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Reinsurance Location, Location, Location Tuesday 19 th May 2009 Willis, London.

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Presentation on theme: "Reinsurance Location, Location, Location Tuesday 19 th May 2009 Willis, London."— Presentation transcript:

1 Reinsurance Location, Location, Location Tuesday 19 th May 2009 Willis, London

2 Peter Niven Chief Executive Guernsey Finance Seminar Chairman

3 Guernsey Snapshot… Politically stable Not part of the EU 50+ years experience in financial services Mature legal system Supportive, highly professional infrastructure UK time zone – Europe – Asia – Americas Favourable tax regime Well educated and professionally qualified work force with insurance skills

4 Insurance Expertise Leading captive insurance domicile in Europe 4 th largest captive insurance centre in the world Innovator behind the Protected Cell Company (PCC) A leader in special purpose vehicles for corporate structures (PCC and ICC)

5 Depth of Professionalism and Expertise Several hundred financial services businesses Balanced range of providers broadly comprising: –Banking –Insurance –Investment Funds –Fiduciary services (trust and company administration) –Internationally recognised lawyers and accountants –Stockbroking –Investment management –An independent stock exchange – the Channel Islands Stock Exchange (CISX) –A bespoke training facility – the Guernsey Training Agency (GTA) University Centre An independent regulator, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC)

6 Guernsey success to date 46 banks holding deposits of USD 240bn Fund Management sector assets USD 300bn Fiduciary business holds funds of USD 455bn 700+ Captives and Cells

7 Expert Panel David Reeves, Barbican Tony Mancini, KPMG Nick Wild, JLT Insurance Management Christopher Anderson, Bedell Cristin

8 David Reeves Chief Executive Officer Barbican Insurance Group

9 Guernsey – the location and the benefits

10 Benefits still not widely understood

11 Guernsey – the location and the benefits Benefits still not widely understood Need to brief market participants in detail

12 Guernsey – the location and the benefits Benefits still not widely understood Need to brief market participants in detail Guernsey is the No 1 choice for Barbican based on a broad range of tests

13 Guernsey – the location and the benefits Benefits still not widely understood Need to brief market participants in detail Guernsey is the No 1 choice for Barbican based on a broad range of tests Main factors for us are long range planning and political stability

14 Capital Planning

15 Return on Capital is our main KPI

16 Capital Planning Return on Capital is our main KPI Tax is a material factor in the KPI

17 Capital Planning Return on Capital is our main KPI Tax is a material factor in the KPI OSCA is a straightforward, low cost process

18 Capital Planning Return on Capital is our main KPI Tax is a material factor in the KPI OSCA is a straightforward, low cost process No consultants necessary!

19 Capital Planning Return on Capital is our main KPI Tax is a material factor in the KPI OSCA is a straightforward, low cost process No consultants necessary! Capital requirement is higher than Solvency 1 but still favourable

20 Capital Planning Return on Capital is our main KPI Tax is a material factor in the KPI OSCA is a straightforward, low cost process No consultants necessary! Capital requirement is higher than Solvency 1 but still favourable Return on Capital can be significantly better than onshore equivalent

21 Reinsurance

22 Huge potential for local and international business

23 Reinsurance Huge potential for local and international business Barbican Re is a provider of Group and external reinsurance

24 Reinsurance Huge potential for local and international business Barbican Re is a provider of Group and external reinsurance Also provides collateralised facilities using simple procedures compared to rival locations

25 Reinsurance Huge potential for local and international business Barbican Re is a provider of Group and external reinsurance Also provides collateralised facilities using simple procedures compared to rival locations No trustee, investment manager or custodian necessary/minimal legal fees

26 Reinsurance Huge potential for local and international business Barbican Re is a provider of Group and external reinsurance Also provides collateralised facilities using simple procedures compared to rival locations No trustee, investment manager or custodian necessary/minimal legal fees Very quick to set up a collateralised facility

27 Conclusion Positive start to our Guernsey experience We are receiving a significant number of new enquiries Barbican Re will seek a rating in due course Rating is not an issue for many clients Barbican is taking a long term view of Guernsey location

28

29 Tax Environment Tony Mancini Executive Director, Tax

30 Taxation in Guernsey Guernsey reformed its corporate tax regime from 1 January 2008 Exempt companies, special regimes for insurers and international company status all abolished Standard rate of corporate income tax of 0% Banks and utilities taxed at higher rates All insurance companies fall into the standard rate of tax of 0% and are Guernsey tax resident

31 Taxation – What does is mean? No local taxation No withholding taxes on dividends or redemption of share capital Certainty and clarity of treatment Nominal capital duties on incorporation No VAT in Guernsey No VAT on services to Guernsey reinsurance company from EU Plus: pool of experienced credible directors resident on the island to help demonstrate Guernsey central management and control

32 UK Taxation of Foreign Dividends Final proposal in Budget for new regime to commence on 1 July 2009 Dividends from overseas companies exempt from corporation tax, provided certain criteria met No restrictions on size of shareholding No minimum shareholding provision Not important where the foreign company is resident Anti-avoidance provisions to apply

33 Qualifying Conditions No set criteria Controlled foreign company rules still apply (although being reviewed) Guernsey company must have: - mainly third party business - business establishment in Guernsey - majority of premium income from non-UK entities Above all, genuine commercial rationale

34 Ideal Tax Position No tax in Guernsey No taxation of profits in UK as they arise No taxation in UK on receipt of dividends from Guernsey No taxation on eventual sale of company Assuming law is enacted as announced in Budget!

35 Case Study Part 1

36 Case Study - Assumptions Internationally based investors and an experienced underwriter have identified opportunity for book of treaty business in respect of European Wind and Flood business Experience will be low frequency high severity with expectation of 1 in 10 years of underwriting losses 9 out of 10 years average loss ratio of 50% Premium volume circa GBP 25m Contemplating establishment of niche reinsurance company

37 Case Study - Assumptions Investors wish to maximise the return on capital in a robust regulatory environment Underwriter trusted and well known by the market and reinsurance brokers Wishes to adopt a low cost and streamlined method for writing the business Reward package will be directly linked to return on capital so interests aligned with investors Rating of vehicle will be important Considering London or Guernsey for establishment

38 London Pros Market for this business well established Underwriter know as a lead in that market Close to introducing brokers Legal and regulatory environment well understood Currently home for the underwriter Known to rating agencies

39 London Cons Speed to market could be 6 to 9 months. Opportunity will be missed FSA regulation cumbersome and expensive to comply with Solvency I and EU Reinsurance directive are onerous Solvency II a distraction from this business opportunity UK sovereign rating AAA under threat

40 London Cons UK tax on what will mainly be non UK sourced business High personal tax on Underwriter and other senior staff VAT on services bought in All operating costs will be high

41 London Operational Issues Office accommodation expensive High commuting time and cost = quality of life for senior staff ? All own staff and based in London office Face time with brokers time consuming but considered worthwhile Competition is on the doorstep

42 Guernsey Pros Speed to market 4 to 6 weeks No Corporate Tax / No VAT / Personal tax 20% Existing expertise can provide back office services Capital requirements will be negotiated based on OSCA No EU directives or solvency II preparations as a distraction

43 Guernsey Pros Guernsey on OECD tax compliant list Regulation well respected by International Association of Insurance Supervisors but regulatory burden and costs much lower than FSA 90 mins travel from London Guernsey sovereign rating AAA from S&P ( Feb 09)

44 CON SOLUTION No established market for this business Electronic trading Underwriter will not have face Video conf or a visit to Gsy time with brokers Remote from introducing brokers See above Regulation not known to rating Educate them agencies Regulatory environment not well It is simple understood Same for legal environment Based on UK law

45 Guernsey Operational Issues Office rentals lower Low commuting time and cost – better quality of life Staff costs lower due to lower personal tax Use of IT for trading to offset physical presence Easy visits to London for the day Very small team with back office support outsourced

46 Financial Comparison London Capital requirement - driven by Solvency 1 and EU Directives Operational costs - estimate 15% more than Gsy due to VAT /Rent and personal taxes – estimated at GBP500K (purely for demo) Tax - 28% Net Profits after tax = 12m x 72% = 8.64m

47 Financial Comparison Guernsey Capital requirement – driven by OSCA –assume to be same as London but might be less Operational costs - 15% less than London = GBP425k Tax 0% Net Profit after tax = 12.075m ROCE will be 40% higher even if capital is the same

48 Case Study Part 2

49 Legal Issues Formation of Guernsey company Obtaining Guernsey insurance licence Distribution/dividends Other issues

50 Fast and Flexible

51 Formation Process Client Due Diligence

52 Obtaining Guernsey Insurance Licence £100,000 minimum capital General representative and insurance manager Management and control in Guernsey 1 independent Guernsey resident director Insurance Licence

53 Solvency 18% of premium up to £5,000,000, 16% thereafter Or 5% of claims reserves Subject to minimum of £75,000 (75% of min capital)

54 Distributions

55 Other Issues Protected cell companies Migration and amalgamation

56 Q&A Peter Niven Guernsey Finance

57 Drinks Reception sponsored by


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