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Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies as described in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, except as noted below.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated from these statements. Except as discussed in “Note 3. Discontinued Operations,” and unless otherwise noted, the notes to the consolidated financial statements reflect the Company’s continuing operations.
Certain comparative information has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Because of the seasonality of the Company’s business, the results of operations and cash flows for any interim period will not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations and cash flows for the full fiscal year or subsequent quarters.
USE OF ESTIMATES IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The major estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the reserve for claims and claim expenses; reinsurance recoverables, including allowances for reinsurance recoverables deemed uncollectible; estimates of written and earned premiums; fair value, including the fair value of investments, financial instruments and derivatives; impairment charges and the Company’s deferred tax valuation allowance.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The results of operations of REAL, which has been sold to an unaffiliated third party, is classified as held for sale and reported as discontinued operations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic Discontinued Operations. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are presented excluding the operations and cash flows of the discontinued operations from the continuing operations of the Company since the Company will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations after the sale. The financial position and results of operations of discontinued operations are presented as single line items on the consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, respectively. Certain prior year comparatives have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”). The objective of ASU 2013-11 is to improve the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 seeks to reduce the diversity in practice by providing guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits to better reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. ASU 2013-11 became effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company prospectively adopted ASU 2013-11 effective January 1, 2014 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated statements of operations and financial position.
Financial Services - Investment Companies (Topic 946) Amendments to the Scope, Measurement, and Disclosure Requirements
In June 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-08, Amendments to the Scope, Measurement, and Disclosure Requirements (“ASU 2013-08”). The objective of ASU 2013-08 is to change the approach to the investment company assessment, clarify the characteristics of an investment company and provide comprehensive guidance for assessing whether an entity is an investment company. In addition, ASU 2013-08 will require an investment company to measure noncontrolling ownership interests in other investment companies at fair value rather than using the equity method of accounting and require the following additional disclosures: (a) the fact that the entity is an investment company and is applying the guidance, (b) information about changes, if any, in an entity’s status as an investment company, and (c) information about financial support provided or contractually required to be provided by an investment company to any of its investees. ASU 2013-08 became effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company prospectively adopted ASU 2013-08 effective January 1, 2014 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated statements of operations and financial position.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED
Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”). The objective of ASU 2014-08 is to improve the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. ASU 2014-08 will also require expanded disclosures for discontinued operations and require an entity to disclose the pretax profit or loss of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. ASU 2014-08 is prospectively effective for public business entities in annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Entities may early adopt ASU 2014-08 for new disposals that have not been reported in the consolidated financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance; however, it is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys consolidated statements of operations and financial position.