Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Willis Opens New Office in Malta
Sep 20 2012 // Willis Group Holdings plc has opened a new office on the island of Malta, which it said is “to serve its growing captive and commercial insurance clients in the region,” an area that “has experienced...
Aon Outlines Risk Management Approach for Emerging Economies
Sep 19 2012 // A bulletin from Aon Global Risk Consulting, the risk management arm of Aon plc, using responses from 100 senior risk industry professionals at its annual Client Symposium, indicates that “organizations in Central and...
US Renews Waivers of Iran Sanctions for Japan, EU Nations
Sep 17 2012 // The United States has renewed waivers on Iran sanctions for Japan and 10 European countries because they cut their purchases of the OPEC nation’s crude oil, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday. The...
Swiss Re’s Chief Economist on the State of the Global Economy
Sep 14 2012 // “The European debt crisis is affecting the global economy, definitely,” said Kurt Karl, Swiss Re’s chief economist in an interview at the recent Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo. He did indicate that...
Ratings Recap: AmerInst, Trust Re, Flagstone Re Africa, Univé Stormher
Sep 14 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bermuda-based AmerInst Insurance Company Ltd., as well as the ICR of...
Best Affirms Catlin Group and Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Sep 14 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the Bermuda-based Catlin Insurance Company...
Commentary by Gordon Brown:* Europe Risks Going the Way of Japan
Sep 14 2012 // The good news is that Europe is no longer going the way of Greece. The sad news is that it is threatening to go the way of Japan. After years of hesitation punctuated by panic, Europe has finally accepted the compelling...
Best to Assign Ratings to Merged QBE European Reinsurance Entities
Sep 13 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has commented that it expects to assign a financial strength rating (FSR) and an issuer credit rating (ICR) to UK-based QBE Re (Europe) Limited) on or shortly after 30 September...
Reinsurance Rendezvous Focuses on Euro Zone, Interest Rates, Capital
Sep 10 2012 // For once there’s no natural catastrophe hanging over the annual Reinsurance Rendezvous in Monte Carlo (the 56th edition). Tropical storm Leslie missed Bermuda and Hurricane Michael is safely out in the Atlantic. But...
Best’s Global Reinsurance Market Review Analyzes Top 50, Capital, Ratings
Sep 5 2012 // A.M. Best has published a review of the international reinsurance market, which analyzes the performance of the largest reinsurers (rated by gross premiums written). Although the figures – based on 2011 – do not...
Commentary: Iran Confident It Is Winning Sanctions War
Sep 4 2012 // Despite ludicrous claims to the contrary, Western sanctions have hurt Iran’s crude oil exports, but it’s also not all gloom and doom. In unsurprising, but obviously factually incorrect, remarks, the director of...
Kiln Appoints Pudemat Property Underwriter in Frankfurt
Sep 4 2012 // Kiln, the international specialist insurance and reinsurance underwriting group, which is a part of Tokio Marine, announced that it has appointed Petra Pudemat as a new property underwriter in Frankfurt to write a broad...
Moody’s Changes EU Rating Outlook to Negative
Sep 4 2012 // Moody’s Investors Service has changed its outlook on the ‘Aaa’ rating of the European Union to negative, warning it might downgrade the bloc if it decides to cut the ratings on the EU’s four biggest...
How Iran’s Main Oil Buyers Deal with Insurance Sanctions
Aug 30 2012 // Insurance companies based in the EU are not allowed to provide cover for ships that carry Iranian cargo. The EU sanctions are aimed at the protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs based in the EU, which dominate the marine...
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Opens Netherlands for Benelux Market
Aug 29 2012 // Swiss Re Corporate Solutions announced that it has opened an office in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, to “reinforce its presence in the Benelux region. The office will provide insurance solutions to large and...
Europe Drawn Back to its First Problem – Greece
Aug 27 2012 // The euro zone debt crisis was born in Greece. Nearly three years and two bailouts on Europe must decide whether to give the country yet more help or cut it loose. For all its complexities, Greece’s problems...
Ratings Recap: Oman Insurance, Abu Dhabi National, NLGIC, MEICO
Aug 24 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of...
U.S. Exports Seen at Risk as Russia Enters WTO
Aug 23 2012 // U.S. agricultural, aircraft and other exports to Russia could suffer unless Congress passes legislation soon recognizing the former Cold War enemy is now a fellow member of the World Trade Organization, trade experts and...
Ratings Recap: Omega Insurance, Al Ittihad, Alliance
Aug 22 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” of Bermuda-based Omega Insurance Holdings Limited, an...
Asia’s Iran Crude Oil Imports to Regain Levels Prior to EU Insurance Ban
Aug 22 2012 // Asia’s crude imports from Iran are set to recover in September to levels reached before a July 1 insurance ban by the European Union plunged trade with the Islamic Republic into uncertainty not seen in decades. Top...
