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The primary source of global captive insurance news and analysis 25 November 2020 - Issue 212
Insure the unexpected
AXA XL’s Owen Williams discusses the current captive market and the most significant challenges facing the industry
Redomestication Focus Latin America
Why companies are redomesticating their Although challenges remain, education has
captives and the opportunities it provides them been key to the region’s captive growth The World’s Leading Independent Captive Manager
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Issue 212
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1349PCP_Captive Review_20200211.indd 1 2/12/20 12:09 PM Contents
News Focus page 07 In this issue Market Insight
Owen Williams discusses the current captive market and the most significant challenges facing the industry
page 19
Redomestication Focus
Industry experts discuss why companies are choosing to redomesticate their captives and the opportunities it provides them
page 22
Latin America
Latin America continues to be one of the world’s largest emerging markets, and although challenges remain, education has been key to the region’s captive insurance market growth
page 25
Emerging Talent Industry Appointments Bron Turner, director, financial services audit at KPMG in Bermuda The latest industry appointments in the page 29 captive insurance market page 32
Set up an EU based protected cell with the independent experts Capital, time & cost efficient alternative to a standalone insurer or captive Direct access to the UK and EU market
People you can trust
Contact us on t: +356 2343 5221 | e: [email protected] | www.atlaspcc.eu
Atlas Insurance PCC Limited is a cell company authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority to carry on general insurance business.
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ToTo find find out out more more about about how how SunTrust SunTrust can support can support and enhance and enhance your reinsurance your reinsurance business,business, please please contact: contact:
DonnyDonny Tong Tong JosephJos Mephona coMonaco Barbara AubryBarbara Aubry SVP,SVP, Business Business Development DevelopmentVP, CVlientP, C Malientnagement Management SVP, BusinessSVP, DevelopmentBusiness Development 212.590.0976212.590.0976 212.303.1746212.303.1746 212.303.4164212.303.4164 [email protected]@suntrust.com [email protected]@[email protected]@suntrust.com News Focus
MAXIS GBN adds new captive tool to its OneClient portal
MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) of a captive, including income, expenses and MAXIS stated that the data visualisations high- has launched a suite of new data and digital ser- incurred benefits. light the overall performance, premium and vices on its OneClient portal, including a new expenses distribution, loss ratio heatmaps, interactive dashboard for captive and global risk The interactive graphs enable the captive client results and reserves overview, among other solution (GRS) clients. to identify outliers and badly performing policies. visualisations. The interactive dashboard for pool- ing clients has also been upgraded to improve This interactive dashboard will be available for all Commenting on the captive dashboard, Helga navigation. MAXIS GBN captive clients and will provide the Viegas, director of digital and innovation, MAXIS latest quarterly data and enable more insight into GBN said: “The interactive captive dashboard was MAXIS GBN explained that pooling clients will the captive programme performance. a much-awaited development after the success- be able to manage new local policies potentially ful launch of our pooling dashboard last year. being added into their global programme with In addition, it includes filters by year, country, We’re constantly investing in our suite of digi- the ability to review new local policies, exclude product, sub-product and policy and provides tal solutions to ensure our multinational clients specific ones and download information about views of the programme on a reinsurance or have the right tools to manage their investment policies previously added. cash basis and allows selection between two-loss in employee benefits.” ratio formulas. MAXIS GBN originally launched OneClient in “Through these digital tools and dashboards, 2017, with the aim to provide clients with access MAXIS explained that a loss development we help clients to better understand the to reports, as well as to compliance and market triangle enables clients to evaluate risks and lia- drivers of spend and develop strategies and data on employee benefits markets worldwide. bilities along with an assessment of premium and interventions to help reduce costs in future,” reserve levels. Viegas added. The employee benefits network relaunched the OneClient portal in 2019 with new analytics tools Meanwhile, the enhanced data visualisations In addition, MAXIS is also launching a new inter- to give its global multinational clients access allow loss ratios to be displayed as an inter- active GRS dashboard, which allows clients to to comprehensive claims reports, programme active heatmap by country and product and have a better understanding of their GRS perfor- performance metrics, market analytics and intel- provide a complete performance breakdown mance over their three-year cycle. ligence. ■
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ABTA’s new bonding scheme to ‘protect captive’, says Chris Photi
UK trade association for tour operators and travel and financial services at ABTA, explained: “Chris very large values of pre-payments made for agents ABTA has “significantly departed” from its Photi is stating that in some cases ABTA has 2020 holidays that are being carried forward long-established published bonding scheme to increased bond requirements, which is true in a to 2021.” a new unpublished maximum protection bond relatively small number of cases.” structure in order to protect its captive, which “These values can exceed that which would nor- Chris Photi, head of travel and leisure at White de Vial suggested that Photi has made “a jump mally be held through the winter and into the Hart Associates (WHA), said is “causing difficulties” of logic” because a bond for a particular trader pre-summer booking period, hence a level of for many of its members. has increased when a trader is doing less new bond required to reflect that,” he added. business during the COVID-19 pandemic, Photi explained that ABTA has faced some mate- and ABTA must therefore have changed its de Vial highlighted the ABTA scheme of financial rial failures over the last year, including STA Travel scheme/approach. protection, as a Department for Business, Energy and Cruise and Maritime Voyages, and the impact and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) approved body to its captive is currently unknown. He said: “The reality is that in those cases the scheme, it is required to implement a regime that increased bond reflects an increased value brings all participants into compliance with the He said that such failures have led ABTA to “sig- of customer money held over from cancelled 2018 regulations. nificantly depart” from its long-established bookings in 2020, which the law requires traders published bonding scheme to a new unpub- to protect.” He explained that this is a question of compli- lished maximum protection bond structure ance with the law and providing effective security which he said is “causing difficulties” for many of The travel industry has been hit hard especially to achieve that. It is not a change of policy by its members. recently with the COVID-19 pandemic and the ABTA, it is a change of risk and exposure pattern travel bans implemented across the world. It has as a result of this crisis. ABTA’s members “have had no prior notice or any also been hit in the UK by several travel groups clarity of this new approach”, according to Photi. collapsing including Thomas Cook Group in 2019. “Photi says that this is difficult for traders, and we completely agree,” de Vial stated. The only guidance notes for members are the However, as de Vial pointed out ABTA and ABTA ones available on the ABTA website which was Insurance PCC have been completely unaffected He commented: “The bond market, both with published in February 2015, he explained. (financially) by the impact of the Thomas Cook banks and insurance surety providers is difficult. Group failure. Additional security and costs are common, at a The new bonding approach has not been pub- time when traders can least afford it. But, ulti- lished to members in revised guidance notes ABTA revealed that its captive was not affected by mately, it is a business decision for a trader to and is being implemented on a case-by-case that collapse, which Photi accepted after the UK rebook customers to a future season and to retain approach without prior rounded consultation or travel association recently confirmed this publicly. their funds. With that business decision comes discussion with members. the legal obligation to protect consumer prepay- de Vial dismissed explained that ABTA’s approach ments in relation to package travel.” Photi suggested ABTA’s new approach is evi- has not changed, it is the exposure represented dently to “protect” its captive. by the trader. “Consumer confidence rests, in part, on the assur- ance of financial protection and it is our role to Commenting on the suggested new bonding He noted: “This is because, for some traders, ensure that ABTA bonded packages are properly approach, John de Vial, director of membership despite a reduction in new business, there are protected,” de Vial added. ■
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VTC001-20_Captive_Insurance_Times_Full_Page.indd 1 1/13/20 7:30 PM News Focus
UK grants Solvency II equivalence to EEA states
The UK Government has revealed that the UK has determine that, for the purposes of Article 5 of HM Treasury announced as many decisions as we granted Solvency II equivalence to the European the Credit Rating Agencies Regulation which will can in advance of the end of the transition period Economic Area (EEA) states, including the mem- form part of UK law at the end of the Transition provided for under the agreement on the UK’s ber states of the European Union. Period, the EEA States are equivalent. withdrawal from the EU on 31 December 2020.”
In the statement, the government confirmed It said: “This means non-systemic credit rating It added: “Granting these equivalence decisions Solvency II regulation will form part of UK law agencies (CRAs) authorised or registered in the provides a range of benefits, including support- at the end of the transition period with the EU, EEA States will be able apply to be certified in the ing well regulated open markets, facilitating stating the purposes of Articles 378, 379 and 380 UK, subject to certain regulatory requirements.” effective pooling and management of risk, and of the solvency regulation will form part of the supporting UK and EEA clients’ access to financial UK law. Endorsement also allows for the cross-border use services and market liquidity.” of ratings between the UK and the EU, which the It explained that the direction covers all three government said will allow UK-registered CRAs In October, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the equivalence decisions covering both reinsurance to endorse credit ratings issued from affiliated exchequer, announced that the government had and group capital treatment. EU CRAs which allows them to be used for regu- started the first stage of reviewing the Solvency latory purposes by UK firms. II regulation by calling upon the UK insurance The government also noted that a full set of industry for evidence. Solvency II equivalence decisions for the EEA However, one condition for endorsement is that states is beneficial for the UK by providing cer- the EU regulatory and supervisory framework is The UK Government’s aim of the review is tainty and continuity. deemed to be ‘as stringent as’ the UK framework, to “ensure that Solvency II properly reflects the government explained. the unique structural features of the UK The Solvency II directive, which came into effect insurance sector”. on 1 January 2016, is an EU law that codifies and The Financial Conduct Authority concluded a harmonises the EU insurance regulation. positive endorsement assessment in March 2019. The main objectives of the review are “to spur a vibrant, innovative, and internationally com- Also in the statement the UK Government The UK Government said: “To provide clarity and petitive insurance sector” in order to “to protect revealed that the Credit Rating Agencies stability to industry and reflecting the govern- policyholders and ensure the safety and sound- Regulation Equivalence Directions 2020 will ment’s commitment to be as open as possible ness of firms”. ■
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Captives set to benefit from revisions to Insurance Oversight Act in Switzerland
Captive insurance companies active in For the part of the risks which captives do not supervision under the current regime. Under Switzerland are set to benefit from the partial underwrite from the same group of companies as the current regime, reinsurance captives estab- revision of the Insurance Oversight Act (IOA), described above, Lafita suggested that captives lished in Switzerland are subject to regulatory which regulates the supervision of re/insurance may still profit from a similar regulatory relief on relief according to which tied assets provisions undertakings and insurance intermediaries request of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory do not apply. in Switzerland. Authority (FINMA), if the relevant policyhold- ers qualify as professional clients under the According to Lafita, the regime of relief for rein- The IOA aims to protect insured parties from the revised IOA. surance will continue under the revised IOA and risks of insurer insolvency and abuses. will be aligned with the new relief for intra-group Professional clients are mainly clients that captive re/insurance and professional clients. The revision areas of the IOA include new possi- have professional risk management with “The main effect of the new provisions relates, bilities to restructure, consumer protection-based certain exceptions. therefore, to direct insurance captives domiciled regulatory and supervisory concept, and insur- in Switzerland or abroad.” ance intermediation. She said: “For the part of the insurance business where the mentioned relief does not apply, the “Direct insurance captives domiciled abroad are Under the revisions, captives that are subject to standard regulatory provisions apply, following mainly subject to Swiss supervision when they Swiss supervision will profit from regulatory relief like this the principle of proportionality.” insure risks located in Switzerland,” she added. when they provide insurance or reinsurance ser- vices exclusively to companies of their group that In order to be able to profit from the regulatory Lafita explains that mixing insurance and rein- are not active in the professional insurance busi- relief, captives must state in which business they surance risks within captives subject to Swiss ness of third parties. will be acting within six months from the entry supervision also allows a proportional approach, into force of the IOA. Lafita noted: “They will be the provisions on tied assets not applying to the Diana Lafita, attorney at law at Loyens & Loeff, able to choose between a) wholesale business reinsurance part of the business. an international law and tax firm with offices with professional clients; b) intra-group captive in Switzerland and the Benelux, explained: “In business as described above and c) non-pro- Revision areas particular, they will be relieved from establish- fessional business (with no regulatory relief). A ing tied assets and an organisation fund, as well mixture is allowed with the consequences as Under current law for the right to restructure, as from affiliating with an Ombudsman – the mentioned above.” applicable insurance law obliges the Swiss latter being a requirement for insurers and inde- Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) pendent insurance intermediaries under the Reinsurance captives that are established outside to order bankruptcy proceedings as soon as revised IOA.” of Switzerland are already excluded from Swiss an insurance undertaking gets into financial
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difficulty. However, the Federal Council sug- solely with professional clients, for example, It also stated that there are to be new special gested that restructuring would be better from large companies with professional risk man- requirements on avoiding conflicts of interest, the insured parties’ standpoint, as they gener- agement that do not have a special need f and, for independent insurance intermediar- ally have an interest in seeing their insurance or protection. ies, on disclosing compensation from insurance policies continue. undertakings or third parties. In addition, the Federal Council noted that there The proposed right to restructure closes this gap is the possibility for small insurance undertak- The federal council said: “As regards the sale of and should strengthen consumer protection. ings with innovative business models to be either certain insurance-based investment products, wholly or partly exempted from supervision. special conduct rules and a duty to provide infor- For consumer protection-based regulatory and mation will be introduced – as has already been supervisory concepts, the bill proposed the intro- On insurance intermediation, the Federal done for financial instruments under the new duction of client categorisation. Council stated that the legislation on interme- Financial Services Act.” diation should be modernised and consumer The Federal Council explained that insur- protection strengthened, in particular by intro- During the consultation, the bill met with a ance undertakings should benefit from ducing a general requirement to affiliate to positive response overall, according to the relaxed supervisory requirements if they deal an ombudsman. federal council. ■
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12 www.captiveinsurancetimes.com News Focus
ProSight onboards four captives outlined that currently, it has four captives of related reinstatement premiums on reinsur- since January launch onboard and three others being launched shortly. ance contracts.
ProSight Global, a property and casualty insur- “In addition, we have numerous high-quality ProSight explained that most of the loss activity ance company, has written more than $19 mil- opportunities in the pipeline,” he added. Ciofani stems from hurricane Laura, which hit the Gulf lion in its captive solutions since launching at the explained: “We see this a direct extension of our Coast of the US in August of this year and the start of this year. It was announced in January niche-driven approach to business in that these California and Oregon wildfires. It also reported that ProSight would expand its insurance solu- customer groups are taking that ‘next step’ in a combined ratio of 108.3 percent compared to tions into the captive insurance market. terms of controlling their own risk management 98.3 percent in Q3 2019, which ProSight said expense, and we are happy to help and provide reflected 11.6 points of catastrophe losses and Anthony Ciofani, alternative markets officer at whatever support and guidance they require.” the impact of related reinstatement premiums ProSight, stated: “We are excited about our entry in Q3 2020 compared to zero points in Q3 2019. into the captive market.” Recently, ProSight reported that Q3 2020 was the largest catastrophe quarter in the compa- The combined ratio excluding the impact of He revealed that since ProSight’s captive ny’s history. The results showed pre-tax impact catastrophes is 96.7 percent for the current launched earlier this year, it has written $19.7 of catastrophes of $22 million, which includes period compared to 98.3 percent for the Q3 million on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. Ciofani over $16.9 million of net losses and $5.1 million 2019. ■
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13 www.captiveinsurancetimes.com News Focus
WTW: ILS market remains resilient amid test and ongoing challenges
With recent tests and ongoing challenges over Other results showed that over 80 percent of Commenting on the report, William Dubinsky, the past three years, the insurance-linked secu- end investors expect to either increase their ILS managing director Willis Re Securities, said: rities (ILS) market remains resilient, according to allocation in the next 12 months or expect it to “The survey suggests that the ILS market may a new Willis Towers Watson (WTW) report on the be unchanged. have adapted more swiftly and effectively than ILS market. generally reported to the challenges posed Meanwhile, about a third of end investors by Hurricane Irma and subsequent events The report showed that most end investors are indicated that they had postponed new ILS allo- over recent years, but the story is not over. satisfied with their ILS performance, with 86 per- cations as a result of COVID-19. Notwithstanding guarded optimism, COVID- cent of ILS funds expecting market growth of 5 19 and continued uncertainty around other percent or more cumulatively during the next At the end of 2019, before any potential property-related losses have created additional five years. impacts of COVID-19, two-thirds of ILS funds challenges for end investors, ILS funds, and ced- reported trapped collateral of 5 percent or less ants alike.” It also highlighted that more than half of rein- of their assets under management, according to surance and insurance companies surveyed the survey. Nadia Schmidt, alternative capital practice group worldwide now use ILS capacity. leader, Willis Re International noted: “The survey It also revealed that four in five fund manager also reveals some disconnects. Insurers and rein- The survey was conducted between June and respondents expect climate change to create surers would like to use ILS capacity to protect August 2020 and included 122 global ILS market significant threats and opportunities for the ILS risks beyond natural catastrophes, like cyber and participants to provide a snapshot of the views market during the next five years. casualty risks, but end investors have little appe- of the ILS industry. tite. Investors and funds see steady growth ahead, The use of ILS remains stable over the last but some buyers have been more restrained in Participants came from four segments including two years with, similar to 2018, over half (56 their behaviour towards ILS.” end investors, ILS funds, insurance and reinsur- percent) of insurers and reinsurers accessing ance companies, and corporate risk managers. ILS capacity. “However, these seem to be relatively minor con- cerns. Overall, our survey reveals that ILS capacity The survey showed that across the board, ILS However, only 17 percent, down from 27 percent providers and ILS capacity users alike remain funds and end investors expect further growth in 2018, still derive more than 20 percent of their committed to the market and feel positively driven by factors such as the impact of climate capacity limit from ILS. about the health and future of ILS,” she added. change and the positive ESG characteristics of ILS. Elsewhere, the survey showed that 70 percent The survey constituted 58 providers of ILS capac- End-investor respondents identified non-ca- of the North American insurers and reinsurers ity and 64 capacity users including insurance and tastrophe weather insurance (64 percent) and life, who access ILS capacity derive between 11 per- reinsurance companies and corporate risk man- accident and health risks (46 percent) as suitable cent and 30 percent of capacity from ILS, while agers. It aims to capture global and regional for ILS mandates, but less than a quarter found 70 percent of their international counterparts trends with 44 percent of capacity users respond- appeal in ILS for other perils, with only 5 percent say ILS is the source for less than 10 percent ents coming from North America and 56 percent interested in securitised cyber risk. of capacity. coming from the rest of the world. ■
14 www.captiveinsurancetimes.com Industry Appointments
News Focus
brings 40 years of actuarial experience in the re/insurance industry to Aspen. Pacific Life Re completes UK longevity swap via Guernsey-based captive Prior to managing his own consulting firm, Pacific Life Re, who manage clients mortality, Murphy said: “We are delighted to have andhe servedfollowing as a executivevery competitive vice president process includ and- longevity, and morbidity risk, has completed a worked with the Trustee of the Prudential Staff inggroup many chief bidding actuary reinsurers, at Validus Pacific Group Life from Re longevity swap transaction with the Trustee of Pension Scheme and Willis Towers Watson on was2010 selected.” to 2019. He also held various senior- the Prudential Staff Pension Scheme. this transaction.” level roles for Fireman’s Fund, Endurance, and KPMG. “We were pleased to be able to build on the
The longevity swap covers pension liabilities She added: “This transaction demonstrates the trustees’Mark Cloutier, in-depth executive understanding chairman of andthis of £3.7 billion relating to over 20,000 pension- continuingAndrew Kudera strength hasand capacitybeen appointed of the rein- typegroup of chief transaction executive to officer,help them commented: achieve ers in the scheme and was structured using a suranceexecutive sector vice to supportpresident pension and schemegroup attractive“Welcoming terms an industry-leadingthat reduce risk expert and Guernsey-based captive insurance company. de-riskingchief actuary in a time ofof increased Aspen uncertainty Insurance with enhanceof Andy memberKudera’s security. quality The to transactionour team Holdings (Aspen), effective 3 increases our capabilities, allowing us regards to future life expectancy.” demonstrates both the appetite of defined February 2020. to transform our business, simplify and The swap aims to protect the scheme from the benefit schemes to de-risk their liabilities enhance our operations, and increase financial risk of an unexpected increase in life WillisAspen’s Towers previous Watson group led the chief advice actuary, for the Paul trus- andaccountability how transactions across thesecan be functions.” successfully expectancy and to make the scheme more secure teeFrydas, and CMS will provided assume external the new legal role counsel of chief for structured within the current environment,” to the benefit of all its members. Pacificanalytics Life officerRe. and will lead strategic he“Kudera’s concluded. capabilities and fresh pricing, aggregation management and perspective, paired with Paul Frydas’ modelling. Frydas will remain chief actuary considerable expertise and experience, Elaine Murphy, longevity director at Pacific Life Re, Ian Aley, head of transactions at Willis Towers In addition, in June, the Willis Pension Scheme for Aspen Insurance UK, Aspen Managing will create a strong partnership across explained the completion and size of the deal as Watson, noted: “This transaction follows a entered into a longevity swap transaction with Agency and Aspen Bermuda.Kudera complementary disciplines,” he adds. a “huge achievement” despite the challenges of period of working with the trustee to identify Munich Re to manage longevity risk concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. the optimal solution. Within a vibrant market £1 billion of pensioner liabilities. ■
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40 Captive Insurance Times - Issue 192 15 www.captiveinsurancetimes.com News Focus
Labuan reports a strong H1 with Civen and GIC acquire insurance broker Miller seven new captives
Specialist insurance and reinsurance broker and China Pacific Insurance group in China. The Labuan International Business and Financial Miller Insurance has been acquired by Cinven, Centre (IBFC) has seen more than 50 percent the international private equity firm, and Yong Cheen Choo, chief investment officer of increase in licensing application approvals for H1 GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund from private equity, GIC, said the company look for- 2020, resulting in more than 800 licensed entities its partners and corporate member, Willis ward to supporting Greg Collins, CEO of Miller, currently operating in the domicile. Towers Watson. and his team on future expansion opportuni- ties for Miller. In reinsurance, Labuan IBFC continued to see The transaction, which is expected to complete growth in the insurance industry with 11 new Q1 2021, represents the first investment from Choo added: “As a long-term investor, we are licenses being approved of which seven were Cinven’s new financial services sector-focused confident in the growth potential of the spe- captive insurance entities. strategy, which will be looking at similar long- cialty insurance sector, and of Miller within it.” term opportunities across Europe. “Captive insurance is certainly growing in size as Commenting on the acquisition, Collins it now attributes 31.4 percent of total gross pre- Financial details of the transaction are explained: “We are very pleased to be partner- miums underwritten in Labuan IBFC, amounting not disclosed. ing with Cinven and GIC, whose knowledge to $267.9 million with 72.8 percent of the total and insurance investment expertise will enor- captive premiums from international markets,” Miller, which operates in the UK, Lloyd’s and mously support our business as we enter this Datuk Danial Mah Abdullah, director-general of internationally, works across a number of spe- important next phase of growth.” Labuan Financial Services Authority (FSA) said. cialist areas, including marine, energy, credit and political risks, delegated authorities, pro- He noted: “We are excited about bringing Abdullah continued: “This is in line with the sta- fessional risks, property, casualty, sports and together our combined expertise to bolster our tus of Labuan IBFC as a regional wholesale risk entertainment and reinsurance. best in class client service and solutions and intermediating centre. In fact, for the first half of strengthen Miller’s position in our core activi- 2020, 64.5 percent of total gross written premi- Headquartered in London, it places approxi- ties. This includes making incremental targeted, ums of the reinsurance industry originated from mately £2 billion worth of premiums annually. strategic investments as we look to realise our international markets.” ambition of becoming the leading independ- Miller also has offices in Ipswich, Brussels, Paria, ent specialist reinsurance broking firm. I would “We expect this percentage to increase as we Singapore and Geneva. also like to take this opportunity to thank Willis develop Labuan even further as a centre of risk Towers Watson for their support over the last management and reinsurance through inno- Cinven Funds has previously made investments five years.” vation. For instance, Labuan IBFC is the only in the European insurance sector including jurisdiction in Asia that offers protected cell Guardian Financial Services in the UK, Eurovita Luigi Sbrozzi, Partner of Cinven, commented: companies (PCC),” he added. in Italy and Viridium in Germany. “Miller is a highly attractive, resilient special- ist insurance business with strong long-term In September, Labuan IBFC reported that it regis- It has also made other UK-headquartered finan- growth opportunities across all of its segments tered seven new captives between January and cial services investments such as Partnership and a history of consistent growth through var- June this year, bringing the total to 56. Assurance, NewDay and Premium Credit. ious economic cycles. We see opportunities both organically, by recruiting new specialist Farah Jaafar-Crossby, CEO of Labuan noted: “The Meanwhile, GIC has invested in Rothesay and brokers, and through incremental mergers and growth in licensed entities definitely evidences RAC in the UK, Mass Mutual Asia in Hong Kong, acquisitions over time.” ■ Labuan IBFC’s relevance as intermediaries
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continue to look for safe harbour jurisdictions, that are well regulated to international standards set by global multilateral organisations.”
Speaking at the Asian Captive Conference (ACC) earlier today, Abdullah outlined in his opening remarks, “notwithstanding the challenges and movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 out- break, we are glad to continue to have growth, an increase in licenses approved during H1 2020”.
“Having said that, we remain cautious on the US Treasury proposes rule changes to TRIP, outcome in the second half of the year but including participation of captives am optimistic that we will pull through this ‘COVID-19 rollercoaster year’ on a positive note,” The US Department of the Treasury has It noted that comments must be in writing and he added. issued proposed rules to implement technical encourage early submission. The deadline is by changes, including the participation of cap- 11 January 2021. “We in Labuan FSA are cognisant of the COVID- tives, to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program 19 situation. Other than the safety precautionary (TRIP) required by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Background measures, we have provided regulatory reliefs Program Reauthorization Act of 2019. aimed at alleviating the operational difficulties of After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York in the market. We will continue to support the mar- The proposed rules include clarification on 2001, the majority of businesses could not pur- ket players during this difficult and challenging how the treasury will calculate property and chase insurance protection for future terrorist time as we navigate the ‘new normal’ together. casualty insurance losses for purposes of con- attacks as the attack on New York cost an esti- We are always engaging with our players on this,” sidering certification of an act of terrorism and mated $40 billion. he concluded. ■ insured losses when administering the finan- cial sharing mechanisms under the programme. TRIP, a federal law was enacted and signed into law by President George W. Bush on 26 The proposal said this would include the pro- November 2002. TRIP provides for a transparent gramme trigger and programme cap; and system of shared public and private compen- incorporate into the programme rules prior sation for insured losses resulting from acts guidance provided by the treasury in connec- of terrorism. tion with stand-alone cyber insurance under the programme. The act has been extended four times, most recently in December 2019, the House of The treasury is also seeking further public Representatives voted to approve the Further comment concerning the certification process Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, under the programme, and the participation which included the 2019 Reauthorization of captive insurers in the programme, to facil- Act. President Donald Trump signed the bill itate further analysis and study by the Federal into law. Insurance Office (FIO) of the programme and potential future rulemakings in these areas. It is scheduled to expire on 31 December 2027. ■
17 images by orhan_çam/adobe.stock.com www.captiveinsurancetimes.com B++ Good Market Insight - Maria Ward-Brennan reports
Insure the unexpected AXA XL’s Owen Williams discusses the current captive market and the most significant challenges facing the industry
What are the biggest trends in the captive industry right now?
By far and away the biggest trend in the captive industry is the effect of the hardening of the insurance and reinsurance market. This is hav- ing three main impacts on clients. The first is an increase in pricing for most lines of insurance and reinsurance. The second is a retraction of capacity – clients cannot currently always secure the capac- ity they require from the insurance market. And thirdly, the breadth of coverage to which clients have become accustomed is not always available.
Clients are using captives to counteract all three of these effects. Many are taking larger primary layers within their captive to reduce the cost of their insurance spend. Clients are also using cap- tives to fill gaps in their tower where they cannot find capacity in the insurance market. And risk managers are using captives to obtain coverage for their corporate entity that isn’t readily availa- ble in the insurance market or where terms and conditions have severely tightened.
Clients are using existing captives more and we are also seeing great interest in setting up new captives. We are certainly seeing increased numbers of captive feasibility studies being undertaken at the moment.
19 www.captiveinsurancetimes.com Market Insight
that will not be the case. Risk managers and We are certainly seeing an uptick in inter- “Putting risk into a captive insurance buyers are not necessarily used to est in captive formations and I would expect is not the same as buying this situation or communicating the fact to their captive numbers to increase, globally, boards. A captive can help to lessen the impact this year. insurance from an insurer” of the hardening insurance market. It reduces a company’s reliance on insurance and its exposure to the vagaries of the insurance cycle. Moving forward, what you do How has COVID-19 impacted expect to see over the next few the captive industry? Do you It’s important to remember, however, that put- years within the industry? What think it has had a positive or ting risk into a captive is not the same as buying will be the biggest talking points? negative effect? insurance from an insurer; as a captive owner, you are taking on risk rather than transferring It will be interesting to see if those companies First and foremost, COVID-19 has been a human it. Taking the time to discuss forming a captive, that currently are exploring setting up a captive, tragedy on a huge scale. And it continues to affect or putting more risk into an existing captive, in or expanding current captives, continue with that societies and industries across the world. For the a strategic way, is vital. I would urge clients not strategy when conditions in the insurance mar- captive industry, it is probably too early to say to rush forming a captive and its relevant insur- ket change. Many will likely continue to use their what the medium and long-term impacts will be. ance/reinsurance structures as a response to the captive as an important part of their risk manage- conditions in the insurance market, but instead ment and transfer strategy even when capacity The pandemic has probably contributed to what to take the time to talk about it with their bro- and coverage become more available in the tra- was an already hardening insurance market, kers, advisors, captive managers and others in ditional market. particularly with respect to the availability of order to fully understand what can be achieved coverage for risks such as non-physical-damage and what the longer-term plan might be. Early I think the ability of captives to take on unin- business interruption. Many clients are looking engagement from all partners and providers in surable or intangible risks will be one of the to use captives to respond and I would expect to those discussions is important. biggest talking points in the months and years to see greater use of captives for non-insurable risks. come. Most risk managers’ risk registers contain several risks that cannot be insured in the tradi- Do you think 2020 has been tional sense. If this year has shown us anything, What do you believe are the a positive year for the captive it is that unexpected, uninsurable risks can and most significant challenges industry? Are you expecting to do happen. firms are currently facing? see overall captive formations increase for this year? In the past, captives were typically used to Beyond the very immediate impacts of the pan- provide capacity for more run-of-the-mill, demic, such as uncertainty about companies’ This year has certainly provided an opportunity well-understood property and casualty-type risks. ability to trade and the effect of restrictions on for captives to demonstrate their relevance and But the current pandemic and its effects, both the movement of people, the number one con- value to their corporate owners. on the insurance market and society and indus- cern for risk managers is the hardening of the try more widely, have prompted interest in using insurance and reinsurance market. Following the prolonged soft market period, cur- captives to underwrite risks that are not currently rent insurance market conditions mean that risk insurable in the traditional market. For the past several years, risk managers and managers increasingly now are able to show their insurance buyers have been able to go to their boards the cost and coverage benefits of having I believe that the ability of captives to play a boards showing year-on-year price savings on a captive, as well as the longer-term strategic part in managing and transferring emerging insurance and expanded coverage. This year, benefits that a captive can bring to an enterprise and previously uninsurable risks will be a major however, for the first time for a very long time risk management programme. talking point. ■
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Plus representative offices in the US and Africa Information about our regulators is available online Redomestication Focus - By Maria Ward-Brennan
Relocation, relocation, relocation Industry experts discuss why companies are choosing to redomesticate their captives and the opportunities it provides them
Choosing the right domicile is an impor- Adam Miholic, senior consultant, cap- “Many of these conversations are a result of two tant part of the set up of forming a captive tives at Hylant, explains that the main environmental factors: the current eco- insurance company. evaluation of a captive’s current dom- nomic status for many captive owners during this icile should be an annual focus, which challenging environment, and the intense focus However, things can change within a business often means taking the form of legisla- of some states to actively seek out and impose which mean the original domicile isn’t always the tion or operational update at the board of taxes and/or fines on captive owners who have forever home of the captive. directors meeting. domiciled out of their ‘home state’,” he adds.
Changes can vary as well as unpredictable However, Miholic notes that many current and uncontrollable, for example, regulatory captive owners are proactively seeking the guid- Reasons for redomestication changes, a change in the regulator personnel, a ance from their managers and advisors on what change in the service provider as well as various impact, if any, a domestication of the captive As mentioned above there are a number of fac- other factors. may have. tors why a captive chooses to redomesticate.
22 images by orhan_çam/adobe.stock.com www.captiveinsurancetimes.com Redomestication Focus
Miholic suggests that most redomestications Under section 831(b) of the US tax code, captive Opportunities occur when the parent company/companies insurers that qualify as small insurance com- experience a change in operations or structure panies can elect to exclude limited amounts of Although there are very few challenges that impacts the captive. annual net premiums from income, so that the associated with redomestication, Miholic captive pays tax only on its investment income. says it has the opportunity to provide He says: “These changes could stem from both financial and operational benefits to merger and acquisition activity, corporate captive owners. legal or tax structure, ownership transitions, Procedure and many more. No matter the genesis of the He suggests that potential tax benefits change, the redomestication process should Before captive decides to relocate it should com- and annual fees are often a focus of the always focus on ensuring the captive remains plete a full analysis of the current domicile as well financial considerations among active aligned with the goals and objectives of the as the proposed new jurisdiction. captive domiciles. parent company.” Miholic suggests that a thorough review of the “In addition, many captive owners are interested Martin Eveleigh, chairman at Atlas Insurance strategic, operational, and financial aspects of the in active captive regulators who offer the flexibil- Management, says that reasons can domiciles should be considered. ity and control commonly associated with captive vary considerably. insurance,” he adds. He adds: “Once a decision has been made on In some cases, Eveleigh explains it can be the redomestication, it is important that all require- As both new and existing captive domiciles unwillingness of some banks and investment ments pertaining to notifications, claims and update their legislation to reflect the needs of the managers to open accounts for foreign captives policy administration, and legal matters are fol- industry, Miholic explains that many current cap- leads to a move onshore while in others it can be lowed in order to properly transition the captive tive owners also re-evaluate their business plans. a change to a captive’s business plan, expansion to another jurisdiction.” of its underwriting activities or new fronting or Eveleigh says apart from any beneficial tax reinsurer relationships can lead to a reassessment Eveleigh adds that the process is different consequences, there are three main types of domicile choice. depending on the domicile in question. of opportunity.
He states: “This is particularly true where the “In essence, there is a regulatory process in which The first is for the captive to present itself differ- captive is established in one of the lesser the captive seeks approval from its existing ently to those with whom it does business. offshore domiciles.” home regulator to leave and approval from its new domicile for the move and the issuance of He says: “For example, a fronting company may Eveleigh also suggests there have been some an insurance licence there,” he explains. be influenced by the domicile of a captive that captive owners choose to move onshore as a needs access to the admitted paper.” result of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) cam- Alongside that, Eveleigh notes, there is the legal paign against captives taking the 831(b) election; process of moving the company from the corpo- The second that Eveleigh notes is the opportu- the concern being the consequences of revoca- rate register of one domicile to that of another. nity to transact business that is permitted by the tion of a 953(d) election. new domicile but not the old. He highlights that a redomestication does not The IRS ramped up its scrutiny in November involve the replacement of one corporate entity Finally, he explains there is the opportunity to 2016 with the release of Notice 2016-66, which with another; the company that arrives in the take advantage of different company law regimes, identified certain micro captive transactions new domicile is the same corporate entity as the perhaps by using a corporate form available as having the potential for tax avoidance one that left the old domicile. Although he does in one jurisdiction but not another such as a and evasion. explain that it will be subject to different laws. series LLC. ■
23 www.captiveinsurancetimes.com abuan International Business and Financial Centre abuan IBFC offers global investors and businesses the benefits of being in a well-regulated midshore international business and financial centre, which provides fiscal neutrality and certainty, in addition to being an ideal location for substance creation.