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The corporate culture present within any organization has a significant effect on the decisions the organization makes in regards to its daily operations, goals, the environment that its employees work in and customers interact with when doing business with the company. There are various factors beyond the control of the organization that. have an effect on the culture, one of them being the economic environment. The decisions that corporations make during times of economic expansion and how they cope with times of economic contraction is a reflection of the culture that is present. The insurance industry and its participants are especially sensitive to these economic movements and make their decisions to grow and create products on their perception of economic movement. The cultures of AXA, a French insurance company, and Prudential, a British insurance company will be compared alongside the culture of the formerly prominent AIG to discover what aspects of corporate culture a corporation within the life insurance industry should have present in order to have sustainable growth during times of economic expansion and remain viable during times of economic contraction.

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The first part of the dissertation investigates cost experience in the US life and health insurance industry over the period 1998-2012. We generally test the difference in expenses among different distribution systems, which mainly consists of independent agency, broker, career agency, exclusive agency, and direct writing. We check to see if cost, revenue and profit efficiency differences are associated with different distribution methods. Cost, revenue, and profit efficiencies are estimated by Data Envelopment Analysis. Unlike the results in the property and liability insurance industry, the cost difference is insignificant among distribution systems. Results on cost efficiency and revenue efficiency support the market imperfection hypothesis, which says that the market imperfections such as entry barriers, price regulation, or search costs cause the coexistence of different distribution systems. The second part of the dissertation examines the relationship between mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and underwriting cycles in the P-L insurance industry. In a soft market, capital is relatively high. This leads to an increase in the number of M&A transactions and the probability that managers conduct non-value-increasing M&As. We test this proposition by analyzing the associations between volumes of M&A deals, and returns associated with M&As and underwriting cycle. The results show that the numbers of M&As are negatively related with the premium rate changes and positively related with changes in the combined ratio. We also find that the cumulative abnormal returns around the announcement date of M&As are smaller for the shareholders of insurer acquirers in a soft market. Even more, we find that the market reaction of M&As is less sensitive to agency problems in a hard market than in a soft market. / Business Administration/Risk Management and Insurance

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Financial services and in particular the insurance industry, has been exposed to large-scale pressures and challenges from various fronts. For the past few decades, the life insurance industry has been self-regulated through the Life Offices Association (LOA). The LOA, representing life insurers, however never succeeded in keeping the industry abreast of market, and the needs of the role players' (authors' opinion based on interaction with in the industry and supported by the implementation of consumer-driven legislation). The LOA together with a range of other financial services industry bodies have since been disbanded (2008) and will in future form part of the greater industry body ASISA (Association for savings & investment South Africa) Over the past 10 years the slow transformation caught up with the insurance industry. Life insurers wanting to satisfy their shareholders focussed on the generation of new business, often to the detriment of the consumer. Consumer understanding of what they bought increased at a faster rate than the knowledge of many of the brokers selling these products, partly due to the information era and the free availability of information. Lack of transparency, misrepresentations and bad advice from insurers and brokers have been exposed at an increasing rate since the late 1990s. The South African government decided to correct the wrongs of the past by taking control of the situation, copying the UK model on Financial Services. Government instituted the Financial Services Board and implemented a number of regulations to ensure compliance to set criteria. If compared to the regulatory model and processes applied in the UK (FSA), the insurance industry can expect more regulatory pressures in the immediate future. The increased regulation will increase the cost of doing business for all role-players. A reduction in broker numbers can also be expected. Insurers will have to find new ways of increasing production with a reduced distribution capacity. Insurers need to produce sufficient returns on investment for their shareholders to ensure continued capital. By being creative and partnering existing distribution structures, such as distribution networks, bank brokerages, etc., insurers will be able to lock-in distribution capacity without incurring excessive costs. It is undeniable that insurers will have to revisit their distribution strategies if they are to survive the next few years. At the current cost of distribution, insurers will not survive the changing environment. Distribution through existing internal distribution structures will continue to be under severe cost pressures in servicing brokers with low to average production levels. If the international trends are to filter through into the South African insurance industry, larger number of brokers will join networks merely to limit the impact the changing environment has on their practices. Such a move works in favour of all role players: • Insurers are able to reduce/restructure their costs and lock-in distribution capacity through singular points of entry. • Brokers are less fragmented and so improve their ability of being heard, through a greater unified voice. • Regulators can drive change and compliance through singular points of access to multiple brokers. • The industry is able to retain the knowledge and expertise to deliver their products and improve its overall public image. • Government are assured of a larger part of the population having access to financial services and in particular life insurance. • Clients would experience improved and standardised service levels from the brokers. Insurers unable to lock-in distribution capacity will find it extremely difficult to survive the changing climate. Insurers have been locking-in distribution capacity by means of: • agency forces that write products of the specific insurer • bank-assurance agreements where insurers and banks have cross shareholding • franchise agreements where the sales people are in fact agents of the franchisee • call centres either owned by the insurer or having dedicated seats selling products of the insurer • loyalty programmes aimed at gaining a larger portion of the brokers production • recently the formation of distribution networks provide insurers on the network platform access to affiliated brokers. The formation of networks and distribution networks counteracts the constrictions these structures place on broker independence by providing increased operational freedom to their affiliated brokers. The choice of partnering a distribution network needs to be supported by the following: • The choice of partner • A cost-benefit analysis • The timing of entering the partnership • The resources and supporting structures • The communication of the change • The preparation for the change • An approach in support of the partnership Partnering with a network is a strategic initiative as it involves outsourcing what was previously thought to be a core function of the insurer. This change in approach impacts many of the current structures and various people at all levels of the operation. How to approach partnering and implementing a model to support outsourcing to external distribution networks is dealt with in this study. The success of partnering with external distributors is reliant upon eight identified critical factors. These relate to: • fit, management, formalities and relationships of the partnership • systems, processes and support structures in support of the partnership • management of risk, control and growth within the partnership. The changing business environment will continue to increase the attractiveness of distribution networks to brokers. A shift in distribution capacity demographics towards distribution networks can thus be expected. In order to maximise their distribution capacity life insurers will need to embrace the change and adapt their approach towards the partnership. Without understanding, managing and finding solutions to each of the critical success factors (CSFs) an insurer will find it extremely difficult competing and increasing market share within the distribution network. The findings indicate a realistic probability that insurers are able to adapt to the changing environment. This however requires a change in style of management from one of control towards one of influence. Effectively, each partner should be treated as partners.

by Li Yuet Fu. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1987.

Tyrimo objektas – Lietuvos gyvybės draudimo įmonės. Tyrimo dalykas – Lietuvos gyvybės draudimo įmonių veikla. Darbo tikslas – išskyrus pagrindinius vertintojus ir jų tikslus, parinkti vertinimo kriterijus ir įvertinti Lietuvos gyvybės draudimo įmonių veiklą. Uždaviniai: 1) įvardinti gyvybės draudimo reikšmę, privalumus bei identifikuoti pagrindines gyvybės draudimo įmonių vertinimo problemas; 2) nustatyti gyvybės draudimo įmonių vertintojus, suformuluoti jų tikslus bei numatyti gyvybės draudimo įmonių vertinimo kriterijus; 3) parengti gyvybės draudimo įmonių vertinimo metodiką; 4) pagal parengtą metodiką, įvertinti Lietuvos gyvybės draudimo įmones. Tyrimo metodai – mokslinės literatūros analizė ir sintezė, loginė analizė ir sintezė, lyginamoji analizė, horizontalioji ir vertikalioji analizė, apibendrinimo ir reitingavimo metodai. Tyrimo rezultatai – atlikus mokslinę Lietuvos ir užsienio literatūros analizę, išanalizavus Lietuvos draudimo įstatyminę bazę bei valstybinės draudimo priežiūros komisijos teikiamus duomenis, buvo atrinkti penki gyvybės draudimo įmonių vertintojai, nustatyti jų vertinimo kriterijai ir rodikliai, pagal kuriuos buvo sureitinguotos ir įvertintos Lietuvos gyvybės draudimo įmonės bei numatytos tendencijos. / Research object – Life insurance companies in Lithuania. Research subject – The practice of Life insurance companies in Lithuania Research aim – except the main estimators and their goals, select the criterions and evaluate the life insurance companies in Lithuania. Objectives: 1) specify the meaning of life insurance, its advantages, and identify the main evaluation problems of life insurance companies; 2) except the main estimators of life insurance, formulate their goals and predict the criterions of evaluation; 3) frame the methodology of evaluation of life insurance companies; 4) according to the methodology, which was prepared, evaluate the life insurance companies. Research methods – the analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, logical analysis and synthesis, comparable analysis, horizontal and vertical analysis, methods of summation and rating. Research results – doing the analysis of Lithuanian and foreign scientific literature, Lithuanian insurance law base and national insurance supervision commission information, helped to sort five estimators of Life Insurance companies, to identify their criterions and indexes. In accordance with them the Life insurance companies were rated, evaluated and the tendencies were forecasted.

Tyrimo objektas – gyvybės draudimas. Tyrimo dalykas – gyvybės draudimo analizės požiūriai. Tyrimo tikslas – išanalizavus gyvybės draudimo teorinius pagrindus ir identifikavus problemas, pasiūlyti gyvybės draudimo analizės metodiką, išanalizuoti gyvybės draudimą Lietuvoje ekonominiu ir socialiniu požiūriais bei pateikti išvadas. Uždaviniai: 1. Išanalizuoti gyvybės draudimo teorinius pagrindus ir identifikuoti problemas. 2. Nustatyti gyvybės draudimo analizės kriterijus, atrinkti rodiklius, geriausiai atspindinčius pasirinktus kriterijus ir sudaryti gyvybės draudimo analizės metodiką. 3. Išanalizuoti gyvybės draudimą Lietuvoje ekonominiu ir socialiniu požiūriais bei pateikti išvadas. Tyrimo metodai – mokslinės literatūros ir juridinių dokumentų analizė, loginė ir analitinė analizė, loginis abstraktus modeliavimas, ekonominiai – statistiniai duomenų rinkimo ir analizės metodai; statistinei informacijai apdoroti ir sisteminti panaudoti grupavimo, palyginimo ir grafinio vaizdavimo būdai. Tyrimo rezultatai: · Pirmoje darbo dalyje išnagrinėta gyvybės draudimo esmė ir samprata, gyvybės draudimo rūšys, funkcijos bei ekonominis ir socialinis požiūriai. Pateikiama gyvybės draudimo klasifikavimo kriterijų schema ir išskiriamos gyvybės draudimo analizės problemos. · Antroje darbo dalyje išanalizuoti gyvybės draudimo vertinimo metodai, išskirti gyvybės draudimo analizės kriterijai ir pateikta gyvybės draudimo analizės ekonominiu ir socialiniu požiūriais metodika. · Trečioje dalyje... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of research – life insurance. The object of research – life insurance analytical point of views. The aim of research – to desing a framework of life insurance analysis, to analyze economical and social point of views of life insurance in Lithuanian and to provide with conclusions. The objectives are: 1. To analyze theoretical point of views of life insurance and to identify their problems. 2. To determine the list of life insurance analysis criteria, to select indicators for these criteria and to desing a framework for analysis of life insurance. 3. To analyse economical and social point of views of life insurance in Lithuania and provide with conclusions. Methods of research: analysis of scientific papers and legal documents, logical analysis, logical abstractive modeling, economic – statistical data collection methods, data grouping, comparison and graphical representation. Research resuts: · Author analyses concept of life insurance, its types in the first part of the paper. Author emphasizes economical and social point of views of the life Insurance. Authors provides with a scheme of classification criteria of life insurance. Also problems of life insurance analysis are listed in the first part of the paper. · Second part of the paper provides with review of methods of analysis of life insurance in the scientific literature. Author developed a list of criteria used by researchers in the literature. Based on these review author propose a method for analysis of... [to full text]

The purpose of this work is to analyze this territory from the point of the incidence of life-threatening and property-threatening incidents. The theoretical port contains all individually described kinds of insurance that eliminate the incurred losses. The practical part is reserved for specified and acknowledged risk of South Bohemia Region. Then possible arrangements are proposed leading to minimalizing of losses that may incur as a result of these risks. The practical part is closed by comparison of elected insurance products of four insurance companies. It concerns following sorts of insurance: insurance contents, insurance of buildings, insurance against damage in common civilian life, insurance against loss and damage resulting from the possession of buildings, the motor third party liability insurance and accident insurance. Every insurance company has its own general insurance conditions for its insurance products. In this part the differences in insurance conditions among the insurance companies are described. In conclusion the evaluation of gained results is presented.

This thesis deals with analysis of developments in insurance penetration in Central European countries. Initially is devoted to the comparison of world and European insurance market by insurance penetration indicators. The following section is related to the development of insurance penetration in selected Central and Eastern European countries. The thesis is then finished by an analysis of insurance markets of the Visegrad Four.