UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016
OR
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition Period from to
Commission File Number: 001-36311
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 27-1046208 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
59 Maiden Lane, 38th Floor New York, New York | 10038 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |
(212) 380-9500
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | |
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC | |
7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC | |
Depositary Shares, each Representing 1/40th of a Share of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC | |
Depositary Shares, each Representing 1/40th of a Share of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC | |
7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer x | Accelerated Filer o | Non-Accelerated Filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller Reporting Company o | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes o No x
As of June 30, 2016, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, the aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates was $1,040,542,731. As of March 13, 2017, the number of common shares of the registrant outstanding was 106,502,250.
Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Registrant to be filed subsequently with the SEC are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
PART I | ||
PART II | ||
PART III | ||
PART IV | ||
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PART I
Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When we use words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” or similar expressions, we do so to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including those relating to future growth of our business activities and availability of funds, and are based on current expectations that involve assumptions that are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, non-receipt of expected payments from insureds or reinsurers, changes in interest rates, a downgrade in the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, the effect of the performance of financial markets on our investment portfolio, our ability to accurately underwrite and price our products and to maintain and establish accurate loss reserves, estimates of the fair value of our life settlement contracts, development of claims and the effect on loss reserves, accuracy in projecting loss reserves, the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage, the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues, changes in the demand for our products, our degree of success in integrating acquired businesses, the effect of general economic conditions, state and federal legislation, regulations and regulatory investigations into industry practices, risks associated with conducting business outside the United States, developments relating to existing agreements, disruptions to our business relationships with AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., ACP Re Ltd., Maiden Holdings, Ltd., or third party agencies, breaches in data security or other disruptions with our technology, heightened competition, changes in pricing environments, and changes in asset valuations. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties, as well as others that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, is contained in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The projections and statements in this report speak only as of the date of this report and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
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Item 1. Business
Legal Organization
National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, is a specialty personal lines insurance holding company. Shares of our common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Global Market on February 20, 2014. References to “National General,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other statements and information publicly disseminated by National General Holdings Corp. refer to National General Holdings Corp. (formerly known as American Capital Acquisition Corporation) and all of its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.
Business Overview
We are a specialty personal lines insurance holding company that, through our subsidiaries, provides a variety of insurance products, including personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, umbrella, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, lender-placed, supplemental health and other niche insurance products. We sell insurance products with a focus on underwriting profitability through a combination of our customized and predictive analytics and our technology driven low cost infrastructure.
Our automobile insurance products protect our customers against losses due to physical damage to their motor vehicles, bodily injury and liability to others for personal injury or property damage arising out of auto accidents. Our homeowners and umbrella insurance products protect our customers against losses to dwellings and contents from a variety of perils, as well as coverage for personal liability. We offer our property and casualty (“P&C”) insurance products through a network of approximately 25,500 independent agents, a number of affinity partners and through direct-response marketing programs. We have approximately 3.9 million P&C policyholders.
We launched our accident and health (“A&H”) business in 2012 to provide accident and non-major medical health insurance products targeting our existing P&C policyholders and the anticipated emerging market of employed persons who are uninsured or underinsured. We market our and other carriers’ A&H insurance products through a multi-pronged distribution platform that includes a network of over 28,000 independent agents, direct-to-consumer marketing, wholesaling and worksite marketing.
We are licensed to operate in 50 states and the District of Columbia, but focus on underserved niche markets. Approximately 81.4% of our P&C premium written is originated in ten core states: California, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Louisiana, Michigan, Virginia and Washington. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, our gross premium written was $3,500 million, $2,590 million and $2,135 million, net premium written was $3,071 million, $2,186 million and $1,870 million and total consolidated revenues were $3,550 million, $2,511 million and $1,862 million, respectively.
Our company (formerly known as American Capital Acquisition Corporation) was formed in 2009 to acquire the private passenger auto business of the U.S. consumer property and casualty insurance segment of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (“GMAC,” now known as Ally Financial), which operations date back to 1939. We acquired this business on March 1, 2010.
Our wholly-owned subsidiaries include twenty-two regulated domestic insurance companies, of which twenty write primarily P&C insurance and two write A&H insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries that are part of our intercompany quota share agreement to Integon National Insurance Company (“Integon National”), have an “A-” (Excellent) group rating by A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”), subject to transition periods in the case of acquired companies.
Two of our wholly-owned subsidiaries that we acquired on September 15, 2014 are management companies that act as attorneys-in-fact for Adirondack Insurance Exchange, a New York reciprocal insurer, and New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association, a New Jersey reciprocal insurer (together, the “Reciprocal Exchanges” or “Exchanges”). We do not own the Reciprocal Exchanges but are paid a fee to manage their business operations through our wholly-owned management companies.
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Business Segments
We are a specialty national carrier with regional focuses. We manage our business through two segments:
• | Property and Casualty (“P&C”) - Our P&C segment operates its business through three primary distribution channels: agency, affinity and direct. Our agency channel focuses primarily on writing standard, preferred and nonstandard auto coverage and homeowners and umbrella coverage through our network of approximately 25,500 independent agents. In our affinity channel, we partner with a number of affinity groups and membership organizations to deliver insurance products tailored to the needs of our affinity partners’ members or customers under our affinity partners’ brand name or label, which we refer to as selling on a “white label” basis. A primary focus of a number of our affinity relationships is providing recreational vehicle coverage, of which we believe we are one of the top writers in the U.S. Our direct channel is operated through approximately 410 store fronts, web/mobile, phone sales centers and kiosks. In addition, we operate our lender-placed services through long-term distribution agreements with certain mortgage lenders. |
• | Accident and Health (“A&H”) - Our A&H segment was formed in 2012 to provide accident and non-major medical health insurance products targeting our existing insureds and the anticipated emerging market of uninsured or underinsured employees. Through a number of acquisitions of both carriers and general agencies, including VelaPoint, LLC, our call center general agency (“Velapoint”), National Health Insurance Company, a life and health insurance carrier established in 1979 (“NHIC”), Euro Accident Health & Care Insurance Aktiebolag, our European group life and health insurance managing general agent (“EHC”), Healthcare Solutions Team, LLC, a healthcare insurance managing general agency (“HST”), and North Star Marketing Corporation, a proprietary small group sales channel, we have assembled a multi-pronged distribution platform that includes direct-to-consumer marketing through our call center agency, selling through approximately 28,000 independent agents, wholesaling insurance products through large general agencies/program managers and, through our affinity relationships, worksite marketing through employers. |
For a summary of our underwriting revenues, net income and total assets by reportable business segments, see Note 25, “Segment Information,” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
P&C Segment
Distribution and Marketing
Agency Distribution Channel
Our agency channel focuses on writing automobile insurance, including standard, preferred and nonstandard, as well as preferred homeowners and umbrella insurance, through independent insurance agents and brokers. We have established a broad geographic presence throughout the country and have a significant market presence in our ten largest states of California, New York, North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, Virginia and Washington.
Relationships with our Independent Agents. We have built a strong network of approximately 25,500 insurance agents and brokers and provide them with competitive compensation, a user-friendly technology platform and superior service for our core markets. In order to provide quick and responsive service to our agents, we operate an agency customer service call center staffed by experienced and highly-trained employees. Our focus on building and maintaining a strong agency network has created an effective variable cost distribution platform and is central to the long-term success of our agency channel. We have also developed an innovative program for select agents, known as our agent captive program, which allows select agents to participate in the underwriting profits on business they produce. We believe this program encourages the participants to produce more profitable business and increases their loyalty to us.
Our North Carolina Business. We are the largest writer of nonstandard auto insurance sold through independent agents in North Carolina, with over 50% market share. For the year ended December 31, 2016, in North Carolina, we generated $483.5 million of gross premium written.
The North Carolina nonstandard auto insurance market is serviced by a small number of carriers with most liability insurance ceded to the state-controlled North Carolina Reinsurance Facility, the NCRF. We are not subject to any underwriting liability risk on the NCRF business written because losses are incurred by the NCRF. As a servicing carrier to the state facility, we receive a ceding commission from the NCRF to help offset operating expenses for providing the coverage to North Carolina residents. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Reinsurance.”
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Affinity Distribution Channel
Through the affinity distribution channel of our P&C insurance business we are a leader in affinity marketing and have been in operation since 1953, relying on best-in-class marketing strategies and analytics to maximize the value of our longstanding relationships. Our affinity relationships are generally long-term in nature. It has been our experience that termination of affinity partner relationships is infrequent because we generally own the renewal rights to the relationship business and a terminating affinity partner would lose its rights to promotion fees and commissions on the underlying policies following termination. In general, an affinity partner relationship consists of a partnership between a sponsoring organization and an insurance company entered into to address the specific insurance needs of the sponsor organization’s members or customers. Through the affinity relationship, the insurance company receives an endorsement that positions it favorably among the sponsoring organizations’ members or customers. In exchange for the endorsement, the affinity customer receives access to a quality insurer, advantageous pricing and customized products. A primary focus of our affinity channel is providing recreational vehicle, or RV, coverage, of which we are one of the largest writers in the U.S.
Direct Distribution Channel
Through our acquisition of Direct General Corporation (“Direct General”) in November 2016, we obtained a direct distribution channel that primarily sells nonstandard auto policies. Our direct channel includes approximately 410 retail store fronts, web/mobile capabilities, phone contact centers and kiosks. The channel diversity supports growth through changing customer preferences, and gives National General a foothold in the industry’s fastest growing channel. Local retail stores placed in high traffic areas are central to the omni-channel strategy, and are a key component to the marketing and brand awareness in our direct distribution channel. The omni-channel approach also creates a seamless customer experience, regardless of the channel or device that is used.
Lender-placed Insurance Business
In connection with our 2015 acquisition of lender-placed insurance business from QBE Investments (North America), Inc. (“QBE Parent”) and its subsidiary, QBE Holdings, Inc. (together with QBE Parent, “QBE”), we also acquired relationships with certain mortgage lenders and servicers (“LPI Business”). We offer lender-placed products and related services to such mortgage lenders and servicers.
Product Overview
In our P&C segment, we operate in niche businesses and offer a broad range of products employing multiple channels of distribution. Through our agency channel, we primarily sell nonstandard automobile insurance through independent agents and brokers and also offer standard and preferred auto, motorcycle, commercial vehicle, homeowners and umbrella products. Through our affinity channel, we primarily underwrite and market standard and preferred auto and RV insurance.
• | Standard and preferred automobile insurance. These policies provide coverage designed for drivers with greater financial resources and a less risky driving and claims history and have higher renewal retention than nonstandard policies. |
• | Nonstandard automobile insurance. These policies provide coverage for liability and physical damage and are designed for drivers who represent a higher-than-normal level of risk as a result of factors such as their driving record, limited driving experience and claims history, among other factors, and consequently their premiums are generally higher than those for drivers who qualify for standard or preferred coverage. A significant part of our profits from these policies results from fees paid by our customers, which include origination fees, installment fees relating to installment payment plans, late payment fees, policy cancellation fees and reinstatement fees. For the year ended December 31, 2016, our P&C segment generated $241.9 million in revenue from policy service fees. |
• | Homeowners insurance. Our homeowners policies are generally multiple-peril policies, providing property and liability coverages for one- and two-family, owner-occupied residences. We also provide additional coverage to the homeowner for personal umbrella. |
• | Recreational vehicle insurance. Unlike many of our competitors, our policies carry RV-specific endorsements tailored to these vehicles, including automatic personal effects coverage, optional replacement cost coverage, RV storage coverage and full-time liability coverage. We also bundle coverage for RVs and passenger cars in a single policy for which the customer is billed on a combined statement. |
• | Commercial automobile insurance. These policies include liability and physical damage coverage for light-to-medium duty commercial vehicles, focused on artisan vehicles, with an average of two vehicles per policy. |
• | Motorcycle insurance. We provide coverage for most types of motorcycles, as well as golf carts and all-terrain vehicles. Our policy coverage offers flexibility to permit the customer to select the type (e.g., liability) and limit of insurance (e.g., $100,000/$250,000/$500,000), and to include other risks, such as add-on equipment and towing. |
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• | Lender-placed insurance. Through the lender-placed insurance platform, we offer a full suite of lender-placed insurance products to customers, including fire, home and flood products, as well as collateral protection insurance and guaranteed asset protection products for automobiles. |
Fee Income
In addition to traditional insurance premiums, we generate revenue by charging policy service fees to policyholders. These fees include service fees for installment or renewal policies and fees for insufficient funds, late payments, cancellations and various financial responsibility filing fees. The fee income we generate varies depending on the type of policy and state regulations.
Geographic Distribution
We are licensed to operate in 50 states and the District of Columbia. For the year ended December 31, 2016 our top ten states represented 81.4% of our gross premium written. The following table sets forth the distribution of our P&C gross premium written by state as a percent of total gross premium written for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
California | $ | 545,233 | 18.0 | % | $ | 322,045 | 13.8 | % | $ | 306,292 | 15.4 | % | ||||||||
New York | 493,486 | 16.3 | % | 456,828 | 19.5 | % | 406,445 | 20.4 | % | |||||||||||
North Carolina | 483,504 | 15.9 | % | 411,456 | 17.6 | % | 378,475 | 19.0 | % | |||||||||||
Florida | 262,937 | 8.7 | % | 136,562 | 5.8 | % | 85,017 | 4.3 | % | |||||||||||
Texas | 143,711 | 4.7 | % | 94,918 | 4.1 | % | 62,180 | 3.1 | % | |||||||||||
New Jersey | 125,731 | 4.1 | % | 88,445 | 3.8 | % | 93,460 | 4.7 | % | |||||||||||
Louisiana | 125,550 | 4.1 | % | 101,638 | 4.3 | % | 60,838 | 3.0 | % | |||||||||||
Michigan | 104,963 | 3.5 | % | 99,736 | 4.3 | % | 101,353 | 5.1 | % | |||||||||||
Virginia | 97,328 | 3.2 | % | 87,987 | 3.8 | % | 58,480 | 2.9 | % | |||||||||||
Washington | 88,474 | 2.9 | % | 67,685 | 2.9 | % | 58,383 | 2.9 | % | |||||||||||
Other States | 564,581 | 18.6 | % | 470,526 | 20.1 | % | 383,785 | 19.2 | % | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,035,498 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,337,826 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,994,708 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
Underwriting and Claims Management Philosophy
We believe that proactive and prompt claims management is essential to reducing losses and lowering loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) and enables us to more effectively and accurately measure reserves. To this end, we utilize our technology and extensive database of loss history in order to appropriately price and structure policies, maintain lower levels of loss, enhance our ability to accurately predict losses, and maintain lower claims costs. We believe a strong underwriting foundation is best accomplished through careful risk selection and continuous evaluation of underwriting guidelines relative to loss experience. We are committed to a consistent and thorough review of new underwriting opportunities and our portfolio and product mix as a whole.
Underwriting, Pricing and Risk Management, and Actuarial Capabilities
We establish premium rates for insurance products based upon an analysis of expected losses using historical experience and anticipated future trends. Our product team develops the product and manages our underwriting tolerances. Our actuarial team uses a detailed actuarial analysis to establish the necessary rate level for a given product and territory to achieve our targeted return. For risks which fall within our underwriting tolerances, we establish a price by matching rate to risk at a detailed level of segmentation. We determine the individual risk using predictive modeling developed by our analytics team with a level of precision that we believe is superior to the traditional loss cost pricing used by many of our competitors. We believe that effective collaboration among the product, analytics and actuarial teams enhances our ability to price risks appropriately and achieve our targeted rates of return.
To assist us in profitably underwriting our P&C products, our predictive analytics team has developed our RAD 5.0 underwriting pricing tool. The RAD 5.0 underwriting pricing tool offers significant advantages over our prior pricing tools by employing numerous additional components and pricing strategies such as supplemental risk and improved credit modeling. We
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believe the RAD 5.0 underwriting pricing tool facilitates better pricing over the lifetime of a policy by employing lifetime value modeling, elasticity modeling and optimized pricing. We believe that RAD 5.0 provides us with a competitive advantage for pricing our products relative to other auto insurers of our size.
Our actuarial group is central to the pricing and risk management process. The group carries out a number of functions including developing, tracking, and reporting on accident year loss results, monitoring and addressing national, state and channel-specific profit trends and establishing actuarial rate level needs and indications. Our actuarial group also helps ensure the integrity of reported accident year results. We also engage an independent third-party actuary to perform an annual actuarial review.
Claims
Claims can be submitted by telephone, email or smartphone app by policyholders, producers or other parties directly to our claims department. Upon notification of a claim, our claims call center creates a loss notice based on policy information in our claims system, EPIC. The claim is then automatically assigned to a claim handler and to a field adjuster for a vehicle inspection, if necessary. An initial reserve is established based on the type and location of the exposure and data from actuarial tables. A notice to the adjuster is automatically generated immediately after a claim has been assigned. The claim handler’s manager receives a status assignment within 24 hours to ensure the claim is being investigated in a timely manner. The claim handler evaluates coverage and loss participants and investigates the loss. If the claim represents a loss exceeding $50,000, the claim handler will establish a case-specific reserve based on the potential exposure. Claims with potential losses exceeding $75,000 are referred to the large loss unit and handled by employees specially trained to handle these claims. Every claims employee is granted authority to reserve and pay up to a specified claim level. If the potential claim amount exceeds the employee’s authority level, the request is automatically forwarded through EPIC to the manager with the appropriate authority level. As part of the investigation, claim handlers contact the parties to the loss and complete their investigations. Claim handlers record all investigation activities in EPIC, which are reviewed periodically by the managers in the department to ensure proper claims handling. Once the claim investigation has been completed, the claim handler works to close the claim as soon as possible. As of December 31, 2016, our Claims department includes approximately 2,300 individuals.
We carefully monitor our claim performance to ensure efficient handling. Management teams perform weekly reviews of open and aged claim reports. Through a combination of peer reviews, supervisor audits and monthly management information system reports, we have established several mechanisms designed to maintain and improve our level of claim handling performance.
Competition
The property and casualty insurance market in the United States is highly competitive. We believe that our primary competition comes not only from national companies or their subsidiaries, such as The Progressive Corporation, The Allstate Corporation, The Travelers Companies, Inc., The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., Selective Insurance Group, Inc., State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance Group, Assurant, Inc. and GEICO, but also from nonstandard auto focused insurers such as Mercury General Corporation, Infinity Property & Casualty Corporation and independent agents that operate in a specific region or single state in which we operate.
We rely heavily on technology and extensive data gathering and analysis to segment markets and price accurately according to risk potential. We have remained competitive by refining our risk measurement and price segmentation skills, closely managing expenses, and achieving operating efficiencies. Superior customer service and fair and accurate claims adjusting are also important factors in our competitive strategy. With the implementation of our new policy administration system and our RAD 5.0 underwriting pricing tool, we believe we will continue to operate well in the competitive environment.
Recent P&C Acquisitions
Since we acquired our P&C insurance business in 2010, we have made several acquisitions and entered into a number of renewal rights transactions. These additional operations have increased our presence in our target markets and broadened our distribution capabilities. We believe that merger and acquisition transactions and their effective integration represent a core competency and provide continued growth opportunities. The following is a summary of our major P&C transactions during 2016. For details of the impact of these acquisitions in our results of operations, see Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Acquisitions” and “– Results of Operations.”
• | In November 2016, we entered into a renewal rights transaction with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (“Nationwide”) relating to its nonstandard vehicle in-force policies. We will partner with Nationwide’s exclusive and independent agent force to sell policies to their nonstandard auto customers. |
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• | In November 2016, we closed on the acquisition of Elara Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Direct General, a Tennessee based property and casualty insurance company, that predominantly writes nonstandard auto business in the Southeast. The acquisition added a direct distribution channel to our growing personal lines business. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $162.0 million. |
• | In October 2016, we closed on the acquisition of Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company (f/k/a Standard Mutual Insurance Company), an Illinois-based underwriter of personal auto and homeowners insurance in Illinois and Indiana (“SPCIC”). The transaction provides us entry into these states for both homeowners and package products, and adds to our expansion of standard and preferred lines. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $4.9 million. |
• | In June 2016, we closed on the acquisition of Century-National Insurance Company, a California domiciled property and casualty insurance company (“Century-National”), and Western General Agency, Inc., a California corporation (“Western General”), from Kramer-Wilson Company, Inc. This acquisition expands our standard and preferred product offering in both homeowners and personal auto in a key geographic area, enhancing our ability to bundle these products together and improve customer retention. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $322.7 million. |
A&H Segment
Established in 2012, our A&H segment provides supplemental accident and health insurance products. The key to our overall strategy revolves around distribution. We have multiple ways to reach the consumer through established channels, including:
• | directly to the consumer through our in-house general agency; |
• | to independent agents through our in-house general agency; |
• | wholesaling through other general agents and Managing General Underwriters (“MGUs”); and |
• | through employers in the worksite. |
We believe that our A&H distribution is unique because it is not driven by “company stores” - outlets that only sell products underwritten by us. In the markets where we choose not to underwrite, such as traditional individual major medical, we still sell these products on behalf of third-party carriers, allowing us to match the consumer to the product that the consumer needs, whether it’s a product underwritten by us or a third-party carrier. This one-stop shopping element makes our distribution outlets attractive for both consumers and agents and allows us to promote our supplemental/ancillary products in a single sale environment.
Our product focus in our A&H segment is offering solutions not covered by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”), as well as economical and quality alternatives to the traditional group and individual insurance markets. PPACA has created more access for the consumer by mandating individual coverage, eliminating underwriting barriers and providing subsidies. Consumers are now compelled to purchase coverage. While individuals or groups who traditionally may have had issues in obtaining coverage will benefit, a significant portion of the market still has challenges in obtaining health insurance that balances depth of coverage with affordability. Because of our far-reaching distribution capability and focused product portfolio, we believe we are uniquely positioned to offer value to our consumers.
Our products fall into three broad categories: (1) supplemental/ancillary healthcare policies that mitigate exposure to high out-of-pocket costs with some major medical policies; (2) specialty accident policies and short term individual major medical policies specifically not regulated by PPACA that help a consumer obtain affordable healthcare as a bridge to more traditional forms of insurance; and (3) self-insurance programs for small employers to assist employers who find self-insurance to be a more cost effective solution to the group healthcare needs.
A&H Product Overview
We focus on products that will be sold outside of the PPACA framework to the emerging uninsured or underinsured individual and group worksite markets, who we expect will consist largely of people with incomes above the level that qualify for government subsidies. This market includes groups and individuals who are seeing their out-of-pocket health insurance costs rise under PPACA, and part-time employees and full-time employees who work for employers with fewer than 50 employees. Our products include those packaged with other coverages or services to enhance the overall value proposition to the consumer, as well as standalone products either purchased alone or as a supplement to major medical coverage. Target products for groups (through employers) and individuals include:
• | Accident/AD&D. This coverage pays a stated benefit to the insured or his/her beneficiary in the event of bodily injury or death due to accidental means (other than natural causes). For our targeted young and uninsured population, accident policies can provide basic insurance protection for those without coverage. These policies also serve as supplemental policies underneath high deductible major medical plans. |
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• | Hospital Indemnity. These plans serve as supplements to high deductible plans, helping mitigate high catastrophic individual out of pocket expenses. They can also be sold as standalone programs to groups, offering basic insurance for those that cannot afford or do not wish to pay for more expensive major medical coverage. |
• | Short Term Recovery Care. These plans are designed to provide short term coverage post discharge from acute care/rehab center to the nursing home setting. |
• | Short-Term Medical. These plans offer comprehensive coverage to individuals for a prescribed short duration. |
• | Cancer/Critical Illness. Critical illness policies can provide coverage for many costs that are not covered by traditional health insurance. This coverage can be sold on a guarantee and simplified issue (health questionnaire) basis either as a standalone product or packaged with other products. |
• | Stop Loss. We expect that increases in health insurance costs will cause an increase in the number of employers offering self-insured plans. NHIC offers a wide array of stop loss programs for small and large employers, as permitted by state law. We also package our non-major medical coverages with stop loss programs. |
• | Dental/Vision. These policies provide basic dental or vision coverage and can be sold on a stand-alone basis or packaged with other products. They are frequently matched with discount plans. |
Ratings
Financial strength ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and are important to our ability to market and sell our products. Rating organizations continually review the financial positions of insurers, including us. A.M. Best has currently assigned our insurance subsidiaries that are part of our intercompany quota share agreement to Integon National, a group rating of “A-” (Excellent), subject to transition periods in the case of acquired companies. According to A.M. Best, “A-” ratings are assigned to insurers that have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing financial obligations to policyholders. This rating reflects A.M. Best’s opinion of our ability to pay claims and is not an evaluation directed to investors regarding an investment in our common stock. This rating is subject to periodic review by, and may be revised downward or revoked at the sole discretion of A.M. Best. There can be no assurance that we will maintain our current ratings. Future changes to our rating may adversely affect our competitive position. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors-Risks Relating to our Business Generally-A downgrade in the A.M. Best rating of our insurance subsidiaries would likely reduce the amount of business we are able to write and could materially adversely impact the competitive positions of our insurance subsidiaries.”
Loss Reserves
We record loss reserves for estimated losses under the insurance policies that we write and for LAE related to the investigation and settlement of policy claims. Our reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses represent the estimated cost of all reported and unreported loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred and unpaid at any given point in time based on known facts and circumstances.
The process of establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is complex and imprecise as it must take into consideration many variables that are subject to the outcome of future events. As a result, informed subjective estimates and judgments as to our ultimate exposure to losses are an important component of our loss reserving process.
Loss reserves include statistical reserves and case estimates for individual claims that have been reported and estimates for claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date as well as estimates of the expenses associated with processing and settling all reported and unreported claims, less estimates of anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries. Estimates are based upon past loss experience modified for current trends as well as economic, legal and social conditions. Loss reserves, except life reserves, are not discounted to present value, which would involve recognizing the time value of money and offsetting estimates of future payments by future expected investment income.
Incurred-but-not-reported (“IBNR”) reserve estimates are generally calculated by first projecting the ultimate cost of all claims that have occurred and then subtracting reported losses and loss expenses. Reported losses include cumulative paid losses and loss expenses plus case reserves. The IBNR reserve includes a provision for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported, some of which are not yet known to the insured, as well as a provision for future development on reported claims.
We regularly review our loss reserves using a variety of actuarial methods and available information. We update the reserve estimates as historical loss experience develops, additional claims are reported and settled or as new information becomes available. Any changes in estimates are reflected in financial results in the period in which the estimates are changed.
Our loss reserves are reviewed quarterly by internal actuaries and at least annually by our external actuaries. The actuarial review may include an actual to expected loss analysis or more detailed reserve indications for segments with changes, as well as
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the actuary’s reasonable reserve range compared to carried reserves. We review available actuarial indications and review carried reserves compared to the reasonable reserve range to determine whether any reserve adjustments are warranted.
There is no one specific industry standard for determining reasonable reserve ranges. The internal actuarial reserve ranges are established by considering projections using variations in the underlying actuarial assumptions, projections based on different weightings of the individual actuarial methods, projections by statistical variability analysis, or by other appropriate reserve considerations.
Our internal actuarial analysis of the historical data provides the factors we use in our actuarial analysis in estimating our loss and LAE reserves. These factors are implicit measures over time of claims reported, average case incurred amounts, case development, severity and payment patterns. However, these factors cannot be directly used as they do not take into consideration changes in business mix, claims management, regulatory issues, medical trends, and other subjective factors. We generally use a combination of actuarial factors and subjective assumptions in the development of up to seven of the following actuarial methodologies:
• | Paid Development Method - uses historical, cumulative paid losses by accident year and develops those actual losses to estimated ultimate losses based upon the assumption that each accident year will develop to estimated ultimate cost in a manner that is analogous to prior years. |
• | Paid Generalized Cape Cod Method - combines the Paid Development Method with the expected loss method, where the expected loss ratios are estimated from exposure and claims experience weighted across multiple accident periods. The selected expected loss ratio for a given accident year is derived by giving some weight to all of the accident years in the experience history rather than treating each accident year independently. |
• | Paid Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method - a combination of the Paid Development Method and the Expected Loss Method, the Paid Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method estimates ultimate losses by adding actual paid losses and projected future unpaid losses. The amounts produced are then added to cumulative paid losses to produce the final estimates of ultimate incurred losses. |
• | Incurred Development Method - uses historical, cumulative incurred losses by accident year and develops those actual losses to estimated ultimate losses based upon the assumption that each accident year will develop to estimated ultimate cost in a manner that is analogous to prior years. |
• | Incurred Generalized Cape Cod Method - combines the Incurred Development Method with the expected loss method, where the expected loss ratios are estimated from exposure and claims experience weighted across multiple accident periods. The selected expected loss ratio for a given accident year is derived by giving some weight to all of the accident years in the experience history rather than treating each accident year independently. |
• | Incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method - a combination of the Incurred Development Method and the Expected Loss Method, the Incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method estimates ultimate losses by adding actual incurred losses and projected future unreported losses. The amounts produced are then added to cumulative incurred losses to produce an estimate of ultimate incurred losses. |
• | Expected Loss Method - utilizes an expected ultimate loss ratio based on historical experience adjusted for trends multiplied by earned premium to project ultimate losses. |
For each method, losses are projected to the ultimate amount to be paid. We then analyze the results and may emphasize or deemphasize some or all of the outcomes to reflect actuarial judgment regarding their reasonableness in relation to supplementary information and operational and industry changes. These outcomes are then aggregated to produce a single selected point estimate that is the basis for the internal actuary’s point estimate for loss reserves.
In determining the level of emphasis that may be placed on some or all of the methods, internal actuaries periodically review statistical information as to which methods are most appropriate, whether adjustments are appropriate within the particular methods, and if results produced by each method include inherent bias reflecting operational and industry changes.
This supplementary information may include:
• | open and closed claim counts; |
• | statistics related to open and closed claim count percentages; |
• | claim closure rates; |
• | changes in average case reserves and average loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred on open claims; |
• | reported and ultimate average case incurred changes; |
• | reported and projected ultimate loss ratios; and |
• | loss payment patterns. |
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When reviewing reserves described in this section, we analyze historical data and estimate the impact of numerous factors such as (1) individual claim information; (2) industry and the historical loss experience; (3) legislative enactments, judicial decisions, legal developments in the imposition of damages, and changes in political attitudes; and (4) trends in general economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. This process assumes that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future events. There is no precise method for subsequently evaluating the impact of any specific factor on the adequacy of reserves, because the eventual deficiency or redundancy is affected by multiple factors. The key assumptions we use in our determination of appropriate reserve levels include the underlying actuarial methodologies, consideration of pricing and underwriting initiatives, an evaluation of reinsurance costs and retention levels, and consideration of any claims handling impact on paid and incurred loss data trends embedded in the traditional actuarial methods.
With respect to estimating ultimate losses and LAE, the key assumptions remained consistent for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and our approach in establishing such assumptions remained consistent for newly underwritten lines. If circumstances bear out our assumptions, losses incurred in 2016 should develop similarly to losses incurred in 2015 and prior years. Thus, if for example, the Net Loss Ratio for auto insurance premiums written in a given accident year is 65.0%, we expect that the Net Loss Ratio for auto insurance premiums written in that same accident year evolving in Year 2 would also be 65.0%. However, due to the inherent uncertainty in the loss development factors, our actual liabilities may differ significantly from our original estimates.
The reserve range below provides a sensitivity analysis regarding a range of reserve estimates considered to be reasonable based on current information and normal variations in actual losses and assumptions. This range was developed based on actuarial judgment of the potential variance in key loss reserve factors which influence ultimate frequency and severity that can cause favorable or unfavorable development in loss reserves. However, due to the inherent uncertainty involved with projecting future loss events, the reserve range does not include all possible outcomes, and our actual liabilities may differ significantly from our original reserve estimates. Our analysis does not anticipate any extraordinary changes in the legal, social or economic environments that could affect the ultimate outcome of claims, or the emergence of claims from causes not currently recognized in the historical data. Such extraordinary changes or claim emergence may impact the level of required reserves in ways that are not presently quantifiable. Thus, while we believe our reserve estimates are reasonable given the information currently available, it must be recognized that actual emergence of losses could deviate, perhaps significantly, from our estimates and the amounts recorded by us.
As of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, our loss and LAE reserves, net of reinsurance recoverables, were $1,384.3 million, $922.4 million and $650.4 million, respectively. In calendar year 2016, unpaid loss reserves increased by $461.8 million, or 50.1% of the $922.4 million beginning net loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2015, primarily due to growth caused by: (i) our acquisitions of Direct General, SPCIC and Century-National; (ii) the increase in premium volume from our 2015 acquired company Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. (“ARS”), which began being written on our paper on January 1, 2016; and (iii) the increase in our P&C and A&H segments. In calendar year 2015, unpaid loss reserves increased by $272.1 million, or 41.8% of the $650.4 million beginning net loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2014, primarily due to growth caused by: (i) acquisition of our lender-placed insurance business from QBE; (ii) the Assurant Transaction; and (iii) A&H reserve strengthening predominantly with respect to business subject to the EHC Reinsurance Agreement.
There were no significant changes in the methodologies or key assumptions utilized in the analysis and calculations of our loss reserves during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Irrespective of whether the exposure type was underwritten during the entire three year period, our estimation methodologies and approaches to establishing key assumptions are reasonably consistent from year to year for any given line of business.
Net Loss Reserves evaluated as of December 31, 2016 (amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Range of Net Reserve Estimates | ||||||||||||
Low | Carried | High | ||||||||||
NGHC | $ | 1,150,665 | $ | 1,289,392 | $ | 1,437,633 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 87,648 | 94,883 | 109,961 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 1,238,313 | $ | 1,384,275 | $ | 1,547,594 | ||||||
The resulting range derived from this sensitivity analysis would have increased net reserves by approximately $163.3 million or decreased net reserves by approximately $146.0 million, at December 31, 2016. The increase would have reduced net income and stockholders’ equity by approximately $106.1 million. The decrease would have increased net income and stockholders equity
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by approximately $94.9 million. A change in our reserves for net losses and loss adjustment expenses would not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, but would affect cash flow in future periods as the losses are paid.
Given the numerous factors and assumptions used in our estimates of net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, and consequently this sensitivity analysis, we do not believe that it would be meaningful to provide more detailed disclosure regarding specific factors and assumptions and the individual effects of these factors and assumptions on our net reserves. Furthermore, there is no precise method for subsequently reevaluating the impact of any specific factor or assumption on the adequacy of reserves because the eventual deficiency or redundancy is affected by multiple interdependent factors.
Reconciliation of Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
The table below shows the activity of loss reserves on a gross and net of reinsurance basis for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, reflecting changes in losses incurred and paid losses:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&C | A&H | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid losses and LAE, gross of related reinsurance recoverable at beginning of the year | $ | 1,479,953 | $ | 143,279 | $ | 1,623,232 | $ | 132,392 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,450,305 | $ | 111,848 | $ | 1,562,153 | $ | 1,259,241 | $ | — | $ | 1,259,241 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Reinsurance recoverables at beginning of the year | (793,508 | ) | (583 | ) | (794,091 | ) | (39,085 | ) | (833,176 | ) | (888,215 | ) | (23,583 | ) | (911,798 | ) | (950,828 | ) | — | (950,828 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at beginning of the year | 686,445 | 142,696 | 829,141 | 93,307 | 922,448 | 562,090 | 88,265 | 650,355 | 308,413 | — | 308,413 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incurred losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current year | 1,597,132 | 290,057 | 1,887,189 | 57,818 | 1,945,007 | 1,265,702 | 100,255 | 1,365,957 | 1,008,406 | 25,382 | 1,033,788 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prior year | 5,125 | 9,310 | 14,435 | (897 | ) | 13,538 | 18,378 | (2,694 | ) | 15,684 | 17,941 | 1,336 | 19,277 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total incurred | 1,602,257 | 299,367 | 1,901,624 | 56,921 | 1,958,545 | 1,284,080 | 97,561 | 1,381,641 | 1,026,347 | 26,718 | 1,053,065 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paid losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current year | (974,402 | ) | (181,957 | ) | (1,156,359 | ) | (35,771 | ) | (1,192,130 | ) | (835,854 | ) | (37,018 | ) | (872,872 | ) | (645,826 | ) | (20,715 | ) | (666,541 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prior year | (497,993 | ) | (84,824 | ) | (582,817 | ) | (19,958 | ) | (602,775 | ) | (347,912 | ) | (55,501 | ) | (403,413 | ) | (187,010 | ) | (12,429 | ) | (199,439 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total paid | (1,472,395 | ) | (266,781 | ) | (1,739,176 | ) | (55,729 | ) | (1,794,905 | ) | (1,183,766 | ) | (92,519 | ) | (1,276,285 | ) | (832,836 | ) | (33,144 | ) | (865,980 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Acquired outstanding loss and loss adjustment reserve | 292,412 | 9,682 | 302,094 | 384 | 302,478 | 169,257 | — | 169,257 | 66,066 | 94,691 | 160,757 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of foreign exchange rates | — | (4,291 | ) | (4,291 | ) | — | (4,291 | ) | (2,520 | ) | — | (2,520 | ) | (5,900 | ) | — | (5,900 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at end of the year | 1,108,719 | 180,673 | 1,289,392 | 94,883 | 1,384,275 | 829,141 | 93,307 | 922,448 | 562,090 | 88,265 | 650,355 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plus reinsurance recoverables at end of the year | 827,672 | 10,933 | 838,605 | 42,192 | 880,797 | 794,091 | 39,085 | 833,176 | 888,215 | 23,583 | 911,798 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross balance at end of the year | $ | 1,936,391 | $ | 191,606 | $ | 2,127,997 | $ | 137,075 | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,623,232 | $ | 132,392 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,450,305 | $ | 111,848 | $ | 1,562,153 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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As of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, our gross and net of reinsurance loss and LAE reserves for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses were broken down as follows:
December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&C | A&H | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Case reserves for unpaid losses and LAE, gross of related reinsurance recoverable | $ | 634,173 | $ | 80,757 | $ | 714,930 | $ | 72,586 | $ | 787,516 | $ | 523,356 | $ | 68,092 | $ | 591,448 | $ | 470,862 | $ | 73,689 | $ | 544,551 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
IBNR reserves for unpaid losses and LAE, gross of related reinsurance recoverable* | 1,302,218 | 110,849 | 1,413,067 | 64,489 | 1,477,556 | 1,099,876 | 64,300 | 1,164,176 | 979,443 | 38,159 | 1,017,602 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid losses and LAE, gross of related reinsurance recoverable | $ | 1,936,391 | $ | 191,606 | $ | 2,127,997 | $ | 137,075 | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,623,232 | $ | 132,392 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,450,305 | $ | 111,848 | $ | 1,562,153 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Case reserves for unpaid losses and LAE, net of related reinsurance recoverable | $ | 520,827 | $ | 79,549 | $ | 600,376 | $ | 51,137 | $ | 651,513 | $ | 412,244 | $ | 50,664 | $ | 462,908 | $ | 320,849 | $ | 56,569 | $ | 377,418 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
IBNR reserves for unpaid losses and LAE, net of related reinsurance recoverable | 587,892 | 101,124 | 689,016 | 43,746 | 732,762 | 416,897 | 42,643 | 459,540 | 241,241 | 31,696 | 272,937 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid losses and LAE, net of related reinsurance recoverable | $ | 1,108,719 | $ | 180,673 | $ | 1,289,392 | $ | 94,883 | $ | 1,384,275 | $ | 829,141 | $ | 93,307 | $ | 922,448 | $ | 562,090 | $ | 88,265 | $ | 650,355 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
_________________
* Includes total reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses related to business subject to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (“MCCA”) and the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility (“NCRF”). For additional information regarding reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses from MCCA and NCRF, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Reinsurance.”
See Note 12, “Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves,” for more information about short-duration insurance contracts and claims development tables in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Technology
We rely heavily on technology and extensive data gathering and analysis to evaluate and price our products accurately according to risk exposure. In order to provide our policyholders and producers with superior service and realize profitable growth, we have substantially upgraded our information technology capabilities in recent years. In 2010, we started development on our new P&C policy administration system named “NPS.” Our P&C policies are administered on this system, subject to transition periods in the case of acquisitions. NPS is based on advanced server-based technology allowing quicker processing and the ability for enhanced scalability. This system reduced cost by eliminating our three costly legacy mainframe based systems and allows for increased straight-through automated processing, removing the need for expensive back office processes as well as providing enhanced self-service functionality. Since inception, we have reduced our information technology operating expenses significantly. Our goal is to continue to make strategic investments in technology in order to develop sophisticated tools that enhance our customer service, product management and data analysis capabilities.
RAD 5.0 is an underwriting pricing tool that more accurately prices specific risk exposures to assist us in profitably underwriting our P&C products. Our RAD 5.0 technology offers significant advantages over our prior underwriting pricing system by employing numerous additional components and pricing strategies such as supplemental risk and improved credit modeling. We believe the RAD 5.0 underwriting pricing tool will facilitate better pricing over the lifetime of a policy by employing lifetime value modeling, elasticity modeling and optimized pricing.
In our lender-placed insurance business, we use a proprietary insurance-tracking system to monitor the customers’ mortgage portfolios to verify the existence of insurance on each mortgaged property. We believe we can leverage our technology expertise to operate the business under a more efficient cost structure.
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Regulation
General
We are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and to a lesser extent in Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden. As of December 31, 2016, we had twenty-two operating insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the United States: Integon Casualty Insurance Company, Integon General Insurance Corporation, Integon Indemnity Corporation, Integon National, Integon Preferred Insurance Company, New South Insurance Company, MIC General Insurance Corporation, National General Insurance Company, National General Assurance Company, National General Insurance Online, Inc., National Health Insurance Company, National General Premier Insurance Company, Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Agent Alliance Insurance Company, Century-National Insurance Company, Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company of Louisiana, Direct General Insurance Company of Mississippi, Direct General Life Insurance Company, Direct Insurance Company and Direct National Insurance Company. Our insurance subsidiaries that are part of our intercompany quota share agreement to Integon National, have an “A-” (Excellent) group rating by A.M. Best, subject to transition periods in the case of acquired companies. We currently conduct a limited amount of business outside the United States, primarily in Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden.
State Insurance Regulation
Insurance companies are subject to regulation and supervision by the department of insurance in the jurisdiction in which they are domiciled and, to a lesser extent, other jurisdictions in which they are authorized to conduct business. The primary purpose of such regulatory powers is to protect individual policyholders. State insurance authorities have broad regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers, including, among other things, the power to (a) grant and revoke licenses to transact business, including individual lines of authority, (b) set the standards of solvency to be met and maintained, (c) determine the nature of, and limitations on, investments and dividends, (d) approve policy rules, rates and forms prior to issuance, (e) regulate and conduct specific examinations regarding marketing, unfair trade, claims and fraud prevention and investigation practices, and (f) conduct periodic comprehensive examinations of the financial condition of insurance companies domiciled in their state. In particular, commercial policy rates and forms are closely regulated in all states.
Financial Oversight
Reporting Requirements
Our insurance subsidiaries are required to file detailed financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory accounting principles and other reports with the departments of insurance in all states in which they are licensed to transact business. These reports include details concerning claims reserves held by the insurer, specific investments held by the insurer, and numerous other disclosures about the insurer’s financial condition and operations. These financial statements are subject to periodic examination by the department of insurance in each state in which they are filed.
Investments
State insurance laws and insurance departments also regulate investments that insurers are permitted to make. Limitations are placed on the amounts an insurer may invest in a particular issuer, as well as the aggregate amount an insurer may invest in certain types of investments. Certain investments (such as real estate) are prohibited by certain jurisdictions.
Each of our domiciliary states has its own regulations and limitations on the amounts an insurer may invest in a particular issuer and the aggregate amount an insurer may invest in certain types of investments. In general, investments may not exceed a certain percentage of surplus, admitted assets or total investments. For example, the investments of Integon National, domiciled in North Carolina, in stocks shall not exceed twenty-five percent of Integon National’s admitted assets and the stock of any one corporation may not exceed three percent of their admitted assets. To ensure compliance in each state, we review our investment portfolio quarterly based on each states regulations and limitations.
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State Insurance Department Examinations
As part of their regulatory oversight process, state insurance departments conduct periodic detailed financial examinations of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). A second type of regulatory oversight examination of insurance companies involves a review by an insurance department of an authorized company’s market conduct, which entails a review and examination of a company’s compliance with laws governing marketing, underwriting, rating, policy-issuance, claims-handling and other aspects of its insurance business during a specified period of time.
The results of these examinations can give rise to regulatory orders requiring remedial, injunctive or other corrective action on the part of the company that is the subject of the examination or assessing fines or other penalties against that company.
Risk-Based Capital Regulations
Our insurance subsidiaries are required to report their risk-based capital based on a formula developed and adopted by the NAIC that attempts to measure statutory capital and surplus needs based on the risks in the insurer’s mix of products and investment portfolio. The formula is designed to allow insurance regulators to identify weakly-capitalized companies. Under the formula, a company determines its “risk-based capital” by taking into account certain risks related to the insurer’s assets (including risks related to its investment portfolio and ceded reinsurance) and the insurer’s liabilities (including underwriting risks related to the nature and experience of its insurance business). The departments of insurance in our domiciliary states generally require a minimum total adjusted risk-based capital equal to 200% of an insurance company’s authorized control level risk-based capital. Each of our insurance subsidiaries had total adjusted risk-based capital substantially in excess of 200% of the authorized control level as of December 31, 2016.
Insurance Regulatory Information System Ratios
The NAIC Insurance Regulatory Information System, or IRIS, is part of a collection of analytical tools designed to provide state insurance regulators with an integrated approach to screening and analyzing the financial condition of insurance companies operating in their respective states. IRIS is intended to assist state insurance regulators in targeting resources to those insurers in greatest need of regulatory attention. IRIS consists of two phases: statistical and analytical. In the statistical phase, the NAIC database generates key financial ratio results based on financial information obtained from insurers’ annual statutory statements. The analytical phase is a review of the annual statements, financial ratios and other automated solvency tools. The primary goal of the analytical phase is to identify companies that appear to require immediate regulatory attention. A ratio result falling outside the usual range of IRIS ratios is not considered a failing result; rather, unusual values are viewed as part of the regulatory early monitoring system. Furthermore, in some years, it may not be unusual for financially sound companies to have several ratios with results outside the usual ranges. An insurance company may fall out of the usual range for one or more ratios because of specific transactions that are in themselves immaterial or because of certain reinsurance or pooling structures or changes in such structures.
Management does not anticipate regulatory action as a result of the 2016 IRIS ratio results for our U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries. In all instances in prior years, regulators have been satisfied upon any follow-up that no regulatory action was required.
See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Statutory Accounting Principles
Statutory accounting principles, or SAP, are a basis of accounting developed to assist insurance regulators in monitoring and regulating the solvency of insurance companies. SAP is primarily concerned with measuring an insurer’s solvency. Statutory accounting focuses on valuing assets and liabilities of insurers at financial reporting dates in accordance with appropriate insurance law and regulatory provisions applicable in each insurer’s domiciliary state.
Generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, like SAP, is concerned with a company’s solvency, but it is also concerned with other financial measurements, principally income and cash flows. Accordingly, GAAP gives more consideration to appropriately matching revenue and expenses and accounting for management’s stewardship of assets than does SAP. As a direct result, different assets and liabilities and different amounts of assets and liabilities will be reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP as compared to SAP.
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Credit for Reinsurance
State insurance laws permit U.S. insurance companies, as ceding insurers, to take financial statement credit for reinsurance that is ceded, so long as the assuming reinsurer satisfies the state’s credit for reinsurance laws. The Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (“NRRA”) contained in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) provides that if the state of domicile of a ceding insurer is an NAIC accredited state, or has financial solvency requirements substantially similar to the requirements necessary for NAIC accreditation, and recognizes credit for reinsurance for the insurer’s ceded risk, then no other state may deny such credit for reinsurance. Because all states are currently accredited by the NAIC, the Dodd-Frank Act prohibits a state in which a U.S. ceding insurer is licensed but not domiciled from denying credit for reinsurance for the insurer’s ceded risk if the cedant’s domestic state regulator recognizes credit for reinsurance. The ceding company in this instance is permitted to reflect in its statutory financial statements a credit in an aggregate amount equal to the ceding company’s liability for unearned premium (which are that portion of premiums written which applies to the unexpired portion of the policy period), loss reserves and loss expense reserves to the extent ceded to the reinsurer.
Holding Company Regulation
We qualify as a holding company system under state-enacted legislation that regulates insurance holding company systems. Each insurance company in a holding company system is required to register with the insurance regulatory agency of its state of domicile and periodically furnish information concerning its operations and transactions, particularly with other companies within the holding company system that may materially affect its operations, management or financial condition.
Transactions with Affiliates
The insurance laws in most of those states provide that all transactions among members of an insurance holding company system must be fair and reasonable. These laws require disclosure of material transactions within the holding company system and, in some cases, prior notice of or approval for certain transactions, including, among other things, (a) the payment of certain dividends, (b) cost sharing agreements, (c) intercompany agency, service or management agreements, (d) acquisition or divestment of control of or merger with domestic insurers, (e) sales, purchases, exchanges, loans or extensions of credit, guarantees or investments if such transactions are equal to or exceed certain thresholds, and (f) reinsurance agreements. All transactions within a holding company system affecting an insurer must have fair and reasonable terms and are subject to other standards and requirements established by law and regulation.
Dividends
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to statutory requirements as to maintenance of policyholders’ surplus and payment of dividends. In general, the maximum amount of dividends that the insurance subsidiaries may pay in any 12-month period without regulatory approval is the greater of adjusted statutory net income or 10% of statutory policyholders’ surplus as of the preceding calendar year end. Adjusted statutory net income is generally defined for this purpose to be statutory net income, net of realized capital gains, for the calendar year preceding the date of the dividend. Also, most states restrict an insurance company’s ability to pay dividends in excess of its statutory unassigned surplus or earned surplus. In addition, state insurance regulators may limit or restrict an insurance company’s ability to pay stockholder dividends or as a condition to issuance of a certificate of authority, as a condition to a change of control approval or for other regulatory reasons.
Enterprise Risk and Other New Developments
In December 2010, the NAIC adopted amendments to the Model Insurance Holding Company System Regulation Act and Regulation (the “Amended Model Act and Regulation”) to introduce the concept of “enterprise risk” within an insurance company holding system. “Enterprise risk” is defined as any activity, circumstance, event or series of events involving one or more affiliates of an insurer that, if not remedied promptly, is likely to have a material adverse effect upon the financial condition or the liquidity of the insurer or its insurance holding company system as a whole. The Amended Model Act and Regulation imposes more extensive informational requirements on an insurance holding company system in order to protect the licensed insurance companies from enterprise risk, including requiring it to prepare an annual enterprise risk report that identifies the material risks within the insurance company holding system that could pose enterprise risk to the licensed insurer. In addition, the Amended Model Act and Regulation requires any controlling person of a domestic insurer seeking to divest its controlling interest in the domestic insurer to file a notice of its proposed divestiture, which may be subject to approval by the insurance commissioner. To date, a number of states have adopted some or all of the changes in the Amended Model Act and Regulation, including California and Texas, where some of our insurance companies are domiciled or commercially domiciled. The NAIC has made certain sections of the amendments part of its accreditation standards for state solvency regulation, which may motivate more states to adopt the amendments promptly.
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In September 2012, the NAIC adopted the Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (“ORSA”) Model Act, which requires insurers to maintain a framework for identifying, assessing, monitoring and reporting on the “material and relevant risks” associated with the insurer’s current business plans. Under the ORSA Model Act, an insurer must perform at least annually a self-assessment of its current and future risks and must file a confidential report with the insurer’s lead insurance regulator. The ORSA report was filed in 2016 with the Company’s lead insurance regulator, as well as with certain other state regulators, and describes our process for assessing our own solvency.
Change of Control
State insurance holding company laws require prior approval by the respective state insurance departments of any change of control of an insurer. “Control” is generally defined as the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Control is generally presumed to exist through the direct or indirect ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a domestic insurance company or any entity that controls a domestic insurance company. In addition, one of our insurance subsidiaries is currently deemed to be commercially domiciled in Florida and, as such, is subject to regulation by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”). Florida insurance law prohibits any person from acquiring 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities or those of any of our insurance subsidiaries without the prior approval of the Florida OIR. However, a party may acquire less than 10% of our voting securities without prior approval if the party files a disclaimer of affiliation and control. Any person wishing to acquire control of us or of any substantial portion of our outstanding shares would first be required to obtain the approval of the domestic regulators (including those asserting “commercial domicile”) of our insurance subsidiaries or file appropriate disclaimers.
Any future transactions that would constitute a change of control, including a change of control of us and/or any of our domestic insurance subsidiaries, would generally require the party acquiring or divesting control to obtain the prior approval of the department of insurance in the state in which the insurance company being acquired is domiciled (and in any other state in which the company may be deemed to be commercially domiciled by reason of concentration of its insurance business within such state) and may also require pre-notification in certain other states. Obtaining these approvals may result in the material delay of, or deter, any such transaction.
These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of us, including through transactions, and in particular unsolicited transactions, that some or all of our stockholders might consider to be desirable.
Market Conduct
Regulation of Insurance Rates and Approval of Policy Forms
The insurance laws of most states in which we conduct business require insurance companies to file insurance rate schedules and insurance policy forms for review and approval. If, as permitted in some states, we begin using new rates before they are approved, we may be required to issue refunds or credits to the policyholders if the new rates are ultimately deemed excessive or unfair and disapproved by the applicable state regulator. In other states, prior approval of rate changes is required and there may be long delays in the approval process or the rates may not be approved. Accordingly, our ability to respond to market developments or increased costs in that state can be adversely affected.
Underwriting
The use of credit in underwriting and rating is the subject of significant regulatory and legislative activity. Regulators and legislators have expressed a number of concerns related to the use of credit, including: questions regarding the accuracy of credit reports, perceptions that credit may have a disparate effect on the poor and certain minority groups, the perceived lack of a demonstrated causal relationship between credit and insurance risk, the treatment of persons with limited or no credit, the impact on credit of extraordinary life events (e.g., catastrophic injury or death of a spouse), and the credit attributes applied in the credit scoring models used by insurers. A number of state insurance departments have issued bulletins, directives, or regulations that regulate or prohibit the use of credit by insurers. In addition, a number of states are considering or have passed legislation to regulate insurers’ use of credit information. The use of credit information continues to be a regulatory and legislative issue, and it is possible that the U.S. Congress or one or more states may enact further legislation affecting its use in underwriting and rating limitations on the ability to charge policy fees.
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Unfair Claims Practices
Generally, insurance companies, adjusting companies and individual claims adjusters are prohibited by state statutes from engaging in unfair claims practices on a flagrant basis or with such frequency to indicate a general business practice. Unfair claims practices include:
• | misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverages at issue; |
• | failing to acknowledge and act reasonably promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies; |
• | failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation and settlement of claims arising under its policies; |
• | failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements have been completed; |
• | attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed such person was entitled; |
• | attempting to settle claims on the basis of an application that was altered without notice to or knowledge or consent of the insured; |
• | compelling insureds to institute suits to recover amounts due under policies by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in suits brought by them; |
• | refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation; |
• | making claim payments to an insured without indicating the coverage under which each payment is being made; |
• | delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring an insured, claimant or the physician of either to submit a preliminary claim report and then requiring the subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, both of which submissions contains substantially the same information; |
• | failing, in the case of claim denials or offers of compromise or settlement, to promptly provide a reasonable and accurate explanation of the basis for such actions; and |
• | not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear. |
Guaranty Fund Assessments
Most, if not all, of the states where we are licensed to transact business require that property and casualty insurers doing business within the state participate in a guaranty association, which is organized to pay contractual benefits owed pursuant to insurance policies issued by impaired, insolvent or failed insurers. These associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by the member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired, insolvent or failed insurer is engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets.
Property and casualty insurance company insolvencies or failures may result in additional guaranty association assessments to our insurance subsidiaries at some future date. At this time, we are unable to determine the impact, if any, that such assessments may have on their financial positions or results of their operations. As of December 31, 2016, each of our insurance subsidiaries has established accruals for guaranty fund assessments with respect to insurers that are currently subject to insolvency proceedings.
Assigned Risks
Many states in which we conduct business require automobile liability insurers to sell BI liability, property damage liability, medical expense, and uninsured motorist coverage to a proportionate number (based on the insurer’s share of the state’s automobile casualty insurance market) of those drivers applying for placement as “assigned risks.” Drivers seek placement as assigned risks because their driving records or other relevant characteristics make them difficult to insure in the voluntary market.
Restrictions on Withdrawal, Cancellation, and Nonrenewal
In addition, many states have laws and regulations that limit an insurer’s ability to withdraw from a particular market. For example, states may limit an insurer’s ability to cancel or not renew policies. Furthermore, certain states prohibit an insurer from withdrawing from one or more lines of business written in the state, except pursuant to a plan that is approved by the state insurance department. The state insurance department may disapprove any proposed plan that may lead to market disruption. Laws and regulations that limit cancellation and non-renewal and that subject program withdrawals to prior approval requirements may restrict the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to exit unprofitable markets.
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Required Licensing
Our insurance subsidiaries operate under licenses issued by the department of insurance in the states in which they sell insurance. If a regulatory authority denies or delays granting a new license, our ability to offer new insurance products in that market may be substantially impaired. In addition, if the department of insurance in any state in which one of our insurance subsidiaries currently operates suspends, non-renews, or revokes an existing license, we would not be able to offer affected products in the state.
In addition, insurance agencies, producers, third-party administrators, claims adjusters and service contract providers and administrators are subject to licensing requirements and regulation by insurance regulators in various states in which they conduct business. Certain of our subsidiaries engage in these functions and are subject to licensing requirements and regulation by insurance regulators in various states.
Federal and State Legislative and Regulatory Changes
From time to time, various regulatory and legislative changes have been proposed in the insurance industry. Among the proposals that have in the past been or are at present being considered are the possible introduction of federal regulation in addition to, or in lieu of, the current system of state regulation of insurers and proposals in various state legislatures (some of which have been enacted) to conform portions of their insurance laws and regulations to various model acts adopted by the NAIC. The NAIC has undertaken a Solvency Modernization Initiative focused on updating the U.S. insurance solvency regulation framework, including capital requirements, governance and risk management, group supervision, accounting and financial reporting and reinsurance. The Amended Model Act and Regulation (discussed above) is a result of these efforts. Additional requirements are also expected. For example, the NAIC has adopted the Risk Management and ORSA Model Act, which requires insurers to perform an ORSA and, upon request of a state, file an ORSA Summary Report with the state. The ORSA report was filed in 2016 with the Company’s lead insurance regulator, as well as with certain other state regulators, and describes our process for assessing our own solvency.
The Dodd-Frank Act established a Federal Insurance Office (“FIO”) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The Federal Insurance Office is charged with monitoring all aspects of the insurance industry (other than health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance), gathering data, and conducting a study on methods to modernize and improve the insurance regulatory system in the United States. In 2013, the FIO issued a report (as required under the Dodd-Frank Act) entitled “How to Modernize and Improve the System of Insurance Regulation in the United States” (the “Report”), which stated that, given the “uneven” progress the states have made with several near-term state reforms, should the states fail to accomplish the necessary modernization reforms in the near term, “Congress should strongly consider direct federal involvement.” The FIO continues to support the current state-based regulatory regime, but will consider federal regulation should the states fail to take steps to greater uniformity (e.g., federal licensing of insurers). The Report also appears to signal greater activity by the federal government in dealing with non-U.S. regulators and regulatory regimes, using the authority expressly given by the Dodd-Frank Act to Treasury and the United States Trade Representative to negotiate “covered agreements” with foreign authorities.
In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act gives the Federal Reserve supervisory authority over a number of financial services companies, including insurance companies, if they are designated by a two-thirds vote of a Financial Stability Oversight Council as “systemically important.” If an insurance company is designated as systemically important, the Federal Reserve’s supervisory authority could include the ability to impose heightened financial regulation upon that insurance company and could impact requirements regarding its capital, liquidity and leverage as well as its business and investment conduct.
The Dodd-Frank Act also incorporates the NRRA, which, among other things, establishes national uniform standards on how states may regulate and tax surplus lines insurance and sets national standards concerning the regulation of reinsurance. In particular, the NRRA gives regulators in the home state of an insured exclusive authority to regulate and tax surplus lines insurance transactions, and regulators in a ceding insurer’s state of domicile the sole responsibility for regulating the balance sheet credit that the ceding insurer may take for reinsurance recoverables.
Existing and new laws and regulations affecting the health insurance industry, or changes to existing laws and regulations, including the potential repeal or amendment of all or parts of the PPACA may transpire as a result of the new U.S. presidential administration and Congress. If we are unable to adapt our A&H business to current and/or future requirements of PPACA, or if significant uncertainty continues with respect to implementation of PPACA, our A&H business could be materially adversely affected. Furthermore, should Congress extend the scope or, alternatively, repeal all or part of PPACA, such a development could have a material adverse effect on our A&H business.
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Other possible federal regulatory developments include the introduction of legislation in Congress that would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act antitrust exemption for the insurance industry. The antitrust exemption allows insurers to compile and share loss data, develop standard policy forms and manuals and predict future loss costs with greater reliability, among other things. The ability of the industry, under the exemption permitted in the McCarran-Ferguson Act, to collect loss cost data and build a credible database as a means of predicting future loss costs is an important part of cost-based pricing. If the ability to collect this data were removed, the predictability of future loss costs and the reliability of pricing could be undermined.
In recent years, the lender-placed insurance business has been subject to class action litigation and investigations by state insurance regulators and federal regulatory agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Litigation and regulatory proceedings have included allegations of excessive premium rates and inappropriate business transactions. Unfavorable outcomes of litigation or regulatory investigations or significant problems in our relationships with regulators could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, reputation, and ability to continue to do business. They could also expose us to further investigations or litigation. In addition, certain of our customers in the mortgage industry are the subject of various regulatory investigations and/or litigation regarding mortgage lending practices, which could indirectly affect agreements with these clients and our business.
Privacy Regulations
In 1999, Congress enacted the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which, among other things, protects consumers from the unauthorized dissemination of certain personal information. Subsequently, states have implemented additional regulations to address privacy issues. Certain aspects of these laws and regulations apply to all financial institutions, including insurance and finance companies, and require us to maintain appropriate policies and procedures for managing and protecting certain personal information of our policyholders. We may also be subject to future privacy laws and regulations, which could impose additional costs and impact our results of operations or financial condition. In 2000, the NAIC adopted the Privacy of Consumer Financial and Health Information Model Regulation, which assisted states in promulgating regulations to comply with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. In 2002, to further facilitate the implementation of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the NAIC adopted the Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information Model Regulation. Several states have now adopted similar provisions regarding the safeguarding of policyholder information.
Additionally, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), and the more recent 2013 Omnibus Rule, dictates the dissemination of an individual’s personal health information by covered entities and their business associates. These laws and their implementing regulations apply to health care providers and health insurers, and thereby requires our A&H business to maintain policies and procedures with regard to the storing, maintenance and disclosure of our policyholders’ personal health information.
Cybersecurity Regulation
Insurance regulators have been focusing increased attention on data security during financial exams, and new laws and regulations are pending that would impose new requirements and standards for protecting personally identifiable information of insurance company policyholders. For example, the New York Department of Financial Services has proposed a comprehensive cybersecurity regulation that is expected to become effective during 2017. In addition, the NAIC has adopted the Roadmap for Security Consumer Protections, a set of directives aimed at protecting consumer data, and is working on a new model data security law that is expected to incorporate the directives and impose additional requirements on insurance companies to the extent ultimately adopted by applicable state legislation. The NAIC has also strengthened and enhanced the cybersecurity guidance included in its handbook for state insurance examiners. We anticipate a continuing focus on new regulatory and legislative proposals at the state and federal levels that further regulate practices regarding privacy and security of personal information.
Telephone Sales Regulations
The United States Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and various states have promulgated and enacted rules and laws that govern telephone solicitations. There are numerous state statutes and regulations governing telephone sales activities that do or may apply to our operations, including the operations of our call center insurance agencies. For example, some states place restrictions on the methods and timing of calls and require that certain mandatory disclosures be made during the course of a telephone sales call. Federal and state “Do Not Call” regulations must be followed for us to engage in telephone sales activities.
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Offices
Our principal executive offices are located at 59 Maiden Lane, 38th Floor, New York New York 10038, and our telephone number at that location is (212) 380-9500. Our website is www.nationalgeneral.com. Our Internet website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Employees
As of December 31, 2016, we have approximately 6,930 employees, including part-time employees, none of whom are covered by collective bargaining arrangements.
Available Information
We file our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements on Schedule 14A and all amendments to those reports as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read or obtain copies of these documents by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or by accessing the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our Internet website address is www.nationalgeneral.com. You can also obtain on our website’s Investor Relations page, free of charge, a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports or amendments with, or furnish them to, the SEC.
Also available at the “Corporate Governance” section of the Investor Relations page of our website, free of charge, are copies of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and the charters for our Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Copies of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and Charters are also available in print free of charge, upon request by any shareholder. You can obtain such copies in print by contacting Investor Relations by mail at our corporate office. We intend to disclose on our website any amendment to, or waiver of, any provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors and executive officers that would otherwise be required to be disclosed under the rules of the SEC or NASDAQ.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this report, including our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. The following discussion of risk factors includes forward-looking statements and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements. See “Note on Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Relating to Our Business
If we are unable to accurately underwrite risks and charge competitive yet profitable rates to our policyholders, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
In general, the premiums for our insurance policies are established at the time a policy is issued and, therefore, before all of our underlying costs are known. Like other insurance companies, we rely on estimates and assumptions in setting our premium rates. Establishing adequate premiums is necessary, together with investment income, to generate sufficient revenue to offset losses, loss adjustment expenses and other underwriting costs and to earn a profit. If we do not accurately assess the risks that we assume, we may not charge adequate premiums to cover our losses and expenses, which would negatively affect our results of operations and our profitability. Alternatively, we could set our premiums too high, which could reduce our competitiveness and lead to lower revenues.
Pricing involves the acquisition and analysis of historical loss data, and the projection of future trends, loss costs and expenses, and inflation trends, among other factors, for each of our products in multiple risk tiers and many different markets. In order to accurately price our policies, we:
• | collect and properly analyze a substantial volume of data from our insureds; |
• | develop, test and apply appropriate actuarial projections and rating formulas; |
• | closely monitor and timely recognize changes in trends; and |
• | project both frequency and severity of our insureds’ losses with reasonable accuracy. |
We seek to implement our pricing accurately in accordance with our assumptions. Our ability to undertake these efforts successfully and, as a result, accurately price our policies, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including:
• | insufficient or unreliable data; |
• | incorrect or incomplete analysis of available data; |
• | uncertainties generally inherent in estimates and assumptions; |
• | our failure to implement appropriate actuarial projections and rating formulas or other pricing methodologies; |
• | regulatory constraints on rate increases; |
• | unexpected escalation in the costs of ongoing medical treatment; |
• | our failure to accurately estimate investment yields and the duration of our liability for loss and LAE; and |
• | unanticipated court decisions, legislation or regulatory action. |
If we are unable to establish and maintain accurate loss reserves, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Our financial statements include loss reserves, which represent our best estimate of the amounts that our insurance subsidiaries ultimately will pay on claims that have been incurred, and the related costs of adjusting those claims, as of the date of the financial statements. There is inherent uncertainty in the process of establishing insurance loss reserves.
As a result of these uncertainties, the ultimate paid loss and loss adjustment expenses may deviate, perhaps substantially, from the point-in-time estimates of such losses and expenses, as reflected in the loss reserves included in our financial statements. To the extent that loss and LAE exceed our estimates, we will be required to immediately recognize the unfavorable development and increase loss reserves, with a corresponding reduction in our net income in the period in which the deficiency is identified. Consequently, ultimate losses paid could materially exceed reported loss reserves and have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Ongoing economic uncertainty could materially and adversely affect our business, our liquidity and financial condition.
In recent years, global economies and financial markets have experienced significant volatility and disruption including, relatively high and sustained unemployment, reduced consumer spending, lower residential and commercial real estate prices, U.S. debt ceiling and budget deficit concerns, and the relatively low availability of credit. Such conditions may potentially affect (among other aspects of our business) the demand for and claims made under our products, the ability of customers, counterparties and others to establish or maintain their relationships with us, our ability to access and efficiently use internal and external capital resources and our investment performance. In the event that these conditions persist and result in a prolonged period of economic uncertainty, our results of operations, our financial condition and/or liquidity, our prospects and competitor landscape could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business is dependent on the efforts of our executive officers and other personnel. If we are unsuccessful in our efforts to attract, train and retain qualified personnel, our business may be materially adversely affected.
Our success is dependent on the efforts of our executive officers because of their industry expertise, knowledge of our markets, and relationships with our independent agents. Should any of our executive officers cease working for us, we may be unable to find acceptable replacements with comparable skills and experience in the specialty P&C and A&H sectors that we target. In addition, our business is also dependent on skilled underwriters and other skilled employees. We cannot assure you that we will be able to attract, train and retain, on a timely basis and on anticipated economic and other terms, experienced and capable senior management, underwriters and support staff. We intend to pay competitive salaries, bonuses and equity-based rewards in order to attract and retain such personnel, but we may not be successful in such endeavors. The loss of key personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results. We do not currently maintain life insurance policies with respect to our executive officers or other employees.
Revenues and operating profits from our P&C segment depend on our production in several key states and adverse developments in these key states could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, our P&C segment derived 81.4% of its gross premium written from the following ten states: California (18.0%), New York (16.3%), North Carolina (15.9%), Florida (8.7%), Texas (4.7%), New Jersey (4.1%), Louisiana (4.1%), Michigan (3.5%), Virginia (3.2%) and Washington (2.9%). As a result, our financial results are subject to prevailing regulatory, legal, economic, demographic, competitive, and other conditions in these states. Adverse developments relating to any of these conditions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we cannot sustain our business relationships, including our relationships with independent agents, agencies and other parties, we may be unable to compete effectively and operate profitably.
We market our P&C segment products primarily through a network of approximately 25,500 independent agents. Our relationships with our agents are generally governed by agreements that may be terminated on short notice. Independent agencies generally are not obligated to promote our products and may sell insurance offered by our competitors. As a result, our ability to compete and remain profitable depends, in part, on our maintaining our business relationship with our independent agents and agencies, the marketing efforts of our independent agents and agencies and on our ability to offer insurance products and maintain financial strength ratings that meet the requirements and preferences of our independent agents and agencies and their policyholders.
In connection with our lender-placed insurance business, we also have relationships with certain mortgage lenders and servicers, and we insure properties securing mortgages serviced by the mortgage loan servicers with whom we do business.
If such lenders terminate important business arrangements with us, or renew contracts on terms less favorable to us, our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. For example, in our lender-placed insurance business, restrictions imposed by state regulators on us or by federal regulators on our customers could affect our ability to do business with certain mortgage loan servicers or the volume or profitability of such business. Furthermore, the transfer by mortgage servicer clients of loan portfolios to other carriers or the new participation by other carriers in insuring or reinsuring lender-placed insurance risks could materially reduce our revenues and profits from this business.
Any failure on our part to be effective in any of these areas could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
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Our affinity channel depends on a relatively small number of affinity partner relationships for a significant percentage of the net premium revenue that it generates, and the loss of one of these significant affinity partner relationships could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our affinity channel operates primarily through relationships with affinity partners, which include major retailers and membership organizations. See Item 1, “Business-P&C Segment-Distribution and Marketing-Affinity Distribution Channel.” Our top two affinity relationships collectively represent 58.0% of our affinity channel written premium. Although our relationships with these and most of our other affinity partners are long-standing with long-term contracts, in the event of the termination of any of our significant affinity partner relationships, our net earned premium could be adversely affected.
If we, together with our affiliates and the other third parties that we contract with, are unable to maintain our technology platform or our technology platform fails to operate properly, or meet the technological demands of our customers with respect to the products and services we offer, our business and financial performance could be significantly harmed.
In 2010, we engaged AmTrust to develop a new policy administration system to replace our three legacy mainframe systems. In addition, we developed our RAD 5.0 underwriting pricing tool, which allows us to more accurately evaluate specific risk exposures in order to assist us in profitably underwriting our P&C products.
If we are unable to properly maintain our policy administration system and our technology systems or if our technology systems otherwise fail to perform in the manner we currently contemplate, our ability to effectively underwrite and issue policies, process claims and perform other business functions could be significantly impaired and our business and financial performance could be significantly harmed. In addition, the success of our business is dependent on our ability to resolve any issues identified with our technology arrangements during operations and make any necessary improvements in a timely manner. Further, we will need to match or exceed the technological capabilities of our competitors over time. We cannot predict with certainty the cost of such maintenance and improvements, but failure to make such improvements could have an adverse effect on our business. See Item 1, “Business-Technology.”
Also, we use e-commerce and other technology to provide, expand and market our products and services. Accordingly, we believe that it will be essential to continue to invest resources in maintaining electronic connectivity with customers and, more generally, in e-commerce and technology. Our business may suffer if we do not maintain these arrangements or keep pace with the technological demands of customers.
If we experience security breaches or other disruptions involving our technology, our ability to conduct our business could be adversely affected, we could be liable to third parties and our reputation could suffer, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our business is dependent upon the uninterrupted functioning of our information technology and telecommunication systems. We rely upon our systems, as well as the systems of our vendors, for all our business operations, including underwriting and issuing policies, processing claims, providing customer service, complying with insurance regulatory requirements and performing actuarial and other analytical functions necessary for underwriting, pricing and product development. Our operations are dependent upon our ability to timely and efficiently maintain and improve our information and telecommunications systems and protect them from physical loss, telecommunications failure or other similar catastrophic events, as well as from security breaches. A shut-down of, or inability to access, one or more of our facilities, a power outage or a failure of one or more of our information technology, telecommunications or other systems could significantly impair our ability to perform such functions on a timely basis. In the event of a disaster such as a natural catastrophe, terrorist attack or industrial accident, or due to a computer virus, our systems could be inaccessible for an extended period of time. While we have implemented business contingency plans and other reasonable and appropriate internal controls to protect our systems from interruption, loss or security breaches, a sustained business interruption or system failure could adversely impact our ability to process our business, provide customer service, pay claims in a timely manner or perform other necessary business functions.
Our operations depend on the reliable and secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. Computer viruses, hackers, employee misconduct and other external hazards could expose our data systems to security breaches, cyberattacks or other disruptions. In addition, we routinely transmit and receive personal, confidential and proprietary information by electronic means. We have implemented security measures designed to protect against breaches of security and other interference with our systems and networks resulting from attacks by third parties, including hackers, and from employee or adviser error or malfeasance. We also assess and monitor the security measures of our third-party business partners, who in the provision of services to us are provided with or process information pertaining to our business or our customers. Despite these measures, we cannot assure you that our systems and networks will not be subject to breaches or interference. Any such event may result in operational disruptions as well as unauthorized access to or the disclosure or loss of our proprietary
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information or our customers’ information, which in turn may result in legal claims, regulatory scrutiny and liability, reputational damage, the incurrence of costs to eliminate or mitigate further exposure, the loss of customers or affiliated advisors or other damage to our business. In addition, the trend toward broad consumer and general public notification of such incidents could exacerbate the harm to our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even if we successfully protect our technology infrastructure and the confidentiality of sensitive data, we could suffer harm to our business and reputation if attempted security breaches are publicized. We cannot be certain that advances in criminal capabilities, discovery of new vulnerabilities, attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in our systems, data thefts, physical system or network break-ins or inappropriate access, or other developments will not compromise or breach the technology or other security measures protecting the networks and systems used in connection with our business.
We may not be able to successfully acquire or integrate additional businesses or manage the growth of our operations, which could make it difficult for us to compete and could adversely affect our profitability.
Since our formation in 2009, we have grown our business primarily through a number of acquisitions of insurance companies, agencies or books of business. Part of our growth strategy is to continue to grow our business through acquisitions. This strategy of growing through acquisitions subjects us to numerous risks, including risks associated with:
• | our ability to identify profitable geographic markets for entry; |
• | our ability to identify potential acquisition targets and successfully acquire them on acceptable terms and in a timely manner; |
• | our ability to integrate acquired businesses smoothly and efficiently; |
• | our ability to achieve expected synergies, profitability and return on our investment; |
• | the diversion of management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of our business; |
• | our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel for expanded operations; |
• | encountering unforeseen operating difficulties or incurring unforeseen costs and liabilities; |
• | our ability to manage risks associated with entering into geographic and product markets with which we are less familiar; |
• | our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; |
• | our ability to expand existing agency relationships; and |
• | our ability to augment our financial, administrative and other operating systems to accommodate the growth of our business. |
Due to any of the above risks, we cannot assure you that (i) we will be able to successfully identify and acquire additional businesses on acceptable terms or at all, (ii) we will be able to successfully integrate any business we acquire, (iii) we will be able effectively manage our growth or (iv) any new business that we acquire or enter into will be profitable. Our failure in any of these areas could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have diversified our insurance business by expanding into the A&H segment through several acquisitions. The A&H insurance business is a relatively new business for us, and we have a limited operating history in this market. As a result, the risks described above with respect to growing our business by expanding into new product markets are particularly relevant with respect to our A&H business. Our inability to successfully continue to implement our business plan for our A&H segment could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
If our businesses, including businesses we have acquired, do not perform well, we may be required to recognize an impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
As of December 31, 2016, we had $155.3 million of goodwill recorded on our balance sheet. Goodwill represents the excess of the amounts we paid to acquire subsidiaries and other businesses over the fair value of their net assets at the date of acquisition. We are required to perform goodwill impairment tests at least annually and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable from estimated future cash flows. If we determine that the goodwill has been impaired, we would be required to write down the goodwill by the amount of the impairment, with a corresponding charge to net income. Such write-downs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
As of December 31, 2016, we had $467.7 million aggregate amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, recorded on our balance sheet. Intangible assets represent the amount of fair value assigned to certain assets when we acquire a subsidiary or a book of business. Intangible assets are classified as having either a finite or an indefinite life. We test the recoverability of our intangible assets at least annually. We test the recoverability of finite life intangibles whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a finite life intangible may not be recoverable. We recognize an impairment if the carrying value of an intangible asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value, in which circumstances we must write down the intangible
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asset by the amount of the impairment with a corresponding charge to net income. In connection with the Tower Transaction, we acquired two management companies that are attorneys-in-fact for two reciprocal exchanges. If the reciprocal business does not perform well or the reciprocal exchanges are downgraded, we may be required to recognize an impairment of our intangible assets. Such write downs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our relationship with AmTrust and its subsidiaries may present, and make us vulnerable to, difficult conflicts of interest, related party transactions, business opportunity issues and legal challenges.
AmTrust is a publicly-traded insurance holding company controlled by Leah Karfunkel, George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind. AmTrust beneficially owns or controls approximately 11.6% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Mr. Zyskind is the chief executive officer of AmTrust, the son-in-law of Leah Karfunkel and is chairman of our board of directors. Also, AmTrust (through a subsidiary) was a reinsurer under our quota share reinsurance treaty (“Personal Lines Quota Share”) pursuant to which we historically ceded 50% of our P&C gross premium written and related losses (excluding premium ceded to state-run reinsurance facilities) to our quota share reinsurers. AmTrust received 10% of such ceded premium and assumed 10% of the related losses solely with respect to policies in effect through July 31, 2013.
We are party to a number of other arrangements with AmTrust and its affiliates, including, among others, an asset management agreement pursuant to which a subsidiary of AmTrust provides investment management services to us; a master services agreement pursuant to which AmTrust provides us and our affiliates with information technology development services in connection with the development and licensing of our policy administration system; a consulting and marketing agreement pursuant to which a subsidiary of AmTrust provides certain consulting and marketing services to promote our captive insurance program; joint investments in entities owning life settlement contracts; joint investments in entities owning office buildings in Ohio, Texas and Illinois; and an aircraft timeshare agreement with a subsidiary of AmTrust. Conflicts of interest could arise with respect to any of our contractual arrangements with AmTrust and its affiliates, as well as any other business opportunities that could be advantageous to AmTrust or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and disadvantageous to us or our subsidiaries, on the other hand. AmTrust’s interests may be different from the interests of our company and the interests of our other stockholders.
Our relationship with Maiden and its subsidiaries may present, and make us vulnerable to, difficult conflicts of interest, related party transactions, business opportunity issues and legal challenges.
Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (“Maiden”) is a publicly-held Bermuda insurance holding company. As of December 31, 2016, Leah Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind owned or controlled approximately 7.9% and 7.5%, respectively, of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Maiden. Mr. Zyskind serves as the non-executive chairman of Maiden’s board of directors. Maiden Insurance Company, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maiden (“Maiden Insurance”), is a Bermuda reinsurer.
Maiden Insurance was the primary reinsurer under the Personal Lines Quota Share pursuant to which we historically ceded 50% of our P&C gross premium written and related losses (excluding premium ceded to state-run reinsurance facilities) from our P&C business to our quota share reinsurers. Maiden Insurance received 25% of the ceded premium and assumed 25% of the related losses solely with respect to policies in effect through July 31, 2013. Conflicts of interest could arise with respect to matters relating to the Personal Lines Quota Share, as well as business opportunities that could be advantageous to Maiden or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and disadvantageous to us or our subsidiaries, on the other hand.
Our relationship with ACP Re may present, and make us vulnerable to, difficult conflicts of interest, related party transactions, business opportunity issues and legal challenges.
ACP Re is a Bermuda reinsurer that is a subsidiary of the Karfunkel Family Trust. ACP Re was a reinsurer under the Personal Lines Quota Share pursuant to which we historically ceded 50% of our P&C gross premium written and related losses (excluding premium ceded to state-run reinsurance facilities) to our quota share reinsurers. ACP Re received 15% of the ceded premium and assumed 15% of the related losses under this agreement solely with respect to policies in effect through July 31, 2013. We also provide management services to ACP Re pursuant to a services agreement we entered into effective November 1, 2012. In addition, we acquired the renewal rights of the personal lines insurance operations of Tower Group International, Ltd., following ACP Re’s acquisition of Tower. As part of the Tower Transaction, we and AmTrust provided ACP Re with financing in an aggregate amount of up to $250 million ($125 million each), and in July 2016, ACP Re Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned by the Karfunkel Family Trust (“ACP Re Holdings”), became the borrower in the place of ACP Re. Conflicts of interest could arise with respect to any of the contractual arrangements between us and ACP Re, as well as business opportunities that could be advantageous to ACP Re, on the one hand, and disadvantageous to us or our subsidiaries, on the other hand. There can be no assurance that ACP Re Holdings will have sufficient assets or liquidity to pay its obligations under the terms of the financing. ACP Re Holdings may need to liquidate assets to fulfill these obligations. The majority of ACP Re Holdings’ assets currently
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consist of publicly traded equity securities. As a result of the Tower Transaction, we, through our subsidiary, have significant credit exposure to ACP Re Holdings.
A downgrade in the A.M. Best rating of our insurance subsidiaries would likely reduce the amount of business we are able to write and could materially adversely impact the competitive positions of our insurance subsidiaries.
Rating agencies evaluate insurance companies based on their ability to pay claims. A.M. Best Company, Inc. has currently assigned our insurance subsidiaries that are part of our intercompany quota share agreement to Integon National, a group rating of “A-” (Excellent), subject to transition periods in the case of acquired companies. The ratings of A.M. Best are subject to periodic review using, among other things, proprietary capital adequacy models, and are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. Our competitive position relative to other companies is determined in part by the A.M. Best rating of our insurance subsidiaries. A.M. Best ratings are directed toward the concerns of policyholders and insurance agencies and are not intended for the protection of investors or as a recommendation to buy, hold or sell securities.
There can be no assurances that our insurance subsidiaries will be able to maintain their current ratings. Any downgrade in ratings would likely adversely affect our business through the loss of certain existing and potential policyholders and the loss of relationships with independent agencies that might move to other companies with higher ratings. We are not able to quantify the percentage of our business, in terms of premiums or otherwise, that would be affected by a downgrade in our A.M. Best ratings.
Performance of our investment portfolio is subject to a variety of investment risks that may adversely affect our financial results.
Our results are affected, in part, by the performance of our investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio contains interest rate sensitive investments, such as fixed-income securities. As of December 31, 2016, our investment in fixed-income securities was approximately $3,100.5 million, or 87.4% of our total investment portfolio, including cash and accrued interest. Increases in market interest rates may have an adverse impact on the value of our investment portfolio by decreasing the value of fixed-income securities. Conversely, declining market interest rates could have an adverse impact on our investment income as we invest positive cash flows from operations and as we reinvest proceeds from maturing and called investments in new investments that could yield lower rates than our investments have historically generated. Defaults in our investment portfolio may produce operating losses and adversely impact our results of operations.
Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to manage interest rate sensitivity effectively. Despite our efforts to maintain a high quality portfolio and manage the duration of the portfolio to reduce the effect of interest rate changes, a significant change in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the performance of our investment portfolio generally is subject to other risks, including the following:
• | the risk of decrease in value due to a deterioration in the financial condition, operating performance or business prospects of one or more issuers of our fixed-income securities; |
• | the risk that our portfolio may be too heavily concentrated in the securities of one or more issuers, sectors or industries; |
• | the risk that we will not be able to convert investment securities into cash on favorable terms and on a timely basis; and |
• | general movements in the values of securities markets. |
If our investment portfolio were to suffer a substantial decrease in value due to market, sector or issuer-specific conditions, our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. A decrease in value of an insurance subsidiary’s investment portfolio could also put the subsidiary at risk of failing to satisfy regulatory minimum capital requirements and could limit the subsidiary’s ability to write new business.
Our holding company structure and certain regulatory and other constraints, including adverse business performance, could affect our ability to satisfy our obligations.
We are a holding company and conduct our business operations through our various subsidiaries. Our principal sources of funds are dividends and other payments from our insurance subsidiaries, income from our investment portfolio and funds that may be raised from time to time in the capital markets. We will be largely dependent on amounts from our insurance subsidiaries to pay principal and interest on any indebtedness that we may incur, to pay holding company operating expenses, to make capital investments in our other subsidiaries and to pay dividends on our common stock. In addition, our credit agreement contains
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covenants that limit our ability to pay cash dividends to our stockholders under certain circumstances. See “-The covenants in our credit agreement limit our financial and operational flexibility, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition.”
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to statutory and regulatory restrictions imposed on insurance companies by their states of domicile, which limit the amount of cash dividends or distributions that they may pay to us unless special permission is received from the insurance regulator of the relevant domiciliary state. In general, the maximum amount of dividends that the insurance subsidiaries may pay in any 12-month period without regulatory approval is the greater of adjusted statutory net income or 10% of statutory policyholders’ surplus as of the preceding calendar year end. Adjusted statutory net income is generally defined for this purpose to be statutory net income, net of realized capital gains, for the calendar year preceding the date of the dividend. In addition, other states may limit or restrict our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay stockholder dividends generally or as a condition to issuance of a certificate of authority. The aggregate amount of ordinary dividends that could be paid by our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval by the various domiciliary states of our insurance subsidiaries was approximately $397.1 million as of December 31, 2016, taking into account dividends paid in the prior twelve month period.
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to minimum capital and surplus requirements. Our failure to meet these requirements could subject us to regulatory action.
The laws of the states of domicile of our insurance subsidiaries impose risk-based capital standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements. Failure to meet applicable risk-based capital requirements or minimum statutory capital requirements could subject us to further examination or corrective action imposed by state regulators, including limitations on our writing of additional business, state supervision or liquidation. Any changes in existing risk-based capital requirements or minimum statutory capital requirements may require us to increase our statutory capital levels, which we may be unable to do. See Item 1, “Business-Regulation-State Insurance Regulation-Financial Oversight-Risk-Based Capital Regulations.”
The insurance industry is subject to extensive regulation, which may affect our ability to execute our business plan and grow our business.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision by government agencies in each of the states in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled or commercially domiciled, as well as all states in which they are licensed, sell insurance products, issue policies, or handle claims. Some states impose restrictions or require prior regulatory approval of specific corporate actions, which may adversely affect our ability to operate, innovate, obtain necessary rate adjustments in a timely manner or grow our business profitably. These regulations provide safeguards for policyholders and are not intended to protect the interests of stockholders. Our ability to comply with these laws and regulations, and to obtain necessary regulatory action in a timely manner is, and will continue to be, critical to our success. Some of these regulations include:
• | Required Licensing. We operate under licenses issued by the insurance department in the states in which we sell insurance. If a regulatory authority denies or delays granting a new license, our ability to enter that market quickly or offer new insurance products in that market may be substantially impaired. In addition, if the insurance department in any state in which we currently operate suspends, non-renews, or revokes an existing license, we would not be able to offer affected products in that state. |
• | Transactions Between Insurance Companies and Their Affiliates. Transactions between us or other of our affiliates and our insurance companies generally must be disclosed, and prior approval is required before any material or extraordinary transaction may be consummated. Approval may be refused or the time required to obtain approval may delay some transactions, which may adversely affect our ability to innovate or operate efficiently. |
• | Regulation of Insurance Rates and Approval of Policy Forms. The insurance laws of most states in which we conduct business require insurance companies to file insurance rate schedules and insurance policy forms for review and approval. If, as permitted in some states, we begin using new rates before they are approved, we may be required to issue refunds or credits to the policyholders if the new rates are ultimately deemed excessive or unfair and disapproved by the applicable insurance department. In other states, prior approval of rate changes is required and there may be long delays in the approval process or the rates may not be approved. Accordingly, our ability to respond to market developments or increased costs in that state could be adversely affected. |
• | Restrictions on Cancellation, Non-Renewal or Withdrawal. Many of the states in which we operate have laws and regulations that limit our ability to exit a market. For example, some states limit a private passenger auto insurer’s ability to cancel and refuse to renew policies and some prohibit insurers from withdrawing one or more lines of insurance business from the state unless prior approval is received. In some states, these regulations extend to significant reductions in the amount of insurance written, not just to a complete withdrawal. Laws and regulations that limit our ability to cancel and refuse to renew policies in some states or locations and that subject withdrawal plans to prior approval requirements may restrict our ability to exit unprofitable markets, which may harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. |
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• | Lender-placed insurance products. State departments of insurance and regulatory authorities may choose to review the appropriateness of our premium rates for our lender-placed insurance products. If the reviews by state departments of insurance lead to significant decreases in premium rates for our lender-placed insurance products, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected. |
• | Other Regulations. We must also comply with regulations involving, among other matters: |
• | the use of non-public consumer information and related privacy issues; |
• | the use of credit history in underwriting and rating policies; |
• | limitations on the ability to charge policy fees; |
• | limitations on types and amounts of investments; |
• | restrictions on the payment of dividends by our insurance subsidiaries; |
• | the acquisition or disposition of an insurance company or of any company controlling an insurance company; |
• | involuntary assignments of high-risk policies, participation in reinsurance facilities and underwriting associations, assessments and other governmental charges; |
• | reporting with respect to financial condition; and |
• | periodic financial and market conduct examinations performed by state insurance department examiners. |
The failure to comply with these laws and regulations may also result in regulatory actions, fines and penalties, and in extreme cases, revocation of our ability to do business in a particular jurisdiction. In the past we have been fined by state insurance departments for failing to comply with certain laws and regulations. In addition, we may face individual and class action lawsuits by insured and other parties for alleged violations of certain of these laws or regulations.
Our failure to accurately and timely pay claims could adversely affect our business, financial results and liquidity.
We must accurately and timely evaluate and pay claims that are made under our policies. Many factors affect our ability to pay claims accurately and timely, including the training and experience of our claims representatives, our claims organization’s culture and the effectiveness of our management, our ability to develop or select and implement appropriate procedures and systems to support our claims functions and other factors. Our failure to pay claims accurately and timely could lead to material litigation, undermine our reputation in the marketplace and materially adversely affect our financial results and liquidity.
In addition, if we do not train new claims employees effectively or lose a significant number of experienced claims employees, our claims department’s ability to handle an increasing workload could be adversely affected. In addition to potentially requiring that growth be slowed in the affected markets, our business could suffer from decreased quality of claims work which, in turn, could lower our operating margins.
Regulation may become more extensive in the future, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time-consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase our direct and indirect compliance and other expenses of doing business, thus adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In the future, states may make existing insurance laws and regulation more restrictive or enact new restrictive laws. In such event, we may seek to reduce our business in, or withdraw entirely from, these states. Additionally, from time to time, the United States Congress and certain federal agencies investigate the current condition of the insurance industry to determine whether federal regulation is necessary. Currently, the U.S. federal government does not directly regulate the P&C insurance business. However, The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) established a Federal Insurance Office (“FIO”) within the Department of the Treasury. The duties of the FIO include studying and reporting on how to modernize and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United States considering the ability of any federal regulation or a federal regulator to “provide robust consumer protection for policyholders” as well as “the potential consequences of subjecting insurers to a federal resolution authority.” In 2013, the FIO issued a report on proposals to modernize and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United States. We cannot predict whether any of these proposals will be adopted, or what impact, if any, these proposals or, if enacted, these laws may have on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See Item 1, “Business-Regulation.”
Reform of the health insurance industry could materially reduce the profitability of our A&H segment.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) was signed into law in 2010. There have been judicial and congressional challenges to certain aspects of the PPACA, and we expect there will be additional challenges and amendments in
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the future, particularly in light of the new U.S. presidential administration and Congress. Due to its complexity and continued uncertainty, the PPACA’s impact remains difficult to predict and could significantly affect the health insurance industry. We continue to review our product offerings and make changes to adapt to the new environment and the opportunities presented. However, we could be adversely affected if our plans for operating in the new environment are unsuccessful or if there is less demand than we expect for our A&H products. Uncertainty remains with respect to a number of provisions of PPACA, including the mechanics of the public and private exchanges required by PPACA, the application of PPACA’s requirements to various types of health insurance plans and the timing of the implementation of certain of PPACA’s requirements.
If we are unable to adapt our A&H business to current and/or future requirements of PPACA, or if significant uncertainty continues with respect to implementation of PPACA, our A&H business could be materially adversely affected. Furthermore, should Congress extend the scope of or repeal parts of or all of PPACA, such a development could have a material adverse effect on our A&H business. For more information on PPACA and its impact on our A&H segment, see Item 1, “Business-A&H Segment.”
Assessments and other surcharges for guaranty funds, second-injury funds, catastrophe funds, and other mandatory pooling arrangements for insurers may reduce our profitability.
Virtually all states require insurers licensed to do business in their state to bear a portion of the loss suffered by some insured parties as the result of impaired or insolvent insurance companies. These losses are funded by assessments that are levied by state guaranty associations, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurance companies in the state based on their proportionate share of premiums written in the lines of business in which the impaired or insolvent insurance companies are engaged. The assessments levied on us may increase as we increase our written premium. In addition, as a condition to the ability to conduct business in various states, our insurance subsidiaries must participate in mandatory property and casualty shared market mechanisms or pooling arrangements, which provide various types of insurance coverage to individuals or entities that otherwise are unable to purchase that coverage from private insurers. The effect of these assessments and mandatory shared-market mechanisms or changes in them could reduce our profitability in any given period or limit our ability to grow our business.
We will require additional capital in the future and such additional capital may not be available to us, or may only be available to us on unfavorable terms.
To support our current and future policy writings or potential acquisitions, we may raise substantial additional capital using a combination of debt and equity. Our future capital requirements depend on many factors, including our ability to write new business successfully and to establish premium rates and reserves at levels sufficient to cover losses. To the extent that the funds generated by our ongoing operations and initial capitalization are insufficient to fund future operating requirements, we may need to raise additional funds through financings or curtail our growth and reduce our assets. We cannot be sure that we will be able to raise equity or debt financing on terms favorable to us and our stockholders and in the amounts that we require, or at all. If we cannot obtain adequate capital, our business and financial condition could be adversely affected. Issuances of stock may result in dilution of our existing stockholders or a decrease in the per share price of our common stock.
In addition, the terms of a capital raising transaction could require us to agree to stringent financial and operating covenants and to grant security interests on our assets to lenders or holders of our debt securities that could limit our flexibility in operating our business or our ability to pay dividends on our common stock and could make it more difficult for us to obtain capital in the future.
The covenants in our credit agreement limit our financial and operational flexibility, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition.
Our credit agreement contains covenants that limit our ability, among other things, to borrow money, sell assets, merge or consolidate and make particular types of investments or other restricted payments, including the payment of cash dividends if an event of default has occurred and is continuing or if we are out of compliance with our financial covenants. These covenants could restrict our ability to achieve our business objectives, and therefore, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition. In addition, this agreement also requires us to maintain specific financial ratios. If we fail to comply with these covenants or meet these financial ratios, the lenders under our credit agreement could declare a default and demand immediate repayment of all amounts owed to them, cancel their commitments to lend and/or issue letters of credit, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition and business in general.
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Our operations and business activities outside of the United States are subject to a number of risks, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We currently conduct a limited amount of business outside the United States, primarily in Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden. In these jurisdictions, we are subject to a number of significant risks in conducting such business. These risks include restrictions such as price controls, capital controls, exchange controls and other restrictive government actions, which could have an adverse effect on our business and our reputation. Investments outside the United States also subject us to additional domestic and foreign laws and regulations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws in other countries that prohibit the making of improper payments to foreign officials. In addition, some countries have laws and regulations that lack clarity and, even with local expertise and effective controls, it can be difficult to determine the exact requirements of the local laws. Failure to comply with local laws in a particular market could have a significant and negative effect not only on our business in that market but also on our reputation generally.
We may be subject to taxes on our Luxembourg affiliates’ equalization reserves.
In 2012, we formed a Luxembourg holding company and acquired a Luxembourg-domiciled reinsurance company. In connection with the acquisition, we acquired a licensed Luxembourg reinsurer together with its cash and associated equalization reserves. An “equalization reserve” is a compulsory volatility or catastrophe reserve in excess of ordinary reserves determined by a formula based on the volatility of the business ceded to the reinsurance company. Equalization reserves are required to be established for Luxembourg statutory and tax purposes, but are not recognized under GAAP. Equalization reserves are calculated on a line of business basis and are subject to a theoretical maximum amount, or cap, based on the expected premium volume described in the business plan of the reinsurance company as approved by the Luxembourg regulators, which cap is reassessed every five years. At the time we acquired our first Luxembourg reinsurer for a purchase price of approximately $125.0 million, it had cash of approximately $135.0 million, established equalization reserves of approximately $129.6 million, and was subject to an equalization reserve cap of approximately $211.0 million. Each year, the Luxembourg reinsurer is required to adjust its equalization reserves by an amount equal to its statutory net income or net loss, determined based on premiums and investment income less incurred losses and other operating expenses. The yearly adjustment of the equalization reserve generally results in zero pretax income on a Luxembourg statutory and tax basis, as follows: in a year in which the reinsurer’s operations result in a statutory loss, the equalization reserves are taken down in an amount to balance the income statement to zero pretax income, and in a year in which the operations result in a gain, the equalization reserves are increased in an amount to balance the income statement to zero pretax income. If the reinsurer were to produce underwriting income in excess of the equalization reserve cap, or if the cap were to be reduced below the amount of the carried equalization reserves, the reinsurer would incur Luxembourg tax on the amount of such excess income or the amount by which the reserves exceeded the reduced cap, as applicable.
We have entered into a stop loss reinsurance agreement with the Luxembourg reinsurer under which we pay reinsurance premiums and cede losses and expenses in excess of the attachment point to the reinsurer. Provided that we are able to cede losses to the reinsurance company through this intercompany reinsurance agreement that are sufficient to utilize all of the reinsurance company’s equalization reserves, Luxembourg would not, under laws currently in effect, impose any income, corporation or profits tax on the reinsurance company. However, if the reinsurance company were to cease reinsuring business without exhausting the equalization reserves, it would recognize income in the amount of the unutilized equalization reserves that would be taxed by Luxembourg at a rate of approximately 30%. We must establish a deferred tax liability on our financial statements equal to approximately 30% of the unutilized equalization reserves. We adjust the deferred tax liability each reporting period based on premiums and investment income less losses and other expenses ceded to the Luxembourg reinsurer under the intercompany reinsurance agreement. As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately $27.7 million of unutilized equalization reserves and an associated deferred tax liability of approximately $8.3 million relating to our two Luxembourg reinsurers. Under our business plan currently in effect, we expect that the ceded losses and expenses net of reinsurance premiums paid under the intercompany reinsurance agreement will cause the equalization reserve to be fully utilized in three to five years at which point the deferred tax liability relating to the equalization reserves will be extinguished. The effects of this intercompany reinsurance agreement are appropriately eliminated in consolidation.
A portion of our financial assets consists of life settlement contracts that are subject to certain risks.
As of December 31, 2016, we have a 50% ownership interest in entities that hold certain life settlement contracts (the “LSC Entities”), and the fair value of these contracts owned by the LSC Entities is $356.9 million, with our proportionate interest being $178.4 million.
Estimates of fair value of the life settlement contracts held by the LSC Entities are subjective and based upon estimates of, among other factors: (i) the life expectancy of the insured person, (ii) the projected premium payments on the contract, including projections of possible rate increases from the related insurance carrier, (iii) the projected costs of administration relating to the
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contract and (iv) the projected risk of non-payment, including the financial health of the related insurance carrier, the possibility of legal challenges from such insurance carrier or others and the possibility of regulatory changes that may affect payment. The actual value of any life settlement contract cannot be determined until the policy matures (i.e., the insured has died and the insurance carrier has paid out the death benefit to the holder). A significant negative difference between the estimated fair value of a contract and actual death benefits received at maturity for any life settlement contract could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Some of the critical factors considered in determining the fair value of a life settlement contract are related to the discounted value of future cash flows from death benefits and the discounted value of future premiums due on the contract. If the rate used to discount the future death benefits or the future premiums changes, the value of the life settlement contract will also change. Generally, if discount rates increase, the fair value of a life settlement contract decreases. If a life settlement contract is sold or otherwise disposed of in the future under a relatively higher interest rate environment, the contract may have a lower value than the value it had when it was acquired.
The life expectancy of an insured under a life insurance policy is a key element in determining the anticipated cash flow associated with the policy and, ultimately, its value. For example, if an insured under a life insurance policy lives longer than estimated, premiums on that policy will be required to be paid for a longer period of time than anticipated (and in a greater total amount) in order to maintain the policy in force. Estimating life expectancies is inherently inexact and imprecise. Past mortality experience is not an accurate indicator of future mortality rates, and it is possible for insureds under life insurance policies to experience lower mortality rates in the future than those historically experienced by other persons having similar traits. The process of developing an estimate of life expectancy may include, but is not necessarily limited to, subjective interpretation of lifestyle, medical history, ancestry, educational background, improvements in mortality rates, wealth and access to and impact of changes in medical techniques. Subjective interpretation of these and other variables leads to vast complexities which ultimately present a degree of imprecision. In addition, the types of individuals who are insured under substantial life insurance policies may have longer life expectancies than the general population as a result of such factors as better access to medical care and healthier lifestyles. These factors may make it harder to correctly estimate their life expectancies.
Life expectancy providers have historically changed, and may in the future change, from time to time their respective underwriting methodologies in an effort to improve the precision of their life expectancy estimates. For example, certain changes effected by several leading life expectancy providers in 2008 and 2009 resulted in significantly longer life expectancies for many insureds under policies in the life settlement market, which led to a meaningful reduction in the fair value of those policies. Future changes by one or more life expectancy providers could similarly lengthen or shorten the life expectancy estimates of the insureds under life insurance policies in which the LSC Entities have an interest and significantly impact the market value and/or liquidity of the affected policies. Developments of this nature could have a material adverse effect on the value of our investment in the LSC Entities holding the life settlements contracts.
In addition, our results of operations and earnings may fluctuate depending on the number of life settlement contracts held by the LSC Entities in a given period and the fair value of those assets at the end of the applicable period. Any reduction in the fair value of these assets will impact our income in the period in which the reduction occurs and could adversely affect our financial results for that period.
Finally, the market for life settlement contracts is relatively illiquid when compared to that for other asset classes, and there is currently no established trading platform or market by which investors in the life settlement market buy and sell life settlement contracts. If any of the LSC Entities need to sell significant numbers of life settlement contracts in the secondary life settlement market, it is possible that the lack of liquidity at that time could make the sale of such life settlement contract difficult or impossible. Therefore, we bear the risks of any of the LSC Entities having to sell life settlement contracts at substantial discounts or not being able to sell life settlement contracts in a timely manner or at all which may result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements.
Our financial statements are subject to the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. The impact of accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet implemented is disclosed in our reports filed with the SEC. See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies,” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. An assessment of proposed standards, including standards on insurance contracts and accounting for financial instruments, is not provided as such proposals are subject to change through the exposure process and official positions of the FASB are determined only after extensive
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due process and deliberations. Therefore, the effects on our financial statements cannot be meaningfully assessed. The required adoption of future accounting standards could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations, including on our net income.
Risks Relating to Our Insurance Operations
The insurance industry is highly competitive, and we may not be able to compete effectively against larger companies.
The insurance industry is highly competitive and, except for regulatory considerations, there are relatively few barriers to entry. We compete with both large national insurance providers and smaller regional companies on the basis of price, coverages offered, claims handling, customer service, agent commissions, geographic coverage and financial strength ratings. Some of our competitors have more capital, higher ratings and greater resources than we have, and may offer a broader range of products than we offer. Many of our competitors invest heavily in advertising and marketing efforts and/or expanding their online service offerings. Many of these competitors have better brand recognition than we have and have a significantly larger market share than we do. As a result, these larger competitors may be better able to offer lower rates to consumers, to withstand larger losses, and to more effectively take advantage of new marketing opportunities. Our ability to compete against these larger competitors depends on our ability to deliver superior service and maintain our relationships with independent agents and affinity groups.
In our lender-placed insurance business, we use a proprietary insurance-tracking system to monitor the clients’ mortgage portfolios to verify the existence of insurance on each mortgaged property and identify those that are uninsured. If, in addition to our current competitors, others in this industry develop a competing system or equivalent administering capabilities, this could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We may undertake strategic marketing and operating initiatives to improve our competitive position and drive growth. If we are unable to successfully implement new strategic initiatives or if our marketing campaigns do not attract new customers, our competitive position may be harmed, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We write a significant amount of business in the nonstandard auto insurance market, which could make us more susceptible to unfavorable market conditions which have a disproportionate effect on that customer base.
A significant amount of our P&C premium currently is written in the nonstandard auto insurance market. As a result, adverse developments in the economic, competitive or regulatory environment affecting the nonstandard customer base or the nonstandard auto insurance industry in general may have a greater effect on us as compared to a more diversified auto insurance carrier with a larger percentage of its business in other types of auto insurance products. Adverse developments of this type may have a material adverse effect on our business.
We generate significant revenue from service fees generated from our P&C and A&H policyholders, which could be adversely affected by additional insurance or consumer protection regulation.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, we generated $380.8 million in service and fee revenue from our P&C and A&H policyholders, which included origination fees, installment fees relating to installment payment plans, late payment fees, policy cancellation fees and reinstatement fees. The revenue we generate from these service fees could be reduced by changes in consumer protection or insurance regulation that restrict or prohibit our ability to charge these fees. If our ability to charge fees for these services were to be restricted or prohibited, there can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain rate increases or take other action to offset the lost revenue and the direct and indirect costs associated with providing the services, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The rates we charge under the policies we write are subject to prior regulatory approval in most of the states in which we operate.
In most of the states in which we operate, we must obtain prior regulatory approval of insurance rates charged to our customers, including any increases in those rates. If we are unable to receive approval for the rate changes we request, or if such approval were delayed, our ability to operate our business in a profitable manner may be limited and our financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity may be adversely affected.
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The property and casualty insurance industry is cyclical in nature, which may affect our overall financial performance.
Historically, the financial performance of the property and casualty insurance industry has tended to fluctuate in cyclical periods of price competition and excess capacity (known as a soft market) followed by periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity (known as a hard market). The profitability of most property and casualty insurance companies tends to follow this cyclical market pattern. We cannot predict with certainty the timing or duration of changes in the market cycle because the cyclicality is due in large part to the actions of our competitors and general economic factors beyond our control. These cyclical patterns, the actions of our competitors, and general economic factors could cause our revenues and net income to fluctuate, which may adversely affect our business.
Catastrophic losses or the frequency of smaller insured losses may exceed our expectations as well as the limits of our reinsurance, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our P&C insurance business is subject to claims arising from catastrophes, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, floods, earthquakes, hailstorms, severe winter weather, and fires, or other events, such as explosions, terrorist attacks, riots, and hazardous material releases. The incidence and severity of such events are inherently unpredictable, and our losses from catastrophes could be substantial.
Longer-term weather trends are changing and new types of catastrophe losses may be developing due to climate change, a phenomenon that may be associated with extreme weather events linked to rising temperatures, including effects on global weather patterns, sea, land and air temperature, sea levels, rain and snow. Climate change could increase the frequency and severity of catastrophe losses we experience in both coastal and non-coastal areas.
In addition, it is possible that we may experience an unusual frequency of smaller losses in a particular period. In either case, the consequences could be substantial volatility in our financial condition or results of operations for any fiscal quarter or year, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations and our ability to write new business. Although we believe that our geographic and product mix creates limited exposure to catastrophic events and we attempt to manage our exposure to these types of catastrophic and cumulative losses, including through the use of reinsurance, catastrophic events are inherently unpredictable and the severity or frequency of these types of losses may exceed our expectations as well as the limits of our reinsurance coverage.
We rely on the use of credit scoring in pricing and underwriting our auto insurance policies and any legal or regulatory requirements which restrict our ability to access credit score information could decrease the accuracy of our pricing and underwriting process and thus lower our profitability.
We use credit scoring as a factor in pricing and underwriting decisions where allowed by state law. Consumer groups and regulators have questioned whether the use of credit scoring unfairly discriminates against some groups of people and are calling for laws and regulations to prohibit or restrict the use of credit scoring in underwriting and pricing. Laws or regulations that significantly curtail or regulate the use of credit scoring, if enacted in a large number of states in which we operate, could impact the integrity of our pricing and underwriting process, which could, in turn, adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and make it harder for us to be profitable over time.
If market conditions cause our reinsurance to be more costly or unavailable, we may be required to bear increased risks or reduce the level of our underwriting commitments.
As part of our overall risk and capacity management strategy, we purchase excess of loss catastrophic and casualty reinsurance for protection against catastrophic events and other large losses. Market conditions beyond our control, in terms of price and available capacity, may affect the amount of reinsurance we acquire and our profitability.
We may be unable to maintain our current reinsurance arrangements or to obtain other reinsurance in adequate amounts and at favorable rates. Increases in the cost of reinsurance would adversely affect our profitability. In addition, if we are unable to renew our expiring arrangements or to obtain new reinsurance on favorable terms, either our net exposure to risk would increase, which would increase our costs, or, if we are unwilling to bear an increase in net risk exposures, we would have to reduce the amount of risk we underwrite, which would reduce our revenues.
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We may not be able to recover amounts due from our reinsurers, which would adversely affect our financial condition.
Reinsurance does not discharge our obligations under the insurance policies we write; it merely provides us with a contractual right to seek reimbursement on certain claims. We remain liable to our policyholders even if we are unable to make recoveries that we are entitled to receive under our reinsurance contracts. As a result, we are subject to credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. Losses are recovered from our reinsurers after underlying policy claims are paid. The creditworthiness of our reinsurers may change before we recover amounts to which we are entitled. Therefore, if a reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations to us, we would be responsible for claims and claim settlement expenses for which we would have otherwise received payment from the reinsurer. If we were unable to collect these amounts from our reinsurers, our costs would increase and our financial condition would be adversely affected. As of December 31, 2016, we had an aggregate amount of approximately $880.8 million of recoverables from third-party reinsurers for unpaid losses.
Our largest reinsurance recoverables are from the NCRF and the MCCA. The NCRF is a non-profit organization established to provide automobile liability reinsurance to those insurance companies that write automobile insurance in North Carolina. The MCCA is a Michigan reinsurance mechanism that covers no-fault first party medical losses of retentions in excess of $545,000 in 2016. At December 31, 2016, the amount of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses from the NCRF and the MCCA was approximately $100.5 million and $663.9 million, respectively. If any of our principal reinsurers were unable to meet its obligations to us, our financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected. For additional information, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Reinsurance.”
The effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on our business are uncertain and negative developments in this area could have an adverse effect on our business.
As industry practices and legal, judicial, social and other environmental conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to claims and coverage may emerge. These issues may adversely affect our business by either extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. In some instances, these changes may not become apparent until after we have issued insurance policies that are affected by the changes. As a result, the full extent of our liability under an insurance policy may not be known until many years after the policy is issued. For example, medical costs associated with permanent and partial disabilities may increase more rapidly or be higher than we currently expect. Changes of this nature may expose us to higher claims than we anticipated when we wrote the underlying policy. Unexpected increases in our claim costs many years after policies are issued may also result in our inability to recover from certain of our reinsurers the full amount that they would otherwise owe us for such claims costs because certain of the reinsurance agreements covering our business include commutation clauses that permit the reinsurers to terminate their obligations by making a final payment to us based on an estimate of their remaining liabilities. In addition, the potential passage of new legislation designed to expand the right to sue, to remove limitations on recovery, to deem by statute the existence of a covered occurrence, to extend the statutes of limitations or otherwise repeal or weaken tort reforms could have an adverse impact on our business. The effects of these and other unforeseen emerging claim and coverage issues are extremely hard to predict and could be harmful to our business and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
The effects of litigation on our business are uncertain and could have an adverse effect on our business.
Although we are not currently involved in any material litigation with our customers, other members of the insurance industry are the target of class action lawsuits and other types of litigation, some of which involve claims for substantial or indeterminate amounts, and the outcomes of which are unpredictable. This litigation is based on a variety of issues, including insurance and claim settlement practices. We cannot predict with any certainty whether we will be involved in such litigation in the future or what impact such litigation would have on our business.
Changing climate conditions may adversely affect our financial condition or profitability.
There is an emerging scientific consensus that the earth is getting warmer. Climate change, to the extent it produces rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns, may affect the frequency and severity of storms and other weather events, the affordability, availability and underwriting results of homeowners and property insurance, and, if frequency and severity patterns increase, could negatively affect our financial results.
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Risks Related to an Investment in our Common Stock
Our revenues and results of operations may fluctuate as a result of factors beyond our control, which may cause volatility in the price of our shares of common stock.
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “NGHC.” Our performance, as well as the risks discussed herein, government or regulatory action, tax laws, interest rates and general market conditions could have a significant impact on the future market price of our common stock. The market price for shares of our common stock may be subject to low volume and may be highly volatile and you may not be able to resell your shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid to purchase the shares or at all. Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price of our common stock include:
• | our operating results in any future quarter not meeting or being anticipated not to meet the expectations of market analysts or investors; |
• | reductions in our earnings estimates by us or market analysts; |
• | publication of negative research or other unfavorable publicity or speculation in the press or investment community about our company, related companies or the insurance industry in general; |
• | rising level of claims costs, changes in the frequency or severity of claims or new types of claims and new or changing judicial interpretations relating to the scope of insurance company liability; |
• | the financial stability of our third-party reinsurers, changes in the level of reinsurance capacity, termination of reinsurance arrangements and changes in our capital capacity; |
• | increases in interest rates causing investors to demand a higher yield or return on investment than an investment in our common stock may be projected to provide; |
• | changes in market valuations of other insurance companies; |
• | adverse market reaction to any increased indebtedness we incur in the future; |
• | fluctuations in interest rates or inflationary pressures and other changes in the investment environment that affect returns on invested assets; |
• | additions or departures of key personnel; |
• | reaction to the sale or purchase of company stock by our principal stockholders or our executive officers; |
• | changes in the economic or regulatory environment in the markets in which we operate; |
• | changes in law; and |
• | general market, economic and political conditions. |
Our principal stockholders have the ability to control our business, which may be disadvantageous to other stockholders.
Leah Karfunkel and AmTrust, collectively, beneficially own or control approximately 53.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock. As a result, these holders have the ability to control all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election and removal of directors, amendments to our certificate of incorporation (other than changes to the rights of the common stock) and bylaws, any proposed merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets and other corporate transactions. These individuals may have interests that are different from those of other stockholders.
In addition, we are a “controlled company” pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5615(c) because Leah Karfunkel and AmTrust collectively control approximately 53.5% of our voting power. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. Therefore, we are exempt from the NASDAQ listing requirements with respect to having a majority of the members of the board of directors be independent; having our Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee be composed solely of independent directors; the compensation of our executive officers determined by a majority of our independent directors or a Compensation Committee composed solely of independent directors; and director nominees being selected or recommended for selection, either by a majority of our independent directors or by a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors. We rely on these exemptions.
In addition, the Karfunkel family, through entities that they control, have entered into transactions with us and may from time to time in the future enter into other transactions with us. As a result, they may have interests that are different from, or are in addition to, their interests as a stockholder in our company. Such transactions may adversely affect our results or operations or financial condition.
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Our officers, directors and principal stockholders could delay or prevent an acquisition or merger of our company even if the transaction would benefit other stockholders. Moreover, this concentration of share ownership makes it impossible for other stockholders to replace directors and management without the consent of Leah Karfunkel and AmTrust. In addition, this significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the price at which prospective buyers are willing to pay for our common stock because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning stock in companies with controlling stockholders.
In order to comply with the requirements of being a public company we continually enhance certain of our corporate processes, which require significant company resources and management attention.
As a public company with listed equity securities, we need to comply with the laws, regulations and requirements, corporate governance provisions of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and other regulations of the SEC and the requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market. In order to comply with these laws, rules and regulations, we have to continually monitor and enhance certain of our corporate processes, which require us to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. These efforts also require a significant amount of time from our board of directors and management, possibly diverting their attention from the implementation of our business plan and growth strategy.
We have made, and will continue to make, changes to our corporate governance standards, disclosure controls, financial reporting and accounting systems to meet our obligations as a public company. We cannot assure you that the changes we have made and will continue to make to satisfy our obligations as a public company will be successful, and any failure on our part to do so could subject us to delisting of our common stock, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potential litigation.
We previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our consolidated financial results.
As disclosed in Item 9A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 relating to the precision and sufficiency of formal documentation, including determining the completeness and accuracy of reports used in the operation of management’s review procedures, in particular as it relates to the following areas: (i) investment accounting - the documentation of investment reconciliations and the documentation of the procedures for review of securities for other than temporary impairment and valuation of investments; (ii) accounting for acquisitions - in particular the documentation related to the opening balance sheet and documentation related to the development of assumptions used in the valuation of intangibles; (iii) accounting for income taxes - the documentation of the procedures for review of the income tax provision; and (iv) completeness and accuracy of reports used in accounting for premiums, investments and loss reserves and claims. Therefore, management concluded our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2015.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our consolidated financial results.
Any failure to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or to implement required, new or improved internal controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us to report additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, which may result in our inability to accurately report our consolidated financial results. Any such failure could have a material and adverse effect on our consolidated financial results and the value of our common shares.
Failure to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting may have an adverse effect on our stock price.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC require an annual management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC. If we cannot in the future favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investor confidence in the reliability of our financial reports may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our common stock prices.
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Future sales and issuances of shares of our capital stock may depress our share price.
We may in the future issue our previously authorized and unissued securities. We have an authorized capitalization of 150 million shares of common stock and 10 million shares of preferred stock with such designations, preferences and rights as are contained in our charter or bylaws and as determined by our board of directors. Issuances of stock may result in dilution of our existing stockholders or a decrease in the per share price of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of our preferred stock on the rights of holders of our common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights attached to that class or series of preferred stock.
We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our common stock, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the price prospective buyers are willing to pay for our common stock. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by us or our principal stockholders, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect the price prospective buyers are willing to pay for our common stock and may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares at a time and price that you determine appropriate.
Applicable insurance laws may make it difficult to effect a change of control of our company.
State insurance holding company laws require prior approval by the respective state insurance departments of any change of control of an insurer. “Control” is generally defined as the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Control is generally presumed to exist through the direct or indirect ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a domestic insurance company or any entity that controls a domestic insurance company. In addition, one of our insurance subsidiaries is currently deemed to be commercially domiciled in Florida and, as such, is subject to regulation by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”). Florida insurance law prohibits any person from acquiring 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities or those of any of our insurance subsidiaries without the prior approval of the Florida OIR. However, a party may acquire less than 10% of our voting securities without prior approval if the party files a disclaimer of affiliation and control. Any person wishing to acquire control of us or of any substantial portion of our outstanding shares would first be required to obtain the approval of the domestic regulators (including those asserting “commercial domicile”) of our insurance subsidiaries or file appropriate disclaimers.
These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of us, including through transactions, and in particular unsolicited transactions, that some or all of our stockholders might consider to be desirable.
Future issuance of debt or preferred stock, which would rank senior to our common stock upon our liquidation, and future offerings of equity securities, which would dilute our existing stockholders, may adversely affect the market value of our common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by issuing debt or making additional offerings of equity securities, including bank debt, commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes of shares of preferred stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of shares of our common stock. Additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market value of our common stock, or both. Future issuances of preferred stock 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. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, holders of shares of our common stock bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market value of our common stock and diluting their stockholdings in us.
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
We use an aggregate of approximately 1,937,300 square feet in approximately 105 office locations and approximately 410 store fronts. We have an ownership interest in the entities that own the buildings in which we lease space at two of these locations, which represent an aggregate of approximately 266,200 square feet.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are routinely involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, in particular in connection with claims adjudication with respect to our policies. We believe we have recorded adequate reserves for these liabilities and that there is no individual case pending that is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Shareholders
Our common shares began trading on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “NGHC” on February 20, 2014. We have one class of authorized common stock for 150,000,000 shares at a par value of $0.01 per share. As of March 13, 2017 there were approximately 341 registered record holders of our common shares. This figure does not include beneficial owners who hold shares in nominee name.
Price Range of Common Stock
The following table shows the high and low sales prices per share for our common shares and cash dividends declared with respect to such shares:
2016 | High | Low | Dividends Declared | |||||||||
First quarter | $ | 22.18 | $ | 18.04 | $ | 0.03 | ||||||
Second quarter | $ | 22.77 | $ | 19.98 | $ | 0.03 | ||||||
Third quarter | $ | 23.12 | $ | 20.21 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
Fourth quarter | $ | 25.40 | $ | 18.04 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
2015 | High | Low | Dividends Declared | |||||||||
First quarter | $ | 19.19 | $ | 17.25 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||
Second quarter | $ | 21.14 | $ | 17.41 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||
Third quarter | $ | 23.88 | $ | 17.52 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||
Fourth quarter | $ | 22.61 | $ | 18.52 | $ | 0.03 | ||||||
On March 13, 2017, the closing price per share of our common stock was $23.84.
Dividend Policy
Our board of directors currently intends to continue to authorize the payment of a quarterly cash dividend to our stockholders of record. Any declaration and payment of dividends by our board of directors will depend on many factors, including general economic and business conditions, our strategic plans, our financial results and condition, legal and regulatory requirements and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.
National General Holdings Corp. is a holding company and has no direct operations. Our ability to pay dividends in the future depends on the ability of our operating subsidiaries, including our insurance subsidiaries, to transfer funds to us in the form of a dividend. The laws of the jurisdictions in which our insurance subsidiaries are organized regulate and restrict, under certain circumstances, their ability to pay dividends to us. The aggregate amount of dividends that could be paid to us by our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval by the various domiciliary states of our insurance subsidiaries was approximately $397.1 million as of December 31, 2016, taking into account dividends paid in the prior twelve month period. Under the terms of our credit agreement, we are not prohibited from paying cash dividends so long as no event of default has occurred and is continuing and we are not out of compliance with our financial covenants. We may, however, enter into credit agreements or other debt arrangements in the future that will restrict our ability to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock.
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Common Stock Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock for the period beginning February 20, 2014 and ending on December 31, 2016 with the cumulative total return on the NASDAQ Global Market Index and a peer group comprised of the NASDAQ Insurance Index. The graph shows the change in value of an initial $100 investment on February 20, 2014. The stock price performance of the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Comparative Cumulative Total Returns Since February 20, 2014 for National General Holdings Corp., NASDAQ Composite Index and NASDAQ Insurance Index
This information is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following tables set forth our selected historical consolidated financial and operating information for the periods ended and as of the dates indicated. The income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. These historical results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected from any future period.
You should read the following selected consolidated financial information together with the other information contained in this annual report, including “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report.
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands, except percentages and per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Selected Income Statement Data(1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 3,499,508 | $ | 2,589,748 | $ | 2,135,107 | $ | 1,338,755 | $ | 1,351,925 | |||||||||
Ceded premiums(2) | (428,202 | ) | (403,502 | ) | (265,083 | ) | (659,439 | ) | (719,431 | ) | |||||||||
Net premium written | $ | 3,071,306 | $ | 2,186,246 | $ | 1,870,024 | $ | 679,316 | $ | 632,494 | |||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (77,525 | ) | (56,436 | ) | (236,804 | ) | 8,750 | (58,242 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 2,129,810 | $ | 1,633,220 | $ | 688,066 | $ | 574,252 | |||||||||
Ceding commission income | 45,600 | 43,790 | 12,430 | 87,100 | 89,360 | ||||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 380,817 | 273,548 | 168,571 | 127,541 | 93,739 | ||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 99,586 | 75,340 | 52,426 | 30,808 | 30,550 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 3,854 | (10,307 | ) | (2,892 | ) | (1,669 | ) | 16,612 | |||||||||||
Bargain purchase gain and other revenue (expense) | 26,458 | (788 | ) | (1,660 | ) | 16 | 3,728 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 3,550,096 | $ | 2,511,393 | $ | 1,862,095 | $ | 931,862 | $ | 808,241 | |||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,958,545 | 1,381,641 | 1,053,065 | 462,124 | 402,686 | ||||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses(3) | 497,158 | 405,930 | 315,089 | 134,887 | 110,771 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(4) | 844,114 | 530,347 | 348,762 | 280,552 | 246,644 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 40,180 | 28,885 | 17,736 | 2,042 | 1,787 | ||||||||||||||
Total expenses | $ | 3,339,997 | $ | 2,346,803 | $ | 1,734,652 | $ | 879,605 | $ | 761,888 | |||||||||
Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ | 210,099 | $ | 164,590 | $ | 127,443 | $ | 52,257 | $ | 46,353 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 42,616 | 18,956 | 23,876 | 11,140 | 12,309 | ||||||||||||||
Income before equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ | 167,483 | $ | 145,634 | $ | 103,567 | $ | 41,117 | $ | 34,044 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 25,401 | 10,643 | 1,180 | 1,274 | (1,338 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 192,884 | $ | 156,277 | $ | 104,747 | $ | 42,391 | $ | 32,706 | |||||||||
Less: Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | (20,668 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,504 | ) | (82 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. | $ | 172,216 | $ | 142,252 | $ | 102,243 | $ | 42,309 | $ | 32,706 | |||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (24,333 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,291 | ) | (2,158 | ) | (4,674 | ) | |||||||||
Net income attributable to National General Holdings Corp. common stockholders | $ | 147,883 | $ | 128,227 | $ | 99,952 | $ | 40,151 | $ | 28,032 | |||||||||
Per common share data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share(5) | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.31 | $ | 1.09 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.62 | |||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic | 105,952 | 98,242 | 91,499 | 65,018 | 45,555 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.37 | $ | 1.27 | $ | 1.07 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 0.56 | |||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted | 108,278 | 100,724 | 93,515 | 71,802 | 58,287 | ||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.14 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.01 | $ | — | |||||||||
Insurance Ratios | |||||||||||||||||||
Net loss ratio(6) | 65.4 | % | 64.9 | % | 64.5 | % | 67.2 | % | 70.1 | % | |||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP)(7)(8) | 30.6 | % | 29.1 | % | 29.6 | % | 29.2 | % | 30.4 | % | |||||||||
Net combined ratio (non-GAAP)(7)(9) | 96.0 | % | 94.0 | % | 94.1 | % | 96.4 | % | 100.5 | % | |||||||||
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As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
Selected Balance Sheet Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Investments | $ | 3,548,449 | $ | 2,667,710 | $ | 1,866,105 | $ | 1,042,884 | $ | 951,928 | |||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 285,900 | $ | 282,277 | $ | 132,615 | $ | 73,823 | $ | 39,937 | |||||||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | $ | 1,158,108 | $ | 758,633 | $ | 647,443 | $ | 449,252 | $ | 450,140 | |||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | $ | 880,797 | $ | 833,176 | $ | 911,798 | $ | 950,828 | $ | 991,447 | |||||||||
Goodwill and intangibles assets, net | $ | 623,010 | $ | 461,312 | $ | 319,601 | $ | 156,915 | $ | 112,935 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 7,244,981 | $ | 5,563,392 | $ | 4,324,716 | $ | 2,837,515 | $ | 2,713,323 | |||||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,562,153 | $ | 1,259,241 | $ | 1,286,533 | |||||||||
Unearned premiums | $ | 1,635,625 | $ | 1,192,499 | $ | 864,436 | $ | 476,232 | $ | 488,598 | |||||||||
Deferred income tax (asset) liability | $ | (46,207 | ) | $ | 12,247 | $ | 67,535 | $ | 24,476 | $ | 34,393 | ||||||||
Debt | $ | 752,001 | $ | 491,537 | $ | 299,082 | $ | 81,142 | $ | 70,114 | |||||||||
Common stock and additional paid-in capital | $ | 915,770 | $ | 901,170 | $ | 691,670 | $ | 437,803 | $ | 158,470 | |||||||||
Preferred stock | $ | 420,000 | $ | 220,000 | $ | 55,000 | $ | — | $ | 53,054 | |||||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 1,925,504 | $ | 1,536,640 | $ | 1,073,450 | $ | 642,867 | $ | 413,042 | |||||||||
(1) | Results of operations were affected by our various acquisitions from 2012 to 2016. |
(2) | Premiums ceded to related parties were $1,578, $44,936, $501,067 and $561,434 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. |
(3) | Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses include policy acquisition expenses, commissions paid directly to producers, premium taxes and assessments, salary and benefits and other insurance general and administrative expenses which represent other costs that are directly attributable to insurance activities. |
(4) | General and administrative expenses are composed of all other operating expenses, including various departmental salaries and benefits expenses for employees that are directly involved in the maintenance of policies, information systems, and accounting for insurance transactions, and other insurance expenses such as federal excise tax, postage, telephones and Internet access charges, as well as legal and auditing fees and board and bureau charges. In addition, general and administrative expenses include those charges that are related to the amortization of tangible and intangible assets and non-insurance activities in which we engage. |
(5) | No effect is given to the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options or restricted stock units during the relevant period. |
(6) | Net loss ratio is calculated by dividing the loss and loss adjustment expense by net earned premiums. |
(7) | Net operating expense ratio and net combined ratio are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because a component of those ratios, net operating expense, is calculated by offsetting acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses and general and administrative expenses by ceding commission income and service and fee income. Management uses net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) and net combined ratio (non-GAAP) to evaluate financial performance against historical results and establish targets on a consolidated basis. We believe this presentation enhances the understanding of our results by eliminating what we believe are volatile and unusual events and presenting the ratios with what we believe are the underlying run rates of the business. Other companies may calculate these measures differently, and, therefore, their measures may not be comparable to those used by the Company’s management. For a reconciliation showing the total amounts by which acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses and general and administrative expenses were offset by ceding commission income and service and fee income in the calculation of net operating expense, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation-Results of Operations-Consolidated Results of Operations.” |
(8) | Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) is calculated by dividing the net operating expense by net earned premium. Net operating expense consists of the sum of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses and general and administrative expenses less ceding commission income and service and fee income. |
(9) | Net combined ratio (non-GAAP) is calculated by adding net loss ratio and net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) together. |
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. See “Note on Forward-Looking Statements.”
Overview
We are a specialty personal lines insurance holding company. Through our subsidiaries, we provide a variety of insurance products, including personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, umbrella, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, lender-placed, supplemental health and other niche insurance products. We sell insurance products with a focus on underwriting profitability through a combination of our customized and predictive analytics and our technology driven low cost infrastructure.
We manage our business through two segments: Property and Casualty (“P&C”) and Accident and Health (“A&H”). We transact business primarily through our twenty-two regulated domestic insurance subsidiaries: Integon Casualty Insurance Company, Integon General Insurance Corporation, Integon Indemnity Corporation, Integon National Insurance Company (“Integon National”), Integon Preferred Insurance Company, New South Insurance Company, MIC General Insurance Corporation, National General Insurance Company, National General Assurance Company, National General Insurance Online, Inc., National Health Insurance Company, National General Premier Insurance Company, Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Agent Alliance Insurance Company, Century-National Insurance Company, Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company of Louisiana, Direct General Insurance Company of Mississippi, Direct General Life Insurance Company, Direct Insurance Company and Direct National Insurance Company. Our insurance subsidiaries that are part of our intercompany quota share agreement to Integon National, have an “A-” (Excellent) group rating by A.M. Best, subject to transition periods in the case of acquired companies. We currently conduct a limited amount of business outside the United States, primarily in Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden.
The operating results of property and casualty insurance companies are subject to quarterly and yearly fluctuations due to the effect of competition on pricing, the frequency and severity of losses, the effect of weather and natural disasters on losses, general economic conditions, the general regulatory environment in states in which an insurer operates, state regulation of premium rates, changes in fair value of investments, and other factors such as changes in tax laws. The property and casualty industry has been highly cyclical with periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity followed by periods of severe price competition and excess capacity. While these cycles can have a large impact on a company’s ability to grow and retain business, we have sought to focus on niche markets and regions where we are able to maintain premium rates at generally consistent levels and maintain underwriting discipline throughout these cycles. We believe that the nature of our P&C insurance products, including their relatively low limits, the relatively short duration of time between when claims are reported and when they are settled, and the broad geographic distribution of our customers, have allowed us to grow and retain our business throughout these cycles. In addition, we have limited our exposure to catastrophe losses through reinsurance. With regard to seasonality, we tend to experience higher claims and claims expense in our P&C segment during periods of severe or inclement weather.
We evaluate our operations by monitoring key measures of growth and profitability, including net loss ratio, net combined ratio (non-GAAP) and operating leverage. We target a net combined ratio (non-GAAP) between 90% and 95% while seeking to maintain optimal operating leverage in our insurance subsidiaries commensurate with our A.M. Best rating objectives. To achieve our targeted net combined ratio (non-GAAP) we continually seek ways to reduce our operating costs and lower our expense ratio. For the year ended December 31, 2016, our operating leverage (the ratio of net earned premium to average total stockholders’ equity) was 1.7x, which was within our planned target operating leverage of between 1.5x and 2.0x.
Investment income is also an important part of our business. Because we often do not settle claims until several months or longer after we receive the original policy premiums, we are able to invest cash from premiums for significant periods of time. We invest our capital and surplus in accordance with state and regulatory guidelines. Our net investment income was $99.6 million, $75.3 million and $52.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We held 5.8% and 7.8%, of total invested assets in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Our most significant balance sheet liability is our unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserves. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, our reserves, net of reinsurance recoverables, were $1,384.3 million and $922.4 million, respectively. We record reserves for estimated losses under insurance policies that we write and for LAE related to the investigation and settlement of policy claims. Our reserves for loss and LAE represent the estimated cost of all reported and unreported loss and LAE incurred and unpaid at any time based on known facts and circumstances. Our reserves, excluding life reserves, for loss and
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LAE incurred and unpaid are not discounted using present value factors. Our loss reserves are reviewed quarterly by internal actuaries and at least annually by our external actuaries. Reserves are based on estimates of the most likely ultimate cost of individual claims. These estimates are inherently uncertain. Judgment is required to determine the relevance of our historical experience and industry information under current facts and circumstances. The interpretation of this historical and industry data can be impacted by external forces, principally frequency and severity of future claims, the length of time needed to achieve ultimate settlement of claims, inflation of medical costs, insurance policy coverage interpretations, jury determinations and legislative changes. Accordingly, our reserves may prove to be inadequate to cover our actual losses. If we change our estimates, these changes would be reflected in our results of operations during the period in which they are made, with increases in our reserves resulting in decreases in our earnings.
Acquisitions
During 2016 and 2015, we have made the following significant acquisitions:
Property and Casualty:
• | In November 2016, we closed on the acquisition of Elara Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Direct General Corporation, a Tennessee based property and casualty insurance company (“Direct General”), that predominantly writes nonstandard auto business in the Southeast. The acquisition added a direct distribution channel to our growing personal lines business. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $162.0 million. |
• | In October 2016, we closed on the acquisition of Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company (f/k/a Standard Mutual Insurance Company), an Illinois-based underwriter of personal auto and homeowners insurance in Illinois and Indiana (“SPCIC”). The transaction provides us entry into these states for both homeowners and package products, and adds to our expansion of standard and preferred lines. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $4.9 million. |
• | In June 2016, we closed on the acquisition of Century-National Insurance Company, a California domiciled property and casualty insurance company (“Century-National”), and Western General Agency, Inc., a California corporation (“Western General”), from Kramer-Wilson Company, Inc. This acquisition expands our standard and preferred product offering in both homeowners and personal auto in a key geographic area, enhancing our ability to bundle these products together and improve customer retention. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $322.7 million. |
• | In October 2015, we closed on a master transaction agreement with QBE Investments (North America), Inc. (“QBE Parent”) and its subsidiary, QBE Holdings, Inc. (together with QBE Parent, “QBE”), pursuant to which we acquired QBE’s lender-placed insurance business, including certain of QBE’s affiliates engaged in the lender-placed insurance business (“LPI Business”). The transaction included the acquisition of certain assets, including loan-tracking systems and technology, client servicing accounts, intellectual property, and vendor relationships, as well as the assumption of the related insurance liabilities in a reinsurance transaction through which we received the loss reserves, unearned premium reserves, and invested assets. The aggregate consideration for the transaction was approximately $95.7 million. |
Accident and Health:
• | In October 2015, we closed on the acquisition of certain business lines and assets from Assurant Health, which is a business segment of Assurant, Inc. As part of the transaction, we acquired the small group self-funded and supplemental product lines, as well as North Star Marketing Corporation, a proprietary small group sales channel (the “Assurant Transaction”). The purchase price was an aggregate cash payment of $14.0 million. |
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Principal Revenue and Expense Items
Gross premium written. Gross premium written represents premium from each insurance policy that we write, including as a servicing carrier for assigned risk plans, during a reporting period based on the effective date of the individual policy, prior to ceding reinsurance to third parties.
Net premium written. Net premium written is gross premium written less that portion of premium that we cede to third-party reinsurers under reinsurance agreements. The amount ceded under these reinsurance agreements is based on a contractual formula contained in the individual reinsurance agreement.
Change in unearned premium. Change in unearned premium is the change in the balance of the portion of premium that we have written but have yet to earn during the relevant period because the policy is unexpired.
Net earned premium. Net earned premium is the earned portion of our net premium written. We generally earn insurance premium on a pro rata basis over the term of the policy. At the end of each reporting period, premium written that is not earned is classified as unearned premium, which is earned in subsequent periods over the remaining term of the policy. Our policies typically have a term of six months or one year. For a six-month policy written on January 1, 2016, we would earn half of the premium in the first quarter of 2016 and the other half in the second quarter of 2016.
Ceding commission income. Ceding commission income is a commission we receive based on the earned premium ceded to third-party reinsurers to reimburse us for our acquisition, underwriting and other operating expenses. We earn commissions on reinsurance premium ceded in a manner consistent with the recognition of the earned premium on the underlying insurance policies, generally on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies reinsured. The portion of ceding commission income which represents reimbursement of successful acquisition costs related to the underlying policies is recorded as an offset to acquisition and other underwriting expenses.
Service and fee income. We currently generate policy service and fee income from installment fees, late payment fees, and other finance and processing fees related to policy cancellation, policy reinstatement, and insufficient fund check returns. These fees are generally designed to offset expenses incurred in the administration of our insurance business, and are generated as follows. Installment fees are charged to permit a policyholder to pay premiums in installments rather than in a lump sum. Late payment fees are charged when premiums are remitted after the due date and any applicable grace periods. Policy cancellation fees are charged to policyholders when a policy is terminated by the policyholder prior to the expiration of the policy’s term or renewal term, as applicable. Reinstatement fees are charged to reinstate a policy that has lapsed, generally as a result of non-payment of premiums. Insufficient fund fees are charged when the customer’s payment is returned by the financial institution.
All fee income is recognized as follows. An installment fee is recognized at the time each policy installment bill is due. A late payment fee is recognized when the customer’s payment is not received after the listed due date and any applicable grace period. A policy cancellation fee is recognized at the time the customer’s policy is canceled. A policy reinstatement fee is recognized when the customer’s policy is reinstated. An insufficient fund fee is recognized when the customer’s payment is returned by the financial institution. The amounts charged are primarily intended to compensate us for the administrative costs associated with processing and administering policies that generate insurance premium; however, the amounts of fees charged are not dependent on the amount or period of insurance coverage provided and do not entail any obligation to return any portion of those funds. The direct and indirect costs associated with generating fee income are not separately tracked.
We also collect service fees in the form of commissions and general agent fees by selling policies issued by third-party insurance companies. We also collect management fees in connection with our management of the Reciprocal Exchanges. We do not bear insurance underwriting risk with respect to these policies. Commission income and general agent fees are recognized, net of an allowance for estimated policy cancellations, at the date the customer is initially billed or as of the effective date of the insurance policy, whichever is later. The allowance for estimated third-party cancellations is periodically evaluated and adjusted as necessary.
Net investment income and realized and unrealized gains and (losses). We invest our statutory surplus funds and the funds supporting our insurance liabilities primarily in cash and cash equivalents, fixed maturities and equity securities. Our net investment income includes interest and dividends earned on our invested assets. We report net realized gains and losses on our investments separately from our net investment income. Net realized gains occur when we sell our investment securities for more than their costs or amortized costs, as applicable. Net realized losses occur when we sell our investment securities for less than their costs or amortized costs, as applicable, or we write down the investment securities as a result of other-than-temporary impairment loss. We classify our fixed maturities and equity securities as available for sale. We report net unrealized gains (losses) on those securities classified as available for sale separately in other comprehensive income (loss). Additionally, we have a small portfolio of fixed
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maturities and equity securities classified as trading. We report realized and unrealized gains (losses) on those securities classified as trading in earnings.
Loss and loss adjustment expenses. Loss and LAE represent our largest expense item and, for any given reporting period, include estimates of future claim payments, changes in those estimates from prior reporting periods and costs associated with investigating, defending and servicing claims. These expenses fluctuate based on the amount and types of risks we insure. We record loss and LAE related to estimates of future claim payments based on case-by-case valuations and statistical analyses. We seek to establish all reserves at the most likely ultimate exposure based on our historical claims experience. It is typical for our more serious bodily injury claims to take several years to settle, and we revise our estimates as we receive additional information about the condition of claimants and the costs of their medical treatment. Our ability to estimate loss and LAE accurately at the time of pricing our insurance policies is a critical factor in our profitability.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses consist of policy acquisition and marketing expenses, salaries and benefits expenses. Policy acquisition expenses comprise commissions directly attributable to those agents, wholesalers or brokers that produce premiums written on our behalf and promotional fees directly attributable to our affinity relationships. Acquisition costs also include costs that are related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts including comprehensive loss underwriting exchange reports, motor vehicle reports, credit score checks, and policy issuance costs.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses are composed of all other operating expenses, including various departmental salaries and benefits expenses for employees that are directly involved in the maintenance of policies, information systems, and accounting for insurance transactions, and other insurance expenses such as federal excise tax, postage, telephones and Internet access charges, as well as legal and auditing fees and board and bureau charges. In addition, general and administrative expenses include those charges that are related to the amortization of tangible and intangible assets and non-insurance activities in which we engage.
Interest expense. Interest expense represents amounts we incur on our outstanding indebtedness at the then-applicable interest rates.
Income tax expense. We incur federal, state and local income tax expenses as well as income tax expenses in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we operate.
Net operating expense. These expenses consist of the sum of general and administrative expenses and acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses less ceding commission income and service and fee income.
Underwriting income. Underwriting income is a measure of an insurance company’s overall operating profitability before items such as investment income, interest expense and income taxes. Underwriting income is calculated as net earned premium plus ceding commission income and service and fee income less loss and LAE, acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses, and general and administrative expenses.
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated subsidiaries. This represents primarily our share in earnings or losses of our investment in four companies that own life settlement contracts, which includes the gain realized upon a mortality event and the change in fair value of the investments in life settlements as evaluated at the end of each reporting period. These unconsolidated subsidiaries determine the fair value of life settlement contracts based upon an estimate of the discounted cash flow of the anticipated death benefits incorporating a number of factors, such as current life expectancy assumptions, expected premium payment obligations and increased cost assumptions, credit exposure to the insurance companies that issued the life insurance policies and the rate of return that a buyer would require on the policies. The gain realized upon a mortality event is the difference between the death benefit received and the recorded fair value of that particular policy.
Insurance Ratios
Net loss ratio. The net loss ratio is a measure of the underwriting profitability of an insurance company’s business. Expressed as a percentage, this is the ratio of loss and LAE incurred to net earned premium.
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). The net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) is one component of an insurance company’s operational efficiency in administering its business. Expressed as a percentage, this is the ratio of net operating expense to net earned premium.
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Net combined ratio (non-GAAP). The net combined ratio (non-GAAP) is a measure of an insurance company’s overall underwriting profit. This is the sum of the net loss and net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). If the net combined ratio (non-GAAP) is at or above 100 percent, an insurance company cannot be profitable without investment income, and may not be profitable if investment income is insufficient.
Net operating expense ratio and net combined ratio are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because a component of those ratios, net operating expense, is calculated by offsetting acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses and general and administrative expenses by ceding commission income and service and fee income, and is therefore a non-GAAP measure. Management uses net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) and net combined ratio (non-GAAP) to evaluate financial performance against historical results and establish targets on a consolidated basis. We believe this presentation enhances the understanding of our results by eliminating what we believe are volatile and unusual events and presenting the ratios with what we believe are the underlying run rates of the business. Other companies may calculate these measures differently, and, therefore, their measures may not be comparable to those used by the Company’s management. For a reconciliation showing the total amounts by which acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses and general and administrative expenses were offset by ceding commission income and service and fee income in the calculation of net operating expense, see “Results of Operations - Consolidated Results of Operations” below.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Use of estimates and assumptions. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our principal estimates include unpaid losses and LAE reserves; deferred acquisition costs; reinsurance recoverables, including the provision for uncollectible premiums; recording of impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in fair value; determining the fair value of investments; determining the fair value of share-based awards for stock compensation; the valuation of intangibles and the determination of of goodwill and goodwill impairment; and income taxes. In developing the estimates and assumptions, management uses all available evidence. Because of uncertainties associated with estimating the amounts, timing and likelihood of possible outcomes, actual results could differ from estimates.
Premiums. We recognize earned premium on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies, generally periods of six or twelve months. Unearned premium represents the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the policies. Net premiums receivable represent premium written and not yet collected, net of an allowance for uncollectible premium. We regularly evaluate premium and other receivables and adjust for uncollectible amounts as appropriate. Receivables specifically identified as uncollectible are charged to expense in the period the determination is made.
Service and fee income. We currently generate policy service and fee income from installment fees, late payment fees, and other finance and processing fees related to policy cancellation, policy reinstatement, and insufficient fund check returns. These fees are generally designed to offset expenses incurred in the administration of our insurance business, and are generated as follows. Installment fees are charged to permit a policyholder to pay premiums in installments rather than in a lump sum. Late payment fees are charged when premiums are remitted after the due date and any applicable grace periods. Policy cancellation fees are charged to policyholders when a policy is terminated by the policyholder prior to the expiration of the policy’s term or renewal term, as applicable. Reinstatement fees are charged to reinstate a policy that has lapsed, generally as a result of non-payment of premiums. Insufficient fund fees are charged when the customer’s payment is returned by the financial institution.
All fee income is recognized as follows. An installment fee is recognized at the time each policy installment bill is due. A late payment fee is recognized when the customer’s payment is not received after the listed due date and any applicable grace period. A policy cancellation fee is recognized at the time the customer’s policy is canceled. A policy reinstatement fee is recognized when the customer’s policy is reinstated. An insufficient fund fee is recognized when the customer’s payment is returned by the financial institution. The amounts charged are primarily intended to compensate us for the administrative costs associated with processing and administering policies that generate insurance premium; however, the amounts of fees charged are not dependent on the amount or period of insurance coverage provided and do not entail any obligation to return any portion of those funds. The direct and indirect costs associated with generating fee income are not separately tracked. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based on a percentage of fee income.
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We also collect service fees in the form of commissions and general agent fees by selling policies issued by third-party insurance companies. We do not bear insurance underwriting risk with respect to these policies. Commission income and general agent fees are recognized, net of an allowance for estimated policy cancellations, at the date the customer is initially billed or as of the effective date of the insurance policy, whichever is later. The allowance for estimated third-party cancellations is periodically evaluated and adjusted as necessary.
Reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses. We record reserves for estimated losses under insurance policies that we write and for LAE related to the investigation and settlement of policy claims. Our reserves for loss and LAE represent the estimated cost of all reported and unreported loss and LAE incurred and unpaid at any given point in time based on known facts and circumstances.
Loss reserves include statistical reserves and case estimates for individual claims that have been reported and estimates for claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date as well as estimates of the expenses associated with processing and settling all reported and unreported claims, less estimates of anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries. Estimates are based upon past loss experience modified for current trends as well as economic, legal and social conditions. Loss reserves, except life reserves, are not discounted to present value, which would involve recognizing the time value of money and offsetting estimates of future payments by future expected investment income.
In establishing these estimates, we make various assumptions regarding a number of factors, including frequency and severity of claims, the length of time needed to achieve ultimate settlement of claims, inflation of medical costs, insurance policy coverage interpretations, jury determinations and legislative changes. Due to the inherent uncertainty associated with these estimates, and the cost of incurred but unreported claims, our actual liabilities may be different from our original estimates. On a quarterly basis, we review our reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses to determine whether further adjustments are required. Any resulting adjustments are included in the current period’s results. Additional information regarding the judgments and uncertainties surrounding our estimated reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses can be found in Item 1, “Business-Loss Reserves.”
Reinsurance. We account for reinsurance premiums, losses and LAE ceded to other companies on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Earned premiums and losses and LAE incurred ceded to other companies have been recorded as a reduction of premium revenue and losses and LAE. Commissions allowed by reinsurers on business ceded have been recorded as ceding commission revenue. Ceding commission is a commission we receive based on the earned premium ceded to third-party reinsurers to reimburse us for our unallocated LAE and other operating expenses. We earn commissions on reinsurance premiums ceded in a manner consistent with the recognition of the earned premium on the underlying insurance policies, on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies reinsured. In connection with the Personal Lines Quota Share, the amount we received is based on a contractual formula contained in the reinsurance agreements and is based on the ceded losses as a percentage of ceded premium. Reinsurance recoverables are reported based on the portion of reserves and paid losses and LAE that are ceded to other companies. Assessing whether or not a reinsurance contract meets the condition for risk transfer requires judgment. The determination of risk transfer is critical to reporting premiums and losses, and is based, in part, on the use of actuarial and pricing models and assumptions. If we determine that a reinsurance contract does not transfer sufficient risk, we account for the contract under deposit accounting.
Deferred policy acquisition costs. Deferred acquisition costs include commissions, premium taxes, payments to affinity partners, promotional fees, and other direct sales costs that vary and are directly related to the successful acquisition of insurance policies. These costs are deferred and amortized to the extent recoverable over the policy period in which the related premiums are earned. We consider anticipated investment income in determining the recoverability of these costs. Management believes that these costs are recoverable in the near term. If management determined that these costs were not recoverable, then we could not continue to record deferred acquisition costs as an asset and would be required to establish a liability for a premium deficiency reserve.
Assessments related to insurance premiums. We are subject to a variety of insurance-related assessments, such as assessments by state guaranty funds used by state insurance regulators to cover losses of policyholders of insolvent insurance companies and for the operating expenses of such agencies. A typical obligating event would be the issuance of an insurance policy or the occurrence of a claim. These assessments are accrued in the period in which they have been incurred. We use estimated assessment rates in determining the appropriate assessment expense and accrual. We use estimates derived from state regulators and/or National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Tax and Assessments Guidelines.
Unearned premium reserves. Unearned premium reserves represent the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the policies.
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Investments. We account for investments in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320, “Investments - Debt and Equity Securities,” which requires that equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and all investments in debt securities to be segregated into categories based upon our intention for those securities. Based on our intention, we have classified our investments as available for sale or trading, with the exception of our equity and cost method investments. We may sell our available-for-sale securities in response to changes in interest rates, risk/reward characteristics, liquidity needs or other factors. Available-for-sale securities are reported at their estimated fair values based on a recognized pricing service, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax effects, reported as a separate component of other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Trading securities are reported at their estimated fair values with net realized and unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses are determined based on the specific identification method. Net investment income is recognized when earned and includes interest and dividend income together with amortization of market premiums and discounts using the effective yield method and is net of investment management fees and other expenses. For mortgage-backed securities and any other holdings for which there is a prepayment risk, prepayment assumptions are evaluated and revised as necessary. Any adjustments required due to the change in effective yields and maturities are recognized on a prospective basis through yield adjustments.
We use a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria to evaluate the necessity of recording impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in fair value. These criteria include:
• | the current fair value compared to amortized cost; |
• | the length of time that the security’s fair value has been below its amortized cost; |
• | specific credit issues related to the issuer such as changes in credit rating or non-payment of scheduled interest payments; |
• | whether management intends to sell the security and, if not, whether it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; |
• | the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer of the security, including any specific events that may affect its operations or earnings; |
• | the occurrence of a discrete credit event resulting in the issuer defaulting on a material outstanding obligation or the issuer seeking protection under bankruptcy laws; and |
• | other items, including management, media exposure, sponsors, marketing and advertising agreements, debt restructurings, regulatory changes, acquisitions and dispositions, pending litigation, distribution agreements and general industry trends. |
Impairment of investment securities results in a charge to operations when a market decline below cost is deemed to be other-than-temporary. We immediately write down investments that we consider to be impaired based on the foregoing criteria collectively.
In the event of the decline in fair value of a debt security, a holder of that security that does not intend to sell the debt security and for whom it is not more likely than not that such holder will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis is required to separate the decline in fair value into (a) the amount representing the credit loss and (b) the amount related to other factors. The amount of total decline in fair value related to the credit loss shall be recognized in earnings as an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) with the amount related to other factors recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax. OTTI credit losses result in a permanent reduction of the cost basis of the underlying investment. The determination of OTTI is a subjective process, and different judgments and assumptions could affect the timing of the loss realization.
Goodwill and intangible assets. We account for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.” A purchase price paid that is in excess of net assets (“goodwill”) arising from a business combination is recorded as an asset and is not amortized. Intangible assets with a finite life are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortized. Goodwill and intangible assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the goodwill or intangible asset is impaired, it is written down to its realizable value with a corresponding expense reflected in the consolidated statements of income.
Business combinations. We account for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting, which requires us to record assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date. We account for the insurance and reinsurance contracts under the acquisition method as new contracts, which requires us to record assets and liabilities at fair value. We adjust the fair value loss and LAE reserves by recording the acquired loss reserves based on our existing accounting policies and then discounting them based on expected reserve payout patterns using a current risk-free rate of interest. This risk-free interest rate is then adjusted based on different cash flow scenarios that use different payout and ultimate reserve assumptions deemed to be reasonably possible based upon the inherent uncertainties
49
present in determining the amount and timing of payment of such reserves. The difference between the acquired loss and LAE reserves and our best estimate of the fair value of such reserves at the acquisition date is recorded as either an intangible asset or another liability, as applicable and is amortized proportionately to the reduction in the related loss reserves (i.e., over the estimated payout period of the acquired loss and LAE reserves). We assign fair values to intangible assets acquired based on valuation techniques including the income and market approaches. We record contingent consideration at fair value based on the terms of the purchase agreement with subsequent changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The determination of fair value may require management to make significant estimates and assumptions. The purchase price is the fair value of the total consideration conveyed to the seller and we record the excess (deficiency) of the purchase price over the fair value of the acquired net assets, where applicable, as goodwill or bargain purchase gain in earnings. We expense costs associated with the acquisition of a business in the period incurred.
Non-controlling Interest. The ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries of non-controlling interests is reflected as non-controlling interest. Our consolidation principles also consolidate entities in which we are deemed a primary beneficiary. Non-controlling interest income or loss represents such non-controlling interests in the earnings of that entity. We consolidate the Reciprocal Exchanges as we have determined that these are variable interest entities and that we are the primary beneficiary.
Fair value of financial instruments. Our estimates of fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are based on the framework established in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” The framework is based on the inputs used in valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates in the ASC 820 hierarchy is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect our significant market assumptions. Additionally, valuation of fixed-maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid due to lack of market-based inputs, which may increase the potential that the estimated fair value of an investment is not reflective of the price at which an actual transaction could occur. Fair values of other financial instruments which are short-term in nature approximate their carrying values.
ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. Additionally, ASC 820 requires an entity to consider all aspects of nonperformance risk, including the entity’s own credit standing, when measuring the fair value of a liability.
ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy to be used when measuring and disclosing fair value. An instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation. Following is a description of the three hierarchy levels:
Level 1 - Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date. Additionally, the entity must have the ability to access the active market and the quoted prices cannot be adjusted by the entity.
Level 2 - Inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in inactive markets for identical or similar assets or liabilities; or inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs are supported by little or no market activity. The unobservable inputs represent management’s best assumptions of how market participants would price the assets or liabilities. Generally, Level 3 assets and liabilities are valued using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques that require significant judgment or estimation.
The availability of observable inputs can vary from financial instrument to financial instrument and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires significantly more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by management in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. We use prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified between levels.
50
For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, we use the quoted market prices as fair value and include these prices in the amounts disclosed in the Level 1 hierarchy. We receive the quoted market prices from nationally recognized third-party pricing services (“pricing service”). When quoted market prices are unavailable, we utilize the pricing service to determine an estimate of fair value. This pricing method is used, primarily, for fixed maturities. The fair value estimates provided by the pricing services are included in the Level 2 hierarchy. The pricing service utilizes evaluated pricing models that vary by asset class and incorporate available trade, bid and other market information and for structured securities, cash flow and, when available, loan performance data. The pricing service’s evaluated pricing applications apply available information as applicable through processes such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing, to prepare evaluations. In addition, the pricing service uses model processes, such as the Option Adjusted Spread model, to assess interest rate impact and develop prepayment scenarios. The market inputs that the pricing service normally seeks for evaluations of securities, listed in approximate order of priority, include: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data including market research publications.
We utilize the fair values received from the pricing service to estimate fair value measurements for all our fixed maturities and equity securities. The following describes the valuation techniques we used to determine the fair value of financial instruments held as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
•U.S. Treasury and Federal Agencies ‑ Comprised primarily of bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. The fair values of U.S. government securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and are included in the Level 1 fair value hierarchy. We believe the market for U.S. government securities is an actively traded market given the high level of daily trading volume.
•States and Political Subdivision Bonds ‑ Comprised of bonds and auction rate securities issued by U.S. states and municipal entities or agencies. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We also hold certain municipal bonds that finance economic development, infrastructure and environmental projects which do not have an active market. These bonds are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
•Foreign Government ‑ Comprised of bonds issued by foreign governments. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We also hold certain foreign government bonds that are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
•Corporate Bonds ‑ Comprised of bonds issued by corporations, public and privately placed. The fair values of short-term corporate bonds are priced using the spread above the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) yield curve, and the fair value of long-term corporate bonds are priced using the spread above the risk-free yield curve. The spreads are sourced from broker-dealers, trade prices and the new issue market. Where pricing is unavailable from pricing services, we obtain non-binding quotes from broker-dealers. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We also hold certain structured notes and term loans that do not have an active market. These bonds are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
•Mortgage and Structured Securities ‑ Comprised of commercial and residential mortgage-backed and structured securities. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We also hold certain mortgage and structured securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, these are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
•Equity Securities ‑ The pricing service utilizes market quotations for equity securities that have quoted market prices in active markets and their respective quoted prices are provided as fair value. We classified the values of these equity securities as Level 1. The pricing service also provides fair value estimates for certain equity securities whose fair value is based on observable market information rather than market quotes. We classified the value of these equity securities as Level 2. From time to time, we also hold certain equity securities that are issued by privately-held entities or direct equity investments that do not have an active market. We estimate the fair value of these securities primarily based on inputs such as third-party broker quote, issuers’ book value, market multiples, and other inputs. These bonds are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
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•Other Investments, at fair value - Comprised of our rights to receive the Excess Servicing Spread (“ESS”) related to servicing rights. We use a discounted cash flow approach to estimate their fair value. The key inputs used in the estimation of ESS include prepayment speed and discount rate. Changes in the fair value of the ESS are reported in earnings. We classified the fair value estimates of ESS as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
•Premiums and Other Receivables - The carrying values reported in the accompanying balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets.
•Debt - The amount reported in the accompanying balance sheets for these financial instruments represents the carrying value of our debt. We utilize a pricing service to estimate its fair value, other than our publicly traded debt.
Stock Compensation Expense. We recognize compensation expense for our share-based awards over the estimated vesting period based on estimated grant date fair value. Share-based payments include stock option grants and restricted stock units (“RSU”) under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
Earnings per Share. Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Dilutive earnings per share are computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period adjusted for the dilutive impact of share options and restricted stock units using the treasury stock method.
Income Taxes. We join our subsidiaries in the filing of a consolidated federal income tax return and are party to federal income tax allocation agreements. Under the tax allocation agreements, we pay to or receive from our subsidiaries the amount, if any, by which the group’s federal income tax liability was affected by virtue of inclusion of the subsidiary in the consolidated federal return. The Reciprocal Exchanges are not party to federal income tax allocation agreements but file separate tax returns annually.
Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amount of our assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and such amounts as measured by tax laws and regulations. The deferred tax asset and liability primarily consists of book versus tax differences for earned premiums, loss and LAE reserve discounting, deferred acquisition costs, earned but unbilled premiums, and unrealized holding gains and losses on fixed maturities. We record changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities that are associated with components of other comprehensive income, primarily unrealized investment gains and losses, directly to other comprehensive income. We include changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities as a component of income tax expense.
In assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that we will generate future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, tax planning strategies and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. If necessary, we establish a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.
We recognize tax benefits only for tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. Our policy is to prospectively classify accrued interest and penalties related to any unrecognized tax benefits in our income tax provision. We file our consolidated tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we and our subsidiaries operate.
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Results of Operations
Consolidated Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 3,260,280 | $ | 241,540 | $ | (2,312 | ) | $ | 3,499,508 | $ | 2,309,756 | $ | 283,582 | $ | (3,590 | ) | $ | 2,589,748 | |||||||||||||
Ceded premiums | (309,522 | ) | (120,992 | ) | 2,312 | (428,202 | ) | (249,601 | ) | (157,491 | ) | 3,590 | (403,502 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net premium written | $ | 2,950,758 | $ | 120,548 | $ | — | $ | 3,071,306 | $ | 2,060,155 | $ | 126,091 | $ | — | $ | 2,186,246 | |||||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (67,372 | ) | (10,153 | ) | — | (77,525 | ) | (65,054 | ) | 8,618 | — | (56,436 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 2,883,386 | $ | 110,395 | $ | — | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 1,995,101 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 2,129,810 | |||||||||||||||
Ceding commission income (loss) | 2,078 | 43,522 | — | 45,600 | (2,510 | ) | 46,300 | — | 43,790 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 410,771 | 3,862 | (33,816 | ) | 380,817 | 300,114 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 273,548 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | $ | 3,296,235 | $ | 157,779 | $ | (33,816 | ) | $ | 3,420,198 | $ | 2,292,705 | $ | 194,235 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,447,148 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,901,624 | 56,921 | — | 1,958,545 | 1,284,080 | 97,561 | — | 1,381,641 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 482,016 | 15,148 | (6 | ) | 497,158 | 378,066 | 27,972 | (108 | ) | 405,930 | |||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 800,253 | 77,671 | (33,810 | ) | 844,114 | 504,672 | 65,359 | (39,684 | ) | 530,347 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 3,183,893 | $ | 149,740 | $ | (33,816 | ) | $ | 3,299,817 | $ | 2,166,818 | $ | 190,892 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,317,918 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting income | $ | 112,342 | $ | 8,039 | $ | — | $ | 120,381 | $ | 125,887 | $ | 3,343 | $ | — | $ | 129,230 | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 97,376 | 8,716 | (6,506 | ) | 99,586 | 66,429 | 8,911 | — | 75,340 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 3,339 | 515 | — | 3,854 | (10,653 | ) | 346 | — | (10,307 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bargain purchase gain and other revenue (expense) | 26,458 | — | — | 26,458 | (788 | ) | — | — | (788 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 25,401 | — | — | 25,401 | 10,643 | — | — | 10,643 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (40,180 | ) | (6,506 | ) | 6,506 | (40,180 | ) | (24,229 | ) | (4,656 | ) | — | (28,885 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes | $ | 224,736 | $ | 10,764 | $ | — | $ | 235,500 | $ | 167,289 | $ | 7,944 | $ | — | $ | 175,233 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 52,407 | (9,791 | ) | — | 42,616 | 24,905 | (5,949 | ) | — | 18,956 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 172,329 | $ | 20,555 | $ | — | $ | 192,884 | $ | 142,384 | $ | 13,893 | $ | — | $ | 156,277 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | (113 | ) | (20,555 | ) | — | (20,668 | ) | (132 | ) | (13,893 | ) | — | (14,025 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | $ | 172,216 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 172,216 | $ | 142,252 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 142,252 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss ratio | 66.0 | % | 51.6 | % | 65.4 | % | 64.4 | % | 72.4 | % | 64.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 30.2 | % | 41.2 | % | 30.6 | % | 29.3 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net combined ratio (non-GAAP) | 96.2 | % | 92.8 | % | 96.0 | % | 93.7 | % | 97.5 | % | 94.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP): | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | $ | 3,224,073 | $ | 156,246 | $ | (40,322 | ) | $ | 3,339,997 | $ | 2,191,047 | $ | 195,548 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,346,803 | |||||||||||||
Less: Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,901,624 | 56,921 | — | 1,958,545 | 1,284,080 | 97,561 | — | 1,381,641 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Interest expense | 40,180 | 6,506 | (6,506 | ) | 40,180 | 24,229 | 4,656 | — | 28,885 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Ceding commission income (loss) | 2,078 | 43,522 | — | 45,600 | (2,510 | ) | 46,300 | — | 43,790 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Service and fee income | 410,771 | 3,862 | (33,816 | ) | 380,817 | 300,114 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 273,548 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense | $ | 869,420 | $ | 45,435 | $ | — | $ | 914,855 | $ | 585,134 | $ | 33,805 | $ | — | $ | 618,939 | |||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 2,883,386 | $ | 110,395 | $ | — | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 1,995,101 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 2,129,810 | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 30.2 | % | 41.2 | % | 30.6 | % | 29.3 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
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Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 2,309,756 | $ | 283,582 | $ | (3,590 | ) | $ | 2,589,748 | $ | 2,065,065 | $ | 70,042 | $ | — | $ | 2,135,107 | ||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums | (249,601 | ) | (157,491 | ) | 3,590 | (403,502 | ) | (248,117 | ) | (16,966 | ) | — | (265,083 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net premium written | $ | 2,060,155 | $ | 126,091 | $ | — | $ | 2,186,246 | $ | 1,816,948 | $ | 53,076 | $ | — | $ | 1,870,024 | |||||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (65,054 | ) | 8,618 | — | (56,436 | ) | (231,350 | ) | (5,454 | ) | — | (236,804 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 1,995,101 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 2,129,810 | $ | 1,585,598 | $ | 47,622 | $ | — | $ | 1,633,220 | |||||||||||||||
Ceding commission income (loss) | (2,510 | ) | 46,300 | — | 43,790 | 7,643 | 4,787 | — | 12,430 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 300,114 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 273,548 | 178,333 | 139 | (9,901 | ) | 168,571 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | $ | 2,292,705 | $ | 194,235 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,447,148 | $ | 1,771,574 | $ | 52,548 | $ | (9,901 | ) | $ | 1,814,221 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,284,080 | 97,561 | — | 1,381,641 | 1,026,346 | 26,719 | — | 1,053,065 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 378,066 | 27,972 | (108 | ) | 405,930 | 308,822 | 6,267 | — | 315,089 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 504,672 | 65,359 | (39,684 | ) | 530,347 | 346,696 | 11,967 | (9,901 | ) | 348,762 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 2,166,818 | $ | 190,892 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,317,918 | $ | 1,681,864 | $ | 44,953 | $ | (9,901 | ) | $ | 1,716,916 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting income | $ | 125,887 | $ | 3,343 | $ | — | $ | 129,230 | $ | 89,710 | $ | 7,595 | $ | — | $ | 97,305 | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 66,429 | 8,911 | — | 75,340 | 50,627 | 1,799 | — | 52,426 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | (10,653 | ) | 346 | — | (10,307 | ) | (2,892 | ) | — | — | (2,892 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other expense | (788 | ) | — | — | (788 | ) | (1,660 | ) | — | — | (1,660 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 10,643 | — | — | 10,643 | 1,180 | — | — | 1,180 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (24,229 | ) | (4,656 | ) | — | (28,885 | ) | (12,012 | ) | (5,724 | ) | — | (17,736 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes | $ | 167,289 | $ | 7,944 | $ | — | $ | 175,233 | $ | 124,953 | $ | 3,670 | $ | — | $ | 128,623 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 24,905 | (5,949 | ) | — | 18,956 | 22,712 | 1,164 | — | 23,876 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 142,384 | $ | 13,893 | $ | — | $ | 156,277 | $ | 102,241 | $ | 2,506 | $ | — | $ | 104,747 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest | (132 | ) | (13,893 | ) | — | (14,025 | ) | 2 | (2,506 | ) | — | (2,504 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | $ | 142,252 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 142,252 | $ | 102,243 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 102,243 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss ratio | 64.4 | % | 72.4 | % | 64.9 | % | 64.7 | % | 56.1 | % | 64.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 29.3 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.1 | % | 29.6 | % | 27.9 | % | 29.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net combined ratio (non-GAAP) | 93.7 | % | 97.5 | % | 94.0 | % | 94.3 | % | 84.0 | % | 94.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP): | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | $ | 2,191,047 | $ | 195,548 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,346,803 | $ | 1,693,876 | $ | 50,677 | $ | (9,901 | ) | $ | 1,734,652 | |||||||||||||
Less: Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,284,080 | 97,561 | — | 1,381,641 | 1,026,346 | 26,719 | — | 1,053,065 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Interest expense | 24,229 | 4,656 | — | 28,885 | 12,012 | 5,724 | — | 17,736 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Ceding commission income (loss) | (2,510 | ) | 46,300 | — | 43,790 | 7,643 | 4,787 | — | 12,430 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Service and fee income | 300,114 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 273,548 | 178,333 | 139 | (9,901 | ) | 168,571 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense | $ | 585,134 | $ | 33,805 | $ | — | $ | 618,939 | $ | 469,542 | $ | 13,308 | $ | — | $ | 482,850 | |||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 1,995,101 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 2,129,810 | $ | 1,585,598 | $ | 47,622 | $ | — | $ | 1,633,220 | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 29.3 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.1 | % | 29.6 | % | 27.9 | % | 29.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
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During 2016, 2015, and 2014, we entered into a number of acquisitions and other transactions, including the following: (i) in 2016, the Direct General and Century-National acquisitions, the Reciprocal Exchanges deconsolidation at January 1, 2016, and subsequent consolidation at March 31, 2016, and the increase in premium volume from our 2015 acquired company Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. (“ARS”), which began being written on our paper on January 1, 2016; (ii) in 2015, the LPI Business acquisition and the Assurant Transaction; and (iii) in 2014, our personal lines reinsurance agreements with Tower Group International, Ltd. and its insurance subsidiaries (collectively, “Tower”), the Reciprocal Exchanges consolidation at September 14, 2014, and our purchase of certain assets from Imperial Management Corporation, including its underwriting subsidiaries, its retail agency and its managing general agency (“Imperial”). Additionally, in 2013, we terminated the Personal Lines Quota Share on a run-off basis (the “Quota Share Runoff”). Due to these transactions, comparisons in our results of operations between 2016 and 2015, and between 2015 and 2014, are less meaningful.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2015
Gross premium written. Gross premium written increased by $909.8 million, or 35.1%, from $2,589.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $3,499.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, due to an increase of $697.7 million in premiums received from the P&C segment primarily as a result of the acquisitions of Direct General ($58.5 million) and Century-National ($140.0 million), additional premiums from the LPI Business ($249.5 million) and ARS ($74.6 million), and organic growth ($203.4 million), partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($40.8 million). Premiums received from the A&H segment increased by $212.1 million, primarily as a result of additional premiums from the Assurant Transaction ($133.7 million) and organic growth ($76.7 million).
Net premium written. Net premium written increased by $885.1 million, or 40.5%, from $2,186.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $3,071.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Net premium written for the P&C segment increased by $682.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, primarily as a result of the acquisitions of Direct General ($58.5 million) and Century-National ($122.1 million), additional premiums from the LPI Business ($238.2 million) and ARS ($74.6 million), and organic growth ($182.3 million), partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($5.5 million). Net premium written for the A&H segment increased by $202.7 million, primarily as a result of additional premiums from the Assurant Transaction ($133.7 million) and organic growth ($67.4 million).
Net earned premium. Net earned premium increased by $864.0 million, or 40.6%, from $2,129.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $2,993.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase by segment was: P&C $660.8 million and A&H $203.1 million. The increase in the P&C segment was primarily attributable to the acquisitions of Direct General ($68.3 million) and Century-National ($122.4 million), additional premiums from the LPI Business ($299.4 million) and ARS ($42.5 million), and organic growth ($140.4 million), partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($24.3 million). The increase in the A&H segment was primarily due to additional premiums from the Assurant Transaction ($134.1 million) and organic growth ($66.9 million).
Ceding commission income. Ceding commission income increased from $43.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $45.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily driven by an increase attributable to the acquisition of Century-National, partially offset by an increase to the sliding scale adjustment on our terminated third-party quota share agreement and the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges within our P&C segment.
Service and fee income. Service and fee income increased by $107.3 million, or 39.2%, from $273.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $380.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increases were attributable to our P&C segment ($67.1 million), resulting primarily from the Direct General and Century-National acquisitions, additional service and fee income from the LPI Business, ARS and organic growth; and the A&H segment ($40.1 million), primarily from the Assurant Transaction.
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The components of service and fee income are as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | |||||||||
Commission revenue | $ | 110,343 | $ | 58,807 | $ | 51,536 | ||||||
General agent fees | 73,484 | 76,855 | (3,371 | ) | ||||||||
Group health administrative fees | 69,689 | 29,622 | 40,067 | |||||||||
Installment fees | 43,460 | 32,404 | 11,056 | |||||||||
Finance and processing fees | 36,498 | 52,865 | (16,367 | ) | ||||||||
Late payment fees | 20,226 | 12,210 | 8,016 | |||||||||
Lender service fees | 16,910 | 4,364 | 12,546 | |||||||||
Other | 10,207 | 6,421 | 3,786 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 380,817 | $ | 273,548 | $ | 107,269 | ||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense; net loss ratio. Loss and LAE increased by $576.9 million, or 41.8%, from $1,381.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $1,958.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily reflecting the Direct General and Century-National acquisitions; additional losses from the LPI Business, ARS and the Assurant Transaction; catastrophe losses related to hail storms that occurred in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; floods that occurred in Louisiana; and Hurricane Matthew in the Southeast; and loss experience in our legacy domestic stop loss programs, partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The changes by segment were: P&C - increased $448.9 million and A&H - increased $128.0 million. Loss and LAE for the year ended December 31, 2016 included $13.5 million of unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves. The $4.2 million of unfavorable development in the P&C segment was primarily driven by higher than expected development in private passenger auto bodily injury coverage, and $9.3 million of unfavorable development in the A&H segment was primarily driven by unfavorable development in the domestic stop loss, short-term medical and European A&H policies. Our consolidated net loss ratio slightly increased from 64.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 65.4% for the year ended December 31, 2016, with a higher P&C segment net loss ratio and a lower A&H segment net loss.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses increased by $91.2 million, or 22.5%, from $405.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $497.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Direct General ($1.9 million) and Century-National ($12.0 million) acquisitions, additional costs from the LPI Business ($33.3 million), ARS ($7.3 million) and the Assurant Transaction ($23.9 million), and organic growth and other ($25.6 million), partially offset by lower costs on the Reciprocal Exchanges ($12.7 million).
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $313.8 million, or 59.2%, from $530.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $844.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Direct General ($38.0 million) and Century-National ($34.4 million) acquisitions, additional expenses from the LPI Business ($148.7 million), ARS ($7.7 million) and the Assurant Transaction ($39.8 million), higher expenses on the Reciprocal Exchanges ($18.2 million), and organic growth and other ($26.8 million).
Net operating expense; net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). Net operating expense increased by $295.9 million, or 47.8%, from $618.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $914.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The consolidated net operating expense ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, increased to 30.6% in the year ended December 31, 2016 from 29.1% in the year ended December 31, 2015. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net operating expense ratio was 30.2% and 29.3% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges' net operating expense ratio was 41.2% and 25.1% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Net investment income. Net investment income increased by $24.2 million, or 32.2%, from $75.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $99.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of our higher amount of invested assets.
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments. Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments increased by $14.2 million from a loss of $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to a $3.9 million gain for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily from our trading activities offset by higher other-than-temporary impairments in 2016.
Bargain purchase gain and other revenue (expense). For the year ended December 31, 2016, we had a $24.3 million bargain purchase gains related to net assets acquired in excess of the purchase price paid for the acquisitions of Direct General ($7.1 million)
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and SPCIC ($17.2 million). The SPCIC transaction was sponsored by us, with the conversion of a mutual company to stock company and our offering of common stock at a discount to members, directors and officers of the acquired company.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, which primarily relates to our 50% interest in life settlement entities, increased by $14.8 million from $10.6 million in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $25.4 million in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2016, due to the change in fair market value of the life settlement contracts and income from our real estate investments.
Interest expense. Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $40.2 million and $28.9 million, respectively. The increase of $11.3 million is primarily due to interest under our credit facility and the promissory note issued in connection with the Century-National acquisition, partially offset by our purchase of the Reciprocal Exchanges’ surplus notes.
Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense increased by $23.7 million, or 124.8%, from $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, reflecting an effective tax rate of 11.5%, to $42.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, reflecting an effective tax rate of 20.3%. The primary driver of the increase in consolidated income tax expense was the increase in pre-tax income period over period. Income tax expense included a tax benefit of $5.9 million and $27.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, attributable to the reduction of the deferred tax liability associated with the equalization reserves of our Luxembourg reinsurers. The effect of this tax benefit reduced the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 by 2.81% and 16.5%, respectively.
The increase in consolidated tax expense was primarily driven by several factors. Pre-tax income increased by 27.6% year over year. Additionally, there was a 78.2% decrease in the tax benefit attributable to the utilization of our Luxembourg equalization reserves. The effects of the Luxembourg technical reserve utilization will likely conclude in the next fiscal year. The upward trend in our effective tax rate was limited by the effects of bargain purchase gains associated with two acquisitions during 2016 as well as a reduction of the valuation allowance at the Reciprocal Exchanges. Combined these two items has a net benefit of 10.4% to the effective tax rate of the consolidated group.
Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, income tax expense was $52.4 million and $24.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, reflecting effective tax rates of 26.3% and 15.9%, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges had pre-tax income of $10.8 million and $7.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. A full valuation allowance was recorded on the Reciprocal Exchanges at December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the valuation allowance for two of the four Reciprocal Exchanges was released in full. The remaining two exchanges maintained their full valuation allowance. The valuation allowance across all exchanges was $7.1 million and $17.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Gross premium written. Gross premium written increased by $454.6 million, or 21.3%, from $2,135.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $2,589.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, due to an increase of $343.1 million in premiums received from the P&C segment primarily as a result of an increase in Imperial premium ($61.0 million), the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($209.9 million), acquisition of our LPI Business ($126.6 million) and organic growth ($75.5 million), partially offset by a decrease in our Tower business ($131.9 million) which included a large one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $158.8 million in 2014. Premiums received from the A&H segment increased $111.5 million primarily as a result of premium from the Assurant Transaction ($55.7 million) and organic growth ($66.6 million), partially offset by a decrease in our European group life and health insurance managing general agent (“EHC”) business ($10.8 million) which included a one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $15.2 million in 2014.
Net premium written. Net premium written increased by $316.2 million, or 16.9%, from $1,870.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $2,186.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Net premium written for the P&C segment increased by $240.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, primarily as a result of an increase in Imperial premium ($50.2 million), the Quota Share Runoff ($42.8 million), the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($73.0 million), acquisition of our LPI Business ($125.7 million) and organic growth ($89.1 million), partially offset by a decrease in our Tower business ($140.6 million) which included a large one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $158.8 million in 2014. Net premium written for the A&H segment increased by $76.0 million, primarily as a result of premium from the Assurant Transaction ($55.7 million) and organic growth ($31.0 million), partially offset by a decrease in our EHC business ($10.8 million) which included a one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $15.2 million in 2014.
Net earned premium. Net earned premium increased by $496.6 million, or 30.4%, from $1,633.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $2,129.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase by segment was: P&C - $405.8
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million and A&H - $90.8 million. The increase in the P&C segment was primarily attributable to an increase in Tower premium retention ($39.0 million), the Quota Share Runoff ($42.8 million), Imperial premium ($50.8 million), the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($87.1 million), acquisition of our LPI Business ($123.3 million) and organic growth ($62.8 million). The increase in the A&H segment was primarily due to earned premium from the Assurant Transaction ($55.8 million) and organic growth ($34.9 million).
Ceding commission income. Ceding commission income increased from $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $43.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, reflecting the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, partially offset by a decrease from the Quota Share Runoff, including a sliding scale adjustment to our terminated third-party quota share in 2015.
Service and fee income. Service and fee income increased by $105.0 million, or 62.3%, from $168.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $273.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to: (i) an increase of $40.4 million in service and fee income related to our A&H segment resulting from the Assurant Transaction and A&H organic growth and (ii) and an increase of $64.6 million related to our P&C segment resulting from the LPI Business acquisition and P&C organic growth.
The components of service and fee income are as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||
General agent fees | $ | 76,855 | $ | 45,637 | $ | 31,218 | ||||||
Commission revenue | 58,807 | 52,597 | 6,210 | |||||||||
Finance and processing fees | 52,865 | 13,569 | 39,296 | |||||||||
Installment fees | 32,404 | 30,323 | 2,081 | |||||||||
Group health administrative fees | 29,622 | 4,358 | 25,264 | |||||||||
Late payment fees | 12,210 | 11,658 | 552 | |||||||||
Lender service Fees | 4,364 | — | 4,364 | |||||||||
Other | 6,421 | 10,429 | (4,008 | ) | ||||||||
Total | $ | 273,548 | $ | 168,571 | $ | 104,977 | ||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense; net loss ratio. Loss and LAE increased by $328.6 million, or 31.2%, from $1,053.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $1,381.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily reflecting the Quota Share Runoff, the Imperial acquisition, the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, the LPI Business acquisition, the Assurant Transaction and loss experience in our domestic stop loss programs. The changes by segment were: P&C - increased $243.1 million and A&H - increased $85.4 million. Loss and LAE for the year ended December 31, 2015 included $15.7 million of unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves ($18.4 million excluding $2.7 million of favorable development for the Reciprocal Exchanges) primarily caused by $17.2 million of A&H reserve strengthening predominantly with respect to business subject to the EHC Reinsurance Agreement and $1.2 million of unfavorable development in the P&C segment predominantly with respect to higher than expected loss emergence from commercial auto liability combined single limit insurance policies.
Our consolidated net loss ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, increased from 64.5% for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 64.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 with a higher A&H segment net loss ratio resulting from higher loss experience in our domestic stop loss programs, partially offset by a lower P&C segment net loss ratio driven by product mix changes. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net loss ratio was 64.4% and 64.7% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ net loss ratio was 72.4% and 56.1% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the period ended December 31, 2014, respectively, including $2.7 million of favorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $1.3 million of unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves for the period ended December 31, 2014.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses increased by $90.8 million, or 28.8%, from $315.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $405.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in Tower premium retention, the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, an increase resulting from the LPI Business acquisition, an increase resulting from the Assurant Transaction and as a result of organic growth, partially
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offset by the consolidation of our EHC business as all new and renewal policies placed by EHC after April 1, 2014 are underwritten by our European insurance subsidiaries.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $181.6 million, or 52.1%, from $348.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $530.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in Tower premium retention, the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, an increase resulting from the LPI Business acquisition, an increase resulting from the Assurant Transaction and higher organic growth.
Net operating expense; net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). Net operating expense increased by $136.1 million, or 28.2%, from $482.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $618.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The consolidated net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP), which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, decreased to 29.1% in the year ended December 31, 2015 from 29.6% in the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily as a result of increased service and fee income and maturation of the A&H business, partially offset by increased general and administrative expenses, and increased acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses.
Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net operating expense ratio was 29.3% and 29.6% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ net operating expense ratio was 25.1% and 27.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the period ended December 31, 2014, respectively.
Net investment income. Net investment income increased by $22.9 million, or 43.7%, from $52.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $75.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in average invested assets as a result of our (i) capital raising activities in the first half of 2014 and (ii) issuances of Series B preferred stock, debt and common stock during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Net realized gain (loss) on investments. Net realized losses on investments increased by $7.4 million from a loss of $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to a $10.3 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the recognition of a $15.2 million OTTI charge in the year ended December 31, 2015 relating to certain investments in the energy and natural resources sectors based on our qualitative and quantitative OTTI review as compared to a $2.2 million OTTI charge in the year ended December 31, 2014. These losses resulting from OTTI charges were partially offset by net realized gains on the sale of investments of $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to net realized losses on the sale of investments of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, which primarily relates to our 50% interest in life settlement entities, increased $9.5 million, from $1.2 million in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $10.6 million in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2015, due to the change in fair market value of the life settlement contracts.
Interest expense. Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $28.9 million and $17.7 million, respectively, increasing primarily due to our (i) May 2014 issuance of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% Notes; (ii) August 2015 issuance of $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Notes; (iii) October 2015 issuance of $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 6.75% Notes and (iv) the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges.
Provision for income taxes. Consolidated income tax expense, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, decreased by $4.9 million, or 20.6%, from $23.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, reflecting an effective tax rate of 18.7%, to $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, reflecting an effective tax rate of 11.5%. The primary driver of the decrease in consolidated income tax expense was an increase in tax exempt foreign income. Income tax expense included a tax benefit of $27.1 million and $21.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, attributable to the reduction of the deferred tax liability associated with the equalization reserves of our Luxembourg reinsurers. The effect of this tax benefit reduced the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 by 16.5% and 16.7%, respectively.
NGHC, excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, had income tax expense of $24.9 million and $22.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, reflecting effective tax rates of 15.9% and 18.3%, respectively.
The Reciprocal Exchanges had pre-tax income of $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and pre-tax income of $3.7 million for the period ended December 31, 2014, respectively. A full valuation allowance is recorded on the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ valuation allowance as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $17.3 million and $21.5 million, respectively.
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P&C Segment - Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 2,796,270 | $ | 241,540 | $ | (2,312 | ) | $ | 3,035,498 | $ | 2,057,834 | $ | 283,582 | $ | (3,590 | ) | $ | 2,337,826 | |||||||||||||
Ceded premiums | (264,180 | ) | (120,992 | ) | 2,312 | (382,860 | ) | (213,632 | ) | (157,491 | ) | 3,590 | (367,533 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net premium written | $ | 2,532,090 | $ | 120,548 | $ | — | $ | 2,652,638 | $ | 1,844,202 | $ | 126,091 | $ | — | $ | 1,970,293 | |||||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (63,131 | ) | (10,153 | ) | — | (73,284 | ) | (60,402 | ) | 8,618 | — | (51,784 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 2,468,959 | $ | 110,395 | $ | — | $ | 2,579,354 | $ | 1,783,800 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 1,918,509 | |||||||||||||||
Ceding commission income (loss) | 747 | 43,522 | — | 44,269 | (3,601 | ) | 46,300 | — | 42,699 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 271,835 | 3,862 | (33,816 | ) | 241,881 | 201,304 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 174,738 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | $ | 2,741,541 | $ | 157,779 | $ | (33,816 | ) | $ | 2,865,504 | $ | 1,981,503 | $ | 194,235 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,135,946 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,602,257 | 56,921 | — | 1,659,178 | 1,112,758 | 97,561 | — | 1,210,319 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 379,286 | 15,148 | (6 | ) | 394,428 | 312,067 | 27,972 | (108 | ) | 339,931 | |||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 668,846 | 77,671 | (33,810 | ) | 712,707 | 422,561 | 65,359 | (39,684 | ) | 448,236 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 2,650,389 | $ | 149,740 | $ | (33,816 | ) | $ | 2,766,313 | $ | 1,847,386 | $ | 190,892 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 1,998,486 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting income | $ | 91,152 | $ | 8,039 | $ | — | $ | 99,191 | $ | 134,117 | $ | 3,343 | $ | — | $ | 137,460 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss ratio | 64.9 | % | 51.6 | % | 64.3 | % | 62.4 | % | 72.4 | % | 63.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 31.4 | % | 41.2 | % | 31.8 | % | 30.1 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net combined ratio (non-GAAP) | 96.3 | % | 92.8 | % | 96.1 | % | 92.5 | % | 97.5 | % | 92.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP): | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 2,650,389 | $ | 149,740 | $ | (33,816 | ) | $ | 2,766,313 | $ | 1,847,386 | $ | 190,892 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 1,998,486 | |||||||||||||
Less: Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,602,257 | 56,921 | — | 1,659,178 | 1,112,758 | 97,561 | — | 1,210,319 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Ceding commission income (loss) | 747 | 43,522 | — | 44,269 | (3,601 | ) | 46,300 | — | 42,699 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Service and fee income | 271,835 | 3,862 | (33,816 | ) | 241,881 | 201,304 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 174,738 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense | $ | 775,550 | $ | 45,435 | $ | — | $ | 820,985 | $ | 536,925 | $ | 33,805 | $ | — | $ | 570,730 | |||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 2,468,959 | $ | 110,395 | $ | — | $ | 2,579,354 | $ | 1,783,800 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 1,918,509 | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 31.4 | % | 41.2 | % | 31.8 | % | 30.1 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
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Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 2,057,834 | $ | 283,582 | $ | (3,590 | ) | $ | 2,337,826 | $ | 1,924,666 | $ | 70,042 | $ | — | $ | 1,994,708 | ||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums | (213,632 | ) | (157,491 | ) | 3,590 | (367,533 | ) | (247,720 | ) | (16,966 | ) | — | (264,686 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net premium written | $ | 1,844,202 | $ | 126,091 | $ | — | $ | 1,970,293 | $ | 1,676,946 | $ | 53,076 | $ | — | $ | 1,730,022 | |||||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (60,402 | ) | 8,618 | — | (51,784 | ) | (211,824 | ) | (5,454 | ) | — | (217,278 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 1,783,800 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 1,918,509 | $ | 1,465,122 | $ | 47,622 | $ | — | $ | 1,512,744 | |||||||||||||||
Ceding commission income (loss) | (3,601 | ) | 46,300 | — | 42,699 | 7,643 | 4,787 | — | 12,430 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 201,304 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 174,738 | 119,876 | 139 | (9,901 | ) | 110,114 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | $ | 1,981,503 | $ | 194,235 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 2,135,946 | $ | 1,592,641 | $ | 52,548 | $ | (9,901 | ) | $ | 1,635,288 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,112,758 | 97,561 | — | 1,210,319 | 940,457 | 26,719 | — | 967,176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 312,067 | 27,972 | (108 | ) | 339,931 | 254,130 | 6,267 | — | 260,397 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 422,561 | 65,359 | (39,684 | ) | 448,236 | 290,079 | 11,967 | (9,901 | ) | 292,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 1,847,386 | $ | 190,892 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 1,998,486 | $ | 1,484,666 | $ | 44,953 | $ | (9,901 | ) | $ | 1,519,718 | |||||||||||||
Underwriting income | $ | 134,117 | $ | 3,343 | $ | — | $ | 137,460 | $ | 107,975 | $ | 7,595 | $ | — | $ | 115,570 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss ratio | 62.4 | % | 72.4 | % | 63.1 | % | 64.2 | % | 56.1 | % | 63.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 30.1 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.7 | % | 28.4 | % | 27.9 | % | 28.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net combined ratio (non-GAAP) | 92.5 | % | 97.5 | % | 92.8 | % | 92.6 | % | 84.0 | % | 92.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP): | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 1,847,386 | $ | 190,892 | $ | (39,792 | ) | $ | 1,998,486 | $ | 1,484,666 | $ | 44,953 | $ | (9,901 | ) | $ | 1,519,718 | |||||||||||||
Less: Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,112,758 | 97,561 | — | 1,210,319 | 940,457 | 26,719 | — | 967,176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Ceding commission income (loss) | (3,601 | ) | 46,300 | — | 42,699 | 7,643 | 4,787 | — | 12,430 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Service and fee income | 201,304 | 13,226 | (39,792 | ) | 174,738 | 119,876 | 139 | (9,901 | ) | 110,114 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expense | $ | 536,925 | $ | 33,805 | $ | — | $ | 570,730 | $ | 416,690 | $ | 13,308 | $ | — | $ | 429,998 | |||||||||||||||
Net earned premium | $ | 1,783,800 | $ | 134,709 | $ | — | $ | 1,918,509 | $ | 1,465,122 | $ | 47,622 | $ | — | $ | 1,512,744 | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 30.1 | % | 25.1 | % | 29.7 | % | 28.4 | % | 27.9 | % | 28.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
P&C Segment Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2015
Gross premium written. Gross premium written increased by $697.7 million, or 29.8%, from $2,337.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $3,035.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the acquisitions of Direct General ($58.5 million) and Century-National ($140.0 million), additional premiums from the LPI Business ($249.5 million) and ARS ($74.6 million), and organic growth ($203.4 million), partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($40.8 million).
Net premium written. Net premium written increased by $682.3 million, or 34.6%, from $1,970.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $2,652.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the acquisitions of Direct General ($58.5 million) and Century-National ($122.1 million), additional premiums from the LPI Business ($238.2 million) and ARS ($74.6 million), and organic growth ($182.3 million), partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($5.5 million).
Net earned premium. Net earned premium increased by $660.8 million, or 34.4%, from $1,918.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $2,579.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the acquisitions of Direct General ($68.3 million) and Century-National ($122.4 million), additional premiums from the LPI Business ($299.4 million) and
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ARS ($42.5 million), and organic growth ($140.4 million), partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($24.3 million).
Ceding commission income. Our ceding commission income increased by $1.6 million from $42.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $44.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, driven by an increase attributable to the acquisition of Century-National, partially offset by an increase to the sliding scale adjustment on our terminated third-party quota share agreement and the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges.
Service and fee income. Service and fee income increased by $67.1 million, or 38.4%, from $174.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $241.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Direct General and Century-National acquisitions, additional service and fee income from the LPI Business, ARS and organic growth.
Loss and loss adjustment expense; net loss ratio. Loss and LAE increased by $448.9 million, or 37.1%, from $1,210.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $1,659.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily reflecting the Direct General and Century-National acquisitions, additional losses from the LPI Business and ARS, catastrophe losses related to hail storms that occurred in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; floods that occurred in Louisiana; and Hurricane Matthew in the Southeast; partially offset by the first quarter deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges. Our P&C segment net loss ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, increased from 63.1% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 64.3% for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to catastrophe losses for the events that occurred during 2016. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net loss ratio was 64.9% and 62.4% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ net loss ratio was 51.6% and 72.4% for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses increased by $54.5 million, or 16.0%, from $339.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $394.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was due to the Direct General ($1.9 million) and Century-National ($12.0 million) acquisitions, additional costs from the LPI Business ($33.3 million) and ARS ($7.3 million), and organic growth and other ($12.8 million), partially offset by lower costs on the Reciprocal Exchanges ($12.7 million).
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $264.5 million, or 59.0%, from $448.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $712.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as a result of the Direct General ($38.0 million) and Century-National ($34.4 million) acquisitions, additional expenses from the LPI Business ($148.7 million) and ARS ($7.7 million), higher expenses on the Reciprocal Exchanges ($18.2 million), and organic growth and other ($17.4 million).
Net operating expense; net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). Net operating expense increased by $250.3 million, or 43.8%, from $570.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $821.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our P&C segment net operating expense ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, increased from 29.7% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 31.8% for the year ended December 31, 2016. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net operating expense ratio was 31.4% and 30.1% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ net operating expense ratio was 41.2% and 25.1% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Underwriting income. Underwriting income decreased from $137.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $99.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our P&C segment net combined ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased to 96.1% compared to 92.8% for the same period in 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in our net loss ratio due to catastrophe losses. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the combined ratio was 96.3% and 92.5% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ combined ratio was 92.8% and 97.5% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
P&C Segment Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Gross premium written. Gross premium written increased by $343.1 million, or 17.2%, from $1,994.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $2,337.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in Imperial premium ($61.0 million), the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($209.9 million), acquisition of the LPI Business ($126.6 million) and organic growth ($75.5 million), partially offset by a decrease in our Tower business ($131.9 million) which included a large one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $158.8 million in 2014.
Net premium written. Net premium written increased by $240.3 million, or 13.9%, from $1,730.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $1,970.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in Imperial
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premium ($50.2 million), the Quota Share Runoff ($42.8 million), the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($73.0 million), acquisition of the LPI Business ($125.7 million) and organic growth ($89.1 million), partially offset by a decrease in our Tower business ($140.6 million) which included a large one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $158.8 million in 2014.
Net earned premium. Net earned premium increased by $405.8 million, or 26.8%, from $1,512.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $1,918.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in Tower premium retention ($39.0 million), the Quota Share Runoff ($42.8 million), Imperial premium ($50.8 million), the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges ($87.1 million), acquisition of the LPI Business ($123.3 million) and organic growth ($62.8 million).
Ceding commission income. Our ceding commission income increased by $30.3 million from $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $42.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 reflecting the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, partially offset by a decrease from the Quota Share Runoff, including a sliding scale adjustment to our terminated third-party quota share in 2015.
Service and fee income. Service and fee income increased by $64.6 million, or 58.7%, from $110.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $174.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily resulting from the acquisition of the LPI Business and organic growth.
Loss and loss adjustment expense; net loss ratio. Loss and LAE increased by $243.1 million, or 25.1%, from $967.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $1,210.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily reflecting the Quota Share Runoff, the Imperial acquisition, the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges and the acquisition of the LPI Business. Our P&C segment net loss ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, decreased from 63.9% for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 63.1% for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to product mix changes. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net loss ratio was 62.4% and 64.2% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ net loss ratio was 72.4% and 56.1% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the period ended December 31, 2014, respectively.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses increased by $79.5 million, or 30.5%, from $260.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $339.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily due to an increase in Tower premium retention, the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, an increase resulting from our LPI Business and as a result of organic growth.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $156.1 million, or 53.4%, from $292.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $448.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of an increase in Tower premium retention, the consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges, an increase resulting from our LPI Business and higher organic growth.
Net operating expense; net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). Net operating expense increased by $140.7 million, or 32.7%, from $430.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $570.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The P&C segment net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP), which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, increased from 28.4% for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 29.7% for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of increased general and administrative expenses, and increased acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses, partially offset by increased service and fee income. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the net operating expense ratio was 30.1% and 28.4% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ net operating expense ratio was 25.1% and 27.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the period ended December 31, 2014, respectively.
Underwriting income. Underwriting income increased from $115.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $137.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of an increase resulting from our LPI Business and higher organic growth. The P&C segment combined ratio, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges, for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased to 92.8% compared to 92.3% for the same period in 2014, primarily as a result of a higher net operating expense ratio, partially offset by the improved net loss ratio. Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the combined ratio was 92.5% and 92.6% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges’ combined ratio was 97.5% and 84.0% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the period ended December 31, 2014, respectively.
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A&H Segment - Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 464,010 | $ | 251,922 | $ | 140,399 | |||||
Ceded premiums | (45,342 | ) | (35,969 | ) | (397 | ) | |||||
Net premium written | $ | 418,668 | $ | 215,953 | $ | 140,002 | |||||
Change in unearned premium | (4,241 | ) | (4,652 | ) | (19,526 | ) | |||||
Net earned premium | $ | 414,427 | $ | 211,301 | $ | 120,476 | |||||
Ceding commission income | 1,331 | 1,091 | — | ||||||||
Service and fee income | 138,936 | 98,810 | 58,457 | ||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | $ | 554,694 | $ | 311,202 | $ | 178,933 | |||||
Underwriting expenses: | |||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 299,367 | 171,322 | 85,889 | ||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 102,730 | 65,999 | 54,692 | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 131,407 | 82,111 | 56,617 | ||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 533,504 | $ | 319,432 | $ | 197,198 | |||||
Underwriting income (loss) | $ | 21,190 | $ | (8,230 | ) | $ | (18,265 | ) | |||
Net loss ratio | 72.2 | % | 81.1 | % | 71.3 | % | |||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 22.7 | % | 22.8 | % | 43.9 | % | |||||
Net combined ratio (non-GAAP) | 94.9 | % | 103.9 | % | 115.2 | % | |||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
Reconciliation of net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP): | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | $ | 533,504 | $ | 319,432 | $ | 197,198 | |||||
Less: Loss and loss adjustment expense | 299,367 | 171,322 | 85,889 | ||||||||
Less: Ceding commission income | 1,331 | 1,091 | — | ||||||||
Less: Service and fee income | 138,936 | 98,810 | 58,457 | ||||||||
Net operating expense | $ | 93,870 | $ | 48,209 | $ | 52,852 | |||||
Net earned premium | $ | 414,427 | $ | 211,301 | $ | 120,476 | |||||
Net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) | 22.7 | % | 22.8 | % | 43.9 | % | |||||
A&H Segment Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2015
Gross premium written. Gross premium written increased by $212.1 million, or 84.2%, from $251.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $464.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of additional premiums from the Assurant Transaction ($133.7 million) and organic growth ($76.7 million).
Net premium written. Net premium written increased by $202.7 million, or 93.9%, from $216.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $418.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of additional premiums from the Assurant Transaction ($133.7 million) and organic growth ($67.4 million).
Net earned premium. Net earned premium increased by $203.1 million, or 96.1%, from $211.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $414.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of additional premiums from the Assurant Transaction ($134.1 million) and organic growth ($66.9 million).
Service and fee income. Service and fee income increased by $40.1 million, or 40.6%, from $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $138.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Assurant Transaction and domestic organic growth.
Loss and loss adjustment expense; net loss ratio. Loss and LAE increased by $128.0 million, or 74.7%, from $171.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $299.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Assurant Transaction and higher loss experience in our legacy domestic stop loss programs. Our net loss ratio decreased from 81.1% for
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the year ended December 31, 2015 to 72.2% for the year ended December 31, 2016. The loss ratio decrease in the year ended December 31, 2016, was primarily driven by our international business.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses increased by $36.7 million, or 55.7%, from $66.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $102.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the Assurant Transaction ($23.9 million) and organic growth ($12.5 million).
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $49.3 million, or 60.0%, from $82.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $131.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Assurant Transaction ($39.8 million) and organic growth ($9.1 million).
Net operating expense; net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). Net operating expense increased $45.7 million, or 94.7%, from $48.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $93.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of the Assurant Transaction and our legacy domestic business. The net operating expense ratio decreased from 22.8% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 22.7% for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily as a result of increased net earned premiums and higher service and fee income, partially offset by an increase in general and administrative expenses and acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses.
Underwriting income (loss). Underwriting income increased from a loss of $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to income of $21.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as a result of the Assurant Transaction, partially offset by underwriting loss in our legacy domestic and international businesses. The net combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased to 94.9% compared to 103.9% for the same period in 2015.
A&H Segment Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Gross premium written. Gross premium written increased by $111.5 million, or 79.4%, from $140.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $251.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of premium from the Assurant Transaction ($55.7 million) and organic growth ($66.6 million), partially offset by a decrease in our EHC business ($10.8 million) which included a one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $15.2 million in 2014.
Net premium written. Net premium written increased by $76.0 million, or 54.3%, from $140.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $216.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of premium from the Assurant Transaction ($55.7 million) and organic growth ($31.0 million), partially offset by a decrease in our EHC business ($10.8 million) which included a one-time unearned premium reserve assumption of $15.2 million in 2014.
Net earned premium. Net earned premium increased by $90.8 million, or 75.4%, from $120.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $211.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to earned premium from the Assurant Transaction ($55.8 million) and organic growth ($34.9 million).
Service and fee income. Service and fee income increased by $40.4 million, or 69.0%, from $58.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as a result of the Assurant Transaction and A&H organic growth.
Loss and loss adjustment expense; net loss ratio. Loss and LAE increased by $85.4 million, or 99.4%, from $85.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $171.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our net loss ratio increased from 71.3% for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 81.1% for the year ended December 31, 2015. The loss ratio increase in the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily driven by higher loss experience in our domestic stop loss programs.
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses increased by $11.3 million, or 20.7%, from $54.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $66.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase resulting from the Assurant Transaction and as a result of organic growth, partially offset by the consolidation of our EHC business as all new and renewal policies placed by EHC after April 1, 2014 are underwritten by our European insurance subsidiaries.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $25.5 million, or 45.1%, from $56.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $82.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as a result of an increase resulting from the Assurant Transaction and higher organic growth.
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Net operating expense; net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP). Net operating expense decreased $4.6 million from $52.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $48.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The net operating expense ratio (non-GAAP) decreased from 43.9% for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 22.8% for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of increased A&H premiums and higher service and fee income.
Underwriting loss. Underwriting loss decreased from a loss of $18.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to a loss of $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 due to maturation of the A&H business. The combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased to 103.9% compared to 115.2% for the same period in 2014. The combined ratio was lower due to improved profitability driven by a reduced expense ratio reflecting continued maturation of the A&H business and higher service and fee income, partially offset by a higher net loss ratio.
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Investment Portfolio
Our investment strategy emphasizes, first, the preservation of capital and, second, maximization of an appropriate risk-adjusted return. We seek to maximize investment returns using investment guidelines that stress prudent allocation among cash and cash equivalents, fixed maturities and, to a lesser extent, equity securities. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit, commercial paper, pooled short-term money market funds and certificates of deposit with an original maturity of 90 days or less. Our fixed maturities include obligations of the U.S. Treasury or U.S. government agencies, obligations of U.S. and Canadian corporations, mortgages guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Farm Credit entities, and structured securities and commercial mortgage obligations. Our equity securities include common and preferred stock of U.S. and Canadian corporations. From time to time, we also reclassify available-for-sale securities to trading securities for the purpose of buying and selling them in the near term and benefit from the change in market prices or spreads.
The average yield on our investment portfolio was 3.1% and 3.3% and the average duration of the portfolio was 5.08 and 5.31 years for the years ended at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Available-for-Sale Securities. The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value on available-for-sale securities were as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 45,405 | $ | 937 | $ | (494 | ) | $ | 45,848 | |||||||
Federal agencies | 739 | — | (26 | ) | 713 | |||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 460,089 | 3,625 | (11,403 | ) | 452,311 | |||||||||||
Foreign government | 60,025 | — | (3,226 | ) | 56,799 | |||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 1,580,918 | 43,322 | (13,338 | ) | 1,610,902 | |||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 450,997 | 4,305 | (5,982 | ) | 449,320 | |||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 107,546 | 1,521 | (1,724 | ) | 107,343 | |||||||||||
Structured securities | 334,343 | 4,656 | (436 | ) | 338,563 | |||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | 3,040,062 | 58,366 | (36,629 | ) | 3,061,799 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 21,274 | 7,050 | (308 | ) | 28,016 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock | 1,580 | 17 | (35 | ) | 1,562 | |||||||||||
Total equity securities | 22,854 | 7,067 | (343 | ) | 29,578 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,062,916 | $ | 65,433 | $ | (36,972 | ) | $ | 3,091,377 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 2,761,899 | $ | 58,180 | $ | (35,047 | ) | $ | 2,785,032 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 301,017 | 7,253 | (1,925 | ) | 306,345 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,062,916 | $ | 65,433 | $ | (36,972 | ) | $ | 3,091,377 | |||||||
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December 31, 2015 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities and securities pledged: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 19,348 | $ | 1,052 | $ | (48 | ) | $ | 20,352 | |||||||
Federal agencies | 1,945 | 7 | — | 1,952 | ||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 193,017 | 4,516 | (609 | ) | 196,924 | |||||||||||
Foreign government | 31,383 | 31 | (352 | ) | 31,062 | |||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 1,375,336 | 22,224 | (47,902 | ) | 1,349,658 | |||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 419,293 | 6,254 | (978 | ) | 424,569 | |||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 135,134 | 720 | (3,649 | ) | 132,205 | |||||||||||
Structured securities | 205,024 | 15 | (4,347 | ) | 200,692 | |||||||||||
Total fixed maturities and securities pledged | 2,380,480 | 34,819 | (57,885 | ) | 2,357,414 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 53,356 | 569 | (6,960 | ) | 46,965 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock | 11,448 | 377 | — | 11,825 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 64,804 | 946 | (6,960 | ) | 58,790 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,445,284 | $ | 35,765 | $ | (64,845 | ) | $ | 2,416,204 | |||||||
Less: Securities pledged | 54,955 | 439 | — | 55,394 | ||||||||||||
Total net of securities pledged | $ | 2,390,329 | $ | 35,326 | $ | (64,845 | ) | $ | 2,360,810 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 2,199,714 | $ | 34,773 | $ | (58,826 | ) | $ | 2,175,661 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 245,570 | 992 | (6,019 | ) | 240,543 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,445,284 | $ | 35,765 | $ | (64,845 | ) | $ | 2,416,204 | |||||||
The decrease in gross unrealized losses from $64.8 million at December 31, 2015 to $37.0 million at December 31, 2016 resulted from the recognition of OTTI, fluctuations in market interest rates and performance of our equity securities.
The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities held as of December 31, 2016, by contractual maturity, are shown in the table below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Due in one year or less | $ | 26,947 | $ | 27,141 | $ | 2,455 | $ | 2,457 | $ | 29,402 | $ | 29,598 | ||||||||||||
Due after one year through five years | 584,788 | 596,809 | 58,740 | 61,391 | 643,528 | 658,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
Due after five years through ten years | 1,253,465 | 1,257,714 | 179,654 | 182,356 | 1,433,119 | 1,440,070 | ||||||||||||||||||
Due after ten years | 341,099 | 342,481 | 34,371 | 34,787 | 375,470 | 377,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 532,746 | 531,309 | 25,797 | 25,354 | 558,543 | 556,663 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,739,045 | $ | 2,755,454 | $ | 301,017 | $ | 306,345 | $ | 3,040,062 | $ | 3,061,799 | ||||||||||||
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Gross Unrealized Losses. The tables below summarize the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities and equity securities classified as available for sale, by the length of time the security had continuously been in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 37,436 | $ | (494 | ) | 24 | $ | — | $ | — | — | $ | 37,436 | $ | (494 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Federal agencies | 419 | (26 | ) | 3 | — | — | — | 419 | (26 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 318,946 | (11,236 | ) | 387 | 2,956 | (167 | ) | 6 | 321,902 | (11,403 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 48,156 | (3,226 | ) | 6 | — | — | — | 48,156 | (3,226 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 495,443 | (12,376 | ) | 292 | 33,112 | (962 | ) | 21 | 528,555 | (13,338 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 262,269 | (5,894 | ) | 212 | 2,141 | (88 | ) | 4 | 264,410 | (5,982 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 51,120 | (1,002 | ) | 27 | 4,890 | (722 | ) | 3 | 56,010 | (1,724 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Structured securities | 54,361 | (243 | ) | 43 | 17,908 | (193 | ) | 10 | 72,269 | (436 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 3,198 | (308 | ) | 5 | — | — | — | 3,198 | (308 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock | 1,298 | (35 | ) | 2 | — | — | — | 1,298 | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,272,646 | $ | (34,840 | ) | 1,001 | $ | 61,007 | $ | (2,132 | ) | 44 | $ | 1,333,653 | $ | (36,972 | ) | |||||||||||||
NGHC | $ | 1,190,788 | $ | (33,382 | ) | 963 | $ | 51,813 | $ | (1,665 | ) | 28 | $ | 1,242,601 | $ | (35,047 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 81,858 | (1,458 | ) | 38 | 9,194 | (467 | ) | 16 | 91,052 | (1,925 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,272,646 | $ | (34,840 | ) | 1,001 | $ | 61,007 | $ | (2,132 | ) | 44 | $ | 1,333,653 | $ | (36,972 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 7,141 | $ | (48 | ) | 5 | $ | — | $ | — | — | $ | 7,141 | $ | (48 | ) | ||||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 17,674 | (501 | ) | 22 | 4,878 | (108 | ) | 10 | 22,552 | (609 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 21,322 | (352 | ) | 4 | — | — | — | 21,322 | (352 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 684,613 | (37,919 | ) | 229 | 32,121 | (9,983 | ) | 38 | 716,734 | (47,902 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 102,889 | (919 | ) | 23 | 1,655 | (59 | ) | 9 | 104,544 | (978 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 66,222 | (3,472 | ) | 30 | 2,364 | (177 | ) | 2 | 68,586 | (3,649 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Structured securities | 153,042 | (4,347 | ) | 65 | — | — | — | 153,042 | (4,347 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 39,490 | (6,932 | ) | 5 | 130 | (28 | ) | 2 | 39,620 | (6,960 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,092,393 | $ | (54,490 | ) | 383 | $ | 41,148 | $ | (10,355 | ) | 61 | $ | 1,133,541 | $ | (64,845 | ) | |||||||||||||
NGHC | $ | 988,188 | $ | (50,599 | ) | 284 | $ | 28,691 | $ | (8,227 | ) | 34 | $ | 1,016,879 | $ | (58,826 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 104,205 | (3,891 | ) | 99 | 12,457 | (2,128 | ) | 27 | 116,662 | (6,019 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,092,393 | $ | (54,490 | ) | 383 | $ | 41,148 | $ | (10,355 | ) | 61 | $ | 1,133,541 | $ | (64,845 | ) | |||||||||||||
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There were 1,045 and 444 securities at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that account for the gross unrealized loss, none of which we deemed to be other-than-temporary impairments. Significant factors influencing our determination that none of these securities were OTTI included the length of time and/or magnitude of unrealized losses in relation to cost, the nature of the investment, the current financial condition of the issuer and its future prospects, the ability to recover to cost in the near term, and management’s intent not to sell these securities and it being more likely than not that we will not be required to sell these investments before anticipated recovery of fair value to our cost basis.
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, of the $2.1 million and $10.4 million, respectively, of unrealized losses related to securities in unrealized loss positions for a period of twelve or more consecutive months, none and $8.5 million, respectively, of those unrealized losses were related to securities in unrealized loss positions greater than or equal to 20% of its amortized cost or cost. The unrealized losses for securities greater than 20% were evaluated based on factors such as discounted cash flows and near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer and were determined to have adequate resources to fulfill contractual obligations.
During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we recognized an OTTI loss of $22.1 million, $15.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively, on investments based on our qualitative and quantitative review.
Trading Securities. The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value on trading securities were as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | $ | 32,698 | $ | 5,979 | $ | — | $ | 38,677 | ||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 28,176 | 5,172 | (3,215 | ) | 30,133 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 60,874 | $ | 11,151 | $ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 68,810 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 60,874 | $ | 11,151 | $ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 68,810 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 60,874 | $ | 11,151 | $ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 68,810 | |||||||
Credit Quality of Investments. The tables below summarize the credit quality of our fixed maturities, securities pledged and preferred securities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, as rated by Standard & Poor’s.
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | ||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 39,471 | $ | 39,918 | 1.4 | % | $ | 5,934 | $ | 5,930 | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||
AAA | 251,549 | 246,040 | 8.8 | % | 7,526 | 7,436 | 2.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
AA, AA+, AA- | 820,762 | 815,294 | 29.2 | % | 33,096 | 33,728 | 11.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
A, A+, A- | 740,280 | 747,765 | 26.7 | % | 87,734 | 88,761 | 29.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
BBB, BBB+, BBB- | 693,039 | 705,319 | 25.2 | % | 148,968 | 151,644 | 49.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
BB+ and lower | 228,222 | 241,357 | 8.7 | % | 17,759 | 18,846 | 6.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,773,323 | $ | 2,795,693 | 100.0 | % | $ | 301,017 | $ | 306,345 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||
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NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | ||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 13,416 | $ | 14,448 | 0.7 | % | $ | 5,932 | $ | 5,904 | 2.5 | % | ||||||||||
AAA | 343,128 | 348,073 | 16.4 | % | 39,724 | 38,888 | 16.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
AA, AA+, AA- | 379,560 | 383,888 | 18.0 | % | 36,866 | 36,934 | 15.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
A, A+, A- | 501,409 | 508,884 | 23.9 | % | 50,612 | 50,153 | 20.8 | % | ||||||||||||||
BBB, BBB+, BBB- | 634,250 | 623,742 | 29.3 | % | 82,417 | 80,322 | 33.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
BB+ and lower | 274,594 | 249,660 | 11.7 | % | 30,020 | 28,343 | 11.7 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,146,357 | $ | 2,128,695 | 100.0 | % | $ | 245,571 | $ | 240,544 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||
The tables below summarize the investment quality of our corporate bond holdings and industry concentrations as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
December 31, 2016 | AAA | AA+, AA, AA- | A+,A,A- | BBB+, BBB, BBB- | BB+ or Lower | Fair Value | % of Corporate Bonds Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Institutions | 0.1 | % | 1.7 | % | 21.7 | % | 11.8 | % | 3.0 | % | $ | 631,595 | 38.3 | % | ||||||||
Industrials | — | % | 3.4 | % | 17.7 | % | 27.6 | % | 6.3 | % | 906,950 | 55.0 | % | |||||||||
Utilities/Other | 0.8 | % | 0.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 3.6 | % | 0.8 | % | 111,034 | 6.7 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.9 | % | 5.3 | % | 40.7 | % | 43.0 | % | 10.1 | % | $ | 1,649,579 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
NGHC | 0.9 | % | 4.8 | % | 35.6 | % | 34.4 | % | 9.2 | % | $ | 1,400,239 | 84.9 | % | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | % | 0.5 | % | 5.1 | % | 8.6 | % | 0.9 | % | 249,340 | 15.1 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.9 | % | 5.3 | % | 40.7 | % | 43.0 | % | 10.1 | % | $ | 1,649,579 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
December 31, 2015 | AAA | AA+, AA, AA- | A+,A,A- | BBB+, BBB, BBB- | BB+ or Lower | Fair Value | % of Corporate Bonds Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Institutions | — | % | 2.8 | % | 21.2 | % | 12.7 | % | 2.1 | % | $ | 524,250 | 38.8 | % | ||||||||
Industrials | — | % | 3.9 | % | 15.4 | % | 32.3 | % | 4.6 | % | 757,907 | 56.2 | % | |||||||||
Utilities/Other | 0.4 | % | — | % | 0.4 | % | 3.4 | % | 0.8 | % | 67,501 | 5.0 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 37.0 | % | 48.4 | % | 7.5 | % | $ | 1,349,658 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
NGHC | 0.4 | % | 6.1 | % | 33.9 | % | 42.7 | % | 6.3 | % | $ | 1,206,442 | 89.4 | % | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | % | 0.6 | % | 3.1 | % | 5.7 | % | 1.2 | % | 143,216 | 10.6 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 37.0 | % | 48.4 | % | 7.5 | % | $ | 1,349,658 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
Restricted Cash and Investments. In order to conduct business in certain states, we are required to maintain letters of credit or assets on deposit to support state-mandated regulatory requirements and certain third-party agreements. We also utilize trust accounts to collateralize business with our reinsurance counterparties. Assets held on deposit or in trust accounts are primarily in the form of cash or certain high-grade securities. The fair values of our restricted assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
71
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 65,601 | $ | 56,347 | ||||
State deposits, at fair value | 73,731 | 40,174 | ||||||
Restricted investments to trusts, at fair value | 366,306 | 407,849 | ||||||
Total | $ | 505,638 | $ | 504,370 | ||||
Short-term Investments. We had short-term investments of $15.7 million and $3.5 million, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Short-term investments consisted of money market funds; these money market funds were rated by Standard & Poor’s as AAA.
Other Investments. The table below summarizes the composition of our other investments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(amounts in thousands) | ||||||||
Limited partnerships, equity method | $ | 64,444 | $ | 5,691 | ||||
Long-term Certificates of Deposit (CDs), at cost | 21,178 | — | ||||||
Investments, at cost or amortized cost | 11,851 | 7,340 | ||||||
Investments, at fair value | 9,427 | — | ||||||
Total | $ | 106,900 | $ | 13,031 | ||||
Our other investments consisted primarily of limited partnerships, investments in residential and commercial real estate debt funds, preferred securities and certificates of deposit. We believe our exposure to risk associated with these investments is generally limited to the investment carrying amounts. The increase from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 was to diversify our alternative investment portfolio.
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Investment in Entities Holding Life Settlement Contracts
A life settlement contract is a contract between the owner of a life insurance policy and a third party who obtains the ownership and beneficiary rights of the underlying life insurance policy. During 2010, we formed Tiger Capital LLC (“Tiger”) with a subsidiary of AmTrust for the purpose of acquiring certain life settlement contracts. In 2011, we formed AMT Capital Alpha, LLC (“AMT Alpha”) with a subsidiary of AmTrust for the purpose of acquiring additional life settlement contracts. In the first quarter of 2013, we acquired a 50% interest in AMT Capital Holdings, S.A. (“AMTCH”), the other 50% of which is owned by AmTrust. We have a 50% ownership interest in each of Tiger, AMT Alpha and AMTCH (collectively, the “LSC Entities”). The LSC Entities may also acquire premium finance loans made in connection with the borrowers’ purchase of life insurance policies that are secured by the policies. The LSC Entities acquire the underlying policies securing the loan through the borrowers’ voluntary surrender of the policy in satisfaction of the loan or foreclosure.
The LSC Entities account for investments in life settlements in accordance with ASC 325-30, “Investments in Insurance Contracts,” which states that an investor shall elect to account for its investments in life settlement contracts by using either the investment method or the fair value method. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. The LSC Entities have elected to account for these investments using the fair value method.
As of December 31, 2016, we have a 50% ownership interest in the LSC Entities that hold certain life settlement contracts, and the fair value of these contracts owned by the LSC Entities is $356.9 million, with our proportionate interest being $178.4 million. Total capital contributions of approximately $23.0 million and $1.1 million were made to the LSC Entities during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for which we contributed approximately $11.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, in those same periods. The LSC Entities used the contributed capital to pay premiums and purchase policies.
As of December 31, 2016, the face value amounts of the 254 life insurance policies disclosed in the table below was approximately $1.6 billion. As of December 31, 2016, the LSC Entities owned no premium finance loans. The following table describes details of our investment in LSC Entities as of December 31, 2016. This table shows the gross amounts for the portfolio of life insurance policies owned by the LSC Entities, in which we and AmTrust each own a 50% interest.
(amounts in thousands, except number of life settlement contracts) Expected Maturity Term in Years | Number of Life Settlement Contracts | Fair Value(1) | Face Value | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||
0 - 1 | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
1 - 2 | 2 | 8,873 | 12,500 | ||||||||
2 - 3 | 7 | 39,495 | 63,000 | ||||||||
3 - 4 | 10 | 37,436 | 75,422 | ||||||||
4 - 5 | 10 | 34,003 | 82,900 | ||||||||
Thereafter | 225 | 237,049 | 1,405,414 | ||||||||
Total | 254 | $ | 356,856 | $ | 1,639,236 | ||||||
(1) | The LSC Entities determined the fair value as of December 31, 2016 based on 236 policies out of 254 policies, as the LSC Entities assigned no value to 18 of the policies as of December 31, 2016. The LSC Entities estimated the fair value of a life insurance policy using a cash flow model with an appropriate discount rate. In some cases, the cash flow model calculates the value of an individual policy to be negative, and therefore the fair value of the policy is zero as no liability exists when a negative value is calculated. The LSC Entities are not contractually bound to pay the premium on its life settlement contracts and, therefore, would not pay a willing buyer to assume title of these contracts. Additionally, certain of the LSC Entities’ acquired policies were structured to have low premium payments at inception of the policy term, which later escalate greatly towards the tail end of the policy term. At the current time, the LSC Entities expense all premiums paid, even on policies with zero fair value. Once the premium payments escalate, the LSC Entities may allow the policies to lapse. In the event that death benefits are realized in the time frame between initial acquisition and premium escalation, it is a benefit to cash flow of the LSC Entities. |
73
For the contracts where the LSC Entities determined the fair value to be negative and therefore assigned a fair value of zero, the table below details the amount of premiums paid and the death benefits received for the year ended December 31, 2016:
(amounts in thousands, except number of life settlement contracts) | December 31, 2016 | ||
Number of policies with a negative value from discounted cash flow model | 18 | ||
Premiums paid for the year ended | $ | 2,640 | |
Death benefit received | $ | — | |
Premiums to be paid by the LSC Entities, in which we have 50% ownership interests, for each of the five succeeding fiscal years to keep the life insurance policies in force as of December 31, 2016, are as follows:
(amounts in thousands) | Premiums Due on Life Settlement Contracts | |||
2017 | $ | 61,518 | ||
2018 | 49,683 | |||
2019 | 50,396 | |||
2020 | 46,632 | |||
2021 | 43,223 | |||
Thereafter | 503,818 | |||
Total | $ | 755,270 | ||
For additional information about the fair value of the life settlement contracts, see Note 6, “Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. For additional information about the risks inherent in determining the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors-Risks Relating to Our Business Generally-A portion of our financial assets consists of life settlement contracts that are subject to certain risks.”
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We are organized as a holding company with twenty-two domestic insurance company subsidiaries, various foreign insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries, as well as various other non-insurance subsidiaries. Our principal sources of operating funds are premiums, service and fee income, investment income and proceeds from sales and maturities of investments. The primary sources of cash for the management companies of the Reciprocal Exchanges are management fees for acting as the attorneys-in-fact for the exchanges. Our primary uses of operating funds include payments of claims and operating expenses. Currently, we pay claims using cash flow from operations and invest our excess cash primarily in fixed-maturity and, to a lesser extent, equity securities. Except as set forth below, we expect that projected cash flows from operations, as well as the net proceeds from our debt and equity issuances, will provide us with sufficient liquidity to fund our anticipated growth by providing capital to increase the surplus of our insurance subsidiaries, as well as to pay claims and operating expenses, and to pay interest and principal on debt and debt facilities and other holding company expenses for the foreseeable future. However, if our growth attributable to potential acquisitions, internally generated growth, or a combination of these factors, exceeds our expectations, we may have to raise additional capital. If we cannot obtain adequate capital on favorable terms or at all, we may be unable to support future growth or operating requirements and, as a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. To support our current and future policy writings, we have recently raised substantial capital using a combination of debt and equity, and we may raise additional capital over the next twelve months.
We may generate liquidity through the issuance of debt or equity securities or financing through borrowings under credit facilities, or a combination thereof. We also have a $225.0 million credit agreement, under which there was $50.0 million outstanding as of December 31, 2016. The proceeds of borrowings under the credit agreement may be used for working capital, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. See “Revolving Credit Agreement” below.
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to statutory and regulatory restrictions imposed on insurance companies by their place of domicile which limit the amount of cash dividends or distributions that they may pay to us unless special permission is received from the insurance regulator of the relevant domicile. The aggregate limit imposed by the various domiciliary regulatory authorities of our insurance subsidiaries was approximately $397.1 million and $360.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, taking into account dividends paid in the prior twelve month periods. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, there were $29.5 million, $23.8 million and $12.0 million, respectively, of dividends and return of capital paid by our insurance subsidiaries to their parent company or National General Holdings Corp.
We forecast claim payments based on our historical experience. We seek to manage the funding of claim payments by actively managing available cash and forecasting cash flows on both a short-term and long-term basis. Cash payments for claims were $1,794.9 million, $1,276.3 million and $866.0 million in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Historically, we have funded claim payments from cash flow from operations (principally premiums), net of amounts ceded to our third-party reinsurers. We presently expect to maintain sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our anticipated claim obligations and operating and capital expenditure needs. Our cash and investment portfolio has increased from $1,998.7 million at December 31, 2014 to $2,893.6 million at December 31, 2015 and increased to $3,768.7 million at December 31, 2016. We do not anticipate selling securities in our investment portfolio to pay claims or to fund operating expenses. Should circumstances arise that would require us to do so, we may incur losses on such sales, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and could reduce investment income in future periods.
Pursuant to a tax allocation agreement by and among us and certain of our direct and indirect subsidiaries, we compute and pay federal income taxes on a consolidated basis. Each subsidiary party to this agreement computes and pays to us its respective share of the federal income tax liability primarily based on separate return calculations.
The LSC Entities in which we own a 50% interest also purchase life settlement contracts that require the LSC Entities to make premium payments on individual life insurance policies in order to keep the policies in force. We presently expect to maintain sufficient cash flow to make future capital contributions to the LSC Entities to permit them to make future premium payments.
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The following table is a summary of our statement of cash flows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in): | ||||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 315,414 | $ | 316,064 | $ | 388,731 | ||||||
Investing activities | (462,041 | ) | (720,647 | ) | (656,484 | ) | ||||||
Financing activities | 155,436 | 554,588 | 324,758 | |||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (5,186 | ) | (343 | ) | 1,787 | |||||||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 3,623 | $ | 149,662 | $ | 58,792 | ||||||
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
Net cash provided by operating activities was $315.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared with $316.1 million provided by operating activities for the same period in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $0.7 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $462.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $720.6 million net cash used in investing activities for the same period in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash used in investing activities decreased by $258.6 million, due to an increase of $410.4 million in proceeds received from sale of investments and distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries, a decrease of $246.6 million in cash used in purchases of investments and a decrease of $46.2 million in cash used in investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and non-controlling interest, partially offset by an increase of $432.5 million in cash used for acquisitions and an increase of $12.0 million in cash used in purchases of premises and equipment.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $155.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $554.6 million net cash provided by financing activities for the same period in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, cash provided by financing activities decreased by $399.2 million, due to a decrease of $171.7 million in proceeds received from issuances of common and preferred stock, a decrease of $162.9 million in proceeds received from borrowings, net of repayments and returns of capital, a decrease of $53.2 million in the securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net of short sales and an increase of $15.7 million in 2016 payments of dividends, partially offset by an increase of $4.4 million in cash received for stock options and cash retained for excess tax benefits on shared-based payments arrangements.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $316.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with $388.7 million provided by operating activities for the same period in 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net cash provided by operating activities decreased $72.7 million from the comparable period in 2014, primarily as a result of an increase in premiums and other receivables driven by Tower premium retention, the LPI Business acquisition and the Assurant Transaction.
Net cash used in investing activities was $720.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with net cash used in investing activities of $656.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net cash used in investing activities increased primarily due to an increase of $84.9 million in the purchases of short-term investments and an increase of $564.2 million in the purchases of fixed-maturity investments, partially offset by the change in loans to a related party (notes receivable) of $125.0 million, an increase of $185.6 million in the proceeds from the sale and maturity of fixed-maturity investments, a $92.0 million increase in the proceeds from the sale of short-term investments and an increase of $198.8 million in cash from acquisitions.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $554.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with net cash provided by financing activities of $324.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, cash provided by financing activities increased versus the comparable period in 2014 primarily due to our: (a) issuance of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Series B Preferred Stock in the first half of 2015; (b) August 2015 sale of $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Notes; (c) August 2015 issuance of common stock; and (d) October 2015 sale of $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 6.75% Notes, partially offset by (i) the issuance of common stock in our February 2014 private placement; (ii) the May 2014 sale of our $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75%Notes; and (iii) the June 2014 issuance of 2,200,000 shares of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Series A Preferred Stock.
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Consolidating Balance Sheet Information as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||||||
Investments: | |||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value | $ | 2,755,454 | $ | 306,345 | $ | — | $ | 3,061,799 | |||||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | 29,578 | — | — | 29,578 | |||||||||||
Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value | 38,677 | — | — | 38,677 | |||||||||||
Equity securities, trading, at fair value | 30,133 | — | — | 30,133 | |||||||||||
Short-term investments | 15,674 | — | — | 15,674 | |||||||||||
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries | 265,688 | — | — | 265,688 | |||||||||||
Other investments | 195,908 | — | (89,008 | ) | 106,900 | ||||||||||
Total investments | 3,331,112 | 306,345 | (89,008 | ) | 3,548,449 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 212,894 | 7,405 | — | 220,299 | |||||||||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 64,632 | 969 | — | 65,601 | |||||||||||
Accrued investment income | 30,912 | 2,957 | (6,398 | ) | 27,471 | ||||||||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | 1,097,931 | 60,978 | (801 | ) | 1,158,108 | ||||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 189,879 | 31,043 | — | 220,922 | |||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 838,605 | 42,192 | — | 880,797 | |||||||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 87,285 | 69,685 | — | 156,970 | |||||||||||
Notes receivable from related party | 126,298 | — | — | 126,298 | |||||||||||
Due from affiliate | 17,729 | — | (15,727 | ) | 2,002 | ||||||||||
Deferred tax asset | 65,302 | (19,095 | ) | — | 46,207 | ||||||||||
Premises and equipment, net | 110,387 | 4,117 | — | 114,504 | |||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 456,695 | 11,025 | — | 467,720 | |||||||||||
Goodwill | 155,290 | — | — | 155,290 | |||||||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 54,255 | 88 | — | 54,343 | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 6,839,206 | $ | 517,709 | $ | (111,934 | ) | $ | 7,244,981 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 2,127,997 | $ | 137,075 | $ | — | $ | 2,265,072 | |||||||
Unearned premiums | 1,472,299 | 163,326 | — | 1,635,625 | |||||||||||
Unearned service contract and other revenue | 14,201 | — | — | 14,201 | |||||||||||
Reinsurance payable | 73,985 | 20,640 | (801 | ) | 93,824 | ||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 335,174 | 13,201 | (6,398 | ) | 341,977 | ||||||||||
Due to affiliate | — | 15,727 | (15,727 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Income tax payable | 8,520 | 557 | — | 9,077 | |||||||||||
Debt | 752,001 | 89,008 | (89,008 | ) | 752,001 | ||||||||||
Other liabilities | 161,200 | 46,500 | — | 207,700 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities | 4,945,377 | 486,034 | (111,934 | ) | 5,319,477 | ||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||||||||
Common stock | 1,064 | — | — | 1,064 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock | 420,000 | — | — | 420,000 | |||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 914,706 | — | — | 914,706 | |||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 12,710 | — | — | 12,710 | |||||||||||
Retained earnings | 545,106 | — | — | 545,106 | |||||||||||
Total National General Holdings Corp. Stockholders’ Equity | 1,893,586 | — | — | 1,893,586 | |||||||||||
Non-controlling interest | 243 | 31,675 | — | 31,918 | |||||||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 1,893,829 | 31,675 | — | 1,925,504 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 6,839,206 | $ | 517,709 | $ | (111,934 | ) | $ | 7,244,981 | ||||||
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December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||
Investments: | |||||||||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value | $ | 2,063,051 | $ | 238,969 | $ | 2,302,020 | |||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | 57,216 | 1,574 | 58,790 | ||||||||
Short-term investments | 1,528 | 1,999 | 3,527 | ||||||||
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries | 234,948 | — | 234,948 | ||||||||
Other investments | 13,031 | — | 13,031 | ||||||||
Securities pledged | 55,394 | — | 55,394 | ||||||||
Total investments | 2,425,168 | 242,542 | 2,667,710 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 217,537 | 8,393 | 225,930 | ||||||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 56,347 | — | 56,347 | ||||||||
Accrued investment income | 18,055 | 2,347 | 20,402 | ||||||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | 702,439 | 56,194 | 758,633 | ||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 136,728 | 23,803 | 160,531 | ||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 794,091 | 39,085 | 833,176 | ||||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 66,613 | 61,730 | 128,343 | ||||||||
Notes receivable from related party | 125,057 | — | 125,057 | ||||||||
Due from affiliate | 29,476 | 12,060 | 41,536 | ||||||||
Premises and equipment, net | 42,599 | 332 | 42,931 | ||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 344,073 | 4,825 | 348,898 | ||||||||
Goodwill | 112,414 | — | 112,414 | ||||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 41,091 | 393 | 41,484 | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | 5,111,688 | $ | 451,704 | $ | 5,563,392 | |||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 1,623,232 | $ | 132,392 | $ | 1,755,624 | |||||
Unearned premiums | 1,046,313 | 146,186 | 1,192,499 | ||||||||
Unearned service contract and other revenue | 12,504 | — | 12,504 | ||||||||
Reinsurance payable | 54,815 | 14,357 | 69,172 | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 265,057 | 19,845 | 284,902 | ||||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value | 52,484 | — | 52,484 | ||||||||
Deferred tax liability | (20,477 | ) | 32,724 | 12,247 | |||||||
Income tax payable | 5,593 | — | 5,593 | ||||||||
Debt | 446,061 | 45,476 | 491,537 | ||||||||
Other liabilities | 112,085 | 38,105 | 150,190 | ||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,597,667 | 429,085 | 4,026,752 | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
Common stock | 1,056 | — | 1,056 | ||||||||
Preferred stock | 220,000 | — | 220,000 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 900,114 | — | 900,114 | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (19,414 | ) | — | (19,414 | ) | ||||||
Retained earnings | 412,044 | — | 412,044 | ||||||||
Total National General Holdings Corp. Stockholders’ Equity | 1,513,800 | — | 1,513,800 | ||||||||
Non-controlling interest | 221 | 22,619 | 22,840 | ||||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 1,514,021 | 22,619 | 1,536,640 | ||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 5,111,688 | $ | 451,704 | $ | 5,563,392 | |||||
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Other Material Changes in Financial Position
December 31, | ||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Selected Assets: | ||||||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | $ | 1,158,108 | $ | 758,633 | ||||
Deferred acquisition costs | $ | 220,922 | $ | 160,531 | ||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | $ | 156,970 | $ | 128,343 | ||||
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net | $ | 623,010 | $ | 461,312 | ||||
Selected Liabilities: | ||||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,755,624 | ||||
Unearned premiums | $ | 1,635,625 | $ | 1,192,499 | ||||
Debt | $ | 752,001 | $ | 491,537 | ||||
Other liabilities | $ | 207,700 | $ | 150,190 | ||||
During the year ended December 31, 2016, Premiums and other receivables, net increased $399.5 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisitions of Direct General and Century-National, increased premium volume from our acquired company ARS, which is now written on our paper, and additional policies in our P&C and A&H segments, partially offset by a decrease in our LPI Business. Deferred acquisition costs increased $60.4 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Century-National, increased deferred acquisition costs in our P&C segment and the Reciprocal Exchanges. Prepaid reinsurance premiums increased $28.6 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Century-National, increased prepaid reinsurance premiums in our P&C segment and the Reciprocal Exchanges. Goodwill and Intangible assets, net increased $161.7 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisitions of Direct General and Century-National, acquired renewal rights and the Reciprocal Exchanges.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves increased by $509.4 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisitions of Direct General and Century-National, increased ARS premium and catastrophe losses within our P&C segment, and the increase in incurred-but-not-reported claims in our A&H segment. Unearned premiums increased $443.1 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisitions of Direct General, SPCIC and Century-National, increased ARS premium volume which is now written on our paper, increased organic growth and the Reciprocal Exchanges, partially offset by a decrease in our LPI Business. Debt increased by $260.5 million compared to December 31, 2015, due to borrowings under our credit facility loan, the promissory note issued in connection with our acquisition of Century-National, debt acquired from our recent acquisitions: Direct General and SPCIC, partially offset by our purchase of the Reciprocal Exchanges’ surplus notes. Other liabilities increased $57.5 million compared to December 31, 2015, primarily due to the acquisitions of Direct General and Century-National, increases in premium tax reserves and outstanding in process disbursements.
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Reinsurance
Our insurance subsidiaries utilize reinsurance agreements to transfer portions of the underlying risk of the business we write to various affiliated and third-party reinsurance companies. Reinsurance does not discharge or diminish our obligation to pay claims covered by the insurance policies we issue; however, it does permit us to recover certain incurred losses from our reinsurers and our reinsurance recoveries reduce the maximum loss that we may incur as a result of a covered loss event. We believe it is important to ensure that our reinsurance partners are financially strong and they generally carry at least an A.M. Best rating of “A-” (Excellent) or are fully collateralized at the time we enter into our reinsurance agreements. We also enter reinsurance relationships with third-party captives formed by agents as a mechanism for sharing risk and profit. The total amount, cost and limits relating to the reinsurance coverage we purchase may vary from year to year based upon a variety of factors, including the availability of quality reinsurance at an acceptable price and the level of risk that we choose to retain for our own account.
We assume and cede insurance risks under various reinsurance agreements, on both a pro rata basis and an excess of loss basis. We purchase reinsurance to mitigate the volatility of direct and assumed business, which may be caused by the aggregate value or the concentration of written exposures in a particular geographic area or business segment and may arise from catastrophes or other events. As part of our overall risk and capacity management strategy, we purchase excess of loss catastrophic and casualty reinsurance for protection against catastrophic events and other large losses. The property catastrophe program provides a total of $475.0 million in coverage in excess of a $50.0 million retention, with one reinstatement. Included in this coverage is a Florida Hurricane Catastrophic Fund (“FHCF”) cover of $52.2 million in excess of $16.3 million with no reinstatement. The casualty program provides $45.0 million in coverage in excess of a $5.0 million retention. We pay a premium as consideration for ceding the risk.
Our reinsurance transactions include premiums written under state-mandated involuntary plans for commercial vehicles and premiums ceded to state-provided reinsurance facilities such as the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (the “MCCA”), and the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility (the “NCRF”) (collectively, “State Plans”), for which we retain no loss indemnity risk. Prepaid reinsurance premiums are earned on a pro rata basis over the period of risk, based on a daily earnings convention, which is consistent with premiums written.
All automobile insurers doing business in Michigan are required to participate in the MCCA. The MCCA is a reinsurance mechanism that covers no-fault first party medical losses of retentions in excess of a set limit. Insurers are reimbursed for their covered losses in excess of a $545,000 threshold for policies effective after July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. We currently have claims with retentions ranging from $250,000 to $545,000. Funding for the MCCA comes from assessments against automobile insurers based upon their share of insured automobiles in the state. Insurers are allowed to pass along this cost to Michigan automobile policyholders.
The following is a summary of premium and related losses ceded to the MCCA for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, (amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Ceded earned premiums | $ | 9,404 | $ | 12,146 | $ | 12,968 | ||||||
Ceded Loss and LAE | 26,510 | 15,482 | 12,529 | |||||||||
Reinsurance recoverables from the MCCA as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
December 31, (amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | $ | 7,969 | $ | 6,986 | ||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 663,943 | 656,904 | ||||||
The NCRF is a non-profit organization established to provide automobile liability reinsurance to those insurance companies that write automobile insurance in North Carolina. Companies licensed to write automobile insurance in the state must be members of the NCRF and must offer liability coverage to any eligible North Carolina resident applicant for coverages and limits which may be ceded to the NCRF. The NCRF accepts cession of liability for bodily injury and property damage, medical payments, uninsured and combined uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages. Funding for the NCRF comes from premiums collected from automobile insurers based upon the amounts of coverage provided with respect to insured automobiles in the state. North Carolina law provides that cumulative losses incurred by the NCRF are recoverable either through direct surcharges to North Carolina motorists or indirectly by assessments of member companies, which recoup the costs from individual policyholders.
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The following is a summary of premium and related losses ceded to the NCRF for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, (amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Ceded earned premiums | $ | 165,491 | $ | 158,613 | $ | 151,744 | ||||||
Ceded Loss and LAE | 173,926 | 144,350 | 130,265 | |||||||||
Reinsurance recoverables from the NCRF as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
December 31, (amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | $ | 29,274 | $ | 26,228 | ||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 100,470 | 86,941 | ||||||
We believe that we are unlikely to incur any material loss as a result of non-payment of amounts owed to us by the MCCA and the NCRF because the payment obligations are extended over many years, resulting in relatively small current payment obligations; both the MCCA and the NCRF are supported by assessments permitted by statute; and we have not historically incurred losses as a result of non-payment by either MCCA or NCRF. Accordingly, we believe that we have no significant exposure to uncollectible reinsurance balances from these entities.
In addition to the reinsurance programs described above, until July 31, 2013, we used the Personal Lines Quota Share reinsurance arrangement to limit our maximum loss, provide greater diversification of risk and minimize exposure on larger risks. For further discussion on the Personal Lines Quota Share arrangement. (See Note 18, “Related Party Transactions” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements).
We have a concentration of credit risk associated with the MCCA, the NCRF and the reinsurance under the Personal Lines Quota Share arrangement. Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses from these entities at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
December 31, (amounts in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | A.M. Best Rating | |||||||
MCCA | $ | 663,943 | $ | 656,904 | N/R | |||||
NCRF | 100,470 | 86,941 | N/R | |||||||
Maiden Insurance | 12,995 | 21,075 | A | |||||||
ACP Re | 7,797 | 12,645 | N/R | |||||||
Technology Insurance Company, Inc. | 5,197 | 8,430 | A | |||||||
Other reinsurers' balances - each less than 5% of total | 48,203 | 8,096 | ||||||||
Subtotal | $ | 838,605 | $ | 794,091 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 42,192 | 39,085 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 880,797 | $ | 833,176 | ||||||
We have reinsurance with ACP Re and Maiden Insurance that requires the reinsurers to provide collateral to mitigate any risk of default. As of December 31, 2016, ACP Re and Maiden Insurance had provided collateral in the amounts of $0.8 million and $13.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, ACP Re and Maiden Insurance had provided collateral in the amounts of $18.7 million and $30.8 million, respectively.
As of July 1, 2016, a reinsurance property catastrophe excess of loss program went into effect protecting the Reciprocal Exchanges against accumulations of losses resulting from a catastrophic event. The program provides a total of $355.0 million in coverage in excess of a $20.0 million retention, with one reinstatement.
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7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055
On August 18, 2015, we sold $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.625% subordinated notes due 2055 (the “7.625% Notes”) in a public offering. The net proceeds we received from the issuance was approximately $96.6 million, after deducting the underwriting discount, commissions and expenses.
The 7.625% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 7.625% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2015. The 7.625% Notes are our subordinated unsecured obligations and rank (i) senior in right of payment to any future junior subordinated debt, (ii) equal in right of payment with any unsecured, subordinated debt that we incur in the future that ranks equally with the 7.625% Notes, and (iii) subordinate in right of payment to any of our existing and future senior debt, including amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility, our 6.75% Notes and certain of our other obligations. In addition, the 7.625% Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of our subsidiaries. The 7.625% Notes mature on September 15, 2055, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by us. Interest expense on the 7.625% Notes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $7.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively.
The indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The indenture also includes covenants relating to the incurrence of debt if our consolidated leverage ratio would exceed 0.35 to 1.00, a limitation on liens, a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of our subsidiaries and a limitation on transactions with certain of our affiliates. We were in compliance with all covenants contained in the indenture as of December 31, 2016.
6.75% Notes due 2024
On May 23, 2014, we sold $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.75% Notes due 2024 (the “6.75% Notes”) to certain purchasers in a private placement. The net proceeds we received from the issuance was approximately $245.0 million, after deducting the issuance expenses.
The 6.75% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2014. The 6.75% Notes are our general unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with our other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any of our indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the 6.75% Notes. The 6.75% Notes are also effectively subordinated to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and are structurally subordinated to the existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries (including trade payables). The 6.75% Notes mature on May 15, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by us.
On October 8, 2015, we sold an additional $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.75% Notes to certain purchasers in a private placement. The additional 6.75% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2015. The additional 6.75% Notes mature on May 15, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by us. The net proceeds we received from the issuance was approximately $98.9 million, after deducting the estimated issuance expenses payable by us. The additional 6.75% Notes were issued under the same indenture as the original 6.75% Notes. Interest expense on the 6.75% Notes, including the additional issuance, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $23.6 million and $18.4 million, respectively.
The indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The indenture also includes covenants relating to the incurrence of debt if our consolidated leverage ratio would exceed 0.35 to 1.00, a limitation on liens, a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of our subsidiaries and a limitation on transactions with certain of our affiliates. We were in compliance with all covenants contained in the indenture as of December 31, 2016.
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Revolving Credit Agreement
On January 25, 2016, we entered into a $225.0 million credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association as Syndication Agent, and Associated Bank, National Association and First Niagara Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the various lending institutions party thereto. The credit facility is a revolving credit facility with a letter of credit sublimit of $112.5 million and an expansion feature not to exceed $50.0 million. Proceeds of borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of January 25, 2020.
The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and dispositions. There are also financial covenants that require us to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a minimum risk-based capital and a minimum statutory surplus. The Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, with grace periods where customary, including failure to pay principal when due, failure to pay interest or fees within three business days after becoming due, failure to comply with covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, default under certain other indebtedness, certain insolvency or receivership events affecting us and our subsidiaries, the occurrence of certain material judgments, or a change in control of the Company. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, the administrative agent, upon the request of the requisite percentage of the lenders, may terminate the obligations of the lenders to make loans and to issue letters of credit under the Credit Agreement, declare the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement to become immediately due and payable and/or exercise any and all remedies and other rights under the Credit Agreement.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either the Alternate Base Rate (“ABR”) or LIBOR. ABR borrowings (which are borrowings bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR) under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at (x) the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate on such day plus 0.5 percent or (c) the adjusted LIBOR for a one-month interest period on such day plus 1.0 percent. Eurodollar borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at the adjusted LIBOR for the interest period in effect. Fees payable by us under the Credit Agreement include a letter of credit participation fee (the margin applicable to Eurodollar borrowings), a letter of credit fronting fee with respect to each letter of credit (0.125%) and a commitment fee on the available commitments of the lenders (a range of 0.20% to 0.30% based on our consolidated leverage ratio, and which rate was 0.30% as of December 31, 2016).
On May 31, 2016, we borrowed $50.0 million under the Credit Agreement, Eurodollar borrowings was elected for interest rate. Interest payments are due the last day of the interest period in intervals of three months duration, commencing on the date of such borrowing. The borrowing bears interest at the adjusted LIBOR rate which was 3.5625% as of December 31, 2016. Interest expense on the Credit Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $0.9 million. We were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2016.
Century-National Promissory Note
On June 1, 2016, in connection with the closing of our acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Century-National and Western General, we issued a promissory note (“Century-National Promissory Note”) in the approximate amount of $178.9 million to the seller to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition. The Century-National Promissory Note is unsecured and has a two-year term. Principal on the Century-National Promissory Note is payable in two equal installments of approximately $89.4 million on June 1, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Century-National Promissory Note accrues at an annual rate of 4.4% and is payable in arrears on each of the two payment dates. The Century-National Promissory Note may be prepaid at any time, without penalty. The Century-National Promissory Note contains a cross-acceleration provision that is triggered in the event that payment under our $225.0 million Credit Agreement is accelerated and such acceleration is not revoked, rescinded or withdrawn within 30 days of such acceleration. The Century-National Promissory Note also contains customary events of default. Interest expense on the Century-National Promissory Note for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $4.6 million.
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Common Stock
On February 19, 2014, we sold 13,570,000 shares of common stock in a private placement in reliance on exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 at a price of $14.00 per share, subject to a placement fee of $0.840 per share. We recorded the cost of obtaining new capital as a reduction of the related proceeds. The cost of issuance of stock of approximately $12.1 million was charged directly to additional paid-in capital. The net proceeds to us after expenses were approximately $177.8 million.
On August 18, 2015, we issued 11,500,000 shares of common stock in a public offering, including 1,500,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The common stock offering was priced to the public at $19.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $210.9 million, after deducting underwriting discount, but before expenses. The cost of issuance of stock of approximately $7.9 million was charged directly to additional paid-in capital. The net proceeds to us after underwriting discount, commissions and expenses were approximately $210.6 million.
On October 7, 2016, we issued 272,609 shares of common stock in connection with the acquisition of Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company.
Preferred Stock
Series A Preferred Stock
On June 25, 2014, we issued 2,200,000 shares of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) in a public offering. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) or a duly authorized committee of the Board, will be payable on the liquidation preference amount of $25.00 per share, on a non-cumulative basis, quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year (each, a “dividend payment date”), commencing on October 15, 2014, at an annual rate of 7.50%. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative. Accordingly, in the event dividends are not declared on the Series A Preferred Stock for payment on any dividend payment date, then those dividends will not accumulate and will not be payable. If we have not declared a dividend before the dividend payment date for any dividend period, we will have no obligation to pay dividends for that dividend period, whether or not dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are declared for any future dividend payment. The net proceeds we received from the issuance was approximately $53.2 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and issuance expenses.
Series B Preferred Stock
On March 27, 2015, we completed a public offering of 6,000,000 of our depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of our 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles the holder to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock represented thereby (including any dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights). Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a non-cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, at a rate of 7.50% per annum, quarterly in arrears, on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2015, from and including the date of original issuance. The Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares is not redeemable prior to April 15, 2020. After that date, we may redeem at our option, in whole or in part, the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods and accrued but unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period. A total of 6,000,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 150,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock) were issued. Net proceeds from this offering were $145.3 million. We incurred $5.0 million in underwriting discount and commissions and expenses, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
On April 6, 2015, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option with respect to an additional 600,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 15,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock), on the same terms and conditions as the original March 27, 2015 issuance. Net proceeds from this additional offering were $14.5 million. We incurred an additional $0.5 million in underwriting discount and commissions, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
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Series C Preferred Stock
On July 7, 2016, we completed a public offering of 8,000,000 of our depositary shares, each representing a1/40th interest in a share of our 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles the holder to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series C Preferred Stock represented thereby (including any dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights). Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a non-cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, at a rate of 7.50% per annum, quarterly in arrears, on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2016, from and including the date of original issuance. The Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares is not redeemable prior to July 15, 2021. After that date, we may redeem at our option, in whole or in part, the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods and accrued but unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period. A total of 8,000,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 200,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock) were issued, including the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Net proceeds from this offering were $193.5 million. We incurred approximately $6.5 million in underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
ACP Re Credit Agreement
On July 28, 2016, NG Re Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, AmTrust and its wholly-owned subsidiary AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. (“AIIL”), entered into a restatement agreement (the “Restatement Agreement”) to the ACP Re Credit Agreement, dated September 15, 2014, among AmTrust, as Administrative Agent, ACP Re, ACP Re Holdings, LLC, as Guarantor, and AIIL and NG Re Ltd., as Lenders.
On September 20, 2016, the terms of the Restatement Agreement became effective altering the original terms of the ACP Re Credit Agreement principally by changing the borrower from ACP Re to ACP Re Holdings, LLC, lengthening the maturity date, reducing the interest rate and improving the credit profile. Such modification of terms was deemed to be a troubled debt restructuring under GAAP. Based on the maintenance covenant within the Restatement Agreement, we possess a collateral interest of at least 115% of the $125.0 million outstanding balance. At December 31, 2016, management determined no write down or reserve in the carrying value of the loan was required as a result of the new terms of the Restatement Agreement. We evaluate the loan for impairment on a quarterly basis, including the adequacy of our reserve position based on collateral levels maintained. (See Note 18, “Related Party Transactions” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements).
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table sets forth certain of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016:
Payment Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | Total | Less than 1 Year | 1 – 3 Years | 3 – 5 Years | More than 5 Years | |||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE(1) | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,079,361 | $ | 546,800 | $ | 228,211 | $ | 410,700 | ||||||||||
Debt and interest(2) | 1,317,454 | 132,137 | 165,046 | 120,482 | 899,789 | |||||||||||||||
Contributions to LSC Entities(3) | 377,635 | 30,759 | 50,040 | 44,928 | 251,908 | |||||||||||||||
Operating leases | 151,136 | 28,042 | 44,835 | 31,067 | 47,192 | |||||||||||||||
Capital lease obligations | 22,593 | 3,687 | 9,745 | 7,241 | 1,920 | |||||||||||||||
Employment agreement obligations | 10,538 | 6,004 | 4,505 | 29 | — | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 4,144,428 | $ | 1,279,990 | $ | 820,971 | $ | 431,958 | $ | 1,611,509 | ||||||||||
(1) | The loss and LAE payments due by period in the table above are based upon the loss and LAE estimates as of December 31, 2016, and actuarial estimates of expected payout patterns and are not contractual liabilities with finite maturities. Our contractual liability is to provide benefits under the policy. As a result, our calculation of loss and LAE payments due by period is subject to the same uncertainties associated with determining the level of loss and LAE generally and to the additional uncertainties arising from the difficulty of predicting when claims (including claims that have not yet been reported to us) will be paid. For a discussion of our loss and LAE estimate process, see Item 1, “Business-Loss Reserves.” Actual payments of loss and LAE by period will vary, perhaps materially, from the table above to the extent that current estimates of loss and LAE vary from actual ultimate claims amounts and as a result of variations between expected and actual payout patterns. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors-Risks Relating to Our Business Generally-If we are unable to establish and maintain accurate loss reserves, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected” for a discussion of the uncertainties associated with estimating loss and LAE. |
(2) | The interest related to our debt by period as of December 31, 2016 was as follows: $42.6 million - less than 1 year, $75.6 million - 1 - 3 years, $70.5 million - 3 - 5 years and $368.6 million - more than 5 years. |
(3) | As of December 31, 2016, we had a 50% ownership interest in the LSC Entities which in turn owned 254 life settlement contracts with a carrying value of $356.9 million. In order to derive the economic benefit of the face value of these policies, the LSCs are required to make these premium payments. |
Inflation
We establish insurance premiums before we know the amount of losses and LAE or the extent to which inflation may affect such amounts. We attempt to anticipate the potential impact of inflation in establishing our reserves, especially as it relates to medical and hospital rates where historical inflation rates have exceeded the general level of inflation. Inflation in excess of the levels we have assumed could cause loss and LAE to be higher than we anticipated, which would require us to increase reserves and reduce earnings. Fluctuations in rates of inflation also influence interest rates, which in turn impact the market value of our investment portfolio and yields on new investments. Operating expenses, including salaries and benefits, are also usually affected by inflation.
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk represents our potential inability to meet all payment obligations when they become due. We maintain sufficient cash and marketable securities to fund claim payments and operations. We purchase reinsurance coverage to mitigate the risk of an unexpected rise in claims severity or frequency from catastrophic events or a single large loss. The availability, amount and cost of reinsurance depend on market conditions and may vary significantly.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the potential loss arising principally from adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuers of our fixed-maturity securities and the financial condition of our third-party reinsurers. Additionally, we have counterparty credit risk with our repurchase agreement counterparties.
We address the credit risk related to the issuers of our fixed-maturity securities by investing primarily in fixed-maturity securities that are rated “BBB-“ or higher by Standard & Poor’s. We also independently monitor the financial condition of all issuers of our fixed-maturity securities. To limit our risk exposure, we employ diversification policies that limit the credit exposure to any single issuer or business sector.
We are subject to credit risk with respect to our third-party reinsurers. Although our third-party reinsurers are obligated to reimburse us to the extent we cede risk to them, we are ultimately liable to our policyholders on all risks we have ceded. As a result, reinsurance contracts do not limit our ultimate obligations to pay claims covered under the insurance policies we issue and we might not collect amounts recoverable from our reinsurers. We address this credit risk by selecting reinsurers that generally carry at least an A.M. Best rating of “A-” (Excellent) or are fully collateralized at the time we enter into the agreement and by performing, along with our reinsurance broker, periodic credit reviews of our reinsurers. If one of our reinsurers suffers a credit downgrade, we may consider various options to lessen the risk of asset impairment, including commutation, novation and letters of credit. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Reinsurance.”
Counterparty credit risk with our repurchase agreement counterparties is mitigated by obtaining collateral. We obtain collateral in the amount of 105-110% of the value of the securities we have sold with agreement to repurchase. Additionally, repurchase agreements are only transacted with pre-approved counterparties.
Market Risk. Market risk is the risk of potential economic loss principally arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The major components of market risk affecting us are interest rate risk and equity price risk.
Interest Rate Risk. We had fixed-maturities and preferred stock with a fair value of $3,102.0 million and a cost or amortized cost of $3,074.3 million as of December 31, 2016 that are subject to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that we may incur losses due to adverse changes in interest rates. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of our fixed-maturity securities. We manage our exposure to interest rate risk through a disciplined asset and liability matching and capital management process. In the management of this risk, the characteristics of duration, credit and variability of cash flows are critical elements. These risks are assessed regularly and balanced within the context of our liability and capital position.
The table below summarizes the interest rate risk by illustrating the sensitivity of the fair value and carrying value of our fixed-maturity securities as of December 31, 2016 to selected hypothetical changes in interest rates, and the associated impact on our stockholders’ equity. We anticipate that we will continue to meet our obligations out of income. We classify our fixed-maturity and equity securities as available-for-sale. Temporary changes in the fair value of our fixed-maturity securities impact the carrying value of these securities and are reported in our stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred taxes.
The selected scenarios with our fixed maturities and excluding $1.6 million of preferred stock, in the table below are not predictions of future events, but rather are intended to illustrate the effect such events may have on the fair value and carrying value of our fixed maturities and on our stockholders’ equity, each as of December 31, 2016.
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Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates | Fair Value | Estimated Change in Fair Value | Hypothetical Percentage Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||
200 basis point increase | $ | 2,799,730 | $ | (300,746 | ) | (9.7 | )% | ||||
100 basis point increase | 2,939,251 | (161,225 | ) | (5.2 | ) | ||||||
No change | 3,100,476 | — | — | ||||||||
100 basis point decrease | 3,246,198 | 145,722 | 4.7 | ||||||||
200 basis point decrease | 3,413,624 | 313,148 | 10.1 | ||||||||
Changes in interest rates would affect the fair market value of our fixed-rate debt instruments but would not have an impact on our earnings or cash flow. We currently have $760.2 million principal amount of debt instruments of which $629.0 million are fixed-rate debt instruments. A fluctuation of 100 basis points in interest on our variable-rate debt instruments, which are tied to LIBOR, would affect our earnings and cash flows by $1.3 million before income tax, on an annual basis, but would not affect the fair market value of the variable-rate debt.
Off-Balance Sheet Risk. As of December 31, 2016 we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements and financial statement schedules required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules at page F-1 and are filed as part of this report.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
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Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with participation and under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is timely recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We, as management of the Company, are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
• | Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; |
• | Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and |
• | Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management, with participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the control criteria established in a report entitled Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2016.
Management excluded from its design and assessment of internal control over financial reporting Century-National, SPCIC, and Direct General which were acquired on June 1, 2016, October 7, 2016 and November 1, 2016, respectively, (collectively, the “Acquired Businesses”). The Acquired Businesses combined constituted approximately 16.9% of total assets as of December 31, 2016 and 6.7% of revenues for the year then ended. Management did not assess the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Acquired Businesses because of the timing of the acquisitions which were completed in 2016. Companies are allowed to exclude acquisitions from their assessment of internal control over financial reporting during the first year of an acquisition while integrating the acquired company under guidelines established by the SEC. Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 has been audited by BDO USA, LLP, our external auditors, who also audited our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. As stated in their report, BDO expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
During management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for 2016, which, as described above, concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2016, management determined that there was a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Material Weakness”) relating to the precision and sufficiency of formal documentation, including determining the completeness and accuracy of reports used in the operation of management’s review procedures, in particular as it relates to the following areas: (i) investment accounting - the documentation of investment reconciliations and the documentation of the procedures for review of securities for other than temporary impairment and valuation of investments; (ii) accounting for acquisitions - in particular the documentation
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related to the opening balance sheet and documentation related to the development of assumptions used in the valuation of intangibles; (iii) accounting for income taxes - the documentation of the procedures for review of the income tax provision; and (iv) completeness and accuracy of reports used in accounting for premiums, investments and loss reserves and claims. Therefore, management concluded our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2015.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Since December 31, 2015, the 2015 Material Weakness has been remediated, with the assistance of qualified consultants, by the development and implementation of additional documentation processes with enhanced precision and formalized review procedures. Management has concluded that the 2015 Material Weakness did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and management has concluded that the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2015.
Except as described above, there have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders
National General Holdings Corp.
New York, New York
We have audited National General Holdings Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). National General Holdings Corp.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As indicated in the accompanying Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Century-National, SPCIC, and Direct General which were acquired on June 1, 2016, October 7, 2016 and November 1, 2016, respectively, (collectively, the “Acquired Businesses”), and which are included in the consolidated balance sheet of National General Holdings Corp. as of December 31, 2016 and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. The Acquired Businesses combined constituted approximately 16.9% of total assets as of December 31, 2016 and 6.7% of revenues for the year then ended. Management did not assess the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Acquired Businesses because of the timing of the acquisitions which were completed in 2016. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of National General Holdings Corp. also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of the Acquired Businesses.
In our opinion, National General Holdings Corp. maintained in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of National General Holdings Corp. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 and our report dated March 23, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
March 23, 2017
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Item 9B. Other Information
None.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 9, 2017 (the “Proxy Statement”) under the captions “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers,” “Corporate Governance — Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” “Corporate Governance — Board Committees — Audit Committee” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.” The Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K containing the information, will be filed with the SEC before May 1, 2017.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by Item 11 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation of Directors,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report.” The Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K containing the information, will be filed with the SEC before May 1, 2017.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
A portion of the information required by Item 12 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our Proxy Statement under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Security Ownership of Management.” The Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K containing the information, will be filed with the SEC before May 1, 2017.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below shows information regarding awards outstanding and shares of common stock available for issuance as of December 31, 2016 under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
Plan Category | Number of Securities to Be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights(1) | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights(2) | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans | |||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders | 4,151,642 | $ | 9.29 | 1,458,772 | ||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders | — | — | — | |||||||
Total | 4,151,642 | $ | 9.29 | 1,458,772 | ||||||
(1) Includes restricted stock unit awards that, upon vesting, provide the holder with the right to receive common shares on a one-to-one basis. For further discussion of these awards, see Note 23, “Share-Based Compensation” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
(2) Only applies to outstanding options, as restricted stock units do not have exercise prices.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by Item 13 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance — Independence of Directors.” The Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K containing the information, will be filed with the SEC before May 1, 2017.
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Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by Item 14 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Proposal 2: Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.” The Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K containing the information, will be filed with the SEC before May 1, 2017.
94
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) | Documents filed as part of this report: The financial statements and financial schedules listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules are filed as part of this report. The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits are filed as part of this report. |
(b) | Exhibits: See Item 15(a). |
(c) | Schedules: See Item 15(a). |
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
95
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date | NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. | |
March 23, 2017 | By: | /s/ Michael Weiner |
Name: Michael Weiner Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Barry Karfunkel | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | March 23, 2017 | ||
Barry Karfunkel | ||||
/s/ Michael Weiner | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | March 23, 2017 | ||
Michael Weiner | ||||
/s/ Donald Bolar | Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | March 23, 2017 | ||
Donald Bolar | ||||
/s/ Robert Karfunkel | Director | March 23, 2017 | ||
Robert Karfunkel | ||||
/s/ Barry Zyskind | Director and non-executive Chairman | March 23, 2017 | ||
Barry Zyskind | ||||
/s/ Donald DeCarlo | Director | March 23, 2017 | ||
Donald DeCarlo | ||||
/s/ Patrick Fallon | Director | March 23, 2017 | ||
Patrick Fallon | ||||
/s/ Barbara Paris | Director | March 23, 2017 | ||
Barbara Paris | ||||
/s/ John Marshaleck | Director | March 23, 2017 | ||
John Marshaleck | ||||
96
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
Page | |
Audited Annual Financial Statements | |
Schedules required to be filed under the provisions of Regulation S-X Article 7: | |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders
National General Holdings Corp.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of National General Holdings Corp. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. In connection with our audits of the financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying index. These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and schedules. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of National General Holdings Corp. at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), National General Holdings Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 23, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
March 23, 2017
F-2
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In Thousands, Except Shares and Par Value per Share) | |||||||
December 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Investments - NGHC | |||||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $2,739,045 and $2,081,456) | $ | 2,755,454 | $ | 2,063,051 | |||
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $22,854 and $63,303) | 29,578 | 57,216 | |||||
Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value (amortized cost $32,698 and $0) | 38,677 | — | |||||
Equity securities, trading, at fair value (cost $28,176 and $0) | 30,133 | — | |||||
Short-term investments | 15,674 | 1,528 | |||||
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries | 265,688 | 234,948 | |||||
Other investments | 106,900 | 13,031 | |||||
Securities pledged (amortized cost $0 and $54,955) | — | 55,394 | |||||
Investments - Exchanges | |||||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $301,017 and $244,069) | 306,345 | 238,969 | |||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost $0 and $1,501) | — | 1,574 | |||||
Short-term investments | — | 1,999 | |||||
Total investments | 3,548,449 | 2,667,710 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents (Exchanges - $7,405 and $8,393) | 220,299 | 225,930 | |||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Exchanges - $969 and $0) | 65,601 | 56,347 | |||||
Accrued investment income (Exchanges - $2,957 and $2,347) | 27,471 | 20,402 | |||||
Premiums and other receivables, net (Related parties $10,264 and $62,306) (Exchanges - $60,978 and $56,194) | 1,158,108 | 758,633 | |||||
Deferred acquisition costs (Exchanges - $31,043 and $23,803) | 220,922 | 160,531 | |||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses (Related parties - $26,782 and $42,774) (Exchanges - $42,192 and $39,085) | 880,797 | 833,176 | |||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums (Exchanges - $69,685 and $61,730) | 156,970 | 128,343 | |||||
Notes receivable from related party | 126,298 | 125,057 | |||||
Due from affiliate (Exchanges - $0 and $12,060) | 2,002 | 41,536 | |||||
Deferred tax asset (Exchanges - $(19,095) and $0) | 46,207 | — | |||||
Premises and equipment, net (Exchanges - $4,117 and $332) | 114,504 | 42,931 | |||||
Intangible assets, net (Exchanges - $11,025 and $4,825) | 467,720 | 348,898 | |||||
Goodwill | 155,290 | 112,414 | |||||
Prepaid and other assets (Exchanges - $88 and $393) | 54,343 | 41,484 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 7,244,981 | $ | 5,563,392 | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In Thousands, Except Shares and Par Value per Share) | |||||||
December 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves (Exchanges - $137,075 and $132,392) | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,755,624 | |||
Unearned premiums (Exchanges - $163,326 and $146,186) | 1,635,625 | 1,192,499 | |||||
Unearned service contract and other revenue | 14,201 | 12,504 | |||||
Reinsurance payable (Related parties - $33,419 and $31,923) (Exchanges - $19,839 and $14,357) | 93,824 | 69,172 | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (Related parties - $29,271 and $51,755) (Exchanges - $6,803 and $19,845) | 341,977 | 284,902 | |||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value | — | 52,484 | |||||
Deferred tax liability (Exchanges - $0 and $32,724) | — | 12,247 | |||||
Income tax payable (Exchanges $557 and $0) | 9,077 | 5,593 | |||||
Debt (Exchanges owed to related party - $0 and $45,476) | 752,001 | 491,537 | |||||
Other liabilities (Exchanges - $46,500 and $38,105) | 207,700 | 150,190 | |||||
Total liabilities | 5,319,477 | 4,026,752 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19) | |||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 150,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 106,428,092 shares - 2016; authorized 150,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 105,554,331 shares - 2015 | 1,064 | 1,056 | |||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 2,565,000 shares - 2016; authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 2,365,000 shares - 2015. Aggregate liquidation preference $420,000 - 2016, $220,000 - 2015 | 420,000 | 220,000 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 914,706 | 900,114 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments | (2,320 | ) | (3,780 | ) | |||
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments | 15,030 | (15,634 | ) | ||||
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 12,710 | (19,414 | ) | ||||
Retained earnings | 545,106 | 412,044 | |||||
Total National General Holdings Corp. Stockholders' Equity | 1,893,586 | 1,513,800 | |||||
Non-controlling interest (Exchanges - $31,675 and $22,619) | 31,918 | 22,840 | |||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 1,925,504 | 1,536,640 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 7,244,981 | $ | 5,563,392 | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
NATONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data) | |||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||
Premium income: | |||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 3,499,508 | $ | 2,589,748 | $ | 2,135,107 | |||||
Ceded premiums | (428,202 | ) | (403,502 | ) | (265,083 | ) | |||||
Net premium written | 3,071,306 | 2,186,246 | 1,870,024 | ||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (77,525 | ) | (56,436 | ) | (236,804 | ) | |||||
Net earned premium | 2,993,781 | 2,129,810 | 1,633,220 | ||||||||
Ceding commission income | 45,600 | 43,790 | 12,430 | ||||||||
Service and fee income | 380,817 | 273,548 | 168,571 | ||||||||
Net investment income | 99,586 | 75,340 | 52,426 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments: | |||||||||||
Other-than-temporary impairment loss | (22,102 | ) | (15,247 | ) | (2,244 | ) | |||||
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income | — | — | — | ||||||||
Other net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 25,956 | 4,940 | (648 | ) | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 3,854 | (10,307 | ) | (2,892 | ) | ||||||
Bargain purchase gain and other revenue (expense) | 26,458 | (788 | ) | (1,660 | ) | ||||||
Total revenues | 3,550,096 | 2,511,393 | 1,862,095 | ||||||||
Expenses: | |||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,958,545 | 1,381,641 | 1,053,065 | ||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 497,158 | 405,930 | 315,089 | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 844,114 | 530,347 | 348,762 | ||||||||
Interest expense | 40,180 | 28,885 | 17,736 | ||||||||
Total expenses | 3,339,997 | 2,346,803 | 1,734,652 | ||||||||
Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 210,099 | 164,590 | 127,443 | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 42,616 | 18,956 | 23,876 | ||||||||
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 167,483 | 145,634 | 103,567 | ||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 25,401 | 10,643 | 1,180 | ||||||||
Net income | 192,884 | 156,277 | 104,747 | ||||||||
Less: Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | (20,668 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,504 | ) | |||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | 172,216 | 142,252 | 102,243 | ||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (24,333 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,291 | ) | |||||
Net income attributable to NGHC common stockholders | $ | 147,883 | $ | 128,227 | $ | 99,952 | |||||
Earnings per common share: | |||||||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.31 | $ | 1.09 | |||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.37 | $ | 1.27 | $ | 1.07 | |||||
Dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.14 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.05 | |||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
Basic | 105,951,752 | 98,241,904 | 91,499,122 | ||||||||
Diluted | 108,278,318 | 100,723,936 | 93,515,417 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 192,884 | $ | 156,277 | $ | 104,747 | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 1,460 | 1,026 | (5,171 | ) | |||||||
Gross unrealized holding gain (loss) on securities, net of tax of $14,117, $(27,621) and $10,059 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively | 26,218 | (51,296 | ) | 18,681 | |||||||
Reclassification adjustments for investment gain/loss included in net income: | |||||||||||
Other-than-temporary impairment loss, net of tax of $7,736, $5,336 and $785 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively | 14,366 | 9,911 | 1,459 | ||||||||
Other net realized and unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $(4,558), $(1,729) and $(818) in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively | (8,466 | ) | (3,211 | ) | (1,520 | ) | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 33,578 | (43,570 | ) | 13,449 | |||||||
Comprehensive income | 226,462 | 112,707 | 118,196 | ||||||||
Less: Comprehensive (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | (22,122 | ) | (10,061 | ) | (3,186 | ) | |||||
Comprehensive income attributable to NGHC | $ | 204,340 | $ | 102,646 | $ | 115,010 | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (In Thousands, Except Shares) Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | $ | Shares | $ | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Retained Earnings | Non-controlling Interest | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance January 1, 2014 | 79,731,800 | $ | 797 | — | $ | — | $ | 437,006 | $ | 7,425 | $ | 197,552 | $ | 87 | $ | 642,867 | |||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 102,243 | 2,504 | 104,747 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | (5,171 | ) | — | — | (5,171 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized gain on investments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 17,938 | — | — | 17,938 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges’ equity on September 15, 2014, date of consolidation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11,165 | 11,165 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions | — | — | — | — | 74,215 | — | — | — | 74,215 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock | 13,570,000 | 136 | — | — | 177,697 | — | — | — | 177,833 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock | — | — | 2,200,000 | 55,000 | (1,836 | ) | — | — | — | 53,164 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends | — | — | — | — | — | — | (4,672 | ) | — | (4,672 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | — | — | — | — | — | — | (2,291 | ) | — | (2,291 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options | 125,582 | 1 | — | — | 795 | — | — | — | 796 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | 2,859 | — | — | — | 2,859 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance December 31, 2014 | 93,427,382 | 934 | 2,200,000 | 55,000 | 690,736 | 20,192 | 292,832 | 13,756 | 1,073,450 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 142,252 | 14,025 | 156,277 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 1,026 | — | — | 1,026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized loss on investments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | (40,632 | ) | — | (3,964 | ) | (44,596 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Change in non-controlling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (977 | ) | (977 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock | 11,500,000 | 115 | — | — | 210,527 | — | — | — | 210,642 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock | — | — | 165,000 | 165,000 | (5,448 | ) | — | — | — | 159,552 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends | — | — | — | — | — | — | (9,015 | ) | — | (9,015 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | — | — | — | — | — | — | (14,025 | ) | — | (14,025 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options | 626,949 | 7 | — | — | (1,638 | ) | — | — | — | (1,631 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | 5,937 | — | — | — | 5,937 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance December 31, 2015 | 105,554,331 | $ | 1,056 | 2,365,000 | $ | 220,000 | $ | 900,114 | $ | (19,414 | ) | $ | 412,044 | $ | 22,840 | $ | 1,536,640 | ||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (In Thousands, Except Shares) Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | $ | Shares | $ | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Retained Earnings | Non-controlling Interest | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance January 1, 2016 | 105,554,331 | $ | 1,056 | 2,365,000 | $ | 220,000 | $ | 900,114 | $ | (19,414 | ) | $ | 412,044 | $ | 22,840 | $ | 1,536,640 | ||||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect adjustment of change in accounting principle | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (22,619 | ) | (22,619 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 172,216 | 20,668 | 192,884 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 1,460 | — | — | 1,460 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized gain on investments, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 30,664 | — | 1,454 | 32,118 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges’ equity on March 31, 2016, date of consolidation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9,575 | 9,575 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Return of capital | — | — | — | — | (150 | ) | — | — | — | (150 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for acquisition | 272,609 | 2 | — | — | 6,056 | — | — | — | 6,058 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock | — | — | 200,000 | 200,000 | (6,482 | ) | — | — | — | 193,518 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends | — | — | — | — | — | — | (14,821 | ) | — | (14,821 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | — | — | — | — | — | — | (24,333 | ) | — | (24,333 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued under employee stock plans and exercises of stock options | 601,152 | 6 | — | — | 5,134 | — | — | — | 5,140 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | 8,221 | — | — | — | 8,221 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | 1,813 | — | — | — | 1,813 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance December 31, 2016 | 106,428,092 | $ | 1,064 | 2,565,000 | $ | 420,000 | $ | 914,706 | $ | 12,710 | $ | 545,106 | $ | 31,918 | $ | 1,925,504 | |||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-8
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In Thousands) | |||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 192,884 | $ | 156,277 | $ | 104,747 | |||||
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and goodwill impairment | 95,109 | 49,628 | 43,905 | ||||||||
Net amortization of premium/discount on fixed maturities and debt, net | 1,096 | 2,327 | 6,370 | ||||||||
Stock-compensation expense | 8,221 | 5,937 | 2,859 | ||||||||
Bad debt expense | 35,356 | 23,810 | 29,133 | ||||||||
Bargain purchase gain and other gains on property disposals, net | (24,084 | ) | — | (271 | ) | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized (gain) loss on investments | (3,854 | ) | 10,307 | 2,892 | |||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of dividends | (23,650 | ) | (8,113 | ) | (1,180 | ) | |||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 725 | 278 | (1,655 | ) | |||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
Accrued investment income | (8,627 | ) | (5,649 | ) | (2,591 | ) | |||||
Premiums and other receivables | (126,081 | ) | 45,340 | (236,128 | ) | ||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | (83,670 | ) | (34,532 | ) | (65,626 | ) | |||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | (26,677 | ) | 79,343 | 78,578 | |||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | (17,611 | ) | (25,582 | ) | 13,095 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 18,602 | 27,177 | (33,663 | ) | |||||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 189,021 | 23,004 | 133,531 | ||||||||
Unearned premiums | 95,217 | 79,731 | 212,577 | ||||||||
Unearned service contract and other revenue | 1,697 | (1,553 | ) | 1,208 | |||||||
Reinsurance payable | 22,962 | (42,469 | ) | (17,147 | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable | (44,960 | ) | (99,049 | ) | 148,456 | ||||||
Income tax payable | 4,280 | (25,306 | ) | 30,116 | |||||||
Deferred tax liability | (33,133 | ) | (34,677 | ) | (65,507 | ) | |||||
Other liabilities | 42,591 | 89,835 | 5,032 | ||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 315,414 | 316,064 | 388,731 | ||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||
Purchases of fixed maturities, available-for-sale | (686,095 | ) | (1,310,560 | ) | (746,338 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from sale and maturity of fixed maturities, available-for-sale | 672,691 | 530,325 | 344,707 | ||||||||
Purchases of equity securities, available-for-sale | (32,170 | ) | (11,824 | ) | (45,970 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from sale of equity securities, available-for-sale | 119,003 | 3,951 | 2,829 | ||||||||
Purchases of trading investments | (95,026 | ) | — | — | |||||||
Proceeds from sale and maturity of trading investments | 62,104 | — | — | ||||||||
Purchases of short-term investments | (177,628 | ) | (84,939 | ) | — | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments | 165,075 | 91,952 | — | ||||||||
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries | (17,061 | ) | (68,975 | ) | (21,647 | ) | |||||
Distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries | 10,158 | — | — | ||||||||
Purchases of other investments | (180,323 | ) | (10,477 | ) | (14,604 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from sale of other investments | 7,556 | — | — | ||||||||
Notes receivable from related party | — | — | (125,000 | ) | |||||||
Purchases of premises and equipment | (34,640 | ) | (22,669 | ) | (15,307 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment | — | — | 1,046 | ||||||||
Acquisition of consolidated subsidiaries, net of cash | (269,965 | ) | 162,569 | (36,200 | ) | ||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-9
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In Thousands) | |||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Decrease in cash due to deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges | $ | (8,393 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Increase in cash due to consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges | 2,673 | — | — | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (462,041 | ) | (720,647 | ) | (656,484 | ) | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net | (52,484 | ) | 5,680 | (62,825 | ) | ||||||
Securities sold, not yet purchased | 5,013 | — | — | ||||||||
Proceeds from debt | 50,000 | 195,400 | 245,077 | ||||||||
Repayments of debt and return of capital | (18,150 | ) | (631 | ) | (84,427 | ) | |||||
Issuance of common stock, net (fees $0 - 2016, $7,858 - 2015 and $12,146 - 2014) | 4,942 | 210,642 | 177,833 | ||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock, net (fees $6,482- 2016, $5,448 - 2015 and $1,836 - 2014) | 193,518 | 159,552 | 53,164 | ||||||||
Dividends paid to common shareholders | (13,773 | ) | (7,719 | ) | (3,600 | ) | |||||
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders | (20,583 | ) | (10,931 | ) | (1,260 | ) | |||||
Exercises of stock options | 5,140 | 2,595 | 796 | ||||||||
Excess tax benefits on shared-based payments arrangements | 1,813 | — | — | ||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 155,436 | 554,588 | 324,758 | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (5,186 | ) | (343 | ) | 1,787 | ||||||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 3,623 | 149,662 | 58,792 | ||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of the year | 282,277 | 132,615 | 73,823 | ||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of the year | $ | 285,900 | $ | 282,277 | $ | 132,615 | |||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | |||||||||||
Cash paid for income taxes | $ | 41,646 | $ | 77,000 | $ | 54,031 | |||||
Cash paid for interest | 32,679 | 21,222 | 17,144 | ||||||||
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||
Unsettled investment security purchases | $ | 20,936 | $ | 16,670 | $ | — | |||||
Common stock issued for acquisition | 1,116 | — | — | ||||||||
Promissory note issued for acquisition | 178,894 | — | — | ||||||||
Decrease in non-controlling interest due to deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges | 22,619 | — | — | ||||||||
Increase in non-controlling interest due to consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges | 9,575 | — | — | ||||||||
Non-cash capital contributions | — | — | 74,215 | ||||||||
Accrued common stock dividends | 4,226 | 3,167 | 1,870 | ||||||||
Accrued preferred stock dividends | 7,875 | 4,125 | 1,031 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-10
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
1. Organization
National General Holdings Corp. (the “Company” or “NGHC”) is an insurance holding company formed under the laws of the state of Delaware. The Company provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, a variety of insurance products, including personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, umbrella, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, lender-placed, supplemental health and other niche insurance products. The insurance is sold through a network of independent agents, relationships with affinity partners, and direct-response marketing programs. The Company is licensed to operate throughout the fifty states and the District of Columbia as well as the European Union.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Reporting
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, also include the accounts and operations of Adirondack Insurance Exchange, a New York reciprocal insurer, and New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association, a New Jersey reciprocal insurer (together with their subsidiaries, the “Reciprocal Exchanges” or “Exchanges”), following the Company’s acquisition on September 15, 2014 of two management companies that are the attorneys-in-fact for the Reciprocal Exchanges. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the consolidated financial statements exclude the accounts and operations of the Reciprocal Exchanges, from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016, as these entities did not meet the criteria for consolidation under GAAP: “ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” during that period but met the criteria on March 31, 2016. The Company adopted “ASU 2015-02” using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2016, as a result, periods prior to the adoption were not impacted by the deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Company does not own the Reciprocal Exchanges but is paid a fee to manage their business operations through its wholly-owned management companies. The results of the Reciprocal Exchanges and the management companies are included in the Company’s Property and Casualty segment.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s principal estimates include unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense reserves; deferred acquisition costs; reinsurance recoverables, including the provision for uncollectible premiums; recording of impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in fair value; determining the fair value of investments; determining the fair value of share-based awards for stock compensation; the valuation of intangibles and the determination of goodwill and goodwill impairment; and income taxes. In developing the estimates and assumptions, management uses all available evidence. Because of uncertainties associated with estimating the amounts, timing and likelihood of possible outcomes, actual results could differ from estimates.
Premiums and Other Receivables
The Company recognizes earned premiums on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies, generally periods of six or twelve months. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the policies. Net premiums receivable represent premiums written and not yet collected, net of an allowance for uncollectible premiums. The Company regularly evaluates premiums and other receivables and adjusts its allowance for uncollectible amounts as appropriate. Receivables specifically identified as uncollectible are charged to expense in the period the determination is made.
F-11
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investment securities with original maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Certain securities with original maturities of 90 days or less that are held as a portion of longer-term investment portfolios are classified as short-term investments. The Company maintains cash balances at Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured institutions. FDIC insures accounts up to $250 at these institutions. Management monitors balances in excess of insured limits and believes that these balances do not represent a significant credit risk to the Company.
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents balances relate primarily to deposits in certain states in order to conduct business and certain third-party agreements. The Company also utilizes trust accounts to collateralize business with its reinsurance counterparties. The prior year presentation of restricted cash and cash equivalents in the statements of cash flows has been adjusted to retrospectively apply the guidance in ASC 2016-18, as indicated below.
Deferred Acquisition Costs
Deferred acquisition costs include commissions, premium taxes, payments to affinity partners, promotional fees, and other direct sales costs that are directly related to successful contract acquisition of insurance policies. These costs are deferred and amortized to the extent recoverable, over the policy period in which the related premiums are earned. The Company considers anticipated investment income in determining the recoverability of these costs. Management believes that these costs are recoverable in the near term.
Ceding Commission Revenue
The ceding commissions the Company receives cover a portion of its capitalized direct acquisition costs and a portion of other underwriting expenses. Ceding commissions received from reinsurance transactions that represent recovery of capitalized direct acquisition costs are recorded as a reduction of capitalized unamortized deferred acquisition costs and the net amount is charged to expense in proportion to net premium revenue recognized. Ceding commissions received from reinsurance transactions that represent the recovery of other underwriting expenses are recognized in the income statement over the insurance contract period in proportion to the insurance protection provided and classified as a reduction of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. Ceding commissions received, but not yet earned, that represent the recovery of other underwriting expenses are classified as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Loss and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) represent the estimated ultimate net costs of all reported and unreported losses incurred through the period end. The reserves for unpaid losses and LAE represent the accumulation of estimates for both reported losses and those incurred but not reported relating to direct insurance and assumed reinsurance agreements. Estimates for salvage and subrogation recoverables are recognized at the time losses are incurred and netted against the provision for losses. Reserves are established for each business at the lowest meaningful level of homogeneous data. Insurance liabilities are based on estimates, and the ultimate liability may vary from such estimates. These estimates are regularly reviewed and adjustments, which can potentially be significant, are included in the period in which they are deemed necessary.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting, which requires the Company to record assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date. The Company accounts for the insurance and reinsurance contracts under the acquisition method as new contracts, which requires the Company to record assets and liabilities at fair value. The Company adjusts the fair value loss and LAE reserves by recording the acquired loss reserves based on the Company’s existing accounting policies and then discounting them based on expected reserve payout patterns using a current risk-free rate of interest. This risk-free interest rate is then adjusted based on different cash flow scenarios that use different payout and ultimate reserve assumptions deemed to be reasonably possible based upon the inherent uncertainties present in determining the amount and timing of payment of such reserves. The difference between the acquired loss and LAE reserves and the Company’s best estimate of the fair value of such reserves at the acquisition date is recorded as either an intangible asset or another liability, as applicable and is amortized proportionately to the reduction in
F-12
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
the related loss reserves (i.e., over the estimated payout period of the acquired loss and LAE reserves). The Company assigns fair values to intangible assets acquired based on valuation techniques including the income and market approaches. The Company records contingent consideration at fair value based on the terms of the purchase agreement with subsequent changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The determination of fair value may require management to make significant estimates and assumptions. The purchase price is the fair value of the total consideration conveyed to the seller and the Company records the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the acquired net assets, where applicable, as goodwill. The Company expenses costs associated with the acquisition of a business in the period incurred.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), Accounting Standards of Codification (“ASC”) 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.” A purchase price paid that is in excess of net assets (“goodwill”) arising from a business combination is recorded as an asset and is not amortized. Intangible assets with a finite life are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortized. Goodwill and intangible assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the goodwill or intangible asset is impaired, it is written down to its realizable value with a corresponding expense reflected in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income.
Investments
The Company accounts for its investments in accordance with ASC 320, “Investments - Debt and Equity Securities,” which requires that equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and all investments in debt securities to be segregated into categories based upon the Company’s intention for those securities. In accordance with ASC 320, the Company has classified certain fixed maturities and equity securities as available for sale and trading , with the exception of the Company’s equity and cost method investments. The Company may sell its available-for-sale securities in response to changes in interest rates, risk/reward characteristics, liquidity needs or other factors. Available-for-sale securities are reported at their estimated fair values based on quoted market prices or a recognized pricing service, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax effects, reported as a separate component of comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. The Company also classified certain fixed maturities and equity securities as trading, and reclassified certain available-for-sale securities to trading securities. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are reported in earnings.
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses are determined based on the specific identification method. Net investment income is recognized when earned and includes interest and dividend income together with amortization of market premiums and discounts using the effective yield method and is net of investment management fees and other expenses. For mortgage-backed securities and any other holdings for which there is a prepayment risk, prepayment assumptions are evaluated and revised as necessary. Any adjustments required due to the change in effective yields and maturities are recognized on a prospective basis through yield adjustments.
Quarterly, the Company’s Investment Committee (“Committee”) evaluates each security that has an unrealized loss as of the end of the subject reporting period for other-than-temporary-impairment (“OTTI”). The Company generally considers an investment to be impaired when it has been in a significant unrealized loss position for over 18 months. In addition, the Committee uses a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria to review the Company's investment portfolio to evaluate the necessity of recording impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value of the Company’s investments. The criteria the Committee primarily considers include:
• | the current fair value compared to amortized cost; |
• | the length of time the security’s fair value has been below its amortized cost; |
• | specific credit issues related to the issuer such as changes in credit rating or non-payment of scheduled interest payments; |
• | whether management intends to sell the security and, if not, whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; |
• | the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer of the security, including any specific events that may affect its operations or earnings; |
• | the occurrence of a discrete credit event resulting in the issuer defaulting on a material outstanding obligation or the issuer seeking protection under bankruptcy laws; and |
F-13
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
• | other items, including management, media exposure, sponsors, marketing and advertising agreements, debt restructurings, regulatory changes, acquisitions and dispositions, pending litigation, distribution agreements and general industry trends. |
Impairment of investment securities results in a charge to operations when a market decline below cost is deemed to be other-than-temporary. The Company immediately writes down investments that it considers to be impaired based on the above criteria collectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $22,102, $15,247 and $2,244, respectively.
Based on guidance in FASB ASC 320-10-65, in the event of the decline in fair value of a debt security, a holder of that security that does not intend to sell the debt security and for whom it is more likely than not that such holder will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis is required to separate the decline in fair value into (a) the amount representing the credit loss and (b) the amount related to other factors. The amount of total decline in fair value related to the credit loss shall be recognized in earnings as an OTTI with the amount related to other factors recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax. OTTI credit losses result in a permanent reduction of the cost basis of the underlying investment. The determination of OTTI is a subjective process, and different judgments and assumptions could affect the timing of the loss realization.
In 2016, the Company classified certain fixed maturities and equity securities as trading, and reclassified certain available-for-sale securities to trading securities. Fixed maturities and equity securities classified as trading securities are generally held for resale in anticipation of short-term market movement. Trading securities are stated at estimated fair market value. Gains and losses, both realized and unrealized, are included in the net realized gain or loss on investment in the consolidated statements of income.
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had the following major types of investments:
(i) | Short-term investments - Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value, and includes investments with maturities between 91 days and less than one year at the date of acquisition. Short-term investments consisted of money market funds. |
(ii) | Fixed maturities and equity securities, available-for-sale - Fixed maturities and equity securities (common stock, mutual funds, non-redeemable preferred stock) are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. |
(iii) | Fixed maturities and equity securities, trading - Fixed maturities and equity securities classified as trading are carried at estimated fair market value. Gains and losses, both realized and unrealized, are reported in the net realized gain or loss on investments in earnings. |
(iv) | Mortgage and structured securities - For mortgage and structured securities, the Company recognizes income using the retrospective adjustment method based on prepayments and the estimated economic lives of the securities. The effective yield reflects actual payments to date plus anticipated future payments. These investments are recorded as fixed maturities, available-for-sale in the consolidated balance sheets. |
(v) | Limited partnerships - The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in limited partnerships in which its ownership interest enables the Company to influence the operating or financial decisions of the investee company, but the Company’s interest in the limited partnership does not require consolidation. The Company’s proportionate share of equity in net income of these limited partnerships is reported in net investment income, or equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, as applicable. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s estimates of fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are based on the framework established in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” The framework is based on the inputs used in valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates in the ASC 820 hierarchy is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s significant market assumptions. Additionally, valuation of fixed-maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid due to lack of market-based inputs, which may increase the potential that the estimated fair value of an investment is not reflective of the price at which an actual transaction could occur. Fair values of other financial instruments which are short-term in nature approximate their carrying values.
F-14
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. Additionally, ASC 820 requires an entity to consider all aspects of nonperformance risk, including the entity’s own credit standing, when measuring the fair value of a liability.
ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy to be used when measuring and disclosing fair value. An instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation. Following is a description of the three hierarchy levels:
Level 1 - Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date. Additionally, the entity must have the ability to access the active market and the quoted prices cannot be adjusted by the entity.
Level 2 - Inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in inactive markets for identical or similar assets or liabilities; or inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs are supported by little or no market activity. The unobservable inputs represent management’s best assumptions of how market participants would price the assets or liabilities. Generally, Level 3 assets and liabilities are valued using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques that require significant judgment or estimation.
Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in subsidiaries in which its ownership interest enables the Company to influence operating or financial decisions of the subsidiary, but the Company’s interest does not require consolidation. In applying the equity method, the Company records its investment at cost, and subsequently increases or decreases the carrying amount of the investment by its proportionate share of the net earnings or losses and other comprehensive income of the investee. Any dividends or distributions received are recorded as a decrease in the carrying value of the investment. The Company’s proportionate share of net income is reported in the consolidated statements of income.
Stock Compensation Expense
The Company recognizes compensation expense for its share-based awards over the estimated vesting period based on estimated grant date fair value. Share-based payments include stock option grants and restricted stock units (“RSU”) under the Company’s 2010 and 2013 Equity Incentive Plans.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses the cost of advertising as incurred. Advertising expense is included as a component of General and administrative expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Advertising expense was $45,997, $38,263 and $31,198 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Dilutive earnings per share are computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period adjusted for the dilutive impact of share options and restricted stock units using the treasury stock method.
F-15
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
The carrying value of long-lived assets is evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value as estimated by discounted cash flows.
Income Taxes
The Company joins its subsidiaries in the filing of a consolidated Federal income tax return and is party to Federal income tax allocation agreements. Under the tax allocation agreements, the Company pays to or receives from its subsidiaries the amount, if any, by which the group’s Federal income tax liability was affected by virtue of inclusion of the subsidiary in the consolidated Federal return. The Reciprocal Exchanges are not party to federal income tax allocation agreements but file separate tax returns annually.
Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and such amounts as measured by tax laws and regulations. The deferred tax asset and liability primarily consists of book versus tax differences for earned premiums, loss and LAE reserve discounting, deferred acquisition costs, earned but unbilled premiums, and unrealized holding gains and losses on fixed maturities. Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities that are associated with components of other comprehensive income, primarily unrealized investment gains and losses, are recorded directly to other comprehensive income. Otherwise, changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities are included as a component of income tax expense. In assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that the Company will generate future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, tax planning strategies and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. If necessary, the Company establishes a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.
The Company recognizes tax benefits only for tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s policy is to prospectively classify accrued interest and penalties related to any unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax provision. The Company files its tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates.
The Company owns several Luxembourg-domiciled reinsurance entities. In connection with these entities, the Company acquires cash and statutory equalization reserves of the reinsurance companies. An equalization reserve is a catastrophe reserve established in excess of required reserves as required by the laws of Luxembourg. The equalization reserves were originally established by the seller of the reinsurance entities, and under Luxembourg law allowed the reinsurance company to reduce its income tax paid. Equalization reserves are required to be established for Luxembourg statutory and tax purposes, but are not recognized under GAAP. The Company establishes a deferred tax liability equal to approximately 30% of the unutilized statutory equalization reserves. The deferred tax liability is adjusted each reporting period based primarily on amounts ceded to the Luxembourg reinsurer under the intercompany reinsurance agreement.
Reinsurance
The Company cedes insurance risk under various reinsurance agreements. The Company seeks to reduce the loss that may arise from catastrophes or other events that cause unfavorable underwriting results by reinsuring certain levels of risk with other insurance enterprises. The Company remains liable with respect to any insurance ceded if the assuming companies are unable to meet their obligations under these reinsurance agreements.
Reinsurance premiums, losses and LAE ceded to other companies are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Earned premiums and losses and LAE incurred ceded to other companies have been recorded as a reduction of premium revenue and losses and LAE. Commissions allowed by reinsurers on business ceded have been recorded as ceding commission revenue. Reinsurance recoverables are reported based on the portion of reserves and paid losses and LAE that are ceded to other companies. Assessing whether or not a reinsurance contract meets the condition for risk transfer requires judgment. The determination of risk transfer is critical to reporting premiums and
F-16
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
losses, and is based, in part, on the use of actuarial and pricing models and assumptions. If the Company determines that a reinsurance contract does not transfer sufficient risk, it accounts for the contract under deposit accounting.
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
Buildings and improvements | 30 years | |
Leasehold improvements | Remaining lease term | |
Hardware and software | 3 to 5 years | |
Furniture and equipment | 3 to 10 years | |
The Company capitalizes costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use that is specifically identifiable, has determinable lives and relates to future use.
Non-controlling Interest and Variable Interest Entities
The ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries of non-controlling interests is reflected as non-controlling interest. The Company’s consolidation principles also consolidates entities in which the Company is deemed a primary beneficiary. Non-controlling interest income or loss represents such non-controlling interests in the earnings of that entity. The Company consolidates the Reciprocal Exchanges as it has determined that these are variable interest entities and that the Company is the primary beneficiary. (See Note 3, “Reciprocal Exchanges” for additional information). All significant transactions and account balances between the Company and its subsidiaries are eliminated during consolidation.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk are primarily cash and cash equivalents, investments and premiums and other receivables. Investments are diversified through many industries and geographic regions through the use of an investment manager who employs different investment strategies. The Company limits the amount of credit exposure with any one financial institution and believes that no significant concentration of credit risk exists with respect to cash and investments. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding premiums and other receivables balance was generally diversified due to the Company’s diversified customer base. To reduce credit risk, the Company performs ongoing evaluations for uncollectible amounts. The Company also has receivables from its reinsurers, see Note 13, “Reinsurance” for additional information about concentration of credit risk. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company periodically evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. It is the policy of management to review all outstanding receivables at period end as well as the bad debt write-offs experienced in the past and establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts, if deemed necessary.
Foreign Currency Transactions
For operations where the functional currency is a foreign currency, the functional currency assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates and the related translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. The functional currency of the Company and many of its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. For these companies, the Company remeasures monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at year-end exchange rates, with the resulting foreign exchange gains and losses recognized in the consolidated statements of income. Revenues and expenses in foreign currencies are converted at average exchange rates during the year. Monetary assets and liabilities include investments, cash and cash equivalents, reinsurance balances receivable, reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses and accrued expenses and other liabilities. Accounts that are classified as non-monetary, such as deferred commission and other acquisition expenses and unearned premiums, are not revalued.
F-17
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Service and Fee Income
The Company currently generates policy service and fee income from installment fees, late payment fees, and other finance and processing fees related to policy cancellation, policy reinstatement and insufficient funds check returns. These fees are generally designed to offset expenses incurred in the administration of the Company’s insurance business, and are generated as follows. Installment fees are charged to permit a policyholder to pay premiums in installments rather than in a lump sum. Late payment fees are charged when premiums are remitted after the due date and any applicable grace periods. Policy cancellation fees are charged to policyholders when a policy is terminated by the policyholder prior to the expiration of the policy’s term or renewal term, as applicable. Reinstatement fees are charged to reinstate a policy that has lapsed, generally as a result of non-payment of premiums. Insufficient fund fees are charged when the customer’s payment is returned by the financial institution.
All fee income is recognized as follows. An installment fee is recognized at the time each policy installment bill is due. A late payment fee is recognized when the customer’s payment is not received after the listed due date and any applicable grace period. A policy cancellation fee is recognized at the time the customer’s policy is canceled. A policy reinstatement fee is recognized when the customer’s policy is reinstated. An insufficient fund fee is recognized when the customer’s payment is returned by the financial institution. The amounts charged are primarily intended to compensate the Company for the administrative costs associated with processing and administering policies that generate insurance premium; however, the amounts of fees charged are not dependent on the amount or period of insurance coverage provided and do not entail any obligation to return any portion of those funds. The direct and indirect costs associated with generating fee income are not separately tracked. The Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts based on a percentage of fee income.
The Company also collects service fees in the form of commission and general agent fees by selling policies issued by third-party insurance companies. The Company does not bear insurance underwriting risk with respect to these policies. Commission income and general agent fees are recognized, net of an allowance for estimated policy cancellations, at the date the customer is initially billed or as of the effective date of the insurance policy, whichever is later. The allowance for estimated third-party cancellations is periodically evaluated and adjusted as necessary.
The following table summarizes service and fee income by category:
Year Ended December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Commission revenue | $ | 110,343 | $ | 58,807 | $ | 52,597 | ||||||
General agent fees | 73,484 | 76,855 | 45,637 | |||||||||
Group health administrative fees | 69,689 | 29,622 | 4,358 | |||||||||
Installment fees | 43,460 | 32,404 | 30,323 | |||||||||
Finance and processing fees | 36,498 | 52,865 | 13,569 | |||||||||
Late payment fees | 20,226 | 12,210 | 11,658 | |||||||||
Lender service fees | 16,910 | 4,364 | — | |||||||||
Other | 10,207 | 6,421 | 10,429 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 380,817 | $ | 273,548 | $ | 168,571 | ||||||
Recent Accounting Literature
Recent Accounting Standards, Adopted
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” to address concerns that GAAP might require a reporting entity to consolidate another legal entity in situations in which the reporting entity's contractual rights do not give it the ability to act primarily on its own behalf, the reporting entity does not hold a majority of the legal entity's voting rights, or the reporting entity is not exposed to a majority of the legal entity's economic benefits or obligations. Specifically, the amendments: (1) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities; (2) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; (3) affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and (4) provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance
F-18
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. ASU 2015-02 amends certain areas in the consolidation analysis including: (i) the effect of related parties on the primary beneficiary determination; (ii) the evaluation of fees paid to a decision maker or a service provider as a variable interest; (iii) the effect of fee arrangements on the primary beneficiary determination; and (iv) certain investment funds. The amendments in ASU 2015-02 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016 required the Company to evaluate whether its VIEs met the amended criteria for consolidation at the earliest date of involvement unless certain reconsideration events existed. The Reciprocal Exchanges were evaluated based on the facts and circumstances that existed in September 2014 when the Company acquired the managing entities for the Reciprocal Exchanges. As a result of the evaluation, the Company was not required to consolidate the Reciprocal Exchanges as of January 1, 2016 (the Reciprocal Exchanges had previously been included in the Company’s consolidated results). The Company adopted ASU 2015-02 using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2016. The total NGHC stockholders’ equity was not affected by this change. On March 31, 2016, the Company purchased the surplus notes representing the obligation of the Reciprocal Exchanges from a related party for consideration of $88,900. (See Note 3, “Reciprocal Exchanges” for additional information). The Company has significant economic interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges due to its ownership of the surplus notes. In addition, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, earns fees from the Reciprocal Exchanges that are variable interests. The Company is the primary beneficiary because it, through its wholly-owned management companies, has both the power to direct the activities of the Reciprocal Exchanges that most significantly impact their economic performance and the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary that holds the surplus notes, would absorb more than an insignificant amount of expected losses or residual returns of the Reciprocal Exchanges. Therefore, the Company was required to consolidate the Reciprocal Exchanges at March 31, 2016.
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-07, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent),” which provides guidance that removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient as well as limits certain disclosure requirements only to investments for which the entity elects to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and should be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-07 was limited to disclosure requirements and did not have an effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-09, “Financial Services-Insurance (Topic 944): Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts” to expand existing GAAP disclosure requirements for short-duration contracts regarding the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The amendments in ASU 2015-09 are intended to increase the transparency of significant estimates made in measuring those liabilities, improve comparability by requiring consistent disclosure of information, and provide financial statement users with additional information to facilitate analysis of the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from contracts issued by insurance entities and the development of loss reserve estimates. Specifically, the amendments require the following information for annual reporting periods about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses: (1) incurred and paid claims development information by accident year, on a net basis after risk mitigation through reinsurance, for the number of years for which claims incurred typically remain outstanding; (2) a reconciliation of incurred and paid claims development information to the aggregate carrying amount of the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, with separate disclosure of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims for each period presented in the statement of financial position; (3) the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims included in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses for each accident year presented of incurred claims development information, accompanied by a description of reserving methodologies (as well as any changes to those methodologies); (4) quantitative information about claim frequency (unless it is impracticable to do so) for each accident year presented of incurred claims development information, accompanied by a qualitative description of methodologies used for determining claim frequency information (as well as any changes to these methodologies); and (5) the average annual percentage payout of incurred claims by age (that is, history of claims duration) for the same number of accident years as presented in (3) and (4) above for all claims except health insurance claims. The amendments also require insurance entities to disclose information about significant changes in methodologies and assumptions used to calculate the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, including reasons for the change and the effects on the financial statements. Additionally, the amendments require insurance entities to disclose for annual and interim reporting periods a roll forward of the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. For health insurance claims, the amendments require the disclosure of the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims included in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. Additional disclosures about liabilities for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses reported at present value include the following: (1) the aggregate amount of discount for the time value
F-19
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
of money deducted to derive the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses for each period presented in the statement of financial position; (2) the amount of interest accretion recognized for each period presented in the statement of income; and (3) the line item(s) in the statement of income in which the interest accretion is classified. The amendments in ASU 2015-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. In the year of initial application of the amendments in ASU 2015-09, an insurance entity need not disclose information about claims development for a particular category that occurred earlier than five years before the end of the first financial reporting year in which the amendments are first applied if it is impracticable to obtain the information required to satisfy the disclosure requirement. For each subsequent year following the year of initial application, the minimum required number of years will increase by at least 1 but need not exceed 10 years, including the most recent period presented in the statement of financial position. Early application of the amendments in ASU 2015-09 is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively by providing comparative disclosures for each period presented, except for those requirements that apply only to the current period. The Company adopted the updated guidance for the annual period ending December 31, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-09 was limited to disclosure requirements and did not have an effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. See Note 12, “Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” for required disclosures regarding short-duration insurance contracts.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments,” which applies to all entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require that the acquirer record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The only disclosures required at transition will be the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle. An entity should disclose that information in the first annual period of adoption and in the interim periods within the first annual period if there is a measurement-period adjustment during the first annual period in which the changes are effective. The Company adopted ASU 2015-16 on January 1, 2016 and the effects of adoption were limited to disclosures relating to adjustments for acquisitions to provisional amounts when identified during the measurement period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The adoption of ASU 2015-16 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control,” an update to ASU 2015-02. The FASB issued this update to amend the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the reporting entity that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE and, therefore, consolidates the VIE. A reporting entity has an indirect interest in a VIE if it has a direct interest in a related party that, in turn, has a direct interest in the VIE. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2016-17 which resulted in the requirement to retrospectively apply the updated guidance to all relevant prior periods beginning with the fiscal year in which the amendments in ASU 2015-02 initially were applied. The adoption of ASU 2016-17 did not have an effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash,” which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-18 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company elected to early adopt the updated guidance resulting in the application of its requirements to all applicable periods presented. The adoption of this guidance did not have an effect on the
F-20
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity, other than the presentation of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents in the statements of cash flows.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business.” The FASB issued this update to provide a screen to determine when integrated set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a “set”) are not a business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not a business. This screen reduces the number of transactions that need to be further evaluated. If the screen is not met, the amendments in this update (1) require that to be considered a business, a set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output and (2) remove the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. The amendments provide a framework to assist entities in evaluating whether both an input and a substantive process are present. The framework includes two sets of criteria to consider that depend on whether a set has outputs. Although outputs are not required for a set to be a business, outputs generally are a key element of a business; therefore, the FASB has developed more stringent criteria for sets without outputs. Public business entities should apply the amendments in this update to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted prospectively for transactions for which the acquisition date occurs before the issuance date or effective date of the amendments, only when the transaction has not been reported in financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. The Company elected to early adopt the updated guidance resulting in the application of its requirements to all applicable transactions occurring after September 30, 2016.
Recent Accounting Standards, Not Yet Adopted
In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on recognizing revenue in contracts with customers. The objective of the new guidance as issued by the FASB in ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” is to remove inconsistencies and weaknesses in revenue requirements, provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues, improve comparability of revenue recognition practices, and provide for improved disclosure requirements. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. To achieve that core principle, an entity applies the following five steps: (1) identifies the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identifies the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determines the transaction price; (4) allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognizes revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligations. The new guidance also includes a comprehensive set of qualitative and quantitative disclosure requirements including information about: (i) contracts with customers-including revenue and impairments recognized, disaggregation of revenue, and information about contract balances and performance obligations; (ii) significant judgments in determining the satisfaction of performance obligations, determining the transaction price, and amounts allocated to performance obligations; and (iii) assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. For a public entity, the amendments in this update were originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. However, in August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date” which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” for all entities by one year. Public business entities are to apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. While the guidance specifically excludes revenues from insurance contracts, investments and financial instruments from its scope, the guidance will be applicable to the Company’s service and fee income not specifically exempted from the guidance. The Company is in the early stages of evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures; and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” to provide users of financial statements with more useful information on the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendments in ASU 2016-01 affect all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities and make targeted improvements to existing GAAP by: (1) requiring equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer;
F-21
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
(2) simplifying the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. When a qualitative assessment indicates that impairment exists, an entity is required to measure the investment at fair value; (3) eliminating the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for entities that are not public business entities; (4) eliminating the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; (5) requiring public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (6) requiring an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk (also referred to as “own credit”) when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; (7) requiring separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and (8) clarifying that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. The amendments in ASU 2016-01 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of the following provisions in ASU 2016-01 is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption: (i) the “own credit” provision, in which an organization should present separately in OCI the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk if the organization has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; and (ii) the provision that exempts entities that are not public business entities from the requirement to apply the fair value of financial instruments disclosure guidance. Except for the early application guidance discussed above, early adoption of the amendments in ASU 2016-01 is not permitted. The amendments should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amendments related to equity securities without readily determinable fair values (including disclosure requirements) should be applied prospectively to equity investments that exist as of the date of adoption. The Company currently records equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had $4,371 and $(3,909), respectively, of net unrealized gains (losses), net of tax, for equity securities, available-for-sale, recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”).
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is in the early stages of evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures. The Company expects the adoption will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements, primarily to the consolidated balance sheets by recognizing a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability and related disclosures, due to the addition of operating leases previously accounted for as off-balance sheet transactions. However, the Company is currently unable to quantify the impact of adopting this guidance.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07, “Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting” as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in ASU 2016-07 eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. Therefore, upon qualifying for the equity method of accounting, no retroactive adjustment of the investment is required. In addition, the amendments in ASU 2016-07 require that an entity that has an available-for-sale equity security that becomes qualified for the equity method of accounting recognize through earnings the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment becomes qualified for use of the equity method. The amendments in ASU 2016-07 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments should be applied prospectively upon their effective date to increases in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence that result in the adoption of the equity method.
F-22
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Earlier application is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-07 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations,” which improves the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations by providing clarifications to practitioners. The effective date and transition requirement for ASU 2016-08 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09 as noted above. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures; and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The areas for simplification in ASU 2016-09 involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Specifically, the amendments require: (1) all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) should be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. The tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. An entity also should recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period; (2) excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity; (3) an entity can make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur; (4) the threshold to qualify for equity classification permits withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions; and (5) cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity. The amendments in ASU 2016-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Amendments related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, minimum statutory withholding requirements, and forfeitures, should be applied using a modified retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is adopted. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement should be applied retrospectively. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement should be applied prospectively. An entity may elect to apply the amendments related to the presentation of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows using either a prospective transition method or a retrospective transition method. The Company will adopt this updated guidance as required in the first quarter of 2017. The Company expects the application of this guidance to result in increased volatility within its effective tax rate as the amount of excess tax benefits or deficiencies from stock-based compensation awards are dependent on the Company’s stock price at the date the awards vest and may be material. The Company will reflect excess tax benefits or deficiencies using the prospective method in its consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We do not anticipate changing our estimated forfeiture rate. The Company does not expect any impact due to changes in permitted withholding levels to qualify for equity treatment. The Company does not expect any retrospective impact of adopting ASU 2016-09.
In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,” which sought to address certain issues identified in the guidance on identifying performance obligation and licensing by reducing the potential for diversity in practice at initial application and the cost and complexity of applying the guidance in Topic 606 both at transition and on an ongoing basis. The effective date and transition requirement for ASU 2016-10 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09 as noted above. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures; and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients,” which sought to address certain issues identified in the guidance by reducing the potential for diversity in practice at initial application and the cost and complexity of applying the guidance in Topic 606 both at transition and on an ongoing basis as noted: (1) assessing the collectibility criterion in paragraph 606-10-25-1(e) and accounting for contracts that do not meet the criteria for Step 1 (applying paragraph 606-10-25-7), the amendments in ASU 2016-12 clarify the objective of the collectibility criterion in Step 1. The objective of this assessment is to determine whether the contract is valid and represents a substantive transaction on the basis of whether a customer has the ability and intention to pay the promised consideration in exchange for the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer. The amendments in ASU 2016-12 also add a new criterion to paragraph 606-10-25-7 to clarify when revenue would be recognized for a contract that fails to meet the criteria in Step 1. That criterion allows an entity to recognize revenue in the amount of consideration received when the entity has transferred
F-23
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
control of the goods or services, the entity has stopped transferring goods or services (if applicable) and has no obligation under the contract to transfer additional goods or services, and the consideration received from the customer is nonrefundable; (2) presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers, the amendments in ASU 2016-12 permit an entity, as an accounting policy election, to exclude amounts collected from customers for all sales (and other similar) taxes from the transaction price; (3) noncash consideration, the amendments in ASU 2016-12 specify that the measurement date for noncash consideration is contract inception and clarify that the variable consideration guidance applies only to variability resulting from reasons other than the form of the consideration; (4) contract modifications at transition, the amendments in ASU 2016-12 provide a practical expedient that permits an entity to reflect the aggregate effect of all modifications that occur before the beginning of the earliest period presented in accordance with the guidance in Topic 606 when identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, determining the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations; (5) completed contracts at transition, the amendments in ASU 2016-12 clarify that a completed contract for purposes of transition is a contract for which all (or substantially all) of the revenue was recognized under legacy GAAP before the date of initial application. Accounting for elements of a contract that do not affect revenue under legacy GAAP are irrelevant to the assessment of whether a contract is complete. In addition, the amendments permit an entity to apply the modified retrospective transition method either to all contracts or only to contracts that are not completed contracts; (6) technical correction, the amendments in ASU 2016-12 clarify that an entity that retrospectively applies the guidance in Topic 606 to each prior reporting period is not required to disclose the effect of the accounting change for the period of adoption. However, an entity is still required to disclose the effect of the changes on any prior periods retrospectively adjusted. The effective date and transition requirement for ASU 2016-12 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09, which were deferred to the quarter ending March 31, 2018 by ASU 2015-14. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures; and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which is intended to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. To achieve this objective, the amendments in ASU 2016-13 replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Specifically, the amendments require, a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The income statement reflects the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount. An entity must use judgment in determining the relevant information and estimation methods that are appropriate in its circumstances. The allowance for credit losses for purchased financial assets with a more-than insignificant amount of credit deterioration since origination (PCD assets) that are measured at amortized cost basis is determined in a similar manner to other financial assets measured at amortized cost basis; however, the initial allowance for credit losses is added to the purchase price rather than being reported as a credit loss expense. Only subsequent changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as a credit loss expense for these assets. Interest income for PCD assets should be recognized based on the effective interest rate, excluding the discount embedded in the purchase price that is attributable to the acquirer’s assessment of credit losses at acquisition. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. Available-for-sale accounting recognizes that value may be realized either through collection of contractual cash flows or through sale of the security. Therefore, the amendments limit the amount of the allowance for credit losses to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost because the classification as available for sale is premised on an investment strategy that recognizes that the investment could be sold at fair value, if cash collection would result in the realization of an amount less than fair value. The allowance for credit losses for purchased available-for-sale securities with a more-than-insignificant amount of credit deterioration since origination is determined in a similar manner to other available-for-sale debt securities; however, the initial allowance for credit losses is added to the purchase price rather than reported as a credit loss expense. Only subsequent changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded in credit loss expense. Interest income should be recognized based on the effective interest rate, excluding the discount embedded in the purchase price that is attributable to the acquirer’s assessment of credit losses at acquisition. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. All entities may adopt the amendments in ASU 2016-13 earlier as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity will apply the amendments in ASU 2016-13 through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). A prospective transition approach is required for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary
F-24
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
impairment had been recognized before the effective date. The effect of a prospective transition approach is to maintain the same amortized cost basis before and after the effective date of ASU 2016-13. Amounts previously recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as of the date of adoption that relate to improvements in cash flows expected to be collected should continue to be accreted into income over the remaining life of the asset. Recoveries of amounts previously written off relating to improvements in cash flows after the date of adoption should be recorded in earnings when received. The FASB determined that financial assets for which the guidance in Subtopic 310-30, Receivables-Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, has previously been applied should prospectively apply the guidance in ASU 2016-13 for PCD assets. A prospective transition approach should be used for PCD assets where upon adoption, the amortized cost basis should be adjusted to reflect the addition of the allowance for credit losses. This transition relief will avoid the need for a reporting entity to reassess its purchased financial assets that exist as of the date of adoption to determine whether they would have met at acquisition the new criteria of more-than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. The transition relief also will allow an entity to accrete the remaining noncredit discount (based on the revised amortized cost basis) into interest income at the effective interest rate at the adoption date of ASU 2016-13. The same transition requirements should be applied to beneficial interests that previously applied Subtopic 310-30 or have a significant difference between contractual cash flows and expected cash flows. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures. Based on the financial instruments currently held by the Company, there would not be a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures if the new guidance were able to be adopted in the current accounting period. The impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures at the date of adoption of the updated guidance will be determined by the financial instruments held by the Company and the economic conditions at that time.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on the following eight specific cash flow classification issues: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; (6) distributions received from equity method investees; (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. Current GAAP does not include specific guidance on these eight cash flow classification issues. The amendments of ASU 2016-15 are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company will elect to early adopt this updated guidance in the first quarter of 2017 which requires a retrospective approach. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures; other than the required classification of the eight specific transactions in the statements of cash flows.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory,” which allows an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 eliminates the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. Two common examples of assets included in the scope of ASU 2016-16 are intellectual property and property, plant, and equipment. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 do not include new disclosure requirements; however, existing disclosure requirements might be applicable when accounting for the current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures; and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” to establish a one-step process for testing the value of the goodwill which an entity carries. ASU 2017-04 requires the goodwill impairment to be measured as the excess of the reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. The amendment eliminates the second step that required the measurement of a goodwill impairment by comparing the implied value of a reporting unit’s goodwill and the carrying amount. ASU 2017-04 is effective for public business entities for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment test in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. An entity should apply ASU 2017-04 on a
F-25
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
prospective basis. The updated guidance is expected to simplify financial reporting and reduce reliance on third party resources to perform the more complex second step previously required by the accounting guidance, though it may result in more or less impairment ultimately being recognized upon adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity and disclosures; and is currently unable to estimate the impact of adopting this guidance.
3. Reciprocal Exchanges
As of September 15, 2014, through its wholly-owned management companies, the Company manages the business operations of the Reciprocal Exchanges and has the ability to direct their activities. The Reciprocal Exchanges are insurance carriers organized as unincorporated associations. Each policyholder insured by the Reciprocal Exchanges shares risk with the other policyholders.
In the event of dissolution, policyholders would share any residual unassigned surplus in the same proportion as the amount of insurance purchased but are not subject to assessment for any deficit in unassigned surplus of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Company receives management fee income for the services provided to the Reciprocal Exchanges. The assets of the Reciprocal Exchanges can be used only to settle the obligations of the Reciprocal Exchanges and general creditors to their liabilities have no recourse to the Company.
Effective March 31, 2016, a subsidiary of the Company, purchased from subsidiaries of ACP Re Ltd. (“ACP Re”), a related party, the surplus notes that were issued by the Reciprocal Exchanges when they were originally capitalized. The purchase price of $88,900 was based on an independent third-party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. The obligation to repay principal and interest on the surplus notes is subordinated to the Reciprocal Exchanges’ other liabilities including obligations to policyholders and claimants for benefits under insurance policies. Principal and interest on the surplus notes are payable only with regulatory approval. The Company has no ownership interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges.
Under ASU 2015-02, as a result of the Company’s purchase of the surplus notes effective March 31, 2016, the Company determined that it holds a variable interest in each of the Reciprocal Exchanges. The Company would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the Reciprocal Exchanges expected losses or residual returns through its ownership of the surplus notes. In addition, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, earns fees from the Reciprocal Exchanges that are variable interests. Each of the Reciprocal Exchanges qualifies as a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) because they do not have sufficient equity to finance their operations without the surplus notes. The policyholders of the Reciprocal Exchanges lack the ability to direct the activities of the Reciprocal Exchanges that have a significant impact on the Reciprocal Exchanges’ economic performance. The Company is the primary beneficiary because it, through its wholly-owned management companies, has both the power to direct the activities of the Reciprocal Exchanges that most significantly impact their economic performance and the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary that holds surplus notes, would absorb more than an insignificant amount of expected losses or residual returns of the Reciprocal Exchanges. Accordingly, the Company consolidates these Reciprocal Exchanges as of March 31, 2016 and for the periods thereafter, and eliminates all intercompany balances and transactions with the Company.
Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016, the Company consolidated the Reciprocal Exchanges under the previous guidance. Upon adoption of ASU 2015-02, on January 1, 2016, and before the purchase of the surplus notes, the Company did not meet the requirements for consolidation as it did not hold a variable interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges. Therefore, the operations of the Reciprocal Exchanges for the period from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
F-26
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The following table presents the opening balance sheet of the Reciprocal Exchanges as of March 31, 2016:
March 2016 | ||||
Assets: | ||||
Cash and investments | $ | 258,274 | ||
Accrued investment income | 2,658 | |||
Premiums and other receivables, net | 52,922 | |||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 43,401 | |||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 59,706 | |||
Income tax receivable | 300 | |||
Due from affiliate | 11,703 | |||
Premises and equipment, net | 2,386 | |||
Intangible assets, net | 32,638 | |||
Prepaid and other assets | 187 | |||
Total assets | 464,175 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 137,093 | |||
Unearned premiums | 143,194 | |||
Reinsurance payable | 11,982 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 6,972 | |||
Deferred tax liability | 28,909 | |||
Debt | 88,900 | |||
Other liabilities | 37,550 | |||
Total liabilities | 454,600 | |||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||
Non-controlling interest | 9,575 | |||
Total stockholders’ equity | 9,575 | |||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 464,175 | ||
The consolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges at March 31, 2016 was treated as a business combination with the assets, liabilities and non-controlling interest recognized at fair value at the date of consolidation. The Company has no ownership in the Reciprocal Exchanges. Therefore, the difference between the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired represents the fair value of non-controlling interest acquired.
The non-controlling interest decreased by $5,193 from March 31, 2016 to December 31, 2016. The decrease in non-controlling interest was related to a $5,193 increase in the deferred tax liability related to the surplus notes and interest. When the surplus notes were purchased by the Company, the notes were restated to their fair values. Based upon this restatement, the deferred tax liabilities were adjusted under the purchase accounting to reflect the restated fair values of the surplus notes.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Reciprocal Exchanges recognized total revenues, total expenses and net income of $167,010, $146,455 and $20,555, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Reciprocal Exchanges recognized total revenues, total expenses and net income of $203,492, $189,599 and $13,893, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Reciprocal Exchanges recognized total revenues, total expenses and net income of $54,347, $51,841 and $2,506, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company earned service and fee income from the Reciprocal Exchanges in the amounts of $43,406, $39,792 and $9,901, respectively. Such amounts are eliminated in the Company’s
F-27
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
consolidated earnings, except for $9,590 of service and fee income included in the year ended December 31, 2016, for the period in which the Company and the Reciprocal Exchanges did not meet requirements for consolidation.
F-28
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
4. Investments
(a) Available-for-Sale Securities
The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value on available-for-sale securities were as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 45,405 | $ | 937 | $ | (494 | ) | $ | 45,848 | |||||||
Federal agencies | 739 | — | (26 | ) | 713 | |||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 460,089 | 3,625 | (11,403 | ) | 452,311 | |||||||||||
Foreign government | 60,025 | — | (3,226 | ) | 56,799 | |||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 1,580,918 | 43,322 | (13,338 | ) | 1,610,902 | |||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 450,997 | 4,305 | (5,982 | ) | 449,320 | |||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 107,546 | 1,521 | (1,724 | ) | 107,343 | |||||||||||
Structured securities | 334,343 | 4,656 | (436 | ) | 338,563 | |||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | 3,040,062 | 58,366 | (36,629 | ) | 3,061,799 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 21,274 | 7,050 | (308 | ) | 28,016 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock | 1,580 | 17 | (35 | ) | 1,562 | |||||||||||
Total equity securities | 22,854 | 7,067 | (343 | ) | 29,578 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,062,916 | $ | 65,433 | $ | (36,972 | ) | $ | 3,091,377 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 2,761,899 | $ | 58,180 | $ | (35,047 | ) | $ | 2,785,032 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 301,017 | 7,253 | (1,925 | ) | 306,345 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,062,916 | $ | 65,433 | $ | (36,972 | ) | $ | 3,091,377 | |||||||
December 31, 2015 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities and securities pledged: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 19,348 | $ | 1,052 | $ | (48 | ) | $ | 20,352 | |||||||
Federal agencies | 1,945 | 7 | — | 1,952 | ||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 193,017 | 4,516 | (609 | ) | 196,924 | |||||||||||
Foreign government | 31,383 | 31 | (352 | ) | 31,062 | |||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 1,375,336 | 22,224 | (47,902 | ) | 1,349,658 | |||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 419,293 | 6,254 | (978 | ) | 424,569 | |||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 135,134 | 720 | (3,649 | ) | 132,205 | |||||||||||
Structured securities | 205,024 | 15 | (4,347 | ) | 200,692 | |||||||||||
Total fixed maturities and securities pledged | 2,380,480 | 34,819 | (57,885 | ) | 2,357,414 | |||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 53,356 | 569 | (6,960 | ) | 46,965 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock | 11,448 | 377 | — | 11,825 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 64,804 | 946 | (6,960 | ) | 58,790 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,445,284 | $ | 35,765 | $ | (64,845 | ) | $ | 2,416,204 | |||||||
Less: Securities pledged | 54,955 | 439 | — | 55,394 | ||||||||||||
Total net of securities pledged | $ | 2,390,329 | $ | 35,326 | $ | (64,845 | ) | $ | 2,360,810 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 2,199,714 | $ | 34,773 | $ | (58,826 | ) | $ | 2,175,661 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 245,570 | 992 | (6,019 | ) | 240,543 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,445,284 | $ | 35,765 | $ | (64,845 | ) | $ | 2,416,204 | |||||||
F-29
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had no other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) in AOCI related to available-for-sale fixed maturities.
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities and equity securities classified as available for sale during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $566,097, $180,412 and $218,496, respectively.
The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities held as of December 31, 2016, by contractual maturity, are shown in the table below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||
Due in one year or less | $ | 26,947 | $ | 27,141 | $ | 2,455 | $ | 2,457 | $ | 29,402 | $ | 29,598 | ||||||||||||
Due after one year through five years | 584,788 | 596,809 | 58,740 | 61,391 | 643,528 | 658,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
Due after five years through ten years | 1,253,465 | 1,257,714 | 179,654 | 182,356 | 1,433,119 | 1,440,070 | ||||||||||||||||||
Due after ten years | 341,099 | 342,481 | 34,371 | 34,787 | 375,470 | 377,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 532,746 | 531,309 | 25,797 | 25,354 | 558,543 | 556,663 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,739,045 | $ | 2,755,454 | $ | 301,017 | $ | 306,345 | $ | 3,040,062 | $ | 3,061,799 | ||||||||||||
(b) Gross Unrealized Losses
The tables below summarize the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities and equity securities classified as available for sale, by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 37,436 | $ | (494 | ) | 24 | $ | — | $ | — | — | $ | 37,436 | $ | (494 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Federal agencies | 419 | (26 | ) | 3 | — | — | — | 419 | (26 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 318,946 | (11,236 | ) | 387 | 2,956 | (167 | ) | 6 | 321,902 | (11,403 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 48,156 | (3,226 | ) | 6 | — | — | — | 48,156 | (3,226 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 495,443 | (12,376 | ) | 292 | 33,112 | (962 | ) | 21 | 528,555 | (13,338 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 262,269 | (5,894 | ) | 212 | 2,141 | (88 | ) | 4 | 264,410 | (5,982 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 51,120 | (1,002 | ) | 27 | 4,890 | (722 | ) | 3 | 56,010 | (1,724 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Structured securities | 54,361 | (243 | ) | 43 | 17,908 | (193 | ) | 10 | 72,269 | (436 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 3,198 | (308 | ) | 5 | — | — | — | 3,198 | (308 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock | 1,298 | (35 | ) | 2 | — | — | — | 1,298 | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,272,646 | $ | (34,840 | ) | 1,001 | $ | 61,007 | $ | (2,132 | ) | 44 | $ | 1,333,653 | $ | (36,972 | ) | |||||||||||||
NGHC | $ | 1,190,788 | $ | (33,382 | ) | 963 | $ | 51,813 | $ | (1,665 | ) | 28 | $ | 1,242,601 | $ | (35,047 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 81,858 | (1,458 | ) | 38 | 9,194 | (467 | ) | 16 | 91,052 | (1,925 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,272,646 | $ | (34,840 | ) | 1,001 | $ | 61,007 | $ | (2,132 | ) | 44 | $ | 1,333,653 | $ | (36,972 | ) | |||||||||||||
F-30
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | No. of Positions Held | Fair Market Value | Unrealized Losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 7,141 | $ | (48 | ) | 5 | $ | — | $ | — | — | $ | 7,141 | $ | (48 | ) | ||||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | 17,674 | (501 | ) | 22 | 4,878 | (108 | ) | 10 | 22,552 | (609 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 21,322 | (352 | ) | 4 | — | — | — | 21,322 | (352 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 684,613 | (37,919 | ) | 229 | 32,121 | (9,983 | ) | 38 | 716,734 | (47,902 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | 102,889 | (919 | ) | 23 | 1,655 | (59 | ) | 9 | 104,544 | (978 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 66,222 | (3,472 | ) | 30 | 2,364 | (177 | ) | 2 | 68,586 | (3,649 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Structured securities | 153,042 | (4,347 | ) | 65 | — | — | — | 153,042 | (4,347 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 39,490 | (6,932 | ) | 5 | 130 | (28 | ) | 2 | 39,620 | (6,960 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,092,393 | $ | (54,490 | ) | 383 | $ | 41,148 | $ | (10,355 | ) | 61 | $ | 1,133,541 | $ | (64,845 | ) | |||||||||||||
NGHC | $ | 988,188 | $ | (50,599 | ) | 284 | $ | 28,691 | $ | (8,227 | ) | 34 | $ | 1,016,879 | $ | (58,826 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 104,205 | (3,891 | ) | 99 | 12,457 | (2,128 | ) | 27 | 116,662 | (6,019 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,092,393 | $ | (54,490 | ) | 383 | $ | 41,148 | $ | (10,355 | ) | 61 | $ | 1,133,541 | $ | (64,845 | ) | |||||||||||||
There were 1,045 and 444 securities at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that account for the gross unrealized loss, none of which are deemed by the Company to be other-than-temporary impairments. Significant factors influencing the Company’s determination that none of these securities were OTTI included the length of time and/or magnitude of unrealized losses in relation to cost, the nature of the investment, the current financial condition of the issuer and its future prospects, the ability to recover to cost in the near term, and management’s intent not to sell these securities and it being more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell these investments before anticipated recovery of fair value to the Company’s cost basis.
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, of the $2,132 and $10,355, respectively, of unrealized losses related to securities in unrealized loss positions for a period of twelve or more consecutive months, none and $8,466, respectively, of those unrealized losses were related to securities in unrealized loss positions greater than or equal to 20% of its amortized cost or cost. The unrealized losses for securities greater than 20% were evaluated based on factors such as discounted cash flows and near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer and were determined to have adequate resources to fulfill contractual obligations.
The Company reviewed its investments at December 31, 2016, and determined that no additional OTTI existed in the gross unrealized holding losses other than certain fixed maturities and equity securities, that were in a loss position, for which the Company had the intention to sell before it can recover its cost basis. The impairments for these securities are equal to the difference between its amortized cost or cost and its fair value, and were as follows:
December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Fixed maturities - Corporate bonds | $ | 7,238 | $ | 12,027 | $ | 2,244 | ||||||
Equity securities - Common stock | 14,864 | 3,220 | — | |||||||||
Total OTTI loss recognized in earnings | $ | 22,102 | $ | 15,247 | $ | 2,244 | ||||||
NGHC | $ | 22,102 | $ | 15,247 | $ | 2,244 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total OTTI loss recognized in earnings | $ | 22,102 | $ | 15,247 | $ | 2,244 | ||||||
F-31
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The Company regularly monitors its investments that have fair values less than cost or amortized cost for signs of other-than-temporary impairment, an assessment that requires significant management judgment regarding the evidence known. Such judgments could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could negatively impact the amounts reported.
Among the factors that management considers for fixed maturity securities are the financial condition of the issuer including receipt of scheduled principal and interest cash flows, and intent to sell, including if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery. When a fixed maturity has been determined to have an other-than-temporary impairment and the Company does not have the intention to sell, the impairment charge is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings as a realized loss, and the amount related to non-credit factors, which is recognized in AOCI. Future increases or decreases in fair value, if not other-than-temporary, are included in AOCI. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not recognize any impairment charges due to non-credit factors for which a portion of the OTTI was recognized in AOCI.
The Company considers different factors to determine the amount of projected future cash flows and discounting methods for corporate bonds and residential and commercial mortgage-backed or structured securities. For corporate bond securities, the split between the credit and non-credit losses is driven principally by assumptions regarding the amount and timing of projected future cash flows. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition. For residential and commercial mortgage-backed and structured securities, cash flow estimates, including prepayment assumptions, are based on data from widely accepted third-party data sources or internal estimates. In addition to prepayment assumptions, cash flow estimates vary based on assumptions regarding the underlying collateral including default rates, recoveries and changes in value. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the fixed maturity security prior to impairment at the balance sheet date. The discounted cash flows become the new amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity security.
Among the factors that management considers for equity securities and other invested assets are the length of time and/or the significance of decline below cost, the Company’s ability and intent to hold these securities through their recovery periods, the current financial condition of the issuer and its future business prospects, and the ability of the market value to recover to cost in the near term. When an equity security or other invested asset has been determined to have a decline in fair value that is other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted to fair value. This results in a charge to earnings as a realized loss, which is not reversed for subsequent recoveries in fair value. Future increases or decreases in fair value, if not other-than-temporary, are included in AOCI.
F-32
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
(c) Unrealized Gains and Losses
Unrealized gains and losses on investments classified as available for sale as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||
Net unrealized gain (loss) on fixed maturities | $ | 21,737 | $ | (23,066 | ) | |||
Net unrealized gain (loss) on common stock | 6,742 | (6,391 | ) | |||||
Net unrealized gain (loss) on preferred stock | (18 | ) | 377 | |||||
Net unrealized loss on other | — | (20 | ) | |||||
Deferred income tax | (9,968 | ) | 10,185 | |||||
Unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred income tax | $ | 18,493 | $ | (18,915 | ) | |||
NGHC | $ | 15,030 | $ | (15,634 | ) | |||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 3,463 | (3,281 | ) | |||||
Unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred income tax | 18,493 | (18,915 | ) | |||||
Non-controlling interest | (3,463 | ) | 3,281 | |||||
NGHC unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred income tax | $ | 15,030 | $ | (15,634 | ) | |||
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
NGHC change in unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred income tax | $ | 30,664 | $ | (40,632 | ) | |||
Non-controlling interest change in unrealized gains (losses), net of deferred income tax | $ | 1,454 | $ | (3,964 | ) | |||
(d) Trading Securities
The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value on trading securities were as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | $ | 32,698 | $ | 5,979 | $ | — | $ | 38,677 | ||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 28,176 | 5,172 | (3,215 | ) | 30,133 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 60,874 | $ | 11,151 | $ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 68,810 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 60,874 | $ | 11,151 | $ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 68,810 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 60,874 | $ | 11,151 | $ | (3,215 | ) | $ | 68,810 | |||||||
Proceeds from sales of trading securities were $62,104 during the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company reclassified certain available-for-sale securities to trading securities for the purpose of buying and selling them in the near term and benefit from the change in market prices or spreads.
F-33
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
(e) Investment Income
The components of net investment income consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Interest income | ||||||||||||
Cash and short-term investments | $ | 5,223 | $ | 186 | $ | 114 | ||||||
Fixed maturities | 96,755 | 69,310 | 52,008 | |||||||||
Equity securities | 1,901 | 277 | 349 | |||||||||
Investment income | 103,879 | 69,773 | 52,471 | |||||||||
Investment expenses | (11,898 | ) | (3,529 | ) | (2,629 | ) | ||||||
Repurchase agreements interest expense | (485 | ) | (213 | ) | (236 | ) | ||||||
Other income (1) | 8,090 | 9,309 | 2,820 | |||||||||
Net Investment Income | $ | 99,586 | $ | 75,340 | $ | 52,426 | ||||||
NGHC | $ | 90,870 | $ | 66,429 | $ | 50,627 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 8,716 | 8,911 | 1,799 | |||||||||
Net Investment Income | $ | 99,586 | $ | 75,340 | $ | 52,426 | ||||||
(1) Includes interest income of approximately $7,593, $8,701 and $2,601 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, under the ACP Re Credit Agreement. (See Note 18, “Related Party Transactions” for additional information).
(f) Net Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses are determined based on the specific identification method. The tables below indicate impairment write-downs on investments, realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, and realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company reclassified $34,147 available-for-sale securities to trading securities with $4,849 gross gains and $3,586 gross losses from AOCI to earnings.
December 31, 2016 | Gross Gains | Gross Losses | Net Gains (Losses) | |||||||||
OTTI loss recognized in earnings | $ | — | $ | (22,102 | ) | $ | (22,102 | ) | ||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | 34,577 | (10,090 | ) | 24,487 | ||||||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale | 6,410 | (19,137 | ) | (12,727 | ) | |||||||
Fixed maturities, trading | 12,571 | (713 | ) | 11,858 | ||||||||
Equity securities, trading | 9,687 | (7,349 | ) | 2,338 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | $ | 63,245 | $ | (59,391 | ) | $ | 3,854 | |||||
NGHC | $ | 62,715 | $ | (59,376 | ) | $ | 3,339 | |||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 530 | (15 | ) | 515 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | $ | 63,245 | $ | (59,391 | ) | $ | 3,854 | |||||
F-34
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | Gross Gains | Gross Losses | Net Gains (Losses) | |||||||||
OTTI loss recognized in earnings | $ | — | $ | (15,247 | ) | $ | (15,247 | ) | ||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | 8,245 | (1,702 | ) | 6,543 | ||||||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale | 5 | (1,608 | ) | (1,603 | ) | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | $ | 8,250 | $ | (18,557 | ) | $ | (10,307 | ) | ||||
NGHC | $ | 7,005 | $ | (17,658 | ) | $ | (10,653 | ) | ||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 1,245 | (899 | ) | 346 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | $ | 8,250 | $ | (18,557 | ) | $ | (10,307 | ) | ||||
Year Ended December 31, 2014 | Gross Gains | Gross Losses | Net Gains (Losses) | |||||||||
OTTI loss recognized in earnings | $ | — | $ | (2,244 | ) | $ | (2,244 | ) | ||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale | 151 | (220 | ) | (69 | ) | |||||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale | 34 | (613 | ) | (579 | ) | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | $ | 185 | $ | (3,077 | ) | $ | (2,892 | ) | ||||
NGHC | $ | 185 | $ | (3,077 | ) | $ | (2,892 | ) | ||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | — | — | |||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | $ | 185 | $ | (3,077 | ) | $ | (2,892 | ) | ||||
(g) Credit Quality of Investments
The tables below summarize the credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturities, securities pledged and preferred securities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, as rated by Standard & Poor’s.
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 39,471 | $ | 39,918 | 1.4 | % | $ | 5,934 | $ | 5,930 | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||
AAA | 251,549 | 246,040 | 8.8 | % | 7,526 | 7,436 | 2.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
AA, AA+, AA- | 820,762 | 815,294 | 29.2 | % | 33,096 | 33,728 | 11.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
A, A+, A- | 740,280 | 747,765 | 26.7 | % | 87,734 | 88,761 | 29.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
BBB, BBB+, BBB- | 693,039 | 705,319 | 25.2 | % | 148,968 | 151,644 | 49.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
BB+ and lower | 228,222 | 241,357 | 8.7 | % | 17,759 | 18,846 | 6.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,773,323 | $ | 2,795,693 | 100.0 | % | $ | 301,017 | $ | 306,345 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||
F-35
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | Cost or Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Fixed Maturities and Preferred Securities | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 13,416 | $ | 14,448 | 0.7 | % | $ | 5,932 | $ | 5,904 | 2.5 | % | ||||||||||
AAA | 343,128 | 348,073 | 16.4 | % | 39,724 | 38,888 | 16.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
AA, AA+, AA- | 379,560 | 383,888 | 18.0 | % | 36,866 | 36,934 | 15.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
A, A+, A- | 501,409 | 508,884 | 23.9 | % | 50,612 | 50,153 | 20.8 | % | ||||||||||||||
BBB, BBB+, BBB- | 634,250 | 623,742 | 29.3 | % | 82,417 | 80,322 | 33.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
BB+ and lower | 274,594 | 249,660 | 11.7 | % | 30,020 | 28,343 | 11.7 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,146,357 | $ | 2,128,695 | 100.0 | % | $ | 245,571 | $ | 240,544 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||
The tables below summarize the investment quality of the Company’s corporate bond holdings and industry concentrations as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
December 31, 2016 | AAA | AA+, AA, AA- | A+,A,A- | BBB+, BBB, BBB- | BB+ or Lower | Fair Value | % of Corporate Bonds Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Institutions | 0.1 | % | 1.7 | % | 21.7 | % | 11.8 | % | 3.0 | % | $ | 631,595 | 38.3 | % | ||||||||
Industrials | — | % | 3.4 | % | 17.7 | % | 27.6 | % | 6.3 | % | 906,950 | 55.0 | % | |||||||||
Utilities/Other | 0.8 | % | 0.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 3.6 | % | 0.8 | % | 111,034 | 6.7 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.9 | % | 5.3 | % | 40.7 | % | 43.0 | % | 10.1 | % | $ | 1,649,579 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
NGHC | 0.9 | % | 4.8 | % | 35.6 | % | 34.4 | % | 9.2 | % | $ | 1,400,239 | 84.9 | % | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | % | 0.5 | % | 5.1 | % | 8.6 | % | 0.9 | % | 249,340 | 15.1 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.9 | % | 5.3 | % | 40.7 | % | 43.0 | % | 10.1 | % | $ | 1,649,579 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
December 31, 2015 | AAA | AA+, AA, AA- | A+,A,A- | BBB+, BBB, BBB- | BB+ or Lower | Fair Value | % of Corporate Bonds Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Institutions | — | % | 2.8 | % | 21.2 | % | 12.7 | % | 2.1 | % | $ | 524,250 | 38.8 | % | ||||||||
Industrials | — | % | 3.9 | % | 15.4 | % | 32.3 | % | 4.6 | % | 757,907 | 56.2 | % | |||||||||
Utilities/Other | 0.4 | % | — | % | 0.4 | % | 3.4 | % | 0.8 | % | 67,501 | 5.0 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 37.0 | % | 48.4 | % | 7.5 | % | $ | 1,349,658 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
NGHC | 0.4 | % | 6.1 | % | 33.9 | % | 42.7 | % | 6.3 | % | $ | 1,206,442 | 89.4 | % | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | % | 0.6 | % | 3.1 | % | 5.7 | % | 1.2 | % | 143,216 | 10.6 | % | |||||||||
Total | 0.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 37.0 | % | 48.4 | % | 7.5 | % | $ | 1,349,658 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
(h) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Investments
The Company, in order to conduct business in certain states, is required to maintain letters of credit or assets on deposit to support state mandated regulatory requirements and certain third-party agreements. The Company also utilizes trust accounts to collateralize business with its reinsurance counterparties. These assets held are primarily in the form of cash or certain high grade securities.
F-36
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 220,299 | $ | 225,930 | ||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 65,601 | 56,347 | ||||||
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flow | $ | 285,900 | $ | 282,277 | ||||
The fair values of the Company’s restricted investments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
State deposits, at fair value | $ | 73,731 | $ | 40,174 | ||||
Restricted investments to trusts, at fair value | 366,306 | 407,849 | ||||||
Total | $ | 440,037 | $ | 448,023 | ||||
(i) Short-term Investments and Other Investments
The Company had short-term investments of $15,674 and $3,527, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Short-term investments consisted of money market funds; these money market funds were rated by Standard & Poor’s as AAA.
The table below summarizes the composition of other investments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Limited partnerships, equity method | $ | 64,444 | $ | 5,691 | ||||
Long-term Certificates of Deposit (CDs), at cost | 21,178 | — | ||||||
Investments, at cost or amortized cost | 11,851 | 7,340 | ||||||
Investments, at fair value | 9,427 | — | ||||||
Total | $ | 106,900 | $ | 13,031 | ||||
The Company’s other investments consisted primarily of limited partnerships, investments in residential and commercial real estate debt funds, preferred securities and certificates of deposit. The Company believes its exposure to risk associated with these investments is generally limited to the investment carrying amounts. The increase from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 was to diversify the Company’s alternative investment portfolio.
F-37
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” provides a definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard applies when GAAP requires or allows assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; therefore, it does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstance.
The Company utilizes a pricing service (“pricing services”) to estimate fair value measurements for all its fixed maturities and equity securities. The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine the fair value of financial instruments held as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
U.S. Treasury and Federal Agencies ‑ Comprised primarily of bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. The fair values of U.S. government securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and are included in the Level 1 fair value hierarchy. The Company believes the market for U.S. government securities is an actively traded market given the high level of daily trading volume.
States and Political Subdivision Bonds ‑ Comprised of bonds and auction rate securities issued by U.S. states and municipal entities or agencies. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company also holds certain municipal bonds that finance economic development, infrastructure and environmental projects which do not have an active market. These bonds are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Foreign Government ‑ Comprised of bonds issued by foreign governments. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company also holds certain foreign government bonds that are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Corporate Bonds ‑ Comprised of bonds issued by corporations, public and privately placed. The fair values of short-term corporate bonds are priced using the spread above the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) yield curve, and the fair value of long-term corporate bonds are priced using the spread above the risk-free yield curve. The spreads are sourced from broker-dealers, trade prices and the new issue market. Where pricing is unavailable from pricing services, the Company obtains non-binding quotes from broker-dealers. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company also holds certain structured notes and term loans that do not have an active market. These bonds are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Mortgage and Structured Securities ‑ Comprised of commercial and residential mortgage-backed and structured securities. The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads, these are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company also holds certain mortgage and structured securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, these are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Equity Securities ‑ The pricing service utilizes market quotations for equity securities that have quoted market prices in active markets and their respective quoted prices are provided as fair value. The Company classified the values of these equity securities as Level 1. The pricing service also provides fair value estimates for certain equity securities whose fair value is based on observable market information rather than market quotes. The Company classified the value of these equity securities as Level 2. From time to time, the Company also holds certain equity securities that are issued by privately-held entities or direct equity investments that do not have an active market. The Company estimates the fair value of these securities primarily based on inputs such as third-party broker quote, issuers’ book value, market multiples, and other inputs. These bonds are valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Other Investments, at fair value - Comprised of the Company’s rights to receive the Excess Servicing Spread (“ESS”) related to servicing rights. The Company uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate their fair value. The key inputs used in the
F-38
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
estimation of ESS include prepayment speed and discount rate. Changes in the fair value of the ESS are reported in earnings. The Company classified the fair value estimates of ESS as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Debt - The amount reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments represents the carrying value of the debt. (See Note 16, “Debt” for additional information).
The Company’s 7.625% Notes are publicly traded and classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s 6.75% Notes, the Credit Agreement, the Imperial Surplus Notes, the Century-National Promissory Note and the Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes are not publicly traded and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2016, the fair values of the Company’s 6.75% Notes, the Century-National Promissory Note and the Credit Agreement were determined using analytical procedures on similar publicly traded corporate bonds and loans, and were valued using the discounted cash flow method of the income approach. The cash flows were discounted at a market yield, calculated using the risk-free rate plus a credit spread. As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s 6.75% Notes was determined using the direct transaction method of the market approach. The Company executed an arm’s length private market transaction in the fourth quarter of 2015 which provided reasonably supportable indication of its fair value. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair values of the Company’s Imperial Surplus Notes were valued using the Black-Derman-Toy interest rate lattice model. As of December 31, 2016, management believes that the fair value estimates of the Company’s recent assumed Subordinated Debentures and SPCIC Surplus Notes approximate its carrying value.
Effective March 31, 2016, the Company purchased the Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes from ACP Re for an aggregate amount of approximately $88,900. The purchase price was based on an independent third-party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. At December 31, 2016, the surplus notes receivable and surplus notes payable are eliminated upon consolidation. (See Note 3, “Reciprocal Exchanges” for additional information).
The following table presents the carrying amount and fair value estimates of debt not carried at fair value:
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying amount | Fair value | Carrying amount | Fair value | ||||||||||||
7.625% Notes | $ | 96,669 | $ | 100,160 | $ | 96,583 | $ | 98,240 | |||||||
6.75% Notes | 345,135 | 360,865 | 344,478 | 350,000 | |||||||||||
Subordinated Debentures | 72,168 | 72,168 | — | — | |||||||||||
Imperial Surplus Notes | 5,000 | 4,986 | 5,000 | 4,979 | |||||||||||
SPCIC Surplus Notes | 4,000 | 4,000 | — | — | |||||||||||
Credit Agreement | 50,000 | 53,925 | — | — | |||||||||||
Century-National Promissory Note | 178,894 | 178,778 | — | — | |||||||||||
Other | 135 | 135 | — | — | |||||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes | — | — | 45,476 | 50,300 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 752,001 | $ | 775,017 | $ | 491,537 | $ | 503,519 | |||||||
Contingent payments - The fair value of contingent payments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2016, contingent payments of $2,677 were valued based on estimated earnings and projected payouts. As of December 31, 2015, contingent payments of $16,071 were valued using discounted cash flows and $8,581 were valued based on estimated earnings and projected payouts.
F-39
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
In accordance with ASC 820, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Recurring Fair Value Measures | |||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Available-for-sale securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 45,848 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 45,848 | ||||||||
Federal agencies | 713 | — | — | 713 | ||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | — | 447,579 | 4,732 | 452,311 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 54,889 | 1,910 | 56,799 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | — | 1,577,290 | 33,612 | 1,610,902 | ||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | — | 441,897 | 7,423 | 449,320 | ||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | — | 102,494 | 4,849 | 107,343 | ||||||||||||
Structured securities | — | 329,508 | 9,055 | 338,563 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | 46,561 | 2,953,657 | 61,581 | 3,061,799 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 21,719 | — | 6,297 | 28,016 | ||||||||||||
Preferred stock | — | 1,562 | — | 1,562 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 21,719 | 1,562 | 6,297 | 29,578 | ||||||||||||
Total available-for-sale securities | 68,280 | 2,955,219 | 67,878 | 3,091,377 | ||||||||||||
Trading securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities - Corporate bonds | — | 36,245 | 2,432 | 38,677 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities - Common stock | 30,133 | — | — | 30,133 | ||||||||||||
Total trading securities | 30,133 | 36,245 | 2,432 | 68,810 | ||||||||||||
Short-term investments | 15,674 | — | — | 15,674 | ||||||||||||
Other investments | — | — | 9,427 | 9,427 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 114,087 | $ | 2,991,464 | $ | 79,737 | $ | 3,185,288 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | 108,157 | $ | 2,691,049 | $ | 79,737 | $ | 2,878,943 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 5,930 | 300,415 | — | 306,345 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 114,087 | $ | 2,991,464 | $ | 79,737 | $ | 3,185,288 | ||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
Contingent payments | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,677 | $ | 2,677 | ||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,677 | $ | 2,677 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,677 | $ | 2,677 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,677 | $ | 2,677 | ||||||||
F-40
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
December 31, 2015 | Recurring Fair Value Measures | |||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Available-for-sale securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities and securities pledged: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury | $ | 20,352 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 20,352 | ||||||||
Federal agencies | 1,952 | — | — | 1,952 | ||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | — | 196,924 | — | 196,924 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 31,062 | — | 31,062 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | — | 1,349,658 | — | 1,349,658 | ||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | — | 424,569 | — | 424,569 | ||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | — | 132,205 | — | 132,205 | ||||||||||||
Structured securities | — | 200,692 | — | 200,692 | ||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities and securities pledged | 22,304 | 2,335,110 | — | 2,357,414 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 46,965 | — | — | 46,965 | ||||||||||||
Preferred stock | — | 11,825 | — | 11,825 | ||||||||||||
Total equity securities | 46,965 | 11,825 | — | 58,790 | ||||||||||||
Total available-for-sale securities | 69,269 | 2,346,935 | — | 2,416,204 | ||||||||||||
Short-term investments | — | 3,527 | — | 3,527 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 69,269 | $ | 2,350,462 | $ | — | $ | 2,419,731 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | 61,413 | $ | 2,115,776 | $ | — | $ | 2,177,189 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 7,856 | 234,686 | — | 242,542 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 69,269 | $ | 2,350,462 | $ | — | $ | 2,419,731 | ||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
Contingent payments | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 24,652 | $ | 24,652 | ||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 24,652 | $ | 24,652 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 24,652 | $ | 24,652 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 24,652 | $ | 24,652 | ||||||||
F-41
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The following tables provide a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
Balance as of January 1, 2016 | Net income/loss | Other comprehensive income/loss | Purchases and issuances | Payments, sales and settlements | Net transfers into (out of) Level 3 | Balance as of December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
States and political subdivision bonds | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,732 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,732 | ||||||||||||||
Foreign government | — | — | — | — | — | 1,910 | 1,910 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | — | — | — | 33,612 | — | 2,432 | 36,044 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities | — | — | — | 7,423 | — | — | 7,423 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | — | — | — | — | — | 4,849 | 4,849 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Structured securities | — | — | — | 6,304 | — | 2,751 | 9,055 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | — | — | — | — | — | 6,297 | 6,297 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments | — | — | — | 9,427 | — | — | 9,427 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 61,498 | $ | — | $ | 18,239 | $ | 79,737 | ||||||||||||||
Contingent payments | $ | 24,652 | $ | (2,957 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (19,018 | ) | $ | — | $ | 2,677 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 24,652 | $ | (2,957 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (19,018 | ) | $ | — | $ | 2,677 | ||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2015 | Net income/loss | Other comprehensive income/loss | Purchases and issuances | Payments, sales and settlements | Net transfers into (out of) Level 3 | Balance as of December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | $ | 34,389 | $ | — | $ | 2,526 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (36,915 | ) | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 34,389 | $ | — | $ | 2,526 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (36,915 | ) | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Contingent payments | $ | 23,499 | $ | 2,357 | $ | — | $ | 8,581 | $ | (9,785 | ) | $ | — | $ | 24,652 | |||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 23,499 | $ | 2,357 | $ | — | $ | 8,581 | $ | (9,785 | ) | $ | — | $ | 24,652 | |||||||||||||
There have not been any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company transferred $18,239 out of Level 2 into Level 3 due to changes in broker quotes where the inputs had not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the securities being classified as Level 3. During the year ended December 31, 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company transferred $36,915 out of Level 3 and into Level 1 due to the public offering of a previously privately-placed common stock investment. The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels at of the end of each reporting period, consistent with the date of determination of fair value.
Other than Goodwill, the Company does not measure any assets or liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Goodwill is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 11, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net” for additional information on how the Company tested goodwill for impairment.
The carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, premiums and other receivables, accrued investment income and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value given the short-term nature of such items and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value of the Company’s securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities sold but not yet repurchased, at market value, approximates fair value given the short-term nature of the agreements and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
F-42
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
6. Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
LSC Entities
The Company has a 50% ownership interest in each of three entities (collectively, the “LSC Entities”) formed for the purpose of acquiring life settlement contracts, with AmTrust owning the remaining 50%. The LSC Entities are: Tiger Capital LLC (“Tiger”); AMT Capital Alpha, LLC (“AMT Alpha”); and AMT Capital Holdings, S.A. (“AMTCH”).
A life settlement contract is a contract between the owner of a life insurance policy and a third party who obtains the ownership and beneficiary rights of the underlying life insurance policy. The Company, along with AmTrust, is obligated to pay premiums on these life insurance policies as they come due.
The LSC Entities are considered to be VIEs, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company considered qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to, activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and which party controls such activities. The Company does not have the ability to direct the activities of the LSC Entities that most significantly impact its economic performance. The Company’s maximum exposure to a loss as a result of its involvement with the unconsolidated VIE is limited to its recorded investment plus additional capital commitments. The Company uses the equity method of accounting to account for its investments in the LSC Entities.
The following tables present the investment activity in the LSC Entities.
Year Ended December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 153,661 | $ | 146,089 | $ | 126,186 | ||||||
Distributions | — | (1,923 | ) | — | ||||||||
Contributions | 11,500 | 565 | 18,056 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 20,831 | 8,930 | 1,847 | |||||||||
Change in equity method investments | 32,331 | 7,572 | 19,903 | |||||||||
Balance at end of year | $ | 185,992 | $ | 153,661 | $ | 146,089 | ||||||
The following tables summarize total assets, total liabilities and members’ equity as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the results of operations for the Company’s unconsolidated equity method investment in the LSC Entities for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||
Condensed balance sheet data | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Investments in life settlement contracts at fair value | $ | 356,856 | $ | 264,001 | $ | 264,517 | ||||||
Total assets | 392,538 | 334,026 | 318,598 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 20,554 | 26,704 | 26,420 | |||||||||
Members’ equity | 371,984 | 307,322 | 292,178 | |||||||||
NGHC’s 50% ownership interest | $ | 185,992 | $ | 153,661 | $ | 146,089 | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Condensed results of operations | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Revenue, net of commission | $ | 49,298 | $ | 66,435 | $ | 50,447 | ||||||
Total expenses | 7,636 | 48,575 | 46,753 | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 41,662 | $ | 17,860 | $ | 3,694 | ||||||
NGHC’s 50% ownership interest | $ | 20,831 | $ | 8,930 | $ | 1,847 | ||||||
F-43
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The LSC Entities account for investments in life settlements in accordance with ASC 325-30, “Investments in Insurance Contracts,” which states that an investor shall elect to account for its investments in life settlement contracts by using either the investment method or the fair value method. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. The LSC Entities have elected to account for these policies using the fair value method.
The fair value of life settlement contracts as well as life settlement profit commission liability is based on information available to the LSC Entities at the end of the reporting period. The LSC Entities consider the following factors in their fair value estimates: cost at date of purchase, recent purchases and sales of similar investments (if available and applicable), financial standing of the issuer, changes in economic conditions affecting the issuer, maintenance cost, premiums, benefits, standard actuarially developed mortality tables and life expectancy reports prepared by nationally recognized and independent third-party medical underwriters. The LSC Entities estimate the fair value of a life insurance policy by applying an investment discount rate based on the cost of funding their life settlement contracts as compared to returns on investments in asset classes with comparable credit quality, which the LSC Entities have determined to be 7.5% to the expected cash flow generated by the policies in the life settlement portfolio (death benefits less premium payments), net of policy specific adjustments and reserves. In order to confirm the integrity of their calculation of fair value, the LSC Entities, quarterly, retain an independent third-party actuary to verify that the actuarial modeling used by the LSC Entities to determine fair value was performed correctly and that the valuation, as determined through the LSC Entities’ actuarial modeling, is consistent with other methodologies. The LSC Entities consider this information in their assessment of the reasonableness of the life expectancy and discount rate inputs used in the valuation of these investments.
The LSC Entities adjust the standard mortality for each insured for the insured’s life expectancy based on reviews of the insured’s medical records and the independent life expectancy report based thereon. The LSC Entities establish policy specific reserves for the following uncertainties: improvements in mortality, the possibility that the high net worth individuals represented in their portfolios may have access to better health care, the volatility inherent in determining the life expectancy of insureds with significant reported health impairments and the future expenses related to the administration of the portfolio. The application of the investment discount rate to the expected cash flow generated by the portfolio, net of the policy specific reserves, yields the fair value of the portfolio. The effective discount rate reflects the relationship between the fair value and the expected cash flow gross of these reserves.
The following summarizes data utilized in estimating the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and, only includes data for policies to which the LSC Entities assigned value at those dates:
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||
Average age of insured | 82.8 years | 81.2 years | ||||||
Average life expectancy, months(1) | 107 | 114 | ||||||
Average face amount per policy | $ | 6,572 | $ | 6,564 | ||||
Effective discount rate(2) | 12.4 | % | 13.7 | % | ||||
(1) Standard life expectancy as adjusted for specific circumstances.
(2) Effective Discount Rate (“EDR”) is the LSC Entities’ estimated internal rate of return on its life settlement contract portfolio and is determined from the gross expected cash flows and valuation of the portfolio. The valuation of the portfolio is calculated net of all reserves using a 7.5% discount rate. The EDR is inclusive of the reserves and the gross expected cash flows of the portfolio. The LSC Entities anticipate that the EDR’s range is between 10.0% and 15.0% and reflects the uncertainty that exists surrounding the information available as of the reporting date. As the accuracy and reliability of information improves (declines), the EDR will decrease (increase). The change in the EDR from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 resulted from routine updating of life expectancies and other factors relating to operational risk.
The LSC Entities’ assumptions are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and the effect of changes in estimates may be significant. The fair value measurements used in estimating the present value calculation are derived from valuation techniques generally used in the industry that include inputs for the asset that are not based on observable market data. The extent to which the fair value could reasonably vary in the near term has been quantified by evaluating the effect of changes in significant underlying assumptions used to estimate the fair value amount. If the life expectancies were increased or decreased by 4 months and the discount factors were increased or decreased by 1% while all other variables were held constant, the carrying value of the investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) by the unaudited amounts summarized below as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:
F-44
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Change in life expectancy | ||||||||
Plus 4 Months | Minus 4 Months | |||||||
Investment in life policies: | ||||||||
December 31, 2016 | $ | (44,207 | ) | $ | 43,492 | |||
December 31, 2015 | $ | (37,697 | ) | $ | 40,997 | |||
Change in discount rate(1) | ||||||||
Plus 1% | Minus 1% | |||||||
Investment in life policies: | ||||||||
December 31, 2016 | $ | (29,881 | ) | $ | 33,155 | |||
December 31, 2015 | $ | (26,558 | ) | $ | 29,644 | |||
(1) Discount rate is a present value calculation that considers legal risk, credit risk and liquidity risk and is a component of EDR.
The Company and AmTrust are committed to providing additional capital support to the LSC Entities to keep the life settlement policies in-force. The Company and AmTrust, each, are committed to provide 50% of the additional required capital. Below is a summary of total premiums to be paid for each of the five succeeding fiscal years to keep the existing life insurance policies in force as of December 31, 2016. The actual capital commitment may differ from the amounts shown based on policy lapses and terminations, death benefits received and other operating cash flows of the LSC Entities:
Premiums Due on Life Settlement Contracts | ||||
2017 | $ | 61,518 | ||
2018 | 49,683 | |||
2019 | 50,396 | |||
2020 | 46,632 | |||
2021 | 43,223 | |||
Thereafter | 503,818 | |||
Total | $ | 755,270 | ||
Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships
800 Superior, LLC
In August 2011, the Company formed 800 Superior, LLC with AmTrust, for the purposes of acquiring an office building in Cleveland, Ohio. The cost of the building was approximately $7,500. AmTrust has been appointed managing member of 800 Superior, LLC. The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in 800 Superior, LLC. The entity is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Additionally, in 2012, the Company entered into an office lease with 800 Superior, LLC. The lease period is for 15 years and the Company paid 800 Superior, LLC $2,733, $2,655 and $2,243 in rent for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s equity interest in 800 Superior, LLC as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $1,479 and $1,720, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from 800 Superior, LLC of $(241), $(420), and $(737), respectively.
East Ninth & Superior, LLC
In September 2012, the Company formed East Ninth & Superior, LLC and 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund II, LLC with AmTrust (collectively, “East Ninth & Superior”). The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in East Ninth and Superior, LLC and a 24.5% ownership interest in 800 Superior NMTC Investment Fund II, LLC. The entity is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s equity interest in East Ninth & Superior as of
F-45
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $4,189 and $4,139, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from East Ninth & Superior of $50, $60, and $70, respectively.
North Dearborn Building Company, L.P.
In February 2015, the Company invested $9,714 in North Dearborn Building Company, L.P. (“North Dearborn”), a limited partnership that owns an office building in Chicago, Illinois. AmTrust is also a limited partner in North Dearborn, and the general partner is NA Advisors GP LLC (“NA Advisors”), an entity controlled by the Karfunkel family and managed by an unrelated third party. The Company and AmTrust each received a 45% limited partnership interest in North Dearborn for their respective $9,714 investments, while NA Advisors invested approximately $2,200 and holds a 10% general partnership interest and a 10% profit interest, which NA Advisors pays to the unrelated third-party manager. North Dearborn appointed NA Advisors as the general manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office building. North Dearborn is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for North Dearborn using the equity method of accounting. The Company’s total exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment. The Company’s equity interest in North Dearborn as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $12,694 and $9,862, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from North Dearborn of $1,032 and $756, respectively. The Company made contributions or received (distributions) of $1,800 and $(607) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC
In August 2015, the Company formed 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC with AmTrust, for the purposes of acquiring an office building in Dallas, Texas. The cost of the building was approximately $21,000. AmTrust has been appointed managing member of 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The Company and AmTrust each have a 50% ownership interest in 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The entity is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC using the equity method of accounting. Additionally, in March 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement with 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC. The lease period is for 12 years and the Company paid 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC $1,385 in rent for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company’s equity interest in 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $900 and $10,559, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from 4455 LBJ Freeway, LLC of $499 and $28, respectively. The Company received (returns of capital) or made contributions of $(10,158) and $10,531 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Illinois Center Building, L.P.
In August 2015, the Company invested $53,715 in Illinois Center Building, L.P. (“Illinois Center”), a limited partnership that owns an office building in Chicago, Illinois. AmTrust and ACP Re Group, Inc. (“ACP Re Group”) are also limited partners in Illinois Center and the general partner is NA Advisors. The Company and AmTrust each received a 37.5% limited partnership interest in Illinois Center for their respective $53,715 investments, while ACP Re Group invested $21,486 for its 15.0% limited partnership interest. NA Advisors invested $14,324 and holds a 10.0% general partnership interest and a 10.0% profit interest, which NA Advisors pays to the unrelated third-party manager. Illinois Center appointed NA Advisors as the general manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office building. Illinois Center is considered to be a VIE, for which the Company is not a primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for Illinois Center using the equity method of accounting. The Company’s total exposure to loss is limited to its equity investment. The Company’s equity interest in Illinois Center as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $60,435 and $55,007, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) from Illinois Center of $3,553 and $1,292, respectively. The Company made contributions of $3,750 and received distributions of $(1,875) for the year ended December 31, 2016.
F-46
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
7. Acquisitions
Direct General
On November 1, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of Elara Holdings, Inc. (the “Acquired Company”), a Delaware corporation and parent company of Direct General Corporation, a Tennessee based property and casualty insurance company (“Direct General”). Pursuant to the acquisition agreement, the Company purchased all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Acquired Company in a reverse subsidiary merger transaction. The purchase price was an aggregate cash payment of $162,013. Direct General net assets purchased of approximately $169,140 exceeded the cash paid by the Company of approximately $162,013, and, as a result, the Company recorded $7,127 bargain purchase gain in earnings. This acquisition adds a direct distribution channel to the Company's core nonstandard auto business and expands the Company's presence in this product line in the Southeast.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:
November 2016 | ||||
Assets: | ||||
Cash and invested assets | $ | 298,789 | ||
Premiums receivable | 232,035 | |||
Reinsurance recoverable | 356 | |||
Income tax receivable | 295 | |||
Deferred tax asset | 28,315 | |||
Premises and equipment | 27,292 | |||
Intangible assets | 66,659 | |||
Other assets | 28,327 | |||
Total assets | 682,068 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 162,863 | |||
Unearned premiums | 220,433 | |||
Reinsurance payable | 1,618 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 34,330 | |||
Debt | 90,447 | |||
Other liabilities | 3,237 | |||
Total liabilities | 512,928 | |||
Net assets purchased | 169,140 | |||
Purchase price | 162,013 | |||
Bargain purchase gain recorded in earnings | $ | 7,127 | ||
The intangible assets related to the acquisition of Direct General were assigned to the Property and Casualty segment. The intangible assets acquired consisted of state licenses of $13,000 with an indefinite life, trademarks of $34,000, agent relationships of $8,000, value in policies in force of $7,319, loss reserve discount of $3,600 and non-compete agreements of $740, with weighted average amortization lives of 11, 2, 1, 9 and 15 years, respectively. The Company is in the process of completing the opening balance sheet for the acquisition, and is currently reviewing the intangible assets and loss reserves third-party valuation report and finalization of tax allocations. The Company anticipates completing its acquisition accounting no later than October 2017. As a result of the acquisition of Direct General, the Company recorded $60,130 of gross premium written and $17,520 of service and fee income for the year ended December 31, 2016.
F-47
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company
On October 6, 2016, in a special meeting of the members of Standard Mutual Insurance Company, an Illinois based property and casualty insurance underwriter (“SMIC”), the members approved, among other matters, the conversion of SMIC from a mutual company to a stock company named Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“SPCIC”). The transaction was “sponsored” by the Company. The Company offered the right to subscribe for shares of its common stock at a discount to SMIC members, directors and officers. The Company received subscriptions of approximately $4,942. The Company sold the shares at a purchase price of $18.1237 per share, which represented an 18.4507% discount to the volume-weighted average trading price of a share of its common stock, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, for the 10-trading day period ending October 5, 2016, which was $22.2242. On October 7, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition and delivered 272,609 shares of its common stock, which represented the number of shares sold in the offering, and recorded approximately $6,058 in shareholders’ equity. SPCIC net assets purchased of approximately $22,123 exceeded the subscriptions received by the Company of approximately $4,942, and, as a result, the Company recorded $17,181 bargain purchase gain in earnings. This acquisition expands the Company's homeowners and package products in Illinois and Indiana. The Company is in the process of completing the opening balance sheet for the acquisition, and is currently reviewing the intangible assets and loss reserves third-party valuation report and finalization of tax allocations. The Company anticipates completing its acquisition accounting no later than September 2017.
F-48
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Century-National
On June 1, 2016, the Company closed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Century-National Insurance Company, a California domiciled property and casualty insurance company (“Century-National”), and Western General Agency, Inc., a California corporation, from Kramer-Wilson Company, Inc. (“Western General”). The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $322,694. The purchase price includes an upfront cash payment of approximately $143,800 with the remaining balance of $178,894 in the form of a promissory note, payable over a period of two years. (See Note 16, “Debt - Century-National Promissory Note” for additional information). Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Company will re-estimate Century National’s closing statutory reserves as of the 2nd anniversary of the closing date of the acquisition. If the closing date booked statutory reserves exceed the re-estimated statutory reserves, the Company will pay the seller the excess. If the re-estimated statutory reserves exceed the closing date booked statutory reserves, the seller will pay the Company the excess. This acquisition expands the Company's standard and preferred product offering in both homeowners and personal auto.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:
June 2016 | ||||
Assets: | ||||
Cash and invested assets | $ | 413,343 | ||
Accrued interest | 3,531 | |||
Premiums and other receivables | 68,410 | |||
Reinsurance recoverable | 12,904 | |||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 12,723 | |||
Premises and equipment | 5,216 | |||
Intangible assets | 71,008 | |||
Deferred tax asset | 12,100 | |||
Other assets | 1,426 | |||
Total assets | 600,661 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 132,912 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 17,900 | |||
Unearned premiums | 113,608 | |||
Reinsurance payable | 6,308 | |||
Other Liabilities | 7,239 | |||
Total liabilities | 277,967 | |||
Net assets purchased | $ | 322,694 | ||
The intangible assets related to the acquisition of Century-National and Western General were assigned to the Property and Casualty segment. The intangible assets acquired consisted of $8,000 of state licenses with an indefinite life, agent relationships of $38,000, value in policies in force of $18,485, leases of $5,523 and trademarks of $1,000, with weighted average amortization lives of 15, 1, 13 and 5 years, respectively. The Company is in the process of completing the opening balance sheet for the acquisition, and is currently reviewing the intangible assets and loss reserves third-party valuation report and finalization of tax allocations. The Company anticipates completing its acquisition accounting no later than May 2017. As a result of the acquisition of Century-National and Western General, the Company recorded $139,965 of gross premium written and $4,471 of service and fee income for the year ended December 31, 2016.
F-49
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
LPI Business
On October 1, 2015, the Company closed on a master transaction agreement with QBE Investments (North America), Inc. (“QBE Parent”) and its subsidiary, QBE Holdings, Inc. (together with QBE Parent, “QBE”), pursuant to which the Company acquired QBE’s lender-placed insurance business, including certain of QBE’s affiliates engaged in the lender-placed insurance business (“LPI Business”). The transaction included the acquisition of certain assets, including loan-tracking systems and technology, client servicing accounts, intellectual property, and vendor relationships, as well as the assumption of the related insurance liabilities in a reinsurance transaction through which the Company received the loss reserves, unearned premium reserves, and invested assets. The purchase price was an aggregate cash payment of $95,726.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:
October 2015 | ||||
Assets: | ||||
Cash and invested assets | $ | 293,473 | ||
Premiums receivable | 101,357 | |||
Premises and equipment | 1,540 | |||
Intangible assets | 61,645 | |||
Other assets | 1,013 | |||
Total assets | 459,028 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 104,123 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 69,056 | |||
Unearned premiums | 245,827 | |||
Total liabilities | 419,006 | |||
Net assets purchased | 40,022 | |||
Purchase price | 95,726 | |||
Goodwill recorded | $ | 55,704 | ||
The goodwill and intangible assets related to the acquisition of the LPI Business were assigned to the Property and Casualty segment. Goodwill of $48,204 is deductible for tax purposes. The intangible assets acquired consisted of agent relationships of $50,000, proprietary technology of $10,000 and other intangibles of $1,645, with weighted average amortization lives of 15, 10 and 7 years, respectively. The increase in goodwill of $35,978 from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 was related to the increase in the provisional amounts recorded for cash and invested assets, unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and accounts payable and accrued expenses, and the decrease in premiums receivable, premises and equipment, and other assets, since the initial accounting was in the process of being completed. As a result of the acquisition of the LPI Business, the Company recorded approximately $376,058 and $126,570 of gross premium written for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; and $33,746 and $8,584 of service and fee income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
F-50
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Assurant Health
On October 1, 2015, the Company closed its acquisition of certain business lines and assets from Assurant Health, which is a business segment of Assurant, Inc. As part of the transaction, the Company acquired the small group self-funded and supplemental product lines, as well as North Star Marketing Corporation, a proprietary small group sales channel (the “Assurant Transaction”). The purchase price was an aggregate cash payment of $14,000.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:
October 2015 | ||||
Assets: | ||||
Cash and invested assets | $ | 43,448 | ||
Premiums receivable | 16,440 | |||
Intangible assets | 10,493 | |||
Total assets | 70,381 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 74,671 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 281 | |||
Unearned premiums | 2,505 | |||
Deferred tax liability | 3,887 | |||
Other liabilities | 678 | |||
Total liabilities | 82,022 | |||
Net assets purchased | (11,641 | ) | ||
Purchase price | 14,000 | |||
Goodwill recorded | $ | 25,641 | ||
The goodwill and intangible assets related to the acquisition of the business lines and assets from Assurant Health were assigned to the Accident and Health segment. Goodwill of $12,275 is deductible for tax purposes. The increase in goodwill of $10,532 from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 was related to the decrease in the provisional amounts recorded for premiums receivable and an increase in unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, since the initial accounting was in the process of being completed. As a result of the acquisition of certain business lines and assets from Assurant Health, the Company recorded approximately $189,440 and $55,693 of gross premium written for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; and $55,030 and $17,881 of service and fee income related for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The goodwill associated with the Company’s acquisitions relates to the additional benefits (i.e., expected cash flow or earnings, customer relationships) of the acquisition in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired.
No individual acquisition or acquisitions in the aggregate were materially significant that required any pro forma financial information during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
F-51
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
8. Premiums and Other Receivables, Net
Premiums and other receivables, net at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Premiums receivable (Related parties - $0 and $46,565) | $ | 998,761 | $ | 652,400 | ||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and loss adjustment expenses (Related parties - $10,264 and $15,715) | 67,439 | 64,056 | ||||||
Commission receivables | 32,736 | 20,337 | ||||||
Investment receivables | 12,198 | — | ||||||
Other receivables (Related parties - $0 and $26) | 63,193 | 35,273 | ||||||
Allowance for uncollectible amounts | (16,219 | ) | (13,433 | ) | ||||
Total | $ | 1,158,108 | $ | 758,633 | ||||
NGHC | $ | 1,097,130 | $ | 702,439 | ||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 60,978 | 56,194 | ||||||
Total | $ | 1,158,108 | $ | 758,633 | ||||
9. Deferred Acquisition Costs
The following table reflects the amounts of policy acquisition costs deferred and amortized for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as follows:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Balance, beginning of the year | $ | 160,531 | $ | 125,999 | $ | 60,112 | ||||||
Additions | 495,195 | 368,515 | 270,204 | |||||||||
Reductions (1) | (23,803 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Amortization | (411,001 | ) | (333,983 | ) | (204,317 | ) | ||||||
Change in DAC | 60,391 | 34,532 | 65,887 | |||||||||
Balance, end of the year | $ | 220,922 | $ | 160,531 | $ | 125,999 | ||||||
NGHC | $ | 189,879 | $ | 136,728 | $ | 121,514 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 31,043 | 23,803 | 4,485 | |||||||||
Balance, end of the year | $ | 220,922 | $ | 160,531 | $ | 125,999 | ||||||
(1) DAC reductions relate to the deconsolidation of the Reciprocal Exchanges at January 1, 2016. (See Note 3, “Reciprocal Exchanges” for additional information).
F-52
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
10. Premises and Equipment, Net
The composition of premises and equipment as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
December 31, 2016 | Cost | Accumulated Depreciation | Net Value | |||||||||
Land | $ | 3,336 | $ | — | $ | 3,336 | ||||||
Buildings | 20,362 | 842 | 19,520 | |||||||||
Leasehold improvements | 23,453 | 2,348 | 21,105 | |||||||||
Furniture and equipment | 11,472 | 2,084 | 9,388 | |||||||||
Hardware and software | 141,669 | 80,514 | 61,155 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 200,292 | $ | 85,788 | $ | 114,504 | ||||||
NGHC | $ | 194,419 | $ | 84,032 | $ | 110,387 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 5,873 | 1,756 | 4,117 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 200,292 | $ | 85,788 | $ | 114,504 | ||||||
December 31, 2015 | Cost | Accumulated Depreciation | Net Value | |||||||||
Land | $ | 2,935 | $ | — | $ | 2,935 | ||||||
Buildings | 11,390 | 313 | 11,077 | |||||||||
Leasehold improvements | 7,343 | 1,529 | 5,814 | |||||||||
Furniture and equipment | 3,656 | 1,303 | 2,353 | |||||||||
Hardware and software | 84,880 | 64,128 | 20,752 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 110,204 | $ | 67,273 | $ | 42,931 | ||||||
NGHC | $ | 109,479 | $ | 66,880 | $ | 42,599 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 725 | 393 | 332 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 110,204 | $ | 67,273 | $ | 42,931 | ||||||
At December 31, 2016, assets recorded under capital leases, included in buildings, hardware and software were $30,055 of cost, less accumulated depreciation of $578. At December 31, 2015, the Company had no assets under capital leases.
Depreciation and amortization expense related to premises and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $19,485, $12,065 and $14,457, respectively.
F-53
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
11. Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
Goodwill is calculated as the excess of purchase price over the net fair value of assets acquired. The Company performs an annual impairment analysis to identify potential goodwill impairment and measures the amount of a goodwill impairment loss to be recognized. This annual test is performed during the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently, if events or circumstances change in a way that requires the Company to perform the impairment analysis on an interim basis. Goodwill impairment testing requires an evaluation of the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. An impairment charge is recorded if the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of finite and indefinite life assets. Finite life intangible assets include trademarks and customer and producer relationships. Management contracts and insurance company licenses are considered indefinite life intangible assets subject to annual impairment testing.
The composition of goodwill and intangible assets at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
December 31, 2016 | Gross Balance | Accumulated Amortization | Net Value | Useful Life | ||||||||||
Agent/Customer relationships | $ | 190,446 | $ | 35,618 | $ | 154,828 | 2 - 15 years | |||||||
Value in policies in force | 59,198 | 36,555 | 22,643 | 1 year | ||||||||||
Renewal rights | 42,716 | 13,484 | 29,232 | 3 - 7 years | ||||||||||
Trademarks | 36,300 | 783 | 35,517 | 5 - 11 years | ||||||||||
Loss reserve discount | 16,999 | 12,670 | 4,329 | 6 - 10 years | ||||||||||
Proprietary technology | 11,800 | 1,893 | 9,907 | 3 - 10 years | ||||||||||
Leases | 5,523 | 246 | 5,277 | 13 years | ||||||||||
Affinity partners | 800 | 508 | 292 | 11 years | ||||||||||
Non-compete agreements | 740 | 8 | 732 | 15 years | ||||||||||
Management contracts | 118,600 | — | 118,600 | indefinite life | ||||||||||
State licenses | 86,363 | — | 86,363 | indefinite life | ||||||||||
Goodwill | 155,290 | — | 155,290 | indefinite life | ||||||||||
Total | $ | 724,775 | $ | 101,765 | $ | 623,010 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | 692,137 | $ | 80,152 | $ | 611,985 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 32,638 | 21,613 | 11,025 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 724,775 | $ | 101,765 | $ | 623,010 | ||||||||
F-54
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
December 31, 2015 | Gross Balance | Accumulated Amortization | Net Value | Useful Life | ||||||||||
Agent/Customer relationships | $ | 148,419 | $ | 18,562 | $ | 129,857 | 11 - 17 years | |||||||
Renewal rights | 26,100 | 6,375 | 19,725 | 7 years | ||||||||||
Loss reserve discount | 15,089 | 12,779 | 2,310 | 7 years | ||||||||||
Proprietary technology | 11,800 | 379 | 11,421 | 3 - 10 years | ||||||||||
Trademarks | 8,200 | 6,744 | 1,456 | 5 years | ||||||||||
Affinity partners | 800 | 436 | 364 | 11 years | ||||||||||
Management contracts | 118,600 | — | 118,600 | indefinite life | ||||||||||
State licenses | 65,165 | — | 65,165 | indefinite life | ||||||||||
Goodwill | 112,414 | — | 112,414 | indefinite life | ||||||||||
Total | $ | 506,587 | $ | 45,275 | $ | 461,312 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | 501,187 | $ | 44,700 | $ | 456,487 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 5,400 | 575 | 4,825 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 506,587 | $ | 45,275 | $ | 461,312 | ||||||||
The increase in goodwill of $42,876 from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016, was related to adjustments to provisional amounts recorded to the LPI Business and to the Assurant Transaction. The increase in intangible assets before accumulated amortization of $175,312 from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016, was primarily related to the Direct General, SPCIC and Century-National acquisitions and to the Reciprocal Exchanges consolidation at March 31, 2016. (See Note 3, “Reciprocal Exchanges” and Note 7, “Acquisitions” for additional information).
Goodwill and intangible assets are subject to annual impairment testing or on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized under the straight-line method, except for loss reserve discounts, which the Company amortizes using an accelerated method, which approximates underlying claim payments. The Company also uses the accelerated method of amortization for affinity partners and agents’ relationships based on the estimated attrition of those relationships.
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company amortized approximately $70,387, $20,389, and $13,791, respectively, related to its intangible assets with a finite life subject to amortization, which included amortization relating to intangibles owned by the Reciprocal Exchanges of $21,613, $4,380 and $2,468, respectively. Included in the Company’s amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, is an impairment charge of $4,606, $574 and $812, respectively, related to certain agent and customer relationships. Included also in the Company’s amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, is an impairment charge of $432, $0 and $0, respectively, related to indefinite-life state licenses.
The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter is:
Year ending | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | |||||||||
2017 | $ | 59,497 | $ | 7,340 | $ | 66,837 | ||||||
2018 | 32,657 | 180 | 32,837 | |||||||||
2019 | 25,982 | 180 | 26,162 | |||||||||
2020 | 20,548 | 180 | 20,728 | |||||||||
2021 | 18,384 | 45 | 18,429 | |||||||||
Thereafter | 97,764 | — | 97,764 | |||||||||
$ | 254,832 | $ | 7,925 | $ | 262,757 | |||||||
F-55
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by segments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | Total | ||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill | $ | 45,629 | $ | 47,055 | $ | 92,684 | ||||||
Accumulated impairment loss | (15,547 | ) | (6,373 | ) | (21,920 | ) | ||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2015, net | $ | 30,082 | $ | 40,682 | $ | 70,764 | ||||||
Additions | 39,455 | 19,661 | 59,116 | |||||||||
Impairment loss | (11,222 | ) | (6,244 | ) | (17,466 | ) | ||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill | 85,084 | 66,716 | 151,800 | |||||||||
Accumulated impairment loss | (26,769 | ) | (12,617 | ) | (39,386 | ) | ||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2015, net | $ | 58,315 | $ | 54,099 | $ | 112,414 | ||||||
Additions | 39,106 | 10,396 | 49,502 | |||||||||
Impairment loss | (3,552 | ) | (3,074 | ) | (6,626 | ) | ||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill | 124,190 | 77,112 | 201,302 | |||||||||
Accumulated impairment loss | (30,321 | ) | (15,691 | ) | (46,012 | ) | ||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2016, net | $ | 93,869 | $ | 61,421 | $ | 155,290 | ||||||
The Company performs an impairment analysis at the reporting unit level using a two-step impairment test. In evaluating goodwill for potential impairment, management compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the goodwill is considered impaired, and a second test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss.
The Company’s Luxembourg reinsurer subsidiaries are a component of the property and casualty segment. For the Luxembourg reinsurer subsidiaries, a step 1 analysis was performed to determine whether impairment existed using a December 31 measurement date. Since Luxembourg reinsurers are regularly bought and sold between third parties and the transaction data information is available, the Guideline Transactions Method of the Market Approach was utilized to determine the fair value. The Guideline Transactions Method is based on valuation multiples derived from actual transactions for comparable companies and were used to develop an estimate of value for the subject company. In applying this method, valuation multiples are derived from historical data of selected transactions, then evaluated and adjusted, if necessary, based on the strengths and weaknesses of the subject company relative to the derived market data. In the case of the Luxembourg reinsurer subsidiaries, the most appropriate multiple to utilize was determined to be a Price to Invested Assets (“P/IA”) multiple, since invested assets and the corresponding regulatory reserves are metrics utilized by market participants to negotiate the purchase price of the transaction. These P/IA multiples are then applied to the appropriate invested assets of the subject company to arrive at an indication of fair value. Step 1 of the impairment test indicated that the Luxembourg reinsurer subsidiaries’ carrying value exceeded its fair value. The Company performed a Step 2 impairment test and recorded impairment losses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, approximately $4,882 and $8,434, respectively, of the Company’s goodwill balance was related to the Luxembourg reinsurer subsidiaries.
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded non-cash goodwill impairments for its reporting units of $6,626, $17,466 and $15,792, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, there were no other circumstances that indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable.
F-56
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
12. Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
The unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense reserves are generally the result of ongoing analysis of recent loss development trends and emerging historical experience. Original estimates are increased or decreased as additional information becomes known regarding individual claims. In setting its reserves, the Company reviews its loss data to estimate expected loss development. Management believes that its use of sound actuarial methodology applied to its analyses of its historical experience provides a reasonable estimate of future losses. However, actual future losses may differ from the Company’s estimate, and future events beyond the control of management, such as changes in law, judicial interpretations of law and inflation, may favorably or unfavorably impact the ultimate settlement of the Company’s losses and LAE.
The anticipated effect of inflation is implicitly considered when estimating liabilities for losses and LAE. In addition to inflation, the average severity of claims is affected by a number of factors that may vary by types and features of policies written. Future average severities are projected from historical trends, adjusted for implemented changes in underwriting standards and policy provisions, and general economic trends. These estimated trends are monitored and revised as necessary based on actual development.
The table below shows the activity of loss reserves on a gross and net of reinsurance basis for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, reflecting changes in losses incurred and paid losses:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid losses and LAE, gross of related reinsurance recoverable at beginning of the year | $ | 1,479,953 | $ | 143,279 | $ | 1,623,232 | $ | 132,392 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,450,305 | $ | 111,848 | $ | 1,562,153 | $ | 1,259,241 | $ | — | $ | 1,259,241 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Reinsurance recoverables at beginning of the year | (793,508 | ) | (583 | ) | (794,091 | ) | (39,085 | ) | (833,176 | ) | (888,215 | ) | (23,583 | ) | (911,798 | ) | (950,828 | ) | — | (950,828 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at beginning of the year | 686,445 | 142,696 | 829,141 | 93,307 | 922,448 | 562,090 | 88,265 | 650,355 | 308,413 | — | 308,413 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incurred losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current year | 1,597,132 | 290,057 | 1,887,189 | 57,818 | 1,945,007 | 1,265,702 | 100,255 | 1,365,957 | 1,008,406 | 25,382 | 1,033,788 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prior year | 5,125 | 9,310 | 14,435 | (897 | ) | 13,538 | 18,378 | (2,694 | ) | 15,684 | 17,941 | 1,336 | 19,277 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total incurred | 1,602,257 | 299,367 | 1,901,624 | 56,921 | 1,958,545 | 1,284,080 | 97,561 | 1,381,641 | 1,026,347 | 26,718 | 1,053,065 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paid losses and LAE related to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current year | (974,402 | ) | (181,957 | ) | (1,156,359 | ) | (35,771 | ) | (1,192,130 | ) | (835,854 | ) | (37,018 | ) | (872,872 | ) | (645,826 | ) | (20,715 | ) | (666,541 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prior year | (497,993 | ) | (84,824 | ) | (582,817 | ) | (19,958 | ) | (602,775 | ) | (347,912 | ) | (55,501 | ) | (403,413 | ) | (187,010 | ) | (12,429 | ) | (199,439 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total paid | (1,472,395 | ) | (266,781 | ) | (1,739,176 | ) | (55,729 | ) | (1,794,905 | ) | (1,183,766 | ) | (92,519 | ) | (1,276,285 | ) | (832,836 | ) | (33,144 | ) | (865,980 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Acquired outstanding loss and loss adjustment reserve | 292,412 | 9,682 | 302,094 | 384 | 302,478 | 169,257 | — | 169,257 | 66,066 | 94,691 | 160,757 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of foreign exchange rates | — | (4,291 | ) | (4,291 | ) | — | (4,291 | ) | (2,520 | ) | — | (2,520 | ) | (5,900 | ) | — | (5,900 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at end of the year | 1,108,719 | 180,673 | 1,289,392 | 94,883 | 1,384,275 | 829,141 | 93,307 | 922,448 | 562,090 | 88,265 | 650,355 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plus reinsurance recoverables at end of the year | 827,672 | 10,933 | 838,605 | 42,192 | 880,797 | 794,091 | 39,085 | 833,176 | 888,215 | 23,583 | 911,798 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross balance at end of the year | $ | 1,936,391 | $ | 191,606 | $ | 2,127,997 | $ | 137,075 | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,623,232 | $ | 132,392 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,450,305 | $ | 111,848 | $ | 1,562,153 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense reserves at December 31, 2016 increased by $509,448 from December 31, 2015, primarily reflecting increases due to the Direct General, SPCIC and Century-National acquisitions, increased organic growth within our Property and Casualty segment (“P&C”), and the increase in incurred-but-not-reported claims in our Accident and Health segment (“A&H”). Gross unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense reserves at December 31, 2015 increased by $193,471 from December 31, 2014, primarily reflecting increases due to the Quota Share Runoff, the Imperial acquisition, the consolidation
F-57
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
of the Reciprocal Exchanges, the LPI Business acquisition, the Assurant Transaction and loss experience in the Company’s domestic stop loss programs.
Prior year loss development, net of reinsurance
Prior year development is based upon numerous estimates by line of business and accident year. No additional premiums or return premiums have been accrued as a result of the prior year effects.
2016. Loss and LAE for the year ended December 31, 2016 included $13,538 unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves ($14,435 excluding $897 of favorable development for the Reciprocal Exchanges), driven by $9,310 of unfavorable development in the A&H segment that was primarily driven by unfavorable development in the domestic stop loss, short-term medical and European A&H policies, and driven by unfavorable development of $5,125 in the P&C segment primarily driven by higher than expected development in private passenger auto bodily injury coverage; while partially offset by $897 of favorable development for the Reciprocal Exchanges.
2015. Loss and LAE for the year ended December 31, 2015 included $15,684 of unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves ($18,378 excluding $2,694 of favorable development for the Reciprocal Exchanges), primarily caused by $17,185 of unfavorable development in the A&H segment predominantly with respect to business subject to the Company’s European group life and health reinsurance agreement and $1,193 of unfavorable development in the P&C segment predominantly with respect to higher than expected loss emergence from commercial auto liability combined single limit insurance policies.
2014. Loss and LAE for the year ended December 31, 2014 included $19,277 of unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves ($17,941 excluding $1,336 of unfavorable development for the Reciprocal Exchanges), primarily caused by loss emergence attributable to the A&H segment, including $6,790 as a result of a loss portfolio transfer where we assumed business previously placed by the Company’s European group life and health insurance and $6,000 related to our domestic stop loss business, and the remaining $5,151 related to higher than expected P&C losses attributable to claims for private passenger automobile bodily injury liability and personal injury protection.
Short-duration contracts
The following is information by segment about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2016, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities (“IBNR”) plus expected development on reported claims included within the net incurred claims amounts. The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended prior to December 31, 2016, is presented as unaudited supplementary information.
F-58
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Property and Casualty
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Total of IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims | Cumulative Number of Reported Claims | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | $ | 1,400,368 | $ | 1,389,062 | $ | 1,388,408 | $ | 1,388,293 | $ | 1,386,309 | $ | 1,388,245 | $ | 1,388,436 | $ | 777 | 637,092 | ||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 1,306,397 | 1,301,325 | 1,301,294 | 1,301,949 | 1,301,227 | 1,300,868 | 6,088 | 643,910 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 1,295,045 | 1,295,036 | 1,296,493 | 1,295,458 | 1,300,677 | 6,857 | 653,948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 1,175,590 | 1,180,827 | 1,181,268 | 1,188,736 | 11,025 | 610,636 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 1,550,697 | 1,546,329 | 1,550,697 | 28,253 | 652,876 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 1,721,372 | 1,731,696 | 76,329 | 684,743 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 1,909,730 | 416,938 | 648,890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total (A) | $ | 10,370,840 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | $ | 886,725 | $ | 1,227,516 | $ | 1,309,288 | $ | 1,349,335 | $ | 1,369,261 | $ | 1,382,010 | $ | 1,385,596 | |||||||||||||||
2011 | 822,316 | 1,152,053 | 1,236,052 | 1,266,446 | 1,284,848 | 1,291,960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 811,546 | 1,163,987 | 1,232,759 | 1,268,877 | 1,287,299 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 770,666 | 1,049,326 | 1,122,327 | 1,161,896 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 972,489 | 1,367,765 | 1,469,822 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 1,097,124 | 1,543,499 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 1,170,671 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total (B) | $ | 9,310,743 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves before 2010, net of reinsurance (C) | 5,402 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance (A) - (B) + (C) | $ | 1,065,499 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-59
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Accident and Health
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Total of IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims | Cumulative Number of Reported Claims | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | $ | 20,906 | $ | 21,671 | $ | 23,428 | $ | 24,083 | $ | 25,102 | $ | 26,402 | $ | 26,012 | $ | 98 | 22,906 | ||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 19,675 | 25,580 | 26,124 | 27,721 | 30,067 | 29,192 | 38 | 24,523 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 21,026 | 27,828 | 30,845 | 34,438 | 33,533 | 180 | 27,538 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 46,005 | 57,023 | 60,398 | 61,847 | 773 | 56,051 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 80,361 | 88,287 | 90,943 | 2,068 | 95,152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 211,620 | 226,327 | 7,180 | 264,651 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 245,014 | 89,650 | 229,532 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total (A) | $ | 712,868 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | $ | 11,311 | $ | 17,742 | $ | 20,508 | $ | 22,528 | $ | 23,701 | $ | 24,263 | $ | 24,503 | |||||||||||||||
2011 | 11,569 | 21,224 | 24,012 | 26,008 | 27,137 | 27,552 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 13,678 | 23,053 | 27,110 | 29,235 | 30,239 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 27,652 | 49,038 | 53,904 | 56,251 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 46,668 | 78,132 | 82,725 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 140,220 | 208,364 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 147,674 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total (B) | $ | 577,308 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves before 2010, net of reinsurance (C) | 2,026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance (A) - (B) + (C) | $ | 137,586 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-60
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Reciprocal Exchanges
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Total of IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims | Cumulative Number of Reported Claims | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | $ | 129,745 | $ | 121,572 | $ | 118,892 | $ | 118,038 | $ | 118,826 | $ | 117,721 | $ | 117,601 | $ | 86 | 23,266 | ||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 113,072 | 102,758 | 101,991 | 103,110 | 105,097 | 104,877 | — | 23,769 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 95,875 | 94,360 | 95,417 | 94,549 | 96,615 | 1,057 | 24,741 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 89,696 | 90,787 | 90,902 | 95,198 | 3,258 | 19,349 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 95,602 | 93,121 | 97,361 | 4,312 | 20,808 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 86,901 | 73,032 | 6,813 | 20,222 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 73,727 | 16,950 | 10,955 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total (A) | $ | 658,411 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accident Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | $ | 68,343 | $ | 88,105 | $ | 98,233 | $ | 109,052 | $ | 113,581 | $ | 115,248 | $ | 115,749 | |||||||||||||||
2011 | 65,605 | 77,869 | 87,816 | 94,687 | 100,258 | 103,258 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 48,414 | 73,958 | 82,780 | 88,530 | 92,174 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 48,611 | 71,741 | 77,760 | 85,617 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 53,796 | 75,068 | 81,974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 43,969 | 56,816 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 41,073 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total (B) | $ | 576,661 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves before 2010, net of reinsurance (C) | 1,528 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance (A) - (B) + (C) | $ | 83,278 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-61
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The reconciliation of the net incurred and paid claims development tables to the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
December 31, 2016 | ||||
Net outstanding liabilities: | ||||
Property and Casualty(1) | $ | 1,065,499 | ||
Accident and Health (excluding DE captive subsidiaries)(2) | 137,586 | |||
Accident and Health - DE captive subsidiaries(2) | 4,759 | |||
Reciprocal Exchanges (excluding commercial book)(3) | 83,278 | |||
Reciprocal Exchanges - commercial book(3) | 1,264 | |||
Net reserve for claims and allocated claim adjustment expenses | 1,292,386 | |||
Reinsurance recoverable: | ||||
Property and Casualty(1)(4) | 827,672 | |||
Accident and Health (excluding DE captive subsidiaries)(2) | 9,155 | |||
Reciprocal Exchanges (excluding commercial book)(3) | 39,078 | |||
Reciprocal Exchanges - commercial book(3) | 1,201 | |||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims and allocated claim adjustment expenses | 877,106 | |||
Insurance lines other than short-duration | 19,403 | |||
Unallocated claims adjustment expenses | 60,091 | |||
Other(5) | 16,086 | |||
Subtotal | 95,580 | |||
Gross reserve for claims and claim adjustment expenses | $ | 2,265,072 | ||
(1) For acquired business, the development tables above for the Property and Casualty segment assume no historical change in ultimates in years prior to the year that the Company first acquired the business. (2) The development tables above for the Accident and Health segment exclude the Company’s Delaware captive subsidiaries due to impracticability of obtaining complete historical information. The Delaware captive subsidiaries are comprised of three legal entities (AIBD Insurance Company IC, Distributors Insurance Company PPC and Professional Service Captive Corporation IC) which were acquired by the Company in 2012. (3) The development tables above for the Reciprocal Exchanges exclude small commercial book of business in runoff previously underwritten by Mountain Valley Indemnity Company. (4) Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses for the Property and Casualty segment primarily include $663,943 from MCCA and $100,470 from NCRF. See Note 13, “Reinsurance” for additional information. (5) Includes forward looking reserves for certain short-duration Accident and Health insurance contracts provisionally assigned to the most current accident year and therefore not included in the loss development tables above (i.e., seasonality reserves generally applied to an insurance product that has a level annual premium and an expectation that claim costs will increase over the policy year). | ||||
Methodology for Estimating Incurred-But-Not-Reported Reserves
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves represent management's estimate of the ultimate liability for claims that have been reported and claims that have been incurred but not yet reported as of the balance sheet date. Because the establishment of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves is a process involving estimates and judgment, currently estimated reserves may change. The Company reflects changes to the reserves in the results of operations for the period during which the estimates are changed.
Incurred-but-not-reported reserve estimates are generally calculated by first projecting the ultimate cost of all claims that have occurred and then subtracting reported losses and loss expenses. Reported losses include cumulative paid losses and loss expenses plus case reserves. Therefore, the IBNR also includes provision for expected development on reported claims.
The Company’s internal actuarial analysis of the historical data provides the factors the Company uses in its actuarial analysis in estimating our loss and LAE reserves. These factors are implicit measures over time of claims reported, average case incurred amounts, case development, severity and payment patterns. However, these factors cannot be directly used as they do not take into
F-62
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
consideration changes in business mix, claims management, regulatory issues, medical trends, and other subjective factors. We generally use a combination of actuarial factors and subjective assumptions in the development of up to seven of the following actuarial methodologies:
• | Paid Development Method - uses historical, cumulative paid losses by accident year and develops those actual losses to estimated ultimate losses based upon the assumption that each accident year will develop to estimated ultimate cost in a manner that is analogous to prior years. |
• | Paid Generalized Cape Cod Method - combines the Paid Development Method with the expected loss method, where the expected loss ratios are estimated from exposure and claims experience weighted across multiple accident periods. The selected expected loss ratio for a given accident year is derived by giving some weight to all of the accident years in the experience history rather than treating each accident year independently. |
• | Paid Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method - a combination of the Paid Development Method and the Expected Loss Method, the Paid Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method estimates ultimate losses by adding actual paid losses and projected future unpaid losses. The amounts produced are then added to cumulative paid losses to produce the final estimates of ultimate incurred losses. |
• | Incurred Development Method - uses historical, cumulative incurred losses by accident year and develops those actual losses to estimated ultimate losses based upon the assumption that each accident year will develop to estimated ultimate cost in a manner that is analogous to prior years. |
• | Incurred Generalized Cape Cod Method - combines the Incurred Development Method with the expected loss method, where the expected loss ratios are estimated from exposure and claims experience weighted across multiple accident periods. The selected expected loss ratio for a given accident year is derived by giving some weight to all of the accident years in the experience history rather than treating each accident year independently. |
• | Incurred Bornhuetter - Ferguson Method - a combination of the Incurred Development Method and the Expected Loss Method, the Incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method estimates ultimate losses by adding actual incurred losses and projected future unreported losses. The amounts produced are then added to cumulative incurred losses to produce an estimate of ultimate incurred losses. |
• | Expected Loss Method - utilizes an expected ultimate loss ratio based on historical experience adjusted for trends multiplied by earned premium to project ultimate losses. |
For each method, losses are projected to the ultimate amount to be paid. The Company then analyzes the results and may emphasize or deemphasize some or all of the outcomes to reflect actuarial judgment regarding their reasonableness in relation to supplementary information and operational and industry changes. These outcomes are then aggregated to produce a single selected point estimate that is the basis for the internal actuary’s point estimate for loss reserves.
Methodology for Determining Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
When the Company is notified of an incident of potential liability that may lead to demand for payment(s), a claim file is created. Methods used to summarize claim counts have not changed significantly over the time periods reported in the tables above. The methodology of counting claims for each of the Company’s segments may be summarized as follows:
Property and Casualty
The Company’s P&C claims are counted by claim number assigned to each claimant per insured event. However, if an insured event occurs and demand for payment is made with respect to more than one coverage (e.g., an automobile claim arising from the same incident demanding separate payment for liability and physical damage), there would be one claim counted for each coverage for which a demand for payment was made. Claims closed without payment are included in the cumulative number of reported P&C claims.
Accident and Health
The Company’s A&H claims are counted by claim number assigned to each claimant per illness, injury or death, regardless of number of services rendered for each incident. Entitlement to certain disability benefits (on business produced for the Company by Euro Accident) is subject to satisfying all of the Social Insurance requirements of Sweden. Claims closed without payment are not included in the cumulative number of reported A&H claims.
F-63
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Reciprocal Exchanges
The Company’s Reciprocal Exchanges claims are counted by claim number assigned to each claimant per insured event. However, if an insured event occurs and demand for payment is made with respect to more than one statutory annual statement line of business (e.g., an automobile claim arising from the same incident demanding separate payment for liability and physical damage), there would be one claim counted for each line of business for which a demand for payment was made. Claims closed without payment are not included in the cumulative number of reported Reciprocal Exchanges claims.
The following is supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2016.
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Accident Year Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance | |||||||||||||||||||||
Years | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Property and Casualty | 63.0 | % | 25.7 | % | 6.0 | % | 2.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 0.6 | % | 0.4 | % | |||||||
Accident and Health (excluding DE captive subsidiaries) | 48.8 | % | 30.8 | % | 7.8 | % | 5.5 | % | 3.7 | % | 1.7 | % | 0.9 | % | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 57.5 | % | 17.5 | % | 9.0 | % | 7.5 | % | 4.1 | % | 1.8 | % | 1.0 | % | |||||||
13. Reinsurance
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries utilize reinsurance agreements to transfer portions of the underlying risk of the business the Company writes to various affiliated and third-party reinsurance companies. Reinsurance does not discharge or diminish the Company’s obligation to pay claims covered by the insurance policies it issues; however, it does permit the Company to recover certain incurred losses from its reinsurers and the Company’s reinsurance recoveries reduce the maximum loss that it may incur as a result of a covered loss event. The Company believes it is important to ensure that its reinsurance partners are financially strong and they generally carry at least an A.M. Best rating of “A-” (Excellent) or are fully collateralized at the time it enters into the Company’s reinsurance agreements. The Company also enters reinsurance relationships with third-party captives formed by agents as a mechanism for sharing risk and profit. The total amount, cost and limits relating to the reinsurance coverage the Company purchases may vary from year to year based upon a variety of factors, including the availability of quality reinsurance at an acceptable price and the level of risk that the Company chooses to retain for its own account.
The Company assumes and cedes insurance risks under various reinsurance agreements, on both a pro rata basis and excess of loss basis. The Company purchases reinsurance to mitigate the volatility of direct and assumed business, which may be caused by the aggregate value or the concentration of written exposures in a particular geographic area or business segment and may arise from catastrophes or other events. The Company pays a premium as consideration for ceding the risk. The following is a summary of effects of reinsurance on premiums and losses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Written | Earned | Written | Earned | Written | Earned | |||||||||||||||||||
Premium: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Direct | $ | 2,962,798 | $ | 2,716,713 | $ | 2,234,976 | $ | 2,052,880 | $ | 1,558,612 | $ | 1,496,709 | ||||||||||||
Assumed | 536,710 | 687,829 | 354,772 | 454,851 | 576,495 | 414,410 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Gross Premium | 3,499,508 | 3,404,542 | 2,589,748 | 2,507,731 | 2,135,107 | 1,911,119 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ceded | (428,202 | ) | (410,761 | ) | (403,502 | ) | (377,921 | ) | (265,083 | ) | (277,899 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Premium | $ | 3,071,306 | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 2,186,246 | $ | 2,129,810 | $ | 1,870,024 | $ | 1,633,220 | ||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed | Ceded | Assumed | Ceded | Assumed | Ceded | |||||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE | $ | 409,046 | $ | 463,603 | $ | 283,568 | $ | 254,924 | $ | 229,013 | $ | 211,433 | ||||||||||||
F-64
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Assumed | Ceded | Assumed | Ceded | |||||||||||||
Unpaid Loss and LAE reserves | $ | 217,522 | $ | 880,797 | $ | 252,661 | $ | 833,176 | ||||||||
Unearned premiums | 166,339 | 156,970 | 309,202 | 128,343 | ||||||||||||
The Company’s reinsurance transactions include premiums written under state-mandated involuntary plans for commercial vehicles and premiums ceded to state-provided reinsurance facilities such as Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (“MCCA”) and North Carolina Reinsurance Facility (“NCRF” or “the Facility”) (collectively, “State Plans”), for which it retains no loss indemnity risk. Prepaid reinsurance premiums are earned on a pro rata basis over the period of risk, based on a daily earnings convention, which is consistent with premiums written.
MCCA is a reinsurance mechanism that covers no-fault first party medical losses of retentions in excess of $545 in 2016. The Company currently has claims with retentions from $250 to $545. All automobile insurers doing business in Michigan are required to participate in MCCA. Insurers are reimbursed for their covered losses in excess of this threshold, which increased from $460 to $480 on July 1, 2010, and increased to $500 in 2011 and remained at this amount until June 30, 2013. Policies effective after July 1, 2013 have a threshold of $530. For policies effective after July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017, the retention will be $545. Funding for MCCA comes from assessments against automobile insurers based upon their share of insured automobiles in the state. Insurers are allowed to pass along this cost to Michigan automobile policyholders.
The following is a summary of premiums and losses ceded to MCCA for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Ceded earned premiums | $ | 9,404 | $ | 12,146 | $ | 12,968 | ||||||
Ceded Loss and LAE | 26,510 | 15,482 | 12,529 | |||||||||
Reinsurance recoverables from MCCA as of December 31, 2016, and 2015 are as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | $ | 7,969 | $ | 6,986 | ||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 663,943 | 656,904 | ||||||
NCRF is a mechanism for pooling of insurance risks for insureds who cannot obtain coverage by ordinary methods. Under the Facility law, licensed and writing carriers and agents must accept and insure any eligible applicant for coverages and limits which may be ceded to the Facility. The Facility accepts cession of bodily injury and property damage liability, medical payments, and uninsured and combined uninsured/underinsured motorist’s coverages. Funding for the NCRF comes from collected premiums from automobile insurers based upon the provided coverage of the insured automobiles in the state. The following is a summary of premiums and losses ceded to NCRF for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Ceded earned premiums | $ | 165,491 | $ | 158,613 | $ | 151,744 | ||||||
Ceded Loss and LAE | 173,926 | 144,350 | 130,265 | |||||||||
F-65
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Reinsurance recoverables from NCRF as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses | $ | 29,274 | $ | 26,228 | ||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 100,470 | 86,941 | ||||||
The Company believes that it is unlikely to incur any material loss as a result of non-payment of amounts owed to the Company by MCCA and NCRF because (i) the payment obligations are extended over many years, resulting in relatively small current payment obligations, (ii) both MCCA and NCRF are supported by assessments permitted by statute, and (iii) the Company has not historically incurred losses as a result of non-payment. Because MCCA and NCRF are supported by assessments permitted by statute, and there have been no significant and uncollectible balances from NCRF and MCCA, the Company believes that it has no significant exposure to uncollectible reinsurance balances from these entities.
The Company has a concentration of credit risk associated with MCCA and NCRF, related to risks ceded in accordance with Michigan insurance law and the Company’s market share in North Carolina, respectively, and the reinsurance under the Personal Lines Quota Share arrangement. Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
MCCA | $ | 663,943 | $ | 656,904 | ||||
NCRF | 100,470 | 86,941 | ||||||
Maiden Insurance Company | 12,995 | 21,075 | ||||||
ACP Re | 7,797 | 12,645 | ||||||
Technology Insurance Company, Inc. | 5,197 | 8,430 | ||||||
Other reinsurers' balances - each less than 5% of total | 48,203 | 8,096 | ||||||
Subtotal | $ | 838,605 | $ | 794,091 | ||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 42,192 | 39,085 | ||||||
Total | $ | 880,797 | $ | 833,176 | ||||
The Company has unauthorized reinsurance with ACP Re and Maiden Insurance Company Ltd. (“Maiden Insurance Company”) that requires the reinsurers to provide collateral to mitigate any risk of default.
As of July 1, 2016, a reinsurance property catastrophe excess of loss program went into effect protecting the Reciprocal Exchanges against accumulations of losses resulting from a catastrophic event. The property catastrophe program provides a total of $355,000 in coverage in excess of a $20,000 retention, with one reinstatement.
As of May 1, 2016, the Company’s new reinsurance property catastrophe excess of loss program went into effect protecting the Company against catastrophic events and other large losses. The property catastrophe program provides a total of $475,000 in coverage in excess of a $50,000 retention, with one reinstatement. Included in this coverage is a Florida Hurricane Catastrophic Fund (“FHCF”) cover of $52,200 in excess of $16,300 with no reinstatement. The casualty program provides $45,000 in coverage in excess of a $5,000 retention. The Company pays a premium as consideration for ceding the risk.
F-66
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
14. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Accounts payable related to commissions | $ | 59,609 | $ | 36,160 | ||||
Accrued expenses related to employees | 42,549 | 30,224 | ||||||
Payable to carrier | 38,839 | 34,460 | ||||||
Information technology payable | 24,417 | 16,570 | ||||||
Investments payable | 20,936 | 16,670 | ||||||
Escheats payable | 12,887 | 10,982 | ||||||
Dividends payable | 12,101 | 7,292 | ||||||
Premiums payable | 11,385 | — | ||||||
Interest payable | 8,144 | 10,907 | ||||||
Funds held for reinsurance | 4,986 | — | ||||||
Marketing accruals | 4,065 | 4,918 | ||||||
Contingent payments | 2,677 | 8,581 | ||||||
Loss reserve premium | 2,433 | 1,785 | ||||||
Other | 67,678 | 54,598 | ||||||
Subtotal | $ | 312,706 | $ | 233,147 | ||||
Related Parties: | ||||||||
License fee payable | $ | 13,601 | $ | 12,905 | ||||
Information technology payable | 11,600 | 16,622 | ||||||
Printing fee payable | 2,406 | 3,892 | ||||||
Contingent payments | — | 16,071 | ||||||
Other | 1,664 | 2,265 | ||||||
Subtotal | $ | 29,271 | $ | 51,755 | ||||
Total | $ | 341,977 | $ | 284,902 | ||||
NGHC | $ | 335,174 | $ | 265,057 | ||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 6,803 | 19,845 | ||||||
Total | $ | 341,977 | $ | 284,902 | ||||
F-67
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
15. Income Taxes
The Company files a consolidated Federal income tax return. The Reciprocal Exchanges are not included in the Company’s consolidated tax return as the Company does not have an ownership interest in the Reciprocal Exchanges, and they are not a part of the consolidated tax sharing agreement.
Federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current expense (benefit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal | $ | 70,511 | $ | 857 | $ | 71,368 | $ | 55,018 | $ | (1,059 | ) | $ | 53,959 | $ | 86,250 | $ | 1,020 | $ | 87,270 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign | 5,119 | — | 5,119 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total current tax expense (benefit) | $ | 75,630 | $ | 857 | $ | 76,487 | $ | 55,018 | $ | (1,059 | ) | $ | 53,959 | $ | 86,250 | $ | 1,020 | $ | 87,270 | |||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax expense (benefit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal | $ | (4,195 | ) | $ | (10,648 | ) | $ | (14,843 | ) | $ | (3,019 | ) | $ | (4,890 | ) | $ | (7,909 | ) | $ | (42,301 | ) | $ | 144 | $ | (42,157 | ) | ||||||||||
Foreign | (19,028 | ) | — | (19,028 | ) | (27,094 | ) | — | (27,094 | ) | (21,237 | ) | — | (21,237 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total deferred tax expense (benefit) | $ | (23,223 | ) | $ | (10,648 | ) | $ | (33,871 | ) | $ | (30,113 | ) | $ | (4,890 | ) | $ | (35,003 | ) | $ | (63,538 | ) | $ | 144 | $ | (63,394 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | $ | 52,407 | $ | (9,791 | ) | $ | 42,616 | $ | 24,905 | $ | (5,949 | ) | $ | 18,956 | $ | 22,712 | $ | 1,164 | $ | 23,876 | ||||||||||||||||
The domestic and foreign components of income before taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic | $ | 181,156 | $ | 10,764 | $ | 191,920 | $ | 225,708 | $ | 7,944 | $ | 233,652 | $ | 195,148 | $ | 3,670 | $ | 198,818 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign | 18,179 | — | 18,179 | (69,062 | ) | — | (69,062 | ) | (71,375 | ) | — | (71,375 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 199,335 | $ | 10,764 | $ | 210,099 | $ | 156,646 | $ | 7,944 | $ | 164,590 | $ | 123,773 | $ | 3,670 | $ | 127,443 | ||||||||||||||||||
F-68
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the net deferred tax liability are presented below:
December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | $ | 36,518 | $ | 13,216 | $ | 49,734 | $ | 27,675 | $ | 1,551 | $ | 29,226 | ||||||||||||
Unearned premiums | 96,981 | 6,659 | 103,640 | 68,902 | 6,033 | 74,935 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bad debt | 6,228 | 366 | 6,594 | 3,692 | 576 | 4,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investments | 799 | — | 799 | 760 | — | 760 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | 6,083 | — | 6,083 | 1,725 | — | 1,725 | ||||||||||||||||||
Contingent commissions | 12,547 | — | 12,547 | 10,529 | — | 10,529 | ||||||||||||||||||
Loss reserve discount | 11,782 | 1,396 | 13,178 | 7,244 | 1,393 | 8,637 | ||||||||||||||||||
Suspended Subpart F losses | 6,683 | — | 6,683 | 7,364 | — | 7,364 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | 22,833 | 5,655 | 28,488 | 3,309 | 17,758 | 21,067 | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital loss carryforwards | 2,401 | — | 2,401 | 1,241 | — | 1,241 | ||||||||||||||||||
Policy acquisition costs | 1,237 | — | 1,237 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Special estimated tax payments | 2,072 | — | 2,072 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Impairments | 16,313 | — | 16,313 | 6,122 | 15 | 6,137 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill | 1,701 | — | 1,701 | 968 | — | 968 | ||||||||||||||||||
Unearned revenue | 7,974 | — | 7,974 | 6,540 | — | 6,540 | ||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized capital losses | — | — | — | 8,418 | 1,767 | 10,185 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign translation | 1,249 | — | 1,249 | 2,035 | — | 2,035 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 4,171 | — | 4,171 | 1,808 | — | 1,808 | ||||||||||||||||||
Alternative minimum tax credits | — | 611 | 611 | — | 611 | 611 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 6,384 | — | 6,384 | 897 | 104 | 1,001 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross deferred tax assets | 243,956 | 27,903 | 271,859 | 159,229 | 29,808 | 189,037 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less: Valuation allowance | — | (7,135 | ) | (7,135 | ) | — | (17,295 | ) | (17,295 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total deferred tax assets | 243,956 | 20,768 | 264,724 | 159,229 | 12,513 | 171,742 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 65,943 | 10,555 | 76,498 | 47,931 | 8,093 | 56,024 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investments items | — | 353 | 353 | — | 255 | 255 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets | 91,336 | 3,748 | 95,084 | 71,878 | 2,398 | 74,276 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | — | 767 | 767 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Premises and equipment | 4,520 | — | 4,520 | 4,759 | — | 4,759 | ||||||||||||||||||
Statutory equalization reserves | 8,319 | — | 8,319 | 13,778 | — | 13,778 | ||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized capital gains | 8,103 | 1,865 | 9,968 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Surplus note interest | — | 22,575 | 22,575 | — | 34,491 | 34,491 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain on settlement of debt | 356 | — | 356 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 77 | — | 77 | 406 | — | 406 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross deferred tax liabilities | 178,654 | 39,863 | 218,517 | 138,752 | 45,237 | 183,989 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax (asset) liability, net | $ | (65,302 | ) | $ | 19,095 | $ | (46,207 | ) | $ | (20,477 | ) | $ | 32,724 | $ | 12,247 | |||||||||
F-69
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, there were no deferred tax asset valuation allowances at December 31, 2016 and 2015. In assessing the reliability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets.
For the Reciprocal Exchanges, the Company had a partial valuation allowance and a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and no tax benefit from consolidated pre-tax losses generated for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was recognized. For the year ended December 31, 2016, for the Adirondack Insurance Exchange consolidated group (“ADIEX”), positive evidence of a multi-year history of taxable income plus expected future income supported the full release of its valuation allowance in the amount of $12,341. For the year ended December 31, 2016, for the New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association consolidated group (“NJSIA”), negative evidence in the form of a multi-year history of net operating losses for tax purposes plus expected break-even or minimal taxable income in future years supported the determination that the realized net deferred tax asset should be fully reserved. For NJSIA, at December 31, 2016, in considering the need for the full valuation allowance, the Company concluded that retaining a deferred tax liability of $2,579 associated with the indefinite long-lived intangibles was appropriate considering this liability cannot be used to offset our net deferred tax asset when determining the amount of valuation allowance required.
The earnings of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. Therefore, no provision has been made for any U.S. taxes or foreign withholding taxes that may be applicable upon any repatriation or disposition. At December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign affiliates were approximately $72,585, $34,257 and $18,443, respectively. The determination of any unrecognized deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is not practicable.
Excluding the Reciprocal Exchanges, the Company had net operating carryforwards of $65,237, $9,453 and $8,693 available for tax purposes for the years December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The net operating loss carryforwards expire between December 31, 2029 and December 31, 2036.
Total income tax expense is different from the amount determined by multiplying earnings before income taxes by the statutory Federal tax rate of 35.00%. The reasons for such differences are as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | Tax Rate | ||||||||||||
Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ | 199,335 | $ | 10,764 | $ | 210,099 | |||||||||
Tax rate | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | |||||||||
Computed “expected” tax expense | $ | 69,767 | $ | 3,767 | $ | 73,534 | 35.00 | % | |||||||
Increase (decrease) in actual tax reported resulting from: | |||||||||||||||
Tax-exempt interest | (3,212 | ) | (149 | ) | (3,361 | ) | (1.60 | ) | |||||||
Non-deductible meals and entertainment | 397 | — | 397 | 0.19 | |||||||||||
Exempt foreign income | (13,416 | ) | — | (13,416 | ) | (6.39 | ) | ||||||||
Equity method income | 8,890 | — | 8,890 | 4.23 | |||||||||||
Goodwill impairment | 2,319 | — | 2,319 | 1.10 | |||||||||||
Statutory equalization reserves | (5,898 | ) | — | (5,898 | ) | (2.81 | ) | ||||||||
State tax | 4,824 | — | 4,824 | 2.30 | |||||||||||
Change in valuation allowance | — | (13,403 | ) | (13,403 | ) | (6.38 | ) | ||||||||
Bargain purchase gain | (8,508 | ) | — | (8,508 | ) | (4.05 | ) | ||||||||
Other permanent items | (2,756 | ) | (6 | ) | (2,762 | ) | (1.31 | ) | |||||||
Total income tax reported | $ | 52,407 | $ | (9,791 | ) | $ | 42,616 | 20.28 | % | ||||||
F-70
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | Tax Rate | ||||||||||||
Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ | 156,646 | $ | 7,944 | $ | 164,590 | |||||||||
Tax rate | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | |||||||||
Computed “expected” tax expense | $ | 54,826 | $ | 2,780 | $ | 57,606 | 35.00 | % | |||||||
Increase (decrease) in actual tax reported resulting from: | |||||||||||||||
Tax-exempt interest | (1,354 | ) | (165 | ) | (1,519 | ) | (0.92 | ) | |||||||
Non-deductible meals and entertainment | 336 | — | 336 | 0.20 | |||||||||||
Exempt foreign income | (11,393 | ) | — | (11,393 | ) | (6.92 | ) | ||||||||
Equity method income | 3,726 | — | 3,726 | 2.26 | |||||||||||
Goodwill impairment | 6,113 | — | 6,113 | 3.71 | |||||||||||
Statutory equalization reserves | (27,094 | ) | — | (27,094 | ) | (16.46 | ) | ||||||||
State tax | 1,754 | — | 1,754 | 1.07 | |||||||||||
Change in valuation allowance | — | (4,025 | ) | (4,025 | ) | (2.45 | ) | ||||||||
Other permanent items | (2,009 | ) | (4,539 | ) | (6,548 | ) | (3.97 | ) | |||||||
Total income tax reported | $ | 24,905 | $ | (5,949 | ) | $ | 18,956 | 11.52 | % | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | Tax Rate | ||||||||||||
Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ | 123,773 | $ | 3,670 | $ | 127,443 | |||||||||
Tax rate | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | |||||||||
Computed “expected” tax expense | $ | 43,321 | $ | 1,285 | $ | 44,606 | 35.00 | % | |||||||
Increase (decrease) in actual tax reported resulting from: | |||||||||||||||
Tax-exempt interest | (978 | ) | (86 | ) | (1,064 | ) | (0.83 | ) | |||||||
Non-deductible meals and entertainment | 273 | — | 273 | 0.21 | |||||||||||
Exempt foreign income | (4,304 | ) | — | (4,304 | ) | (3.38 | ) | ||||||||
Goodwill impairment | 5,527 | — | 5,527 | 4.34 | |||||||||||
Statutory equalization reserves | (21,237 | ) | — | (21,237 | ) | (16.66 | ) | ||||||||
State tax | 2,453 | — | 2,453 | 1.92 | |||||||||||
Other permanent items | (2,343 | ) | (35 | ) | (2,378 | ) | (1.86 | ) | |||||||
Total income tax reported | $ | 22,712 | $ | 1,164 | $ | 23,876 | 18.74 | % | |||||||
The Company owns a number of Luxembourg licensed reinsurers. These entities record a statutory equalization reserve which is a compulsory volatility or catastrophe reserve in excess of ordinary reserves determined by a formula based on the volatility of the business ceded to the reinsurance company. Equalization reserves are required to be established for statutory and tax purposes, but are not recognized under GAAP.
Each year, the Luxembourg reinsurer is required to adjust its equalization reserves by an amount equal to statutory net income or loss, determined based on premiums and investment income less incurred losses and operating expenses. The yearly adjustment of the equalization reserve generally results in zero pretax income on a Luxembourg statutory and tax basis. Luxembourg does not, under laws currently in effect, impose any income, corporation or profits tax on the reinsurance company. However, if the reinsurance company were to cease reinsuring business without exhausting the equalization reserves, it would recognize income in the amount of the unutilized equalization reserves that would be taxed by Luxembourg at a rate of approximately 30%.
The Company establishes deferred tax liabilities equal to approximately 30% of the unutilized statutory equalization reserves carried at its Luxembourg reinsurance companies. The deferred tax liability is adjusted each reporting period based primarily on
F-71
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
amounts ceded to the Luxembourg reinsurer under the intercompany reinsurance agreements. As the income or loss of the Luxembourg entity is primarily from intercompany activity, the impact on the consolidated pre-tax income for the consolidated group is generally zero. Accordingly, the reduction of the deferred tax liability for the utilization of equalization reserves creates a deferred tax benefit reflected in the income tax provision in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. As there is no net effect on the consolidated pre-tax income from the intercompany reinsurance activity, the impact of these transactions reduces the worldwide effective tax rate of the Company. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had approximately $27,730 and $45,927 of unutilized equalization reserves and an associated deferred tax liability of approximately $8,319 and $13,778, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, income tax expense included a tax benefit of $5,898, $27,094, and $21,237, respectively, attributable to the reduction of the deferred tax liability associated with the utilization of equalization reserves of our Luxembourg reinsurers. The effect of this tax benefit reduced the effective tax rate by 2.81%, 16.46% and 16.66% for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
As permitted by ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” the Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax provision. The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits and, therefore, has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits, or any related interest and penalties, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. No interest or penalties have been recorded by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. The Company does not anticipate any significant changes to its total unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.
All tax liabilities are payable to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and various state and local taxing agencies. Including the Reciprocal Exchanges, the Company’s subsidiaries are currently open to audit by the IRS for the year ended December 31, 2013, and years thereafter for Federal tax purposes. Including the Reciprocal Exchanges, for state and local tax purposes, the Company is open to audit for tax years ended December 31, 2012 forward, depending on jurisdiction.
16. Debt
7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055
On August 18, 2015, the Company sold $100,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.625% subordinated notes due 2055 (the “7.625% Notes”) in a public offering. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $96,550, after deducting the underwriting discount, commissions and expenses. The 7.625% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 7.625% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2015. The 7.625% Notes are the Company’s subordinated unsecured obligations and rank (i) senior in right of payment to any future junior subordinated debt, (ii) equal in right of payment with any unsecured, subordinated debt that the Company incurs in the future that ranks equally with the 7.625% Notes, and (iii) subordinate in right of payment to any of the Company’s existing and future senior debt, including amounts outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility, the Company’s 6.75% notes and certain of the Company’s other obligations. In addition, the 7.625% Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries. The 7.625% Notes mature on September 15, 2055, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by the Company. Interest expense on the 7.625% Notes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $7,625 and $2,967, respectively.
The indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The indenture also includes covenants relating to the incurrence of debt if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio would exceed 0.35 to 1.00, a limitation on liens, a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and a limitation on transactions with certain of the Company’s affiliates. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the indenture as of December 31, 2016.
6.75% Notes due 2024
On May 23, 2014, the Company sold $250,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.75% notes due 2024 (the “6.75% Notes”) to certain purchasers in a private placement. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $245,000, after deducting the issuance expenses. The 6.75% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2014. The 6.75% Notes are the Company’s general unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with its other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any of its indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the 6.75% Notes. The 6.75% Notes are also effectively subordinated to any of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness to
F-72
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and are structurally subordinated to the existing and future indebtedness of the Company’s subsidiaries (including trade payables). The 6.75% Notes mature on May 15, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by the Company.
On October 8, 2015, the Company sold an additional $100,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.75% Notes to certain purchasers in a private placement. The additional 6.75% Notes bear interest at a rate equal to 6.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2015. The additional 6.75% Notes mature on May 15, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by the Company. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $98,850, after deducting the estimated issuance expenses payable by the Company. The additional 6.75% Notes were issued under the same indenture as the original 6.75% Notes. Interest expense on the 6.75% Notes, including the additional issuance, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, was $23,625, $18,428 and $10,218, respectively.
The indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The indenture also includes covenants relating to the incurrence of debt if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio would exceed 0.35 to 1.00, a limitation on liens, a limitation on the disposition of stock of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and a limitation on transactions with certain of the Company’s affiliates. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the indenture as of December 31, 2016.
Subordinated Debentures
The Company’s subsidiary, Direct General Corporation, has established two special purpose trusts for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. The proceeds from such issuances, together with the proceeds of the related issuances of common securities of the trusts, were invested by the trusts in junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company (the “Subordinated Debentures”). The Company does not consolidate such special purpose trusts, as the Company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary. The equity investment, totaling $2,168 as of December 31, 2016 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, represents the Company’s ownership of common securities issued by the trusts. The debentures require interest-only payments to be made on a quarterly basis, with principal due at maturity. Debentures principal amounts of $41,238 and $30,930 mature on 2035 and 2037, respectively, and bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.40% and LIBOR plus 4.25%, respectively. The Subordinated Debentures are redeemable by the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount. Interest expense on the Subordinated Debentures for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $546.
Imperial-related Debt
The Company’s subsidiary, Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, is the issuer of $5,000 principal amount of Surplus Notes due 2034 (“Imperial Surplus Notes”). The notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.05%, payable quarterly. The notes are redeemable by the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount. Interest expense on the Imperial Surplus Notes for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, was $240, $220 and $110, respectively.
SPCIC-related Debt
The Company’s subsidiary, Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company, is the issuer of $4,000 principal amount of Surplus Notes due 2033 (“SPCIC Surplus Notes”). The notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.15%, payable quarterly. The notes are redeemable by the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount. Interest expense on the SPCIC Surplus Notes for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $51.
Revolving Credit Agreement
On January 25, 2016, the Company entered into a $225,000 credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association as Syndication Agent, and Associated Bank, National Association and First Niagara Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the various lending institutions party thereto. The credit facility is a revolving credit facility with a letter of credit sublimit of $112,500 and an expansion feature not to exceed $50,000. Proceeds of borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of January 25, 2020.
The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants customary for facilities of this type (subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets), including restrictions on indebtedness, liens, acquisitions and investments, restricted payments and
F-73
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
dispositions. There are also financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a minimum risk-based capital and a minimum statutory surplus. The Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, with grace periods where customary, including failure to pay principal when due, failure to pay interest or fees within three business days after becoming due, failure to comply with covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, default under certain other indebtedness, certain insolvency or receivership events affecting the Company and its subsidiaries, the occurrence of certain material judgments, or a change in control of the Company. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, the administrative agent, upon the request of the requisite percentage of the lenders, may terminate the obligations of the lenders to make loans and to issue letters of credit under the Credit Agreement, declare the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement to become immediately due and payable and/or exercise any and all remedies and other rights under the Credit Agreement.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either the Alternate Base Rate (“ABR”) or LIBOR. ABR borrowings (which are borrowings bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR) under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at (x) the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate on such day plus 0.5 percent or (c) the adjusted LIBOR for a one-month interest period on such day plus 1 percent. Eurodollar borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at the adjusted LIBOR for the interest period in effect. Fees payable by the Company under the Credit Agreement include a letter of credit participation fee (the margin applicable to Eurodollar borrowings), a letter of credit fronting fee with respect to each letter of credit (0.125%) and a commitment fee on the available commitments of the lenders (a range of 0.20% to 0.30% based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, and which rate was 0.30% as of December 31, 2016).
On May 31, 2016, the Company borrowed $50,000 under the Credit Agreement, Eurodollar borrowings was elected for interest rate. Interest payments are due the last day of the interest period in intervals of three months duration, commencing on the date of such borrowing. The borrowing bears interest at the adjusted LIBOR rate which was 3.5625% as of December 31, 2016. Interest expense on the Credit Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $945. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2016.
Century-National Promissory Note
On June 1, 2016, in connection with the closing of the Company’s acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Century-National and Western General, the Company issued a promissory note (“Century-National Promissory Note”) in the approximate amount of $178,894 to the seller to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition. The Century-National Promissory Note is unsecured and has a two-year term. Principal on the Century-National Promissory Note is payable in two equal installments of approximately $89,447 on June 1, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Century-National Promissory Note accrues at an annual rate of 4.4% and is payable in arrears on each of the two payment dates. The Century-National Promissory Note may be prepaid at any time, without penalty. The Century-National Promissory Note contains a cross-acceleration provision that is triggered in the event that payment under the Company’s Credit Agreement is accelerated and such acceleration is not revoked, rescinded or withdrawn within 30 days of such acceleration. The Century-National Promissory Note also contains customary events of default. Interest expense on the Century-National Promissory Note for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $4,615. (See Note 7, “Acquisitions” for additional information).
F-74
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Maturities of the Company’s debt for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2016 are as follows:
December 31, | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
7.625% Notes | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 100,000 | $ | 100,000 | ||||||||||||||
6.75% Notes | — | — | — | — | — | 350,000 | 350,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Subordinated Debentures | — | — | — | — | — | 72,168 | 72,168 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Imperial Surplus Notes | — | — | — | — | — | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
SPCIC Surplus Notes | — | — | — | — | — | 4,000 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Credit Agreement | — | — | — | 50,000 | — | — | 50,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Century-National Promissory Note | 89,447 | 89,447 | — | — | — | — | 178,894 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 135 | — | — | — | — | — | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total principal amount of debt | $ | 89,582 | $ | 89,447 | $ | — | $ | 50,000 | $ | — | $ | 531,168 | $ | 760,197 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discount | (8,196 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carrying amount of debt | $ | 752,001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit.
17. Other Liabilities
Other liabilities at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Book overdrafts | $ | 86,237 | $ | 57,971 | ||||
Deferred revenue | 63,211 | 65,186 | ||||||
Premium and other taxes and assessments | 35,343 | 17,791 | ||||||
Advance premiums | 16,298 | 9,242 | ||||||
Securities sold, not yet purchased | 5,013 | — | ||||||
Deferred rent expense | 1,598 | — | ||||||
Total | $ | 207,700 | $ | 150,190 | ||||
NGHC | $ | 161,200 | $ | 112,085 | ||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 46,500 | 38,105 | ||||||
Total | $ | 207,700 | $ | 150,190 | ||||
18. Related Party Transactions
The significant shareholder of the Company has an ownership interest in AmTrust, Maiden Holdings Ltd. (“Maiden”) and ACP Re. The Company provides and receives services from these related entities as follows:
Agreements with AmTrust and Affiliated Entities
Asset Management Agreement
Pursuant to an Asset Management Agreement among the Company and AII Insurance Management Limited, a subsidiary of AmTrust (“AIIM”), the Company pays AIIM a fee for managing the Company’s investment portfolio. Pursuant to the asset management agreement, AIIM provides investment management services for a quarterly fee of 0.0375% of the average value of assets under management if the average value of the account for the previous calendar quarter is greater than $1 billion. Following the initial one-year term, the agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice by either party. The amounts charged for
F-75
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
such expenses were $3,436, $2,384 and $1,916 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was a payable to AIIM related to these services in the amount of $926 and $1,909, respectively.
Master Services Agreement
AmTrust provides postage and billing services to the Company for premiums written on the Company’s new policy system pursuant to a Master Services Agreement with National General Management Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Management Corp”). The agreement is effective for ten years from the acceptance of all phases of the initial work statement and can be automatically renewed thereafter for subsequent five-year terms. The agreement is cancellable for material breach of contract that is not cured within thirty days, if either party fails to perform obligations under contract, if either party is declared bankrupt or insolvent, and in the event of a proposed change of control by either party to a competitor. The services are charged on a work-per-piece basis and are billed to the Company at cost. The Company has the right to audit the books and records as appropriate. AmTrust also provides the Company information technology development services in connection with the development of a policy management system at cost pursuant to a Master Services Agreement with National General Management Corp. In addition, as consideration for a license for the Company to use that system, AmTrust receives a license fee in the amount of 1.25% of gross premium of the Company and its affiliates written on the system plus the costs for support services. In 2014, AmTrust also began providing the Company services in managing the premium receipts from its lockbox facilities at a variable cost per item processed. The Company recorded expenses and related to the Master Services Agreement of $51,446, $36,742 and $27,072 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was a payable related to the services received under this agreement in the amount of $27,693 and $30,122, respectively.
Reinsurance Agreement
On March 22, 2012, Integon National entered into a reinsurance agreement with an AmTrust subsidiary, Agent Alliance Reinsurance Company (“AARC”), whereby the Company cedes 25% of the business written by certain agents who are members of the Company’s captive agent program along with 25% of any related losses. The Company receives a ceding commission income of 25% of the associated ceded premiums. Each party may terminate the agreement by providing 90 days written notice.
The amounts related to this reinsurance treaty are as follows:
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses | $ | 1,083 | $ | 829 | ||||||||
Commission Receivable | 139 | 107 | ||||||||||
Reinsurance Payable | 533 | 395 | ||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Ceded Premiums | $ | 2,184 | $ | 1,504 | $ | 1,317 | ||||||
Ceding Commission Income | 443 | 470 | 369 | |||||||||
Ceded Losses and LAE | 1,293 | 814 | 811 | |||||||||
NGHC Quota Share Agreement
The Company participated in a quota share reinsurance treaty with the related entities listed below whereby it ceded 50% of the total net earned premiums and net incurred losses and LAE on business with effective dates after March 1, 2010 (“NGHC Quota Share”). On August 1, 2013, the Company terminated the NGHC Quota Share agreement and stopped ceding any net earned premiums and net incurred losses and LAE on business with effective dates after July 31, 2013. The termination was on a run-off basis, meaning the Company continued to cede 50% of the net premiums and the related net losses with respect to policies in force as of July 31, 2013 through the expiration of such policies, the last of which expired on July 31, 2014.
The NGHC Quota Share provided that the reinsurers pay a provisional ceding commission equal to 32.5% of ceded earned premium, net of premiums ceded by the Company for inuring reinsurance, subject to adjustment. The ceding commission is subject to adjustment to a maximum of 34.5% if the loss ratio for the reinsured business is 60.0% or less and a minimum of 30.5% if the
F-76
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
loss ratio is 64.5% or greater. Effective October 1, 2012, the parties amended the NGHC Quota Share to decrease the provisional ceding commission from 32.5% to 32.0% of ceded earned premium, net of premiums ceded by the Company for inuring reinsurance, subject to adjustment. The ceding commission is subject to adjustment to a minimum of 30.0% (changed from 30.5%), if the loss ratio is 64.5% or greater. The Company believes that the terms, conditions and pricing of the NGHC Quota Share were determined by arm’s length negotiations and reflect market terms and conditions.
The percentage breakdown by reinsurer of such 50% is as follows:
Name of Insurer | Quota Share Percentage | |
ACP Re | 15% | |
Maiden Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Maiden | 25% | |
Technology Insurance Company, Inc., a subsidiary of AmTrust | 10% | |
The amounts related to this reinsurance treaty are as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses | Commission Receivable | Reinsurance Payable | |||||||||
ACP Re | $ | 12,411 | $ | — | $ | 10,685 | ||||||
Maiden Insurance Company | 16,823 | — | 15,957 | |||||||||
Technology Insurance Company | 6,729 | — | 6,383 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 35,963 | $ | — | $ | 33,025 | ||||||
December 31, 2015 | Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses | Commission Receivable | Reinsurance Payable | |||||||||
ACP Re | $ | 17,298 | $ | — | $ | 9,025 | ||||||
Maiden Insurance Company | 28,830 | — | 15,041 | |||||||||
Technology Insurance Company | 11,532 | — | 6,016 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 57,660 | $ | — | $ | 30,082 | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Ceded Premiums | Ceding Commission Income (Loss) | Ceded Losses and LAE | |||||||||
ACP Re | $ | — | $ | (1,661 | ) | $ | 5,642 | |||||
Maiden Insurance Company | — | (2,767 | ) | 9,403 | ||||||||
Technology Insurance Company | — | (1,107 | ) | 3,761 | ||||||||
Total | $ | — | $ | (5,535 | ) | $ | 18,806 | |||||
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | Ceded Premiums | Ceding Commission Income (Loss) | Ceded Losses and LAE | |||||||||
ACP Re | $ | — | $ | (1,226 | ) | $ | 3,657 | |||||
Maiden Insurance Company | — | (2,057 | ) | 6,109 | ||||||||
Technology Insurance Company | — | (804 | ) | 2,425 | ||||||||
Total | $ | — | $ | (4,087 | ) | $ | 12,191 | |||||
F-77
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, 2014 | Ceded Premiums | Ceding Commission Income (Loss) | Ceded Losses and LAE | |||||||||
ACP Re | $ | 12,850 | $ | 3,703 | $ | 11,486 | ||||||
Maiden Insurance Company | 21,416 | 6,115 | 19,130 | |||||||||
Technology Insurance Company | 8,567 | 2,455 | 7,671 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 42,833 | $ | 12,273 | $ | 38,287 | ||||||
Included in ceding commission income was $0, $0 and $5,076 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which represented recovery of successful acquisition cost of the reinsured contracts. These amounts have been netted against acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
The Company nets the ceded commission receivable against ceded premium payable in the consolidated balance sheets as the NGHC Quota Share Agreement allows for net settlement. The agreement also stipulates that if the Company would be denied full statutory credit for reinsurance ceded pursuant to the credit for reinsurance laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction, the reinsurers will secure an amount equal to that obligation through a letter of credit; assets held in trust for the benefit of the Company or cash. ACP Re and Maiden Insurance Company held assets in trust in the amount of $801 and $13,298, respectively, as of December 31, 2016 and $18,677 and $30,797, respectively, as of December 31, 2015.
LSC Entities, Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships
The Company has formed the LSC Entities, limited liability companies and limited partnerships with related parties. For further discussion see Note 6, “Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries.”
Agreements with ACP Re and Affiliated Entities
In connection with the acquisition of Tower Group International, Ltd. (“Tower”) by ACP Re in 2014, the Company and ACP Re entered into various agreements. In July 2016, Tower’s ten statutory insurance companies (collectively, the “Tower Companies”) merged into CastlePoint National Insurance Company (“CNIC”), with CNIC as the surviving entity, in connection with a conservation plan developed by the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of California (“Conservation Plan”) for CNIC. In September 2016, the Conservation Plan was approved and effective September 20, 2016, the following agreements terminated: (a) the $250,000 Stop-Loss Reinsurance Agreement, dated September 15, 2014, among National General Re, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company (“NG Re Ltd.”), and AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd., an affiliate of the Company (“AIIL”), as reinsurers, and CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“CP Re”), a subsidiary of ACP Re, (b) the Stop-Loss Retrocession Contract among AIIL, NG Re and ACP Re, and (c) the Personal Lines Administrative Services Agreement among Management Corp., a subsidiary of the Company, CP Re and Tower Group’s U.S. insurance companies. The Tower Companies are no longer considered a related party.
Personal Lines Master Agreement
On July 23, 2014, the Company and ACP Re entered into the Amended and Restated Personal Lines Master Agreement (the “Master Agreement”). The Master Agreement provided for the implementation of the various transactions associated with the acquisition of Tower by ACP Re. In addition, the Master Agreement required the Company to pay ACP Re a contingent consideration in the form of a three-year earnout (the “ACP Re Contingent Payments”) of 3% of gross premium written of the Tower personal lines business written or assumed by the Company following the Merger. The ACP Re Contingent Payments were subject to a maximum of $30,000, in the aggregate, over the three-year period. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the fair values of the remaining ACP Re Contingent Payments were $0 and $16,071, respectively.
PL Reinsurance Agreement and the Personal Lines Cut-Through Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement
Integon National entered into the Personal Lines Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement (the “PL Reinsurance Agreement”), with the Tower Companies, pursuant to which Integon National reinsured 100% of all losses under the Tower Companies’ new and renewal personal lines business written after September 15, 2014. The ceding commission payable by Integon National under the PL Reinsurance Agreement was equal to the sum of (i) reimbursement of the Tower Companies’ acquisition costs in respect
F-78
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
of the business covered, including commission payable to National General Insurance Marketing, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company (“NGIM”), pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement (as defined below), and premium taxes and (ii) 2% of gross premium written (net of cancellations and return premiums) collected pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement. In connection with the execution of the PL Reinsurance Agreement, the Personal Lines Cut-Through Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 3, 2014, by and among the Tower Companies and Integon National (the “Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement”), was terminated on a run-off basis, with the reinsurance of all policies reinsured under such agreement remaining in effect.
As part of the Conservation Plan the net receivable due from Tower was settled. As of December 31, 2015, there was a net receivable due from the Tower Companies of $46,565. As a result of the PL Reinsurance Agreement and the Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement and before the Conservation Plan, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company assumed $14,714, $144,497 and $439,578, respectively, of premium from the Tower Companies and recorded $3,248, $38,550 and $110,490, respectively, of assumed commission expense. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company earned premium of $52,985, $248,544 and $284,480, respectively, under these reinsurance agreements. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses of $44,694, $159,814 and $154,577, respectively, under these reinsurance agreements.
PL MGA Agreement
NGIM produced and managed all new and renewal personal lines business of the Tower Companies pursuant to a Personal Lines Managing General Agency Agreement (the “PL MGA Agreement”). As described above, all post-September 15, 2014 personal lines business written by the Tower Companies were reinsured by Integon National pursuant to the PL Reinsurance Agreement. The Tower Companies paid NGIM a 10% commission on all business written pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement. All payments by the Tower Companies to NGIM pursuant to the PL MGA Agreement were netted out of the ceding commission payable by Integon National to the Tower Companies pursuant to the PL Reinsurance Agreement. Before the Conservation Plan, the Company recorded $1,471, $12,428 and $8,826, respectively, of commission income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as a result of the PL MGA Agreement.
PL Administrative Services Agreement
Management Corp., a subsidiary of the Company, the Tower Companies and an affiliated company, CP Re, entered into the Personal Lines LPTA Administrative Services Agreement (the “PL Administrative Agreement”), pursuant to which Management Corp. administered the run-off of CP Re’s and the Tower Companies’ personal lines business written prior to September 15, 2014 at cost. CP Re and the Tower Companies reimbursed Management Corp. for its actual costs, including costs incurred in connection with claims operations, out-of-pocket expenses, costs incurred in connection with any required modifications to Management Corp.’s claims systems and an allocated portion of the claims service expenses paid by Integon National to the Tower Companies pursuant to the Cut-Through Reinsurance Agreement. As a result of the PL Administrative Agreement and before the Conservation Plan, the Company was reimbursed $68,471, $3,379 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As part of the Conservation Plan the net receivable related to the PL Administrative Agreement was settled. As of December 31, 2015, there was a receivable related to the PL Administrative Agreement of $11,795. On September 20, 2016, the PL Administrative Agreement was terminated.
Stop-Loss and Retrocession Agreements
NG Re Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, along with AIIL, an affiliate of the Company, as reinsurers, entered into a $250,000 Aggregate Stop Loss Reinsurance Agreement (the “Stop-Loss Agreement”) with CP Re. NG Re Ltd. and AIIL also entered into an Aggregate Stop Loss Retrocession Contract (the “Retrocession Agreement”) with ACP Re pursuant to which ACP Re was obligated to reinsure the full amount of any payments that NG Re Ltd. and AIIL were obligated to make to CP Re under the Stop-Loss Agreement. Pursuant to the Stop-Loss Agreement, each of NG Re Ltd. and AIIL provided, severally, $125,000 of stop loss coverage with respect to the run-off of the Tower business written on or before September 15, 2014. The reinsurers’ obligation to indemnify CP Re under the Stop-Loss Agreement was triggered only at such time as CP Re’s ultimate paid net loss related to the run-off of the pre-September 15, 2014 Tower business exceeded a retention equal to the Tower Companies’ loss and loss adjustment reserves and unearned premium reserves as of September 15, 2014, which, the parties to the Loss Portfolio Transfer Agreement have agreed will be established upon reevaluation as of December 31, 2015. CP Re was to pay AIIL and NG Re Ltd. total premium of $56,000 on the fifth anniversary of the Stop-Loss Agreement. The premium payable by NG Re Ltd. and AIIL to ACP Re pursuant to the Retrocession Agreement was $56,000 in the aggregate, less a ceding commission of 5.5% to be retained by NG Re Ltd. and
F-79
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
AIIL. The Company recorded this reinsurance transaction under the deposit method of accounting. On September 20, 2016, the Stop-Loss Agreement and Retrocession Agreement were terminated.
Credit Agreement
On September 15, 2014, NG Re Ltd. entered into a credit agreement (the “ACP Re Credit Agreement”) by and among AmTrust, as Administrative Agent, ACP Re and London Acquisition Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACP Re, as the borrowers (collectively, the “Borrowers”), ACP Re Holdings, LLC, as Guarantor, and AIIL and NG Re Ltd., as Lenders, pursuant to which the Lenders made a $250,000 loan ($125,000 made by each Lender) to the Borrowers on the terms and conditions contained within the ACP Re Credit Agreement.
On July 28, 2016, the parties entered into a restatement agreement (the “Restatement Agreement”) to the ACP Re Credit Agreement. The parties to the Restatement Agreement agreed to restate the ACP Re Credit Agreement as a result of a $200,000 contribution (the “Contribution”) by the Michael Karfunkel Family 2005 Trust (the “Trust”) and members of the Michael Karfunkel family to CNIC. The Contribution was made in connection with the Conservation Plan developed by the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of California for CNIC as successor by merger to the Tower Companies. The restated terms of the ACP Re Credit Agreement became effective on September 20, 2016.
Under the restated terms, the borrower became ACP Re Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned by the Trust. The Trust will cause ACP Re Holdings, LLC to maintain assets having a value greater than 115% of the value of the then outstanding loan balance, and if there is a shortfall, the Trust will make a contribution to ACP Re Holdings, LLC of assets having a market value of at least the shortfall (the “Maintenance Covenant”). The amounts borrowed are secured by equity interests, cash and cash equivalents, other investments held by ACP Re Holdings, LLC and proceeds of the foregoing in an amount equal to the requirements of the Maintenance Covenant. The maturity date changed from September 15, 2021 to September 20, 2036. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of $250,000 changed from a fixed annual rate of 7% to a fixed annual rate of 3.7%, provided that up to 1.2% thereof may be paid in kind. Commencing on September 20, 2026, and for each year thereafter, two percent of the then outstanding principal balance of the loan (inclusive of any amounts previously paid in kind) is due and payable. A change of control of greater than 50% and an uncured breach of the Maintenance Covenant are included as events of default. The Company recorded interest income of approximately $7,593, $8,701 and $2,601 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, under the ACP Re Credit Agreement.
At June 30, 2016, based on the consolidated financial condition of ACP Re and the continued losses from its subsidiaries' legacy Tower book of business, management of the Company identified the loan for impairment evaluation. Management determined that it was probable for the Company to be unable to collect all the contractual principal and interest payments as scheduled in the original ACP Re Credit Agreement, deeming the loan impaired. While the loan was considered impaired at June 30, 2016, the Restatement Agreement contains a Maintenance Covenant with a collateral interest which exceeded the $125,000 outstanding balance. As such, management determined no write down or reserve was needed for the carrying value of the loan at June 30, 2016 or December 31, 2016. Interest income during the period the loan was impaired was $3,218 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Management evaluates the loan for impairment on a quarterly basis, including the adequacy of our reserve position based on collateral levels maintained. The Company continues to accrue interest on the loan as all contractually required interest payments have been made in accordance with the terms of the ACP Re Credit Agreement.
Surplus Notes of the Reciprocal Exchanges
The Reciprocal Exchanges issued the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes when they were originally capitalized. The obligation to repay principal and interest on the Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes is subordinated to the Reciprocal Exchanges’ other liabilities. Principal and interest on the Reciprocal Exchanges’ Surplus Notes are payable only with regulatory approval. Effective March 31, 2016, the Company purchased the Reciprocal Exchanges' Surplus Notes from subsidiaries of ACP Re for an aggregate amount of approximately $88,900. The purchase price was based on an independent third-party valuation of the fair market value of the surplus notes. At December 31, 2016, the surplus notes receivable and the surplus notes payable are eliminated upon consolidation.
F-80
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
19. Commitments and Contingencies
Lease Commitments
The Company has various lease agreements for office space, store fronts and equipment. The Company is obligated under leases for office space and store fronts expiring at various dates through 2029. The office space and store fronts lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $24,772, $14,310 and $12,131, respectively. The Company’s future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2016, for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
Year Ending December 31, | Operating Leases | Capital Leases | Total | |||||||||
2017 | $ | 28,042 | $ | 3,687 | $ | 31,729 | ||||||
2018 | 23,874 | 4,787 | 28,661 | |||||||||
2019 | 20,961 | 4,958 | 25,919 | |||||||||
2020 | 16,890 | 5,134 | 22,024 | |||||||||
2021 | 14,177 | 2,107 | 16,284 | |||||||||
Thereafter | 47,192 | 1,920 | 49,112 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 151,136 | $ | 22,593 | $ | 173,729 | ||||||
Litigation
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are named as defendants in various legal actions arising principally from claims made under insurance policies and contracts. Those actions are considered by the Company in estimating the loss and LAE reserves. The Company’s management believes the resolution of those actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Employment Agreements
The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain individuals. The employment agreements provide for bonuses, executive benefits and severance payments under certain circumstances. Amounts payable under these agreements for the next five years are as follows:
Year Ending December 31, | ||||
2017 | $ | 6,004 | ||
2018 | 2,947 | |||
2019 | 1,558 | |||
2020 | 29 | |||
2021 | — | |||
Total | $ | 10,538 | ||
F-81
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
20. Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
On February 19, 2014, the Company sold 13,570,000 shares of common stock in a private placement in reliance on exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 at a price of $14.00 per share, subject to a placement fee of $0.840 per share. The Company recorded the cost of obtaining new capital as a reduction of the related proceeds. The cost of issuance of stock of approximately $12,146 was charged directly to additional paid-in capital. The net proceeds to the Company after expenses were approximately $177,833.
On August 18, 2015, the Company issued 11,500,000 shares of common stock in a public offering, including 1,500,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The common stock offering was priced to the public at $19.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $210,853, after deducting underwriting discount, but before expenses. The cost of issuance of stock of approximately $7,858 was charged directly to additional paid-in capital. The net proceeds to the Company after underwriting discount, commissions and expenses were approximately $210,642.
On October 7, 2016, the Company issued 272,609 shares of common stock in connection with the acquisition of SPCIC. (See Note 7, “Acquisitions” for additional information).
Preferred Stock
On June 25, 2014, the Company issued 2,200,000 shares of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) in a public offering. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or a duly authorized committee of the Board, will be payable on the liquidation preference amount of $25.00 per share, on a non-cumulative basis, quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year (each, a “dividend payment date”), commencing on October 15, 2014, at an annual rate of 7.50%. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative. Accordingly, in the event dividends are not declared on the Series A Preferred Stock for payment on any dividend payment date, then those dividends will not accumulate and will not be payable. If the Company has not declared a dividend before the dividend payment date for any dividend period, the Company will have no obligation to pay dividends for that dividend period, whether or not dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are declared for any future dividend payment. The net proceeds the Company received from the issuance was approximately $53,164, after deducting the underwriting discount and issuance expenses.
On March 27, 2015, the Company completed a public offering of 6,000,000 of its depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles the holder to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock represented thereby (including any dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights). Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a non-cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors, at a rate of 7.50% per annum, quarterly in arrears, on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2015, from and including the date of original issuance. The Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares is not redeemable prior to April 15, 2020. After that date, the Company may redeem at its option, in whole or in part, the Series B Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods and accrued but unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period. A total of 6,000,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 150,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock) were issued. Net proceeds from this offering were $145,275. The Company incurred $4,975 in underwriting discount, commissions and expenses, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
On April 6, 2015, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option with respect to an additional 600,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 15,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock), on the same terms and conditions as the original March 27, 2015 issuance. Net proceeds from this additional offering were $14,527. The Company incurred an additional $473 in underwriting discount and commissions, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
On July 7, 2016, the Company completed a public offering of 8,000,000 of its depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles
F-82
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
the holder to a proportional fractional interest in all rights and preferences of the Series C Preferred Stock represented thereby (including any dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights). Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares will be payable on the liquidation preference amount, on a non-cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors, at a rate of 7.50% per annum, quarterly in arrears, on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2016, from and including the date of original issuance. The Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares is not redeemable prior to July 15, 2021. After that date, the Company may redeem at its option, in whole or in part, the Series C Preferred Stock represented by the depositary shares at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods and accrued but unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the then current dividend period. A total of 8,000,000 depositary shares (equivalent to 200,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock) were issued, including the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Net proceeds from this offering were $193,518. The Company incurred approximately $6,482 in underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses, which were recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
21. Benefits Plan
A significant number of the Company’s employees participate in a defined contribution plan. Employer contributions vary based on criteria specific to the plan. Contribution expense was $5,251, $3,729 and $2,265 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
22. Statutory Financial Data, Risk-Based Capital and Dividend Restrictions
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries file financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices (“SAP”) prescribed or permitted by domestic or foreign insurance regulatory authorities. The differences between statutory financial statements and financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP vary between domestic and foreign jurisdictions. The principal differences relate to: (1) acquisition costs incurred in connection with acquiring new business which are charged to expense under SAP but under GAAP are deferred and amortized as the related premiums are earned; (2) limitation on net deferred tax assets created by the tax effects of temporary differences; (3) unpaid losses and loss expense, and unearned premium reserves are presented gross of reinsurance with a corresponding asset recorded; and (4) fixed maturity portfolios that are carried at fair value and changes in fair value are reflected directly in unassigned surplus, net of related deferred taxes.
Risk-Based Capital
Property and casualty insurance companies in the U.S. are subject to certain Risk-Based Capital (“RBC”) requirements as specified by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Under such requirements, the amount of statutory capital and surplus maintained by a property and casualty insurance company is to be determined on various risk factors. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the statutory capital and surplus of all of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the U.S. exceeded the RBC requirements.
For NG Re Ltd., the required statutory capital and surplus amount (known as the “Target Capital Level”), by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”), is equal to 1.2 times the enhanced capital requirement based on a level of risk based capital. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company maintained the minimum capital required by the BMA.
F-83
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Statutory Financial Data
Statutory capital and surplus as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, and statutory net income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, as per the annual financial statements of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries as of December 31 were as follows:
December 31, 2016 | Statutory Capital and Surplus | Statutory Net Income (Loss) | ||||||
Integon Indemnity Corporation | $ | 23,437 | $ | (312 | ) | |||
National General Insurance Company | 25,319 | 995 | ||||||
Integon Preferred Insurance Company | 6,690 | 141 | ||||||
Integon National Insurance Company | 594,437 | 50,408 | ||||||
MIC General Insurance Corporation | 17,261 | 250 | ||||||
National General Assurance Company | 17,019 | 177 | ||||||
Integon Casualty Insurance Company | 6,354 | 64 | ||||||
New South Insurance Company | 7,860 | 119 | ||||||
Integon General Insurance Corporation | 6,461 | (253 | ) | |||||
National General Insurance Online, Inc. | 11,339 | 53 | ||||||
National Health Insurance Company | 12,048 | 2,957 | ||||||
National General Premier Insurance Company | 16,428 | 247 | ||||||
Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company | 25,629 | 2,775 | ||||||
Agent Alliance Insurance Company | 49,966 | 895 | ||||||
Century-National Insurance Company | 248,029 | 10,425 | ||||||
Standard Property and Casualty Insurance Company | 22,684 | 45 | ||||||
Direct General Insurance Company | 112,980 | 1,887 | ||||||
Direct General Insurance Company of Louisiana | 10,619 | 187 | ||||||
Direct General Insurance Company of Mississippi | 11,757 | 465 | ||||||
Direct General Life Insurance Company | 15,115 | 3,302 | ||||||
Direct Insurance Company | 23,548 | 372 | ||||||
Direct National Insurance Company | 5,482 | (1,109 | ) | |||||
National General Re Ltd. | 718,528 | 14,052 | ||||||
National General Insurance Luxembourg, S.A. | 25,294 | 308 | ||||||
National General Life Insurance Europe, S.A. | 27,040 | 3,306 | ||||||
F-84
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
December 31, 2015 | Statutory Capital and Surplus | Statutory Net Income (Loss) | ||||||
Integon Indemnity Corporation | $ | 37,316 | $ | (2,195 | ) | |||
National General Insurance Company | 26,294 | 378 | ||||||
Integon Preferred Insurance Company | 6,769 | 324 | ||||||
Integon National Insurance Company | 448,339 | (9,995 | ) | |||||
MIC General Insurance Corporation | 19,042 | (52 | ) | |||||
National General Assurance Company | 16,819 | 130 | ||||||
Integon Casualty Insurance Company | 6,269 | 120 | ||||||
New South Insurance Company | 7,632 | 203 | ||||||
Integon General Insurance Corporation | 6,305 | 493 | ||||||
National General Insurance Online, Inc. | 11,340 | 218 | ||||||
National Health Insurance Company | 13,796 | 893 | ||||||
National General Premier Insurance Company | 16,155 | 667 | ||||||
Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company | 40,572 | 3,021 | ||||||
National Automotive Insurance Company | 7,103 | 544 | ||||||
Agent Alliance Insurance Company | 48,811 | 387 | ||||||
National General Re Ltd. | 601,276 | 163,872 | ||||||
National General Insurance Luxembourg, S.A. | 32,922 | 925 | ||||||
National General Life Insurance Europe, S.A. | 28,770 | 7,346 | ||||||
December 31, 2014 | Statutory Capital and Surplus | Statutory Net Income (Loss) | ||||||
Integon Indemnity Corporation | $ | 32,879 | $ | 18 | ||||
National General Insurance Company | 27,923 | 527 | ||||||
Integon Preferred Insurance Company | 9,324 | (66 | ) | |||||
Integon National Insurance Company | 332,405 | 11,397 | ||||||
MIC General Insurance Corporation | 19,800 | 50 | ||||||
National General Assurance Company | 17,490 | 195 | ||||||
Integon Casualty Insurance Company | 11,453 | 135 | ||||||
New South Insurance Company | 6,890 | 321 | ||||||
Integon General Insurance Corporation | 11,310 | 353 | ||||||
National General Insurance Online, Inc. | 10,878 | (53 | ) | |||||
National Health Insurance Company | 11,536 | 1,169 | ||||||
National General Premier Insurance Company | 15,520 | 789 | ||||||
Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company | 41,018 | 178 | ||||||
National Automotive Insurance Company | 7,013 | 1,502 | ||||||
Agent Alliance Insurance Company | 16,464 | (147 | ) | |||||
National General Re Ltd. | 442,400 | 54,688 | ||||||
National General Insurance Luxembourg, S.A. | 14,638 | 402 | ||||||
National General Life Insurance Europe, S.A. | 15,000 | (354 | ) | |||||
F-85
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Reciprocal Exchanges
The Reciprocal Exchanges prepare their statutory basis financial statements in accordance with SAP. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Reciprocal Exchanges had combined SAP net income (loss) of $23,884, $23,346 and $(3,646), respectively. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Reciprocal Exchanges had combined statutory capital and surplus of $149,288 and $119,330, respectively. The Reciprocal Exchanges are required to maintain minimum capital and surplus in accordance with regulatory requirements. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the capital and surplus levels of the Reciprocal Exchanges exceeded such required levels. The Reciprocal Exchanges are not owned by the Company, but managed through management agreements. Accordingly, the Reciprocal Exchanges’ net assets are not available to the Company. In addition, no dividends can be paid from the Reciprocal Exchanges to the Company.
Dividend Restrictions
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to statutory and regulatory restrictions, applicable to insurance companies, imposed by the states of domicile, which limit the amount of cash dividends or distributions that they may pay unless special permission is received from the state of domicile. This limit was approximately $397,125 and $360,070 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, there were $29,500, $23,751 and $12,000 of dividends and return of capital paid by the insurance subsidiaries to their parent company or the Company, respectively. The Company obtained permission from the states of domicile before the dividends were paid.
23. Share-Based Compensation
The Company currently has two equity incentive plan (the “Plans”). The Plans authorize up to an aggregate of 7,435,000 shares of Company stock for awards of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSU”), unrestricted stock and other performance awards. The aggregate number of shares of common stock for which awards may be issued may not exceed 7,435,000 shares, subject to the authority of the Company’s Board of Directors to adjust this amount in the event of a consolidation, reorganization, stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction affecting the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2016, approximately 1,458,772 shares of Company common stock remained available for grants under the Plans.
The Company recognizes compensation expense under ASC 718-10-25 for its share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. The Company grants stock options at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the dates the options are granted. The options have a maximum term of ten years from the date of grant and vest primarily in equal annual installments over a range of one to five years period following the date of grant for employee options. If a participant’s employment relationship ends, the participant’s vested awards will remain exercisable for the shorter of a period of 30 days or the period ending on the latest date on which such award could have been exercisable. The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated for each grant date. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The Company grants RSUs with a grant date value equal to the closing stock price of the Company’s stock on the dates the units are granted and the RSUs generally vest over a period of three or four years.
F-86
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
No options were granted for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The fair value for stock options was estimated at the date of grant with the following assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2014:
2014 | |||||
Low-End | High End | ||||
Expected price volatility | 27.00 | % | 35.00 | % | |
Risk-free interest rate | 1.74 | % | 2.26 | % | |
Weighted average expected life (in years) | 5.50 | 7.00 | |||
Forfeiture rate | 10.00 | % | 10.00 | % | |
Dividend rate | 0.40 | % | 0.40 | % | |
Expected Price Volatility - this is a measure of the amount by which a price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate.
Risk-Free Interest Rate - this is the U.S. Treasury rate for the week of the grant having a term equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense.
Weighted Average Expected Life - this is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules, historical exercise and forfeiture patterns. The Company uses the simplified method outlined in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to estimate expected lives for options granted during the period as historical exercise data is not available and the options meet the requirements set out in the Bulletin. Options granted have a maximum term of ten years. An increase in the expected life will increase compensation expense.
Forfeiture Rate - this is the estimated percentage of options granted that are expected to be forfeited or canceled before becoming fully vested. An increase in the forfeiture rate will decrease compensation expense.
Dividend Yield - this is calculated by dividing the expected annual dividend by the share price of the Company at the valuation date. An increase in the dividend yield will decrease compensation expense.
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 is shown below:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding at beginning of year | 4,123,809 | $ | 9.31 | 5,110,593 | $ | 8.88 | 5,058,363 | $ | 8.48 | |||||||||||
Granted | — | — | — | — | 195,000 | 17.63 | ||||||||||||||
Exercised | (522,967 | ) | 8.81 | (584,296 | ) | 6.31 | (125,582 | ) | 6.43 | |||||||||||
Forfeited | (17,172 | ) | 7.52 | (30,759 | ) | 8.26 | (17,188 | ) | 7.52 | |||||||||||
Withheld (1) | — | — | (371,729 | ) | 6.97 | — | — | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at end of year | 3,583,670 | $ | 9.29 | 4,123,809 | $ | 9.31 | 5,110,593 | $ | 8.88 | |||||||||||
(1) Represents shares withheld by the Company to satisfy income tax withholding liability.
The weighted average grant-date fair value of the options granted in 2014 was $6.76. The Company had approximately $6,041 and $9,069 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, all option grants outstanding had an approximate weighted average remaining life of 5.9 and 6.8 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, options exercisable had an approximate weighted average remaining life of 5.9 and 6.7 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there were approximately 3,028,989 and 2,686,762 exercisable shares with a weighted-average exercise price of $9.01 and $8.31, respectively.
F-87
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $6,533, $7,973 and $1,325, respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options that were outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $56,248 and $52,261, respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options that were exercisable as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $48,406 and $36,396, respectively.
Cash received from options exercised was $5,140, $2,595 and $796 during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The excess tax benefit from award exercises was approximately $1,813, $0 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
A summary of the Company’s RSU activity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 is shown below:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | RSUs | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | RSUs | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||||||||||||
Non-vested at beginning of year | 362,674 | $ | 19.16 | 327,555 | $ | 17.44 | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
Granted | 348,292 | 20.11 | 216,910 | 20.34 | 330,555 | 17.45 | ||||||||||||||
Vested | (78,185 | ) | 14.05 | (42,653 | ) | 17.31 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Forfeited | (21,022 | ) | 14.28 | (115,551 | ) | 17.57 | (3,000 | ) | 18.02 | |||||||||||
Withheld (1) | (43,787 | ) | 14.05 | (23,587 | ) | 17.30 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Non-vested at end of year | 567,972 | $ | 16.64 | 362,674 | $ | 19.16 | 327,555 | $ | 17.44 | |||||||||||
(1) Represents shares withheld by the Company to satisfy income tax withholding liability.
Compensation expense for all share-based compensation under ASC 718-10-30 was $8,221, $5,937 and $2,859 during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
F-88
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
24. Earnings Per Share
The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | $ | 172,216 | $ | 142,252 | $ | 102,243 | ||||||
Less: Dividends on preferred stock | (24,333 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,291 | ) | ||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC common stockholders | $ | 147,883 | $ | 128,227 | $ | 99,952 | ||||||
Denominator: | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic | 105,951,752 | 98,241,904 | 91,499,122 | |||||||||
Potentially dilutive securities: | ||||||||||||
Share options | 1,891,083 | 2,119,358 | 1,868,171 | |||||||||
Restricted stock units | 435,483 | 362,674 | 148,124 | |||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted | 108,278,318 | 100,723,936 | 93,515,417 | |||||||||
Basic earnings per share attributable to NGHC common stockholders | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.31 | $ | 1.09 | ||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to NGHC common stockholders | $ | 1.37 | $ | 1.27 | $ | 1.07 | ||||||
As of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, 1,556,441, 2,432,421 and 2,674,014 share options, respectively, were excluded from diluted earnings per common share as they were anti-dilutive.
F-89
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
25. Segment Information
The Company currently operates two business segments, Property and Casualty and Accident and Health. The “Corporate and Other” column represents the activities of the holding company, as well as income from the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company evaluates segment performance based on segment profit separately from the results of the Company’s investment portfolio. Other operating expenses allocated to the segments are called General and Administrative expenses which are allocated on an actual basis except salaries and benefits where management’s judgment is applied. In determining total assets by segment, the Company identifies those assets that are attributable to a particular segment such as deferred acquisition cost, reinsurance recoverable, goodwill, intangible assets and prepaid reinsurance while the remaining assets are allocated to Corporate and Other.
The Property and Casualty segment, which includes the Reciprocal Exchanges and the Management Companies, reports the management fees earned by the Company from the Reciprocal Exchanges for underwriting, investment management and other services as service and fee income for the Company. The effects of these transactions between the Company and the Reciprocal Exchanges are eliminated in consolidation to derive consolidated net income.
The following tables summarize the results of operations of the Company’s operating segments:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Underwriting revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 3,035,498 | $ | 464,010 | $ | — | $ | 3,499,508 | ||||||||
Ceded premiums | (382,860 | ) | (45,342 | ) | — | (428,202 | ) | |||||||||
Net premium written | 2,652,638 | 418,668 | — | 3,071,306 | ||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (73,284 | ) | (4,241 | ) | — | (77,525 | ) | |||||||||
Net earned premium | 2,579,354 | 414,427 | — | 2,993,781 | ||||||||||||
Ceding commission income | 44,269 | 1,331 | — | 45,600 | ||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 241,881 | 138,936 | — | 380,817 | ||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | 2,865,504 | 554,694 | — | 3,420,198 | ||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,659,178 | 299,367 | — | 1,958,545 | ||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 394,428 | 102,730 | — | 497,158 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 712,707 | 131,407 | — | 844,114 | ||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | 2,766,313 | 533,504 | — | 3,299,817 | ||||||||||||
Underwriting income | 99,191 | 21,190 | — | 120,381 | ||||||||||||
Net investment income | — | — | 99,586 | 99,586 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments | — | — | 3,854 | 3,854 | ||||||||||||
Bargain purchase gain and other revenue | — | — | 26,458 | 26,458 | ||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | — | — | 25,401 | 25,401 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | — | (40,180 | ) | (40,180 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | — | — | (42,616 | ) | (42,616 | ) | ||||||||||
Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | — | — | (20,668 | ) | (20,668 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | $ | 99,191 | $ | 21,190 | $ | 51,835 | $ | 172,216 | ||||||||
NGHC | $ | 91,152 | $ | 21,190 | $ | 59,874 | $ | 172,216 | ||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 8,039 | — | (8,039 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | $ | 99,191 | $ | 21,190 | $ | 51,835 | $ | 172,216 | ||||||||
F-90
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Underwriting revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 2,337,826 | $ | 251,922 | $ | — | $ | 2,589,748 | ||||||||
Ceded premiums | (367,533 | ) | (35,969 | ) | — | (403,502 | ) | |||||||||
Net premium written | 1,970,293 | 215,953 | — | 2,186,246 | ||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (51,784 | ) | (4,652 | ) | — | (56,436 | ) | |||||||||
Net earned premium | 1,918,509 | 211,301 | — | 2,129,810 | ||||||||||||
Ceding commission income | 42,699 | 1,091 | — | 43,790 | ||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 174,738 | 98,810 | — | 273,548 | ||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | 2,135,946 | 311,202 | — | 2,447,148 | ||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 1,210,319 | 171,322 | — | 1,381,641 | ||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 339,931 | 65,999 | — | 405,930 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 448,236 | 82,111 | — | 530,347 | ||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | 1,998,486 | 319,432 | — | 2,317,918 | ||||||||||||
Underwriting income (loss) | 137,460 | (8,230 | ) | — | 129,230 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | — | — | 75,340 | 75,340 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments | — | — | (10,307 | ) | (10,307 | ) | ||||||||||
Other expense | — | — | (788 | ) | (788 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | — | — | 10,643 | 10,643 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | — | (28,885 | ) | (28,885 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | — | — | (18,956 | ) | (18,956 | ) | ||||||||||
Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | — | — | (14,025 | ) | (14,025 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to NGHC | $ | 137,460 | $ | (8,230 | ) | $ | 13,022 | $ | 142,252 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 134,117 | $ | (8,230 | ) | $ | 16,365 | $ | 142,252 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 3,343 | — | (3,343 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to NGHC | $ | 137,460 | $ | (8,230 | ) | $ | 13,022 | $ | 142,252 | |||||||
F-91
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, 2014 | Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Underwriting revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written | $ | 1,994,708 | $ | 140,399 | $ | — | $ | 2,135,107 | ||||||||
Ceded premiums | (264,686 | ) | (397 | ) | — | (265,083 | ) | |||||||||
Net premium written | 1,730,022 | 140,002 | — | 1,870,024 | ||||||||||||
Change in unearned premium | (217,278 | ) | (19,526 | ) | — | (236,804 | ) | |||||||||
Net earned premium | 1,512,744 | 120,476 | — | 1,633,220 | ||||||||||||
Ceding commission income | 12,430 | — | — | 12,430 | ||||||||||||
Service and fee income | 110,114 | 58,457 | — | 168,571 | ||||||||||||
Total underwriting revenues | 1,635,288 | 178,933 | — | 1,814,221 | ||||||||||||
Underwriting expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense | 967,176 | 85,889 | — | 1,053,065 | ||||||||||||
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses | 260,397 | 54,692 | — | 315,089 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 292,145 | 56,617 | — | 348,762 | ||||||||||||
Total underwriting expenses | 1,519,718 | 197,198 | — | 1,716,916 | ||||||||||||
Underwriting income (loss) | 115,570 | (18,265 | ) | — | 97,305 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | — | — | 52,426 | 52,426 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments | — | — | (2,892 | ) | (2,892 | ) | ||||||||||
Other expense | — | — | (1,660 | ) | (1,660 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | — | — | 1,180 | 1,180 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | — | (17,736 | ) | (17,736 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | — | — | (23,876 | ) | (23,876 | ) | ||||||||||
Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | — | — | (2,504 | ) | (2,504 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to NGHC | $ | 115,570 | $ | (18,265 | ) | $ | 4,938 | $ | 102,243 | |||||||
NGHC | $ | 107,975 | $ | (18,265 | ) | $ | 12,533 | $ | 102,243 | |||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | 7,595 | — | (7,595 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to NGHC | $ | 115,570 | $ | (18,265 | ) | $ | 4,938 | $ | 102,243 | |||||||
The following tables summarize the financial position of the Company’s operating segments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:
December 31, 2016 | Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | $ | 1,008,407 | $ | 149,701 | $ | — | $ | 1,158,108 | ||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 207,597 | 13,325 | — | 220,922 | ||||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 869,864 | 10,933 | — | 880,797 | ||||||||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 156,970 | — | — | 156,970 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net | 524,981 | 98,029 | — | 623,010 | ||||||||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 28,077 | 25,854 | 412 | 54,343 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other assets | — | — | 4,150,831 | 4,150,831 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,795,896 | $ | 297,842 | $ | 4,151,243 | $ | 7,244,981 | ||||||||
F-92
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
December 31, 2015 | Property and Casualty | Accident and Health | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | $ | 684,857 | $ | 73,776 | $ | — | $ | 758,633 | ||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs | 153,767 | 6,764 | — | 160,531 | ||||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 832,593 | 583 | — | 833,176 | ||||||||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 128,343 | — | — | 128,343 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net | 366,021 | 95,291 | — | 461,312 | ||||||||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 19,914 | 17,504 | 4,066 | 41,484 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other assets | — | — | 3,179,913 | 3,179,913 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,185,495 | $ | 193,918 | $ | 3,183,979 | $ | 5,563,392 | ||||||||
The following tables show an analysis of the Company’s gross and net premiums written and net earned premium by geographical location for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Gross premium written - North America | $ | 3,155,003 | $ | 241,540 | $ | 3,396,543 | $ | 2,217,844 | $ | 283,582 | $ | 2,501,426 | ||||||||||||
Gross premium written - Europe | 102,965 | — | 102,965 | 88,322 | — | 88,322 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 3,257,968 | $ | 241,540 | $ | 3,499,508 | $ | 2,306,166 | $ | 283,582 | $ | 2,589,748 | ||||||||||||
Net premium written - North America | $ | 1,700,810 | $ | 120,548 | $ | 1,821,358 | $ | 922,386 | $ | 126,091 | $ | 1,048,477 | ||||||||||||
Net premium written - Bermuda | 1,124,084 | — | 1,124,084 | 1,009,447 | — | 1,009,447 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net premium written - Europe | 125,864 | — | 125,864 | 128,322 | — | 128,322 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,950,758 | $ | 120,548 | $ | 3,071,306 | $ | 2,060,155 | $ | 126,091 | $ | 2,186,246 | ||||||||||||
Net earned premium - North America | $ | 1,638,871 | $ | 110,395 | $ | 1,749,266 | $ | 862,034 | $ | 134,709 | $ | 996,743 | ||||||||||||
Net earned premium - Bermuda | 1,124,084 | — | 1,124,084 | 1,009,447 | — | 1,009,447 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earned premium - Europe | 120,431 | — | 120,431 | 123,620 | — | 123,620 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,883,386 | $ | 110,395 | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 1,995,101 | $ | 134,709 | $ | 2,129,810 | ||||||||||||
F-93
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | ||||||||||||
NGHC | Reciprocal Exchanges | Total | ||||||||||
Gross premium written - North America | $ | 1,965,942 | $ | 70,042 | $ | 2,035,984 | ||||||
Gross premium written - Europe | 99,123 | — | 99,123 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 2,065,065 | $ | 70,042 | $ | 2,135,107 | ||||||
Net premium written - North America | $ | 927,760 | $ | 53,076 | $ | 980,836 | ||||||
Net premium written - Bermuda | 750,065 | — | 750,065 | |||||||||
Net premium written - Europe | 139,123 | — | 139,123 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 1,816,948 | $ | 53,076 | $ | 1,870,024 | ||||||
Net earned premium - North America | $ | 715,906 | $ | 47,622 | $ | 763,528 | ||||||
Net earned premium - Bermuda | 750,065 | — | 750,065 | |||||||||
Net earned premium - Europe | 119,627 | — | 119,627 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 1,585,598 | $ | 47,622 | $ | 1,633,220 | ||||||
The following tables show an analysis of the Company’s gross premium written, net premium written and net earned premium by product type for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Gross Premium Written | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Property and Casualty | ||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 1,548,365 | $ | 1,240,224 | $ | 1,241,575 | ||||||
Homeowners | 410,565 | 327,299 | 366,997 | |||||||||
RV/Packaged | 165,919 | 154,929 | 153,553 | |||||||||
Commercial Auto | 257,075 | 187,686 | 146,124 | |||||||||
Lender-placed insurance | 376,058 | 126,570 | — | |||||||||
Other | 35,976 | 17,536 | 16,417 | |||||||||
Property and Casualty | $ | 2,793,958 | $ | 2,054,244 | $ | 1,924,666 | ||||||
Accident and Health | 464,010 | 251,922 | 140,399 | |||||||||
NGHC Total | $ | 3,257,968 | $ | 2,306,166 | $ | 2,065,065 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | ||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 73,680 | $ | 88,494 | $ | 32,436 | ||||||
Homeowners | 161,510 | 187,424 | 33,028 | |||||||||
Other | 6,350 | 7,664 | 4,578 | |||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges Total | $ | 241,540 | $ | 283,582 | $ | 70,042 | ||||||
Total | $ | 3,499,508 | $ | 2,589,748 | $ | 2,135,107 | ||||||
F-94
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Net Premium Written | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Property and Casualty | ||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 1,380,125 | $ | 1,070,852 | $ | 1,047,795 | ||||||
Homeowners | 369,810 | 309,775 | 333,586 | |||||||||
RV/Packaged | 165,025 | 153,501 | 148,456 | |||||||||
Commercial Auto | 234,101 | 170,720 | 132,002 | |||||||||
Lender-placed insurance | 363,896 | 125,693 | — | |||||||||
Other | 19,133 | 13,661 | 15,107 | |||||||||
Property and Casualty | $ | 2,532,090 | $ | 1,844,202 | $ | 1,676,946 | ||||||
Accident and Health | 418,668 | 215,953 | 140,002 | |||||||||
NGHC Total | $ | 2,950,758 | $ | 2,060,155 | $ | 1,816,948 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | ||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 44,661 | $ | 50,686 | $ | 32,075 | ||||||
Homeowners | 71,367 | 67,796 | 17,127 | |||||||||
Other | 4,520 | 7,609 | 3,874 | |||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges Total | $ | 120,548 | $ | 126,091 | $ | 53,076 | ||||||
Total | $ | 3,071,306 | $ | 2,186,246 | $ | 1,870,024 | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Net Earned Premium | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Property and Casualty | ||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 1,292,563 | $ | 1,054,529 | $ | 979,082 | ||||||
Homeowners | 353,228 | 286,920 | 204,285 | |||||||||
RV/Packaged | 158,256 | 150,290 | 147,587 | |||||||||
Commercial Auto | 217,919 | 154,565 | 118,759 | |||||||||
Lender-placed insurance | 422,645 | 123,274 | — | |||||||||
Other | 24,348 | 14,222 | 15,409 | |||||||||
Property and Casualty | $ | 2,468,959 | $ | 1,783,800 | $ | 1,465,122 | ||||||
Accident and Health | 414,427 | 211,301 | 120,476 | |||||||||
NGHC Total | $ | 2,883,386 | $ | 1,995,101 | $ | 1,585,598 | ||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges | ||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 42,225 | $ | 74,477 | $ | 28,405 | ||||||
Homeowners | 61,748 | 54,565 | 15,779 | |||||||||
Other | 6,422 | 5,667 | 3,438 | |||||||||
Reciprocal Exchanges Total | $ | 110,395 | $ | 134,709 | $ | 47,622 | ||||||
Total | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 2,129,810 | $ | 1,633,220 | ||||||
F-95
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)
26. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following tables summarize the Company’s quarterly financial data:
2016 | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 775,957 | $ | 846,184 | $ | 896,776 | $ | 1,031,179 | ||||||||
Total expenses | 707,717 | 781,291 | 859,785 | 991,204 | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 18,083 | 14,551 | 8,805 | 1,177 | ||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 6,682 | 7,356 | 2,953 | 8,410 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 56,839 | 57,698 | 31,139 | 47,208 | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | 56,827 | 48,470 | 28,130 | 38,789 | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC common stockholders | 52,702 | 44,345 | 19,922 | 30,914 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | 80,787 | 104,425 | 55,159 | (13,909 | ) | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NGHC | $ | 80,775 | $ | 88,660 | $ | 50,836 | $ | (15,931 | ) | |||||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.29 | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.49 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.28 | ||||||||
2015 | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 557,695 | $ | 553,653 | $ | 590,039 | $ | 810,006 | ||||||||
Total expenses | 511,338 | 511,090 | 539,012 | 785,363 | ||||||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 8,387 | 7,891 | 8,614 | (5,936 | ) | |||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | 4,958 | 1,654 | 2,288 | 1,743 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 42,928 | 36,326 | 44,701 | 32,322 | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | 42,768 | 38,527 | 43,113 | 17,844 | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC common stockholders | 41,737 | 33,783 | 38,988 | 13,719 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive income | 57,120 | 13,797 | 31,798 | 9,992 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NGHC | $ | 55,259 | $ | 20,837 | $ | 30,566 | $ | (4,016 | ) | |||||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.36 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.13 | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.13 | ||||||||
Due to changes in number of shares outstanding from quarter to quarter, the total earnings per share of the four quarters may not necessarily equal the earnings per share for the year.
F-96
Schedule I
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
(In Thousands)
December 31, 2016 | Cost(1) | Value | Amount at which shown in the Balance Sheet | |||||||||
Fixed Maturities: | ||||||||||||
Bonds: | ||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agencies and authorities | $ | 46,144 | $ | 46,561 | $ | 46,561 | ||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 460,089 | 452,311 | 452,311 | |||||||||
Foreign governments | 60,025 | 56,799 | 56,799 | |||||||||
Public utilities | 79,191 | 81,681 | 81,681 | |||||||||
All other corporate bonds (2) | 2,427,311 | 2,463,124 | 2,463,124 | |||||||||
Certificates of deposit | 21,178 | 21,178 | 21,178 | |||||||||
Total Fixed Maturities | 3,093,938 | 3,121,654 | 3,121,654 | |||||||||
Equity Securities: | ||||||||||||
Common stock: | ||||||||||||
Public utilities, banks, trust and insurance companies | 6,593 | 8,729 | 8,729 | |||||||||
Industrial, miscellaneous and all other | 42,857 | 49,420 | 49,420 | |||||||||
Nonredeemable preferred stocks | 1,580 | 1,562 | 1,562 | |||||||||
Total Equity Securities | 51,030 | 59,711 | 59,711 | |||||||||
Other Investments (3) | 85,722 | 85,722 | 85,722 | |||||||||
Other Short-term Investments (3) | 15,674 | 15,674 | 15,674 | |||||||||
Total Investments (other than investments in related parties) | $ | 3,246,364 | $ | 3,282,761 | $ | 3,282,761 | ||||||
(1) | Original cost of equity securities and, as to fixed maturities, original cost reduced by repayments and adjusted for amortization of premiums or accrual of discounts. |
(2) | Includes structured securities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. |
(3) | Approximates market value. |
S-1
Schedule II
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
BALANCE SHEETS — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
(In Thousands, Except Shares and Par Value per Share)
December 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Investments: | |||||||
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $36,132 and $229,405) | $ | 36,717 | $ | 230,952 | |||
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries | 4,189 | 4,139 | |||||
Equity investment in consolidated subsidiaries | 2,528,481 | 1,782,748 | |||||
Total investments | 2,569,387 | 2,017,839 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 23,609 | 16,642 | |||||
Accrued investment income | 234 | 858 | |||||
Due from affiliates | 27,088 | 1,843 | |||||
Premiums and other receivables, net | 552 | 445 | |||||
Deferred tax asset | 8,345 | 7,992 | |||||
Income tax receivable | — | 19,931 | |||||
Prepaid and other assets | 412 | — | |||||
Total Assets | $ | 2,629,627 | $ | 2,065,550 | |||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 22,179 | $ | 35,365 | |||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value | — | 52,484 | |||||
Income tax payable | 11,246 | — | |||||
Debt | 670,698 | 441,061 | |||||
Total Liabilities | $ | 704,123 | $ | 528,910 | |||
Stockholders' Equity: | |||||||
Total Stockholders' Equity | $ | 1,925,504 | $ | 1,536,640 | |||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 2,629,627 | $ | 2,065,550 | |||
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
S-2
Schedule II
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Income: | ||||||||||||
Investment income | $ | 8,777 | $ | 3,813 | $ | 3,416 | ||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 793 | (534 | ) | (2,489 | ) | |||||||
Equity in undistributed net income of consolidated subsidiaries and partially-owned companies | 235,817 | 160,396 | 112,850 | |||||||||
Total income | 245,387 | 163,675 | 113,777 | |||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 38,817 | 24,065 | 11,753 | |||||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (4,246 | ) | 321 | 273 | ||||||||
Total expenses | 34,571 | 24,386 | 12,026 | |||||||||
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes | 210,816 | 139,289 | 101,751 | |||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 17,932 | (16,988 | ) | (2,996 | ) | |||||||
Net income | 192,884 | 156,277 | 104,747 | |||||||||
Less: Net (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | (20,668 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,504 | ) | ||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC | 172,216 | 142,252 | 102,243 | |||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (24,333 | ) | (14,025 | ) | (2,291 | ) | ||||||
Net income attributable to NGHC common stockholders | $ | 147,883 | $ | 128,227 | $ | 99,952 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | ||||||||||||
Changes in: | ||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | $ | 1,460 | $ | 1,026 | $ | (5,171 | ) | |||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 32,118 | (44,596 | ) | 18,620 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 33,578 | (43,570 | ) | 13,449 | ||||||||
Comprehensive income | 226,462 | 112,707 | 118,196 | |||||||||
Less: Comprehensive (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | (22,122 | ) | (10,061 | ) | (3,186 | ) | ||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to NGHC | $ | 204,340 | $ | 102,646 | $ | 115,010 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
S-3
Schedule II
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 192,884 | $ | 156,277 | $ | 104,747 | ||||||
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Net amortization of premium (discount) on fixed maturities | 1,008 | (296 | ) | 2,596 | ||||||||
Stock-compensation expense | 8,221 | 5,937 | 2,859 | |||||||||
Other net realized (gain) loss on investments | (793 | ) | 534 | 2,489 | ||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries | (247,457 | ) | (213,288 | ) | (118,870 | ) | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | (139 | ) | (1,655 | ) | |||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Accrued interest | 624 | (111 | ) | 25 | ||||||||
Other assets | (519 | ) | (445 | ) | — | |||||||
Due to/from affiliates | (25,245 | ) | (11,109 | ) | 25,533 | |||||||
Deferred tax asset | (15 | ) | 1,187 | (19,537 | ) | |||||||
Income tax receivable/payable | 31,177 | (26,548 | ) | 6,754 | ||||||||
Other liabilities | (17,998 | ) | (4,869 | ) | 28,714 | |||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (58,113 | ) | (92,870 | ) | 33,655 | |||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||
Purchases of fixed maturities | (478,502 | ) | (569,632 | ) | (102,191 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities | 672,323 | 355,576 | 173,804 | |||||||||
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries | (297,164 | ) | (275,598 | ) | (517,953 | ) | ||||||
Purchase of other investments | — | (4,139 | ) | — | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (103,343 | ) | (493,793 | ) | (446,340 | ) | ||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net | (52,484 | ) | 52,484 | — | ||||||||
Proceeds from debt | 50,000 | 195,400 | 245,077 | |||||||||
Repayments of debt and return of capital | (150 | ) | — | (59,200 | ) | |||||||
Issuances of common and preferred stock, net of fees | 198,460 | 370,194 | 230,997 | |||||||||
Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders | (34,356 | ) | (18,650 | ) | (4,860 | ) | ||||||
Exercises of stock options | 5,140 | 2,595 | 796 | |||||||||
Excess tax benefits on shared-based payments arrangements | 1,813 | — | — | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 168,423 | 602,023 | 412,810 | |||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 6,967 | 15,360 | 125 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year | 16,642 | 1,282 | 1,157 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year | $ | 23,609 | $ | 16,642 | $ | 1,282 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
S-4
Schedule II
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
NOTES — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
1. Basis of Presentation
In the parent-company-only financial statements, the Company’s investment in subsidiaries is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries since the date of acquisition. The Company’s share of net income of its unconsolidated subsidiaries is included in consolidated income using the equity method. The parent-company-only financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
2. Dividends
For information relating to cash dividends paid to the registrant or the Company by its consolidated subsidiaries and investees accounted for by the equity method. See Note 22, “Statutory Financial Data, Risk-Based Capital and Dividend Restrictions” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
S-5
Schedule III
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Segment | Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs | Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves | Unearned Premiums | Net Earned Premium | Net Investment Income | Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Incurred | Deferred Acquisition Costs Amortization | Other Operating Expenses | Net Written Premium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty | $ | 207,597 | $ | 2,073,466 | $ | 1,613,213 | $ | 2,579,354 | $ | — | $ | 1,659,178 | $ | 365,802 | $ | 28,626 | $ | 2,652,638 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accident and health | 13,325 | 191,606 | 22,412 | 414,427 | — | 299,367 | 45,199 | 57,531 | 418,668 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | — | — | — | — | 99,586 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 220,922 | $ | 2,265,072 | $ | 1,635,625 | $ | 2,993,781 | $ | 99,586 | $ | 1,958,545 | $ | 411,001 | $ | 86,157 | $ | 3,071,306 | ||||||||||||||||||
2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty | $ | 153,767 | $ | 1,612,346 | $ | 1,172,516 | $ | 1,918,509 | $ | — | $ | 1,210,319 | $ | 302,126 | $ | 37,805 | $ | 1,970,293 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accident and health | 6,764 | 143,278 | 19,983 | 211,301 | — | 171,322 | 31,857 | 34,142 | 215,953 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | — | — | — | — | 75,340 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 160,531 | $ | 1,755,624 | $ | 1,192,499 | $ | 2,129,810 | $ | 75,340 | $ | 1,381,641 | $ | 333,983 | $ | 71,947 | $ | 2,186,246 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty | $ | 119,167 | $ | 1,521,134 | $ | 851,875 | $ | 1,512,744 | $ | — | $ | 967,176 | $ | 171,693 | $ | 88,704 | $ | 1,730,022 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accident and health | 6,832 | 41,019 | 12,561 | 120,476 | — | 85,889 | 32,624 | 22,068 | 140,002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | — | — | — | — | 52,426 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 125,999 | $ | 1,562,153 | $ | 864,436 | $ | 1,633,220 | $ | 52,426 | $ | 1,053,065 | $ | 204,317 | $ | 110,772 | $ | 1,870,024 | ||||||||||||||||||
S-6
Schedule IV
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
REINSURANCE
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | Gross Amount | Ceded to Other Companies | Assumed Other Companies | Net Amount | Percent of Amount Assumed to Net | ||||||||||||||
2016 | |||||||||||||||||||
Premiums | $ | 2,716,713 | $ | (410,761 | ) | $ | 687,829 | $ | 2,993,781 | 23.0 | % | ||||||||
2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
Premiums | $ | 2,052,880 | $ | (377,921 | ) | $ | 454,851 | $ | 2,129,810 | 21.4 | % | ||||||||
2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
Premiums | $ | 1,496,709 | $ | (277,899 | ) | $ | 414,410 | $ | 1,633,220 | 25.4 | % | ||||||||
S-7
Schedule V
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(In Thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Additions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Description | Balance at beginning of the year | Charge (Benefit) to costs and expenses | Charge to other accounts | Additions (Deductions) | Balance at end of the year | |||||||||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts | $ | 13,433 | $ | 35,356 | $ | — | $ | (32,570 | ) | $ | 16,219 | |||||||||
Valuation allowance for deferred taxes | 17,295 | (10,910 | ) | — | 750 | 7,135 | ||||||||||||||
2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts | $ | 9,728 | $ | 23,810 | $ | — | $ | (20,105 | ) | $ | 13,433 | |||||||||
Valuation allowance for deferred taxes | 21,518 | (4,223 | ) | — | — | 17,295 | ||||||||||||||
2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts | $ | 6,064 | $ | 29,133 | $ | — | $ | (25,469 | ) | $ | 9,728 | |||||||||
Valuation allowance for deferred taxes | — | — | — | 21,518 | 21,518 | |||||||||||||||
S-8
Schedule VI
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING
PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS
(In Thousands)
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Incurred Related to | Paid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses | |||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | Current Year | Prior Years | ||||||||||
2016 | $ | 1,945,007 | $ | 13,538 | $ | 1,794,905 | ||||||
2015 | $ | 1,365,957 | $ | 15,684 | $ | 1,276,285 | ||||||
2014 | $ | 1,033,788 | $ | 19,277 | $ | 865,980 | ||||||
S-9
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report:
Exhibit No. | Description | |
3.1 | Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of National General Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
3.3 | Certificate of Designations for 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2014) | |
3.4 | Certificate of Designations of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2015) | |
3.5 | Certificate of Designations of 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2016) | |
4.1 | Form of Common Stock Certificate of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
4.2 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2009, by and among the Company, The Michael Karfunkel 2005 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, Michael Karfunkel and AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd., as assignee of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
4.3 | Form of Stock Certificate evidencing 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2014) | |
4.4 | Form of stock certificate evidencing 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2015) | |
4.5 | Form of stock certificate evidencing 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2016) | |
4.6 | Form of 6.750% Notes due 2024 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.9) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2014) | |
4.7 | Form of 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.10) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2015) | |
4.8 | Indenture, dated as of May 23, 2014, by and between the Company, as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2014) | |
4.9 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 23, 2014, by and between the Company, as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2014) | |
4.10 | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2015, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2015) | |
4.11 | Deposit Agreement, dated March 27, 2015, among National General Holdings Corp., American Stock Transfer & Company, LLC and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2015) | |
4.12 | Deposit Agreement, dated July 7, 2016, among National General Holdings Corp., American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2016) | |
4.13 | Form of depositary receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2015) | |
4.14 | Form of depositary receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2016) | |
10.1* | American Capital Acquisition Corporation 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
Exhibit No. | Description | |
10.2* | Form of Statutory Time-Based Stock Option Agreement for the American Capital Acquisition Corporation 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.3* | Amendment to Form of Statutory Time-Based Stock Option Agreement for the American Capital Acquisition Corporation 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.4* | 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.5* | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement for the NGHC 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.6* | Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement for the NGHC 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.7* | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for the NGHC 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2014) | |
10.8* | Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Certain Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.9* | Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2013, by and between National General Management Corp. and Michael Weiner (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.10 | Personal and Commercial Automobile Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement between Integon National Insurance Company and Technology Insurance Company, Inc., Maiden Insurance Company Ltd., and ACP Re, Ltd., effective March 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.11 | Addendum No. 1 to Personal and Commercial Automobile Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement between Integon National Insurance Company and Technology Insurance Company, Inc., Maiden Insurance Company Ltd., and ACP Re, Ltd., effective October 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.12 | Master Services Agreement between AmTrust North America, Inc. and National General Management Corp., dated February 22, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on August 7, 2013) | |
10.13 | Amended and Restated Marketing Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2012, by and among Good Sam Enterprises, LLC, Camping World, Inc., CWI, Inc. and National General Insurance Marketing, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-190454) filed on September 24, 2013) (confidential treatment granted under Rule 24b-2 as to certain portions which are omitted and filed separately with the SEC) | |
10.14 | Promissory Note, dated June 1, 2016, issued by National General Holdings Corp. in favor of Kramer-Wilson Company, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2016) | |
10.15 | Credit Agreement, dated January 25, 2016, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association as Syndication Agent, and Associated Bank, National Association and First Niagara Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the various lending parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2016) | |
10.16 | Amendment No. 1, dated October 14, 2016, to the Credit Agreement, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, KeyBank National Association as Syndication Agent, and Associated Bank, National Association and First Niagara Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the various lending parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 14, 2016) | |
10.17 | Restatement Agreement, dated July 28, 2016, among AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. as Administrative Agent, ACP Re Ltd., Tower Group International, Ltd., ACP Re Holdings, LLC, and AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. and National General Re Ltd., as Lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 20, 2016) | |
Exhibit No. | Description | |
10.18 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated September 20, 2016, among AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.as Administrative Agent, ACP Re Holdings, LLC, the Michael Karfunkel Family 2005 Trust, and AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. and National General Re Ltd., as Lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 20, 2016) | |
12.1 | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed herewith) | |
21.1 | List of subsidiaries of the Company (filed herewith) | |
23.1 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, relating to the Financial Statements of the Company (filed herewith) | |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith) | |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith) | |
32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.SC. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith) | |
32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.SC. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith) | |
101.1 | The following materials from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014; and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (submitted electronically herewith) | |
The Company and its subsidiaries are party to other long-term debt instruments not filed herewith under which the total amount of securities authorized does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Pursuant to paragraph 4(iii)(A) of Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K, the Company agrees to furnish a copy of such instruments to the SEC upon request. | ||
* | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | |