Sanlam, South Africa’s biggest insurer by market value, is buying smaller rival Assupol Life for R6.5-billion to help cement its footprint at home. The proposed transaction will see the 110-year-old Assupol become part of Sanlam’s insurance empire, boosting the latter’s offering when combined with Sanlam Sky, Safrican and a Capitec joint venture that’s set to close at the end of October.