US Sanctions to Intensify European Woes for Insuring Iran Trade

EghtesadOnline: New US sanctions are likely to prevent the use of a Lloyd’s of London IT platform for any Iran insurance, adding to difficulties for European insurers providing cover for the country.

News ID: ۷۴۵۶۴۰

15 July 2018

European insurers, reinsurers, brokers and shipping firms have been winding down Iranian business, as the United States reimposes sanctions on insurance and reinsurance from Nov. 4 after withdrawing from a nuclear deal with Iran in May, Reuters reported.

Lloyd’s of London and other European insurers provided marine, energy and trade credit cover for Iran after the United States lifted secondary sanctions in January 2016 following a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran reached in 2015. The European Union also lifted sanctions in January 2016.

Lifting secondary sanctions meant European firms could trade with Iran without being penalized by the United States. It also allowed foreign subsidiaries of US firms to trade with Iran, according to Financial Tribune.

Insurers Evaluating Risks

Lloyd’s Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown said the reimposition of sanctions meant insurers “probably” would not be able to process Iran-related business through the Lloyd’s platform, partly owned since last year by US firm DXC.

“You can do it through Lloyd’s other settlement mechanisms outside DXC; it’s just more complicated and more expensive to do it that way,” he said.

“There is a bit of an evaluation going on about what business opportunities there are, in any event.”

A Lloyd’s spokeswoman said it had advised insurance syndicates “to consider obtaining legal advice before engaging in Iran-related activities, to assess and mitigate their sanctions risk”.

DXC provides data processing and other back office services to Lloyd’s and other London insurers through two firms, XIS and XCS, that are jointly owned by DXC’s British subsidiary Xchanging, Lloyd’s and the International Underwriters’ Association.

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last month revoked licenses allowing foreign subsidiaries of US firms to trade with Iran.

“DXC, Xchanging, and our JV (joint venture) partners are evaluating the impact ... on the continued ability of XIS and XCS to process Iran-related premiums and claims, and the timing of processing changes required during the wind-down period,” DXC said in an emailed statement.

It said a “wind-down” license issued by OFAC at the end of June gave firms until November to phase out their Iran-related activities.

“XIS and XCS will issue guidance to the market in the near future,” DXC said.

Lloyd’s insurers and brokers with Iran business included Chaucer, Ed Broking, RFIB and UIB, sources told Reuters.

Chaucer, Ed Broking and RFIB declined to comment. UIB did not respond to a request for comment.

Trade Disruption

Iran’s economy needs marine insurance to ensure the smooth flow of maritime trade for both its exports and imports.

Efforts to upgrade Iran’s creaking oil infrastructure also require insurance, alongside investment capital.

Tehran had faced logistical difficulties until Western sanctions were lifted after the 2015 nuclear deal.

Responding to the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear pact, Germany insurer Allianz said in May it planned to wind down its “minimal” amounts of Iran business and French reinsurer Scor said on Friday it would not write new Iran business or renew business.

Other European insurers and reinsurers with Iran business include France’s AXA, Germany’s Munich Re, Swiss Re and European subsidiaries of US firms Gallagher and PartnerRe, according to sources and company filings.

AXA said it had insured shipping and shipments for Iran by non-Iranian parties following the 2015 nuclear deal, but has suspended taking new contracts for such marine insurance.

When asked by Reuters, Swiss Re, Gallagher and PartnerRe said they were assessing the sanctions situation. Munich Re declined to comment.

Renewed sanctions on Iranian port operators could also make it “practically impossible for vessels to call at and use Iranian ports”, said Andrew Bardot, executive officer of the International Group of P&I Clubs.

The International Group is an association of customer-owned ship insurers that protect 90% of the world’s ocean-going fleet against pollution and personal injury claims.

European ship classification firms LR, Bureau Veritas and DNV GL said they were evaluating the implications of the sanctions.