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 considers 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.

The combined reinsurance treaties provide approximately $1.3 billion of single-event reinsurance coverage in excess of a $27 million retention for catastrophic losses on the first event (and $15 million on the second and third events), including hurricanes, and aggregate coverage of $1.9 billion, at an approximate total cost of $224.3 million.

The combined FNIC, MIC and MNIC private market excess of loss treaties, covering both Florida and non-Florida exposures, became effective July 1, 2019 and all private layers have prepaid automatic reinstatement protection, which affords the carriers additional coverage for subsequent events. This private market excess of loss treaty structure breaks coverage into layers, with a cascading feature such that substantially all layers attach after $20 million in losses for FNIC, $2 million in losses for MNIC and $5 million in losses for MIC. For FNIC and MNIC, the second and third event attaches at $10 million per event, on a combined basis. 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. The overall reinsurance program is with reinsurers that currently have an A.M. Best Company or Standard & Poor’s rating of “A-” or better, or have fully collateralized their maximum potential obligations in dedicated trusts.

As indicated above, FNIC, MIC and MNIC's combined 2019-2020 reinsurance program is estimated to cost $224.3 million. This amount includes approximately $178.5 million for private reinsurance for the carriers’ exposure described above, including prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection, along with approximately $45.8 million payable to the FHCF. The combination of private and FHCF reinsurance treaties affords FNIC, MNIC, and MIC approximately $1.9 billion of aggregate coverage with a maximum single event coverage totaling approximately $1.3 billion, exclusive of retentions. Each carrier will pay directly its allocated portion of the aggregate reinsurance ceded premium cost. The allocation methodology by which FNIC, MNIC, and MIC determines

their share of the premium and distribution of reinsurance recoveries under the combined reinsurance tower is based on catastrophe loss modeling of the separate books of business. Each carrier shares the combined program cost in proportion to its contribution to the total expected loss in each reinsurance layer. Each carrier's reinsurance recoveries will be based on that carrier's contributing share of a given event's total loss. Both FNIC and MNIC maintained their FHCF participation at 75% for the 2019 hurricane season, and MIC increased its FHCF participation to 90%.

FNIC’s non-Florida excess of loss reinsurance treaty affords us an additional $18 million of coverage for a second event, which applies to hurricane losses only. The result is a non-Florida retention of $20 million for FNIC for the first event and $2 million for the second event, although these retentions are reduced to $10 million and $1 million after taking into account the profit-sharing agreement that FNIC has with the non-affiliated managing general underwriter that writes FNIC’s non-Florida property business. FNIC’s non-Florida reinsurance program cost for the above specific coverage approximates $1.8 million for this private reinsurance.

The insurance carriers’ cost and amounts of reinsurance are based on current analysis of exposure to catastrophic risk. The data is subjected to exposure level analysis at various dates through December 31, 2019. This analysis of the carriers’ 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 in total, and by carrier, as a result of increases or decreases in the carriers’ exposure levels.

The Company’s excess of loss catastrophe reinsurance program for 2020-2021 (the “Program”), which covers the Company and its wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries, FNIC, MIC and MNIC was renewed effective July 1, 2020. FNIC, MIC, and MNIC are collectively referred to herein as the “carriers”. The Program provides up to approximately $1.3 billion of single-event reinsurance coverage in excess of up to a $31 million retention for catastrophic losses, including hurricanes, and aggregate coverage up to $1.9 billion, at an approximate total cost of $265.7 million, subject to adjustments based on actual exposure or premium of policies at different points in time in the coming months. The Company will retain 100% of the first $25 million retention plus up to an additional $6 million in retention by retaining an approximate 8.6% co-participation of the next $70 million of limit after the first $25 million. More specifically, the Program includes up to approximately $1.3 billion in aggregate private reinsurance for coverage in all states in which the Company operates, of which up to approximately $650 million is limited to any one event, plus an additional $650 million of reinsurance provided by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”), that responds on both a per occurrence and in the aggregate basis, and which coverage is exclusive to the state of Florida.

The private layers of the Program, covering both Florida and non-Florida exposures have prepaid automatic reinstatement protection, which affords the carriers additional coverage for subsequent events. The private reinsurance market continued to harden this year due to a number of factors, including issues unique to the U.S. coastal catastrophe reinsurance marketplace generally and the Florida market specifically. These factors result in more restrictive terms by some of our individual reinsurers. The change in terms from the prior year’s program includes some portion of the program having a single aggregate retention for our carriers taken as a whole, versus each carrier’s own individual retention, plus some portions of the program not “cascading”, which could create less broad coverage on events, if any, beyond two large events. As of June 30, 2020, the overall reinsurance Program was placed with reinsurers with an A.M. Best Company or Standard & Poor’s rating of “A-” or better, or that have fully collateralized their maximum potential obligations in dedicated trusts. For the purpose of debt covenant compliance, if any reinsurer on the program is not collateralized or has a rating lower than “A-“ by A.M. Best Company or Standard & Poor’s then the Company treats that reinsurer’s participation as if it was part of the Company’s net retention.

The total Program cost includes approximately $221.4 million for private reinsurance for the carriers’ exposure described above, including prepaid automatic premium reinstatement protection, along with approximately $44.3 million payable to the FHCF. The combination of private and FHCF reinsurance treaties will afford the carriers up to approximately $1.9 billion of aggregate coverage within Florida and $1.3 billion in states outside Florida with a maximum single event coverage totaling up to approximately $1.3 billion within Florida and approximately $650 million outside Florida, exclusive of retentions.

Each carrier will share the combined program cost in proportion to its contribution to the total expected loss in each reinsurance layer. Each carrier’s reinsurance recoveries will be based on that carrier’s contributing share of a given event’s total loss and each carrier will be responsible for its portion of the Program’s $31 million per event retention based on a specific allocation formula. Both FNIC and MNIC increased their FHCF participation to 90% for the 2020 hurricane season, and MIC maintained its FHCF participation at 90%.

In addition, the Company purchased subsequent event reinsurance coverage that has a lower retention than the first event. Under the Program, FNIC’s non-Florida book of business as written by SageSure has excess of loss reinsurance treaties which afford this specific book of business additional protection through an additional $16 million of coverage for a second event, which applies to hurricane losses only. This additional reinsurance coverage is specific to FNIC's non-Florida business and does not afford coverage to MIC's non-Florida business. The result is a retention of approximately $18 million for FNIC's book with SageSure for the first event and approximately $2 million for the second event, although these retentions are reduced to approximately $9 million and approximately $1 million after taking into account the profit-sharing agreement that FNIC has with SageSure. Furthermore, for Florida only losses, the carriers purchased second and third event coverage of 71.5% of $15 million excess of $10 million that reduces the second and third event retention for the carriers, from $25 million to $14.3 million per event, on a combined basis, which could be reduced further by an additional 28.5% placed on a parametric basis with an Excess and Surplus lines carrier that will provide coverage for the Second and Third Florida hurricane loss to the carriers after the inception of treaty. The amount of recovery with the parametric product is based on the magnitude of the hurricane and the proximity of the individual insured risk to the hurricane path. This coverage terminates on May 31, 2021.

The carriers’ cost and amounts of reinsurance are based on current analysis of exposure to catastrophic risk. The data is subjected to exposure level analysis at various dates through December 31, 2020. This analysis of the carriers’ exposure levels in relation to the total exposures to the FHCF and excess of loss treaties may produce changes in retentions, limits and reinsurance premiums in total, and by carrier, as a result of increases or decreases in the carriers’ exposure levels.

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 are 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 10% quota-share on its Florida homeowners book of business, which excluded named storms, subject to certain limitations. 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 was returned to FNIC.

On July 1, 2018, FNIC renewed the quota-share treaty on its Florida homeowners book of business, on an in-force, new and renewal basis, excluding named storms, which was initially set at a 2%, cession and is subject to certain limitations. In addition, this quota-share allowed FNIC 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 treaty expired on July 1, 2019 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 was returned to FNIC.

On July 1, 2019, FNIC renewed the quota-share treaty on its Florida homeowners book of business, on an in-force, new and renewal basis, excluding named storms, which was set at a 10% cession and is subject to certain limitations. 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. The treaty expired on July 1, 2020 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 was returned to FNIC.

On July 1, 2020, FNIC renewed the quota-share treaty on its Florida homeowners book of business, on an in-force, new and renewal basis, excluding named storms, which was set at a 10% cession and is subject to certain limitations. 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.

In addition, effective July 1, 2020, FNIC entered into a new quota-share treaty with Anchor Re, Inc., which is an Arizona captive reinsurance entity that is under the same ownership umbrella as SageSure. The treaty provides 50% quota-share reinsurance protection on in-force, new and renewal business through June 30, 2021, subject to certain limitations. The treaty arrangement is fully collateralized through Anchor Re, Inc. The financial economics of this treaty essentially supplement the 50% profit-sharing agreement that has been and will continue to be in place with SageSure. Thus, this treaty is not expected to have any impact on the pre-tax operating results of the Company, though the components of the combined ratio will be affected by the ceding of premiums, claims and commissions. The Company expects FNIC will receive statutory surplus relief from this new quota-share treaty.


	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(In thousands)
Net Premiums Written
Direct	$	205,378	$	169,170	$	378,340	$	301,403
Ceded	(60,751)		(62,339)		(74,517)		(74,132)
	$	144,627	$	106,831	$	303,823	$	227,271
Net Premiums Earned
Direct	$	179,896	$	141,220	$	355,470	$	279,587
Ceded	(68,418)		(48,914)		(138,082)		(98,497)
	$	111,478	$	92,306	$	217,388	$	181,090