Life insurance companies have put their plans to list their shares on the stock exchanges on the backburner, though they are hopeful of Parliament's nod for the Insurance Bill, which will increase the foreign investment limit, during the Winter session.
As the government's Budget moves unfold, market participants are treading with caution. As a result, the open interest (OI) positions have taken a beating during June, especially during the last few weeks.
One year after the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority's (Irda) allowed insurance companies to invest in venture capital (VC) funds, no insurer has shown interest in funding VCs.
Kingfisher pays 37 per cent higher premium while Air India defers renewal. "The Air France crash is expected to provide a $600-$700 million hit (to global insurance companies), which is 40 per cent of the total premium collected, and therefore hardening of reinsurance rates was evident. We had seen prices go up from $2 billion to $4 billion after the 9/11 attacks (in the US)," said ICICI Lombard Reinsurance Head Rajiv Kumaraswamy.
Life insurance premium rates are likely to drop over the next few months owing to longer life expectancy, with a new mortality and morbidity table expected to be in place by the fourth quarter of 2009 to replace the current one, which is of 1994-96 vintage.
Move follows pressure from insurers, who say they are losing on these payments.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India is discussing a proposal to make it mandatory for brokers to collect margins from clients in the cash market. This is now practised only in the derivative segment.
ESPN had paid Rs $ 1.1 billion for broadcaster rights in 2006 for the telecast rights till 2015.
Kingfisher Airlines, National Aviation Company of India Limited -- the state-owned company that runs Air India -- and Indigo could face additional cost pressures, with reinsurance rates expected to harden following the accident involving the Air France aircraft that was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with 228 passengers on board.
Life Insurance Corporation of India intends to pump in around Rs 1,05,000 crore into non-convertible debentures and equity in the current financial year, nearly 20 per cent more than the Rs 88,000 crore it invested in these instruments in 2008-09.
The rally was over before they could even blink.
After reporting low numbers in new business premium, life insurance companies are resorting to special initiatives to increase business from the rural segment, which they term as emerging markets.
Move aimed at strengthening Sebi's powers to investigate market-related offences.
Though the overall environment seems to be improving, Reliance Capital CEO Sam Ghosh tells Business Standard that the company is opting to be cautious.
In order to improve the quality of service rendered by third-party administrators, a committee formed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has recommended that general insurers should hire at least two agencies to execute back office jobs for settlement of health insurance claims. In addition, to improve the coverage and quality of services provided by TPAs, the panel has suggested that the minimum capital requirement should be doubled.
The total number of agents of Reliance Life at the end of September stood at 211,293. By December-end, the numbers were down by 68,450 to 142,843, according to an investor presentation made by the company.
Taking advantage of attractive valuations, life insurers bought equities in the bulk deal segment during the last six months against selling by them during June-November 2008.
Investment banking experts and capital market advisors, who are engaged in talks with companies that are looking at fund-raising options, said that while 13 large-cap companies were looking at raising capital to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore through QIPs, rights issues and NCDs, 20 other companies had initiated talks to raise about Rs 15,000-20,000 crore. At least 10 NCD issuances are expected during the first half to raise a total of Rs 10,000-15,000 crore.
It hopes to enter the business in 9-15 months. "We have plans to enter diesel generator, petrol, LPG and kerosene segment, but it will be too early to comment on any specific deal," said Kalyan Bhattacharya, president and CEO, Birla Power Solutions. "The size of the acquisition will depend on the horse power of the engines manufactured by the company. BPSL is looking at a company manufacturing diesel engines of capacities ranging between 25 horse power and 200 horse power."
Having got the regulatory clearance to offer add-on insurance policies, non-life insurers are now preparing to launch the same in the coming weeks. Some of the insurers have said, however, that they need some time to launch these products. They say that, unlike commercial products which can be launched straight away, products meant for retail consumers need a certain level of preparation before they are ready for sale.
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