Malaysia News

Ratings Recap: Dongbu, China Taiping, Malaysian Re

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of South Korea’s Dongbu Insurance Company, Ltd., both with stable outlooks. “The ratings reflect Dongbu’s solid market profile, sound underwriting performance and …

Ratings Recap: Tokio Millennium Re, Nissan Global, Asia Capital, ACRe

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of’ A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Bermuda-based Tokio Millennium Re Ltd. (TMR), both with stable outlooks. Best noted that TMR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokio …

France’s AXA Eyes Asia Growth with Takeover Bid

AXA Asia Pacific rejected a $10.3 billion bid from parent AXA SA and Australian rival AMP Ltd on Monday, an initial hurdle for the French insurer’s bold ambitions to expand in Asia. AXA SA, Europe’s second-largest insurer it would raise …

AIG Sells Taiwan Life Insurance Unit for $2.15 Billion

American International Group is to sell its Taiwan life insurance unit for $2.15 billion, marking the largest disposal since a U.S. government bailout saved the insurer from collapse last year. The sale of Nan Shan Life on Tuesday was another …

Swiss Re Receives Retakaful License for Malaysia

Swiss Re has received a composite license from Bank Negara Malaysia to write Retakaful business, and has opened a dedicated Retakaful operation in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Swiss Re said the composite license will allow it to “offer Family and …

Rescuers Continue Digging As Indonesia Earthquake Toll Tops 1,000

Rescuers dug feverishly on Friday through the rubble of a school and other buildings toppled by an earthquake in the Indonesian port of Padang, but few victims were being found alive two days after the tremor. The United Nations said …

Over 500 Reported Dead in Sumatra Quake; AIR Analyzes Disaster

Not long after the Samoan earthquake and tsunami struck in the South Pacific, a major earthquake occurred 9500 kms (5900 miles) away off Sumatra in western Indonesia. Latest news bulletins have raised the initial death toll from the disaster to …

Typhoon Ketsana Kills 38 in Vietnam; Flood Threat

The biggest floods in decades threatened Vietnam’s central provinces on Wednesday following a powerful typhoon that swept into the country after wreaking havoc in the Philippines. The government said 38 people had died and 10 were missing in floods and …

Is Economic Terrorism a Threat to Southeast Asia?

If the suicide bombers who targeted two luxury hotels in Jakarta this year hoped their attacks would strike a significant long-term blow against Indonesia’s economy, the reaction of financial markets suggests they were wrong. Economic warfare is at the heart …

Ratings Recap: Lonpac, Tenet, Zurich (Notes), Generali (Notes)

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Malaysia’s Lonpac Insurance Bhd, both with stable outlooks. “The ratings reflect Lonpac’s adequate capitalization and its ability to manage profitable …