Axa XL says it continues to write ransomware in the Asia Pacific despite Paris-based Axa Group taking a decision to no longer offer cover for ransom payments in France.

“Axa Group in France have indeed taken that decision, but specifically for France,” a Sydney-based spokeswoman at the subsidiary business told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“Axa XL is a separate entity and we continue to write ransomware in Asia Pacific,” she said.

In an apparent industry first, Axa Group said earlier this month it will stop writing cyber-insurance policies in France that reimburse customers for extortion payments made to ransomware criminals.

It said it was suspending the option in response to concerns aired by French justice and cybersecurity officials during a Senate roundtable in Paris last month about the global epidemic of ransomware.

Cybersecurity firm Emsisoft estimates France's related overall losses at more than $US5.5 billion ($7.07 billion) in a year.

The decision comes after Colonial Pipeline was shut down by a cyber attack, creating gas shortages in many eastern US states. Washington believes a Russia-based criminal group known as Darkside targeted the company, which reportedly admitted in a web post that it received a $US5 million ($6.4 million) ransom payment from Colonial.