Hansard to add UAE products under Union Insurance deal
Hansard International plans to launch two new products in Dubai as part of its recently announced alliance with the UAE-based general insurer, Union Insurance.
Offshore Bonds
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HMRC, the Lobler case and 5% offshore bonds
Looking back on 2016, one of the biggest stories of the year was the HM Revenue & Customs proposals to overhaul part surrender and part assignment of life insurance policies in response to the 2007 case of Dutch national Joost Lobler.
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Canada Life to offer estate planning feature in onshore bond
Canada Life has enhanced its well-known onshore bond, the Select Account, with the addition of a discounted gift trust (DGT) feature.
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Gulf IFAs face ‘year of reckoning’ as clients turn away
Financial advisers in the Middle East are finding clients increasingly reluctant to use their services, partly due to growing geopolitical uncertainty but also because of regulatory changes and poor value-for-money products from asset managers and life companies.
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OMI launches ‘better products’ drive for international advisers
Old Mutual International (OMI) has launched a new initiative to provide international advisers and clients with access to structured products which must meet set criteria on transparency, simplicity and value, the Anglo-South African insurer said in a statement.
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HMRC rules out replacing 5% tax withdrawals on offshore bonds
HM Revenue & Customs has confirmed that it will allow policyholders to correct ‘unfair’ tax bills resulting from ‘mistaken’ withdrawals of life policies, opting to keep the current 5% tax free allowance on offshore bonds.
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UAE insurance regulator to ban indemnity commissions
Indemnity commissions are to be prohibited under new rules proposed by the UAE’s Insurance Authority which regulates life insurance companies and family takaful businesses.
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UAE insurance regulator to clamp down on fees and commissions
The main life insurance regulator in the UAE has unveiled plans to tackle high fees and hidden commissions across the industry after receiving what it described as “an alarming amount of complaints from policyholders”.
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OMI to close regular savings plans in three key regions
Old Mutual International has moved to reflect the changing trend towards more flexible products in the offshore market by closing two of its contractual savings plans in three key regions.
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HMRC decision on 5% life withdrawals ‘weeks away’
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that changes to the 5% tax free withdrawal from offshore bonds will not be announced until after the chancellor’s Autumn statement on 23 November.
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HMRC could rule out changes to 5% withdrawal on life bonds
The UK is expected to adopt an all or nothing approach on upcoming changes to the 5% tax free withdrawal from offshore bonds, Canada Life International’s technical manager Neil Jones has revealed.
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Unit-linked products under pressure in Asia
Singapore outpaced Hong Kong for sales of unit-linked investment and savings products in the first half of 2016. As the industry awaits third quarter data, Bryan Low of Provisca reflects on the trends seen in the figures so far.