20 CSR 200-2.100
Credit for Reinsurance
PURPOSE: This rule sets forth rules and procedural requirements which the director
deems necessary to carry out the provisions
of the Law on Credit Reinsurance, section
375.246, RSMo. The actions and information
required by this rule are declared to be necessary and appropriate in the public interest
and for the protection of the ceding insurers
in this state.
(1) If any provision of this rule, or the application of the provision to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of
this rule, and the application of the provision
to persons or circumstances other than those
to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected.
(2) Credit for Reinsurance—Reinsurer Licensed in this State. Pursuant to section
375.246.1(1), RSMo, the director shall allow
credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic
insurer to an assuming insurer that was
licensed in this state as of any date on which
statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed. For purposes of this rule,
an insurer whose certificate of authority has
been suspended or revoked for one (1) or
more of the grounds set forth in section
375.881.1(1), (2), or (3), RSMo, shall be
deemed not licensed in this state.
(3) Credit for Reinsurance—Accredited Reinsurers.
(A) Pursuant to section 375.246.1(2),
RSMo, the director shall allow credit for
reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an
assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state as of the date on which
statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed. An accredited reinsurer
must—
1. File with the director the following:
A. A properly executed Reinsurer
Application, the form of which is set forth as
Exhibit 1 of this rule, included herein, revised
December 10, 2013, or any form which substantially comports with the specified form;
B. A certified copy of a certificate of
authority or other acceptable evidence that it
is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one (1) state or, in the case of
a United States branch of an alien assuming
insurer, is entered through and licensed to
transact insurance or reinsurance in at least
one (1) state;
C. A properly executed appointment
of the director to acknowledge or receive service of process, the form of which is set forth
as Exhibit 2 of this rule included herein,
revised September 23, 2013, or any form
which substantially comports with the specified form;
D. A properly executed Certificate of
Assuming Insurer (Form AR-1), which is set
forth as Exhibit 3 of this rule included herein,
revised September 23, 2013, or any form
which substantially comports with the specified form, as evidence of its submission to
this state’s jurisdiction and to this state’s
authority to examine its books and records;
E. A copy of its articles of incorporation or association, as amended, duly certified by the proper officer of the state under
whose laws it is organized or incorporated;
F. A copy of its bylaws, certified by its
secretary;
G. The National Association of Insurance Commissioner (NAIC) Uniform Certificate of Authority Application (UCAA) Form
11 Biographical Affidavit, the form of which
is included herein as Exhibit 4 of this rule,
revised September 23, 2013, or any form
which substantially comports with the specified form; and
H. A copy of the registration statement of any holding company system if it is a
member of such a system.
2. File annually with the director a copy
of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile or, in
the case of an alien assuming insurer, with
the state through which it is entered and in
which it is licensed to transact insurance or
reinsurance, and a copy of its most recent
audited financial statement.
3. Include, with the documents required
to be filed under the preceding provisions of
section (3) of this rule, the appropriate filing
fees as set forth in section 374.230, RSMo;
and
4. Maintain a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than twenty
(20) million dollars, or obtain the affirmative
approval of the director upon a finding that it
has adequate financial capacity to meet its
reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic
insurers.
(B) If the director determines that the
assuming insurer has failed to meet or maintain any of these qualifications, the director
may, upon written notice and opportunity for
a hearing, suspend or revoke the accreditation. Credit shall not be allowed a domestic
ceding insurer under section (3) of this rule,
if the assuming insurer’s accreditation has
been revoked by the director, or if the reinsurance was ceded while the assuming insurer’s accreditation was under suspension by
the director.
(4) Credit for Reinsurance—Reinsurer Domiciled in Another State.
(A) Pursuant to section 375.246.1(3),
RSMo, the director shall allow credit for
reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an
assuming insurer that as of any date on which
statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed—
1. Files with the director—
A. A properly executed Reinsurer
Application, the form of which is set forth as
Exhibit 1 of this rule, included herein, revised
December 10, 2013, or any form which substantially comports with the specified form;
B. A properly executed appointment
of the director to acknowledge or receive service of process, the form of which is set forth
as Exhibit 2 of this rule, included herein,
revised September 23, 2013, or any form
which substantially comports with the specified form; and
C. A properly executed Form AR-2,
the form of which is included herein as
Exhibit 5 of this rule, revised September 23,
2013, or any form which substantially comports with the specified form, as evidence of
its submission to this state’s authority to
examine its books and records.
2. Files with the director in addition to
its initial filing, and annually after that, prior
to March 1 of each year, a certified copy of
the annual statement it has filed with the
insurance department of its state of domicile
or, in the case of an alien assuming insurer,
with the state through which it is entered and
in which it is licensed to transact insurance or
reinsurance, including an actuarial certification and management discussion and analysis
required as part of the NAIC annual statement requirements;
3. 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 section 375.246, RSMo (the Act)
and this rule;
4. Includes with the documents required
to be filed under preceding provisions of section (4) of this rule, the appropriate filing
fees as set forth in section 374.230, RSMo;
and
5. Maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than twenty
(20) million dollars.
(B) The provisions of section (4) of this rule
relating to surplus as regards policyholders
shall not apply to reinsurance ceded and
assumed pursuant to pooling arrangements
among insurers in the same holding company
system. As used in this section, “substantially
similar” standards means credit for reinsurance standards that the director determines
equal or exceed the standards of Reinsurance
Model Act (the Act) and this rule.
(5) Credit for Reinsurance—Reinsurers Maintaining Trust Funds.
(A) Pursuant to section 375.246.1(4),
RSMo, the director shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an
assuming insurer which, as of any date on
which statutory financial statement credit for
reinsurance is claimed, and thereafter for so
long as credit for reinsurance is claimed and
therefore for so long as credit for reinsurance
is claimed, maintains a trust fund in an
amount prescribed in this rule in a qualified
United States financial institution as defined
in section 375.246.3(2), RSMo, for the payment of the valid claims of its United States
domiciled ceding insurers, their assigns and
successors in interest. The assuming insurer
shall report annually to the director substantially the same information as that required to
be reported on the NAIC annual statement
form by licensed insurers, to enable the director to determine the sufficiency of the trust
fund.
(B) The following requirements apply to
the following categories of assuming insurer:
1. The trust fund for a single assuming
insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an
amount not less than the assuming insurer’s
liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by
United States domiciled insurers, and in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a
trusteed surplus of not less than twenty (20)
million dollars, except as provided in paragraph (5)(B)2. of this rule;
2. At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at
least three (3) full years, the director 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 shall
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 may not be reduced to an
amount less than thirty percent (30%) of the
assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to
reinsurance ceded by United States ceding
insurers covered by the trust.
3. The trust fund for a group including
incorporated and individual unincorporated
underwriters shall consist of:
A. For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception,
amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, funds in trust 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;
B. 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 rule,
funds in trust in an amount not less than the
respective underwriters’ several insurance
and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States; and
C. In addition to these trusts, the
group shall maintain a trusteed surplus of
which one-hundred (100) million dollars shall
be held jointly for the benefit of the United
States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all the years of the
account.
4. The incorporated members of the
group shall not be engaged in any business
other than underwriting as a member of the
group and shall be subject to the same level
of regulation and solvency control by the
group’s domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members. The group shall, within
ninety (90) days after its financial statements
are due to be filed with the group’s domiciliary regulator, provide to the director—
A. An annual certification by the
group’s domiciliary regulator of the solvency
of each underwriter member of the group; or
B. If a certification is unavailable, a
financial statement, prepared by independent
public accountants, of each underwriter
member of the group.
5. The trust fund for a group of incorporated insurers under common administration,
whose members possess aggregate policyholders’ surplus of ten (10) billion dollars
(calculated and reported in substantially the
same manner as prescribed by the annual
statement instructions and Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual of the NAIC)
and which has continuously transacted an
insurance business outside the United States
for at least three (3) years immediately prior
to making application for accreditation,
shall—
A. Consist of funds in trust in an
amount not less than the assuming insurer’s
several liabilities attributable to business
ceded by United States domiciled ceding
insurers to any members of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the
name of such group;
B. Maintain a joint trusteed surplus of
which one hundred (100) million dollars shall
be held jointly for the benefit of United States
domiciled ceding insurers of any member of
the group; and
C. File with the director the following
forms:
(I) A Reinsurer Application, the
form of which is included herein as Exhibit 1
of this rule, revised December 10, 2013, or
any form which substantially comports with
the specified form;
(II) A properly executed Form AR1 the form of which is included herein as
Exhibit 3 of this rule, revised September 23,
2013, or any form which substantially comports with the specified form, as evidence of
the submission to this state’s authority to
examine the books and records of any of its
members and shall certify that any member
examined will bear the expense of any examination; and
(III) Includes with the documents
required to be filed under preceding provisions
of section (5) of this rule the appropriate filing
fees as set forth in section 374.230, RSMo.
D. Within ninety (90) days after the
statements are due to be filed with the
group’s domiciliary regulator, the group shall
file with the director an annual certification
of each underwriter member’s solvency by
the member’s domiciliary regulators, and
financial statements, prepared by independent
public accountants, of each underwriter
member of the group.
(C) Trust Instrument.
1. Credit for reinsurance shall not be
granted unless the form of the trust and any
amendments to the trust have been approved
by either the director or commissioner of the
state where the trust is domiciled or the director or commissioner of another state who,
pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument,
has accepted responsibility for regulatory
oversight of the trust. The form of the trust
and any trust amendments also shall be filed
with the director or commissioner of every
state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries
Company Regulation
of the trust are domiciled. The trust instrument shall provide that—
A. Contested claims shall be valid
and enforceable out of funds in trust to the
extent remaining unsatisfied thirty (30) days
after entry of the final order of any court of
competent jurisdiction in the United States;
B. Legal title to the assets of the trust
shall be vested in the trustee for the benefit of
the grantor’s United States ceding insurers,
their assigns and successors in interest;
C. The trust shall be subject to examination as determined by the director;
D. The trust shall remain in effect for
as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers,
shall have outstanding obligations under reinsurance agreements subject to the trust; and
E. No later than February 28 of each
year, the trustees of the trust shall report to
the director in writing setting forth the balance in the trust and listing the trust’s investments at the preceding year-end, and shall
certify the date of termination of the trust, if
so planned, or certify that the trust shall not
expire prior to the following December 31.
2. Trust Assets.
A. 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 subparagraph
(5)(C)2.A. of this rule, 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 director with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an
order of a court of competent jurisdiction
directing the trustee to transfer to the director
with regulatory oversight over the trust or
other designated receiver all of the assets of
the trust fund.
B. The assets shall be distributed by
and claims shall be filed with and valued by
the director with regulatory oversight over the
trust in accordance with the laws of the state
in which the trust is domiciled applicable to
the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
C. If the director with regulatory
oversight over the trust determines that the
assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are
not necessary to satisfy the claims of the
United States beneficiaries of the trust, the
director with regulatory oversight over the
trust shall return the assets, or any part thereof, to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
D. The grantor shall waive any right
otherwise available to it under United States
law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(D) For purposes of this subsection, the
term “liabilities” shall mean the assuming
insurer’s gross liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled
insurers excluding liabilities that are otherwise secured by acceptable means, and, shall
include:
1. For business ceded by domestic insurers authorized to write accident and health,
and property and casualty insurance—
A. Losses and allocated loss expenses
paid by the ceding insurer, recoverable from
the assuming insurer;
B. Reserves for losses reported and
outstanding;
C. Reserves for losses incurred but
not reported;
D. Reserves for allocated loss expenses; and
E. Unearned premiums.
2. For business ceded by domestic insurers authorized to write life, health, and annuity insurance—
A. Aggregate reserves for life policies
and contracts net of policy loans and net due
and deferred premiums;
B. Aggregate reserves for accident
and health policies;
C. Deposit funds and other liabilities
without life or disability contingencies; and
D. Liabilities for policy and contract
claims.
(E) Assets deposited in trusts established
pursuant to section 375.246.1, RSMo, of this
rule shall be valued according to their current
fair market value and shall consist only of cash
in United States dollars, certificates of deposit
issued by a United States financial institution
as defined in section 375.246.3(1), RSMo,
clean, irrevocable, unconditional, and “evergreen” letters of credit issued or confirmed by
a qualified United States financial institution,
as defined in section 375.246.3(1), RSMo,
and investments of the type specified in subsection (5)(E) of this rule, but investments in
or issued by an entity controlling, controlled
by or under common control with either the
grantor or beneficiary of the trust shall not
exceed five percent (5%) of total investments.
No more than twenty percent (20%) of the
total of the investments in the trust may be
foreign investments authorized under paragraphs (5)(E)1., (5)(E)3., subparagraph
(5)(E)6.B., or paragraph (5)(E)7. of this rule,
and no more than ten percent (10%) of the
total of the investments in the trust may be
securities denominated in foreign currencies.
For purposes of applying the preceding sentence, a depository receipt denominated in
United States dollars and representing rights
conferred by a foreign security shall be classified as a foreign investment denominated in
a foreign currency. The assets of a trust established to satisfy the requirements of section
375.246.1(4), RSMo, shall be invested only
as follows:
1. Government obligations that are not
in default as to principal or interest, that are
valid and legally authorized and that are
issued, assumed, or guaranteed by—
A. The United States or by any agency or instrumentality of the United States;
B. A state of the United States;
C. A territory, possession, or other
governmental unit of the United States;
D. An agency or instrumentality of a
governmental unit referred to in subparagraphs (5)(E)1.B. and C. of this rule if the
obligations shall be by law (statutory or otherwise) payable, as to both principal and
interest, from taxes levied or by law required
to be levied or from adequate special revenues pledged or otherwise appropriated or
by law required to be provided for making
these payments, but shall not be obligations
eligible for investment under subparagraph
(5)(E)1.D. of this rule, if payable solely out
of special assessments on properties benefited
by local improvements; or
E. The government of any other country that is a member of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development and
whose government obligations are rated A or
higher, or the equivalent, by a rating agency
recognized by the Securities Valuation Office
of the NAIC;
2. Obligations that are issued in the
United States, or that are dollar denominated
and issued in a non-United States market, by
a solvent United States institution (other than
an insurance company) or that are assumed or
guaranteed by a solvent United States institution (other than an insurance company) and
that are not in default as to principal or interest if the obligations—
A. Are rated A or higher (or the
equivalent) by the securities rating agency
recognized by the Securities Valuation Office
of the NAIC, or if not so rated, are similar in
structure and other material respects to other
obligations of the same institution that are so
rated;
B. Are insured by at least one (1)
authorized insurer (other than the investing
insurer or a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of
the investing insurer) licensed to insure obligations in this state and, after considering the
insurance, are rated AAA (or the equivalent)
by a securities rating agency recognized by
the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC;
or
C. Have been designated as Class One
or Class Two by the Securities Valuation
Office of the NAIC;
3. Obligations issued, assumed, or guaranteed by a solvent non-United States institution chartered in a country that is a member
of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or obligations of United States corporations in a non-United States
currency, provided that in either case the obligations are rated A or higher, or the equivalent, by a rating agency recognized by the
Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC;
4. An investment made pursuant to the
provisions of paragraphs (5)(E)1., 2., or 3. of
this rule shall be subject to the following
additional limitations:
A. An investment in or loan upon the
obligations of an institution other than an
institution that issues mortgage-related securities shall not exceed five percent (5%) of
the assets of the trust;
B. An investment in any one mortgage-related security shall not exceed five
percent (5%) of the assets of the trust;
C. The aggregate total investment in
mortgage-related securities shall not exceed
twenty-five percent (25%) of the assets of the
trust; and
D. Preferred or guaranteed shares
issued or guaranteed by a solvent United
States institution are permissible investments
if all of the institution’s obligations are eligible as investments under subparagraphs
(5)(E)2.A. and (5)(E)2.C. of this rule, but
shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the
assets of the trust.
5. As used in this rule—
A. “Mortgage-related security” means
an obligation that is rated AA or higher (or the
equivalent) by a securities rating agency recognized by the Securities Valuation Office of the
NAIC and that either—
(I) Represents ownership of one
(1) or more promissory notes or certificates
of interest or participation in the notes
(including any rights designed to assure servicing of, or the receipt or timeliness of
receipt by the holders of the notes, certificates, or participation of amounts payable
under, the notes, certificates or participation), that—
(a) Are directly secured by a first
lien on a single parcel of real estate, including
stock allocated to a dwelling unit in a residential cooperative housing corporation, upon
which is located a dwelling or mixed residential and commercial structure, or on a residential manufactured home as defined in 42
U.S.C.A. Section 5402(6), whether the manufactured home is considered real or personal
property under the laws of the state in which
it is located; and
(b) Were originated by a savings
and loan association, savings bank, commercial bank, credit union, insurance company,
or similar institution that is supervised and
examined by a federal or state housing
authority, or by a mortgagee approved by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to 12 U.S.C.A. Sections 1709
and 1715-b, or, where the notes involve a lien
on the manufactured home, by an institution
or by a financial institution approved for
insurance by the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development pursuant to 12 U.S.C.A.
Section 1703; or
(II) Is secured by one (1) or more
promissory notes or certificates of deposit or
participations in the notes (with or without
recourse to the insurer of the notes) and, by
its terms, provides for payments of principal
in relation to payments, or reasonable projections of payments, or notes meeting the
requirements of subparts (5)(E)5.A.(I)(a) and
(5)(E)5.A.(I)(b) of this rule;
B. “Promissory note,” when used in
connection with a manufactured home, shall
also include a loan, advance, or credit sale as
evidenced by a retail installment sales contract or other instrument.
6. Equity Interests.
A. Investments in common shares or
partnership interests of a solvent United
States institution are permissible if—
(I) Its obligations and preferred
shares, if any, are eligible as investments
under paragraph (5)(E)6. of this rule; and
(II) The equity interests of the institution (except an insurance company) are registered on a national securities exchange as
provided in the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, 15 U.S.C. sections 78a to 78kk or otherwise registered pursuant to that Act, and if
otherwise registered, price quotations for
them are furnished through a nationwide automated quotations system approved by the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or
successor organization. A trust shall not invest
in equity interest under part (5)(E)6.A.(II) of
this rule an amount exceeding one percent
(1%) of the assets of the trust even though the
equity interests are not so registered and are
not issued by an insurance company;
B. Investments in common shares of
a solvent institution organized under the laws
of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, if—
(I) All its obligations are rated A or
higher, or the equivalent, by a rating agency
recognized by the Securities Valuation Office
of the NAIC; and
(II) The equity interests of the institution are registered on a securities exchange
regulated by the government of a country that
is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;
C. An investment or loan upon any
one (1) institution’s outstanding equity interests shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the
assets of the trust. The cost of an investment
in equity interests made pursuant to subparagraph (5)(E)6.C. of this rule, when added to
the aggregate cost of other investments in
equity interests then held pursuant to subparagraph (5)(E)6.A. of this rule, shall not
exceed ten percent (10%) of the assets in the
trust;
7. Obligations issued, assumed, or guaranteed by a multinational development bank,
provided the obligations are rated A or higher, or the equivalent, by a rating agency recognized by the Securities Valuation Office of
the NAIC.
8. Investment companies.
A. Securities of an investment company registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. section 80a, are
permissible investments if the investment
company—
(I) Invests at least ninety percent
(90%) of its assets in the types of securities
that qualify as an investment under paragraphs (5)(E)1., (5)(E)2., or (5)(E)3. of this
rule or invests in securities that are determined by the director to be substantively similar to the types of securities set forth in paragraphs (5)(E)1., (5)(E)2., or (5)(E)3. of this
rule; or
(II) Invests at least ninety percent
(90%) of its assets in the types of equity
interests that qualify as an investment under
subparagraph (5)(E)6.A. of this rule;
B. Investments made by a trust in
investment companies under subparagraph
(5)(E)8.B. of this rule shall not exceed the
following limitations:
(I) An investment in an investment
company qualifying under part (5)(E)8.A.(I)
of this rule shall not exceed ten percent (10%)
of the assets in the trust and the aggregate
amount of investment in qualifying investment companies shall not exceed twenty-five
percent (25%) of the assets in the trust; and
(II) Investments in an investment
company qualifying under part (5)(E)8.A.(II)
of this rule shall not exceed five percent (5%)
of the assets in the trust, and the aggregate
amount of investment in qualifying investment companies shall be included when calculating the permissible aggregate value of
equity interests pursuant to subparagraph
(5)(E)6.A. of this rule.
9. Letters of Credit.
A. In order for a letter of credit to
qualify as an asset of the trust, the trustee shall
have the right and the obligation pursuant to
Company Regulation
the deed of trust or some other binding agreement (as duly approved by the director), to
immediately draw down the full amount of
the letter of credit and hold the proceeds in
trust for the beneficiaries of the trust if the
letter of credit will otherwise expire without
being renewed or replaced.
B. The trust agreement shall provide
that the trustee shall be liable for its negligence, willful misconduct, or lack of good
faith. The failure of the trustee to draw
against the letter of credit in circumstances
where such draw would be required shall be
deemed to be negligence and/or willful misconduct.
(F) A specific security provided to a ceding insurer by an assuming insurer pursuant
to section (8) of this rule shall be applied,
until exhausted, to the payment of liabilities
of the assuming insurer to the ceding insurer
holding the specific security prior to, and as
a condition precedent for, presentation of a
claim by the ceding insurer for payment by a
trustee of a trust established by the assuming
insurer pursuant to section (5) of this rule.
(6) Credit for Reinsurance—Certified Reinsurers.
(A) Pursuant to section 375.246.1(5),
RSMo, the director shall allow credit for
reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an
assuming insurer that has been certified as a
reinsurer in this state at all times for which
statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed under section (6) of this
rule. The credit allowed shall be based upon
the security held by or on behalf of the ceding
insurer in accordance with a rating assigned
to the certified reinsurer by the director. The
security shall be in a form consistent with the
provisions of sections 375.246.1(5) and
375.246.2, RSMo, and sections (10), (11), or
(12) of this rule. The amount of security
required in order for full credit to be allowed
shall correspond with the following requirements:
1. Ratings Security Required
Secure – 1 0%
Secure – 2 10%
Secure – 3 20%
Secure – 4 50%
Secure – 5 75%
Vulnerable – 6 100%
2. Affiliated reinsurance transactions
shall receive the same opportunity for
reduced security requirements as all other
reinsurance transactions.
3. The director shall require the certified reinsurer to post one hundred percent
(100%), for the benefit of the ceding insurer
or its estate, security upon the entry of an
order or rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation against the ceding insurer.
4. In order to facilitate the prompt payment of claims, a certified reinsurer shall not
be required to post security for catastrophe
recoverables for a period of one (1) year from
the date of the first instance of a liability
reserve entry by the ceding company as a
result of a loss from a catastrophic occurrence as recognized by the director. The one
(1) year deferral period is contingent upon
the certified reinsurer continuing to pay
claims in a timely manner. Reinsurance
recoverables for only the following lines of
business as reported on the NAIC annual
financial statement related specifically to the
catastrophic occurrence will be included in
the deferral:
A. Line 1: Fire;
B. Line 2: Allied Lines;
C. Line 3: Farmowners multiple peril;
D. Line 4: Homeowners multiple peril;
E. Line 5: Commercial multiple peril;
F. Line 9: Inland Marine;
G. Line 12: Earthquake; and
H. Line 21: Auto physical damage.
5. Credit for reinsurance under section
(6) of this rule shall apply only to reinsurance
contracts entered into or renewed on or after
the effective date of the certification of the
assuming insurer. Any reinsurance contract
entered into prior to the effective date of the
certification of the assuming insurer that is
subsequently amended after the effective date
of the certification of the assuming insurer, or
a new reinsurance contract, covering any risk
for which collateral was provided previously,
shall only be subject to section (6) of this rule
with respect to losses incurred and reserves
reported from and after the effective date of
the amendment or new contract.
6. Nothing in section (6) of this rule
shall prohibit the parties to a reinsurance
agreement from agreeing to provisions establishing security requirements that exceed the
minimum security requirements established
for certified reinsurers under section (6) of
this rule.
(B) Certification Procedure.
1. The director shall post notice on the
department’s website promptly upon receipt
of any application for certification, including
instructions on how members of the public
may respond to the application. The director
may not take final action on the application
until at least thirty (30) days after posting the
notice required by paragraph (6)(B)1. of this
rule.
2. The director shall issue written notice
to an assuming insurer that has made application and been approved as a certified reinsurer. Included in such notice shall be the rating
assigned the certified reinsurer in accordance
with subsection (6)(A) of this rule. The director shall publish a list of all certified reinsurers and their ratings.
3. In order to be eligible for certification, the assuming insurer shall meet the following requirements:
A. The assuming insurer must be
domiciled and licensed to transact insurance
or reinsurance in a Qualified Jurisdiction, as
determined by the director pursuant to subsection (6)(C) of this rule;
B. The assuming insurer must maintain capital and surplus, or its equivalent, of
no less than two hundred fifty (250) million
dollars calculated in accordance with subparagraph (6)(B)4.H. of this rule. This
requirement may also be satisfied by an association including incorporated and individual
unincorporated underwriters having minimum capital and surplus equivalents (net of
liabilities) of at least two hundred fifty (250)
million dollars and a central fund containing
a balance of at least two hundred fifty (250)
million dollars;
C. The assuming insurer must maintain financial strength ratings from two (2) or
more rating agencies deemed acceptable by
the director. These ratings shall be based on
interactive communication between the rating
agency and the assuming insurer and shall not
be based solely on publicly available information. These financial strength ratings will be
one (1) factor used by the director in determining the rating that is assigned to the
assuming insurer. Acceptable rating agencies
include the following: Standard & Poor’s,
Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings,
A.M. Best Company, or any other nationally
recognized statistical rating organization; and
D. The certified reinsurer must comply with any other requirements reasonably
imposed by the director.
4. Each certified reinsurer shall be rated
on a legal entity basis, with due consideration
being given to the group rating where appropriate, except that an association including
incorporated and individual unincorporated
underwriters that has been approved to do
business as a single certified reinsurer may be
evaluated on the basis of its group rating.
Factors that may be considered as part of the
evaluation process include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. The certified reinsurer’s financial
strength rating from an acceptable rating
agency. The maximum rating that a certified
reinsurer may be assigned will correspond to
its financial strength rating as outlined in the
table below. The director shall use the lowest
financial strength rating received from an
approved rating agency in establishing the
maximum rating of a certified reinsurer. A
failure to obtain or maintain at least two (2)
financial strength ratings from acceptable rating agencies will result in loss of eligibility
for certification—
B. The business practices of the certified reinsurer in dealing with its ceding insurers, including its record of compliance with
reinsurance contractual terms and obligations;
C. For certified reinsurers domiciled
in the United States, a review of the most
recent applicable NAIC Annual Statement
Blank, either Schedule F (for property/casualty reinsurers) or Schedule S (for life and
health reinsurers);
D. For certified reinsurers not domiciled in the United States, a review annually
of the NAIC Form CR-F (for property/casualty reinsurers) or Form CR-S (for life and
health reinsurers);
E. The reputation of the certified
reinsurer for prompt payment of claims under
reinsurance agreements, based on an analysis
of ceding insurers’ Schedule F reporting of
overdue reinsurance recoverables, including
the proportion of obligations that are more
than ninety (90) days past due or are in dispute, with specific attention given to obligations payable to companies that are in administrative supervision or receivership;
F. Regulatory actions against the certified reinsurer;
G. The report of the independent
auditor on the financial statements of the
insurance enterprise, on the basis described
in subparagraph (6)(B)4.H. of this rule;
H. For certified reinsurers not domiciled in the United States, audited financial
statements, regulatory filings, and actuarial
opinion (as filed with the non-United States
jurisdiction supervisor with a translation in
English). Upon the initial application for certification, the director will consider audited
financial statements for the last two (2) years
filed with its non-United States jurisdiction
supervisor;
I. The liquidation priority of obligations to a ceding insurer in the certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction in the context
of an insolvency proceeding;
J. A certified reinsurer’s participation
in any solvent scheme of arrangement, or
similar procedure, which involves United
States ceding insurers. The director shall
receive prior notice from a certified reinsurer
that proposes participation by the certified
reinsurer in a solvent scheme of arrangement;
and
K. Any other information deemed relevant by the director.
5. Based on the analysis conducted
under subparagraph (6)(B)4.E. of this rule of
a certified reinsurer’s reputation for prompt
payment of claims, the director may make
appropriate adjustments in the security the
certified reinsurer is required to post to protect its liabilities to United States ceding
insurers, provided that the director shall, at a
minimum, increase the security the certified
reinsurer is required to post by one (1) rating
level under subparagraph (6)(B)4.A. of this
rule if the director finds that—
A. More than fifteen percent (15%)
of the certified reinsurer’s ceding insurance
clients have overdue reinsurance recoverables
on paid losses of ninety (90) days or more
which are not in dispute and which exceed
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for
each cedent; or
B. The aggregate amount of reinsurance recoverables on paid losses which are
not in dispute that are overdue by ninety (90)
days or more exceeds fifty (50) million dollars.
6. The assuming insurer must submit a
properly executed Form CR-1, the form of
which is included herein as Exhibit 6 of this
rule, revised September 23, 2013, or any
form which substantially comports with the
specified form, as evidence of its submission
to the jurisdiction of this state, appointment
of the director as an agent for service of process in this state, and agreement to provide
security for one hundred percent (100%) 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 director shall
not certify any assuming insurer that is domiciled in a jurisdiction that the director has
determined does not adequately and promptly
enforce final United States judgments or arbitration awards.
7. The certified reinsurer must agree to
meet applicable information filing requirements as determined by the director, both
with respect to an initial application for certification and on an ongoing basis. The applicable information filing requirements are as
follows:
A. Notification within ten (10) days of
any regulatory actions taken against the certified reinsurer, any change in the provisions of
its domiciliary license or any change in rating
by an approved rating agency, including a
statement describing such changes and the
reasons therefore;
B. Annually, the NAIC Form CR-F or
CR-S, the forms of which are included herein
as Exhibits 7 and 8, respectively, of this rule,
revised September 23, 2013, or any form
which substantially comports with the specified form as applicable;
C. Annually, the report of the independent auditor on the financial statements of
the insurance enterprise, on the basis
described in subparagraph (6)(B)7.D. of this
rule;
D. Annually, audited financial statements, regulatory filings, and actuarial opinion (as filed with the certified reinsurer’s
supervisor with a translation in English).
Upon the initial certification, audited financial statements for the last two (2) years filed
with the certified reinsurer’s supervisor;
E. At least annually, an updated list of
all disputed and overdue reinsurance claims
Company Regulation
Ratings
Best
S & P
Moody’s
Fitch
Secure – 1
A++
AAA
Aaa
AAA
Secure – 2
A+
AA+, AA, AA-
Aa1, Aa2, Aa3
AA+, AA, AA-
Secure – 3
A
A+, A
A1, A2
A+, A
Secure – 4
A-
A-
A3
A-
Secure – 5
B++, B+
BBB+, BBB, BBB- Baa1, Baa2, Baa3
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
Vulnerable – 6
B, B-, C++,
C+, C, C-, D,
E, F
BB+, BB, BB-, B+,
B, B-, CCC, CC, C,
D, R
Ba1, Ba2, Ba3,
B1, B2, B3, Caa,
Ca, C
BB+, BB, BB-, B+,
B, B-, CCC+, CC,
CCC-, DD
regarding reinsurance assumed from United
States domestic ceding insurers;
F. A certification from the certified
reinsurer’s domestic regulator that the certified reinsurer is in good standing and maintains capital in excess of the jurisdiction’s
highest regulatory action level;
G. Includes with the documents
required to be filed under preceding provisions of section (6) of this rule the appropriate filing fees as set forth in section 374.230,
RSMo; and
H. Any other information that the
director may reasonably require.
8. The information required to be filed
pursuant to paragraph (6)(B)7. of this rule
shall be deemed records which are open to
the inspection of the public in accordance
with sections 374.070 and 610.011, RSMo.
Any insurance company claiming that such
filings are trade secrets or proprietary information shall comply with the procedures as
set forth in 20 CSR 10-2.400(8).
9. Change in Rating or Revocation of
Certification.
A. In the case of a downgrade by a
rating agency or other disqualifying circumstance, the director shall, upon written
notice, assign a new rating to the certified
reinsurer in accordance with the requirements
of subparagraph (6)(B)4.A. of this rule.
B. The director shall have the authority to suspend, revoke, or otherwise modify a
certified reinsurer’s certification at any time,
if the certified reinsurer fails to meet or
maintain its obligations or security requirements under section (6) of this rule, or if
other financial or operating results of the certified reinsurer, or documented significant
delays in payment by the certified reinsurer,
lead the director to reconsider the certified
reinsurer’s ability or willingness to meet its
contractual obligations.
C. If the rating of a certified reinsurer
is upgraded by the director, the certified reinsurer may meet the security requirements
applicable to its new rating on a prospective
basis, but the director shall require the certified reinsurer to post security under the previously applicable security requirements as to
all contracts in force on or before the effective date of the upgraded rating. If the rating
of a certified reinsurer is downgraded by the
director, the director shall require the certified reinsurer to meet the security requirements applicable to its new rating for all business it has assumed as a certified reinsurer.
D. Upon revocation of the certification of a certified reinsurer by the director,
the assuming insurer shall be required to post
security in accordance with section (9) of this
rule in order for the ceding insurer to continue to take credit for reinsurance ceded to the
assuming insurer. If funds continue to be held
in trust in accordance with section (5) of this
rule, the director may allow additional credit
equal to the ceding insurer’s pro rata share of
such funds, discounted to reflect the risk of
uncollectibility and anticipated expenses of
trust administration. Notwithstanding the
change of a certified reinsurer’s rating or
revocation of its certification, a domestic
insurer that has ceded reinsurance to that certified reinsurer may not be denied credit for
reinsurance for a period of three (3) months
for all reinsurance ceded to that certified
reinsurer, unless the reinsurance is found by
the director to be at high risk of uncollectibility.
(C) Qualified Jurisdictions.
1. If, upon conducting an evaluation
under section (6) of this rule with respect to
the reinsurance supervisory system of any
non-United States assuming insurer, the
director determines that the jurisdiction qualifies to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the director shall publish notice and evidence of such recognition in an appropriate
manner. The director may establish a procedure to withdraw recognition of those jurisdictions that are no longer qualified.
2. In order to determine whether the
domiciliary jurisdiction of a non-United
States assuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the director shall evaluate the reinsurance supervisory
system of the non-United States jurisdiction,
both initially and on an ongoing basis, and
consider the rights, benefits, and the extent of
reciprocal recognition afforded by the nonUnited States jurisdiction to reinsurers
licensed and domiciled in the United States.
The director shall determine the appropriate
approach for evaluating the qualifications of
such jurisdictions, and create and publish a
list of jurisdictions whose reinsurers may be
approved by the director as eligible for certification. A qualified jurisdiction must agree
to share information and cooperate with the
director with respect to all certified reinsurers
domiciled within that jurisdiction. Additional
factors to be considered in determining
whether to recognize a qualified jurisdiction,
in the discretion of the director, include, but
are not limited to, the following:
A. The framework under which the
assuming insurer is regulated;
B. The structure and authority of the
domiciliary regulator with regard to solvency
regulation requirements and financial surveillance;
C. The substance of financial and
operating standards for assuming insurers in
the domiciliary jurisdiction;
D. The form and substance of financial reports required to be filed or made publicly available by reinsurers in the domiciliary
jurisdiction and the accounting principles
used;
E. The domiciliary regulator’s willingness to cooperate with United States regulators in general and the director in particular;
F. The history of performance by
assuming insurers in the domiciliary jurisdiction;
G. Any documented evidence of substantial problems with the enforcement of
final United States judgments in the domiciliary jurisdiction. A jurisdiction will not be
considered to be a qualified jurisdiction if the
director has determined that it does not adequately and promptly enforce final United
States judgments or arbitration awards;
H. Any relevant international standards or guidance with respect to mutual
recognition of reinsurance supervision adopted by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors or successor organization;
and
I. Any other matters deemed relevant
by the director.
3. A list of qualified jurisdictions shall
be published through the NAIC Committee
Process. The director may consider this list in
determining qualified jurisdictions. If the
director approves a jurisdiction as qualified
that does not appear on the list of qualified
jurisdictions, the director shall provide thoroughly documented justification with respect
to the criteria provided under subsection
(6)(C) of this rule.
4. United States jurisdictions that meet
the requirements for accreditation under the
NAIC financial standards and accreditation
program shall be recognized as qualified
jurisdictions.
(D) Recognition of Certification Issued by
an NAIC Accredited Jurisdiction.
1. If an applicant for certification has
been certified as a reinsurer in an NAICaccredited jurisdiction, the director has the
discretion to defer to that jurisdiction’s certification, and to defer to the rating assigned by
that jurisdiction, if the assuming insurer submits a properly executed Form CR-1, the
form of which is included herein as Exhibit 6
of this rule, revised September 23, 2013, or
any form which substantially comports with
the specified form, and such additional information as the director requires. The assuming
insurer shall be considered to be a certified
reinsurer in this state.
2. Any change in the certified reinsurer’s status or rating in the other jurisdiction
shall apply automatically in this state as of
the date it takes effect in the other jurisdiction. The certified reinsurer shall notify the
director of any change in its status or rating
within ten (10) days after receiving notice of
the change.
3. The director may withdraw recognition of the other jurisdiction’s rating at any
time and assign a new rating in accordance
with subparagraph (6)(B)7.A. of this rule.
4. The director may withdraw recognition of the other jurisdiction’s certification at
any time, with written notice to the certified
reinsurer. Unless the director suspends or
revokes the certified reinsurer’s certification
in accordance with subparagraph (6)(B)7.B.
of this rule, the certified reinsurer’s certification shall remain in good standing in this state
for a period of three (3) months, which shall
be extended if additional time is necessary to
consider the assuming insurer’s application
for certification in this state.
(E) Mandatory Funding Clause. In addition to the clauses required under section (13)
of this rule, reinsurance contracts entered into
or renewed under section (6) of this rule shall
include a proper funding clause, which
requires the certified reinsurer to provide and
maintain security in an amount sufficient to
avoid the imposition of any financial statement penalty on the ceding insurer under section (6) of this rule for reinsurance ceded to
the certified reinsurer.
(F) The director shall comply with all
reporting and notification requirements that
may be established by the NAIC with respect
to certified reinsurers and qualified jurisdictions.
(7) Credit for Reinsurance—Reciprocal Jurisdictions.
(A) Pursuant to section 375.246.1(6),
RSMo, the director shall allow credit for
reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an
assuming insurer that is licensed to write
reinsurance by, and has its head office or is
domiciled in, a reciprocal jurisdiction, and
which meets the other requirements of this
regulation.
(B) A “Reciprocal Jurisdiction” is a jurisdiction, as designated by the director pursuant to subsection (7)(D) of this rule, that
meets one (1) of the following:
1. A non-U.S. jurisdiction that is subject to an in-force covered agreement with the
United States, each within its legal authority,
or, in the case of a covered agreement
between the United States and the European
Union, is a member state of the European
Union. For purposes of this subsection, a
“covered agreement” is an agreement entered
into pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 31
U.S.C. sections 313 and 314, that is currently in effect or in a period of provisional application and addresses the elimination, under
specified conditions, of collateral requirements as a condition for entering into any
reinsurance agreement with a ceding insurer
domiciled in this state or for allowing the
ceding insurer to recognize credit for reinsurance;
2. A U.S. jurisdiction that meets the
requirements for accreditation under the
NAIC financial standards and accreditation
program; or
3. A qualified jurisdiction, as determined by the director pursuant to section
375.246.1(5), RSMo, and subsection (6)(C)
of this rule, which is not otherwise described
in paragraph (7)(B)1. or (7)(B)2. of this rule
and which the director determines meets all
of the following additional requirements:
A. Provides that an insurer which has
its head office or is domiciled in such qualified jurisdiction shall receive credit for reinsurance ceded to a U.S. domiciled assuming
insurer in the same manner as credit for reinsurance is received for reinsurance assumed
by insurers domiciled in such qualified jurisdiction;
B. Does not require a U.S. domiciled
assuming insurer to establish or maintain a
local presence as a condition for entering into
a reinsurance agreement with any ceding
insurer subject to regulation by the non-U.S.
jurisdiction or as a condition to allow the ceding insurer to recognize credit for such reinsurance;
C. Recognizes the U.S. state regulatory approach to group supervision and group
capital, by providing written confirmation by
a competent regulatory authority, in such
qualified jurisdiction, that insurers and insurance groups that are domiciled or maintain
their headquarters in this state or another
jurisdiction accredited by the NAIC shall be
subject only to worldwide prudential insurance group supervision including worldwide
group governance, solvency and capital, and
reporting, as applicable, by the director or
the commissioner of the domiciliary state and
will not be subject to group supervision at the
level of the worldwide parent undertaking of
the insurance or reinsurance group by the
qualified jurisdiction; and
D. Provides written confirmation by a
competent regulatory authority in such qualified jurisdiction that information regarding
insurers and their parent, subsidiary, or affiliated entities, if applicable, shall be provided
to the director in accordance with a memorandum of understanding or similar document
between the director and such qualified jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, the
International Association of Insurance Supervisors Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding or other multilateral memoranda of
understanding coordinated by the NAIC.
(C) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded from an insurer domiciled in
this state to an assuming insurer meeting each
of the conditions set forth below—
1. The assuming insurer must be
licensed to transact reinsurance by, and have
its head office or be domiciled in, a reciprocal jurisdiction;
2. The assuming insurer must have and
maintain on an ongoing basis minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, calculated
on at least an annual basis as of the preceding
December 31 or at the annual date otherwise
statutorily reported to the reciprocal jurisdiction, and confirmed as set forth in paragraph
(7)(C)7. of this rule according to the methodology of its domiciliary jurisdiction, in the
following amounts:
A. No less than $250 million; or
B. If the assuming insurer is an association, including incorporated and individual
unincorporated underwriters:
(I) Minimum capital and surplus
equivalents (net of liabilities) or own funds of
the equivalent of at least $250 million; and
(II) A central fund containing a balance of the equivalent of at least $250 million;
3. The assuming insurer must have and
maintain on an ongoing basis a minimum solvency or capital ratio, as applicable, as follows:
A. If the assuming insurer has its
head office or is domiciled in a reciprocal
jurisdiction as defined in paragraph (7)(B)1.
of this rule, the ratio specified in the applicable covered agreement;
B. If the assuming insurer is domiciled in a reciprocal jurisdiction as defined in
paragraph (7)(B)2. of this rule, a risk-based
capital (RBC) ratio of three hundred percent
(300%) of the authorized control level, calculated in accordance with the formula developed by the NAIC; or
C. If the assuming insurer is domiciled in a reciprocal jurisdiction as defined in
paragraph (7)(B)3. of this rule, after consultation with the reciprocal jurisdiction and
considering any recommendations published
through the NAIC Committee Process, such
solvency or capital ratio as the director determines to be an effective measure of solvency;
4. The assuming insurer must agree to
and provide adequate assurance, in the form
of a properly executed Form RJ-1, the form
of which is included herein as Exhibit 9 of
this rule, of its agreement to the following:
A. The assuming insurer must agree
to provide prompt written notice and explanation to the director if it falls below the minimum requirements set forth in paragraphs
(7)(B)2. or 3. of this rule, or if any regulatory action is taken against it for serious noncompliance with applicable law;
B. The assuming insurer must consent
in writing to the jurisdiction of the courts of
this state and to the appointment of the director as agent for service of process.
(I) The director may also require
Company Regulation
that such consent be provided and included in
each reinsurance agreement under the director’s jurisdiction.
(II) Nothing in this provision shall
limit or in any way alter the capacity of parties to a reinsurance agreement to agree to
alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,
except to the extent such agreements are
unenforceable under applicable insolvency or
delinquency laws;
C. The assuming insurer must consent in writing to pay all final judgments,
wherever enforcement is sought, obtained by
a ceding insurer, that have been declared
enforceable in the territory where the judgment was obtained;
D. Each reinsurance agreement must
include a provision requiring the assuming
insurer to provide security in an amount
equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the
assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to
reinsurance ceded pursuant to that agreement
if the assuming insurer resists enforcement of
a final judgment that is enforceable under the
law of the jurisdiction in which it was
obtained or a properly enforceable arbitration
award, whether obtained by the ceding insurer or by its legal successor on behalf of its
estate, if applicable;
E. The assuming insurer must confirm that it is not presently participating in
any solvent scheme of arrangement, which
involves this state’s ceding insurers, and
agrees to notify the ceding insurer and the
director and to provide one hundred percent
(100%) security to the ceding insurer consistent with the terms of the scheme, should the
assuming insurer enter into such a solvent
scheme of arrangement. Such security shall
be in a form consistent with the provisions of
section 375.246.1(5) and section 375.246.2,
RSMo, and section (10), (11), or (12) of this
rule. For purposes of this rule, the term “solvent scheme of arrangement” means a foreign
or alien statutory or regulatory compromise
procedure subject to requisite majority creditor approval and judicial sanction in the
assuming insurer’s home jurisdiction either to
finally commute liabilities of duly noticed
classed members or creditors of a solvent
debtor, or to reorganize or restructure the
debts and obligations of a solvent debtor on a
final basis, and which may be subject to judicial recognition and enforcement of the
arrangement by a governing authority outside
the ceding insurer’s home jurisdiction; and
F. The assuming insurer must agree in
writing to meet the applicable information filing requirements as set forth in paragraph
(7)(C)5. of this rule;
5. The assuming insurer or its legal successor must provide, if requested by the
director, on behalf of itself and any legal predecessors, the following documentation to the
director:
A. For the two (2) years preceding
entry into the reinsurance agreement and on
an annual basis thereafter, the assuming
insurer’s annual audited financial statements,
in accordance with the applicable law of the
jurisdiction of its head office or domiciliary
jurisdiction, as applicable, including the
external audit report;
B. For the two (2) years preceding
entry into the reinsurance agreement, the solvency and financial condition report or actuarial opinion, if filed with the assuming
insurer’s supervisor;
C. Prior to entry into the reinsurance
agreement and not more than semi-annually
thereafter, an updated list of all disputed and
overdue reinsurance claims outstanding for
ninety (90) days or more, regarding reinsurance assumed from ceding insurers domiciled
in the United States; and
D. Prior to entry into the reinsurance
agreement and not more than semi-annually
thereafter, information regarding the assuming insurer’s assumed reinsurance by the ceding insurer, ceded reinsurance by the assuming insurer, and reinsurance recoverable on
paid and unpaid losses by the assuming insurer to allow for the evaluation of the criteria
set forth in paragraph (7)(C)6. of this rule;
6. The assuming insurer must maintain a
practice of prompt payment of claims under
reinsurance agreements. The lack of prompt
payment will be evidenced if any of the following criteria is met:
A. More than fifteen percent (15%)
of the reinsurance recoverables from the
assuming insurer are overdue and in dispute
as reported to the director;
B. More than fifteen percent (15%) of
the assuming insurer’s ceding insurers or
reinsurers have overdue reinsurance recoverable on paid losses of ninety (90) days or
more which are not in dispute and which
exceed for each ceding insurer one hundred
thousand dollars ($100,000), or as otherwise
specified in a covered agreement; or
C. The aggregate amount of reinsurance recoverable on paid losses which are not
in dispute, but are overdue by ninety (90)
days or more, exceeds $50 million or as otherwise specified in a covered agreement;
7. The assuming insurer’s supervisory
authority must confirm to the director on an
annual basis that the assuming insurer complies with the requirements set forth in paragraphs (7)(C)2. and 3. of this rule; and
8. Nothing in this provision precludes an
assuming insurer from providing the director
with information on a voluntary basis.
(D) The director shall timely create and
publish a list of reciprocal jurisdictions.
1. A list of reciprocal jurisdictions is
published through the NAIC Committee Process. The director’s list shall include any
reciprocal jurisdiction as defined under paragraphs (7)(B)1. and 2. of this rule, and shall
consider any other reciprocal jurisdiction
included on the NAIC list. The director may
approve a jurisdiction that does not appear on
the NAIC list of reciprocal jurisdictions as
provided by applicable law, regulation, or in
accordance with criteria published through
the NAIC Committee Process.
2. The director may remove a jurisdiction from the list of reciprocal jurisdictions
upon a determination that the jurisdiction no
longer meets one (1) or more of the requirements of a reciprocal jurisdiction, as provided by applicable law, regulation, or in accordance with a process published through the
NAIC Committee Process, except that the
director shall not remove from the list a
reciprocal jurisdiction as defined under paragraphs (7)(B)1. and 2. of this rule. Upon
removal of a reciprocal jurisdiction from this
list credit for reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer domiciled in that jurisdiction shall
be allowed, if otherwise allowed pursuant to
section 375.246, RSMo, or 20 CSR 2002.100.
(E) The director shall timely create and
publish a list of assuming insurers that have
satisfied the conditions set forth in this section and to which cessions shall be granted
credit in accordance with this subsection.
1. If an NAIC-accredited jurisdiction has
determined that the conditions set forth in subsection (7)(C) of this rule have been met, the
director has the discretion to defer to that
jurisdiction’s determination, and add such
assuming insurer to the list of assuming insurers to which cessions shall be granted credit in
accordance with this subsection. The director
may accept financial documentation filed with
another NAIC-accredited jurisdiction or with
the NAIC in satisfaction of the requirements of
subsection (7)(C) of this rule.
2. When requesting that the director
defer to another NAIC-accredited jurisdiction’s determination, an assuming insurer
must submit a properly executed Form RJ-1
and additional information as the director
may require. A state that has received such a
request will notify other states through the
NAIC Committee Process and provide relevant information with respect to the determination of eligibility.
(F) If the director determines that an
assuming insurer no longer meets one (1) or
more of the requirements under this subsection, the director may revoke or suspend the
eligibility of the assuming insurer for recognition under this subsection.
1. While an assuming insurer’s eligibility is suspended, no reinsurance agreement
issued, amended, or renewed after the effective date of the suspension qualifies for credit
except to the extent that the assuming insurer’s obligations under the contract are
secured in accordance with section (9).
2. If an assuming insurer’s eligibility is
revoked, no credit for reinsurance may be
granted after the effective date of the revocation with respect to any reinsurance agreements entered into by the assuming insurer,
including reinsurance agreements entered
into prior to the date of revocation, except to
the extent that the assuming insurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in a form
acceptable to the director and consistent with
the provisions of section (9) of this rule.
(G) Before denying statement credit or
imposing a requirement to post security with
respect to subsection (7)(F) of this rule or
adopting any similar requirement that will
have substantially the same regulatory impact
as security, the director shall—
1. Communicate with the ceding insurer, the assuming insurer, and the assuming
insurer’s supervisory authority that the
assuming insurer no longer satisfies one (1)
of the conditions listed in subsection (7)(C) of
this rule;
2. Provide the assuming insurer with
thirty (30) days from the initial communication to submit a plan to remedy the defect,
and ninety (90) days from the initial communication to remedy the defect, except in
exceptional circumstances in which a shorter
period is necessary for policyholder and other
consumer protection;
3. After the expiration of ninety (90)
days or less, as set out in paragraph (7)(G)2.
of this rule, if the director determines that no
or insufficient action was taken by the assuming insurer, the director may impose any of
the requirements as set out in this subsection;
and
4. Provide a written explanation to the
assuming insurer of any of the requirements
set out in this subsection.
(H) If subject to a legal process of rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation, as applicable, the ceding insurer, or its representative, may seek and, if determined appropriate
by the court in which the proceedings are
pending, may obtain an order requiring that
the assuming insurer post security for all outstanding liabilities.
(8) Credit for Reinsurance Required by Law.
Pursuant to section 375.246.1, RSMo, the
director shall allow credit for reinsurance
ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming
insurer not meeting the requirements of section 375.246.1(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6),
RSMo, but only as to the insurance of risks
located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance
is required by the applicable law or regulation
of that jurisdiction. As used in this section,
“jurisdiction” means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
(9) Asset or Reduction From Liability for
Reinsurance Ceded to an Unauthorized
Assuming Insurer not Meeting the Requirements of Sections (2) through (8) of this Rule.
(A) Pursuant to section 375.246.2.,
RSMo, the director shall allow a reduction
from liability for reinsurance ceded by a
domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not
meeting
the
requirements
of
section
375.246.1., RSMo, in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer. The reduction shall be in the amount of
funds held by or on behalf of the ceding
insurer, including funds held in trust for the
exclusive benefit of the ceding insurer, under
a reinsurance contract with such assuming
insurer as security for the payment of obligations under the reinsurance contract. The
security shall be held in the United States
subject to withdrawal solely by, and under the
exclusive control of, the ceding insurer or, in
the case of a trust, held in a qualified United
States financial institution as defined in section 375.246.3(2), RSMo. This security may
be in the form of any of the following:
1. Cash;
2. Securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those
deemed exempt from filing as defined by the
Purpose and Procedures Manual of the Securities Valuation Office, and qualifying as
admitted assets;
3. Clean, irrevocable, unconditional,
and “evergreen” letters of credit issued or
confirmed by a qualified United States institution, as defined in section 375.246.3(1),
RSMo, effective no later than December 31
of the year for which filing is being made,
and in the possession of, or in trust for, the
ceding insurer on or before the filing date of
its annual statement. Letters of credit meeting
applicable standards of issuer acceptability as
of the dates of their issuance (or confirmation) shall, notwithstanding the issuing (or
confirming) institution’s subsequent failure to
meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security
until their expiration, extension, renewal,
modification, or amendment, whichever first
occurs; or
4. Any other form of security acceptable
to the director.
(B) An admitted asset or a reduction from
liability for reinsurance ceded to an unauthorized assuming insurer pursuant to section (9)
of this rule shall be allowed only when the
requirements of section (13) and the applicable portions of sections (10), (11), or (12) of
this rule have been satisfied.
(10) Trust Agreements Qualified Under Section (9).
(A) As used in section (10) of this rule—
1. “Beneficiary” means the entity for
whose sole benefit the trust has been established and any successor of the beneficiary by
operation of law. If a court of law appoints a
successor in interest to the named beneficiary, then the named beneficiary includes, and
is limited to, the court-appointed domiciliary
receiver (including conservator, rehabilitator,
or liquidator);
2. “Grantor” means the entity that has
established a trust for the sole benefit of the
beneficiary. When established in conjunction
with a reinsurance agreement, the grantor is
the unlicensed, unaccredited assuming insurer; and
3. “Obligations,” as used in paragraph
(10)(B)11. of this rule, means—
A. Reinsured losses and allocated loss
expenses paid by the ceding company, but not
recovered from the assuming insurer;
B. Reserves for reinsured losses
reported and outstanding;
C. Reserves for reinsured losses
incurred but not reported; and
D. Reserves for allocated reinsured
loss expenses and unearned premiums.
(B) Required Conditions.
1. The trust agreement shall be entered
into between the beneficiary, the grantor, and
a trustee, which shall be a qualified United
States financial institution as defined in section 375.246.3(2), RSMo.
2. The trust agreement shall create a
trust account into which assets shall be
deposited.
3. All assets in the trust account shall be
held by the trustee at the trustee’s office in
the United States.
4. The trust agreement shall provide
that—
A. The beneficiary shall have the
right to withdraw assets from the trust
account at any time, without notice to the
grantor, subject only to written notice from
the beneficiary to the trustee;
B. No other statement or document is
required to be presented in order to withdraw
assets, except that the beneficiary may be
required to acknowledge receipt of withdrawn
assets;
C. It is not subject to any conditions
or qualifications outside of the trust agreement; and
D. It shall not contain references to
any other agreements or documents except as
provided for in paragraphs (10)(B)11. and
(10)(B)12. of this rule.
5. The trust agreement shall be established for the sole benefit of the beneficiary.
6. The trust agreement shall require the
trustee to—
A. Receive assets and hold all assets
Company Regulation
in a safe place;
B. Determine that all assets are in the
form that the beneficiary, or the trustee upon
direction by the beneficiary, may whenever
necessary negotiate any such assets, without
consent or signature from the grantor or any
other person or entity;
C. Furnish to the grantor and the beneficiary a statement of all assets in the trust
account upon its inception and at intervals no
less frequent than the end of each calendar
quarter;
D. Notify the grantor and the beneficiary within ten (10) days of any deposits to
or withdrawals from the trust account;
E. Upon written demand of the beneficiary, immediately take any and all steps
necessary to transfer absolutely and unequivocally all right, title, and interest in the assets
held in the trust account to the beneficiary
and deliver physical custody of these assets to
the beneficiary; and
F. Allow no substitutions or withdrawals of assets from the trust account,
except on written instructions from the beneficiary, except that the trustee may, without
the consent of but with notice to the beneficiary, upon call or maturity of any trust asset
withdraw such asset upon condition that the
proceeds are paid into the trust account.
7. The trust agreement shall provide that
at least thirty (30) days, but not more than
forty-five (45) days, prior to termination of
the trust account, written notification of termination shall be delivered by the trustee to
the beneficiary.
8. The trust agreement shall be made
subject to and governed by the laws of the
state in which the trust is domiciled.
9. The trust agreement shall prohibit
invasion of the trust corpus for the purpose of
paying commission to, or reimbursing the
expenses of, the trustee. In order for a letter
of credit to qualify as an asset of the trust, the
trustee shall have the right and the obligation
pursuant to the deed of trust or some other
binding agreement (as duly approved by the
director), to immediately draw down the full
amount of the letter of credit and hold the
proceeds in trust for the beneficiaries of the
trust if the letter of credit will otherwise
expire without being renewed or replaced.
10. The trust agreement shall provide
that the trustee shall be liable for its negligence, willful misconduct, or lack of good
faith. The failure of the trustee to draw
against the letter of credit in circumstances
where such draw would be required shall be
deemed to be negligence and/or willful misconduct.
11. Notwithstanding other provisions of
this rule, when a trust agreement is established in conjunction with a reinsurance
agreement covering risks other than life,
annuities, and accident and health, where it is
customary practice to provide a trust agreement for a specific purpose, the trust agreement may provide that the ceding insurer
shall undertake to use and apply amounts
drawn upon the trust account, without
diminution because of the insolvency of the
ceding insurer or the assuming insurer, only
for the following purposes:
A. To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for the assuming insurer’s share
under the specific reinsurance agreement
regarding any losses and allocated loss
expenses paid by the ceding insurer, but not
recovered from the assuming insurer, or for
unearned premiums due to the ceding insurer
if not otherwise paid by the assuming insurer;
B. To make payment to the assuming
insurer of any amounts held in the trust
account that exceed one hundred two percent
(102%) of the actual amount required to fund
the assuming insurer’s obligations under the
specific reinsurance agreement; or
C. Where the ceding insurer has
received notification of termination of the
trust account and where the assuming insurer’s entire obligations under the specific reinsurance agreement remain unliquidated and
undischarged ten (10) days prior to that termination date, to withdraw amounts equal to
those obligations and deposit those amounts
in a separate account, in the name of the ceding insurer in any qualified United States
financial institution as defined in section
375.246.3(2), RSMo, apart from its general
assets, in trust for those uses and purposes
specified in subparagraphs (10)(B)11.A. and
B. of this rule as may remain executory after
such withdrawal and for any period after the
termination date.
12. Notwithstanding other provisions of
this rule, when a trust agreement is established to meet the requirements of section (9)
of this rule in conjunction with a reinsurance
agreement covering life, annuities, or accident and health risks, where it is customary
to provide a trust agreement for a specific
purpose, the trust agreement may provide that
the ceding insurer shall undertake to use and
apply amounts drawn upon the trust account,
without diminution because of the insolvency
of the ceding insurer or the assuming insurer,
only for the following purposes:
A. To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for—
(I) The assuming insurer’s share
under the specific reinsurance agreement of
premiums returned, but not yet recovered
from the assuming insurer, to the owners of
policies reinsured under the reinsurance
agreement on account of cancellations of the
policies; and
(II) The assuming insurer’s share
under the specific reinsurance agreement of
surrenders and benefits or losses paid by the
ceding insurer, but not yet recovered from the
assuming insurer, under the terms and provisions of the policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement;
B. To pay to the assuming insurer
amounts held in the trust account in excess of
the amount necessary to secure the credit or
reduction from liability for reinsurance taken
by the ceding insurer; or
C. Where the ceding insurer has
received notification of termination of the
trust and where the assuming insurer’s entire
obligations under the specific reinsurance
agreement remain unliquidated and undischarged ten (10) days prior to the termination
date, to withdraw amounts equal to the
assuming insurer’s share of liabilities, to the
extent that the liabilities have not yet been
funded by the assuming insurer, and deposit
those amounts in a separate account, in the
name of the ceding insurer in any qualified
United States financial institution apart from
its general assets, in trust for the uses and
purposes
specified
in
subparagraphs
(10)(B)12.A. and (10)(B)12.B. of this rule as
may remain executory after withdrawal and
for any period after the termination date.
13. Either the reinsurance agreement or
the trust agreement must stipulate that assets
deposited in the trust account shall be valued
according to their current fair market value
and shall consist only of cash in United States
dollars, certificates of deposit issued by a
United States bank and payable in United
States dollars, and investments permitted by
the Insurance Code or any combination of the
above, provided investments in or issued by
an entity controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with either the grantor or
the beneficiary of the trust shall not exceed
five percent (5%) of total investments. The
agreement may further specify the types of
investments to be deposited. If the reinsurance agreement covers life, annuities, or accident and health risks, then the provisions
required by paragraph (10)(B)13. of this rule
must be included in the reinsurance agreement.
(C) Permitted Conditions.
1. The trust agreement may provide that
the trustee may resign upon delivery of a
written notice of resignation, effective not
less than ninety (90) days after the beneficiary and grantor receive the notice and that the
trustee may be removed by the grantor by
delivery to the trustee and the beneficiary of
a written notice of removal, effective not less
than ninety (90) days after the trustee and the
beneficiary receive the notice, provided that
no such resignation or removal shall be effective until a successor trustee has been duly
appointed and approved by the beneficiary
and the grantor and all assets in the trust have
been duly transferred to the new trustee.
2. The grantor may have the full and
unqualified right to vote any shares of stock
in the trust account and to receive from timeto-time payments of any dividends or interest
upon any shares of stock or obligations
included in the trust account. Any interest or
dividends either shall be forwarded promptly
upon receipt to the grantor or deposited in a
separate account established in the grantor’s
name.
3. The trustee may be given authority to
invest, and accept substitutions of, any funds
in the account, provided that no investment
or substitution shall be made without prior
approval of the beneficiary, unless the trust
agreement specifies categories of investments
acceptable to the beneficiary and authorizes
the trustee to invest those funds and to accept
substitutions that the trustee determines are at
least equal in current fair market value to the
assets withdrawn and that are consistent with
the restrictions in subparagraph (10)(D)1.B.
of this rule.
4. The trust agreement may provide that
the beneficiary may at any time designate a
party to which all or part of the trust assets
are to be transferred. Transfer may be conditioned upon the trustee receiving, prior to or
simultaneously, other specified assets.
5. The trust agreement may provide that,
upon termination of the trust account, all
assets not previously withdrawn by the beneficiary shall, with written approval by the
beneficiary, be delivered over to the grantor.
(D) Additional Conditions Applicable to
Reinsurance Agreements.
1. A reinsurance agreement may contain
provisions that—
A. Require the assuming insurer to
enter into a trust agreement and to establish a
trust account for the benefit of the ceding
insurer, and specifying what the agreement is
to cover;
B. Require the assuming insurer, prior
to depositing assets with the trustee, to execute assignments or endorsements in blank,
or to transfer legal title to the trustee of all
shares, obligations, or any other assets
requiring assignments, in order that the ceding insurer, or the trustee upon the direction
of the ceding insurer, may whenever necessary negotiate these assets without consent or
signature from the assuming insurer or any
other entity;
C. Require that all settlements of
account between the ceding insurer and the
assuming insurer be made in cash or its
equivalent; and
D. Stipulate that the assuming insurer
and the ceding insurer agree that the assets in
the trust account, established pursuant to the
provisions of the reinsurance agreement, may
be withdrawn by the ceding insurer at any
time, notwithstanding any other provisions in
the reinsurance agreement, and shall be utilized and applied by the ceding insurer or its
successors in interest by operation of law,
including, without limitation, any liquidator,
rehabilitator, receiver, or conservator of such
company, without diminution because of
insolvency on the part of the ceding insurer or
the assuming insurer, only for the following
purposes:
(I) To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for the assuming insurer’s share
under the specific reinsurance agreement of
premiums returned, but not yet recovered
from the assuming insurer, to the owners of
policies reinsured under the reinsurance
agreement because of cancellation of such
policies;
(II) To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for the assuming insurer’s share of
surrenders and benefits or losses paid by the
ceding insurer pursuant to the provisions of
the policies reinsured under the reinsurance
agreement;
(III) To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for any other amounts necessary to
secure the credit or reduction from liability
for reinsurance taken by the ceding insurer;
and
(IV) To make payment to the
assuming insurer of amounts held in the trust
account in excess of the amount necessary to
secure the credit or reduction from liability
for reinsurance taken by the ceding insurer.
2. The reinsurance agreement also may
contain provisions that—
A. Give the assuming insurer the
right to seek approval from the ceding insurer, which shall not be unreasonably or arbitrarily withheld, to withdraw from the trust
account all or any part of the trust assets and
transfer those assets to the assuming insurer,
provided—
(I) The assuming insurer shall, at
the time of that withdrawal, replace the withdrawn assets with other qualified assets having a current fair market value equal to the
market value of the assets withdrawn so as to
maintain at all times the deposit in the
required amount; or
(II) After withdrawal and transfer,
the current fair market value of the trust
account is no less than one hundred two percent (102%) of the required amount;
B. Provide for the return of any
amount withdrawn in excess of the actual
amounts required for parts (10)(D)1.D.(I)–
(IV) of this rule, and for interest payments at
a rate not in excess of the prime rate of interest on such amounts;
C. Permit the award by any arbitration
panel or court of competent jurisdiction of—
(I) Interest at a rate different from
that provided in subparagraph (10)(D)2.B. of
this rule;
(II) Court or arbitration costs;
(III) Attorney’s fees; and
(IV) Any other reasonable expenses.
(E) Financial reporting. A trust agreement
may be used to reduce any liability for reinsurance ceded to an unauthorized assuming
insurer in financial statements required to be
filed with this department in compliance with
the provisions of this rule when established
on or before the date of filing of the financial
statement of the ceding insurer. Further, the
reduction for the existence of an acceptable
trust account may be up to the current fair
market value of acceptable assets available to
be withdrawn from the trust account at that
time, but such reduction shall be no greater
than the specific obligations under the reinsurance agreement that the trust account was
established to secure.
(F) Existing agreements. Notwithstanding
the effective date of this rule, any trust agreement or underlying reinsurance agreement in
existence prior to January 1, 2013, will continue to be acceptable until December 31,
2013, at which time the agreements will have
to be in full compliance with this rule for the
trust agreement to be acceptable.
(G) The failure of any trust agreement to
specifically identify the beneficiary as
defined in subsection (10)(A) of this rule
shall not be construed to affect any actions or
rights which the director may take or possess
pursuant to the provisions of the laws of this
state.
(11) Letters of Credit Qualified Under Section (9).
(A) The letter of credit must be clean, irrevocable, unconditional and issued or confirmed by a qualified United States financial
institution as defined in section 375.246.3(1),
RSMo. The letter of credit shall contain an
issue date and expiration date and shall stipulate that the beneficiary need only draw a
sight draft under the letter of credit and present it to obtain funds and that no other document need be presented. The letter of credit
also shall indicate that it is not subject to any
condition or qualifications outside of the letter of credit. In addition, the letter of credit
itself shall not contain reference to any other
agreements, documents or entities, except as
provided in paragraph (11)(H)1. of this rule.
As used in section (11) of this rule, “beneficiary” means the domestic insurer for whose
benefit the letter of credit has been established and any successor of the beneficiary by
operation of law. If a court of law appoints a
successor in interest to the named beneficiary, then the named beneficiary includes, and
is limited to, the court-appointed domiciliary
Company Regulation
receiver (including conservator, rehabilitator,
or liquidator).
(B) The heading of the letter of credit may
include a boxed section which contains the
name of the applicant and other appropriate
notations to provide a reference for the letter
of credit. The boxed section shall be clearly
marked to indicate that such information is
for internal identification purposes only.
(C) The letter of credit shall contain a
statement to the effect that the obligation of
the qualified United States financial institution under the letter of credit is in no way
contingent upon reimbursement with respect
thereto.
(D) The term of the letter of credit shall be
for at least one (1) year and shall contain an
“evergreen clause” that prevents the expiration of the letter of credit without due notice
from the issuer. The “evergreen clause” shall
provide for a period of no less than thirty (30)
days’ notice prior to expiration date or nonrenewal.
(E) The letter of credit shall state whether
it is subject to and governed by the laws of
this state or the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits of the International Chamber of Commerce (Publication
600) (UCP 600) or International Standby
Practices of the International Chamber of
Commerce Publication 590 (ISP98), or any
successor publication, and all drafts drawn
thereunder shall be presentable at an office in
the United States of a qualified United States
financial institution.
(F) If the letter of credit is made subject to
the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits of the International Chamber
of Commerce (Publication 500), or any successor publication, then the letter of credit
shall specifically address and provide for an
extension of time to draw against the letter of
credit in the event that one (1) or more of the
occurrences specified in Article 17 of Publication 500 or any other successor publication, occur.
(G) If the letter of credit is issued by a
financial institution authorized to issue letters
of credit, other than a qualified United States
financial institution as described in subsection (11)(A) of this rule, then the following
additional requirements shall be met:
1. The issuing financial institution shall
formally designate the confirming qualified
United States financial institution as its agent
for the receipt and payment of the drafts; and
2. The “evergreen clause” shall provide
for thirty (30) days’ notice prior to expiration
date for nonrenewal.
(H) Reinsurance Agreement Provisions.
1. The reinsurance agreement in conjunction with which the letter of credit is
obtained may contain provisions that—
A. Require the assuming insurer to
provide letters of credit to the ceding insurer
and specify what they are to cover;
B. Stipulate that the assuming insurer
and ceding insurer agree that the letter of
credit provided by the assuming insurer pursuant to the provisions of the reinsurance
agreement may be drawn upon at any time,
notwithstanding any other provisions in the
agreement, and shall be utilized by the ceding
insurer or its successors in interest only for
one (1) or more of the following reasons:
(I) To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for the assuming insurer’s share
under the specific reinsurance agreement of
premiums returned, but not yet recovered
from the assuming insurers, to the owners of
policies reinsured under the reinsurance
agreement on account of cancellations of
those policies;
(II) To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for the assuming insurer’s share,
under the specific reinsurance agreement, of
surrenders and benefits or losses paid by the
ceding insurer, but not yet recovered from the
assuming insurers, under the terms and provisions of the policies reinsured under the
reinsurance agreement;
(III) To pay or reimburse the ceding
insurer for any other amounts necessary to
secure the credit or reduction from liability
for reinsurance taken by the ceding insurer;
and
(IV) Where the letter of credit will
expire without renewal or be reduced or
replaced by a letter of credit for a reduced
amount and where the assuming insurer’s
entire obligations under the reinsurance
agreement remain unliquidated and undischarged ten (10) days prior to the termination
date, to withdraw amounts equal to the
assuming insurer’s share of the liabilities, to
the extent that the liabilities have not yet been
funded by the assuming insurer and exceed
the amount of any reduced or replacement
letter of credit, and deposit those amounts in
a separate account in the name of the ceding
insurer in a qualified United States financial
institution apart from its general assets, in
trust for such uses and purposes specified in
part (11)(H)1.B.(I) of this rule as may remain
after withdrawal and for any period after the
termination date.
C. All of the provisions of paragraph
(11)(H)1. of this rule shall be applied without
diminution because of insolvency on the part
of the ceding insurer or assuming insurer.
2. Nothing contained in paragraph
(11)(H)1. of this rule shall preclude the ceding insurer and assuming insurer from providing for—
A. An interest payment, at a rate not in
excess of the prime rate of interest, on the
amounts held pursuant to part (11)(H)1.B.(III)
of this rule; or
B. The return of any amounts drawn
down on the letters of credit in excess of the
actual amounts required for the above or any
amounts that are subsequently determined not
to be due.
(12) Other Security. A ceding insurer may
take credit for unencumbered funds withheld
by the ceding insurer in the United States
subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding
insurer and under its exclusive control.
(13) Reinsurance Contract. Credit will not be
granted, nor an asset or reduction from liability allowed, to a ceding insurer for reinsurance effected with assuming insurers meeting
the requirements of sections (2), (3), (4), (5),
(6), or (9) of this rule or otherwise in compliance with section 375.246.1., RSMo, after
the adoption of this rule unless the reinsurance agreement includes:
(A) A proper insolvency clause which stipulates that reinsurance is payable directly to
the liquidator or successor without diminution
regardless of the status of the ceding company
consistent with section 375.246.5(2), RSMo,
or is substantially similar to the following:
1. In the event of the insolvency of the
company, this reinsurance shall be payable
directly to the ceding company, or to its liquidator, receiver, conservator, or statutory
successor on the basis of the liability of the
company without diminution because of the
liquidator, receiver, conservator, or statutory
successor of the company has failed to pay all
or a portion of any claim. However, the liquidator, receiver, conservator, or statutory
successor of the company shall give written
notice to the reinsurers of the pendency of a
claim against the company indicating the policy or bond reinsurance which claim would
involve a possible liability on the part of the
reinsurers within a reasonable time after that
claim is filed in the conservation or liquidation proceeding or in the receivership, and
that during the pendency of that claim the
reinsurers may investigate that claim and
interpose, at their own expense, in the proceeding where that claim is to be adjudicated
any defense(s) they may deem available to the
company or its liquidator, receiver, conservator, or statutory successor. This expense
incurred by the reinsurers shall be chargeable, subject to the approval of the court,
against the company as part of the expense of
conservation or liquidation to the extent of a
pro rata share of the benefit which may
accrue to the company solely as a result of
the defense undertaken by the reinsurers;
2. Where two (2) or more reinsurers are
involved in the same claim and a majority in
interest elect to interpose defense to that
claim, the expense shall be apportioned in
accordance with the terms of the reinsurance
agreement as though that expense had been
incurred by the company; and
3. This insolvency clause shall not preclude the reinsurer from asserting any excuse
or defense to payment of this reinsurance
other than the excuses or defenses of the
insolvency of the company and the failure of
the company’s liquidator, receiver, conservator, or statutory successor to pay all or a portion of any claim;
(B) A provision pursuant to section
375.246.1(8), RSMo, whereby the assuming
insurer, if an unauthorized assuming insurer
has submitted to the jurisdiction of an alternative dispute resolution panel or court of
competent jurisdiction within the United
States, has agreed to comply with all requirements necessary to give that court or panel
jurisdiction, has designated an agent upon
whom service of process may be effected,
and has agreed to abide by the final decision
of that court or panel; and
(C) A proper reinsurance intermediary
clause, if applicable, which stipulates that the
credit risk for the intermediary is carried by
the assuming insurer.
(14) Contracts Affected. All new and renewal
reinsurance transactions entered into after
January 1, 2022, shall conform to the
requirements of the Act and this rule if credit
is to be given to the ceding insurer for such
reinsurance.
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