M&A, Partnerships and Organic Growth in Life and Pensions, Q4 2007

M&A, Partnerships and Organic Growth in Life and Pensions, Q4 2007

Introduction

This tracker covers merger/acquisition activity globally in the life and pensions space. It also highlights the strategic partnerships, and expansion (or contraction) of existing businesses. There is also a special focus on the important emerging markets: China, India, CEE and the Middle East.

Scope

Table of Contents 1
The Roundup 2
Expansion into Asian and CEE markets has continued in Q4 2007 2
Russia has emerged as the key expansion target within Central and Eastern Europe 2
Expansion activity has increased in Latin America during Q4 2007 2
Distribution networks are built through acquisition and partnerships 2
Providers are looking for ways to cut costs and increasingly outsourcing sections of their business 2
The Developments 4
AIG 4
AIG Europe opens Newcastle office - Oct 2007 4
Allianz 4
Allianz SpA starts up in Italy - Oct 2007 4
Aviva plc 4
Aviva opens sales office in Russia - Oct 07 4
Aviva Russia opens office in Yekaterinburg - Dec 2007 4
Aviva Australia acquires stake in Meritum Financial Group - Dec 2007 4
Aviva China joint venture receives Jiangsu branch licence - Nov 2007 5
Aviva Russia opens new sales office in Tatarstan - Nov 2007 5
Aviva and Bank Zachodni WBK and Commercial Union sign Polish bancassurance agreement - Nov 2007 5
Aviva Canada Inc demonstrates support of the independent broker channel - Nov 2007 5
Aviva obtains regulatory permission for joint venture in Taiwan - Nov 2007 5
Aviva completes acquistion of Hamilton companies and enters new distribution agreements - Nov 2007 6
Aviva opens branch in the Czech Republic - Oct 2007 6
Delta Lloyd group relinquishes its interest in ABN AMRO Holding NV - Oct 2007 6
AXA 6
AXA acquires stake in Russian company - December 07 6
AXA creates AXA Bank Europe- December 07 6
AXA extends partnership with BMPS - November 07 6
AXA, BMPS to establish Italian business - October 07 7
Friends Provident 7
Friends Provident terminates merger agreement - Oct 07 7
Hibernian Life 7
Hibernian to open branch in Navan - Oct 07 7
HSBC Holdings 7
ING 8
ING to acquire Argentina's leading pension and annuity business - Nov 8
ING reaches partnership agreement with Piraeus Bank - Oct 07 8
Manulife 9
Manulife-Sinochem to open sales office in Yantai - Dec 07 9
Merrill Lynch 9
Merrill Lynch and AEGON finalize strategic relationship; AEGON completes acquisition of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Companies - Dec 07 9
NORDEA 9
Nordea signs agreement to open new branches - Oct 07 9
Prudential 10
Prudential UK announces outsourcing partnership to support delivery of target cost savings 10
Prudential US 10
Prudential expands its retirement business - Nov 07 10
Santander 10
Santander reaches an agreement with ING Groep - Nov 07 10
Standard Life 10
MLC and Standard Life Wrap form partnership - Nov 07 10
Standard Life plc increase in Indian JV stake - December 07 10
The Hartford 11
The Hartford to acquire TopNoggin - December 07 11
The Hartford to acquire Princeton Retirement Group - December 07 11
Zurich 11
Zurich acquires DWS Vita SpA in Italy - December 07 11
APPENDIX 13
Methodology 14
Further reading 14
Ask the analyst 14
Datamonitor consulting 14
Disclaimer 15