Life Settlements News

OneAmerica & Shenandoah Life Insurance Company announce proposed merger (WDBJ

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:40:09 -0500

OneAmerica & Shenandoah Life Insurance Company announce proposed merger (WDBJ 7 Roanoke)
Shenandoah Life Insurance may be taken over by another company. A news release sent out a few minutes ago says under a proposed merger, Shenandoah Life would become a subsidiary of OneAmerica. Completion of the merger would take place in the middle of next year.

Integrity Capital Partners sells unwanted life insurance policies (BizJournals)
Integrity Capital Partners has facilitated the sale of $130 million in life insurance policies for a public company. (XRIT)

Research and Markets: An Industry Profile of the Non-Life Insurance Market in France: Examine Five Year Forecasts, ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DUBLIN, Ireland----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Non-life Insurance in France" report to their offering.

Swiss Life Opens Insurance Intermediation Office in Dubai (Bloomberg) Nov.

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:15:48 -0500

Swiss Life Opens Insurance Intermediation Office in Dubai (Bloomberg)
Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Swiss Life Holding, the worst performer this year in an index of Europe's top insurers, opened an office in Dubai to expand in the Middle East.

This Essential 2008 Report on Ireland's Non-Life Insurance Industry is Now Available (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DUBLIN, Ireland----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Snapshots Ireland Non-Life Insurance 2008" report to their offering.

IDB approves US$70mn to improve informal settlements - Uruguay (Business

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:26:06 -0500

IDB approves US$70mn to improve informal settlements - Uruguay (Business News Americas)
The elimination of informal settlements in Uruguay is a matter of political will, an official from Uruguay's center-right wing Blanco party told BNamericas, commenting on a US$70mn loan provided by IDB to improve the quality of life for residents in these settlements.

Disinvestment From West Bank Settlements Gains Momentum (Middle East Times)
UK GETTING TOUGHER ON ISRAELI SETTLERS -- The UK has been trying to get Brussels to take a tougher approach to Israel as it believes the Jewish settlements are the core issue in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

Welcome Funds Announces Its Life Settlement Continuing Education Course is Now Available in 41 States (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
BOCA RATON, Fla.----Industry leader Welcome Funds, recognizing the rapidly growing need for additional resources in the area of Life Settlements and continuing its commitment to expand its educational platform, has partnered with 360Training.com to provide state approved insurance CE courses.

FIRST COAST TICKER: Life insurance stocks aren't immune to market

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:50:17 -0500

FIRST COAST TICKER: Life insurance stocks aren't immune to market plunge (The Florida Times-Union)
Banking companies have received more attention recently, but life insurance stocks have also been in a free fall the last couple of months, particularly Prudential Financial Inc.

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Crain's New York Business)
The employees of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance mirror the diversity of the $170 million company's target market. They speak 20 languages, and two-thirds are minorities.

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Crain's New York Business)

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:10:05 -0500

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Crain's New York Business)
The employees of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance mirror the diversity of the $170 million company's target market. They speak 20 languages, and two-thirds are minorities.

FIRST COAST TICKER: Life insurance stocks aren't immune to market plunge (The Florida Times-Union)
Banking companies have received more attention recently, but life insurance stocks have also been in a free fall the last couple of months, particularly Prudential Financial Inc.

Finance For Life Bails Out Producers Needing Life Insurance Premium Finance Loans (PRWeb)
"October and November Show High Success Rate In Funding Life Insurance Policies," Comments Company President (PRWeb Nov 17, 2008) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/11/prweb1614534.htm

Integrity Capital Partners Facilitates Disposition of $130 Million of Life

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:25:22 -0500

Integrity Capital Partners Facilitates Disposition of $130 Million of Life Insurance Policies For X-Rite, Inc. (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Integrity Capital Partners , a leader in the secondary life insurance market, has facilitated a very unique transaction to assist X-Rite, Inc., a publicly-traded color science and technology company, in increasing its cash and eliminating expenses of unwanted life insurance policies.

IDB approves US$70mn to improve informal settlements - Uruguay (Business News Americas)
The elimination of informal settlements in Uruguay is a matter of political will, an official from Uruguay's center-right wing Blanco party told BNamericas, commenting on a US$70mn loan provided by IDB to improve the quality of life for residents in these settlements.

Life insurance stocks aren't immune to market plunge (The Florida

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:45:06 -0500

Life insurance stocks aren't immune to market plunge (The Florida Times-Union)
Banking companies have received more attention recently, but life insurance stocks have also been in a free fall the last couple of months, particularly Prudential Financial Inc.

Memphian to open Next Financial Insurance office here, says timing couldn t be better (BizJournals)
Houston-based Next Financial Group, Inc., has formed its insurance division in Memphis and it is looking for a few, good independent broker/dealers.

Finance For Life Bails Out Producers Needing Life Insurance Premium Finance Loans (PRWeb)
"October and November Show High Success Rate In Funding Life Insurance Policies," Comments Company President (PRWeb Nov 17, 2008) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/11/prweb1614534.htm

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Gleaner Life Insurance Society (Business

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:10:03 -0500

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Gleaner Life Insurance Society (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
OLDWICK, N.J.----A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to A- from A and issuer credit rating to a- from a of Gleaner Life Insurance Society . The outlook for all ratings has been revised to stable from negative.

Research and Markets: Non-life Insurance in the Netherlands - Available Now (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DUBLIN, Ireland----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Non-life Insurance in the Netherlands" report to their offering.

Secondary Life Capital Announces Three (3) New Provider Licenses (Business

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:25:26 -0500

Secondary Life Capital Announces Three (3) New Provider Licenses (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
WASHINGTON----Secondary Life Capital, LLC announced today that the State of PENNSYLVANIA has granted SLC its life settlement provider license. In addition to Pennsylvania, SLC has recently been awarded a life settlement provider license in NEVADA and KANSAS.

Life Settlement Industry Vows Renewed Effort to Promote Effective Legislative Policy Making and Consumer Education (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)
Democratic political strategist Mark Penn addresses how the industry can improve public image at the Life Insurance Settlement Association's 14th Annual Conference.

Life insurance association urges insurers to revise shield plan benefits

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:50:10 -0500

Life insurance association urges insurers to revise shield plan benefits (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
SINGAPORE : The Life Insurance Association of Singapore has urged insurers to review the benefits of their integrated shield plans.

ECONOMY: Free life insurance offered for qualified low-income parents (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)
Free life insurance for qualified parents of school-age children is being offered through Mass Mutual Financial Group.

Research and Markets: Non-life Insurance in the Netherlands - Available Now (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DUBLIN, Ireland----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Non-life Insurance in the Netherlands" report to their offering.

Life Insurers Facing Cuts in Ratings (New York Times) Life

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:35:03 -0500

Life Insurers Facing Cuts in Ratings (New York Times)
Life insurance companies, hobbled by real estate investments and committed to paying some costly retirement contracts, face more cuts in their credit ratings before the year is up.

Life insurance association urges insurers to revise shield plan benefits (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Philippines News)
SINGAPORE : The Life Insurance Association of Singapore has urged insurers to review the benefits of their integrated shield plans.

Damage Control at Insurance Companies (BusinessWeek Online via Yahoo! News)
Individual investors aren't the only ones scared to look at their portfolios. Insurance giants are also watching their holdings wither, a situation that could have serious implications for their customers and the markets. The biggest independent life insurer, MetLife, reported total paper losses of $12.2 billion on its $340 billion portfolio. "You have to plan for things to be depressed for the ...

Troubled Life Insurers May Need to Seek Capital (New York Times)
Life insurance companies, hobbled by real estate investments and committed to paying some costly retirement contracts, face more cuts in their credit ratings before the year is up and have little choice but to seek capital in unforgiving markets, The New York Times s Mary Williams Walsh reports.

Life Settlement Industry Vows Renewed Effort to Promote Effective Legislative

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:25:25 -0500

Life Settlement Industry Vows Renewed Effort to Promote Effective Legislative Policy Making and Consumer Education (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)
Democratic political strategist Mark Penn addresses how the industry can improve public image at the Life Insurance Settlement Association's 14th Annual Conference.

Vigilan and Life Settlement Financial Collaborate to Aid Seniors with Life Settlements (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Vigilan and Life Settlement Financial announced today their collaboration to develop improved models for the valuation of life insurance policies.

Troubled Life Insurers May Need to Seek Capital (New York

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:20:08 -0500

Troubled Life Insurers May Need to Seek Capital (New York Times)
Life insurance companies, hobbled by real estate investments and committed to paying some costly retirement contracts, face more cuts in their credit ratings before the year is up and have little choice but to seek capital in unforgiving markets, The New York Times s Mary Williams Walsh reports.

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Texas Life Insurance Company (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
OLDWICK, N.J.----A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to A- from A and issuer credit rating to a- from a+ for Texas Life Insurance Company . The outlook for both ratings is stable.

Fort Dearborn Life Insurance names new chief actuary (Insurance Business

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:00:08 -0500

Fort Dearborn Life Insurance names new chief actuary (Insurance Business Review)
Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company has appointed Craig Nordyke as its new vice president and chief actuary.

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Texas Life Insurance Company (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
OLDWICK, N.J.----A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to A- from A and issuer credit rating to a- from a+ for Texas Life Insurance Company . The outlook for both ratings is stable.

Settlement ends suits over General American Life Insurance's collapse (The Kansas City Star)
Goldman Sachs will pay $100.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the 1999 collapse of Missouri-based General American Life Insurance Co., once one of the country's biggest life insurers.

Life insurance association urges insurers to revise shield plan benefits (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Singapore News)
SINGAPORE : The Life Insurance Association of Singapore has urged insurers to review the benefits of their integrated shield plans.

MIB Life Index Reports North American Life Insurance Activity Off

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:20:11 -0500

MIB Life Index Reports North American Life Insurance Activity Off 1.8% in October (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
North American application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was down -1.8% in October year-over-year, according to the MIB Life Index. Year to date U.S. and Canadian activity remained stable off -1.9%, compared to the same ten months last year.

Is the insurance sector in trouble? II (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
IN THE FACE of this worldwide financial meltdown, a life insurance company has to grapple with its own unique problems.

Aviva Life premium income dips on partners' losses (Business Standard India)
Loss of two major bancassurance partners during April-September has pulled down premium income of Aviva India Life Insurance a company which collects more than half of its first-year premium income through banks.

Settlement ends suits over General American Life Insurance's collapse (The

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:25:22 -0500

Settlement ends suits over General American Life Insurance's collapse (The Kansas City Star)
Goldman Sachs will pay $100.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the 1999 collapse of Missouri-based General American Life Insurance Co., once one of the country's biggest life insurers.

School sports on life support (Nanaimo Daily News)
School sports programs in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith district may be in jeopardy due to the increasing difficulty of finding coaches for extracurricular activities.

Israelis vote in municipal elections (The West Australian)
Israelis voted in municipal elections with the Jerusalem mayoral race highlighting the country's polarisation despite pledges by the candidates to keep the Holy City united.

Author tells how Kailua came to be (Honolulu Advertiser)
Before humans arrived in the Islands, much of the lowland area in Kailua was covered with fan palms where giant flightless geese and ducks dwelled among plants and trees that were obliterated after settlements moved in.

SBI Life eyes Rs 11,000-cr business in FY09 (Business Standard

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:45:11 -0500

SBI Life eyes Rs 11,000-cr business in FY09 (Business Standard India)
SBI Life Insurance, the second largest private life insurance company in India, has targeted a total business volume of Rs 11,000 crore during the current year. Of the Rs 11,000 crore, new business or new premium, both single and regular, will account for Rs 8,500 crore.

Birla Sun Life names Rahul Sinha as CMO (Business Standard India)
Aditya Birla group's life insurance arm Birla Sun Life Insurance (BSLI) today said it has appointed Rahul Sinha as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Sinha would be responsible for the marketing initiatives of the company and its offering.

BoB Likely To Foray Into Life Insurance Biz In 6-7 Months (Nasdaq)
(RTTNews) - Bank of Baroda or BoB said its insurance venture with the UK-based Legal and General group is likely to start business in the next six-to-seven months, reported the PTI. The Chairman and Managing Director of BoB M D Mallaya reportedly said the bank is in the process of filing initial regulatory clearance application and would obtain all other necessary approvals by the first quarter ...

(AFX UK Focus) 2008-11-10 01:09 AIG plans to sell Taiwan

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:55:08 -0500

(AFX UK Focus) 2008-11-10 01:09 AIG plans to sell Taiwan insurance unit for $2-2.5 bln-paper (Interactive Investor)
TAIPEI, Nov 10 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc is planning to sell its Taiwan life insurance unit for US$2-2.5 billion, the Economic Daily reported on Monday.

Life Insurance Company Scammed Seniors (Skanner)
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services this week ordered a life insurance company to change the way it sells annuities after finding that the company sold policies to seniors who couldn t afford them.

Djibouti: Pastoralists' way of life at risk (AlertNet) International Federation

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:25:19 -0500

Djibouti: Pastoralists' way of life at risk (AlertNet)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - Switzerland A combination of population pressure, desertification and above all drought is forcing Djibouti pastoralists out of their traditional grazing lands to live in improvised settlements near the capital ...

Change of heart from Israeli hardliner (Goulburn Post)
OVER the course of Ehud Olmert's long, winding but as yet unfinished goodbye from the Israeli political stage, this week will surely mark a remarkable turning point in his 35-year career in public life.

A Life Rescued (New York Times) Injured in a car

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:25:05 -0500

A Life Rescued (New York Times)
Injured in a car accident and near death, a legal immigrant without insurance experienced a medical deportation.

Regulators issue draft revision to capital requirements for life insurance cos. (Investment Executive)
Canadian insurance regulators are proposing to revise their approach to setting capital requirements for the life insurance industry ahead of a new capital adequacy framework.

A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Standard Life & Casualty Insurance Company (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
OLDWICK, N.J.----A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of B and an issuer credit rating of bb+ to Standard Life & Casualty Insurance Company . The outlook for both ratings is stable.

Fitch Places 9 Japanese Life Insurers on Rating Watch Negative (Nasdaq)
Fitch Ratings-Tokyo/HK/London/Singapore-07 November 2008: Fitch Ratings has today placed the ratings of nine Japanese life insurance companies on Rating Watch Negative (RWN) as detailed below.

Life Insurance Company Scammed Seniors (Skanner) The Oregon Department of

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:25:05 -0500

Life Insurance Company Scammed Seniors (Skanner)
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services this week ordered a life insurance company to change the way it sells annuities after finding that the company sold policies to seniors who couldn t afford them.

Life insurance to pay off debt (Bankrate.com via Yahoo! Finance)
When life insurance is used to pay off a loan, it's an exception to the tax-free rule, says CPA George Saenz.

Fitch Places 9 Japanese Life Insurers on Rating Watch Negative (Nasdaq)
Fitch Ratings-Tokyo/HK/London/Singapore-07 November 2008: Fitch Ratings has today placed the ratings of nine Japanese life insurance companies on Rating Watch Negative (RWN) as detailed below.

'Relocated Penans will have a better life' (The Star) KUCHING:

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:25:21 -0500

'Relocated Penans will have a better life' (The Star)
KUCHING: The Penans, who will be relocated to make way for the proposed multi-billion ringgit Murum hydroelectric dam project, have been promised a better life after they are resettled.

Settlements For Life Continues To Broker Policies Despite Economic Turbulence (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)
According To Company President, "Small Face and Term Policy Bail Out Programs Are Working Well For Clients."

Planned regional approach required in Lanka (Daily News)
The World Town Planning Day (WTPD) is celebrated globally on November 8, each year. The objective of the celebrations is to focus on the contribution of town and country planning to community development and the improvement of the quality of life of the people.

Life and Health Insurance Industry welcomes Alberta Insurance Legislation Amendments

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:55:08 -0500

Life and Health Insurance Industry welcomes Alberta Insurance Legislation Amendments (CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance)
The Canadian life and health insurance industry welcomes long-awaited amendments to Alberta's Insurance Act which received Royal Assent on November 4, 2008 and strongly encourages other provinces to follow Alberta's lead.

A Detailed Report on Life & Other Direct Insurance Carriers in the US: With Forecasts, Growth Rates and an Analysis of ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DUBLIN, Ireland----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Life & Other Direct Insurance Carriers in the US" report to their offering.

Rappahannock National Bank to Offer Customers MyTerm(SM), Internet-Based Term Life

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:00:06 -0500

Rappahannock National Bank to Offer Customers MyTerm(SM), Internet-Based Term Life Insurance Through Its Affiliation ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
NEWARK, N.J.----Prudential Financial, Inc. today announced an agreement between its Individual Life Insurance business and Union Bankshares Corporation to offer MyTermSM, a new simplified issue term life insurance policy available through the Internet to customers of Rappahannock National Bank.

Northern Neck State Bank to Offer Customers MyTerm(SM), Internet-Based Term Life Insurance Through Its Affiliation ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
NEWARK, N.J.----Prudential Financial, Inc. today announced an agreement between its Individual Life Insurance business and Union Bankshares Corporation to offer MyTermSM, a simplified issue term life insurance policy available through the Internet to customers of Northern Neck State Bank.

Life Insurance Settlement Association Announces 2009 Legislative Forecast: Consumers First (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)
The Life Insurance Settlement Association (LISA) recently announced the organization's forecast and priorities for state and federal legislation in 2009. Doug Head, LISA's Executive Director, said he anticipates that public policymakers will continue to put "consumers first" as more Americans are aware -- and more are in need -- of selling their policies rather than surrendering them for a ...

Advanced Settlements Offers A New Funding Option (PR Newswire via

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:25:27 -0500

Advanced Settlements Offers A New Funding Option (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Advanced Settlements, a national leader in the life settlement marketplace now offers and a new funding option where you and your client can now participate in Life Settlements and ensure full personal and medical redaction.

Djibouti: Pastoralists' way of life at risk (AlertNet)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - Switzerland A combination of population pressure, desertification and above all drought is forcing Djibouti pastoralists out of their traditional grazing lands to live in improvised settlements near the capital ...

When a heart attack goes undiagnosed (USA Today)
In part because there is no foolproof test, one in 50 heart attack victims are mistakenly sent home by emergency room doctors, researchers found in April 2000. Other studies have documented higher rates of missed heart attack diagnosis.

Life Insurance Settlement Association Announces 2009 Legislative Forecast: Consumers First (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)
The Life Insurance Settlement Association (LISA) recently announced the organization's forecast and priorities for state and federal legislation in 2009. Doug Head, LISA's Executive Director, said he anticipates that public policymakers will continue to put "consumers first" as more Americans are aware -- and more are in need -- of selling their policies rather than surrendering them for a ...