Solvency II
WHAT IS THIS? Europe’s Solvency II directive came into effect in 2016, putting risk at the heart of a harmonised prudential framework for insurance firms. Similar in outline to the banking industry’s Basel standards, Pillar 1 sets out quantitative requirements; Pillar 2 tackles risk management and governance; Pillar 3 addresses transparency, reporting and public disclosure.
Smoothing the way
Fraught matching adjustment applications push more firms towards transitionals
Risk managers hold key to clarity on dividends
Absence of cash metric under Solvency II puts capital constraints in spotlight
Top annuity firms turning to transitionals
Doubts on matching adjustment are causing insurers to change plans
UK wrong on volatility adjustment, says Insurance Europe
Olav Jones weighs in to debate that could see Eiopa overrule PRA
Eiopa infrastructure plans too conservative, says industry
Regulator proposes cuts to capital charges, but insurers say more needed
Mandate for change: asset management after Solvency II
Insurers are adjusting relationships with managers ahead of directive
The dangers of herd behaviour
Policy-makers should take note of flaws being pointed out in capital rules
Supervisors fret over grasp of prudent person rule
Regulators worry too few insurers are taking Solvency II’s PPP into account
Q&A: Avinash Persaud on the structural risk in Solvency II
Directive will herd insurers into 'safe' investments that turn out to be risky, says writer and academic
Profile: Aviva's capital planning after Friends Life takeover
Capital management director Marcus Bowser explains UK insurer's aims
Flawed reliance on VAR a systemic risk for insurers
Solvency II has its weaknesses, says writer and consultant René Doff
Backtesting Solvency II value-at-risk models using a rolling horizon
The author of this paper performs an analysis on a review of the equity stress parameter for Dutch pension funds.
Patchy Solvency II implementation worries US regulator
Consistency might take time, says NAIC's head of international regulatory affairs
Danish insurance association calls for daily discount curves
Local regulator commits to cover gaps in Solvency II information from Eiopa
‘Fairness not part of Solvency II’ – Danish regulator
Directive ignores risk of intergenerational subsidy, says Finanstilsynet's Parner
MetLife CEO lambasts regulators over Sifi designations
Systemically important label is "our biggest concern", says Kandarian
Do insurers need a CIO?
Role left off UK controlled function list but too important to overlook
Credit risk weighs more on planet S-II
Rising yields in May failed to lift insurance stocks, with credit risk the reason
Maltese insurers grapple with Pillar 3 requirements
Cost and time pressure of reporting obligation “most challenging” aspect
UK firms prep Vif hedging options
Unit-linked providers reviewing options to maximise benefit of new rules
PRA could be more flexible on matching adjustment collateral
Rigid view forces repapering of trades with no benefit for policyholders
Q&A: Eiopa approach wrong on government bonds, says Ivass director
Corinti: Modelling sovereign risk should not be a Pillar 1 requirement
Why insurance regulators are split on sovereign risk
North-south divide as some say Eiopa approach is wrong
Firms struggle to replicate Eiopa volatility calculations
Insurers unable to accurately forecast key regulatory numbers