Reinsurance | 6 Months Ended |
Jun. 30, 2014 |
Reinsurance | ' |
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5. Reinsurance |
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In the ordinary course of business, the Company places reinsurance with other insurance companies in order to provide greater diversification of its business and limit the potential for losses arising from large risks. The Company’s reinsurance agreements provide for recovery of a portion of losses and loss expenses from reinsurers and reinsurance recoverables are recorded as assets. The Company is liable if the reinsurers are unable to satisfy their obligations under the agreements. The Company seeks to cede business to reinsurers generally with a financial strength rating of “A-” or better. |
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Quota-share agreements |
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In 2011, the Company entered into a quota-share agreement with a third-party reinsurance company under which the Company ceded 10% of business produced in Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Illinois from September 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, this contract converted to a 40% quota-share reinsurance contract on the in-force business for the applicable states throughout 2012. Written premiums ceded under this agreement totaled $82.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, and this agreement was extended under the same terms through March 31, 2013 and terminated on a cutoff basis as of April 1, 2013. Upon termination, the Company recorded $27.2 million of returned premium, net of $7.7 million of deferred ceding commissions. Written premiums under this agreement during 2013 represented a return of previously ceded premiums totaling $5.5 million. Written premiums ceded under this agreement totaled $99.4 million since inception through April 1, 2013. |
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In 2013, the Company entered into a new quota-share agreement with the same third-party reinsurance company effective March 31, 2013, under which the Company ceded 40% for the same four states as the expiring agreement. This agreement was amended effective June 30, 2013, under which the Company ceded an additional 40% for the same four states for the remainder of 2013. This agreement was further amended to provide a $10.0 million reduction in ceded premiums in the fourth quarter. Written premiums ceded under this agreement totaled $145.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2013. This agreement terminated on January 1, 2014, resulting in the return of $47.2 million unearned premiums, net of $13.9 million of ceding commissions. Written premiums ceded under the agreement totaled $98.6 million since inception through January 1, 2014. |
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Effective December 31, 2013, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement with four third-party reinsurance companies. Under this agreement, the Company ceded 20% of premiums and losses in Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana and Texas, and 60% in California on policies in force on December 31, 2013 or written or renewed on and after that date. Written premiums ceded under this agreement totaled $22.2 million as of December 31, 2013. On January 1, 2014, the quota-share rate increased to 60% for all business in force in these same states and for new and renewal business. On June 30, 2014, the reinsurance agreement was terminated, resulting in the return of $51.7 million unearned premiums, net of $14.5 million of ceding commissions. Written premiums ceded under the agreement totaled $95.8 million since inception through June 30, 2014. |
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Effective June 30, 2014, a new reinsurance agreement with five third-party reinsurance companies was put in place to cede 85% of all business in force in these same states and for new and renewal business through June 30, 2015. The new agreement allows for a reduction in the quota-share rate on January 1, 2015 to as low as 50% at the option of the Company. Unearned premiums ceded under this agreement totaled $73.3 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2014. |
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Assumed Reinsurance |
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Prior to 2013, the Company assumed reinsurance from a Texas county mutual insurance company (the county mutual) whereby the Company assumed 100% of the policies issued by the county mutual for business produced by the Company’s owned general agents. The county mutual does not retain any of this business and there are no loss limits other than the underlying policy limits. AIC has established a trust to secure the Company’s obligation under this reinsurance contract with a balance of $15.3 million and $15.0 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, of which $0.3 million and $3.6 million was held in cash equivalents as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. On January 1, 2013, the Company terminated this agreement on a cut-off basis and unearned premium of $11.8 million was returned to the ceding company. |
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Excess of Loss Contracts |
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In July 2014, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement with third-party reinsurers that provides $7.0 million in excess of the first $3.0 million of losses coverage for catastrophic events that may involve multiple insured losses. |
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In February 2013, the Company entered into a one-year excess of loss reinsurance contract with third-party reinsurers that provides coverage for individual losses in excess of $100,000 up to $1.0 million. In January 2014, this contract was extended to July 1, 2014 under the same terms and conditions. |
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The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned was as follows (in thousands): |
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| | Three Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | Written | | | Earned | | | Loss and | | | Written | | | Earned | | | Loss and | |
Premium | Premium | Loss | Premium | Premium | Loss |
| | Adjustment | | | Adjustment |
| | Expenses | | | Expenses |
Direct | | $ | 75,461 | | | $ | 84,717 | | | $ | 66,821 | | | $ | 68,624 | | | $ | 71,614 | | | $ | 52,002 | |
Reinsurance assumed/(returned) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Reinsurance ceded | | | (65,772 | ) | | | (49,529 | ) | | | (32,261 | ) | | | (16,472 | ) | | | (21,956 | ) | | | (13,759 | ) |
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Total | | $ | 9,689 | | | $ | 35,188 | | | $ | 34,560 | | | $ | 52,152 | | | $ | 49,658 | | | $ | 38,243 | |
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| | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | Written | | | Earned | | | Loss and | | | Written | | | Earned | | | Loss and | |
Premium | Premium | Loss | Premium | Premium | Loss |
| | Adjustment | | | Adjustment |
| | Expenses | | | Expenses |
Direct | | $ | 174,908 | | | $ | 165,038 | | | $ | 123,092 | | | $ | 153,860 | | | $ | 132,275 | | | $ | 95,316 | |
Reinsurance assumed/(returned) | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5 | | | | (11,812 | ) | | | — | | | | 323 | |
Reinsurance ceded | | | (100,402 | ) | | | (96,486 | ) | | | (60,985 | ) | | | (65,487 | ) | | | (41,285 | ) | | | (25,833 | ) |
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Total | | $ | 74,506 | | | $ | 68,552 | | | $ | 62,112 | | | $ | 76,561 | | | $ | 90,990 | | | $ | 69,806 | |
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Under certain of the Company’s reinsurance transactions, the Company has received ceding commissions. The ceding commission rate varies based on loss experience. The estimates of loss experience are continually reviewed and adjusted, and the resulting adjustments to ceding commissions are reflected in current operations. Ceding commissions recognized, reflected as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses, were as follows (in thousands): |
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| | Three Months Ended | | | Six Months Ended | | | | | | | | | |
June 30, | June 30, | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | $ | (13,405 | ) | | $ | (7,481 | ) | | $ | (28,835 | ) | | $ | (13,751 | ) | | | | | | | | |
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The amount of loss reserves and unearned premium the Company would remain liable for in the event its reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations were as follows (in thousands): |
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| | June 30, | | | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2014 | 2013 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Losses and loss adjustment expense reserves | | $ | 73,602 | | | $ | 72,366 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unearned premium reserve | | | 73,297 | | | | 69,381 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Total | | $ | 146,899 | | | $ | 141,747 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Receivable from reinsurers |
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The table below presents the total amount of receivables due from reinsurers as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands): |
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| | June 30, | | | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2014 | 2013 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quota-share reinsurers for agreements effective June 30, 2014 | | $ | 73,287 | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quota-share reinsurers for agreements effective December 31, 2013 | | | 44,902 | | | | 22,218 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association | | | 32,574 | | | | 34,878 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quota-share reinsurer for agreements effective September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013 | | | 14,514 | | | | 91,879 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vesta Insurance Group | | | 13,842 | | | | 13,435 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Excess of loss reinsurers | | | 3,684 | | | | 3,413 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quota-share reinsurer for agreements effective January 1, 2011 and other | | | (202 | ) | | | (4 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Total reinsurance receivable | | $ | 182,601 | | | $ | 165,819 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The quota-share reinsurers and the excess of loss reinsurers all have at least A- ratings from A.M. Best. Accordingly, the Company believes there is minimal credit risk related to these reinsurance receivables. Under the reinsurance agreement with Vesta Insurance Group (VIG), including primarily Vesta Fire Insurance Corporation (VFIC), AIC had the right, under certain circumstances, to require VFIC to provide a letter of credit or establish a trust account to collateralize gross amounts due from VFIC under the reinsurance agreement. At June 30, 2014, the VFIC Trust held $16.6 million (after cumulative withdrawals of $9.0 million through June 30, 2014), consisting of a U.S. Treasury money market account held in cash and cash equivalents, to collateralize the $13.8 million net recoverable from VFIC. |
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At June 30, 2014, $0.2 million was included in reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses that represented the amounts owed by AIC under a reinsurance agreement with a VIG-affiliated company. Affirmative established a trust account to secure the Company’s obligations under this reinsurance contract, which currently holds $15.7 million in a money market cash equivalent account (the AIC Trust). The Special Deputy Receiver in Texas had cumulative withdrawals from the AIC Trust of $0.4 million through June 2014, and the Special Deputy Receiver in Hawaii had cumulative withdrawals from the AIC Trust of $1.7 million through June 2014. |
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In June 2006, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) placed VFIC, along with several of its affiliates, into rehabilitation and subsequently into liquidation (except for VIG which remains in rehabilitation). In accordance with the TDI liquidation orders, all VIG subsidiary reinsurance agreements were terminated. Prior to the termination, the Company assumed various quota-share percentages according to which managing general agents (MGAs) produced the business. With respect to business produced by certain MGAs, the Company assumed 100% of the contracts. For business produced by other MGAs, the Company’s assumption was net after VIG cession to other reinsurers. For this latter assumed business, the other reinsurers and their participation varied by MGA. Prior to the termination of the VIG subsidiary reinsurance agreements, the agreements contained no maximum loss limit other than the underlying policy limits. The ceding company’s retention was zero and these agreements could be terminated at the end of any calendar quarter by either party with prior written notice of not less than 90 days. |
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VIG indemnified the Company for any losses due to uncollectible reinsurance related to reinsurance agreements entered into with unaffiliated reinsurers prior to December 31, 2003. As of June 30, 2014, all such unaffiliated reinsurers had A.M. best ratings of A- or better. The Company had reinsurance recoverable from VIG of $2.0 million and $2.2 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. |