The Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE NO. 374
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
THE INSURANCE ACT, 2018
REGULATIONS
MADE BY THE MINISTER UNDER SECTION 279 OF THE INSURANCE ACT AND SUBJECT TO NEGATIVE RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT THE INSURANCE (CAPITAL ADEQUACY) REGULATIONS, 2020

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Insurance (Capital
   Adequacy) Regulations, 2020.
2. (1) In these Regulations–
   “Act” means the Insurance Act, 2018;
   “asset-backed security” has the meaning assigned to it in section 4 of the Securities Act; “banking business” has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Financial Institutions Act; “bond fund” means a fund where not less than seventy per cent of the portfolio is invested in bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments representing indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, that have an original tenor of more than one year; “business of a financial nature” has the meaning assigned to it in the Financial Institutions Act; “capital adequacy returns” means returns in respect of capital adequacy required by the Inspector pursuant to section 145(1)(d) of the Act; “credit rating” means an opinion or assessment of the creditworthiness of an entity, a credit commitment, a debt or debt-like security or an issuer of such obligations, expressed using the Standard and Poor’s ratings or equivalent ratings as specified by the Central Bank; “credit rating agency” means an external credit rating agency that is deemed to be eligible for the determination of risk charges by the Central Bank in accordance with a Guideline issued by the Central Bank under the Act; “derivative” has the meaning assigned to it in section 4 of the Securities Act; Legal Supplement Part B–Vol. 59, No. 202–3rd December, 2020 1573 Citation Interpretation Act No. 4 of 2018 Chap. 83:02 Chap. 79:09

“equity fund” means a fund where not less than eighty per cent of the portfolio is invested in equities; “financial institution” means an institution licensed or registered by the Central Bank in accordance with the Financial Institutions Act or the Insurance Act or a financial holding company issued a permit under those Acts; “financial subsidiary” means a domestic or foreign subsidiary of an insurer which carries on insurance business, banking business or business of a financial nature which is subject to regulation in respect of the capital that it is required to hold by the Central Bank or an equivalent foreign regulatory body; “fully collateralized” means, in respect of a transaction mentioned in paragraph 1 of Schedule 5, that such transaction meets the criteria in paragraphs 2 to 4 of Schedule 5; “fund” means an investment fund and includes, without limitation, a collective investment scheme as defined in the Securities Act, an exchange traded fund or a hedge fund; “investment linked policy” means a policy, the principal object of which by its policy terms is to provide insurance benefits based on the market value of a specific portfolio of assets maintained for the purpose of calculating such benefits, and “investment linked insurance business” shall be construed accordingly; “money market fund” means a fund where not less than ninety per cent of the portfolio is invested in any or all of the following:
(a) cash;
(b) cash equivalents; or
(c) evidences of indebtedness, other than cash equivalents that have a remaining term to maturity of not more than one year; “net tier 1 ratio” means the Net Tier 1 Capital determined under regulation 7 divided by the regulatory capital required determined under regulation 10; “non-financial subsidiary” means a subsidiary of an insurer that is not a financial subsidiary; “non-permissible value” means, where applicable– (a) the aggregate value of assets in excess of the limits prescribed in Schedule 1; 1574 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 Chap. 84:01

(b) the aggregate value of assets which do not comply with the criteria set out in Schedule 2; and (c) the aggregate value of assets, credit exposures and reduction in liabilities prohibited by the Act or Regulations made thereunder, not including amounts in excess of the limits prescribed under section 85 of the Act; “non-qualifying unrated asset-backed securities” means unrated asset-backed securities which do not meet the criteria in
Schedule 4;
“public corporation” means a body incorporated by statute or under the Companies Act, in which the Government or a body controlled by the Government– (a) exercises or is entitled to exercise control directly or indirectly over the affairs of the body; (b) is entitled to appoint a majority of the directors of the Board of Directors of the body; or (c) holds at least fifty per cent of the ordinary share capital of the body, as the case may be; “qualifying unrated asset-backed securities” means unrated asset￾backed securities which meet the criteria in Schedule 4; “regulatory capital available” means an amount of capital available determined under regulation 6; “regulatory capital ratio” means the regulatory capital available determined under regulation 6, divided by the regulatory capital required, determined under regulation 10; “regulatory capital required” means an amount of capital required determined under regulation 10; “repurchase agreement” means the sale of a security with a commitment by the seller to buy the same or equivalent security back from the purchaser at a specified price and at a designated date in the future; “reverse repo” means the purchase of a security with a commitment by the buyer to re-sell the security to the seller at a future date at a fixed price; “segregated fund policy” means an investment linked policy in respect of which by its policy terms, the portfolio of assets is held in a separate and distinct fund from the funds of the insurer, such segregated fund is established and maintained under trust and the property and income of the fund are considered to be the property and income of the trust; and Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1575

(2) Under these Regulations, “real estate” includes all estates in land as defined in section 84(1) of the Interpretation Act.
3. These Regulations apply to an insurer in respect of business both
in and outside of Trinidad and Tobago.
4. The risk charges on investments in and debts due from non￾financial subsidiaries controlled by the insurer and affiliates and
associates of the insurer shall be determined by looking through to the underlying securities or guarantees as if they were directly held or given.
5. (1) Every insurer shall maintain adequate capital to support its
risk profile and business plan and shall comply with sections 22, 82 and 83 of the Act and sub-regulation (2). (2) The Inspector may direct an insurer to increase a risk charge or impose a risk charge to take account of its risk profile and business plan of the insurer to ensure that the insurer maintains adequate capital. (3) The Inspector may require an insurer to vary the amounts in respect of reinsurance or other risk transfer arrangements in its capital adequacy return. (4) An insurer shall maintain the minimum ratios as follows:
(a) its net tier 1 ratio shall not be less than one hundred and five percent; and (b) its regulatory capital ratio shall not be less than one hundred and fifty per cent.
6. Regulatory capital available shall be the sum of Net Tier 1
Capital and Tier 2 Capital, as calculated in accordance with regulations 7 and 8, minus the deductions stated in regulation 9.
7. (1) For the purposes of these Regulations, Net Tier 1 Capital
shall be the amount by which the value of Gross Tier 1 Capital exceeds the aggregate of the deductions stated in sub-regulation (3) and sub￾regulation (4). (2) Gross Tier 1 Capital shall consist of the following:
(a) in the case of an insurer carrying on long-term insurance business, the accumulation of its– (i) ordinary shares and retained earnings; (ii) preference shares that meet the criteria of Part A of Schedule 3; and Application Risk Charges for Non￾Financial Subsidiaries etc. Adequate Capital Regulatory capital available Net Tier 1 Capital 1576 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020

(iii) appropriated surplus on participating and non￾participating business and other reserves included in net equity; (b) in the case of an insurer carrying on general insurance business, the accumulation of its– (i) ordinary shares and retained earnings; (ii) preference shares that meet the criteria of Part A of
Schedule 3;
(iii) Catastrophe Reserve Fund as described in section 44 of the Act; and (iv) other reserves included in net equity; and (c) in the case of an insurer that is carrying on both long￾term and general insurance business, as prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b). (3) An insurer shall deduct from Gross Tier 1 Capital the accumulation of– (a) goodwill and other intangibles net of any associated deferred tax liabilities that would be extinguished if the goodwill or intangible assets were to become impaired or otherwise derecognized; (b) unrealized after-tax gains on real estate and unquoted equity included in Gross Tier 1 Capital; and (c) in the case of an insurer carrying on long-term insurance business– (i) the cash surrender value deficiencies calculated on an aggregate basis for each group of policies separately; and (ii) the negative reserves calculated on a policy-by￾policy basis. (4) In addition to the deductions in sub-regulation (3), an insurer shall deduct any non-permissible value from Gross Tier 1 Capital.
8. (1) Tier 2 Capital shall be the sum of Tiers 2A, 2B and 2C and
shall not exceed one hundred per cent of Net Tier 1 Capital.
(2) Tier 2A Capital shall consist of the following:
(a) preference shares that meet the criteria in Part A of
Schedule 3, except that their value exceed the limit in
paragraph 1(d) of Part A of Schedule 3;
Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1577 Tier 2 Capital

(b) preference shares that meet the criteria in Part A of Schedule 3, except that the holder is entitled to cumulative dividends; (c) hybrid capital instruments that meet the requirements in Part B of Schedule 3; and (d) unrealized after-tax gains on real estate excluded from Tier 1 Capital under sub-regulation 7(3)(b) which shall not exceed twenty per cent of Net Tier 1 Capital; and (e) unquoted equity excluded from Tier 1 Capital under sub-regulation 7(3)(b). (3) Tier 2B Capital shall consist of limited life instruments that meet the criteria in Part C of Schedule 3. (4) Where the remaining term of the limited life instrument referred to in sub-regulation (4) is less than five years, the amount of the instrument included in Tier 2B Capital shall be amortized in the manner prescribed in Part D of Schedule 3. (5) Tier 2B Capital shall not exceed fifty per cent of Net Tier 1 Capital. (6) Tier 2C Capital shall consist of the following:
(a) seventy-five per cent of the amount deducted under regulation 7(3)(c)(i); and (b) the amount deducted under regulation 7(3)(c)(ii).
9. (1) The sum of Net Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital for all
insurers shall be reduced by the following:
(a) reciprocal cross holdings in capital instruments, whether arranged directly or indirectly, between financial institutions that artificially inflate the capital position of the insurer; (b) deferred tax assets; (c) pension plan assets net of any associated deferred tax liability, related to the insurer's own employees and beneficiaries under the pension plan; (d) subrogation receivables aged more than one hundred and twenty business days; (e) outstanding agent or broker debit balances aged more than sixty business days; (f) residential mortgages that are overdue more than one hundred and twenty business days; 1578 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 Deductions

(g) commercial mortgages that are overdue more than one hundred and twenty business days; and (h) investments in financial subsidiaries. (2) In addition to the deductions to be made under regulation 9(1), insurers carrying on long-term insurance business shall also reduce the sum of Net Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital by the amount of outstanding premiums aged more than sixty business days. (3) The minimum value of each of the amounts required to be deducted in sub-regulation (1) shall be zero.
10. (1) The regulatory capital required shall be the sum of the risk
charges in paragraph (a) and, where applicable, paragraphs (b) or (c)– (a) the following risk charges in relation to all insurers:
(i) asset default risk charge;
(ii) investment volatility risk charge;
(iii) off balance sheet risk charge; and
(iv) foreign currency mismatch risk charge; (b) the following risk charges in relation to all insurers carrying on long term insurance business:
(i) asset liability mismatch risk charge;
(ii) mortality and morbidity risk charge;
(iii) lapse risk charge;
(iv) interest margin pricing risk charge;
(v) liquidity and operational risk charge; and (vi) risk charge for guarantees; (c) the following risk charges in relation to all insurers carrying on general insurance business:
(i) premium adequacy risk charge;
(ii) outstanding claims risk charge; and
(iii) catastrophe risk charge.
(2) The Central Bank shall, from time to time, establish criteria and procedures to be used by an insurer for determining credit ratings to be used for these Regulations, by issuing a Guideline or through directions to an insurer. Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1579 Regulatory capital required

(3) For the purposes of these Regulations, no risk charge shall be applied to items that are deducted from capital.
11. The asset default risk charge shall be the sum of the value of
assets held for each type of asset multiplied by the appropriate risk factor determined in accordance with Schedule 4.
12. The investment volatility risk charge shall be the sum of the
value of assets held for each type of asset multiplied by the appropriate risk factor determined in accordance with Schedule 6.
13. (1) For the purposes of these Regulations, off balance sheet
activities include guarantees, commitments, derivatives and similar contractual arrangements whose full notional principal amount may not be reflected on the balance sheet. (2) Subject to subregulation (5), the off balance sheet risk charge shall be the sum of the exposure to risk with each counterparty multiplied by the appropriate risk factor for the counterparty determined in accordance with Schedule 7. (3) For the purposes of sub-regulation (2), “counterparty” means the person guaranteed in the case of a guarantee or the party with whom the contract is made in the case of derivatives or other similar contractual arrangements. (4) An insurer shall not invest in a derivative contract for trading or speculative purposes. (5) The risk charge for guarantees stated in policies, including guarantees made under any off balance sheet policy arrangements, shall be determined in accordance with regulation 20.
14. The foreign currency mismatch risk charge shall be determined in
accordance with Schedule 8.
15. The asset liability mismatch risk charge shall be determined in
accordance with Schedule 9.
16. (1) The mortality risk charge for long-term insurance business
shall be the sum of the exposure for each type of policy multiplied by the appropriate risk factor determined in accordance with Schedule 10. (2) The morbidity risk charge for long-term insurance business shall be the sum of the exposure for each type of policy multiplied by the risk factor determined in accordance with Schedule 10. Asset default risk charge Investment volatility risk charge Off balance sheet risk charge Foreign currency mismatch risk charge Asset liability mismatch risk charge Mortality and Morbidity risk charge 1580 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020

17. (1) The lapse risk charge shall be calculated for all individual life
    business and includes participating and adjustable premium policies and all other product lines. (2) The lapse risk charge shall be determined in accordance with
    Schedule 11.

18. (1) The interest margin pricing risk charge shall be the sum of
    the policy liabilities net of reinsurance multiplied by the appropriate risk factor for the type of policy in accordance with Schedule 12. (2) The reasonable flexibility of the crediting features with respect to universal life policies shall be tested in pricing the policy or elsewhere, and shall demonstrate that the insurer may recoup at least half of any unexpected losses due to disintermediation risk.

19. The liquidity and operational risk charge shall be the value of the
    assets held by the insurer backing investment linked insurance business multiplied by the appropriate risk factor determined in accordance with
    Schedule 13.

20. (1) An insurer shall maintain adequate reserves and capital for
    guarantees stated in policies, including guarantees made under any off balance sheet arrangements which includes segregated fund policies. The appointed actuary shall certify the adequacy of reserves held for such guarantees. (2) Capital required to be held under sub-regulation (1) shall be no less than five per cent of the reserves held for the guarantees stated in policies and shall apply as at the insurer’s first financial year end following commencement of the Regulations.

21. For each class of general insurance business, the premium
    adequacy risk charge shall be the net written premium in the previous twelve months, multiplied by the appropriate risk factor for the class of insurance business in accordance with Schedule 14.

22. (1) For each class of general insurance business, the outstanding
    claims risk charge shall be the provisions for outstanding claims, net of reinsurance recoveries, multiplied by the appropriate risk factor for the class of insurance business in accordance with Schedule 15. (2) For the purposes of this subregulation (1), “provisions for outstanding claims” shall have the meaning the assigned to the term “provisions for outstanding claims” in section 212(4)(a) of the Act. Lapse risk charge Interest margin pricing risk charge Liquidity and operational risk charge Risk charge for policy guarantees Premium adequacy risk charge Outstanding claims risk charge Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1581

23. The catastrophe risk charge shall be determined in accordance
    with Schedule 16.

24. (1) An insurer shall submit to the Central Bank, audited capital
    adequacy returns in such form as the Inspector may, from time to time, specify in accordance with the provisions of section 145(1)(d) of the Act. (2) In addition to the capital adequacy returns, an insurer shall provide a declaration by the chief financial officer, the appointed actuary and a director of the insurer in the form prescribed in Schedule 17. (3) Notwithstanding subregulation 24(2), where an appointed actuary has not yet been appointed by an insurer carrying on general insurance business within three years immediately following the commencement of the Act, a director shall provide the declaration in the form prescribed in Schedule 17.

25. (1) Unrealised after-tax gains on real estate reported by the
    insurer in its financial statements prior to the commencement of these Regulations shall be treated as though they were realised as at the date of the commencement of these Regulations and shall not be subject to regulations 7(3)(b) and 8(2)(d). (2) The risk factors for unrated bonds in respect of asset default risk and for quoted common shares in respect of investment volatility risk that are acquired prior to the commencement of these Regulations shall be– (a) ten percent for unrated bonds or other evidence of indebtedness; and (b) fifteen percent for quoted common shares.

26. The insurer shall submit unaudited capital adequacy returns
    quarterly. Notwithstanding section 145(3) of the Act, the first unaudited capital adequacy return shall be submitted within three months from the commencement of these Regulations for the end of the first quarter immediately preceding the commencement of the Act.

27. Upon the commencement of these Regulations, where an insurer
    does not satisfy the requirements under regulation 5, the insurer shall– (a) within two months from the submission of the first capital adequacy return referred to in regulation 26, submit a plan approved by the board of directors of the insurer, for attaining the capital ratios referred to in paragraph (b); and (b) attain the transitional regulatory capital ratios as specified in
    Schedule 8 of the Act.

28. These Regulations shall come into operation on 1st January, 2021.
    1582 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 Catastrophe risk charge Returns, audits and declarations Grand￾fathering Capital adequacy returns Transitional Capital Ratios Commence￾ment

SCHEDULE 1
Non-Permissible Value: Asset Limits

1. The total value of assets held in excess of the limits shown below shall be included in
   the non-permissible value.
2. These requirements shall apply to an insurer on an individual basis.
3. For the purposes of this Schedule:
   (a) Adjusted Assets in respect of an insurer, at a particular time, means the amount determined by the formula A minus B, where– (i) A is the total value of assets reported on the capital adequacy returns submitted; and (ii) B is the total of all deductions made under regulation 7(3) and regulation 9. (b) For the avoidance of doubt, ‘A’ in the formula for calculating Adjusted Assets in sub-paragraph 3(a)(i) does not include assets backing liabilities of the investment linked insurance business if– (i) the assets are identifiable and valued at market value; (ii) transfers into and out of the portfolio of assets occur at market value; and (iii) there is full pass through of investment returns due on the policies and credited returns are not based on the insurer's discretion.
4. The value of interests in real estate shall include–
   (a) the gross book value of the real estate, less any accumulated depreciation; (b) the book value of ownership interests in permissible real estate entities; and (c) the book value of mortgages or other debts due from permissible real estate entities, reported on a balance sheet of the insurer prepared in accordance with the Act. Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1583

SCHEDULE 2
Non-Permissible Value: Mortgages, Charges and Other Titles for Repayment of a Loan Secured by Real Estate

1. The total value of a mortgage, charge and other titles for repayment of a loan secured
   by real estate in which the amount of the loan exceeds eighty per cent of the value of the property at the time of the origination of the mortgage, charge or other title for repayment on real estate shall be included as a non-permissible value.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the total value of a mortgage, charge and other
   title for repayment of a loan secured by real estate in which the amount of the loan exceeds eighty per cent of the value of the property at the time of the origination of the mortgage, charge or other title to repayment of loan secured by real estate shall not be included as a non-permissible value where the following criteria are met:
   (a) the total value of the mortgage, charge or other title to repayment of a loan secured by real estate is guaranteed by the Government and said guarantee is explicit, unconditional, legally enforceable and irrevocable over the life of the mortgage, charge or other title to repayment secured on real estate in question or through an agency of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; or (b) that portion of the amount of the loan which exceeds eighty per cent of the value of the property is guaranteed by an insurer registered under the Act to carry on that class of insurance business.
   SCHEDULE 3
   Part A–Preference Shares which qualify as Tier 1 Capital
3. Preference shares shall qualify as Tier 1 capital only where–
   (a) they are fully subordinated to the interests of policyholders and unsecured creditors; (b) they are of permanent and of perpetual duration; (c) they are free of mandatory payments or encumbrances; (d) their value does not exceed thirty-three per cent of X, where X equals Net Tier 1 Capital, excluding the entire value of the preference shares in regulation 7 (2)(a)(ii); and (e) they meet the conditions in paragraphs 2 and 3 below.
4. Preference shares–
   (a) in respect of which there is an option for redemption at the request of the holder; (b) in respect of which there is obligation of the issuer to redeem the shares; or (c) are callable by the issuer within five years of issuance, shall not qualify as being of permanent and perpetual duration under paragraph 1(b).
5. Preference shares in respect of which–
   (a) cumulative dividends are payable to the holder; (b) payment of dividends is influenced by the credit rating of the issuer; (c) compensation other than a dividend is payable to holders; or (d) the issuer is required to establish and maintain a sinking fund or purchase funds, shall not qualify as being free of mandatory payments or encumbrances in accordance with paragraph 1(c) above. 1584 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020

Part B–Hybrid Capital Instruments in Tier 2A Capital
A hybrid capital instrument shall be included in Tier 2A Capital where the terms or conditions of the hybrid capital instrument provide for or meet the following criteria:
(a) they are of perpetual duration and fully paid up; (b) there is no option for redemption at the request of the holder; (c) they are unsecured and fully subordinated to the interests of policyholders and unsecured creditors; (d) subject to Part E of this Schedule, they are callable by the issuer after a minimum of five years and with the prior consent of the Inspector; (e) payment/declaration of dividends or interest are deferred by the issuer where the profitability of the issuer would not support payment; and (f) they do not contain restrictive covenants or default clauses that would allow the holder to trigger acceleration of repayment in circumstances other than insolvency, bankruptcy or winding-up of the issuer.
Part C–Limited Life Instruments in Tier 2B Capital
A limited life instrument shall be included in Tier 2B Capital where the terms or conditions of the limited life instrument provide for or meet the following criteria:
(a) the initial minimum term of the limited life instrument is greater than five years; (b) the limited life instrument is fully subordinated to the interests of policyholders and other creditors; (c) the limited life instrument is fully paid up in cash or, with the approval of the Inspector, in property; and (d) subject to Part E of this Schedule, the limited life instrument may be callable by the issuer after a minimum of five years and with the prior consent of the Inspector.
Part D–Amortization of Tier 2B Capital Instruments
Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1585
Part E–Exercising a Call Option on a Capital Instrument
The call option for capital instruments referred to in paragraph 2(c) of Part A, paragraph (d) of Part B and paragraph (d) of Part C of this Schedule shall satisfy the following criteria:
(a) An issuer’s actions or the terms of the capital instrument shall not create an expectation that the call will be exercised; and (b) An issuer shall not exercise the call unless– (i) it replaces the called capital instrument with capital of the same or better quality; or (ii) the issuer demonstrates that its capital position would be above the minimum ratios in regulation 5(4) after the call option is exercised.

SCHEDULE 4 (REGULATION 11)
Asset Default Risk Charge and Factors

1. The value of assets referred to in regulation 11 used to calculate the asset default risk
   charge shall be–
   (a) net of any depreciation or provision for diminution of value; and (b) inclusive of any investment income due and accrued.
2. The appropriate risk factor for the asset default risk charge referred to in
   regulation 11 shall be determined in accordance with Table 1.
3. (1) Except for bonds and other evidence of indebtedness–
   (a) issued by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; (b) guaranteed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; or (c) issued by Multilateral Agencies, the ratings for bonds and other evidence of indebtedness in Table 1 refer to the rating of the instrument. (2) A risk factor of 0% shall be assigned to bonds and other evidence of indebtedness– (a) issued by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; (b) guaranteed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; or (c) issued by Multilateral Agencies. (3) For the purposes of this Schedule, “Multilateral Agencies” means organizations that are jointly owned by a group of countries for the purpose of assisting with the social and economic growth and development in member countries and shall include the following:
   (a) African Development Bank;
   (b) Asian Development Bank;
   (c) Bank for International Settlements;
   (d) Caribbean Development Bank;
   (e) Council of Europe Development Bank;
   (f) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; (g) European Central Bank; (h) European Community; (i) European Economic Community; (j) European Investment Bank; (k) European Investment Fund; (l) Inter-American Development Bank; (m) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; (n) International Finance Corporation; (o) International Monetary Fund; (p) Islamic Development Bank; (q) Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; (r) Nordic Investment Bank; and (s) The International Finance Facility for Immunisation.
4. In the event that a bond or other evidence of indebtedness is not rated, the rating of
   the issuer applies. If neither the issuer nor the bond or other evidence of indebtedness is rated, the risk factor shall be the appropriate unrated categories in Table 1. 1586 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020

Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1587
Table 1

1588 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020
Table 1–Continued

Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1589
5. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Schedule, in the case of unrated bonds or other
evidence of indebtedness acquired prior to the commencement of these Regulations, the risk factor shall be determined in accordance with sub-regulation 25(2)(a).
6. In the case of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness guaranteed by the
Government of Trinidad and Tobago referred to in Table 1 of this Schedule, such guarantees shall be explicit, unconditional, legally enforceable and irrevocable over the life of the bond or other evidence of indebtedness in question.
7. A security shall not be categorised as a qualifying unrated asset-backed security in
Table 1 unless the following criteria are met:
(a) The underlying asset(s) must be equities, bonds, debentures, stocks or other evidence of indebtedness of– (i) the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; or (ii) any public corporation that is fully guaranteed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and which said guarantee is explicit, unconditional, legally enforceable and irrevocable over the life of the equity, bond, debenture, stock or other evidence of indebtedness in question; (b) Such equities, bonds, debentures, stocks or other evidence of indebtedness must be vested in a trustee on behalf of the participants under a deed of trust constituting participation; (c) Such equities, bonds, debentures, stocks or other evidence of indebtedness must be transferred from the seller to the trustee by way of an executed instrument of transfer and such trustee is constituted as the registered owner of such equities, bonds, debentures, stocks or other evidence of indebtedness; (d) The trustee of the equities, bonds, debentures, stocks or other evidence of indebtedness is, without being compelled to take recourse to the seller, empowered by the deed of trust constituting the participation to take enforce￾ment action against the issuer of such asset(s); (e) Participants under the deed of trust constituting the participation have a right of action against the trustee, where the trustee has acted negligently or committed a breach of trust; and (f) The seller and trustee are financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank.
8. In the case of subrogation receivables from another insurer or a third party
contained in Table 1, the number of business days outstanding shall be measured from the date of acknowledgement and confirmation of the amount of the subrogation receivable due from that other insurer or third party.
9. (1) Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Schedule, in the case of repurchase
agreements or reverse repos–
(a) if there is exposure to counterparty risk, the risk factor shall be the higher of the risk factor in Table 1 assigned to the securities to be repurchased or sold, or the risk factor assigned to the counterparty in accordance with Schedule 7; or (b) if there is no exposure to counterparty risk, the risk factor shall be the risk factor in Table 1 assigned to the securities to be repurchased or sold. (2) For the purposes of this paragraph 9, “counterparty” means the party with whom the repurchase agreement or reverse repo is made.

1590 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020
10. (1) Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Schedule, in the case of leases–
(a) where an insurer is the lessee, the risk factor for the underlying leased asset in accordance with Table 1 in this Schedule or Table 2 in Schedule 6 shall apply; (b) where an insurer is the lessor of a finance lease in respect of real estate, the risk factor for the counterparty in Schedule 7 shall apply, unless the lease is in arrears in which case a risk factor of twenty per cent shall apply; or (c) where an insurer is the lessor of an operating lease in respect of real estate, the risk factor for the leased asset in accordance with Table 2 in Schedule 6 shall apply. (2) “counterparty” for the purpose of this clause means the lessor in the case of a finance lease.
11. (1) Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Schedule, the risk factor applicable to
non-performing assets shall be the risk factor assigned to those assets in Table 1 increased by an additional twenty per cent. (2) For the purposes of this Schedule, “non-performing assets” mean assets for which the interest or installment of principal are overdue for more than sixty business days but does not include– (a) assets required to be deducted under regulation 9; or (b) the following assets in Table 1:
(i) subrogation receivables aged less than 120 business days; (ii) residential mortgages that are overdue between 60 and 120 business days; and (iii) commercial mortgages that are overdue between 60 and 120 business days.
12. The asset default risk charge does not apply to the portion of the assets backing the
investment linked insurance business if–
(a) the assets are identifiable and valued at market value; (b) transfers into and out of the portfolio of assets occur at market value; and (c) there is full pass through of investment returns due on the policies and credited returns are not based on the insurer’s discretion.
SCHEDULE 5
Collateralization

1. This Schedule only applies to the following transactions:
   (a) transactions in which the credit exposure is an unrated bond or other evidence of indebtedness; or (b) transactions which are repurchase agreements, reverse repos, finance leases or off-balance sheet activities made between an insurer and an unrated counterparty.
2. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Schedule, a transaction referred to in
   paragraph 1 of this Schedule shall qualify as being fully collateralized for the purposes of these Regulations where it meets the following criteria:
   (a) The collateral–
   (i) is posted by a counterparty or a third party on behalf of a counterparty in order to fully secure the exposure to risk in the transaction;

(ii) is pledged, legally assigned, conveyed or transferred to the insurer for at least the life of the exposure; and (iii) meets the criteria in paragraph 4; (b) the fully collateralized transaction is binding on all parties and legally enforceable in all relevant jurisdictions; (c) the insurer has– (i) conducted a sufficient and reasoned legal review supported by legal opinions to verify the enforceability and legal nature of the transaction; (ii) undertaken such further review, as necessary, to ensure continuing enforceability; (iii) the right to liquidate or take legal possession of the collateral in a timely manner in the event of the default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty and, where applicable, of the custodian holding the collateral; (iv) taken all necessary steps to fulfil any requirements under the law applicable to the interest of the insurer in the collateral, for obtaining and maintaining an enforceable security interest or for exercising a right to net or set off in relation to title transfer collateral; (v) clear and robust procedures for the timely liquidation of collateral; and (vi) taken steps to ensure that any legal conditions required for declaring the default of the counterparty and liquidating the collateral are observed, and that collateral can be liquidated promptly; and (d) Where collateral is held by a custodian, the insurer has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the custodian segregates the collateral from its own assets.
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Schedule, where the value of the collateral has
a positive correlation to the credit rating of the counterparty, including, but not limited to, transactions where the collateral posted is securities issued by the counterparty, that transaction shall not be recognized as a fully collateralized transaction.
4. The following collateral shall be recognized for fully collateralized transactions:
(a) Debt securities rated by a credit rating agency where these securities have a credit rating of– (i) BB or better and have been issued or guaranteed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and such guarantees shall be explicit, unconditional, legally enforceable and irrevocable over the life of the debt security; or (ii) BBB or better and have been issued by other entities (including banks, insurance companies, and securities firms); (b) Unrated debt securities where– (i) the securities are issued by a company whose equity is listed on a recognised exchange; (ii) the securities are classified as senior debt; (iii) all rated issues of the same seniority by the issuing company must be assigned a credit rating of at least BBB; (c) Equities and convertible bonds which are included in a main index; (d) Gold; and (e) collective investment schemes where– (i) a price for the units is publicly quoted daily; and (ii) the collective investment scheme is limited to investing in the instruments listed in (a) to (d) of paragraph 4 of this Schedule. Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1591

SCHEDULE 6 (REGULATION 12)
Investment Volatility Risk Charge and Factors

1. The appropriate risk factor for the investment volatility risk charge referred to in
   regulation 12 shall be determined in accordance with Table 2 except that in the case of quoted common shares acquired prior to the commencement of these Regulations, the risk factor shall be determined in accordance with sub-regulation 25(2)(b). 1592 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020
   Table 2
2. (a) The risk factor for income-producing real estate shall be used only if the real
   estate earns an income yield of at least 4% of its carrying value; (b) The 4% test in sub-paragraph (2)(a) should be calculated net of encumbrances, if any, and income should be calculated net of all real-estate expenses (includ￾ing interest on encumbrances) and taxes (including property and other taxes, but excluding income taxes); (c) The income amount used in the 4% test in sub-paragraph (2)(a) includes cash income only and does not include amortization of the value of the property; (d) The risk factor for income-producing real estate shall not be used for properties currently under development and for which imputed interest is capitalized for financial reporting purposes; and (e) For the avoidance of doubt, if income-producing real estate does not satisfy the criteria in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d), a risk factor of 15% shall be applied.
3. The investment volatility risk charge does not apply to the portion of the assets
   backing the investment linked insurance business if– (a) the assets are identifiable and valued at market value; (b) transfers into and out of the portfolio of assets occur at market value; and (c) there is full pass through of investment returns due on the policies and credited returns are not based on the insurer’s discretion.

Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1593
SCHEDULE 7
Counterparty Risk Factors

1. The appropriate risk factor for counterparty risk shall be determined in accordance
   with Table 3 in this Schedule.
   Table 3
   SCHEDULE 8 (REGULATION 14)
   Foreign Currency Mismatch Risk Charge and Factors
2. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Schedule, the foreign currency mismatch risk
   charge shall be–
   (a) two per cent of the total of the net open positions in any currency issued by countries with a credit rating of BBB and above expressed in Trinidad and Tobago dollars; and (b) eight per cent of the total of the net open positions in any currency issued by countries with a credit rating of BBB minus and below, expressed in Trinidad and Tobago dollars.
3. For the purposes of these Regulations, the net open position shall be the absolute
   value of the assets denominated in a currency less the liabilities denominated in that currency and such value shall be converted to Trinidad and Tobago dollars using the prevailing selling rate as determined by the Central Bank at the valuation date.
4. Where the appointed actuary demonstrates that provisions for foreign currency
   mismatch risk have been established within the policy liabilities, such provisions may be offset against the foreign currency mismatch risk charge.
5. The foreign currency mismatch risk charge does not apply to the portion of the assets
   backing and the liabilities of the investment linked insurance business if– (a) the assets are identifiable and valued at market value; (b) transfers into and out of the portfolio of assets occur at market value; and (c) there is full pass through of investment returns due on the policies and credited returns are not based on the insurer's discretion.

1594 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020
SCHEDULE 9 (REGULATION 15)
Asset Liability Mismatch Risk Charge and Factors

1. Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Schedule, the asset liability mismatch risk
   charge shall be ten per cent of the absolute change in the liabilities resulting from a one per cent parallel shift in the valuation interest rate.
2. Where the insurer has implemented an asset liability management policy in place
   and has the ability to stress test the assets supporting the liability segment, a one per cent parallel shift in the yield curve shall be determined and the asset liability mismatch risk charge shall be the lesser of– (a) the absolute change in the liabilities minus the absolute change in the assets, when a one per cent parallel shift is applied; and (b) the charge calculated under paragraph 1 of this Schedule.
3. The asset liability mismatch risk charge does not apply to the portion of the assets
   backing and the liabilities of the investment linked insurance business if– (a) the assets are genuinely identifiable and valued at market value; (b) transfers into and out of the portfolio of assets occur at market value; and (c) there is full pass through of investment returns due on the policies and credited returns are not based on the insurer's discretion.
   SCHEDULE 10 (Regulation 16)
   Mortality and Morbidity Risk Charge and Factors
4. The appropriate risk factor for the mortality risk charge referred to in sub￾regulation 16(1) shall be determined in accordance with Table 4.
   Table 4

Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1595
Table 4–Continued
2. The appropriate risk factor for the morbidity risk charge referred to in sub￾regulation 16(2) shall be determined in accordance with Table 5.
Table 5

1596 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020
Table 5–Continued
,

Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1597
3. Where current premium rates are significantly less than the maximum guaranteed
premium rates, the term of the current premium rates shall be the guaranteed term for the purposes of calculating the mortality risk charge in accordance with paragraph 1 of this
Schedule and the morbidity risk charge in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Schedule.
4. Where disability income and premium waiver benefits are attached to group life
policies, the factors for individual coverage shall apply to these riders for the purposes of calculating the morbidity risk charge in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Schedule.
SCHEDULE 11 (REGULATION 17)
Lapse Risk Charge and Factors

1. In order to calculate the lapse risk charge, the insurer shall ensure that–
   (a) the total net policy liabilities are determined in accordance with the Insurance (Caribbean Policy Premium Method) Regulations, 2020; (b) the total net policy liabilities are recalculated using increased lapse margins for adverse deviation in accordance with the following principles:
   (i) for participating and adjustable premium policies, the lapse rate margin assumption shall be adjusted by seven point five per cent of the underlying lapse rate assumption; (ii) for other policies, the lapse rate margin assumption shall be adjusted by fifteen per cent of the underlying lapse rate assumption; and (iii) where at a particular duration a lower lapse rate assumption results in a higher reserve, the lapse rate assumption shall be adjusted by reducing the lapse rate, or where at a particular duration a higher lapse rate assumption results in a higher reserve, the lapse rate assumption is adjusted by increasing the lapse rate.
2. The lapse risk charge shall be the net policy liabilities calculated in paragraph 1(b)
   subtracted from the net policy liabilities calculated in paragraph 1(a) of this Schedule.
   SCHEDULE 12 (REGULATION 18)
   Interest Margin Pricing Risk Charge and Factors

1598 Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020
SCHEDULE 13 (REGULATION 19)
Liquidity and Operational Risk Charge and Factors The appropriate risk factor for the liquidity and operational risk charge applicable to investment linked insurance business shall be one percent.
SCHEDULE 14 (REGULATION 21)
Premium Adequacy Risk Charge and Factors
SCHEDULE 15 (REGULATION 22)
Outstanding Claims Risk Charge and Factors
SCHEDULE 16 (REGULATION 23)
Catastrophe Risk Charge and Factors

1. The catastrophe risk charge shall be the cost to the insurer of a catastrophe event
   equal to the minimum acceptable upper limit divided by 1.5.
2. For the purposes of this Schedule, the cost to the insurer of a catastrophe event shall
   be net of all other applicable reinsurance arrangements and includes the retention of the insurer and reinstatement cost under the catastrophe reinsurance programme.
3. For the purposes of this Schedule, the minimum acceptable upper limit is an event
   which is expected to occur once in every two hundred and fifty years.

Insurance (Capital Adequacy) Regulations, 2020 1599
SCHEDULE 17 (REGULATION 24)
Declarations by Officers
Dated this 6th day of November, 2020.
C. IMBERT
Minister of Finance
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, CARONI REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO–2020