CBB grants license to Heritage

Mr. Ahmed Al-Bassam, Director of Licensing & Policy at the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), said:

"We at the Central Bank continue to review thoroughly all license applications and apply our existing international best practice, and welcome newcomers such as this to join Bahrain's financial community."

The new company, Heritage Insurance Management (Bahrain) W.L.L. (HIMB) will provide innovative risk and insurance management solutions to public and private sector enterprises in Bahrain and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Al Bassam added, "In the midst of increasing demand for insurance services locally and regionally and the legislations for captives which have already been implemented by the CBB, large opportunities are present for insurance management services."

He said, "Since introducing the Insurance Rulebook by the CBB, which contains insurance regulations that are in line with international standards, the insurance industry has witnessed growth by attracting specialised international insurers to be based in Bahrain to meet local and regional demand of the growth of insurable corporate assets and liabilities."

"We perceive Heritage Insurance Management (Bahrain) to contribute in enhancing the increase in insurance risk culture, awareness and management within the region," he added.

Stephen May, Chief Executive Officer, Heritage London and Middle East, said, "This is a major step in Heritage's growth plans for the GCC. We have spent the past 18 months discussing opportunities afforded by captives and other risk financing structures with companies in the region. With the development of a world class regulatory framework in Bahrain and in other states such as Dubai and Qatar, the benefits of domiciling these structures locally is now an extremely attractive proposition for many of our clients. We are in the process of securing local and international expertise to support this expansion and will be making further announcements regarding our licence applications in Dubai and Qatar shortly."