v2.4.0.8
Related Party Transactions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions

The Founding Shareholders of the Company are Michael Karfunkel, George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind. Michael Karfunkel is the non-executive chairman of the board of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. ("AmTrust"), George Karfunkel is a director of AmTrust, and Barry Zyskind is the president, chief executive officer and director of AmTrust. The Founding Shareholders, including Leah Karfunkel (wife of Michael Karfunkel), own or control approximately 59% of the outstanding shares of AmTrust. In addition, on June 5, 2013, AmTrust converted its 53,054 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of National General Holdings Corp. ("NGHC") into 42,958 common shares of NGHC, par value $0.01 per share, which became 12,295,430 common shares after NGHC effected a 286.22:1 stock split on June 6, 2013. On June 6, 2013, NGHC issued 21,850,000 common shares in a 144A offering, which resulted in AmTrust owning 15.4% of the issued and outstanding common shares of NGHC, Michael Karfunkel owning 15.8% of the issued and outstanding common shares of NGHC and the Michael Karfunkel 2005 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust ("Annuity Trust") (which is controlled by Leah Karfunkel) owning 41.4% of the issued and outstanding common shares of NGHC. Michael Karfunkel is the chairman and chief executive officer of NGHC, and Barry Zyskind is a director of NGHC.

AmTrust

The following describes transactions between the Company and AmTrust.

AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement

Effective July 1, 2007, the Company and AmTrust entered into a master agreement, as amended (the "Master Agreement"), by which they caused Maiden Bermuda, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and AmTrust's Bermuda reinsurance subsidiary, AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. ("AII"), to enter into a quota share reinsurance agreement (the "Reinsurance Agreement") by which (a) AII retrocedes to Maiden Bermuda an amount equal to 40% of the premium written by subsidiaries of AmTrust, net of the cost of unaffiliated inuring reinsurance (and in the case of AmTrust's U.K. insurance subsidiary, AmTrust Europe, Limited, net of commissions) and 40% of losses and (b) AII transferred to Maiden Bermuda 40% of the AmTrust subsidiaries' unearned premiums, effective July 1, 2007, with respect to the current lines of business, excluding risks for which the AmTrust subsidiaries' net retention exceeds $5,000 ("Covered Business"). Effective January 1, 2010, the Company agreed to assume its proportionate share of AmTrust's workers' compensation exposure and shared the benefit of the 2010 excess reinsurance protection. AmTrust also has agreed to cause AII, subject to regulatory requirements, to reinsure any insurance company which writes Covered Business in which AmTrust acquires a majority interest to the extent required to enable AII to cede to Maiden Bermuda 40% of the premiums and losses related to such Covered Business. The Master Agreement further provided that AII receives a ceding commission of 31% of ceded written premiums.

On June 11, 2008, Maiden Bermuda and AII amended the Reinsurance Agreement to add Retail Commercial Package Business to the Covered Business as a consequence of AmTrust's acquisition of Unitrin Business Insurance (“UBI”). Under the amendment, AmTrust's subsidiaries ceded, upon collection, to Maiden Bermuda 100% of $82.2 million of unearned premium (net of inuring reinsurance) from the acquisition of UBI's in-force book of business. Additionally, AmTrust cedes to Maiden Bermuda 40% of net premiums written, effective as of June 1, 2008. Maiden Bermuda will pay to AmTrust a ceding commission of 34.375% on the unearned premium cession and the Retail Commercial Package Business. The $2,000 maximum liability for a single loss provided in the Reinsurance Agreement shall not be applicable to Retail Commercial Package Business.

On February 9, 2009, Maiden Bermuda and AII amended the Reinsurance Agreement to clarify that (i) AII would offer Maiden Bermuda the opportunity to reinsure Excess Retention Business, which is defined as a policy issued by an AmTrust insurance subsidiary with respect to which the insurance subsidiary's retention is greater than $5,000 and (ii) the deduction for the cost of inuring reinsurance from Affiliate Subject Premium (as defined in the Reinsurance Agreement) retroceded to Maiden Bermuda is net of ceding commission.

6. Related Party Transactions (continued)

Effective April 1, 2011, Maiden Bermuda and AII amended the Master Agreement to reduce the commission on all business ceded except Retail Commercial Package Business to 30% until December, 31, 2011. Thereafter the rate was 31% subject to an adjustment of 1% to 30% if the proportion of Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty premium ceded is greater than or equal to 42% of the Covered Business (excluding Retail Commercial Package Business). If the proportion of Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty premium ceded is greater than or equal to 38% but less than 42% of the Covered Business (excluding Retail Commercial Package Business), the commission rate shall be reduced by 0.5% to 30.5%. In addition, the collateral requirements were restated to clarify that balances relating to all AmTrust subsidiaries are subject to collateral requirements, and the Reinsurance Agreement was extended by one year through June 30, 2014.

Effective March 7, 2013, Maiden Bermuda and AII amended the Reinsurance Agreement extending the term of the agreement to July 1, 2016, and shall automatically renew for successive three-year periods thereafter. If AII or Maiden Bermuda elects to so terminate the Reinsurance Agreement, it shall give written notice to the other party hereto not less than nine months prior to either July 1, 2016 or the expiration of any successive three-year period. In addition, either party is entitled to terminate on thirty days' notice or less upon the occurrence of certain early termination events, which include a default in payment, insolvency, change in control of AII or Maiden Bermuda, run-off, or a reduction of 50% or more of the shareholders' equity of Maiden Bermuda or the combined shareholders' equity of AII and the AmTrust subsidiaries. The amendment further provides that, effective January 1, 2013, AII will receive a ceding commission of 31% of ceded written premiums with respect to all Covered Business other than retail commercial package business, for which the ceding commission will remain 34.375%. Lastly, with regard to the Specialty Program portion of Covered Business only, AII will be responsible for ultimate net loss otherwise recoverable from Maiden Bermuda to the extent that the loss ratio to Maiden Bermuda, which shall be determined on an inception to date basis from July 1, 2007 through the date of calculation, is between 81.5% and 95%. Above and below the defined corridor, Maiden Bermuda will continue to reinsure losses at its proportional 40% share per the Reinsurance Agreement.

AmTrust European Hospital Liability Quota Share Agreement ("European Hospital Liability Quota Share")

Effective April 1, 2011, Maiden Bermuda, entered into a quota share reinsurance contract with AmTrust Europe Limited ("AEL") and AmTrust International Underwriters Limited ("AIUL"), both wholly owned subsidiaries of AmTrust. Pursuant to the terms of the contract, Maiden Bermuda assumed 40% of the premiums and losses related to policies classified as European Hospital Liability, including associated liability coverages and policies covering physician defense costs, written or renewed on or after April 1, 2011. The contract also covers policies written or renewed on or before March 31, 2011, but only with respect to losses that occur, accrue or arise on or after April 1, 2011. The maximum limit of liability attaching shall be €5,000 or currency equivalent (on a 100% basis) per original claim for any one original policy. Maiden Bermuda will pay a ceding commission of 5% and shall allow AEL and AIUL a profit share based upon the results of a contract year exceeding defined underwriting performance. To the extent that the underwriting performance is exceeded, the Company will share 50% of the excess amounts computed. The agreement has been renewed through March 31, 2015 and can be terminated at any April 1 by either party on four months notice.

Effective January 1, 2012, the quota share reinsurance contract with AEL and AIUL was amended, thereby increasing the maximum liability attaching to €10,000 or currency equivalent (on a 100% basis) per original claim for any one original policy. Furthermore, amendments were also made to the contract to expand the territorial scope to include new territories, specifically France.

The Company recorded approximately $86,674 of ceding commission expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (March 31, 2013 - $62,379) as a result of these quota share arrangements with AmTrust.

Other Reinsurance Agreements

Effective September 1, 2010, our indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Specialty Insurance Company ("Maiden Specialty"), entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with Technology Insurance Company, Inc. ("Technology"), a subsidiary of AmTrust. Under the agreement, Maiden Specialty ceded (a) 90% of its gross liability written under the Open Lending Program ("OPL") and (b) 100% of its surplus lines general liability business under the Naxos Avondale Specialty Casualty Program ("NAXS"). Maiden Specialty's involvement is limited to certain states where Technology was not fully licensed. The agreement also provides that Maiden Specialty receives a ceding commission of 5% of ceded written premiums. The reinsurance agreement had a term of three years and remained continuously in force until terminated in accordance with the contract. The OPL program was terminated on December 31, 2011 on a run-off basis and the NAXS program terminated on October 31, 2012. Maiden Specialty ceded premiums of approximately $35 and $2 of ceding commission for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (March 31, 2013 - $507 of premiums ceded and $25 of ceding commission).

Effective September 1, 2010, our indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Reinsurance Company ("Maiden US"), entered into an arrangement whereby a subsidiary of AmTrust fronted a reinsurance agreement in which Maiden US assumed 80% of the gross liabilities produced under the Southern General Agency program with the other 20% was assumed by a third party. This fronting arrangement compensated AmTrust with a 5% commission of ceded premiums. The agreement was subsequently amended, effective September 1, 2012, whereby the termination date of the agreement was extended until August 31, 2013. This agreement expired on the termination date and is currently in run-off.

6. Related Party Transactions (continued)

Pursuant to the latest amendment, Maiden US now receives 100% of the ceded premium and reinsures 100% of the liabilities incurred (from the effective date). Under this agreement, as amended, Maiden US recorded approximately $1,116 of premiums earned and $56 of commission expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014, respectively (March 31, 2013 - $759 of premiums earned and $38 of commission expense, respectively).

Effective April 1, 2012, Maiden US entered into a reinsurance agreement with AmTrust's wholly owned subsidiary, AmTrust North America, Inc. ("AmTrust NA"). Maiden US shall indemnify AmTrust NA, on an excess of loss basis, as a result of losses occurring on AmTrust NA's new and renewal policies relating to the lines of business classified as Automobile Liability by AmTrust NA in its annual statement utilizing the specific underwriting guidelines defined in the reinsurance agreement. AmTrust NA shall retain the first $1,000 of loss, per any one policy or per any one loss occurrence. Maiden US shall be liable for the amount by which AmTrust NA's loss exceeds $1,000, but the liability of Maiden US shall not exceed $1,000 on any one policy and any one loss occurrence. The agreement provides AmTrust NA with fixed ceding commissions on net written premiums varying between 10% to 27.5% depending on the commission rate in the underlying policy. This agreement has a term of one year and automatically renews annually unless terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement. Under this agreement, Maiden US recorded approximately $303 of net premiums earned and $47 of commission expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014, respectively (March 31, 2013 - $44 net premiums earned and $22 commission expense).

Collateral provided to AmTrust

In order to provide AmTrust's U.S. insurance subsidiaries with credit for reinsurance on their statutory financial statements, AII, as the direct reinsurer of the AmTrust's insurance subsidiaries, has established trust accounts ("Trust Accounts") for their benefit. Maiden Bermuda has agreed to provide appropriate collateral to secure its proportional share under the Reinsurance Agreement of AII's obligations to the AmTrust subsidiaries to whom AII is required to provide collateral. This collateral may be in the form of (a) assets loaned by Maiden Bermuda to AII for deposit into the Trust Accounts, pursuant to a loan agreement between those parties, (b) assets transferred by Maiden Bermuda for deposit into the Trust Accounts, (c) a letter of credit obtained by Maiden Bermuda and delivered to an AmTrust subsidiary on AII's behalf (a "Letter of Credit"), or (d) premiums withheld by an AmTrust subsidiary at Maiden Bermuda's request in lieu of remitting such premiums to AII (“Withheld Funds”). Maiden Bermuda may provide any or a combination of these forms of collateral, provided that the aggregate value thereof equals Maiden Bermuda's proportionate share of its obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement with AII. The amount of collateral Maiden Bermuda is required to maintain, which is determined quarterly, equals its proportionate share of (a) the amount of ceded paid losses for which AII is responsible to such AmTrust subsidiaries but has not yet paid, (b) the amount of ceded loss reserves (including ceded reserves for claims reported but not resolved and losses incurred but not reported) for which AII is responsible to AmTrust subsidiaries, and (c) the amount of ceded reserves for unearned premiums ceded by AmTrust subsidiaries to AII.

Maiden Bermuda satisfied its collateral requirements under the Reinsurance Agreement with AII as follows:

by lending funds in the amount of $167,975 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 to AII pursuant to a loan agreement entered into between those parties. This loan is carried at cost. Pursuant to the Reinsurance Agreement, AmTrust has agreed to cause AII not to commingle Maiden Bermuda's assets with AII's other assets and to cause the AmTrust subsidiaries not to commingle Maiden Bermuda's assets with the AmTrust subsidiaries' other assets if an AmTrust subsidiary withdraws those assets. AII has agreed that, if an AmTrust subsidiary returns to AII excess assets withdrawn from a Trust Account, drawn on a Letter of Credit or maintained by such AmTrust subsidiary as Withheld Funds, AII will immediately return to Maiden Bermuda its proportionate share of such excess assets. AII has further agreed that if the aggregate fair market value of the amount of Maiden Bermuda's assets held in the Trust Account exceeds Maiden Bermuda's proportionate share of AII's obligations, or if an AmTrust subsidiary misapplies any such collateral, AII will immediately return to Maiden Bermuda an amount equal to such excess or misapplied collateral, less any amounts AII has paid to Maiden Bermuda.In addition, if an AmTrust subsidiary withdraws Maiden Bermuda's assets from a Trust Account and maintains those assets on its books as withheld funds, AII has agreed to pay to Maiden Bermuda interest at the rate equivalent to the one-month LIBOR plus 90 basis points per annum computed on the basis of a 360-day year on the loan (except to the extent Maiden Bermuda's proportionate share of AII's obligations to that AmTrust subsidiary exceeds the value of the collateral Maiden Bermuda has provided), and net of unpaid fees Maiden Bermuda owes to AII Insurance Management Limited ("AIIM") and its share of fees owed to the trustee of the Trust Account.

effective December 1, 2008, the Company entered into a Reinsurer Trust Assets Collateral agreement to provide to AII sufficient collateral to secure its proportional share of AII's obligations to the U.S. AmTrust subsidiaries. The amount of the collateral, as of March 31, 2014 was approximately $1,135,312 (December 31, 2013 - $1,094,964) and the accrued interest was $8,221 (December 31, 2013 - $8,159). (See Note 4(d)).

Brokerage Agreements

Effective July 1, 2007, the Company entered into a reinsurance brokerage agreement with AII Reinsurance Broker Ltd. ("AIIB"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AmTrust. Pursuant to the brokerage agreement, AIIB provides brokerage services relating to the Reinsurance Agreement and, beginning on April 1, 2011, the European Hospital Liability Quota Share agreement for a fee equal to 1.25% of the premium assumed from AII. The brokerage fee is payable in consideration of AIIB's brokerage services. AIIB is not the Company's exclusive broker. AIIB may, if mutually agreed, also produce reinsurance business for the Company from other ceding companies, and in such cases the Company will negotiate a mutually acceptable commission rate.

6. Related Party Transactions (continued)

Following the initial one-year term, the agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice by either party. Maiden Bermuda recorded approximately $3,811 of reinsurance brokerage expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (March 31, 2013 - $2,754) and deferred reinsurance brokerage of $10,019 as of March 31, 2014 (December 31, 2013 - $8,592) as a result of this agreement.

The Company also paid brokerage fees to AmTrust NA of $1 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (March 31, 2013 - $1) for acting as insurance intermediary in relation to certain insurance placements.

Asset Management Agreement

Effective July 1, 2007, the Company entered into an asset management agreement with AIIM pursuant to which AIIM has agreed to provide investment management services to the Company. Pursuant to the asset management agreement, AIIM provides investment management services for a quarterly fee of 0.05% if the average value of the account for the previous calendar quarter is less than or equal to $1 billion and 0.0375% if the average value of the account for the previous calendar quarter is greater than $1 billion. Following the initial one-year term, the agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice by either party. The Company recorded approximately $1,224 of investment management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (March 31, 2013 - $1,041) as a result of this agreement.
 
Other

On March 1, 2011, the Company entered into a time sharing agreement for the lease of aircraft owned by AmTrust Underwriters, Inc. ("AUI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AmTrust. The lease is for 10 months ending on December 31, 2011 and automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company will reimburse AUI for actual expenses incurred as allowed by Federal Aviation Regulations. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded an expense of $0 (March 31, 2013 - $0) for the use of the aircraft.

NGHC

The following describes transactions between the Company and NGHC and its subsidiaries:

NGHC Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement

Maiden Bermuda, effective March 1, 2010, reinsures 25% of the net premiums of the GMAC personal lines business, pursuant to a quota share reinsurance agreement (“NGHC Quota Share”) with the GMAC personal lines insurance companies, as cedents, and Maiden Bermuda. Maiden Bermuda has a 50% participation in the NGHC Quota Share, by which it receives 25% of net premiums of the personal lines automobile business and assumes 25% of the related net losses.

The NGHC Quota Share provides that the reinsurers pay a provisional ceding commission equal to 32.5% of ceded earned premium, net of premiums ceded by the personal lines companies for inuring reinsurance, subject to adjustment.The ceding commission is subject to adjustment to a maximum of 34.5% if the loss ratio for the reinsured business is 60.0% or less and a minimum of 30.5% if the loss ratio is 64.5% or greater.

Effective October 1, 2012, the parties amended the reinsurance agreement to decrease the provisional ceding commission from 32.5% to 32.0% of ceded earned premium, net of premiums ceded by the personal lines companies for inuring reinsurance, subject to adjustment. The ceding commission is subject to adjustment to a minimum of 30.0% (changed from 30.5%), if the loss ratio is 64.5% or greater.

On August 1, 2013, the Company received notice from NGHC of the termination of the NGHC Quota Share effective on that date. The Company and NGHC mutually agreed that the termination is on a run-off basis, which means that Maiden Bermuda continues to earn premiums and remain liable for losses occurring subsequent to August 1, 2013 for any policies in force prior to and as of August 1, 2013 until those policies expire.

Maiden Bermuda recorded approximately $4,556 of ceding commission expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014(March 31, 2013 - $21,597) as a result of this transaction.

Other

Effective April 1, 2013, Maiden US entered into a Medical Excess of Loss reinsurance agreement with wholly owned subsidiaries of NGHC, Distributors Insurance Company PCC, AIBD Insurance Company IC and Professional Services Captive Corporation IC. Pursuant to this agreement, Maiden US indemnifies on an excess of loss basis, for the amounts of net loss, paid from April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. Maiden US is liable, under layer 1 of this agreement, for 100% of the net loss for each covered person per agreement year in excess of the $1,000 retention (each covered person per agreement year). Under this layer, Maiden US's liability shall not exceed $4,000 per covered person per agreement year. Maiden US is also liable, under layer 2 of this agreement, for 100% of net loss for each covered person per agreement year in excess of layer 1.

6. Related Party Transactions (continued)

Maiden US' liability under this section shall not exceed $5,000 per covered person per agreement year. In addition to the coverage provided under layers 1 and 2, Maiden US indemnifies extra contractual obligations with a maximum liability of $2,000. This agreement was renewed effective April 1, 2014 and terminates on March 31, 2015 and, unless mutually agreed, Maiden US will be relieved of all liability hereunder for losses incurred or paid subsequent to such termination date. Under this agreement, Maiden US recorded approximately $33 of premiums earned for the three months ended March 31, 2014.