Ireland
Aviva acquires Irish insurer Friends First
Aviva is now the largest composite insurer in Ireland following a deal to acquire Friends First Life Assurance Company for €130m (£116m, $151m).
Canada Life International targets wider market
The portfolio bonds from Canada Life International (CLI) have halved the minimum single and additional investment amounts and increased the maximum age of the youngest life assured by 10 years.
Big jump in offshore bond sales at Canada Life International
Sales of offshore bonds rose by 60% in the first half of 2017, with new business through Canada Life International’s Isle of Man and Dublin-based offshore businesses hitting £566m ($736m, €626m).
Rush for Irish passports gathers pace as Brexit fears rise
The Irish Government said it issued over half a million new passports in the first half of 2017 with the number granted to British applicants set to double this year as people rush to secure their EU residency.
Netherlands and UK are biggest channels for tax haven inflows
The Netherlands and the UK facilitate global tax avoidance by acting as conduits for 37% of corporate money heading to tax havens, research by academics at the University of Amsterdam shows.