501.01C

Risk Retention Groups and Captive Insurance

Requirements

You must ensure any Risk Retention GroupRisk Retention GroupState-chartered insurance company created by the 1986 federal Liability Risk Retention Act, insuring commercial businesses and government entities against liability risks. or Captive InsurerCaptive InsurerInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. has a rating of at least: 

  • A- / VI from A.M. Best Company; or
  • A from Demotech, Inc.

For any Risk Retention GroupRisk Retention GroupState-chartered insurance company created by the 1986 federal Liability Risk Retention Act, insuring commercial businesses and government entities against liability risks. or Captive InsurerCaptive InsurerInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. that is not satisfactorily rated, before Rate LockRate LockAgreement between you and the Investor containing the terms of the Lender-Arranged Sale or Multifamily Trading Desk trade of the Mortgage Loan and the MBS terms and conditions relating to the underlying MBS, if applicable, which may be documented via a recorded telephone conversation. , you must:

  • obtain and review the applicable information in the Unrated Risk Retention Group or Captive Insurer table; and
  • submit a
    • written summary, and
    • recommendation for approval, explaining
      • any non-compliant requirements,
      • any adverse findings, and
      • your rationale for recommending approval.
Unrated Risk Retention Group or Captive Insurer
Document/Entity Description
Certificate of Authority (CA)

State-issued license to an insurance company to conduct business, and includes the

 

  • date of authority, 
  • complete Captive InsurerCaptive InsurerInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. name, and 
  • state of domicile.
State Examination Report

Report covering a specific timeframe that: 

 

  • reviews the company's:
    • balance sheet (including assets, liabilities, capital, and surplus);
    • statement of income;
    • investments;
    • premiums;
    • reinsurance assumed and ceded;
    • unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense; and
    • losses and loss adjustment expense incurred; and
  • ascertains its:
    • financial condition;
    • ability to fulfill obligations; and
    • compliance with applicable state laws and regulations.
Actuarial Report

Report culminating with a statement of actuarial opinion (minimum requirement) after evaluating, opining, and certifying the adequacy of the Captive Insurer'sCaptive Insurer'sInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits.

 

  • open and paid losses,
  • loss adjustment expense reserves,
  • capital, and
  • surplus.
Loss History Frequency and severity of insurance losses covered by the Captive Insurer'sCaptive Insurer'sInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. policy during a specific timeframe.
Reinsurance and/or Fronting Company

Reinsurance is when an insurer transfers all or part of a risk to another insurer to reduce the risk for the first insurance.

 

Fronting company is using a licensed, admitted insurer to issue an insurance policy on behalf of a self-insured organization or Captive InsurerCaptive InsurerInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. without intending to transfer any of the risk.  The risk of loss is retained by the self-insured or Captive InsurerCaptive InsurerInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. with an indemnity or reinsurance agreement.
Captive Insurer

Captive InsurerCaptive InsurerInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. is either a:

 

  • single parent captive (pure captive) - when an insurance subsidiary insures the loss exposures of its parent company or single entity; or
  • group captive – a captive owned by several different companies who are normally
    • from the same industry, and
    • have similar risks.

Guidance

Captive InsurersCaptive InsurersInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. (and similar arrangements):

  • may have lower capitalization requirements than traditional insurance companies; and
  • are not usually rated by a recognized rating agency.

For Captive InsurersCaptive InsurersInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. , you should:

  • confirm they
    • are financially stable, and
    • have adequate funds to cover potential losses; and
  • review additional documents as warranted.

Operating Procedures

You must submit all documents for unrated Captive InsurersCaptive InsurersInsurance company wholly owned and controlled by its insureds, whose primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive insurer's underwriting profits. or Risk Retention GroupsRisk Retention GroupsState-chartered insurance company created by the 1986 federal Liability Risk Retention Act, insuring commercial businesses and government entities against liability risks. :

  • through DUS GatewayDUS GatewayMultifamily pre-acquisition system, or any successor systems, recording deal registration, Pre-Review and/or waiver tracking, Mortgage Loan Commitments, and decision records. , for new Mortgage LoanMortgage LoanMortgage debt obligation evidenced, or when made will be evidenced, by the Loan Documents, or  a mortgage debt obligation with a Fannie Mae credit enhancement. submissions; and
  • annually through the MAMPMAMPMultifamily Asset Management Portal used to submit Property inspections, operating statements, requested modifications, asset management reports, and data corrections for loan or property attributes. , for Portfolio Mortgage LoansPortfolio Mortgage LoansMortgage Loan purchased by Fannie Mae and held as of a certain date regardless of whether it is a Cash Mortgage Loan or an MBS Mortgage Loan. .