• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.351-365
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• 2024

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the value relevance of the relative sizes of the contractual service margin (hereafter CSM) and the risk adjustment for non-financial risk (hereafter RA). Additionally, the paper examines how the relative size of the CSM impacts the relative value relevance of net assets and net income. Design/methodology/approach - This study conducted an empirical analysis utilizing the quarterly financial data and stock price information of domestically listed insures (including life and non-life insurers) from 2023 onwards. Specifically, regression analysis and parallelism tests were employed in the research. Findings - Firstly, the empirical analysis of the value relevance of CSM and RA showed that CSM has a significant positive value relevance with firm value, while RA has a significant negative value relevance with firm value. Secondly, it was found that as the CSM increases, the value relevance of net income increases, whereas the value relevance of net assets decreases. Research implications or Originality - Despite both CSM and RA being components of insurance contract liabilities, their differing impacts on firm value suggest that the capital market has a relatively clear understanding of the characteristics of CSM and RA. The finding that the value relevance of reported current earnings increases with larger CSM indicates that CSM-focused management is desirable from the perspective of enhancing firm value.