A number of the rules in this section require a firm to take into account its regulatory duty to treat customers fairly. In this section, references to such a duty are to the duty of a firm regulated by the FCA9 to pay due regard to the interests of its customers and to treat them fairly (see the FCA's9Principle 6 in PRIN). This duty is owed to both policyholders and potential policyholders.

7Some of the rules made by the FCA7 contain references to, or are reliant on, rules that are only made by the PRA. Firms should consider GEN 2.2.13A R (cross-references in the Handbook) and GEN 2.2.23 R to GEN 2.2.25 G (cutover: application of provisions made by both the FCA and the PRA) when applying these rules. In the context of mathematical reserves, the FCArules ensure a firm takes into account its regulatory duty to treat customers fairly.7

INSPRU 1.2.10R (2) prohibits only arbitrary changes in methods and assumptions, that is, changes made without adequate reasons. Any such changes would hinder comparisons over time as to the amount of the mathematical reserves and so obscure trends in solvency and the emergence of surplus.

7For the purposes of INSPRU 1.2.20 R, records should be maintained for7 a period of longer than three years7 for a firm'slong-term insurance business. In determining an appropriate period, a firm should have regard to:

1. (1)

   [deleted]7

2. (2)

   the nature and term of the firm's long-term insurance business; and

3. (3)

   any additional provisions or statutory requirements applicable to the firm or its records.

A firm may include amounts recoverable from an ISPV in the cash flows to be valued in a prospective valuation if it obtains a waiver of INSPRU 1.2.28 R under sections 138A and 138B of the Act.7

All cash flows are to be valued using prudent assumptions in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice. Cash flows may be omitted from the valuation calculations provided the reserves obtained as a result of leaving those cash flows out of the calculation are not less than would have resulted had all cash flows been included7. Provision for future expenses in respect of with-profits insurance contracts (excluding accumulating with-profits policies) may be made implicitly, using the net premium method of valuation7. For the purposes of INSPRU 1.2.28R (1)(b)3, any charges included in expenses should be determined in accordance with the firm's regulatory duty to treat its customers fairly.

INSPRU 1.2.29R (4) requires firms7 to make allowance for any future annual bonus that a firm would expect to grant, assuming future experience is in line with the assumptions used in the calculation of the mathematical reserves. Final bonuses7 do not have to be taken into consideration in these calculations except in relation to accumulating with-profits policies7. The calculations required for accumulating with-profits policies are set out in INSPRU 1.2.71R (1).

The rates of mortality or morbidity should contain prudent margins for adverse deviation7. In setting those rates, a firm should take account of:

1. (1)

   the systems and controls applied in underwriting long-term insurance contracts and whether they provide adequate protection against anti-selection (that is, selection against the firm) including:

   1. (a)

      adequately defining and identifying non-standard risks; and

   2. (b)

      where such risks are underwritten, allocating to them an appropriate weighting;

2. (2)

   the nature of the contractual exposure to mortality or morbidity risk including:

   1. (a)

      whether lower mortality increases or decreases the firm's liability;

   2. (b)

      the period of cover and whether risk charges can be varied during that period and, if so, how quickly; and

   3. (c)

      whether the options in the contract give rise to a significant risk of anti-selection (for example, opportunities for voluntary discontinuance, guaranteed renewal at the option of the policyholder and rights for conversion of benefits);

3. (3)

   the credibility of the firm's actual experience as a basis for projecting future experience including:

   1. (a)

      whether there is sufficient data (especially for medical or financial risks and for new types of benefit or new methods of distribution); and

   2. (b)

      whether the data is reliable and has been appropriately validated;

4. (4)

   the availability and reliability of:

   1. (a)

      any published tables of mortality or morbidity for the country or territory of residence of the person whose life or health is insured; and

   2. (b)

      any other information as to the industry-wide insurance experience for that country or territory;

5. (5)

   anticipated or possible future trends in experience including, but only where they increase the liability:

   1. (a)

      anticipated improvements in mortality;

   2. (b)

      changes arising from improved detection of morbidity (including critical illnesses);

   3. (c)

      diseases the impact of which may not yet be reflected fully in current experience; and

   4. (d)

      changes in market segmentation (such as impaired life annuities) which, in the light of developing experience, may require different assumptions for different parts of the policy class.

An additional provision for diseases covered by INSPRU 1.2.60G (5)(c) may be needed, in particular for unit-linked policies. In determining whether such a provision is needed a firm may take into consideration any ability to increase product charges commensurately (provided that such increase does not infringe on its regulatory duty to treat its customers fairly), but a provision would still be required for the period until such an increase could be brought into effect.

2A contract has a guaranteed surrender value where the policy wording states that a surrender value is payable and either provides for a minimum amount payable on surrender or sets out a method for calculating such an amount. For example, where a unit-linked contract provides for a surrender value equal to the value of the units allocated to the contract, the firm must establish mathematical reserves for that contract greater than or equal to the value of the units allocated at the valuation date.

An option exists where a policyholder is given a choice between alternative forms of benefit, for example, a choice between receiving a cash benefit upon maturity or an annuity at a guaranteed rate. In some cases, the contract may designate one or other of these alternatives as the principal benefit and any other as an option. This designation, in itself, is not one of substance in the context of reserving since it does not affect the policyholder's choices. Other forms of option include:

1. (1)

   the right to convert to a different contract on guaranteed terms;

2. (2)

   the right to increase cover on guaranteed terms;

3. (3)

   the right to a specified amount on surrender; and

4. (4)

   the right to a paid up value.

The firm should provide for the benefit which the firm anticipates the policyholder is most likely to choose. P2ast experience may be used as a guide, but only if this is likely to give a reasonable estimate of future experience. For example, past experience of the take-up of a cash payment option instead of an annuity would not be a reliable guide, if, in the past, market rates exceeded those guaranteed in the annuity but no longer do so. Similarly, past experience on the take-up of options may not be relevant in the light of the assumptions made in respect of future interest rates and mortality rates in the valuation of the benefits.

Many options are long-term and need careful consideration. Improving longevity, for example, can increase the value of guaranteed annuity options vesting further in the future. firms also need to have regard to the fact that policyholder behaviour can change in the future as policyholders become more aware of the value of their options. The impact on policyholder behaviour of possible changes in taxation should also be considered.

Take-up7 rates for guaranteed annuity options should be assessed on a prudent basis with assumptions that include margins for adverse deviation7 that take account of current experience and the potential for future change. The firm should reserve for option take-up at least at a prudent margin over current experience for options shortly to vest. For longer term options where the option becomes increasingly valuable in the future due to projected mortality improvements, increased take-up rates should be assumed. In view of the growing uncertainty over take-up rates for projections further in the future, for guaranteed annuity option dates 20 years or more ahead at least a 95% take-up rate assumption should be made.

Where there is considerable variation in the cost of the option depending on conditions at the time the option is exercised, and where that variation constitutes a material risk for the firm, it will generally be appropriate to use stochastic modelling. In this case prices from the asset model used in the stochastic approach should be benchmarked to relevant market asset prices before determining the value of the option. Where stochastic modelling is not undertaken, market option prices should be used to determine suitable assumptions for the valuation of the option. If no market exists for a particular option, a firm should take the value of the nearest equivalent benefit or right for which a market exists and document the way in which it has adjusted that valuation to reflect the original option.

Where the option offers a choice between two non-discretionary financial benefits (such as between a guaranteed cash sum or a guaranteed annuity value, or between a unit value and a maturity guarantee) and where there is a wide range of possible outcomes, the firm should normally model such liabilities stochastically. In carrying out such modelling firms should take into account the likely choices to be made by policyholders in each scenario. Firms should make and retain a record of the development and application of the model.

The value of a contract with an option is greater than the value of a similar contract without the option, that is, the option has value whether it is expected to be exercised or not. Although in theory a firm can rebalance its investments to match the expected cost of the option to the firm (including the time value of the option), this takes time to achieve and the market may move more quickly than the firm is able to respond. Also, there are likely to be transaction costs. Firms should take these aspects into consideration in setting up mathematical reserves.

INSPRU 1.2.71R (1) applies only to accumulating with-profits policies; INSPRU 1.2.71R (2) applies to any other type of policy, including non-profit insurance contracts. In INSPRU 1.2.71R (1)(a) a firm must take into consideration, for example, a market value adjustment where such an adjustment has been described in representations made to policyholders by the firm. However, any discretionary adjustment, such as a market value adjustment, must not be included in the amount calculated in INSPRU 1.2.71R (1)(b).

The requirements of this section apply to a firm on a solo basis.

This section sets out requirements for a firm relating to 'internal-contagion risk'. This is the risk that losses or liabilities from one activity might deplete or divert financial resources held to meet liabilities from another activity. It arises where the two activities are carried on within the same firm. It may also arise from the combination of activities within the same group, but this aspect of internal-contagion risk falls outside the scope of this section.8

Internal-contagion risk includes in particular the risk that arises where a firm carries on:

1. (1)

   both insurance and non-insurance activities; or

2. (2)

   two or more different types of insurance activity; or

3. (3)

   insurance activities from offices or branches located in both the United Kingdom and overseas.

This section requires firms other than pure reinsurers to limit non-insurance activities to those that directly arise from their insurance business, e.g. investing assets, employing insurance staff etc. It also requires that an adequate provision be established for non-insurance liabilities. pure reinsurers must limit their activities to the business of reinsurance and related operations.

This section also sets out requirements for the separation of different types of insurance activity. However, in most circumstances the combination of different types of insurance activity within the same firm is a source of strength. Adequate pooling and diversification of insurance risk is fundamental to sound business practice. The requirements, therefore, only apply in two specific cases where without adequate protection the combination might operate to the detriment of policyholders. They apply where a firm carries on both:

1. (1)

   general insurance business and long-term insurance business;

2. (2)

   linked and non-linked insurance business.

Finally, the section sets out requirements to protect policyholders of the United Kingdombranches of firms with their head office outside the United Kingdom9.

In INSPRU 1.5.13A R related operations include, for example, activities such as provision of statistical or actuarial advice, risk analysis or research for its clients. It may also include a holding company function and activities with respect to financial sector activities within the meaning of Article 2, point 8, of the Financial Groups Directive. But it does not allow the carrying on of, for example, unrelated banking and financial activities.

INSPRU 1.5.18 R , INSPRU 1.5.21 R, INSPRU 1.5.30 R and INSPRU 1.5.31 R require a firm to identify the assets attributable to the receipts of the long-term insurance business, called long-term insurance assets, and only to apply those assets for the purpose of that business. This has the effect of prohibiting a composite firm from using long-term insurance assets to meet general insurance liabilities. It also keeps long-term insurance assets separate from shareholder funds.

1. (1)

   Under section 19 of the Act, a firm may not carry on a regulated activity unless it has permission to do so (or is exempt in relation to the particular activity). Both general insurance business and long-term insurance business are regulated activities and permission will extend to the effecting or carrying out of one or more particular classes of contracts of insurance.3

2. (2)

   A firm'spermission can be varied so as to add other classes. The permission of an existing composite firm may be varied by adding classes of both general insurance business and long-term insurance business. 3

3. (3)

   It is the policy of the appropriate regulator not to grant or vary permission if that would allow a newly established firm, or an existing firm engaging solely in general insurance business or solely in long-term insurance business, to engage in both general insurance business and long-term insurance business. This does not apply where a firm'spermission to carry on long-term insurance business is or is to be restricted to reinsurance. It also does not apply where a firm'spermission to carry on general insurance business is or is to be restricted to effecting or carrying outaccident or sicknesscontracts of insurance . 3

   75777
4. (4)

   Where a firm'spermission extends to effecting or carrying outlife and annuitycontracts of insurance this will normally include permission to effect or carry outaccidentcontracts of insurance or sicknesscontracts of insurance on a supplementary basis.3

   7

The overall impact of the requirements in the PRA Rulebook to hold admissible assets of a value at least equal to the amount of technical provisions, when read together with INSPRU 1.5.18R, is that any firm writing long-term insurance business must identify separately assets of a value at least equal to the amount of its long-term insurance businesstechnical provisions, including those in respect of any property-linked liabilities or index-linked liabilities, and its other long-term insurance liabilities.8

INSPRU 1.5.18 R does not prohibit a firm from identifying other assets as being available to meet the liabilities of its long-term insurance business. It may transfer such other assets to a long-term insurance fund (see INSPRU 1.5.21 R and INSPRU 1.5.22 R ) and the transfer will take effect when it is recorded in the firm's accounting records (see INSPRU 1.5.23 R). After the transfer takes effect, a firm may not transfer the assets out of a long-term insurance fund except where they represent an established surplus (see INSPRU 1.5.27 R).

Firms must ensure that long-term insurance assets are separately identified and allocated to a long-term insurance fund at all times. Assets in external accounts, for example at banks, custodians, or brokers should be segregated in the firm's books and records into separate accounts for long-term insurance business and general insurance business. Where a firm has more than one long-term insurance fund, a separate accounting record must be maintained for each fund. Accounting records should clearly document the allocation.

Where the surplus arising from business is shared between policyholders and shareholders in different ways for different blocks of business, it may be necessary to maintain a separate fund to ensure that policyholders are, and will be, treated fairly. For example, if a proprietary company writes some business on a with-profits basis, this should be written in a with-profits fund separate from any business where the surplus arising from that business is wholly owned by shareholders.

Where a firm merges separate funds for different types of business, it will need to ensure that the merger will not result in policyholders being treated unfairly. When considering merging the funds, the firm should consider the impact on its PPFM (see COBS 20.32) and on its obligations to notify the FCA8 (see SUP 15.3). In particular, a firm would need to consider how any inherited estate would be managed and how the fund would be run in future, such that policyholders are treated fairly.

As a result of INSPRU 1.5.27R (2), an actuarial investigation undertaken to determine an established surplus remains in-date for three months from the date as at which the determination of the surplus was made. However, even where the investigation is still in-date, the firm should not make the transfer unless there is sufficient surplus at the time of the transfer to allow it to be made without breach of8 the requirements in PRA Rulebook: Non Solvency II firms: Insurance Company – Technical Provisions8.

INSPRU 1.1.27 R provides8 further constraints on the transfer of assets out of a with-profits fund. INSPRU 1.1.27 R requires a firm to have admissible assets in each of its with-profits funds to cover the technical provisions and other long-term insurance liabilities relating to all the business in that fund.

The purposes of the long-term insurance business include the payment of claims, expenses and liabilities arising from that business, the acquisition of lawful access to fixed assets to be used in that business and the investment of assets. The payment of liabilities may include repaying a loan but only where that loan was incurred for the purpose of the long-term insurance business. The purchase or investment of assets may include an exchange at fair market value of assets (including money) between the long-term insurance fund and other assets of the firm. A firm may also lend securities held in a long-term insurance fund under a stock lending transaction or transfer assets as collateral for a stock lending transaction where the firm is the borrower, where such lending or transfer is for the benefit of the long-term insurance business.

INSPRU 3.1.57 R requires a firm to cover, as closely as possible, its property-linked liabilities by the property to which those liabilities are linked. In order to comply with this rule, a firm should identify the assets it holds to cover property-linked liabilities and should not apply those assets (as long as they are needed to cover the property-linked liabilities) for any purpose other than to meet those liabilities.

Property-linked liabilities may be linked either to specified assets (with no contractual discretion given to the firm as to the choice of assets) or to assets of a specified kind where the selection of the actual assets is left to the firm.