Section 161.3a. Requirements for certified reinsurers

(a) Certification as a certified reinsurer. To be eligible for certification as a certified reinsurer, the assuming insurer shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The assuming insurer shall be domiciled and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in a qualified jurisdiction.

(i) In accordance with reporting and notification requirements that may be established by the NAIC, the Commissioner will create a list of qualified jurisdictions, which will be published annually in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

(ii) United States jurisdictions that meet the requirement for accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program will be recognized as qualified jurisdictions.

(iii) To determine whether the domiciliary jurisdiction of an alien assuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the Commissioner will evaluate:

(A) The appropriateness and effectiveness of the reinsurance supervisory system of the jurisdiction, initially and on an ongoing basis.

(B) The rights, benefits and the extent of reciprocal recognition afforded by the non-United States jurisdiction to reinsurers licensed and domiciled in the United States.

(C) Whether the jurisdiction is a qualified jurisdiction as determined by the NAIC through the committee process. If the Commissioner approves a jurisdiction as qualified that does not appear on the NAIC’s list of qualified jurisdictions, the Commissioner will provide thoroughly documented justification of reasons.

(D) The framework under which the assuming insurer is regulated.

(E) The structure and authority of the domiciliary regulator with regard to solvency regulation requirements and financial surveillance.

(F) The substance of financial and operating standards for assuming insurers in the domiciliary jurisdiction.

(G) 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.

(H) The domiciliary regulator’s willingness to cooperate with United States regulators in general and the Commissioner in particular.

(I) The history of performance by assuming insurers in the domiciliary jurisdiction.

(J) 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.

(iv) A domiciliary jurisdiction of an alien assuming insurer is not eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction unless:

(A) The jurisdiction has agreed to share information and cooperate with the Commissioner with respect to certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction.

(B) The jurisdiction adequately and promptly enforces final United States judgments and arbitration awards.

(v) If a certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction ceases to be a qualified jurisdiction, the Commissioner may withdraw recognition of that jurisdiction.

(2) The assuming insurer shall maintain minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, in an amount to be determined acceptable by the Commissioner in accordance with the following standards:

(i) The assuming insurer must maintain capital and surplus, or its equivalent, of at least $250 million calculated in accordance with subparagraph (ii). 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 $250 million and a central fund containing a balance of at least $250 million.

(ii) Certified reinsurers not domiciled in the United States shall file with the Commissioner audited financial statements (audited United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis if available, audited International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) basis statements are allowed but must include an audited footnote reconciling equity and net income to a United States GAAP basis or, with the permission of the state insurance commissioner, audited IFRS statements with reconciliation to United States GAAP certified by an officer of the company), regulatory filings and actuarial opinion (as filed with the non-United States jurisdiction supervisor). Upon the initial application for certification, the Commissioner will consider audited financial statements for the last 3 years filed with its non-United States jurisdiction supervisor.

(3) The assuming insurer shall maintain financial strength ratings from two or more rating agencies deemed acceptable by the Commissioner in accordance with subparagraph (i) and be rated by the Commissioner in accordance with subparagraph (ii).

(i) Financial strength ratings. The financial strength ratings must be based on interactive communication between the rating agency and the assuming insurer and may not be based solely on publicly available information. These ratings will be one factor used by the Commissioner in determining the rating assigned under subparagraph (ii). Acceptable rating agencies include Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, A.M. Best Company or another Nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

(ii) Assignment and publication of rating. The Commissioner will assign a rating to each certified reinsurer and publish a list of certified reinsurers and their ratings annually in the Pennsylvania Bulletin in accordance with the following:

(A) Each certified reinsurer will be rated on a legal entity basis, with due consideration being given to the group rating when appropriate, except that an association including incorporated and individual unincorporated insurers that have been approved to do business as a single certified reinsurer may be evaluated on the basis of its group rating.

(B) Factors that may be considered as part of the evaluation process include the following:

(I) 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 following table. The Commissioner will 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 financial strength ratings from acceptable rating agencies will result in loss of eligibility for certification.

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

(II) The business practices of the certified reinsurer in dealing with its ceding insurers, including its record of compliance with reinsurance contractual terms and obligations.

(III) 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).

(IV) For certified reinsurers not domiciled in the United States, a review annually of Form CR-F (for property/casualty reinsurers) or Form CR-S (for life and health reinsurers) as developed by the NAIC.

(V) 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 90 days past due or are in dispute, with specific attention given to obligations payable to companies that are in administrative supervision or receivership.

(VI) Regulatory actions against the certified reinsurer.

(VII) The report of the independent auditor on the financial statements of the insurance enterprise, on the basis described in subclause (VIII).

(VIII) For certified reinsurers not domiciled in the United States, audited financial statements (audited United States GAAP basis if available, audited IFRS basis statements are allowed but must include an audited footnote reconciling equity and net income to a United States GAAP basis or, with the permission of the state insurance commissioner, audited IFRS statements with reconciliation to United States GAAP certified by an officer of the company), regulatory filings and actuarial opinion (as filed with the non-United States jurisdiction supervisor). Upon the initial application for certification, the Commissioner will consider audited financial statements for the last 3 years filed with its non-United States jurisdiction supervisor.

(IX) The liquidation priority of obligations to a ceding insurer in the certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction in the context of an insolvency proceeding.

(X) A certified reinsurer’s participation in a solvent scheme of arrangement, or similar procedure, which involves United States ceding insurers. The Commissioner shall receive prior notice from a certified reinsurer that proposes participation by the certified reinsurer in a solvent scheme of arrangement.

(iii) Change in rating or revocation of certification.

(A) In the case of a downgrade by a rating agency or other disqualifying circumstance, the Commissioner will upon written notice assign a new rating to the certified reinsurer in accordance with subparagraph (ii)(B).

(B) The Commissioner has the authority to suspend, revoke or otherwise modify a certified reinsurer’s certification in accordance with the procedures in § 161.6 (relating to revocation of reinsurer qualification or certification) at any time if the certified reinsurer fails to meet its obligations or security requirements under this section, or if other financial or operating results of the certified reinsurer, or documented significant delays in payment by the certified reinsurer, lead the Commissioner 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 Commissioner, the certified reinsurer may meet the security requirements applicable to its new rating on a prospective basis, but the Commissioner will require the certified reinsurer to post security under the previously applicable security requirements as to the contracts in force on or before the effective date of the upgraded rating. If the rating of a certified reinsurer is downgraded by the Commissioner, the Commissioner will require the certified reinsurer to meet the security requirements applicable to its new rating for all business it has assumed as a certified reinsurer.

(4) The assuming insurer shall agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, appoint the Commissioner as its agent for service of process in this Commonwealth and agree to provide security for 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 assuming insurer shall submit a properly executed Form CR-1 as evidence of its submission to the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, appointment of the Commissioner as an agent for service of process in this Commonwealth and agreement to provide security for 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 Commissioner will not certify an assuming insurer that is domiciled in a jurisdiction that the Commissioner has determined does not adequately and promptly enforce final United States judgments or arbitration awards.

(5) The assuming insurer shall agree to meet applicable information filing requirements both with respect to an initial application for certification and on an ongoing basis. Information submitted by certified reinsurers that is not otherwise public information subject to disclosure is confidential and privileged and is not subject to subpoena, discovery, the Right-to-Know Law (65 P. S. § § 67.101—67.3104) or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. The applicable information filing requirements are as follows:

(i) Notification within 10 days of regulatory actions taken against the certified reinsurer, a change in the provisions of its domiciliary license or a change in rating by an approved rating agency, including a statement describing the changes and the reasons.

(ii) Annual submission of Form CR-F or CR-S, as applicable per NAIC instructions.

(iii) Annual submission of the report of the independent auditor on the financial statements of the insurance enterprise on the basis described in subparagraph (iv).

(iv) Annual submission of audited financial statements (audited United States GAAP basis if available, audited IFRS basis statements are allowed but must include an audited footnote reconciling equity and net income to a United States GAAP basis or, with the permission of the state insurance commissioner, audited IFRS statements with reconciliation to United States GAAP certified by an officer of the company), regulatory filings and actuarial opinion (as filed with the certified reinsurer’s supervisor). Upon the initial certification, audited financial statements for the last 3 years filed with the certified reinsurer’s supervisor.

(v) At least annually, filing of an updated list of disputed and overdue reinsurance claims regarding reinsurance assumed from United States domestic ceding insurers.

(vi) 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.

(b) Certification of an association as a certified reinsurer. In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (a), an association, including incorporated and individual unincorporated insurers, may be a certified reinsurer if it satisfies the following additional requirements:

(1) 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 includes 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 Commissioner to provide adequate protection.

(2) The incorporated members of the association may not be engaged in 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.

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

(c) Deferment of certification. If an applicant for certification has been certified as a reinsurer in an NAIC accredited jurisdiction, the Commissioner has the discretion to defer to that jurisdiction’s certification and to defer to the rating assigned by that jurisdiction. The assuming insurer will be considered to be a certified reinsurer in this Commonwealth in accordance with the following:

(1) The assuming insurer shall submit a properly executed Form CR-1 to the Commissioner.

(2) A change in the certified reinsurer’s status or rating in the other jurisdiction applies automatically in this Commonwealth as of the date it takes effect in the other jurisdiction. The certified reinsurer shall notify the Commissioner of a change in its status or rating within 10 days after receiving notice of the change.

(3) The Commissioner may withdraw recognition of the other jurisdiction’s rating at any time and assign a new rating in accordance with subsection (a)(3)(ii).

(4) The Commissioner may withdraw recognition of the other jurisdiction’s certification at any time with written notice to the certified reinsurer. Unless the Commissioner revokes the certified reinsurer’s certification in accordance with § 161.6, the certified reinsurer’s certification will remain in good standing in this Commonwealth for 3 months, which will be extended if additional time is necessary to consider the assuming insurer’s application for certification in this Commonwealth.

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

(e) Certification procedure.

(1) The Department will post notice of an application for certification in the Pennsylvania Bulletin promptly upon receipt and will include instructions on how members of the public may respond to the application. The Commissioner will not take final action on the application until at least 30 days after posting the notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

(2) If the Department is satisfied that an assuming insurer has met the conditions for certification and determines to designate the assuming insurer as a certified reinsurer, the Department will issue written notice of the designation to the assuming insurer. The rating assigned the certified reinsurer in accordance with subsection (a)(3)(ii) will be included in the notice.

The provisions of this § 161.3a adopted May 24, 2013, effective June 24, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 2816.

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 161.3a issued under sections 206, 506, 1501 and 1502 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 66, 186, 411 and 412); and section 319.1 of The Insurance Company Law of 1921 (40 P. S. § 442.1).

Cross References

This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 161.3 (relating to credit for reinsurance); and 31 Pa. Code § 161.3b (relating to calculation of credit for reinsurance regarding obligations secured with certified reinsurers).