Guest Interview - Newly branded CHARTIS charts a bullish future
Asia Pacific Corporate Risk Forum - Risk management in the Asia Pacific: Challenging times
Global News - 2014: The future of risk management – Aon
Always a hardworking man, Mr Leslie (Les) Mouat, Regional President of Chartis in Southeast Asia, is burning the midnight oil far more than usual these days. As the property-casualty and general insurance operations of AIG are transformed into an operationally independent global company, Chartis, Mr Mouat is responsible for overseeing the process...
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Corporate risk managers, insurance brokers and Swiss Re experts met at the second Asia Pacific Corporate Risk Forum for two days in August to shine the spotlight on concepts and solutions for meeting risk management challenges in the current economic environment.
Increased demand for in-house risk managers, ERM exploring opportunities and better risk data will characterise the future risk world, according to Aon, the leading global insurance broker and risk adviser.
A veteran with almost 40 years of experience under his belt, Mr John Bassetto, President & CEO, ACE Asia Pacific, is not put off by the current economic doldrums, but sees opportunity for ACE to strengthen its franchise in the region. He shares his thoughts about ACE in Asia, especially in China, and also tells us that the Internet is a major...
The International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this year. Mr David Matcham, CEO of IUA, talks about the Association’s achievements amid the changing regulatory and technological landscapes, in addition to sharing his vision for the next decade.
Appointed as Munich Re CEO for Greater China and Southeast Asia in March 2009, Dr Tobias Farny talks about Munich Re’s repositioning, its active stance in collaborating with governments and NGOs to support microinsurance and increasing the awareness for catastrophe covers. We also hear from Mr Kua Ka Hin, CEO, Munich Re Singapore as he tells...
It was almost a nail-biting scenario as bids and counter-bids flew for IPCRe Ltd. Finally, Validus Re sealed the deal with its US$1.68 billion bid in July. In an exclusive interview with Mr Conan Ward, CEO, Validus Reinsurance Ltd, he reveals the details of the acquisition and also tells us what their plans for Asia are, having just set up an...
Mr John Harrison, Vice Chairman Of New York Life International and CEO, Asia Region, retires this November. Through the 38 years in the industry, Mr Harrison has held various senior executive positions with New York Life, Prudential UK, Manulife, AIG and Crown Life. He has had responsibility for financial management, sales management, individual...
With Thailand hosting the 24th Pacific Insurance Conference in Bangkok this month, we talk to the President of the Thai Life Assurance Association, a reinsurer and an insurer to get different perspectives of this thriving life market which is expected to register double-digit growth for 2009, thanks to the the increase in tax deductions for life...
The Thai life insurance market is expected to show double-digit growth for 2009 despite the global financial turmoil. While this is outstanding, Mr Sara Lamsam, Director/President, Muang Thai Life Assurance and President, Thai Life Assurance Association, says that they are still carrying on with their advertising campaign to bring the awareness of...
Mr Andrew Linfoot, Principal Officer and Director, Asia for Pacific Life Re Ltd, Singapore Branch, has been visiting and studying the Thai life insurance market since 1996, and during that time has witnessed a number of significant changes. Here, he shares his insights into the development of the Thai market.
Mr Stephen Appleyard, Director/President, Ayudhya Allianz C P Life (AACP), arrived in Thailand in December last year, in the eye of the financial crisis storm and his first task on the job at AACP was to steer the company through choppy waters. He tells us about what they are doing in AACP and how their goal is to “Paint every Thai house...
As a curtain-raiser to the 24th PIC, the RFP Company discusses the changes in the competitive landscape within the life sector in Asia, isolating the attributes of those who are succeeding and commenting on the arrival of the 21st Century Insurance Company.
As the world’s demography changes and pockets of unfulfilled needs surface, life insurers are seizing the opportunity to meet these needs. One such development is the increase in the numbers of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI). As their wealth becomes ‘global’ in nature, they look at the insurance sector for solutions to manage...
The Asia Pacific recorded 75% of total insurance M&A deals for the first half of 2009. The financial crisis has been blamed for pressuring companies to consolidate, and with the stock markets in decline for the first half of this year, target companies that were elusive in the past are now trading at attractive prices. Private equity firms are...
In the wake of the financial crisis, scenarios of depressed growth in developed economies abounded, with negative consequences for emerging markets. As the fog begins to clear, the prospects for Asia are not as dire as many had feared. Allianz SE gives a quick outlook for Asia in the next year or so.
In this cover story on reinsurance, we present an exclusive interview with the Singapore regulator on his thoughts about Singapore as a reinsurance hub; a report on what transpired in Monte Carlo in September and lastly, what eight reinsurers here are expecting for this yearend renewal. Certainly a must-read segment for everyone!
The Rendez-vous de Septembre was abuzz with activity this year as hotel lobbies were again crowded with ongoing discussions on rates as we approach the US hurricane season. The hard market expected in 2008 for 2009 may not have transpired, however, the overall reinsurance market proved to be more resilient than the primary market amid the economic...
We ran a piece on “Renewal wishes that reinsurers must hear” in our September issue featuring insurance companies from around Asia voicing their renewal expectations for 2010. Now we turn the attention to the reinsurers and ask them what their expectations are for the yearend renewals. And here is what they have to say.
With increasing health costs and new diseases affecting the population, a new health insurance scheme in India offers a ray of hope for its citizens and tremendous opportunities for insurers. We find out more about this scheme which engages the expertise of insurance companies.
In India, the spending on healthcare is high and expensive private health expenditures poses a serious challenge to the people and the policy makers. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co, India, tell us that health insurance can help the people overcome this vulnerability and that Information Technology is the key to bringing efficiency and overall...
When examining how products liability insurance is transacted in relation to manufactured goods exported from Asia, you must first take account of conditions in the US and other major consumer markets. In other words, you must consider the overall marketplace. Markel discusses this from a number of perspectives.
Even as Indonesia’s police force have had some successes with their raids against terrorists recently, culminating in the death of the country’s most wanted Islamic militant, Noordin Mohammad Top, the threat of terrorism is certainly not abated. Talbot Singapore looks at terrorism in the region and with the threat still there, stresses...
It has been one year since the Mainland Judicial Interpretation and the Hong Kong Ordinance came into effect. Deacons Hong Kong updates on what is needed for a Hong Kong judgment to be enforced in Mainland China.
As the Internet extends its reach to all aspects of life, Stephenson Harwood, Singapore, notes that the current insurance regulations are not compatible with the supervision of online insurance business as well as with keeping up with the evolvement of insurance in its products, distribution means and services. He examines why regulators in Asia...
With Solvency II requirements and IFRS Phase 2 being implemented in Europe, it is a matter of time before Asian insurers would have to align their reporting requirements to the same standard. Watson Wyatt Worldwide looks at these two regulatory requirements and tells us why investing in a robust actuarial modeling system is crucial.
Do we really hear the ‘voice’ of our customers? And if we do, do we care? Sun Life Financial Asia talks about how an Asian customer study called SOLAR provided the catalyst for the company’s global brand repositioning.
It is a common notion that when someone says that he or she works in insurance, there is a high chance that one might think that this person is an insurance agent. This is especially true among the younger generation as they remain unaware of the wide career choices that the insurance industry offers. Here, we look at how the industry has been...
Long a major name in the insurance and reinsurance circles, Mr Stephen Catlin, CEO and Deputy Chairman of the Catlin Group Ltd, has built his business on the grounds of hard work, having a strong culture and truly enjoying being in the profession.
Contract certainty is a buzzword today but for FM Global, it is a reality. Here, it explains how it works hard to achieve the goal of timely issuance of policies, invoices and other documents as well as contract clarity.
With the financial crisis moving towards its resolution phase, Mr Patrick M Liedtke of The Geneva Association stresses that confidence in the financial system needs to be restored, but with a structure that is efficient, fair and sustainable.
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP explains a recent case where the House of Lords had decided that a proportional facultative reinsurance contract may not offer a ‘back to back’ cover for the reinsured.
This book offers a comprehensive overview of the booming Asian life-insurance markets and what it takes to capture the emerging opportunities. Drawing on the research and experience of the McKinsey Asia financial services team, this is a valuable book for anyone involved in the Asian insurance industry.
The transition and transformation of the Indian life insurance industry which has significantly impacted the macro economy, financial market, retirement annuity and financial intermediation, is given an in-depth analytical report in this book by Dr H Sadhak.
Ratings movements on this page are made between 15th of September and 9th of October 2009. Companies and rating agencies which want to be covered are kindly requested to send their inputs to Ms Min Yong at minyong@asiainsurancereview.com
Ms. Sophia Ch’ng Sok Heang, Senior Vice President & Deputy Head, Finance and Corporate Affairs, Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad, Malaysia, has won this year’s Young ASEAN Manager Award (YAMA), beating 30 other contestants, becoming the first woman to win the Award in this current series.
Following the loss of two ships, shipping companies have been given a new warning over the vessel destabilising properties of one of the most important cargoes exported from India: iron ore fines. In a member alert, the American P&I Club management, Shipowners Claims Bureau Inc has said that the monsoon season poses a particular threat to a...
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of B++(Good) and Issuer Credit Ratings of “bbb” of Asian Reinsurance Corporation (Asian Re). The outlook for both ratings is stable.
APRA has said that their response to the global financial crisis (GFC) will be “modest” and there will be little new regulation for the insurance and other financial sectors in the aftermath of the worldwide financial crunch.
DavidShield, an Israel-based insurer, is registering its first presence in the Far East with a partnership with Property and Casualty Co Ltd (PICC) and a plan to target overseas health and travel insurance, reported BestWeek Asia/Pacific.
Chinese insurance companies are now for the first time allowed to invest directly in commercial real estate under new regulations that came into effect on 1 October.
China Insurance International Holdings Co Ltd (CIIH) plans to wholly control Ming An (Holdings) Co Ltd. first before privatising it.
Pacific Century Group, the business group owned by Hong Kong’s Mr Richard Li, will buy the investment advisory and asset management part of AIG Investments for US$500 million. AIG Investments is a subsidiary of global insurance firm, American International Group (AIG).
As a sponsor of the 5th Insurance Executives’ Summit on Technology held in Singapore in late September, Guidewire Software®, a leading provider of flexible core systems to general insurance companies, announced that it has expanded its international operations with the creation of a subsidiary company, Guidewire Software Asia Ltd and...
The four government-owned non-life insurers – National Insurance, New India, Oriental Insurance and United India – have posted a combined business growth of 10.55% for the first half of this fiscal year.
The IRDA wants insurers to disclose at least four to five years of important data to help policyholders and prospective investors in taking informed decisions.
Life Insurance Agents Federation of India (LIAFI) has said that they will go on a nation-wide strike if the government implements the Swarup Committee recommendations to phase out agents’ commissions by April 2011.
A low penetration of non-life insurance market but vibrant economic growth presents enormous business potentials in the Indonesia insurance market for Financial & Casualty line business.
To protect policyholders from buying wrong products from unlicensed employees, the Indonesian regulator will work with the insurance industry to issue licences for front-liners, people who give advice that leads to a transaction.
The combined premium revenue generated by six major nonlife insurance companies fell 1.3% to 3.09 trillion yen (US$34.8 billion) in the April-September period.
The consolidated insurance giant to be formed by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings, Aioi Insurance and Nissay Dowa General Insurance aims to save at least 40 billion yen (US$447 million) in cost through systems integration and to generate 2.7 trillion yen in non-life net written premiums in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
Prudential Financial, the second-largest US life insurer, has announced that it was “exploring options” with regard to its brokerage and asset management subsidiaries in Korea, adding that the options include a possible sale of either or both of Prudential Investments & Securities Co Ltd and Prudential Asset Management Co Ltd...
Swiss Re announced that it has received a composite licence from Bank Negara Malaysia to write Retakaful business, and opened a dedicated Retakaful operation in Kuala Lumpur.
Non-life insurers are starting to increase the rates of insurance covers against flood and other natural disasters after initial assessments on damage brought by tropical storm Ketsana (Ondoy) pointed to billions of pesos in claims.
Close to 100 practitioners from the general insurance industry celebrated the annual General Insurance (GI) Day, led by General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA), by wearing their hearts on their sleeves at Metta School. Metta School provides education for students with mild intellectual disability and autism.
The global financial crisis has affected Singaporeans’ preparation for retirement, according to a study by Aviva.
Mr Edward Tay won the men’s A division at the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) Swing for Charity 2009 golf tournament and took home the Challenge Trophy. At the Tanah Merah Country Club, Tampines Course on 6 October, a cool cloudy afternoon made winning golfing weather for the 128 golfers.
The increasingly favourable performance of the local equity market along with a lack of natural catastrophes helped Taiwan’s insurers lift their bottom line in the first half of 2009, according to a report by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.
AIG has agreed to sell its 97.57% stake in Nan Shan Life Insurance Co to a consortium led by Primus Financial Holdings Ltd and Hong Kong-based China Strategic Holdings Ltd for US$2.15 billion. This amount represented a 7.5% premium on AIG’s asking price of US$2 billion.
Subtantial changes are expected in the shareholdings of insurance companies in Thailand in the next few years, especially those with foreign partners, it was reported in the local media. The new law will take effect in February 2013.
HSBC Insurance, the sole foreign partner of Bao Viet Holdings, will increase its stake in the insurance giant by an additional 8% to reach 18% this year.
Before the Asian region could recover from the fury of Typhoon Morakot which had hit Taiwan the hardest in August this year, it saw new onslaughts from Mother Nature with deadly earthquakes and a series of terrifying typhoons that left a trail of disasters in several countries. We follow this trail of calamities and see the upheavals they left...
The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) is launching a new regulatory framework for special purpose insurers (SPIs) and has issued three proposals to meet the requirements of Solvency II.
The results of a new study by EDHEC-Risk entitled “Asset-Liability Management in Private Wealth Management,” by Mr Noël Amenc, Mr Lionel Martellini, Mr Vincent Milhau and Mr Volker Ziemann, suggest that suitable extensions of portfolio optimisation techniques used by institutional investors can be transposed to private wealth...
FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers, has become an admitted reinsurer in Brazil, to meet the growing reinsurance needs of its clients in the region.
Solvency II, the proposed risk-based capital framework which is scheduled to be implemented in Europe in 2012 is expected to cause insurers to increase their capital and maybe to consolidate hence adding to higher insurance prices for policyholders, according to a panel session at the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA)...