SB2864eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2864 Engrossed LRB097 18029 RPM 63252 b

AN ACT concerning insurance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by changing Section 173.1 as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/173.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 785.1)

Sec. 173.1. Credit allowed a domestic ceding insurer.

(1) Except as otherwise provided under Article VIII 1/2 of this Code and related provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code, credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an admitted asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision subsection (1)(A) or (B) or (B-5) or (C) or (C-5) or (D). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision subsection (1)(A) or (B) or (B-5) only as respects cessions of those kinds or classes of business in which the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile, or in the case of a U.S. branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. Credit shall be allowed under subdivision subsection (1)(B-5) or (C) of this Section only if the applicable requirements of subdivision subsection (1)(E) have been satisfied.

(A) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is authorized in this State to transact the types of insurance ceded and has at least $5,000,000 in capital and surplus.

(B) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this State. An accredited reinsurer is one that:

(1) files with the Director evidence of its submission to this State's jurisdiction;

(2) submits to this State's authority to examine its books and records;

(3) is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a U.S. branch of an alien assuming insurer is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state;

(4) files annually with the Director a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement; and

(5) maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than $20,000,000 and whose accreditation has been approved by the Director. No credit shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer, if the assuming insurers' accreditation has been revoked by the Director after notice and hearing.

(B-5)(1) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is domiciled in, or in the case of a U.S. branch of an alien assuming insurer is entered through, a state that employs standards regarding credit for reinsurance substantially similar to those applicable under this Code and the assuming insurer or U.S. branch of an alien assuming insurer (a) maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than $20,000,000 and (b) submits to the authority of this State to examine its books and records.

(2) The requirement of subdivision (1)(B-5)(1)(a) of this Section does not apply to reinsurance ceded and assumed pursuant to pooling arrangements among insurers in the same holding company system.

(C)(1) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subsection 3(B), for the payment of the valid claims of its United States policyholders and ceding insurers, their assigns and successors in interest. The assuming insurer shall report to the Director information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC annual and quarterly financial statement by authorized insurers and any other financial information that the Director deems necessary to determine the financial condition of the assuming insurer and the sufficiency of the trust fund. The assuming insurer shall submit to examination of its books and records by the Director and bear the expense of examination.

(2)(a) Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subsection unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by:

(i) the regulatory official of the state where the trust is domiciled; or

(ii) the regulatory official of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.

(b) The form of the trust and any trust amendments also shall be filed with the regulatory official of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid and enforceable upon the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in its trustees for the benefit of the assuming insurer's United States policyholders and ceding insurees and their assigns and successors in interest. The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the Director.

(c) The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer has outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust. No later than February 28 of each year the trustee of the trust shall report to the Director in writing the balance of the trust and a list of 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 will not expire prior to the next following December 31.

(3) The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:

(a) 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. ceding insurers, and in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than $20,000,000, except as provided in subdivision (3)(a-5) of this paragraph (D).

(a-5) At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least 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 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% of the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by U.S. ceding insurers covered by the trust.

(b)(i) In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:

(I) for reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993 August 1, 1995, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters' group's several liabilities attributable to business ceded by U.S. domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group;

(II) for reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992 July 31, 1995 and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the group's several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States; and

(III) in addition to these trusts, the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which not less than $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 years of account.

(ii) 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 solvency regulation and control by the group's domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.

(iii) Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group's domiciliary regulator, the group shall provide to the Director an annual certification by the group's domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member, or if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.

(c) In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall:

(i) have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least 3 years immediately before making application for accreditation;

(ii) maintain aggregate policyholders' surplus of not less than $10,000,000,000;

(iii) maintain a trust in an amount not less than the group's several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of the group;

(iv) in addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which not less than $100,000,000 shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities; and

(v) within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group's domiciliary regulator, make available to the Director an annual certification of each underwriter member's solvency by the member's domiciliary regulator and financial statements of each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.

(C-5) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the Director as a reinsurer in this State and secures its obligations in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.

(1) 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 subparagraph (3) of this paragraph;

(b) the assuming insurer must maintain minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, in an amount to be determined by the Director pursuant to regulation;

(c) the assuming insurer must maintain financial strength ratings from 2 or more rating agencies deemed acceptable by the Director pursuant to regulation;

(d) the assuming insurer must agree to submit to the jurisdiction of this State, appoint the Director as its agent for service of process in this State, and agree to provide security for 100% of the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by U.S. ceding insurers if it resists enforcement of a final U.S. judgment;

(e) the assuming insurer 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; and

(f) the assuming insurer must satisfy any other requirements for certification deemed relevant by the Director.

(2) An association, including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters, may be a certified reinsurer. In order to be eligible for certification, in addition to satisfying the requirements of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph (C-5):

(a) the association shall satisfy its minimum capital and surplus requirements through the capital and surplus equivalents (net of liabilities) of the association and its members, which shall include a joint central fund that may be applied to any unsatisfied obligation of the association or any of its members, in an amount determined by the Director to provide adequate protection;

(b) the incorporated members of the association shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the association and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the association's domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members; and

(c) within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the association's domiciliary regulator, the association shall provide to the Director an annual certification by the association's domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or if a certification is unavailable, financial statements, prepared by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the association.

(3) The Director shall create and publish a list of qualified jurisdictions, under which an assuming insurer licensed and domiciled in such jurisdiction is eligible to be considered for certification by the Director as a certified reinsurer.

(a) In order to determine whether the domiciliary jurisdiction of a non-U.S. assuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the Director shall evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the reinsurance supervisory system of the jurisdiction, both initially and on an ongoing basis, and consider the rights, benefits, and extent of reciprocal recognition afforded by the non-U.S. jurisdiction to reinsurers licensed and domiciled in the U.S. A qualified jurisdiction must agree to share information and cooperate with the Director with respect to all certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction. A jurisdiction may not be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction if the Director has determined that the jurisdiction does not adequately and promptly enforce final U.S. judgments and arbitration awards. Additional factors may be considered in the discretion of the Director.

(b) A list of qualified jurisdictions shall be published through the NAIC Committee Process. The Director shall 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, then the Director shall provide thoroughly documented justification in accordance with criteria to be developed under regulations.

(c) U.S. jurisdictions that meet the requirement for accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program shall be recognized as qualified jurisdictions.

(d) If a certified reinsurer's domiciliary jurisdiction ceases to be a qualified jurisdiction, then the Director has the discretion to suspend the reinsurer's certification indefinitely, in lieu of revocation.

(4) The Director shall assign a rating to each certified reinsurer, giving due consideration to the financial strength ratings that have been assigned by rating agencies deemed acceptable to the Director pursuant to regulation. The Director shall publish a list of all certified reinsurers and their ratings.

(5) A certified reinsurer shall secure obligations assumed from U.S. ceding insurers under this subsection at a level consistent with its rating, as specified in rules adopted by the Director.

(a) In order for a domestic ceding insurer to qualify for full financial statement credit for reinsurance ceded to a certified reinsurer, the certified reinsurer shall maintain security in a form acceptable to the Director and consistent with the provisions of subparagraph (3) of this paragraph (C-5), or in a multibeneficiary trust in accordance with paragraph (C) of this subsection (1), except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph (5).

(b) If a certified reinsurer maintains a trust to fully secure its obligations subject to paragraph (C) of this subsection (1), and chooses to secure its obligations incurred as a certified reinsurer in the form of a multibeneficiary trust, then the certified reinsurer shall maintain separate trust accounts for its obligations incurred under reinsurance agreements issued or renewed as a certified reinsurer with reduced security as permitted by this subsection or comparable laws of other U.S. jurisdictions and for its obligations subject to paragraph (C) of this subsection (1). It shall be a condition to the grant of certification under paragraph (C-5) of this subsection (1) that the certified reinsurer shall have bound itself, by the language of the trust and agreement with the Director with principal regulatory oversight of each such trust account, to fund, upon termination of any such trust account, out of the remaining surplus of such trust any deficiency of any other such trust account.

(c) The minimum trusteed surplus requirements provided in paragraph (C) are not applicable with respect to a multibeneficiary trust maintained by a certified reinsurer for the purpose of securing obligations incurred under this subsection, except that such trust shall maintain a minimum trusteed surplus of $10,000,000.

(d) With respect to obligations incurred by a certified reinsurer under this subsection, if the security is insufficient, then the Director shall reduce the allowable credit by an amount proportionate to the deficiency, and has the discretion to impose further reductions in allowable credit upon finding that there is a material risk that the certified reinsurer's obligations will not be paid in full when due.

(e) For purposes of this subsection, a certified reinsurer whose certification has been terminated for any reason shall be treated as a certified reinsurer required to secure 100% of its obligations.

(i) As used in this subsection, the term "terminated" refers to revocation, suspension, voluntary surrender and inactive status.

(ii) If the Director continues to assign a higher rating as permitted by other provisions of this Section, then this requirement does not apply to a certified reinsurer in inactive status or to a reinsurer whose certification has been suspended.

(6) If an applicant for certification has been certified as a reinsurer in an NAIC accredited jurisdiction, then the Director has the discretion to defer to that jurisdiction's certification, and has the discretion to defer to the rating assigned by that jurisdiction, and such assuming insurer shall be considered to be a certified reinsurer in this State.

(7) A certified reinsurer that ceases to assume new business in this State may request to maintain its certification in inactive status in order to continue to qualify for a reduction in security for its in-force business. An inactive certified reinsurer shall continue to comply with all applicable requirements of this subsection, and the Director shall assign a rating that takes into account, if relevant, the reasons why the reinsurer is not assuming new business.

(D) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subsection (1) (A), (B), or (C) but only with respect to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where that reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction.

(E) If the assuming insurer is not licensed to transact insurance in this State or an accredited reinsurer in this State, the credit permitted by subdivision subsection (1)(B-5) and (C) shall not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the reinsurance agreements:

(1) that in the event of the failure of the assuming insurer to perform its obligations under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, the assuming insurer, at the request of the ceding insurer, shall submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, will comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal; and

(2) to designate the Director or a designated attorney as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding company.

This provision is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if an obligation to arbitrate is created in the agreement.

(F) If the assuming insurer does not meet the requirements of subsection (1)(A) or (B), the credit permitted by subsection (1)(C) shall not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the trust agreements to the following conditions:

(1) 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 subsection (C)(3) of this Section or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile, the trustee shall comply with an order of the state official with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the state official with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.

(2) The assets shall be distributed by and claims shall be filed with and valued by the state official with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.

(3) If the state official with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the U.S. ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the state official with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.

(4) The grantor shall waive any rights otherwise available to it under U.S. law that are inconsistent with the provision.

(G) If an accredited or certified reinsurer ceases to meet the requirements for accreditation or certification, then the Director may suspend or revoke the reinsurer's accreditation or certification.

(1) The Director must give the reinsurer notice and opportunity for hearing. The suspension or revocation may not take effect until after the Director's order on hearing, unless:

(a) the reinsurer waives its right to hearing;

(b) the Director's order is based on regulatory action by the reinsurer's domiciliary jurisdiction or the voluntary surrender or termination of the reinsurer's eligibility to transact insurance or reinsurance business in its domiciliary jurisdiction or in the primary certifying state of the reinsurer under subdivision (C-5)(6) of this subsection; or

(c) the Director finds that an emergency requires immediate action and a court of competent jurisdiction has not stayed the Director's action.

(2) While a reinsurer's accreditation or certification is suspended, no reinsurance contract issued or renewed after the effective date of the suspension qualifies for credit except to the extent that the reinsurer's obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with Section 32 of this Code. If a reinsurer's accreditation or certification is revoked, no credit for reinsurance may be granted after the effective date of the revocation except to the extent that the reinsurer's obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with subdivision (C-5)(5) of this subsection or Section 32 of this Code.

(H) The following provisions shall apply concerning concentration of risk:

(1) A ceding insurer shall take steps to manage its reinsurance recoverable proportionate to its own book of business. A domestic ceding insurer shall notify the Director within 30 days after reinsurance recoverables from any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, exceeds 50% of the domestic ceding insurer's last reported surplus to policyholders, or after it is determined that reinsurance recoverables from any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, is likely to exceed this limit. The notification shall demonstrate that the exposure is safely managed by the domestic ceding insurer.

(2) A ceding insurer shall take steps to diversify its reinsurance program. A domestic ceding insurer shall notify the Director within 30 days after ceding to any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, more than 20% of the ceding insurer's gross written premium in the prior calendar year, or after it has determined that the reinsurance ceded to any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, is likely to exceed this limit. The notification shall demonstrate that the exposure is safely managed by the domestic ceding insurer.

(2) Credit for the reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subsection (1) shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the assets or liabilities carried by the ceding insurer. The credit shall not exceed the amount of funds held by or held in trust for the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder, if the security is 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 subsection (3)(B). This security may be in the form of:

(A) Cash.

(B) Securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance, including those deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the Securities Valuation Office Commissioners that conform to the requirements of Article VIII of this Code that are not issued by an affiliate of either the assuming or ceding company.

(C) Clean, irrevocable, unconditional, letters of credit issued or confirmed by a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subsection (3)(A). The letters of credit shall be 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 company 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.

(D) Any other form of security acceptable to the Director.

(3)(A) For purposes of subsection 2(C), a "qualified United States financial institution" means an institution that:

(1) is organized or, in the case of a U.S. office of a foreign banking organization, licensed under the laws of the United States or any state thereof;

(2) is regulated, supervised, and examined by U.S. federal or state authorities having regulatory authority over banks and trust companies;

(3) has been designated by either the Director or the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as meeting such standards of financial condition and standing as are considered necessary and appropriate to regulate the quality of financial institutions whose letters of credit will be acceptable to the Director; and

(4) is not affiliated with the assuming company.

(B) A "qualified United States financial institution" means, for purposes of those provisions of this law specifying those institutions that are eligible to act as a fiduciary of a trust, an institution that:

(1) is organized or, in the case of the U.S. branch or agency office of a foreign banking organization, licensed under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and has been granted authority to operate with fiduciary powers;

(2) is regulated, supervised, and examined by federal or state authorities having regulatory authority over banks and trust companies; and

(3) is not affiliated with the assuming company, however, if the subject of the reinsurance contract is insurance written pursuant to Section 155.51 of this Code, the financial institution may be affiliated with the assuming company with the prior approval of the Director.

(C) The Director may adopt rules implementing the provisions of this law.

(D) This amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall apply to all cessions after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly under reinsurance agreements that have an inception, anniversary, or renewal date not less than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 90-381, eff. 8-14-97.)