Asia insurance IPOs to shape up industry

Asia expects to see a wave of insurance companies launching initial public offerings (IPOs) this year, which is tipped to affect the handling of capital and hedging in the region as practices come under investor scrutiny for the first time.

Insurance IPOs are a big change for Asia, which has traditionally had few listed local life insurance companies. One source described the year ahead as a "sector being formed from nothing". It is anticipated investors will demand higher investment returns in