Articles by Arno Schuetze and Alexander Hübner

Wirecard Hires Forensic Investigator, Say Sources. Findings Could Aid in D&O Litigation.

German payments company Wirecard has hired Alix Partners for a forensic investigation of the accounting scandal that led to its collapse, people close to the matter said. The blue-chip company filed for insolvency last month, owing creditors almost $4 billion …

Wirecard Probe Expands with Arrest of Head of Dubai-Based Subsidiary

BERLIN/FRANKFURT – German prosecutors said on Monday they had arrested the head of a Dubai-based subsidiary of Wirecard, widening the circle of suspects in a multi-billion-dollar fraud investigation into the collapse of the payments company. The Munich prosecutor’s office said …

‘The Money’s Gone’: Wirecard Collapses Owing $4 Billion

Wirecard collapsed on Thursday owing creditors almost $4 billion after disclosing a gaping hole in its books in Germany’s worst accounting scandal. The implosion of the payments company came a week after auditor EY refused to sign off its 2019 …

AXA Weighs Selling Central European Business, to Exit Non-Core Markets: Sources

French insurer AXA is considering selling its Central European business as part of a restructuring to quit markets where it lacks scale, three sources familiar with the situation said. AXA is undergoing a deep restructuring to help it cope with …

Swiss Re Postpones $4B ReAssure IPO, Citing Weak Investor Demand

Reinsurance group Swiss Re suspended plans for a $4.1 billion initial public offering of British life insurer ReAssure on the day it was set to start trading in London, citing weak demand from institutional investors. The cancellation comes as global …

Allianz Weighs Bid for Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management Business: Sources

Allianz and Amundi are considering rival deals to tie up their asset management units with Deutsche Bank’s DWS, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday. Their interest comes as Germany’s biggest bank considers a possible merger with Commerzbank, with …

Generali Likely to Start Exclusive Talks to Sell German Life Book to Viridium: Source

Italy’s Generali is expected to start exclusive talks shortly over the potential sale of its 40 billion euro ($48 billion) German life insurance portfolio to private equity-backed Viridium, a person close to the matter said. Generali and Viridium declined to …

Munich Re’s Ergo Decides Not to Sell Run-Off Life Policies as Offers Too Low

Munich Re’s ERGO unit has dropped plans to sell run-off life insurance policies, saying non-binding offers received by the company were too low. “In ERGO’s view, the current value of the portfolios and its potential appreciation is not adequately reflected …

Generali to Sell $50B German Life Business to Restructure in Europe: Sources

Generali has put its 44 billion euro ($50 billion) German life insurance portfolio up for sale as it restructures in Europe, sources close to the matter said. Morgan Stanley is evaluating options, including a sale, for Generali Leben which ceased …

Allianz Weighs Acquisition of Australia’s QBE: Sources

Germany’s Allianz has made an informal takeover approach to QBE Insurance, Australia’s biggest insurer, but has not named a price, sources told Reuters on Monday. Shares in QBE closed flat after rising by up to 5 percent, while Allianz was …