APRA Observations from Thematic Review on Recovery Plans of Insurers

APRA observed that the recovery planning process has assisted in-scope insurers to advance their overall approach to risk management and to build a better understanding of the importance of recovery planning. However, considerable scope for improvement remains, before in-scope insurers can be assessed to have credible plans in place that are effectively integrated with the risk management framework. APRA considers usability of the recovery plan as a key factor in assessing its credibility. APRA expects recovery planning to be a dynamic process, wherein the plans continue to be assessed, tested, and improved with ongoing board oversight. The key observations include the following:

• Governance. Robust governance arrangements are essential both for effectively developing and maintaining the recovery plan and for ensuring that appropriate monitoring and escalation processes are in place to allow for timely implementation of recovery options. This includes integration with risk management framework; monitoring, escalation, and activation processes; and operational testing.
• Trigger frameworks. The trigger framework should operate in a manner that reflects the escalating nature of stress events, to facilitate timely contingency planning and the intensifying of responses as the severity increases. The areas of better practice are related to a range of metrics and timely trigger points.
• Recovery options. The core element of a credible recovery plan is a comprehensive menu of realistic recovery options, supported by the requisite level of supporting analysis required to assess and implement the options. APRA lists areas of better practice with respect to menu of recovery options, valuations and assumptions of recovery options, and supporting analysis for recovery options.
• Scenario analysis. The use of scenario analysis provides an important mechanism to help assess the credibility of the recovery plan, in particular the calibration of the trigger framework and feasibility of recovery options. The scenarios, therefore, need to be sufficiently severe to activate the recovery plan. 

Related Link: APRA Letter (PDF)

Keywords: Asia Pacific, Australia, Insurance, Recovery and Resolution, Thematic Review, Governance, Recovery Planning, APRA