Solvency II: Matching adjustment

Policy Statement 18/18 | Consultation Paper 21/17

Solvency II: Matching adjustment – PS18/18

Published on 13 July 2018

This Prudential Regulation Authority Policy Statement (PS) provides feedback on responses to Consultation Paper 21/17 ‘Solvency II: Matching Adjustment’ and provides the final Supervisory Statement (SS) 7/18 ‘Solvency II: Matching adjustment’, which sets out the PRA’s expectations in respect of firms seeking to apply the matching adjustment (MA) to an eligible portfolio of assets and liabilities.

This PS is relevant to all UK Solvency II firms and to the Society of Lloyd’s and its managing agents where they are applying or have applied to use the MA.

In CP21/17 the PRA consolidated and updated material previously set out in letters from Directors and Executive Directors (ED), and feedback statements (‘Directors’ letters’) published in the period 1 April 2013 to 15 February 2016, and also proposed some areas of updated guidance in light of experience following the introduction of Solvency II for UK firms. The CP proposed to incorporate all the guidance in a draft SS.

The PRA has made changes to the draft SS after considering responses to the consultation and further analysis. Details of the changes are included in Chapter 2.

Policy Statement 18/18 Opens in a new window

Appendix

Supervisory Statement 7/18 ‘Solvency II: Matching adjustment’

Solvency II: Matching adjustment - CP21/17

Published on 25 October 2017

In this consultation paper (CP) the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) sets out its proposed expectations of firms in respect of the application of the matching adjustment (MA). The MA allows firms to adjust the relevant risk-free interest rate term structure for the calculation of a best estimate of a portfolio of eligible insurance obligations.

This CP has been developed by the PRA as part of its work on adjustments to the insurance prudential framework in the light of experience following the UK introduction of Solvency II, including in areas recommended for reform by the Association of British Insurers and discussed with the Treasury Committee (see News release in related links).

In addition to the adjustments mentioned above, this CP proposes to consolidate and update material previously set out in Directors’ letters, Executive Director’s letters and feedback statements (‘Directors’ letters’) published in the period 1 April 2013 to 15 February 2016 in a new supervisory statement (SS). This CP will allow firms to provide feedback to the earlier published material and new guidance, provide greater clarity on the PRA’s expectations in relation to the MA, and help firms realise the intended benefits of MA.

This consultation is relevant to all UK Solvency II firms and to the Society of Lloyd’s and its managing agents where they are applying or have applied to use the MA.

The proposed expectations in the draft SS cover two areas: i) incorporation of existing Director’s letters, and ii) the introduction of updated guidance in relation to aspects of the MA.

The PRA proposes additional guidance in the following areas (with references to the relevant chapter in the draft SS):

asset eligibility – demonstrating cash flow fixity (Chapter 2);
criteria for assessing ‘sufficient compensation’ (Chapter 2);
restructuring asset cash flows using special purpose vehicles (SPVs) (Chapter 2);
trading in the MA portfolio (Chapter 7);
consequences of breaches of MA requirements (Chapter 8); and
changes to MA portfolio approval (Chapter 9).

This consultation closed on Wednesday 31 January 2018. The PRA invites feedback on the proposals set out in this consultation. Please address any comments or enquiries to CP21_17@bankofengland.co.uk.

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