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Insurance in Malta

A dynamic growth industry in Malta thanks to its solid regulatory framework and EU membership

Companies licensed in Malta can write business in any other member state, and the country has already attracted several Fortune 100 companies to set up insurance companies in Malta, among them multinationals such as BMW, Peugeot, Citroen, Nissan, Munich Re, and Vodafone.

EU passporting rights and competitive operating costs are key attractions of locating in Malta. The country also championed the introduction of innovative structures such as Protected and Incorporated Cell Companies. Both structures allow firms to write risks through cells within a core company and provide businesses with a cost-effective and a ring-fencing mechanism as an alternative to setting up a stand-alone insurance company. The cell model is also applicable to insurance managers and brokers.

Several insurance and reinsurance companies, intermediaries and cells are today registered in Malta, with the large majority being international players and only a handful of companies being active in the local market. International insurance business now accounts for a substantial part of the total gross written premiums. With new legislation on reinsurance special purpose vehicles, Malta has also positioned itself to tap new markets. The island has recognised the growing importance of insurance linked securities and catastrophe bonds, as well as the convergence of reinsurance and capital markets.

Permitted Business Models

  • Standalone Insurance/ Reinsurance Company
  • Cell in a Protected Cell Company
  • Cell in an Incorporated Cell Company

Why Malta for Insurance Guide | 2023 Edition

Download your Why Malta for Insurance Guide; contents include Regulation & Legislation, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance Companies, Protected Cell Companies, Protected Cells, Incorporated Cell Company,  Reinsurance Special Purpose Vehicles, and Securitisation Cell Companies, Insurance Management & Administration Services

2023 Edition Coming Soon

Insurance & Reinsurance – Our Sector at a Glance  

Our insurance sector has gained global attention. Most major names in the industry have operations on the island. Explore our unique selling points to find out whether Malta could be the right choice for you too.
  • Destination of Choice

We are home to a number of insurance companies, including professional reinsurers, captive insurers, protected cell companies and insurance managers. Except for a few domestic insurers, most of these companies sell insurance to clients outside of Malta, mainly in other EU countries. Global corporations such as BMW, Peugeot, Citröen, Nissan, Liberty Global, Volkswagen, Vodafone and RWE have set up insurance companies or captives in Malta, while reinsurance providers as well as international insurance managers have established operations on the island. Our insurance sector boasts a workforce of more than 1,200 people, and the sector is backed by a large number of legal firms, as well as accounting and auditing practitioners.

  • Cell Company Legislation

Malta is the only full EU member state with protected cell company (PPC) legislation, which was introduced way back in 2004. With almost two decades of experience in cell company structures, we know this segment inside out. We have also further developed the cell company concept and brought different cell company structures to market, including the Incorporated Cell Company. Both structures allow firms to write risks through cells within a core company and provide businesses with a cost-effective alternative to setting up a stand-alone insurance company. The cell model is also applicable to insurance managers and brokers, and is seen as the ideal structure for start-ups, which otherwise might struggle to comply with today’s strict Capital and Solvency requirements. The cell structure also offers economies of scale and significant cost burden sharing whilst it grants cells access to a common pool of knowledge and expertise within the common management system at the core of the cell company.

  • Reinsurance, CAT Bonds and the ILS Market

Innovative regulatory developments continued to invigorate our insurance and reinsurance sector. Malta recognised the growing importance of insurance-linked securities (ILS) and catastrophe bonds, as well as the convergence of reinsurance and capital markets. We enacted legislation allowing for the formation of reinsurance special purpose vehicles (RSPVs) and securitisation cell companies (SCCs). An SCC is a single legal entity that can establish one or more segregated cells for the purpose of entering into securitisation transactions, including insurance-linked securities transactions such as catastrophe bond issuances, longevity risk transfer transactions, collateralised reinsurance transactions and cell sidecars. The main benefit of SCCs lies in their application as programme or platform structures, for instance if repeat transactions are envisaged, offering lower costs and quicker set-up time for each transaction.

  • Digitally Strong EU Base

EU passporting rights and moderate operating costs add to our appeal for insurance companies. We also host a good number of licensed insurance management companies, ranging from well-known international names to more boutique establishments offering operational and managerial support to third-parties. In addition, we are developing a vibrant InsurTech cluster, whereby our unique and tested cell company legislation proves attractive to insurers and tech companies seeking to develop and implement blockchain solutions, smart contracts, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Insurance

 

Disclaimer

The content in this website is for informational purposes only. The information contained therein should not be construed as providing legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this website constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by FinanceMalta.

Benefits

6 Benefits of Direct Writing in Malta

Offices in a low-cost jurisdiction

Offices in a low-cost jurisdiction

The EU passporting regime allows insurance companies to establish themselves in any member state and offer cross-border services into any other EU country, provided they follow a simple notification procedure and observe local general good provisions.

Availability of highly qualified staff

Availability of highly qualified staff

As an established finance centre, Malta has an excellent pool of human resources, with many professionals having insurance-specific knowledge and qualifications.

Sophisticated telecoms infrastructure

Sophisticated telecoms infrastructure

Although an island at the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta has overcome its physical limitations by establishing one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe with fast internet widely available.

Access to regional markets

Access to regional markets

Thanks to Malta’s strategic location, it offers access to Europe and the emerging markets of North Africa and the Middle East.

Classes of long term business

Classes of long term business

  • Life and Annuity
  • Marriage and Birth
  • Linked long term
  • Permanent Health
  • Tontines
  • Capital Redemption
  • Pension Fund Management
  • Collective Insurance
  • Social Insurance
Classes of general business

Classes of general business

  • Accident
  • Sickness
  • Land vehicles
  • Railway rolling stock
  • Aircraft
  • Ships
  • Goods in transit
  • Fire and natural forces
  • Other damage to property
  • Motor vehicle liability
  • Aircraft liability
  • Liability for ships
  • General liability
  • Credit
  • Suretyship
  • Miscellaneous financial loss
  • Legal expenses
  • Assistance

Insurance & Reinsurance Articles

01
BOV OFFERS MAPFRE MSV Life CAPITAL GUARANTEED AND INCOME PLANS
Bank of Valletta

by Bank of Valletta

5th March 2024

Insurance update: The Nature and Art of Financial Supervision (Volume IX)
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

4th March 2024

Strengthening Cyber Resilience: ICT Third-Party Risk for Insurers under DORA
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

29th February 2024

GRC in Malta: The role of regulatory governance codes in strengthening governance structures of regulated entities
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

23rd February 2024

EIOPA’s 2nd Report on the Application of the Insurance Distribution Directive (the “IDD”)
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

19th February 2024

Atlas Insurance PCC Expands Reach with UK Branch Authorization and Life Reinsurance License
Atlas Insurance PCC Ltd

by Atlas Insurance PCC Ltd

25th January 2024

MFSA Circular on the Newly Published Accountancy Profession Regulations, 2023 (Legal Notice 299 of 2023)
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

22nd January 2024

Insurtech and PCCs: Transforming insurance in Malta
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

6th December 2023

MFSA issues Circular making the appointment of Independent Non-Executive Directors mandatory for Insurance Agents, Insurance Brokers and Retirement Scheme Administrators
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

6th December 2023

The Guaranteed Capital & Income Plan 2026 II now available from all BOV Branches, Investment Centres and Private Banking
Bank of Valletta

by Bank of Valletta

6th September 2023

BOV announces limited-time offer on the MAPFRE MSV Life Unit Linked Personal Pension Plans
Bank of Valletta

by Bank of Valletta

23rd August 2023

Juridical interest in the context of insurance claims
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

27th February 2023

Proposed amendments to the MFSA Insurance Distribution Rules
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

24th February 2023

The Development of the Principle of Uberrima Fides over the years
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

4th January 2023

Corporate Governance Code: How will your company apply the Code to ensure a sound governance structure?
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

4th January 2023

High calibre international speakers for FinanceMalta’s 15th Annual Conference
FinanceMalta

by FinanceMalta

28th October 2022

The sinking of an oil tanker, recognition of judgements, arbitration proceedings and insurance contracts
Ganado Advocates

by Ganado Advocates

27th October 2022

Insurance & Reinsurance Events

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June

12

ITC DIA Europe

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Insurance & Reinsurance Publications

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