Paul Lucas
In a result that has sent shockwaves throughout the insurance industry worldwide, the UK has officially voted to leave the European Union.
The outcome has been watched globally with many predicting that the decision to leave will have a huge impact on the financial markets and the insurance industry in particular.
In Australia, the Aussie dollar and share market are plummeting as media outlets call on the result of the UK referendum.
According to a report by the ABC, investors fled in droves after the BBC forecast the UK will leave the EU. The ASX 200 has extended losses to drop 3.5 per cent. The All Ords has slumped 3.3 per cent to 5,184.
Every sector on the local market was in the red with the exception of gold companies, gold miners Newcrest Mining and Regis Resources gained 3.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively.
The market started to sell-off when the Leave campaign overtook Remain, indicating high volatility as investors face uncertainty.
In the UK, the pound has hit its lowest level since 1985 tumbling more than 10%, the BBC has reported, in its biggest ever one-day fall as the strength of the leave vote emerged.
The UK Treasury, the International Monetary Fund and others all warned that a vote to leave would damage the UK economy as well as threatening global markets; while both the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) were outspoken in their support of a remain vote.
Meanwhile, managing director of British multi-national insurer Aviva went on record with
Insurance Business UK stating that: “Our corporate view is that we should remain.”
It’s not just the insurance industry in the UK that is likely to be affected either. While the US economy is much better insulated from the fallout of the vote, banking and financial sectors definitely have something to lose.
Many US companies have moved not just parts of their operations, but whole headquarters, from the US to the UK.
Aon, for example, made news in 2012 when it relocated from Chicago to London in order to give the company greater access to the world's insurance hub.
The company has been particularly vocal in its feelings against the Brexit referendum.
"If Britain votes to leave the European Union, the innovative center of excellence that has set London apart in the insurance space will be deeply challenged," the company told CNBC.
"Talent is a true differentiator for the city of London, and to create a barrier between the industry that addresses the world's most complex risks and the global talent needed to do this will have real implications."
Elsewhere, insurance association leaders from across Europe – including in Germany, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands – all had their say, pleading with insurers across the UK to vote to stay “in” and issuing a collective statement which read: “While the Referendum is clearly a matter for the British public to decide, there will be implications for all EU markets. We believe it is in everyone’s interest – the UK and the EU – for the UK to remain. And we will be watching and hoping that the result means that the constructive relationship will continue with the UK playing a full role as a full EU member.”
Ultimately however, their efforts have proven to be to no avail.
Some insurers have already taken steps in anticipation of today’s outcome. New Zealand’s CBL Insurance, which operates European Insurance Services from Tunbridge Wells in the UK, will continue operations in the UK but will change its legal domicile with managing director Peter Harris stating: “We have already confirmed to our employees at European Insurance Services Ltd (EISL) in Tunbridge Wells UK, who write business in France, that… EISL will remain operating in Tunbridge Wells, and shift its legal domicile, probably to Ireland.”
Meanwhile, Pierre Vaquier, Axa Investments Managers-Real Assets CEO, has stated that the company will “revisit its options” following the EU withdrawal with the company having previously planned to build London’s tallest skyscraper.
The referendum vote came at the conclusion of what was a divisive campaign. On one side of the contest was British Prime Minister David Cameron ushering stark warnings about the financial and economic risks of a departure; while the ‘leave’ campaign was headed up by former London Mayor Boris Johnson who used immigration as a key ploy in whipping up support suggesting that an exit would allow Britain to regain control of its borders.
Now questions are swirling as to the future of the British Prime Minister – he had publicly vowed to stay on regardless of the result, but many have questioned whether his position will remain tenable after such a significant defeat.
The vote has widely been considered a shock result with Paddy Power, Ireland’s largest bookmaker having placed the odds on a ‘remain’ vote at a 1/12 chance – effectively a 92 per cent probability. This represented a swing from 77 per cent just one day earlier, making the result all the more surprising.
