Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Survey Finds Emerging Markets’ Growth in Auto Financial Services
Mar 8 2012 // A survey from London-based Finaccord found that in ten emerging economies, surging car sales have doubled the value of their automotive finance and leasing markets in five years, to reach $182 billion Finaccord said:...
Willis Chief on Non-Traditional Risks Facing Airlines; Asia-Pacific Growth
Mar 8 2012 // Joe Plumeri, Willis Group Holdings Chairman and CEO, told attendees at the Willis Asia Pacific Aviation Insurance Conference in Hong Kong that air travel in Asia Pacific is set to significantly surpass that of North...
HSBC Sells General Insurance Business to AXA, QBE for $914 Million
Mar 7 2012 // HSBC has agreed to sell its general insurance businesses to French insurer AXA Group and Australia’s QBE Insurance Group for $914 million in cash, as Europe’s biggest bank moves ahead with its plan to divest...
ABI Head Warns EU Solvency Rules Must Not Deter Growth, Investment
Mar 5 2012 // Otto Thoresen, Director General of the Association of British Insurers, has called for European Union policy makers to ensure that draft EU Solvency II rules do not prohibit insurers from driving growth in the UK and...
Japan Refiners Eye Force Majeure Clauses Due to Lack of Insurance
Mar 2 2012 // Japanese buyers of Iran crude may ask Tehran to include a force majeure clause in contracts if they are unable to pay Iran or lift Iranian oil due to lack of insurance cover for tankers under European Union sanctions,...
Iran Ship Insurer Vows to Pay Western Claims Despite Sanctions
Mar 2 2012 // Tough new U.S. sanctions against Iran are raising concern that the OPEC member’s insurers may not be able to pay Western claims in the event of an accident, but Iran’s main ship insurer said it is confident it...
Google Privacy Policy Violates European Law, Agencies Say
Mar 1 2012 // Data protection agencies in European countries have concluded Google Inc.’s new privacy policy is in breach of European law, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said on Thursday. France’s data protection...
Top Japan Insurer to Cut Coverage for Ships in Iran Under Sanctions
Feb 24 2012 // Japan’s main shipping insurer will only be able to provide a fraction of the coverage to tankers transporting Iranian oil under new European Union sanctions, officials said on Friday. Starting in July, European...
EU Seeks Legal Opinion on Global Copyright Pact
Feb 22 2012 // The European Union’s executive said on Wednesday it would refer a disputed global agreement to tackle online piracy to the bloc’s highest court to check whether it complies with EU fundamental rights. The...
Belgian Gov’t. Names Former FERMA President Dequae to Dexia Board
Feb 22 2012 // The Government of Belgium has appointed Marie Gemma Dequae, currently a scientific advisor to the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) and a past president of the federation, as an independent...
Best Assigns ‘A-‘ Ratings to Assurances Mutuelles de France
Feb 22 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to Assurances Mutuelles de France (AM), both with stable...
Best Assigns ‘A-‘ Ratings to Assurances Mutuelles de France
Feb 17 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to Assurances Mutuelles de France, both with stable...
Best Places IPCRe, Validus Re Europe Ratings on Review-Developing
Feb 16 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with developing implications the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Bermuda-based IPCRe Limited and Validus Re...
Online Social Network Can’t Be Piracy Police: European Court
Feb 16 2012 // Online social networks cannot be forced to block users from downloading songs illegally, as this would push up their costs and infringe privacy, Europe’s highest court said on Thursday, adding to a worldwide debate...
Moody’s Warns May Downgrade Global Banks, Cuts Ratings on Insurers
Feb 16 2012 // Moody’s warned on Thursday it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions in another sign the impact of the euro zone government debt crisis is spreading throughout the global...
Europe’s Big Insurers Hit by Debt Crisis, Catastrophes, Economy
Feb 16 2012 // European insurers Axa and Zurich Financial suffered on all sides last year as Europe’s debt crisis ate into their sovereign bond holdings, catastrophe claims emptied coffers and the downturn cut demand for life...
PERILS Estimates Windstorm Andrea Property Losses at $350 Million
Feb 15 2012 // According to PERILS, the Zurich-based catastrophe data provider, initial loss estimates for property losses caused by windstorm Andrea, which struck Western Europe at the beginning of January, are €267 million [$350...
Willis Re Appoints Melia as CEO Willis Re International
Feb 13 2012 // Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of Willis Group Holdings, announced the appointment of Tony Melia as CEO of Willis Re International, effective immediately. He has been with Willis Re since 1988, and will lead the...
Freezing European Weather May Last to End of February
Feb 8 2012 // The worst February cold spell Europe has seen in decades may last until the end of the month, leading meteorologists said, raising the prospect of further deaths and an extended spike in European spot gas prices. “We...
TomTom Sees Potential in Europe’s Auto Insurance Market; Motaquote Signs On
Feb 8 2012 // TomTom satnavs will in future help insurers tell the difference between a good driver and a bad one under a scheme designed to revive the Dutch navigation device maker’s flagging fortunes. The company, which made its...
