THIS BULLETIN IS FURNISHED TO INFORM YOU OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE CHARGED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT ON VIRTUAL UNDERWRITER AS IT EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT APPLIES TO YOU, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. OUR UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS DO NOT AUTHORIZE OUR ISSUING AGENTS TO ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENTS OR CLOSINGS ON BEHALF OF STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED TO DIRECT YOUR ESCROW OR SETTLEMENT PRACTICES OR TO CHANGE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER BE SHARED OR DISSEMINATED EXCEPT AS ALLOWED BY LAW. IF APPLICABLE STATE LAW OR REGULATION IMPOSES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
Bulletin: MI000010
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Bulletin: MI000010
Dear Associates:
Before obtaining reinsurance, your office must first obtain approval from Stewart Title Guaranty Company ("STGC") to issue a large commitment and/or policy as required by your agency, retainer or underwriting agreement with Stewart Title Guaranty Company.
STEWART REINSURANCE RETENTION
If risk exceeds 10% of our company's surplus as determined by the latest NAIC Form 9 ending December 31 of the prior year, you must obtain reinsurance. Stewart Title Guaranty Company's maximum statutory retention in Michigan for 1998 is $14,518,000. Please contact Stewart Title Guaranty Company's Reinsurance Department to obtain reinsurance or to determine our current statutory retention.
Forms subject to reinsurance include:
- Any policy over statutory retention
- All policies issued with Tie-In Endorsements wherein the aggregate
exceeds statutory retention
- Endorsements if the policy exceeds the statutory retention
- Multiple policies on different estates that total over the statutory
retention
- Multiple Loan Policies that total over the statutory retention
- Guarantees (e.g. Trustee Sale Guarantees) over the statutory retention
If you issue an endorsement to a prior policy that was reinsured or that was over the statutory retention amount, you must get reinsurance.
Examples include:
- Disbursement endorsements
- Modification endorsements
- Downdate endorsements
WHEN TO GET REINSURANCE?
You must call us before you issue.
If you issue a commitment before we obtain reinsurance, you must raise an exception stating that the subject matter is subject to reinsurance approval (please refer Exhibit 1 for samples).
HOW TO GET REINSURANCE?
Call Leslee Sisk at 1-800-729-1906, Ext. 8227; FAX (713) 552-1703 or email lsisk@stewart.com.
Send a completed STGC Overlimit Approval Form.
Send a completed STGC Reinsurance Questionnaire.
The above forms are available from Stewart Title Guaranty Company Forms and Information department by calling 1-800-729-1901. These forms are also available in Virtual Underwriter.
OVERVIEW
Please see our underwriting criteria if you want more information on our reinsurance guidelines.
Note: A copy of every STGC policy issued which exceeds statutory retention must be sent to the Reinsurance Department along with a copy of the executed Overlimit Authority Form and the Reinsurance Questionnaire.
Exception/Requirements:
Over Limit of Issuing Agent
POLICY: If the policies to be issued are in excess of the limits of the issuing agent's underwriting authority as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement or involve unusual risks, approval to issue such policies must be obtained from Stewart Title Guaranty Company. This commitment and any policies to be issued prior to obtaining approval are subject to any additional limitations, requirements or exceptions made by Stewart Title Guaranty Company.
POLICY REQUIRES REINSURANCE
If the policies to be issued are in excess of the Company's current statutory single risk retention, the following exception is to be raised. "Issuance of this commitment and the policies to be issued are subject to the approval of Stewart Title Guaranty Company and its reinsurers prior to issuance. This commitment and any policies to be issued also are subject to any additional limitations, requirements or exceptions made by Stewart Title Guaranty Company and its reinsurers."
Remember: Before obtaining reinsurance, your office must first obtain the standard overlimits approval from Stewart Title Guaranty Company to issue a large commitment and/or policy as required by your agency, retainer or underwriting agreement with Stewart Title Guaranty Company.
References
- Bulletins Replaced:
- Related Bulletins:
- None
- Underwriting Manual:
- Exceptions Manual:
- None
- Forms:
- None