Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Willis Opens French Aerospace Office
Apr 7 2006 // Global broker Willis Group Holdings announced that its Inspace division has been “further strengthened by the opening of a new office in France, Willis Aerospace Consulting (WAC).” Willis’ new operation...
GRAND ISS Opens European HQ
Apr 6 2006 // St. Petersburg, Fla.-based GRAND ISS has announced the opening of its European headquarters in Swindon, England. The firm provides security, risk mitigation and investigative solutions to insurance companies. “This...
Rating Agencies React to Fairfax 10-K Filing; Part 1 – A.M. Best Affirms Ratings; Off Watch
Apr 4 2006 // The rating agencies have taken different actions on Fairfax Financial Holdings and its subsidiaries, including Odyssey Re Holdings in which Fairfax has an 80 percent stake, following the Group’s filing of its Form...
Assurex Global Adds New Partners in Europe and Pacific Rim
Apr 4 2006 // Columbus, Ohio-based Assurex Global has added new partners in Australia, Switzerland and Austria. OAMPS Insurance Brokers, Ltd. in Australia; GWP Insurance Brokers in Switzerland; and Assurance Partners Versicherungsmakler...
Marsh Mac’s Mercer Finds Lack of Pandemic Planning
Mar 30 2006 // A global survey study conducted by Marsh Mac’s Mercer Human Resource Consulting has determined that while “evidence of the global spread of avian flu increases, there is a striking gap between companies’...
Ellis Joins Willis as Global Energy Practice Leader
Mar 23 2006 // Global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings Limited announced that Phillip Ellis has joined the Goroup as Global Energy Practice Leader. The bulletin characterized the move as a “significant senior appointment...
By W. Randolph Zator
Mar 19 2006 // Not all Oil & Gas programs are created equal The American market has expanded in numbers from AIG Oil Rig, principally alone 30 years ago, to perhaps 10 domestic energy markets. Other foreign carriers in Bermuda and...
Generali Posts 15% 2005 Profit Rise to $2.3 Billion; Unveils Growth Plan
Mar 7 2006 // The Generali Group announced impressive preliminary results for 2005 and an ambitious growth plan at a general meeting yesterday, March 6, in Milan. 2005 profits rose 15 percent to €1.918 billion ($2.3 billion). The...
Reinsurance treaty renewals show some premium increases
Mar 6 2006 // With the January renewal season now behind them, the world’s global reinsurers are collectively breathing a small sigh of relief. While premium increases in the U.S. met or exceeded expectations, especially along the...
S&P Rates Nipponkoa-Europe ‘A’
Mar 3 2006 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its “A” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to U.K.-based NIPPONKOA Insurance Co. (Europe) Ltd....
U.S. State Regulators Reaching Out to Foster International Standards
Feb 27 2006 // At a time when they face pressure to bring more uniformity to their own domestic regulatory operations, the nation’s state regulators are also increasingly active in efforts to harmonize the rules governing...
Best: Katrina Temporarily Halts Softening Reinsurance Markets
Feb 21 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has taken note of the apparent strengthening of the U.S. reinsurance market following the January renewal period. In a recent comment, the rating agency noted that the “renewals experienced by a number...
R&M Finds European Insurers More Positive on Outsourcing than U.S.
Feb 16 2006 // In a new addition to their offering – “Outsourcing in Insurance: Perspective 2006” – Dublin-based consultants Research and Markets concludes that, “despite recent strong results on both sides...
Europe Seeks Strategies to Cope with Rising Costs from Aging Population
Feb 13 2006 // Europe is facing an immense demographic challenge that will cuts its growth rate substantially and strain its public finances as its baby boomers retire and life expectancy increases, although some countries have taken...
AXA Reports Strong Q4 Earnings; Annual Revenue up 6.9%
Jan 27 2006 // France’s AXA Group reported excellent results for the last quarter of 2005 and a full year increase in gross revenues of 6.9 percent. Overall sales rose from €67 billion ($33.72 billion) in 2004 to €71.7 billion...
Zurich’s CEO Discusses Industry Issues in Davos Interview
Jan 26 2006 // Zurich Financial Services has released an interview with the Group’s CEO, James Schiro, to coincide with the ongoing conference of international business leaders, being held in the Swiss resort of Davos. Schiro, an...
AIR Worldwide Opens Munich Office
Jan 20 2006 // AIR Worldwide Corp. announced the opening of AIR Worldwide GmbH in Munich, Germany, “to meet the needs of its expanding client base in the region.” Yoern Tatge will head the new office. AIR noted: “Europe...
S&P Sees European Securitizations Gaining Acceptance
Jan 19 2006 // Standard & Poor’s newly issued report on Corporate Securitizations notes that these types of transactions are gaining increasing acceptance as a capital management tool by European insurers, with Swiss Re and...
Zurich (Ireland) Opens Branches in France, Sweden and Finland
Jan 18 2006 // Zurich Financial Services Group announced that Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited (ZIIL), the EU-wide risk carrier for Zurich Global Corporate business, has opened branches in France, Sweden and Finland in addition to its UK...
DIMA Rejects Claims it Opposes EC Reinsurance Regs
Jan 11 2006 // The Dublin International Insurance & Management Association (DIMA), which represents the majority of non-life insurers, non-life and life reinsurers, and captive managers located in Ireland, has strongly rejected...
