1 Industry background INSURANCE: Definition: Insurance is a contract providing for payment of a sum of money to the person assured or failing him to the person entitled to receive the same on the happening of certain event. Uncertainty of death is inherent in human life. It is this risk, which gives rise to the necessity for some form of protection against the financial loss arising from death. Insurance substitutes this uncertainty by certainty. The objective of insurance is normally to provide: a) Family protection and / or b) Provision for old age. c) Protection against risks Why Insurance? Insurance cover is essential because it provides the following benefits: A lump sum payment to the nominees at the time of the death of the policy holder. A regular payment to the nominees in the event of the death of the policy holder.
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Industry background
INSURANCE:
Definition:
Insurance is a contract providing for payment of a sum of money to the person assured or
failing him to the person entitled to receive the same on the happening of certain event.
Uncertainty of death is inherent in human life. It is this risk, which gives rise to the
necessity for some form of protection against the financial loss arising from death.
Insurance substitutes this uncertainty by certainty.
The objective of insurance is normally to provide:
a) Family protection and / or
b) Provision for old age.
c) Protection against risks
Why Insurance?
Insurance cover is essential because it provides the following benefits:
A lump sum payment to the nominees at the time of the death of the policy holder.
A regular payment to the nominees in the event of the death of the policy holder.
Tax benefits, as premiums paid reduce the liability of tax.
Relieves economic hardships in the family on the uneventful death of the sole income
holder.
Inculcates the habit of savings.
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Need for insurance:
The need for life insurance comes from the need to safeguard the family. Today insurance
has become even more important due to the disintegration of the prevalent joint family
system, a system in which a number of generations co-existed in harmony, a system in
which a sense of financial security was always there as they were more earning members.
Times have changed and the nuclear family has emerged. Apart from other pitfalls of a
nuclear family, a high sense of insecurity is observed in it today besides, the family has
shrunk. Needs are increasing with time and fulfillment of these needs is a big question
mark. How will we be able to satisfy all those needs? Better lifestyle, good education, long
desired house. But again - we just cannot fritter away all our earnings; we need to save a
part of it for the future too - a wise decision. This is where insurance helps us. Ambitions
etc are some of the reasons why insurance has gained importance and where insurance
plays a successful role.
History:
India Insurance Company:
The concept of insurance is intimately related to security. Insurance acts as a protective
shield against risk and future uncertainties. Traditionally, a risk-averse behaviour has been
a characteristic feature of Indians who preferred a “low & certain” disposable income to a
“high & uncertain” one.
Hence insurance has become a close associate of Indians since 1818, when Oriental Life
Insurance Company was started by Europeans in Kolkata to cater to the needs of their own
community. The age was characterized by intense racial discrimination as Indian insurance
policy holders were charged higher premiums than their foreign counterparts. The first
Indian Insurance Company to cover Indian lives at normal rates was Bombay Mutual Life
Assurance Society which was established in the year 1870.
By the dawn of the 20 Th century, new insurance companies started mushrooming up. In
order to regulate the insurance business in India and to certify the premium rate tables and
periodic valuations of the insurance companies, the Life Insurance Companies Act and the
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Provident Fund Act were passed to regulate the Insurance Business in India in 1912. Such
statistical estimates made by actuaries revealed the disparity that existed between Indian
and foreign companies.
The Indian Insurance Sector went through a full circle of phases from being unregulated to
completely regulate and then being partly deregulated which is the present situation. A
brief on how the events folded up is discussed as follows:
The Insurance Act of 1938 was the first legislation governing all forms of insurance to
provide strict state controls over insurance business.
In 19th January, 1956, the life insurance in India was completely nationalized through the
Life Insurance Corporation Act of 1956. At that time, there were 245 insurance companies
of both Indian and foreign origin. Government accomplished its policy of nationalization
by acquiring the management of the companies. Bearing this objective in mind, the Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India was created on 1st September, 1956 which has
grown in leaps and bounds henceforth, to become the largest insurance company in India.
The General Insurance Business (Nationalization) Act of 1972 was formulated with the
objective of nationalizing nearly 100 general insurance companies and subsequently
amalgamating them into four basic companies namely National Insurance, New India
Assurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance which have their headquarters
in four metropolitan cities.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act of 1999 deregulated
the insurance sector in India and allowed the entry of private companies into the insurance
sector. Moreover, the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was also restricted to 26 %
of the total capital held by the Indian Insurance Companies.
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Some of the important milestones in the life insurance business in India
are:
1912: The Indian insurance Companies Act enacted as the first statute to regulate the
insurance business.
1928: The Indian Insurance Companies Act enacted to enable the government to collect
statistical information about both life and non-life insurance businesses.
1938: Earlier legislation consolidated and amended to by the Insurance Act with the
objective of protecting the interests of the insuring public.
1956: Indian and foreign insurers and provident societies taken over by the central
government were nationalized. LIC formed by an Act of Parliament, viz. LIC Act, 1956,
with a capital contribution of Rs. 5 crore from the Government of India.
Size:
Insurance is an Rs.400 billion business in India, and together with banking services adds
about 7% to India’s GDP. Gross premium collection is about 2% of GDP and has been
growing by 15 - 20% per annum. India also has the highest number of life insurance
policies in force in the world, and total investible funds with the LIC are almost 8% of
GDP. Yet more than three-fourths of India's insurable population has no life insurance or
pension cover. Health insurance of any kind is negligible and other forms of non-life
insurance are much below international standards.
To tap the vast insurance potential and to mobilize long - term savings we need reforms
which include revitalizing and restructuring of the public sector companies, and opening
up the sector to private players. A statutory body needs to be made to regulate the market
and promote a healthy market structure. Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) is one such
body, which checks on these tendencies. IRA role comprises of following three functions:
a. Protection of consumer's interest.
b. To ensure financial soundness and solvency of the insurance industry, and
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c. To ensure healthy growth of the insurance market.
An insurance policy protects the buyer at some cost against the financial loss arising from
a specified risk. Different situations and different people require a different mix of risk-
cost combinations. Insurance companies provide these by offering schemes of different
kinds. Unfortunately the concept of insurance is not popular in our country.
As per the latest estimates, the total premium income generated by life and general
insurance in India is estimated at around a meager 1.95% of GDP. However India’s share
of world insurance market has shown an increase of 10% from 0.31 in 1996-97 to 0.34%
in 1997-98. India's market share in the life insurance business showed a real growth of 11
% thereby outperforming the global average of 7.7%. Non-life business grew by 3.1%
against global average of 0.20%. In India insurance spending per capita was among the
lowest in the world at $7.6 compared to $7 in the previous year. Amongst the emerging
economies, India is one of the least insured countries but the potential for further growth is
phenomenal, as a significant portion of its population is in services and the life expectancy
has also increased over the years.
The nationalized insurance industry has not offered consumers a variety of products.
Opening of the sector to private firms will foster competition, innovation, and variety of
products. It would also generate greater awareness on the need for buying insurance as a
service and not merely for tax exemption, which is currently done. On the demand side, a
strong correlation between demand for insurance and per capita income level suggests that
high economic growth can spur growth in demand for insurance. Also there exists a strong
correlation between insurance density and social indicators such as literacy with social
development, insurance demand will grow.
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COMPANY PROFILE:
Incorporated in 1977 with a share capital of Rs. 10 cores, HDFC have since emerged as
the largest residential mortgage finance institution in the largest residential mortgage
finance institution in the country. The corporation has had a series of share issues raising
its capital to Rs.119 cores. The net worth of the corporation as on March 31, 2000 stood at
Rs. 2096 cores.
HDFC operates through 75 locations throughout the country with its Corporate head
Quarters in Mumbai, India. HDFC also has an international office in Dubai, U.A.E., with
service associates in Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
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Standard Life is Europe's largest mutual life assurance company. Standard Life, which has
been in the life insurance business for the past 175 Years, is a modern company surviving
quite a few changes since selling its first Policy in 1825. The company expanded in the
19th century from its original
Edinburgh premises, opening offices in other towns and acquiring other Similar
businesses.
Standard Life currently has assets exceeding over $119 billion under its management and
has the distinction of being accorded "AAA" rating consequently for the past six years by
Standard and Poor. They have assets under management which are worth more than the
market value of Sainsbury's Boots, Tesco, Cadbury Schweppes and Marks and Spencer
combined.
HDFC standard life insurance is backed by HDFC, the reputed housing financial
institution operating since several decades and Standard Life Assurance Company, one of
the Europe's largest mutual fund company HDFC has 30000 crores of assets and Standard
Life has $119 billion of assets so they can comfortably consider has safe as insurers.
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Your Family, Their Future, Our Help
HDFC are the main shareholders in HDFC Standard Life with 81.4% stake while Standard
Life owns 18.6%. The company is one of the top three performing companies in the
industry. They have tie ups with various banks like Indian bank, Union bank and Kochi
based JRG Financial Services Pvt Ltd. On its bank assurance tie up with Union bank of
India, the bank has been selling HDFC Standard Life products across the country through
its branches. HDFC Standard Life has the widest distribution network among all the
private insurance companies with the presence in 53 locations. HDFC Standard Life
Insurance Company Ltd recorded a 120% growth in the collection of new business
premium over the previous year.
HDFC and Standard Life first came together for a possible joint venture, to enter the Life
Insurance market, In January 1995.it was clear from the outset that both company shared
similar values and beliefs and a strong relationship quickly formed. In October 1995 the
company signed a 3 year joint venture agreement. Around this time Standard Life
purchased a 5% stake in HDFC, Further strengthening the relationship. The next 3 years
were filled with uncertainties, due to changes in government and ongoing delays in getting
the IRDA (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) Act passed in parliament.
Despite this both companies remained firmly committed to the venture. In October 1998,
the joint venture agreement was renewed and additional resource made available. Around
this time Standard Life purchased 2% of Infrastructure Development Finance Company