Fronting for global insurance programmes

The complex nature of the risks and high insured values associated with clients in the energy sector can create capacity challenges within the insurance market. Multiple traditional and non-traditional insurers can be required to provide coverage for particular risks and/or occupancies. Where global exposures exist insureds will typically require a fronting company to issue licensed paper on behalf of the market-wide panel of reinsurers, ceding risk back for their respective shares as required.

Within a complex regulatory framework, addressing the many requirements that underpin the structuring and execution of a multinational fronting programme is a job for specialist insurers. Often, such programmes will involve added complexity such as multiple layers of reinsurance or aggregated reinsurance structures, and the fronting insurer is required to have in-depth knowledge of the potential challenges faced in different jurisdictions in relation to such structures.

Territorial requirements

While many markets will have experience participating on the risk transfer panel for a fronted programme, not all have been in the position of fronting for other insurers, issuing paper in multiple territories where they must interpretate and navigate local regulatory requirements.

This could be for several reasons, including local licensing requirements, capital commitments, relationships with local partner insurers and/or the need to ensure regulatory compliance. Programmes can contain a portfolio of assets across multiple territories or represent single project/territory placements.

To ensure regulatory compliance there are several considerations impacting premium exportability and local market offerings which vary by jurisdiction, for example:

• Market conditions in some countries may prevent the movement of premium in a timely manner which will impact the premium payment conditions on reinsurance agreements. Argentina is a prime example, with economic conditions impacting the ability to cede currency out of the country.
• Certain jurisdictions outline mandatory local retention and cession requirements prior to ceding risk and premium out of country. In Brazil and Malaysia, for example, there are requirements to offer a portion of the risk to the local market before it can be ceded. If local regulations demand a percentage of risk is retained in the domestic market, that means a smaller percentage of risk and premium will ultimately be ceded to the reinsurance panel.

It is crucial that members of the (re)insurance panel take these regulatory compliance elements into consideration when engaging in discussion with fronting markets and placing brokers. Fronting insurers will reflect exportability challenges and requirements for local market offerings in their premium payment commitments.

In addition to exportability considerations, regulators for certain countries publish mandatory tariff or minimum rate requirements which may not match the pricing expectations of the underwriting office(s). This demonstrates the importance of working with a specialist insurer who can assist in navigating these requirements upfront, and with allocating premium across the programme in compliance with local regulation, allowing for effective budgeting on the part of the insured.

Legal nuances

Within any fronting arrangement each market is required to sign up to specific reinsurance terms and conditions to define the obligations of the arrangement. Navigating different jurisdictions and converting standardized coverage intentions is a complex process, and fronting insurers will need to engage with multiple stakeholders and ensure that legal agreements are fit for purpose.

For example, a common question is around choice of jurisdiction. Given the complexity of fronting arrangements, it is important to have an adequate body of case law in case of arbitration or legal dispute. This benefits both the fronting insurer and panel.  

Another example is to be clear upfront around excess limits liabilities and extra contractual obligations in order to avoid potential dispute at a later date.

There could be a scenario where the fronting insurer is mandated to pay a claim in excess of the programme limits. Under such a scenario the panel follows the fortunes of the fronting insurer.

The fronting services are not in place to offset the risk of regulatory intervention or the operational risk of participation in certain regions, but to enable access to the local market. As this local market may have bespoke policy conditions and requirements, working with a specialist insurer who can assist panel markets in navigating these terms and conditions is essential.

Claims control

Claims control and cooperation is another key consideration within any fronting arrangement. Communication and information sharing in the event of a claim is a core component of any fronting arrangement, but this must be balanced with enabling the fronting insurers to act quickly in mitigating the loss to an insured and the reinsurance panel.

The fronting insurer issuing the licensed paper must have the ability to effectively handle the claim locally, and to ensure contract certainty it is crucial that claims handling is clearly addressed from the outset.

Programme management

Due to the complexity of these programmes, the insurance placement does not necessarily take place where the assets are located. A centralized programme management team must be able to appropriately structure and implement the fronted placement in partnership with the placing broker, while also meeting underlying territorial challenges.

One of the key considerations for brokers and insureds is to ensure that what is agreed at the producing office level is effectively communicated to local offices. Likewise, local market conditions must be clearly understood and communicated by the producing office.

Given the wide array of challenges a fronting insurer faces to effectively navigate these complexities, early engagement with brokers and clients is crucial for service delivery, reducing re-work, identifying communication channels and managing expectations.

Multinational programmes are complex, and successful implementation relies upon close communication and collaboration among the fronting insurer, insured, broker (both retail and wholesale) and, ultimately, the panel reinsurer(s).

It is crucial to work with an experienced fronting insurer who has a centralized programme management approach, combined with the local expertise, licensing, and the network to help put in place a compliant, contract-certain controlled master programme.