The global slowdown in M&A activity has been felt in South Africa, with the macroeconomic factors of high inflation, high interest rates, and lower economic growth being the key factors, says the global law firm Clyde & Co.
In 2024, the overall Financial Confidence Index (FCI) remains stable, with slight improvements noted in Financial Resilience (FR) and Financial Wellbeing (FW) compared to 2023, says Sanlam, which is South Africa's largest insurer.
Critical infrastructure failures, cyber incidents and business interruption remain the same top risks in South Africa in 2024, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2024, the 13th edition to date. Their rankings on the barometers also remain the same as in 2023.
South Africans are diversifying their risk cover to include life insurance that pays out offshore, in US dollars, according to research findings by Discovery Life.
The reinsurance market in South Africa has stabilised and possibly reached its peak, according to Gallagher Re, one of the largest global reinsurance brokers.
Sanlam Limited (Sanlam) and MultiChoice Group have entered into an agreement for Sanlam to acquire 60% of MultiChoice's insurance business, NMS Insurance Services (NMSIS), as well as a long-term commercial arrangement to expand insurance and related financial service offerings into MultiChoice's extensive African subscriber base.
Secondary perils can no longer be regarded as secondary concerns as they are becoming pivotal factors to consider in the global risk landscape, says a blog posted on the website of the global law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright.
S&P Global Ratings (S&P) says that it's too early to assess the full financial and ratings impact on South Africa's insurance sector of last week's extreme weather events in the South and East regions.
Capacity from local and global insurers was limited, and placement challenges continued, especially for global programmes and for risk types that were not in appetite / preferred, says Aon in its "Q1 2024 Global Insurance Market Insights Report" released last week.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law a Bill that aims to provide universal health coverage, reported Reuters.