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Statutory Requirements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Insurance [Abstract]  
Statutory Requirements STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
The Company’s (re)insurance operations are subject to insurance laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they operate, the most significant of which currently include Bermuda, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. These regulations include certain restrictions on the amount of dividends or other distributions, such as loans or cash advances, available to shareholders without prior approval of the respective regulatory authorities.
Group Supervision
The Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) is the group supervisor of the Company. Under the Insurance Act 1978, amendments thereto and related regulations of Bermuda (collectively, the “Insurance Act”), the Company shall ensure that it can meet its minimum solvency margin (“MSM”), defined as the prescribed minimum amount by which the value of the assets of the Company must exceed the value of its liabilities, the breach of which represents an unacceptable level of risk and triggers the strongest supervisory actions.
In addition, the Company is required to maintain statutory economic capital and surplus at a level equal to or in excess of its enhanced capital requirement (“ECR”) which is established by reference to the Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement (the “BSCR”) model. The BSCR is a mathematical model designed to give the BMA robust methods for determining an insurer’s capital adequacy. The ECR is equal to the greater of the MSM or required capital calculated by reference to the BSCR. Effective January 1, 2016, the BMA embedded the Economic Balance Sheet (“EBS”) framework in the Bermuda legislative and regulatory regime. The EBS is an input to the BSCR which determines the Company’s ECR. The EBS regime prescribes the use of financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP as the basis on which statutory financial statements are prepared, and those statutory financial statements form the starting basis for the EBS.
The BMA has established a target capital level (“TCL”) which is set at 120% of the ECR. While the Company is not required to maintain statutory economic capital and surplus at this level, it serves as an early warning signal for the BMA, and failure to meet the TCL may result in additional reporting requirements or increased regulatory oversight. The Company is currently completing its 2019 group BSCR, which must be filed with the BMA on or before May 31, 2020, and at this time, the Company believes it will exceed the target level of required statutory economic capital and surplus.
The statutory capital and surplus, required minimum statutory capital and surplus and unrestricted net assets of the Company’s regulated insurance operations in its most significant regulatory jurisdictions are detailed below:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bermuda (1)
 
Switzerland (2)
 
U.K. (3) (4)
 
U.S.
 
 
At December 31,
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Statutory capital and surplus
$
5,325,749

 
$
4,366,089

 
$
580,235

 
$

 
$
675,864

 
$
519,689

 
$
677,832

 
$
502,803

 
 
Required statutory capital and surplus
1,201,529

 
957,650

 
465,900

 

 
675,864

 
519,689

 
397,447

 
306,628

 
 
Unrestricted net assets
1,107,586

 
931,387

 
102,943

 

 

 

 
46,630

 
31,228

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
The Company's Bermuda-domiciled insurance subsidiaries’ capital and surplus is based on the relevant insurer’s statutory financial statements and required statutory capital and surplus is based on the MSM.
(2)
RenaissanceRe Europe’s statutory capital and surplus and required statutory capital and surplus incorporate a full year of statutory net loss and risk capital, respectively.
(3)
With respect to statutory capital and surplus and required statutory capital and surplus, and as described below, underwriting capacity of a member of Lloyd’s must be supported by providing a deposit in the form of cash, securities or letters of credit, which are referred to as Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”). FAL is determined by Lloyd’s and is based on Syndicate 1458’s solvency and capital requirements as calculated through its internal model.
(4)
Syndicate 1458 is capitalized by its FAL, with the related assets not held on its balance sheet. As such, unrestricted net assets is not applicable to Syndicate 1458; however, the Company can make an application to obtain approval from Lloyd’s to have funds released to RenaissanceRe from Syndicate 1458, subject to passing a Lloyd’s release test.
Statutory net income (loss) of the Company’s regulated insurance operations in its most significant regulatory jurisdictions are detailed below:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statutory Net Income (Loss)
 
 
 
Bermuda
 
Switzerland
 
U.K.
 
U.S.
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2019
$
657,182

 
$
(14,679
)
 
$
(666,595
)
 
$
37,827

 
 
Year ended December 31, 2018
326,386

 

 
(6,692
)
 
25,851

 
 
Year ended December 31, 2017
(334,142
)
 

 
(57,050
)
 
(3,627
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The difference between statutory financial statements and statements prepared in accordance with GAAP varies by jurisdiction; however, the primary difference is that for the Company’s regulated entities the statutory financial statements generally do not reflect goodwill and intangible assets. Also, in the U.S., fixed maturity investments are generally recorded at amortized cost and deferred income tax is charged directly to equity. In the U.S. deferred acquisition costs are generally not reflected in the statutory financial statements. In Switzerland, currency translation adjustment losses are directly charged to net income or loss, while translation gains are not admissible and reflected as translation reserve on the statutory balance sheet. In addition, fixed maturity investments are carried at the lower of amortized cost and market value and recognition of equalization reserves is allowed. The prudence principle standard also allows for valuating certain assets below their nominal value. None of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries used permitted practices that prevented the trigger of a regulatory event during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Dividend Restrictions of RenaissanceRe
As a Bermuda-domiciled holding company, RenaissanceRe has limited operations of its own and its assets consist primarily of investments in subsidiaries, and to a degree, cash and securities. Accordingly, RenaissanceRe’s future cash flows largely depend on the availability of dividends or other statutorily permissible payments from subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends is limited by the applicable laws and regulations of the various countries and states in which these subsidiaries operate, including, among others, Bermuda, Switzerland, the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland. RenaissanceRe’s ability to pay dividends and distribute capital to shareholders is limited by the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, insofar as both before and after the payment, RenaissanceRe must still be able to pay its liabilities as they come due and the realizable value of its assets must be greater than its liabilities.
Bermuda-Domiciled Insurance Entities
Under the Insurance Act, certain subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe are required to prepare and file statutory financial statements. The BMA prescribed the use of financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP as the basis on which the statutory financial statements are prepared, subject to the application of certain prudential filters. These statutory financial statements are used to prepare the EBS. In addition, Bermuda insurance subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe are required to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity and file a BSCR return.
Class 3B and Class 4 Insurers
Under the Insurance Act, RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. and Vermeer are defined as Class 3B insurers, and Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci are classified as Class 4 insurers, and therefore must maintain statutory economic capital and surplus at a level at least equal to its ECR which is the greater of its MSM and the required capital calculated by reference to the BSCR.
Class 3B and Class 4 insurers are prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends if in breach of the required minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio (the “Relevant Margins”) or if the declaration or payment of such dividend would cause the insurer to fail to meet the Relevant Margins. Where an insurer fails to meet its Relevant Margins on the last day of any financial year, it is prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends during the next financial year without the prior approval of the BMA. Further, Class 3B and Class 4 insurers are prohibited from declaring or paying in any financial year dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its previous financial year’s statutory balance sheet) unless it files (at least seven days before payment of such dividends) with the BMA an affidavit stating that it will continue to meet its Relevant Margins. Class 3B and Class 4 insurers must obtain the BMA’s prior approval for a reduction by 15% or more of the total statutory capital as set forth in its previous year’s financial statements. These restrictions on declaring or paying dividends and distributions under the Insurance Act are in addition to the solvency requirements under the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 which apply to all Bermuda companies. In addition, an insurer engaged in general business is also required to maintain the value of its relevant assets at not less than 75% of the amount of its relevant liabilities.
The Company is currently completing its 2019 Bermuda-domiciled statutory filings for Renaissance Reinsurance, DaVinci, RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. and Vermeer, which must be filed with the BMA on or before April 30, 2020, and at this time, the Company believes each of Renaissance Reinsurance, DaVinci, RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. and Vermeer will exceed the target level of required statutory economic capital.
SPIs
Under the Insurance Act, Upsilon RFO is considered an SPI. Refer to “Note 11. Variable Interest Entities” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO. Unlike other (re)insurers, such as the Class 3B and Class 4 insurers discussed above, SPIs are fully funded to meet their (re)insurance obligations and are not exposed to insolvency, therefore the application and supervision processes are streamlined to facilitate the transparent structure. Further, the BMA has the discretion to modify such insurer’s reporting requirements under the Insurance Act. Like other (re)insurers, the principal representative of an SPI has a duty to inform the BMA in relation to solvency matters, where applicable. Upsilon RFO applied for and received a direction from the BMA, which, subject to specified conditions, modified its filing requirements in respect of statutory financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Switzerland Domiciled Insurance Entity
RenaissanceRe Europe is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) pursuant to the Insurance Supervision Act. Its accounts are prepared in accordance with the Swiss Code of Obligations, the Insurance Supervision Act and the Insurance Supervision Ordinance. RenaissanceRe Europe is obligated to maintain a minimum level of capital based on the Swiss Code of Obligations and Insurance Supervision Act. In addition, it is required to perform a minimum solvency margin calculation based on the Swiss Solvency Test (“SST”) regulations as stipulated by the Insurance Supervision Act and the Insurance Supervision Ordinance. The SST is based on an economic view and required capital is derived from a combination of internal and standard models. While the minimum required capital under both the Swiss Code of Obligations and the Insurance Supervision Act might be met, the actual minimum threshold is the target capital as determined from the SST. The dividend amount that RenaissanceRe
Europe is permitted to distribute is restricted to freely distributable reserves which consist of retained earnings and the current year profit. The solvency and capital requirements must still be met following any distribution. RenaissanceRe Europe is currently completing its 2019 statutory basis financial statements, which we expect to file with FINMA on or before April 30, 2020. At December 31, 2019, the Company believes that RenaissanceRe Europe will exceed the minimum solvency and capital requirements required to be maintained under Swiss law.
RenaissanceRe Europe has branches in Australia, Bermuda, the U.K. and the U.S.
RenaissanceRe Europe AG, Australia Branch is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (“APRA”) and is authorized to carry on insurance business under subsection 12(2) of the Insurance Act 1973. RenaissanceRe Europe’s Australia branch’s regulatory reporting is prepared in accordance with the Australian Accounting Standards and APRA Prudential Standards. APRA Prudential Standards require the maintenance of net assets in Australia in excess of a calculated Prescribed Capital Amount (“PCA”). At December 31, 2019, the Company believes the net assets in Australia of RenaissanceRe Europe’s Australia branch were above the PCA estimated under the APRA Prudential Standards.
RenaissanceRe Europe AG, Bermuda Branch is registered as a Class 3B insurer under the Insurance Act. For the year ended December 31, 2019, it was granted exemptions and modifications to the requirements to file an annual statutory financial return, maintain minimum levels of statutory capital and surplus and file a capital and solvency return. These are the same exemptions and modifications granted for the year ended December 31, 2018.
RenaissanceRe Europe AG, UK Branch is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the “PRA”), and is regulated by both the PRA and Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”). It is subject to the Solvency II regime and applied for and was granted a modification of the rules for the year ended December 31, 2019.
RenaissanceRe Europe AG, US Branch (“RenaissanceRe Europe, US Branch”) is required to file statutory basis financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the U.S. insurance regulators. RenaissanceRe Europe, US Branch, whose port of entry is New York, is subject to statutory accounting principles as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissions (“NAIC”). The NAIC uses a risk-based capital (“RBC”) model to monitor and regulate the solvency of licensed life, health, and property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies. The state of New York has adopted the NAIC’s model law.
Laws and regulations in the U.S. establish minimum capital adequacy levels and grant regulators the
authority to take specific actions based on the level of impairment. The RenaissanceRe Europe, US Branch’s minimum required statutory capital and surplus is based on Company Action Level (“CAL”) RBC or minimum requirements per state insurance regulation. The Company is currently completing the 2019 statutory basis financial statements for the RenaissanceRe Europe, US Branch, which must be filed with the state of New York, the NAIC and other state insurance regulators on or before March 1, 2020. At this time, the Company believes that the RenaissanceRe Europe, US Branch will exceed the minimum required statutory capital and surplus.
U.K.-Domiciled Syndicate 1458
RenaissanceRe CCL and Syndicate 1458 are subject to oversight by the Council of Lloyd’s. RSML is authorized by the U.K.’s Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Underwriting capacity of a member of Lloyd’s must be supported by providing a deposit in the form of cash, securities or letters of credit, which are referred to as FAL. This amount is determined by Lloyd’s and is based on Syndicate 1458’s solvency and capital requirement as calculated through its internal model. In addition, if the FAL are not sufficient to cover all losses, the Lloyd’s Central Fund provides an additional discretionary level of security for policyholders.
U.S.-Domiciled Insurance Entities
Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. is subject to statutory accounting principles as defined by the NAIC. As noted above, the NAIC uses a RBC model to monitor and regulate the solvency of licensed life, health, and property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies. Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. is domiciled in Maryland, which has adopted the NAIC's model law.
Laws and regulations in the U.S. establish minimum capital adequacy levels and grant regulators the authority to take specific actions based on the level of impairment. Based on Maryland’s adoption of the RBC model of the NAIC, the first level at which action is required is CAL RBC. If Renaissance Reinsurance U.S.’s total adjusted capital is less than CAL RBC (but greater than Regulatory Action Level (“RAL”) RBC), then Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. must file an RBC plan with the Maryland Insurance Commissioner (the "Commissioner"). If Renaissance Reinsurance U.S.’s total adjusted capital is less than RAL RBC, then the Commissioner must take certain regulatory actions.
Under Maryland insurance law, Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. must notify the Commissioner within five business days after the declaration of any dividend or distribution, other than an extraordinary dividend or extraordinary distribution, and notify the Commissioner at least ten days prior to the payment or distribution thereof. The Commissioner has the right to prevent payment of such a dividend or such a distribution if the Commissioner determines, in the Commissioner's discretion, that after the payment thereof, the policyholders' surplus of Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. would be inadequate or could cause Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. to be in a hazardous financial condition. Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. must give at least 30 days prior notice to the Commissioner before paying an extraordinary dividend or making an extraordinary distribution. Extraordinary dividends and extraordinary distributions are dividends or distributions which, together with any other dividends and distributions paid during the immediately preceding twelve-month period, would exceed the lesser of:
10% of the insurer's statutory policyholders' surplus (as determined under statutory accounting principles) as of December 31 of the prior year; or
the insurer's net investment income excluding realized capital gains (as determined under statutory accounting principles) for the twelve-month period ending on December 31 of the prior year and pro rata distributions of any class of the insurer's securities, plus any amounts of net investment income (subject to the foregoing exclusions) in the three calendar years prior to the preceding year which have not been paid out as dividends.
At December 31, 2019, Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. had an ordinary dividend capacity of $46.6 million which can be paid in 2020.
Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. is required to file statutory basis financial statements with the Maryland Insurance Administration (“MIA”), as its domestic regulator, with the NAIC and with insurance regulators in certain other states where it is licensed, authorized or accredited to do business. The operations of Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. are subject to examination by those state insurance regulators at any time. The Company is currently completing the 2019 statutory basis financial statements for Renaissance Reinsurance U.S., which must be filed with the MIA, the NAIC, and other state insurance regulators on or before March 1, 2020. At this time, the Company believes Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. will exceed the minimum required statutory capital and surplus.
Multi-Beneficiary Reinsurance Trusts
Each of Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci was approved as a Trusteed Reinsurer in the state of New York and established a multi-beneficiary reinsurance trust (“MBRT”) to collateralize its (re)insurance liabilities associated with U.S. domiciled cedants. The MBRTs are subject to the rules and regulations of the state of New York and the respective deed of trust, including but not limited to certain minimum capital funding requirements, investment guidelines, capital distribution restrictions and regulatory reporting requirements. Assets held under trust at December 31, 2019 with respect to the MBRTs totaled $1.3 billion and $336.5 million for Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, respectively (2018$1.2 billion and $385.8 million, respectively), compared to the minimum amount required under U.S. state regulations of $927.4 million and $249.4 million, respectively (2018$1.1 billion and $356.9 million, respectively).
Multi-Beneficiary Reduced Collateral Reinsurance Trusts
Each of Renaissance Reinsurance, RenaissanceRe Europe and DaVinci has been approved as a “certified reinsurer” eligible for collateral reduction in certain states, and are authorized to provide reduced collateral equal to 20%, 20% and 50%, respectively, of their net outstanding insurance liabilities to insurers domiciled in each of those states. Each of Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci has established a multi-beneficiary reduced collateral reinsurance trust (“RCT”) to collateralize its (re)insurance liabilities associated with cedants domiciled in those states. Because the RCTs were established in New York, they are subject to the
rules and regulations of the state of New York including but not limited to certain minimum capital funding requirements, investment guidelines, capital distribution restrictions and regulatory reporting requirements. Assets held under trust at December 31, 2019 with respect to the RCTs totaled $51.7 million and $43.8 million for Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, respectively (2018 - $50.3 million and $63.2 million, respectively), compared to the minimum amount required under U.S. state regulations of $40.3 million and $40.9 million, respectively (2018 - $36.8 million and $26.9 million, respectively).