Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Swiss Re Structures $386 Million ‘European Windstorm’ Notes
Nov 3 2010 // Swiss Re’s Capital Markets Division has structured €275 million [$386 million] in notes as an alternative risk transfer vehicle, covering European windstorm events, for AXA Global P&C’s Calypso Capital...
Lloyd’s Warns of Contamination Hazards from Chinese Food Imports
Nov 3 2010 // “China was the source of most contaminated or unsafe foodstuffs that came into Europe in 2009, according to a European Union report,” as cited in an article on the Lloyd’s of London web site, which...
North Atlantic Oscillation Condition May Affect Europe’s Winter Weather
Oct 29 2010 // Weather and renewable energy supplies across much of Western Europe could be hit this winter by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a phenomenon that can exert a powerful influence over temperature and...
European Union Agrees on Positions for Cancun Climate Talks
Oct 29 2010 // The European Union will only sign up to a second phase of the United Nation’s climate treaty if loopholes are closed and other big economies make deeper cuts to greenhouse gases, EU leaders agreed on...
Best Affirms Torus Insurance and Operating Subsidiaries Ratings
Oct 27 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Torus Insurance (Bermuda) Limited, Torus...
Swiss Re is ‘Well Placed’ for Baden-Baden Renewal Discussions
Oct 25 2010 // Swiss Re has issued a bulletin noting that it is “well placed for the upcoming 2011 renewal negotiations with its European clients.” The talks, which begin this week in the German resort of Baden-Baden, bring...
Torus Names Kuprianczyk to European Professional Lines Team
Oct 25 2010 // Lines, based in Zurich. In addition to the newly appointed Cologne-based team under Professional Lines Manager Esther Fittinghoff-Hansen, he will “further bolster the provision of senior local expertise for...
Catlin Re Switzerland Expands Underwriting Staff
Oct 22 2010 // Catlin Re Switzerland, the European reinsurance company currently being formed by Catlin Group Limited, headquartered in Zurich, has announced two additions to its underwriting staff. Christophe Chandler, currently a Class...
Tight Market Drives Australian Companies into Deals Abroad
Oct 21 2010 // Cash rich Australian companies are being forced to search offshore for takeover targets as the small local market has become too consolidated to get deals past the competition watchdog. With the Aussie dollar at a 28-year...
Willis Re Merges UK, Europe Teams; Forms Willis Re Europe
Oct 21 2010 // Willis Re, the reinsurance advisor and part of Willis Group Holdings, announced that it has merged its teams handling Continental European and UK-based property and casualty business into an expanded European unit and is...
Best’s London Briefing Highlights Challenges for Europe’s Insurers
Oct 20 2010 // “2011 will be another challenging year,” said Roger Sellek, the CEO of A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited, at the rating agency’s annual review of the state of Europe’s insurance...
Lloyd’s McGovern Navigates Turbulent U.S. Waters; Part I
Oct 15 2010 // A recent article in Lloyd’s “Market” magazine noted that Sean McGovern, General Counsel and, since February 2010, the Director of Lloyd’s North America, “loves to mess about in boats in his...
Clements Europe Acquires Vehicle Risk Management Book from Lockton
Oct 14 2010 // Insurer Clements Europe has acquired the International Vehicle Risk Management (IVRM) business from broker Lockton. The IVRM business consists of overseas diplomats and International fleet business, complementing Clements...
Best Affirms Aspen’s ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 8 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Ratings Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) and...
Ratings Recap: FM Insurance, AMI (NZ), MISR, Greenlight Re Ireland
Oct 8 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of UK-based FM Insurance Company Limited...
C.V. Starr Opens Paris Office; Sets Europe Expansion Plans
Oct 7 2010 // C.V. Starr & Co has opened its French branch of Starr Underwriting Agents, Ltd. in Paris. The Company also announced the appointment of both Nicolas Berg as Regional Manager Europe, Starr Casualty, and Olivier Decombes...
Aon: EU’s Environmental Liability Directive May Dominate Hungarian Spill
Oct 7 2010 // “The unfolding disaster in Hungary, in which toxic sludge escaped from a failed reservoir belonging to an industrial company, should serve as a warning to companies with industrial operations in Europe that the...
Safety Remains a Concern for Nanotechnology Says Lloyd’s
Oct 7 2010 // Nanotechnology is finding wider and broader use in modern technology. It is “transforming product design and innovation among manufacturers of electronics goods, textiles, cosmetics and foodstuffs as well as in other...
Swiss Re Structures $138.6 Million Cat Bond for Groupama
Oct 6 2010 // Swiss Re’s Capital Markets unit announced that it has ‘successfully structured and placed €100 million [$138.6 million] of securities issued by Green Valley Ltd.,” covering windstorm events in...
US State Dept. Warns Americans to be Vigilant When in Europe
Oct 5 2010 // The Obama administration on Sunday warned Americans of potential terrorist threats in Europe and urged them to be vigilant in public places, including tourist spots and transportation hubs. A State Department travel alert...
