Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Torus Receives Lloyd’s Approval to Expand Syndicate 1301
Dec 17 2013 // Global specialty insurer Torus announced from its office in London that its Syndicate 1301 business plan for 2014 has been approved by Lloyd’s. “The plan increases the syndicate’s capacity to £180...
AIR Estimates Windstorm Xaver Insured Losses: $963 Million to $1.92 Billion
Dec 13 2013 // Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimates that insured wind losses from Extratropical Cyclone Xaver will range between €700 million [$963 million] and €1.4 billion [$1.926 billion], with the majority of the...
Best Downgrades QBE and Subs’ Issuer Credit Ratings; Affirms FSR
Dec 12 2013 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has downgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a” from “a+” and affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) of...
Low Interest Rates Biggest Risk for Europe Insurers, Eiopa Says
Dec 12 2013 // Low interest rates are the biggest risk for European insurers and pension funds, weighing on sales of retirement products, the region’s top industry supervisor said. Interest rates are “putting pressure mostly...
Chinese Hackers Spied on Europeans before G20 Meeting: Research Firm
Dec 11 2013 // Chinese hackers eavesdropped on the computers of five European foreign ministries before last September’s G20 Summit, which was dominated by the Syrian crisis, according to research by computer security firm FireEye...
Northern Europe Cleans Up After Extratropical Cyclone Xaver: AIR Report
Dec 11 2013 // Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide has issued a report on the aftermath of Extratropical Cyclone Xaver, which affected large parts of northern Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Germany, the...
Study Forecasts Growth for Professional Indemnity Insurance in Europe
Dec 10 2013 // New research by market research consultancy London-based Finaccord forecasts that the market for professional indemnity insurance across ten European countries – namely, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,...
Hurricane Strength Storm Xaver Slams UK, Northern Europe: AIR Analysis
Dec 6 2013 // A report from catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide notes that Winter Storm Xaver hit the north of Scotland last night, Thursday the 5th of December, with wind gusts of more than 140 mph (225 km/h), recorded in the...
PERILS Initial Loss Estimate for Windstorm Christian is $1.358 Billion
Dec 6 2013 // PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data, has issued its initial loss estimate for windstorm Christian, which affected Western and Northern Europe from 27 to...
Argo Surety to Issue Surety Bonds in Europe for U.S. Clients
Dec 5 2013 // Argo Surety, a division of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., now has the capability to issue surety bonds throughout the European Union (EU). Policies will be written through Argo Group’s European subsidiary,...
Best Europe Affirms Hiscox and Subs Ratings
Dec 5 2013 // 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 Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda)...
Tokio Marine Europe to Combine Operations with Kiln Group
Dec 5 2013 // Tokio Marine Europe and Kiln, both of which are part of the Tokio Marine Group, announced their intention yesterday to join forces to form a new combined operation as of the first of January 2014, subject to regulatory...
Iran Oil Shipping Insurance Sanction Relief Not Likely Any Time Soon
Dec 2 2013 // A pledge by world powers to ease ship insurance sanctions on some Iranian oil exports is likely to take months to come into effect due to complex law and regulation and to insurers’ unease over providing cover. A...
European Central Bank Reports Rise in Financial Stability Risk
Nov 27 2013 // The European Central Bank said the risk to financial stability from global market turbulence has increased in the past six months, even as measures of systemic stress have declined. The market turmoil earlier this year...
Generali CEO Greco Targets Cost Reductions to Boost Capital
Nov 27 2013 // Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Europe’s third-largest insurer, plans to cut an extra 150 million euros ($204 million) of costs by 2015 and reduce debt to boost profit and strengthen capital. The company increased its...
China, India Succeed in Weakening Warsaw Global Warming Pact
Nov 26 2013 // China and India’s success in weakening the latest global warming agreement created friction with other developing nations that are seeking to step up the fight against climate change. The two countries insisted on...
Iran Nuclear Deal Easing Up on Shipping Insurance Could Help Oil Sales
Nov 25 2013 // Iran’s nuclear deal with the West is not intended to let more of its oil into the market, the White House said, but an easing of the ban on European shipping insurance may help smooth crude exports to its big Asian...
Global Warming Pact Expected from Warsaw Talks
Nov 22 2013 // Envoys from 190 nations are close to agreeing upon the first building blocks for the next treaty aimed at fighting global warming, sketching the way to worldwide cuts in fossil-fuel emissions. The delegates, due to finish...
Best Affirms Munich Re and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 21 2013 // A.M. Best Europe has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Munich Reinsurance Co. and its subsidiaries. Best also affirmed all...
Allied World Europe Appoints Burniston as Senior VP – Primary Casualty
Nov 21 2013 // Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG announced that Denis Burniston has been appointed senior vice president, General Casualty, for Allied World Europe to lead the company’s primary casualty operation in...
