02-031 DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION

BUREAU OF INSURANCE

Chapter 740: CREDIT FOR REINSURANCE

Rule 740

CREDIT FOR REINSURANCE

Contents

1. Section 1. Authority

   Section 2. Purpose

   Section 3. Severability

   Section 4. Definitions

   Section 5. Reinsurers licensed in this State

   Section 6. Certified reinsurers

   Section 7. Required filings by reinsurers not licensed or certified in this State

   Section 8. Accredited reinsurers

   Section 9. Reinsurers domiciled and licensed in other states

   Section 10. Reinsurers domiciled and licensed in reciprocal jurisdictions

   Section 11. Reinsurers maintaining multi-beneficiary trust funds

   Section 12. Required conditions of single-beneficiary trust agreements

   Section 13. Permitted conditions of trust agreements

   Section 14. Reinsurance contracts – mandatory provisions

   Section 15. Reinsurance contracts – permitted provisions

   Section 16. Reinsurers utilizing letters of credit

   Section 17. Other security

   Section 18. Effective date

   Appendix. Form AR-1: Certificate of assuming insurer

   1. Form CR-1: Certificate of Certified Reinsurer
      1. Form CR-F: Report of Assumed and Ceded Property/Casualty Reinsurance

         Form CR-S: Report of Assumed and Ceded Life/Health Reinsurance

         Form RJ-1: Certificate of Reinsurer Domiciled in Reciprocal Jurisdiction

Section 1. Authority

This rule is promulgated pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §§ 212 and 731‑B(7).

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of this rule is to set forth procedural requirements to carry out the provisions of the law on credit for reinsurance as set forth in Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B, for the protection of ceding insurers in this State and their policyholders.

Section 3. Severability

If any provision of this rule or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such determination shall not affect other provisions or applications of this rule which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

Section 4. Definitions

As used in this rule the following terms have the following meanings:

1. A. “Jurisdiction” means any state, district, or territory of the United States, any lawful national government, and any supranational body or subdivision or dependency of a national government that is internationally recognized as exercising regulatory authority over the business of insurance.

B. “Substantially similar” standard means credit for reinsurance standards which the Superintendent determines equal or exceed the standards of Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B and this rule in all material respects.

1. C. “Beneficiary” means the entity for whose benefit a trust has been established and includes any successor by operation of law of the beneficiary, including without limitation any liquidator, rehabilitator, receiver, or conservator.
2. D. “Grantor” means the entity that has established a trust for the benefit of the beneficiary. For a trust established pursuant to a reinsurance agreement, the grantor is generally the assuming insurer.
3. E. “Obligations” under a reinsurance agreement means:
   1. (1) For business ceded by property and casualty insurers:
      1. (a) Reinsured losses, allocated loss expenses, and unallocated loss expenses if a part of the reinsurance agreement, paid by the ceding company but yet to be recovered from the assuming insurer;
      2. (b) Reserves for reinsured losses reported and outstanding;
      3. (c) Reserves for reinsured losses incurred but not reported;
      4. (d) Reserves for allocated reinsured loss expenses, and, if unallocated loss expenses are covered by the agreement, reserves for unallocated reinsured loss expenses; and
      5. (e) Reserves for unearned premiums.
   2. (2) For business ceded by life and health insurers:
      1. (a) Aggregate reserves for life policies and contracts net of policy loans and net due and deferred premiums;
      2. (b) Aggregate reserves for accident and health policies;
      3. (c) Deposit funds and other liabilities without life or disability contingencies; and
      4. (d) Liabilities for policy and contract claims.
   3. (3) Obligations shall be determined on a gross basis without regard to retrocessions.
4. F. “Licensed” means licensed under Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §410, under some other law of this State or another state that entails an obligation to maintain risk-based capital in compliance with standards established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and to file statutory financial statements in compliance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, or under foreign licensing requirements that the Superintendent determines to be the analogous standards in that jurisdiction for commercial insurers or professional reinsurers.

Section 5. Reinsurers licensed in this State

Pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(A), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer which has been licensed in this State at all times for which credit for reinsurance under this section is claimed on the ceding insurer’s statutory financial statement filed pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §423 or 423‑A.

Section 6. Certified reinsurers

1. A. In General. Pursuant to Title 24A M.R.S.A. §731B(1)(B-2), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer that has been certified as a reinsurer in this State at all times for which statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed under this section.

B. Security. The credit allowed shall be based upon the security held by or on behalf of the ceding insurer in accordance with a rating assigned to the certified reinsurer by the Superintendent. The security shall be in a form consistent with the requirements of Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §§ 731‑B(1)(B-2) and 731-B(3) and either Paragraph (2) of this subsection or Section 12, 16, or 17 of this rule.

1. (1) The amount of security must equal or exceed the following percentage of the reinsured obligations for which credit is claimed:
   1. Rating Security Required
      1. Secure – 1 0%

         Secure – 2 10%

         Secure – 3 20%

         Secure – 4 50%

         Secure – 5 75%

         Vulnerable – 6 100%

   2. (2) The security may be provided through a multi-beneficiary trust meeting the requirements of Section 11, with the following modifications:
      1. (a) The qualifying assets held in the trust must equal or exceed the percentage specified in Paragraph (1) of the aggregate obligations secured by the trust, plus a surplus of at least $10,000,000.
      2. (b) If the certified reinsurer also maintains a multi-beneficiary trust for obligations required to be fully secured under Section 11 or comparable requirements of other states, the certified reinsurer shall maintain separate trust accounts for its obligations secured under this section or comparable requirements of other United States jurisdictions and for its obligations that are required to be fully secured. The trust accounts may not be approved as qualifying security unless the reinsurer has bound itself, by the language of the trust and by agreement with the insurance regulator with principal oversight of each such trust account, to apply, upon termination of any such trust account, the remaining surplus of that trust to the extent necessary to fund any deficiency of any other such trust account.
   3. (3) Affiliated reinsurance transactions shall receive the same opportunity for reduced security requirements as all other reinsurance transactions.
   4. (4) The Superintendent shall require the certified reinsurer to post 100% security for the benefit of the ceding insurer or its estate upon the entry of an order of rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation against the ceding insurer.
   5. (5) In order to facilitate the prompt payment of claims, the Superintendent may permit a certified reinsurer to defer posting security for catastrophe recoverables for a period of up to one year from the date of the first instance of a liability reserve entry by the ceding company as a result of a loss from a catastrophic occurrence as recognized by the Superintendent. The one-year deferral period is contingent upon the certified reinsurer continuing to pay claims in a timely manner, and applies only to reinsurance recoverables for the following lines of business as reported on the NAIC annual financial statement and related specifically to the catastrophic occurrence:
      1. (a) Line 1: Fire
      2. (b) Line 2: Allied Lines
      3. (c) Line 3: Farmowners multiple peril
      4. (d) Line 4: Homeowners multiple peril
      5. (e) Line 5: Commercial multiple peril
      6. (f) Line 9: Inland Marine
      7. (g) Line 12: Earthquake
      8. (h) Line 21: Auto physical damage
   6. (6) Credit for reinsurance under this section shall apply only to reinsurance contracts entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of the certification of the assuming insurer. Any reinsurance contract entered into before the effective date of the certification of the assuming insurer that is subsequently amended by the parties after that date to permit reduced collateral, or a new reinsurance contract covering any risk for which collateral was provided previously, shall only be subject to this section with respect to losses incurred and reserves reported on or after the effective date of the amendment or new contract.
   7. (7) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the parties to a reinsurance agreement from agreeing to provisions establishing security requirements that exceed the minimum security requirements established for certified reinsurers under this subsection.

C. Certification Procedure

1. (1) A reinsurer requesting to be certified by the Superintendent shall apply using the application form developed by the NAIC, or as otherwise specified by the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall post notice on the Bureau of Insurance Web site promptly upon receipt of any application for certification, with instructions on how members of the public may respond to the application. The Superintendent may not take final action on the application until at least 30 days after posting the notice required by this paragraph.
   1. (2) Upon approval of a reinsurer’s application for certification, the Superintendent shall assign a rating in accordance with this subsection and issue written notice to the reinsurer of its certification and rating. The Superintendent shall publish a list of all certified reinsurers and their ratings.
   2. (3) In order to be eligible to receive and maintain certification, a reinsurer must meet the following requirements:
      1. (a) The reinsurer must be domiciled and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in a jurisdiction that has been determined by the Superintendent to be a qualified jurisdiction pursuant to Subsection D.
      2. (b) The reinsurer must maintain capital and surplus, or its equivalent, of no less than $250,000,000 calculated in accordance with Subparagraph (7)(d). 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 $250,000,000 and a central fund containing a balance of at least $250,000,000.
      3. (c) The reinsurer must maintain financial strength ratings from two or more rating agencies deemed acceptable by the Superintendent. These 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. Acceptable rating agencies include the following:
         1. (i) Standard & Poor’s;
         2. (ii) Moody’s Investors Service;
         3. (iii) Fitch Ratings;
         4. (iv) A.M. Best Company; or
         5. (v) Any other Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization.
      4. (d) The reinsurer must comply with any other requirements reasonably imposed by the Superintendent.
   3. (4) Each certified reinsurer shall be rated on a legal entity basis, with due consideration being given to the group rating where appropriate, except that an association including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters that has been approved to do business as a single certified reinsurer may be evaluated on the basis of its group rating. Factors that may be considered as part of the evaluation process include, but are not limited to, the following:
      1. (a) The certified reinsurer’s financial strength ratings from acceptable rating agencies. Unless an exception is granted in accordance with Subsection I, the Superintendent may not assign a rating that exceeds the lowest regulatory rating corresponding in the table below to the financial strength rating that any of the listed rating agencies assigns the certified reinsurer. A failure to obtain or maintain at least two financial strength ratings from acceptable rating agencies shall result in loss of eligibility for certification;

1. (b) The business practices of the certified reinsurer in dealing with its ceding insurers, including its record of compliance with reinsurance contractual terms and obligations;
   1. (c) For a certified reinsurer domiciled in the United States, a review of the most recent applicable NAIC Annual Statement Blank, including in particular Schedule F for property/casualty reinsurers or Schedule S for life and health reinsurers;
      1. (d) For a certified reinsurer not domiciled in the United States, an annual review of filings with its domiciliary regulator comparable to the NAIC annual statement, together with Form CR-F or Form CR-S as applicable, filed with the Superintendent pursuant to Subparagraph 7(b);
      2. (e) 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;
      3. (f) Regulatory actions against the certified reinsurer;
      4. (g) The audited financial statements of the certified reinsurer, on both a legal entity and an enterprise basis, for at least the two most recent years, together with reports of the independent auditor and actuarial opinions;
      5. (h) The liquidation priority of obligations to a ceding insurer in the certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction in the context of an insolvency proceeding;
      6. (i) The certified reinsurer’s participation in any solvent scheme of arrangement, or similar procedure, that involves United States ceding insurers;
      7. (j) Any material uncertainty regarding the fitness or financial condition of the reinsurer resulting from the unavailability of information specified in this paragraph; and
      8. (k) Any other information deemed relevant by the Superintendent.
   2. (5) Based on the analysis conducted under Subparagraph (4)(e) of a certified reinsurer’s reputation for prompt payment of claims, the Superintendent may make appropriate adjustments in the security the certified reinsurer is required to post to protect its liabilities to United States ceding insurers. The Superintendent shall reduce the certified reinsurer’s rating by at least one level below the level indicated by the chart in Subparagraph (4)(a) if the Superintendent finds that either:
      1. (a) More than 15% of the certified reinsurer’s ceding insurance clients have undisputed reinsurance recoverables on paid losses in excess of $100,000 that are overdue by 90 days or more; or
      2. (b) The aggregate amount of undisputed reinsurance recoverables on paid losses that are overdue by 90 days or more exceeds $50,000,000.
   3. (6) Each certified reinsurer must agree to comply with the provisions of this rule and the applicable provisions of Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §731-B, and must submit a properly executed Form CR-1, attached as an appendix to this rule, as evidence of its submission to the jurisdiction of this State, appointment of the Superintendent as an agent for service of process in this State, and agreement to provide security for 100% of the assuming insurer’s obligations attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers if the assuming insurer resists enforcement of a final United States judgment. The Superintendent shall not certify any assuming insurer that is domiciled in a jurisdiction that the Superintendent has determined does not adequately and promptly enforce final United States judgments or arbitration awards.
   4. (7) Each certified reinsurer and each applicant for certification must, as a condition of certification, file the following information with the Superintendent:
      1. (a) Notification within 10 days of any regulatory actions taken against the certified reinsurer, any change in the provisions of its domiciliary license, or any change in rating by an approved rating agency, including a statement describing such changes and the reasons therefor;
      2. (b) Annually, Form CR-F for property/casualty reinsurers or Form CR-S for life/health reinsurers, attached as appendices to this rule;
      3. (c) Annually, the report of the independent auditor on the financial statements of the insurance enterprise, on the basis described in Subparagraph (d);
      4. (d) Annually, an audited financial statement, an actuarial opinion, and if applicable any additional financial statements or reports that the certified reinsurer is required to file with insurance or securities regulators in its domiciliary jurisdiction. With the initial application for certification, audited financial statements, actuarial opinions, and regulatory filings for the most recent two years. The filing shall include English translations of any documents written in another language.
      5. (e) At least annually, an updated list of all disputed and overdue reinsurance claims regarding reinsurance assumed from ceding insurers domiciled in the United States;
      6. (f) A certification from the certified reinsurer’s domiciliary regulator that the certified reinsurer is in good standing and maintains capital in excess of the jurisdiction’s highest regulatory action level;
      7. (g) Prior notice to the Superintendent, if the certified reinsurer proposes participation in any solvent scheme of arrangement or similar procedure; and
      8. (h) Any other information that the Superintendent may reasonably require.
   5. (8) Change in Rating or Revocation of Certification:
      1. (a) In the case of a downgrade by a rating agency or other disqualifying circumstance, the Superintendent shall upon written notice assign a new rating to the certified reinsurer in accordance with the requirements of Paragraph (4).
      2. (b) The Superintendent has the authority to suspend, revoke, or otherwise modify a certified reinsurer’s 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 Superintendent to reconsider the certified reinsurer’s ability or willingness to meet its contractual obligations. If a certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction ceases to be a qualified jurisdiction, then the Superintendent may suspend the reinsurer’s certification indefinitely, in lieu of revocation.
      3. (c) If the rating of a certified reinsurer is upgraded by the Superintendent, the certified reinsurer may meet the security requirements applicable to its new rating on a prospective basis, but the Superintendent shall require the certified reinsurer to post security under the previously applicable security requirements as to all contracts in force on or before the effective date of the upgraded rating. If the rating of a certified reinsurer is downgraded by the Superintendent, the Superintendent shall 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. (d) Upon revocation of the certification of a certified reinsurer by the Superintendent, the assuming insurer shall be required to post security in accordance with Sections 11 through 17 in order for the ceding insurer to continue to take credit for reinsurance ceded to the assuming insurer. If funds continue to be held in trust in accordance with Paragraph B(2), the Superintendent may allow additional credit equal to the ceding insurer’s pro rata share of such funds, discounted to reflect the risk of uncollectibility and anticipated expenses of trust administration. Notwithstanding the change of a certified reinsurer’s rating or revocation of its certification, a domestic insurer that has ceded reinsurance to that certified reinsurer may not be denied credit for reinsurance for a period of three months for all reinsurance ceded to that certified reinsurer, unless the reinsurance is found by the Superintendent to be at high risk of uncollectibility.
2. D. Qualified Jurisdictions
   1. (1) If, upon conducting an evaluation under this section with respect to the reinsurance supervisory system of any alien assuming insurer, the Superintendent in his or her discretion determines that the jurisdiction meets the requirements to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the Superintendent shall publish notice and evidence of such recognition in an appropriate manner. The Superintendent may establish a procedure to withdraw recognition of those jurisdictions that are no longer qualified.
   2. (2) In order to determine whether the domiciliary jurisdiction of an alien assuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the Superintendent shall evaluate the jurisdiction’s reinsurance supervisory system, both initially and on an ongoing basis, and consider the rights, benefits, and the extent of reciprocal recognition afforded by the jurisdiction to reinsurers licensed and domiciled in the United States. The Superintendent shall determine the appropriate approach for evaluating the qualifications of such jurisdictions, and create and publish a list of jurisdictions whose reinsurers may be approved by the Superintendent as eligible for certification. A qualified jurisdiction must agree in writing to share information and cooperate with the Superintendent with respect to all certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction. Additional factors to be considered by the Superintendent in determining whether to recognize the assuming insurer’s domicile as a qualified jurisdiction include but are not limited to the following:
      1. (a) The framework under which the assuming insurer is regulated;
      2. (b) The structure and authority of the domiciliary regulator with regard to solvency regulation requirements and financial surveillance;
      3. (c) The substance of financial and operating standards for reinsurers domiciled in the jurisdiction;
      4. (d) 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;
      5. (e) The willingness of the jurisdiction’s regulator to cooperate with United States regulators in general and the Superintendent in particular;
      6. (f) The history of performance by assuming insurers in the jurisdiction;
      7. (g) Any documented evidence of substantial problems with the enforcement of final United States judgments in the domiciliary jurisdiction. A jurisdiction may not be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction if the Superintendent has determined that it does not adequately and promptly enforce final United States judgments or arbitration awards;
      8. (h) 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; and
      9. (i) Any other matters deemed relevant by the Superintendent.
   3. (3) If the NAIC has published a list of recommended qualified jurisdictions, the Superintendent shall defer to that list in determining whether or not a jurisdiction is a qualified jurisdiction, but may make exceptions subject to the procedures established in Subsection I.
   4. (4) United States jurisdictions that meet the requirements for accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program shall be recognized as qualified jurisdictions.
   5. (5) If more than one licensing regime with substantially different standards is maintained or recognized by the same jurisdiction, the Superintendent may evaluate each such licensing regime separately for purposes of determining whether to recognize it as a qualified jurisdiction under this subsection.
3. E. Recognition of Certification Issued by an NAIC-Accredited Jurisdiction
   1. (1) If an applicant for certification is domiciled in a qualified jurisdiction and has been certified as a reinsurer in an NAIC-accredited jurisdiction, referred to in this subsection as the “lead state,” the Superintendent has the discretion to defer to the lead state’s certification and to defer to the rating assigned by the lead state, if the assuming insurer submits a properly executed Form CR-1 and such additional information as the Superintendent requires. In determining whether to grant certification under this subsection, the Superintendent shall give due consideration to any procedures established by the NAIC for lead-state certification and to any recommendations the NAIC Reinsurance Financial Analysis Working Group, or its successor organization, has made regarding the certification or rating of the applicant.
   2. (2) If a reinsurer has been certified pursuant to this subsection, any change in the certified reinsurer’s status or rating in the lead state shall apply automatically in this State as of the date it takes effect in the lead state. The certified reinsurer shall notify the Superintendent of any change in its status or rating within 10 days after receiving notice of the change.
   3. (3) The Superintendent may withdraw recognition of the lead state’s rating at any time and assign a new rating in accordance with Paragraph C(8).
   4. (4) The Superintendent may withdraw recognition of the lead state’s certification at any time, with written notice to the certified reinsurer. Unless the Superintendent suspends or revokes the certified reinsurer’s certification in accordance with Subparagraph C(8)(b) of this section, the certified reinsurer’s certification shall remain in good standing in this State for a period of three months, which shall be extended if additional time is necessary to consider the assuming insurer’s application for certification in this State.
4. F. Mandatory Funding Clause. In addition to the clauses required under Section 14, any reinsurance contracts entered into or renewed under this section shall include a proper funding clause, which requires the certified reinsurer to provide and maintain security in an amount sufficient to avoid the imposition of any financial statement penalty on the ceding insurer under this section for reinsurance ceded to the certified reinsurer.
5. G. Reporting by Superintendent. The Superintendent shall comply with all reporting and notification requirements that may be established by the NAIC with respect to certified reinsurers and qualified jurisdictions.
6. H. Confidentiality. The Superintendent shall safeguard the confidentiality of all information filed or disclosed by a certified reinsurer or applicant for certification that is not otherwise publicly available and that is protected from public disclosure by Maine law, including the provisions of Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §§ 216(5) and 731-B(1)(B-2)(1)(e) that protect information provided to the Superintendent that is confidential under the laws of the reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction.
7. I. Exceptions. The Superintendent may only grant exceptions from the requirements of this section as authorized by the applicable provisions of this section for good cause shown, after notice and an opportunity for an adjudicatory hearing. Any exception granted must be consistent with the purposes of this section and supported by detailed findings of fact.

Section 7. Required filings by reinsurers not licensed or certified in this State

In order for credit to be granted under Sections 8, 9, or 11 for reinsurance ceded to an unlicensed reinsurer, the reinsurer must file a properly executed Form AR-1, as shown in the appendix to this rule, as evidence of its submission to this State’s jurisdiction and to this State’s authority to examine its books and records at the reinsurer’s expense. Upon request of the Superintendent, the reinsurer shall provide any information requested by the Superintendent that is relevant to its financial condition or otherwise relevant to determining its continuing qualification under the relevant provisions of this rule. Annual regulatory statements and annual audited financial statements filed with the NAIC and made available to the Superintendent by the NAIC are deemed to be filed with the Superintendent, and no additional filings are required unless otherwise ordered by the Superintendent.

Section 8. Accredited reinsurers

Pursuant to Title 24 A M.R.S.A. §731-B(1)(B-1), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer which has been accredited as a reinsurer in this State at all times for which statutory financial statement credit is claimed under this section. If the Superintendent determines that an accredited reinsurer has failed to meet or maintain any of the qualifications for accreditation, the Superintendent may suspend or revoke the reinsurer’s accreditation after written notice and opportunity for hearing. Credit for reinsurance shall not be allowed under this section if the assuming insurer’s accreditation has been revoked by the Superintendent or if the reinsurance was ceded while the assuming insurer’s accreditation was under suspension by the Superintendent.

Section 9. Reinsurers domiciled and licensed in other states

Pursuant to Title 24 A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(B), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer which has been domiciled and licensed in another State that employs standards regarding credit for reinsurance substantially similar to those applicable in Section 731‑B at all times for which statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed under this section, has filed evidence of its submission to this State’s authority to examine its books and records, has appointed an agent to receive service of legal process pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §421, has submitted to the authority of any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Maine or any other state in the United States for the adjudication of any issues arising out of the reinsurance agreement(s), and maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than $20,000,000. An insurer with a qualifying United States port of entry, as determined by the Superintendent pursuant to Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §413-A(1), is considered domiciled in that State. The minimum surplus requirement does not apply to reinsurance ceded and assumed pursuant to pooling arrangements approved by the Superintendent among insurers in the same holding company system.

Section 10. Reinsurers domiciled and licensed in reciprocal jurisdictions

1. A. Pursuant to Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §731-B(1)(B-3), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer that has its domicile or head office in a Reciprocal Jurisdiction and which meets the other requirements of this rule.
2. B. A “Reciprocal Jurisdiction” is a jurisdiction, as designated by the Superintendent pursuant to Subsection D, that meets one of the following:
   1. (1) A non-U.S. jurisdiction that is subject to an in-force covered agreement with the United States, as long as each agreeing jurisdiction is within its legal authority to enter the agreement, or, in the case of a covered agreement between the United States and the European Union, is a member state of the European Union. For purposes of this section, a “covered agreement” is an agreement entered into pursuant to the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 313 and 314, that is currently in effect or in a period of provisional application and addresses the elimination, under specified conditions, of collateral requirements as a condition for entering into any reinsurance agreement with a ceding insurer domiciled in this State or for allowing the ceding insurer to recognize credit for reinsurance;
   2. (2) A U.S. jurisdiction that meets the requirements for accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program; or

(3) A qualified jurisdiction, as determined by the Superintendent pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731-B(1)(B-2)(3) and Subsection 6(D) of this rule, which is not otherwise described in Paragraph (1) or (2) above and which the Superintendent determines meets all of the following additional requirements:

1. (a) Provides that an insurer which has its head office or is domiciled in that jurisdiction shall receive credit for reinsurance ceded to a U.S.-domiciled assuming insurer in the same manner as credit for reinsurance is received in this State for reinsurance assumed by insurers domiciled in that jurisdiction;
   1. (b) Does not require a U.S.-domiciled assuming insurer to establish or maintain a local presence as a condition for entering into a reinsurance agreement with any ceding insurer subject to regulation by that jurisdiction or as a condition to allow the ceding insurer to recognize credit for such reinsurance;
      1. (c) Recognizes the U.S. state regulatory approach to group supervision and group capital, by providing written confirmation by a competent regulatory authority in that jurisdiction, that insurers and insurance groups that are domiciled or maintain their headquarters in this State or another jurisdiction accredited by the NAIC shall be subject only to worldwide prudential insurance group supervision, including worldwide group governance, solvency and capital, and reporting, by the Superintendent or the insurance regulator of the domiciliary state, as applicable, and will not be subject to group supervision at the level of the worldwide parent undertaking of the insurance or reinsurance group by the qualified jurisdiction; and
      2. (d) Provides written confirmation by a competent regulatory authority in that jurisdiction that information regarding insurers and their parent, subsidiary, or affiliated entities, if applicable, shall be provided to the Superintendent in accordance with a memorandum of understanding or similar document between the Superintendent and that jurisdiction, including but not limited to the International Association of Insurance Supervisors Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding or other multilateral memoranda of understanding coordinated by the NAIC.
2. C. Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded from an insurer domiciled in this State to an assuming insurer meeting each of the conditions set forth below.
   1. (1) The assuming insurer must be licensed to transact reinsurance by, and have its domicile or head office in, a Reciprocal Jurisdiction.
   2. (2) The assuming insurer must have and maintain on an ongoing basis minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, calculated on at least an annual basis as of the preceding December 31 or at the annual date otherwise statutorily reported to the Reciprocal Jurisdiction, and confirmed as set forth in Paragraph (7) according to the methodology of its domiciliary jurisdiction, in the following amounts:
      1. (a) No less than $250,000,000; or
      2. (b) If the assuming insurer is an association including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
         1. (i) Minimum capital and surplus equivalents (net of liabilities) or own funds of the equivalent of at least $250,000,000; and
         2. (ii) A central fund containing a balance of the equivalent of at least $250,000,000.
   3. (3) The assuming insurer must have and maintain on an ongoing basis a minimum solvency or capital ratio, as applicable, as follows:
      1. (a) If the assuming insurer has its head office or is domiciled in a Reciprocal Jurisdiction designated under Paragraph B(1), the ratio specified in the applicable covered agreement;
      2. (b) If the assuming insurer is domiciled in a Reciprocal Jurisdiction designated under Paragraph B(2), a risk-based capital (RBC) ratio of three hundred percent (300%) of the authorized control level, as defined in Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §6451(8)(C); or
      3. (c) If the assuming insurer is domiciled in a Reciprocal Jurisdiction designated under Paragraph B(3), after consultation with the Reciprocal Jurisdiction and considering any recommendations published through the NAIC Committee Process, such solvency or capital ratio as the Superintendent determines to be an effective measure of solvency.
   4. (4) The assuming insurer must agree to and provide adequate assurance, in the form of a properly executed Form RJ-1 (attached as an appendix to this rule), of its agreement to the following:
      1. (a) The assuming insurer must agree to provide prompt written notice and explanation to the Superintendent if it falls below the minimum requirements set forth in Paragraphs (2) or (3), or if any regulatory action is taken against it for serious noncompliance with applicable law.
      2. (b) The assuming insurer must consent in writing to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State and to the appointment of the Superintendent as agent for service of process.
         1. (i) The Superintendent may also require that such consent be provided and included in each reinsurance agreement under the Superintendent’s jurisdiction.
         2. (ii) Nothing in this provision shall limit or in any way alter the capacity of parties to a reinsurance agreement to agree to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, except to the extent that such agreements are unenforceable under applicable insolvency or delinquency laws.
      3. (c) The assuming insurer must consent in writing to pay all final judgments obtained by a ceding insurer, wherever enforcement is sought, that have been declared enforceable in the territory where the judgment was obtained.
      4. (d) Each reinsurance agreement must include a provision requiring the assuming insurer to provide security in the full amount of the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded pursuant to that agreement if the assuming insurer resists enforcement of a final judgment that is enforceable under the law of the jurisdiction in which it was obtained or a properly enforceable arbitration award, whether obtained by the ceding insurer or by its legal successor on behalf of its estate, if applicable.
      5. (e) The assuming insurer must confirm that it is not presently participating in any solvent scheme of arrangement that involves this State’s ceding insurers, and agrees to notify the ceding insurer and the Superintendent and to provide 100% security to the ceding insurer consistent with the terms of the scheme, should the assuming insurer enter into such a solvent scheme of arrangement. Such security shall be in a form consistent with the provisions of Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §§ 731-B(1)(B-2) & 731-B(3) and Sections 12 through 17 of this rule. For purposes of this rule, the term “solvent scheme of arrangement” means a foreign or alien statutory or regulatory compromise procedure subject to requisite majority creditor approval and judicial sanction in the assuming insurer’s home jurisdiction either to finally commute liabilities of duly noticed classed members or creditors of a solvent debtor, or to reorganize or restructure the debts and obligations of a solvent debtor on a final basis, and which may be subject to judicial recognition and enforcement of the arrangement by a governing authority outside the ceding insurer’s home jurisdiction.
      6. (f) The assuming insurer must agree in writing to meet the applicable information filing requirements as set forth in Paragraph (5).
   5. (5) The assuming insurer or its legal successor must provide the following documentation to the Superintendent, if requested by the Superintendent, on behalf of itself and any legal predecessors:
      1. (a) For the two years preceding entry into the reinsurance agreement and on an annual basis thereafter, the assuming insurer’s annual audited financial statements, in accordance with the applicable law of its head-office or domiciliary jurisdiction, as applicable, including the external audit report;
      2. (b) For the two years preceding entry into the reinsurance agreement, the solvency and financial condition report or actuarial opinion, if filed with the assuming insurer’s supervisor;
      3. (c) Before entry into the reinsurance agreement and not more than semi-annually thereafter, an updated list of all disputed and overdue reinsurance claims outstanding for 90 days or more, regarding reinsurance assumed from ceding insurers domiciled in the United States; and
      4. (d) Before entry into the reinsurance agreement and not more than semi-annually thereafter, information regarding the assuming insurer’s assumed reinsurance by ceding insurer, ceded reinsurance by the assuming insurer, and reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses by the assuming insurer to allow for the evaluation of the criteria set forth in Paragraph (6).
   6. (6) The assuming insurer must maintain a practice of prompt payment of claims under reinsurance agreements. Any of the following criteria shall be evidence of failure to pay claims promptly:
      1. (a) More than 15% of the reinsurance recoverables from the assuming insurer are overdue and in dispute as reported to the Superintendent:
      2. (b) More than 15% of the assuming insurer’s ceding insurers or reinsurers have overdue reinsurance recoverable on paid losses of 90 days or more which are not in dispute and which exceed for each ceding insurer $100,000, or as otherwise specified in a covered agreement; or
      3. (c) The aggregate amount of reinsurance recoverable on paid losses which are not in dispute, but are overdue by 90 days or more, exceeds $50,000,000, or as otherwise specified in a covered agreement.
   7. (7) The assuming insurer’s supervisory authority must confirm to the Superintendent on an annual basis that the assuming insurer complies with the requirements set forth in Paragraphs (2) and (3).
   8. (8) Nothing in this provision precludes an assuming insurer from providing the Superintendent with information on a voluntary basis.
3. D. The Superintendent shall create and publish a list of Reciprocal Jurisdictions in a timely manner.
   1. (1) The Superintendent’s list shall include any Reciprocal Jurisdiction designated under Paragraphs B(1) and (2). If a list of Reciprocal Jurisdictions is published through the NAIC Committee Process, the Superintendent shall consider any other Reciprocal Jurisdiction included on the NAIC list for designation under Paragraph B(3). The Superintendent may approve a jurisdiction that does not appear on the NAIC list of Reciprocal Jurisdictions as provided by applicable law or in accordance with criteria published through the NAIC Committee Process.

(2) The Superintendent may remove a jurisdiction that has been designated under Paragraph B(3) from the list of Reciprocal Jurisdictions upon a determination that the jurisdiction no longer meets one or more of the requirements for Reciprocal Jurisdiction status. Upon removal of a Reciprocal Jurisdiction from this list, credit for reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer domiciled in that jurisdiction shall be allowed, if otherwise allowed pursuant to the applicable provisions of Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731-B and this rule.

1. E. The Superintendent shall create and publish, in a timely manner, a list of assuming insurers that have satisfied the conditions set forth in this section and to which cessions shall be granted credit in accordance with this section.
   1. (1) If an NAIC-accredited jurisdiction has determined that the conditions set forth in Subsection C have been met, the Superintendent has the discretion to defer to that jurisdiction’s determination, and add such assuming insurer to the list of assuming insurers to which cessions shall be granted credit in accordance with this subsection. The Superintendent may accept financial documentation filed with another NAIC-accredited jurisdiction or with the NAIC in satisfaction of the requirements of Subsection C.
   2. (2) When requesting that the Superintendent defer to another NAIC-accredited jurisdiction’s determination, an assuming insurer must submit a properly executed Form RJ-1 and additional information as the Superintendent may require. Upon receiving such a request, the Superintendent shall promptly notify other states through the NAIC Committee Process and provide relevant information with respect to the determination of eligibility.
2. F. If the Superintendent determines that an assuming insurer no longer meets one or more of the requirements under this section, the Superintendent may revoke or suspend the eligibility of the assuming insurer for recognition under this section.
   1. (1) While an assuming insurer’s eligibility is suspended, no reinsurance agreement issued, amended or renewed after the effective date of the suspension qualifies for credit except to the extent that the assuming insurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with Sections 12 through 17 of this rule.
   2. (2) If an assuming insurer’s eligibility is revoked, no credit for reinsurance may be granted after the effective date of the revocation with respect to any reinsurance agreements entered into by the assuming insurer, including reinsurance agreements entered into before the date of revocation, except to the extent that the assuming insurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in a form acceptable to the Superintendent and consistent with the provisions of Sections 12 through 17 of this rule.
3. G. Before denying statement credit or imposing a requirement to post security pursuant to Subsection F or adopting any similar requirement that will have substantially the same regulatory impact as security, the Superintendent shall:
   1. (1) Notify the ceding insurer, the assuming insurer, and the assuming insurer’s supervisory authority that the assuming insurer no longer satisfies one of the conditions listed in Subsection C;
   2. (2) Provide the assuming insurer with 30 days from the initial communication to submit a plan to remedy the defect, and 90 days from the initial communication to remedy the defect, except in exceptional circumstances in which a shorter period is necessary for policyholder and other consumer protection;
   3. (3) After the expiration of 90 days, or such lesser period as ordered in accordance with Paragraph (2), if the Superintendent determines that the assuming insurer has not taken sufficient action, order appropriate remedial measures, including the posting of security or denial or reduction of statement credit; and
   4. (4) Provide a written explanation to the assuming insurer of any remedial measures ordered.
4. H. If subject to a legal process of rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation, the ceding insurer or its representative may seek and, if determined appropriate by the court in which the proceedings are pending, may obtain an order requiring that the assuming insurer post security for all outstanding liabilities.

Section 11. Reinsurers maintaining multi-beneficiary trust funds

A. Pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(C), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer that has, at all times for which statutory financial statement credit for reinsurance is claimed under this section, maintained a trust fund in compliance with this section and other applicable provisions of this rule in a qualified United States financial institution (as defined in Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(4-A)), for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns and successors in interest. The assuming insurer shall report annually to the Superintendent substantially the same information as that required to be reported on the NAIC annual statement form by licensed insurers, to enable the Superintendent to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund. In addition to other requirements, multi-beneficiary trust funds shall be maintained as follows:

1. (1) The trust for a single assuming insurer must consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the assuming insurer’s obligations attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States insurers, excluding obligations that are otherwise secured by acceptable means, and, in addition, a surplus of at least $20,000,000, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the insurance regulator with principal oversight of the trust may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cash flows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including when applicable the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurer’s liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30% of the assuming insurer’s obligations attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
   1. (2) The trust fund for a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters shall be subject to the following requirements:
      1. (a) The trust may consist in part of accounts restricted to the liabilities of particular underwriters, syndicates, or years of account, but no surplus in any such account may be offset against a deficit in another account in determining the overall sufficiency of the trust. The funds held in trust must collectively include the following:
         1. (i) Funds in trust in an amount not less than the respective underwriters’ several obligations, excluding obligations that are otherwise secured by acceptable means, attributable to business ceded by United States-domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993;
         2. (ii) Funds in trust in an amount not less than the respective underwriters’ several insurance and reinsurance obligations, excluding obligations that are otherwise secured by acceptable means, attributable to business written in the United States under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, and under any insurance contracts secured by the same trust accounts; and
         3. (iii) In addition, a trusteed surplus of at least $100,000,000 which must be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group for any year of account.

(b) The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and must be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the group’s domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members. The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group’s domiciliary regulator, make available to the Superintendent:

(i) An annual certification by the group’s domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member of the group; or

1. (ii) If a certification is unavailable, a financial statement, prepared by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the group.

B. A reinsurer maintaining trust funds pursuant to this section must establish a trust in a form approved by the Superintendent which complies with Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(C)(5) and this rule. The form of the trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the Superintendent and with the other domiciliary regulators of ceding insurers. The trust instrument shall provide that:

1. (1) Contested claims shall be valid and enforceable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States;
   1. (2) Legal title to the assets of the trust shall be vested in the trustee for the benefit of all of the grantor’s United States ceding insurers, their assigns and successors in interest. They shall be the sole beneficiaries of the trust, except for trusts that were established before January 1, 1993, for the benefit of both cedents and direct policyholders that are and fully funded in compliance with Subparagraph A(2)(a) of this section;
   2. (3) The trust shall be subject to examination as determined by the Superintendent or by other domiciliary regulators of any United States ceding insurer;
   3. (4) The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations under reinsurance agreements subject to the trust; and
   4. (5) No later than February 28 of each year, the trustee of the trust shall report to the Superintendent in writing setting forth the balance in the trust and listing the trust’s investments at the preceding year-end, and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire before the end of the current year;
   5. (6) Notwithstanding any other provisions in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by Subsection A, or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
      1. (a) The trustee shall comply with an order of the insurance regulator with oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer all of the assets of the trust fund to the insurance regulator with oversight over the trust, or other designated receiver.
      2. (b) The assets shall be distributed by and claims shall be filed with and valued by the insurance regulator with oversight over the trust in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that govern the liquidation of insurance companies domiciled in that state.
      3. (c) If the insurance regulator with oversight over the trust determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States beneficiaries of the trust, the insurance regulator with oversight over the trust shall return the assets, or any part thereof, to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
      4. (d) The grantor shall waive any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this paragraph.
      5. (e) If a trust fund has been determined to lack the surplus required by this subsection, the Superintendent shall have the discretion to grant credit for reinsurance recoveries for liabilities ceded before the ceding insurer had notice of the impairment of the trust, but the credit shall not exceed an amount determined by the Superintendent to be fully secured by the trust notwithstanding the impairment.
2. C. In determining the adequacy of the trust’s funding, the Superintendent shall consider only the assets that have been permitted and valued by the insurance regulator with principal oversight over the trust under standards that the Superintendent has determined to be consistent with the purposes of this rule.
3. D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, it shall be a condition precedent for presentation of a claim by a ceding insurer to a trust established pursuant to this section that any specific security provided to the ceding insurer for the same reinsurance obligation in accordance with Sections 12, 16, or 17 of this rule has been applied, until exhausted, to the payment of the liabilities of the assuming insurer to the ceding insurer.

Section 12. Required conditions of single-beneficiary trust agreements

Pursuant to Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(D), the Superintendent shall allow credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer, under reinsurance contracts that comply with Sections 14 and 15, if at all times for which statutory financial statement credit is claimed under this section, a trust fund is maintained for the sole benefit of the ceding insurer, including any successor by operation of law, in compliance with this section and other applicable provisions of this rule. The credit allowed shall be limited to the lesser of the current fair market value of the trust assets or the amount of the reinsurance obligations secured by the trust.

1. A. No amendment to the trust shall be effective unless reviewed and approved in advance by the Superintendent.

B. The trust agreement shall be entered into between the beneficiary, the grantor, and a trustee which shall be a qualified United States financial institution as defined in Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(4-A).

1. C. All assets in the trust account credited thereunder shall be held by the trustee in the United States.
2. D. The trust agreement must provide that:
   1. (1) The beneficiary shall have the right to withdraw assets from the trust account at any time, without notice to the grantor, subject only to written notice from the beneficiary to the trustee;

(2) No other statement or document is required to be presented in order to withdraw assets, except that the beneficiary may be required to acknowledge receipt of withdrawn assets;

1. (3) No other conditions or qualifications not contained in the trust agreement shall apply; and
   1. (4) The agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and no other documents will be referred to or apply, except as expressly provided in the agreement. Any such express exceptions must be consistent with Section 13 of this rule.
2. E. The trust agreement must require that the trustee:
   1. (1) Receive and hold all assets transferred to the trustee in a safe place;
   2. (2) Determine that all assets are in such form that the beneficiary, or the trustee upon direction by the beneficiary, may whenever necessary negotiate any such assets without consent or signature from the grantor or any other person or entity;

(3) Furnish a statement of trust assets to the grantor and the beneficiary at establishment and at intervals no less frequent than the end of each calendar quarter valued in accordance with current market value;

1. (4) Notify the grantor and the beneficiary within ten (10) days of any deposits to or withdrawals from the trust account;
   1. (5) Upon written demand of the beneficiary, immediately take any and all steps necessary to transfer all right, title, and interest in the assets held in the trust account to the beneficiary and deliver physical custody of the assets to the beneficiary; and
   2. (6) Permit no withdrawals except on written instructions from the beneficiary, and permit no substitutions of assets without written instructions from the beneficiary except as authorized pursuant to powers granted in compliance with Subsection 13(D), or, with notice to the beneficiary, upon call or maturity of a trust asset.
2. F. The trust agreement shall be made subject to and governed by the laws of the state in which the trust is established.
3. G. The trust agreement shall prohibit invasion of the trust corpus for the purpose of paying compensation to, or reimbursing the expenses of, the trustee.
4. H. The trust agreement shall provide that the trustee shall be liable for its negligence, willful misconduct, or lack of good faith.
5. I. In order for a letter of credit to qualify as an asset of the trust, it must comply with Section 16, and the trust agreement or some other binding agreement approved by the Superintendent must give the trustee the right and the obligation to draw down the full amount of the letter of credit immediately and hold the proceeds in trust for the beneficiaries of the trust if the letter of credit will otherwise expire without being renewed or replaced, or if the Superintendent will no longer recognize it as a qualifying trust asset. The trust agreement must further provide that the trustee’s failure to draw against the letter of credit in circumstances where a draw is required shall be deemed to be actionable negligence or willful misconduct.
6. J. The trust agreement shall provide that written notification of termination must be delivered by the trustee to the beneficiary between 30 and 45 days before termination of the trust account.
7. K. The failure of any trust agreement to specifically identify a beneficiary shall not be construed to affect any actions or rights that the Superintendent or a statutory successor may take or possess pursuant to the provisions of the laws of this State.
8. L. Either the trust agreement or the reinsurance agreement must provide that assets deposited in the trust account shall be valued according to their current fair market value and shall consist only of cash in United States dollars, certificates of deposit issued by a United States bank and payable in United States dollars, letters of credit complying with Subsection I, and investments permitted by the Maine Insurance Code, or any combination of the above, provided that investments in or issued by an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with either the grantor or the beneficiary of the trust shall not exceed 5% of total investments. The agreement may further specify the types of investments to be deposited. If the reinsurance agreement covers life, annuities or accident and health risks, then the provisions required by this paragraph must be included in the reinsurance agreement.

Section 13. Permitted conditions of trust agreements

When a trust agreement is established in conjunction with a reinsurance agreement, the trust agreement may contain the following provisions:

1. A. Notwithstanding other provisions of this rule, where it is customary to provide a trust agreement for a specific purpose, a provision that the ceding insurer, if it is not itself the subject of a delinquency proceeding, may undertake to use and apply amounts drawn upon the trust account, without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer or the assuming insurer, only for the following purposes:
   1. (1) To pay or reimburse the ceding insurer for the assuming insurer’s share under the reinsurance agreement of:
      1. (a) For life, annuity, and health risks, surrenders and benefits or losses paid by the ceding insurer under the terms and provisions of the policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement, but not yet recovered from the assuming insurer, and premiums returned to policyowners on account of cancellations of policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement, but not yet recovered from the assuming insurer; and

(b) For other risks, any losses and allocated loss expenses, or unallocated loss expenses if contained within the agreement, paid by the ceding insurer but not recovered from the assuming insurer, or unearned premiums due to the ceding insurer if not otherwise paid by the assuming insurer;

1. (2) To make payment to the assuming insurer of any amounts held in the trust account in excess of:
   1. (a) For life, annuity, and health risks, assets with a current fair market value that is at least the actual amount required to fund the assuming insurer’s obligations under the reinsurance agreement.
      1. (b) For other risks, assets with a current fair market value that is at least 102 percent of the actual amount required to fund the assuming insurer’s obligations under the reinsurance agreement; or

(3) Where the ceding insurer has received notification of termination of the trust account and where the assuming insurer’s obligations under the particular reinsurance agreement remain unliquidated and undischarged in whole or part ten (10) days prior to the termination date and have not been fully secured by replacement security approved by the Superintendent, to withdraw amounts equal to the unsecured obligations and deposit those amounts in the name of the ceding insurer in any qualified United States financial institution (as defined in Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(4-A)). Such withdrawn assets shall be maintained in a separate account apart from general assets, in trust for such uses and purposes specified in Paragraphs (1) and (2) above as may remain executory after such withdrawal and for any period after the termination date.

1. B. That the trustee may resign upon delivery of a written notice of resignation, effective not less than ninety (90) days after receipt by the beneficiary and grantor of the notice, and that the trustee may be removed by the grantor by delivery to the trustee and the beneficiary of a written notice of removal, effective not less than ninety (90) days after receipt by the trustee and the beneficiary of the notice, provided that no such resignation or removal shall be effective until a successor trustee has been duly appointed and approved by the beneficiary and the grantor, and all assets in the trust have been duly transferred to the new trustee.

C. That the grantor may have the full and unqualified right to vote any shares of stock in the trust account and may have a right to receive from time to time payments of any dividends or interest upon any shares of stock or obligations included in the trust account. Any such interest or dividends shall be either forwarded promptly upon receipt to the grantor or deposited in a separate account established in the grantor’s name.

1. D. That the trustee may be given authority to invest, and accept substitutions of, any funds in the account, provided that no substitution shall be made without prior approval of the beneficiary, unless the trust agreement specifies categories of investments acceptable to the beneficiary and authorizes the trustee to invest funds and to accept substitutions which the trustee determines are at least equal in current fair market value to the assets withdrawn and which are permissible under Subsection 12(L) of this rule and any additional investment limitations established by the agreement.

E. That upon termination of the trust account, all assets not previously withdrawn by the beneficiary may, with written approval by the beneficiary, be delivered to the grantor provided adequate security for the reinsurance obligations is otherwise maintained under exclusive control of the beneficiary.

Section 14. Reinsurance contracts – mandatory provisions

Except for reinsurance required by law, the Superintendent may not grant credit for reinsurance unless the reinsurance agreement contains the provisions specified in this section. In determining whether to grant full credit under Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §731-B(1)(D) for reinsurance required by law, the Superintendent shall consider whether the reinsurance program provides protections comparable to those specified in this section, if applicable to the nature of the reinsurance program.

1. A. An insolvency clause meeting the requirements of Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §731-B(5), providing that in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer, the reinsurance is payable under a contract or contracts reinsured by the assuming insurer on the basis of reported claims allowed by the court, without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer. The payments must be made directly to the ceding insurer or to the ceding insurer’s domiciliary receiver unless the contract or other written agreement specifically provides another payee in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer or unless the assuming insurer, with the consent of the direct insured or insureds, has assumed the policy obligations of the ceding insurer as direct obligations of the assuming insurer to the payees under the reinsured policies and in substitution for the obligations of the ceding insurer to those payees.
2. B. A provision, meeting the requirements of Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §731-B(2)(A), requiring the assuming insurer, at the request of the ceding insurer, to submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, or to an alternative dispute resolution panel if provided in the agreement, to comply with all requirements necessary to give the court or panel jurisdiction, and to abide by the final decision after appeal rights have been exhausted.
3. C. A provision, meeting the requirements of Title 24-A M.R.S.A. §731-B(2)(B), designating the Superintendent or an attorney as the assuming insurer’s attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding company.
4. D. An intermediary clause, if payments may be made through intermediaries, under which the intermediary’s credit risk is borne by the assuming insurer.

Section 15. Reinsurance contracts – permitted provisions

I. A reinsurance agreement, the administration of which employs a trust account subject to Section 12, may contain provisions that:

1. A. Require the assuming insurer to enter into a trust agreement and to establish a trust account for the benefit of the ceding insurer, and that specify what the agreement is to cover;
2. B. Specify trust investment standards in a manner consistent with Subsection 12(L). An investment clause consistent with Subsection 12(L) is mandatory if it is not contained in the trust agreement or if the reinsurance agreement covers life, annuity, or health risks;

C. Require the assuming insurer, prior to depositing assets with the trustee, to execute assignments or endorsements in blank, or to transfer legal title to the trustee of all shares, obligations, or any other assets requiring assignments, in order that the ceding insurer, or the trustee upon the direction of the ceding insurer, may whenever necessary negotiate these assets without consent or signature from the assuming insurer or any other entity;

1. D. Require that all settlements of account between the ceding insurer and the assuming insurer be made in cash or its equivalent; and
2. E. Stipulate that the assuming insurer and the ceding insurer agree that the assets in the trust account, established pursuant to the provisions of the reinsurance agreement, may be withdrawn at any time by the ceding insurer, notwithstanding any other provisions in the reinsurance agreement, and may further stipulate that the funds withdrawn shall be utilized and applied by the ceding insurer (or its successors in interest by operation of law, including without limitation any liquidator, rehabilitator, receiver, or conservator of such company), on the basis of the liability of the ceding insurer under the contracts reinsured without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer or assuming insurer, only for the following purposes:
   1. (1) To reimburse the ceding insurer for the assuming insurer’s share of premiums returned to the owners of policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement because of cancellations of such policies;
   2. (2) To reimburse the ceding insurer for the assuming insurer’s share of policy surrenders and benefits or losses paid by the ceding insurer pursuant to the provisions of the policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement; and
   3. (3) To pay any obligations, consistent with the terms of the reinsurance agreement, which the ceding insurer has reasonably calculated to be due to it. The agreement may contain provisions that also allow the ceding insurer to fund one or more accounts specifically established by the ceding insurer, under standards specified in the agreement, for the payment of certain obligations incurred but not yet due.
3. F. Give the assuming insurer the right to seek approval from the ceding insurer, which shall not unreasonably or arbitrarily withhold its approval, to withdraw from the trust account all or any part of the trust assets and transfer those assets to the assuming insurer, provided:
   1. (1) The assuming insurer shall, at the time of withdrawal, replace the withdrawn assets with other qualified assets having a current fair market value at least equal to the greater of the market value of the assets withdrawn or the amount necessary to restore the funding of the trust to the required amount, or
   2. (2) After withdrawal and transfer, the current fair market value of qualified assets in the trust account is no less than 102 percent of the required amount.
4. G. Give the assuming insurer the right to:
   1. (1) The return of any amount withdrawn in excess of the actual amounts required for Paragraphs E(1) or (2) of this part, or in the case of Paragraph E(3), any amounts determined not to be a permitted withdrawal pursuant to a final accounting between the parties to the agreement; and
   2. (2) Interest payments, at a rate not in excess of the prime rate of interest applicable to the period or periods during which the amounts returned pursuant to Paragraph (1) were held.

H. Permit the award by an arbitration panel or any court of competent jurisdiction of:

1. (1) Interest at a rate different from that provided in Paragraph G(2) of this part;
   1. (2) Court or arbitration costs;
   2. (3) Attorney’s fees; and
   3. (4) Other reasonable expenses.

II. A reinsurance agreement in conjunction with which a letter of credit is utilized may contain the following provisions and the provisions shall be applied without diminution in amounts owed because of insolvency on the part of the ceding insurer or assuming insurer:

1. A. A requirement that the assuming insurer provide letters of credit to the ceding insurer and specify what they are to cover.
2. B. A stipulation that the assuming insurer and ceding insurer agree that letters of credit provided by the assuming insurer pursuant to the provisions of a reinsurance agreement may be drawn upon at any time, notwithstanding any other provisions in the agreement, but the proceeds shall be applied only to:
   1. (1) Reimburse the ceding insurer for the assuming insurer’s share of premiums returned to the owners of policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement because of cancellation of such policies;
   2. (2) Reimburse the ceding insurer for the assuming insurer’s share of policy surrenders and benefits or losses paid by the ceding insurer pursuant to the provisions of the policies reinsured under the reinsurance agreement;
   3. (3) Pay any obligations, consistent with the terms of the reinsurance agreement, which the ceding insurer has reasonably calculated to be due to it or which the assuming insurer has agreed may be funded from proceeds of the letter of credit in advance of their due date; or
   4. (4) Be deposited with a trustee for the purpose of securing the reinsurer’s undischarged obligations, if the letter of credit will expire without renewal or be reduced or replaced by a letter of credit for a reduced amount or if the Superintendent will no longer recognize it as qualifying security, provided that:
      1. (a) The amount drawn must be limited to the those obligations of the assuming insurer under the reinsurance agreement that remain unliquidated and undischarged, and that have not been fully secured by replacement security approved by the Superintendent, 10 days before the date that the letter of credit is anticipated to expire, be replaced or reduced in amount, or to lose recognition as qualifying security; and
      2. (b) The terms and conditions under which the funds are held must comply with Section 12, except for the requirement that the assuming insurer be the grantor of the trust.
3. C. A provision for the return of any amounts drawn on the letters of credit in excess of the actual amounts required under Subsection B of this part, or, in the case of Paragraph B(3), any amounts that are subsequently determined not to be due pursuant to a final account between the parties to the agreement; and
4. D. Interest payments, at a rate not in excess of the prime rate of interest applicable to the period or periods during which the amounts returned pursuant to Subsection C of this part were held.

Section 16. Reinsurers utilizing letters of credit

A. A letter of credit may be used to reduce a ceding insurer’s liability in its financial statements for reinsurance ceded to an unauthorized assuming insurer, pursuant to Title 24 A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(D), if the reinsurance contract complies with Sections 14 and 15, and the letter of credit qualifies under this section, names the ceding insurer as beneficiary, and has been in force at all times for which statutory financial statement credit is claimed under this section. The reduction in liabilities of the ceding insurer is limited to the lesser of the value of the specific obligations under the reinsurance agreement or the amount available under the letter of credit.

B. A letter of credit must be clean, irrevocable, and unconditional and issued or confirmed by a qualified United States financial institution as defined in Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(4). The letter of credit shall specify an issue date and date of expiration and shall stipulate that the beneficiary need only draw a sight draft under the letter of credit and present it to obtain funds and that no other document need be presented. The letter of credit shall also state that it is not subject to any condition or qualifications not contained therein. In addition, the letter of credit itself shall not contain reference to any other agreements, documents, or entities, except as provided in Subsection F.

1. C. The heading of the letter of credit may include a boxed section containing the name of the applicant and other appropriate notations to provide a reference for the letter of credit. The boxed section shall be clearly marked to indicate that such information is for internal identification purposes only.
2. D. A letter of credit shall contain a statement to the effect that the obligation of the qualified United States financial institution which issues a letter of credit is in no way contingent upon reimbursement with respect thereto.
3. E. The term of a letter of credit shall be for at least one year and shall contain an “evergreen clause” which prevents the expiration of the letter of credit without due notice from the issuer. The “evergreen clause” shall provide for a period of no less than thirty (30) days’ notice prior to expiration date or at nonrenewal.
4. F. A letter of credit shall state that it is subject to and governed by one of the following:
   1. (1) The laws of this State;
   2. (2) The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits of the International Chamber of Commerce Publication 600 (UCP 600), or any successor publication; or
   3. (3) International Standby Practices of the International Chamber of Commerce Publication 590 (ISP98), or any successor publication.

G. The letter of credit shall designate one or more offices in the United States of a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(4), and it shall state that all drafts drawn thereunder shall be presentable at the designated office or offices.

1. H. The letter of credit shall specifically address and make provision for a reasonable extension of time to draw against the letter of credit in the event that the designated place for presentation is closed for any reason on the last business day for presentation and no reasonable alternative place for presentation was designated by the issuer with timely notice.
2. I. If the issuer of the letter of credit is not a qualified United States financial institution, then:
   1. (1) The letter of credit shall formally designate the confirming qualified United States financial institution as the issuing financial institution’s agent for the receipt and payment of the drafts; and
   2. (2) The “evergreen clause” shall require thirty (30) days’ notice by the confirming financial institution if the confirmation is nonrenewed.
3. J. Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance (or confirmation) may at the discretion of the Superintendent, 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 first occurs.

Section 17. Other security

A ceding insurer may take credit under Title 24 A M.R.S.A. §731‑B(1)(D) for reinsurance ceded in accordance with Sections 14 and 15, in an amount not to exceed the amount recognized by the ceding insurer as a liability for the risks ceded under the reinsurance agreement, to the extent that the assuming insurer’s obligations have been secured at all times for which statutory financial statement credit is claimed under this section by unencumbered admitted assets, of a character, maturity, and value to fulfill the intent of the agreement, withheld by the ceding insurer in the United States, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer and under its exclusive control. The assets must be of the following form:

1. A. Cash;
2. B. Securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the Securities Valuation Office, and qualifying as admitted assets;
3. C. Letter of credit in compliance with Section 16;
4. D. Any other form of security that the Superintendent finds to be acceptable consistent with the purposes of this rule.

Section 18. Effective date

This rule is effective October 1, 1993. The 2016 amendments to this rule are effective January 24, 2016. The 2022 amendments to this rule are effective March 1, 2022. All new and renewal reinsurance transactions executed on or after the effective date of this rule shall conform to the requirements of Title 24‑A M.R.S.A. and this rule, as in force on the date of the transaction, if credit is to be given to the ceding insurer for such reinsurance.

1. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

   24-A M.R.S. §§ 212, 731-B

   EFFECTIVE DATE:

   October 1, 1993 – filing 93-277

   EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):

   January 14, 1997

   AMENDED:

   January 24, 2016 – filing 2016-005

March 1, 2022 – filing 2022-027

APAO WORD VERSION CONVERSION (IF NEEDED) AND ACCESSIBILITY CHECK: July 18, 2025

FORM AR-1

CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMING INSURER

I, _______________________, ___________________ of ___________________________,

(name of officer) (title of officer) (name of assuming insurer)

the assuming insurer under a reinsurance agreement(s) with one or more insurers domiciled in the State of Maine, hereby certify that __________________________ (“Assuming Insurer”):

(name of assuming insurer)

1. Submits to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Maine for the adjudication of any issues arising out of the reinsurance agreement(s), agrees to comply with all requirements necessary to give such court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of such court or any appellate court in the event of an appeal. Nothing in this paragraph constitutes or should be understood to constitute a waiver of Assuming Insurer’s rights to commence an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States, to remove an action to a United States District Court, or to seek a transfer of a case to another court as permitted by the laws of the United States or of any state in the United States. This paragraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to the reinsurance agreement(s) to arbitrate their disputes if such an obligation is created in the agreement(s).

1. 2. Designates the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of Maine as its lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of the reinsurance agreements(s) instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.

3. Submits to the authority of the Superintendent of Insurance to examine its books and records and agrees to bear the expense of any such examination.

1. 4. Submits with this form a current list of insurers domiciled in the State of Maine reinsured by Assuming Insurer and undertakes to submit additions to or deletions from the list to the Superintendent at least once per calendar quarter.

Dated: ______________ ___________________________________

(name of assuming insurer)

BY: ___________________________________

(name of officer)

___________________________________

(title of officer)

FORM CR-1

CERTIFICATE OF CERTIFIED REINSURER

I, _______________________, ___________________ of ___________________________,

(name of officer) (title of officer) (name of assuming insurer)

the assuming insurer under a reinsurance agreement(s) with one or more insurers domiciled in the State of Maine, in order to be considered for approval in this State, hereby certify that __________________________ (“Assuming Insurer”):

(name of assuming insurer)

1. Submits to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Maine for the adjudication of any issues arising out of the reinsurance agreement(s), agrees to comply with all requirements necessary to give such court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of such court or any appellate court in the event of an appeal. Nothing in this paragraph constitutes or should be understood to constitute a waiver of Assuming Insurer’s rights to commence an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States, to remove an action to a United States District Court, or to seek a transfer of a case to another court as permitted by the laws of the United States or of any state in the United States. This paragraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to the reinsurance agreement(s) to arbitrate their disputes if such an obligation is created in the agreement(s).

1. 2. Designates the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of Maine as its lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of the reinsurance agreements(s) instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
2. 3. Agrees to provide security in an amount equal to 100% of liabilities attributable to U.S. ceding insurers if it resists enforcement of a final U.S. judgment or properly enforceable arbitration award.
3. 4. Agrees to provide notification within 10 days of any regulatory actions taken against it, any change in the provisions of its domiciliary license or any change in its rating by an approved rating agency, including a statement describing such changes and the reasons therefor.
4. 5. Agrees to annually file information comparable to relevant provisions of the NAIC financial statement for use by insurance markets in accordance with Maine Bureau of Insurance Rule 740 §6(C)(7).
5. 6. Agrees to annually file the report of the independent auditor on the financial statements of the insurance enterprise.
6. 7. Agrees to annually file audited financial statements, regulatory filings, and actuarial opinion in accordance with Maine Bureau of Insurance Rule 740 §6(C)(7).
7. 8. Agrees to annually file an updated list of all disputed and overdue reinsurance claims regarding reinsurance assumed from U.S. domestic ceding insurers.
8. 9. Is in good standing as an insurer or reinsurer with the supervisor of its domiciliary jurisdiction.

Dated: ______________ ___________________________________

(name of assuming insurer)

BY: ___________________________________

(name of officer)

___________________________________

(title of officer)

Form CR-F – PART 1

Assumed Reinsurance as of December 31, Current Year (000 Omitted)

Form CR-F – PART 2

Ceded Reinsurance as of December 31, Current Year (000 Omitted)

Form CR-S – PART 1 – SECTION 1

Reinsurance Assumed Life Insurance, Annuities, Deposit Funds and Other Liabilities

Without Life or Disability Contingencies, and Related Benefits Listed by Reinsured Company as of December 31, Current Year

Form CR-S – PART 1 – SECTION 2

Reinsurance Assumed Accident and Health Insurance Listed by Reinsured Company as of December 31, Current Year

Form CR-S – PART 2

Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses Listed by Reinsuring Company as of December 31, Current Year

Form CR-S – PART 3 – SECTION 1

Reinsurance Ceded Life Insurance, Annuities, Deposit Funds and Other Liabilities

Without Life or Disability Contingencies, and Related Benefits Listed by Reinsuring Company as of December 31, Current Year

Form CR-S – PART 3 – SECTION 2

Reinsurance Ceded Accident and Health Insurance Listed by Reinsuring Company as of December 31, Current Year

FORM RJ-1

CERTIFICATE OF REINSURER DOMICILED IN RECIPROCAL JURISDICTION

I, _______________________, ___________________ of ___________________________,

(name of officer) (title of officer) (name of assuming insurer)

the assuming insurer under a reinsurance agreement(s) with one or more insurers domiciled in the State of Maine, in order to be considered for approval in this State, hereby certify that __________________________ (“Assuming Insurer”):

(name of assuming insurer)

1. Submits to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Maine for the adjudication of any issues arising out of the reinsurance agreement(s), agrees to comply with all requirements necessary to give such court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of such court or any appellate court in the event of an appeal. Nothing in this paragraph constitutes or should be understood to constitute a waiver of Assuming Insurer’s rights to commence an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States, to remove an action to a United States District Court, or to seek a transfer of a case to another court as permitted by the laws of the United States or of any state in the United States. This paragraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to the reinsurance agreement(s) to arbitrate their disputes if such an obligation is created in the agreement(s), except to the extent that such agreements are unenforceable under applicable insolvency or delinquency laws..

1. 2. Designates the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of Maine as its lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit or proceeding in this State arising out of the reinsurance agreements(s) instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
2. 3. Agrees to pay all final judgments obtained by a ceding insurer, wherever enforcement is sought, that have been declared enforceable in the territory where the judgment was obtained.
3. 4. Agrees to provide prompt written notice and explanation if it falls below the minimum capital and surplus or capital or surplus ratio, or if any regulatory action is taken against it for serious noncompliance with applicable law.
4. 5. Confirms that it is not presently participating in any solvent scheme of arrangement that involves insurers domiciled in the State of Maine. Assuming Insurer agrees to notify the ceding insurer and the Superintendent if it enters into such an arrangement, and to provide 100% security to the ceding insurer consistent with the terms of the scheme.
5. 6. Agrees that in each reinsurance agreement it will promise to provide security in an amount equal to 100% of the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded pursuant to that agreement if the assuming insurer resists enforcement of a final U.S. judgment that is enforceable under the law of the territory in which it was obtained, or a properly enforceable arbitration award whether obtained by the ceding insurer or by its resolution estate, if applicable.
6. 7. Agrees to provide any documentation requested by the Superintendent in accordance with Maine Bureau of Insurance Rule 740 §10(C)(5).

Dated: ______________ ___________________________________

(name of assuming insurer)

BY: ___________________________________

(name of officer)

___________________________________

(title of officer)