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April 19, 2011

Insurance Reforms Not Investor-Friendly

Bangkok Post, Corporate Counsellor Column

Reports have circulated of life insurance policyholders being defrauded by unscrupulous insurance agents. The good news is that under recent amendments to the Life Insurance Act, policyholders are now being given more protection. The bad news is that restrictions on foreign ownership, which were rejected amid much controversy with respect to the Alien Business Act, were nonetheless incorporated into the new legislation. This article discusses both the positive and the negative aspects of the amended law.

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May 25, 2020
The newly amended Law on Insurance was published in the Electronic Official Gazette on March 30, 2020, and has been in effect since April 15. Existing insurers are allowed three years to comply with the new requirements, as provided in the amended law. As for insurance and reinsurance companies not yet established in Laos, new insurance business licenses remain suspended under a 2016 notification.
May 19, 2020
On May 12, 2020, Myanmar’s Insurance Business Regulatory Board (IBRB) issued Directive 4/2020—a game-changer for the insurance industry in Myanmar. Previously, reinsurance in Myanmar had only been available through the state-owned Myanma Insurance, without competition. However, when this directive comes into force on October 1, 2020, insurance companies (or cedants) will be able to obtain reinsurance from other insurers or reinsurers within Myanmar or abroad, with certain restrictions.
May 5, 2020
The Global Attorney-Client Privilege Guide, published by Lex Mundi, provides information on what constitutes attorney-client privilege in over 65 jurisdictions around the world. The Thailand chapter of the guide was written by Michael Ramirez, counsel in the dispute resolution group of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok office.
April 16, 2020
On April 15, 2020, the Lao Prime Minister’s Office issued Notification No. 481/PMO, which provides further recommendations on the implementation of PM Order No. 06/PM issued on March 29, 2020, including the extension of the earlier lockdown measures imposed in Laos to May 3, 2020, and reiterating that measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic should remain in effect until further notice.