Zilkens'
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Zilkens' News Blog 28 2026

It’s actually pretty much a normal week: the US is celebrating 250 years of independence with a president who wants to make the country heavily dependent on him, whilst in Tehran the state terrorist Khamenei is being laid to rest with great pomp, Russia continues to attack civilian targets in Ukraine and, in defiance of every principle of international law, is attempting to destroy the foundations of Ukrainian culture (why, exactly, is this not called fascism?), whilst those under attack are defending themselves to the best of their ability and with increasing success. In Germany, the BSW and AfD are ignoring Russia’s criminal actions and believe that national defence plays no significant role. The SPD believes that those who pay the most tax anyway should now pay a little more, so that even more can be given to those who pay comparatively little anyway. The CDU is going along with this, and there is currently no liberal-minded opposition party in the country. There are said to be 36 reforms – but none of them really represents a decisive breakthrough. Nevertheless, we should be glad that at least some progress is being made – and at the same time, a critical assessment must be permitted. When companies are struggling, they have to take action. They analyse the market, products, distribution channels, and external and internal cost drivers; in a second step, they go through various options with the aim of returning to profitability as quickly and clearly as possible. In the process, even cherished traditions are sometimes cast aside. I once worked for a company where every employee, regardless of gender, received a cake and a birthday song on their birthday. This saved just 4,000 EUR a year, but it made the seriousness of the situation clear to the staff, and they came up with ideas of their own on where services could be scaled back. A similar approach could be taken in politics – simply scrap the term ‘counter-financing’, as it merely perpetuates the false assumption that a balance can be achieved. - The question is rather: what do we not actually need, for example in terms of European bureaucratic requirements (which are excluded from the reform proposals)? Yet it would be a simple matter to help European states regain a common goal by cutting staff and funding in this area.

We live in a pluralistic world – Christopher Street Day and the world’s largest Schützenfest take place at the same time, albeit one in Cologne and the other in Hanover. People can find happiness in their own way. This freedom is at risk if the AfD, with its cultural-political ideas, manages to secure a majority. Just under 30 per cent of the population are reportedly in favour of this party – that’s roughly one in three at a skat game. Interestingly, no one has yet come out to me and said they would vote for the party – otherwise one could test the strength of one’s own arguments. But when no one comes forward in one’s normal circle of friends...

Galleries and art dealers are rushing to finalise preparations for the last fairs and exhibitions before heading off for their summer holidays; auction houses are cataloguing and preparing for the autumn auctions – and elsewhere, people are already thinking about how to organise the 40th Art Against AIDS auction in Cologne on 15 October 2027 so that it is a resounding success. Kunsthaus Lempertz is supporting the campaign by the German AIDS Foundation, which has produced a film that is well worth watching. The issue is still very much a live one!

Chris Bentley, one of London’s most prominent and experienced art underwriters, has left XL a Company of AXA and is set to join ZNGCOVER, an MGA specialising in luxury goods. It is possible that he will be tasked with developing the art business there. ZNG only accepts clients who come via a referral. It’s certainly a very unconventional approach to client acquisition – but undoubtedly a very exclusive one too. Let’s wish him the best of luck in realising his ambitions.

We hope you have a good and enjoyable start to the week – Stephan Zilkens and the team at Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH in Solothurn and Cologne