The FSA’s TCF initiative is a core part of its move to more principle based regulation. It is intended to compel firms to review their treatment of customers and to change their behaviour to deliver improved outcomes for consumers so they believe they are being treated fairly no matter which firm they are dealing with. The aim is for TCF to be embedded within the culture of all firms. 


Read More UK: FSA Announces More Help for Small Firms on Treating Customers Fairly (TCF)

A members’ meeting of the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) recently discussed two important Solvency II project’s draft Advices to the European Commission. 


Read More EU: CEIOPS Meeting Discusses Draft Advice to European Commission on Key Solvency II Issues

As part of raising the proposed $1 billion Upstate Revitalization Fund in New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s Executive Budget, Spitzer has requested that surcharges on all automobile policies issued in New York be raised by $15; the current surcharge is $5. 


Read More New York Governor Spitzer Proposes Additional $15 Fee On All Auto Policies

On February 12, 2008, the Michigan Senate voted 36-0 to amend the state’s Insurance Code to provide for the creation of captive insurance companies.  If passed by the Michigan House of Representatives and signed by the governor, the new legislation, S.B. 1061, would provide for the formation of captive insurance companies (“Captives”), special purpose financial captives (“SPFCs”) and protected cell insurance companies. 


Read More Michigan Senate Passes Captive Bill

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty (McCarty) announced this week that the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has filed an administrative complaint seeking to suspend the certificates of authority of numerous Allstate Companies to write new insurance policies in Florida. 


Read More Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Files Formal Complaint to Suspend Allstate Companies’ Licenses

Lloyd’s may purchase a messaging hub service for the market in a bid to improve the efficiency of the London placement process. The hub will minimise the variety of standards and systems currently used and enable clearer communication. Lloyd’s is considering the purchase of an appropriate ready made tool rather than building a bespoke platform. 


Read More Proposal to Trial Messaging Hub Experiment at Lloyd’s

The House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a field hearing in West Palm Beach, Florida regarding the “crisis related to availability and affordability of homeowners’ insurance in Florida and other disaster-prone areas.” 
Read More Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Holds Florida Field Hearing on Homeowners Insurance in Disaster Prone Areas

Parana Banco, a Brazilian bank, recently sought authorization to form the country’s first ever private-sector reinsurer.  Parana Banco indicated that the reinsurer, which will be named J. Malucelli Resseguradora S.A., will have nearly $40 million in capital and initially provide reinsurance cover only for surety bonds issued by J Malucelli Seguradora, the insurance unit of the bank. 
Read More Brazilian Bank Seeks Authorization for Reinsurance License