Reinsurance | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance |
The Company cedes risk to unrelated reinsurers on a pro rata ("quota share") and excess of loss basis in the ordinary course of business to limit its net loss exposure on insurance contracts. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the Company of primary liability. Moreover, reinsurers may fail to pay the Company due to a lack of reinsurer liquidity, perceived improper underwriting, losses for risks that are excluded from reinsurance coverage, and other similar factors, all of which could adversely affect the Company's financial results. The Company had the following reinsurance balances as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
The Company regularly evaluates retention levels and reinsurance limits to ensure that net retained losses are aligned with corporate risk tolerance and capital levels. The Company's U.S. Insurance Operations' primary reinsurance treaties are as follows: Property Catastrophe Excess of Loss – The Company's current property writings create exposure to catastrophic events. To protect against these exposures, the Company purchases a property catastrophe treaty. Effective June 1, 2011, the Company renewed its property catastrophe excess of loss treaty which provides occurrence coverage for losses of $80.0 million in excess of $20.0 million. This treaty provides for one full reinstatement of coverage at 100% additional premium as to time and pro rata as to amount of limit reinstated. This replaces the treaty that expired on May 31, 2011, which provided occurrence coverage for losses of $75.0 million in excess of $15.0 million.
Property Per Risk Excess of Loss – Effective January 1, 2011, the Company renewed its property per risk excess of loss treaty which provides coverage of $13.0 million per risk in excess of $2.0 million per risk. This replaces the treaty that expired December 31, 2010, which provided coverage of $14.0 million per risk in excess of $1.0 million per risk. The renewal treaty provides coverage in two layers: $3.0 million per risk in excess of $2.0 million per risk, and $10.0 million per risk in excess of $5.0 million per risk. The first layer is split into two sections, each subject to a $3.0 million limit of liability for all risks involved in one loss occurrence, and the second layer is subject to a $10.0 million limit for all risks involved in one loss occurrence. Professional Liability Excess of Loss – Effective April 30, 2011, the Company's professional liability excess of loss treaty was terminated. This treaty provided coverage of $4.0 million per policy/occurrence in excess of $1.0 million per policy/occurrence. Effective May 1, 2011, the professional liability exposure was added to the casualty excess of loss treaty. Casualty and Professional Liability Excess of Loss – Effective May 1, 2011, the Company renewed its casualty excess of loss treaty and added the professional liability exposure as a separate section to the treaty. The casualty section provides coverage for $2.0 million per occurrence in excess of $1.0 million per occurrence for general liability and auto liability. Allocated loss adjustment expenses are included within limits. The stand-alone casualty treaty that expired April 30, 2011 provided identical coverage. The professional liability section provides coverage of $4.0 million per policy/occurrence in excess of $1.0 million per policy/occurrence. Casualty Clash Excess of Loss – Effective January 1, 2011, the Company renewed its casualty clash excess of loss treaty which provides coverage of $10.0 million per occurrence in excess of $3.0 million per occurrence, subject to a $20.0 million limit for all loss occurrences. This replaces the treaty that expired December 31, 2010, which provided identical coverage. Property Quota Share – Effective January 1, 2010, the Company renewed its 40% quota share treaty related to the Penn-America property line of business. This treaty covers premiums earned in 2010 on policies written in 2009 and 2010. During 2010, the Company ceded $14.1 million of earned premium. This treaty expired on December 31, 2010 and was not renewed. Marine Excess of Loss – Effective May 24, 2010, the Company entered into a marine excess of loss treaty which provides coverage in three layers for $13.0 million per occurrence in excess of $2.0 million per occurrence. The first layer of $3.0 million in excess of $2.0 million, and the second layer of $5.0 million in excess of $5.0 million, provides for two full reinstatements of coverage at 100% additional premium. The third layer of $5.0 million in excess of $10.0 million provides for one full reinstatement of coverage at 100% additional premium. This treaty will expire on November 30, 2011. There were no other significant changes to any of the Company's other reinsurance treaties during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011. To the extent that there may be an increase or decrease in catastrophe or casualty clash exposure in the future, the Company may increase or decrease its reinsurance protection for these exposures commensurately. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||