This week in insurance: Prudential boosts Malaysia stake, Ping An tops brand rankings, new partnerships emerge

Great Eastern has also unveiled a physical gold investment-linked policy.

The insurance industry from 26 to 30 January saw continued deal activity, partnerships, and product launches this week as insurers moved to strengthen their market positions and expand customer offerings across Asia.

Prudential Plc. said it will acquire a further $375m or 19% of Sri Han Suria Sdn. Bhd. (SHS) the holding company that owns Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad (PAMB).

Once the transaction has materialised, Prudential will hold an aggregate stake of 70% in SHS.

The acquisition has been approved by Bank Negara Malaysia and is expected to finish shortly, it said in a press release.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China has been named China’s most valuable insurance brand for the tenth consecutive year, according to Brand Finance’s Global 500 2026 report released on January 21.

The group’s brand value rose 13% year on year to $48.84b.

Ping An ranked 32nd globally, up three places from 2025, and 10th among all Chinese brands.

Allianz Indonesia has partnered with PT Allianz Global Investors Asset Management Indonesia for the management of several investment portfolios of Allianz Indonesia.

This collaboration aims to provide integrated financial solutions and enhance services for customers, the companies said in a press release.

Great Eastern has unveiled a physical gold investment-linked policy (ILP) fund which offers a secure way to gain exposure to gold as part of a customer’s long-term financial planning.

The company said this marks the first time a financial services provider in Singapore has offered physical gold as an asset class within an insurance-linked policy.

QBE Automotive Protection has partnered with Malayan Insurance in the Philippines, through its local partner Paramount Life & General Insurance Corporation, to offer extended warranty cover to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation’s RCBC Auto Loan Plus customers.

Under the arrangement, QBE’s extended warranty is embedded into Malayan’s comprehensive motor insurance, extending vehicle protection to up to five years or 150,000 kilometres.