(a) No credit shall be allowed, as an admitted asset or deduction from liability, to any ceding insurer for reinsurance, unless the reinsurance contract provides, in substance, that in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer, the reinsurance shall be payable under contract or contracts reinsured by the assuming insurer on the basis of the claims allowed against the ceding insurer in the insolvency proceedings, without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer, directly to the ceding insurer or to its domiciliary liquidator or receiver except: (1) where the contract specifically provides for payment to the insured or his or her assignee or other persons or entity named in the insured's policy as a payee of such reinsurance in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer or (2) where the assuming insurer with the consent of the direct insured or insureds has assumed such policy obligations of the ceding insurer as direct obligations of the assuming insurer to the payees under such policies and in substitution for the obligations of the ceding insurer to such payees.

(b) The domiciliary liquidator or receiver of an insolvent ceding insurer shall give written notice of the pendency of a claim against such ceding insurer on the contract reinsured within a reasonable time after such claim is filed in the insolvency proceeding. During the pendency of such claim any assuming insurer may investigate such claim and interpose, at its own expense, in the proceeding where such claim is to be adjudicated, any defenses which it deems available to the ceding insurer, its liquidator or receiver. Such expense shall be chargeable, subject to court approval, against the insolvent ceding insurer as part of the expense of liquidation to the extent of a proportionate share of the benefit which may accrue to the ceding insurer solely as a result of the defense undertaken by the assuming insurer. Where two or more assuming insurers are involved in the same claim and a majority in interest elect to interpose defense to such claim, the expense shall be apportioned in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreement as though such expense had been incurred by the ceding company. (Added 1985, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)