Partnerships

BlackRock Inc.'s private-debt business is exploring ways to tap the deep pockets of insurance companies that are increasingly looking to boost their allocations to the asset class.

A deal could be worth more than 1 billion ringgit ($213 million), the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private.

In other news: Nationwide launches digital platform Pet HealthZone and Bain Capital Insurance closes its 1.15B inaugural private equity fund.

Gild Insurance is on a mission to shake up the small business insurance industry with its constantly available online quote-to-bind services.

Allstate and John Hancock recently announced a partnership to reward John Hancock Vitality members with points if the policyholder is also a safe driver with the Allstate Drivewise program. The alliance is the first of its kind and could be an indicator of where the insurance industry may be going.

Similar approaches to technology will help the companies offer a unified customer experience, according to executives for each.

Also: Amica, AXA, Pacific Life insurtech partnerships, more.

Credit Karma worked with Zendrive to build driver scoring capabilities into its financial planning app, and Progressive will get the first referrals.

The insurer's plans are rooted in understanding the customer journey, says Chetan Kandhari, SVP and chief innovation and digital officer for Nationwide.

Ecosystem orchestrators and participants, such as car-sharing service vendors, could also collect and integrate massive amounts of data from different services