form8k.htm

 



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        June 24, 2010      
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)


Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
      Delaware    
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
              001-33251             
(Commission file number)
 
   65-0231984  
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
1110 W. Commercial Blvd. Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:     (954) 958-1200   


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 o
Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).
 o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).
 o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).
 o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).
 

ITEM 8.01        Other Events.

 
 
 


On June 24, 2010 Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") announced the completion by Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company ("UPCIC"), it’s wholly owned subsidiary, of its 2010-2011 reinsurance program effective June 1, 2010. The announcement, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report, is incorporated herein by reference. The following provides a description of the program.
 
Effective June 1, 2010, UPCIC entered into a quota share reinsurance contract with Everest Re.  Under the quota share contract, through May 31, 2011, UPCIC cedes 50% of its gross written premiums, losses and LAE for policies with coverage for wind risk with a ceding commission equal to 25% of ceded gross written premiums. In addition, the quota share contract has a limitation for any one occurrence of 56% of Gross Premiums Earned, not to exceed $160,000,000 (of which UPCIC's net liability on the first $160,000,000 of losses in a first event scenario is $22,500,000, in a second event scenario is $13,150,000 and in a third event scenario is $15,000,000) and a limitation from losses arising out of events that are assigned a catastrophe serial number by the Property Claims Services ("PCS") office of 140% of Gross Premiums Earned, not to exceed $400,000,000.
 
Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, UPCIC entered into a multiple line excess per risk contract with various reinsurers. Under the multiple line excess per risk contract, UPCIC obtained coverage of $1,400,000 in excess of $600,000 ultimate net loss for each risk and each property loss, and $1,000,000 in excess of $300,000 for each casualty loss. A $7,000,000 aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract. Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, UPCIC entered into a property per risk excess contract covering ex-wind only policies. Under the property per risk excess contract, UPCIC obtained coverage of $400,000 in excess of $200,000 for each property loss. A $2,000,000 aggregate limit applies to the term of the contract.
 
Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, under an underlying excess catastrophe contract, UPCIC obtained catastrophe coverage of 50% of $105,000,000 in excess of $55,000,000 covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. UPCIC entered into this contract with a segregated account that was established by a third-party reinsurer in accordance with Bermuda law.  The Company has secured the obligations of the segregated account by contributing the amount of the segregated account’s liability for losses, net of UPCIC’s required premium payments, to a trust account.
 
Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, under excess catastrophe contracts, UPCIC obtained catastrophe coverage of $660,500,000 in excess of $160,000,000 covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. The coverage of $660,500,000 in excess of $160,000,000 has a second full limit available to UPCIC; additional premium is calculated pro rata as to amount and 100% as to time, as applicable. Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, UPCIC purchased reinstatement premium protection which reimburses UPCIC for its cost to reinstate the catastrophe coverage of the first $310,500,000 (part of $660,500,000) in excess of $160,000,000.
 
Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, UPCIC also obtained subsequent catastrophe event excess of loss reinsurance to cover certain levels of UPCIC's net retention through three catastrophe events including hurricanes.
 
Effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, under an excess catastrophe contract specifically covering risks located in North Carolina and South Carolina, UPCIC obtained catastrophe coverage of 50% of $40,000,000 in excess of $10,000,000 covering certain loss occurrences including hurricanes. The coverage of 50% of $40,000,000 in excess of $10,000,000 has a second full limit available to UPCIC; additional premium is calculated pro rata as to amount and 100% as to time, as applicable.  The cost of UPCIC’s excess catastrophe contract specifically covering risks located in North Carolina and South Carolina is $2,025,000.
 
UPCIC also obtained coverage from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund ("FHCF"). The approximate coverage is estimated to be for 90% of $985,000,000 in excess of $372,000,000. Also at June 1, 2010, the FHCF made available, and UPCIC obtained, $10,000,000 of additional catastrophe excess of loss coverage with one
 

 
 
 

free reinstatement of coverage to carriers qualified as Limited Apportionment Companies or companies that participated in the Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program, such as UPCIC. This particular layer of coverage is $10,000,000 in excess of $26,300,000.
 
The total cost of UPCIC's multiple line excess and property per risk reinsurance program effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011 is $3,975,000 of which UPCIC's cost is $2,225,000, and the quota share reinsurers' cost is the remaining $1,750,000.  The cost of UPCIC’s underlying excess catastrophe contract is $42,000,000, subject to a potential return premium of up to $31,458,000. The total cost of UPCIC's private catastrophe reinsurance program effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011 is $134,538,000 of which UPCIC's cost is 50%, or $67,269,000, and the quota share reinsurers’ cost is the remaining 50%. In addition, UPCIC purchases reinstatement premium protection as described above, the cost of which is $16,210,064. UPCIC’s cost of the subsequent catastrophe event excess of loss reinsurance is $15,683,000. The estimated premium that UPCIC plans to cede to the FHCF for the 2010 hurricane season is $60,104,422 of which UPCIC's cost is 50%, or $30,052,211, and the quota share reinsurers' cost is the remaining 50%. UPCIC is also participating in the additional coverage option for Limited Apportionment Companies or companies that participated in the Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program offered by the FHCF, the premium for which is $5,000,000 of which UPCIC's cost is 50%, or $2,500,000, and the quota share reinsurers' cost is the remaining 50%.  UPCIC is responsible for insured losses related to catastrophic events in excess of coverage provided by its reinsurance program.  UPCIC’s inability to satisfy valid insurance claims resulting from catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
  
UPCIC purchased a similar amount of coverage in the open market through private reinsurers, as compared to the 2009-2010 reinsurance program, and similarly declined the Temporary Increase in Coverage Limit Option offered by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.  The largest private participants in UPCIC's reinsurance program continue to include leading reinsurance companies such as Everest Re, Renaissance Re, and Lloyd’s of London syndicates.
 

ITEM 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits:

99.1           Press Release, dated June 24, 2010.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 

Date: June 24, 2010
  
Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc
     
     
 
By:  
/s/ James M. Lynch   
   
James M. Lynch
   
Chief Financial Officer