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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments Investments
Available-for-sale fixed maturities at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 included the following:
September 30, 2021
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesEstimated Fair Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$241,696 $1,681 $672 $242,705 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations20,509 57 98 20,468 
State and municipal bonds513,111 11,155 1,559 522,707 
Corporate debt1,928,543 41,493 6,923 1,963,113 
Residential mortgage-backed securities475,368 5,513 2,972 477,909 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities14,531 460 49 14,942 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities216,595 3,545 1,116 219,024 
Other asset-backed securities440,536 3,661 929 443,268 
$3,850,889 $67,565 $14,318 $3,904,136 
 December 31, 2020
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit LossesGross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesEstimated Fair Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$104,097 $— $2,985 $23 $107,059 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations12,103 — 158 — 12,261 
State and municipal bonds316,022 — 16,937 39 332,920 
Corporate debt1,267,992 552 63,204 1,302 1,329,342 
Residential mortgage-backed securities269,752 — 7,171 382 276,541 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities12,623 — 687 — 13,310 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities109,244 — 4,788 940 113,092 
Other asset-backed securities269,742 — 4,006 742 273,006 
$2,361,575 $552 $99,936 $3,428 $2,457,531 
The recorded cost basis and estimated fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities at September 30, 2021, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Due in one
year or less
Due after
one year
through
five years
Due after
five years
through
ten years
Due after
ten years
Total Fair
Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$241,696 $19,945 $133,884 $86,726 $2,150 $242,705 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations20,509 3,826 11,363 5,134 145 20,468 
State and municipal bonds513,111 15,273 174,664 188,717 144,053 522,707 
Corporate debt1,928,543 119,700 927,016 809,889 106,508 1,963,113 
Residential mortgage-backed securities475,368 477,909 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities14,531 14,942 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities216,595 219,024 
Other asset-backed securities440,536 443,268 
$3,850,889 $3,904,136 
Excluding obligations of the U.S. Government, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises and a U.S. Government obligations money market fund, no investment in any entity or its affiliates exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2021.
Cash and securities with a carrying value of $54.8 million at September 30, 2021 were on deposit with various state insurance departments to meet regulatory requirements.
As a member of Lloyd's, ProAssurance is required to maintain capital at Lloyd's, referred to as FAL, to support underwriting by Syndicate 1729 and Syndicate 6131. At September 30, 2021, ProAssurance's FAL investments were comprised of available-for-sale fixed maturities with a fair value of $64.3 million and cash and cash equivalents of $8.2 million on deposit with Lloyd's in order to satisfy these FAL requirements. During the second quarter of 2021, ProAssurance received a return of approximately $24.5 million of FAL given the reduction in the Company's participation in the results of Syndicate 1729, to 5% from 29%, and Syndicate 6131, to 50% from 100%, for the 2021 underwriting year.
Investments Held in a Loss Position
The following tables provide summarized information with respect to investments held in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, including the length of time the investment had been held in a continuous unrealized loss position.
September 30, 2021
 TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
 FairUnrealizedFairUnrealizedFairUnrealized
(In thousands)ValueLossValueLossValueLoss
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$162,063 $672 $157,445 $582 $4,618 $90 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations14,422 98 14,422 98   
State and municipal bonds194,740 1,559 192,610 1,467 2,130 92 
Corporate debt637,694 6,923 607,003 6,134 30,691 789 
Residential mortgage-backed securities284,636 2,972 276,253 2,732 8,383 240 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities4,040 49 4,040 49   
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities77,254 1,116 72,541 783 4,713 333 
Other asset-backed securities166,667 929 162,161 867 4,506 62 
$1,541,516 $14,318 $1,486,475 $12,712 $55,041 $1,606 

December 31, 2020
 TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
 FairUnrealizedFairUnrealizedFairUnrealized
(In thousands)ValueLossValueLossValueLoss
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$14,390 $23 $14,390 $23 $— $— 
State and municipal bonds6,416 39 6,416 39 — — 
Corporate debt94,695 1,302 79,436 1,020 15,259 282 
Residential mortgage-backed securities34,928 382 34,509 381 419 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities18,766 940 18,480 935 286 
Other asset-backed securities43,739 742 37,850 701 5,889 41 
$212,934 $3,428 $191,081 $3,099 $21,853 $329 
As of September 30, 2021, excluding U.S. Government or U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations, there were 1,246 debt securities (32.3% of all available-for-sale fixed maturity securities held) in an unrealized loss position representing 768 issuers. The greatest and second greatest unrealized loss positions among those securities were approximately $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The securities were evaluated for impairment as of September 30, 2021.
As of December 31, 2020, excluding U.S. Government or U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations, there were 292 debt securities (11.1% of all available-for-sale fixed maturity securities held) in an unrealized loss position representing 229 issuers. The greatest and second greatest unrealized loss positions among those securities were approximately $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The securities were evaluated for impairment as of December 31, 2020.
Each quarter, ProAssurance performs a detailed analysis for the purpose of assessing whether any of the securities it holds in an unrealized loss position has suffered an impairment due to credit or non-credit factors. A detailed discussion of the factors considered in the assessment is included in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in ProAssurance's December 31, 2020 report on Form 10-K.
Fixed maturity securities held in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2021, excluding asset-backed securities, have paid all scheduled contractual payments and are expected to continue. Expected future cash flows of asset-backed securities, excluding those issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, held in an unrealized loss position were estimated as part of the September 30, 2021 impairment evaluation using the most recently available six-month historical performance data for the collateral (loans) underlying the security or, if historical data was not available, sector based assumptions, and equaled or exceeded the current amortized cost basis of the security.
The following tables present a roll forward of the allowance for expected credit losses on available-for-sale fixed maturities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. There was no change in the allowance for expected credit losses for the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
(In thousands)Corporate DebtTotal
Balance, at December 31, 2020$552 $552 
Reductions related to:
Securities sold during the period(552)(552)
Balance, at September 30, 2021$ $ 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
(In thousands)Corporate DebtTotal
Balance, at July 1, 2020$1,408 $1,408 
Reductions related to:
Securities sold during the period(856)(856)
Balance, at September 30, 2020$552 $552 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
(In thousands)Corporate DebtTotal
Balance, at December 31, 2019$— $— 
Additional credit losses related to securities for which:
No allowance for credit losses has been previously recognized1,508 1,508 
Reductions related to:
Securities sold during the period(956)(956)
Balance, at September 30, 2020$552 $552 
Other information regarding sales and purchases of fixed maturity available-for-sale securities is as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30Nine Months Ended September 30
(In millions)2021202020212020
Proceeds from sales (exclusive of maturities and paydowns)$85.4 $86.9 $343.5 $304.6 
Purchases$404.1 $317.5 $1,169.6 $689.4 
Equity Investments
ProAssurance's equity investments are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in income as a component of net realized investment gains (losses) during the period of change. Equity investments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 primarily included stocks, bond funds and investment funds.
Short-term Investments
ProAssurance's short-term investments, which have a maturity at purchase of one year or less, are primarily comprised of investments in U.S. treasury obligations, commercial paper and money market funds. Short-term investments are carried at fair value which approximates the cost of the securities due to their short-term nature.
BOLI
ProAssurance holds BOLI policies that are carried at the current cash surrender value of the policies (original cost $43 million), which includes the BOLI policies acquired from NORCAL (original cost $10 million). All insured individuals were members of ProAssurance or NORCAL management at the time the policies were acquired. The primary purpose of the program is to offset future employee benefit expenses through earnings on the cash value of the policies. ProAssurance is the owner and beneficiary of these policies.
Net Investment Income
Net investment income by investment category was as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30
Nine Months Ended
September 30
(In thousands)2021202020212020
Fixed maturities$20,121 $16,902 $53,969 $52,863 
Equities648 706 1,790 3,598 
Short-term investments, including Other587 405 1,539 2,386 
BOLI622 655 1,752 1,568 
Investment fees and expenses(2,700)(1,744)(7,337)(4,538)
Net investment income$19,278 $16,924 $51,713 $55,877 
Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
ProAssurance's investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries were as follows:
 September 30, 2021Carrying Value
(In thousands)Percentage
Ownership
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnershipsSee below$15,980 $27,719 
All other investments, primarily investment fund LPs/LLCs
See below301,889 282,810 
$317,869 $310,529 
Qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnership interests held by ProAssurance generate investment returns by providing tax benefits to fund investors in the form of tax credits and project operating losses. The carrying value of these investments reflects ProAssurance's total commitments (both funded and unfunded) to the partnerships, less any amortization. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to two of the tax credit partnership interests is almost 100%; these interests had a carrying value of $4.9 million at September 30, 2021 and $9.4 million at December 31, 2020. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to the remaining tax credit partnership interests is less than 20%; these interests had a carrying value of $11.1 million at September 30, 2021 and $18.3 million at December 31, 2020. Since ProAssurance has the ability to exert influence over the partnerships but does not control them, all are accounted for using the equity method. See further discussion of the entities in which ProAssurance holds passive interests in Note 13.
ProAssurance holds interests in investment fund LPs/LLCs and other equity method investments and LPs/LLCs which are not considered to be investment funds. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to four of the LPs/LLCs is greater than 25%, which is expected to be reduced as the funds mature and other investors participate in the funds; these investments had a carrying value of $49.2 million at September 30, 2021 and $46.2 million at December 31, 2020. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to the remaining investments and LPs/LLCs is less than 25%; these interests had a carrying value of $252.7 million at September 30, 2021 and $236.6 million at December 31, 2020. ProAssurance does not have the ability to exert control over any of these funds.
Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries included losses from qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnerships and a historic tax credit partnership. Investment results recorded reflect ProAssurance's allocable portion of partnership operating results. Tax credits reduce income tax expense in the period they are recognized. The results recorded and tax credits recognized related to ProAssurance's tax credit partnership investments were as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30
Nine Months Ended
September 30
(In thousands)2021202020212020
Qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnerships
Losses recorded$3,591 $4,798 $11,712 $14,152 
Tax credits recognized$3,226 $4,369 $9,880 $13,106 
Historic tax credit partnership*
Losses (gains) recorded$ $(264)$(182)$1,820 
Tax credits recognized (reversed)$(100)$103 $ $309 
* ProAssurance holds a historic tax credit partnership which was fully amortized in 2020. ProAssurance received a distribution associated with this investment during the first quarter of 2021 as a result of positive cash flows from a project recognizing an operating gain. See further discussion on this investment in Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in ProAssurance’s December 31, 2020 report on Form 10-K.
The tax credits generated from the Company's tax credit partnership investments of $3.1 million and $9.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, were deferred and are expected to be utilized in future periods.
Tax credits provided by the underlying projects of the Company's historic tax credit partnership are typically available in the tax year in which the project is put into active service, whereas the tax credits provided by qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnerships are provided over approximately a ten year period.
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Realized investment gains and losses are recognized on the first-in, first-out basis. The following table provides detailed information regarding net realized investment gains (losses):
Three Months Ended
September 30
Nine Months Ended
September 30
(In thousands)2021202020212020
Total impairment losses:
Corporate debt$ $— $ $(1,745)
Portion of impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income before taxes:
Corporate debt —  237 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 —  (1,508)
Gross realized gains, available-for-sale fixed maturities2,225 3,996 12,540 10,941 
Gross realized (losses), available-for-sale fixed maturities(259)(396)(798)(2,266)
Net realized gains (losses), trading fixed maturities(47)116 17 268 
Net realized gains (losses), equity investments426 31 6,616 10,589 
Net realized gains (losses), other investments1,699 530 6,192 2,442 
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), trading fixed maturities (49)373 (489)637 
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), equity investments(945)2,766 (2,182)(21,012)
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), convertible securities, carried at fair value (2,457)1,170 (2,118)(190)
Other(63)252 434 249 
Net realized investment gains (losses)$530 $8,838 $20,212 $150 
ProAssurance did not recognize any credit-related impairment losses in earnings or non-credit impairment losses in OCI during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 or the three months ended September 30, 2020. ProAssurance recognized credit-related impairment losses in earnings of $1.5 million and a nominal amount of non-credit impairment losses in OCI for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The credit-related impairment losses recognized during the 2020 nine-month period related to corporate bonds in the energy and consumer sectors. Additionally, the 2020 nine-month period included credit-related impairment losses related to four corporate bonds in various sectors, which were sold during 2020. The non-credit related impairment losses recognized during the 2020 nine-month period related to three corporate bonds in the energy and consumer sectors.
ProAssurance recognized $0.5 million and $20.2 million of net realized investment gains during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, driven primarily by realized gains on the sale of certain available-for-sale fixed maturities and other investments, which were partially offset by unrealized holding losses resulting from changes in the fair value of our convertible securities. ProAssurance recognized $8.8 million and $0.2 million of net realized investment gains during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. Net realized investment gains during the 2020 three-month period were driven by gains in the Company's available-for-sale fixed maturities due to the sale of corporate bonds and, to a lesser extent, unrealized holding gains resulting from an increase in the fair value of the Company's equity portfolio and convertible securities. Net realized investment gains for the 2020 nine-month period were driven by realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale fixed maturities and equity investments and, to a lesser extent, unrealized holding gains on trading securities, which were almost entirely offset by unrealized holding losses resulting from decreases in the fair value of the Company's equity portfolio due to the volatility in the global financial markets related to COVID-19.
The following table presents a roll forward of cumulative credit losses recorded in earnings related to impaired debt securities for which a portion of the impairment was recorded in OCI.
Three Months Ended
September 30
Nine Months Ended
September 30
(In thousands)2021202020212020
Balance, beginning of period$ $1,322 $552 $470 
Additional credit losses recognized during the period, related to securities for which:
No impairment has been previously recognized —  1,064 
Impairment has been previously recognized —  258 
Reductions due to:
Securities sold during the period (realized) (770)(552)(1,240)
Balance, September 30$ $552 $ $552