Finance 431 Property Casualty Insurance
Finance 431 Mark Vonnahme Former President and CEO,CNA Surety
Property and Casualty - Specialty Insurance Products Surety Bonds All layout enhancements courtesy of Kurt Vonnahme
Surety Will introduce some new concepts to you Surety business Define suretyship Distinguish from and compare to insurance Compare to banking
Surety Discuss different types of obligations/bonds Discuss high profile cases Discuss real life examples
Surety What is surety ? Ancient process Biblical commentary Babylonian Roman times English history U.S. history
Surety Personal surety Legal development Common law v statute Statute of frauds Development of corporate surety
Surety Essence of the surety relationship Three party arrangement Surety guarantees the obligation of a primary obligor(principal) to a third party ( the obligee) Surety -- Principal -- Obligee
Surety Industry highlights $ 3.7 billion business-approximately 1% of annual p/c revenues 135 or so groups of companies write bonds Multiline and specialty companies Top ten write approx. 70% of business
Surety Classifications of bonds Contract Commercial
Surety Bonds support both public and private transactions Bonds are typically statutory in nature 85 to 90% of contract industry premium relates to public works projects 99% plus of commercial premium relates to statutory obligations
Surety Contract Bid Performance Payment
Surety Example Contractor wants to submit a proposal to UIUC for a new building ECP: $ 50 million What happens ?
Surety The bid process Discussion Underwriting process The three Cs of Credit extension An expensive and in-depth process
Surety Character Too often a given, but essential Stature in community/reputation Relationship with other business partners Experience says watch out if an underwriter is aware of character issues
Surety Character Example Contractor takes money out of company w/o telling you … or invests in business unrelated to his construction business … Bankruptcy… Other …
Surety Capacity Proven track record on similar size,scope and location of work Organization Comprehensive business plan Performance record plus the ability to meet obligations on current and future work load, bonded and unbonded Continuity plan
Surety Capacity-common issues Contractor’s experience is on $ 5 million highway project Wants to bid on $ 25 million highway job Highway contractor wants to build a $ 25 million commercial building
Surety Capacity-common issues Have a company doing business within 100 miles of Champaign,Illinois Wants to go to Florida…. or Iraq Identify some issues
Surety Capital CPA certified audited f/s for 3 to 5 years Work in process for bonded and un bonded work Cost control systems Investment strategy Perform complete analysis Trends over time in profitability and liquidity Credit history Bank relationships Accounting system CFO/financial staff Reputation of CPA performing audits and other services
Surety Capital-common issues Poor accounting system Lack of accounting and finance personnel Contractor lost money in three of the past four years Bank debt and overall debt is growing Disputes on projects leading to A/R slow A number of jobs are losing money – drain on company’s financial resources
Surety Commercial Fiduciary License and permit Court Public official Miscellaneous Fidelity
Surety Commercial Fiduciary Executor or administrator of estate Guardianship of minor Trustees in bankruptcy
Surety License and permit Virtually all businesses will have some license bonds Compulsory obligations Agents/brokers Real estate broker Permit when signs extend over a public walkway Truckers on road with overweight load Contractors license Tax bonds Reclamation bonds
Surety Court Plaintiffs and defendants Attachment bonds Plaintiffs Release of attachment Appeal bonds High profile cases Auto companies Oil companies
Surety Public Official Administrator Treasurer Tax Collector
Surety Miscellaneous Loss securities/instruments bonds A number of guarantees which may not fall into other classifications Forfeiture provisions Non-cancelability provisions Payment on demand Long term periods Indeterminate periods
Surety Fidelity Honesty bonds Bankers blanket bonds May be written as a part of a package policy in P/C
Surety Insurance v surety bonds Comparisons Both regulated by statutes/reqs at state level Transfer of risk/assumption of risk Premium paid Protection against financial loss Contract defining the risk
Surety Some key distinctions Third parties receive protection Principal is not protected by bond Law of large numbers does not apply Loss expectation v no loss anticipated Principal is always primarily responsible for completion of the obligation
Surety Some key distinctions Transfer of risk to insurance company Distinguish from insurance Most surety obligations are not cancelable Premium non payment is not valid reason to cancel the obligation
Surety Surety and banking Surety like banking is an extension of credit Both expect repayment of credit or obligation Banks and sureties do not expect a loss Rights to pursue defaulting principal
Surety Surety and banking Banks extend credit/money Sureties extend credit Rights to restitution in case of default Bank credit is monetary in nature Sureties have both monetary and performance responsibility
Surety Principal’s responsibility to surety Complete the obligation Indemnify against loss May be asked to provide collateral
Surety Legal remedies in case of loss Principal is primarily responsible for the obligation In case of loss Indemnification Subrogation
Surety What happens in case of loss ? Analysis Use of internal v external sources/consultants Performance v payment of funds
Surety Reinsurance Co-surety
Surety Industry issues Loss activity Four years of losses, improving results on horizon Economic transition Changes in so many key industries High profile cases Capacity on Commercial surety products WCSI Reclamation Closure – post closure Appeal Other tough risks
Surety Industry issues Expense structure Acquisition Underwriting Reinsurance Capacity Pricing Alternative products Insurance v surety Pricing of surety Commercial exposures create real pricing issues Rating plans are antiquated
Surety International U.S. v Guarantee market throughout the world The European Union Other surety expansion Critical issues on business practice Cultural differences Finding the right partners
Surety Summary
Follow Up … Mark Vonnahme 110 DKH, T Th 1:30 – 3:30pm du et
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