All articles by LII editorial
LII editorial
Dutch partners agree to forge ahead
Dutch bank ABN AMRO Netherlands has announced that it will not exercise its right to buy out Delta Lloyd Groups stake in their bancassurance joint venture (JV) in the Netherlands
Breathing life into online marketing
In an insurers marketing armoury the internet today plays a key role, and one new UK company, Virtualpresenter.co.uk, believes it can greatly enhance a firms online presence At the heart of Virtualpresenters service is a specially filmed video of a professional, experienced TV presenter which is placed onto an insurance companys website to guide visitors towards specific pages Virtualpresenter believes its system is the most advanced use yet of business video on the internet.
Beazley goes for growth in the US
There is always opportunity, even in a time of recession, believes UK personal accident and life underwriting management agency Beazley Group, which is embarking on a drive to expand significantly in the US
A market yet to realise its full potential
Driven by legislative change in Spains pension market, Spains life insurance industry enjoyed robust growth between 1999 and 2002 Though subsequent performance has been lacklustre, longer-term prospects remain sound in a country coming to terms with a need to promote private pensions savings Despite steadfastly holding on to its position as Europes seventh-largest life insurance market for more than a decade, Spains industry has underperformed the European life market as a whole
Allianz talks up Asian prospects
Despite economic gloom in developed economies, European insurer Allianzs economic research unit, Allianz Dresdner Economic Research (ADER), remains optimistic on prospects for emerging Asian markets.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get industry leading news, data and analysis delivered to your inbox
Standard Life slays its paper dragon
Policy Selection Limited (PSL), a Cayman Islands-based specialist in traded life insurance policies, predicts the already fast-growing life settlements market is set to boom. PSLs optimism is well grounded given the performance of its Assured Fund, an open-end mutual fund focused on investment in US traded life policies.
US wealthy a neglected opportunity
High net worth individuals represent a significant market for life insurers and financial advisers in areas ranging from individual insurance to specialist estate planning. Despite this the high net worth sector remains underserved and in terms of life insurance productownership is still far from saturated
End of the line for Indiana insurers
December proved to be a month of intense activity for the US state of Indianas Department of Insurances commissioner Jim Atterholt, who within two weeks had to cope with two failed insurers.
Reserve relief for US insurers mooted
US life insurers reserve requirements could soon be eased if a call in this regard made by the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) in November last year is accepted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the body representing all US state insurance regulators Reserve and capital requirements for variable annuities with guarantees;
An investment for tough times
Policy Selection Limited (PSL), a Cayman Islands-based specialist in traded life insurance policies, predicts the already fast-growing life settlements market is set to boom PSLs optimism is well grounded given the performance of its Assured Fund, an open-end mutual fund focused on investment in US traded life policies Research undertaken by PSL leaves little doubt as to traded life policies attractiveness as an investment, whether compared with passively or actively managed alternatives.