NEWS IN BRIEF

Expanding Chinese insurance agency network CNInsure... has signed agreements to gain a majority stake in two more insurers — Changsai Lianyi Insurance Agency and Jiangmen Fanhua Zhicheng Insurance Agency. CNInsure already held 5% stakes in each of the agencies. After the deal is concluded it will hold 70% stakes in both. The purchase of Lianyi expands CNInsure’s presence in Hunan province to include non-life products. The Zhicheng deal will extend CNInsure’s presence in Guangdong Province.