InsureTek Middle East 2018, organized by Biz Events Management and supported by XPRIMM Publications as Media Partner, took place on 7 November 2018 at Hotel Grand Excelsior, Dubai.

In the first nine months of 2018, Generali's operating result increased to EUR 3.6 billion, up 3.9% as a result of improvements in all business segments. Also, premiums increased by 6.1% to nearly EUR 50 billion thanks to the growth in both business segments, with an acceleration in Property & Casualty (+2.7%). Net profit increased to EUR 1,855 million (+26.8%), also thanks to the positive non-operating performance and the result from disposals.

Hannover Re increased Group net income by a significant 32.1% as at 30 September 2018 to EUR 725.3 million (EUR 548.9 million) and confirms the profit guidance of more than EUR 1 billion for 2018.

Despite high losses owing to Typhoon Jebi and Hurricane Florence (around EUR300m each), MUNICH Re posted, in Q1-3, a profit of EUR2,038m and is thus on track to achieve its profit target of EUR2.1-2.5bn. The company also highlights a robust growth in property-casualty reinsurance and that the profit guidance for ERGO raised to at least EUR350m, following good Q1-3.

Aon has reported for Q3 2018 total revenues up by 6%, to USD 2.3 billion, including 6% organic revenue growth. The operating margin increased to 11.2%, and operating margin, adjusted for certain items, increased 190 basis points to 18.5%.

For 3Q2018, excluding the impact of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has reported revenues of USD 6.5 billion, 6% up y-o-y (3% increase constant currency and 4% increase organic), as compared to USD 6.1 billion for the same period in the prior year.

While other European countries have experienced heavy rains causing severe flooding episodes, the Czech Republic is challenged by one of the worst droughts in its recent history, causing losses of over CZK 12 billion (~EUR 473 million) to the local farmers.

A.M. Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A+ (Superior) from A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to "aa-" from "aa+" of Tokio Millennium Re AG (TMR) (Switzerland).

QBE has announced on 31 October changes to its structure in an important step towards further simplifying its operations and building a more streamlined, agile and customer-oriented business.

On November 1st, an Agricultural insurance conference took place in Skopje, Macedonia, organized by the Insurance Supervision Agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. Drawing attention to the necessity of reducing the risks in agriculture by using insurance was the event's main purpose.

Emmanuel DJENGUE, Innovation Director, Europe - RGAX, Spain is the Keynote Speaker at IIF 2018 - Insurance in a DIGITAL WORLD Conference in Bucharest, on November 27.

The extreme weather events have written another record page last week, when Venice has experienced the worst flooding in at least a decade, with losses estimated at first sight to over EUR 1 billion throughout the Veneto region.

SOGAZ and VTB group completed 100% of the transfer of VTB Insurance. The merge involves all the companies of VTB group, including VTB Life insurance and VTB health insurance. All necessary approvals from regulatory authorities were received, according to SOGAZ.

Expert RA confirmed the rating of SiV Life at ruAA with a stable forecast. As the key positive rating factor the agency pointed to the high financial potential of the company's owner, Talanx AG, one of the leaders in the European insurance market with high international ratings.

Swiss Re reported a Group net income of USD 1.1 billion for 3Q2018 compared to a loss of USD 468 million for the same period a year ago, despite an estimated claims burden of USD 1.6 billion from natural catastrophes and large man-made events in the reporting period.

After two years totally opposed in terms of NatCat events and costs related to (2017-2018), the reinsurance industry is still attractive, despite all the challenges. "2017 has been a record year in terms of NatCat loss activity for the entire industry and still the impact on the reinsurance terms and conditions has been modest, that's clearly what one can conclude.

Albanian insurers have reported GWP worth EUR 98.7 million (ALL 12.46 billion) in 3Q2018, up by 9.73% y-o-y. For the same period, paid claims have decreased by 3.12% y-o-y, to EUR 26.86 million. The local subsidiaries of the Austrian group UNIQA lead both the life and non-life insurance segments.

For 9 months this year the Azeri market generated GWP up by 37.21% y-o-y, thus overcoming the figure of the last full year of AZN 500 million (AZN 568.54 million), as the data, published by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority of Azerbaijan (FIMSA) show.

Based on 3Q2018 results, GWP of the market exceeded AMD 30.5 billion, according to insurers' reports compiled by the information portal ArmInfo. The market y-o-y growth rate was of 24.27%.

The Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission - FSC announced that it has allowed Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) to increase its direct shareholding in Bulstrad Vienna Insurance Group, following the liquidation of its fully-owned subsidiary TBI Bulgaria.