Aviva has grown its new business in the first half of 2014 by 9% to GBP 453m, with Poland, Turkey and Asia growing by 54%. Aviva's combined operating ratio was 95.5% for the first half of 2014 with an operating profit up 4% at GBP 1,052m.The insurer faced several challenges of the six months including an overhaul of the UK annuity market, a harsh winter in Canada, UK floods and a stronger Sterling.

Willem van Duin, Chairman of the Executive Board: "We have made progress in a large number of areas over the past six months through our change programme, Acceleration & Innovation, which we launched in late 2013. Several initiatives designed to provide even better services to customers, particularly online, are currently underway or have already been completed. We have also integrated our direct and brokerage distribution organisations, which will enable us to serve customers even better within a less complex organisation. Operating expenses fell by 3%; this reduction represents an essential part of our change programme. Achmea's inevitable workforce reduction is on schedule, where the interests of the employees concerned are naturally very carefully considered".

MARSH & McLennan Companies (MMC) reported for the second quarter of 2014 consolidated revenues of USD 3.3 billion, or 7% more, compared to Q2 2013. For the analyzed period, operating income rose by 12% to USD 647 million, while the net income attributable to the company was USD 431 million (or USD 0.77 per share) compared to USD 388 million (or USD 0.69 per share), in the previous year.

Central and East European markets are producing 3% of the life insurance and almost 9% of the non-life insurance GWP reported by the Italian GENERALI Group in 1H2014, their weight in the overall portfolio remaining quasi unchanged compared to 1H2013. As far as the Group's operating result is concerned, CEE markets' contribution amounted to about 6.5% for the life insurance segment and 13.6% on the non-life side, both segments recording a significant growth of this indicator. The combined ratio (CoR) improved significantly in the CEE countries with a decrease of 6.4 pp to 84.2% (90.6% 1H13).

After the successful July IPO, NN Group announced the first set of results. "NN Group delivered a solid performance and will continue to focus on delivering its strategic objectives," stated Lard FRIESE, CEO. He explained that "strong new sales growth was driven by Japan Life, Insurance Europe and higher pension contract renewals in Netherlands Life," while the Group made encouraging progress on the cost reduction program."

MUNICH Re posted a consolidated profit of EUR 769 million for the second quarter of 2014, almost 42% up y-o-y; the profit for the first half-year amounted to EUR 1,694 million (+12%). Performance in primary insurance and reinsurance was good as a whole, although the second quarter was marked by a random incidence of above-average major losses totaling around EUR 617 million. For the current financial year, MUNICH Re is continuing to aim for a profit of EUR 3 billion.

The French reinsurer SCOR reported GWP of EUR 5.42 billion during the first half of 2014, up 12.5% y-o-y, "driven by healthy SCOR Global P&C renewals and major new contracts signed by SCOR Global Life as well as last year's GENERALI US Life Re acquisition", as the group noted in the press release.

German reinsurer HANNOVER Re reported a 4.9% increase of the net profit for 1H2014 to EUR 444.4 million, owing to lower interest charges and a drop in the tax ratio. At the same time, the operating profit (EBIT) of EUR 683.7 million as at 30 June 2014 fell somewhat short of the previous year's figure (EUR 693.0 million), "in part due to reduced gains on currency translation", the group noted in a press release.

The French insurer GROUPAMA reported a net profit of EUR 140 million for the first half of 2014, compared with EUR 187 million in 1H2013. At the same time, the group's combined premium income stood at EUR 9.2 billion, a 0.4% increase y-o-y, while the economic operating income amounted to EUR 100 million vs. EUR 26 million in 1H2013: "This increase of EUR 74 million can be mainly attributed to the 2.4-point improvement in the combined non-life ratio, bringing it to 98.5% at 30 June 2014", the French group noted in a report.

In the first half of 2014, the value of gross written premiums by EUROINS Insurance Group - EIG (member of the Bulgarian financial holding EUROHOLD) - recorded a 14.3% decrease y-o-y, reaching EUR 72.3 million, following the 22% decline in GWP reported by EUROINS Romania - the largest subsidiary of the group, according to preliminary data published by EUROHOLD. EUROINS Romania has generated about 68% of total GWP of EIG (~EUR 48.9 million).

French insurer AXA reported total revenues of EUR 49.7 billion for the 1H2014 period, up 2% y-o-y, while the net income increased by 25% to EUR 3 billion, according to the half year activity indicators published by the group. "This half year is another stepping stone to achieving Ambition AXA. The effective implementation of our strategy has delivered strong earnings growth, the highest first half underlying earnings in the company's history (note: up 11% to EUR 2.8 billion)", said Henri de CASTRIES, Chairman and CEO of AXA.

SWISS Re reported that its consolidated net income totaled USD 802 billion for the second quarter of 2014, or 2% more y-o-y. Analyzing the January-June figures, the same indicator was USD 2 billion (vs. USD 2.2 billion in 1H 2013).

Risk and insurance brokerage company AON reported for the second quarter 2014 a total revenue of USD 2.9 billion, 1% more compared to the prior year's second quarter "primarily driven by 2% organic revenue growth, partially offset by a 1% unfavorable impact from acquisitions, net of divestitures", the company noted in a press release.

American International Group, Inc. today reported net income attributable to AIG of USD 3.1 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, compared to USD 2.7 billion for the second quarter of 2013. After-tax operating income attributable to AIG was USD 1.8 billion for the second quarter of 2014, compared to USD 1.7 billion for the prior-year quarter.

Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE:WSH), the global risk advisor, insurance and reinsurance broker, today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. Willis saw strong revenue growth of 5.1%, and organic commissions and fees growth of 4.5% led by emerging markets and North America. Willis also recorded modest growth in reinsurance despite challenging market conditions.

ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) today reported net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, of USD 2.28 per share, compared with USD 2.59 per share for the same quarter last year. Operating income was USD 2.42 per share, compared with USD 2.29 per share for the same quarter last year.

MetLife reported operating earnings of USD 1.6 billion, unchanged from the second quarter of 2013. On a per share basis, operating earnings were USD 1.39, down 3 percent over the prior year quarter. Operating earnings in the Americas grew 5 percent.

Zavarovalnica TRIGLAV and Pozavarovalnica TRIGLAV RE maintained stable medium-term outlooks despite a negative outlook on the sovereign debt. Thus, Standard & Poor's affirmed the TRIGLAV Group's existing long-term credit rating and financial strength credit rating at 'A-'.

The Austrian based aviation broker CMV and the GrECo JLT Group combined their longstanding expertise and market presence and plan to roll out the specialized know how in all 17 countries of the Group. Friedrich NEUBRAND, CEO of the GrECo JLT Group (foto) explains: "With CMV we strengthen our competence in the area of aviation insurance and further grow our strategy of specialization. The renowned company will be positioned as a specialty broker for the aviation business of the entire GrECo JLT Group, and is in line with our strategy to prioritize investments where we can build distinctive positions. The brand CMV will continue to exist."

APRIL Group has launched a French-speaking front office in Romania to support the development of its French business, offering assistance for the medical and travel insurance segments. Thus, the French Group APRIL decided to set up a part of its call center activity and assistance from France to its subsidiary in Romania, APRIL Broker.