More than half of insurers are planning to complete sales by the start of 2017, according to a study from Towers Watson, up from just 20% saying the equivalent last year.
In aa study by the consultancy and Merger Market, of 265 insurance executives at insurers and reinsurers across both the life and non-life sectors, 60% admitted plans to sell.
At the same time, the percentage of organisations saying they expect to make an acquisition in the same time-frame fell from 69% to 42%.
Transaction numbers completed in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions were in the first half of 2014 remained broadly in line with the same period in 2013, however, deal value more than halved from €8.1bn to €3.9bn.
However, survey nonetheless suggested transaction activity will rise, with 84% predicting capital inflows into the EMEA insurance sector over the next three years and strong interest from financial buyers, with half citing private equity as the most important source of capital for insurance M&A in the next three years.
EMEA life insurance leader Fergal O'Shea said: "Private equity investment in the EMEA insurance sector is already at its highest level for nine years.
"A combination of insurers seeking consolidation, low interest rates, the cash generative nature of insurance businesses and the revival of initial public offering opportunities across many parts of Europe should heighten the appeal of insurance assets to private equity investors."
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