From Editor-in-Chief

IAIS Mission - Contributing to global financial stability

Zurich Insurance staying lean and focussed in Asia

Having made several deals in the region, Zurich Insurance intends to strengthen its existing alliances in high-potential markets and execute growth plans, says Mr Geoff Riddell, its Chairman for Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA). By...

Regulations: Know your regulations

Insurance regulators and major stakeholders in the industry are meeting in Taipei middle of this month for their annual conference, and in line with this, we list the 10 things to know about insurance regulations across Asia today and examine the...

Regulations: Ten things to know about insurance regulation across Asia

Regulation of the insurance industry in Asia is subject to wide variation and regular, often extensive revision. Ms Anna Tipping of Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP explores some of the constants and some of the variables.

Regulations: IFRS 4 Phase II: Plan now for the new world of insurance reporting

Mr Manu Anand from Deloitte Singapore explains the long-awaited revised exposure draft or IFRS 4 Phase II that was launched in June this year, what its landscape is, what are being re-exposed and what it means for insurers.

Regulatory support a hit with the market

The island's insurance regulator has been easing regulations on a number of fronts this year as it works closely with the industry to help players cope with various challenges facing them. Its quest to provide strong support to both insurers and...

Conscientiously coping with challenges

The Taiwanese insurance regulator continues to provide strong support for the industry, conscientiously easing the regulations to help companies cope with the challenging conditions. In this exclusive interview, Ms Joanne Tzeng, Director General of...

Life insurance: Ready and raring to go

While Taiwan's life insurance sector bounced back to profit in 2012, the sector's growth forecast for 2013 is not as glowing, with negative growth expected. However, adjustments and support from the regulator are helping the sector, and life...

The Geneva Association: The IAIS in perspective

In this extract from the Geneva Association's newsletters, Mr Michel Flamée, former Chair of the IAIS, looks at the organisation's future directions, after 20 years of accomplishments.

Blanket notifications

Mr Patrick Perry of Clyde & Co Hong Kong considers the implications of a recent decision allowing block notifications to be made against a professional indemnity policy.

Life focus: Under pressure: Coping with low interest rates

Mr Ken Su, Mr Marc Sofer and Mr Jerome Matrundola from RGA suggest strategies insurers can adopt to thrive under the current low interest rate environment.

Life focus: The digital revolution: Underwriting changing to support mobile sales

The mobile adviser is arriving quickly - just in time to meet client demand. Munich Re's Mr Glen Holmes looks at the enormous opportunities these changes offer to life insurers in the region.

Strategic focus: Innovate where the action is!

Mr Gordon Perchthold of Managing Across Asia says Western insurance MNCs need to release their strategy and innovation personnel from the protective custody of their legacy home markets and create a mandate for innovation within its dynamic,...

Insurance risk and finance research centre: The impact of banking crises on non-life insurance consumption

Dr Shinichi Kamiya of the Nanyang Business School gives an analysis of how banking crises are likely to impact the various non-life insurance sectors in Asia with a long shadow.

Managing risks with local diversity and global consistency

Dr Axel Theis of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty explores the strategic imperative to address increasing complexity in exposures with an integrated risk and insurance management solution backed by central coordination.

1st Agriculture conference: A steep learning curve in a hugely untapped potential

Mr Reto J Schneider, Ms Harini Kannan and Mr Natt Wattanaumphaipong from Swiss Re look at various agricultural insurance markets in Asia, specifically China, India, Vietnam and South Korea.

Indonesia rendezvous - Increased asset values, protection gap and natural catastrophes

The Indonesia Rendezvous, which takes place in Bali at the end of this month, is set against buoyant growth in both the life and non-life insurance segments. The continued growth of the direct insurance market naturally gives rise to greater...

EAAC: The model actuary: A numbers wizard and effective communicator

Actuaries play a crucial role in providing calculated analyses of risks in decision making. Thought leaders share with Asia Insurance Review that other than the ability to go "deep and wide" in their technical expertise, actuaries need to...

Making it more sustainable

Speakers at the 9th Asia Conference on Pensions & Retirement Planning discussed various approaches insurers in the region could implement to ensure sustainable delivery of pensions to the region's fast-growing elderly population.

"Buying is fun, integrating is hell"

A focus beyond the financials is essential to make an M&A deal successful; and much work needs to be done even before a deal happens. Speakers at the 1st Asia Conference on M&A in Insurance shared these pointers and more.

ASEAN and Asia will do well despite economic and political turbulence

Asia is facing a turbulent economic and political situation, with credit availability currently tightening against the backdrop of ongoing territorial tensions in the South China Sea.

Southeast Asia: Health insurance to reach US$24 bln by 2020

The health insurance industry in Southeast Asia is slated to grow to US$24 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 15%, from its previously valued size of $6 billion in 2010.

Asia Pacific: Endurance expands reinsurance business

Endurance Specialty Holdings, a Bermuda-based specialty provider of P&C insurance and reinsurance, will be expanding the capabilities of its Asia Pacific reinsurance operations headquartered in Singapore, to include a locally based Global...

17th Asia Awards: Meeting the finalists face-to-face

This is the month to celebrate the finalists of the Asia Insurance Industry Awards before the actual results are announced on 6 November.

The Geneva Association launches new brand

Leading international insurance think-tank, The Geneva Association, has launched a new brand, including a new logo and colour palette, which it expects to provide stronger recognition and a clearer identity for the Association going forward.

Monte Carlo Rendezvous: All about alternative capacity and pricing

Informal negotiations for the renewal season for 2014 kicked off at the Monte Carlo Rendezvous with more than 2,600 delegates in attendance.

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