Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Buffett Helps Ireland’s Vhi Insurance Avoid Bailout with $99M Subordinated Loan
Jul 29 2015 // Irish state-owned health insurer Vhi Insurance DAC borrowed money from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. to help avoid a bailout as the company comes under central bank regulation for the first time. Berkshire...
AXA Enters Exclusive Negotiations to Buy Genworth Lifestyle Protection Insurance
Jul 22 2015 // Paris-based AXA has entered into exclusive negotiation with Genworth Financial to acquire 100 percent of Genworth Lifestyle Protection Insurance (Genworth LPI), for a total cash consideration of 475 million euros. Genworth...
Global Reform of Tax Systems to Hit Insurance Industry: London’s IUA
Jul 20 2015 // A sweeping global reform of tax systems is under way and will have profound implications for the insurance industry, the London-based International Underwriting Association has warned. Responding to public concerns about...
EU Aviation Safety Agency Makes Recommendations after Germanwings Crash
Jul 17 2015 // A European task force set up to look into safety after the Germanwings crash on March 24 has made six recommendations that will now be reviewed by the European Commission. The task force representing airlines, crew,...
Willis Dealmaker Walkiewicz Hires Shea for Capital Markets Role
Jul 15 2015 // Willis Group Holdings Plc has hired Brian Shea as head of Europe for the investment banking division as the insurance broker seeks to arrange more deals. Shea, 49, joins from reinsurer SCOR SE. He was previously the head...
Global Insured Cat Losses in First Half Are Below Long-Term Average: Munich Re
Jul 14 2015 // Overall losses and insured losses from natural catastrophes during the first half of 2015 were below long-term average values, according to a review of global natural catastrophes issued by Munich Re. Total natural...
A.M. Best: Eurozone Insurers Remain Robust Despite Instability in Greece
Jul 10 2015 // The impact of Greece exiting the eurozone is likely to hit market confidence in the region, although (re)insurers operating in the economic bloc are well positioned to withstand a continued period of volatility, according...
Bermuda Adopts Solvency II ‘Equivalency’ Measures for ‘Open Insurance Markets’
Jul 10 2015 // A bulletin from Bermuda notes that the island’s parliament took regulatory action this week to align its regulatory insurance procedures, which it hopes will lead to “recognition by the European Commission as...
Technology, Supply Chain & Regulation Top ACE Europe’s List of EMEA Risks
Jul 7 2015 // A list, compiled by the ACE European Group, sets out the “new wave of interrelated, fast-changing risks, reflecting rapid changes in the global economic landscape and the increasing role of technology and...
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Opens Madrid Office
Jul 7 2015 // Swiss Re Corporate Solutions announced that it has opened an office in Madrid, Spain, to reinforce its presence in the Iberian Peninsula. It will offer the company’s range of products and customized services via a...
Reinsurance Industry Faces Uncertain Future as Time Moves On
Jul 2 2015 // It’s around two months until the annual Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo, where the reinsurers, brokers, carriers, lawyers, accountants and cat modelers discuss the state of their industry. That industry, until...
DUAL Enters Central, East European Market with Launch of DUAL Polska
Jul 1 2015 // DUAL Group, the underwriting arm of Hyperion Insurance Group, announced its launch into Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), following the acquisition of the majority stake of Toruń, Poland-headquartered insurance...
China Seeking “Win-Win” Climate Plan; Poised for Pledge
Jun 29 2015 // China is seeking a fair, global system to tackle climate change and is about to make a joint announcement on the environment, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said before a summit in Brussels with top European Union officials on...
EU Capital Markets Plan Must Improve Investor Protections: UK Regulator
Jun 26 2015 // The European Union’s plan for a unified capital market needs more work to protect investors from losses if it is to provide the economic boost policymakers’ are hoping for, a top British regulator said on...
Advanced Markets Drive 3.7% Global Premium Growth in 2014: Swiss Re
Jun 24 2015 // The global insurance industry gained momentum in 2014, with total direct premiums increasing by 3.7 percent to $4.778 trillion after having stagnated the previous year, according to Swiss Re’s latest...
Low Interest Rates Challenge European Insurers: A.M. Best Report
Jun 23 2015 // The low interest rate environment represents a significant challenge for insurers, according to a report published by A.M. Best. “European insurers are struggling to generate investment income as the majority of...
Cat Modeling in a New, More Open Phase: Aon Benfield/Impact Forecasting
Jun 23 2015 // Over 30 years ago, Karen Clark produced the first catastrophe model – for hurricanes. Since then the use of these valuable tools has changed the face of the re/insurance industry. They are indispensable for the...
CNA Hardy Appoints Clements as Distribution Director, Europe
Jun 22 2015 // CNA Hardy has appointed Andy Clements as distribution director, Europe. He will report to Elliot Miller, head of UK regions and Luc Malâtre, VP field operations. Clements will be responsible for building effective and...
QBE Europe to Grow Middle East Casualty Business; Parfitt Appointed
Jun 19 2015 // QBE European Operations has announced plans to grow its casualty business in the MENA region. Laetitia Parfitt joined the team in Dubai this week as senior casualty underwriter. Parfitt will be responsible for developing...
A.M. Best: European Insurers Tap Capital Markets Ahead of Solvency II
Jun 16 2015 // Low interest rates together with highly liquid and stable financial markets have prompted European insurers to tap the capital markets in their efforts to lower the cost of capital and optimize levels of risk-adjusted...
