Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“UPCIC”) and American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“APPCIC” and together with UPCIC, the “Insurance Entities”), each a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), have completed the placement of their respective 2020-2021 reinsurance programs, effective June 1, 2020.
The Insurance Entities are responsible for insured losses related to catastrophic events in excess of coverage provided by their reinsurance programs. The Insurance Entities also remain responsible for insured losses notwithstanding the failure of any reinsurer to make payments otherwise due to the Insurance Entities. The Insurance Entities’ inability to satisfy valid insurance claims resulting from catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
UPCIC’s 2020-2021 Reinsurance Program
•First event All States retention of $43 million; First event Non-Florida retention of $15 million.
•All States first event tower extends to $3.26 billion with no co-participation in any of the layers, no limitation on loss adjustment expenses and no accelerated deposit premiums.
•Assuming a first event completely exhausts the $3.26 billion tower, the second event exhaustion point would be $1.343 billion.
•Full reinstatement available for all private market first event catastrophe layers for guaranteed second event coverage. For all layers purchased between $90 million and the projected Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund ("FHCF") retention, to the extent that all of our coverage or a portion thereof is exhausted in a catastrophic event and reinstatement premium is due, we have purchased enough reinstatement premium protection ("RPP") limit to pay the premium necessary for the reinstatement of these coverages.
•Specific 3rd and 4th event private market catastrophe excess of loss coverage of $76 million in excess of $35 million provides frequency protection for a multiple event storm season.
•For the FHCF Reimbursement Contracts effective June 1, 2020, UPCIC has continued the election of the 90% coverage level. We estimate the total mandatory FHCF layer will provide approximately $1.917 billion of coverage for UPCIC, which inures to the benefit of the open market coverage secured from private reinsurers.
•Secured $197 million of new catastrophe capacity with contractually agreed limits that extend coverage to include the 2021 and 2022 wind seasons. In total, UPCIC has $420 million of multi-year capacity with coverage extending to include the 2021 wind season or beyond.
APPCIC’s 2020-2021 Reinsurance Program
•First event All States retention of $3 million.
•All States first event tower of $41.3 million with no co-participation in any of the layers, no limitation on loss adjustment expenses and no accelerated deposit premiums.
•Full reinstatement available for all private market first event catastrophe layers for guaranteed second event coverage. For the layer purchased between $3 million and the projected FHCF retention, to the extent that all of our coverage or a portion thereof is exhausted in a catastrophic event and reinstatement premium is due, we have purchased enough RPP limit to pay the premium necessary for the reinstatement of this coverage.
•APPCIC also purchases extensive multiple line excess per risk reinsurance with various reinsurers due to the high-value risks it insures in both the personal residential and commercial multiple peril lines of business. Under this multiple line excess per risk contract, APPCIC has coverage of $8.5 million in excess of $500 thousand ultimate net loss for each risk and each property loss, and $1 million in excess of $0.3 million for each casualty loss. A $19.5 million aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract for property-related losses and a $2.0 million aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract for casualty-related losses. This contract also contains a profit-sharing feature if specific performance measures are met.
•For the FHCF Reimbursement Contracts effective June 1, 2020, APPCIC has continued the election of the 90% coverage level. We estimate the total mandatory FHCF layer will provide approximately $20.25 million of coverage for APPCIC, which inures to the benefit of the open market coverage secured from private reinsurers.
The total cost of the 2020-21 reinsurance programs for UPCIC and APPCIC is projected to be $494 million, representing approximately 34.6% of projected direct earned premium for the 12-month treaty period.
Press Release
The Company has issued a press release announcing the placement of the 2020-2021 reinsurance programs. Such press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “plan,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such statements may include commentary on plans, products and lines of business, marketing arrangements, reinsurance programs and other business developments and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, including the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “risk factors” in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Future results could differ materially from those described, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For further information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company’s operations and future results, refer to the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.