Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
RSA's Canadian arm acquires Quebec-based P&C insurer
Home, motor and business insurer RSA Canada has agreed to acquire L'Union Canadienne, a Quebec-based intermediated P&C insurer, from its parent company Co-operators General Insurance Company for C$150m pending regulatory approval.
Europa to delist following acquisition
Talanx International AG and Japanese insurer Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company have successfully closed their joint acquisition of the Polish Europa Insurance Group.
Fondiaria's conditions threaten Unipol merger
Italian insurer Unipol wants to proceed with its planned merger with Fondiaria-SAI but will not accept certain conditions proposed by its troubled peer, according to Reuters.
RK Harrison buys up Marsh businesses
RK Harrison has acquired four businesses from Marsh UK-owned Gibbs Hartley Cooper.
S&P upgrades Scor to A+
Standard & Poor's has upgraded the insurance financial strength ratings and long-term counterparty credit of Scor SE and various guaranteed subsidiaries from A to A+.
Brit boss Cooter 'continues to assist' in QBE integration
Former Brit director of market management and regional operations Simon Cooter may yet have a part to play following the QBE UK and Ireland regional restructure.
Grupo Catalana Occidente in exclusive negotiations for Groupama's Spanish arm
Grupo Catalana Occidente and French insurer Groupama have entered exclusive negotiations regarding the acquisition of Groupama’s Spanish operation, Groupama Seguros Sant Cugat.
Hyperion completes Windsor takeover deal
International insurance intermediary group Hyperion has confirmed it will acquire Lloyd's broker Windsor from the management and employees and their institutional backer Hutton Collins.
Giles rejects IPO, claiming 15% rise in 2011 operating earnings beats peers
Strategic acquisitions in 2012 by consolidator Giles could still rival those from 2011 by value, if not frequency, despite a renewed focus on organic growth, as it looks to bolster specialisms and close gaps in its geographic footprint.
Cobra takeover deadline extended as only Alto remains in the running
The protracted sale of Cobra, which has recently ended up as a one-horse race, has sparked debate among industry insiders as to whether networks represent limited appeal.
ISA 2012: Panel discusses evolving nature of Asian insurance hubs and offices
The changing dynamics of the Asian markets with their European/American headquarters is blurring the status of offices across the continent as regional hubs or self-sufficient management centres, and the divide between a front office and a back office…
Travelers considering India market entry
US-based Travelers Group is believed to be in talks with Indian farm equipment maker Mahindra & Mahindra regarding a bid to enter the country's fast growing general insurance market.
Willis Ireland acquires Attain Consulting
The Irish arm of broker Willis Group has added to its domestic employee benefits business with the acquisition of Attain Consulting and sister company Trustee Principles for an undisclosed sum.
ISA 2012: Insurer bosses claim no foreign player has 'Pan-Asian edge'
As mature markets sink deeper into the eurozone crisis, Asia remains a bright spot for global insurers. That was the view of Johnny Chen, CEO of Zurich Financial Services, who told the audience at ISA 2012 yesterday that he remains positive in his firm's…
Talanx enters Indian market via joint venture
Talanx-owned insurer HDI-Gerling will enter the Indian market through a joint venture with Indian firm NBFC Magma Fincorp after a three-year bid to gain a licence for the region.
Bidders line up to buy $1.4bn stake in Korean insurer
Government of Singapore Investment Corp and Canada's Ontario Teachers Pension Plan are reported to be among the final bidders to buy stakes in South Korea's unlisted Kyobo Life Insurance in deals worth up to $1.4bn.
Tycoon's son makes surprise ING Asia bid
The son of Asia's wealthiest tycoon, Li Ka-shing, has lodged a surprise bid for the south east Asian businesses of ING's $6bn Asian insurance operations, the Financial Times reported today.
Giles hails "peer-beating" 15% rise in 2011 operating earnings as IPO is rejected
Giles CEO Brendan McManus has categorically ruled out an initial public offering as the consolidator today reported a 15% increase in EBITDA to £24m (2010: £21m) on turnover of £81m (2010: £70m) for the full year to 31 August 2011.
In conversation with Davies: Crawford and Coombes on life with Electra
At the tail end of September 2011, the claims solutions provider Davies refinanced, with the existing management and Electra Partners agreeing a buyout that saw Lloyds Development Capital exit the business.
Cobra extends takeover deadline
Cobra has extended the takeover deadline to 7 June as it continues to liaise with Alto Intermediary.
'Strange' name insurers bid for British Money company
London-based online insurance entrepreneur, Simon Burgess, is selling his three companies with “British” in the title and has already received interest from insurers with “strange” names.
ISA Countdown: Q&A with Ernst & Young's May Knight
As the last in our series counting down to Insurance Strategy Asia next week, Insurance Insight spoke to May Knight about her views on the Asian insurance market.
Aviva exiting South Korea and Sri Lanka, reports say
British insurer Aviva is putting its South Korean and Sri Lankan businesses on the auction block, according to reports by Reuters news service and the Chicago Tribune.
Communicating Change: Preparing to be purchased
Groupama UK and its broker subsidiaries were put up for sale in January. How has its management communicated the process to ensure that positive commercial momentum is maintained?