On 20 March 2009, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) wrote to compliance officers of all the firms which hold client money permissions to remind them of their responsibilities in abiding with Principle 10: “A firm must arrange adequate protection for clients’ assets when it is responsible for them”. 


Read More UK: FSA Writes to Compliance Officers Regarding Adequate Protection for Clients’ Assets

Following agreement on the Solvency II Directive framework (see our blog here), a recent CEIOPS Members Meeting held on 25/26 March 2009 has identified the importance of the implementation of the Solvency II  regime. 


Read More EU: Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) Identify Areas for Refinement Under Solvency II

Recently, the United States Treasury Department (the “Treasury”) has announced that certain life insurers that have acquired banks and thrifts are eligible to receive assistance from the Capital Purchase Program, a sub-program of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. 


Read More United States Treasury Department to Offer Financial Assistance to Life Insurers

On April 9, 2009, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) recommended Molly Lambert, current President of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA), to President Barack Obama for the post of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development for Vermont and New Hampshire. 


Read More Molly Lambert, VCIA President, Recommended by Senator Leahy (D-VT) for Regional USDA Post

The Financial Services Authority has previously voiced concerns with the lack of transparency regarding brokers’ commission and invited the insurance industry to prepare guidance on commission disclosure and the management of the potential conflicts of interest. 


Read More UK: FSA Approves Industry Guidance on Transparency, Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest in the Commercial Insurance Market

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida granted the receiver for The Aries Insurance Company (“Aries Insurance”) its motion to remand the case.  The court remanded the receiver’s action to the state court in accordance with the requirements of the McCarran-Ferguson Act’s reverse preemption doctrine. 


Read More Federal Court Grants Receiver’s Motion to Remand Under the McCarran-Ferguson Act’s Reverse Preemption Doctrine

On February 19, 2009, the Connecticut Committee on Insurance and Real Estate introduced House Bill 6529, An Act Concerning the Licensing and Regulation of Third Party Administrators (the “Bill”). 


Read More Connecticut Legislation Would Require Licensure or Registration of Third Party Administrators