5. REINSURANCE

Overview

Reinsurance is used to mitigate the exposure to losses, manage capacity and protect capital resources. The Company reinsures (cedes) a portion of written premiums on an excess of loss or a quota-share basis in order to limit the Company’s loss exposure. To the extent that reinsuring companies are unable to meet their obligations assumed under these reinsurance agreements, the Company remains primarily liable to its policyholders.

The Company is selective in choosing reinsurers and consider numerous factors, the most important of which is the financial stability of the reinsurer or capital specifically pledged to uphold the contract, its history of responding to claims and its overall reputation. In an effort to minimize the Company’s exposure to the insolvency of a reinsurer, the Company evaluates the acceptability and review the financial condition of the reinsurer at least annually with the assistance of the Company’s reinsurance broker.

Significant Reinsurance Contracts

2017-2018 Excess of Loss Reinsurance Programs

FNIC’s 2017-2018 reinsurance programs, which cost $174.4 million, included $124.0 million for the private reinsurance for FNIC’s Florida exposure, with prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection on all layers, along with approximately $50.4 million payable to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”). The combination of private and FHCF reinsurance treaties affords FNIC with $2.2 billion of aggregate coverage with a maximum single event coverage totaling approximately $1.5 billion, exclusive of retentions. FNIC maintained its FHCF participation at 75% for the 2017 hurricane season. FNIC’s single event pre-tax retention for a catastrophic event in Florida was $18.0 million.

FNIC’s private market excess of loss treaties, covering both Florida and non-Florida exposures, became effective June 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017. All private layers have prepaid automatic reinstatement protection, except the FHCF supplemental layer reinsurance contract, which afforded FNIC additional coverage for subsequent events. The reinsurance program included multiple year protection with $89.0 million of new multiple year protection this year and $156.0 million of renewed multiple year protection from last year. These private market excess of loss treaties structure coverage into layers, with a cascading feature such that substantially all layers attached after $25.1 million in losses for FNIC’s exposure. FNIC purchased an underlying limit of protection for $7.1 million excess of $18.0 million with prepaid automatic reinstatement protection. These treaties are with reinsurers that had an A.M. Best Company (“A.M. Best”) or Standard & Poor’s rating of “A-” or better, or have fully collateralized their maximum potential obligations in dedicated trusts.

FNIC’s non-Florida excess of loss reinsurance treaties affords us up to an additional $21.0 million of aggregate coverage with first event coverage totaling $5.0 million and second event coverage up to $16.0 million. The Non-Florida retention is lowered to $13.0 million for the first event and $2.0 million for the second event (for hurricane losses only) on a gross basis though it is reduced to $6.5 million and $1.0 million on a net basis after taking into account the profit share agreement that FNIC has with our non-affiliated managing general underwriter that writes our Non-Florida property business. FNIC’s Non-Florida reinsurance program cost included $1.7 million for this private reinsurance, including prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection.

MNIC’s 2017-2018 reinsurance program, which cost $5.0 million, including $3.2 million for the private reinsurance for MNIC’s Florida exposure including prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection on all layers, along with $1.8 million payable to FHCF. The combination of private and FHCF reinsurance treaties affords MNIC with $109.0 million of aggregate coverage with a maximum single event coverage totaling approximately $68.1 million, exclusive of retentions. MNIC maintained its FHCF participation at 75% for the 2017 hurricane season.

MNIC’s private market excess of loss treaties became effective July 1, 2017, and all private layers have prepaid automatic reinstatement protection, which affords MNIC additional coverage for subsequent events, and have a cascading feature such that substantially all layers attach at $3.4 million for MNIC’s Florida exposure. These treaties are with reinsurers that had an A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s rating of “A-” or better, or have fully collateralized their maximum potential obligations in dedicated trusts.

2018-2019 Excess of Loss Reinsurance Programs

With the February 21, 2018 acquisition of the minority interests of MNIC, the Company has combined both FNIC and MNIC under a single program allowing the Company to capitalize on efficiencies and scale. FNIC and MNIC’s combined 2018-2019 reinsurance programs is estimated to cost $148.8 million. This amount includes approximately $102.7 million for the private reinsurance for the Company’s exposure, including prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection, along with approximately $46.1 million payable to the FHCF. The combination of private and FHCF reinsurance treaties affords FNIC and MNIC approximately $1.8 billion of aggregate coverage with a maximum single event coverage totaling approximately $1.3 billion, exclusive of retentions. Both FNIC and MNIC maintained their FHCF participation at 75% for the 2018 hurricane season. FNIC’s single event pre-tax retention for a catastrophic event in Florida is $20.0 million, up slightly from the 2017-2018 reinsurance program and MNIC’s single event pre-tax retention for a catastrophic event is $3.0 million, down slightly from the 2017-2018 reinsurance program.

The combined FNIC and MNIC private market excess of loss treaties, covering both Florida and non-Florida exposures, became effective July 1, 2018 and all private layers have prepaid automatic reinstatement protection, which affords the Company additional coverage for subsequent events. These private market excess of loss treaties structure coverage into layers, with a cascading feature such that substantially all layers attach after $20.0 million in losses for FNIC and after $3.0 million in losses for MNIC. If the aggregate limit of the preceding layer is exhausted, the next layer drops down (cascades) in its place. Additionally, any unused layer protection drops down for subsequent events until exhausted. Given current market conditions, FNIC has elected not to purchase any multiple year protection and terminated the second year of the $89.0 million of multiple year protection that FNIC purchased last year on a two-year basis. FNIC also had $156.0 million of multiple year protection that expired on June 30, 2018. The overall reinsurance programs are with reinsurers that currently have an A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s rating of “A-” or better, or have fully collateralized their maximum potential obligations in dedicated trusts.

FNIC’s non-Florida excess of loss reinsurance treaties afford us an additional $23.0 million of aggregate coverage with first event coverage totaling $5.0 million and second event coverage totaling $18.0 million, with the incremental $13.0 million of second event coverage applying to hurricane losses only. The end result is a non-Florida retention of $15.0 million for the first event and $2.0 million for the second event though these retentions are reduced to $7.5 million and $1.0 million after taking into account the profit sharing agreement that FNIC has with the nonaffiliated managing general underwriter that writes our non-Florida property business. FNIC’s non-Florida reinsurance program cost will approximate $2.0 million for this private reinsurance, including prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection.

The Company’s cost and amounts of reinsurance are based on management’s current analysis of exposure to catastrophic risk. The data will be subjected to exposure level analysis at various dates during the period ending December 31, 2018. This analysis of the Company’s exposure level in relation to the total exposures to the FHCF and excess of loss treaties may produce changes in retentions, limits and reinsurance premiums as a result of increases or decreases in the Company’s exposure level.

Quota-Share Reinsurance Programs

FNIC's reinsurance programs also include quota-share treaties. One such treaty for 30% became effective July 1, 2014, and another for 10% became effective on July 1, 2015 with each running for two years. The combined treaties provided up to a 40% quota-share reinsurance on covered losses for the homeowners’ property and liability insurance program in Florida. The treaties were accounted for as retrospectively rated contracts whereby the estimated ultimate premium or commission is recognized over the period of the contracts.

On July 1, 2016, the 30% quota-share treaty expired on a cut-off basis, which means as of that date the Company retained an incremental 30% of its unearned premiums and losses. On July 1, 2017, the 10% quota-share treaty expired on a cut-off basis, which means as of that date we retained an incremental 10% of the underlying unearned premiums and losses. The reinsurers remain liable for the paid losses occurring during the terms of the treaties, until each treaty is commuted.

On July 1, 2017, FNIC bound a new 10% quota-share on its Florida homeowners book of business, which excluded named storms. This treaty is not subject to accounting as a retrospectively rated contract. This treaty expired on July 1, 2018 on a cut-off basis, meaning that the reinsurer will not be liable (under this agreement) for losses as a result of occurrences taking place after the date of termination, and the unearned premium previously ceded will be returned to FNIC.

FNIC’s quota-share reinsurance program for 2018-2019, is a new treaty on FNIC’s Florida homeowners book of business, which became effective on July 1, 2018 on an in-force, new and renewal basis, excluding named storms and was initially set at 2%. In addition, this quota-share allows FNIC the flexibility to prospectively increase or decrease the cession percentage up to three times during the term of the agreement. Effective October 1, 2018, FNIC elected to increase the cession percentage from 2% to 10% on an in-force, new and renewal basis.

The Company’s private passenger automobile quota-share treaties are typically programs which become effective at different points in the year and cover auto policies across several states. The automobile quota-share treaties cede approximately 75% of all written premiums entered into by the Company, subject to certain limitations including, but not limited to premium and other caps.

Associated Trust Agreements

Certain reinsurance agreements require FNIC and MNIC to secure the credit, regulatory and business risk. Fully funded trust agreements securing these risks for FNIC totaled less than $0.1 million and $2.6 million as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Reinsurance Recoverable, Net

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are recognized in a manner consistent with the claims liabilities associated with the reinsurance placement and presented on the consolidated balance sheet as reinsurance recoverables. Reinsurance recoverable, net consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses	$	45,028	$	26,256
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses	166,396		98,345
Reinsurance recoverable, net	$	211,424	$	124,601

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had reinsurance recoverables of $183.5 million (as a result of Hurricane Michael and Irma) and $88.0 million (as a result of Hurricane Irma), respectively. Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 Hurricane on October 10, 2018. All reinsurers in our excess-of-loss reinsurance programs have an A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s rating of “A-“ or better, or have fully collateralized their maximum potential obligations in dedicated trusts.

Net Premiums Written and Net Premiums Earned

Net premiums written and net premiums earned consisted of the following:

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	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Net Premiums Written
Direct	$	567,764		$	603,417		$	605,485
Ceded	(202,732		)	(260,524		)	(285,986		)
	$	365,032		$	342,893		$	319,499

Net Premiums Earned
Direct	$	580,020		$	603,193		$	565,423
Ceded	(224,763		)	(269,712		)	(304,054		)
	$	355,257		$	333,481		$	261,369