$NMIH Risk Factor changes from 00/02/15/22/2022 to 00/02/14/25/2025

Item 1A. The occurrence of any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, operating results and cash flow. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose some or all of your investment.This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page 3 of this report.”Risk Factors SummaryThe following is a summary of the principal risks that could materially adversely affect our business operations, industry, and financial results. You should read this summary together with the more detailed description of each risk factor that immediately follows this summary. Risk Related to Our Business Operations•We face intense competition for business in our industry, and if we are unable to compete effectively, we may not be able to achieve our business goals, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.•Our NIW volumes could be adversely affected if lenders and investors select alternatives to private MI.•If we are unable to continue to attract and retain the most significant mortgage originators as customers, our ability to achieve our business goals could be negatively impacted.•If the volume of high-LTV loan originations declines, our NIW volume could decline, which would reduce our revenues.•Our underwriting and credit risk management policies and practices may not anticipate all risks and/or the magnitude of potential for loss as the result of unforeseen risks.•Unexpected material increases in borrower defaults could cause our actual losses to materially exceed our expected loss rates, including in certain geographic regions in which our business may be concentrated and more susceptible to downturns.•The premiums we charge may be insufficient to cover claim payments and our operating costs.•Changes in factors that impact the length of time that our policies remain in force may adversely affect our future revenues and claims experience.•Changes in inflation, interest rates and mortgage interest rates may have adverse impact on our business, future revenue and financial condition. If these USPs fail to adequately perform their underwriting services or place our coverage on loans we would deem ineligible, we could experience increased claims on loans underwritten by them, and our customer relationships could be negatively impacted.•Our Master Policies contain restrictions on our ability to rescind coverage for certain material misrepresentations (including fraud) and underwriting defects, and if we were to fail to timely discover any such misrepresentations or underwriting defects, our rights of rescission would be significantly limited, and we could suffer increased losses as a result of paying claims on loans with unacceptable risk characteristics.•The mix of business we write affects our revenue stream and the likelihood of losses occurring.•We expect our claims to increase as our insured loan portfolio grows and matures.•Our business depends, in part, on effective and reliable loan servicing.•If the estimates we use in establishing claims reserves are incorrect, the actual claim payments we make may materially exceed the amount of our corresponding claims reserves, resulting in unexpected charges to income, which could be material and adversely affect our results of operations.•Climate change and efforts to manage or regulate climate risk by government agencies could affect our business and operations.•We are exposed to certain risks associated with our third-party reinsurance transactions, including the possibility that our reinsurers will fail to perform their obligations or that we will lose the capital credit we expected to receive when we entered into the transactions as a result of future GSE or Wisconsin OCI action or if any of our reinsurers experiences a downgrade or other adverse business event.•Our operating results depend in large part on our ability to manage the risks related to the growth of our business and on maintaining and enhancing effective operating procedures and internal controls.•If we do not maintain connectivity with or otherwise meet the technological demands of our customers or are unable to develop, enhance and maintain our proprietary technology platform, our business and financial performance could be adversely affected.•We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or misuse of confidential, personal or proprietary information.•Adverse investment performance may affect our financial results and ability to conduct business.•We face regulatory and litigation risks associated with offering loan review services.•Changes in the business practices of the GSEs, including a decision to decrease or discontinue the use of private MI, or changes in the terms on which mortgage insurance coverage may be cancelled, federal legislation that changes their charters or a restructuring of the GSEs or changes in loan delivery pricing imposed by the GSEs could reduce the private MI market opportunity, reduce our revenues or increase our losses.•We are subject to comprehensive state insurance regulations and capital adequacy requirements, which we must satisfy to continue to operate our MI business.•The private MI industry is, and as a participant we are, subject to litigation and regulatory enforcement risk generally.•Our business prospects and operating results could be adversely impacted if, and to the extent that, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's ATR Rules defining a QM negatively impact the size of the origination market. •The implementation of the Basel rules may discourage the use of mortgage insurance.Risks Related to Our Holding Company and Capital Structure•Our holding company structure and certain regulatory and other constraints could affect our ability to satisfy our obligations and potentially require us to raise more capital.•Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.•Our existing, and any future, variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our annual debt service obligations to increase significantly.•Despite our substantial level of debt, we may incur more debt, which could exacerbate any or all of the risks described above.•Our current credit ratings may adversely affect our ability to access capital and the cost of such capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.28General Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock•We do not currently pay any dividends on our common stock and may not do so in the future, and payment of any declared dividends may be delayed.•The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could cause the value of an investment in our common stock to decline.•The market price of our common stock could decline due to the large number of outstanding shares of our common stock eligible for future sale, and future issuances of our common stock may depress our share price and dilute the book value of our common stock.•Provisions contained in our organizational documents, as well as provisions of Delaware law and Wisconsin insurance law, could delay or prevent a change of control of us, which could adversely affect the price of shares of our common stock.Risks Related to Our Business OperationsWe face intense competition for business in our industry, and if we are unable to compete effectively, we may not be able to achieve our business goals, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.The MI industry is highly competitive. With six private MI companies actively competing for business from the same residential mortgage originators, it is important that we continue to differentiate ourselves from the other mortgage insurers, each of which sells substantially similar products to ours. We may experience increased competition due to consolidation among our existing competitors or the emergence of new private MI companies. One or more of our competitors may seek to capture increased market share from the government MIs or from other private mortgage insurers. They may do that by reducing prices, offering alternative coverage and product options, including offerings for loans not intended to be sold to the GSEs, loosening their underwriting guidelines or relaxing risk management policies. Such behavior could, in turn, improve their competitive positions in the industry and negatively impact our ability to achieve our business goals. Competition within the private mortgage insurance industry could result in our loss of customers, lower premiums, riskier credit guidelines and other changes that could lower our revenues or increase our expenses. If our IT systems are inferior to our competitors', existing and potential customers may choose our competitors' products over ours.In addition, we and most of our competitors, either directly or indirectly, offer certain ancillary services to mortgage lenders with which we also conduct MI business, including loan review, training and other services. For various reasons, including those related to resources or compliance, we may choose not to offer some or all of these services or not to offer them in a form or to the extent that is similar to the prevailing offerings of our competitors. If we choose not to offer these services, or if we were to offer ancillary services that are not well-received by the market and fail to perform as anticipated, we could be at a competitive disadvantage which could adversely impact our profitability. Some may have better financial strength ratings than we have. Our financial strength ratings are important for our customers to maintain confidence in our products and our competitive position. PMIERs require all approved insurers, except newly-approved insurers, to maintain at least one rating with a rating agency acceptable to the GSEs. A downgrade in NMIC's ratings or ratings outlook, or our failure to maintain a rating acceptable to one or both of the GSEs, could have an adverse effect on our business, including (i) potentially impacting our eligibility as an approved insurer, (ii) increased scrutiny of our financial condition by our customers, resulting in potential reduction in our NIW, or (iii) negative impacts to our ability to conduct business in the non-GSE mortgage market, where financial strength ratings may be a more important counter-party consideration for lenders. Our NIW volumes could be adversely affected if lenders and investors select alternatives to private MI.If lenders and investors select alternatives to private MI on high-LTV loans, our business could be adversely affected.Further, at the direction of the FHFA, the GSEs have expanded their credit and mortgage risk transfer programs. These programs have included the use of structured finance vehicles, obtaining insurance from non-mortgage insurers, including off-shore reinsurance, engaging in credit-linked note transactions in the capital markets, or using other forms of debt issuances or securitizations that transfer credit risk directly to other investors. If any of these programs successfully grow in comparison to private MI, it may create increased competition for private MI on loans traditionally sold to the GSEs with private MI.During the 2008 financial crisis, the government MIs, principally the FHA and VA, captured an increasing share of the high-LTV MI market. While declining from peak market share, government MIs' market share remains substantially above their historical levels. Therefore, the government MIs generally have greater financial flexibility in setting their pricing, guidelines, policy terms and capacity. That may put us at a competitive disadvantage.S. housing finance system, it remains difficult to predict whether the combined market share of the government MIs will recede to pre-2008 levels.S. federal government; •difference in the spread between GSE mortgage-backed securities and Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities;•increase in government MIs' loan limits above GSE loan limits; •change in GSEs' demand to participate in the high-LTV or first-time homebuyer origination market; and•perceived operational ease of using insurance from government MIs compared to private MI.The degree to which lenders or borrowers may select these alternatives now, or in the future, is difficult to predict. The loss of business in general or the specific loss of more profitable business could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and operating results.If we are unable to continue to attract and retain the most significant mortgage originators as customers, our ability to achieve our business goals could be negatively impacted.The success of our mortgage insurance business is highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain as customers the most significant mortgage lenders in the U.S., measured through the combined volume of their retail originations and/or the insured loans they may acquire from other originators. As a result of their size and market share, these entities originate a significant majority of high-LTV mortgages in the U.S. and, therefore, influence the size and pricing of the MI market. We are currently doing business with a majority of these lenders. However, there is no assurance we will receive approvals from each of the remaining lenders to transact MI business with them or that those lenders who have approved us will continue to maintain business relationship with us. If we are unable to maintain our approved status with one or more of these mortgage lenders, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely impacted. Some lenders may decide to write business only with certain mortgage insurers based on their views with respect to an insurer's pricing, price delivery system, service levels, underwriting guidelines, servicing and loss mitigation practices, financial strength or other factors. Our customers may choose to diversify the mortgage insurers with which they do business, which could negatively affect our level of NIW and our market share. In addition, our Master Policies do not require our customers to do business with us.If the volume of high-LTV loan originations declines, our NIW volume could decline, which would reduce our revenues.S. government housing policy encouraging loans to first-time homebuyers; •GSEs' demand to participate in the high-LTV or first-time homebuyer origination market; and•the extent to which the GSEs' guaranty and other fees, credit underwriting guidelines and other business terms affect lenders' willingness to extend credit for high-LTV mortgages.A decline in the volume of high-LTV loan originations could decrease demand for MI, decrease our NIW and therefore reduce our revenues and have a material adverse effect on our operating results.31Our underwriting and credit risk management policies and practices may not anticipate all risks and/or the magnitude of potential for loss as the result of unforeseen risks.We have established underwriting and credit risk management policies and practices that seek to mitigate our exposure to borrower default risk in our insured loan portfolio by anticipating future risks and their magnitude. These factors include, among others, borrower and loan-level risk characteristics, lender origination practices and macroeconomic variables that influence the housing market. The presence of multiple higher-risk characteristics (i.e., layered risk) in a loan materially increases the likelihood of a default on such a loan unless, and to the extent, there are other characteristics to mitigate the layered risk. If these policies and practices do not correctly anticipate risk or the potential for loss, we may underwrite business for which we have not charged premium commensurate with the risk, which could result in material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and operating results.Unexpected material increases in borrower defaults could cause our actual losses to materially exceed our expected loss rates, including in certain geographic regions in which our business may be concentrated and more susceptible to downturns.Our losses result from events that reduce a borrower's ability or willingness to continue to make mortgage payments. These events include borrower-specific factors, such as job loss, illness, death, divorce, and existing federal supported forbearance programs. These events also include macroeconomic factors, such as rising unemployment, market deterioration, rising interest rates and home price depreciation.S. or in specific regional economies, generally increases the likelihood of borrower defaults. As inflation has lowered housing affordability, the use of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and interest rate buydown transactions have become more common. However, once the buydown rate ends, the buyer’s monthly payment increases. A decline in home values typically makes it more difficult for borrowers to sell or refinance their homes, generally increasing the likelihood of a default followed by a claim when borrowers are impacted by events that reduce their incomes or increase their expenses. In addition, home price depreciation may also decrease the willingness of borrowers with sufficient resources to make mortgage payments when their mortgage balances exceed the values of their homes. Declines in home values typically increase the severity of any claims we may pay. Home values may decline even absent deterioration in economic conditions due to declines in demand for homes, which may result from changes in buyers' perceptions of the potential for future home price appreciation, rising interest rates or availability of mortgage credit. The ending of any widely embraced forbearance programs may also increase the realization of losses related to borrower defaults. If our default and loss projections are materially inaccurate, our actual losses could materially exceed our expectations and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.Additionally, while we seek to diversify our insured loan portfolio geographically, the availability of business might lead to concentrations in specific regions in the U.S., which could make our business more susceptible to economic downturns in these regions. Certain regions of the U.S. from time to time will experience weaker economic conditions, higher unemployment, lower property values or weaker housing markets. Consequently, loans in these regions will experience higher rates of default, foreclosure and loss than on loans nationally, and struggling borrowers in regions with an oversupply of homes may be unable to sell their homes as a means to avoid foreclosure. Any deterioration in housing prices, housing markets or economic conditions in regions in which we have a significant concentration of IIF and which adversely affects the ability of borrowers to make payments on their insured loans may increase the likelihood and severity of our losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.32The premiums we charge may be insufficient to cover claim payments and our operating costs.Our mortgage insurance premiums may not be adequate to cover our future claim payments. We set premiums at the time a policy is issued based on our expectations regarding likely performance over the term of the policy. Our premiums are subject to approval by certain state insurance regulators, which can delay or limit our ability to increase our premiums. Generally, we will not be able to cancel the MI coverage or adjust renewal premiums during the life of an MI policy to mitigate adverse development. Therefore, the actual premiums (along with investment earnings) may not be sufficient to cover losses and/or our operating costs. An increase in the number or size of claims, compared to what we anticipate, could adversely affect our operating results or financial condition. We may not be able to achieve the results that we expect, and there can be no assurance that losses will not exceed our total resources.Changes in factors that impact the length of time that our policies remain in force may adversely affect our future revenues and claims experience.We set premiums at the time our policies are issued based on a broad range of variables, including property, loan, borrower, lender and market (e.g., tax reform) factors to target through-the-cycle returns that exceed our cost of capital. The premium from a single premium policy is collected up front and generally earned over the estimated life of the policy. In contrast, premiums from a monthly premium policy are received and earned each month over the life of the policy and generally cannot be adjusted after coverage is placed. Each year, most of our premiums will be from insurance that has been written in prior years. As a result, the length of time insurance remains in force, which is also generally referred to as persistency, is a primary determinant of our future revenues and claims paying resources. A lower level of persistency could reduce our future revenues from our monthly-paid premium products, which constituted about 91% of our primary IIF at year-end 2024. Higher than expected persistency rates could negatively impact our future profitability on monthly premium policies if market and economic conditions change significantly from those we expected when we established the premium rates.e., lower current interest rates make it more attractive for borrowers to refinance and receive a lower interest rate);•amount of equity in a home, as homeowners with more equity in their homes can more readily move to a new residence or refinance their existing mortgage;•changes in rates of home price appreciation or depreciation;•economic conditions that affect a borrower's decision to pay-off a mortgage earlier than required; •lenders' credit policies, which may make it more difficult for borrowers to refinance their loans; •efforts of lenders to solicit borrower refinancing; and•cancellation of BPMI mandated by the HOPA, with the time-frames for HOPA required cancellations generally accelerating in a lower interest rate environment relative to a higher interest rate environment. Mortgage interest rates tend to follow the 10-year Treasury yield, which rises and falls based on several factors, including but not limited to expectations for the benchmark rate set by the Federal Reserve, inflation trends, economic conditions and investor sentiment. In the years leading up to 2022, mortgage interest rates had been at historical lows, primarily as a result of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve which kept the federal funds rate at historical lows. Starting in 2022, in an attempt to curb rising inflation, the Federal Reserve repeatedly and rapidly increased the federal funds rate which, in July 2023, hit its highest levels in 22 years, and led to rising interest rates and mortgage interest rates in 2022 and 2023. As a result of the higher mortgage interest rates in 2022 and 2023, we observed lower refinancing activities in the mortgage market compared to what we had 33observed in recent years prior to 2022, and therefore decreased turnover in our IIF. Despite the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates in 2024, the 10-year Treasury yield and 30-year fixed rate mortgage interest rates remained elevated.However, if mortgage interest rates decline in the future, we expect any such decline to drive higher levels of refinancing in the mortgage market, including with respect to loans we insure which may have interest rates that are higher than the future prevailing rates. A lower interest environment could subsequently lead to an increased turnover in our IIF, which could negatively impact our future revenues. We are unsure, however, what the ultimate impact on our revenues will be as insured mortgages are refinanced, because the number of policies we write for replacement mortgages may be more or less than the terminated policies associated with the refinanced mortgages and could be written at lower premium rates. In addition, the GSEs and other mortgage investors who hold the mortgages on which we write mortgage insurance largely control the decision on whether to maintain mortgage insurance. If the GSEs and other mortgage investors change their view on the timing of cancellation of mortgage insurance due to house price appreciation, policy goals, other risk appetite decisions or otherwise, we could experience increased and unexpected turnover in our IIF, which could negatively impact our future revenues. Changes in inflation, interest rates and mortgage interest rates may have an adverse impact on our business, future revenue and financial condition.Periods of rising inflation may negatively impact our expense base by increasing the costs (including for services) we have to pay contractors, employees, service providers and vendors. Higher inflation also puts a strain on consumer spending. As general costs for goods and services increase for consumers, their housing and mortgage affordability decrease. Inflation's adverse impact on housing and mortgage affordability may therefore lower overall housing demand, result in lower NIW volume and negatively impact our business, future revenue and financial condition. To curb rising inflation, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate in 2022 and 2023, which elevated interest rates and mortgage interest rates, before announcing a pause in September 2023. Despite the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates in 2024, the 10-year Treasury yield and 30-year fixed rate mortgage interest rates remained elevated. Higher interest rates and mortgage rates may have an adverse impact on the refinancing origination market and purchase origination market. Higher rates have an adverse impact on the refinancing origination market because higher mortgage interest rates lower the opportunity to refinance an existing loan at a lower mortgage interest rate. Higher rates also have an adverse impact on the purchase origination market because higher mortgage interest rates lower housing and mortgage affordability, and thus consumers' demand for homes. Affordability issues and increases in mortgage rates may also put downward pressure on home prices as buyers' demand for homes decreases. Falling housing demand may result in fewer mortgage originations and a lower price per transaction, reducing the overall size of the MI market. Falling home prices may also result in an increase in our default losses as borrowers' equity in their homes declines and thus decreases our future revenues and returns.There can be no guarantee or assurance that markets will not adversely react to future interest rate decisions at the Federal Reserve or that such interest rate decisions will not trigger an economic downturn. Downturns in the domestic economy may result in more homeowners defaulting and our losses increasing, with a corresponding decrease in our returns. Therefore, the ultimate impact that higher inflation rates and the Federal Reserve's reaction thereto will have on the mortgage origination and mortgage insurance markets, and our loan delinquencies, is unknown, and changes in inflation, interest rates and mortgage interest rates may have an adverse impact on our business, future revenue and financial condition. If these USPs fail to adequately perform their underwriting services or place our coverage on loans we would deem ineligible, we could experience increased claims on loans underwritten by them, and our customer relationships could be negatively impacted. Our reputation may also suffer and customers may choose not to do business with us. In addition, if our USPs place our MI coverage on loans that are ineligible for coverage under our underwriting guidelines, our risk of claims will be increased on those loans or the premiums we charge may be inadequate for the corresponding risk. We do not have the right under our Master Policies to cancel coverage of an ineligible loan as a result of a USP making an incorrect decision. Further, other than being able to terminate our contracts with these USPs, we generally do not have express loan-level monetary contractual remedies against these USPs if we are obligated to pay claims on ineligible loans that they improperly agreed to insure on our behalf.34Our Master Policies contain restrictions on our ability to rescind coverage for certain material misrepresentations (including fraud) and underwriting defects, and if we were to fail to timely discover any such misrepresentations or underwriting defects, our rights of rescission would be significantly limited, and we could suffer increased losses as a result of paying claims on loans with unacceptable risk characteristics.Under our Master Policies' rescission relief provisions, we agree that we will not rescind coverage of an insured loan for material misrepresentation (including borrower fraud) or underwriting defects if the conditions for such relief are satisfied as specified in the applicable Master Policy. In addition, after a loan has achieved rescission relief, we have agreed to limitations on our ability to initiate certain investigations of fraud or misrepresentation by parties involved in the origination of an insured loan. Our earliest rescission relief on an insured loan is subject to our successful completion of an independent validation on such loan. The current processes we have in place to validate insured loans may be ineffective in detecting material misrepresentations and/or underwriting defects. After a loan meets the conditions for rescission relief, we are contractually prohibited from exercising our rights of rescission for material underwriting defects and certain misrepresentations (including borrower fraud) made in connection with the origination of the insured loan and placement of our mortgage insurance. See Item 1, "Business - Underwriting - Independent Validation and Rescission Relief." With these provisions in our Master Policies, we may be obligated to pay claims on certain loans with unacceptable risk characteristics or which failed to meet our underwriting guidelines at the time of origination. As a result, we could suffer unexpected losses, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and operating results.The mix of business we write affects our revenue stream and the likelihood of losses occurring.Even when housing values are stable or rising, mortgages with certain characteristics have higher probabilities of claims. These characteristics include loans with LTVs over 95% (or in certain markets that have experienced declining housing values, over 90%), lower credit scores, with lower scores tending to have higher probabilities of claims, or higher total DTI ratios (i.e., DTIs greater than 45%). Loans with high LTVs leave the borrower with little, no or negative equity in the related property, which may result in increased defaults by such borrowers. In addition, depreciation in the values of properties underpinning our insured loans may increase the likelihood of default, and consequently the frequency or severity of losses. Loans with combinations of these risk factors have a higher degree of layered risk. In general, we charge higher premiums for loans with higher risk characteristics; however, there is no guarantee that our premiums will compensate us for any losses we incur on such loans. From time to time, in response to market conditions, we may change the types of loans that we insure and the guidelines under which we insure them, and in doing so, the concentration of insured loans with higher risk characteristics in our portfolio may increase. In addition, we may make programmatic or loan-by-loan exceptions to our underwriting guidelines, including for certain customer programs. We could incur greater than expected claims incidence and claim severity on insured loans that fall outside of our guidelines, which could negatively impact our revenues and operating results.We expect our claims to increase as our insured loan portfolio grows and matures." Incurred losses and claims may exceed our expectations in the event of general economic weakness or decreases in housing values. Even if our default rate remains the same, the total number of claims that we incur will increase as our portfolio continues to grow. An increase in the number or size of claims, compared to what we anticipate, could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.Our business depends, in part, on effective and reliable loan servicing.We depend on reliable, consistent third-party servicing of the loans that we insure. Servicers are required to comply with a multitude of legal, regulatory and GSE requirements, procedures and standards for servicing residential mortgage loans. If servicers of our insured loans fail to adhere to applicable requirements, procedures and standards, our losses may unexpectedly increase. 35We have delegated the authority to implement certain loss mitigation options on loans we insure (e.g., modifications, short sales and deeds-in-lieu) to the GSEs, who have in turn delegated such authority to most of their approved servicers, pursuant to the delegation agreements. Servicers who service GSE-owned loans are required to operate under the GSEs' required standards in accepting certain loss mitigation alternatives. We are dependent on these servicers to appropriately make these decisions under their delegated authority to mitigate our exposure to loss. In some cases, loss mitigation decisions favorable to the GSEs may not be favorable to us and may increase the incidence of paid claims. Inappropriate delegation procedures or failure of servicers to adhere to required standards may increase the magnitude of our losses and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Our delegation of loss management decisions to the GSEs is subject to cancellation; however, exercise of these rights may have an adverse effect on our relationship with the GSEs and servicers.The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that government actions in response to a national pandemic could create strains on servicers in connection with the remittance of premiums. We cannot estimate how the rise of new variants and government actions in response to them could affect our servicers in the future. Significant failures by large servicers or disruptions in the servicing of mortgage loans we insure would adversely impact our business, financial condition and operating results.If the estimates we use in establishing claims reserves are incorrect, the actual claim payments we make may materially exceed the amount of our corresponding claims reserves, resulting in unexpected charges to income, which could be material and adversely affect our results of operations.We establish reserves for claims and claim expenses for insured mortgage loans that are in default. A loan is considered to be in default as of the payment date at which a borrower has missed the preceding two or more consecutive monthly payments." We also establish reserves for claim expenses, which represent the estimated cost of the claim administration process, including legal and other fees and other general expenses of administering the claim settlement process. Claim frequency and severity estimates are established based on historical observed experience regarding certain loan factors, such as age of the default, cure rates, size of the loan and estimated change in property value. The establishment of claims and IBNR reserves is subject to inherent uncertainty and requires significant judgment by management. Our estimates of claim frequency and severity are strongly influenced by prevailing economic conditions, including current rates or trends in unemployment, housing price appreciation and/or interest rates, the availability of forbearance, foreclosure moratorium, modification and other assistance programs available to defaulted borrowers, and our best judgments as to the future values or trends of these macroeconomic factors. These factors are outside of our control and difficult to predict. Further, our expectations regarding future claims may change significantly over time. Due to the inherent uncertainty and significant judgment involved in the numerous assumptions required to estimate our losses, our loss estimates may vary widely. Because claims and IBNR reserves are based on such estimates and judgments, there can be no assurance that even in a stable economic environment, actual claims paid by us will not be substantially different than the reserves we established for such claims. Our business, operating results and financial condition will be adversely impacted if, and to the extent, our actual losses are greater than our claims and IBNR reserves.Further, consistent with industry practice, our reserving method does not take account of losses that could occur from insured loans that are not in default. Thus, future potential losses that may develop from loans not currently in default are not reflected in our financial statements, except in the case where we are required to establish a premium deficiency reserve. As a result, future losses on loans that are not currently in default may have a material impact on future results if, and when, such losses emerge. We are also exposed to various risks arising out of man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism, and military actions. For example, a 36natural disaster event could lead to unexpected changes in persistency rates as policyholders and borrowers who are affected by the disaster may be unable to meet their contractual obligations, such as mortgage payments on loans we insure. The continued threat of terrorism may cause significant volatility in global financial markets, and a natural or man-made disaster or a pandemic could trigger an economic downturn in the areas directly or indirectly affected by the disaster. These consequences could, among other things, result in a decline in new business and increased claims from those areas, and adverse effects on home prices in those areas, which could result in unexpected loss experience in our business. These events also could disrupt public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services, which could disrupt our normal business operations. In addition, the value of the assets in our investment portfolio could be adversely affected if such an event affects companies' ability to pay us principal or interest on their securities. Following such natural disasters, we and other MIs typically experience an increase in defaults on insured mortgages secured by homes in the impacted areas that negatively impact our incurred losses. Our ultimate claims exposure when we experience these events depends on the number of loans in default, proximate cause of each default and cure rate of the default population. Cure rates on loan defaults following natural disasters are influenced by the adequacy of homeowners and other hazard insurance carried on a related property, GSE-sponsored forbearance and other assistance programs, and a borrower's access to aid from government entities and private organizations, in addition to other factors which generally impact cure rates in unaffected areas. We have observed that loans in default in disaster zones typically cure at a higher rate than non-disaster related loans in default. As such, we historically have established lower reserves for these type of defaults than we otherwise do for similarly situated loans in default in non-disaster zones. Due to the inherent uncertainty and significant judgment involved in our assumptions, our loss estimates may turn out to be materially inaccurate, and we can provide no assurance that actual claims paid by us, if any, on defaulted loans in disaster zones will not be substantially different than the reserves we establish for such claims. Climate change and efforts to manage climate risk by government agencies could affect our business and operations.We do not directly insure climate-related risks. Our insurance policies also generally exclude losses resulting from physical damage to the properties securing the loans we insure. While climate-related risks such as flood, wildfire, wind, and earthquake do not directly cause losses to our business, we are indirectly exposed to risks of climate change. A natural disaster event could be triggered by climate change and could lead to unexpected changes in persistency rates as policyholders and borrowers who are affected by the disaster may be unable to meet their contractual obligations, such as mortgage payments on loans we insure. A natural disaster triggered by climate change could also trigger an economic downturn in the areas directly or indirectly affected by the natural disaster. These consequences could, among other things, result in a decline in new business and increased claims from those areas, and adverse effects on home prices in those areas, which could result in unexpected loss experience in our business. These events also could disrupt public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services, which could disrupt normal business operations.Since 2020, the FHFA has been increasingly vocal about climate and natural disasters and their impact on the GSEs and the Federal Home Loan Banks (together, the regulated entities) and the national housing market, and has designated climate change as a priority concern and instructed the GSEs to actively consider its effects in their decision making. To that end, the FHFA established a new Conservatorship Scorecard which would hold the GSEs accountable for ensuring resiliency to climate and disaster risks, and also enhanced its monitoring and supervision of climate change issues. In 2024, FHFA issued two Advisory Bulletins on climate-related risk management that established a GSE risk management framework to include: (1) governance; (2) risk identification and assessment, controls, and monitoring processes; (3) metrics and data; (4) scenario analysis; and (5) risk reporting and communication processes. The GSEs have also updated their disaster playbooks, implemented Green Bond products, and partnered with FHFA to develop additional tools and analysis. It is possible that efforts to manage climate risk by the FHFA, GSEs (including through GSE guideline or mortgage insurance policy changes) or others could materially impact the volume and characteristics of our NIW (including its policy terms), home prices in certain areas and defaults by borrowers in certain areas, as well as increase the costs to us of providing mortgage insurance in certain areas, and therefore may impact our business and operations.We are exposed to certain risks associated with our third-party reinsurance transactions, including the possibility that our reinsurers will fail to perform their obligations or that we will lose the capital credit we expected to receive when we entered into the transactions as a result of future GSE or Wisconsin OCI action or if any of our reinsurers experiences a downgrade or other adverse business event. Any of these events could have negative impacts on the credit for the risk transferred under the reinsurance agreements and, in turn, on our capital needs, PMIERs position and growth potential.Reinsurance does not relieve us of our direct liability to our insureds to pay claims, even when there are reinsurance recoverables available to us under the QSR Transactions or XOL Transactions. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to such reinsurers. To mitigate this risk, there are certain contractual protections that establish sources from which we may directly obtain our reinsurance recoverables under the QSR Transactions or XOL Transactions. The ILN Transactions are fully collateralized with funds deposited into trust accounts to secure the obligations of the reinsurers to NMIC under the respective reinsurance agreement. One or more reinsurers may be unable or unwilling to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us in the future, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition. If the reinsurer breaches its collateral obligations, and fails to cure after notice, we may terminate the agreement with respect to such reinsurer. If we experience an early termination, we would be required to re-assume the risk ceded to the breaching reinsurer, and the PMIERs and statutory capital credit we received when we entered into the agreement would be reversed. Depending on the timing and severity, such an event could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, growth potential and future capital needs. As a result of such reviews, the GSEs or the Wisconsin OCI could withdraw their approvals or continue their approvals, but grant less than full capital credit. If we do not continue to receive full capital credit in connection with these transactions, we would likely need to seek other sources of capital or reductions in RIF sooner than we would have expected with full capital credit under PMIERs and state insurance laws. Future sources of capital will depend on the cost, availability and terms and conditions that are acceptable to us, our regulators and the GSEs. We cannot be sure that we will be able to secure other sources of capital or substitute reductions in RIF in the amounts we require and on favorable terms, if at all.Our operating results depend in large part on our ability to manage the risks related to the growth of our business and on maintaining and enhancing effective operating procedures and internal controls.Our mortgage insurance business has been growing quickly. Our future operating results depend to a large extent on our ability to successfully manage the continued growth of our business and the demands such growth places on our operations personnel and senior management team. The unexpected loss of key management and other personnel, or the inability to recruit, develop and retain qualified management talent in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results. If we are unable to manage future expansion in our operations, we may experience compliance and operational problems, be required to slow the pace of growth, or have to incur additional expenditures beyond current projections to support such growth, any one of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.Our future operating results also depend on our ability to continue to implement and improve our operational, credit, financial, management and other disclosure and internal risk controls and procedures and our reporting systems and procedures. Our management does not expect that our disclosure and internal risk controls and procedures will prevent all potential errors and fraud. We may not successfully implement improvements to, or integrate, our controls and procedures in an efficient or timely manner and may discover deficiencies in existing controls and procedures. There can be no guarantee that we will not experience flaws in our internal controls and procedures in the future.The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. If our controls are not effective or not properly implemented, we could suffer financial or other loss, disruption of our business, 38regulatory sanctions or damage to our reputation. Losses resulting from these failures can vary significantly in size, scope and scale and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Our business depends on our employees and third parties to process a large number of transactions. We could be materially and adversely affected if one of our employees or one of our systems causes a significant operational breakdown or failure, either as a result of human error or where an individual purposefully sabotages or fraudulently manipulates our operations or systems. Given our hybrid and remote work arrangements of our employees and staff, the effectiveness of our compliance programs and overall ability to prevent and detect fraud or malfeasance by our employees or contractors may be diminished. Any of these occurrences could result in a diminished ability to operate our business, potential liability to customers, reputational damage and regulatory intervention, which could result in a material adverse effect on our financial position and operating results.If we do not maintain connectivity with or otherwise meet the technological demands of our customers or are unable to develop, enhance and maintain our proprietary technology platform, our business and financial performance could be adversely affected.We primarily rely on e-commerce and other technologies to provide and distribute our MI products and services. Our customers require us to provide and service our MI products in a secure manner, including through our proprietary technology platform, our internet website or direct electronic data transmissions. To enhance our ability to provide innovative IT solutions for our internal and external constituents, we are party to an agreement with TCS, whereby TCS provides services across such functions as application development and support, infrastructure support (service desk, end user computing and engineering services) and information security functions. We underwrite and service our MI portfolio within a proprietary insurance management platform which has deployed technology that enables our customers to transact business in a secure manner. Our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely impacted if we do not successfully establish and maintain these arrangements and relationships, or otherwise keep pace with the technological demands of customers.The success of our business depends on our ability to timely and effectively resolve any significant issues that may arise with the operation of our technology platform. While we anticipate that our engagement with TCS will enhance our ability to further develop, deploy, and service our technology platform, any delays caused by the outsourcing of these functions, deterioration in our relationship with TCS, or termination of our engagement with TCS could lead to significant disruptions in our operations. If our technology platforms fail to perform in the manner we expect, our business, financial condition and operating results may be significantly harmed. Further, our business would be negatively impacted if we are unable to enhance our platform when necessary to support our primary business functions, including to match or exceed the technological capabilities of our competitors over time. We cannot predict with certainty the cost of maintaining and improving our platform, but failure to make necessary improvements and any significant shortfall in any technology enhancements or negative variance in the timeline in which system enhancements are delivered could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or misuse of confidential, personal or proprietary information.Our IT systems process, transmit, store and protect large amounts of personal information of borrowers whose mortgages we insure, in addition to the confidential, proprietary, financial and other information that are critical to our business. See Item 1C, "Cybersecurity." Our IT systems and networks, including those functions that we may outsource, are vulnerable to unauthorized access, interruptions or failures due to events that are often beyond our control, including cyber-attacks, natural disasters, theft, terrorist attacks and general technology failures. We may, from time to time, upgrade certain of our information systems, and transform and automate certain of our business processes. We also have outsourced certain technology and business functions to third parties, and may continue to do so in the future. If we fail to timely and successfully implement and integrate new technology systems or if the systems and/or transformed and automated business processes do not operate as expected, this may expose us to increased risk related to data and information security and unexpected service disruptions, which could result in monetary and reputational damage or harm to our competitive position. Our remote and hybrid working arrangements may also increase the risk of cyber-security attacks or data security incidents. Further, the sophistication, availability and use of artificial intelligence by threat actors may present an increased level of risk. Our remote or hybrid working arrangements may exacerbate these risks. If any of these were to occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.Adverse investment performance may affect our financial results and ability to conduct business.Income from our investment portfolio provides a growing source of revenue and cash flow to support our operations and claim payments. If we improperly structure our investments to meet those future liabilities or have unexpected losses in our portfolio, including losses resulting from impairments or the forced liquidation of investments before their maturity, we may be unable to meet those obligations. If market interest rates rise above the rates on our fixed income securities, it would increase unrealized losses on these securities and decrease the market value of our investment portfolio. If it was necessary to sell these securities while they are in an unrealized loss position, it would adversely impact our financial condition. Our investment objectives may not be achieved. The success of our investment activity is affected by general economic conditions, which may adversely affect the markets for credit and interest-rate-sensitive securities, including the extent and timing of investor participation in these markets, the level and volatility of interest rates and, consequently, the value of fixed income securities.NMIS offers loan review services for certain of our customers that are performed by SAFE Act-licensed third-party service providers, including on loans for which NMIC is not providing mortgage insurance. Under the terms of our service agreements and subject to such agreements' contractual limitations on liability, we provide limited indemnity rights for "material errors," if such errors materially impair the saleability of a reviewed loan, results in a material reduction in the value of such loan or results in the customer being required to repurchase such loan. The indemnification may be in the form of monetary or other remedies, subject to per loan and annual limitations. Accordingly, we have assumed some credit risk in connection with providing these services. NMIS contracts with SAFE Act-licensed third-party service providers to provide loan review services, and we believe we have structured NMIS' operations so that it does not itself engage in any activities that would trigger licensure under the SAFE Act. However, the CFPB or other regulators could take a different position, thereby increasing the risk of regulatory scrutiny and potential enforcement action and/or litigation involving these loan review services. Any such scrutiny, enforcement action or litigation could result in a diminished ability to operate our business, potential liability to customers, reputational damage and regulatory intervention, which could in turn result in a material adverse effect on our financial position and operating results. See "The private MI industry is, and as a participant we are, subject to litigation and regulatory enforcement risk generally," below. The GSEs set their own counter-party standards for private mortgage insurers, known as PMIERs. (Italicized terms have the same meaning that such terms have in the PMIERs.) As a result, our compliance with the PMIERs is necessary to maintain NMIC's status as an approved insurer. The PMIERs establish operational, business, remedial and financial requirements applicable to approved insurers. By April 15th of each year, NMIC must certify it met all PMIERs requirements as of December 31st of the prior year. NMIC also has an ongoing obligation to immediately notify the GSEs in writing upon discovery of its failure to meet one or more of the PMIERs requirements, some of which do not have materiality thresholds. We certified to the GSEs by April 15, 2024 that NMIC was in full compliance with the PMIERs as of December 31, 2023.There can be no assurance, however, that NMIC will continue to comply with the PMIERs financial requirements. If NMIC were to experience a material reduction to revenues or an unexpected, significant increase in losses, NMIC's available assets could fall below the minimum required assets mandated by the PMIERs financial requirements. In addition, as NMIC continues to grow its business and increase its net RIF, NMIC may need to raise additional capital or reduce its net RIF, including through the use of additional reinsurance, to remain in compliance with the PMIERs financial requirements and to continue to support new business writings. Any future growth capital may be in the form of debt, equity, or a combination of both. We can give no assurance that our efforts to raise capital, obtain additional reinsurance or otherwise reduce our RIF would be successful.The PMIERs provide that the table of factors that determine minimum required assets will be updated every two years or more frequently to reflect macroeconomic conditions, loan performance or to address other issues the GSEs deem important. In addition, the GSEs may amend or clarify other aspects of the PMIERs at any time. There is no assurance NMIC will remain in compliance or that the GSEs will not make the PMIERs financial requirements more onerous in the future. If any future updates to the PMIERs would require NMIC to materially increase the amount of available assets to support its business writings, the amount of capital NMIC is required to hold will increase, which may have a negative effect on our returns. Any such effect could have a negative impact on our flexibility to meet our business plans and our future operating results. Compliance with PMIERs requires us to seek the GSEs' prior approval before taking many actions, including implementing new products or services or entering into inter-company agreements among other actions. In addition, for an approved insurer to receive a reduction in its risk-based required asset amount for new or revised reinsurance transactions, the approved insurer must obtain the GSEs' written approval. PMIERs' approval requirements could prohibit, materially modify or delay us in our intended course of action. Further, the GSEs may modify or change their interpretation of terms they require us to include in our mortgage insurance policies for loans purchased by them, requiring us to modify our terms of coverage or operational procedures to remain an approved insurer, and such changes could have a material adverse impact on our financial position and operating results. For example, we and other approved insurers were required to implement new master policies to, among other things, include terms that conform to the GSEs' RRP. It is possible the GSEs could, in their own discretion, require additional limitations and/or conditions on certain of our activities and practices that are not currently in the PMIERs or otherwise required by the GSEs for us to remain an approved insurer. Additional requirements or conditions imposed by the GSEs could further limit our operating flexibility and the areas in which we may write new business.If, in the future, NMIC fails to comply with the PMIERs, including the financial requirements, it may lose its approved insurer status from one or both GSEs, or may have to enter into a remediation plan (with the approval of the GSEs), curtail its business writings or cease transacting new business altogether. Any of these events would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and future business prospects.Changes in the business practices of the GSEs, including a decision to decrease or discontinue the use of private MI, or changes in the terms on which mortgage insurance coverage may be cancelled, federal legislation that changes their charters or a restructuring of the GSEs or changes in loan delivery pricing imposed by the GSEs could reduce the private MI market opportunity, reduce our revenues or increase our losses.The requirements and practices of the GSEs impact the operating results and financial performance of approved insurers, including NMIC. The GSEs could be directed to make such changes by the FHFA, which was appointed as their conservator in September 2008 and has the authority to control and direct the operations of the GSEs.41With the GSEs in a prolonged conservatorship, there has been ongoing debate over the future role and purpose of the GSEs in the U.S. housing market. The U.S. Congress may legislate, or the administration may implement through administrative reform, structural and other changes to the GSEs and the functioning of the secondary mortgage market. Since 2011, there have been numerous legislative proposals intended to incrementally scale back the GSEs (such as a statutory mandate for the GSEs to transfer mortgage credit risk to the private sector) or to completely reform the housing finance system. Congress, however, has not enacted any legislation to date. The proposals vary with regard to the government's role in the housing market and, more specifically, with regard to the existence of an explicit or implicit government guarantee. Recently, there has been increased focus on and discussion of administrative reform independent of legislative action. The former director of FHFA leadership under the first Trump administration was more focused on preparing the GSEs to exit from conservatorship by increasing the GSEs’ overall capital levels and reducing their credit risk profile. In December 2020, the FHFA published a final rule (2020 ERCF rule) establishing a new enterprise regulatory capital framework (ERCF) for the GSEs, which included provisions governing the capital relief allowed to the GSEs for loans with private MI. Additionally, while in conservatorship, each GSE has been subject to the terms of senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (PSPAs) establishing Treasury's ownership of senior preferred stock and warrants in the GSEs. The PSPAs, as amended by the Treasury Department in collaboration with the FHFA, also establish Treasury's right to consent to any GSE release from conservatorship, among other rights.Leadership at the FHFA changes from time-to-time. Given that the Director of the FHFA is removable by the President at will, the agency's agenda, policies and actions likely will be significantly influenced by the then current administration. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict whether or how the FHFA might seek to implement GSE oversight beyond the current administration's term. Subsequent to the adoption of the 2020 ERCF rule and the PSPAs, the Director of the FHFA, together with the Treasury Department, have adopted amendments to both the 2020 ERCF and the PSPAs to help facilitate the ultimate release of the GSEs from conservatorship and additional changes could be adopted. Further changes to the ERCF, the PSPAs, or the business practices of the GSEs, including any that increase the capital required to be held by us under PMIERs, could make our products less desirable or more expensive and could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and future business prospects. As a result of these matters, it is uncertain what role private capital, including MI, will play in the domestic residential housing finance system in the future or the impact of any such changes on our business. Any changes to the charters or statutory authorities of the GSEs would require Congressional action to implement. Passage and timing of any comprehensive GSE reform or incremental change (legislative or administrative) is uncertain, making the actual impact on us and our industry difficult to predict. Any such changes that come to pass could have a significant impact on our business.In recent years, the FHFA has set goals for the GSEs to transfer significant portions of the GSEs' mortgage credit risk to the private sector.42We are subject to comprehensive state insurance regulations and capital adequacy requirements, which we must satisfy to continue to operate our MI business.The U.S. MI industry and our insurance subsidiaries are subject to comprehensive state regulation in each jurisdiction in which they are licensed or authorized to do business. Regulatory scrutiny could lead to new legal precedents, new regulations or new practices, or regulatory actions or investigations, which could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results. Although their scope varies, state insurance laws generally grant broad supervisory powers to state insurance regulatory authorities to examine insurance companies and enforce rules or exercise discretion affecting almost every significant aspect of the insurance business, including premium rates, trade and claims practices, accounting methods, marketing practices, policy forms and capital adequacy. These state insurance regulatory authorities could take actions that could materially impact the types of products and services we and our industry are permitted to offer, including requiring us (and other MI companies) to modify current pricing and business practices. Further, failure to comply with the applicable regulations could lead to enforcement or disciplinary action, including the imposition of penalties and the revocation of our authorization to operate.NMIC's principal regulator is the Wisconsin OCI. Under applicable Wisconsin law, as well as that of 15 other states, a mortgage insurer must maintain a minimum amount of statutory capital relative to its RIF for the mortgage insurer to continue to write new business. While formulations of minimum capital may vary in each jurisdiction that has such a requirement, the most common measure applied allows for a maximum permitted RTC ratio of 25:1. Wisconsin and certain other states, including California and Illinois, apply a substantially similar requirement referred to as minimum policyholders' position. If our business grows faster (i.e., our RIF grows faster than expected) or is less profitable than expected (i.e., our revenues do not generate the return we expect), our actual RTC ratios over the short to mid-term could exceed our expected RTC ratios and could begin to approach the limits to which we are subject, which could require us to enter into alternative arrangements to reduce our RIF, including through additional reinsurance or raising additional capital. If this were to occur, we can give no assurance that our efforts to obtain additional reinsurance or otherwise reduce our RIF, or to raise capital would be successful, and if such efforts are unsuccessful, we could exceed state-imposed capital requirements. Accordingly, if we fail to meet the capital adequacy requirements in one or more states, we could be required to suspend writing business in some or all of the states in which we do business.The private MI industry is, and as a participant we are, subject to litigation and regulatory enforcement risk generally.We operate in highly regulated industries that inherently pose a heightened risk of litigation and regulatory proceedings. As a result, the members of the MI industry, including NMIC, face litigation risk, including the risk of class action lawsuits, and administrative enforcement by federal regulators and state insurance agencies in the ordinary course of operations. In addition, the private MI industry, including NMIC, may be affected by changes in the laws and regulations to which we are subject or the way they are interpreted or applied. See "Item 1 - Business - U.S. Mortgage Insurance Regulation. Among other things, Section 8 of RESPA generally precludes mortgage insurers from paying referral fees to mortgage lenders for the referral of MI business. This limitation also can prohibit providing services or products to mortgage lenders free of charge, charging fees for services that are lower than their reasonable or fair market value, and paying fees for services that mortgage lenders provide that are higher than their reasonable or fair market value, in exchange for the referral of MI business. Various regulators, including the CFPB, state insurance commissioners and state attorneys general, may bring actions seeking various forms of relief in connection with alleged violations of the referral fee limitations of RESPA, as can private litigants in class actions. In particular, the CFPB focused on challenging mortgage insurers' captive reinsurance arrangements under Section 8 of RESPA. The insurance law provisions of many states also prohibit paying for the referral of insurance business and provide various mechanisms to enforce this prohibition. Leadership change at the CFPB or the White House may also have an impact on future CFPB enforcement activity. The CFPB's interpretation and enforcement of Section 8 of RESPA presents regulatory risk for many providers of "settlement services," including mortgage insurers.We currently are not a party to any federal or state regulatory enforcement actions; however, such proceedings could arise in the future. The cost to defend, and the ultimate resolution of, any such action or proceeding could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results. Should we become a party to an action by any of these regulators, the ultimate outcome is difficult to predict, and it is possible that any outcome could be negative to us specifically or the industry in general, and such a negative outcome could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and operating results.From time-to-time, we have been involved in certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. To date, we have not recognized a material liability related to any of our legal proceedings. However, the outcome of litigation and other legal 43and regulatory matters is inherently uncertain, and it is possible that one or more of any such matters in the future could have an unanticipated material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial position and operating results.Our business prospects and operating results could be adversely impacted if, and to the extent that, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's ATR Rules defining a QM negatively impact the size of the origination market. A subset of mortgages falling under the ATR that has certain low-risk characteristics are known as QMs. QMs that are deemed to have the lowest risk profiles are entitled to a safe-harbor presumption of compliance with the ability-to-pay requirements. The General QM final rule was effective on March 1, 2021 with an extended mandatory compliance date of October 1, 2022. However, the GSEs announced on April 8, 2021 that, for loan applications received on or after July 1, 2021, they will only purchase loans satisfying the New General QM Definition. See "Item 1, "Business - U.S. Mortgage Insurance Regulation - Other U.S. Regulation - Housing Finance Reform" above for a summary of the GSEs final rules related to QMs.The Dodd-Frank Act also gave statutory authority to the HUD, the VA, and the USDA to develop their own definitions of "QM," which those agencies have completed. To the extent lenders find that the HUD definition of QM is more favorable to certain segments of their borrowers, they may choose FHA products over private MI products.We, along with other industry participants, have observed that the significant majority of covered loans made after the effective date of the ATR rule have been QMs. We expect that most lenders will continue to be reluctant to make loans that do not qualify as QMs because, absent full compliance with the ATR rule, such loans will not be entitled to a safe-harbor presumption of compliance with the ability-to-pay requirements. As a result, we believe ATR regulations have given rise to a subset of borrowers who cannot meet the regulatory QM standards, thus restricting their access to mortgage credit and reducing the size of the residential mortgage market. It is unclear whether the expiration of the QM Patch or the revised General QM rule or the new Seasoned QM category will have any impact on access to mortgage credit or the size of the mortgage market. Our business prospects and operating results could be adversely impacted if, and to the extent that, the QM regulations or the CFPB's actions negatively impact the size of the origination market.44The implementation of the Basel rules may discourage the use of mortgage insurance.The Basel Committee developed the Basel Capital Accord in 1988 to set out international benchmarks for assessing banks' capital adequacy requirements. See Item 1, "U.S." The capital adequacy requirements, among other factors, govern the capital treatment of MI purchased and held on balance sheet by domestic and international banks in respect of their residential mortgage loan origination and securitization activities. In July 2013, U.S. banking regulators promulgated regulations to implement significant elements of the Basel framework, which we refer to as Basel III. In December 2017, the Basel Committee published final revisions to Basel III (informally known as "Basel IV"). Under Basel IV, banks using the standardized approach to determine their credit risk may consider mortgage insurance in calculating the exposure amount for real estate. However, such banks will need to determine the risk-weight for residential mortgages based on the LTV ratio at loan origination, without factoring in mortgage insurance. Under the standardized approach, after the appropriate risk-weight is determined, the existence of mortgage insurance could be considered, but only if the company issuing the insurance has a lower risk-weight than the underlying exposure. Mortgage insurance issued by private companies would not meet this test. Therefore, under Basel IV, mortgage insurance could not mitigate credit and lower the capital charge under the standardized approach. On September 9, 2022, the U.S. banking regulators announced their intent to revise U.S. regulatory capital requirements to align them with Basel IV.S. banking regulators jointly issued a proposed rule that would revise large bank capital requirements. On September 18, 2023, the U.S. banking regulators announced this proposed rule would increase risk-based capital requirements for banks with total assets of $100 billion or more. This proposal increases the risk weights for LTVs that are above 80% and eliminates the current capital relief credit that is given to these loans if they are covered by mortgage insurance. Accordingly, as proposed, the revised standards would mean mortgage insurance would not lower the LTV ratio of residential loans for capital purposes for these large banks, and therefore may decrease their demand for mortgage insurance. These large banks may also retreat from high LTV lending if the proposal, as drafted, is passed. However, as of July 10, 2024, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, as a member of the Basel Committee, made public remarks in favor of issuing a new proposed rule. The comment period for the proposal, originally scheduled to end on November 30, 2023, was extended to January 16, 2024. The full Basel Committee has yet to finalize next steps on a future path forward. Accordingly, we do not have clarity on when we can expect the final proposal or how much time will be provided for banking organizations to implement the final rule once it has been issued. Further, it is possible (but not mandated by Basel IV) that the U.S. banking regulators and the GSEs might likewise discontinue taking mortgage insurance into account when determining a mortgage’s LTV ratio for prudential (non-capital) purposes. We believe the existing U.S. implementation of the Basel IV capital framework supports continued use of private MI by portfolio lenders as a risk and capital management tool; however, with the ongoing implementation of Basel IV and the continued evolution of the Basel framework, it is difficult to predict the extent of the impact, if any, on the MI industry and the ultimate form of any potential future modifications to the regulations by federal banking regulators. If the Basel Committee revises the Basel IV framework to reduce or eliminate the capital benefit banks receive from insuring low down payment loans with private MI, our current and future business may be adversely affected.Risks Related to Our Holding Company and Capital StructureOur holding company structure and certain regulatory and other constraints could affect our ability to satisfy our obligations and potentially require us to raise more capital.NMIH serves as the holding company for our operating subsidiaries and does not have any significant operations of its own. NMIH's principal source of operating cash is investment income, and could in the future include dividends from NMIC and Re One, which currently does not have active insurance exposure.4 million to NMIH during the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2024, without prior approval from the Wisconsin OCI. NMIH also has access to $250 million of undrawn revolving credit capacity under the senior unsecured credit facilities. In addition, NMIH currently receives cash from our insurance subsidiaries, consisting of payments made under our tax and expense-sharing arrangements. The expense-sharing arrangements between us and our subsidiaries, as amended, have been approved by the Wisconsin OCI, but such approval may be revoked at any time. NMIH depends on these sources of liquidity to make principal and interest payments under its current debt arrangements and to pay certain corporate expenses and income taxes, among other things. If payments to NMIH were curtailed or limited, there is a risk that NMIH would be unable to satisfy its financial obligations.45NMIH's dividend income is limited to upstream dividend payments from our subsidiaries. With respect to our insurance subsidiaries, under Wisconsin law, dividends in excess of prescribed limits are deemed "extraordinary" and require approval of the Wisconsin OCI. Other states in which our insurance subsidiaries are licensed also limit or restrict their ability to pay dividends. It is possible that Wisconsin and other states that have dividend restrictions will adopt revised statutory provisions or interpretations of existing statutory provisions that could be more restrictive than those currently in effect or will otherwise take actions that may further restrict the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions or returns of capital. In addition, under the PMIERs, if an approved insurer fails to meet the PMIERs financial requirements, such approved insurer may not pay dividends without the prior written approval of the GSEs. In addition, to support NMIC's future growth, we could be required to provide additional capital support for NMIC if additional capital is required by the GSEs or pursuant to insurance laws and regulations. If we were unable to meet our obligations, NMIC could lose GSE approval and/or be required to cease writing business in one or more states, which would adversely impact our business, financial condition and operating results.To the extent that the funds generated from investment income or by our ongoing operations and capitalization are insufficient to fund future operating requirements, we may need to raise additional funds through future financing activities, including through the issuance of additional debt, equity, or a combination of both, reduce our RIF, including through additional reinsurance, or curtail our growth and reduce our expenses. NMIH's future capital requirements depend on many factors, including NMIC's ability to successfully write new business, establish premium rates at levels sufficient to cover claims and operating costs and meet minimum required asset thresholds under the PMIERs. We can give no assurance that our efforts to raise capital, obtain additional reinsurance or otherwise reduce our RIF would be successful. If we cannot obtain adequate capital, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.We currently have and will continue to have a substantial amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2024 our debt totaled approximately $415.Our indebtedness could have significant negative consequences for our business, financial condition and operating results, including: •increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;•limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;•requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of the cash flow from our subsidiaries' operations to service our indebtedness, thereby reducing the amount of cash flow available for other purposes;•making it more difficult for us to retain our existing ratings or to obtain investment-grade credit ratings in the future;•making it more difficult to conduct our business successfully or to grow our business, or limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business; and•placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage with less leveraged competitors and competitors that may have better access to capital resources. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.Our existing, and any future, variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our annual debt service obligations to increase significantly. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on such variable rate indebtedness would increase, resulting in a reduction of our net income that could be significant, even though the principal amount borrowed would remain the same.Despite our substantial level of debt, we may incur more debt, which could exacerbate any or all of the risks described above.We may incur substantial additional debt in the future, including up to $250 million in borrowings we may choose to make under our 2024 Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, our 2024 Revolving Credit Facility and indenture does not prevent us from incurring certain obligations that do not constitute "indebtedness" as defined therein. To the extent that we incur additional debt or such other obligations, the risks associated with our credit agreement and indenture described above, including our possible inability to service our debt or other obligations, would increase.Our current credit ratings may adversely affect our ability to access capital and the cost of such capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. An inability to access reinsurance, capital and credit markets when needed to continue to grow our business, refinance our existing debt or raise new debt or equity could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and liquidity.Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common StockWe do not currently pay any dividends on our common stock and may not pay any dividends on our common stock in the future, and payment of any declared dividends may be delayed.We have not declared or paid dividends in the past, and we may not pay dividends in the future. As a result, until we otherwise declare and pay dividends on our common stock, only appreciation in the price of our common stock, which may not occur, will provide a return to investors. Any future declaration and payment of dividends by our Board will depend on many factors, including general economic and business conditions, our strategic plans, our financial results and condition, legal requirements and other factors that our Board deems relevant. In addition, we may enter into additional credit agreements or other debt arrangements in the future that could restrict our ability to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock.The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could cause the value of an investment in our common stock to decline.The market price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially and be highly volatile, which may make it difficult for stockholders to sell their shares of our common stock at the volume, prices and times desired.S. housing and housing finance policy, including changes to the GSEs and the role of government MIs;•our actual or projected financial condition, liquidity, operating results, cash flows and capital levels; 47•changes in, or failure to meet, our publicly disclosed expectations as to our future financial and operating performance;•publication of research reports about us, our competitors or the financial services industry generally, or changes in, or failure to meet, securities analysts' estimates of our financial and operating performance, or lack of research reports by industry analysts or ceasing of coverage;•market valuations, as well as the financial and operating performance and prospects, of similar companies;•future issuances or sales, or anticipated issuances or sales, of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our common stock;•additional indebtedness we may incur in the future;•expenses incurred in connection with changes in our stock price, such as changes in the value of the liability reflected on our financial statements associated with outstanding warrants; •the potential failure to establish and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting; •additions or departures of key personnel and management;•our failure to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq; and•our failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.The stock markets in general have experienced substantial volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These types of broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In the past, stockholders of certain companies other than NMIH have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against such companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. Any similar litigation against us could result in substantial costs, divert management's attention and resources and harm our business or operating results.The market price of our common stock could decline due to the large number of outstanding shares of our common stock eligible for future sale, and future issuances of our common stock may depress our share price and dilute the book value of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market in the future, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. These sales could also make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future, at a time and place that we deem appropriate.Our Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (2014 Plan) has a total of 8,250,000 shares authorized for issuance. Such stock issuances could be made at a price that reflects a discount or a premium from the then-current trading price of our common stock and might dilute the book value of our common stock or result in a decrease in the per share price of our common stock.Shares of our common stock are equity interests and do not constitute indebtedness of NMIH. In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by issuing additional debt, including bank debt, commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes or classes of shares of preferred stock. Our preferred stock, if issued, could have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend payments that would limit amounts available for distribution to holders of shares of our common stock. Accordingly, if we were liquidated, holders of our debt securities and preferred stock and lenders with respect to our 2024 Revolving Credit Facility or other future borrowings, if any, would receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of shares of our common stock. Any decision to issue debt or preferred stock in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors, some of which will be beyond our control. We cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of such future issuances. Holders of our common stock bear the risk of such future issuances of debt or preferred stock reducing the market value of our common stock.48Provisions contained in our organizational documents, as well as provisions of Delaware law and Wisconsin insurance law, could delay or prevent a change of control of us, which could adversely affect the price of shares of our common stock.Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult or discouraging an acquisition deemed undesirable by our Board. Additionally, cumulative voting in the election of our directors is not allowed.In addition, Wisconsin's insurance laws and regulations generally provide that no person may acquire control of us unless the transaction in which control is acquired has been approved by the Wisconsin OCI. The regulations provide for a rebuttable presumption of control when a person owns or has the right to vote more than 10% of our voting securities. In addition, the insurance laws and regulations of other states in which NMIC and/or Re One are licensed insurers require notification to the state's insurance department a specified period before a person acquires control of us. If regulators in these states disapprove the change of control, our licenses to conduct business in the disapproving states could be terminated.Any provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or Delaware law or under the Wisconsin insurance regulations that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for shares of our common stock. Unresolved Staff CommentsNone. Cybersecurity We integrate technology into many aspects of our business. We use technology to engage with our customers and employees, and to deliver our products and services. The business information and data managed and stored in our technology systems is used in many of our daily functions, including accounting processes, financial forecasting, pricing, underwriting, sales, compliance, and communications, among others. We are mindful of the risk in the operation of our business presented by cybersecurity threats and remain aware of the potential risk to our IT systems and data. In anticipation and in response to such risks, we have a comprehensive information security/cybersecurity program, including controls and procedures designed to safeguard and maintain the integrity of our IT systems, and prevent and detect unauthorized access to our IT systems by threats or bad actors, both internally and externally. Due to the ever-changing nature of cyber threats, we seek to proactively mitigate risks through prevention and preparation. We take a risk-based approach and identify new and continuing threats to our information systems that could potentially compromise their secure and efficient operation. Our cybersecurity program is fully integrated into our overall risk management framework and is regularly evaluated by internal and external experts. Our information security program is managed by a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who has over 25 years of relevant experience. Our CISO is charged with the maintenance and execution of our security program and reports to our Chief Information Officer, who leads the management of our information systems. The CISO manages a team that assesses, evaluates, and responds to cybersecurity threats. Our CISO, and other senior leaders in our IT, law, and internal audit departments, provide periodic reports to our Chief Executive Officer and other members of our senior management team and the Board, as appropriate, on cybersecurity risks and program updates.Our Board oversees cybersecurity risks through the Board’s audit and risk committees. The Board's Audit Committee has primary oversight of cybersecurity risk. In performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee considers information from the senior leaders in various departments (including the IT, internal audit and law departments) who provide periodic reports on cybersecurity, including updates on the Company’s cyber risks and threats, the status of projects to strengthen our information security systems, assessments of the information security program, and the emerging threat landscape.Our cybersecurity program is aligned with industry standards, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, and we periodically engage third parties as part of our continuing efforts to evaluate, enhance and test the adequacy and effectiveness of our security measures and controls. We require our third-party service providers to implement and maintain comprehensive cybersecurity practices commensurate with the services they perform for us, and consistent with applicable legal standards and practices. In addition, we maintain and test a business continuity plan that is designed to allow us to continue to operate in the midst of certain disruptive events, including disruptions to our IT systems, and we have an incident response plan that is designed to address information security incidents, including any breaches of our IT systems. We believe all of these functions serve the process of prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. While we have not experienced any material cybersecurity events, we believe that disruptions to and breaches of our IT systems are possible and may negatively impact our business in the future. Despite robust controls and safeguards in place, no system can guarantee complete security from internal and external threats. See Item 1A, "Risk Factors - We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or misuse of confidential, personal or proprietary information.".

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