Description: This panel addressed the multitude of issues companies face as banks and insurers become partners. Panelists discussed: 1. Legal issues surrounding mergers of banks and insurers, including the focus of federal regulators. 2. Recent applications by insurers for thrift charters and acquisitions of thrifts. 3. Successful bancassurance models in other parts of the world and best practices applicable in the U.S. 4. U.S. bank distribution models. 5. Financial implications of the manufacturers and distributors having the same parent, including impact on product development, underwriting, and transfer pricing. 6. Impact on carriers relying on banks for distribution when those banks merge with other carriers.

Description: Panelists discussed the implications of the growing trend in Canada toward demutualization of mutual companies into stock companies. Topics covered include: 1. The Canadian demutualization process and some interesting differences between companies and across borders. 2. How is eligibility determined? 3. What process is being used to determine allocation of shareholder value? 4. What mechanisms are in place to protect policyholders' reasonable expectations? 5. What internal and financial structural changes are driven by demutualization? 6. How financial markets assess stock value for companies operating internationally.