The resolution plan for insurers in France: Being prepared in case of a failure

Abstract

The failure of an insurer may affect policyholders as well as the broader economy. This explains why a resolution regime is useful, with the objective of making it feasible to maintain vital economic functions and activities, which are needed, without disruption and without exposing taxpayers to loss. The resolution regime is a core element of the policy measures adopted by the G20 in the wake of the global financial crisis and applies to banks in most countries, with France being one of the first EU member states to adopt a regime for the recovery and resolution of insurance undertakings. The work undertaken to prepare resolution plans consists of first identifying the functions deemed to be critical which should be maintained. For the resolution to be effective, this work needs to be complemented with analysis of the level of separability of these critical functions from the rest of the undertaking or group, as this is necessary to ensure operational continuity in the event that a resolution action is applied. The next step consists of specifying resolution strategies that could be applied to groups or bodies performing critical functions, in accordance with different possible crisis scenarios and taking into account different resolution tools used separately or in combination. Based on these elements, Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution has adopted the first resolution plan for 13 insurers, but this needs to be complemented by additional analyses and additional information in order to cover all the topics needed to operationalise resolution strategies and ensure the resolvability of undertakings.