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Harel Group
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Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd. (Hebrew: הראל השקעות בביטוח ושירותים פיננסים בע"מ) is the largest insurance group in Israel. It is a public company whose shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and is included in the TA-100 Index. It is controlled by the Hamburger family, which owns 49.9% of the company's shares (mainly through a holding company), while the public holds 50.1%.[2]
Key Information
History
[edit] |
In 1935, Ernst and Margot Hamburger, German Jews who moved to Tel Aviv at the time of the British Mandate of Palestine founded HaMishmar, a small insurance agency.
In 1975, the family established their first insurance company "Harel". In 1982 Harel Insurance and Finances (then known as Harel Hamishmar Investments Ltd.), was established and the ownership of Harel and Hamishmar were transferred to its ownership. The same year, the company had an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
During the 1980s and 1990s the company acquired a number of other insurance companies in Israel (including: Sahar, Zion, Shiloach and Dikla) and consolidated its position to become Israel's third largest insurance group. During the 2000s the company expanded its activities and entered the pension and mutual funds markets.
In 2007, the name of the company was changed to "Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd.".
In 2008 Harel Group established the Israel Infrastructure Fund together with Yehuda Raveh and Yaron Kestenbaum, which invests in and manages infrastructure projects in the fields of water, energy and transportation (trains and roads).[3]
In December 2009 Harel acquired EMI, an Israeli mortgage unit of AIG – American International Group for $35.5m.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd". Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "Harel Group - Company Profile", Globes, retrieved 2010-02-23
- ^ Insiders stress importance of Israeli infrastructure development, Algemeiner
- ^ "Harel Insurance buys AIG unit for $35.5m", Reactions, 24 December 2009, archived from the original on 2011-07-13, retrieved 2010-05-28
External links
[edit]- Harel Group Archived 2010-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
Harel Group
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History
Founding and Early Development
The Harel Group traces its origins to 1935, when Ernst and Margot Hamburger, German Jewish immigrants who arrived in Tel Aviv during the British Mandate of Palestine, established HaMishmar Insurance Agency.[2] Initially operating as a modest brokerage firm, HaMishmar focused on basic insurance services, providing coverage for property, liability, and other general risks in a nascent market shaped by the economic uncertainties of the pre-state era.[2] The agency was founded amid the immigration waves of the 1930s, serving a growing population of European Jews fleeing persecution, and it quickly adapted to local needs by brokering policies from established European insurers active in the region.[4] Following Israel's independence in 1948, HaMishmar navigated the country's post-war economic challenges, including hyperinflation, mass immigration, and resource shortages that strained the nascent insurance sector.[5] The agency concentrated on general insurance operations, underwriting policies for businesses and individuals amid austerity measures and foreign exchange controls imposed by the government to stabilize the economy.[4] Key regulatory adaptations during the 1940s and 1950s, such as the establishment of the Israel Actuarial Association in 1946 and government oversight of insurer investments to ensure solvency, influenced HaMishmar's growth, prompting it to emphasize conservative risk assessment in its brokerage activities.[4] By the 1960s, as Israel transitioned toward economic liberalization and the introduction of price-indexed policies to combat inflation, the agency had solidified its position in the market while maintaining family oversight under the Hamburger leadership.[5] In 1975, the Hamburger family marked a pivotal shift by incorporating Harel Insurance Company Ltd., transforming HaMishmar from a brokerage into a full-fledged insurer capable of directly underwriting and managing risks.[2] This transition established core principles of prudent risk management, rooted in the family's emphasis on ethical practices and long-term stability, which became foundational to the group's operations.[2] Under continued Hamburger family control, Harel began building its portfolio in general insurance, laying the groundwork for broader financial services in Israel's evolving economy.Expansion Through Acquisitions
Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd. went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 1982, issuing 25% of its shares, which provided the capital necessary for subsequent expansion through strategic acquisitions.[6] This listing marked a pivotal shift, allowing the company to leverage public markets for funding growth in Israel's competitive insurance sector.[7] In the 1980s and 1990s, Harel pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy to consolidate its position, beginning with full ownership of Shiloah Insurance Company Ltd. (later rebranded as Harel Insurance) in 1984, which specialized in health and life insurance portfolios.[6] Key deals included acquiring 82% of Sahar Israel Insurance Company Ltd. in 1989 (with full ownership achieved over time), gaining control of Dikla Insurance Company Ltd. in 1993 through subsidiary Mor-Har Investments Ltd., and securing control of Zion Holdings Ltd. (owner of Zion Insurance Company Ltd.) in 1999, followed by its merger into Harel Insurance.[6][7] These integrations enabled Harel to enter and expand in health and life insurance lines, previously limited, by absorbing specialized portfolios from Dikla and Shiloah, while broadening its general insurance offerings via Sahar and Zion. By the late 1990s, these moves had elevated Harel to Israel's third-largest insurer, solidifying its market position amid industry consolidation.[7] In 2007, Harel faced a significant setback when its deputy CEO and CFO at Harel Investment House, Guy Vaisman, was dismissed amid allegations of embezzling approximately NIS 120 million through falsified accounts; the incident was covered by insurance, mitigating financial impact but drawing regulatory scrutiny.[8] Throughout this expansion, the Hamburger family maintained majority control through a holding company structure, retaining approximately 45.3% ownership as of July 2025 following a share sale to Clal Insurance.[9][10][7] This family-led approach facilitated decisive acquisition decisions, transforming Harel from a mid-tier player into a dominant force in Israel's insurance landscape by the early 2000s.Modern Era and Reforms
In the early 2000s, the Bachar Reform, enacted in 2005, profoundly shaped Harel Group's trajectory by dismantling banks' dominance in asset management and opening the market to insurance companies. This regulatory shift enabled Harel to diversify beyond traditional insurance into pensions, provident funds, and mutual funds, capturing a significant share of the newly liberalized sector previously controlled by banking institutions.[11][12] To reflect its expanded scope amid these changes, Harel renamed itself Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd. in 2007, emphasizing its growing role in investments and financial services. This period also saw strategic moves to bolster infrastructure and credit capabilities; in 2008, Harel launched the Israel Infrastructure Fund in partnership with Yehuda Raveh and Yaron Kestenbaum, targeting investments in critical sectors such as water, energy, and transportation to capitalize on national development needs. The following year, in 2009, Harel acquired EMI, AIG's Israeli mortgage insurance unit, for $35.5 million, strengthening its position in credit insurance and residential financing.[13][14][15] Post-2020 economic disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted Harel to accelerate digital service expansions, enhancing online platforms for policy management and customer interactions to adapt to remote operations and heightened demand for efficient financial tools. In 2024, Harel Finance formed a lending platform partnership with SCALE, the debt-financing arm of Slate Property Group, to support bridge and construction loans for multifamily and condominium projects, marking a key step in international collaboration. By 2025, Harel adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 17 for insurance contracts and IFRS 9 for financial instruments, effective January 1, aligning its reporting with global norms and improving transparency in asset valuation and risk assessment. These reforms contributed to robust performance, with comprehensive income after tax surging 87% year-over-year to NIS 789 million in Q2 2025, driven by strong underwriting and investment gains amid economic recovery.[16][17][3]Business Operations
Insurance Segments
Harel Group's insurance operations are divided into three primary segments: health, non-life, and life insurance, which form the core of its business in Israel. In the health insurance segment, Harel holds a leading position with a market share of 33.9% as of the third quarter of 2024, offering comprehensive coverage including long-term care, critical illness, dental, and supplementary health services often in partnership with major providers like Clalit Health Services.[7] The non-life insurance segment, encompassing property, auto (including compulsory and comprehensive motor), liability, and travel policies, accounts for a 14.6% market share in Israel during the same period, with Harel recognized as the largest group in this category.[7] Meanwhile, the life insurance segment, focusing on term life, work disability, and savings-linked policies, secures a 21.8% market share, positioning Harel as the second-largest provider.[7] Across these segments, Harel generated total premiums, benefit contributions, and amounts received for investment contracts amounting to NIS 42.5 billion in 2024, reflecting sustained growth in policy sales and renewals.[2] Gross earned premiums for the year reached NIS 15,926 million, distributed as NIS 4,896 million in health, NIS 5,445 million in non-life, and NIS 5,585 million in life insurance.[18] These figures underscore Harel's emphasis on indemnity-based risk transfer products, with reinsurance arrangements ceding approximately 3.3% of health premiums, 33% of non-life, and 5.5% of life premiums to mitigate exposure.[7] Harel extends its insurance footprint internationally through wholly owned subsidiaries, including Turk Nippon in Turkey, which specializes in non-life and health insurance with a 0.64% market share in its home market, and Interasco in Greece, focusing on non-life insurance and reinsurance with a 1.6% share.[7] These operations contributed NIS 729 million in gross premiums in 2024, distributed via agents and brokers without exclusive agreements, and collaborate with global reinsurers such as Zurich and Swiss Re.[7][2] In specialized products, Harel provides credit insurance through its 50% stake in the Israel Credit Insurance Company (ICIC), a joint venture with Allianz Trade that covers export and domestic trade risks.[19] Additionally, via full ownership of Ezer Mortgage Insurance Company (EMI), acquired from AIG in 2009 for $35.5 million, Harel offers mortgage protection policies tailored to Israeli homebuyers, including coverage for default and property damage.[20] These niche offerings complement the core segments by addressing specific financial risks without overlapping into broader credit or asset management services. During the 2020s, Harel has invested in digital innovations to streamline claims processing, particularly in health insurance, expanding automated digital claim handling by 2020 to enhance efficiency and customer experience through technology-driven triage and submission portals. This includes substantial commitments to innovative digital processes that support faster adjudication and reduced administrative burdens, as evidenced by quarterly improvements in underwriting profits amid rising claims volumes.[21]Asset Management Activities
Harel Group's asset management operations are conducted primarily through its subsidiary Harel Finance, which oversees a range of investment products including pension funds, provident funds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and portfolio management services.[2] In the pension fund sector, Harel holds an 18% market share as of the third quarter of 2024, positioning it as the second-largest provider in Israel.[7] Its provident funds command an 8.9% market share, while mutual funds account for 14.8% of the market, making it the third-largest player in that category.[7] These activities focus on long-term savings and wealth accumulation, with Harel Finance providing diversified investment options to retail and institutional clients. The expansion into asset management accelerated following the Bachar Reform in the early 2000s, which liberalized Israel's financial sector and enabled insurance companies like Harel to acquire and manage pension and provident funds previously controlled by banks.[2] This reform facilitated Harel's entry into non-insurance financial products, including long-term savings plans that integrate with its insurance offerings to provide comprehensive client solutions.[2] As of December 31, 2024, Harel's total assets under management across these segments reached NIS 509.5 billion, reflecting significant growth driven by organic inflows and market performance.[7] Under International Financial Reporting Standard 17 (IFRS 17), Harel reported a net Contractual Service Margin (CSM) balance of NIS 16.7 billion in the first half of 2025, representing unearned profits from long-term contracts.[22] Of this balance, approximately NIS 5.7 billion is projected to be released to profit over the subsequent five years, underscoring the stable revenue stream from these activities.[22] In recognition of its performance, Harel Finance was named "Investment House of the Year" in 2023 by Adif, Israel's leading platform for insurance and financial content.[17]Credit and Financial Services
Harel Group's credit operations primarily focus on niche lending and guarantees, operating through specialized subsidiaries to extend financing beyond traditional insurance products. The group provides medium-sized business loans via Hamatzpen, in which it holds a 70% stake, targeting mezzanine financing of at least NIS 3 million per loan, supported by business management services and a credit facility from Harel Insurance.[23] Additionally, Harel 60+, a wholly owned subsidiary, offers mortgages and reverse mortgages tailored to seniors aged 60 and above, using home equity as collateral to provide liquidity without immediate repayment obligations during the borrower's lifetime.[2] Real estate developer financing complements these activities, extending credit to contractors and developers for property projects, leveraging the group's expertise in the Israeli real estate market.[2] In the realm of financial guarantees and export credit insurance, Harel maintains a 50% ownership in the Israel Credit Insurance Company (ICIC), which insures domestic and foreign trade risks, covering annual sales exceeding $15 billion and providing surety bonds for performance and advance payment obligations.[19] ICIC's services include credit risk protection for exporters and financial guarantees for mortgage portfolios in partnership with Ezer Mortgage Insurance Company (EMI), though EMI ceased issuing new high loan-to-value residential mortgage policies after 2013 and now manages legacy contracts.[23] Harel also issues direct guarantees totaling NIS 5,354 million as of 2024, covering third-party mortgage claims and reinsurance arrangements.[7] The credit portfolio has grown as part of Harel's diversification strategy since the 2010s, with the segment formalized as a distinct reporting unit in 2023 amid post-Bachar Reform expansions.[23] Total credit assets reached NIS 6.06 billion by the end of 2024, up from NIS 4,152 million in 2023, with combined Hamatzpen and Harel 60+ portfolios expanding from NIS 3,240 million in 2022 to NIS 3,950 million in 2023, driven by organic growth and comprehensive income rising 61% to NIS 103 million.[7] By 2024, the overall credit portfolio further increased to NIS 6.06 billion, yielding NIS 127 million in income, supported by the group's broader assets under management exceeding NIS 500 billion.[24] Risk assessment emphasizes the expected credit loss model, internal ratings, business analysis, and sensitivity testing to monitor defaults, particularly in real estate-backed lending.[23] Enhancing its fintech capabilities, Harel Finance, a group affiliate, entered a partnership with SCALE Lending in July 2024 to co-originate construction and bridge loans for U.S. multifamily and condominium projects, integrating institutional capital with digital platforms to streamline lending processes.[17] This collaboration builds on Harel's risk-managed approach, focusing on scalable, technology-enabled diversification into international markets.[17]Corporate Governance
Ownership and Leadership
The Harel Group is primarily controlled by the Hamburger family, which holds approximately 45.3% of the company's shares through G.Y.N. Economic Advice & Management Ltd., a holding company, as of July 2025, following a sale of shares worth NIS 200 million to Clal Insurance; public shareholders own the remaining approximately 54.7%.[9][25] This ownership structure underscores the family's enduring influence on the group's strategic decisions. The company's shares are listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and are included in both the TA-35 Index, comprising Israel's top 35 companies by market capitalization, and the broader TA-100 Index.[2][26] The Hamburger family, which founded the group, has maintained multi-generational involvement, with the current leadership driving significant expansions in insurance, asset management, and financial services since the early 2000s. Yair Hamburger serves as Chairman of the Board, providing oversight on major initiatives, while Gideon Hamburger acts as President and Director, contributing to operational and strategic direction. Ben Hamburger holds the position of Vice Chairman, supporting governance and investment strategies.[2][27][28] Nir Cohen has been Chief Executive Officer since February 2024, concurrently serving as CEO of Harel Insurance Company Ltd., where he focuses on integrating core operations across the group. Aryeh Yaakov Peretz, as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO, manages financial planning and resource allocation. The board of directors, comprising 13 members including independent directors and family representatives, ensures balanced oversight in line with Israeli regulatory standards.[6][29][27] Harel's corporate governance emphasizes shareholder returns through a formal dividend policy, committing to distribute at least 30% of its annual comprehensive income, as approved by the board and aligned with financial performance. This approach supports stability and investor confidence amid the group's growth.[1][16]Subsidiaries and Affiliates
The Harel Group, headquartered in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, Israel, manages its operations through a diverse array of subsidiaries and affiliates that span insurance, asset management, credit services, and international activities, employing over 5,000 people across these entities as of December 31, 2024.[7] These subsidiaries are overseen by the group's central leadership to ensure alignment with strategic objectives in the Israeli and global markets.[2] Key core subsidiaries include Harel Insurance Company Ltd., which is fully owned (100%) by the group and serves as the primary operating entity for life, non-life, and health insurance activities.[7] Another essential affiliate is Dikla Insurance Agency Ltd., holding a 49% stake post a partial sale, specializing in health and long-term care insurance services.[7] E.M.I. - Ezer Mortgage Insurance Co. Ltd. (100% owned) focuses on providing mortgage insurance, while ICIC - Israel Credit Insurance Co. Ltd. (50% owned) handles credit insurance for exporters and businesses.[2] HaMishmar Insurance Agency Ltd., a foundational brokerage entity, supports insurance distribution and agency services within the group.[30] Internationally, the group maintains affiliates such as Interasco A.E.G.A. in Greece (94% owned), which provides non-life and health insurance, and Turk Nippon Sigorta A.S. in Turkey (100% owned), concentrating on non-life insurance operations.[7][2] In the finance and credit segments, Harel Finance Holdings Ltd. (100% owned) oversees asset management and capital market activities, including subsidiaries like Harel Pension and Provident Ltd. (100% owned) for pension and provident fund management.[7] Hamatzpen Ltd. (70% owned via Harel Credit Holdings Ltd.) offers business credit and mezzanine financing solutions, while Harel 60+ Ltd. (100% owned) specializes in senior mortgages and reverse mortgages.[7][2]Financial Overview
Key Performance Metrics
In 2024, under IFRS 17, Harel Group's equity attributable to shareholders reached NIS 9.9 billion as of December 31.[18] The company reported comprehensive income after tax of NIS 1.6 billion, reflecting a return on equity (ROE) of 17%. This represents the first full-year reporting under IFRS 17, following the transition from IFRS 4 in 2024. Total premiums, benefit contributions, and amounts received for investment contracts amounted to NIS 42.5 billion for the year.[1] Assets under management stood at NIS 510 billion as of December 31, 2024.[2] For the second quarter of 2025, Harel Group achieved comprehensive income after tax of NIS 789 million, equivalent to an ROE of 29% and marking an 87% increase year-over-year.[3] This performance highlights continued growth in the company's core operations amid evolving regulatory standards, including the adoption of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, which influenced reporting frameworks starting in 2024.[24] In terms of market position within Israel's insurance sector as of December 31, 2023, Harel held a 23.5% share of total insurance based on premium volume.[2] Breakdowns include 38.3% in health insurance, 15.2% in non-life insurance (with sub-segments such as 11.3% in motor property and 12.4% in compulsory motor), 21.9% in life insurance, and 17.8% in pension fund management.[23] The company employs approximately 5,000 people, supporting its operations across insurance, asset management, and financial services.[31]| Segment (nine months ended September 30, 2023) | Market Share | Key Metric Example |
|---|---|---|
| Total Insurance | 23.5% | Premiums: NIS 17,772 million |
| Health Insurance | 38.3% | Earned premiums: NIS 6,091 million |
| Non-Life Insurance | 15.2% | Earned premiums: NIS 2,868 million |
| Life Insurance | 21.9% | Earned premiums: NIS 6,003 million |
| Pensions | 17.8% | Assets under management: NIS 128.2 billion |