2017-07-17
The Insurance Authority Board of Directors issued Decision No. 22 of 2017 to establish specific application rules for the investment limits stipulated in the Financial Regulations for Insurance and Takaful Companies. The decision mandates that companies exceeding asset distribution limits must submit detailed correction plans if they incur deficits in capital or solvency requirements, while allowing unrestricted purchases if solvency remains intact. It further defines associate company investment caps at 20% for domestic and 10% for foreign markets and declares assets outside approved limits unacceptable for solvency calculations.
The Board of Directors’ Decision No.( 22 ) of 2017 Concerning the Application of the Investment Limits Stipulated in the Financial Regulations for Insurance Companies and the Financial Regulations for Takaful Insurance Companies The Director General of the Insurance Authority; Having perused:
The Company: The insurance company incorporated in the state or a branch of a foreign insurance company, licensed to carry out insurance operations in the State either through a branch or an insurance agent, including Takaful Insurance Companies. Financial Regulations: Board of Directors’ Decision No. (25) of 2014 Pertinent to Financial Regulations for Insurance Companies and Board of Directors’ Decision No. (26) of 2014 Pertinent to Financial Regulations for Takaful Insurance Companies, as the case may be.
Investments: The act of investing, laying out money or capital by a Company with the expectation of profit or the process of investing or engaging funds or capital by the Company with the aim of achieving an expected profit, provided that this is compliant with the Islamic Shari’a provisions, as the case may be. Investment limits: The limits of Asset distribution and allocation stipulated in the Financial Regulations. Minimum Capital Requirement: The minimum capital required to be maintained by a Company at all times as directed by the Authority. Solvency Capital Requirement: Funds that the Company must maintain to cover current and projected operations during the next twelve months, which are measured to ensure that all quantitative risks have been taken into account. Minimum Guarantee Fund: Funds that the Company must maintain to cover current and projected operations during the next twelve months, which is at least one third of the Solvency Capital Requirement or as determined by the Authority. Associate companies: The Company in which the insurance company owns 20% to 50% and has a significant effect on its decisions and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
Scope of application Article (2) 1: The Company shall implement the provisions contained in this decision when applying the Asset distribution and allocation limits contained in Chapter I of the financial Regulations. 2: The provisions of this Decision shall be read in conjunction with the financial Regulations and shall be deemed complementary thereto. Asset distribution and allocation limits Article (3) For the purpose of implementing the Asset distribution and allocation limits in accordance with the provisions of Article (3) of the Financial Regulations, the Company shall comply with the following:
B. Purchase, improve or increase any assets if this would lead to exceeding the investment limit or sub-limit. Provided that the procurement, improvement or increases referred to in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this clause do not result in a default in meeting any of the Minimum Capital, Solvency Capital or Minimum Guarantee Fund requirements. 4. If the Company has a deficit in any of Minimum Capital, Solvency Capital or Minimum Guarantee Fund requirements, or if this results from a purchase, improvement or if a deficit in meeting any of the Minimum Capital , Solvency Capital or Minimum Guarantee Fund requirements resulted from a purchase, improvement or increase, the company shall comply with the following: A. No purchases, improvements or increases in any assets if the investment limit or sub-limit of that asset category has been exceeded. B. No purchases, improvements or increases in any assets if this would lead to exceeding the investment limit or sub-limit. 5. If the Asset distribution and allocation limits are exceeded by the Company for reasons beyond its control such as changes in the value of the assets or a change in the classification, the Company shall comply with the following: A. If this does not result in incapability to meet any of the solvency requirements, the investment portfolio analysis report stipulated in Article 10 of Chapter 1 of the Financial Regulations shall include an analysis of the excesses in the Asset distribution and allocation limits. B. If this results in a deficiency in any of the financial solvency requirements, the Company shall submit a detailed realistic correction plan including the outdistance of the deficit in accordance with Article 8 of Chapter II of the Financial Regulations.
Article (4) A. The Company shall process investments in the listed and not listed Associate Companies in the financial markets within the State in a separate category with a limit of (20%) of the invested assets therein with no sub-limit. A . The Company shall process investments in the listed and not listed Associate Companies in the financial markets outside the State in a separate category with a limit of (10%) of the invested assets therein with no sub-limit. General Provisions Article (5)