Actuarial Standard of Practice No. 55

Capital Adequacy Assessment

STANDARD OF PRACTICE

TRANSMITTAL MEMORANDUM

TO: Members of Actuarial Organizations Governed by the Standards of Practice of the Actuarial Standards Board and Other Persons Interested in Capital Adequacy Assessment

FROM: Actuarial Standards Board (ASB)

SUBJ: Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 55, Capital Adequacy Assessment

This document contains ASOP No. 55, Capital Adequacy Assessment.

History of the Standard

When the ASB’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Task Force (now Committee) started work on ASOP No. 46, Risk Evaluation in Enterprise Risk Management, and ASOP No. 47, Risk Treatment in Enterprise Risk Management, it was intended that those standards would, in addition to providing general guidance to actuaries performing ERM work, provide support as building blocks for a standard on actuarial opinions regarding the still-developing own risk and solvency assessment (ORSA) process.

Starting in 2012, insurance regulators began implementing the ORSA process throughout the world. Specifically, the ORSA process is a part of the Insurance Core Principles (ICP) set out by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and is required by the NAIC accreditation standards. A key feature of ORSA is that it requires a formal assessment of capital adequacy be a part of an insurer’s ERM program. However, what is included in a capital adequacy assessment varies significantly across the industry. Given the disparity in current practices, the ASB determined that a separate ASOP covering capital adequacy assessments was needed to supplement ASOP Nos. 46 and 47.

In addition to satisfying regulatory requirements, risk-taking enterprises will, on occasion, want to assess their capital adequacy. The purpose of this proposed standard is to provide additional guidance to actuaries preparing an assessment of capital adequacy, whether for a specific regulatory requirement or for general management purposes.

First Exposure Draft

The ASB issued a first exposure draft of this ASOP in September 2016 with a comment deadline of January 31, 2017. Nine comment letters were received and considered in developing modifications that were reflected in the second exposure draft.

Second Exposure Draft

The ASB issued a second exposure draft in September 2017 with a comment deadline of March 1, 2018. Nine comment letters were received and considered in making changes that were reflected in the third exposure draft.

Third Exposure Draft

The ASB issued a third exposure draft in November 2018 with a comment deadline of March 1, 2019. Four comment letters were received and considered in making changes that were reflected in this ASOP. For a summary of the issues contained in these comment letters, please see appendix 2.

Notable Changes from the Second Exposure Draft

There were no notable changes from the third exposure draft. Certain changes were made to improve readability, clarity, or consistency.

The ASB thanks everyone who took the time to contribute comments and suggestions on the exposure drafts.

The ASB voted in June 2019 to adopt this standard.

ERM Committee of the ASB
Frank D. Pierson, Chairperson
Anthony Dardis	Elisabetta Russo
Jamie B. Krieger	David K. Sandberg
David Paul	John W.C. Stark
Max J. Rudolph

Actuarial Standards Board
Kathleen A. Riley, Chairperson
Christopher S. Carlson	Darrell D. Knapp
Maryellen J. Coggins	Cande J. Olsen
Robert M. Damler	Barbara L. Snyder
Mita D. Drazilov	Patrick B. Woods

The Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) sets standards for appropriate actuarial practice in the United States through the development and promulgation of Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOPs). These ASOPs describe the procedures an actuary should follow when performing actuarial services and identify what the actuary should disclose when communicating the results of those services.

Section 1. Purpose, Scope, Cross References, and Effective Date

1.1 Purpose

This actuarial standard of practice (ASOP or standard) provides guidance to actuaries when performing professional services with respect to an evaluation of the resiliency of an insurer through a capital adequacy assessment.

1.2 Scope

This standard applies to actuaries involved in capital adequacy assessment work for life or health insurers (including fraternal benefit societies and health benefit plans), property and casualty insurers, mortgage and title insurers, financial guaranty insurance companies, risk retention groups, public entity pools, captive insurers, and similar entities or a combination of such entities, when affiliated (collectively, referred to as “insurer”). The term insurer includes entities that insure or reinsure any entity mentioned in the preceding sentence. For the purposes of this standard, if an actuary is asked to assess the capital needed to support self-insured obligations of the types of insurance written by the businesses listed in the first sentence, the term “insurer” includes such self-insured obligations.

This standard applies to actuaries designing, performing, or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment.

If the actuary’s actuarial services involve reviewing a capital adequacy assessment, the reviewing actuary should be reasonably satisfied that the capital adequacy assessment was performed in accordance with this standard. The reviewing actuary should use the guidance in this standard to the extent practicable within the scope of the actuary’s assignment.

When designing, performing, or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment of a group, the actuary need not assess the capital of individual members of the group unless warranted by the specific circumstances of the group.

This standard does not apply to actuaries when providing actuarial services within the scope of ASOP No. 6, Measuring Retiree Group Benefits Obligations and Determining Retiree Group Benefits Program Periodic Costs or Actuarially Determined Contributions.

If the actuary departs from the guidance set forth in this standard in order to comply with applicable law (statutes, regulations, and other legally binding authority), or for any other reason the actuary deems appropriate, the actuary should refer to section 4. If a conflict exists between this standard and applicable law, the actuary should comply with applicable law.

1.3 Cross References

When this standard refers to the provisions of other documents, the reference includes the referenced documents as they may be amended or restated in the future, and any successor to them, by whatever name called. If any amended or restated document differs materially from the originally referenced document, the actuary should consider the guidance in this standard to the extent it is applicable and appropriate.

1.4 Effective Date

This standard is effective for work commenced on or after November 1, 2019.

Section 2. Definitions

The terms below are defined for use in this actuarial standard of practice and appear in bold throughout the ASOP.

2.1 Adverse Capital Event

A modeled or actual event that either a) causes capital to be significantly less than the risk capital target(s) or b) causes capital to be less than the risk capital threshold(s).

2.2 Capital

The excess of the value of assets over the value of liabilities, which depends on the valuation basis chosen.

2.3 Capital Adequacy Assessment

An assessment of capital of an insurer relative to its risk capital target(s) or risk capital threshold(s).

2.4 Group

Affiliated group of individual entities, of which at least one is an insurer.

2.5 Risk Appetite

The level of aggregate risk that an organization chooses to take in pursuit of its objectives.

2.6 Risk Capital Target

The preferred level of capital based on specified criteria, which is expressed as a function of a measure of risk. A risk capital target can be a single value or a range. There may be multiple risk capital targets based on different risk metrics at any one time. A risk capital target is aligned with the insurer’s risk tolerance and may include individual company, regulatory, and rating agency developed targets.

2.7 Risk Capital Threshold

The minimum level of capital necessary for an entity to operate effectively based on specified criteria and expressed as a function of a measure of risk. There may be multiple risk capital thresholds based on different risk metrics at any one time. A risk capital threshold is aligned with the insurer’s risk tolerance and may include individual company, regulatory, and rating agency developed thresholds or targets.

2.8 Risk Profile

The risks to which an organization is exposed over a specified period of time.

2.9 Risk Tolerance

The aggregate risk-taking capacity of an organization.

2.10 Valuation Basis

An accounting or economic framework for the recognition and measurement of assets and liabilities.

Section 3. Analysis of Issues and Recommended Practices

3.1 General Considerations

In designing, performing, or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment, the actuary should take into account the following:

a. the insurer’s risk profile and capital;

b. the business and risk drivers, including the legal, tax, regulatory, and economic environments in which the insurer operates, as well as any past and anticipated changes or trends in those drivers;

c. the insurer’s plans and strategies and the likelihood of their successful execution;

d. the timing and variability of projected liability-related and asset-related cash flows (commonly the basis of a liquidity analysis), reflecting the marketability and availability of assets and other financial resources including reinsurance;

e. the timing and intensity of future calls on capital and the means and ability to replenish capital in a timely manner;

f. existing or accessible resources, including those from affiliated entities as well as the capabilities of the insurer and affiliated entities to use these resources. Examples of resources may include capital, data, computing power and storage, and human resources;

g. the effect on capital adequacy of changes, or projected changes, in the risk profile;

h. correlation of risks and events, concentration of exposures, diversification benefits, and the uncertainty of the interdependence between risks;

i. projections of future economic conditions;

j. parameter uncertainty; and

k. the methodology used to assess the adequacy of capital consistent with the scope of the actuary’s assignment.

3.2 Additional General Considerations

In designing, performing, or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment, the actuary should consider the following:

a. the insurer’s definition of risk, the primary risk metric(s) used in the risk management system of the insurer, the risk identification process, the risks identified by the insurer, relevant management risk reports, and the limitations of the analytical tools and processes that will be used by the insurer to evaluate and quantify each risk;

b. the insurer’s risk appetite and risk tolerance, including any conflicts between the risk profile and the risk appetite and how the risk appetite and risk profile are expected to change over time;

c. inconsistencies between the capital adequacy assessment and information contained in publicly released reports the actuary considers relevant, such as annual statements and SEC filings, and the rationale for any inconsistencies;

d. prior capital adequacy assessments, including underlying assumptions;

e. if the insurer is part of a group, or the assessment is of a group:

1. access to capital from the entities in the group;

2. intra-group transactions, including, for example, dividends, reinsurance, and guarantees;

3. transfers of risks from the group to each individual entity, for example, reinsurance with aggregates or limits on a multi-company basis; and

4. transfers of risks from each entity to the group and the degree to which the group manages capital adequacy for each individual entity or primarily at the group level; and

f. management actions, including whether they can be executed in a timely manner (see section 3.7).

3.3 Valuation Bases Underlying a Capital Adequacy Assessment

When designing or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment, the actuary should review the selected valuation bases for assets and liabilities to determine whether they are consistent with and appropriate for the intended use of the capital adequacy assessment. When doing so, the actuary should consider the following:

a. criteria used by management for making risk and other financial decisions;

b. any differences between the selected valuation bases and any mandated (for example, by regulators, accountants, or others) valuation bases;

c. the time horizon(s) considered by management in decision-making;

d. the characteristics and implications of the selected valuation bases; and

e. any restrictions on assets or capital that are not otherwise reflected in the valuation bases.

3.4 Risk Capital Target or Risk Capital Threshold

When the actuary assists in the design of or the review of the appropriateness or applicability of risk capital target(s) or risk capital threshold(s), the actuary should take into account the following (on a historical, current, and prospective basis, as appropriate):

a. the valuation bases;

b. the principal’s objectives for capital (such as maintaining minimum ratios of regulatory or rating agency capital, insurer stability, acquisition plans, new business, or infrastructure investment) and reasons they could change;

c. normal and adverse environments;

d. the time horizon over which the capital is assessed;

e. the methods used to aggregate results, including diversification benefits and the uncertainty of the interdependence among the risks; and

f. alignment with any existing risk appetite and risk tolerance.

3.5 Additional Considerations Regarding Risk Capital Target or Risk Capital Threshold

When the actuary assists in the design of or the review of the appropriateness or applicability of risk capital target(s) or risk capital threshold(s), the actuary should consider the following:

a. the approach used to determine the “sufficient” level of capital (such as models based on factors, historical averages, and economic capital), as well as the uncertainty inherent in the approach;

b. the relative merits of using a range for the risk capital targets versus a single number;

c. whether the insurer will be able to access additional capital if and when needed, including the availability and sources of capital within the group when the insurer is part of a group;

d. the risk capital targets or risk capital thresholds that are in use within the group, if applicable; and

e. the relationship of risk capital targets or risk capital thresholds established by management to the current capital and risks of the insurer.

3.6 Scenario Tests and Stress Tests

When scenario tests and stress tests are included in a capital adequacy assessment, the actuary should follow applicable guidance for scenario testing and stress testing in ASOP No. 46, Risk Evaluation in Enterprise Risk Management, and ASOP No. 47, Risk Treatment in Enterprise Risk Management. In addition, the actuary should consider the following:

3.6.1 Types of Tests

One or more forms of scenario tests or stress tests such as the following:

a. Deterministic–Tests to challenge the insurer in specific ways based on its unique exposures. For example, emerging risks may be considered using deterministic stress tests;

b. Stochastic–Tests chosen from one or more sets of stochastically generated scenarios;

c. Combination–Tests where multiple events happen simultaneously or sequentially; and

d. Reverse–Reverse-engineered tests that create an adverse capital event.

3.6.2 Level of Adversity

Different levels of adversity such as the following:

a. periods of normal volatility;

b. plausible adverse conditions; and

c. tail events.

3.6.3 Sensitivity Testing

The actuary may use sensitivity testing as part of a capital adequacy assessment. For example, sensitivity testing can be used to determine the applicability of the results of the scenario tests and stress tests under changing conditions, including the passage of time, as well as testing the materiality or impact of different assumptions, including stochastic model assumptions.

3.7 Incorporating Management Actions

When management actions are incorporated into a capital adequacy assessment, the actuary should consider the following:

a. effectiveness and applicability of prior management actions, given changes between when such actions were taken and the projection period, for example:

1. the magnitude of the impact of the prior action compared with the impact needed in the projection;

2. the differences in risk environment, including differences in the insurer’s business and operations, and the legal and regulatory environment;

3. differences in the insurer’s enterprise risk management program and risk profile; and

4. differences in the insurer’s financial strength;

b. feedback from board members or management;

c. legal, regulatory, and execution timing requirements;

d. experience, if available, of other insurers and non-insurance entities who took similar actions; and

e. expected reactions of regulators and other stakeholders.

3.8 Insurers That Operate under More Than One Regulatory Regime

When the actuary is designing, performing, or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment of an insurer that individually or as part of a group operates under more than one regulatory regime, the actuary should take into account the following factors:

a. different regulatory regimes that might apply to different parts of the insurer or different entities (including non-insurance entities) of the group, including:

1. cooperation and existence or non-existence of memorandums of understanding between regulators;

2. differing requirements for capital, scenario and stress tests, and financial reporting structures;

3. expected regulatory changes;

4. differing amounts of regulatory oversight;

5. impact of rules, restrictions, and time-lags on capital availability;

6. differing definitions of “insurance company” and “regulated entity”; and

7. differing valuation bases; and

b. variations in taxation and approaches to litigation in various regulatory regimes.

3.9 Additional Considerations Regarding Insurers That Are Part of a Group

When the actuary is designing, performing, or reviewing a capital adequacy assessment of an insurer that is part of a group, or the assessment is of a group, the actuary should consider the following, if applicable:

a. level of complexity and extent of information available across all entities in the group;

b. levels of autonomy in selecting capital strategies for individual entities within the group; and

c. the impact of varying ownership interests, including the following:

1. ownership splits, particularly between customers and shareholders;

2. shares listed on multiple stock exchanges; and

3. ownership concentrations.

3.10 Reliance on Data or Other Information Supplied by Others

When relying on data or other information supplied by others, the actuary should refer to the following ASOPs for guidance: ASOP No. 23, Data Quality; ASOP No. 41, Actuarial Communications; and, if applicable, ASOP No. 38, Using Models Outside the Actuary’s Area of Expertise (Property and Casualty). When relying on projections or supporting analysis supplied by others, the actuary should disclose the fact and the extent of such reliance.

3.11 Documentation

The actuary should consider preparing and retaining documentation to support compliance with the requirements of section 3 and the disclosure requirements of section 4. When preparing such documentation, the actuary should prepare such documentation in a form such that another actuary qualified in the same practice area could assess the reasonableness of the actuary’s work or could assume the assignment if necessary. The degree of such documentation should be based on the professional judgment of the actuary and may vary with the complexity and purpose of the actuarial services. In addition, the actuary should refer to ASOP No. 41, section 3.8, for guidance related to the retention of file material other than that which is to be disclosed under section 4.

Section 4. Communications and Disclosures

4.1 Required Disclosures in an Actuarial Report

When issuing an actuarial report to which this standard applies, the actuary should refer to ASOP Nos. 23, 41, 46, 47, and, if applicable, 38. In addition, the actuary should disclose the following in such actuarial reports, if applicable:

a. the businesses (insurance or non-insurance) that are included or excluded (and reasons for exclusion) in the assessment;

b. the key current and future business and risk drivers, including the legal, tax, regulatory, and economic environments in which the insurer operates (see section 3.1[b]);

c. the key elements of business and risk management plans and strategies included in the capital adequacy assessment (see section 3.1[c]);

d. how the timing and variability of projected liability-related and asset-related cash flows were taken into account (see section 3.1[d]);

e. how future calls on capital, and the insurer’s means and ability to replenish capital were taken into account (see section 3.1[e]);

f. how correlation of risks and events, concentration of exposures, diversification benefits, and the uncertainty of the interdependence between risks were taken into account (see section 3.1[h]);

g. the basis for projections of future economic conditions (see section 3.1[i]); and

h. the selected valuation bases for assets and liabilities, and why they are appropriate (see section 3.3).

4.2 Additional Disclosures in an Actuarial Report

The actuary should include the following disclosures, when applicable, in an actuarial report:

a. the extent to which information regarding prior sources of capital was reflected in the capital adequacy assessment, including any reasons for deviations from past trends in such sources and uses, if such information was available;

b. how the insurer’s risk management practices or processes, or the insurer’s risk profile, risk appetite, or risk tolerance were reflected in the assumptions or methodology underlying the capital adequacy assessment, if they were material to the capital adequacy assessment (see sections 3.2[a] and 3.2[b]);

c. any material differences between a prior capital adequacy assessment or relevant publicly available or internal reports and analyses and the assumptions underlying the capital adequacy assessment, if the actuary had access to such assessment or reports and analyses (see sections 3.2[c] and 3.2[d]);

d. whether the actuary has considered any capital adequacy assessments performed at the group level and how that information has been used, and describe how being part of the group is reflected in the capital adequacy assessment, if the insurer is a part of a group (see sections 3.2[e] and 3.9);

e. a description of specific management actions, their impact on the capital adequacy assessment, and whether the actions could be effectively implemented in a timely manner, if the capital adequacy assessment reflects such actions (see sections 3.2[f] and 3.7);

f. the actuary’s role and the rationale underlying the design or the results of the actuary’s review, if the actuary had a role in the design of or reviewed the risk capital targets or risk capital thresholds (see sections 3.4 and 3.5);

g. a summary of the tests, including the type and levels of adversity, and the results of the tests, if scenario or stress tests are part of the capital adequacy assessment (see section 3.6);

h. a description of how operating under more than one regulatory regime is reflected in the capital adequacy assessment, if the insurer operates, either individually or as part of a group, under more than one regulatory regime (see section 3.8);

 i. the disclosure in ASOP No. 41, section 4.2, if any material assumption or method was prescribed by applicable law;

 j. the disclosure in ASOP No. 41, section 4.3, if the actuary states reliance on other sources and thereby disclaims responsibility for any material assumption or method selected by a party other than the actuary; and

 k. the disclosure in ASOP No. 41, section 4.4, if, in the actuary’s professional judgment, the actuary has otherwise deviated materially from the guidance of this ASOP.

Appendix 1

Background and Current Practices

Note: This appendix is provided for informational purposes and is not part of the standard of practice.

Background

Enterprise risk management (ERM) has been the focus of the insurance industry, including insurers, regulators, and rating agencies, for some time. In response to this increased attention to ERM, the Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) created the ERM Task Force (now Committee), which developed ASOP No. 46, Risk Evaluation in Enterprise Risk Management, and ASOP No. 47, Risk Treatment in Enterprise Risk Management. These two ASOPs provide guidance to the actuary for overall ERM work.

Historically, most insurers did not undertake formal assessments of capital adequacy. Instead, they tended to use rules of thumb (for example, premium to surplus ratios) or relied on regulatory rules (for example, risk-based capital ratios) or rating agencies (for example, A. M. Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio). Many companies also relied on stress tests or what-if analyses to assess capital levels. Insurance regulators designed deterministic stress tests that reflected potential experience beyond the range of an insurer’s normal operations. Over time, deterministic stress tests were developed for a wide variety of assumptions.

Starting in 2012, insurance regulators began implementing the own risk and solvency assessment (ORSA) process throughout the world. Specifically, the ORSA process is required by the NAIC accreditation standards and is a part of the Insurance Core Principles (ICP 16) set out by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). A key feature of ORSA is that it requires a formal assessment of capital adequacy to be a part of an insurer’s ERM program.

Current Practices

Given the new ORSA requirements and the increasing demands from regulators, rating agencies, and other external stakeholders, insurers are under pressure to perform formal, more sophisticated capital adequacy assessments. These formal capital adequacy assessments typically involve considerations of complex contingencies in determining the impact of adverse experience on the insurer and its capital adequacy, usually involving actuaries in some or all of the assessment process.

Company practice in making these assessments varies significantly. Some companies have created their own stochastic models (or use commercially available software) that simulate underwriting results across all lines of business and geographies, as well as economic conditions and investment results. These models typically incorporate the insurer’s strategic plan and may include complicated feedback loops that reflect management’s responses, if any, to specific situations (for example, underwriting results, a recession, multiple catastrophic events, a pandemic). They may also include predictions of how regulators and rating agencies may react to changes in the financial condition of the insurer. Other models may analyze capital adequacy at very high levels of aggregation and have limited or no feedback loops (i.e., they analyze specific management actions one at a time).

Larger insurers may have whole departments focused on analyzing the global economy. For smaller insurers, this work may be tasked to a specific individual or may be outsourced to consultants. In many of these insurers, actuaries and non-actuaries are involved in these analyses and the building of the models.

Rating agencies and regulators are concerned with individual company and group-wide capital adequacy. Many insurers are part of complex, multinational organizations (including insurers and non-insurers) that span many different accounting, financial, and regulatory regimes. The relationships among the members of a group and the differences among these regimes can have a significant impact on capital adequacy and the group’s ability to fulfill its promises to its customers. In most countries, ORSA requires groups operating in multiple countries to perform a group-wide assessment of their capital adequacy across all jurisdictions.

Appendix 2

Comments on the Third Exposure Draft and Responses

The third exposure draft of this ASOP, Capital Adequacy Assessment, was issued in November 2018 with a comment deadline of March 1, 2019. Four comment letters were received. The Enterprise Risk Management Committee carefully considered all comments received, reviewed the third exposure draft, and proposed changes. The ASB reviewed the proposed changes and made modifications where appropriate.

Click here for a summary of the significant issues and questions contained in the comment letters and responses.

The term “reviewers” in appendix 2 includes the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and the ASB. Also, unless otherwise noted, the section numbers and titles used in appendix 2 refer to those in the third exposure draft.