LIFE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
PRnewswire | April 18, 2023
YuLife, the tech-driven financial services provider on a mission to inspire life, today announced its launch in South Africa. Founded in London in 2016, YuLife achieved rapid traction in the UK insurance market through its flagship product, group life insurance. The company's expansion into South Africa marks a significant milestone as it seeks to redefine how people around the world derive value from financial products.
YuLife's Group Risk Protection (Life, Income Protection, Lump Sum Disability, and Funeral Cover) includes everything in a traditional group insurance policy – but also adds a globally award-winning wellbeing app and trusted support services. YuLife harnesses the latest trends in behavioral science and game mechanics to encourage employees to make proactive lifestyle changes, while also prioritising prevention by de-risking individuals through healthy activities.
Gamification ensures that YuLife attracts unrivaled levels of engagement which is valued and enjoyed by all employees. The YuLife app enables employees to complete everyday wellness activities, such as walking, meditation, and cycling, in order to earn YuCoin, YuLife's virtual well-being currency. Members can then use their YuCoin to buy vouchers for groceries, data, fuel, clothing and more from leading brands, or to improve the world through donating meals, planting trees, or cleaning the ocean. By incentivising healthy living, YuLife provides employers with a way to simultaneously boost retention rates, improve employees' standard of living, and safeguard their loved ones' financial future.
In addition to day-to-day wellbeing, YuLife provides critical wellbeing tools and services to further prevent illness, both mentally and physically. All employees with YuLife get access to a virtual GP service through Kena Health, counseling and advice through ICAS, alongside access to multiple wellbeing apps like Meditopia and Fiit.
"South Africa has the second highest insurance penetration globally, making it a perfect market for YuLife to expand into and showcase its innovative approach to insurance," said Jaco Oosthuizen, YuLife Co-founder and Managing Director of YuLife South Africa. "There has been a big shift toward health and wellbeing in the workplace, with more and more companies adding new initiatives and resources to their employee benefits packages. YuLife is launching in South Africa to offer companies an easy way to provide extra protection – we're looking forward to providing South African businesses and employees tangible value on an everyday basis in an accessible, engaging, and deliverable manner."
YuLife South Africa's policies are underwritten by Guardrisk Life, SA's largest life cell captive insurer and the market leader in tailored risk solutions. "We are excited to be working together with YuLife to bring cost-effective insurance solutions to customers in South Africa," said Herman Schoeman, CEO, Guardrisk Life. "As a company rooted in innovation, partnering with such a forward-thinking company like YuLife that shares our commitment to meeting customers' needs makes good business sense. We look forward to developing our relationship with YuLife and providing our solutions to its customers while also empowering them to have a more thorough and holistic relationship with their life insurance and protection provider."
YuLife has achieved rapid traction in an industry traditionally lacking in innovation. The company recently expanded into the US, and now covers >600k group policyholders across small to large businesses, with over $50bn of coverage in place. YuLife has seen more than 5x growth in premiums year-on-year, and in July 2022 raised a $120M Series C led by Dai-ichi Life with participation from T. Rowe Price, bringing the company's total funding to $206M.
About YuLife
YuLife is a tech-driven financial services provider on a mission to inspire life and turn financial products into a force for good. By harnessing the power of technology and the latest behavioural science, YuLife's insurance model focuses on risk prevention, not just claims compensation. The company is transforming the employee benefits market by rewarding employees for healthy living, supporting mental, physical and financial wellbeing and helping foster healthier, happier and more motivated teams. Founded in 2016, YuLife is headquartered in London and backed by global insurers and venture capital. https://www.YuLife.com/
About Guardrisk
Guardrisk is South Africa's largest cell captive insurer. We pioneered the cell captive concept in 1993 and provide tailor-made risk financing and insurance solutions for corporates, small enterprises and municipalities. The option of a third-party insurance offering lets clients sell insurance cover to their customers, boosting their business' earning potential and building their brand. Essentially, a cell captive facility gives clients all the benefits of owning their own insurance company without the inherent cost and administrative implications. Cell captives provide underwriting, reinsurance, claims management, investment, actuarial and accounting functions for clients (cell owners), which keeps costs down and gives clients access to a broad base of insurance skills. Guardrisk is a subsidiary of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited, one of SA's largest insurance-based financial services groups. The company is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa and on the Namibian Stock Exchange in Namibia.
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CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT
Globenewswire | April 17, 2023
World Insurance Associates LLC (“World”), a Top 50 Insurance Brokerage, announced today that it acquired the business of Thomas J. Woods Insurance Agency, Inc. (“TJ Woods”) of Worcester, MA on March 1, 2023. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
TJ Woods was founded in 1949, and is a full-service, property and casualty agency, providing personal and business insurance.
“At TJ Woods, we truly care about our customers,” says Jack Woods, CPCU, President, Thomas J. Woods Insurance Agency. “Our customers always come first, and we want to help them make the best decisions regarding their insurance needs. We look forward to offering additional products and services to them now that we are part of World.”
“I’d like to welcome TJ Woods to the World family,” says Rich Eknoian, CEO and Co-Founder of World. “They are very well regarded and their commitment to their customers has earned them industry accolades. I look forward to their continued success as part of World.”
Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla provided legal counsel and Optis Partners advised World on the transaction. Ross Law Offices provided legal counsel to TJ Woods. No other advisors, diligence firms or legal counsel were disclosed.
About World Insurance Associates LLC
World Insurance Associates LLC (World) is headquartered in Iselin, N.J., and is a nationally ranked, full-service insurance organization providing individuals and businesses with top products and services across personal and commercial insurance, employee and executive benefits, retirement and financial services and human capital management solutions. Since its founding in 2011, World has completed over 190 acquisitions and serves its customers from more than 250 offices across the United States. World is ranked #34 on the 100 Largest Brokers of U.S. Business list by Business Insurance, ranked #3 on the Fastest Growing Brokers list by Business Insurance, ranked #3 on the Fastest Growing Benefits Brokers list by Business Insurance, ranked #24 on the Top 100 P&C Agencies by Insurance Journal, and ranked #20 on the Top 50 Personal Lines Agencies by Insurance Journal. For more information, please visit www.worldinsurance.com.
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CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT
Globenewswire | April 10, 2023
Westland Insurance, one of Canada’s largest independently owned brokerages, continued its expansion on April 1 with the announcement of three acquisitions. Between them Haggett & Rogers Group of Companies, BMT Insurance Brokers Limited, and Dimensions Insurance Management bring additional insurance expertise to Westland’s existing P&C verticals.
With six locations across Ontario, BMT Insurance brings over 65 years of P&C insurance experience, life & benefits, and financial services. This acquisition takes Westland into three new communities and further enhances its commitment to serving clients in Northern Ontario.
With roots that go back to 1905, Dimensions Insurance is a commercial and specialty P&C brokerage based in Winnipeg, MB and that is focused on serving clients across Western Canada.
Established in 1978, Haggett & Rogers is a family-owned brokerage that offers personal and commercial insurance solutions and vehicle registry services. They have locations in Calgary and Lethbridge, AB.
“It’s with much excitement that we welcome Haggett & Rogers, BMT Insurance, and Dimensions Insurance to the Westland team,” says Jamie Lyons, Westland’s President & CEO. “With these three outstanding companies joining our family, we’re taking a significant step forward in our goal to become Canada’s favourite insurance broker. Their collective depth of expertise and experience in the industry, as well as strong entrepreneurial cultures, will allow us to continue delivering even better service to our clients and communities across the country.”
About Westland Insurance Group Ltd
Award winning Westland Insurance Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent property and casualty insurance brokers in Canada. With a national network of 195 locations and over 2,100 employees, the company continues to expand coast to coast. Westland's brokers provide expert advice to home, business, and auto insurance clients. Since its founding in 1980, Westland has remained a family-owned company that is committed to supporting its local communities. As a leading insurance brokerage in Canada, our scale and pace of growth allow us to continually invest in our platform and to deliver on our promise to be your most trusted commercial advisor. Our Commercial team has developed unique partnerships with national and international insurers and reinsurers, with whom we have established pre-committed capacity and underwriting authority. This is a model that no other broker in the country has been able to replicate at scale. Our expert Commercial advisors get to know you and your business, so that they can tailor a policy to your exact needs.
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