Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
AXA Acquires 80% Interest in B&B Insurance in Belarus
Feb 1 2011 // AXA Central & Eastern Europe announced the acquisition of 80 percent of B&B Insurance, the second largest insurer in Belarus, and its largest private insurer. AXA said the acquisition is another step in its...
EU Says Giant ‘Motherships’ Give Somali Pirates New Reach
Jan 31 2011 // Somali pirates are increasingly using hijacked merchant vessels with hostage crews as giant motherships to attack deeper into the Indian Ocean, the European Union anti-piracy task force says. Forcing the original crew to...
Ironshore Expands Political Risk Division for European Platform in Dublin
Jan 27 2011 // Ironshore Inc. has named P. Donald Harkey to head the Political Risk unit for Ironshore Europe Limited, based in Dublin. In addition, Ironshore’s Pembroke Syndicate 4000 has entered into an underwriting relationship...
Catlin Readies Launch of 3rd Arctic Survey; Focused on World’s Ocean Currents
Jan 26 2011 // Bermuda-based, London headquartered insurer Catlin announced the launch of its third Arctic Survey, which it said “will focus on evolving conditions in the Arctic Ocean that could cause changes in ocean currents that...
Guernsey Statement: ‘No Plans’ to Seek Equivalence under Solvency II
Jan 25 2011 // The Commerce and Employment Department of the States of Guernsey (the Guernsey Government) and the financial regulator, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) have released a joint statement, which affirms that...
Alarming Array of Risks Faces World Leaders in Davos
Jan 25 2011 // World leaders and top executives have plenty of crises to discuss this year. Ballooning European government debt, rising inflation, fears of trade and currency wars, spiraling food prices and lingering problems in the...
Somali Pirates Release 1 Ship; Hijack Another
Jan 18 2011 // Somali pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier on Monday after releasing a Greek-owned tanker the day before, the European Union Naval Force said. The cargo ship MV Eagle was hijacked early Monday by pirates who had...
Lloyd’s Ribeiro Beats a Path to the World’s Insurance Door
Jan 18 2011 // As director of international markets for Lloyd’s of London, Jose Ribeiro has a lot of responsibilities. He took a brief time out, as he prepared for a trip to China, to tell the Insurance Journal a little bit about...
Ratings Recap: InterGlobal, B&B Insurance, Grupo Nacional
Jan 13 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb+” of UK-based InterGlobal Insurance Company Limited, both...
Canopius Launches Swiss Reinsurance Operation; Seeks Omega Deal
Jan 10 2011 // Canopius Group Limited, a privately owned Lloyd’s re/insurer, has announced its intention to “extend its international footprint with the establishment of a reinsurance underwriting platform, Canopius Europe,...
Ironshore Forms Dublin Subsidiary; Marry Named as CEO
Jan 5 2011 // Bermuda-based Ironshore Inc announced the formation of Ironshore Europe Limited, domiciled in Dublin, Ireland. Fiona Marry has been appointed as CEO of the new insurer. She will report to the Ironshore Europe Limited Board...
Best Assigns ‘A’ Rating to Swiss-based Catlin Re
Dec 31 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” to Catlin Re Switzerland Ltd, the newly formed...
Best Europe Affirms ‘A’ Ratings of HDI, Gerling, Talanx Companies
Dec 28 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Germany’s HDI...
Catastrophes Top 2010 List of Major Global Insurance Events
Dec 23 2010 // Natural and man-made catastrophes topped the list of the most significant events in 2010, with three major earthquakes, a near record number of hurricanes, some serious typhoons and windstorms, a volcanic eruption and a...
Ratings: Aspen, Allianz Risk Transfer, Inter Hannover UK, Transsib Re, Jordan Insurance
Dec 23 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its preliminary ‘BBB+’ senior debt, preliminary ‘BBB’ subordinated debt, preliminary ‘BBB-‘ junior subordinated debt, and...
Torus Strengthens European Service Delivery with Senior Appointments
Dec 21 2010 // Global specialty insurer Torus announced the appointment of Jason Mortimer as European Client Relationship and Business Development Director. He formerly headed European Property operations. Mortimer will now direct client...
S&P Rates Catlin Re ‘A’; Sees ‘Key Benefits’ from Swiss-based Subsidiary
Dec 21 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘A’ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings to Switzerland-based Catlin Re Switzerland (CRCH), a new insurance entity created as a...
Europe Weather Ruins Christmas for Airlines, Retailers
Dec 21 2010 // Snow and freezing temperatures grounded flights across northern Europe on Tuesday, while retailers fretted they would struggle to make up sales lost due to bad weather with just four shopping days to...
Ratings Roundup: Lemma, Russian Re, Ghana Re, International Energy
Dec 21 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has placed under review with negative implications the financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Ukraine’s...
Snow, Ice Disrupt pre-Christmas Travel in Europe; Many Flights Cancelled
Dec 20 2010 // Europe saw little respite on Sunday from the Arctic conditions that closed airports and disrupted travel over the weekend before Christmas, traditionally one of the busiest times of the year. London’s Heathrow, the...
