From Editor-in-Chief
Reinsurers face strong headwinds
One Zurich, one direction
Allianz: Innovation in the pipeline
FM Global: Adding more value to supply chain management
Insolvency fears fuel demand for trade credit insurance
Is Asia making an impact on the RI scene?: Establishing Asia's mark on the global reinsurance scene
Is Asia making an impact on the RI scene?: Asia on the rise
The battlefield
Growth still assured
Life: A greater emphasis on protection
Life: Achieving success in China
Non-life: Motor liberalisation - Still a long journey for foreign insurers
Carve your niche
A closer look at C-ROSS
CIRC issues insurance M&A measures
Myanmar: A glimpse into the market's insurance potential
Myanmar: Opportunities & challenges of Myanmar insurance sector
Philippines: Growth will continue
Possible market implications of unisex insurance pricing
Reinsurance time bars in PRC: An arbitral precedent
Trends for M&A insurance in 2015
Potential pitfalls for foreign insurers on exiting Asian joint ventures
Bring on tomorrow: Insure to ensure the deal
Risk managers, insurers can gain from closer ties
Asset management: In search of lost returns
Target Date Funds: An attractive investment option for Asians?
Will the tide turn on rates?: Navigating through turbulent times ahead in marine insurance
IT in Insurance: Telematics and Big Data
Thrive in the time of Big Channel, Big Policy and Big Data
Brokers and Online Technology: Are you being left behind?
Asia: Asia still has a huge catastrophe insurance gap
Asia: China, India and Southeast Asia the main premium growth drivers in 2013 - sigma
Asia: Healthy employees a boost to bottom-line - MAXIS GBN
Berkshire Hathaway recruits Asian executives
Australia: Regulator urges life insurers to straighten up their act
Australia: Cost of natural disasters could double in next six years
Bangladesh: Life insurance cover for mobile subscribers
Cambodia: Insurance premiums rise by 21% in 1H
Chinese govt targets 5% penetration rate by 2020
China Re planning to go public next year
India: Insurers wait as insurance Bill goes to Select Committee
India: Govt launches pension scheme redundant
Japan: Typhoon Halong's insured losses could reach US$1.1 bln
South Korea: Net income of insurers surge by 36% in 1H
Manulife and ICBC (Macau) in bancassurance deal
Nepal: Insurance premiums for Sherpa guides hiked
Singapore: Regulator introduces commission-free life products
Singapore's first personal information protection policy launched
Maybank launches Etiqa Insurance in Singapore
Taiwan: Two insurers placed under receivership by govt
Sri Lanka: IBSL renamed "Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka"
Sri Lanka: Fairfax Asia buys 78% stake in Union Assurance
Thailand: Steady growth expected for life sector
CAT bond market bolsters (re)insurance industry's capacity
ICDC: Zimbabwe to spearhead ICDC's revival in Africa
EAAC: Risk, challenges and opportunities for actuaries
EAIC: Changing challenges, challenging changes
Expansion plans for Panama Canal pose new challenges for maritime industry
Endurance-Aspen fight ends
Markel applies for Dubai insurance licence
Diary of events
People on the move
COVER STORY
As a rising economic powerhouse, Asia is on the business agenda of many reinsurers around the world, and the region is definitely making an impact on the global reinsurance scene. And with Asia becoming a manufacturing base for many consumer products, there are already warnings of the "enormous accumulation potential of supply chain disruptions". Read on.
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COUNTRY PROFILE
Growth is still in the air despite the strong headwinds to be overcome. The industry is in a better shape than ever as reform and liberalisation are in gear and China's central government is expected to accelerate the pace to develop the private...
IT IN INSURANCE
Usage Based Insurance (UBI) is fast becoming a mainstream game-changing offering for general insurers in the US, Europe and elsewhere. Big Data is another crucial tool for insurers. Several experts share why it is critically important for players in...
Mr Michael Kerner, CEO of General Insurance, Zurich Insurance Group, speaks about the execution of the group's strategic priorities, what will separate the winners from the losers, and what he expects of Asia. By Benjamin Ang
Fresh from his previous role as Chief Executive of the Allianz SE's Italian operations, Regional CEO George Sartorel now heads its Asia Pacific business, and is ready to take on the region's diverse challenges. He shares his take on doing business...
FM Global's newly-appointed COO Jonathan W Hall discusses its growth strategy in Asia and where the opportunities lie for this venerable organisation. By Ridwan Abbas
As a rising economic powerhouse, Asia is on the business agenda of many reinsurers around the world, and the region is definitely making an impact on the global reinsurance scene. And with Asia becoming a manufacturing base for many consumer...
Asia is definitely on the rise, with growing urbanisation, increased infrastructure spending and expanding industrialisation. Mr Kenrick Law of Allianz SE Reinsurance Branch Asia Pacific says (re)insurers need to work with local governments to cover...
Mr Tad Montross of General Re Corporation warns about the danger of reinsuring with alternative capital which is new, untested and mostly short-term in outlook.
A change in bancassurance regulation from 1 April this year is placing a greater focus on protection products. And while it is perceived that prospects in alternative distribution platforms could have even leapfrogged those in the western world,...
There is no doubt that China is a tough market. Foreign life insurers' market share has remained in single-digit over the years. Here is a list on how to improve the odds of success. By Benjamin Ang
With the exception of a few, most of the 12 private insurers granted in-principle licences in 2012 have been in operation for a year now. Mr Thomas Kua of Pana Harrison (Asia) Pte Ltd provides a glimpse into the current development of Myanmar's...
Mr Christopher Twomey from ACE Insurance Co Ltd Vietnam and Mr August Kyaw Soe Han from ACE Insurance Myanmar give an update on the market and recommend opening it up to the foreign sector to accelerate growth.
Mr Sherwin Parungao of Aon Benfield Analytics gives an update of the Philippine insurance sector with its double-digit growth in 2013. Despite the series of natural catastrophes, most players and the Insurance Commission say the outlook is still...
In this extract from The Geneva Association's newsletter, Mr Hato Schmeiser, Ms Tina Störmer and Mr Joël Wagner from the University of St Gallen Switzerland discuss the problems that could result from the ruling that bans the use of gender criterion...
A recent case in China decides that the limitation period of a reinsurance contract will start to run only when the original insurer has quantified its loss under the insurance contract. Mr Ik Wei Chong, Mr Leslie Shen and Ms Kirsty Gow from Clyde...
With M&A activities in Asia expected to increase, Mr Andrew Graham of Allied World introduces two trends - new breach cover and nil seller recourse - which he believes will become more prevalent in deals in the region.
Mr James Parker of Norton Rose Fulbright explores a rarely discussed topic - exiting a joint venture in Asia. From poorly written joint venture contracts to regulations or the lack of regulations governing the transfers of shares, there are numerous...
Long a popular product in Australia, the use of Warranty and Indemnity insurance is on the rise in the Asia Pacific region. Mr Darren Savage of AIG say once seen as an esoteric piece of financial engineering, it is now recognised as a core part of...
Climate change, cyber, an uncertain global outlook and a heightened regulatory environment have placed risk management high on the agenda of many corporates. Asia Insurance Review recently hosted a roundtable with risk managers, alongside Allianz...
A long period of low interest rates presents insurers with the difficult task of investing. Mr Philipp Waldstein at MEAG looks at the challenges and highlights opportunities.
Mr Rex Auyeung of Principal Financial Group comments on Target Date Funds and how applicable they are in Asia. He also expresses his opinion on the recent widespread discussion in Hong Kong about the proposal to introduce a core fund as a...
Mr Patrick Graf of Swiss Re looks at the hull industry, saying that unfortunately, even after 17 years of losses on a global basis, rates are still not turning. This is especially so in Asia where the sector is aggravated by excess insurance...
Mr Jonathan Connelly from Cigna Global Health Options shares his view on why it is critically important for brokers to immerse themselves in new technology to reap the full benefits of online technology.
The recent Yunnan earthquake which claimed about 600 lives with at least 2,400 injured, has highlighted again the urgent need for earthquake insurance cover in China where the penetration rate is still very low.
China, India and Southeast Asia were the main drivers for both the life and non-life premium growth in the region in 2013, according to the latest sigma report.
More companies in Asia are beginning to recognise the link between the state of their employees' health and business viability, according to leading employee benefits (EB) network MAXIS GBN.
Zimbabwe will be the host nation for the 18th Insurance Congress of Developing Countries (ICDC) and the entire insurance industry in Zimbabwe has come together to showcase the great strides the nation has taken in the past few years and also to...
The 18th East Asian Actuarial Conference (EAAC), to be held on 12-15 October 2014 at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), has extended its parallel sessions from 36 to 48 to facilitate more speakers and discussions on more topics this...
Change challenges in climate, technology and regulations are the top three concerns for Mr Patrick Lee, Chairman of the 27thEAIC Organising Committee. With this November's East Asian Insurance Congress focussing on coping with changes, Mr Lee shares...
The value of insured goods transiting the Panama Canal which celebrated its 100th anniversary last month, may increase by over US$1 billion per day following completion of the "Third Set of Locks Project", which will see two new sets of locks...
It was a courtship that started as early as the beginning of this year as Bermuda-based Endurance tried to engage Bermuda-based Aspen in "confidential and friendly dialogue" but were rebuffed by the Aspen management.
Markel International has applied to the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to establish a company to operate within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).