Infrastructure
Solvency II changes among ‘first actions’ in EU markets plan
Leaked capital markets union document suggests the intention to act quickly on charges for infrastructure and ABSs
Eiopa infrastructure plans too conservative, says industry
Regulator proposes to cut infrastructure debt and equity charges, but insurers say proposals do not go far enough
Korea insurers increase risk to counter falling interest rates
Loose monetary policy leaves firms with no option but to buy overseas assets to meet return targets
EU insurers lament barriers to infrastructure investment
Axa and AG Insurance say further infrastructure investment by insurers is unlikely in the foreseeable future
Maximising profits and achieving operational efficiency while meeting regulatory requirements
Regulators have become more prescriptive in their approach to supervision since the financial crisis. Sponsored by MetricStream, a panel of industry experts convened to discuss how firms can make the new regulatory regime work to their benefit.
InfraHedge assets rise as other MAPs stagnate
The managed accounts industry has changed. As MAP assets have flattened, no-frills infrastructure MAPs like State Street’s InfraHedge are attracting greater inflows from large investors
EU infrastructure funding risks ‘crowding out' insurers
Strategic fund could force down yields, says Insurance Europe
Capital charges no obstacle to infra investment – Montalvo
Poor risk-return the real barrier to insurers becoming more active, says senior regulator
Commission hopes to cut infrastructure charges before 2016
Aggressive timetable outlined for reassessment of infrastructure capital charges
Northill: bubble building for direct lending strategies
Northill Capital founder Jon Little explains the company’s strategy to acquire up to 10 asset management businesses
Insurers struggle to manage risk of infrastructure U-turns
As life insurers increase their holdings of infrastructure assets, their exposure to political risk grows. There is no perfect hedge, but firms can understand political risk better and guard against it more effectively.
Video: Asset finance next for yield-hungry insurers
Eric Viet of Societe Generale talked at the recent Insurance Risk Awards about his expectations for direct lending by insurers, and about how politicians and policy-makers might help encourage further activity
Top 10 op risks 2015: cyber risk
The first in our series of top 10 op risks for 2015 looks at cyber risk and business disruption. Recent high-profile system failures show the limitations of standard IT recovery plans
New thinking is needed in the hunt for yield
Insurers have been asking themselves for some time how they can generate investment yield. But perhaps they have been asking the wrong question. The lesson from some in the industry is that success is built on shrewd management as much as bold investment…
Infrastructure supply falling short of insurer demand, say experts
Insurers are finding that infrastructure investment activity is limited and dominated by a handful of firms while others are left out
Banks spend to save in fixed-income efficiency drive
For years, nobody cared that the booming fixed-income business was also inefficient – huge revenues concealed clunky processes, duplication and waste. Now, all of that needs to be removed or rebuilt. It’s expensive, but banks say it’s also essential…
UK annuity reforms may squeeze insurers' appetite for illiquid assets
Insurers' appetite for investments in infrastructure and property is expected to fall following announcements in the UK Budget that are seen as damaging to their annuity business
Insurers hunt for 'scale premium' in infrastructure assets
Size and tenor of deals grow in importance as illiquidity premium fades
Insurers bridge infrastructure investment challenge
As life insurers increase their exposure to infrastructure, Blake Evans-Pritchard reports on the different ways in which they are approaching the asset class
EIB credit enhancement lures UK insurers to project bond
Capital efficiency of A3 bond tempts insurers
Insurers 'must act fast' to succeed in private placement loan market
Efficient committee structure central to investment strategy, Friends Life CIO tells conference
InfraHedge tops annual MAP survey
Less than three years after starting operations, InfraHedge, offering a different model to traditional managed account providers, ranks as the largest MA platform operator in a survey of the industry
Insurers developing internal model risk calibrations for non-standard credit assets
Underlines growing strategic importance of infrastructure bonds and MBS, finds survey
Insurer participation in testing European project bond debut ‘exceeds expectations’
Long maturities and improved rating lure firms into Spanish gas scheme bonds