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Reinsurance | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract] |
Reinsurance |
NOTE 9 |  | Reinsurance
Our consolidated financial statements reflect the effects of assumed and ceded reinsurance transactions. Assumed reinsurance refers to the acceptance of certain insurance risks that other insurance companies have underwritten. Ceded reinsurance involves transferring certain insurance risks (along with the related earned premiums) we have underwritten to other insurance companies who agree to share these risks. The purpose of ceded reinsurance is to protect us, at a cost, against losses arising from our mortgage guaranty policies covered by the agreement and to manage our capital requirements under PMIERs. Reinsurance is currently placed on a quota share and excess of loss basis, but we also have immaterial captive reinsurance agreements that remain in effect. Table 9.1 below shows the effect of all reinsurance agreements on premiums earned and losses incurred as reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.
Reinsurance
Table | 9.1 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Years ended December 31,
(In thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Premiums earned: |  |  |  |  |  |
Direct |  | $ | 1,155,240 |  |  | $ | 1,084,748 |  |  | $ | 1,059,973 |
Assumed |  | 5,085 |  |  | 1,805 |  |  | 509 |
Ceded |  | (129,337 | ) |  | (111,391 | ) |  | (125,735 | )
Net premiums earned |  | $ | 1,030,988 |  |  | $ | 975,162 |  |  | $ | 934,747 |
Losses incurred: |  |  |  |  |  |
Direct |  | $ | 130,100 |  |  | $ | 43,060 |  |  | $ | 74,727 |
Assumed |  | (125 | ) |  | 331 |  |  | 183 |
Ceded |  | (11,400 | ) |  | (6,829 | ) |  | (21,201 | )
Net losses incurred |  | $ | 118,575 |  |  | $ | 36,562 |  |  | $ | 53,709 |
QUOTA SHARE REINSURANCE Each of the reinsurers under our quota share reinsurance agreements described below has an insurer financial strength rating of A- or better (or a comparable rating) by Standard and Poor's Rating Services, A.M. Best, Moody's, or a combination of the three. 2019 QSR Transaction. We entered into a QSR transaction with a group of unaffiliated reinsurers with an effective date of January 1, 2019 (“2019 QSR Transaction”), which provides coverage on eligible NIW in 2019. Under the 2019 QSR Transaction, we will cede losses and premiums on or after the effective date through December 31, 2030, at which time the agreement expires. Early termination of the agreement can be elected by us effective December 31, 2021 or bi-annually thereafter, for a fee, or under specified scenarios for no fee upon prior written notice, including if we will receive less than 90% of the full credit amount under the PMIERs, full financial statement credit or full credit under applicable regulatory capital requirements for the risk ceded in any required calculation period. The structure of the 2019 QSR Transaction is a 30% quota share, with a one-time option, elected by us, to reduce the cede rate to either 25% or 20% effective July 1, 2020, or bi-annually thereafter, for a fee, for all policies covered, with a 20% ceding commission as well as a profit commission. Generally, under the 2019 QSR Transaction, we will receive an annual profit commission provided the annual loss ratio on the loans covered under the transactions remains below 62%. 2018 QSR Transaction. Our 2018 quota share reinsurance agreement ("2018 QSR Transaction") provides coverage on eligible NIW in 2018. Under the 2018 QSR Transaction, we cede losses incurred and premiums on or after the effective date through December 31, 2029, at which time the agreement expires. Early termination of the agreement can be elected by us effective December 31, 2021, and annually thereafter, for a fee, or under specified scenarios for no fee upon prior written notice, including if we will receive less than 90% of the full credit amount under the PMIERs, full financial statement credit or full credit under applicable regulatory capital requirements for the risk ceded in any required calculation period. The structure of the 2018 QSR Transaction is a 30% quota share for all policies covered, with a 20% ceding commission as well as a profit commission. Generally, under the 2018 QSR Transaction, we will receive an annual profit commission provided the annual loss ratio on the loans covered under the transactions remains below 62%. 2017 QSR Transaction. Our 2017 quota share reinsurance agreement ("2017 QSR Transaction") provides coverage on eligible NIW in 2017. Under our 2017 QSR Transaction, we cede losses incurred and premiums on or after the effective date through December 31, 2028, at which time the agreement expires. Early termination of the agreement can be elected by us effective December 31, 2021 for a fee, or under specified scenarios for no fee upon prior written notice, including if we will receive less than 90% of the full credit amount under the PMIERs, full financial statement credit or full credit under applicable regulatory capital requirements for the risk ceded in any required calculation period. The structure of the 2017 QSR Transaction is a 30% quota share for all policies covered, with a 20% ceding commission as well as a profit commission. Generally, under the 2017 QSR Transaction, we will receive an annual profit commission provided the annual loss ratio on the loans covered under the transactions remains below 60%. 2015 QSR Transaction. We terminated a portion of our 2015 QSR Transaction effective June 30, 2019 and entered into an amended quota share reinsurance agreement with certain participants from the existing reinsurance panel that effectively reduces the quota share cede rate from 30% to 15% on the remaining eligible insurance. During the second quarter of 2019, we incurred a termination fee of $6.8 million, which was paid to participants of the reinsurance panel that are not participating in the amended 2015 QSR Transaction. Under the amended 2015 QSR Transaction we cede losses and premiums on eligible insurance written before 2017 through December 31, 2031, at which time the agreement expires. Early termination of the amended agreement can be elected by us on or after June 30, 2021, bi-annually thereafter for no fee, or under specified scenarios, including if we will receive less than 90% of the full credit amount under the PMIERs, full financial statement credit or full credit under applicable regulatory capital requirements for the risk ceded in any required calculation period. Generally, under our amended 2015 QSR Transaction, we will receive an annual profit commission provided the annual loss ratio on the loans covered under the transactions remains below 68%. Table 9.2 provides a summary of our quota share reinsurance agreements, excluding captive agreements, for 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Quota share reinsurance
Table | 9.2 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Years ended December 31,
(In thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Ceded premiums written and earned, net of profit commission (1) |  | $ | 111,550 |  |  | $ | 108,337 |  |  | $ | 120,974 |
Ceded losses incurred |  | 11,395 |  |  | 6,543 |  |  | 22,336 |
Ceding commissions (2) | 48,793 |  |  | 51,201 |  |  | 49,321 |
Profit commission |  | 139,179 |  |  | 147,667 |  |  | 125,629 |
(1) | Under our QSR Transactions, premiums are ceded on an earned and received basis as defined in our agreements.
(2) | Ceding commissions are reported within Other underwriting and operating expenses, net on the consolidated statements of operations.
Under the terms of our QSR Transactions currently in effect, reinsurance premiums, ceding commission and profit commission are settled net on a quarterly basis. The reinsurance premium due after deducting the related ceding commission and profit commission is reported within "Other liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheets. The reinsurance recoverable on loss reserves was $21.6 million as of December 31, 2019 and $33.2 million as of December 31, 2018.The reinsurance recoverable balance is secured by funds on deposit from the reinsurers, the amount of which is based on the funding requirements of PMIERs. 2020 QSR Transaction. We have agreed to terms on a QSR Transaction with a group of unaffiliated reinsurers with an effective date of January 1, 2020 ("2020 QSR Transaction"), which provides coverage on eligible NIW in 2020 Under the 2020 QSR Transaction, we cede losses incurred and premiums on or after the effective date through December 31, 2031, at which time the agreement expires. Early termination of the agreement can be elected by us effective December 31, 2022, and bi-annually thereafter, for a fee, or under specified scenarios for no fee upon prior written notice, including if we will receive less than 90% of the full credit amount under the PMIERs for the risk ceded in any required calculation period. The structure of the 2020 QSR Transaction is a 30% quota share on 2020 NIW, with an option to reduce the cede rate to either 25.0% or 20% effective July 1, 2021 or semiannually thereafter. Generally, under the 2020 QSR Transaction, we will receive an annual profit commission provided the annual loss ratio on the loans covered under the transactions remains below 62%. 2021 QSR Transaction. In addition, we have agreed to terms on a QSR Transaction with a group of unaffiliated reinsurers with an effective date of January 1, 2021 ("2021 QSR Transaction"), which provides coverage on eligible NIW in 2021. Under the 2021 QSR Transaction, we cede losses incurred and premiums on or after the effective date through December 31, 2032 for 2021 NIW, at which time the agreement expires. Early termination of the agreement can be elected by us effective December 31, 2023, and bi-annually thereafter, for a fee, or under specified scenarios for no fee upon prior written notice, including if we will receive less than 90% of the full credit amount under the PMIERs for the risk ceded in any required calculation period. The structure of the 2021 QSR Transaction is a 17.5% quota share on 2021 NIW, with an option to reduce the cede rate to either 14.5% or 12% effective July 1, 2022 or semiannually thereafter. Generally, under the 2021 QSR Transaction, we will receive an annual profit commission provided the annual loss ratio on the loans covered under the transactions remains below 62%. EXCESS OF LOSS REINSURANCE We have aggregate excess of loss reinsurance agreements (“Home Re Transactions”) with unaffiliated special purpose insurers domiciled in Bermuda (“Home Re Entities”). For the reinsurance coverage periods, we retain the first layer of the respective aggregate losses, and a Home Re special purpose entity will then provide second layer coverage up to the outstanding reinsurance coverage amount. We retain losses in excess of the outstanding reinsurance coverage amount. The aggregate excess of loss reinsurance coverage decreases over a ten-year period, subject to certain conditions, as the underlying covered mortgages amortize or are repaid, or mortgage insurance losses are paid. MGIC has rights to terminate the Home Re Transactions under certain circumstances. The Home Re entities financed the coverages by issuing mortgage insurance-linked notes (“ILNs”) to unaffiliated investors in an aggregate amount equal to the initial reinsurance coverage amounts. The ILNs each have ten-year legal maturities and are non-recourse to any assets of MGIC or affiliates. The proceeds of the ILNs, which were deposited into reinsurance trusts for the benefit of MGIC, will be the source of reinsurance claim payments to MGIC and principal repayments on the ILNs. Table 9.3 provides a summary of our excess of loss reinsurance agreements as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Excess of Loss Reinsurance |  |  |
Table 9.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(In thousands) |  |  |  |  |  | As of December 31, 2019 | As of December 31, 2018
Home Re Entity (Issue Date) |  | Policy Inforce Dates |  | Termination Option Date (1) |  | Remaining First Layer Retention |  | Remaining Excess of Loss Reinsurance Coverages | Remaining First Layer Retention |  | Remaining Excess of Loss Reinsurance Coverages
Home Re 2018-1 Ltd. (Oct. - 2018) |  | July 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017 |  | October 25, 2025 |  | $ | 167,779 |  |  | $ | 260,957 |  | $ | 168,691 |  |  | $ | 318,636 |
Home Re 2019-1 Ltd. (May - 2019) |  | January 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019 |  | May 25, 2026 |  | 185,636 |  |  | 271,021 |  | — |  |  | — |
Total |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 353,415 |  |  | $ | 531,978 |  | $ | 168,691 |  |  | $ | 318,636 |
(1) | We have the right to terminate the excess-of-loss reinsurance agreements under certain circumstances and on any payment date on or after the respective termination option date.
The reinsurance premiums ceded to each Home Re Entity are composed of coverage, initial expense and supplemental premiums. The coverage premiums are generally calculated as the difference between the amount of interest payable by the Home Re Entity on the unpaid portion of the ILNs it issued to raise funds to collateralize its reinsurance obligations to us, and the investment income collected on the collateral assets. The amount of monthly reinsurance coverage premium ceded will fluctuate due to changes in one-month LIBOR, (or the fallback reference rate, as applicable) and changes in money market rates that affect investment income collected on the assets in the reinsurance trust. As a result, we concluded that each reinsurance agreement contains an embedded derivative that is accounted for separately as a freestanding derivative. The fair values of the derivatives at December 31, 2019, were not material to our consolidated balance sheet, and the change in fair values during the year ended December 31, 2019 were not material to our consolidated statements of operations. Total ceded premiums were $17.6 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. At the time the Home Re Transactions were entered into, we concluded that each Home Re Entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). A VIE is a legal entity that does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or is structured such that equity investors lack the ability to make sufficient decisions relating to the entity’s operations through voting rights or do not substantively participate in gains and losses of the entity. Given that MGIC (1) does not have the unilateral power to direct the activities that most significantly affect each Home Re Entity’s economic performance and (2) does not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of each Home Re Entity, consolidation of neither Home Re Entity is required. We are required to disclose our maximum exposure to loss, which we consider to be an amount that we could be required to record in our statements of operations, as a result of our involvement with the VIEs under our Home Re Transactions. As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, we did not have material exposure to the VIEs as we have no investment in the VIEs and had no reinsurance claim payments due from either VIE under our reinsurance agreements. We are unable to determine the timing or extent of claims from losses that are ceded under the reinsurance agreements. The VIE assets are deposited in reinsurance trusts for the benefit of MGIC that will be the source of reinsurance claim payments to MGIC. The purpose of the reinsurance trusts is to provide security to MGIC for the obligations of the VIEs under the reinsurance agreements. The trustee of the reinsurance trusts, a recognized provider of corporate trust services, has established segregated accounts within the reinsurance trusts for the benefit of MGIC, pursuant to the trust agreements. The trust agreements are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. If the trustee of the reinsurance trusts failed to distribute claim payments to us as provided in the reinsurance trusts, we would incur a loss related to our losses ceded under the reinsurance agreements and deemed unrecoverable. We are also unable to determine the impact such possible failure by the trustee to perform pursuant to the reinsurance trust agreements may have on our consolidated financial statements. As a result, we are unable to quantify our maximum exposure to loss related to our involvement with the VIEs. MGIC has certain termination rights under the reinsurance agreements should its claims not be paid. We consider our exposure to loss from our reinsurance agreements with the VIEs to be remote. Table 9.4 presents the total assets of Home Re Entities as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Home Re Entities total assets
Table | 9.4 |  |
(In thousands) |  |
Home Re Entity |  | Total VIE Assets
December 31, 2019 |  |
Home Re 2018-01 Ltd. |  | $ | 269,451 |
Home Re 2019-01 Ltd. |  | $ | 283,150 |
December 31, 2018 |  |
Home Re 2018-1 Ltd. |  | $ | 318,636 |
The reinsurance trust agreements provide that the trust assets may generally only be invested in certain money market funds that (i) invest at least 99.5% of their total assets in cash or direct U.S. federal government obligations, such as U.S. Treasury bills, as well as other short-term securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. federal government or issued by an agency of the U.S. federal government, (ii) have a principal stability fund rating of “AAAm” by S&P or a money market fund rating of “Aaa-mf” by Moody’s as of the Closing Date and thereafter maintain any rating with either S&P or Moody’s, and (iii) are permitted investments under the applicable credit for reinsurance laws and applicable PMIERs credit for reinsurance requirements. The assets of the Home Re Entities provide capital credit under the PMIERs financial requirements (see Note 1 - "Nature of Business"). A decline in the assets available to pay claims would reduce the capital credit available to MGIC.

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- Definition The entire disclosure pertaining to the existence, magnitude and information about insurance that has been ceded to or assumed from another insurance company, including the methodologies and assumptions used in determining recorded amounts. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2303980 + Details
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