European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework (Amendment) Regulations 2004
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: (1) These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
(2) These Regulations come into operation on 1 January 2005.
Interpretation
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paragraphs: In these Regulations, “Principal Regulations” means the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 359/1994).
Amendment of Article 16 of the Principal Regulations (Failure to comply with technical reserves provisions)
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paragraphs: Article 16 of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting the following sub-article for sub-article (2):
“(2) If the solvency margin of an insurance undertaking whose head office is located in the State falls below the minimum amount required by Annex II to these Regulations, the Bank shall give the undertaking a direction in writing requiring the undertaking to submit for the Bank’s approval a plan for restoring the undertaking to a sound financial position.
(2A) An undertaking to which a direction is given under sub-article (2) shall comply with the direction within such period as is specified in the direction.”.
Insertion into the Principal Regulations of new Article 16A
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paragraphs: The Principal Regulations are amended by inserting the following Article after Article 16:
“Insurance undertaking to provide plan for restoring its finances if required to do so by the Bank
16A.(1) If the Bank believes that the rights of holders of policies issued by an insurance undertaking are threatened, it can, by notice in writing, require the undertaking to provide it with a financial recovery plan for the restoration of a sound financial position.
(2) As soon as practicable after receiving a notice under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, an insurance undertaking shall provide the Bank with a financial recovery plan, covering the 3 financial years of the undertaking following the date of the notice. The plan must include particulars or proof of the following:
(a) estimates of the undertaking’s management expenses, and in particular its current general expenses and commissions;
(b) detailed estimates of the undertaking’s income and expenditure in respect of direct business, reinsurance acceptances and reinsurance cessions;
(c) a forecast balance sheet for the undertaking;
(d) estimates of financial resources intended to cover the undertaking’s underwriting liabilities and its required solvency margin;
(e) the undertaking’s overall reinsurance policy.
(3) If the Bank believes that the rights of holders of policies issued by the undertaking are being jeopardised because the undertaking’s financial position is deteriorating, it may, by notice in writing, require the undertaking to maintain a higher required solvency margin so as to ensure that the undertaking is able to comply with the solvency requirements. The higher required solvency margin must be based on the financial recovery plan.
(4) As soon as practicable after being notified of a requirement under sub-article (3) of this Article, the undertaking shall comply with the requirement.
(5) The Bank may revalue downwards all elements eligible for the undertaking’s available solvency margin, in particular, if the market value of these elements has changed significantly since the end of the undertaking’s last financial year.
(6) The Bank may reduce the reduction, based on reinsurance, to the required solvency margin as determined in respect of the undertaking in accordance with this Part if—
(a) the nature or quality of the undertaking’s reinsurance contracts has changed significantly since its last financial year, and
(b) no risk, or only an insignificant risk transfer, arises under the undertaking’s reinsurance contracts.
(7) If the Bank has required an insurance undertaking to provide a financial recovery plan in accordance with this paragraph, it may not issue a certificate verifying compliance with the required solvency margin so long as it continues to believe that the rights of holders of policies issued by the undertaking are being jeopardised.”.
Substitution of Article 20 of the Principal Regulations
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paragraphs: The Principal Regulations are amended by substituting the following Article for Article 20:
“Interpretation: Part 4
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paragraphs: (1) In this Part—
‘Companies Acts’ means the Companies Act 1963 , as amended from time to time, and includes any Act that is required to be read as one with that Act or with any Act amending that Act;
‘control’ means the relationship between a parent undertaking and a subsidiary, as defined in Article 1 of Council Directive 83/349/EEC, or a similar relationship between any natural or legal person and an undertaking;
‘qualifying holding’ has the meaning given by Article 9 (4) of these Regulations;
‘parent undertaking’ means a parent undertaking as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of Council Directive 83/349/EEC;
‘prescribed percentage level’ means 20 per cent, 33 per cent or 50 per cent;
‘prescribed entity’ means any of the following:
(a) an insurance undertaking, a credit institution or an investment firm authorised by a competent authority of another Member State;
(b) the parent undertaking of such an undertaking, institution or firm;
(c) a person (whether natural or legal) that controls such an undertaking, institution or firm;
‘subsidiary’ means a subsidiary undertaking as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of Council Directive 83/349/EEC, and includes a subsidiary of a subsidiary undertaking that is a subsidiary of the undertaking that is the undertaking’s ultimate parent undertaking.
(2) This Part has effect despite anything in the Companies Acts to the contrary.
Restrictions on acquiring and disposing of qualifying holdings in insurance undertakings
20A. (1) A person shall not, directly or indirectly, acquire a qualifying holding in an insurance undertaking without having previously notified the Bank of the size of the holding.
(2) A person who has a qualifying holding in an insurance undertaking shall not, directly or indirectly, increase the holding without having previously notified the Bank of the increase, if, as a result of the increase—
(a) the percentage level of the voting rights or capital that the person holds would reach or exceed any of the prescribed percentage levels, or
(b) the undertaking would become the person’s subsidiary.
(3) A person shall not, directly or indirectly, dispose of a qualifying holding in an insurance undertaking without having previously notified the Bank of the size of the holding to be disposed of.
(4) A person shall not, directly or indirectly, decrease a qualifying holding without having previously notified the Bank if, as a result of the decrease—
(a) any of the percentage levels of the voting rights or capital that the person holds would fall below any of the prescribed percentage levels, or
(b) the undertaking would cease to be the person’s subsidiary.
Bank to consult competent authorities of other Member States in certain cases
20B. If an insurance undertaking would, as a result of an acquisition of a qualifying holding, or of an increase in an existing qualifying holding, in the undertaking by a prescribed entity, become a subsidiary, or become subject to the control, of a prescribed entity, the Bank shall consult the competent authorities responsible for supervising credit institutions, investment firms and insurance undertakings in the Member State concerned.
Obligations of insurance undertaking to provide information under this Part
20C. (1) As soon as practicable after an insurance undertaking becomes aware of an acquisition of a holding in its capital so that the holding exceeds any of the prescribed percentage levels, the undertaking shall inform the Bank of the acquisition.
(2) As soon as practicable after an insurance undertaking becomes aware of a disposal of a holding in its capital so that the holding falls below any of the prescribed percentage levels, the undertaking shall inform the Bank of the disposal.
(3) An insurance undertaking shall, at such times as may be specified by the Bank and at least once a year, notify the Bank of the names of shareholders or members who have qualifying holdings and the size of the holdings by reference, for example, to information received at annual general meetings of shareholders or members or as a result of compliance with the Companies Acts.
(4) An insurance undertaking shall, if required to do so by the Bank, provide information concerning all shareholders of the undertaking, irrespective of the size of their shareholding.
Bank may oppose certain acquisitions
20D. (1) Within 3 months after the date on which notice is given in accordance with Article 20A, the Bank shall decide whether or not to oppose an acquisition of, or an increase in, a qualifying holding in an insurance undertaking.
(2) The Bank may oppose the acquisition or increase if, having regard to the need to ensure the prudent and sound management of the insurance undertaking concerned, the Bank is not satisfied as to the suitability of the person who, or the entity that, is proposing to acquire a qualifying holding in that undertaking or to increase such a holding.
Power of Court to make certain orders
20E. (1) If the Bank reasonably believes that—
(a) the control exercised by a person referred to in Article 20A of these Regulations would be inconsistent with the prudent and sound management of an insurance undertaking, or
(b) a person has failed to comply with a requirement of that Article,
it may apply to the Court for an order under sub-article (2) of this Article.
(2) On making an application under paragraph (1), the Bank shall serve a copy of the application on the person to whom the application relates. On being served with the notice, that person becomes the respondent to the application.
(3) On the hearing of an application made under sub-article (1) of this Article, the Court may, on being satisfied that the Bank’s belief is substantiated, make—
(a) an order directing the respondent not to acquire a qualifying holding or an increase in a qualifying holding in the relevant insurance undertaking, or
(b) if the respondent has already acquired such a holding, an order directing the respondent to dispose of the holding or a part of it, and also an order suspending the exercise of the voting rights attached to the relevant shares or invalidating votes already exercised by holders of those shares.
(4) Nothing in this Article limits the application of Article 5 of these Regulations.”.
Substitution of Annex II
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paragraphs: The Principal Regulations are amended by substituting the following Annex for Annex II:
“ANNEX II
SOLVENCY MARGINS AND GUARANTEE FUNDS
PART A
DETERMINATION OF REQUIRED SOLVENCY MARGIN
Interpretation: Annex II
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paragraphs: In this Part, a reference to a class of insurance business is a reference to a class of business relating to risks referred to in a class of point A in the Annex to the First Directive.
Required solvency margin for insurance undertaking
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paragraphs: (1) An insurance undertaking whose head office is located within the State shall maintain an adequate available solvency margin in respect of the whole of its business, which is at all times at least equal to that required by this Part.
(2) The undertaking’s available solvency margin must correspond to its assets, free of all foreseeable liabilities, less any intangible items.
(3) In determining the amount of the available solvency margin for the undertaking, the following must be included:
(a) the paid up share capital or, in the case of a mutual insurance undertaking, the effective initial fund, together with any members’ accounts that comply with the requirements of subparagraph (4) of this paragraph;
(b) reserves (including both statutory reserves and free reserves) not corresponding to underwriting liabilities;
(c) profit or loss brought forward after deducting dividends to be paid.
(4) The requirements referred to in subparagraph (3)(a) of this paragraph are that—
(a) the memorandum and articles of association of the undertaking must stipulate that payments may be made from these accounts to members only—
(i) if they do not cause the available solvency margin to fall below the prescribed level, or
(ii) should the undertaking be dissolved, if all the undertaking’s other debts have been settled, and
(b) the memorandum and articles of association must stipulate that, for any such payments made for reasons other than the individual termination of membership, the Bank must be notified at least 1 month in advance and that the Bank can prohibit the payment within that period, and
(c) the relevant provisions of the memorandum and articles of association may be amended only after the Bank has declared that it has no objection to the amendment.
(5) Nothing in sub-subparagraph (c) of subparagraph (4) of this paragraph affects any other requirement of that subparagraph.
(6) With the consent of the Bank and subject to subparagraphs (7) to (9) of this paragraph, cumulative preferential share capital and subordinated loan capital may be included in determining the amount of the available solvency margin for the undertaking, but only up to 50 per cent of whichever is the lesser of the available solvency margin and the required solvency margin.
(7) Not more than 25 per cent of the lesser of—
(a) the available solvency margin, and
(b) the required solvency margin,
referred to in subparagraph (6) of this paragraph can consist of fixed term cumulative preferential share capital or subordinated loans with a fixed maturity.
(8) However, cumulative preferential share capital or subordinated loan capital may be taken into account under subparagraph (6) of this paragraph only if, should the undertaking become bankrupt or be placed in liquidation, binding agreements exist under which the cumulative preferential share capital or subordinated loan capital will rank after the claims of all other creditors and will not be repaid until all other debts outstanding at the relevant time have been settled.
(9) Subordinated loan capital may be taken into account under subparagraph (6) of this paragraph only if—
(a) it consists only of fully paid-up funds, and
(b) subject to paragraph 3 of this Part—
(i) in the case of loans with a fixed maturity, the original maturity is for at least 5 years, and
(ii) loans the maturity of which is not fixed are repayable only subject to 5 years’ notice, unless the loans are no longer considered as a component of the available solvency margin or unless the Bank’s prior consent is specifically required for early repayment, and
(c) the loan agreement does not include any clause providing that in specified circumstances (other than the winding-up of the undertaking) the debt will become repayable before the agreed repayment dates, and
(d) the loan agreement provides that it can be amended only if the Bank is notified of the amendment and has indicated that it does not object to the amendment.
Requirements to be complied with in respect of repayment of certain loans
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paragraphs: (1) Not later than 12 months before the repayment date for a loan of the kind referred to in paragraph 2(9)(b)(i) of this Part, the undertaking must submit to the Bank for its approval a plan showing how the undertaking’s available solvency margin will be kept at, or brought to, the required level at maturity, unless the extent to which the loan may rank as a component of the undertaking’s available solvency margin is gradually reduced during at least the last 5 years before the repayment date. The Bank may authorise the early repayment of the loan only if—
(a) an application is made to it by the issuing undertaking, and
(b) the undertaking’s available solvency margin will not fall below the requisite level.
(2) In the case of a loan agreement of a kind referred to in paragraph 2(9)(b)(ii) of this Part, the insurance undertaking concerned shall, by notice in writing given to the Bank at least 6 months before the date of the proposed repayment, provide an estimate of—
(a) the available solvency margin and the required solvency margin before the proposed repayment, and
(b) assuming the repayment is made, the available solvency margin and the required solvency margin after that repayment.
The Bank may authorise the repayment only if it is satisfied that the undertaking’s available solvency margin will not fall below the required level.
Other amounts that may be included in an undertaking’s solvency margin
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paragraphs: (1) An insurance undertaking whose head office is located within the State may also include securities with no specified maturity date and other instruments (including cumulative preferential shares other than those referred to in subparagraph (5) of paragraph 2 of this Part) when determining the amount of the available solvency margin for the undertaking, but only up to 50 per cent of the lesser of the available solvency margin and the required solvency margin for the total of those securities and the subordinated loan capital referred to in that subparagraph. However, such securities or instruments may be included for the purpose of determining the undertaking’s available solvency margin only if—
(a) the securities or instruments may not be repaid on the initiative of the bearer or without the prior consent of the Bank, and
(b) the contract of issue enables the undertaking to defer the payment of interest on the loan, and
(c) the lender’s claims on the undertaking rank entirely after those of all non-subordinated creditors, and
(d) the documents governing the issue of the securities or instruments provide for the loss-absorption capacity of the debt and unpaid interest, while enabling the undertaking to continue its business, and
(e) only fully paid-up amounts are taken into account.
(2) The following may also be included in the amount of the available solvency margin for an insurance undertaking whose head office is located within the State, but only with the consent of the Bank:
(a) any hidden net reserves resulting from the under-estimation of assets and over-estimation of liabilities, other than mathematical provisions insofar as those reserves are not, in the opinion of the Bank, of an exceptional nature;
(b) one half of the unpaid share capital of the insurance undertaking or initial fund, once the paid-up part amounts to 25 % of that share capital or fund, up to 50 % of the lesser of the available solvency margin and the required solvency margin;
(c) in the case of a mutual or mutual-type association to which variable contributions have been made and that has claims against its members for supplementary contribution, an amount not exceeding one half of the difference between—
(i) the maximum contributions in respect of which the association has claims against its members by way of calls for supplementary contribution and
(ii) the contributions actually called in.
(3) The Bank shall establish guidelines laying down the conditions under which supplementary contributions referred to in subparagraph (2)(c) of this paragraph may be accepted. Every insurance undertaking shall comply with those guidelines insofar as the guidelines are applicable to it.
Reductions in available solvency margin
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paragraphs: (1) The available solvency margin for an insurance undertaking must be reduced by the amount of the undertaking’s own shares directly held by the undertaking.
(2) The available solvency margin must also be reduced by the following items:
(a) participations that the insurance undertaking holds in—
(i) insurance undertakings within the meaning of Article 6 of the First Directive, Article 6 of Council Directive 79/267/EEC or Article 1(b) of Directive 98/78/EC, and
(ii) reinsurance undertakings within the meaning of Article 1(c) of Directive 98/78/EC, and
(iii) insurance holding companies within the meaning of Article 1(i) of Directive 98/78/EC, and
(iv) credit institutions and financial institutions within the meaning of Article 1(1) and (5) of Directive 2000/12/EC, and
(v) investment firms and financial institutions within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Directive 93/22/EEC and of Article 2(4) and (7) of Directive 93/6/EEC,
(b) each of the following items that the insurance undertaking holds in respect of the entities referred to in paragraph (a) in which it holds a participation:
(i) instruments of the kind referred to in paragraph 3 of Article 16 of the First Directive, and
(ii) instruments of the kind referred to in Article 18(3) of Directive 79/267/EEC, and
(iii) subordinated claims and instruments of the kind referred to in Articles 35 and 36(3) of Directive 2000/12/EC.
(3) If an insurance undertaking temporarily holds shares in a credit institution, investment firm, financial institution, insurance or reinsurance undertaking or insurance holding company for the purpose of providing financial assistance to enable the entity to be reorganised and saved, the Bank may waive the requirements of subparagraph (2) of this paragraph.