Life companies regulated by the Central Bank must hold four different layers of reserves to meet their liabilities to policyholders.  It would not be unusual for life companies in Ireland to seek to maintain surplus assets over liabilities of around 200%.e.g., if they owe €100m, they would have reserves of €200mThe life company must hold the assets and cannot rely on having resources available through a parent company. The solvency of each life company is determined on a stand-alone basis and must be met at all times without recourse to external resources.