The Theme last week was Artificial Intelligence trends.
The Theme this week is China opening up its insurance market. This is actually a gradual process and now we are witnessing an upgrade from joint ventures to the approval of fully independent foreign insurers in China.
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Editors Note: Insurtech is normally Thursday. We changed to Wednesday this week because this news is big.
For this week we bring you three stories illustrating the theme of China opening up its insurance market.
Extract, read more on AXA press release:
“AXA announced today that it had entered into an agreement with the current domestic shareholders of AXA Tianping Property & Casualty Insurance Company Ltd (“AXA Tianping”) to acquire the remaining 50% stake* of the company.
Total consideration for the acquisition of the 50% stake would amount to RMB 4.6 billion (or Euro 584 million*), representing an implied 2.4x FY17 BV* multiple, of which, subject to regulatory approvals, RMB 1.5 billion (or Euro 190 million*) should be financed through a capital reduction of AXA Tianping to buy back shares from the current domestic shareholders.”
AXA Tianping was jointly founded in 2004 by AXA’s subsidiary in China and Tianping Auto Insurance. After 14 years, it has become the biggest foreign property insurance company in China. This purchase, if approved by Chinese regulators, will make AXA Tianping a fully-owned subsidiary of AXA group and help AXA move further in Chinese market.
Story 2: Allianz China unit given regulatory go-ahead
Extract, read more on Reinsurance News:
“Insurance giant Allianz has received approval from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission for the preparatory establishment of an insurance holding company in China.
Based in Shanghai, Allianz (China) Insurance Holding Company Limited will be the country’s first ever insurance company wholly owned by a foreign insurer.”
This happened a day before the AXA news. But Allianz’s plan was approved by the regulator already. The approach is different, since AXA is achieving it through equity acquisition while Allianz is starting from scratch. But the goal is same, to make presence in Chinese market.
Story 3: China moves closer to allowing foreigners to control insurance ventures
Extract, read more on Reuters:
“China will accept applications early next year from foreign insurers seeking to take control of their local joint ventures and is even weighing giving them full ownership earlier than flagged, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The regulator is expected to publish its final guidelines as soon as the first quarter of 2019 and would begin taking applications from interested foreign insurers soon after that, they said”
This article was released last Monday, and certainly it’s a signal. Our first two news proved that things are moving much faster in China.
China has already drawn its roadmap of opening up for the financial sector. Insurance industry is obviously executing the plans with efficiency and determination. I believe there are still huge potentials in Chinese insurance market and the future of insurance market in China will be shaped by Chinese and foreign insurers together.
Zarc Gin is an analyst for Warp Speed Fintech, a Fintech, especially InsurTech-focused Venture Capital based in China.
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