OSFI Consults on the 2020 LICAT Guideline for Life Insurers
OSFI is consulting on the 2020 Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) guideline for federally regulated life insurance companies and fraternal benefit societies. Comments are requested by March 26, 2020. As per the draft, life insurers are required to apply this guideline for reporting periods ending on or after June 30, 2020. Early application is not permitted.
OSFI identified an aspect of the test that causes some unwarranted volatility in interest rate risk requirements for participating (par) products. To address this, OSFI is proposing to update the LICAT framework and publish a 2020 version of LICAT. The proposed updates affect the requirement for the par credit floor (LICAT sections 5.1.2, 9.1.2, and 9.3). Moreover, recognizing that the change could result in an initial increase in capital requirements for some insurers, OSFI is proposing that the impact be phased-in over six quarters.
Additionally, it has come to the attention of OSFI that the current wording of the guideline may lead to a misinterpretation of the expectations for how an insurer would meet the conditions for claiming par credit as well as the treatment of negative Dividend Stabilization Reserves or other similar experience leveling mechanisms (LICAT sections 2.1.2.10 and 9.1.1). Therefore, OSFI is also proposing to clarify these expectations in the 2020 LICAT guideline. The final guideline is planned to be released in mid-2020 and will become effective on that date.
The LICAT guideline establishes standards, using a risk-based approach, for measuring specific life insurer risks and for aggregating the results to calculate the amount of a life insurer's regulatory required capital to support these risks. The guideline also defines and establishes criteria for determining the amount of qualifying regulatory available capital. LICAT is only one component of the required assets that foreign life insurers must maintain in Canada. Foreign life insurers must also vest assets in Canada per the Insurance Companies Act.
Related Links
Comment Due Date: March 26, 2020
Keywords: Americas, Canada, Insurance, Reinsurance, LICAT, Interest Rate Risk, Capital Requirements, OSFI
Related Articles
BCBS Consults on Principles for Operational Risk and Resilience
BCBS is consulting on the principles for operational resilience and the revisions to the principles for sound management of operational risk for banks.
FSI Note Discusses Challenges Associated with COVID Relief Measures
The Financial Stability Institute (FSI) of BIS published a brief note that examines the supervisory challenges associated with certain temporary regulatory relief measures introduced by BCBS and prudential authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HKMA Announces Repayment Deferment Under Payment Holiday Scheme
HKMA, together with the Banking Sector Small and Medium-Size Enterprise (SME) Lending Coordination Mechanism, announced a ninety-day repayment deferment for trade facilities under the Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme.
ESRB Paper Presents Alternative Approach to EBA Stress Test Proposal
The Advisory Scientific Committee of ESRB published a response, in the form of an Insights Paper, to the EBA proposals for reforms to the stress testing framework in EU.
MAS Announces Key Initiatives to Support Adoption of SORA
MAS announced several initiatives to support adoption of the Singapore Overnight Rate Average (SORA), which is administered by MAS.
BoE Updates Template and Definitions for Form ER
BoE updated the reporting template for Form ER as well as the Form ER definitions, which contain guidance on the methodology to be used in calculating annualized interest rates.
PRA to Extend Temporary High Balance Coverage Amid COVID Crisis
PRA published the policy statement PS19/20 on the final policy for extending coverage under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for Temporary High Balance.
EBA Publishes Standards on Disclosure and Reporting of MREL and TLAC
EBA published the final draft implementing technical standards for disclosures and reporting on the minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) and the total loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC) requirements in EU.
EBA Releases Erratum for Phase 2 Package on Reporting Framework 2.10
EBA published an erratum for the phase 2 of technical package on the reporting framework 2.10.
EC Sets Out Updated Technical Information for Solvency II Calculations
EC published the Implementing Regulation 2020/1145, which lays down technical information for calculation of technical provisions and basic own funds.
