France
Risk managers skills poll result
Have risk managers had a adapt their skills-set?
Weak technical results threaten profitability in French, German and UK motor
Motor insurers in Germany, the UK, and France face an uphill struggle for profitability and are unlikely to break even on their underwriting results for several years, according to a report by Standard and Poor’s.
BGL gears up European expansion plans
Compare The Market owner BGL has turned down acquisition opportunities in Europe, but continues to look to grow its presence on the Continent, with discussions in Italy and Spain ongoing.
France and Germany lagging behind on Solvency II
French and German insurers are behind UK counterparts when it comes to Solvency II, according to Fitch.
European insurance market facing critical moment
The European non-life insurance sector is approaching critical moments, with economic, regulatory and market forces set to severely test the industry as a whole, according to a report from AM Best.
Atradius nominates Tesch as chief market officer
Credit insurer Atradius has nominated Andreas Tesch, chief market officer, pending approval of De Nederlandsche Bank.
Insurance Insight October is now live
Insurance Insight October is now live with an article on ratings across Europe; a look at how a huge cloudburst in July has affect the Danish insurance market; and an interview with Alberto Corinit, formerly of the CEA and CEIOPS.
Ratings watch: the risk of negative outlooks
The Greek sovereign debt crisis has raised questions about insurers’ investment portfolios and the ratings they attract because of this. Jakki May explains why brokers should be aware of the issue to provide the best service to their customers.
Swiss Re corporate aims for top 10 commercial position
Swiss Re’s new dedicated commercial arm is aiming to be a top 10 player for brokers in the corporate market.
Ferma 2011: News round up
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations has said it will continue its fight for broker transparency and aims to convince the European Commission to include it in the next version of the Insurance Mediation Directive.
Ferma 2011: Torus to bring property underwriting to French office
Insurer Torus has confirmed that it will be bringing property underwriting to its French operation.
Fitch downgrades French life sector
Fitch has revised its rating outlook for the French life sector to negative from stable, indicating that it believes a significant portion of life ratings could be downgraded over the next 12 to 24 months.
European contract law poll result
Does the European insurance market need an optional contract law?
Insurance Insight weekly update live
Insurance Insight’s weekly update is live with an article on International geocoding; and a View from the Top on the importance of collaboration and partnership for the modern broker.
Groupama actions fail to avert S&P rating action
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings of Groupama SA and its related subsidiaries to 'BBB' from 'BBB+', and removed them from Credit Watch with negative implications.
Insurance Insight weekly update live
Insurance Insight’s weekly update is live with an article on the pitfalls and opportunities with exporting to the US; and a View from the Top the different approaches being adopted for environmental liability.
Exporting to the US: pitfalls and potential
Exporting to the US could be a solution to Europe’s economic problems but as Pat Drinan explains brokers looking to help out firms venturing into this market need to watch their own back as well as their clients.
View from the top: Environmental variations cause issues
Differing approaches adopted by individual European countries have added complexity to the issue of environmental liability.
Broadgate acquisition is last for Torus
The recent acquisition of Broadgate Underwriting by Torus finalises a string of hires and acquisitions by the globetrotting insurer.
Whiplash - Britain: The European whiplash capital
With its proportion of whiplash claims far outstripping any other European nation, what must the UK do to curb this cause of claims inflation?
European Commission to propose additional contract law in October
European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding is today meeting with leaders of European insurance companies to discuss European contract law in the insurance sector.
Stable rating outlook for Dutch insurance sector
The rating outlook for the Dutch insurance sector is stable, indicating that a vast majority of Dutch insurer ratings are likely to be affirmed over the next 12-24 months.
Insurance Insight Q&A: Stef Witteveen
Claims-processing management firm CED recently expanded in Spain with the acquisition of CSP, Insurance Insight caught up with Stef Witteveen, chief executive officer, to find out all the news on the purchase and the firm’s plans has for the future.
Mooted HSBC GI sale a sign of the times
HSBC’s mooted plan to sell its general insurance arm is part of a growing trend of banks “retrenching”, according to an analyst.