France
French treasury to raise €800m via tax on insurers
French insurers and reinsurers face a 7% hike in the exit tax on capitalisation reserves, if proposals in the 2013 budget go ahead.
Pricing and claims improving in French GI sector
The French general insurance sector's outlook is stable, despite weak volume growth over the past 12 months, according to Fitch.
Covéa launches in UK
Covéa Insurance, the business created from the merger of MMA Insurance and Provident Insurance, launched today, promising to deliver "the quality, consistency and financial reassurance that our broker partners and customers value".
Covéa Insurance CEO Reader looking ahead following official launch
Covéa Insurance, the business formed following the merger of MMA Insurance and Provident Insurance, has been officially launched today.
European floods: keeping the funds flowing
Floods are an on-going threat for Europe, yet the approach to insuring and recovering from them is wide and varied. Francesca Nyman investigates how Europe is tackling the issue and what the future is likely to bring.
New XL office to serve mid-market France
XL Group has opened a new insurance office in Lyon to serve companies and broking houses in the south east of France.
New member joins Ferma board
Isabel Martinez, a member of the Spanish risk management association AGERS, has joined the board of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations.
Amrae appoints full-time CEO to cope with growth
Amrae, the French risk managers association, has appointed Bénédicte Huot de Luze as chief executive.
Pinsent Masons opens Paris office
International law firm Pinsent Masons has opened an office in Paris as it targets insurance work in mainland Europe.
Allianz board members to swap jobs
Oliver Bäte and Dieter Wemmer will exchange roles from 1 January 2013, it was announced at a supervisory board meeting yesterday.
Transsexual policy holders entitled to breast enlargement, German court rules
Male-to-female transsexuals can claim for breast enlargement surgery under their insurance policy if hormone therapy fails to give them a feminine shape, a German court has ruled.
Casualty insurers warned about recent legal deveopments
A ruling on pesticide manufacturers' liability, reforms to Spanish law on directors' and officers' cover and more stringent rules for Polish motor insurers, are among recent legislative changes with implications for European casualty insurers.
Axa France direct boss to head up UK arm
Axa UK has appointed Yves Masson as CEO of personal direct and partnerships.
Axa UK names personal direct and partnerships CEO
Yves Masson will take the role, joining from Axa Direct Assurance in France.
Ace poaches Zurich's surety head
Ace has recruited Zurich head of credit and surety Luc Reuter to drive the expansion of its surety division into continental Europe.
Kiln bolsters European operation with Frankfurt hire
Specialist insurance and reinsurance underwriting group Kiln has appointed a new property underwriter in Frankfurt.
Bourgeois appointed Coface MD for UK and Ireland
Frédéric Bourgeois has been appointed managing director of Coface in the UK and Ireland as Xavier Denecker retires.
Admiral's international arms report £8.9m loss in 1H 2012
Admiral's international insurance business has reported significant growth in turnover and total premiums written in the first half of 2012 to £79.7m and £74.4m respectively (H1: 2012 £53.9m and £49.5m).
Admiral to slow UK growth despite 9% rise in profit
Admiral's pre-tax profit rose to £171.8m in the first half of 2012 (H1 2011: £160.6m) having increased the number of vehicles insured by 11%, or 350 000, to 3.5 million.
New Swiss Re office targets large corporates in the Benelux region
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has bolstered its presence in the Benelux countries with the opening of an office in Amstelveen in the Netherlands.
Allianz considers renewable funds
German insurer Allianz believed to be planning the launch of closed-end investment funds focusing on renewable energy in the future.
Ambiental joins forces with Aon-Benfield on flood mapping
Aon-Benfield has collaboration with Ambiental to enhance its flood model development capabilities.
Willis: Unprecedented stability for aviation market
The lack of large losses in aviation has created stability, a report has found.
Groupama achieves record 20% rise in profits for H1
Groupama has recorded a 20% rise in profits before tax for the first six months of 2012 to £22.2m.