Md. Code Regs. 31.05.08.08

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 31.05.08.08 - Credit for Reinsurance - Reinsurers Maintaining Trust Funds for Multiple Cedents - General Requirements

A. The Commissioner 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, maintains a trust fund in an amount prescribed below in a qualified U.S. financial institution, for the payment of the valid claims of its U.S. domiciled ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.

B. The assuming insurer shall report annually to the Commissioner substantially the same information as that required to be reported on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) annual statement form by authorized insurers, to enable the Commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund.

C. Categories of Assuming Insurer.

(1) The requirements of this section apply to the categories of assuming insurer described in this section.

(2) 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 U.S. domiciled insurers, and in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus in excess of the assuming insurer's obligations of not less than $20,000,000 except as provided in §C(3) of this regulation.

(3) At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least 3 full years, the insurance regulatory agency 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 U.S. 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 30 percent of the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by U.S. ceding insurers covered by the trust.

(4) Trust Funds for Groups - General Requirements.

(a) The trust fund for a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters shall consist of:

(i) For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance contracts 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 U.S. domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group;

(ii) For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance contracts with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this regulation, 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

(iii) In addition to these trusts, a trusteed surplus of which $100,000,000 shall be held jointly for the benefit of the U.S. domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all the years of account.

(b) The incorporated members of the group may 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 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group's domiciliary regulator, provide to the Commissioner:

(i) An annual certification by the group's domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member of the group; or

(ii) If a certification is unavailable, a financial statement, audited by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the group.

Md. Code Regs. 31.05.08.08

Regulations .08 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 17, 1993 (20:14 Md. R. 1164); adopted permanently effective October 11, 1993 (20:20 Md. R. 1571)
Regulations .08F amended, as an emergency provision effective December 19, 1997 (25:2 Md. R. 73); adopted permanently effective June 15, 1998 (25:12 Md. R. 947)
Regulations .08 adopted effective June 5, 2006 (33:11 Md. R. 953)