Are the MA and VA only really useful for conventional without profits business, i.e. would they be useful for WP and unit linked business?
UL: BEL = unit fund BEL + non unit fund BEL
Unit fund BEL = unit price x number of units --> No discounting so MA, VA are Non applicable
Non unit fund BEL = PV (expenses + benefits in excess of unit fund - charges) --> involves discounting so MA, VA possibly applicable if allowed?
WP BEL = PV (expected total future benefits (i.e. both those that are currently guaranteed and discretionary future benefits) + expenses - premiums) --> involves discounting so MA, VA possibly applicable if allowed?
I'd like to know the answer to this question too. I feel like you won't be able to get WP or UL annuities into the MAP unless the funds were invested in bonds, but then the bonds would have to be chosen to match the annuity payments. This would mean that they wouldn't generate any extra return to increase the annuity payments anyway, so they might be WP and UL by name but conventional in nature. Look forward to a reply from Emma/Lindsay.
The MA eligibility criteria are set out in the Solvency 2 Directive. The criteria themselves focus on the features of an insurance contract and does not identify specific products. My suggestion would be to be focus on the liability features themselves (eg no regular premiums, only certain underwriting risks are permissible (eg excludes morbidity risk); and no policyholder optionality other than the option to surrender in specific circumstances).
A contract that satisfies the eligibility criteria will be able to apply a MA when discounting a stream of future cash flows.
In practice you’d need to assess the product features for MA eligibility on a case by case basis; so I’m therefore reluctant to be definitive about what types of product are ‘in or out’.
However, I can say that the example you’ve given of WP BEL, which includes future premiums would breach the eligibility criteria ref no future premiums. The MA could not therefore be applied to products with that feature.
In relation to the volatility adjustment; the Directive includes a member state option to require insurers to obtain regulatory approval prior to its use.
The UK for eg took up this option and included approval conditions that UK firms need to meet. The ability for firms to apply a VA to unit linked contracts (specifically, the non unit part of BEL) is prohibited.
By contrast, the French has no such approval criteria and can apply the VA without prior approval. Consequently, I would expect that French insurers apply VA to all business (including the non unit part of their UL BEL).
Hope that helps. Happy to discuss.