Articles by Fabio Benedetti-Valentini

AXA Plans $2.4B in Cost Cuts by 2020; Acquisitions Eyed for Growth

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, plans to increase profitability through 2020 by seeking 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion) of cost cuts and growing digital investments to tap rising demand for policies protecting savings and health. The firm may also seek …

AXA’s CEO de Castries Predicts ‘Extremely High’ Probability of ‘Brexit’

There is an “extremely high” probability that the U.K. will vote to leave the European Union and investors will face “a true landscape of uncertainties,” AXA SA Chief Executive Officer Henri de Castries said. Neither the U.K. nor the EU …

AXA Sells SunLife, Names Top Team Including Harlin as CFO, Olivier to Lead P/C

AXA SA sold its SunLife unit in the U.K. to Phoenix Group Holdings and announced the top-management team that will work with incoming Chief Executive Officer Thomas Buberl when he takes the helm in September. Gerald Harlin will become group …

AXA’s Q1 Revenue Rises 1% on Higher P&C Premiums

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, said first-quarter revenue gained 1 percent, helped by higher prices and volumes from property & casualty operations especially in Germany, the U.K. and faster-developing nations like Turkey. Sales rose to 31.8 billion euros ($36.6 billion) …

AXA in Talks to Sell Most of UK Life Insurance & Wealth Investment Units: Sources

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, is in talks to sell most of its U.K. life-insurance and wealth-investments units, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. AXA is likely to sell parts of the businesses, known collectively as AXA …

Update: AXA’s Chairman & CEO De Castries to Retire Early; Buberl Named CEO

AXA SA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Henri de Castries is leaving earlier than expected, handing over the post of CEO to Thomas Buberl as France’s largest insurer splits its top jobs. De Castries, 61, will retire at the start …

Generali Set to Nominate Donnet as CEO, Succeeding Greco: Sources

Assicurazioni Generali SpA is set to propose Italy country manager Philippe Donnet as chief executive officer, replacing Mario Greco, who has joined Zurich Insurance Group AG, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Generali’s appointments and corporate governance …

AXA’s 2015 Net Income Rises 12% on Life Insurance Sales in Europe, Asia

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, said 2015 profit rose 12 percent, helped by higher life insurance sales in Europe and Asia. The shares rose. Net income climbed to 5.62 billion euros ($6.2 billion) from 5.02 billion euros [$5.5 billion] a …

AXA to Pay Higher Dividends as Result of ‘Robust’ Capital Levels

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, will pay higher dividends to shareholders because of its “robust” capital levels under solvency rules which are coming into effect in January. AXA plans dividend payouts of 45 percent to 55 percent of its adjusted …

AXA’s First-Half 2015 Profits up 2.3% on U.S., French Life Insurance Gains

French insurer AXA SA said first-half profit rose 2.3 percent, helped by higher life-insurance earnings in the U.S. and France. Net income at France’s biggest insurer climbed to €3.08 billion ($3.37 billion) from €3.01 billion [$3.30 billion] a year earlier, …