MARSH & McLENNAN Companies (MMC) reported for the year 2016 consolidated revenues of USD 13.2 billion, an increase of 2% compared with 2015, or 3% on an underlying basis. Net income attributable to the Company was up 11% to USD 1.8 billion, and earnings per share rose 13% to USD 3.38. Adjusted earnings per share increased 12% to USD 3.42 compared with USD 3.05 in 2015.

In an environment of persisting low interest rates, firm economic growth in Central Europe and Ireland, and more modest growth in Belgium, KBC turned in a strong performance by posting net profit of 685 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 629 million euros in the preceding quarter and an exceptional 862 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2015 (or 441 million euros excluding two major one-off items in that quarter).

ZURICH Insurance Group (ZURICH) today reported a business operating profit (BOP) for the full-year 2016 of USD 4.5 billion, up 55% y-o-y. Net income attributable to shareholders (NIAS) was up 74% at USD 3.2 billion, driven by improved profitability in General Insurance and continued growth in Global Life and Farmers.

MUNICH Re posted a consolidated result of EUR 2.6 billion for 2016, thus meeting its profit target of "well over EUR 2.3 billion", the Group's representatives have recently stated. The operating result amounted to EUR 4.0 billion, less by EUR 0.8 billion as compared with the previous year. The lower technical result and the costs of the ERGO Strategy Programme were partly offset by gratifying investment and currency translation results.

German insurer TALANX announced that according to the preliminary FY2016 figures, the group achieved an aggregate net income of slightly above EUR 900 million (vs. EUR 734 million) "thereby clearly surpassing its own earnings target".

German reinsurer HANNOVER Re raised its 2017 net income guidance to more than EUR 1 billion from more than EUR 950 million following the strong January renewals. Despite continued price pressure, HANNOVER Re declared its satisfaction with the outcome of the renewals, underlining that premium volume had grown by 7%, including its structured reinsurance business.

Poland's top insurer PZU, also the largest player in the CEE region, is seeking M&A opportunities among foreign insurance companies, Deputy PM and Ministry of Economic Development and Finance Mateusz MORAWIECKI recently stated for the local press.

SOLERA Holdings, a global leader in data and software for the automotive, home ownership and digital identity management ecosystems, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AUTODATA, a leading provider of technical information and knowledge solutions for the automotive service, maintenance and repair ("SMR") industry.

NN Group announces today that, NN Group acquired 24,618,525 Shares held by Talpa Beheer B.V. through a private transaction against a consideration of EUR 5.36 per Share, representing a total value of EUR 131,955,294. The consideration was paid from the cash capital available at the holding company.

On a GAAP basis, MetLife reported a fourth quarter 2016 net loss of USD 2.1 billion, compared to net income of USD 785 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. On a per share basis, the net loss was USD 1.94, compared to net income of USD 0.70 per share in the prioryear period.

Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) today reported net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 of USD 1,610 million, or USD 3.41 per share, compared with USD 683 million, or USD 2.08 per share, for the same quarter last year.  Operating income was USD 1,283 million, or USD 2.72 per share, compared with USD 780 million, or USD 2.38 per share, for the same quarter last year. The property and casualty (P&C) combined ratio was 87.8% for the quarter, or 87.6% on an "As If" basis.

The Chubb family is saddened by the passing of John R. Cox, the founding Chairman and first employee of ACE Limited, which was established in 1985 and last year acquired The Chubb Corporation, adopting its name.  Mr. Cox, a giant in the property and casualty insurance industry, was 84.

Markets continue to see significant competition as a result of which the anticipated stabilisation in rates has not as yet set in across the board, said HANNOVER Re, yet emphasizing that the company is satisfied overall with the outcome of the treaty renewals as at 1 January 2017. Total renewed premium volume came in at EUR 4,621 million.

The global brokerage firm AON announced that Group President Steve McGill is leaving the company "to explore new opportunities". No replacement was named, but company said in a statement that Eric ANDERSEN, CEO of AON Benfield and Mike O'CONNOR, CEO of AON Risk Solutions, "will work together to jointly build AON's global risk business and report directly to president and CEO Greg CASE. The transition is effective immediately".

Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), the leading insurer in Qatar and the Middle East North African region announced strong financial results for the full year 2016. The Group reported robust growth and resilient profitability in the financial year 2016, with GWP amounting to USD 2.72 billion, up 19% y-o-y.

After the twin surprises experienced by the Western world in 2016 - the UK's vote to leave the European Union (EU) and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election -, geopolitics will play out in 2017 through numerous elections, the possibility of succession in several countries, continued economic polarization, and more, reads the Global Geopolitical Risk Concerns for Businesses in 2017 report released by MARSH.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) announced that Susan A. STONE has been appointed General Counsel of the Company's Risk and Insurance Services (RIS) segment, which includes MARSH and GUY CARPENTER. She succeeds James J. McNasby, who has served as General Counsel of MARSH since 2007 and as General Counsel of RIS since 2015. "Mr. McNasby has assumed a business role within MARSH", MMC announced in a press release.

Dutch insurer ACHMEA announced Ronald BUWALDA has been appointed as Group Director of Financial Management effective March 1st 2017. Ronald BUWALDA has been Statutory Director and Chief Financial Officer at ACHMEA Bank NV since 2014.

Swiss Re announced on 02 February 2017 a strategic co-innovation initiative with SAP SE, market leader in enterprise application software. The two companies plan to develop a solution to address the increasingly complex demands related to financial steering and reporting of insurance companies from regulators across the globe.

French credit insurance agency Coface said it has upgraded the credit risk assessment rating of Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the back of robust economic recovery.