Financial Conglomerate Affiliation, Insurance Companies’ Performance, and Risk

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between financial conglomerate affiliation, insurance companies’ performance, and risk. For verification, a univariate analysis was conducted using a propensity score matching technique and an ordinary least squares regression model was estimated. As a robustness check, the Heckman two-stage regression model, which is known for correcting self-selection bias, was also estimated. The main results are as follows. First, as a result of belonging to a financial conglomerate, insurers’ profitability and simple equity ratio are significantly lower than that of stand-alone insurers, while revenue volatility and insolvency risk are significantly higher. Second, statistically significant negative relationships among insurance companies’ profitability, earnings volatility, and insolvency risks are greater if they belong to a mixed conglomerate rather than a financial holding company. Finally, the results reveal that this negative effect is caused by the adverse impacts of equity investments of affiliates owned by insurance companies belonging to mixed conglomerates. These findings indicate that the expansion of affiliates’ shareholding by an insurer can increase fluctuations in the insurer’s earnings by transferring the change in management performance, consequently increasing the risk of insolvency as measured by the Z-score.