Article 1: Scope
Article 2: Definitions
For the purposes of paragraph 1(d), any permanent presence of a reinsurance undertaking in the territory of a Member State shall be treated in the same way as an agency or branch, even if that presence does not take the form of a branch or agency, but consists merely of an office managed by the undertaking's own staff or by a person who is independent but has permanent authority to act for the undertaking as an agency would.
For the purposes of paragraph 1(j) of this Article, and in the context of Articles 12 and 19 to 23 and of the other levels of holding referred to in Article 19 to 23, the voting rights referred to in Article 92 of Directive 2001/34 ( 17 ) shall be taken into account.
For the purposes of paragraph 1(l), any subsidiary of a subsidiary undertaking shall also be regarded as a subsidiary of the undertaking which is those undertakings' ultimate parent undertaking.
For the purposes of paragraph 1(n):
Article 3: Principle of authorisation
Such authorisation shall be sought from the competent authorities of the home Member State by:
Article 4: Scope of authorisation
It shall be considered in the light of the scheme of operations to be submitted pursuant to Articles 6 (b) and 11 and the fulfilment of the conditions laid down for authorisation by the Member State from which the authorisation is sought.
Article 5: Form of the reinsurance undertaking
A reinsurance undertaking may also adopt the form of a European Company (SE), as defined in SE ( 18 ) .
Article 6: Conditions
Article 7: Close links
Article 8: Head office of the reinsurance undertaking
Article 9: Policy conditions and scales of premiums
Article 10: Economic requirements of the market
Article 11: Scheme of operations
Article 12: Shareholders and members with qualifying holdings
The same authorities shall refuse authorisation if, taking into account the need to ensure the sound and prudent management of a reinsurance undertaking, they are not satisfied as to the qualifications of the shareholders or members.
Article 13: Refusal of authorisation
Each Member State shall make provision for a right to apply to the courts, pursuant to Article 53, should there be any refusal.
Such provision shall also be made with regard to cases where the competent authorities have not dealt with an application for an authorisation upon the expiry of a period of six months from the date of its receipt.
Article 14: Prior consultation with the competent authorities of other Member States
Article 15: Competent authorities and object of supervision
If the competent authorities of the host Member State have reason to consider that the activities of a reinsurance undertaking might affect its financial soundness, they shall inform the competent authorities of the reinsurance undertaking's home Member State. The latter authorities shall determine whether the reinsurance undertaking is complying with the prudential rules laid down in this Directive.
Article 16: Supervision of branches established in another Member State
Article 17: Accounting, prudential and statistical information: supervisory powers
Article 18: Transfer of portfolio
Article 19: Acquisitions
The competent authorities of the home Member State shall have up to three months from the date of the notification provided for in the first paragraph to oppose such a plan if, in view of the need to ensure sound and prudent management of the reinsurance undertaking in question, they are not satisfied as to the qualifications of the person referred to in the first paragraph. If they do not oppose the plan in question, they may fix a maximum period for its implementation.
Article 20: Acquisitions by financial undertakings
Article 21: Disposals
Such a person shall likewise inform the competent authorities if he proposes to reduce his qualifying holding so that the proportion of the voting rights or of the capital he holds would fall below 20 %, 33 % or 50 % or so that the reinsurance undertaking would cease to be his subsidiary.
Article 22: Information to the competent authority by the reinsurance undertaking
They shall also, at least once a year, inform them of the names of shareholders and members possessing qualifying holdings and the sizes of such holdings as shown, for example, by the information received at annual general meetings of shareholders or members or as a result of compliance with the regulations relating to companies listed on stock exchanges.
Article 23: Qualifying holdings: powers of the competent authority
Similar measures shall apply to natural or legal persons failing to comply with the obligation to provide prior information imposed pursuant to Article 19. If a holding is acquired despite the opposition of the competent authorities, the Member States shall, regardless of any other penalties to be adopted, provide either for exercise of the corresponding voting rights to be suspended, or for the nullity of votes cast or for the possibility of their annulment.
Article 24: Obligation
Pursuant to that obligation, and without prejudice to cases covered by criminal law, no confidential information which they may receive while performing their duties may be divulged to any person or authority whatsoever, except in summary or aggregate form, such that individual reinsurance undertakings cannot be identified.
Article 25: Exchange of information between competent authorities of Member States
Article 26: Cooperation agreements with third countries
Where the information originates in another Member State, it may not be disclosed without the express agreement of the competent authorities which have disclosed it and, where appropriate, solely for the purposes for which those authorities gave their agreement.
Article 27: Use of confidential information
Article 28: Exchange of information with other authorities
Member States which have recourse to the option provided for in the first subparagraph shall require at least that the following conditions are met:
In order to implement point (c) of the second subparagraph, the authorities or bodies referred to in the first subparagraph shall communicate to the competent authorities which have disclosed the information the names and precise responsibilities of the persons to whom it is to be sent.
Member States shall communicate to the Commission and to the other Member States the names of the authorities or bodies which may receive information pursuant to this paragraph.
Article 29: Transmission of information to central banks and monetary authorities
Information received in this context shall be subject to the conditions of professional secrecy imposed in this Section.
Article 30: Disclosure of information to government administrations responsible for financial legislation
However, such disclosures may be made only where necessary for reasons of prudential control.
Member States shall, however, provide that information received under Articles 25 and 28(1) and that obtained by means of the on-the-spot verification referred to in Article 16 may never be disclosed in the cases referred to in this Article except with the express consent of the competent authorities which disclosed the information or of the competent authorities of the Member State in which on-the-spot verification was carried out.
Article 31: Duties of auditors
Article 32: Establishment of technical provisions
The amount of such technical provisions shall be determined in accordance with the rules laid down in Directive 91/674/EEC. Where applicable, the home Member State may lay down more specific rules in accordance with Article 20 of Directive 2002/83/EC.
Article 33: Equalisation reserves
Article 34: Assets covering technical provisions
Article 35: General rule
Article 36: Eligible items
For those reinsurance undertakings which discount or reduce their non-life technical provisions for claims outstanding to take account of investment income as permitted by Article 60(1) (g) of Directive 91/674/EEC, the available solvency margin shall be reduced by the difference between the undiscounted technical provisions or technical provisions before deductions as disclosed in the notes on the accounts, and the discounted or technical provisions after deductions. This adjustment shall be made for all risks listed in point A of the Annex to Directive 73/239/EEC, except for risks listed under classes 1 and 2 of point A of that Annex. For classes other than 1 and 2 listed in point A of that Annex, no adjustment need be made in respect of the discounting of annuities included in technical provisions.
In addition to the deductions in the first and second subparagraphs, the available solvency margin shall be reduced by the following items:
As an alternative to the deduction of the items referred to in (a) and (b) of the third subparagraph which the reinsurance undertaking holds in credit institutions, investment firms and financial institutions, Member States may allow their reinsurance undertakings to apply mutatis mutandis methods 1, 2, or 3 of Annex I to Directive 2002/87/EC. Method 1 (Accounting consolidation) shall only be applied if the competent authority is confident about the level of integrated management and internal control regarding the entities which would be included in the scope of consolidation. The method chosen shall be applied in a consistent manner over time. mutatis mutandis
Member States may provide that, for the calculation of the solvency margin as provided for by this Directive, reinsurance undertakings subject to supplementary supervision in accordance with Directive 98/78/EC or to supplementary supervision in accordance with Directive 2002/87/EC need not deduct the items referred to in (a) and (b) of the third subparagraph which are held in credit institutions, investment firms, financial institutions, insurance or reinsurance undertakings or insurance holding companies which are included in the supplementary supervision.
For the purposes of the deduction of participations referred to in this paragraph, participation shall mean a participation within the meaning of Article 1(f) of Directive 98/78/EC.
Article 37: Required solvency margin for non-life reinsurance activities
However, in the case of reinsurance undertakings which essentially underwrite only one or more of the risks of credit, storm, hail or frost, the last seven financial years shall be taken as the reference period for the average burden of claims.
Premiums or contributions in respect of the classes 11, 12 and 13 listed in point A of the Annex to Directive 73/239/EEC shall be increased by 50 %.
Premiums or contributions in respect of classes other than classes 11, 12 and 13 listed in point A of the Annex to Directive 73/239/EEC may be increased by up to 50 %, for specific reinsurance activities or contract types, in order to take account of the specificities of these activities or contracts, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 55(2) of this Directive. The premiums or contributions, inclusive of charges ancillary to premiums or contributions, due in respect of reinsurance business in the last financial year shall be aggregated.
From that sum there shall then be deducted the total amount of premiums or contributions cancelled in the last financial year, as well as the total amount of taxes and levies pertaining to the premiums or contributions entering into the aggregate.
The amount so obtained shall be divided into two portions, the first portion extending up to EUR 50 000 000, the second comprising the excess; 18 % and 16 % of these portions respectively shall be calculated and added together.
The sum so obtained shall be multiplied by the ratio existing in respect of the sum of the last three financial years between the amount of claims remaining to be borne by the reinsurance undertaking after deduction of amounts recoverable under retrocession and the gross amount of claims; that ratio may in no case be less than 50 %. Upon application, with supporting evidence, by the reinsurance undertaking to the competent authority of the home Member State and with the agreement of that authority, amounts recoverable from special purpose vehicles as referred to in Article 46 may also be deducted as retrocession.
With the approval of the competent authorities, statistical methods may be used to allocate the premiums or contributions.
Claims, provisions and recoveries in respect of classes other than classes 11, 12 and 13 listed in point A of the Annex to Directive 73/239/EEC, may be increased by up to 50 %, for specific reinsurance activities or contract types, in order to take account of the specificities of those activities or contracts, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 55(2) of this Directive.
The amounts of claims paid, without any deduction of claims borne by retrocessionaires, in the periods specified in paragraph 1 shall be aggregated.
To that sum there shall be added the amount of provisions for claims outstanding established at the end of the last financial year.
From that sum there shall be deducted the amount of recoveries effected during the periods specified in paragraph 1.
From the sum then remaining, there shall be deducted the amount of provisions for claims outstanding established at the commencement of the second financial year preceding the last financial year for which there are accounts. If the reference period established in paragraph 1 equals seven years, the amount of provisions for claims outstanding established at the commencement of the sixth financial year preceding the last financial year for which there are accounts shall be deducted.
One third, or one seventh, of the amount so obtained, according to the reference period established in paragraph 1, shall be divided into two portions, the first extending up to EUR 35 000 000 and the second comprising the excess; 26 % and 23 % of these portions respectively shall be calculated and added together.
The sum so obtained shall be multiplied by the ratio existing in respect of the sum of the last three financial years between the amount of claims remaining to be borne by the undertaking after deduction of amounts recoverable under retrocession and the gross amount of claims; that ratio may in no case be less than 50 %. Upon application, with supporting evidence, by the reinsurance undertaking to the competent authority of the home Member State and with the agreement of that authority, amounts recoverable from special purpose vehicles as referred to in Article 46 may also be deducted as retrocession.
With the approval of the competent authorities, statistical methods may be used to allocate claims, provisions and recoveries.
Article 38: Required solvency margin for life reassurance activities
Article 39: Required solvency margin for a reinsurance undertaking simultaneously conducting non-life and life reinsurance
Article 40: Amount of the guarantee fund
Any Member State may provide that as regards captive reinsurance undertakings, the minimum guarantee fund shall not be not less than EUR 1 000 000.
Article 41: Review of the amount of the guarantee fund
The amounts shall be adapted automatically by increasing the base amount in euro by the percentage change in that index over the period between the entry into force of this Directive and the review date and rounded up to a multiple of EUR 100 000.
If the percentage change since the last adaptation is less than 5 %, no adaptation shall take place.
Article 42: Reinsurance undertakings in difficulty
In exceptional circumstances, if the competent authority is of the opinion that the financial situation of the reinsurance undertaking will deteriorate further, it may also restrict or prohibit the free disposal of the reinsurance undertaking's assets. It shall inform the authorities of other Member States within the territories of which the reinsurance undertaking carries on business of any measures it has taken and the latter shall, at the request of the former, take the same measures.
It may also restrict or prohibit the free disposal of the reinsurance undertaking's assets. It shall inform the authorities of all other Member States and the latter shall, at the request of the former, take the same measures.
Article 43: Financial recovery plan
Article 44: Withdrawal of authorisation
Article 45: Finite reinsurance
Article 46: Special purpose vehicles
Article 47: Reinsurance undertakings not complying with the legal provisions
If, despite the measures taken by the competent authority of the home Member State or because such measures prove inadequate, the reinsurance undertaking persists in infringing the legal provisions applicable to it in the host Member State, the latter may, after informing the competent authority of the home Member State, take appropriate measures to prevent or penalise further infringements, including, insofar as is strictly necessary, preventing that reinsurance undertaking from continuing to conclude new reinsurance contracts within its territory. Member States shall ensure that within their territories it is possible to serve the legal documents necessary for such measures on reinsurance undertakings.
Article 48: Winding-up
Article 49: Principle and conditions for conducting reinsurance business
Article 50: Agreements with third countries
Article 51: Information from Member States to the Commission
Article 52: Third country treatment of Community reinsurance undertakings
Article 53: Right to apply to the courts
Article 54: Cooperation between the Member States and the Commission
Article 55: Committee procedure
The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.
Article 56: Implementing measures
Article 57: Amendments to Directive 73/239/EEC
Article 58: Amendments to Directive 92/49/EEC
Article 59: Amendments to Directive 98/78/EC
Article 60: Amendments to Directive 2002/83/EC
Article 61: Right acquired by existing reinsurance undertakings
However, they shall be obliged to comply with the provisions of this Directive concerning the carrying on of the business of reinsurance and with the requirements set out in Article 6(a), (c), (d), Articles 7, 8 and 12 ticles' class='internal-link article' href='#art_32' data-bs-toggle='popover' data-bs-trigger='hover focus' data-bs-content='Establishment of technical provisions' data-bs-placement='top' >32 8 a 41 'articles' class='internal-link article' href='#art_7' data-bs-toggle='popover' data-bs-trigger='hover focus' data-bs-content='Close links' data-bs-placement='top' >7, 8 and 12 and Articles 7 2 8 o 41 12 ticles' class='internal-link article' href='#art_32' data-bs-toggle='popover' data-bs-trigger='hover focus' data-bs-content='Establishment of technical provisions' data-bs-placement='top' >32 to 41 as from 10 December 2007.
Article 62: Reinsurance undertakings closing their activity
Article 63: Transitional period for Articles 57(3) and 60(6)
Article 64: Transposition
When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
Article 65: Entry into force
Article 66: Addressees
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Forms of reinsurance undertakings:
Annexes I and II to SSIUIIGD shall be replaced by the following:
Method 1: Deduction and aggregation method Method 1: Deduction and aggregation method
The adjusted solvency situation of the participating insurance undertaking or the participating reinsurance undertaking is the difference between:
Method 2: Requirement deduction method Method 2: Requirement deduction method
The adjusted solvency of the participating insurance undertaking or the participating reinsurance undertaking is the difference between:
Method 3: Accounting consolidation-based method Method 3: Accounting consolidation-based method
The calculation of the adjusted solvency of the participating insurance undertaking or the participating reinsurance undertaking shall be carried out on the basis of the consolidated accounts. The adjusted solvency of the participating insurance undertaking or the participating reinsurance undertaking is the difference between the elements eligible for the solvency margin calculated on the basis of consolidated data, and:
Footnote p0: Done at Strasbourg, 16 November 2005.