Company: AXS-PE
Filing Date: 2025-02-26
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001214816-25-000056
Chunk: 167

Company: AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD
Filing Date: 2025-02-26
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 167
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4 insurer under the Insurance Act. 

The Insurance Act provides that no person may carry on any insurance or reinsurance business in or from within Bermuda unless registered as an insurer by the Bermuda Monetary Authority ("BMA") under the Insurance Act. The Insurance Act imposes upon Bermuda insurance companies' solvency and liquidity standards, and auditing and reporting requirements, and grants the BMA powers to supervise, investigate, require information and demand the production of documents and intervene in the affairs of insurance companies. 

Significant requirements pertaining to Class 4 insurers include the appointment of an independent auditor, the appointment of a loss reserve specialist, the appointment of a principal representative in Bermuda, the filing of annual Statutory Financial Returns together with annual GAAP financial statements and an annual Capital and Solvency Return, compliance with minimum and enhanced capital requirements, together with certain restrictions on reductions of capital and the payment of dividends and distributions as well as group solvency and supervision rules, if applicable, and compliance with the Insurance Code of Conduct. 

Effective January 1, 2016, the BMA was granted full "equivalence" under Solvency II (refer to 'Ireland' below) for Bermuda’s commercial insurance sector, including Class 4 insurers. 

The BMA acts as group supervisor of AXIS Capital and has designated AXIS Specialty Bermuda as the 'designated insurer' of the Group. In accordance with the group supervision and insurance group solvency rules, AXIS Capital is required to prepare and submit an annual group Statutory Financial Return, annual audited group GAAP financial statements, an annual group Capital and Solvency Return and quarterly group unaudited GAAP financial statements, and to appoint a group actuary and a group auditor. AXIS Capital also files an annual capital and solvency return and must ensure compliance with minimum and enhanced capital requirements. In late 2024, the BMA published a consultation paper outlining its plans to directly supervise group holding companies, where these are based in Bermuda. The consultation period ended in January 2025, and final rules are expected to be published during the first quarter of 2025, with groups being given 12 months to implement any required changes.   

In August 2022, the BMA published a revised version of the Insurance Code of Conduct ("Insurance Code"). Overall, the amendments aim to improve and enhance the Insurance Code and its application, while at the same time incorporating various administrative changes. The most substantive changes to the Insurance Code relate to:

(i)    Corporate Governance, including