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Basis of Presentation | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2020
Basis of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (a) Basis of Presentation The words "Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (the "Parent") and its subsidiaries, except as expressly indicated or the context requires otherwise. We have prepared our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements (“Financial Statements”) in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. These require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported financial statement balances and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between the Parent and its subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation. Our Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that, in our opinion, are normal, recurring, and necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations and financial condition. Our Financial Statements cover the third quarters ended September 30, 2020 (“Third Quarter 2020”) and September 30, 2019 (“Third Quarter 2019”) and the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 ("Nine Months 2020") and September 30, 2019 ("Nine Months 2019"). Our Financial Statements do not include all information and disclosures required by GAAP and the SEC for audited annual financial statements. Because results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year, our Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Annual Report”) filed with the SEC. (b) Accounting Policies We have made no material changes in the accounting policies disclosed in Note 2. "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2019 Annual Report other than (i) those associated with our adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses ("CECL") in the first quarter of 2020 and (ii) our recent investment allocation to commercial mortgage loans ("CMLs"). The changes to our accounting policies are related to the following items: (i) Investments; (ii) Allowance for Uncollectible Premiums Receivable; and (iii) Allowance for Uncollectible Reinsurance Recoverable. Investments Fixed Income Securities We have updated our policy associated with our review of fixed income securities for other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI"), and we follow a two-step process: (i) We review our fixed income securities in an unrealized loss position to determine (i) if we have the intent to sell the security, or (ii) if it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery. If we determine that we have the intent or likely requirement to sell the security, we write down its amortized cost to its fair value. In writing down amortized cost, any amount previously recorded as an allowance for credit losses is reversed and any incremental impairment is recorded directly to earnings as OTTI. (ii) If we do not have either the intent or likely requirement to sell the security, we evaluate expected credit losses primarily by performing a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) analysis on each of our fixed income securities to determine if an allowance for credit loss is required. We incorporate the results of the DCF analysis on individual security holdings into our calculation of the allowance for credit losses as follows: •For our held-to-maturity ("HTM") portfolio, the allowance for credit losses is the shortfall between amortized cost at the reporting date and the present value of future cash flows calculated in the DCF analysis. •For our available-for-sale ("AFS") portfolio and fixed income securities included in our short-term investment portfolio, the allowance for credit losses is calculated in the same manner as for the HTM portfolio; but the allowance amount is limited to the difference between the security’s amortized cost and fair value, or the fair value floor. This treatment is appropriate, as we have the ability to recover the amortized cost of an AFS security either through (i) collection of the contractual cash flows or (ii) sale of the security. Fair value declines on our AFS securities not recorded through OTTI are recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), after tax. Our DCF analyses calculate the present value of future cash flows using various models specific to the major security types in our portfolio. These models use security-specific information as well as forecasted macroeconomic data to determine possible expected credit loss scenarios based on projected changes in the economy. The forecasted economic data incorporated into the models is based on the Federal Reserve Board’s annual supervisory stress test review on certain large banks and financial institutions. We also have the ability to incorporate internally-developed forecast information into the models as we deem appropriate. Model scenarios include a baseline assumption with projections for moderate economic expansion, an adverse assumption with projections for a weakening economy, and a severely adverse assumption with projections for a global recession. In developing our best estimate of the allowance for credit losses, we consider our outlook as to the probability of each of these scenarios occurring over the estimated contractual cash flows of our investment portfolio. For additional information about the various assumptions we make, including the discount rates used in our DCF analyses, see Note 2. "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2019 Annual Report. The allowance for credit losses is recorded as a contra-asset reflected in the carrying value of the investment on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and is charged to earnings as credit loss expense, which is a component of "Other-than-temporary impairment benefit (expense)" within "Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)" on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The income statement treatment is consistent with how we accounted for credit losses prior to the adoption of CECL. Subsequent changes in the expected cash flows associated with a future period's updated DCF analysis, however, are recorded as an increase to (or reversal of) credit loss expense with the offset recorded to the allowance. We charge write-offs against the allowance when: (i) we determine the recovery of amortized cost to be uncollectible based on our evaluation of the financial condition of the issuer; (ii) we have the intent, or requirement, to sell a security for which an allowance for credit losses was previously established; or (iii) we sold a security for which an allowance for credit losses was previously established. Accrued interest on fixed income securities and CMLs is recorded as a component of “Interest and dividends due or accrued” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. If accrued interest is due but not paid within 90 days, we reverse the delinquent amount against investment income, which is a component of “Net investment income earned” on our Consolidated Statements of Income. We do not record a valuation allowance on our accrued interest balance as we reverse delinquent amounts on a timely basis. We consider a debt security to be past due at the time any principal or interest payments become 90 days delinquent. Commercial Mortgage Loans Beginning in 2020, our investment portfolio contains an allocation to CMLs. As of September 30, 2020, CMLs accounted for less than 1% of our invested assets. CMLs are loans secured by commercial property, such as an office building, multi-family apartment complex, industrial warehouse, or shopping center. We may acquire investments in CMLs through (i) direct originations under a loan syndication arrangement or (ii) a marketplace purchase. We record our investment in CMLs on the settlement date of the loan. Our CMLs are classified as held-for-investment and reported at amortized cost, net of the applicable allowance for credit losses, on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We evaluate our CMLs for expected credit loss under the same DCF methodology described above for fixed income securities. The discount rate used in this DCF model is either (i) the effective interest rate implicit in the CML at the date of acquisition for fixed rate investments, or (ii) the effective interest rate in effect as of the reporting date for non-fixed-rate CMLs. The allowance for credit losses on our CML investments is calculated as the shortfall between amortized cost at the reporting date and the present value of future cash flows calculated in the DCF analysis. The treatment of earnings and the related classification of the expected credit losses on the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Balance Sheet are consistent with our fixed income securities as described above. Allowance for Uncollectible Premiums Receivable We estimate an allowance for expected credit losses on our outstanding premiums receivable balance at each reporting date. In determining this allowance, we use a method that considers the aging of the receivable, based on the effective year of the related policy, along with our historical receivable loss experience. We also contemplate expected macroeconomic conditions over the expected collection period, which are short-term in nature because the majority of the balances are collected within a year or two of policy issuance. Expected credit losses on premiums receivable are charged to earnings as credit loss expense, which is a component of "Other insurance expenses" on our Consolidated Statements of Income, with an offsetting allowance recorded as a contra-asset reflected in the carrying value of the receivable. Subsequent changes in the allowance are recorded as an increase to (or reversal of) credit loss expense. We charge write-offs against the allowance when we determine the account to be uncollectible after considering information obtained from our collection efforts. Allowance for Uncollectible Reinsurance Recoverable The "Reinsurance recoverable" balance on our Consolidated Balance Sheets represents our estimate of amounts that will be recovered from reinsurers under our various treaties. Generally, amounts recoverable from reinsurers are recognized as assets at the same time and in a manner consistent with the paid and unpaid losses associated with the reinsured policies. We would consider a recoverable balance from a reinsurer to be past due if payment is not received by the first day following the invoice due date. We require collateral to secure reinsurance recoverable balances primarily from our reinsurance carriers that are not authorized, otherwise approved, or certified to do business in one or more of our ten insurance subsidiaries' domiciliary states. Our ten insurance subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "Insurance Subsidiaries." This collateral is typically in the form of a letter of credit or cash. We estimate an allowance for expected credit losses on our outstanding reinsurance recoverable balance at each reporting date. Credit risk is mitigated to the extent we have obtained collateral. As part of our allowance calculation, we reduce the recoverable balance by the amount of the collateral. We then pool the uncollateralized balances by similar risk characteristics, including the financial strength rating of the reinsurer, and use a probability-of-default methodology to calculate the allowance. Historical default rates are sourced from AM Best and are coupled with severity assumptions in developing a baseline scenario. We then stress this scenario by incorporating forecasts of industry catastrophe losses and economic factors sourced through third-party data providers. In developing our best estimate of the allowance for credit losses, we consider our outlook as to the probability of each of these scenarios occurring. Expected credit losses on reinsurance recoverable balances are charged to earnings as credit loss expense, which is a component of “Loss and loss expense incurred” on our Consolidated Statements of Income, with an offsetting allowance for the credit loss recorded as a contra-asset reflected in the carrying value of the recoverable balance. Subsequent changes in the allowance are recorded as an increase to (or reversal of) credit loss expense. We charge write-offs against the allowance when we determine the recoverable balance to be uncollectible after considering information obtained from our efforts to collect amounts due or through a review of the financial condition of the reinsurer.
Percent of commercial mortgage loans of our invested assets | 1.00%

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the basis of presentation and significant accounting policies concepts. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). Accounting policies describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
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