Latest France Headlines

All the headlines from our France Topic Page, ordered by recency.

French Protesters Urge Nationwide Anti-Asbestos Lawsuit

Oct 3 2006 // Thousands of protesters gathered this past weekend at a landmark Paris tower once lined with asbestos to demand a nationwide lawsuit against those who allowed workers to be exposed to the hazardous substance. Relatives of...

Allianz Reaches Agreement with RAS, Employees for SE Plan

Sep 21 2006 // Germany’s Allianz announced that it has reached an agreement with employee representatives of its Italian subsidiary RAS Holding S.p.A on “the future structure for the operational and corporate codetermination...

Guy Carpenter, EQECAT Launch New Sea Surge Model for France, Sweden

Sep 5 2006 // Guy Carpenter & Company, Inc., the global risk and reinsurance specialist of the Marsh & McLennan Companies, announced that its Instrat(R) unit, which provides quantitative analysis and modeling services, has...

French executive pleads guilty in Executive Life case

Aug 7 2006 // A former managing director of a subsidiary of Credit Lyonnais plead guilty to four felony counts of causing the bank to make false statements to the Federal Reserve Bank. Jean-Francois Henin, 62, of Paris, entered his plea...

Best’s 2006 European review highlights common industry concerns

Aug 7 2006 // For the insurance industry, global controversies tend to obscure some equally important debates going on in smaller forums around the globe. The principal controversy in the U.S. revolves around state vs. federal...

Best’s 2006 European review highlights common industry concerns

Aug 7 2006 // For the insurance industry, global controversies tend to obscure some equally important debates going on in smaller forums around the globe. The principal controversy in the U.S. revolves around state vs. federal...

SCOR Opts to Become First French Societas Europaea

Jul 6 2006 // France’s SCOR Group announced that its Board of Directors has adopted plans to transform the Company into a Societas Europaea, or SE. SCOR SA – its current status – will become the first French listed...

France vs. Italy in World Cup Final

Jul 5 2006 // An impenetrable defense and a killer penalty goal from its 34-year old captain, Zinadine Zidane, propelled France into the World Cup Football (Soccer) final tonight. The final score – France 1/Portugal 0 –...

News Briefs

Jul 4 2006 // EU Leaders Fiddle While Europe Burns: The crisis in the European Union, provoked when French and Dutch voters rejected the EU Constitution, is being largely ignored by Europe’s leaders. Instead of a bit of...

S&P Affirms CCR’s ‘AAA’ Rating

Jun 8 2006 // Triple “A” ratings have been on the endangered species list for some time, but they do still exist. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has just affirmed its ‘AAA’ long-term counterparty...

AXA Posts Strong Q1 Results

May 11 2006 // France’s AXA Group’s earnings figures for the first quarter of 2006 show strong growth in its three main sectors of operation – summarized as follows: — Life & Savings entities new business up...

ACE European Names French, Hayward to London Underwriting Posts

Apr 18 2006 // ACE European Markets has made two appointments at its London branch office. Stephen French has been appointed to chief underwriting officer. This is a new role will focus on core businesses of property, excess liability...

AXA Receives ‘Binding Offer’ from Stone Point for Re business; Best, S&P Comment

Apr 10 2006 // France’s AXA Group acknowledged that it has received a binding offer for its reinsurance operation – AXA Re and its subsidiaries – from Paris Re Holdings Limited. As previously reported (See IJ Website...

Willis Opens French Aerospace Office

Apr 7 2006 // Global broker Willis Group Holdings announced that its Inspace division has been “further strengthened by the opening of a new office in France, Willis Aerospace Consulting (WAC).” Willis’ new operation...

S&P Sees European Securitizations Gaining Acceptance

Jan 19 2006 // Standard & Poor’s newly issued report on Corporate Securitizations notes that these types of transactions are gaining increasing acceptance as a capital management tool by European insurers, with Swiss Re and...

Zurich (Ireland) Opens Branches in France, Sweden and Finland

Jan 18 2006 // Zurich Financial Services Group announced that Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited (ZIIL), the EU-wide risk carrier for Zurich Global Corporate business, has opened branches in France, Sweden and Finland in addition to its UK...

Best Downgrades Ratings on Allianz Marine & Fire (France)

Nov 30 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has downgraded the financial strength rating to “A-” (Excellent) from “A+” (Superior) of Allianz Marine & Aviation (France) (AMAF) and has removed the rating...

International Newsbriefs

Nov 21 2005 // New Bermuda Insurers Formed: As the proverb says: “It’s an ill wind that blows no man good.” Even Katrina, one of the “illest” winds of all time, has brought some good fortune to the...

News Briefs

Nov 20 2005 // New Bermuda Insurers Formed: As the proverb says: “It’s an ill wind that blows no man good.” Even Katrina, one of the “illest” winds of all time, has brought some good fortune to the...

S&P Report Indicates French Insurance Market Remains Stable

Nov 15 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a report – “Insurance Industry Risk Analysis: France (Republic of),” which indicates that the rating agency is “maintaining its stable...