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Business and Economics > Insurance

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 106 items for :

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Cover IMF Working Papers
Implementing Risk-Based Solvency for Insurers—Lessons from Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa
Peter Windsor
,
Suzette J Vogelsang
,
Christiaan Henning
,
Kerwin Martin
,
Elias Omondi
,
Gerardo Rubio
, and
Jooste Steynberg
International standards and best practice supports the implementation of a risk-based solvency regime in the regulation and supervision of insurers. Several emerging market and developing economies are transitioning to such a solvency regime or planning to do so. This paper discusses Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa’s journey to putting in place a risk-based solvency regime which had several common elements notwithstanding significantly different insurance sectors. The transition was a multi-year project requiring dedicated additional resources; restructuring of the regulator, including redesigning supervisory processes and tools and upgrading information technology systems; and significantly greater coordination between the regulator and the insurance industry.
Keywords:
Insurance; Risk-based Solvency; Risk-based supervision; solvency regime; Penetration rate; RBS project; solvency assessment; RBS implementation; supervision of insurer; Insurance companies; Solvency; Financial statements; Africa; Global
Cover Global Financial Stability Notes
Private Equity and Life Insurers
Fabio Cortes
,
Mohamed Diaby
, and
Peter Windsor
This Global Financial Stability Note studies the growing trend of private equity (PE) investments into the life insurance industry. PE companies’ investments in life insurers are integral to their strategic growth as PE firms evolve beyond the traditional leveraged buyout transaction to acquire diverse businesses across private credit, structured credit, private real estate funds, and private infrastructure funds. This note reviews the growth in PE investments through the lens of the diverse acquisition incentives and strategies, the consequent changes to asset allocation and investment strategies of the acquired life businesses, and potential prudential and policy implications.
Keywords:
private equity; life insurance; leveraged buyout transaction; private credit; structured credit; private real estate funds; private infrastructure funds; life insurer; private equity company; life insurance insurance company; PE company; IMF Library; Global Financial stability note; Insurance companies; Insurance; Credit; Financial statements; Asset allocation; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Government Insurance Against Natural Disasters: An Application to the ECCU
Mr. Alejandro D Guerson
This paper estimates insurance requirements against natural disasters (NDs) in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) using an insurance layering framework. The layers include a government saving fund, as well as market instruments. Each layer is calibrated to cover estimated fiscal cost of NDs according to intensity and expected damage. The results indicate that ECCU countries could target saving fund stocks for relativelly smaller and more frequent events in the range of 6-12 percent of GDP, enough to cover 95 percent of NDs’ fiscal costs. To ensure financially-sustainable saving funds with a low probability of depletion, this requires annual budget savings in the range os 0.5 to 1.9 percent of GDP per year. Additional coverage could be obtained with market instruments for large and less frequent events, albeit at a significant cost.The results are based on a Monte-Carlo experiment that simulates natural disaster shocks and their impact on output and government finances.
Keywords:
ECCU; fiscal cycles; Monte Carlo experiment; debt sustainability.; WP; SF stock; ECCU country; CCRIF payout; financing flow; annual budget; cost composition; insurance cost; Natural disasters; debt sustainability; payout amount; rate of return; Insurance; Standing facilities; Stocks; Caribbean
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
United States: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Insurance Supervision and Regulation
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Technical Note (TN) is a targeted review of cross-cutting themes building on the detailed assessment of the Insurance Core Principles (ICPs) conducted in 2015. The targeted review was chosen, in part, due to the performance of the U.S. insurance regulatory system in the 2015 detailed assessment where it was assessed that the U.S. observed 8 ICPs, largely observed 13 ICPs and partly observed 5 ICPs. The analysis relied on a targeted self-assessment against a subset of ICPs covering valuation and solvency, risk management, conduct, winding-up, corporate governance and enforcement, and the objectives, powers and responsibility of supervisors. The choice of subjects covered in this review is based on those aspects most significant to financial stability and a follow-up on key recommendations from the 2015 detailed assessment. The focus of the analysis has been on the state-based system of regulation and supervision, reflecting the existing institutional setup.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; insurance regulator; holding company; life insurance; risk management; balance sheet; financial condition; State insurance act; state insurance department; State insurance regulator; State regulator; federal government; Insurance companies; Insurance; Natural disasters; Financial statements; Solvency; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Accounting Standards and Insurer Solvency Assessment
Peter Windsor
,
Jeffery Yong
, and
Michelle Chong-Tai Bell
The paper explores the use of accounting standards for insurer solvency assessment in the context of the implementation of IFRS 17. The paper is based on the results of a survey of 20 insurance supervisors. Overall, IFRS 17 is a welcome development but there will be challenges of implementation. Not many insurance supervisors currently intend to use IFRS 17 as a basis for solvency assessment of insurers. Perceived shortcomings can be overcome by supervisors providing clear specifications where the principles-based standard allows a range of approaches. Accounting standards can provide a ready-made valuation framework for supervisors developing new solvency frameworks.
Keywords:
WP; insurance contract; insurance supervisor; impact study; insurance liability; measurement approach; solvency position; Insurers; Supervisors; IFRS; IFRS 17; Solvency; Capital; Supervision; accounting practice; International Financial Reporting Standards; Insurance companies; Accounting standards; Insurance; Global; Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes for Insurance Companies
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note explores key attributes of effective resolution regimes (KA) for insurance companies on France. The safety net in the sector is composed by two policyholder protection schemes, which can provide support in liquidation proceedings. The report highlights that there is consensus with the authorities that the new framework reflects many, however, not all elements needed for full compliance with the KAs, and the areas where further progress is needed. Alignment of the framework with KAs in terms of the institutional organization and infrastructure is high. The scope and responsibilities of the Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority are clearly established in the law, as well as the cases when those are applicable, and its interaction with other relevant policy-making entities. The new framework targets all institutions considered systemic, given their size and other relevant features. Its’ current implementation is guided solely by the threshold in terms of total assets; any holding company, group, mutual, or foreign subsidiary above this level is subject to Recovery and Resolution Planning requirements.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; resolution authority; resolution framework; home authority; home authorities; resolution college; resolution plan; holding company; resolution measure; insurance resolution; Bank resolution framework; Insurance companies; Legal support in revenue administration; Insurance; Bridge bank; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Thailand: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment of Observance-Insurance Core Principles
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Detailed Assessment of Observance on Insurance Core Principles on Thailand discusses that the government of Thailand has made a concerted effort to develop the insurance sector. The government has implemented a series of insurance development plans toward this end. Some significant regulatory and supervisory challenges remain, however, if Thailand is to continue to meet the pressures of a changing market and to continue to build the trust on which future growth depends. Consideration should be given to vesting more supervisory authority for key supervisory decisions with the Commission rather than with the Minister and Cabinet. Vesting authority with the Commission will help to ensure that the insurance supervisor has adequate powers to meet the objectives of insurance supervision. With respect to winding up and exit from the market, the insurance legislation should be amended to clearly establish a point at which it is no longer permissible for a troubled insurer to continue in business.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; risk management; state enterprise; corporate governance; insurance coverage; steering committee; board of directors; interest rate; risk assessment; credit risk; senior management; limited company; risk capital; independent auditor; cash flow; preference shares; Insurance companies; Insurance; Internal controls; Capital adequacy requirements; Auditing; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Financial System Stability Assessment paper on France provides summary of an assessment of the financial system. Dominated by internationally active financial conglomerates, the French financial system has made important progress since the last financial stability assessment program (FSAP). In order to address a build-up of systemic risks, the authorities have proactively used macroprudential measures and public communication. The government is pursuing a strategy to prepare Paris as a key financial hub, including by promoting crypto-assets, fintech, green finance, and market entry. Banking and insurance business lines, and the corporate sector, carry important financial vulnerabilities that need close attention. The FSAP thus has recommended augmenting policy tools to contain vulnerabilities and continue to act pre-emptively if systemic risks intensify. In order to mitigate intensification of corporate—and potentially household—vulnerabilities, the FSAP proposed: active engagement with the European Central Bank on the possible use of bank-specific measures; considering fiscal measures to incentivize corporates to finance through equity rather than debt; and a sectoral systemic risk buffer.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; asset; return on equity; bank; financial system; U.S. dollar; debt service; real GDP; monetary policy; banking sector; asset quality; Insurance companies; Insurance; Stress testing; Financial statements; Liquidity requirements; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Switzerland: Financial Sector Assessment Program; Technical Note-Insurance Regulation and Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
Financial Sector Assessment Program; Technical Note-Insurance Regulation and Supervision
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; financial market; FINMA ordinance; insurance sector; resolution procedure FINMA; FINMA coordination agreement; FINMA group supervision; FINMA staff; institutions FINMA supervise; insurance intermediary; board of directors; market value; Insurance companies; Insurance; Insurance supervision; Solvency; Legal support in revenue administration; Europe; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Building Resilience in Developing Countries Vulnerable to Large Natural Disasters
International Monetary Fund. Strategy, Policy, &amp
,
Review Department
,
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
, and
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
This paper discusses how countries vulnerable to natural disasters can reduce the associated human and economic cost. Building on earlier work by IMF staff, the paper views disaster risk management through the lens of a three-pillar strategy for building structural, financial, and post-disaster (including social) resilience. A coherent disaster resilience strategy, based on a diagnostic of risks and cost-effective responses, can provide a road map for how to tackle disaster related vulnerabilities. It can also help mobilize much-needed support from the international community.
Keywords:
PP; country; country effort; lending toolkit; executive board assessment; disaster-vulnerable country; donor country; climate funds; Natural disasters; Insurance; Disaster aid; Climate change; Fiscal space; Caribbean; Pacific Islands