The number of insurance licenses issued in Guernsey last year rose more than
50% compared to the previous 12 months, the Guernsey Finance Services Commission has reported.
Figures show that the Commission licensed
72 international insurers during 2011, which is a 53% increase from the 47 approved
during 2010.
This has helped push the net number of international insurance entities licensed
in Guernsey up by 12, from 675 at the end of 2010 to 687 at the close of 2011.
Fiona Le Poidevin, Deputy Chief Executive of Guernsey Finance, the promotional
agency for the island’s finance industry, said: “The latest figures show that
there have been far more licenses issued during 2011 than the immediately preceding
years and this is across the range of entities from conventional captive insurance
companies, Protected Cell Companies (PCC), Incorporated Cell Companies (ICC)
and in particular, PCC and ICC cells.”
“These additions significantly outweigh the number of surrenders during the
same period and we are aware of several more entities which are being licensed
during the very early part of 2012. These developments are expected to see the
value of our international insurance sector rise yet further from the current
strong position reached through growth in recent years.”
Of the 72 new international licenses issued, six were in relation to companies,
12 PCCs, 40 PCC cells, 1 ICC, 7 ICC cells and 6 life policy cells. This meant
that at the end of December 2011 the net total number of licensed international
insurance entities stood at 687, made up of 255 companies, 68 PCCs, 267 PCC
cells, 5 ICCs, 15 ICC cells and 77 life policy cells.
Martin Le Pelley, Chairman of the Guernsey International Insurance Association, said: “It is extremely encouraging for Guernsey’s insurance market that
we are seeing such positive trends at a time when an economic and political
storm is engulfing the rest of Europe.”
Le Pelley added: “In fact, the uncertainty created by the credit crunch and subsequent recession
emphasize how important proper risk management is within companies operating
in the European market and elsewhere. Guernsey has been well-placed to assist
companies in this regard due to our breadth of experience and reputation for
quality.”
He concluded: “As a result of the decision not to seek equivalence with the proposed European
regulatory regime, Solvency II, our internationally compliant insurance regulations
continue to provide the local industry and also our current and potential clients
with certainty and clarity regarding the regulation of insurance business in
Guernsey. This has, no doubt, contributed to the growth of the market during
2011.”
GFSC information shows that 63% of licenses issued in 2011 were to entities
with parents in the UK but there was also new business from other parts of Europe,
North America, the Caribbean and Asia. The GFSC has also released data for 2010
which shows that the Guernsey international insurance industry had gross assets
of GBP21.4bn (USD32.9bn), a net worth of GBP8.5bn and premiums written totalling
GBP4.1bn.
LAWANDTAX-NEWS.COM
