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Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Investments
2. Investments

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments were as follows as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

(Dollars in thousands)    Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair Value
     Other than
temporary
impairments
recognized
in AOCI (1)
 

As of March 31, 2018

             

Fixed maturities:

             

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

   $ 99,713      $ 476      $ (2,060   $ 98,129      $ —    

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     95,708        304        (601     95,411        —    

Mortgage-backed securities

     176,983        313        (3,511     173,785        —    

Asset-backed securities

     203,834        115        (1,204     202,745        (1)  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     151,337        58        (3,554     147,841        —    

Corporate bonds

     431,814        417        (7,424     424,807        —    

Foreign corporate bonds

     122,565        9        (2,296     120,278        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     1,281,954        1,692        (20,650     1,262,996        (1)  

Common stock

     133,911        —          —         133,911        —    

Other invested assets

     82,159        —          —         82,159        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,498,024      $ 1,692      $ (20,650   $ 1,479,066      $ (1)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents the total amount of other than temporary impairment losses relating to factors other than credit losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”).

 

(Dollars in thousands)    Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair Value
     Other than
temporary
impairments
recognized
in AOCI (1)
 

As of December 31, 2017

             

Fixed maturities:

             

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

   $ 105,311      $ 562      $ (1,193   $ 104,680      $ —    

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     94,947        441        (274     95,114        —    

Mortgage-backed securities

     150,237        404        (1,291     149,350        —    

Asset-backed securities

     203,827        267        (393     203,701          (1

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     140,761        101        (1,067     139,795        —    

Corporate bonds

     422,486        2,295        (1,391     423,390        —    

Foreign corporate bonds

     125,575        377        (545     125,407        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     1,243,144        4,447        (6,154     1,241,437          (1

Common stock

     124,915        18,574        (3,260     140,229        —    

Other invested assets

     77,820        —          —         77,820        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,445,879      $ 23,021      $ (9,414   $ 1,459,486      $   (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Represents the total amount of other than temporary impairment losses relating to factors other than credit losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”).

Excluding U.S. treasuries and agency bonds, the Company did not hold any debt or equity investments in a single issuer that was in excess of 6% and 5% of shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio classified as available for sale at March 31, 2018, 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.

 

(Dollars in thousands)    Amortized
Cost
     Estimated
Fair Value
 

Due in one year or less

   $ 68,903      $ 68,736  

Due in one year through five years

     431,430        425,571  

Due in five years through ten years

     240,272        235,140  

Due in ten years through fifteen years

     4,215        4,170  

Due after fifteen years

     4,980        5,008  

Mortgage-backed securities

     176,983        173,785  

Asset-backed securities

     203,834        202,745  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     151,337        147,841  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,281,954      $ 1,262,996  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s fixed income securities with gross unrealized losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of March 31, 2018. Due to new accounting guidance implemented in 2018 regarding the treatment of gains and losses on equity securities, common stock is no longer included in the table:

 

     Less than 12 months     12 months or longer (1)     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)    Fair Value      Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities:

               

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

   $ 69,992      $ (1,813   $ 20,223      $ (247   $ 90,215      $ (2,060

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     46,524        (454     7,711        (147     54,235        (601

Mortgage-backed securities

     165,295        (3,453     1,756        (58     167,051        (3,511

Asset-backed securities

     148,609        (1,158     6,399        (46     155,008        (1,204

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     113,728        (2,766     27,292        (788     141,020        (3,554

Corporate bonds

     320,235        (6,429     52,303        (995     372,538        (7,424

Foreign corporate bonds

     93,828        (1,951     16,452        (345     110,280        (2,296
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 958,211      $ (18,024   $ 132,136      $ (2,626   $ 1,090,347      $ (20,650
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Fixed maturities in a gross unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer are primarily comprised of non-credit losses on investment grade securities where management does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be forced to sell the security before recovery. The Company has analyzed these securities and has determined that they are not other than temporarily impaired.

The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s securities with gross unrealized losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2017:

 

     Less than 12 months     12 months or longer (1)     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)    Fair Value      Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed maturities:

               

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

   $ 79,403      $ (962   $ 17,469      $ (231   $ 96,872      $ (1,193

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     34,537        (149     12,060        (125     46,597        (274

Mortgage-backed securities

     127,991        (1,247     1,866        (44     129,857        (1,291

Asset-backed securities

     97,817        (371     6,423        (22     104,240        (393

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     83,051        (523     27,976        (544     111,027        (1,067

Corporate bonds

     147,064        (754     53,024        (637     200,088        (1,391

Foreign corporate bonds

     53,320        (305     20,582        (240     73,902        (545
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     623,183        (4,311     139,400        (1,843     762,583        (6,154

Common stock

     32,759        (3,260     —          —         32,759        (3,260
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 655,942      $ (7,571   $ 139,400      $ (1,843   $ 795,342      $ (9,414
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Fixed maturities in a gross unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer are primarily comprised of non-credit losses on investment grade securities where management does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be forced to sell the security before recovery. The Company has analyzed these securities and has determined that they are not other than temporarily impaired.

The Company regularly performs various analytical valuation procedures with respect to its investments, including reviewing each fixed maturity security in an unrealized loss position to assess whether the security has a credit loss. Specifically, the Company considers credit rating, market price, and issuer specific financial information, among other factors, to assess the likelihood of collection of all principal and interest as contractually due. Securities for which the Company determines that a credit loss is likely are subjected to further analysis through discounted cash flow testing to estimate the credit loss to be recognized in earnings, if any. The specific methodologies and significant assumptions used by asset class are discussed below. Upon identification of such securities and periodically thereafter, a detailed review is performed to determine whether the decline is considered other than temporary. This review includes an analysis of several factors, including but not limited to, the credit ratings and cash flows of the securities and the magnitude and length of time that the fair value of such securities is below cost.

 

For fixed maturities, the factors considered in reaching the conclusion that a decline below cost is other than temporary include, among others, whether:

 

  (1) the issuer is in financial distress;

 

  (2) the investment is secured;

 

  (3) a significant credit rating action occurred;

 

  (4) scheduled interest payments were delayed or missed;

 

  (5) changes in laws or regulations have affected an issuer or industry;

 

  (6) the investment has an unrealized loss and was identified by the Company’s investment manager as an investment to be sold before recovery or maturity; and

 

  (7) the investment failed cash flow projection testing to determine if anticipated principal and interest payments will be realized.

According to accounting guidance for debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company is required to assess whether it has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery. If either of these conditions is met the Company must recognize an other than temporary impairment with the entire unrealized loss being recorded through earnings. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position not meeting these conditions, the Company assesses whether the impairment of a security is other than temporary. If the impairment is deemed to be other than temporary, the Company must separate the other than temporary impairment into two components: the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors, such as changes in interest rates. The credit loss represents the portion of the amortized book value in excess of the net present value of the projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The credit loss component of the other than temporary impairment is recorded through earnings, whereas the amount relating to factors other than credit losses is recorded in other comprehensive income, net of taxes.

The following is a description, by asset type, of the methodology and significant inputs that the Company used to measure the amount of credit loss recognized in earnings, if any:

U.S. treasury and agency obligations – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to U.S. treasury and agency obligations were $2.060 million. Of this amount, $0.247 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater and are rated AA+. Macroeconomic and market analysis is conducted in evaluating these securities. Consideration is given to the interest rate environment, duration and yield curve management of the portfolio, sector allocation and security selection.

Obligations of states and political subdivisions – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to obligations of states and political subdivisions were $0.601 million. Of this amount, $0.147 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater and are rated investment grade or better. All factors that influence performance of the municipal bond market are considered in evaluating these securities. The aforementioned factors include investor expectations, supply and demand patterns, and current versus historical yield and spread relationships. The analysis relies on the output of fixed income credit analysts, as well as dedicated municipal bond analysts who perform extensive in-house fundamental analysis on each issuer, regardless of their rating by the major agencies.

Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to mortgage-backed securities were $3.511 million. Of this amount, $0.058 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. 97.3% of the unrealized losses for twelve months or greater are related to securities rated AA+ or better. Mortgage-backed securities are modeled to project principal losses under downside, base, and upside scenarios for the economy and home prices. The primary assumption that drives the security and loan level modeling is the Home Price Index (“HPI”) projection. These forecasts incorporate not just national macro-economic trends, but also regional impacts to arrive at the most granular and accurate projections. These assumptions are incorporated into the model as a basis to generate delinquency probabilities, default curves, loss severity curves, and voluntary prepayment curves at the loan level within each deal. The model utilizes HPI-adjusted current LTV, payment history, loan terms, loan modification history, and borrower characteristics as inputs to generate expected cash flows and principal loss for each bond under various scenarios.

 

Asset backed securities (“ABS”) – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to asset backed securities were $1.204 million. Of this amount, $0.046 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater and are rated AA+ or better. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s asset backed portfolio is 23.9. This represents the percentage of pool losses that can occur before an asset backed security will incur its first dollar of principal losses. Every ABS transaction is analyzed on a stand-alone basis. This analysis involves a thorough review of the collateral, prepayment, and structural risk in each transaction. Additionally, the analysis includes an in-depth credit analysis of the originator and servicer of the collateral. The analysis projects an expected loss for a deal given a set of assumptions specific to the asset type. These assumptions are used to calculate at what level of losses the deal will incur its first dollar of principal loss. The major assumptions used to calculate this ratio are loss severities, recovery lags, and no advances on principal and interest.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to the CMBS portfolio were $3.554 million. Of this amount, $0.788 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater and are rated AA+ or better. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s CMBS portfolio is 28.4. This represents the percentage of pool losses that can occur before a mortgage-backed security will incur its first dollar of principal loss. For the Company’s CMBS portfolio, a loan level analysis is utilized where every underlying CMBS loan is re-underwritten based on a set of assumptions reflecting expectations for the future path of the economy. Each loan is analyzed over time using a series of tests to determine if a credit event will occur during the life of the loan. Inherent in this process are several economic scenarios and their corresponding rent/vacancy and capital market states. The five primary credit events that frame the analysis include loan modifications, term default, balloon default, extension, and ability to pay off at balloon. The resulting output is the expected loss adjusted cash flows for each bond under the base case and distressed scenarios.

Corporate bonds – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to corporate bonds were $7.424 million. Of this amount, $0.995 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater and are rated investment grade or better. The analysis for this asset class includes maintaining detailed financial models that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral. The analysis incorporates the macroeconomic environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, the issuer’s current competitive position, its vulnerability to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection. Part of the process also includes running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default.

Foreign bonds – As of March 31, 2018, gross unrealized losses related to foreign bonds were $2.296 million. Of this amount, $0.345 million have been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. 78.3% of the unrealized losses for twelve months or greater are related to securities rated investment grade or better. For this asset class, detailed financial models are maintained that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral. The analysis incorporates the macroeconomic environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, the issuer’s current competitive position, its vulnerability to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection. Part of the process also includes running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default.

The Company recorded the following other than temporary impairments (“OTTI”) on its investment portfolio for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

     Quarters Ended March 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)    2018      2017  

Fixed maturities:

     

OTTI losses, gross

   $ —        $ (31

Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net impairment losses on fixed maturities recognized in earnings

     —          (31

Equity securities

     —          (79
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ —        $ (110
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The following table is an analysis of the credit losses recognized in earnings on fixed maturities held by the Company as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

     Quarters Ended March 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)    2018      2017  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 13      $ 31  

Additions where no OTTI was previously recorded

     —          —    

Additions where an OTTI was previously recorded

     —          —    

Reductions for securities for which the company intends to sell or

more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery

     —          —    

Reductions reflecting increases in expected cash flows to be collected

     —          —    

Reductions for securities sold during the period

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 13      $ 31  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)    March 31, 2018      December 31, 2017  

Net unrealized gains (losses) from:

     

Fixed maturities

   $ (18,958    $ (1,707

Common stock

     —          15,314  

Foreign currency fluctuations

     179        551  

Deferred taxes

     2,248        (5,175
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

   $ (16,531    $ 8,983  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, by component for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2018

(Dollars in thousands)

   Unrealized Gains
and Losses on
Available for Sale
Securities, Net of
Tax
     Foreign Currency
Items, Net of Tax
     Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income, Net of Tax
 

Beginning balance

   $ 8,272      $ 711      $ 8,983  

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification

     (15,189      (372      (15,561

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     75        —          75  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (15,114      (372      (15,486
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cumulative-effect adjustment

     (9,868      (160      (10,028
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ (16,710    $ 179      $ (16,531
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2017

(Dollars in thousands)

  Unrealized Gains
and Losses on
Available for Sale
Securities, Net of
Tax
    Foreign Currency
Items, Net of Tax
    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income, Net of Tax
 

Beginning balance

  $ (554   $ (64   $ (618

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification

    5,171       185       5,356  

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    (399     (7     (406
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    4,772       178       4,950  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

  $ 4,218     $ 114     $ 4,332  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Details about Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income Components

  

Affected Line Item in the

Consolidated Statements of

Operations

   Amounts Reclassified
from Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Income Quarters Ended
March 31,
 
      2018      2017  

Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities

  

Other net realized investment (gains) losses

   $ 93      $ (701
  

Other than temporary impairment losses on investments

     —          110  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Total before tax

     93        (591
  

Income tax (benefit)

     (18      192  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities, net of tax

     75        (399
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign currency items

  

Other net realized investment (gains)

     —          (11
  

Income tax expense

     —          4  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Foreign currency items, net of tax

     —          (7
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total reclassifications

  

Total reclassifications, net of tax

   $ 75      $ (406
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

The components of net realized investment gains (losses) for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

     Quarters Ended March 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)    2018      2017  

Fixed maturities:

     

Gross realized gains

   $ 24      $ 189  

Gross realized losses

     (117      (83
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized gains (losses)

     (93      106  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Common stock:

     

Gross realized gains

     3,453        575  

Gross realized losses

     (7,827      (79
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized gains (losses)

     (4,374      496  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivatives:

     

Gross realized gains

     4,801        1,236  

Gross realized losses

     (650      (1,063
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized gains (1)

     4,151        173  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net realized investment gains (losses)

   $ (316    $ 775  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes $0.7 million and $1.1 million of periodic net interest settlements related to the derivatives for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

New accounting guidance regarding equity securities was implemented during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 which requires companies to disclose realized gains and losses for equity securities still held at period end and gains and losses from securities sold during the period. See Note 13 for additional information regarding new accounting pronouncements. The following table shows the calculation of the portion of realized gains and losses related to common stock being held as of March 31, 2018:

 

     Quarter
Ended
March 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands)    2018  

Net gains and losses recognized during the period on equity securities

   $ (4,374

Less: Net gains and losses recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period

     554  
  

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date

   $ (4,928
  

 

 

 

The proceeds from sales and redemptions of available for sale and equity securities resulting in net realized investment gains (losses) for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

     Quarters Ended
March 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands)    2018      2017  

Fixed maturities

   $ 47,148      $ 139,350  

Equity securities

     9,283        5,626  

 

Net Investment Income

The sources of net investment income for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

     Quarters Ended March 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)    2018      2017  

Fixed maturities

   $ 8,528      $ 6,678  

Equity securities

     999        990  

Cash and cash equivalents

     264        84  

Other invested assets

     2,323        1,692  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment income

     12,114        9,444  

Investment expense

     (710      (800
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

   $ 11,404      $ 8,644  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company’s total investment return on a pre-tax basis for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

     Quarters Ended March 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)    2018     2017  

Net investment income

   $ 11,404     $ 8,644  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     (316     775  

Change in unrealized holding gains (losses)

     (17,623     7,017  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized investment returns

     (17,939     7,792  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return

   $ (6,535   $ 16,436  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return % (1)

     (0.4 %)      1.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average investment portfolio (2)

   $ 1,538,651     $ 1,559,965  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Not annualized.
(2) Average of total cash and invested assets, net of receivable/payable for securities purchased and sold, as of the beginning and end of the period.

Insurance Enhanced Asset-Backed and Credit Securities

As of March 31, 2018, the Company held insurance enhanced asset-backed, commercial mortgage-backed, and credit securities with a market value of approximately $33.0 million. Approximately $1.1 million of these securities were tax-free municipal bonds, which represented approximately 0.1% of the Company’s total cash and invested assets, net of payable/ receivable for securities purchased and sold. These securities had an average rating of “AA.” None of these bonds are pre-refunded with U.S. treasury securities, nor would they have carried a lower credit rating had they not been insured.

A summary of the Company’s insurance enhanced municipal bonds that are backed by financial guarantors, including the pre-refunded bonds that are escrowed in U.S. government obligations, as of March 31, 2018, is as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Financial Guarantor

   Total      Pre-refunded
Securities
     Government
Guaranteed
Securities
     Exposure Net
of Pre-refunded
& Government
Guaranteed

Securities
 

Municipal Bond Insurance Association

   $ 1,136      $ —        $ —        $ 1,136  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total backed by financial guarantors

     1,136        —          —          1,136  

Other credit enhanced municipal bonds

     —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,136      $ —        $ —        $ 1,136  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In addition to the tax-free municipal bonds, the Company held $31.9 million of insurance enhanced bonds, which represented approximately 2.1% of the Company’s total invested assets, net of receivable/payable for securities purchased and sold. The insurance enhanced bonds are comprised of $21.6 million of taxable municipal bonds, $10.2 million of commercial mortgage-backed securities, and $0.1 million of asset-backed securities. The financial guarantors of the Company’s $31.9 million of insurance enhanced asset-backed, commercial-mortgage-backed, and taxable municipal securities include Municipal Bond Insurance Association ($6.3 million), Assured Guaranty Corporation ($15.4 million), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ($10.2 million).

The Company had no direct investments in the entities that have provided financial guarantees or other credit support to any security held by the Company at March 31, 2018.

Bonds Held on Deposit

Certain cash balances, cash equivalents, equity securities, and bonds available for sale were deposited with various governmental authorities in accordance with statutory requirements, were held as collateral pursuant to borrowing arrangements, or were held in trust pursuant to intercompany reinsurance agreements. The fair values were as follows as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

     Estimated Fair Value  
(Dollars in thousands)    March 31, 2018     December 31, 2017  

On deposit with governmental authorities

   $ 26,412     $ 26,852  

Intercompany trusts held for the benefit of U.S. policyholders

     291,974       328,494  

Held in trust pursuant to third party requirements

     96,803       94,098  

Letter of credit held for third party requirements

     2,707       3,944  

Securities held as collateral for borrowing arrangements (1)

     78,053       88,040  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 495,949     $ 541,428  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Amount required to collateralize margin borrowing facility.

Variable Interest Entities

A Variable Interest Entity (VIE) refers to an investment in which an investor holds a controlling interest that is not based on the majority of voting rights. Under the VIE model, the party that has the power to exercise significant management influence and maintain a controlling financial interest in the entity’s economics is said to be the primary beneficiary, and is required to consolidate the entity within their results. Other entities that participate in a VIE, for which their financial interests fluctuate with changes in the fair value of the investment entity’s net assets but do not have significant management influence and the ability to direct the VIE’s significant economic activities are said to have a variable interest in the VIE but do not consolidate the VIE in their financial results.

The Company has variable interests in three VIE’s for which it is not the primary beneficiary. These investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as their ownership interest exceeds 3% of their respective investments.    

The fair value of one of the Company’s VIE’s, which invests in distressed securities and assets, was $22.9 million and $26.3 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $37.2 million and $40.5 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The fair value of a second VIE that provides financing for middle market companies, was $36.4 million and $33.8 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $41.6 million and $43.8 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The fair value of a third VIE that also invests in distressed securities and assets, was $22.9 million and $17.8 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $52.1 million and $51.3 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s investment in VIEs is included in other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheet with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.