All articles by Verdict Staff

KKR targets Indian life market with 9.95% stake in Max Financial

Global investment firm KKR has acquired an approximate 9.95% stake in Max Financial Services, the newly demerged entity of the Max Group that owns an approximate 72% stake in Max Life, India’s fourth largest private life insurance player.

LII to host forum and awards in November 2016 – Get set for a digital revolution and embrace disruption

Calling all insurance innovators, decision-makers and disruptors – Life Insurance International (LII) will host the Life Insurance International forum and awards in November 2016.

Reader’s view: Why Solvency 2 is dead in the water

Actuary and emerging risk analyst, Cathal Rabbitte, tells Life Insurance International (LII) why he believes Solvency 2 is dead in the water. In Rabbitte’s view Solvency II was built for a world of 2% inflation that no longer exists. He argues insurance companies who follow the Solvency 2 rules to the letter are actually more vulnerable under Solvency 2 – than they were under Solvency 1.

Helen Pickford appointed CFO at Zurich UK Life

Zurich UK Life has appointed Helen Pickford as chief financial officer (CFO). She will succeed current CFO Neil Evans on 1 April, when he retires from Zurich after 28 years with the business.

ABI: UK pension ISA tax relief reform could lower savings by a sixth

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has calculated that the pension ISA tax relief reform currently being considered by the UK government could lower savings by around a sixth.

Bancassurance winning strategies – learning from Latin America

Timetric insurance analyst Jay Patel analyses the factors driving the success of the bancassurance model in Latin America, and particularly Brazil. Looking ahead to the future, Patel explains banks have valuable information about their customers, which could help their insurance partners to accurately target people with appropriate policies. There is also scope for greater harmonisation between banks and their insurance arms.

Top concerns for insurance CEOs revealed in PwC survey

Insurance CEOs see technological change, new market entrants and over-regulation as the main threats to growth, according to PwC’s 19th Annual Global CEO Survey.

Manulife appoints Glenn Hollis as chief marketing officer for Canada

Manulife has appointed Glenn Hollis as senior vice-president and chief marketing officer, Canadian Division for Manulife.

UK MPs flag concern over “neutered” FCA

The FCA has survived a vote of no confidence by MPs after coming under fire in a House of Commons debate.

Promoting, arranging and providing insurance are regulated activities, which means firms providing these services, or insurance products, must be authorised by the FCA.

The FCA regulate more than 6,200 firms, which range from Lloyds of London and the London market, intermediaries, insurers and price comparison websites.

VitalityHealth launches ‘healthy business discount’ for small businesses

UK private medical insurer VitalityHealth has launched a ‘healthy business discount’ for small businesses with two to nine insured employees.