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APAC Consumer insurance strength built on broad portfolio

Asia Pacific is one of the most dynamic and complex regions in the world. Despite being geographically close to one another, markets have vastly different economical maturity and regulatory, distribution, and cultural frameworks, making it challenging to run a regional business. But this challenge can often be cultivated into a strength, and the consumer business in the insurance industry is one great example.

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Regionally aligned, locally empowered

Sompo Group’s insurance business in the Asia Pacific (APAC) market, headlined by Sompo Asia Pacific, has achieved substantial organic growth.

Building a truly regional business requires more than a shared organizational chart. It requires a common philosophy, a willingness to collaborate across borders, and the discipline to balance consistency with genuine local sensitivity. Sompo Asia Pacific spans Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Across all these markets, we anchor our approach to a principle that continues to guide every decision we make: regionally aligned, locally empowered. Certain fundamentals hold true regardless of geography.

The commitment to creating value for distribution partners and customers, the rigor of sound analytical thinking, and the drive to deliver sustainable results are consistent across every market we operate in. What differs, and what we take great care of, is the regulatory landscape, the competitive business environment, and the evolving needs of customers in each market. It is precisely this balance — shared strategic direction combined with deep local knowledge and expertise — that enables us to operate with the confidence of one business while remaining genuinely respectful and responsive to the markets we serve.

Discussion session during the APAC Consumer Lines Offsite Meeting

Turning a local idea into a regional differentiator

One of the most compelling aspects of operating as a connected region is the ability to identify innovation in one market and scale it with conviction across others.

Sompo Smart Delay is one of the best examples. The product originated in Thailand, where our travel insurance team had established a market-leading position and held the highest share among Thai travelers visiting Japan.

Recognizing an opportunity to address one of the most persistent frustrations in travel, the team developed a product that transforms the experience of a flight delay: by registering their flight in advance, eligible policyholders receive immediate access to more than 1,800 airport lounges and premium travel experiences, with no claim form required and no administrative burden on the customer. The proposition resonated well beyond Thailand.

In partnership with Collinson International, a global leader in airport experiences, we expanded the product to Singapore, mainland China, and Malaysia in October 2025. According to a  report by Collinson International, 80% of travelers in APAC have accessed an airport lounge at least once, underscoring how central premium services have become to the modern travel experience.

The ability to move quickly, learn collectively, and scale with consistency is what sets a truly regional model apart. Sompo Smart Delay is a clear demonstration of that in practice.

A distinctive model shaped by regional partnerships

Sompo’s regional market knowledge and ability to connect easily across markets with regional partners is another strength. Our strategic partnership with APRIL International, a leader in international health insurance with a strong presence across Asia, signals something we regard as more significant than a single commercial agreement. It represents the emergence of a genuinely differentiated business model for Sompo in APAC.

When we announced our agreement in November 2025 to jointly develop and distribute International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) across the region, the underlying logic was straightforward: two organizations with complementary strengths, a shared commitment to customer-centricity, and a common ambition to raise the standard of health insurance across Asia Pacific.

What makes the model distinctive is the structural position it requires Sompo to occupy. Rather than operating as a purely centralized business, or fully delegating authority to each individual market, Sompo sits deliberately between these two poles, offering regional partners a single point of accountability, standardized service delivery, and meaningful local execution. This is precisely the kind of proposition that sophisticated regional partners demand, and one that few insurers are well positioned to deliver.

The partnership launched its first jointly developed IPMI offering in Singapore and Thailand, and we are actively scaling across additional markets in the region. Given the success of this model, we are now exploring opportunities to replicate it across other sectors, bringing the same regional consistency and local delivery to a broader range of partners.

Townhall with Sompo Insurance China in 2025

Building for the long-term

APAC holds a distinctive position among the Sompo Group’s overseas insurance businesses. It is the only region that maintains a broadly equal split between consumer and commercial insurance, a balance that reflects both our long history in the region and our strategic ambition going forward. This dual presence provides a layer of structural resilience that few regional insurance businesses can claim, allowing us to draw on different sources of growth depending on the prevailing market environment.

Sustaining that growth over the long term requires a portfolio that is deliberately constructed to perform across a range of economic conditions, natural catastrophes, and market cycles. Diversification, both geographic and by line of business, has therefore been central to our strategy from the outset. A diversified portfolio allows us to navigate that variability with greater confidence, drawing on growth in one market or product line to offset softness in another, while consistently meeting the needs of our customers.

Exclusive cashless outpatient service in Japan with Sompo Travel Insurance

Until a few years ago, our consumer portfolio was heavily dependent on the successes of specific markets and product lines. We have since been deliberate in addressing that, expanding our geographic footprint across the region and growing health, personal accident, and travel alongside our core motor business.

It is precisely because of the diverse foundations that APAC has built that a clear path toward long-term growth now comes into view.

Sompo operates across Asia Pacific with a growing consumer insurance business built on regional scale, deep local expertise, and a culture of disciplined collaboration. Learn more about our approach to the APAC market.
Sompo Asia Pacific

Bill Zhang

Bill Zhang

Bill Zhang is President of Consumer Lines at Sompo APAC, responsible for leading the regional consumer insurance business including travel, health, motor, and personal accident lines across Asia Pacific.

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