A.M. Best Special Report: Takaful Poised for Growth, But Greater Focus is Required

LONDON - Tuesday, July 12th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Takaful operators in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Malaysia are growing at a rapid pace and are highly capitalised, new research from A.M. Best Co. reveals.

Analysis of 131 takaful operators and conventional insurers in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Malaysia indicates that general takaful operators are growing quickly. However, in most cases this is a consequence of the rapid expansion of the insurance markets in these countries, as opposed to increased demand for Shari’a-compliant offerings.

The report “Takaful Poised for Growth, But Greater Focus is Required” states most takaful companies are highly capitalized on a consolidated funds basis. This is partly the result of many companies being in the early stages of operation and having failed to meet original business plans.

Vasilis Katsipis, General Manager of Analytics who will unveil the report findings at the International Takaful Summit in London today, said: “Most general takaful operators are competing with conventional insurers on price as the majority of start-up companies are falling behind their original business plans. Takaful operators’ financial performance therefore tends to be inferior to conventional insurers as price is the most important factor, as opposed to Shari’a-compliant products being a unique selling point.”

"He added family takaful offers greater opportunities than general takaful as it provides protection to an underdeveloped segment in the GCC and Malaysia. “Family business is more profitable than general takaful, and is growing at a fast pace. Family takaful is also outpacing conventional life insurance and offers the greatest opportunity for profitable growth of takaful operators.”

The report examines the financial performance and investment asset mix of takaful companies compared to conventional insurers. It also states that positive regulatory developments for the takaful sector are occurring in several markets, with the introduction of specific takaful regulation. However, it adds that in most countries there is still considerable uncertainty as to the priority of liabilities in the case of insolvency of a takaful company.

Yvette Essen, Director of Industry Research – Europe and Emerging Markets, said: “Takaful is expected to continue to be among the fastest growing segments of the GCC and Malaysian insurance markets. However, to ensure its longer term viability, operators need to focus on product differentiation as opposed to competing solely on price.”

To download a free copy of this report, please visit www.ambest.com/press/TAKAFULMARKETREVIEW.pdf.

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited is a subsidiary of A.M. Best Company.Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2011 by A.M. Best Company, Inc.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

A.M. Best Co.

Vasilis Katsipis

General Manager, Analytics

+(44) 20 7397 0278

vasilis.katsipis@ambest.com



Europe and Emerging Markets

Yvette Essen

Director, Industry Research

+(44) 20 7397 0322

yvette.essen@ambest.com



Jim Peavy

Assistant Vice President, Public Relations

908-439-2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com