Part I
Economic Facts ans General Framework
Katie Paterson
Report of the Commission’s Expert Group on European Insurance Contract Law
Part I
Economic Facts and General Framework
Prepared by Katie Paterson
Introduction
I ECONOMIC BACKGROUND: STATE OF PLAY OF CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN INSURANCE IN THE EU
1. Statistics 1.1 Three generations of insurance directives have substantially facilitated the cross- border operation of insurance companies within the EU over the past 40 years. Data indicates that the market share of foreign controlled undertakings and branches or agencies of such undertakings in overall EU primary insurance has almost doubled respectively from 19% to 37%1 between 2000 and 2009. The top large EU insurance companies are more active internationally in comparison to the top 15 US insurers2 who are much more focused on domestic sales in the US. The Single Market and further liberalisation of trade in insurance services is critical for the maintenance of the competitive position of the top EU insurers in the global market3.
1.2 Cross-border insurance sales, on the basis of freedom to provide services and branches however represented only 4.10% of total gross premiums written in the EU in 20074. This low level of cross-border activity does not reflect cross-border activity from specific Member States. Certain jurisdictions such as Ireland and Luxembourg appear more export oriented from the Insurer’s perspective. On the other hand, in most Member States the percentage of total gross premiums written cross-border will be tiny compared to their domestic activity. Cross-border activity has also developed by way of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). For instance, in the area of third party motor liability insurance 344 M&As took place within the 27 EU Member States over the period of 1999-2008 albeit with a significant decline in annual volume over the latter part of the period. The number of cross-border transactions is significant with just under 30% of the total M&As in the EU 27 involving a company headquartered in another EU Member State5. The acquiring companies have mainly been
1 European Financial Stability and Integration Report 2011 p.93 2 Presentation by Lloyds of 26 October 2012: "Insurance Regulation: International Horizons": http://www.lloyds.com/the- market/communications/events/past-events/uk/insurance-regulators/new-horizons-audio/session-1-introduction - see from 17.48 minutes onwards. According to the presentation less than 10% of the business (premiums) of the top 15 US insurers came from outside the US. Among the top EU insurers Allianz and Axa carry out 78% of their business internationally, Generali carries out 61% of its business internationally and Lloyd’s of London carries out over 80% of its business internationally. 3 Presentation by Lloyds of 26 October 2012: "Insurance Regulation: International Horizons": http://www.lloyds.com/the- market/communications/events/past-events/uk/insurance-regulators/new-horizons-audio/session-1-introduction - see from 17.48 minutes onwards. According to the presentation less than 10% of the business (premiums) of the top 15 US insurers came from outside the US. Among the top EU insurers Allianz and Axa carry out 78% of their business internationally, Generali carries out 61% of its business internationally and Lloyd’s of London carries out over 80% of its business internationally. 4 Impact assessment accompanying The White Paper on Insurance Guarantee schemes, SEC 2010(828), p. 17 5 Retail Insurance Market Study, Final Report by Europe Economics, 26. 11. 2009, p.15 1 based in well-developed insurance markets, such as France, Austria, Germany, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium. While large and well developed markets, such as the UK, France, Germany and Italy have been the major destinations for mergers and acquisitions in the EU, a significant number of cross-border transactions have also targeted Central and Eastern European countries. 6
1.3 The volume of exported insurance products (by means of established branches and free provision of services) in terms of gross written premiums in the EU amounted to 42.8 billion EUR in 2007 respectively with 33.2 billion EUR accounting for life insurance and 9.6 billion EUR7 for non-life.
1.4 The Expert Group approached the statistical data with some caution on the basis that data can be collected in different ways and for different purposes; thus data is not always comprehensive or comparable due to the different methods and questions used in each study. Some statistics in relation to freedom of establishment include the operation of branches alone, while others also include subsidiaries and agencies. The discrepancy may be due to a different basis for the calculation of the figures. For instance, if a foreign owned company (following a merger or acquisition) is considered as operating on a cross-border basis the share of cross-border activity would be substantially higher.
1.5 Both data and assumptions were used by the experts in their deliberations. Where no data was available, certain conclusions were drawn by the experts in this report based on reasonable assumptions and the experts’ experience. For instance this was particularly the case in assessing future demand for insurance contracts which relies on future needs and is based on, and limited by, future market conditions and the opportunities which may exist.
1.6 There was a broad consensus that the demand and market for large risks are not impeded by contract law.
2. Definition of the ‘cross-border insurance contract’
2.1 Insurance is, broadly, a transfer of risk in return for a payment of premium. Each member state has different definitions of an insurance contract. The contract terms will reflect the risk and market conditions. The two fundamental freedoms of establishment and free provision of services should be treated on an equal footing for the purposes of the definition of ‘cross-border activity’ allowed within the internal market. Thus, contracts sold on either a freedom of services or a freedom of establishment basis are accepted as being part of the scope of the Expert Group’s work.
2.2 Whilst the scope of the experts’ deliberations is to consider ‘cross-border insurance contracts’, a contract may not apparently be a ‘cross-border contract’ from the insured’s perspective. When an insurance contract is sold on the basis of either freedom of establishment or services it will be received by the insured in his country of residence, complying with the general good and according to the applicable law of that country
6 Retail Insurance Market Study, Final Report by Europe Economics, 26. 11. 2009, p.16 7 Impact Assessment accompanying The White Paper on Insurance Guarantee Schemes, SEC 2010 (828), p.17 2
(provided the citizen is not a national of another Member State and has elected to alter the applicable law): the applicable law of that contract will be that of the ‘host’ state.
2.3 Whilst it is generally accepted that a ‘cross-border insurance contract’ is a contract concluded between an insurer whose domicile is in a different Member State from that of the insured ‘cross-border activity’ could cover situations in which both the insurer and policyholder were located in the same country but the risk was located in another one, for example a second home or a car licenced in a Member State other than the policyholder’s habitual residence. Although such scenarios exist it was not thought to be relevant evidence of a barrier to trade although it may be relevant for any consideration of a definition of a cross- border contract. Cross-border activity could also cover situations in which insurance intermediaries are involved, for example the insurer and the policyholder are located in the same country but the risk and the intermediary are located in another country.
2.4 Some insurance products provide cover for domestic activities and others for activities carried ou