We have been helping our clients navigate the challenges of recent years in the insurance sector. Our insurance sector team has advised leading insurance companies, financial sponsors, investment banks and other financial institutions on managing their commercial activities and their assets and liabilities, and to help mitigate regulatory, market and other sector specific risks.

Our work in the insurance sector includes:

  • mergers and acquisitions: we have significant experience of M&A in the insurance sector in Asia, whether by way of share or business (portfolio) transfer.
  • insurance distribution: we have the leading practice in Asia in relation to distribution of insurance products, having acted for both insurers and banks on regional and single country bancassurance relationships.
  • portfolio transfers: Portfolio transfers can be used to effect M&A transactions or to rationalize insurance groups (whether or not following an M&A transaction).
  • dispute resolution: The disputes we advise on are frequently cross-border and highly complex. Our approach is commercial and is aimed at early resolution of disputes by a variety of means, including arbitration, mediation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution, as well as litigation. Our disputes lawyers often work with our M&A teams to avoid and anticipate disputes and are also experienced in dealing with M&A-related litigation.

Recent insurance transactions:

  • FWD Group: advising on its significant minority stake in BRI Life, the life insurance arm of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (“BRI”), together with a 15-year bancassurance agreement to be entered into between BRI and BRI Life.
  • PT Astra International Tbk: advising on its acquisition of Aviva International Holdings Limited’s entire stake in PT Astra Aviva Life (an Indonesian joint venture between Astra and Aviva).
  • Commonwealth Bank of Australia: advising on the auction sale of its Indonesian life insurance business, PT Commonwealth Life, which includes a long-term life insurance distribution arrangement, to FWD Group.

Key Contacts

David Holme

Senior Foreign Legal Advisor, Linklaters Partner, Jakarta

Karen Phang

Senior Foreign Legal Advisor, Linklaters Partner, Jakarta

Teguh Arwiko

Partner, Jakarta