Royal Sun Alliance Insurance Plc & Ors

RSAI Insurance Plc (RSAI) applies for the sanction of the court for an insurance business transfer scheme involving the transfer of the general insurance business written through its branch in the Republic of Ireland, (“the Irish business”) to a wholly owned subsidiary. The scheme also involves the transfer of the general insurance business previously written in the Republic of Ireland by nine subsidiaries of RSA.

The Irish business is comprised principally of the following classes of business: property (55%), motor (21%) and liability (16%). Policies are normally written on an annual basis and some 95% of the business is renewable. It is essentially short-tail business, with some 70% in value of all claims being settled within three years of the policy year. There are some 600,000 policyholders involved.

The statutory regime for the transfer of long term and general insurance business and banking business is contained in Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 which replaced provisions dealing with the transfer of long term insurance business dating back to the 19^th century. Part VII also gives effect to current EU directives. There are a substantial number of conditions, both in the Act and in regulations made under it, relating to such matters as the authorisation of the transferee company, the giving of notice to regulators and policyholders and so on, all of which have been satisfied in this case. There are further provisions, in addition to the giving of notice to affected policyholders, which are designed to provide protection to the policyholders whose policies are to be transferred, to the remaining policyholders, if any, of the transferor and to the existing policyholders, if any, of the transferee. There are policyholders in all three categories in the present case.

These statutory provisions involve: first, the appointment of a suitably qualified, independent expert to report on the scheme. His appointment, and the form of his report, must be approved by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). In this case, as in all insurance business transfers of which I am aware, the expert is an actuary with suitable experience. Secondly the FSA, as regulator, is consulted on proposed transfers and actively considers proposals as they develop. It is also entitled to appear on the application to the court for sanction principally to raise matters of concern. It has, in the last year or so, become the practice of the FSA to provide to the court a report dealing with any areas of concern and how they have been addressed. Where there are remaining concerns, or the circumstances otherwise make it appropriate, the FSA appears at the hearing and does so on a regular basis. This practice has

It is convenient here to address the approach to be adopted by the court in considering whether to sanction a scheme for the transfer of general insurance business. The fact that Part VII of the 2000 Act covers long term and general business does not mean that the considerations arising on such applications are necessarily the same. Long term business, particularly with profits business, involves a large measure of discretion leading to reasonable expectations on the part of policyholders, rather than just strict contractual rights. By contrast, general business will not usually involve the exercise of discretion and judgement by the insurer. If a valid claim is made on the policy the insurer’s legal obligation is to pay it. The concern of transferring general policyholders is that there should be no realistic increase in the risk of failure on the part of the insurer.

In my view, Mr. Moore correctly states the approach of the court in his skeleton argument where he says that “...the court will expect a critical evaluation of the financial strength of all the companies concerned and the security enjoyed by policyholders of the transferors and transferees before and after the scheme.” Mr. Moore also cites in his skeleton argument, as are commonly cited in skeleton arguments on these applications, passages from the judgments of Hoffmann J in Re London Life Association Limited (21 February 1989) and Evans-Lombe J in Re Axa Equity and Law Life Assurance Society Plc [2001] 1AER Commercial 1010. The passage cited from the judgment of Hoffmann J. is as follows:

So far as the first part of that citation is concerned, in my view it is applicable to the transfer of long term business, in particular the transfer of with-profits business. That was the issue in the London Life case. The emphasis is there on fairness as between the interests of different classes of persons and whether the terms of the scheme could have been improved. In my judgment, fairness is not usually, if ever, an issue which arises in relation to the transfer of general business. As I have said, the concern of general insurance policyholders is whether their claims will be paid. That is not a question of fairness; it is a question of ensuring that the transferee is in a financial position to meet those claims as and when they are made. In contrast, fairness is at the heart of the conduct of with-profits business in circumstances where the insurer, through its own appointed actuary, has to make judgments as to how profits are to be allocated, the extent to which there are to be bonuses, whether on an annual or terminal basis, and judging the interests of different groups of policyholders, as well as the company and its shareholders.

The passage from paragraph 6 of the judgment of Evans-Lombe J contains a number of very helpful propositions, which I will read:

The court is concerned with whether a policyholder, employee or other interested person or any group, will be adversely affected by the scheme.

This is primarily a matter of actuarial judgment involving a comparison of the security and reasonable expectations of policyholders without the scheme with what would be the result of the scheme where implemented. For the purpose of this comparison the 1982 Act assigns an important role to the independent actuary to whose report the court will give close attention.

The FSA by reason of its regulatory powers can also be expected to have the necessary material and expertise to express an informed opinion on whether policyholders are likely to be adversely affected. Again the court will pay close attention to any views expressed by the FSA.

That individual policyholders, or groups of policyholders, may be adversely affected does not mean that the scheme has to be rejected by the court. The fundamental question is whether the scheme as a whole is fair as between the interests of the different classes or persons affected.

It is not the function of the court to produce what, in its view, is the best possible scheme as between different schemes all of which the court may deem fair. It is the company’s director’s choice which to pursue.

Under the same principle, details of the scheme are not a matter for the court provided that the scheme as a whole is found to be fair. Thus, the court will not amend the scheme because it thinks that individual provisions could be improved upon.

It seems to me to follow from the above, and in particular paras. 2, 3 & 5, that the court, in arriving at its conclusion, should first determine what the contractual rights and reasonable expectations of policyholders were before the scheme was promulgated and then compare those with the likely result on the rights and expectations of policyholders if the scheme is put into effect.”

This passage also comes from a case which concerned with profits business, in particular the attribution of the inherited estate of the companies concerned. This explains, in my judgement, the repeated references in the numbered paragraphs to fairness and unfairness

So far as applying those numbered paragraphs to schemes for the transfer of general business, it seems to me that the only paragraphs which are really in point are paras.1, 2, 3 & 4. The reference in para.1 to the “commercial judgment entrusted to the company’s directors” is probably more in point in relation to the transfer of long term business than general business, but plainly it is a matter for the board of the company to decide whether it is going to put forward any proposal for the transfer of business. Paras.2 & 4 are directly applicable without any comment to schemes for the transfer of general business. Para.3 contains a reference to “reasonable expectations” which, as I say, was concerned with profits policyholders. However, even in the case of general business there is scope for reasonable expectations: most obviously, and this is addressed in the present case, as to the levels of service provided by the insurer to its policyholders. If reasonable expectations is read as applying to that sort of consideration, para. 3 can be applied without amendment to transfers of general business. I should say here that the evidence before the court in this case, and the view of the independent expert, is that there is no reduction in the level of service likely to be provided to transferring policyholders.

Accordingly, in approaching this application I shall be concerned to see whether there is any material adverse effect on the position of policyholders in any of the three groups to which I have referred. The word “material” is important. The court is not concerned to address theoretical risks. It might be said that a transfer of business from a very large company to a large company involved a reduction in the cover available to the transferring policyholders, but assuming that the transferee is in a financially strong position it matters not that the level of cover in the transferee is less than that in the transferor. What the court is concerned to address is the prospect of real, as opposed to fanciful, risks to the position of policyholders.

The independent expert in this case has prepared a full report and a supplemental report dealing comprehensively with the transfer, and its effect, on the different groups of policyholders. He finds that there are no areas of concern that need to be raised with regard to either the remaining policyholders in RSAI or the existing policyholders in the Irish transferee. The focus, therefore, is on the position of the transferring policyholders. The independent expert has addressed a number of issues which require to be examined, most of which I need not mention. One that is worth mentioning is

A principal matter which has been addressed, both by the independent actuary and by the FSA, is the difference in regulatory requirements for securing adequate capital backing for general insurance business in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland. Mr. Moore’s skeleton argument contains a helpful summary of the relevant features of the capital adequacy rules applicable in the United Kingdom:

Pillar I gives effect to requirements of the First Non-Life Insurance Directive

The perceived importance of Pillar II may be seen from the judgment of Evans-Lombe J in Re Allied Dunbar Assurance Plc [2005] EWHC 82 (Ch).

In both instances, the position of existing Eagle Star policyholders is noticeably improved as a result of the proposed scheme. The improvement in the realistic position is largely due to the significant amount of future profits expected to emerge from the portfolios (Allied Dunbar in particular), not counted in the basic statutory solvency calculation. The stressed position is also improved relative to Eagle Star alone largely because the business written in the other portfolios is in aggregate less risky in nature.

As a consequence, I believe that the reduction in cover on the statutory basis is adequately compensated for by the improvement in the realistic position and the ability to withstand adverse events on a realistic basis.”

In Ireland the regulation of insurance business is undertaken by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (the Irish Regulator), an EEA competent authority under the relevant Directives. The minimum solvency requirement is derived from the same directive as Pillar I and is calculated in the same way. However, the Irish Regulator does not currently employ a risk-based measure of solvency similar to Pillar II and is not anticipated to do so until implementation of Solvency II in 2012.

This is a matter addressed by the independent expert in his report. He first examines the application of the minimum solvency requirements in Ireland to the transferee following the transfer. The solvency cover ratios expected over the three year period to 31 December 2011 is 2.5 times, assuming no payment of dividends during that period; the statutory minimum ratio in Ireland is 1.5 times. The expert concludes that the transferee’s projected available capital over the three year period is “comfortably in excess of the Solvency I minimum capital requirements and reasonably robust measured relative to the optimistic and pessimistic scenarios described above”. The expert’s report continues as follows:

It should be noted that RSAI do not commit to the non-payment of dividends in their draft application to the [Irish Regulator], but state that none are currently anticipated in the projection period (2009 to 2011). While this is not an unreasonable position for RSAI to take, there is a possibility that RSA Insurance Ireland’s statutory capital could fall, relative to the company’s risks, to below the level established at the point of dividend payments.

I have received a letter of representation from RSAI whereby it undertakes that any dividend payments made by RSA Insurance Ireland for the next two to three years will be in the context of having appropriate regard to maintaining an acceptable level of capital within RSA Insurance Ireland with a view to maintaining...”

An acceptable level of capital within RSA Insurance Ireland so that it operates with an appropriate level of security for policyholders from a regulatory point of view;

Adequate levels of capital in relation to risk; iii) An A minus Standard and Poors rating.”

The independent expert, in his first report, then goes on to state that he takes comfort from the letter of representation and sets out five reasons why that is so. At para.4.90 he says:

In reaching that conclusion one of the grounds on which the independent actuary relied was the letter of representation, as is clear from the passages from his report which I have read. In its first report to the court, the FSA drew attention to the absence from the Irish regulatory regime of any riskbased requirements such as Pillar II. The independent expert’s report was then in draft and the FSA requested that further consideration be given by the independent expert to the different capital requirements of the FSA and the Irish Regulator. The FSA’s report stated:

Broadly, the UK capital requirements exceed what the applicable European directives (referred to below as the “Solvency I” Directives) require, and are more sensitive to specific business risks than the Irish requirements. The latter reflect the simpler and less granular approach applied to calculate the Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) under the Solvency I Directives.

The IFSRA (the Irish regulator) has confirmed

The FSA has concluded that it does not object to the scheme on the grounds of the difference in the

pre-scheme and post-scheme capital requirements.

The FSA’s reasons are as follows:-

(a) The FSA is supervisor for RSA Insurance Group,

(the “group”) and sets the group capital

requirement. Each year the group submits an

Individual Capital Assessment which considers an

appropriate amount of capital to be held in

relation to the key risks the group faces. This

assessment takes into account all the group’s

overseas businesses including the business of the 12 Transferors before and after the transfer. The

FSA formerly reviews this assessment every two

years to ensure that the group holds an

appropriate amount of capital…. In any event, the

group manages its capital to maintain an S & P A 17 rating which is currently more stringent than 18 required by the FSA for ICA purposes.

(b) The Transferee’s actual capital immediately

post-transfer is forecast to be at or over 2.5 times

the MCR and at a level which could cover an 23 equivalent ICA for the Transferee taking into 24 account the 2009 to 2011 projections.

(c) The majority of the business affected by the

scheme is short-tail business which comprises

risks concentrated in the motor, property and

liability classes. Policyholders and claimants

contacted will generally have a policy that is one 31 year or less before renewal/expiry. Therefore, 32 policyholders at the effective date will remain 33 policyholders only until their next renewal date.

At that point policyholders will in any event

have to decide whether to renew their policies

with the Transferee. The renewal documentation

will include the Transferee is authorised by the

IFSRA.

(d) Post-transfer, the Transferees will be under the

supervision of the IFSRA, an EEA competent

authority.

The IFSRA’s 150% capital requirement represents a significant margin of prudence over the MCR under the Solvency I Directives.

The independent expert’s supplemental report considers the effects of the recent market volatility and the restated solvency position of the Transferees post the transfer.

The letter of representation to the independent expert from a group director, (also an FSA approved person) states that in making any dividend payments during the projection period to 31 December 2011 the Transferee will have appropriate regard to maintaining an acceptable level of capital within RSA Insurance Ireland so that it operates with an appropriate level of capital for policyholders from a regulatory viewpoint; adequate levels of capital in relation to risk and maintaining at least an A- S&P rating.

The expectation is that by 2012 the European solvency regime for insurance business will have been revised (under the proposed Solvency II Directive) to incorporate risk- responsive/risk-based capital requirements. The FSA notes that Solvency II negotiations are presently at a relatively advanced stage.”

In her skeleton argument for the FSA, Ms Eborall states as follows:

The main reason for the FSA’s conclusion is

The letter of representation is a factor that the FSA has taken into consideration for making its nonobjection. The FSA has weighed the letter of representation in the balance, having regard to:

its unenforceability - meaning that little weight ought to be given to it; and

that Mr. Harris [who gave the letter] is an Approved Person who must act with integrity and deal with the FSA in an open and cooperative way - meaning the FSA could, if necessary, raise any concerns of Mr. Harris as part of the FSA’s Group supervision.”

Thus, it can be seen that on this issue there is a difference of emphasis between the FSA and the independent expert. While both conclude that, in this case, the difference in the regulatory regimes does not pose a material risk to policyholders the independent expert places weight on the letter of representation, as regards the payment of dividends, while the FSA places little weight on that factor but rather more on the fact that the RSAI Group, including the Irish subsidiary, will continue to be subject to the group capital adequacy supervision. This means (as was explained to me) that the FSA requires the group as a whole to maintain capital which satisfies Pillar I and Pillar II as regards its group wide liabilities and risk analysis. This does not provide capital at any particular level for foreign subsidiaries, such as the Irish transferee, but the combination of the group capital requirements which take into account the position of each subsidiary and the extreme improbability in the real world that RSAI would allow one of its subsidiaries to become insolvent, satisfies the FSA and, in my judgment, can satisfy the court that the transfer will not produce a materially adverse effect on the interests of the transferring policyholders. The letter of representation as to dividends also provides support.

However, as it seemed to me, this was posited on the Irish transferee remaining a subsidiary of RSAI. If it were sold to an insurance group outside the United Kingdom the group capital requirements, which is the protection on which the FSA principally relies, would cease to be applicable. Likewise, the letter of representation given by RSA would cease to be of any significance. A similar letter of representation has been given by the Irish transferee, but it would have no legal force and would not be binding, even morally, on the new owner. I was told by Mr. Moore, on instructions taken over the short adjournment yesterday, that it was thought that the IFSRA would probably have regard to the letter of representation, but would not necessarily regard the Irish Transferee as bound by it. In this context it must be remembered that the letter of representation is designed to impose a level of capital requirements significantly different from, and additional to, the current requirements in Ireland. I was not reassured when told that RSAI has no plans to dispose of the Irish subsidiary. In a fast moving commercial world plans can, and do, quite properly change. This is borne out by RSAI’s disinclination to give any undertaking not to dispose of the Irish subsidiary within the next three years as this would (I was told) “unduly impede its commercial freedom”.

This morning, having considered the matter further, RSAI is prepared to offer an undertaking to the court which is designed to deal with the effect of the possibility of a sale of the Irish transferee during the period when this would be of real significance. The undertaking relates to the payment of dividends by the Irish subsidiary and is as follows:

It does not provide protection in the event that there was adverse movement either in the assets or in the liabilities of the Irish transferee. But I consider, having regard to all the other circumstances which are referred to in the reports of both the FSA and the independent expert, that this is not a consideration which should inhibit the court from approving this transfer. As it seems to me this undertaking provides a proper level of protection so far as the transferring policyholders are concerned when they are transferred from a

There are two additional points to note in relation to the undertaking. The first is that it expires on the 1 January 2012. The independent expert in his first report has addressed the position after 2011 in the light of the letter of representation which was available to him and he concluded, for reasons which satisfy me, that it is not necessary for this undertaking to survive the end of 2011. The second point to note is that if the Irish subsidiary proposes to pay a dividend or make other distributions in the circumstances set out in the undertaking, it will require the consent of this court, for which purpose it will have liberty to apply. In that context I should make clear that the concern of this court on the present application, and hence the purpose of the undertaking, is to provide protection to the transferring policyholders, that is to say persons who are policyholders, or were policyholders, before the effective date. I say “were policyholders” to cover those who have outstanding claims against the insurer.

The concern of this court is not with regard to those who may become, or choose to continue to be, policyholders after the effective date. They choose to insure, or renew their insurance, with the Irish Transferee in the knowledge that it is then supervised by the IFSRA under the Irish regime not by the FSA under the UK regime. Accordingly if, and when, an application were made to the court for consent for the payment of dividends it would, in my judgment, be right for the court to be concerned with the position of such of the transferring policyholders as remain, to ensure that their interests continue to be protected. That protection could be provided in any number of ways, such as, for example only, by the provision of reinsurance of their claims.

In those circumstances, I am satisfied that this is a proper scheme to sanction and that the gap in the protection of transferring policyholders, which would otherwise exist, is met to a satisfactory extent by this undertaking. I will just mention two other points in relation to this application. The first is that a comparison was made in the evidence between the compensation schemes available to policyholders in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland. It is clear that the scheme in the United Kingdom is more favourable

Secondly, there were no objectors to this scheme. No-one has written to the companies giving notice of objection, or raising any objections, and no policyholders have appeared in person or by counsel at this hearing. I should, however, say that I do not consider the lack of objectors to be a significant factor. The lack of objectors can certainly be a significant factor on analogous but different applications, such as applications for the sanction of a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act. However, in a scheme for the transfer of general business where there are large numbers of policyholders whose individual policies, when seen on their own, may have a relatively low value and in circumstances where the issues raised are often (as I have mentioned earlier) highly technical, it should come as no surprise that policyholders do not go into the detail of the information that is provided to them. In most cases, I suspect, they rely on those charged with statutory responsibilities in this respect and on the companies proposing the transfers to have full regard to the protection of their interests and, in my judgment, they are fully entitled to do so. Accordingly, the task of those involved in the scheme to scrutinise the effect of the scheme on policyholders is just as great where there are no objectors as in those cases where there are objectors.