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Business and Economics > Insurance

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 34 items for :

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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 Staff Climate Notes
Climate Change and Select Financial Instruments: An Overview of Opportunities and Challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa
Anna Belianska
,
Nadja Bohme
,
Kailhao Cai
,
Yoro Diallo
,
Saanya Jain
,
Mr. Giovanni Melina
,
Ms. Pritha Mitra
,
Mr. Marcos Poplawski Ribeiro
, and
Solo Zerbo
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the region in the world most vulnerable to climate change despite its cumulatively emitting the least amount of greenhouse gases. Substantial financing is urgently needed across the economy—for governments, businesses, and households—to support climate change adaptation and mitigation, which are critical for advancing resilient and green economic development as well as meeting commitments under the Paris Agreement. Given the immensity of SSA’s other development needs, this financing must be in addition to existing commitments on development finance. There are many potential ways to raise financing to meet adaptation and mitigation needs, spanning from domestic revenue mobilization to various forms of international private financing. Against this backdrop, S SA policymakers and stakeholders are exploring sources of financing for climate action that countries may not have used substantially in the past. This Staff Climate Note presents some basic information on opportunities and challenges associated with these financing instruments.
Keywords:
Climate finance; sub-Saharan Africa; climate change; mitigation; adaptation; concessional finance; green bonds; blue bonds; sustainability bonds; debt for climate swaps; carbon credits; climate insurance; climate funds; forest conservation; green development; IMF staff Climate note; IMF staff Climate Note 2022/009; solo Zerbo; SSA policymaker; SSA government; crowding out SSA project; Climate policy; Greenhouse gas emissions; Insurance; Global; Africa
Cover Policy Papers
2021 Comprehensive Surveillance Review— Background Paper on The Surveillance Priority Confronting Risks and Uncertainties
International Monetary Fund. Strategy, Policy, & Review Department
The coverage of risks has become more systematic since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC): staff reports now regularly identify major risks and provide an assessment of their likelihood and economic impact, summarized in Risk Assessment Matrices (RAM). But still limited attention is paid to the range of possible outcomes. Also, risk identification is useful only so much as to inform policy design to preemptively respond to relevant risks and/or better prepare for them. In this regard, policy recommendations in surveillance could be richer in considering various risk management approaches. To this end, progress is needed on two dimensions: • Increasing emphasis on the range of potential outcomes to improve policy design. • Encouraging more proactive policy advice on how to manage risks. Efforts should continue to leverage internal and external resources to support risk analysis and advice in surveillance.
Keywords:
baseline policy advice; fund surveillance; risk analysis; risk identification; policy recommendation; Insurance; Contingency planning; Natural disasters; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Austria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation-Technical Note on Insurance Sector—Regulation, Supervision, Recovery, and Resolution Regime Prospects
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This review provides an update on the Austrian insurance sector and an analysis of certain key aspects of the regulatory and supervisory regime. The note analyzes regulation and supervision in relation to key issues identified in previous Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAP), as well as material changes since the last FSAP. This note also covers the current situation and potential changes in the crisis management and early intervention framework of the insurance sector. It focuses on issues relevant to a long-standing policyholder protection mechanism, early intervention powers—existing and under discussion—and crisis management and resolution arrangements for insurance companies and groups. The analysis recommends that proper implementation of Solvency II needs ongoing validation and scrutiny by regulators, which could be at risk if supervisory resources with skills and expertise are not retained. Higher legal, reputational, and conduct risks are posing additional pressures to the life insurance sector. Market conduct supervision should be enhanced, with active use of enforcement powers in addition to the insights that studies launched by the government will provide.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; risk assessment; coverage ratio; FMA resource; enforcement case; FMA discussion; FMA staff; FMA supervisor; information exchange template; insurance assets; FMA stress test; FMA contribution; FMA calculation; FMA enforcement case; FMA official; conduct risk; Insurance companies; Insurance; Solvency; Stress testing; Bank resolution framework; Global
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
United Kingdom: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Review of the Bank of England’s Liquidity Provision Framework-Technical Note
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper provides a review of the liquidity provision framework and recent developments in the United Kingdom. The Bank of England’s (BoE’s) Sterling Monetary Framework is the mechanism used in the United Kingdom to direct liquidity provision. The BoE’s relatively wide-ranging and accessible liquidity insurance framework raises three key questions and four other issues relevant to financial stability. The quantification of implications of the liquidity framework for the BoE balance sheet is still a work in progress. Safeguards are generally sufficient, although the BoE should ensure that lower level of supervisory scrutiny directed at small- and medium-sized enterprises does not adversely impact its horizon-scanning for firms at risk of requiring liquidity support.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; central bank; Bank.; ELA; swap line; liquidity insurance framework; BoE sterilization operation; horizon-scanning function; BoE base rate; ELA framework; Liquidity; Insurance; Lender of last resort; Foreign currency liquidity; Liquidity risk; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
United States: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Review of the Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes for the Banking and Insurance Sectors-Technical Note
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Technical Note reviews the key attributes of effective resolution regimes for the banking and insurance sectors in the United States. The United States’ resolution regime for financial institutions has been significantly enhanced since the financial crisis. Over the past several years, the U.S. authorities have undertaken significant efforts to develop the capability to deploy the Orderly Liquidation Authority, if and when needed, to safeguard financial stability. Of particular importance is the development of the so-called single point of entry strategy, designed to take advantage of most systemically important financial institutions in the United States being organized under a holding company structure.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; financial company; State insurance; bank holding company; resolution power; resolution strategy; resolution authority; resolution regime; Bank resolution framework; Insurance companies; Insurance; Bank liquidation; Bridge bank; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
United States: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper discusses the results of the Financial System Stability Assessment on the United States made under the Financial Sector Assessment Program. It is found that welcome steps have been taken in strengthening the financial system. The Financial Stability Oversight Council now provides a useful forum for coordination, the regulatory perimeter has expanded, information sharing among agencies has improved, supervisory stress testing is leading changes in risk measurement and management, and new resolution powers have been established. However, new pockets of vulnerabilities have emerged, partly in response to the continuing search for yield. This requires a continuing focus on strengthening the micro and macroprudential framework.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; interest rate; asset; market; bank; yield; private sector; credit risk; student loan; interest rate risk; asset manager; financial crisis; market liquidity; return on assets; lender of last resort; low-for-long interest rates environment; Stress testing; Insurance companies; Systemic risk; Insurance; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Kosovo: Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This article summarizes the financial performance and crisis management of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo’s economic condition shows stability in systematic risks, but it also has vulnerabilities. Kosovo banks are exposed to macrofinancial risks because of its open economy, but the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK) has immensely promoted the growth and stability of the banking sector. CBK should also monitor certain interest rates, tax rates, and foreign rates. The current system should allow the growth of microfinance institutions to reach the competition in the global banking sector.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; central bank; return on equity; financial system; bank assets; interest rate; reserve fund; banking system; Commercial banks; Lender of last resort; Loans; Insurance companies; Insurance; Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Financial System Stability Assessment on France discusses the French financial system and the restructuring of French banks to different business models. The French banking system weathered the 2007–09 global financial crisis well. The large French banks have announced plans to meet Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital targets during 2013, and have divested noncore assets. The banks are increasing their liquidity and reducing their dependence on short-term and U.S. dollar wholesale funding. IMF staff recommends timely feedback and strengthened follow-up mechanisms in the supervisory process.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; interest rate; bank spread; French bank; bank equity price; financial crisis; Société Générale; banks bottom up; financial institution; bank cross-holdings; bank recapitalization purpose; banking system; bank capital; covered bond; bank basis; Insurance; Solvency; Insurance companies; Stress testing; Global; Europe