-
The Solvency II mandate race
29 March 2017Solvency II has turbo-boosted the move to insurance asset outsourcing. Asset managers are beefing up their capabilities to win market share—but what can you do to make yourself stand out from the crowd? Sarfraz Thind reports
-
Wraps - a gift to infrastructure investment?
24 March 2017Insurance 'wraps' can boost the credit rating on infrastructure debt to make the asset more attractive to investors, especially underwriters grappling with Solvency II. Christopher Cundy reports
-
Investing where the wind blows
08 February 2017Allianz's in-house alternative asset manager has closed four tax equity investments in US wind farms in only 12 months, and plans more in 2017. Head of renewables at Allianz Capital Partners David Jones talks to Asa Gibson about the firm's American wind expansion.
-
Stress test or eventuality: it's time to respond
31 January 2017European life insurers should reassess their investment strategies in light of Eiopa's latest stress test, which exposed vulnerabilities to a plausible 'low-for-long' interest rate environment, writes JP Morgan Asset Management's Vladimir Zdorovenin.
-
Taking control of credit risk
24 January 2017Regulatory changes in the US and persistently low interest rates around the world are raising the profile of credit risk management. EY's Juan Carlos Milan Sotelo says there are a number of common weak spots within a typical credit risk management framework, which insurance CIOs can address with a few fundamental steps. Asa Gibson reports
-
How has the Solvency II LTG package influenced investments?
16 January 2017Eiopa's first annual report on long-term guarantee and equity risk measures attempted to uncover potential influences on asset allocation. Asa Gibson looks through the numbers
-
Dark clouds gather over secondary market for MA assets
09 January 2017The prospect of a secondary market for MA assets has taken a number of blows as comparisons are drawn to the synthetic CDO market. That may be enough for regulators to stop even a small, illiquid market developing. Callum Tanner reports
-
How to win mandates and influence asset allocation
04 January 2017As the largest institutional investors in Europe, insurers represent a major market for asset managers, but they also bring Solvency II-shaped baggage. In this Q&A, Erik Vynckier breaks down the building blocks to winning the custom of European insurers
-
New rules to prompt US asset reshuffle
22 December 2016US insurance is on a collision course with one of its biggest risk capital changes in years. It is a significant change for the long-term asset allocation strategy of US insurers and could herald a reshuffle in the fixed income portfolio. Sarfraz Thind reports.
-
Adapting strategies to the new reality
19 December 2016The arrival of Solvency II has already begun to reshape the relationship between insurers and asset managers, with optional add-ons becoming mandatory deliverables for insurance clientele. David Walker looks at the changing relationship between insurers and their investment partners.