France
European construction – back to good health?
Construction markets have suffered across the globe with the financial downturn biting hard. Edward Murray investigates whether there are any glimmers of hope for the European market in 2012.
Willis appoints Rainbow MD for Willis Re Europe
Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of global broker Willis Group, has appointed David Rainbow to lead the company's European reinsurance business as managing director for Willis Re Europe.
Mapfre and CEA join forces to target French travel market
Mapfre Asistencia has signed a strategic agreement with French firm Compagnie Européenne d'Assurances for joint operations in the French travel insurance sector.
Countdown to ISE: Q&A with guest speaker Kurt Karl
Kurt Karl, managing director, chief economist and head of economic research and consulting at Swiss Reinsurance, will be presenting the session on 'Recent economic challenges and risk management' at Insurance Strategy Europe in Brussels on Wednesday 21…
Allianz revenues down 2.7% to €103.6bn
German general insurer Allianz reported a 2.7% reduction in revenues for the full year 2011, down to €103.6bn from €106.5bn in 2010.
Perils expects €267m losses from Windstorm Andrea
Independent Zurich-based firm Perils has disclosed its initial loss estimate for windstorm Andrea as €267m.
View from the Top: Maritime trade, empires and insurance in Holland and the UK
The 17th century saw the Dutch and the English competing for control over the seas and trade routes, which both countries rightly saw as fundamental to their economic and political standing.
The temporal scope of Rome II
Rome II was intended to bring about uniform choice of law rules but had left some uncertainty over when the regulation applied in cross border accidents. Tarek Uddin explains how the recent case of Homawoo has helped bring clarity.
New year European windstorm damage estimated at €267m
Perils has today disclosed an initial loss estimate for windstorm Andrea, which occurred in Western Europe from 4-5 January 2012, of €267m.
Q&A Peter Solloway
Peter Solloway, business development manager for Continental Europe at FM Global, pictured, spoke to Stephanie Denton about the challenges facing the French insurance market including exposure to nat cats, supply chain issues and distribution challenges.
Competition heats up for general insurance arm of HSBC
The competition to buy HSBC’s $1bn general insurance business is down to two contenders – Axa and Ace, sources have told Reuters.
Torus recruits XL underwriting manager
Specialty insurer, Torus, has appointed former XL property underwriting manager Gilles Rousseau as a senior underwriter for its general property division.
The PPI party
Payment protection is a dirty term in the UK while it thrives on the Continent Jakki May finds out why.
Editor's comment: Slim pickings at Groupama
It didn’t take long for some insurers to begin sharpening their knives and forks, and start planning how they can prey on the perceived wounded animal that is Groupama UK.
Brokers wary over Groupama transfers as S&P puts Aviva and Axa on rating alert
Up for sale insurer may be helped by wider eurozone worries.
French P&C sector can weather 'economic headwinds'
Moody's has changed its outlook for the French property and casualty sector from negative to stable, saying it expects better 2011 underwriting results for the sector than the previous two years.
Moody’s ups outlook for French insurers
Moody's has changed the outlook for the French property and casualty sector to stable from negative, but left the French life insurance sector on negative.
Chartis Europe SA assigned "A" IFS ratings
Chartis Europe SA (France) and Chartis Europe (UK) have been assigned "A" (Excellent) financial strength ratings and "A" issuer credit ratings by AM Best.
Impact of the French national commitment towards the environment
As changes to environmental laws begin to impact in France Gregory Allard explains how brokers and insurers must continue to innovate to ensure adequate protection is readily available.
Fitch: eurozone stress analysis concludes further rating actions unlikely
Fitch Ratings says that it does not expect to take any further rating actions on European insurers as a result of its most recently updated eurozone stress test analysis.
Perils estimates €300m windstorm Joachim loss
Independent Zurich-based firm, Perils, today disclosed an initial loss estimate of €300m for windstorm Joachim, which occurred in Western Europe from 15-17 December 2011.
View from the top: Looking longer term
The present market should be given less consideration than future propects, says Laurent Matras.
Mercer to become sole shareholder of French broker
March and McLennan subsidiary, Mercer, is to become sole shareholder of French health and benefits broker, Repca, in order to strengthen its position in the French market place.
Axa to use BAE systems fraud detector
Global insurer Axa has signed up to use BAE Systems claims fraud prevention service which it says will increase its efficiency and prevent honest customers from paying for fraudulent claims.