It takes a double-size margin on premium gas, but the highest grade represents only 2% of its gasoline sales, versus 7% industrywide.

FORBES: Inconvenience

In the latter years of Svanholm's regime, the world's big brewers were buying up local brands outside their home markets and then pumping their own premium, high-margin products through the local distribution networks.

FORBES: A Beer That Lost Its Head

Shinkong and China Life rely much more on first-year premiums than Cathay and, since the first-year premium is such a low-margin business, it means lower profits.

CNN: Another Lease on Life?

The criticism of them is that they tempt banks, which have to pay a premium to buy the deposits, to make riskier loans to keep a profitable margin.

FORBES: Bad News Banks