Germany
Munich Re hails offshore wind first
Munich Re claims to have become the first insurer to offer serial loss cover for offshore wind energy units, providing investor security and helping renewable energy gain a foothold in the market.
Capco to offer insurance services in Europe
Global business consultancy Capco will offer insurance services throughout the UK and continental Europe.
Willis splits European operations
Global broker Willis is dividing its European operation into two distinct regions: Western and Central & Eastern Europe.
Allianz linked with German public sector insurer
Allianz could make a bid for German public sector insurer Provinzial Nordwest, but may have trouble wooing the firm's shareholders, according to a Reuters report.
Ace study highlights business travel risk
The increasingly globalised business environment is driving concern about business travel risk among European companies, according to research published by Ace Group.
Vintage car insurance in Europe
Despite being a niche sector, with owners treating their vehicles like part of the family Anna Pitton explains why vintage motor insurance could be a missed opportunity for insurers.
The emerging business travel risk
Global travel is an important part of today’s business world, but as Pat Drinan explains increased compliance issues can come with insuring risks across borders.
Interview: Reg Brown - Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
Reg Brown has seen it all in more than half a century working in insurance, but the chairman of the Managing General Agents’ Association’s drive to improve the industry and inspire its next generation is stronger than ever.
Indirect tax changes to hit European insurers in 2013
Insurers should brace themselves for an unprecedented level of indirect tax changes in Europe in 2013, intensifying the challenge of maintaining tax compliance.
Allianz Worldwide Care opens Brussels support centre
Allianz Worldwide Care Services has opened an operational support centre in Brussels to provide a local contact point for the company's intergovernmental organisations and corporate clients.
Talanx profit up 83% in first nine months
Talanx posted an 83% increase in operating profit to €1.3bn in its first results since its initial public offering, assisted by high investment income.
Can Germany's local brokers serve global firms?
After calls for the German insurance market to open up to the international market, Francesca Nyman asks whether it could really support new business from this quarter.
Is a hard market dawning in Germany?
With the Eurozone crisis, impending Solvency II regulations, and deteriorating loss ratios in certain lines, Francesca Nyman asked German insurers whether the market will harden in the next 12 months.
Zurich says German write-down is "isolated case" as BOP falls 34%
Zurich Insurance Group posted business operating profit of $733m for the third quarter, down 34% on the prior year after financial adjustments in its German general insurance portfolio.
Germany sees premium growth but motor still loss making
German insurers are expected to reap a 1.5% rise in premiums to €180.7bn this year, the head of the industry trade body GDV said on Wednesday.
"Allianz shareholders are happy," says Torrance despite COR deterioration
Allianz UK chief executive Andrew Torrance has called the insurer's retail non-motor combined operating ratio of 101.7% for the first nine months of 2012 a "decent result" given recent poor weather.
Germany-based businesses more likely to succeed, says Coface report
Corporate insolvency laws, profitability and stable sources of funding are among the reasons German companies are less likely to fail than those based in France, a Coface report has found.
Generali profit up 37.3% for first nine months despite cat losses
Italian insurer Generali posted 37.3% growth in net profit to €1,133m in the first nine months of 2012, driven by progress in production and strong growth in the life operating result.
German joint venture and expansion in Asia help Markel Int return to underwriting profit
Markel International has reported gross written premiums up 4% to $705m for the nine months ended 30 September 2012.
First Central unveils motor breakdown product
First Central has launched a new breakdown cover product to help motorists with day-to-day problems.
Jumping into the multi-national risk pool
Multinational pooling of group risk products seems to have so many benefits it's a 'no-brainer' but, as Edmund Tirbutt reports, the European market is holding back and wondering whether it's too good to be true.
Georgia's health insurance reforms based on German model
An overhaul of Georgia's medical insurance market will be based on the German Bismarck model, according to comments made by one of the country's MPs.
Former Ergo managers charged over sex scandal
Two former staff of Munich Re-owned primary insurer Ergo are facing charges related to a 2007 trip to Budapest, according to reports in the German media.
Solvency II: To 2015 and beyond
Solvency II implementation is almost upon us but, as Martin Bradley and Jan Leiding explain, European insurers' preparedness varies significantly between countries and companies.