The French insurer GROUPAMA reported a strong increase (of 43%) in its 2015 net profit, to EUR 368 million (EUR 257 million in 2014), a stable non-life combined ratio of 99.2% and a significant growth in economic operating income to EUR 163 million, "despite two significant adverse factors: the low-interest rate environment and changes in legislative environment for motor third-party liability in Turkey", the insurer said in a press release published on its website.

For the business year 2016, Austrian insurer Vienna Insurance Group announced yesterday it plans at least to double the pre-tax result 2015 and targets a profit before taxes of up to EUR 400 million from a preliminary EUR 172 million last year.

Austrian insurer UNIQA reported net profit of EUR 331.1 million in 2015, up by 14.2% y-o-y, while the value of premiums written was up by 4.3% to EUR 6.32 billion. In addition, the Group cost ratio improved from 22.2% to 21.3% and the combined ratio from 99.% to 97.%, according to a statement published on the website of the Vienna based insurer.

"We still have an appetite for further growth", stated today Elisabeth STADLER, Chairwoman of the Managing Board of Vienna Insurance Group (VIG). Thus, the Group will be examining its markets from the Baltics to the Black Sea in coming months for further growth potential, aiming to increase market share to at least 10% in Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia over the medium term.

The ongoing price war on the motor insurance market and the declining investment results were the main factors which impacted PZU Group's net profit in 2015, down by 21.1% to PLN 2,342.2 million (EUR 549.6 million). ROE also fell by 4.6 p.p. to 18% last year. The new PZU Management Board appointed at the end of January is conducting an indispensable strategy review.

Trust Re has announced that as of March 2016, its service offering has expanded to include Surety reinsurance. The main focus will be on MENA territories, although Trust Re will also be underwriting within its existing geographical scope.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s General Reinsurance Corp. unit will close six of its smaller offices as part of a reorganization of its direct global property/casualty operations, Stamford, Connecticut-based Gen Re announced Friday.

Aviva plc announces today that it has appointed Colm Holmes as Chief Executive Officer of Aviva UK General Insurance, reporting to Maurice Tulloch, Chairman, Aviva Global General Insurance.

"2015 was about stability and growth at Aviva, against a background of market volatility and uncertainty. Aviva is now a stronger and more focused business. We have completed the fix phase of our transformation",said Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer.

The Polish leading insurer PZU seems to be taking further steps in developing its plans to play a significant part in the Polish banking system's consolidation and simultaneously to find a new growth reservoir for its future development. Thus, as reported by Reuters, ALIOR Bank, owned by PZU, is in talks to buy its rival Bank BPH from General Electric and hopes to complete a deal around mid-2016.

The general climate for reinsurers will remain challenging in 2016, marked by the fierce competitive intensity or the low interest rate level, is HANNOVER Re's forecast for the near future. However, considering its very good positioning in the market, the high quality of its loss reserves and its low expense ratio, the company considers itself well-placed to generate Group net income of at least EUR 950 million, if no exceptional major loss expenditure or distortions on capital markets will occur.

More countries saw reductions in political risk than increases for 2016, according to Aon P.L.C.'s Political Risk Map 2016. The map, which was released Tuesday, analyzes 168 emerging markets and shows that, despite increases in economic risks prompted by low commodity prices, political and economic reforms in many emerging economies have helped to reduce political risks, said Karl Hennessy, president of Aon Broking and CEO of Aon's Global Broking Centre in London, in a statement.

The TRIGLAV Group and the parent company reported a total GWP volume of EUR 919.1 million, is 3% up y-o-y, according to the unaudited performance data released today. The Group also achieved a favourable combined ratio of 92.8%, which is 3.5 pp better than planned and better than in 2014, while the net profit went up by 4% y-o-y, to EUR 88.9 million.

"Achmea achieved a net profit of EUR 386 million in 2015. The result improved by lower expenses across the full breath of the company. Postive developments at our Pension and Life, Banking and International activities and higher investment results contributed to a higher result. Our result was strongly influenced by the EUR 481 million allocation of our result to mitigate the premium increase of our health insurance policies for our customers. Major storms caused a great deal of damage to our customers. Compensation for storm damage has reduced our result by more than EUR 120 million. Premiums remain stable around EUR 20 billion. We used our market leadership in non-life and health insurance to make the best possible products for our customers", said Willem van Duin, Chairman of the Executive Board.

The French insurer AXA reported total FY 2015 revenues of EUR 98.5 billion, up by 7% y-o-y, while the net income increased by 12% to almost EUR 5.6 billion, according to the activity indicators published by the group.

The French reinsurer SCOR reported a 25.4% y-o-y increase in the net income, to EUR 642 million, in 2015 while the value of gross written premiums went up by 18.6% y-o-y, to EUR 13.42 billion "driven by the contribution of the two business divisions", the company annouced in a statement.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (JLT) has delivered total revenues of GBP 1.16 billion, 5% up y-o-y (or 6% at constant rates of exchange), with overall organic revenue growth of 2%.This performance was delivered despite the weak re/insurance rating environment and the deteriorating macro-economic landscape throughout the year.

Wolfgang HAAS MSc (50) joins the VIENNA Insurance Group from the Corporate Communications department at DONAU Versicherung as of 1 March 2016. He takes over the post of Group Spokesperson and will also head the Group Communications and Marketing department.

The Supervisory Board of NN Group N.V. has decided to nominate Jan Holsboer and Yvonne van Rooij for reappointment as members of the Supervisory Board for a maximum term of four years. The proposal for reappointment will be submitted for adoption at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 2 June 2016.

'We are pleased with the strong set of results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2015, as this demonstrates our steady progress in achieving our objectives to improve earnings and generate capital', said Lard Friese, CEO.