(1) Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed to a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a reduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) of this section. Credit shall be allowed under subsection (2), (3), or (4) of this section only as respects cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. Credit shall be allowed under subsection (4) or (5) of this section only if the applicable requirements of subsection (8) of this section have been satisfied.
Credit shall be allowed to a domestic ceding insurer when the reinsurance is ceded toan assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state.
Credit shall be allowed to a domestic ceding insurer when the reinsurance is ceded toan assuming insurer that is accredited by the commissioner as a reinsurer in this state. In order to be eligible for accreditation, a reinsurer must:
File with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this state's jurisdiction;
Submit to this state's authority to examine its books and records;
Be licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case ofa United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, be entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state;
File annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with theinsurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement; and
Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financialcapacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet the requirement of this paragraph (e) as of the time of its application if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than twenty million dollars and the commissioner has not denied its accreditation within ninety days after submission of its application.
(a) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is domiciled in, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer is entered through, a state that employs standards regarding credit for reinsurance substantially similar to those applicable under this part 7 and the assuming insurer or United States branch of an alien assuming insurer:
Maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than twenty million dollars; and
Submits to the authority of this state to examine its books and records.
(b) The requirement of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) does not apply to reinsurance ceded and assumed pursuant to pooling arrangements among insurers in the same holding company system.
(a) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in section 103-704 (2), for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers and their assigns and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund, the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the national association of insurance commissioners' annual statement form by licensed insurers. The assuming insurer shall submit to examination of its books and records by the commissioner and bear the expense of examination.
(b) (I) Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subsection (5) unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by:
The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled; or
The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument,has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The form of the trust and any trust amendments also shall be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled.
The trust instrument must provide that contested claims are valid and enforceable upon the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. The trust must vest legal title to its assets in its trustees for the benefit of the assuming insurer's United States ceding insurers and their assigns and successors in interest. The trust and the assuming insurer are subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
The trust must remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer has outstandingobligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust. No later than February 28 of each year, the trustee of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing the balance of the trust and list the trust's investments at the preceding year's end and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust will not expire before the following December 31.
(c) The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
The trust fund for a single assuming insurer must consist of funds in trust in anamount not less than the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars, except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (c).
At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwritingnew business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner with principal regulatory oversight of the trust may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cash flows, and must consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurer's liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus shall not be reduced to an amount less than thirty percent of the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(A) In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporatedunderwriters: For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust must consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters' several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group; for reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this part 7, the trust must consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters' several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States; and, in addition to these trusts, the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business otherthan underwriting as a member of the group and are subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the group's domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
Within ninety days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group'sdomiciliary regulator, the group shall provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the group's domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements, prepared by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the group.
(IV) In the case of a group of incorporated underwriters under common administration, the group:
Must have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United Statesfor at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation;
Shall maintain aggregate policyholders' surplus of at least ten billion dollars;
Shall maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the group's several liabilitiesattributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of the group;
In addition, shall maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred milliondollars shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities; and
Within ninety days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group'sdomiciliary regulator, shall make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter member's solvency by the member's domiciliary regulator and financial statements of each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(a) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner as a reinsurer in this state and secures its obligations in accordance with the requirements of this subsection (6).
(b) In order to be eligible for certification, the assuming insurer must meet the following requirements:
The assuming insurer must be domiciled and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in a qualified jurisdiction, as determined by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection (6).
The assuming insurer must maintain minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent,in an amount to be determined by the commissioner pursuant to rule.
The assuming insurer must maintain financial strength ratings from two or morerating agencies deemed acceptable by the commissioner pursuant to rule.
The assuming insurer must agree to submit to the jurisdiction of this state, appointthe commissioner as its agent for service of process in this state, and agree to provide security for one hundred percent of the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers if it resists enforcement of a final United States judgment.
The assuming insurer must agree to meet applicable information filing requirementsas determined by the commissioner, both with respect to an initial application for certification and on an ongoing basis.
The assuming insurer must satisfy any other requirements for certification deemedrelevant by the commissioner.
(c) An association including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters may be a certified reinsurer. In order to be eligible for certification, in addition to satisfying the requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection (6):
The association must satisfy its minimum capital and surplus requirements throughthe capital and surplus equivalents, net of liabilities, of the association and its members, which must include a joint central fund that may be applied to any unsatisfied obligation of the association or any of its members, in an amount determined by the commissioner to provide adequate protection;
The incorporated members of the association must not be engaged in any businessother than underwriting as a member of the association and are subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the association's domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members; and
Within ninety days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the association's domiciliary regulator, the association shall provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the association's domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements, prepared by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the association.
(d) (I) The commissioner shall create and publish a list of qualified jurisdictions under which an assuming insurer licensed and domiciled in such jurisdiction is eligible to be considered for certification by the commissioner as a certified reinsurer.
In order to determine whether the domiciliary jurisdiction of a non-United Statesassuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the commissioner shall evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the reinsurance supervisory system of the jurisdiction, both initially and on an ongoing basis, and consider the rights, benefits, and extent of reciprocal recognition afforded by the non-United States jurisdiction to reinsurers licensed and domiciled in the United States. A qualified jurisdiction must agree in writing to share information and cooperate with the commissioner with respect to all certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction. A jurisdiction shall not be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction if the commissioner has determined that the jurisdiction does not adequately and promptly enforce final United States judgments and arbitration awards. Additional factors may be considered in the discretion of the commissioner.
The commissioner may consider a list of qualified jurisdictions published by thenational association of insurance commissioners' committee process in determining qualified jurisdictions for purposes of this section. If the commissioner approves a jurisdiction as qualified that does not appear on the national association of insurance commissioners' list of qualified jurisdictions, the commissioner shall provide thoroughly documented justification in accordance with criteria to be specified in rules promulgated by the commissioner.
The commissioner shall recognize United States jurisdictions that meet the requirement for accreditation under the national association of insurance commissioners financial standards and accreditation program as qualified jurisdictions.
If a certified reinsurer's domiciliary jurisdiction ceases to be a qualified jurisdiction,the commissioner may suspend the reinsurer's certification indefinitely in lieu of revocation.
The commissioner shall assign a rating to each certified reinsurer, giving due consideration to the financial strength ratings that have been assigned by rating agencies deemed acceptable to the commissioner pursuant to rule. The commissioner shall publish a list of all certified reinsurers and their ratings.
(I) A certified reinsurer shall secure obligations assumed from United States cedinginsurers under this subsection (6) at a level consistent with its rating, as specified in rules promulgated by the commissioner.
In order for a domestic ceding insurer to qualify for full financial statement credit forreinsurance ceded to a certified reinsurer, the certified reinsurer must maintain security in a form acceptable to the commissioner and consistent with the provisions of section 10-3-703 or in a multibeneficiary trust in accordance with subsection (5) of this section, except as otherwise provided in this subsection (6).
If a certified reinsurer maintains a trust to fully secure its obligations subject tosubsection (5) of this section, and chooses to secure its obligations incurred as a certified reinsurer in the form of a multibeneficiary trust, the certified reinsurer must maintain separate trust accounts for its obligations incurred under reinsurance agreements issued or renewed as a certified reinsurer with reduced security as permitted by this subsection (6) or comparable laws of other United States jurisdictions and for its obligations subject to subsection (5) of this section. It is a condition to the grant of certification in this subsection (6) that the certified reinsurer must have bound itself, by the language of the trust and agreement with the commissioner with principal regulatory oversight of each such trust account, to fund, upon termination of any such trust account, out of the remaining surplus of such trust any deficiency of any other such trust account.
The minimum trusteed surplus requirements provided in subsection (5) of this section are not applicable with respect to a multibeneficiary trust maintained by a certified reinsurer for the purpose of securing obligations incurred under this subsection (6); except that such trust must maintain a minimum trusteed surplus of ten million dollars.
With respect to obligations incurred by a certified reinsurer under this subsection(6), if the security is insufficient, the commissioner shall order the certified reinsurer to provide sufficient security for the incurred obligations within thirty days. If a certified reinsurer does not provide sufficient security for its obligations incurred under this subsection (6) within thirty days after being ordered to do so by the commissioner, the commissioner may impose further reductions in allowable credit upon finding that there is a material risk that the certified reinsurer's obligations will not be paid in full when due.
(A) For purposes of this subsection (6), a certified reinsurer whose certification hasbeen terminated for any reason shall be treated as a certified reinsurer required to secure one hundred percent of its obligations.
As used in this subsection (6), the term "terminated" refers to revocation, suspension, voluntary surrender, and inactive status.
If the commissioner continues to assign a higher rating as permitted by other provisions of this section, the requirement of this subparagraph (VI) does not apply to a certified reinsurer in inactive status or to a reinsurer whose certification has been suspended.
If an applicant for certification has been certified as a reinsurer in a jurisdictionaccredited by the national association of insurance commissioners, the commissioner has the discretion to defer to that jurisdiction's certification, and may defer to the rating assigned by that jurisdiction, and such assuming insurer shall be considered to be a certified reinsurer in this state.
A certified reinsurer that ceases to assume new business in this state may request tomaintain its certification in inactive status in order to continue to qualify for a reduction in security for its in-force business. An inactive certified reinsurer shall continue to comply with all applicable requirements of this subsection (6), and the commissioner shall assign a rating that takes into account, if relevant, the reasons why the reinsurer is not assuming new business.
Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer notmeeting the requirements of subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) of this section, but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction.
(a) If the assuming insurer is not licensed, accredited, or certified to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state, the credit permitted by subsections (4) and (5) of this section shall not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the reinsurance agreements:
That in the event of the failure of the assuming insurer to perform its obligationsunder the terms of the reinsurance agreement, the assuming insurer, at the request of the ceding insurer, shall submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, will comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal; and
To designate the commissioner or a designated attorney as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(b) This subsection (8) is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
If the assuming insurer does not meet the requirements of subsection (2), (3), or (4) of this section, the credit permitted by subsection (5) or (6) of this section shall not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the trust agreements to the following conditions:
Notwithstanding any other provisions in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of this section, or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile, the trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
The assets shall be distributed by, and claims must be filed with and valued by, thecommissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trustfund or any part of the assets are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the commissioner with regulatory oversight of the trustee shall return the assets or part of the assets for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
The grantor shall waive any right otherwise available to it under United States lawthat is inconsistent with this subsection (9).
(a) If an accredited or certified reinsurer ceases to meet the requirements for accreditation or certification, the commissioner may suspend or revoke the reinsurer's accreditation or certification.
(b) The commissioner shall give the reinsurer notice and opportunity for hearing. The suspension or revocation must not take effect until after the commissioner's order on hearing, unless:
The reinsurer waives its right to hearing;
The commissioner's order is based on regulatory action by the reinsurer's domiciliaryjurisdiction or the voluntary surrender or termination of the reinsurer's eligibility to transact insurance or reinsurance business in its domiciliary jurisdiction or in the primary certifying state of the reinsurer under paragraph (g) of subsection (6) of this section; or
The commissioner finds that an emergency requires immediate action and a court ofcompetent jurisdiction has not stayed the commissioner's action.
(c) While a reinsurer's accreditation or certification is suspended, no reinsurance contract issued or renewed after the effective date of the suspension qualifies for credit except to the extent that the reinsurer's obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with section 10-3-703. If a reinsurer's accreditation or certification is revoked, no credit for reinsurance shall be granted after the effective date of the revocation except to the extent that the reinsurer's obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of this section or section 10-3-703.
Concentration risk. (a) A ceding insurer shall take steps to manage its reinsurance recoverables proportionate to its own book of business. A domestic ceding insurer shall notify the commissioner within thirty days after reinsurance recoverables from any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, exceeds fifty percent of the domestic ceding insurer's last reported surplus to policyholders or after it has determined that reinsurance recoverables from any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, is likely to exceed fifty percent of the domestic ceding insurer's last reported surplus to policyholders. The notification must demonstrate that the exposure is safely managed by the domestic ceding insurer.
(b) A ceding insurer shall take steps to diversify its reinsurance program. A domestic ceding insurer shall notify the commissioner within thirty days after ceding to any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, more than twenty percent of the ceding insurer's gross written premium in the prior calendar year or after it has determined that the reinsurance ceded to any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, is likely to exceed twenty percent of the ceding insurer's gross written premium in the prior calendar year. The notification must demonstrate that the exposure is safely managed by the domestic ceding insurer.
Source: L. 2014: Entire part R&RE, (HB 14-1315), ch. 295, p. 1202, § 1, effective January 1, 2015.
Editor's note: In 2014, the provisions of subsection (8) were relettered to conform to statutory format.