A.M. Best, the worldwide insurance rating agency, announced on 21st October that it has reconfirmed its financial strength ratings of A+ (Superior) of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty.

Karsten Crede (aged 41) will be joining the Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) management board*. Previously the director of Volkswagen Insurance Services, Crede will be heading up a new automotives division for AGCS which will focus on developing insurance schemes for global automobile manufacturers.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), a leading insurer of ships and cargo, has released a study suggesting its clients adapt their approach to marine insurance as the threat of piracy off the Horn of Africa continues to grow.  In addition, the study points out that crews entering dangerous waters must be prepared to handle an attack, and it calls for a more coordinated solution to the current wave of piracy.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AG has announced today that Chris Fischer Hirs will take on the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and that Doug Pennycuick, currently heading the company’s UK branch in London, will be joining the AGCS AG Board to fill Mr. Fischer’s current role of Chief Regions and Markets Officer, as from July 1st 2009.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s new global marine unit opened for business on January 12th 2009, under the leadership of Art Moossmann in New York and with dedicated marine teams in 14 major service centres worldwide.

Thierry van Santen, previously Head of Risk Management at Danone,has been appointed as the new CEO of Allianz Global Corporate &Specialty (AGCS) in France.

Allianz Aviation Managers, Allianz’s specialist Aviation team in the United States, has today hired Will Lovett, previously President, AIG Aviation, North America.

A.M. Best, the worldwide insurance ratingagency, announced on September 12th that it has upgraded its financial strength ratings on Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty to A+(Superior).

Munich and Novato, CA, August 12, 2008 – A stronger fleet is setting sail. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), the industrial insurance arm of the Allianz Group, and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company (FFIC), an Allianz general insurance unit in the United States, are combining their marine insurance businesses, confirming Allianz as one of the largest marine insurer in the world.

Munich July 28, 2008 - Allianz Risk Transfer has closed an innovative catastrophe bond (cat bond) to transfer the risk of hurricanes in the southeastern United States.

Toronto, March 10, 2008 – Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty in Canada began servicing the marine market in March 2008 out of its Toronto office. It will begin by focusing on cross-selling Cargo insurance solutions to existing Canadian corporate clients. Further areas under consideration are Canadian Yacht and Marine Liability.

Copenhagen, September 3, 2007 – Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, the corporate insurance arm of the Allianz Group, began offering local service for clients and brokers in the Nordic region on September 1. The carrier’s Scandinavia Branch will operate out of Copenhagen and service Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Baltic states.

Munich, August 31, 2007 - Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty has won the award "European Insurer of the Year" at magazine Reactions Global Awards ceremony, chosen ahead of major competitors such as AIG, Arch, Axa and Zurich.

Munich, July 12, 2007 – Standard & Poor's has announced that it is raising its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength rating for Allianz SE to "AA (stable)". The rating confirms Allianz's position among the strongest worldwide players in the insurance industry and applies not only to Allianz SE but also its core operating entities, which includes Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, the Group's newly founded corporate insurance arm.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty has successfully closed an innovative catastrophe bond (“cat bond”) to transfer the risk of severe river floods in Great Britain and earthquakes in Canada and the US excluding California in an amount of $150 million.