Prudential standard

GPS 001 Definitions

  • General insurance
  • Current
    1 July 2023
Prudential framework pillars
Governance
Definitions
Supporting

About this standard

This standard defines the key terms used in prudential standards that apply to a general insurer or authorised non-operating holding company.

It supports all prudential standards that apply to general insurers and authorised non-operating holding companies.

Objectives and key requirements of this Prudential Standard

This Prudential Standard defines key terms referred to in other prudential standards applicable to general insurers and Level 2 insurance groups. All prudential standards applicable to general insurers and Level 2 insurance groups must be read in conjunction with this Prudential Standard.
Preamble
Insurance (prudential standard) determination
No. 1 of 2023
Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions
Insurance Act 1973
I, Helen Rowell, a delegate of :
under subsection 32(4) of the Insurance Act 1973 (the Act), revoke Insurance (prudential standard) determination No. 6 of 2022, including Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions made under that Determination; and
under subsection 32(1) of the Act determine Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions, in the form set out in the Schedule, which applies to:
all general insurers and authorised NOHCs; and
a subsidiary of a or , where that is a of a .
This instrument commences on 1 July 2023.
Dated: 24 May 2023
[Signed]
Helen Rowell
Deputy Chair

Interpretation

In this instrument:
APRA means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
authorised NOHC has the meaning given in section 3 of the Act.
general insurer has the meaning given in section 11 of the Act.
Level 2 insurance group has the meaning given in Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions.
parent entity has the meaning given in Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions.
subsidiary has the meaning given in Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions.

Schedule

Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions, comprises the document commencing on the following page.

Prudential Standard GPS 001

Definitions

Authority

This Prudential Standard is made under section 32 of the Insurance Act 1973 (the Act).

Application and commencement

This Prudential Standard commences on 1 July 2023.
Unless contrary intention appears, definitions in this Prudential Standard apply to all Prudential Standards made under section 32 of the Act (collectively).
Defined terms appear in bold the first time they are used in this Prudential Standard.
APRA
APRA means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
general insurer
general insurer has the meaning given in section 11 of the Act.
authorised NOHC
authorised NOHC has the meaning given in section 3 of the Act.
subsidiary
subsidiary has the meaning given in Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions.
parent entity
parent entity has the meaning given in Prudential Standard GPS 001 Definitions.
Level 2 insurance group
Level 2 insurance group is as defined in Attachment D of this Prudential Standard.
GI Prudential Standards
GI Prudential Standards are all prudential standards made under section 32 of the Act.

Definitions

Key terms referred to in the GI Prudential Standards are defined as follows:
AASB means Australian Accounting Standards Board.
Accounts of a Level 2 insurance group, for the purposes of the prudential requirements applicable to Level 2 insurance groups, refers to accounts constituting reporting documents required to be prepared by the parent entity of the group in compliance with reporting standards made under the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (Collection of Data Act) and includes both annual accounts and half-yearly accounts in respect of a group’s financial year.
Acquisition expenses means the fixed and variable expenses of a regulated institution to the extent they are, either directly or indirectly, referable to those activities of the company related to the acquiring of that new or renewal business expected to derive from the expenditure.
Actuarial Valuation Report (AVR) is as defined in Prudential Standard CPS 320 Actuarial and Related Matters (CPS 320).
Agent in Australia has the same meaning as in the Act.
Appointed Actuary means an actuary appointed under paragraph 39(1)(b) of the Act.
Appointed Auditor means an auditor appointed under paragraph 39(1)(a) of the Act.
APRA-authorised reinsurer means an insurer carrying on reinsurance business. For the purposes of this definition, a Lloyd’s underwriter as defined under the Act is an APRA-authorised reinsurer if it carries on reinsurance business. The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation is also considered an APRA-authorised reinsurer for the purposes of this definition.
Asset Concentration Risk Charge means the risk charge determined under Prudential Standard GPS 117 Capital Adequacy: Asset Concentration Risk Charge.
Asset Risk Charge means the risk charge determined under Prudential Standard GPS 114 Capital Adequacy: Asset Risk Charge.
Associate means an associate as defined under Australian Accounting Standard AASB 128 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures.
Auditing and Assurance Standards is a reference to the Auditing and Assurance Standards issued by the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) as may be amended from time to time.
Australian Accounting Standards is a reference to the Australian Accounting Standards issued by the AASB as may be amended from time to time.
Australian business of a Level 2 insurance group, for the purposes of the prudential requirements applicable to Level 2 insurance groups, means insurance business carried on (whether in Australia or elsewhere) by any Level 1 insurer within the group.
Authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) has the same meaning as in the Banking Act 1959 (Banking Act). It includes foreign ADIs as defined in the Banking Act.
Authorised NOHC has the same meaning as in the Act.
Board means the Board of directors or, where relevant, the senior officer outside Australia.
Business day has the same meaning as in the Act.
Business Plan refers to a written business plan as part of an insurer’s risk management framework as required under Prudential Standard CPS 220 Risk Management (CPS 220).
Capital base is as defined in GPS 112.
Capital standards refers collectively to all GI Prudential Standards relating to capital adequacy.
Categories of insurer are as defined in Attachment A of this Prudential Standard.
Claims handling expenses are the costs that a regulated institution expects to incur in the management and settling of claims, which includes an appropriate allocation of business overheads such as claims department and corporate office overheads. For the outstanding claims liability, this includes the cost of future claims management, claims administration expenses for all incurred claims and the establishment expenses of unreported claims. For premiums liabilities, this includes claims management and claims administration expenses for claims establishment and run off.
Classes of business, including direct classes of business and reinsurance classes of business, are as defined in Attachment B of this Prudential Standard.
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital is as defined in GPS 112.
Controlled entity of a non-operating holding company or insurer, for the purposes of the prudential requirements applicable to Level 2 insurance groups, means a subsidiary as defined in Australian Accounting Standards for the purposes of determining the entities included in consolidated general purpose financial statements.
Corporate agent has the same meaning as in the Act.
Corporate group is a group of entities comprising two or more companies that are related bodies corporate within the meaning of section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act).
Corporations Act refers to the Corporations Act 2001.
Counterparty grade refers to the classification applied to an investment or exposure as per the requirements of Attachment C of this Prudential Standard.
Debt obligations for the purposes of the Asset Risk Charge and Asset Concentration Risk Charge refers to all loans, deposits, placements, interest rate securities and other receivables.
Direct classes of business are as defined in Attachment B of this Prudential Standard.
Director has the same meaning as in the Act.
Ensure when used in relation to a responsibility of the board, means to take all reasonable steps and make all reasonable enquiries as are appropriate for a board so that the board can determine, to the best of its knowledge, that the stated matter has been properly addressed.
Expected reinsurance recoveries means any amounts due to an insurer, or to an entity that carries on international business within a Level 2 insurance group, from a reinsurer that arise from the recognition of premiums liabilities referred to in the GI Prudential Standards (including Prudential Standard GPS 340 Insurance Liability Valuation). This is distinguished from reinsurance recoverables.
Fair value has the same meaning as it does in the Australian Accounting Standards and refers to the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction.
Financial Condition Report (FCR) is as defined in CPS 320.
Financial year, in relation to a Level 2 insurance group, means the financial year (within the meaning of the Corporations Act) of the parent entity of the Level 2 insurance group.
General insurer has the same meaning as in the Act.
GI Prudential Standards are all prudential standards made under section 32 of the Act.
Group Actuary is as defined in CPS 320.
ICAAP summary statement is as described in Prudential Standard GPS 110 Capital Adequacy (GPS 110).
ICAAP report is as described in GPS 110.
Insurance business has the same meaning as in the Act.
Insurance Concentration Risk Charge means the risk charge determined under Prudential Standard GPS 116 Capital Adequacy: Insurance Concentration Risk Charge.
Insurance group means a group of entities comprising:
a company that is either:
an insurer; or
an authorised non-operating holding company of an insurer; and
one or more controlled entities, including, but not limited to, subsidiary companies and trusts, or parent companies of the company referred to in subparagraph (a)
within a corporate group. There may be more than one insurance group within a corporate group. An insurance group includes but is not necessarily limited to a Level 2 insurance group as defined in this Prudential Standard.
Insurance Risk Charge means the risk charge determined under Prudential Standard GPS 115 Capital Adequacy: Insurance Risk Charge.
Insurer means a general insurer as defined in the Act, other than in CPS 320.
[1]
For the purposes of CPS 320, the term insurers refers to all general insurers, parent entities of Level 2 insurance groups; all life companies, including friendly societies and eligible foreign life insurance companies; and all private health insurers.
Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) is as described in GPS 110.
International business of a Level 2 insurance group means, for the purposes of the prudential requirements applicable to Level 2 insurance groups, insurance business carried on by any entity within the group that is not authorised under the Act.
Lenders mortgage insurance has its ordinary commercial meaning and includes insurance under a policy that protects a lender from losses in the event of borrower default on a loan secured by a mortgage over residential or other property.
Lenders mortgage insurer means an insurer that has written or reinsured, or proposes to write or reinsure, policies of lenders mortgage insurance.
Level 1 insurer, for the purposes of the prudential requirements applicable to Level 2 insurance groups, means an individual insurer that is authorised under the Act and is part of a Level 2 insurance group.
Level 2 insurance group is as defined in Attachment D of this Prudential Standard.
Limited assurance is as defined according to Framework for Assurance Engagements issued by the AUASB as may be amended from time to time.
Non-APRA-authorised reinsurer means any reinsurer that is not an APRA-authorised reinsurer.
Non-operating holding company (NOHC) has the same meaning as in the Act.
Non-reinsurance recoveries are recoveries determined under CPS 320 that do not relate to exposures to a reinsurer.
Non-significant financial institution (non-SFI) means an insurer, authorised NOHC or a parent entity of a Level 2 insurance group that is not a significant financial institution.
Operational Risk Charge means the risk charge determined under Prudential Standard GPS 118 Capital Adequacy: Operational Risk Charge.
Parent entity is as defined in Attachment D of this Prudential Standard.
Policy administration expenses are costs that a regulated institution expects to incur in administering policies, which includes an appropriate allocation of business overheads such as corporate office overheads. This includes, but is not limited to, policy management and administration expenses to allow for the cost of managing unexpired policies for which the insurer is on risk.
Prescribed capital amount is as defined in GPS 110.
Prudential Capital Requirement (PCR) means the minimum amount of capital that an insurer or Level 2 insurance group must hold as defined in GPS 110.
Prudential matters has the same meaning as in the Act.
Prudential requirements includes requirements imposed by the Act, the Insurance Regulations 2002, prudential standards determined under the Act, the Collection of Data Act, reporting standards, conditions imposed under the Act on the insurer’s authorisation, directions issued by APRA pursuant to the Act and any other requirements imposed by APRA in writing.
Regulated institutions refers collectively to both insurers and Level 2 insurance groups.
Reinsurance refers to all arrangements where some part of individual or aggregate insurance risks are ceded to another company or companies and include cessions of direct writing companies to reinsurance companies or other direct writing life companies and parent companies as well as retrocessions of reinsurers to their parent companies or other reinsurers.
Reinsurance Arrangements Statement is as defined in Prudential Standard GPS 230 Reinsurance Management (GPS 230).
Reinsurance assets in relation to an insurer or an entity that carries on international business within a Level 2 insurance group comprises:
reinsurance recoverables; and
expected reinsurance recoveries.
Reinsurance classes of business are as defined in Attachment B of this Prudential Standard.
Reinsurance Management Strategy is as defined in GPS 230.
Reinsurance recoverables means any amounts due to an insurer, or to an entity that carries on international business within a Level 2 insurance group, from a reinsurer that arise from the recognition of outstanding claims liabilities referred to in the capital standards and CPS 320. This is distinguished from expected reinsurance recoveries and forms part of reinsurance assets.
Related body corporate, or related company, has the same meaning as in section 50 of the Corporations Act.
Related entity means an entity which is a ‘related party’ within the meaning of the relevant Australian Accounting Standards.
Related firms, in the context of Appointed Auditors, Appointed Actuaries and Reviewing Actuaries, means either two or more firms, or a firm and a body corporate, that have common ownership or management, or where one has a substantial shareholding in the other.
Reporting date is the last day of the reporting period of the insurer or Level 2 insurance group.
Reporting period is the period that the insurer or Level 2 insurance group is required to report under the relevant reporting standards made under the Collection of Data Act.
Responsible auditor is as defined in Prudential Standard CPS 520 Fit and Proper.
Reviewing Actuary means an actuary appointed by an insurer for the purpose of reviewing the AVR under CPS 320.
Risk management declaration is as defined in CPS 220.
Risk management framework is as defined in CPS 220.
Risk management strategy is as defined in CPS 220.
Run-off insurer means an insurer that is closed to new business and has not written renewal business for a period of at least 12 months.
Senior manager has the same meaning as in the Act.
Senior officer outside Australia is as defined in Prudential Standard CPS 510 Governance.
Significant financial institution (SFI) means an insurer, authorised NOHC or a parent entity of a Level 2 insurance group that is either:
not a Category C insurer and has total assets in excess of AUD $10 billion; or
determined as such by APRA, having regard to matters such as complexity in its operations or its membership of a group.
Small insurer means an insurer that satisfies the following criteria:
the gross insurance liabilities of the insurer are less than $20 million when valued in accordance with CPS 320; and
the gross insurance liabilities of the insurer do not include a material amount in respect of long-tail business (comprising classes of business where the claims are typically settled more than one year after the date of occurrence of the event that gives rise to the claim).
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) refers to an entity that is not a related entity and whose activities are restricted to the acquisition and financing of specific assets.
Standard Method is as defined under GPS 110.
Statutory accounts means the reporting documents that an insurer is required to lodge with APRA under section 13 of the Collection of Data Act.
Subsidiary means a subsidiary as defined under the Corporations Act.
Supervisory adjustment is as defined under GPS 110.
Tier 1 Capital is as defined in GPS 112.
Tier 2 Capital is as defined in GPS 112.
Unclosed business refers to the premium revenue from insurance policies that have not yet been processed, but for which the regulated institution is liable at the valuation date. There may be insufficient information available to report an exact amount of premium.
Yearly statutory accounts has the same meaning as in the Act.

Adjustments and exclusions

APRA may, by notice in writing to a regulated institution, adjust or exclude a specific requirement in this Prudential Standard in relation to that regulated institution.

Previous exercise of discretion

A regulated institution must contact APRA if it seeks to place reliance, for the purposes of complying with this Prudential Standard, on a previous exemption or other exercise of discretion made by APRA under a previous version of this Prudential Standard.

Attachment A – Category of

Insurer
Insurer means a general insurer as defined in the Act, other than in CPS 320.
The categories of insurer referred to in the GI Prudential Standards are as follows:
Category A insurer means an insurer incorporated in Australia. This category excludes all insurers falling within any of the other categories. For the purposes of clarification, wholly-owned subsidiaries of corporate groups that are not insurance groups fall into this category where they do not already fall into another category of insurer under this Prudential Standard. Category A insurers could be mutual companies or shareholder companies.
Category B insurer means an insurer that is:
incorporated in Australia; and
a subsidiary of a local or foreign insurance group.
Category B insurers are part of a local or foreign insurance group. They could be subsidiaries of mutual or shareholder companies. An insurance group captive is not a Category B insurer.
Category C insurer means a ‘foreign general insurer’ defined under subsection 3(1) of the Act. A Category C insurer is a foreign insurer operating as a foreign branch in Australia and could be a branch of a foreign mutual or shareholder company.
Category D insurer means an insurer incorporated in Australia that:
is owned by an industry or a professional association, or by the members of the industry or professional association, or a combination of both; and
only underwrites business risks of the members of the association or those who are eligible, under the articles of association or constitution of the association, to become members of the association; but
is not a medical indemnity insurer as defined under the Medical Indemnity Act 2002.
Category D insurers are often referred to as ‘association captives’ and could be mutual companies or shareholder companies.
Category E insurer means an insurer incorporated in Australia that is a:
corporate captive as defined in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Attachment; or
partnership captive as defined in paragraph 4 of this Attachment.
Category E insurers, often referred to as ‘sole parent captives’, will generally be shareholder companies.
Corporate captive means an insurer that:
is owned by a single company or a group of related bodies corporate; and
exists for the purpose of underwriting risks of the parent company or members of a group of related entities, which may include the risks of joint venture partners and contractors of members of the group of companies.
Corporate captives include insurance group captives.
captive means an insurer that:
Insurance group
Insurance group means a group of entities comprising:
a company that is either:
an insurer; or
an authorised non-operating holding company of an insurer; and
one or more controlled entities, including, but not limited to, subsidiary companies and trusts, or parent companies of the company referred to in subparagraph (a)
within a corporate group. There may be more than one insurance group within a corporate group. An insurance group includes but is not necessarily limited to a Level 2 insurance group as defined in this Prudential Standard.
within a corporate group. There may be more than one insurance group within a corporate group. An insurance group includes but is not necessarily limited to a Level 2 insurance group as defined in this Prudential Standard.
is a subsidiary of an insurer or an authorised NOHC; and
exists for the purpose of reinsuring the risks of the insurer or members of the insurance group, which may include the risks of joint venture partners of the members of the insurance group.
Partnership captive means an insurer that:
is owned by a partnership; and
exists for the purpose of underwriting the business risks of the partners and/or the partnership.

Attachment B – Class of business

referred to in the GI Prudential Standards are defined as follows:
Direct classes of business
Direct classes of business are as defined in Attachment B of this Prudential Standard.
Householders
This class covers the common Householders policies, including the following classes/risks:
  • Contents;
  • Personal property;
  • Arson; and
  • Burglary.
Public liability normally attaching to these products is to be separated and included in the Public and Product Liability class of business – item (m). Similarly, Domestic Workers’ Compensation attaching to these products is to be separated and included in the Employers’ Liability class of business – item (o).
Commercial Motor
Motor vehicle insurance (including third party property damage) other than insurance covering vehicles defined below under Domestic Motor. It includes long and medium haul trucks, cranes and special vehicles, and policies covering fleets.
Domestic Motor
Motor vehicle insurance (including third party property damage) covering private use motor vehicles including utilities and lorries, motor cycles, private caravans, box and boat trailers, and other vehicles not normally covered by business or commercial policies.
Travel
Insurance against losses associated with travel including loss of baggage and personal effects, losses on flight cancellations and overseas medical costs.
Fire and Industrial Special Risks (ISR)
Fire
Includes all policies normally classified as 'Fire' and includes:
  • Sprinkler leakage;
  • Subsidence;
  • Windstorm;
  • Hailstone;
  • Crop;
  • Arson; and
  • Loss of profits and any extraneous risk normally covered under fire policies, e.g. flood.
ISR
Standard policy wordings exist for this type of policy. All policies that contain such standard wordings or substantially similar wording are to be classified as ISR.
Marine
Includes Marine Hull and Marine Liability (including pleasure craft), and Marine Cargo (including sea and inland transit insurance).
Aviation
Aviation (including aircraft hull and aircraft liability).
Mortgage
Insurance against losses to a lender in the event of borrower default on a loan secured by a mortgage over residential or other property.
Consumer Credit (CCI)
Insurance to protect a consumer's ability to meet the loan repayments on personal loans and credit card finance in the event of death or loss of income due to injury, illness or unemployment.
Other Accident
Includes the following types of insurance:
  • Miscellaneous accident (involving cash in transit, theft, loss of money);
  • All risks (baggage, sporting equipment, guns);
  • Engineering when not part of ISR or Fire policy;
  • Plate glass when not part of packaged policy (e.g. Householders);
  • Livestock;
  • Pluvius; and
  • Sickness and Accident, which, by the terms of the policy, provides benefits for no more than 3 years.
Other
All other insurance business not specifically mentioned elsewhere. It includes:
  • Trade Credit;
  • Extended Warranty (includes insurance by a third party for a period in excess of the manufacturer's or seller’s normal warranty);
  • Kidnap and Ransom; and
  • Contingency.
Compulsory Third-Party Motor Vehicle (CTP)
This class consists only of CTP business.
Public and Product Liability
  • Public Liability covers legal liability to the public in respect of bodily injury or property damage arising out of the operation of the insured's business. Product Liability includes policies that provide for compensation for loss and/or injury caused by, or as a result of, the use of goods and environmental clean-up caused by pollution spills where not covered by Fire and ISR policies.
  • Includes Builders Warranty Insurance.
  • Includes public liability attaching to Householders policies.
Professional Indemnity (PI)
  • PI covers professionals against liability incurred as a result of errors and omissions made in performing professional services that has resulted in economic losses suffered by third parties.
Directors and Officers (D&O)
  • D&O covers directors and officers of a company, and the company itself, for liability in the event of a legal action brought for alleged wrongful acts in their capacity as directors and officers.
  • Cover for legal expense is generally included in this type of policy.
Cyber
  • Cyber insurance provides first party and third-party coverage in respect to the insured’s exposures relating to indemnified cyber events.
Employers’ Liability (EL)
Includes:
  • Workers' Compensation;
  • Seamen's Compensation; and
  • Domestic Workers’ Compensation.
referred to in the GI Prudential Standards are defined in accordance with both the direct classes of business defined in paragraph 1 of this Attachment and by the following types of reinsurance classification:
Reinsurance classes of business
Reinsurance classes of business are as defined in Attachment B of this Prudential Standard.
Proportional reinsurance
This refers to either:
traditional forms of quota share and/or surplus reinsurance placed on a treaty reinsurance basis; or
reinsurance written on an individual offer and acceptance basis;
where the reinsurer and reinsured share, in proportion, the premium and losses of the reinsured.
Non-proportional reinsurance
This refers to either:
traditional forms of excess of loss reinsurance arrangements written on a treaty reinsurance arrangement basis; or
reinsurance written on an individual offer and acceptance basis;
where the reinsurer pays losses only above an agreed retention/deductible up to an agreed maximum limit.

Attachment C – Counterparty grades

Assets subject to credit risk must be assigned a counterparty grade using one of the following methods:
for publicly rated assets refer to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Attachment;
for non-publicly rated assets secured by a residential mortgage refer to paragraphs 8 to 12 of this Attachment. An asset secured by a residential mortgage comprises an investment held by way of a registered lien, charge or mortgage over residential property. The valuation must have been performed by a qualified valuer. The property cannot be a speculative construction or a property development;
assets other than those referred to in (a) and (b) may be rated using private external ratings or a regulated institution’s own ratings, but only with the prior approval of APRA; or
assets other than those referred to in (a) and (b) that have not been rated using methods approved by APRA must be assigned a counterparty grade of 5.
Publicly rated assets are assigned a counterparty grade based on Table 1 and Table 2. The short-term ratings in Table 1 are typically used for assets with original term to maturity of not more than 13 months. For other assets the long-term ratings in Table 2 apply. The credit ratings in Table 1 and Table 2 include structured finance ratings with the (sf) indicator.

Table 1: Short-term ratings

Grade
Standard & Poor’s
Moody’s
AM Best
Fitch
1
A1+
 
AMB-1+
F1+
2
A1
P1
AMB-1
F1
3
A2
P2
AMB-2
F2
4
A3
P3
AMB-3
F3
5
-
-
-
-
6
B
NP Vulnerable
AMB-4
B
7
C
NP Currently Vulnerable
 
C

Table 2: Long-term ratings

Grade
Standard & Poor’s
Moody’s
AM Best
Fitch
Debt
FSR
1
AAA
Aaa
aaa
A++
AAA
2
AA+
AA
AA-
Aa1
Aa2
Aa3
aa+
aa
aa-

A+
AA+
AA
AA-
3
A+
A
A-
A1
A2
A3
a+
a
a-

A
A-
A+
A
A-
4
BBB+
BBB
BBB-
Baa1
Baa2
Baa3
bbb+
bbb
bbb-

B++
B+
BBB+
BBB
BBB-
5
BB+
BB
BB-
Ba1
Ba2
Ba3
bb+
bb
bb-

B
B-
BB+
BB
BB-
6
B+
B
B-
B1
B2
B3
b+
b
b-
C++, C+
C
C-
B+
B
B-
7
Below B-
Below B3
Below b-
Below C-
Below B-
[2]
‘FSR’ refers to the Financial Strength Rating issued by AM Best.
Where investments are held via a trust that has itself been separately rated by a recognised rating agency, that rating may be applied to all the investments in the trust in lieu of the ratings of the individual trust assets, provided that the trust is treated as a single investment for asset concentration purposes and is not subject to ‘look-through’. When a ‘look-through’ approach is adopted the underlying assets need to be individually rated. If the trust is separately rated, that overall trust rating cannot be applied to the individual underlying assets.
For Level 2 insurance groups, APRA may determine the counterparty grade of a non- that:
APRA-authorised reinsurer
APRA-authorised reinsurer means an insurer carrying on reinsurance business. For the purposes of this definition, a Lloyd’s underwriter as defined under the Act is an APRA-authorised reinsurer if it carries on reinsurance business. The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation is also considered an APRA-authorised reinsurer for the purposes of this definition.
has no external credit rating; and
is a member of the Level 2 insurance group.
A regulated institution must, in general, use the same rating agency for determining all counterparty grades. A regulated institution may depart from this general rule where there are good reasons for doing so, such as under the following circumstances:
where the rating agencies usually monitored by a regulated institution do not issue a solicited credit rating for a particular debt obligation and only one other rating agency issues a solicited credit rating for that debt obligation, a regulated institution may use that solicited credit rating; or
[3]
A solicited credit rating is a rating that has been initiated and paid for by the issuer or rated counterparty or a commercial associate of the issuer or rated counterparty.
where the rating agencies usually monitored by the regulated institution do not issue a solicited credit rating for a particular debt obligation, the credit ratings issued by all other rating agencies listed in Table 1 and Table 2 must be reviewed and the rule in paragraph 6 of this Attachment must be used to determine the rating agency used to determine the counterparty grade and therefore the credit spreads or default factors to be applied; or
the rule in paragraph 6 of this Attachment may also be applied where a regulated institution monitors multiple rating agencies that provide different solicited credit ratings for a particular debt obligation.
For the purposes of paragraph 5 of this Attachment the following rule applies: where a counterparty or debt obligation has solicited credit ratings from multiple rating agencies, the following guidelines must be followed in determining the counterparty grade:
if there are two solicited ratings that correspond to different counterparty grades, the lower counterparty grade must be used for the debt obligation; or
if there are three or more solicited ratings that correspond to different counterparty grades, the ratings corresponding to the second-best of those counterparty grades must be used for the debt obligation.
APRA’s written approval must be sought if a regulated institution wishes to use the rating determined by a rating agency not included in Table 1 and Table 2 above.
The counterparty grade for assets secured by residential mortgages (as defined in paragraph 1(b) of this Attachment) is determined in Table 3 below.

Table 3: Assets secured by residential mortgages

Standard residential mortgages
Other residential mortgages
‘Loan to value ratio’
No LMI
>40% LMI
No LMI
>40% LMI
≤ 60%
2
2
3
2
> 60% but ≤ 80%
2
2
4
3
> 80% but ≤ 90%
3
2
5
4
> 90% but ≤ 100%
4
3
5
4
> 100%
5
4
5
5
Counterparty grade
Counterparty grade refers to the classification applied to an investment or exposure as per the requirements of Attachment C of this Prudential Standard.
‘Loan to value ratio’ is the ratio of the value of the asset (i.e. loan) to the market value of the collateral. The market value of the collateral is the value at inception or, where a substantive valuation has subsequently been carried out, this subsequent valuation.
A standard residential mortgage is defined as a mortgage on an existing residential property where the regulated institution has:
prior to loan approval and as part of the loan origination and approval process, documented, assessed and verified the ability of the borrowers to meet their repayment obligation;
valued any residential property offered as security;
established that any property offered as security for the loan is readily marketable; and
the regulated institution has at all times unequivocal enforcement rights over the mortgaged property (including a power of sale and a right to possession) in the event of default by the borrower.
The regulated institution must also revalue any property offered as security for such loans when it becomes aware of a material change in the market value of property in an area or region.
Loans that are secured by residential properties but fail to meet the criteria detailed in paragraph 10 of this Attachment must be classified as other residential mortgages. Such loans may be reclassified as standard residential mortgages where the borrowers have met their contractual loan repayments to the regulated institution continuously over the previous 36 months.
LMI refers to lenders mortgage insurance. ‘>40% LMI’ refers to mortgages where insurance cover has been obtained for all realised losses up to at least 40 per cent of the higher of the original loan amount and outstanding loan amount if higher than the original loan amount. Such insurance must be with a lenders mortgage insurer that is regulated by APRA.

Attachment D – Level 2 insurance groups

A Level 2 insurance group is:
where there is no authorised NOHC and an insurer has controlled entities, the consolidation of the insurer and its controlled entities, subject to paragraphs 2 to 4 (inclusive) of this Attachment; or
where there is an authorised NOHC, the consolidation of the authorised NOHC and its controlled entities, subject to paragraphs 2 to 4 (inclusive) of this Attachment; or
where there is no authorised NOHC and an insurer does not have controlled entities, the consolidation of the insurer and any entity that meets the following criteria:
the entity is subject to control by an entity or group of related entities that are the same or very similar to the entity or group of related entities that control the insurer;
the entity conducts insurance business or business related to insurance business; and
[4]
This includes controlled entities which provide a financing role to the insurance business, insurance intermediaries and service companies.
APRA determines, in writing, that the entity is to be consolidated.
However, APRA may, in writing, determine that a group that meets subparagraph (a) or (b) is not to be treated as a Level 2 insurance group.
For the purposes of the prudential supervision of insurance groups at Level 2, all entities conducting insurance business (subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Attachment), both regulated and unregulated, within the insurance group must be consolidated. Consolidation at Level 2 must be in accordance with the requirements of the for the production of consolidated financial statements except where APRA determines under paragraph 3 that an additional entity is to be consolidated or where an entity is to be treated as a non-consolidated subsidiary under paragraph 4.
Australian Accounting Standards
Australian Accounting Standards is a reference to the Australian Accounting Standards issued by the AASB as may be amended from time to time.
APRA may, in writing, determine that an entity is to be consolidated, despite that entity not being a controlled entity of the insurer or authorised NOHC, if:
the entity is subject to control by an entity or group of related entities that are the same or very similar to the entity or group of related entities that control other members of the Level 2 insurance group; and
it conducts insurance business or business related to insurance business. 
[5]
This includes controlled entities that provide a financing role to the insurance business, insurance intermediaries and service companies.
The following types of controlled entities are to be treated as ‘non-consolidated subsidiaries’ (unless APRA, in writing, determines otherwise):
[6]
However, any entity specified in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) that is not material may be consolidated.
prudentially regulated entities that are neither insurers nor entities carrying on international business;
entities acting as manager, responsible entity, approved trustee, trustee or similar role in relation to funds management (including superannuation or pension fund business);
entities involved in non-financial (commercial) operations;
securitisation special purpose vehicles to which assets and/or liabilities have been transferred in accordance with any prudential standard made under section 32 of the Act; and
an entity that APRA has determined, in writing, is to be deconsolidated because APRA is satisfied that its principal business is not related to any insurance business of the group or is immaterial to the group’s total business.
Subject to paragraph 6, the parent entity of a Level 2 insurance group is:
where the Level 2 insurance group is headed by an authorised NOHC, the authorised NOHC; and
where the Level 2 insurance group is headed by an insurer, the insurer.
Note: ‘authorised NOHC’ does not refer to the holding company of a wider corporate group which includes the Level 2 insurance group where the holding company has not been authorised under the Act as a NOHC.
APRA may, in writing, determine that a different entity within a Level 2 insurance group (which must be an insurer, authorised NOHC or a subsidiary of an insurer or authorised NOHC) is the parent entity of that group.
APRA may apply transition arrangements to a Level 2 insurance group in respect of entities that would otherwise be consolidated within the group. APRA may agree, in writing, upon these arrangements with such Level 2 insurance groups on a case-by-case basis to allow a transition period before these entities are required to be consolidated within a Level 2 insurance group.
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