Latest Europe Headlines

All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.

RMS Purchases HailCalc Europe

Jan 9 2007 // Newark Calif.-based Risk Management Solutions, a leading provider of products and services for the management of natural hazard risk, announced the acquisition of HailCalc Europe, which it described as “the first...

ACE Europe Expands IT Policy

Jan 8 2007 // The ACE European Group has launched an expanded IT hardware and network security policy, available exclusively online under the name ComputerGuardPlus. “The policy, which includes cover for the losses resulting from...

Romania, Bulgaria Join EU; Allianz Details Bulgarian Venture’s Success

Jan 2 2007 // Romania and Bulgaria, two of Europe’s poorest countries, officially became members of the European Union on New Year’s Day, bringing the total to 27. Celebrations in Bucharest and Sofia greeted the two...

Munich Re Warns Insurers Against Nat Cat ‘Complacency’

Dec 29 2006 // While recognizing that economic losses from natural catastrophes were considerably lower in 2006 than in 2005, Munich Re warned the industry against becoming too complacent. In a bulletin on the reinsurer’s web site...

Best Affirms Allianz SE & Subsidiaries ‘A+’ Ratings

Dec 26 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A+” (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings of “aa-” of German-based Allianz Societas Europaea (Allianz SE) and its subsidiaries. Best...

Research and Markets Publishes Global Industry Guide

Dec 22 2006 // The Dublin-based study group Research and Markets announced the addition of “Insurance: Global Industry Guide” to their offering. The bulletin described the new study as “an essential resource for...

S&P Foresees More Europe M&A’s; Teleconference Today-Details

Dec 15 2006 // A new report from Standard & Poor’s Equity Research – European Investment Outlook – Riding A Wave Of Volatility – foresees the volume of mergers and acquisition in Europe exceeding the €1.3...

Catlin to Establish Offices in Paris, Barcelona, Zurich and Innsbruck

Dec 15 2006 // The Bermuda-based Catlin Group Limited announced plans to establish four new European offices in early 2007 in Paris, Barcelona, Zurich and Innsbruck. “The new locations will build on Catlin’s strategy to open...

Best Upgrades Arch (Europe)

Dec 13 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to “A” (excellent) from “A-” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a” from “a-” of the UK-based...

Best Affirms RenRe Ltd., Europe FSR Ratings; Raises Debt Ratings to ‘a+’; Outlook Positive

Dec 12 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) and upgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a+” from “a” of Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. and...

Insurers Get Serious About Enterprise Risk Management, Tillinghast Reports

Dec 5 2006 // Driven in part by increased demands from regulatory and rating agencies, enterprise risk management (ERM) has become integral to insurers’ business processes around the world. Sixty percent of survey respondents...

Businesses Must Address Environmental Exposures, Says Insurer

Nov 30 2006 // ACE European Group (ACE) is warning that UK businesses are exposing themselves to unnecessary environmental liability risks, simply because they continue to view specialist insurance products as too expensive and overly...

Zurich Establishes New Central/Eastern Europe Unit

Nov 27 2006 // Zurich Financial Services Group has established a new business unit, named Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), effective January 1, 2007. Zurich said it took the move to “better capitalize on the growth opportunities...

Hiscox Opens Offices in Sweden, Portugal

Nov 23 2006 // Hiscox plc, a leading specialist insurer, has opened two new European offices – one in Sweden and another in Portugal – as part of its commiment to further European development. “The offices in Stockholm...

The globalization of corporate responsibility

Nov 20 2006 // European PLUS D&O conference panelists say D&O claims and the demand for coverage are going global Nortel Networks – $2.4 billion settlement; Royal Ahold – $1.1 billion settlement; Vivendi Universal...

The globalization of corporate responsibility

Nov 19 2006 // Nortel Networks – $2.4 billion settlement; Royal Ahold – $1.1 billion settlement; Vivendi Universal – billion dollar settlement pending. None of these companies are U.S.-based (they are Canadian, Dutch...

ACE Europe Names Cryer UK, Ireland Commercial Property, Package Product Manager

Nov 13 2006 // Ace European Group has named Stephanie Cryer as its UK and Ireland Commercial Property and Package Product Manager. She joins ACE from Chubb where she was most recently the London Strategic Marketing manager and previously...

Commentary: In an Electoral Defeat – Echoes of the ‘Great War’

Nov 10 2006 // As the Republican Neo-Con Light Brigade charged into the Democratic Valley of Death on Tuesday Nov. 7th, echoes of another far off war could be heard. It will be 88 years on Saturday that the guns finally fell silent,...

Zurich Announces Executive Committee, Sr. Management Changes

Nov 9 2006 // Zurich Financial Services Group has announced some major personnel changes affecting its Group Executive Committee, following the planned retirement of Chief Operating Officer Peter Eckert on February 28, 2007. Zurich gave...

S&P Report: ‘Legacy Issues’ for European Reinsurers Seen as Less ‘Problematical’

Nov 8 2006 // In a report, Major (Re)Insurers Address Legacy Reserving Issues, While U.S. Hurricane Season Is Quiet, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services notes that the “most significant development in recent months for...