Articles by Christian Kraemer and Christoph Steitz

German Industry Sounds Alarm on Infrastructure Security After Tesla Attack

German industry called for better protection of critical infrastructure on Wednesday after a suspected arson attack by leftist activists on Tesla’s gigafactory outside Berlin halted production until further notice. Security officials cleared the Tesla site on Tuesday after what CEO …

Former Wirecard Executives in the Dock as Germany’s Biggest Fraud Trial Begins

Former Wirecard executives go on trial on Thursday, two years after the collapse of the payments company that produced Germany’s biggest post-war fraud scandal and sent shockwaves through the country’s political and financial establishment. Austrian former chief executive Markus Braun …

Hannover Re Sees Reinsurance Prices Rising Up to 8%

Hannover Re , the world’s third-biggest reinsurer, said it saw reinsurance prices rising by 3-8 percent next year, a brighter outlook than that of its two bigger rivals. “It is our expectation that the favourable trend in reinsurance premiums will …

Munich Re Marine Head Warns Against Arms Race to Combat Pirates

Installing sharpshooters on oil tankers to fight off pirates as some shippers have suggested risks provoking more aggressive attacks, a senior executive at reinsurer Munich Re warned. Shipping firms are debating adding snipers and other armed teams costing up to …

(Re)Insurers Take on $5 Billion Risk with Soccer World Cup Coverage

Soccer teams and fans aren’t the only ones girding themselves for the start of the World Cup in South Africa. The world’s insurance companies have sold policies covering $5 billion worth of risks linked to the games. With just a …

Munich Re CFO Sees More Writedowns in Third Quarter

Munich Re expects more writedowns on its equity holdings in the third quarter but took account of likely losses in lowering its profit forecast for 2008 last week, its chief financial officer told Reuters. The world’s second-biggest reinsurer roiled markets …

Spain’s Santander Eyes Dresdner Bank – Sources

Spanish retail bank Santander is considering buying Dresdner Bank in the latest twist of Germany’s bank merger frenzy, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The German banking industry is the throes of talks that could result in …