Insurance Intermediaries News

The European Commission has sent to Greece a set of proposals to ensure that state support to the maritime sector in Greece complies with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission found that current provisions may breach EU state aid rules by allowing shareholders of shipping companies to benefit from favourable tax treatment that should be reserved for maritime transport providers. Similarly, the Commission is concerned that favourable tax treatment is also extended to maritime sector intermediaries and operators of ships, which do not provide maritime transport services. The Commission acknowledges the importance of maintaining a competitive maritime transport sector in the EU.

Moore Stephens has further strengthened its regulatory advisory capability with the appointment of John Westlake as compliance manager. John Westlake has a broad perspective of the insurance industry acquired through a variety of roles, which has enabled him to support insurers and brokers in establishing effective compliance solutions. He has a strong commercial background, having acted as operations director with a personal lines insurer, compliance director with a commercial insurance broker and most recently training and advising senior management in the management of risk at JLT Group. He also worked with the FSA advising insurance intermediaries on regulation.

Insurance accountant and consultant Moore Stephens has joined with international law firm Clyde & Co to provide specialist advice to intermediaries on all aspects of the authorization process and on continuing compliance with FSA requirements. The rigorous FSA regime comes into effect on January 15, 2005. Intermediaries have until July 14 this year to submit their completed registration packs to the FSA. The new rules are not voluntary. licensed by the FSA. John Harbor, head of the Moore Stephens Insurance Industry Group, says, "Most intermediaries will need to begin the registration process two-to-four months before the July 14 submission date in order to prepare the information needed to secure successful authorization.

Accountant and consultant Moore Stephens has warned that U.K. by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). come into force in October 2004. answers are expected to emerge over the coming months. which went before it. of customers, standards for claims handling, and complaints. regime. that they are well-prepared to meet the FSA's demands. onerous burden of regulatory compliance and risk management preparedness. conduct their business. The time to act is now.

Financial and insurance consultant Moore Stephens has warned brokers and other intermediaries to ensure that their systems and controls covering the treatment of client money meet the regulatory requirements laid down by the Financial Services Authority. Moore Stephens notes that the FSA has recently visited the offices of 15 intermediaries and reviewed their handling of client money, in addition to addressing the issue in a similar number of risk assessments involving other firms. The FSA has written to the chief executives of all general insurance intermediaries with its findings, and this will doubtless make uncomfortable reading for brokers and intermediaries.