The French insurer AXA, which has been mentioned as a front runner to bid for part or all of Guardian Royal Exchange, already has a presence in the Irish market. AXA provides commercial insurance in the Republic through Colonia, which is a branch of AXA Colonia Versicherung AG. The AXA group also operates two companies at Dublin's International Financial Services Centre, AXA Colonia Insurance (Ireland) and AIM Associated Insurance Management.