China News

Tight Market Drives Australian Companies into Deals Abroad

Cash rich Australian companies are being forced to search offshore for takeover targets as the small local market has become too consolidated to get deals past the competition watchdog. With the Aussie dollar at a 28-year high, now would be …

Tide of History Runs against Would-be G20 ‘Grand Bargain’

Speculation of a grand bargain by the Group of 20 to rebalance the global economy is swirling ever faster thanks to China’s surprise decision to raise interest rates for the first time since 2007. Higher rates ought to push up …

Aon Sees Catastrophes, Consolidation, Regulation in Asian Re Market

Aon Benfield launched a market update for the key Asia Pacific reinsurance hubs of Australia/New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and China at the recently concluded East Asian Insurance Congress (EAIC) in Bali. The announcement gave the following details for each of …

ICC Maritime Bureau Warns of Expanding Pirate Attacks

Somali pirates appear to be intensifying their attacks away from their own coast and were responsible for 44 percent of the 289 piracy incidents on the world’s seas in the first nine months of 2010, according to a report published …

Fund Orders for AIA IPO to Close Early on Strong Demand

American International Group Inc is set to close the institutional book for the $15 billion AIA Group IPO two days ahead of plan, amid signs the IPO has been swamped by orders from traditional funds and high-profile Chinese investors. A …

Ye Joins Aon Benfield China Team

Aon Benfield announced that it has appointed Helen Ye as executive director and head of catastrophe reinsurance in China. She will be responsible for “developing catastrophe reinsurance business by advising clients on their catastrophe exposures in China and helping to …

Firms Lose More to Electronic Fraud than Physical Theft

Companies for the first time report they are losing more through electronic theft of data than physical stealing of assets, risk consultancy Kroll said on Monday in an annual report on international fraud trends. Fraud was most often an “inside …

Poll Shows AIA IPO Price Seen Above Mid-point; Will Raise $19.8 Bn

The IPO of American International Group Inc’s Asian life insurance unit is set to command a valuation above the mid-point of an indicative range as attractive valuations draw in investors to the world’s second-largest float this year. Bailed out insurer …

Ironshore, Distinguished Programs Group Form Acquisition Unit

Bermuda-based specialty insurer Ironshore Inc. and New York-based program administrator Distinguished Programs Group LLC have formed a joint venture acquisition vehicle targeting the managing general underwriter and program manager segments of the insurance distribution business. The business plan for the …

300 Homes to Be Repaired in Settlement with Chinese Drywall Firm

A Chinese drywall manufacturer has agreed to participate in the remediation of up to 300 homes in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida that were contaminated by faulty drywall. An agreement was reached with Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin (KPT) in Chinese Drywall …