AXA - Top Insurer

France’s AXA S.A. remained at the top of the list of global insurers in terms of net premiums written in 2012, based on figures released Monday by rating agency A.M. Best.


AXA, with $106.4 billion in net premiums written, was followed by UnitedHealth Group Inc., which ranked No. 2 in 2011 as well as 2012.

Allianz moved up to the No. 3 spot from fourth in 2011, with its net premiums written growing 4% to $88.2 billion in 2012.

“Allianz’s core market remains Europe, which in 2012 generated about 60$ of property/casualty consolidated gross premiums and 75% of life/health statutory premiums,” A.M. Best noted. The insurer’s operating profit also increased 20.8% to $13 billion in 2012, it added.

Italy's Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. was fourth in 2012, followed by Japan’s National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives.