Investment outlook threatens European insurers

The insurer sector in Europe has more to worry about than making an underwriting profit, as investment conditions worsen and regulatory changes threaten to trigger a fundamental reassessment of operations

By Graham Village

Major loss activity in Europe was comparatively light in 2011 but that was just about the only good news for the region’s insurers, which felt the impact of worsening economic conditions, continued heavy competition and the need to prepare for fundamental regulatory and accounting changes.