33-2-1217. Reduction of liability for reinsurance ceded by domestic insurer to assuming insurer -- definition. - Montana Statutes

     33-2-1217. Reduction of liability for reinsurance ceded by domestic insurer to assuming insurer -- definition. A reduction from liability for the reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of 33-2-1216 must be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer. The reduction must be in the amount of funds held by or on behalf of the ceding insurer, including funds held in trust for the ceding insurer:
     (1) under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations under the contract if the security is held in the United States subject to withdrawal solely by and under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer; or
     (2) in the case of a trust, in a qualified United States financial institution. This security may be in the form of:
     (a) cash;
     (b) securities listed by the securities valuation office of the NAIC and qualifying as admitted assets;
     (c) clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit that are issued or confirmed by a qualified United States financial institution no later than December 31 of the year for which filing is being made and that are in the possession of 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 must, 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 occurs first.
     (d) any other form of security acceptable to the commissioner.
     (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), a "qualified United States financial institution" means an institution that:
     (a) is organized or, in the case of a United States office of a foreign banking organization, licensed under the laws of the United States or any of its states;
     (b) is regulated, supervised, and examined by United States federal or state authorities with regulatory authority over banks and trust companies; and
     (c) has been determined by either the commissioner or the securities valuation office of the national association of insurance commissioners to meet the standards of financial condition and standing that are considered necessary and appropriate to regulate the quality of financial institutions whose letters of credit will be acceptable to the commissioner.
     (4) For the purposes of this part, except for subsection (2)(c), "qualified United States financial institution" means, with respect to institutions eligible to act as a fiduciary of a trust, an institution that:
     (a) is organized or, in the case of a United States branch or agency office of a foreign banking corporation, licensed under the laws of the United States or any of its states and that has been granted authority to operate with fiduciary powers; and
     (b) is regulated, supervised, and examined by federal or state authorities having regulatory authority over banks and trust companies.
     (5) The commissioner may adopt rules implementing the provisions of 33-2-307, 33-2-708, and chapter 12.

     History: En. Sec. 29, Ch. 596, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 379, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 43, Ch. 304, L. 1999.