Starr International Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (“Starr Singapore”/”Company”), a non-life insurance company organized under the laws of Singapore, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starr Insurance & Reinsurance Limited, an insurance and reinsurance company organized under the laws of Bermuda. Starr Insurance & Reinsurance Limited is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Starr International Company, Inc. (“Starr International”), a company organized under the laws of Switzerland.

Starr Singapore’s overall strategic objective is to generate sustained profitability of its insurance carriers, while maximizing capital efficiency. This is achieved through a well-maintained governance and control environment, where the organization’s risk profile is commensurate to the risk appetite of senior management.

1. Accident & Health
• Continue to bring a mix of both direct and reinsurance product solutions to the market
• Responsive to market’s needs with updated strategies for different distribution channels
• Continue to expand electronic platforms to facilitate online selling, tap into potential markets and enhance cost efficiency and effectiveness
• Continue to build, and expand relationships with potential partners with extensive networks
2. Casualty
• Partner with Technical Risks, Construction, Energy and Industrial Risk business areas to leverage opportunities
• Add new products and offerings
• Expand our broker base by accentuating our deep market knowledge and our global presence
• Regional line of business specialists designing products and strategies in each market
3. Financial Lines
• Increase use of strategic partnerships by continuing to expand participation on key broker panels
• Maintain diversification
• Use underwriting tools to target and predict troubled claims areas
• Focus marketing and development efforts in underserved regions and markets
• Explore and develop new products
4. Construction
• Continue to focus on high level renewal strategy
• Lead and control business by utilizing larger lines with use of quality facultative support
• Continue to build on existing large producer contacts and create new relationships with smaller producers
• Market our competitive advantage such as our capability to provide comprehensive coverage including terrorism and Starr’s casualty capabilities
5. Technical Risk (Tech)
• Increase lead positions by promoting Starr Tech’s loss control expertise
• Improve penetration in selected international regions
• Ongoing participation on integrated energy packages
• Utilize the increased capacity to lead more business and minimize clash issues
• Leverage Starr’s existing positions in construction and global energy packages to generate new opportunities
6. Marine
• Continue to develop existing client relationships
• Continue to promote products that Starr International can differentiate itself from the market
• Increase market penetration into selected geographical regions
• Focus on the transportation sector with emphasis on large ports, terminals, stevedores, ship owners and similar industries

Starr Singapore’s Board of Directors (the “Starr Singapore Board”) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the operations, including matters of corporate governance. The Starr Singapore Board holds quarterly meetings and is comprised of three members, including members of executive management as well as an independent non-executive Chairman. The Starr Singapore Board reviews the underwriting, investments, operations, financial, compliance and risk management and reinsurance matters of Starr Singapore. During these quarterly and recorded meetings, updates on risk management activities, including issues or emerging topics of strategic, operational, financial and capital risk relevance are discussed, evaluated and follow-up action plans are developed as appropriate. The Board is also responsible for assessing its own effectiveness and independent directors’ independence, for identifying candidates and reviewing nominations for the appointment of directors, board committee members, the appointed actuary, and executive officers of Starr Singapore¹. The Board is supported by an Investment Committee comprised notably of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Company and is assisted by a Senior Management Committee in the operational management of the Company². Members of this Senior Management Committee represent general management, underwriting, claims, finance, legal and compliance, risk management, information technology and human resources.

The Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer positions are held by different persons.

¹ As of April 2023, the Board is responsible for reviewing the Company’s remuneration policy.
² Additionally, in April 2023, the Board established an Audit Committee comprised of three nonexecutive directors and a majority of independent directors, to be responsible for the adequacy of the external and internal audit functions. In April 2023, the Board also established a Labuan Branch Committee to support the Board with the oversight of Starr Singapore’s newly incorporated Labuan branch operations. Both committees have been established under clear written terms of reference setting out their compositions, authorities and duties, including in terms of reporting to the Board.

It is the policy of Starr Singapore to maintain effective systems and controls to provide reasonable assurance to promote performance leading to effective accomplishment of business objectives and goals, safeguard assets, provide accurate and reliable and other key data, promote operational efficiency and economy, and encourage adherence to applicable laws, regulations, policies and practices.

Internal control consists of five interrelated components, including control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring. Control environment sets the tone of the Company, and provides discipline and structure. The Company has developed a risk management framework for the business which continues to be embedded into its operational structure. Control activities, including preventative, detective and assurance, are the policies and procedures that help ensure management directives are carried out. Pertinent management information is then identified, captured and communicated in a form and timeframe that enables employees to carry out their responsibilities. Information systems produce reports, containing operational, financial and compliance-related information, that make it possible to control the business. At the end, internal control systems need to be monitored, a process that assesses the quality of the system’s performance over time. This is accomplished through ongoing monitoring activities, separate evaluations or a combination of the two.

Starr Singapore’s Board of Directors provides governance, guidance and oversight. The Board also ensures that the Company’s day-to-day operations are in the hands of qualified, honest and competent management. The CEO of the Company is ultimately responsible and assumes ownership of the internal control policy and framework. Senior managers, in turn, assign responsibility for establishment of more specific internal control policies and procedures to staff within their team. Internal audits are a key element in monitoring and assessing the integrity of internal controls and the internal control environment. Internal auditors play an important role in evaluating the effectiveness of control systems, and contribute to ongoing effectiveness. Nevertheless, internal control is, to some degree, the responsibility of every employee of the Company. All employees are responsible for communicating upward challenges in operations, non-compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct, or other policy and procedural failures or illegal actions.

Starr International has established an ERM program to ensure that true active risk management is built into daily business operations through traditional risk management and operational risk management throughout the organization. Starr International’s leadership believes that strong risk management practices and a sound internal control environment are fundamental to its success and profitable growth. Starr International’s ERM program consists of three main pillars – (i) Framework, (ii) Policies and Procedures; and (iii) Continuous Two-Way Communication.

1. Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) Committee

   The ERM Committee of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Starr International is comprised of various members of executive management within the Starr International organization. The ERM Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities related to: (1) monitoring any emerging risk issues associated with Starr International’s insurance activities and its investment portfolio; and (2) Starr International’s ERM programs and policies, including risks relating to business and financial strategies, operations, compliance, reputation and ethics and cyber security.

   The ERM Committee has developed and established processes, procedures and reviews that encompass the risk management of all of Starr International’s insurance company subsidiaries.

   The duties of the ERM Committee of Starr International include:

   1. Review portfolio qualitative analyses and sectoral qualitative analyses to assess overall insurance portfolio
   2. characteristics and performance;
   3. 2. Monitor risk-based capital adequacy measures and trends over time;
   4. 3. Review reserve level adequacy;
   5. 4. Review market risk measures and management;
   6. Review emerging regulatory, market, accounting and other trends or developments with significant risk implications;
   7. Review new risk management initiatives; and
   8. Perform such other duties as may be delegated to it or requested by the Board.
      
      
2. Working Groups of the ERM Committee

   The ERM Committee of Starr International has established the ERM Working Group and the Data Privacy and Information Security Working Group, which both meet periodically to review ongoing projects and report directly to the ERM Committee. Both working groups are composed of individuals with various backgrounds and areas of expertise within the insurance industry. The ERM Working Group reports quarterly to the ERM Committee of Starr International, or as soon as possible thereafter, and presents a report summarizing country risk profiles of certain insurance related risk exposures, investment portfolio risk exposures and emerging risk issues associated with Starr International’s insurance activities.

   At the local or country level, the ERM structure and responsibilities mirror the group level structure with modifications suitable for the nature, scale and complexity of the local subsidiary company’s activities. Materials for the quarterly report are also provided by the Data Privacy and Information Security Working Group with regard to threats and risks associated with privacy and cyber-security.
   
   

3. Asset-Liability Management (“ALM”)

   The Company’s asset-liability management policy is intended to recognize the interdependence between the assets and liabilities of the Company, and takes into account any correlations of risks between different asset classes and any correlations between different products and business lines. The Company’s investment policy is designed to ensure that the Company has sufficient cash or easily recognized assets to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

Technical provisions include provision for claims liabilities and provision for premium liabilities.

Claims liabilities
The assumptions used in the estimation of insurance assets and liabilities are intended to result in provisions which are sufficient to cover any liabilities arising out of insurance contracts so far as can reasonably be foreseen.

However, given the uncertainty in establishing a provision for claims liabilities, it is likely that the final outcome will prove to be different from the original liability established.

Provision is made for the expected ultimate cost of all reported and unreported claims, together with related claims handling expenses, less amounts already paid.

The data used for determining the expected ultimate claim liabilities is collated internally based on business underwritten by the Company. This is further supplemented by externally available information on industry statistics and trends.

The Company’s reserving methodology is intended to result in the most likely or expected outcome for the ultimate loss settlement for each type and class of business by analysing the historical claim payments to identify possible trends in order to project future claim payments. The Company also considers the nature of the risks underwritten, geographical location, sum insured, and previous experience to estimate expected ultimate losses for each class of business and accident year. The derived expected ultimate loss ratios are internally checked to ensure that they are consistent with observable market trends or other market information, as considered necessary. Where there is insufficient information the expected ultimate claim liabilities are based on prudent assumptions.

The Company systematically and periodically reviews the provisions established and adjusts the loss estimation process in an effort to reduce the variance between the actual outcome and projections.

Provisions for insurance claims are assessed by the approved actuary in accordance with local insurance regulatory requirements. The actuary used paid and incurred loss development methods, the expected loss ratio method, and the Bornhuetter-Ferguson ("BF") method, to estimate the gross and net claims liabilities.

The paid and incurred loss development methods are based upon the assumption that the relative change in a given accident year's paid/incurred loss from one evaluation point to the next is similar to the relative change in prior accident years' paid/incurred loss at similar evaluation points. Since the loss development assumptions based on the Company’s limited historical experience are not fully credible, the actuary supplemented with benchmark loss development assumptions.

The expected loss ratios are selected based on benchmarks of similar risk profile in the Singapore insurance market. The benchmark figures are drawn upon statistics and information available from both internal and external sources. They are revised periodically as new information and trends emerge.

The BF method relies on a gradual transition from an expected loss ratio to an experience-related development. It is applied to the more recent accident years, for which the paid and incurred loss development methods may yield less accurate results. The expected loss ratios were selected based on the projected ultimate loss ratios for all historical years for which the premium information is available and benchmarks of similar risk profile in the Singapore insurance market.

An additional loading is applied, otherwise known as a provision for adverse deviation (“PAD”). A provision for PAD as directed by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), is included relating to the inherent uncertainty in the best estimate value of claims and premium liabilities at a minimum 75% level of sufficiency.

Premium liabilities
The methodology for determining premium liabilities is as follows:

• the unearned premiums for each class of business is multiplied by the expected ultimate loss ratios and maintenance expense ratios for each class of business to arrive at the best estimate of the Unexpired Risk Reserve (“URR”);
• the URR is then further loaded with a PAD margin to provide a 75% probability of sufficiency, after allowing for the effects of diversification on a fund by fund basis; and
• this URR with PAD is then compared to the Company’s held unearned premiums reserve net of deferred acquisition cost, and the higher of the two is the final provision for premium liabilities.

All insurers that carry on insurance business in Singapore are registered with MAS and are subject to the prudential standards which set out the basis of calculating the fund solvency requirements (FSR) and the capital adequacy requirements (CAR), which is a minimal level of capital that must be held to meet policyholders’ obligations. The FSR and CAR apply a risk-based approach to capital adequacy and are determined to be the sum of aggregate of the total risk requirement of all the insurance funds established and maintained by the insurer under the Insurance Act 1966 (the “Insurance Act”). It is the Company’s policy to hold capital levels in excess of FSR and CAR. As at 31 December 2022, the Company’s capital adequacy ratio was 298%. The Company has compiled with all externally imposed capital requirements.

1. Investment objectives

   The prime investment objective is capital reservation in order not to affect the Company’s underwriting capacity. The secondary objective is to provide a moderate rate of return through a diversified portfolio of investments that meets the return objective.

2. Investment policies & procedures

   The Company has in place an Investment Policy which provides for the governance, risk management, investment objective, return objective, liquidity, risk guidelines, permitted securities, prohibited assets and excluded transactions, asset allocation, credit criteria, custodian, investment authority, reporting, etc. of the Company’s investments.

3. Non-derivative financial assets

   The Company initially recognizes loans and receivables and deposits on the date that they are originated. All other financial assets are recognized initially on the trade date at which the Company becomes a part to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

   The Company derecognizes a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the rights to receive the contractual cash flows on the financial asset in a transaction in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset are transferred. Any interest in transferred financial assets that is created or retained by the Company is recognized as a separate asset or liability.

   Financial assets and liabilities are offset, and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when, and only when, the Company has a legal right to offset the amounts and intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

   The Company’s non-derivative financial assets comprise loans and receivables and investment in debt securities-available-for-sale.

4. Loans and receivables

   Loans and receivables are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Such assets are recognized initially at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

   Loans and receivables for the Company comprise cash and cash equivalents and other receivables, excluding prepayments and GST recoverable.

   Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and bank balance.

5. Available-for-sale financial assets

   Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivative financial assets that are designated as available-for-sale and that are not classified in any of the other categories. The Company’s investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale financial assets. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at fair value and changes therein, other than impairment losses and foreign currency differences on available-for-sale monetary items, are recognized in the statement of comprehensive income and presented within equity in the fair value reserve. When an investment is derecognized, the cumulative gain or loss in the statement of comprehensive income is transferred to the profit or loss.

6. Non-derivative financial liabilities

   Financial liabilities are recognized initially on the trade date at which the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

   The Company derecognizes a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled or expire.

   Financial assets and liabilities are offset, and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when, and only when, the Company has a legal right to offset the amounts and intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

   Non-derivative financial liabilities of the Company comprise other payables, excluding accrued staff benefits. Such financial liabilities are recognized initially at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, these financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

For the financial year ended 31 December 2022, the Company’s gross written premium amounted to about USD366 million, representing a growth of about 12% comparing to the previous year. The number of gross claims incurred for 2021 was about USD145 million, or about 31% increase comparing to the previous year. The Company has been operating at a profit for the past five years.

The Company is exposed to a variety of insurance and financial risks in the normal course of its business activities. These include principally underwriting, concentration risks, liquidity and market risks, credit, interest rate and currency risks. Management is guided by risk management policies and guidelines set by the immediate holding company as part and parcel of its overall business strategy and philosophy. To facilitate the task of monitoring these exposures, established processes are put in place by the immediate holding company.

1. Underwriting risk

   Underwriting risk includes the risk of incurring higher claims costs than expected owing to the random nature of claims and their frequency and severity and the risk of change in legal or economic conditions or behavioral patterns affecting insurance pricing and conditions of insurance or reinsurance cover. The Company seeks to minimize underwriting risk with a balanced mix and spread of business between classes of business and by observing underwriting guidelines and limits, prudent estimation of the claim’s provisions, and high standards applied to the security of reinsurers.

   The underwriting strategy is included in the strategic business plan that sets out the classes of business to be written and the industry sectors to which the Company is prepared to expose itself. The strategy is communicated down to individual underwriters through detailed underwriting guidelines and authorities that set out the limits that any one underwriter can write by line size, class of business and industry in order to enforce appropriate risk selection within the portfolio.

2. Reinsurance strategy

   The Company reinsurers a portion of the risks it underwrites in order to control its exposures to losses and protect capital resources. This is done through proportional and non-proportional reinsurance outwards treaties from reinsurers. In addition, the Company also reinsure through facultative reinsurance.

3. Concentration risk

   Concentration limits are set to avoid heavy concentration within a specific industry or country. There is regular monitoring and reporting of any heavy concentration of risk exposure towards any industry, country, and client limits.

4. Product features

   The business portfolio of the Company is largely short tailed with the major class being property.

5. Credit risk

   Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations.

   Management has a credit policy in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. Credit evaluations are performed on all customers requiring credit over a certain amount. The Company does not require collateral in respect of financial assets.

   As at 31 December 2022, there are no significant concentration of credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each financial asset in the statement of financial position of the Company’s audited financial statements.

   The table below provides information regarding the credit risk exposure of the Company as of 31 December 2022 by classifying the fixed income securities and cash and fixed deposits according to credit ratings of the counterparties which are based on S&P’s financial strength rating or its equivalent. The fixed income investments are assessed using stringent investment criterion which include, but are not limited to, a thorough analysis of each debt security’s terms and conditions, the availability and quality of the guarantor, as well as financial strength of the issuer.
   

6. Liquidity risk

   Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter difficulties in meeting obligations associated with financial instruments. The Company has to meet its liabilities as and when they fall due, notably from claims arising from its general insurance contracts. There is therefore a risk that the cash and cash equivalent held will not be sufficient to meet its liabilities when they become due. The Company manages this risk by setting minimum limits on the maturing assets that will be available to settle these short-term liabilities.

   The nature of insurance business is that the requirements of funding cannot be predicted with absolute certainty as the theory of probability is applied on insurance contracts to ascertain the likely provision and the period when such liabilities will be settled. The amounts and maturities in respect of insurance contracts provision are thus based on the Company management’s best estimate and experience.

   The table below summarises the maturity profile of the insurance and other liabilities of the Company based on the remaining undiscounted estimated obligations as at 31 December 2022.
   

7. Market risk

   Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices, will affect the Company’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimizing the return on risk.

   As at 31 December 2022, the Company does not have any significant exposure to equity price risks.

8. Interest rate risk

   The Company’s exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to interest-earning financial assets. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge its interest rate risks.

   The table below summarise the effective interest rates as at 31 December 2022 for interest-bearing assets together with the contractual maturity dates of these assets.
   

9. Foreign currency risk

   The Company is exposed to the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations primarily because of its foreign currency denominated underwriting revenues and expenses. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, together with firm and probable purchase and sale commitments give rise to foreign exchange exposure. Exposure to foreign currency risks is monitored on an ongoing basis.

   The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge its foreign currency risks.

   The Company’s exposure to foreign currencies are as follows:
   

   Sensitivity analysis
   A 10% strengthening of United States dollar against the following currencies as at 31 December 2022 would increase/(decrease) profit or loss by the amounts shown below. This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant.
   

   A 10% weakening of United States dollar against the above currencies would have the equal but opposite effect on the above currencies to the amounts shown above, on the basis that all other variables remain constant.