Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Ratings Roundup: Berkley (Europe), Brit, Maiden, Länsförsäkringar, Ocaso
Jun 16 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘A’ long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to U.K.-based non-life insurer W.R. Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd....
Foreign Insurers Look at Potential Acquisitions in a Weakened U.S. and E.U.
Jun 16 2008 // Asian Insurers May Buy in U.S., E.U.; Bermuda Beefs Up Regulators; Zurich Favored for Acquisition Asian insurers may go on a buying spree. A number of companies, particularly China’s major players, are likely to...
Lloyd’s Examines Growth of Polish Insurance Industry
Jun 13 2008 // While most people identify Russia as the emerging insurance market in Eastern Europe, Lloyd’s notes that “Poland is beginning to make a name for herself. When Lloyd’s Chairman Lord Levene visited the...
Regulator’s Speech Highlights Market Turmoil; Advantages of UK Regime
Jun 11 2008 // In a recent address Callum McCarthy, the Chairman of the UK’s Financial Services Authority, took stock of the current regulatory regime for financial services in the UK. “The turbulence in financial markets...
EU Plan to Shake up Insurance Industry
Jun 11 2008 // The European Commission has proposed shaking up how the European Union’s insurance sector covers risk. Solvency II aims to protect policyholders better and spur competition in the 27-nation European Union while...
Ratings: Wiener Staedtische, AXA (Canada), Max Capital, Tryggingamidstödin, Aveta, Ansvar, Norwegian Hull
Jun 11 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘A-‘ junior subordinated long-term debt rating on the €250 million ($387 million) undated, subordinated notes issued by Austria-based Wiener...
British Regulator Warns Against Rushing New E.U. Insurance Rules
Jun 11 2008 // New European Union rules that shake up how insurers offset risk and protect policyholders must not be rushed despite a 2012 deadline, a senior British regulator said on Tuesday. European Commission proposals known as...
EU Seeks to Limit Auditor Liability to Boost Sector, Attract Insurance
Jun 6 2008 // European Union countries should limit the civil liability of auditors in order to encourage new firms to enter a sector now dominated by four firms and in this way protect European capital markets, the EU executive arm...
Ministers Meet in Paris to Keep Trade Talks Alive
Jun 5 2008 // Ministers from major trading nations will try to keep struggling world talks alive today, June 5, with supporters saying a deal could help offset the global food crisis and soften the economic slowdown. Ministers from the...
Johnson Joins Aon Environmental Risks
Jun 4 2008 // Aon announced that environmental insurance specialist Simon Johnson, Ph.D., has joined the firm as director in the Aon Environmental Services Group, a unit of Aon Risk Services. He will be based in London, and will...
Asian Insurers Expected to Seize on Credit Crunch as Opening to Buy in U.S. and Europe
Jun 3 2008 // Asian insurers, particularly China’s major players, are likely seize the credit crunch as an opportunity to snap up assets in Europe and the United States, senior insurance figures said on Tuesday. “Asian...
Europe’s Insurers Lead M&A Activity Says Conning Report
May 29 2008 // “Global insurance industry acquisitions in 2007 were driven by non-U.S. insurers, primarily Western European firms-who clearly see value in this market,” stated Sherry Manetta, director at Conning Research...
Generali Pulls Out of RBS Insurance Deal as Deadline Nears
May 29 2008 // Italy’s Generali dropped out of the running for Royal Bank of Scotland’s insurance arm on Wednesday, hours ahead of a first bid deadline, prompting speculation that interest in the asset is fading. RBS,...
ACE Europe Names Drinan Distribution, Development Director for UK & Ireland
May 28 2008 // ACE Europe announced the appointment of Pat Drinan as National Distribution and Development Director for the UK & Ireland. He will be responsible for developing broker relationships and distribution of ACE’s...
Hongler to Lead Zurich’s European Operations; Joins Management Board
May 28 2008 // Zurich Financial Services Group announced that Markus Hongler, currently CEO of Zurich Switzerland, has been appointed CEO of Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited (ZIIL), Zurich’s main EU-wide risk carrier for general...
Zurich Favored to Buy RBS Insurance
May 27 2008 // Rivals are circling Royal Bank of Scotland’s insurance arm as a bid deadline approaches, but aside from Zurich Financial Services, few may have the desire and firepower to buy Britain’s largest motor...
Zurich Frontrunner for Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance Buy
May 23 2008 // Rivals are circling Royal Bank of Scotland’s insurance arm as a bid deadline approaches, but aside from Zurich Financial Services, few may have the desire and firepower to buy Britain’s largest motor...
Australia Approves AXIS Branch
May 23 2008 // Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Limited announced that AXIS Specialty Europe Limited, one of its European operating subsidiaries, has been authorized by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to operate...
Ratings Recap: Triad, Truckers, Genworth, Arrow, American European, America Fuji, Farm Bureau, American Farmers
May 22 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has changed the outlook on its ‘B’ long-term counterparty credit rating on Triad Financial Corp. to negative from stable. “The outlook change reflects the...
Allianz in Talks on Dresdner Bank
May 21 2008 // Germany’s Allianz is in talks about the future of its Dresdner Bank unit and sees a real chance for banking consolidation in Germany, its chief executive said on Wednesday in remarks that boosted German bank...
