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Speeding up reporting processes
09 October 2014Bringing forward the calibration of risk factors in proxy models is one of the strategies to comply with the five-week deadline for quarterly reporting, according to a survey by Towers Watson. Hugo Coelho investigates
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Bracing for the liquidity squeeze
16 September 2014The push by regulators for the central clearing of derivatives is a serious issue for life insurers that rely on swaps for duration matching. As Hugo Coelho explores, they could be vulnerable to cash collateral calls if interest rates spike
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Taking some pain out of IFRS 4
09 September 2014The overlaps in terms of data requirements, processes and modelling between the new insurance accounting standard IFRS 4 and Solvency II are considerable and should give some cheer to insurers, argue KPMG's Danny Clark, Peter Ott and Viviane Leflaive
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Border crossing?
04 September 2014Scotland-based insurance companies have drawn up contingency plans ahead of the referendum on independence. In the event of a 'yes' vote they could even move south of the border, as Hugo Coelho reports
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Optimising capital in a Solvency II world
02 September 2014The introduction of Solvency II will bring about both challenges and opportunities from a capital management perspective. Here Sinead Clarke, Scott Mitchell and Eamonn Phelan consider how corporate and portfolio restructuring may be used to optimise capital management under the new regime
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Eiopa to receive more powers - insurers to pay?
28 August 2014The European Commission's recent proposals to increase the power and change the funding sources of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority have raised more than a few eyebrows. Marcus Alcock reports
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Will EWIs make internal models redundant?
26 August 2014The UK's Prudential Regulation Authority continues to press ahead with the use of early warning indicators. Here Simon Yeung examines their usefulness in the face of criticism that they could in effect make internal models themselves surplus to requirements.
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Reporting: How much more does the ECB want?
19 August 2014The European Central Bank is currently finalising a piece of statistical regulation addressed to insurers, after discussions with the industry ended in July. The requirements will be largely aligned with Solvency II, but in a few areas the bank wants more data, as Hugo Coelho explains
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Solvency II: Pillar 3 issues for smaller insurers
14 August 2014Getting to grips with the reporting requirements for Solvency II for firms as they become more involved with Pillar 3 implementation has already been flagged as a challenge for many, but this is especially so for the smaller players in the market, argues Charles Portsmouth, who highlights the key issues for such companies
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Leading the underwriting pack
12 August 2014As one of the lead insurers for the tragic MH17 plane crash, German insurer Allianz has continued to make the headlines in recent weeks. Here Carsten Scheffel, CEO of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty in London, talks to Marcus Alcock about the insurer's thoughts on integrated underwriting, Solvency II preparedness, and new areas of risk