Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T19:30:06.576Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Implication of Fair Value Accounting for General Insurance Companies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

M. G. White
Affiliation:
Equitas Management Services Ltd., 33 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8LL, U.K., Tel: +44(0)20-7342-2883, Email:[email protected]

Abstract

The International Accounting Standards Board is undertaking a project to develop an Accounting Standard for Insurance. The basis for these proposals is that assets and liabilities should be shown at fair values (market values for quoted instruments). This is an updated version of a paper, prepared by a Working Party established by the General Insurance Research Organisation (GIRO) of the General Insurance Board of the actuarial profession of the United Kingdom, which was first presented to the GIRO Conference in October 2002. This paper summarises and comments upon the principal features of the proposals as they have emerged up to February 2003. The paper considers the implications for general insurance companies of these proposals. In particular, it examines the concept of market value margins, and the practical issues that insurance companies are likely to encounter in implementing them. The emphasis of the paper is on reporting for general insurance business, although many of the principles apply equally to life assurance.

Type
Sessional meetings: papers and abstracts of discussions
Copyright
Copyright © Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Casualty Actuarial Society (2000). Task Force on Fair Value Liabilities white paper on fair value property/casualty insurance liabilities.Google Scholar
Christofides, S. (1998). Pricing for risk in financial transactions. Proceedings of the General Insurance Conference, 1998, 2.Google Scholar
Committee on Property and Casualty Insurance Financial Reporting (1993). Provisions for adverse deviations, property and casualty insurance companies — www.actuaries.ca/publications/1993/9371e.htmGoogle Scholar
England, P.D. & Verrall, R.J. (2002). Stochastic claims reserving in general insurance. British Actuarial Journal, 8, 443514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Financial Services Authority (2002). Consultation Paper 144 — A new regulatory approach to insurance firms' use of financial engineering — www.fsa.gov.ukGoogle Scholar
International Accounting Standards Board websitewww.iasc.org.ukGoogle Scholar
Jarvis, S.J., Southall, F.E. & Varnell, E.M. (2001). Modern valuation techniques. Paper presented to the Staple Inn Actuarial Society.Google Scholar
Lowe, J.A. (1994). Bootstrapping, operational time and a distribution free approach. Proceedings of the General Insurance Conference, 1994.Google Scholar