AUTOMATIC/FACULTATIVE YRT REINSURANCE AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) Between
YRT REINSURANCE AGREEMENT
(hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”)
Between
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Ceding Company Agreement 265-8
Reinsurer Agreement 4356)
And
SECURIAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Ceding Company Agreement 665-4
Reinsurer Agreement 4357)
St Xxxx, Minnesota
(hereinafter referred to as the “Ceding Company”)
and
MUNICH AMERICAN REASSURANCE COMPANY
Atlanta, Georgia
(hereinafter referred to as the “Reinsurer”)
EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT: NOVEMBER 1, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 – PREAMBLE | 5 | |||||
1.1 |
PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT | 5 | ||||
1.2 |
CHOICE OF LAW AND FORUM | 5 | ||||
1.3 |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT | 5 | ||||
1.4 |
ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER | 5 | ||||
1.5 |
EXPENSE OF ORIGINAL POLICY | 5 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 – AUTOMATIC REINSURANCE | 6 | |||||
2.1 |
GENERAL CONDITIONS | 6 | ||||
2.2 |
UNDERWRITING EXCEPTIONS | 7 | ||||
2.3 |
CHANGES TO UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES | 7 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 – FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE | 8 | |||||
ARTICLE 4 – COMMENCEMENT OF LIABILITY | 9 | |||||
4.1 |
AUTOMATIC REINSURANCE | 9 | ||||
4.2 |
FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE | 9 | ||||
4.3 |
BACKDATING TO SAVE AGE | 9 | ||||
4.4 |
CONDITIONAL RECEIPT OR TEMPORARY INSURANCE AGREEMENT | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 – PREMIUM ACCOUNTING | 11 | |||||
5.1 |
PREMIUMS | 11 | ||||
5.2 |
PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS | 11 | ||||
5.3 |
DELAYED PAYMENT | 11 | ||||
5.4 |
FAILURE TO PAY PREMIUMS | 11 | ||||
5.5 |
PREMIUM RATE GUARANTEE | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 – POLICY TERMINATIONS, CHANGES AND REINSTATEMENTS | 13 | |||||
6.1 |
REDUCTIONS | 13 | ||||
6.2 |
TERMINATIONS | 13 | ||||
6.3 |
INCREASES | 14 | ||||
6.4 |
RISK CLASSIFICATION CHANGES | 14 | ||||
6.5 |
REINSTATEMENT | 14 | ||||
6.6 |
NONFORFEITURE BENEFITS | 14 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 – CONVERSIONS, EXCHANGES AND REPLACEMENTS | 15 | |||||
ARTICLE 8 – POLICY RESCISSION | 16 |
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ARTICLE 9 – CLAIMS | 17 | |||||
9.1 |
NOTICE | 17 | ||||
9.2 |
PROOFS | 17 | ||||
9.3 |
AMOUNT AND PAYMENT OF REINSURANCE BENEFITS | 17 | ||||
9.4 |
DISPUTED CLAIMS | 18 | ||||
9.5 |
CLAIM EXPENSES | 18 | ||||
9.6 |
MISREPRESENTATION OR SUICIDE | 18 | ||||
9.7 |
MISSTATEMENT OF AGE OR GENDER | 18 | ||||
9.8 |
EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL DAMAGES | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE 10 – RETENTION LIMIT CHANGES | 20 | |||||
ARTICLE 11 – RECAPTURE | 21 | |||||
ARTICLE 12 – REINSURED NET AMOUNT AT RISK | 24 | |||||
ARTICLE 13 – GENERAL PROVISIONS | 25 | |||||
13.1 |
CURRENCY | 25 | ||||
13.2 |
PREMIUM TAX | 25 | ||||
13.3 |
INSPECTION OF RECORDS | 25 | ||||
13.4 |
COMPLIANCE OF LAWS | 25 | ||||
13.5 |
THE FOREIGN ACCOUNT TAX COMPLIANCE ACT (FATCA) | 25 | ||||
13.6 |
INTEREST RATE FOR BALANCES IN DEFAULT | 26 | ||||
13.7 |
SEVERABILITY | 26 | ||||
13.8 |
WAIVER | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE 14 – DAC TAX | 27 | |||||
ARTICLE 15 – RESERVES | 28 | |||||
15.1 |
RESERVE REPORTING | 28 | ||||
15.2 |
RESERVE CREDIT | 28 | ||||
ARTICLE 16 – OFFSET | 30 | |||||
ARTICLE 17 – INSOLVENCY | 31 | |||||
17.1 |
INSOLVENCY OF A PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT | 31 | ||||
17.2 |
INSOLVENCY OF THE CEDING COMPANY | 31 | ||||
17.3 |
INSOLVENCY OF THE REINSURER | 32 | ||||
ARTICLE 18 – ERRORS AND OMISSIONS | 33 |
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ARTICLE 19 – ARBITRATION | 34 | |||||
19.1 |
GENERAL | 34 | ||||
19.2 |
ISSUE RESOLUTION | 34 | ||||
19.3 |
NOTICE OF ARBITRATION | 34 | ||||
19.4 |
PROCEDURE | 34 | ||||
19.5 |
PLACE OF ARBITRATION | 35 | ||||
19.6 |
ARBITRATION COSTS | 35 | ||||
19.7 |
ARBITRATION SETTLEMENT | 35 | ||||
19.8 |
INJUCTIVE RELIEF | 35 | ||||
19.9 |
CONFIDENTALITY OF ARBITRATION | 36 | ||||
ARTICLE 20 – DURATION OF AGREEMENT | 37 | |||||
ARTICLE 21 – REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 38 | |||||
ARTICLE 22 – CONFIDENTALITY | 39 | |||||
22.1 |
CONFIDENTIALITY DEFINITIONS | 39 | ||||
22.2 |
NONDISCLOSURE SECURITY | 40 | ||||
22.3 |
DATA SECURITY SAFE GUARDS | 41 | ||||
22.4 |
EXCEPTIONS | 41 | ||||
22.5 |
RETURN, DESTRUCTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION | 41 | ||||
22.6 |
REPRESENTATIONS | 41 | ||||
ARTICLE 23 – DEFINITIONS | 42 | |||||
ARTICLE 24 – NOTICE | 45 | |||||
ARTICLE 25 – EXECUTION | 46 | |||||
EXHIBIT A – RETENTION SCHEDULE OF CEDING COMPANY | 47 | |||||
EXHIBIT B – BUSINESS COVERED AND ISSUE AGE LIMITS | 48 | |||||
EXHIBIT C – BINDING LIMITS | 50 | |||||
EXHIBIT D – REINSURANCE PREMIUMS | 53 | |||||
EXHIBIT E – DATA PROTECTION ADDENDUM | 72 | |||||
EXHIBIT F – SELF ADMINISTERED REPORTING | 76 |
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ARTICLE 1 – PREAMBLE
1.1 | PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT |
This Agreement will be construed to constitute a separate and distinct Agreement between each Ceding Company and the Reinsurer. The duties and obligations of each Ceding Company and the Reinsurer under this Agreement are several and not joint.
This Agreement is an indemnity reinsurance agreement solely between the Ceding Company and the Reinsurer. The acceptance of risks under this Agreement by the Reinsurer will create no right or legal relation between the Reinsurer and the insured, owner, beneficiary, or assignee of any insurance policy of the Ceding Company.
The Reinsurer shall not be liable for any claims, suits or actions as a result of any misconduct, negligence, fraud or criminal activity to the extent committed by the Ceding Company or its “Representatives” (as defined, in Article 22.1).
This Agreement will be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns including any rehabilitator, conservator, liquidator or statutory successor of either party. Neither party may effect any novation of this Agreement without the other party’s prior written consent.
Day or days, when used in this Agreement, will mean calendar days.
1.2 | CHOICE OF LAW AND FORUM |
This Agreement, will in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with the law and exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Minnesota.
1.3 | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties, with respect to the business being reinsured hereunder, and there are no understandings between the parties other than expressed in this Agreement. Any alterations to the provisions of this Agreement will be made by Amendment or Addenda and must be signed by both parties. These documents will be regarded as part of this Agreement and will be equally binding
1.4 | ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER |
Neither this Agreement nor any new or inforce reinsurance under this Agreement, may be sold or assigned in whole or in part by either the Ceding Company or the Reinsurer without the prior written approval of the other party. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Reinsurer from retroceding or transferring Risk associated with the Agreement to other parties.
1.5 | EXPENSE OF THE ORIGINAL POLICY |
The Ceding Company will bear the expense of all medical examinations, inspection fees and other charges incurred in connection with the underwriting and issuance of the policy.
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ARTICLE 2 – AUTOMATIC REINSURANCE
2.1 | GENERAL CONDITIONS |
On and after the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Ceding Company will Automatically cede to the Reinsurer a portion of the life insurance policies, supplementary benefits, and riders listed in Exhibit B-Business Covered and lssue Age Limits.
The Reinsurer will Automatically accept its share of the above-referenced policies up to the limits shown in Exhibit C-Binding Limits, provided that:
a. | the Ceding Company keeps its Quota Share Retention, as specified in Exhibit A – Retention Schedule of the Ceding Company, or otherwise holds its full Quota Share Retention on a life previously issued in-force policies and applies its underwriting guidelines that it would have applied if the new Policy had fallen completely within its Quota Share Retention. The Ceding Company may not reinsure on any basis any portion of the amount it has retained on the Policies reinsured under this Agreement, without the written consent of the Reinsurer; |
b. | the Ceding Company applies the underwriting and reinstatement guidelines, practices, and procedures for risk selection conveyed to the Reinsurer prior to or at the time of pricing, or any Material Changes consented to in writing by the Reinsurer, which are still in use on the coverage commencement date; |
c. | the sum of the Ultimate Amount of reinsurance required including contractual increases, and the amount already reinsured on that life under this Agreement and all other agreements between the Reinsurer and the Ceding Company, does not exceed the Automatic Binding Limits set out in Exhibit C-Binding Limits; |
d. | the amount of life insurance in force in all companies and increasing Ultimate Amounts, including any coverage to be replaced, plus the amount currently applied for on that life in all companies, does not exceed the Jumbo Limits stated in Exhibit C-Binding Limits; |
e. | the application is on a life that is not a Professional Athlete; and |
f. | the application is on a life that has not been submitted Facultatively to the Reinsurer or any other reinsurer within the last three (3) years, unless the reason for any prior Facultative submission was solely for capacity that may now be accommodated within the terms of this Agreement. |
g. | the insureds, at the time of the application, must be legal residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, or Guam and issued in accordance with the Ceding Company’s underwriting guidelines. |
For purposes of this Agreement, “ultimate face amount” will mean, to the best of the Ceding Company’s knowledge, the projected maximum face amount at the time of underwriting, including any contractual increases, that could be reached based on reasonable assumptions made about the policy.
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2.2 | UNDERWRITING EXCEPTIONS |
It is understood and agreed that the Reinsurer will accept the Ceding Company’s underwriting decisions as long as the Ceding Company’s underwriters act in good faith and consistent with the Ceding Company’s underwriting guidelines, manual, age and amount requirements and control procedures (collectively, “the Underwriting Requirements”). Mistakes in mortality assessment will be accepted for Automatic reinsurance by the Reinsurer provided such mistakes are not systemic or part of a pattern that evidences disregard for the Underwriting Requirements. Underwriter discretion, which may deviate from the Underwriting Requirements when deemed warranted and appropriate by the Ceding Company underwriter exercising his or her professional judgment, will also be accepted for Automatic reinsurance by the Reinsurer provided that the assessed mortality risk is consistent with the Ceding Company’s expected mortality level of that underwriting classification that is applied.
Business Exceptions occur where the Underwriting Requirements are deviated from based on business considerations rather than underwriting judgment. Business Exceptions will be accepted for Automatic reinsurance only with the approval of the Reinsurer.
2.3 | CHANGES TO UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES |
The Ceding Company reserves the right to revise the underwriting guidelines from time to time. For any Material Change to the underwriting guidelines, the Ceding Company agrees to provide twenty (20) days’ written notice to the Reinsurer, and the Reinsurer agrees to provide its decision in writing with regard to the proposed change within twenty (20) days. The Reinsurer’s failure to respond within twenty (20) days will constitute its acceptance of these changes.
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ARTICLE 3 – FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE
The Ceding Company may submit any application on a Policy identified in Exhibit B – Business Covered and Issue Age Limits to the Reinsurer for its consideration on a facultative basis including, but not limited to, Policies with amounts in excess of the Automatic Binding Limits.
The Ceding Company shall apply for reinsurance on a facultative basis by sending to the reinsurer a mutually acceptable application for facultative reinsurance. In addition to the facultative application, the Ceding Company shall provide all underwriting evidence that is available for risk assessment including, but not limited to, copies of the application for insurance, medical examiners’ reports, attending physicians’ statements, inspection reports, and any other information bearing on the insurability of the risk. The Ceding Company also shall notify the Reinsurer of any outstanding underwriting requirements at the time of the facultative submission. Any subsequent information received by the Ceding Company that is pertinent to the risk assessment shall be immediately transmitted to the Reinsurer.
After consideration of the facultative application and related information, Reinsurer shall promptly inform the Ceding Company of its underwriting decision. If the Reinsurer makes an offer, the Ceding Company must accept Reinsurer’s offer during the lifetime of the insured and within the (i) time period specified in Reinsurer’s offer or (ii) one hundred and twenty (120) days after the Ceding Company’s receipt of such offer. The Ceding Company shall accept Reinsurer’s offer by (i) written notification or (ii) reporting such risk on the periodic reports it provides to Reinsurer pursuant to Section 7.2.
In situations where the Ceding Company fails to accept the Reinsurer’s offer within the timeframes set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Ceding Company shall notify the Reinsurer as soon as reasonably possible of such a case. The Reinsurer shall check whether it has the requested capacity available, taking in to account, all current, in-force liabilities. The Reinsurer shall promptly notify the Ceding Company of the amount the Reinsurer is able to accept, not to exceed the Reinsurer’s then current maximum corporate retention limit or the amount in the Reinsurer’s original final offer, whichever is less. If the Reinsurer no longer has all or a portion of capacity available to accommodate the case, both parties will act in good faith in order to reach a mutually agreeable solution, failing of which, the Ceding Company shall undertake commercially reasonable efforts to secure the needed coverage within its Maximum Retention Per Life or to reinsure it with other reinsurers.
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ARTICLE 4 – COMMENCEMENT OF LIABILITY
4.1 | AUTOMATIC REINSURANCE |
For Automatic reinsurance, the Reinsurer’s liability will commence at the same time as the Ceding Company’s liability.
4.2 | FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE |
For Facultative reinsurance, the Reinsurer’s liability will commence at the same time as the Ceding Company’s liability, provided that the Reinsurer has made a binding Facultative offer and that offer was accepted, during the lifetime of the insured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
4.3 | BACKDATING TO SAVE AGE |
The Ceding Company will have the right to backdate policies up to six (6) months for the purpose of saving age. Such backdated policies will be covered by this Agreement even if the backdated issue date precedes the Effective Date of this Agreement.
4.4 | CONDITIONAL RECEIPT OR TEMPORARY INSURANCE AGREEMENT |
Reinsurance coverage under a Conditional Receipt or Temporary Insurance Agreement is limited to the Reinsurer’s share of amounts within the Conditional Receipt or Temporary Insurance Agreement specified in Exhibit C-Binding Limits. Reinsurance coverage is limited to one Conditional Receipt or Temporary Insurance Agreement per application on a life regardless of how many receipts are issued or initial premiums are accepted by the Ceding Company. The Reinsurer will accept liability provided that:
a. | The Reinsurer has reviewed and approved the Conditional Receipt form or Temporary Insurance Agreement form; and |
b. | The risk is eligible for Automatic reinsurance under this Agreement; or the Reinsurer has made a Facultative offer during the lifetime of the insured and the Ceding Company would have accepted that offer; and |
c. | For facultative applications submitted to the Reinsurer, the Reinsurer’s liability under a Conditional Receipt or a Temporary Insurance Agreement will begin simultaneously with the Ceding Company’s contractual liability if the Reinsurer’s facultative offer has been accepted or would have been accepted. The Reinsurer’s liability is limited to its share, as shown in Exhibit C-Binding Limits, of amounts accepted within the Ceding Company’s usual cash-with-application procedures for temporary coverage. |
If the proposed insured dies prior to the completion of the underwriting process, the Reinsurer will continue underwriting the risk to determine if a facultative offer would have been made on the risk. If so, the Reinsurer will accept liability for the risk, subject to the limits specified in the paragraph above.
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d. | The Reinsurer has no liability for facultative applications that the Ceding Company has not submitted to the Reinsurer. |
e. | The Ceding Company, its agents, or representatives have followed its normal cash-with-application procedures for such coverage. |
After a policy has been issued, no reinsurance benefits are payable under this pre-issue coverage provision.
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ARTICLE 5 – PREMIUM ACCOUNTING
5.1 | PREMIUMS |
Reinsurance premium rates paid by the Ceding Company for life insurance and other benefits reinsured under this Agreement are shown in Exhibit D-Reinsurance Premiums. The rates will be applied to the Net Amount at Risk reinsured under this agreement.
5.2 | PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS |
Reinsurance premiums will be paid annually in advance. The Ceding Company will self-administer all reinsurance under this Agreement. Renewal premium and any adjustments will be due within sixty (60) days of anniversary processing. New business premium is due within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date the risk is issued and paid.
If a Policy or Policies are not reported within three (3) years of the policy issue date, such Policy or Policies are not eligible for reinsurance under this Agreement. However, upon request by the Ceding Company, the Reinsurer shall consider reinsuring such Policy or Policies on an automatic basis under this Agreement subject to available capacity. Article 18, Errors and Omissions, shall not apply to this Section after three (3) years from the Policy/ies issue date.
5.3 | DELAYED PAYMENT |
When balances are in default, each party reserves the right to charge interest at the prime rate plus 2% as stated in the. Wall Street Journal on January 1, prior to the due date of the premium when premium is delinquent.
5.4 | FAILURE TO PAY PREMIUMS |
The payment of reinsurance premiums is a condition precedent to the liability of the Reinsurer for reinsurance covered by this Agreement. In the event that reinsurance premiums are not paid within sixty (60) days after they are due pursuant to Article 5.2 above, the Reinsurer will have the right to terminate the reinsurance for all policies having reinsurance premiums in arrears. If the Reinsurer elects to exercise its right of termination, it will, give the Ceding Company ninety (90) days written notice of its intention. Such notice will be sent by certified mail or overnight courier service (e.g. Federal Express).
If all reinsurance premiums in arrears, including any that become in arrears during the ninety (90) day notice period, are not paid before the. expiration of the notice period, the Reinsurer will be relieved of all liability under those policies as of the last date to which premiums have been paid for each policy. Reinsurance on policies on which reinsurance premiums subsequently fall due will automatically terminate as of the last date to which premiums have been paid for each policy, unless reinsurance premiums on those policies are paid on or before their due date pursuant to Article 5.2 above.
Terminated reinsurance may be reinstated, subject to approval by the Reinsurer, within thirty (30) days of the date of termination, and upon payment of all reinsurance premiums in arrears including any interest accrued thereon. The Reinsurer will have no liability for any claims incurred between the date of termination and the date of the reinstatement of the reinsurance.
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The right to terminate reinsurance will not prejudice the Reinsurer’s right to collect premiums for the period during which reinsurance was in force prior to the expiration of the ninety (90) day notice.
The Ceding Company may not force termination under the provisions of this Article to avoid the provisions regarding recapture in Article 11, nor to transfer the reinsured policies to. another reinsurer.
5.5 | PREMIUM RATE GUARANTEE |
The Life Reinsurance Premium rates contained in this Agreement are guaranteed for one year, and the Reinsurer anticipates continuing to accept Premiums on the basis of these rates indefinitely. If the Reinsurer deems it necessary to increase rates, then it shall provide the Ceding Company with underlying basis for the rate increase. In no event will such increased premium rates be higher than the greater of (a) the rates in Exhibit D – Reinsurance Rates or (b)
For products that have not adopted the 2017 CSO Loaded Sex & Smoker Distinct, Select & Ultimate Age Nearest Birthday mortality table:
the valuation net premiums for annual renewable term insurance calculated using the applicable statutory minimum valuation select and ultimate mortality table and statutory maximum interest rate for the reinsured business for each year of issue; or
For products that have adopted the 2017 CSO Loaded Sex & Smoker Distinct, Select & Ultimate Age Nearest Birthday mortality table:
the valuation net premiums for annual renewable term insurance calculated using a multiple of 125% of the 2017 CSO Loaded Sex & Smoker Distinct, Ultimate Only, Preferred Structure, Age Nearest Birthday mortality table and statutory maximum interest rate for the reinsured business for each year of issue.
An additional mortality load consistent with pricing will be applied to non-standard risks including but not limited to conversions, post-level term, and substandard policies.
For inforce blocks of business, if an increase in reinsurance rates occurs on a guaranteed product that is reinsured on non-guaranteed terms, the Ceding Company, with prior written notice to the Reinsurer has the right to recapture the business to which such increase applies as of the effective date of the increase in reinsurance rates.
For inforce blocks of business, if an increase in reinsurance rates occurs on a non-guaranteed product that is reinsured on non-guaranteed terms, the Ceding Company should investigate the possibility of increasing its direct pricing or charges to restore the product to previous profitability. If the Ceding Company determines that it cannot reasonably implement such a pricing increase, then, with prior written notice to the Reinsurer, it has the right to recapture the business to which such increase applies as of the effective date of the increase in reinsurance rates.
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ARTICLE 6 – POLICY TERMINATIONS, CHANGES AND REINSTATEMENTS
6.1 | REDUCTIONS |
Unless specified otherwise in this Agreement, if the amount of a reinsured Policy issued by the Ceding Company is reduced and the amount of reinsurance is on. a quota share basis, then the amount of reinsurance on that Reinsured Policy will be reduced effective the same date by the same proportion as the reduction under the original Reinsured Policy.
For policies administered in Admin Server, the reduction will be on a Last in First Out basis (LIFO). The reduction will first apply to any reinsurance on the Reinsured Policy being reduced and then, if applicable, in chronological order according to policy date (“Last in, first out”) to any reinsurance on other policies in force on the life. However, the Ceding Company will not be required to assume a risk for an amount in excess of its Maximum Retention Per Life for the age at issue and the mortality rating of the policy under which reinsurance is being terminated.
If the reinsurance for a Reinsured Policy has been placed with more than one reinsurer, the reduction will be applied to all reinsurers pro rata to the amounts originally reinsured with each reinsurer.
A reduction to one of the Ceding Company’s policies not reinsured hereunder will require that the Ceding Company maintain its Quota Share Retention as specified in Exhibit A-Retention Schedule of the Ceding Company of this Agreement.
In the event of the reduction of a policy or policies reinsured under this Agreement, the Reinsurer will refund any unearned reinsurance premiums. The reinsured portion of any policy fee will be deemed earned for the entire policy year if the policy was reinsured during any portion of that policy year.
6.2 | TERMINATIONS |
When a policy issued by the Ceding Company terminates, the corresponding reinsurance on the Reinsured Policy will be terminated effective the same date. Unless specified otherwise in this Agreement, if a policy fully retained by the Ceding Company terminates, the terms of Article 6.1 will apply.
If a policy issued by the Ceding Company lapses and extended term insurance is elected under the terms of that policy, the corresponding reinsurance on the Reinsured Policy will continue on the same basis as the original Reinsured Policy until the expiry of the extended term period.
If a policy issued by the Ceding Company lapses and reduced paid-up insurance is elected under the terms of that policy, the amount of the corresponding reinsurance on the Reinsured Policy will be reduced according to the terms of Article 6.1.
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If the Ceding Company allows the policy to remain in force under its automatic premium loan provision, the corresponding reinsurance on the Reinsured Policy will continue unchanged and in force as long as such provisions remain in effect, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
In the event of the termination of a policy or policies reinsured under this Agreement, the Reinsurer will refund any unearned reinsurance premiums.
6.3 | INCREASES |
Non-Contractual
If the amount of insurance is increased as. a result of an underwritten change, the increase will be considered new risk under this Agreement in accordance with Article 2.1 – General Conditions. The Risk will not be automatically reinsured if the life was previously reviewed or underwritten on a facultative basis.
Contractual
Only reinsured riders that have Contractual increases as shown in Exhibit B-Business Covered and Issue Age Limits will be reinsured. For policies reinsured on an automatic basis increases will be accepted up to the Pool Binding Limits as shown in Exhibit C-Retention Limits. For policies reinsured on a Facultative basis, reinsurance will follow the parameters outlined in the Reinsurer’s Facultative offer. Reinsurance premiums for the additional reinsurance shall be calculated using point in scale reinsurance premium rates from the original issue age of the Risk Reinsured.
6.4 | RISK CLASSIFICATION CHANGES |
For automatic Risks, the Ceding Company may reduce the rating classification or change the tobacco classification in accordance with the Ceding Company underwriting guidelines. The Ceding Company will notify the Reinsurer of this change. For Facultative Risks, the Ceding Company will submit the rating classified changes and tobacco class changes under the Facultative provisions in Article 3.
6.5 | REINSTATEMENT |
Any Risk originally reinsured on an automatic basis or on a facultative basis where no underwriting is required, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, may be automatically reinstated with the Reinsurer. Any Risk originally reinsured with the Reinsurer on a Facultative basis that requires underwriting, will be submitted with the underwriting requirements and approved by the Reinsurer before the Risk is reinstated. The Ceding Company will pay the Reinsurer all reinsurance Premiums in the same manner as the Ceding Company received the insurance Premiums under the particular Policy.
6.6 | NONFORFEITURE BENEFITS |
a. | Extended Term: If the Policy changes to extended term insurance under the terms of the Policy, the Risk to be reinsured will continue until the expiry of the extended term. |
b. | Reduced Paid-Up: If the Policy changes to reduced paid-up insurance under the terms of the Policy, the Risk will be reinsured in accordance with Article 6, Section 1 above. |
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ARTICLE 7 – CONVERSIONS, EXCHANGES AND REPLACEMENTS
Conversions | |
Conversions from term policies reinsured on a facultative YRT basis and issued prior to 11/21/2015 will be allowed to convert to this open Agreement on a point in scale basis. Term conversions issued on or after 11/21 2015 will remain under the term policies original Agreement.
Exchanges | and Replacements |
A policy resulting from an internal exchange or replacement will be underwritten by the Ceding Company in accordance with its underwriting guidelines and exchange and replacement guidelines and will be reinsured under this Agreement in an amount not to exceed the original amount reinsured under such existing agreement on a point in scale basis. If the Ceding Company’s exchange and replacement guidelines treat the Policy as New Business, then the reinsurance will also be considered New Business if the Policy meets the requirements for New Business set forth in this Agreement.
In the event of an internal exchange, if the state in which a replacement Policy is issued requires waiver of the suicide or contestable provisions, then the Reinsurer will honor that obligation and waive suicide or contestable provisions and the new Policy amount will not exceed the original amount reinsured under the prior agreement.
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ARTICLE 8 – POLICY RESCISSION
If it is determined that a Policy reinsured under this Agreement should be rescinded due to misrepresentation by the policy owner or the insured, the Reinsurer will pay its share of reasonable investigation and legal expenses connected with the rescission action.
The Reinsurer will not reimburse the Ceding Company for routine expenses, including but not limited to the Ceding Company’s home office expenses, compensation of salaried officers and employees, and any legal expenses other than third party expenses incurred by the Ceding Company.
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ARTICLE 9 – CLAIMS
9.1 | NOTICE |
When the Ceding Company is informed of a claim, it will promptly notify the Reinsurer of the claim. This notification will provide the Reinsurer with the following information: The Name, Policy Number, Issue Date, Date of Birth, Date of Death (if known), Face Amount and reinsured Net Amount At Risk.
9.2 | PROOFS |
The Ceding Company will examine and approve the claims and will send the Reinsurer notification of all paid claims. It is the sole decision of the Ceding Company to determine if the claim is payable. The Reinsurer agrees to accept the determination of the Ceding Company based on adherence to the Ceding Company’s standard claims practices and subject to the terms of this Agreement.
When the Ceding Company is requesting its share of the claim, the following proofs will be submitted to the Reinsurer with each claim. A copy of the death certificate, proof of the amount paid on such claim by the Ceding Company and a copy of the claimant’s statement. The Reinsurer will also pay its proportionate share of interest that the Ceding Company pays on the death benefit.
In every case of loss, copies of the proofs obtained by the Ceding Company will be taken by the Reinsurer as sufficient provided proofs are in accordance with the Ceding Company’s current claim practices.
The Reinsurer reserves the right to request, and the Ceding Company will send upon such request, documents on any claim reinsured under this Agreement.
9.3 | AMOUNT AND PAYMENT OF REINSURANCE BENEFITS |
As soon as the Reinsurer receives proper claim notice, proof of the claim and the Death Claim Benefit Request Form, the Reinsurer shall within sixty (60) days pay the reinsurance benefits due the Ceding Company. The claim benefits paid will be in a single sum, regardless of the Ceding Company’s settlement options.
When death claim benefits due from the Reinsurer are in default, the Ceding Company reserves the right to charge interest at the Prime Rate plus 2% as stated in the Wall Street Journal on January 1, prior to the date of the death claim. Claims benefits in default are defined as claim benefits not reimbursed within ninety (90) days of the claim benefit request.
For policies where the Ceding Company decides not to pay the claim, the procedures stated below under Section 9.4, Disputed Claims will be followed.
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9.4 | DISPUTED CLAIMS |
The Ceding Company will promptly notify the Reinsurer of its intent to deny, contest or compromise a claim reinsured under this Agreement. The Ceding Company will provide the Reinsurer with all papers for review. Within seven (7) days of receiving the papers, the Reinsurer must communicate its approval of the Ceding Company’s actions and. agreement to be a party to the denial, contest, or compromise. Failure to respond to the Ceding Company within seven (7) days constitutes approval and agreement by the Reinsurer.
If the Reinsurer declines to be a party to such denial, contest or compromise, the Reinsurer will discharge all of its liability by paying its proportionate share of reinsurance due the Ceding Company as if there had been no denial, contest or compromise. The Reinsurer will also pay its proportionate share of covered expenses incurred to the date it notifies the Ceding Company it declines to be a party.
9.5 | CLAIM EXPENSES |
The Reinsurer will pay its share of reasonable investigation and legal expenses connected with the litigation or settlement of contractual liability claims, unless the Reinsurer has discharged its liability as described in Section 9.4 above, the Reinsurer will not participate in any expenses after the date of discharge.
Claim expenses do not include routine home office claim and administration expenses, including the Ceding Company’s expenses incurred by the Ceding Company as a result of a dispute arising out of conflicting claims of entitlement to policy proceeds or benefits.
9.6 | MISREPRESENTATION OR SUICIDE |
If the Ceding Company returns Premium to the policy owner or beneficiary as a result of fraud or misrepresentation within the policy contestable period or as a result of the suicide of the insured, the Reinsurer will refund net reinsurance Premiums received on that policy without interest to the Ceding Company.
9.7 | MISSTATEMENT OF AGE OR GENDER |
If the amount of insurance changes because of a misstatement of age or sex classification, the Reinsurer’s share of liability will change proportionately. Reinsurance Premiums will be adjusted from the inception of the policy and any differences will be settled without interest.
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9.8 | EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL DAMAGES |
Generally, the’ Reinsurer will not participate in and will not be liable to pay extra-contractual damages that are awarded against the Ceding Company as a result of an act, omission, or course of conduct committed solely by the Ceding Company, its agents, or representatives in connection with claims covered under this Agreement.
The parties recognize that circumstances may arise in which the Reinsurer would participate in extra-contractual damages. The parties agree that such circumstances are limited to those situations in which the Reinsurer directs the Ceding Company and concurs in the conduct that gives rise to the extra-contractual liability. In such situations, the Reinsurer and the Ceding Company will share such damages in proportion to the original amount reinsured.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “extra-contractual damages” will include, by way of example and not limitation:
1. | Damages for emotional distress or oppression; |
2. | Punitive or exemplary damages; |
3. | Compensatory damages arising from acts or omissions to the extent such acts and omissions are found to arise from gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud, or bad-faith; and/or |
4. | Statutory damages, fines or penalties. |
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ARTICLE 10 – RETENTION LIMIT CHANGES
The Ceding Company may change its Maximum Retention Per Life with respect to future new business at any time. The Ceding Company will notify the Reinsurer of such change at least thirty (30) days in advance of the effective date. The Ceding Company may not change its Quota Share Retention on new business or in-force business without the Reinsurer’s prior written approval unless otherwise allowed in Article 11 of this Agreement.
A change to the Ceding Company’s Maximum Retention Per Life will not affect the reinsured policies inforce except as specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement. Furthermore, unless agreed in writing between the parties, an increase in the Ceding Company’s Maximum Retention Per Life will not cause an increase in the Automatic Pool Binding Limits.
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ARTICLE 11 – RECAPTURE
If the Ceding Company increases its Maximum Retention Per Life, it shall have the right to recapture ceded reinsurance in accordance with the following rules:
1. The Risk has been reinsured under this Agreement and in force for the minimum period shown in Exhibit C-Retention Schedule of the Ceding Company.
2. The Ceding Company retained its Maximum Retention Per Life for the plan, age and mortality rating at the time the policy was issued under this Agreement and in accordance with Exhibit A, Retention Schedule of the Ceding Company.
3. All reinsurance eligible for Recapture under the provisions of this Article, must be Recaptured.
4. The Risk will be Recaptured on the anniversary date of the policy following the recapture notification letter unless agreed upon in writing by both parties.
5. For any death that occurred prior to recapture, the Ceding Company’s retention limit at the time of death will apply.
To effect recapture, the Ceding Company must notify the Reinsurer of its intent to do so within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the increase in its Maximum Retention Per Life. The Ceding Company may apply the new Maximum Retention Per Life to existing ceded reinsurance, increase, its Quota Share Retention in the same. proportion as the increase in its Maximum Retention Per Life and reduce and Recapture reinsurance inforce accordingly.
The amount eligible for recapture will be the difference between the amount originally retained and the amount the Ceding Company would have retained on the same quota share basis had the new Retention schedule been in effect at the time of issue.
Special Recapture
The Ceding Company may elect to recapture all business Ceded to the Reinsurer by providing the Reinsurer with written notice of its intent to recapture upon the occurrence of any one of the following events:
a. the Reinsurer has increased its premiums pursuant to Article 5;
b. the Reinsurer has become unauthorized or otherwise unaccredited in the Ceding Company’s state of domicile and has failed to provide such collateral which meets the state’s law and regulation on Credit for Reinsurance pursuant to Article 15;
c. insolvency of the Reinsurer pursuant to Article 17; or
d. mutual agreement by both parties.
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If the Ceding Company elects to terminate this Agreement for both in-force and new business under the Special Recapture provision, Terminal Accounting and Settlement will apply as defined below.
Terminal Accounting and Settlement
The “Terminal Accounting Date” shall be the earliest of: (a) the effective date of termination of this Agreement, or (b) any other date mutually agreed by the parties in writing.
YRT
i. The final settlement amount shall be determined as follows:
A + B – C
where,
“A” is the unearned reinsurance premium as of the Terminal Accounting Date.
“B” is the amount of pending claims and claims incurred but not reported as of the Terminal Accounting Date that is reported to the Reinsurer within ninety (90) days of the Terminal Accounting Date.
“C” is due, but unpaid reinsurance premium as of the Terminal Accounting Date.
ii. Reinsurer shall provide the calculation of the final settlement amount to the Ceding Company or its rehabilitator, receiver or liquidator within 120 days of the Terminal Accounting Date. The Ceding Company or its rehabilitator, receiver or liquidator shall have 60 days from the date Reinsurer provides the calculation and supporting data and information to review and validate it. In the event the Ceding Company or its rehabilitator, receiver or liquidator is not able to reasonably validate the calculation, then the Reinsurer or the Ceding Company or its rehabilitator, receiver or liquidator as the case may be, shall deposit the final settlement amount into escrow and proceed to cause an arbitration of the matter pursuant to Article 19 of this Agreement. Any amount so deposited shall be subject to adjustment as a result of arbitration.
iii. If the Ceding Company or its rehabilitator, receiver or liquidator validates the final settlement amount, it shall be paid on 181st day following the Terminal Accounting Date. In the event the final settlement amount is positive, the Reinsurer shall make payment to the Ceding Company or its rehabilitator, receiver or liquidator. In the event the final settlement amount is negative, the Ceding Company shall make payment to the Reinsurer.
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iv. Upon completion of the settlement, the Reinsurer shall be released from all its liabilities under the Agreement effective as of the Terminal Accounting Date, including but not limited to, the payment of any claim, benefit, or loss under the Agreement, notwithstanding the date any such claim, benefit, or loss may be incurred, and the Ceding Company shall concurrently be relieved of its obligation to make any payments to the Reinsurer.
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ARTICLE 12 - REINSURED NET AMOUNT AT RISK
The Cash Value will be applied to the reinsured amount proportionately. When multiple layers are reinsured, the Cash Value will be applied proportionately to each layer. If multiple companies exist on a layer, the Cash Value will be split proportionately among the Reinsurers.
The Reinsured Net Amount at Risk will be the difference between the reinsured face amount and the portion of the Cash Value corresponding to the reinsured face amount on the Policy.
Term Riders: the net amount at risk will equal the reinsured face amount.
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ARTICLE 13 – GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 | CURRENCY |
All payments and reporting by all parties under this Agreement will be made in United States dollars.
13.2 | PREMIUM TAX |
The Reinsurer will not reimburse the Ceding Company for premium taxes.
13.3 | INSPECTION OF RECORDS |
The Reinsurer or the Ceding Company, or their duly authorized third party auditor (“Auditor”), will have the right to inspect original papers, records, electronic files, and all documents relating to the business reinsured under this Agreement. These documents will be made available during normal office hours at the office of the inspected party, or by secure electronic access, to a representative of the party requesting inspection who will be named in advance; notification of such visits must be given two (2) weeks in advance. If the party requesting inspection uses an Auditor, the inspected party may require that the Auditor enter into a written confidentiality agreement; provided that such agreement contains commercially reasonable terms and conditions and that it does not prevent disclosure of the results of the inspection to the party requesting the inspection of records.
13.4 | COMPLIANCE OF LAWS |
The Policy is issued and maintained in accordance with all laws and the Ceding Company assures the Policy does not involve individuals appearing on the OFAC Specifically Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons list or residing in a prohibited country. Neither the Ceding Company nor the Reinsurer shall be required to take any action under this Agreement that would result in it being in violation of said laws, including making any payments in violation of the law. Should either party discover a reinsurance payment has been made in violation of the law, it shall notify the other party and the parties shall cooperate in order to take any necessary corrective actions.
13.5 | THE FOREIGN ACCOUNT TAX COMPLIANCE ACT (FATCA) |
Both the Reinsurer and the Ceding Company agree to provide all information necessary to demonstrate compliance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) consistent with Sections 1471 – 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and any Treasury Regulations, or other guidance issued pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, as applicable, Forms X-0, Xxxxx X-0XXX-X, any information necessary for the parties to enter into an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and to comply with the terms of that agreement or to comply with the terms of any inter-governmental agreements between the U.S. and any other jurisdictions relating to FATCA. This information will be provided promptly upon reasonable request by either party to this Agreement and promptly upon learning that any such information previously provided has become obsolete or incorrect.
The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that if they fail to supply such information on a timely basis following confirmed receipt, it may be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax imposed on payments of U.S. source income.
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13.6 | INTEREST RATE FOR BALANCES IN DEFAULT |
When balances are in default, each party reserves the right to charge interest at the Prime Rate plus 2% as stated in the Wall Street Journal as of the date the balances become overdue.
13.7 | SEVERABILITY |
If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of law to be invalid or unenforceable, such determination, will not impair or affect the validity or the enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement to the extent that enforcement of such remaining provisions, without the invalid or unenforceable provisiona, is, consistent with the intent of the parties which is inferred from the provisions of the entire Agreement.
13.8 | WAIVER |
Either party may choose to waive any provision or right under this Agreement under which performance is owed to them by the other party. Any waiver of provisions or rights by a party to this Agreement must be in writing signed by a duly authorized representative of the party granting the waiver. If either party so elects, it will not be considered to be a permanent waiver of such provision nor in any way affect the validity of this Agreement. The applicable party will still have the right to insist upon the strict adherence to that provision or any other provision of this Agreement in the future.
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ARTICLE 14– DAC TAX
The Ceding Company and the Reinsurer hereby agree to the following, pursuant to Section 1.848-2(g)(8) of the Income Tax Regulations issued December 29, 1992, under Section 848 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
1. The term “party” will refer to either the Ceding Company or the Reinsurer as appropriate.
2. The terms used in this Article are defined by reference to Treasury Regulation Section 1.848-2 in effect as of December 29,1992. The term “net consideration” refers to net consideration as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.848-2(f).
3. The party with the net positive consideration for this Agreement for each taxable year will capitalize specified policy acquisition expenses with respect to this Agreement without regard to the general deductions limitation of IRS Section 848(c)(1).
4. The parties agree to exchange information pertaining to the amount of net consideration under this Agreement each year by April 1 to ensure consistency, or as otherwise required by the Internal Revenue Service.
5. Each party may contest such calculation by providing an alternative calculation by May 1 of the year following the end of the taxable year to the. other party and the parties will act in good faith to reach agreement as to the correct amount within thirty (30) days.
6. Each party agrees to report such amount of net consideration in their respective federal income tax returns for the previous tax year.
7. Each party will attach a schedule to its federal income tax return for the first taxable year ending on or after the Effective Date that identifies this Agreement as a reinsurance agreement for which the. joint election under Regulation Section 1.848-2(g)(8) has been made.
8. Each party represents that it is subject to United States taxation under either Subchapter L or Subpart F of Part III of Subchapter N of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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ARTICLE 15 – RESERVES
15.1 | Reserve Reporting |
The Ceding Company shall provide a reserve summary for the Policies reinsured under this Agreement to the Reinsurer within fifteen (15) days of the end of each quarter. Upon request, the Ceding Company will provide a detailed description of its statutory valuation basis as filed with the Ceding Company’s statutory annual statement.
The Ceding Company will calculate reserves based on the unearned premium. The amount of reserves held by the Reinsurer for business under this Agreement will be equal to the Reinsurer’s proportionate share of the reserve credit taken by the Ceding Company for the same Risks.
The Reinsurer will hold reinsurance reserves in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations that the Reinsurer deems controlling.
15.2 | Reserve Credit |
The parties intend that the Ceding Company will receive statutory reserve credit in its state of domicile for reinsurance provided under this Agreement. The parties agree to use reasonable efforts to ensure that such reserve credit will remain available to the Ceding Company.
If the Ceding Company loses statutory reserve credit in part or in total due to a change in law or regulation (or a change in the interpretation or application of existing law or regulation by a regulator) or due to a failure by the Reinsurer to maintain in effect a required license or accreditation in the Ceding Company’s state of domicile (hereinafter a “Reserve Credit Event”), then the parties will take the steps specified below. The parties will provide prompt notice of the occurrence of any Reserve Credit Event.
Upon the occurrence of any Reserve. Credit Event, the Reinsurer shall establish on behalf of the Ceding Company such trust accounts, letters of credit, premiums withheld by the Ceding Company, or a combination thereof as may be required by applicable law in order to permit the Ceding Company to obtain credit for such reinsurance. The Reinsurer will have the option of determining the method of funding to be utilized so long as the Ceding Company is satisfied that such method will provide such statutory financial statement credit.
The Reinsurer also agrees to take any additional action as may be required so as to comply with the requirements imposed by the insurance laws and regulations of the State of Minnesota and of any other State or jurisdiction having jurisdiction over the Ceding Company in order to give the Ceding Company at all times full statutory financial statement credit for the reinsurance being provided under this Agreement, including by amending this Agreement to add required credit for reinsurance provisions.
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If a Reserve Credit Event is not cured and the Reinsurer fails to establish or maintain collateral as set forth above, then the Ceding Company may recapture the business ceded under this Agreement as set forth in Article 11. In that event, the Ceding Company and the Reinsurer will negotiate in good faith the terms of a mutually agreed recapture of the reinsurance provided hereunder, including payment of the appropriate amount of benefit reserves to be held in respect of the reinsured amounts being recaptured, determined as of the effective date of the recapture, based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistent with FASB Statement 60 computed using the Reinsurer’s original pricing assumptions without provision for adverse deviation, less any amount of unamortized deferred acquisition cost assets related thereto and excluding any provisions for adverse deviations or similar deficiency or special reserves.
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ARTICLE 16 – OFFSET
Any undisputed amounts due, by either of the parties to this Agreement, whether they arise out of this Agreement or out of any other reinsurance relationship between the parties, may be offset and only the. balance will be allowed or paid. This right will continue to exist after the termination of this Agreement, or of any business relationship between the parties. This right to offset is not diminished by the insolvency of either party.
To the extent the Ceding Company subtracts the amount of claim payments due from the amount of premium it owes the Reinsurer prior to the Reinsurer’s review and approval of any such claim amounts, such netting will be allowed only under Reinsurer’s reservation of rights. For the avoidance of doubt, the right of offset set forth above only applies to amounts that are undisputed by both parties. As such, in the event that a disputed claim is netted from the premium due to the Reinsurer, the Reinsurer will be entitled to reimbursement of any such amount either by repayment of the amount or by subtracting the amount from other claim amounts owed to the Ceding Company.
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ARTICLE 17 – INSOLVENCY
17.1 | INSOLVENCY OF A PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT |
A Party to this Agreement will be deemed “insolvent” when it:
a) Applies for or consents to the appointment of a receiver, rehabilitator, conservator, liquidator or statutory successor (hereinafter referred to as the Authorized Representative) of its properties or assets; or
b) Is adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent; or
c) Files or consents to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, seeks reorganization or an arrangement with creditors to avoid bankruptcy or takes advantage of any bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, rehabilitation, conservation or similar law or statute; or
d) Becomes the subject of an order to rehabilitate or an order to liquidate as defined by the insurance code of the jurisdiction of the party’s domicile.
17.2 | INSOLVENCY OF THE CEDING COMPANY |
In the event that the Ceding Company is deemed insolvent, all reinsurance death claims payable hereunder will be payable by the Reinsurer directly to the Ceding Company, its liquidator, receiver or statutory successor on the basis of the liability of the Ceding Company for benefits under the Reinsured Policy, without diminution because of the insolvency of the Ceding Company.
It is understood, however, that in the event of such insolvency, the liquidator, receiver or statutory successor of the Ceding Company will give written notice, to the Reinsurer of the pendency of a death claim against the Ceding Company on a Risk reinsured hereunder within a reasonable time after such death claim is filed in the insolvency proceeding.
Such notice will indicate the policy reinsured and whether the death claim could involve a possible liability on the part of the Reinsurer. The Reinsurer will be liable only for benefits reinsured as benefits become due under the terms of the Reinsured Policies and will not be or become liable for any amounts or reserves to be held by the Ceding Company as to the Reinsured Policies or for any damages or payments resulting from the termination or restructure of the Policies that are not otherwise expressly covered by this Agreement.
During the pendency of such claim, the Reinsurer may investigate such death claim and interpose, at its own expense, in the proceeding where such death claim is to be adjudicated, any defense or defenses it may deem available to the Ceding Company, its liquidator, receiver or statutory successor. It is further understood that the expense thus incurred by the Reinsurer will be chargeable, subject to court approval, against the Ceding Company as part of the expense of liquidation to the extent of a proportionate share of the benefit that may. accrue to the Ceding Company solely as a result of the defense undertaken by the Reinsurer.
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17.3 | INSOLVENCY OF THE REINSURER |
In the event of the insolvency of the Reinsurer, the Ceding Company may cancel this Agreement for new business by promptly providing the Reinsurer or its Authorized Representative with written notice of cancellation, to be effective as of the date on which the Reinsurer’s insolvency is established by the authority responsible for such determination. Any requirement for a notification period prior to the cancellation of the Agreement would not apply under such circumstances.
In addition, in the event of the insolvency of the Reinsurer, the Ceding Company may provide the Reinsurer or its Authorized Representative with written notice of its intent to recapture all reinsurance in force under this Agreement regardless of the duration the reinsurance has been in force or the amount retained by the Ceding Company on the Reinsured Policies. The effective date of a recapture due to insolvency will be at the election of the Ceding Company but may not be earlier than the date on which the Reinsurer’s insolvency is established by the authority responsible for such determination. If the Ceding Company elects to recapture reinsurance under this Article, unearned premiums, net of outstanding balances, will be paid by the party with the positive balance.
In the event of the insolvency of either party, the rights or remedies of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect.
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ARTICLE 18 – ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
It is expressly understood and agreed that if failure to comply with any terms of this Agreement is hereby, shown to be the result of an unintentional error, misunderstanding or omission, on the part of either the Ceding Company or the Reinsurer, both the Ceding Company and the Reinsurer, will be restored to the position they would have occupied, had no such error, misunderstanding or omission occurred, subject always to the correction of the error, misunderstanding or omission. In the event a payment is corrected, the party receiving the payment may charge interest. If such restorations are not possible, the Parties will endeavor in good faith to promptly remedy the situation in a mariner that is mutually agreeable, and most closely approximates the intent of the Parties as evidenced by this Agreement. Any resolution made to correct such error will not constitute a waiver or set a precedent for any similar subsequent errors.
This provision applies only to oversights, misunderstanding or clerical errors relating to the administration of reinsurance covered by this Agreement. This provision does not apply to the administration of the insurance provided by the Ceding Company to its insured or any other errors or omissions committed by the Ceding Company with regard to the policy reinsured hereunder, including the underwriting of the Risk.
If the Ceding Company has failed to cede as provided under this Agreement or has failed to comply with reporting requirements with respect to business ceded hereunder, the Ceding Company may be obligated to audit its records for similar errors and take all reasonable action necessary to correct errors, and avoid similar errors if required by the Reinsurer.
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ARTICLE 19 – ARBITRATION
19.1 | GENERAL |
The parties agree to act with the highest good faith. However, if the parties cannot mutually resolve a dispute or claim, which arises out of, or in connection with this Agreement, including its formation and validity, and whether arising during, or after the period of this Agreement and the dispute cannot be resolved through Issue Resolution as described below, the dispute will be decided through arbitration.
As a condition to the parties’ right to arbitration under this Agreement, either the Ceding Company or the Reinsurer will give written notification to the other party of any dispute relating to or arising from this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the formation or breach thereof.
19.2 | ISSUE RESOLUTION |
In the event of a dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the parties agree to the following process of issue resolution. Within fifteen (15) days of notification, both parties must designate an officer of their respective companies to attempt to resolve the dispute. The officers will meet at a mutually agreeable location as soon as possible and as often as necessary to attempt to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. The format for discussions will be determined mutually by the officers.
If these officers are unable to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days of their first meeting, the parties may agree in writing to extend the negotiation period for an additional thirty (30) days. If the matter is not resolved within thirty (30) days of the first meeting or the additional thirty (30) day period, if any, then either party may demand arbitration as documented below. The discussions and all information exchanged for the purposes of such discussions will be confidential and without prejudice.
If a resolution cannot be reached using the process described above, the dispute or claim shall be referred to arbitration.
19.3 | NOTICE OF ARBITRATION |
To initiate arbitration, either party will notify the other party by certified mail of its desire to arbitrate, stating the nature of the dispute and the remedy sought (the “Arbitration Notice”). The party, to which the Arbitration Notice is sent, shall respond to in writing, within twenty (20) days of its receipt. Failure to respond in a timely manner to the Arbitration Notice will be deemed a breach of this Agreement, enforceable within an applicable court of law.
19.4 | PROCEDURE |
Arbitration shall be conducted before a three-person arbitration panel (the “Arbitration Panel”) appointed as follows: Each party shall appoint one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so appointed shall then appoint a neutral umpire before proceeding. If either party fails to appoint an arbitrator within thirty (30) days after it receives the Arbitration Notice, the Party who initially sent the Arbitration Notice may appoint both arbitrators. Should the two arbitrators fail to choose an umpire within thirty (30) days of the appointment of the second arbitrator, the parties shall appoint the umpire pursuant to the XXXXX U.S. Umpire Selection Procedure.
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The arbitrators and umpire shall be either disinterested present or former executive officers of United States domiciled life insurance or life reinsurance companies, and certified by XXXXX U.S. The arbitrators and umpire shall not be under the control of either party, and shall have no financial interest in the outcome of the arbitration.
The parties shall be entitled to engage in reasonable discovery, including requests for production of relevant non-privileged documents. The umpire may order depositions and interrogatories upon a showing of need. It is the parties’ intent that the discovery proceedings be conducted in a cost-effective manner.
19.5 | PLACE OF ARBITRATION |
The home office of the Ceding Company unless the parties mutually agree otherwise.
19.6 | ARBITRATION COSTS |
Unless the arbitrators decide otherwise, each party will bear the expense of its own arbitration activities, including any outside attorney or witness fees Unless the Arbitration Panel orders otherwise, each party shall pay: (1) the fees and expenses of its own arbitrator; and (2) an equal share of the fees and expenses of the umpire and of the other expenses of the arbitration, such as hearing rooms, court reporters, etc.
19.7 | ARBITRATION SETTLEMENT |
The decision of a majority of the Arbitration Panel shall be final and binding, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Federal Arbitration Act. The Arbitration Panel shall render its award in writing. The Arbitration Panel shall have no power to award consequential, special, or punitive damages. Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. The arbitrators will base their decision on the terms and conditions of this Agreement plus, as necessary, on the customs and practices of the insurance and reinsurance industry rather than solely on a strict interpretation of the applicable law or rules of evidence.
19.8 | INJUNCTIVE RELIEF |
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the parties, prior to appointment of the Arbitration Panel, from applying to a court of competent jurisdiction for provisional or interim measures or injunctive relief as may be necessary to safeguard the property or rights that are the subject matter of the arbitration. Once the Arbitration Panel has been selected, the Arbitration Panel shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear applications for such relief, except that any interim measures or injunctive relief ordered by the Arbitration Panel may be immediately and specifically enforced by a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of the Confidentiality Section or any other privacy or confidentiality provisions of this Agreement, without limiting any other rights and remedies, the parties may seek an injunction either by applying to a court of competent jurisdiction or by applying to the Arbitration Panel, if such panel has been selected.
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19.9 | CONFIDENTIALITY OF ARBITRATION |
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties or required by law, the parties, the Arbitration Panel, and XXXXX •U.S shall maintain the confidentiality of all documents, communications, proceedings, and awards provided, produced, or exchanged pursuant, to an arbitration conducted under this Article.
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ARTICLE 20 – DURATION OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement will be in effect for an indefinite period and may be terminated as to new reinsurance by the Reinsurer by giving ninety (90) days’ written notice of termination or by the Ceding Company by providing written notice. The day the notice is mailed to the other party’s Home Office, or, if the mail is not used, the day it is delivered to the other party’s Home Office or to an Officer of the other party will be the first day of the notice period. During the notice period, this Agreement will continue to operate in accordance with its terms.
The Reinsurer remains liable for all Reinsured Policies in force as of the date of the termination, until their natural expiration, unless the parties mutually decide otherwise or as specified otherwise in this Agreement. All provisions of this Agreement will survive its termination to the extent necessary to carry out its purpose.
If the Reinsurer has made a Facultative offer prior to the termination date of this Agreement and the Ceding Company has accepted that Facultative offer before the termination of this Agreement or the termination of the Reinsurer’s offer, whichever comes later, the Reinsurer will be liable even if the effective date of the policy falls beyond the termination date of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE 21 – REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
All matters with respect to this Agreement require the good faith of both parties.
The Reinsurer represents and warrants the following:
1. | That it is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia. |
2. | That it is subject to U.S. Federal income taxation as a domestic corporation. |
3. | That no United States federal excise tax is payable with respect to reinsurance premiums paid by the Ceding Company hereunder. |
4. | That it has obtained and will maintain, at all times during the effect of this Agreement, all consents, authorizations, licenses, approvals, and registrations required to perform its obligations under this Agreement. |
Each party represents and warrants to the other party that it is solvent on a statutory basis in all states in which it does business or is licensed. Each party will promptly notify the other if it is subsequently financially impaired.
The Reinsurer and the Ceding Company have entered into this Agreement in reliance upon each other’s representations and warranties. The Ceding Company and the Reinsurer each affirms that it has and will continue to disclose all matters material to this Agreement. Material for purposes of this Article will mean information that a prudent actuary would consider as reasonably likely to affect the Reinsurer’s experience under this Agreement. Examples of such matters are a Material Change in policy forms, underwriting, claims or issue practices or philosophy, or a change in the Ceding Company’s ownership or control.
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ARTICLE 22 – CONFIDENTIALITY
22.1 | Confidentiality Definitions. |
“Confidential Information” means all information, regardless of when received, concerning Disclosing Party’s business, Customer Information, Personal Information, finances or operations, whether oral, written or otherwise; all analyses, compilations, studies, or documents relating to such information prepared by Receiving Party containing or based in whole or in part on such information; and all reproductions of such information. The term “Confidential Information” does not include information that: (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure in breach of this Agreement by Receiving Party; (b) was available to Receiving Party on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to Receiving Party; (c) becomes available to Receiving Party on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Disclosing Party, provided that such source is not known by Receiving Party to be prohibited from transmitting the information to Receiving Party by a contractual, legal, fiduciary or other obligation; or (d) was or is independently developed by Receiving Party.
“Customer Information” means non-public personal information as defined under the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act of 2001 and its corresponding regulations.
“Disclosing Party” means the party and its Affiliates that disclose Confidential Information under this Agreement.
“Person” means any corporation, company, entity, partnership, individual, or governmental entity or body.
“Personal Information” means an individual’s first name and last name or first initial and last name in combination with any one or more of his or her: (a) Social Security number; (b) driver’s license number or state-issued identification card number; or (c) financial account number, or credit or debit card number, with or without any required security code, access code, personal identification number or password, that would permit access to a resident’s financial account. Personal Information does not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state, or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.
“Receiving Party” means the party and its Affiliates and Representatives that receive Confidential Information under this Agreement.
“Representatives” means a party’s and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, consultants, and advisors.
“Unauthorized Access” means any access to or disclosure or use of any of Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information in. violation of this Agreement or applicable law.
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22.2 | Nondisclosure; Security. |
The Receiving Party: (a) shall keep Confidential Information confidential; (b) shall not, without the prior written consent of Disclosing Party, disclose Confidential Information to any Person in any manner whatsoever, except as expressly authorized herein; and (c) shall not use Confidential Information for any commercial or competitive purpose other than for the ordering, use, and the provision of services pursuant to this Agreement. The Ceding Company acknowledges that the Reinsurer can aggregate data with other companies reinsured with the Reinsurer and its affiliated companies as needed in the ordinary and necessary course of the business of reinsurance. However, the Reinsurer shall not disclose or release the aggregate data to any third party in a manner that would allow, directly or indirectly, identification of the Ceding Company or any specific policyholder.
The parties shall maintain information security policies and procedures that include administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to: (a) ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (b) protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; (c) protect against Unauthorized Access to Confidential Information; (d) ensure the proper disposal of Confidential Information; and (e) ensure the secure transmission of Confidential Information and all other information exchanged between the parties. The parties shall mutually agree upon data transfer methods and technologies in order to ensure that information exchanged between the parties is done so in a confidential and secure manner. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, Disclosing Party shall not have any obligation to exchange any information with Receiving Party unless and until the Disclosing Party is satisfied, in its reasonable discretion, that such information will be exchanged in a secure manner reasonably acceptable to the Disclosing Party.
Receiving Party shall promptly notify the Disclosing Party of any Unauthorized Access to Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information, and take appropriate action to prevent further Unauthorized Access, and shall cooperate with Disclosing Party to provide any notices and information regarding such Unauthorized Access as required by applicable law or Disclosing Party.
The parties agree that if either has access to Personal Information, each shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations regarding the safeguarding and treatment of such information, including but not limited to the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act and similar state law equivalents.
Each party shall implement and maintain appropriate security measures to protect Personal Information in the party’s possession. Without the Ceding Company’s prior written consent, the Reinsurer shall not store Confidential Information provided by the Ceding Company outside the United States or provide access to Confidential Information provided by the Ceding Company to any Person outside of the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Reinsurer may store and access Confidential Information in Canada or Germany so long as Reinsurer maintains sufficient data security and privacy safeguards.
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22.3 | Data Security Safeguards. |
The Reinsurer shall maintain data security safeguards that meet or exceed those set forth in Exhibit F – Data Protection Addendum.
22.4 | Exceptions. |
Receiving Party may disclose Confidential Information that is, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to Receiving Party: (a) necessary to establish rights under this Agreement; (b) required by law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the securities of Receiving Party are traded or of any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over Receiving Party; or (c) in response to a valid subpoena or order of a court or other governmental body or other valid legal process; provided, however, that with respect to any disclosure pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of this sentence, Receiving Party shall first give notice to Disclosing Party and cooperate with Disclosing Party so that Disclosing Party may take legally available steps to resist or narrow any applicable request, subpoena, or order and obtain an appropriate protective order or other assurance that Confidential Information will continue to be handled confidentially to the extent allowed by law or regulation.
22.5 | Return, Destruction of Confidential Information. |
Once all obligations under the Agreement are satisfied, Disclosing Party may request that Receiving Party return or destroy Confidential Information. Promptly upon such written request of Disclosing Party, Receiving Party shall, at Receiving Party’s option, return or destroy all tangible (including all data maintained in any computer memory, storage media, or similar form) Confidential Information and will not retain any copies, extracts, or other reproductions, in whole or in part, of such Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Receiving Party may retain Confidential Information as required by applicable law or to comply with record retention policies. Receiving Party is not required to destroy electronic data maintained on backup tapes or other archives, provided that any Confidential Information contained on such backup tapes or archives shall continue to be subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement for as long as such Confidential Information is retained.
22.6 | Representations. |
Each party represents and warrants that it has the right to disclose the Confidential Information disclosed to the other party pursuant to this Agreement and that it knows of no patent, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual property claim of any third party that would limit, restrict, or prevent such disclosure. The Receiving Party acknowledges that a breach of its obligations under this Confidentiality Section would result in irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party, the extent of which would be difficult to ascertain, and in any event, money damages would be inadequate in the event of such a breach. Accordingly, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this Confidentiality Section, without limiting any other rights and remedies, the Disclosing Party may seek an injunction (or other equitable relief as a court may deem appropriate) against the Receiving Party.
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ARTICLE 23 – DEFINITIONS
Account Value/Cash Value – The amount of money, which the policy owner may receive if the policy owner cancels the coverage and returns the policy to the Ceding Company.
Age Basis – The method used, as specified in Exhibit D.3, Reinsurance Premiums to determine the age of the insured (nearest/next/last) when applying limits, such as retention limits, binding limits, jumbo limits and for determining reinsurance premiums.
Automatic – A reinsurance agreement under which the Reinsurer is obligated to accept or assume risks that meet certain specific criteria based on the Ceding Company’s underwriting.
Automatic Pool Binding Limit – The amount of Risk over the Ceding Company’s Retention, which can be ceded automatically to the pool if all automatic conditions are met.
Cede – To transfer an insurance Risk from the ceding company originally issuing the policy to another insurance company known as the Reinsurer.
Ceding Company– An insurer which underwrites and issues an original, principal policy to an insured and contractually Cedes a portion of the Risk to the Reinsurer.
Coinsurance – Indemnity life reinsurance under which the reserves as well as the Risk are transferred to the Reinsurer; the Ceding Company retains its liability to the contractual relationship with the insured. Under the Coinsurance method, the Ceding Company will pay the Reinsurer a proportionate part of the Premiums it receives. In return, the Reinsurer agrees to pay the Ceding Company a proportionate part of the claim and participate in all other policy benefits explicitly stated in this Agreement.
Contractual Conversion – A conversion privilege as defined within the policy form not requiring evidence of insurability.
Effective Date of this Agreement – The date on which this Agreement becomes binding on the Ceding Company and the Reinsurer. Policies with an application date on or after this date are eligible for reinsurance coverage under this Agreement.
Excess Reinsurance – A form of reinsurance under which recoveries are available when a given loss exceeds the Ceding Company’s Retention (Excess cf loss reinsurance) as defined in the Agreement.
Facultative – Reinsurance under which the Ceding Company has the option (faculty) of submitting and the Reinsurer has the option of accepting or declining individual risks.
First Dollar Quota Share (FDQS) – An Agreement which provides that a fixed percentage of each Risk issued, will be reinsured
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Flat Extra – An additional premium amount per $1,000 of insurance that is charged to cover any extra hazard or special risk such as aviation or hazardous activities as assessed by the underwriter of the policy application. The additional premium paid to the Reinsurer is calculated based on the reinsured face amount. Payment of the flat extra will be on either a temporary or permanent basis.
Material Change – A change that is likely to impact the Reinsurer’s financial experience under this Agreement or would cause the Reinsurer to alter or revise a risk classification or underwriting recommendation or claims decision, reconsider or adjust reinsurance pricing, or take similar actions.
Maximum Retention Per Life – The maximum amount of risk that the Ceding Company may hold on an individual insured according to its published Retention schedule.
New Business – Policies on which the Ceding Company (1) has obtained, the same new underwriting information it would obtain in absence of the Original Policy, (2) pays the same commissions in the first year that it would have paid in absence of the Original Policy and (3) the suicide and contestable period provisions are as long as those contained in other new policies issued by the Ceding Company.
Non–Contractual Conversion – An internal company practice or reasonable discretionary procedure which allows coverage to exchange or replace from one product to another for which no evidence of insurability is required.
Policy – An insurance contract issued by the Ceding Company on an insured that is reinsured under this Agreement
Professional Athlete – An individual who is a team member in any of the four major U.S. professional sports – National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB) or National Hockey League (NHL).
Quota Share Retention – Specified first dollar percentage retention on every policy up to the Maximum Retention Per Life.
Recapture – The process by which the Ceding Company recovers the liabilities transferred to the Reinsurer.
Reinsurer – A company which contractually assumes all or part of the Ceding Company’s Risk.
Risk – Insurance on an individual life.
Self Administration – A reinsurance arrangement where the Ceding Company provides the Reinsurer with periodic reports for reinsurance Ceded giving Premium, inforce, reserve, and any Other information required by the Reinsurer for its financial reports. Self–Administration is also known as Bulk or Bordereaux.
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Ultimate Amount – The projected maximum Policy Death Benefit that a policy could achieve based on reasonable assumptions made about the operation of certain characteristics of the policy form.
Yearly Renewable Term (YRT)– A form of reinsurance under which the Risks, but not the permanent plan reserves, are transferred to the Reinsurer for a Premium that varies each year with the amount, at Risk and the ages of the insureds. Under the YRT method, the Ceding Company will, transfer to the Reinsurer the mortality Risk on either a net amount at Risk basis or on an approximation of the net amount at Risk basis.
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ARTICLE 24 – NOTICE |
NOTICE
Any notice that is required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be given to the other party, in writing, and shall be (i) delivered personally, (ii) sent by courier or recognized overnight delivery service, (iii) by email, or (iv) delivered certified or registered U.S. mail, postage prepaid, to such party as follows:
If to the Ceding Company:
Minnesota Life Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx X
Xx. Xxxx, XX
Attention: Individual Actuarial – Reinsurance
If to the Reinsurer:
Munich American Reassurance Company
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
Any such notice shall be deemed received when: (a) it is so delivered personally; (b) a deliver and/or read receipt for email is produced; or (c) signed for when delivered by courier or recognized overnight delivery by certified or registered U.S. mail.
Either party may change the names or addresses where notice is given by providing notice to the other party of such change in accordance with this Article. An amendment signed by both parties for this change is not necessary.
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ARTICLE 25 – EXECUTION This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. In witness whereof, we have caused this Agreement to be executed in duplicate at the dates and places shown below, by our respective officers authorized to do so. MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SECURIAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Date:MAY 8,2018 Date:MAY 8,2018 Place: St Xxxx, MN Place: St Xxxx, MN By: Title: Vice President, Life Operations Title: Vice President, Life Operations ^ Attest: Attest: Title: Supervisor,Reinsurance Admin. Title: Supervisor, Reinsurance Admin. NAIC#: 66168. NAIC#: 93742 . Federal ID #: 00-0000000 Federal ID #: 00-0000000 MUNICH AMERICAN REASSURANCE COMPANY Date: By: By: Title NAIC#: Federal ID #:58-082882