Japan’s AIR makeover
The Japanese FSA’s nuanced overhaul of its asset intensive reinsurance rules has been welcomed by participants as keeping a key capital-management tool intact for the country’s life insurers. So what do the new rules say?
Sweden a shining star in Europe’s insurance market
The Swedish insurance market is a model in innovation, investment and healthy risk-appetite. Countries around Europe are looking to see what they can learn from their Nordic neighbour, as Magnus Vesterlund, Chief Economist at Svensk Försäkring discusses.
Hungary: The regulator’s angle
Hungary has been focused on growing its life market – and according to Koppány Nagy, the National Bank of Hungary’s (MNB) director for Insurance, Pension Funds and Intermediaries Supervision, there is an upward trend being observed.
Poland: Mass lapse potential
Poland is exploring the use of new techniques for its life insurance markets. But the make-up of the country’s life products means it will not be pushing into reinsurance anytime soon, the financial regulator, the KNF, says.
Italy: Private equity can be a force for good
Italy has experienced one of the more negative episodes in the private equity-insurance saga in recent times. Despite this, PE can play a constructive role in the market, says Rita Laura D’Ecclesia, Member of the Board of Directors at the country’s regulator, IVASS.
Portugal: All about risk
Joao Santos, Managing Director of Risk at Fidelidade, offers a risk and capital perspective on Portugal’s life insurance market.
Switzerland: Exploring reinsurance
Switzerland has been at the vanguard of Europe’s asset intensive investigations. Daniel Weijand, Supervisory Policy & Legal Expertise at the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, FINMA, gives his take on where the market might be headed next.
Netherlands: A longevity model
The 2023 Netherlands Future of Pensions Act, which required all Dutch defined benefit pensions schemes to move to a defined contribution model by 1 January 2028, has been a major catalyst for what is now one of the biggest longevity risk transfer markets in Europe.
Germany: All about consolidation
Germany could be on the cusp of a consolidation boom, after the path was cleared for a significant back-book transaction this year. Analysts believe deals of about €25 billion will hit the market in 2026.
Recent News
The Value of Curiosity
Liane Hirner, CFRO of VIG, has a strong belief in the merits of listening. It is a trait that has helped her navigate the shifts seen in life insurance in recent years, including macro volatility and the advent of trends
Alexandra Jour-Schroeder: a new dawn for EU insurance investment
Europe has an €800bn economic investment gap. Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General of DG FISMA, European Commission, says European insurers are going to get more opportunities to bridge this.
Japan’s AIR makeover
The Japanese FSA’s nuanced overhaul of its asset intensive reinsurance rules has been welcomed by participants as keeping a key capital-management tool intact for the country’s life insurers. So what do the new rules say?
Sweden a shining star in Europe’s insurance market
The Swedish insurance market is a model in innovation, investment and healthy risk-appetite. Countries around Europe are looking to see what they can learn from their Nordic neighbour, as Magnus Vesterlund, Chief Economist at Svensk Försäkring discusses.
Longevity risk in Europe
Longevity reinsurance is booming in the Netherlands. What are the drivers and will the rest of Europe follow suit?
The European consolidation wave
It has been long talked about but consolidation could be coming to Europe in a big way as participants from Viridium and Frankfurter Leben discussed at Life-Re Europe.
