Getting back to December 2008, I wrote a blog post mentioning that Solvency II was under threat and that we could expect some more delays of its effective implementation. Last week the FSA in the UK announced that it is likely that the effective date of the new regulation implementation will have to be delayed by a year and enter into force certainly in January 2014. Actually this decision comes following the request from The Lloyd’s of London insurance market and the Association of British Insurers to obtain more clarity around the Solvency II implementation by FSA.

This is certainly good news for insurance companies as it gives them more time to prepare and take advantage of the Solvency II implementation not only to comply with the new regulation but also to understand the opportunities for risk management process and resources improvements and consequently make the right decision to mitigate their risks. With the change of the Solvency II roadmap I also expect from insurance companies to spend more money on preparation and change programs in order to promote a smooth transition. This delay will also allow insurers to dedicate more time to navigate the Solvency II IT vendor landscape. According to me, the Solvency II application landscape can be difficult to navigate for insurers even though some vendors have managed to bind strategic partnerships recently (acquisition of Algorithmics by IBM for instance). For more information about this market I encourage you to read the following report Celent has published last year: Solvency II IT Vendor Spectrum.

The big question mark going forward is whether the economic situation for the next two to three years will allow the regulator and insurance companies to work in a more stable environment to operate this transition.