Thomas Buberl News

AXA’s H1 Net Income Rises 2% to $3.9B, Beating Expectations

AXA reported a stronger than expected rise in net profit for the first half of the year, helped by higher asset management and property and casualty earnings, and by lower restructuring costs. Europe’s second largest insurer said on Thursday that …

Allianz Q1 Profit Boosted by Strongest PIMCO Inflows in 4 Years

Pacific Investment Management Co., the bond manager owned by German insurer Allianz SE, saw its biggest third-party inflows in four years in the first quarter as clients flocked to Chief Investment Officer Dan Ivascyn’s PIMCO Income Fund. The firm, based …

AXA Plans IPO of Minority Stake of U.S. Businesses to Free Up Capital

AXA Chief Executive Thomas Buberl plans to overhaul the group’s U.S. operations, proposing to float its American life insurance and asset management businesses in 2018 in order to free up capital and pursue takeover targets elsewhere. The listing of a …

UK Auto Insurers Face Disruption from Mobile Phone & Tech Companies

Auto insurance may be on the brink of an incursion from mobile-phone and technology companies. Telefonica SA’s O2 unit — one of the first mobile operators in Britain to offer car insurance — expanded its product line in February to …

AXA Chief Rules Out Major Acquisitions Such as Generali

AXA has reached a “critical size” and is ruling out major acquisitions such as Italy’s Generali, the French insurer’s chief executive Thomas Buberl said on Thursday. It is managing risks relating to May’s presidential election in France and raising its …

French Insurers & Bankers Aim to Beef Up Fintech Investments

After years of lagging behind London on spawning financial technology startups, Paris this week hosted a show of force aimed at proving the French capital can catch up as more than 1,500 bankers, investors and entrepreneurs gathered. The Paris Fintech …

AXA Weighs 650 Belgium Job Cuts in ‘Transformation’ to Strengthen Unit

AXA SA is considering cutting 650 jobs in Belgium over the next two years, as Europe’s second-largest insurer overhauls its range of products sold in the country. AXA Belgium has presented the plan to unions Monday, Jef Van In, head …

AXA H1 Net Income Rises 4% to $3.6B as L&H Earnings Offset Cat Losses

AXA SA, France’s biggest insurer, said first-half profit rose 4 percent as increased earnings from life and health insurance helped offset higher claims from natural catastrophes. Net income climbed to 3.2 billion euros ($3.6 billion) from 3.1 billion euros a …

AXA, Alibaba and Ant Financial Services Form Global Strategic Partnership

AXA, Alibaba and Ant Financial Services have formed a global strategic partnership to explore opportunities to distribute AXA’s insurance products and services through Alibaba’s global e-commerce platforms. The companies plan to work together to develop products and services, while developing …

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 …