PRA fines Direct Line subsidiary £10.6m

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has imposed a financial penalty of £10,625,000 on Direct Line Group (DLG) subsidiary and principal underwriter, U K Insurance Limited (UKI Limited), in connection with a miscalculation of its Solvency II balance sheet during 2023 and 2024

Insurers remaining confident in face of rising macro concerns, study finds

Three in five insurers (62%) are planning to increase their allocation to private assets this year, new research by Goldman Sachs Asset Management has indicated

Howden to acquire Hymans Robertson’s insurance and financial services consulting team

Howden has agreed to acquire the insurance and financial services consulting team (IFS team) of Hymans Robertson LLP, strengthening its specialist insurance actuarial and longevity consulting capabilities

AllianzGI acquires stake in German electricity grid from Talanx

Allianz Global Investors has acquired a stake in German electricity grid operator, Amprion, from Talanx

APRA finalises amendments to its prudential standards on the capital treatment of longevity products

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has finalised amendments to its prudential standards on the capital treatment of longevity products, including annuities, to strengthen the market for retirement income products

Athora completes PIC acquisition and plans UK-based headquarters

Athora Holding Limited has completed its acquisition of Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) Group, including its wholly owned subsidiary PIC

JPI to invest $1bn in Ashmore-managed emerging market funds

Japan Post Insurance (JPI) has agreed to acquire up to a 2.9% stake in Ashmore and also invest $1bn in Ashmore-managed emerging market funds

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EIOPA proposes amendments aimed at easing insurers’ supervisory reporting and disclosure requirements

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has today submitted to the European Commission its draft amendments of two Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) that set out supervisory reporting and disclosure requirements under Solvency II

Standard Life reports better-than-expected rise in annual profit

Standard Life, formerly known as Phoenix Group, has today reported a better-than-expected rise in annual profit, buoyed by growth in its capital-light pensions and savings business and demand for retirement products

Finland's Ilmarinen exceeds climate targets and sets out more ambitious plan

Finnish pension insurer, Ilmarinen, has exceeded all of its climate targets for 2021–2025 ahead of schedule, as it unveiled a new, more ambitious climate plan for 2026–2030

Rothesay generates £5.2bn in new premiums in 2025

Rothesay has announced that it generated £5.2bn in new business premiums last year

The Expert View

Following Aon’s Insurance Investment Consultancy of the Year award win at the latest Insurance Asset Management Awards, Editor, Adam Cadle, gathers the latest thoughts from partners, Geoff Bauer and Lin Qu, about the insurance investment space

Sustainability stays strong in emerging debt markets

In an otherwise ugly environment for bond issuers and investors, the future for emerging market debt looks unquestionably green

Beyond US exceptionalism

The case for diversifying globally and across strategies with alternative credit

Bond investors need to understand the volatility cycle

Fixed income markets have become increasingly volatile, a trend that looks set to continue. Investors need to adapt themselves

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Setting a New Standard for Benchmarking Private Infrastructure Debt

As private infrastructure debt evolves, confidence comes from evidence. infraMetrics® uses real asset-level data to deliver credit insights and market-based curves where comparables are limited. A benchmark that guides insurers and investors through the uncertainties of today’s macro environment.

Navigating credit markets

Adam Cadle speaks to Jon Mawby, Head of Investment Grade Credit at Pictet Asset Management, about navigating the credit markets given yields have fallen to low levels over the past decades, whilst interest rate duration risk has continued to rise.

Opportunities in alternative fixed income

Adam Cadle speaks to Frank Meijer, Head of Alternative Fixed Income at Aegon Asset Management, about the key opportunities within the alternative fixed income space and how insurers can access these.

Why are government bonds so important when thinking about climate change?

Adam Cadle speaks to Dr Laura Ryan, Head of Research, Ardea Investment Management, about the importance of government bonds and climate change, and how the scope of impact and potential for change couldn't be greater

Expert Views

How can we rethink insurance investment to solve the complexity challenge?

The model of insurance investing has been upended since the financial crisis by a confluence of challenges. New assets, strategies and partnerships have the potential to help insurers cut through this complexity and deliver sustainable solutions

Expert Views

New Rules, New opportunities: A return to European ABS for insurers?

At the height of the global financial crisis, insurance company investors withdrew from the securitised debt market and sold down their asset-backed securities (ABS) holdings. But a decade on, new regulation offers the potential for securitised debt to re-emerge as an attractive investment opportunity for Solvency II-regulated insurers, believes James King, Fund Manager at M&G Investments

Schroders Global Investor Insights Survey