Hong Leong Assurance Berhad (HLA) is one of the largest insurance companies in Malaysia. It is a well-established and respected Malaysian brand offering financial planning and protection solutions to meet the various needs of Malaysians at different cycles of their lives. Commitment to the customer is the key to HLA's success, where service is provided through a large network of branches, agents and brokers throughout the country as well as bancassurance and alternative distribution channels. HLA began as a General Insurance business under the name of Malaysia Pacific Insurance Berhad in 1972. The Life Insurance business was added into its portfolio a year later. In December 1982, Hong Leong Assurance Sdn Bhd, a composite insurance company was formed eventually acquiring the entire General and Life business of Malaysia Pacific Insurance. Today, HLA is a subsidiary of HLA Holdings Sdn Bhd (HLAH), which is wholly-owned by Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad (HLFG), the financial services arm of Hong Leong Group Malaysia. Pursuant to a strategic partnership, in October 2010, HLA merged its General Insurance business with MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd (MSIM). Concurrently, HLAH took a 30 percent equity interest in MSIM and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited (MSI) took a 30 percent equity interest in HLA. Moving forward, the General Insurance business would be provided by MSIM, while the life insurance business would continue to be provided by HLA. With the strategic partnership, HLA is poised to reach new horizons for its Life Insurance business. HLA is today one of Malaysia's leading domestic brands for financial planning and protection solutions, specializing in Life Insurance products and services.