of directors of Mapfre America, Mapfre Internation and Mapfre Re respectively.
Arab Spring: Life during wartime
Continuing civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa presents a challenge to the property insurance market — especially concerning the limits placed by the war risks exclusion.
Mapfre, Generali and CCR downgraded following sovereigns
A raft of European insurers including Italy-based Generali and Spanish insurer Mapfre were downgraded by Standard and Poor’s yesterday.
Portugal, Spain and Turkey lead the way in European banassurance
Banks are most important distributors of insurance in Portugal, Spain and Turkey, according to recent research.
Coface predicts recession rate of 0.1% for Europe in 2012
Credit insurer Coface warned about the systemic nature of the Eurozone crisis at its annual country risk conference but does not expect a return to depths of the 2008-2009 crisis.
DAC Beachcroft expands in Spain and Singapore
DAC Beachcroft has made appointments in its Spanish and Singapore offices to expand its international network.
Elite opens offices in France and Italy
Specialist legal and after-the-event insurer Elite is expanding its footprint in Europe by opening two new offices.
XL gets green light for Brazilian insurance company
XL Group has announced that it has received final approval from the Brazilian insurance and reinsurance regulator, Superintendencia de Seguros Privados, to establish an insurance operation in the country.
Allianz's 'AA-' IFS rating affirmed
Allianz SE has had its insurer financial strength rating and long-term issuer default rating affirmed at 'AA-' by Fitch
Antonio Huertas Mejías to take over as chair of Mapfre
The board of directors of Mapfre has elected Mr Antonio Huertas Mejías as the new chairman of the company and chief executive of the group.
Mapfre placed on Rating Watch Negative
Mapfre’s ‘A’ Issuer Default Rating and its core operating subsidiaries’ ‘A+’ Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating have been placed on rating Watch Negative (RWN) by Fitch Ratings.
UK insurers wait on developments following PM Cameron EU Treaty veto
Standard and Poor’s downgrade warning on 15 insurers should have been “no surprise” but the market is still in the same position it was a week ago given the lack of “concrete activity” at the weekend, according to an industry analyst.
O’Roarke and LV management team extend contract until 2016 – Insurance News Now
Post senior reporter Amy Ellis outlines this week's major general insurance stories including how LV general insurance MD John O’Roarke is targeting an increase in SME and home insurance business having signed up to a new four-year deal at the firm.
Generali and Mapfre among insurers downgraded by Fitch
Several Italian and Spanish insurers have been downgraded following assessments of their pro-forma capital adequacy amid challenging investment conditions.
Fitch takes rating actions on Italian and Spanish insurers
Fitch said the rating actions follow its assessment of the insurers' pro-forma capital adequacy amid challenging investment conditions, particularly in Italy and Spain, including ongoing pressure from heightened government bond yields.
Global reinsurance capital declined by 4% in the first nine months
Global reinsurer capital declined 4% from $470bn at 31 December 2010, to $450bn at 30 September 2011, according to an Aon Benfield report.
European financial services M&A activity down by 25%
There has been a significant slowdown in European financial services M&A activity during the Q3 of 2011.
Online client contact is not possible without personal attention
In the future, personal client contact will be replaced principally by online client contact according to a poll by CED.
Taiwan's insurers urged to stop lending securities for shorts
Taiwan’s regulators have urged insurers to stop lending securities to short sellers seeking to bolster equities after the Taiex Index slumped.
Spanish and French SMEs rank lowest in their understanding of insurance
Spanish and French SME’s rank the lowest when it comes understanding their insurance options, according to a recent study by Hiscox.
CED expands its network in Wallonia with the takeover of Bureau Farcy et Cie
Loss adjuster in the Benelux and Spainish regions, CED has expanded its presence in Belgium with the takeover of Bureau Farcy et Cie sprl.