The FCA portal for incoming EEA firms to notify the PRA and the FCA of their intention to enter the UK Temporary Permissions Regime ("TPR") is now open. The TPR will apply if the UK leaves the EU on 29 March… Read more

Three of the themes that EIOPA sees as its priorities were covered at its annual conference on 20 November. All of the topics were the subject of frank and spirited debate, with a range of different views being represented in the… Read more

The Political Declaration setting out the Framework for the Future Relationship between the EU and the UK was published earlier today. On financial services (including insurance), the final declaration essentially contains the same three points as in last week’s outline… Read more

Yesterday's announcements on the terms agreed for the UK's withdrawal from the EU say relatively little about the future framework for cross-border trade in goods or services.  More detail is expected on this next week. The final deal remains subject… Read more

Press reports over the past couple of days suggest that a deal struck by the UK government would "give UK financial services companies continued access to European markets after Brexit" and that "UK financial companies will be able to operate… Read more

We have assisted Airmic to produce a guide for policyholders on Continuity Clauses, which some in the insurance market are using to prepare for the impact of Brexit. The clauses aim to provide a level of contract continuity in the… Read more

Last week the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill received Royal Assent. The new Automated and Electric Vehicles Act represents the first legislative step towards the UK Government's aim of establishing the UK as a world leader in the development of… Read more

Near-final rules for the extension of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR) to all financial services firms, including insurers and insurance intermediaries, have been published today by the PRA and the FCA.  The FCA has also confirmed that the… Read more

EIOPA has published an opinion and FAQs emphasising the need for insurers and insurance intermediaries to explain to policyholders how Brexit will affect their insurance cover. At first sight, EIOPA's comments appear to reinforce concerns that political compromise cannot be… Read more

EEA insurers and reinsurers doing business in the UK under the insurance passport must prepare for the UK's withdrawal from the EU. We consider, in our latest "At a Glance" guide, the impact of Brexit on the cross-border activities of… Read more

Recent announcements made by the PRA and FCA clarify their approach to Brexit following the European Council's agreement to a transition period for the UK's withdrawal from the EU. In particular, insurers, insurance intermediaries and other financial services firms have… Read more

On 20 December 2017, the Treasury, PRA and FCA clarified their approach to EEA-headquartered financial services firms wishing to carry on business in the UK post-Brexit. More recent evidence to the House of Commons Treasury Committee ("TC") sheds further light on the… Read more

This article was first published on Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence on 17th January 2018. On 12 December 2017, the PRA published the second in a series of three consultation papers on reforms to the Solvency II regime (CP27/17).  The PRA's… Read more

An opinion published by EIOPA on 21 December 2017 raises concerns for UK insurers who have policyholders in EEA states other than the UK. This will include, for example, every life company with annuitants living in an EEA state*, perhaps because they moved… Read more

Delay to IDD start date The EU Commission published draft legislation today (in the form of a proposed Directive and a proposed Delegated Regulation) to delay the IDD start date to 1 October 2018.  It has agreed to requests for… Read more

Cyber incidents have the capacity to cause many different types of loss.  Insurance coverage exists for at least some aspects of cyber risks in the UK market.  However, given the range and diversity of risks that may arise, there are… Read more

This article was first published on Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence. The PRA has published the first of three consultation papers (CP21/17) on reforming the Solvency II regime. The consultation reflects PRA experience of working with Solvency II since its introduction in… Read more

The UK Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) is being extended to all financial services firms during 2018. PRA and FCA proposals applying to insurers build on the Senior Insurance Managers Regime (SIMR) although the transition to the SMCR is… Read more

On 14 September 2017, the UK Parliament published a letter from Nicky Morgan, Chair of the Treasury Committee, to Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on insurers' ability, post-Brexit, to service insurance contracts sold under passporting arrangements with a duration that… Read more

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was published by the Government in July 2017 and is the key piece of UK domestic legislation that will implement Brexit. Repeal of the European Communities Act: The principal purpose of the Bill is to… Read more

The FCA has published proposals to extend the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR), which already applies to banks, to other financial services firms.  The new rules, which are designed to make individuals more accountable for their actions, will affect… Read more

Recent comments made by Sam Woods, CEO of the PRA, about the PRA's approach to supervision are worrying.  A speech prepared for this year's Building Societies Annual Conference (but not actually delivered) is relevant to all authorised firms, not just… Read more

In May 2017, the FCA published a guidance consultation paper (GC17/5) entitled "Proposed guidance on the FCA's approach to the review of Part VII insurance business transfers". The draft guidance in this document sets out the FCA's approach to reviewing… Read more

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has published an opinion on supervisory convergence in light of the UK withdrawing from the EU. ... Read more

With effect from 26 June 2017, Hong Kong's independent Insurance Authority ("IA") assumed its regulatory responsibilities and replaced the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance ("OCI") in regulating insurers. The IA will be a much more powerful regulator than its predecessor, with… Read more

The PRA has published a consultation paper (CP8/17), which includes proposed amendments and optimisations to the Senior Insurance Managers Regime (SIMR).  It also includes a proposal to strengthen governance through requiring insurers to take steps to encourage board diversity.  This CP… Read more

EIOPA has published an interview given by Gabriel Bernardino, EIOPA Chair, which contains comments on the implications of Brexit for the insurance industry. ... Read more

On 12 May 2017, the PRA published PS12/17 "Strengthening individual accountability in banking and insurance: amendments and optimisations (and associated materials)", which  provides feedback to responses to Consultation Paper 34/16. ... Read more

New provisions in the Enterprise Act 2016 ("the Act") which give policyholders a potential right to claim damages in the event of late payment of insurance claims, come into force this week on 4 May.  The new law will apply… Read more

The FCA has published its Business Plan for 2017/2018, setting out details of the specific areas of work the FCA is prioritising for the next year, as well as key trends in, and implications for, the markets and firms regulated… Read more