The Solvency 2 Regulations 2015

PART 3 Groups

CHAPTER 1 Cases of application and scope

Risk concentration and intra-group transactions

10.  Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, the PRA may decide not to supervise risk concentration or intra-group transactions within the group at a level specified in the first column of Table 1 where all the conditions specified in relation to that level in the second column of Table 1 are satisfied.

Table 1

Levels at which supervision need not be exercised	Conditions to be satisfied
The participating undertaking, insurance holding company and mixed financial holding company.	The group contains an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking and either—
		(a) the parent undertaking of the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking is an insurance holding company or a mixed financial holding company which has its head office in an EEA State; or
		(b) the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking is a participating undertaking in at least one insurance undertaking, reinsurance undertaking, third-country insurance undertaking or third-country reinsurance undertaking;
	The participating undertaking, insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company referred to above is, or is a related undertaking of, a regulated entity or mixed financial holding company subject to supplementary supervision in accordance with Article 5(2) of the Financial Conglomerates Directive.
	The PRA has consulted the other supervisory authorities concerned in supervising the group.
The ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent.	The parent undertaking of an ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent is subject to supplementary supervision in accordance with Article 5(2) of the Financial Conglomerates Directive.

Equivalent provisions

11.—(1) This regulation applies where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group which includes a mixed financial holding company.

(2) Where the mixed financial holding company is subject to equivalent provision under rules and directly applicable regulations implementing the Solvency 2 Directive and the Financial Conglomerates Directive, the PRA may apply only the rules and directly applicable regulations implementing the Financial Conglomerates Directive to the mixed financial holding company.

(3) Before exercising its discretion under paragraph (2), the PRA must consult the other supervisory authorities concerned in supervising the group.

(4) Where the mixed financial holding company is subject to equivalent provisions under rules and directly applicable regulations implementing the following two sets of legislation—

(a) the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(b) the capital requirements directive and the capital requirements regulation,

the PRA may apply only the rules and directly applicable regulations implementing the set of legislation relating to the most significant sector, as determined in accordance with rules implementing Article 3(2) of the Financial Conglomerates Directive.

(5) Before exercising its discretion under paragraph (4), the PRA must obtain the agreement of the consolidating supervisor under the capital requirements directive.

Exclusion of undertaking from group supervision

12.—(1) This regulation applies where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group and the PRA is considering whether to exclude an undertaking from group supervision.

(2) The PRA must consult the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group before deciding to exclude the undertaking from group supervision where—

(a) that undertaking is of negligible interest with respect to the objectives of group supervision; or

(b) inclusion of that undertaking would be inappropriate or misleading with respect to the objectives of group supervision.

CHAPTER 2 Levels

Supervision of parents and subgroups at national level: substantive powers

13.—(1) The PRA may supervise an ultimate UK solvency 2 parent at group level in the United Kingdom where—

(a) the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent has its head office in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom;

(b) the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent has not obtained permission in accordance with national laws implementing Articles 237 or 243 of the Solvency 2 Directive for the UK solvency 2 parent to be subject to rules implementing Articles 238 and 239 of the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(c) the PRA is not the group supervisor.

(2) Where—

(a) the PRA is supervising an ultimate UK solvency 2 parent in accordance with paragraph (1); and

(b) the ultimate UK solvency 2 parent and an ultimate parent undertaking in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom are related undertakings,

the PRA may conclude an agreement with the supervisory authority of that EEA State to carry out group supervision at subgroup level in both the United Kingdom and the other EEA State.

(3) Where the PRA has concluded an agreement in accordance with paragraph (2)—

(a) the PRA may only carry out group supervision at the level specified in the agreement; and

(b) the PRA must explain the agreement to the group supervisor and the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent undertaking.

(4) Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group and supervisory authorities in other EEA States conclude an agreement to carry out group supervision at subgroup level in those EEA States, the PRA must inform the college of supervisors.

Supervision of parents and subgroups at national level: procedure

14.—(1) The PRA must follow the procedure set out in this regulation when supervising an ultimate UK solvency 2 parent under regulation 13(1) or concluding an agreement with another supervisor under regulation 13(2).

(2) Before deciding to exercise supervision or conclude such an agreement, the PRA must consult the group supervisor and the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent.

(3) If the PRA decides to exercise supervision or conclude such an agreement, the PRA must explain its decision to both the group supervisor and the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent.

(4) The PRA must recognise and apply any permission granted pursuant to national laws implementing Article 231 or 233(5) of the Solvency 2 Directive to the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent to calculate the group solvency capital requirement for insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings in the group on the basis of an internal model.

CHAPTER 3 Group Solvency

Supervision of group solvency and frequency of calculation

15.—(1) Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, the PRA must—

(a) ensure that the calculations referred to in rules implementing Articles 218(2) and (3) of the Solvency 2 Directive are carried out at least annually;

(b) conduct supervisory reviews to determine whether insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings in the group are complying with rules implementing Articles 218(2) and (3) of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(c) inform the other supervisory authorities in the college of supervisors as soon as a participating undertaking in the group informs the PRA that it is no longer in compliance with the solvency capital requirement, or that there is a risk of non-compliance in the next three months;

(d) where the group is not headed by an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking, consult the undertakings in the group and the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group before identifying an undertaking other than an insurance holding company or a mixed financial holding company to supply relevant data for, and the results of, the calculations referred to in rules implementing Articles 218(2) and (3) of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(2) Where the PRA is not the group supervisor of a group, the PRA must nevertheless analyse the situation of the group where the group supervisor informs the PRA that a participating undertaking in the group is no longer in compliance with the solvency capital requirement, or that there is a risk of non-compliance in the next three months.

Choice of method

16.—(1) Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, the PRA must consult the group and the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group before requiring the group to use method 2, or a combination of method 1 and method 2, for the calculation of solvency at a group level.

(2) Where the PRA is not the group supervisor, the PRA must apply the method chosen by the group supervisor for the ultimate EEA solvency 2 parent in relation to—

(a) group supervision at a national level in accordance with regulation 13(1); and

(b) supervision at subgroup level in accordance with regulation 13(2).

Inclusion of proportional share

17.—(1) In this regulation, “proportional share” means the proportional share held by a participating undertaking in its related undertakings.

(2) The PRA must determine the proportional share which must be taken into account in the calculation of group solvency where—

(a) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group; and

(b) any of the following applies—

(i) there are no capital ties between any of the undertakings in a group;

(ii) a supervisory authority has determined that the direct or indirect holding of voting rights or capital in an undertaking qualifies as a participation because the holding means that a significant influence is effectively exercised over that undertaking;

(iii) a supervisory authority has determined that an undertaking is a parent undertaking because the undertaking effectively exercises a dominant influence over the other undertaking.

(3) Before determining the proportional share, the PRA must consult the undertakings in the group and the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group.

Related undertakings: calculation of group solvency

18.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group;

(b) the group contains at least three insurance undertakings, reinsurance undertakings, insurance holding companies or mixed financial holding companies (“A”, “B” and “C”);

(c) A and B are related undertakings;

(d) A and C are related undertakings; and

(e) either B or C has its head office in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom.

(2) Except where paragraph (3) applies, the PRA must permit the group, in the calculation of group solvency, to take into account national laws which—

(a) are adopted by that EEA State to implement the solvency capital requirement and the requirements relating to the own funds eligible to satisfy the solvency capital requirement; and

(b) apply to B or C (as the case may be).

(3) This paragraph applies where—

(a) there is a significant change to the national laws referred to in paragraph (2); and

(b) it is not in the interests of the group’s policyholders to take into account the national laws referred to in paragraph (2).

Participating undertakings: calculation of group solvency

19.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group;

(b) the group contains an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking which is a participating undertaking in a third-country insurance undertaking or third-country reinsurance undertaking; and

(c) the third country in which the third-country insurance undertaking or third country reinsurance undertaking has its head office makes it subject to authorisation and imposes on it a solvency regime at least equivalent to that specified in Chapter 6 of Title 1 of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(2) The PRA must permit the group to take into account national laws adopted by the third country in respect of the group’s solvency capital requirement and the own funds eligible to satisfy the solvency capital requirement in the calculation of the group’s solvency unless—

(a) there has been a significant change to those national laws; and

(b) it is not in the interests of the group’s policyholders to do so.

(3) Where no delegated act has been adopted pursuant to paragraph (4) or (5) of article 227 of the Solvency 2 Directive, the PRA may, and on the request of the participating authority must, verify whether a solvency regime in the third country is at least equivalent to Chapter 6 of Title 1 to the Solvency 2 Directive.

(4) The PRA must—

(a) consult the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group before taking a decision under paragraph (3);

(b) take the decision in accordance with the criteria set out in any directly applicable regulation made under paragraph (3) of Article 227; and

(c) ensure that its decision does not contradict any previous decision on the equivalence of the third country, except where it is necessary to take into account significant changes to the supervisory regime laid down in Chapter 6 of Title 1 to the Solvency 2 Directive or to the solvency regime of the third country.

Internal models and capital add-ons

20.—(1) Where group solvency is determined in accordance with method 1, the PRA must pay particular attention to the cases referred to in Article 37(1) of the Solvency 2 Directive for the imposition of a capital add-on when it determines whether the consolidated group solvency capital requirement appropriately reflects the risk profile of the group, in particular where—

(a) a specific risk existing at group level would not be sufficiently covered by the standard formula or the internal model used because it is difficult to quantify; or

(b) a capital add-on to the solvency capital requirement of the related insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertakings is imposed by the supervisory authorities concerned in accordance with Article 37 or 231(7) of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(2) Where group solvency is determined in accordance with method 2, the PRA must, when it determines whether the aggregated group solvency capital requirement appropriately reflects the risk profile of the group, pay particular attention to any specific risks existing at group level which would not be sufficiently covered because they are difficult to quantify.

(3) Where the PRA is a member of the college of supervisors and the PRA considers that the risk profile of an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking belonging to a group deviates significantly from the assumptions underlying the internal model approved at group level, the PRA may—

(a) impose a capital add-on to the solvency capital requirement of the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking;

(b) in exceptional circumstances where a capital add-on would not be appropriate, require the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking to calculate its solvency capital requirement on the basis of the standard formula; or

(c) where the PRA has exercised its discretion under sub-paragraph (b) to require an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking to calculate its solvency capital requirement on the basis of the standard formula, impose a capital add-on to the solvency capital requirement.

(4) Where the PRA—

(a) imposes a capital add-on on an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking; or

(b) requires the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking concerned to calculate its solvency capital requirement on the basis of the standard formula,

the PRA must explain its decision to the relevant insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking and the other members of the college of supervisors.

(5) Where the PRA is a member of a college of supervisors responsible for supervising a group, the PRA must adopt and apply the following decisions by the group supervisor on the basis of an internal model—

(a) the calculation of the group solvency capital requirement;

(b) the calculation of the solvency capital requirement of an insurance undertaking and reinsurance undertaking in the group;

(c) the calculation of the aggregated group solvency capital requirement.

(6) Where the PRA has imposed a capital add-on, it must review the capital add-on at least once a year.

Subsidiaries: solvency capital requirement

21.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a parent undertaking has permission to apply the national laws implementing Articles 238 and 239 of the Solvency 2 Directive to a subsidiary undertaking; and

(b) the PRA is a member of the college of supervisors for that subsidiary undertaking.

(2) Where the PRA is responsible for authorising the subsidiary under Part 4A of FSMA, the PRA may propose to the college of supervisors that any of the following requirements (“a relevant requirement”) be imposed on the subsidiary undertaking—

(a) a capital add-on;

(b) a requirement that the subsidiary calculates its solvency capital requirement on the basis of the standard formula; or

(c) a requirement that the subsidiary replace a subset of the parameters used in the calculation of the standard formula calculation with a subset of parameters specific to the subsidiary when calculating its life, non-life and health underwriting risk modules referred to in Article 104(1) of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(3) The PRA may only impose a requirement referred to in paragraph (2)(b) in exceptional circumstance where a capital add-on would be inappropriate.

(4) The PRA may only impose a requirement referred to in paragraph (2)(c)—

(a) in exceptional circumstances;

(b) where the PRA considers that the subsidiary undertaking’s risk profile deviates significantly from the assumptions underlying the standard formula; and

(c) where the subsidiary undertaking does not properly address the PRA’s concerns.

(5) Where the PRA proposes the imposition of a relevant requirement, the PRA must—

(a) discuss the proposed requirement with the college of supervisors; and

(b) communicate the grounds for the requirement to both the subsidiary and the college of supervisors.

(6) Before imposing a relevant requirement, the PRA must do everything within its power to reach an agreement within the college of supervisors on a proposal for a relevant requirement or on other possible measures.

(7) The PRA may refer a proposal to impose a relevant requirement to EIOPA where—

(a) the PRA—

(i) is the group supervisor; or

(ii) proposed the imposition of the relevant requirement;

(b) the college of supervisors has not reached agreement on the proposal; and

(c) the referral is made within the period of one month starting on the day on which the proposal was communicated to the college (either by the PRA under paragraph (2) or by another supervisory authority).

(8) Where the PRA proposes the imposition of a relevant requirement—

(a) if the college of supervisors has reached agreement on the proposal, the PRA must take its decision in accordance with the agreement;

(b) if the proposal has been referred to EIOPA, the PRA must take its decision in accordance with EIOPA’s decision;

(c) in all other cases, the PRA must decide whether to impose the relevant requirement and provide full reasons for its decision to the subsidiary undertaking and college of supervisors.

(9) The PRA must recognise and apply a decision made by another supervisory authority in accordance with Article 238 of the Solvency 2 Directive to apply a relevant requirement to a subsidiary.

Subsidiaries: non-compliance with the solvency and minimum capital requirements

22.—(1) This regulation applies where the PRA has approved an application made in accordance with regulation 52.

(2) Where the PRA authorised the subsidiary under Part 4A of FSMA, the PRA must notify the following matters to the college of supervisors without delay—

(a) where the subsidiary is not in compliance with the subsidiary’s solvency capital requirement, the recovery plan submitted by the subsidiary in accordance with rules implementing Article 138 of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(b) any deteriorating financial conditions and the proposed measures to be taken; and

(c) where the subsidiary is not in compliance with the subsidiary’s minimum capital requirement—

(i) the short-term finance scheme submitted by the subsidiary in accordance with rules implementing Article 139 of the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(ii) any measures taken by the PRA by or under FSMA to enforce the minimum capital requirement at the level of the subsidiary.

(3) Where the PRA notifies the college of supervisors of deteriorating financial conditions in accordance with paragraph (2)(b), the PRA must discuss the measures it proposes to take within the college of supervisors unless the situation is an emergency.

(4) Where the PRA notifies the college of supervisors of a recovery plan referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or the proposed measures referred to paragraph (2)(b), the PRA—

(a) must do everything in its power to reach agreement within the college on the recovery plan or proposed measures; and

(b) may refer the recovery plan or proposed measures to EIOPA where—

(i) the PRA—

(aa) is the group supervisor; or

(bb) notified the recovery plan or proposed measure to the college of supervisors;

(ii) the college has not reached agreement on the recovery plan or proposed measures;

(iii) in the case of proposed measures, an emergency situation does not exist; and

(iv) the referral is made within whichever of the following periods applies—

(aa) four months starting on the day on which the recovery plan was notified to the college; or

(bb) one month starting on the day on which the recovery plan was notified to the college.

(5) Where the PRA notifies the college of supervisors in accordance with paragraph (2)—

(a) if the college of supervisors has reached agreement on the notification, the PRA must take its decision in accordance with the agreement;

(b) if the notification has been referred to EIOPA, the PRA must take its decision in accordance with EIOPA’s decision;

(c) in all other cases, the PRA must decide the matter and provide full reasons for its decision to the subsidiary and to the college of supervisors.

(6) In the case of a recovery plan referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or proposed measures referred to in paragraph (2)(b), the PRA must take due account of the views and reservations of the other supervisory authorities when deciding on a matter in accordance with paragraph (5)(c).

Subsidiaries: revocation of approval for applying Articles 238 and 239 of the Solvency 2 Directive

23.—(1) This regulation applies where the PRA—

(a) approves an application made by a parent undertaking in accordance with regulation 52 for Articles 238 And 239 of the Solvency 2 Directive to be applied to a subsidiary undertaking of the parent undertaking; and

(b) is the group supervisor of the group to which the parent undertaking and subsidiary undertaking belong.

(2) Where the PRA decides, after consulting the college of supervisors, that the subsidiary undertaking should not be included in group supervision, the PRA must inform the parent undertaking and its supervisory authority immediately.

(3) The PRA must verify the following matters on its own initiative at least annually or at the request of a supervisory authority—

(a) that the risk management processes and internal control mechanisms of the parent undertaking cover the subsidiary;

(b) that the parent undertaking is managing the subsidiary undertaking prudently;

(c) that the agreement referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 246(4) of the Solvency 2 Directive is still current; and

(d) that the agreement referred to in the first sub-paragraph of Article 256(2) of the Solvency 2 Directive is still current.

(4) Where the PRA considers, after consulting the college of supervisors, that a plan proposed by the subsidiary undertaking to restore compliance with the matters referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph (3) is insufficient or has not been implemented within the agreed period of time, the PRA must conclude that the parent undertaking no longer complies with those matters and inform the supervisory authority concerned.

CHAPTER 4 Risk concentration and intra-group transactions

Supervision of risk concentration and intra-group transactions

24.—(1) Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, the PRA must—

(a) identify the type of risks and intra-group transactions which insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings in the group must report to the PRA in all circumstances, taking into account the specific group and risk management structure of the group;

(b) impose appropriate thresholds based on solvency capital requirements, or technical provisions, in order to identify which significant risk concentrations and significant intra-group transactions should be reported;

(c) identify the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in the group responsible for submitting the information required under rules implementing Articles 244 and 245 of the Solvency 2 Directive where the group is not headed by an insurance undertaking or a reinsurance undertaking;

(d) review the risk concentrations of the group and intra-group transactions at group level, and in particular monitor the possible risk of contagion within the group, the risk of a conflict of interests and the level or volume of risks.

(2) The PRA must consult the group and the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group whilst carrying out the activities referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph 24.

(3) Where the PRA is not the group supervisor and the PRA is consulted by the group supervisor in relation to the supervision of risk concentration at group level or the reporting of intra-group transactions, the PRA must take into account the specific group and risk management structure of the group when giving its opinion about the type of risks to be reported.

CHAPTER 5 Risk management and internal control

Supervision of system of governance

25.  Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, the PRA must—

(a) review the systems and reporting procedures implemented by the group in accordance with rules implementing paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 246 of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(b) review the own-risk and solvency assessment conducted at group level by the group in accordance with rules implementing paragraph 4 of Article 246 of the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(c) consult the members of the college of supervisors and duly take into account their views and reservations before agreeing to a request from a participating insurance undertaking, reinsurance undertaking, insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company to undertake its own-risk and solvency assessment at group and subsidiary levels in accordance with rules implementing Article 45 of the Solvency 2 Directive at the same time and produce a single document covering all such assessments.

CHAPTER 6 Measures to facilitate group supervision

Rule for deciding the group supervisor

26.—(1) This regulation—

(a) states the rule which applies for the purposes of deciding when—

(i) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group; and

(ii) the PRA must recognise another supervisory authority as the group supervisor of a group; and

(b) applies only when regulation 27 (which specifies exceptions to the rule) does not apply.

(2) Where the PRA is the supervisor of all the insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings in a group, the PRA is the group supervisor of the group.

(3) Where paragraph (2) does not apply and the group is headed by an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking which is authorised by the PRA under Part 4A of FSMA, the PRA is the group supervisor of the group.

(4) Where paragraph (2) does not apply and the group is not headed by an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking, the PRA is the group supervisor of the group in any of the following circumstances—

(a) where—

(i) an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking has an insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company as a parent; and

(ii) the PRA has authorised that insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking;

(b) where—

(i) the group contains two or more insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings with their head offices in an EEA State;

(ii) the undertakings have the same insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company as a parent;

(iii) one of those undertakings has been authorised by the PRA; and

(iv) the insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company has its head office in the United Kingdom;

(c) where—

(i) the group is headed by two or more insurance holding companies or mixed financial holding companies with their head offices in different EEA States;

(ii) there is an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in the group in each of those EEA States; and

(iii) the PRA has authorised the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking with the largest balance sheet total;

(d) where—

(i) two or more insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings with their head offices in an EEA State have the same insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company as a parent;

(ii) none of those undertakings has been authorised in the EEA State in which the insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company has its head office; and

(iii) the PRA has authorised the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking with the largest balance sheet total;

(e) where the group is a group without a parent undertaking, or in any circumstances not referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d), the PRA has authorised the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking with the largest balance sheet total.

(5) Where another supervisory authority has been designated as the group supervisor in accordance with national laws implementing Article 247 of the Solvency 2 Directive, the PRA must recognise that supervisory authority as the group supervisor of the group.

Exceptions to the rule for deciding the group supervisor

27.—(1) Notwithstanding regulation 26—

(a) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group if all the supervisory authorities concerned take a joint decision that the PRA should be the group supervisor; and

(b) the PRA must recognise a joint decision taken by all the supervisory authorities that a supervisory authority other than the PRA should be the group supervisor of a group.

(2) The PRA may ask the other supervisory authorities concerned to consider whether—

(a) the criteria specified in paragraph 2 of Article 247 of the Solvency 2 Directive are appropriate for determining which supervisory authority should be the group supervisor; and

(b) a supervisory authority other than the supervisory authority satisfying those criteria should be the group supervisor.

(3) The PRA may not make a request referred to in paragraph (2) more than once a year.

(4) Where the supervisory authorities are considering (whether at the request of the PRA or another supervisory authority) whether the criteria are appropriate or whether a particular supervisory authority should be group supervisor—

(a) the PRA must do everything in its power to reach a joint decision on the request within a period of three months commencing on the date of the request;

(b) the PRA must permit the group concerned to give its opinion on the request;

(c) the PRA may refer the matter to EIOPA in accordance with Article 19 of the EIOPA Regulation within a period of three months beginning with the date of the request;

(d) where the matter is referred to EIOPA, the PRA must take a joint decision in accordance with any decision taken by EIOPA;

(e) where the matter is not referred to EIOPA or EIOPA take no decision on such a referral, the PRA may take a joint decision with the other supervisory authorities that—

(i) the criteria referred to in paragraph (2)(a) are inappropriate, taking into account the structure of the group and the relative importance of the activities of insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings in the different countries; and

(ii) a supervisory authority other than the supervisory authority satisfying the criteria should be the group supervisor; and

(f) where the joint decision designates the PRA as the group supervisor, the PRA must provide a copy of the decision to the group stating the full reasons for the decision.

Duties of group supervisor and establishment of college of supervisors

28.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (7) apply where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, and paragraph (8) applies where the PRA is a member of a college of supervisors for a group but is not the group supervisor.

(2) The PRA must—

(a) coordinate the gathering and dissemination of relevant or essential information for going-concern and emergency situations, including the dissemination of information which is of importance to the supervisory functions of another supervisory authority;

(b) conduct supervisory reviews and assessments of the financial situation of the group;

(c) assess the group’s compliance with the rules on solvency, risk concentration and intra-group transactions set out in Articles 218 to 245 of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(d) assess the group’s system of governance in accordance with regulation 25;

(e) assess whether the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the participating undertakings in the group fulfil the requirements set out in rules implementing Articles 42 and 257 of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(f) plan and coordinate, through regular meetings held at least annually or other appropriate means, supervisory activities in going-concern and emergency situations, in cooperation with the other supervisory authorities concerned and taking into account the nature, scale and complexity of the risks inherent in the business of all the undertakings in the group;

(g) lead the process for validating an internal model at group level as set out in regulation 49;

(h) lead the process for permitting the application of the regime referred to in Articles 237 to 240 of the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(i) carry out the other tasks, measures and decisions assigned to the group supervisor by the Solvency 2 Directive.

(3) In order to facilitate the exercise of the tasks referred to in paragraph (2), the PRA must establish and chair a college of supervisors comprising—

(a) the PRA;

(b) the supervisory authorities of the EEA States in which the head office of every subsidiary undertaking in the group is situated; and

(c) EIOPA.

(4) The PRA—

(a) must permit the supervisory authorities of significant branches and related undertakings to participate in the college of supervisors, provided that their participation is limited to achieving an efficient exchange of information;

(b) must ensure that the processes for cooperation, exchange of information and consultation between the PRA and the other supervisory authorities concerned are effectively applied in accordance with Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive, with a view to promoting the convergence of their respective decisions and activities;

(c) may agree with the other supervisory authorities concerned that some activities of the college be carried out by a reduced number of supervisory authorities where the effective functioning of the college of supervisors requires it;

(d) must conclude co-ordination arrangements with the other supervisory authorities concerned for the establishment and functioning of the college of supervisors.

(5) The arrangements referred to in paragraph (4)(d) must specify procedures for—

(a) the decision-making process among the supervisory authorities in accordance with Articles 231, 232 and 247 of the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(b) consultation under Articles 218(5) and 248(4) and of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(6) Where the PRA has received advice from EIOPA in relation to the establishment and functioning of the college of supervisors, it must, after consulting the other supervisory authorities concerned, duly consider such advice before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date the advice was received before taking its final decision.

(7) Where the PRA makes a decision regarding the establishment and functioning of the college of supervisors, the PRA must—

(a) ensure the decision contains a statement setting out in full the reasons for the decision and explaining any significant deviation from any advice given by EIOPA; and

(b) send a copy of the decision to the other supervisory authorities concerned.

(8) The PRA must send EIOPA any information on the functioning of the college of supervisors and any difficulties encountered that are relevant for EIOPA’s reviews of the operational functioning of colleges of supervisors.

Cooperation and exchange of information between supervisory authorities

29.—(1) Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group, the PRA must provide the other supervisory authorities concerned and EIOPA with the following information regarding the group—

(a) information received by the PRA under rules implementing the last sub-paragraph of Article 19, Article 51(1) and Article 254(2) of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(b) information regarding the legal, governance and organisational structure of the group.

(2) Where the PRA is a member of the college of supervisors for a group, the PRA must—

(a) cooperate closely with the other supervisory authorities concerned, in particular in cases where an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in the group encounters financial difficulties;

(b) provide the other supervisory authorities concerned with relevant information so as to allow and facilitate the exercise of their supervisory tasks under the Solvency 2 Directive;

(c) communicate all relevant information to the other supervisory authorities concerned without delay as soon as such information becomes available or exchange such relevant information on request; and

(d) call immediately for a meeting of all supervisory authorities concerned where—

(i) the PRA becomes aware that an individual insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in the group has breached the solvency capital requirement in a significant way;

(ii) the PRA becomes aware that an individual insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in the group has breached the minimum capital requirement;

(iii) the PRA becomes aware that the group has breached the solvency capital requirement at group level in a significant way; or

(iv) other exceptional circumstances occur.

Consultation between supervisory authorities

30.—(1) Except where paragraph (3) applies, the PRA must consult the other members of the college of supervisors before taking a decision which is of importance to the supervisory tasks of another supervisory authority with regard to—

(a) changes in the shareholder, organisational or management structure of insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings in the group, which require the approval or authorisation of the other supervisory authority;

(b) a decision on the extension of the recovery period under rules implementing Articles 138 (3) and (4) of the Solvency 2 Directive; or

(c) the imposition of a capital add-on, a limitation on the use of an internal model for calculating the solvency capital requirement, or any other major sanctions or exceptional measures taken by the other supervisory authority.

(2) Where the PRA consults another supervisory authority on a matter referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (1)(c) and the PRA is not the group supervisor, the PRA must also consult the group supervisor on that matter.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply in cases of urgency or where consultation may jeopardise the effectiveness of the PRA’s decision, provided the PRA informs the other supervisory authorities concerned without delay.

(4) The PRA must also consult a supervisory authority before taking a decision based on information received from that supervisory authority.

Access to information

31.—(1) Before requesting information from an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in a group, the PRA must satisfy—

(a) condition 1; and

(b) if the PRA is the group supervisor of the group to which the undertaking belongs and the information is referred to in rules implementing Article 254(2) of the Solvency 2 Directive, condition 2.

(2) In this regulation—

(a) condition 1 is that the information has been requested from the insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking subject to group supervision and has not been supplied by that undertaking within a reasonable period of time; and

(b) condition 2 is that the PRA has, if possible, requested the information from all the other supervisory authorities to which the information has been provided and none of those supervisory authorities has provided the information to the PRA.

Verification of information

32.—(1) Where the PRA receives a request for verification from another supervisory authority in accordance with Article 255(2) of the Solvency 2 Directive, the PRA must carry out the verification directly, allow an auditor or expert to carry out the verification, or allow the other supervisory authority to carry out verification itself.

(2) Where the PRA is not the group supervisor, the PRA must inform the group supervisor of the action it takes.

Group solvency and financial condition report

33.  Where the PRA is the group supervisor of a group and the PRA has received a request from—

(a) an insurance undertaking which is a participating undertaking;

(b) a reinsurance undertaking which is a participating undertaking;

(c) an insurance holding company;

(d) a mixed financial holding company,

to provide a single solvency and financial condition report in accordance with rules implementing Article 256 of the Solvency 2 Directive, the PRA must consult and duly take into account any views and reservations of the other members of the college of supervisors before agreeing to the request.

Enforcement measures

34.—(1) In this regulation, a “relevant event” means—

(a) an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in a group does not comply with a requirement referred to in—

(i) Articles 218 to 246, or 265, of the Solvency 2 Directive; or

(ii) a third country supervisory regime which is equivalent to Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive;

(b) the solvency of an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in a group is jeopardised; or

(c) an intra-group transaction or risk concentration is a threat to the financial position of an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in a group.

(2) Where—

(a) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group;

(b) the group contains an insurance holding company, a mixed financial holding company or a mixed-activity insurance holding company with its head office in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom; and

(c) a relevant event occurs in relation to such a company,

the PRA must inform the supervisory authority of that EEA State with a view to enabling the supervisory authority to take any necessary measures in accordance with Article 258(1) of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(3) Where—

(a) the PRA is the group supervisor of a group;

(b) a relevant event occurs in relation to an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in the group; and

(c) that undertaking has its head office in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom,

the PRA must inform the supervisory authority of the EEA State with a view to enabling the supervisory authority to take the necessary measures in accordance with Article 258(1) of the Solvency 2 Directive.

(4) The PRA must, where appropriate, coordinate any measures it may take with the other supervisory authorities concerned.

CHAPTER 7 Third countries

Non-EEA solvency 2 parent undertakings: equivalence

35.—(1) Schedule 3 applies where the parent undertaking of an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking established in the EEA has its head office in a third country.

(2) Where the PRA is required to rely on supervision exercised by a supervisory authority in a third country which has a supervisory regime which is equivalent to Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive, regulations 26 to 34 apply in relation to cooperation with those supervisory authorities.

Parent undertaking outside the EEA: absence of equivalence

36.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a parent undertaking of an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking established in the EEA has its head office in a third country; and

(b) both of the following conditions are satisfied—

(i) the Commission has not adopted a delegated act under Article 260(3) of the solvency 2 directive determining that the prudential regime of the third county is equivalent to Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive; and

(ii) either—

(aa) the Commission has not adopted a delegated act under Article 260(5) of the Solvency 2 Directive determining that the prudential regime of the third country is temporarily equivalent to Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive; or

(bb) if such a delegated act has been adopted, the group contains an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking in an EEA State with a balance sheet total that exceeds the balance sheet total of the parent undertaking situated in the third country.

(2) The PRA must apply either of the following methods of supervision to the group—

(a) rules implementing Articles 218 to 235, and 244 to 258, of the Solvency 2 Directive; or

(b) any other method which—

(i) ensures appropriate supervision of the insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings in the group; and

(ii) ensures the objectives of group supervision (as set out in Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive) are achieved.

(3) Where the PRA applies the rules referred to in paragraph (2)(a)—

(a) the rules must be applied at the level of the insurance holding company, mixed financial holding company, third-country insurance undertaking or third-country reinsurance undertaking; and

(b) for the sole purpose of the group solvency calculation, the parent undertaking must be treated as if it were an insurance undertaking or reinsurance undertaking subject to the conditions as laid down in Subsections 1, 2 and 3 of Section 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 1 of the Solvency 2 Directive as regards—

(i) the own funds eligible for the solvency capital requirement; and

(ii) either of—

(aa) a solvency capital requirement determined in accordance with the principles of Article 226 of the Solvency 2 Directive where the parent undertaking is an insurance holding company; or

(bb) a solvency capital requirement determined in accordance with the principles of Article 227 of the Solvency 2 Directive where the parent undertaking is a third-country insurance undertaking or third-country reinsurance undertaking.

(4) The reference in paragraph (2)(b) to any other method includes—

(a) requiring the group to establish an insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company with its head office in the EEA State; and

(b) applying the requirements of Title 3 of the Solvency 2 Directive to the insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings in the group headed by that insurance holding company or mixed financial holding company.

(5) Before applying another method under paragraph (2)(b), the PRA must—

(a) consult the other supervisory authorities concerned in the supervision of the group; and

(b) where the PRA is not acting as the group supervisor, agree the method with the supervisor acting as the group supervisor.

(6) Where the PRA applies another method under paragraph (2)(b), the PRA must notify the European Commission and the other supervisory authorities concerned.

CHAPTER 8 Mixed-activity insurance holding companies

Intra-group transactions

37.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) the parent undertaking of one or more insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings in the group is a mixed-activity insurance holding company; and

(b) the PRA supervises one or more of the insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings in the group.

(2) The PRA must exercise general supervision over transactions between—

(a) the mixed-activity holding company and its related undertakings; and

(b) the insurance undertakings or reinsurance undertakings supervised by the PRA.