HELVETIA WILL RUN FRENCH SUPERYACHT BUSINESS FROM LE HAVRE

The purchase by Swiss insurer Helvetia of the marine transport book of Groupama means that the French business will now be run from Le Havre, rather than out of Lloyd's in London, reports Superyacht News. Thierry Gervais, who moved over to Helvetia from Groupama and who now heads up Helvetia's French superyacht business from Paris, said that Groupama's London marine transport offices at Lloyd's were in the process of closing down, which made managing superyacht clients more difficult. The situation was made more complex by the fact that Groupama sold off its other marine transport businesses on a geographical basis, breaking up an established international operation. Bruno Saverys, who also came over to Helvetia from Groupama, said that "the message we gave to our brokers is that they can continue the cover with Helvetia, but that would be handled through our international hull division in Le Havre". Mr Gervais said that Helvetia had been present in France before the Groupama deal, but not in hull insurance. Helvetia would now focus on increasing the size of the newly acquired markets. "It's not simple when you merge two companies. It takes time. But now it's becoming more clear for the employees and for the brokers. We're optimistic about the future", he said.