GPS 115 Capital Adequacy: Insurance Risk Charge

This Prudential Standard sets out the method for calculating the Insurance Risk Charge for a regulated institution using the Standard Method to determine its prescribed capital amount.

The Insurance Risk Charge relates to the risk that the value of net insurance liabilities is greater than the value determined in accordance with Prudential Standard GPS 340 Insurance Liability Valuation (GPS 340). It has two components:

a risk charge in respect of Outstanding Claims Risk; and

a risk charge in respect of Premiums Liability Risk.

The total Insurance Risk Charge is the sum of the risk charge for each of the two components.

The risk charge for Outstanding Claims Risk relates to the risk that the value of the net outstanding claims liabilities will be greater than the value determined in accordance with GPS 340.

For the purposes of the Standard Method, the risk charge for each class of business is calculated by multiplying the net outstanding claims liabilities for that class (as determined in accordance with GPS 340) by the relevant Outstanding Claims Risk Capital Factor in Attachment A. The total risk charge for outstanding claims risk is the sum of the risk charges for each class of business.

The risk charge for Premiums Liability Risk relates to the risk that the value of the net premiums liabilities will be greater than the value determined in accordance with GPS 340. It also relates to the risk that ‘material net written premium’, as defined in paragraph 17, will be insufficient to fund the liabilities arising from that business.

For the purposes of the Standard Method, the risk charge for each class of business is calculated by multiplying the sum of:

net premiums liabilities as determined in accordance with GPS 340; and

material net written premiums

by the relevant Premiums Liability Risk Capital Factor in Attachment A. The total risk charge for Premiums Liability Risk is the sum of the risk charges for Premiums Liability Risk for each class of business.

For the purposes of the Outstanding Claims Risk Capital Factor and Premiums Liability Risk Capital Factor, all but the ‘other’ direct class of business[1] and ‘other’ reinsurance class of business have been classified into different categories in Attachment A (Table 1 and Table 2 respectively). The ‘other’ class of business must be allocated to a category by the Actuary, in accordance with paragraphs 13 and 14.

For the purpose of calculating the Insurance Risk Charge in respect of any ‘other’ business (whether it is direct business or reinsurance), the Actuary is required to determine the most appropriate category (i.e. category A, B or C) in Table 1 and Table 2 of Attachment A. The choice must be based on the underlying risk characteristics of the business being written. The regulated institution must then apply the corresponding Outstanding Claims Risk Capital Factor and Premiums Liability Risk Capital Factor listed in Attachment A in determining the Insurance Risk Charge.

If the ‘other’ class of business includes multiple risks with differing risk profiles, the Actuary may subdivide the net outstanding claims liabilities, net premiums liabilities and material net written premiums into more than one category.

The reasons for selecting the specific risk category or categories to which the ‘other’ class of business is assigned must be documented in the Actuarial Valuation Report.

Where a regulated institution underwrites an inwards reinsurance contract which spans multiple classes, the contract must be allocated by using an appropriate method (provided the same method is used for all contracts and all subsequent periods). Appropriate methods include:

allocating the contract on a pro rata basis to each of the relevant categories; or

allocating the contract to the category which represents the greatest exposure; or

allocating the contract to the category representing the greatest premium income.

The regulated institution may use an alternative method from those listed above for allocating inwards reinsurance business that spans multiple classes. The regulated institution must be able to demonstrate that the chosen method is appropriate and is used for all contracts and all subsequent periods.

With respect to direct business and reinsurance business where policies incept in the following reporting period and where these policies would have a material impact on capital adequacy, net written premium for exposure that has not been included in the calculation of the premiums liabilities is to be subject to the premiums liabilities risk charge.[2] This premium amount is defined as ‘material net written premium’. The materiality of the business that incepts in the next reporting period should be determined in accordance with the Australian accounting and auditing standards subject to APRA’s discretion.

For inwards proportional reinsurance contracts, the value of material net written premium calculated in paragraph 17 must reflect the full premium revenue expected for the full term[3] of the reinsurance contract, where revenue has not yet been recognised, subject to the appropriate subsection below:

where the remaining term of the contract is five years or less, the value of material net written premium should not exceed the net premium revenue forecast for 18 months from the end of the current reporting period; or

where the remaining term exceeds five years, an insurer may approach APRA to determine alternate treatment.

If a regulated institution securitises insurance liabilities, the net insurance liabilities may reduce. The regulated institution must apply to APRA for approval to include the securitisation transaction in the Insurance Risk Charge.

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.

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.