Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Proposals Issued for WTO Doha Deal
May 20 2008 // Mediators in the core agriculture and industrial goods negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued new proposals on Monday, clearing the way for a meeting of ministers to clinch an outline trade deal. The...
EU Commissioner Sees ‘Makings of an International Trade Agreement’
May 19 2008 // European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said on Monday he saw the makings of an international trade agreement in new proposals drafted by the World Trade Organization. The WTO is expected to issue negotiating...
Lloyd’s Unveils 360 Project’s Latest Target: the ‘Liability Challenge’
May 15 2008 // “Businesses could be facing a future liability crisis if they do not face up to growing litigation issues,” Lloyd’s warns in its latest report -“‘Directors in the Dock – is business...
European Utility Companies May be Underinsured, Warns Marsh
May 9 2008 // The “Marsh Power Forum” in Paris this week identified potential insurance problems for the industry. Marsh noted that “the combination of rising demand and insured costs in Europe’s electricity...
Dresdner Posts Q1 Loss; Allianz Confirms Profit Decline
May 9 2008 // Dresdner Bank stayed in the red in the first quarter after writing down €845 million ($1.3 billion) on structured finance investments, keeping it in the spotlight as parent Allianz works to split it in two. Dresdner...
S&P Report: Solvency II More Significant for European Insurers than Credit Crunch
May 8 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has published a report – “Subprime Asset Losses And Related Capital Market Disruption Still Have Little Effect On European Insurance Industry” – which...
AXA Q1 Group Sales Fall by 2.7% to $43.5 Billion
May 8 2008 // France’s AXA Group, Europe’s second-biggest insurer, said first-quarter group sales fell 2.7 percent to €28.066 billion ($43.46 billion) with turnover hurt by adverse foreign exchange rates and the credit...
Lloyd’s Amlin to Launch Insurance Risk Trading Venture
May 7 2008 // Amlin plc, one of Lloyd’s largest insurers, has announced its intention to form a new Investment Management Partnership with John Wells, who will become Chairman, and Luca Albertini, who will become Chief...
European Banks Expected to Sell Insurance Businesses as Credit Crunch Takes Toll
May 7 2008 // Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc’s decision to sell its insurance business is likely to prompt a string of other banks to reconsider the strategic value of owning insurers. Faced with billions of dollars in...
Germany Says EU Must Be Firm in WTO Talks
May 5 2008 // The European Union must be firm in World Trade Organization trade talks despite the global rise in food prices, a German official was quoted as saying on Sunday. “Due to the food crisis, we could face new...
Bermuda Q1 Earnings Recap: ACE, XL, Validus, RenRe, Endurance, Aspen, Montpelier Re
May 5 2008 // A number of Bermuda-based companies announced their first quarter results last week, which were generally lower than the same period of 2007. The financial credit crunch, combined with the ongoing soft market, had a...
Catlin Syndicate Leads Coverage for Europe/China Rail Cargo Link
May 2 2008 // The Catlin Syndicate, the largest syndicate at Lloyd’s of London in terms of premium capacity, is leading the cargo insurance coverage for goods transported by an innovative new rail container service linking Europe...
Swiss Re’s Conning to Manage $195 Million Carbon Credit Fund
Apr 28 2008 // Conning Asset Management (Europe) Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of Swiss Re, has been appointed to manage a pioneering €125 million ($195.5 million) post 2012 Carbon Credit Fund. The fund is currently investing in...
China, European Union Vow to Work on Trade, Ease Tibet Tension
Apr 25 2008 // China and the European Union vowed on Friday to seek balanced trade and foster cooperation in climate change in high-level meetings as they sought to ease tension over Tibet protests and the Olympics. EU officials led by...
Royal Bank of Scotland’s Insurance Unit May Tempt European Buyers
Apr 23 2008 // Royal Bank of Scotland’s insurance arm offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for buyers to scoop up a key share of the UK market just as it begins to show signs of recovery, and suitors are already eyeing the...
People
Apr 21 2008 // Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. named Michael LaRocco president and CEO. He will report to Chuck Kavitsky, president and CEO of Allianz of America, parent of Fireman’s Fund, and will also...
