Magazine

Read the latest edition of AIR and MEIR as an Interactive e-book

Jan 2013

News


Asia to make up 45% of global premium growth in next 8 years

Asia-Pacific is estimated to account for about 45% of worldwide gross written premium growth in the next eight years, according to Munich Re. However, it will need to further develop its risk management, solvency and Nat CAT capabilities as it emerges to be the growth engine of the global insurance business, said the reinsurer.

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ASEAN: YAMA joy for AIA's Thai actuarial head

Mr Pichet Jiaramaneetaveesin, 35, Head of Corporate Actuarial at AIA, was named the Young ASEAN Manager of the Year at the joint dinner of the ASEAN Insurance Regulators and ASEAN Insurance Council (AIC) in Bangkok in December.

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Australia: IAG sells UK operations

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG) has sold its specialist UK commercial broking business Independent Commercial Brokers (ICB), which includes Barnett & Barnett and NBJ to the existing management team for approximately GBP10 million (US$16.2 million).

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China: PICC issues more shares

Following the strong success of its IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange which was oversubscribed 15 times, the People's Insurance Company (Group) of China (PICC) has issued additional shares, raising another HK$3.5 billion for 1.035 billion shares.

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China: Munich Re insures performance guarantees of PV manufacturer Yingli

Munich Re is reinsuring performance guarantees that Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer Yingli Green Energy gives to its customers for multicrystalline modules.

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India: Innovation key to popularising health insurance

With skyrocketing medical costs, demand for health insurance is bound to increase substantially, but insurers must innovate and focus on new techniques like data analytics to make health insurance products affordable to the masses, said speakers at a health insurance conference organised by trade body FICCI in New Delhi in December.

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Japan: Robust savings product sales push life premiums in Apr-Sep

The total premium income of 43 life insurers in Japan rose 3.7% y-o-y to about JPY18.61 trillion (US$225.6 billion) in the April-September period, said the Life Insurance Association of Japan (LIAJ).

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Allianz Life Korea granted patent on variable annuity by KIPO

Allianz Life Korea (AZLK) was granted with a patent by Korean Intellectual Property Office on the "Method for Financial Asset Management" last month.

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South Korea: Offshore losses for non-life insurers

South Korea's non-life insurers saw their overseas operations swing to a net loss in the first half of the fiscal 2012 from a year earlier on increased insurance payouts, according to a recent report by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

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Malaysia: Sanlam acquires 49% POI stake for US$88 mln

South Africa-based financial services group Sanlam has completed its acquisition of a 49% stake in Malaysian short-term insurer Pacific & Orient Insurance (POI) for a total consideration of MYR270 million (US$88 million).

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Malaysia: New Islamic finance rules to be out this year - Dr Zeti

Malaysia's new Islamic banking and Takaful Acts will take effect in 2013, said Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

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Singapore: Skuld sets up regional hub in Singapore

Skuld, an international marine insurer, has opened a branch office in Singapore to spearhead further business expansion in South Asia. Skuld provides P&I, hull & machinery, cargo, energy and marine liability cover to ship owners. It also offers specialist liability covers for vessel charterers, defence insurance as well as offshore cover.

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Singapore: India International bares expansion plans

India International Insurance plans to expand its product lines and markets, and to become the fifth largest non-life player in Singapore, as it marked its 25th year of operations.

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Sri Lanka: Ceylinco Life launches Sri Lanka's first online life insurance plan

Sri Lanka's first online life insurance plan, which can be applied for and purchased entirely via the Internet, has been launched by Ceylinco Life, establishing yet another industry milestone.

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Taiwan: Life insurers encouraged to buy equity

The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has raised the risk-based capital (RBC) index of real estate invested by life insurers from 0.0744 to 0.0781, to prevent them overheating in the real estate market. It is now requiring life insurers to raise capitalisation by 5%, according to a media report.

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Thailand: Catalytics partners Thai Re for natural hazard modelling project

Catalytics Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based catastrophe modelling company, has announced a collaborative project with Thai Re to improve the assessment of natural hazard in Thailand. The announcement was made at the ASEAN Insurance Council meeting held in Bangkok last month.

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