Atlas has used the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair value:
•Including the change in accounting treatment in the fourth quarter of 2019, book value per common share decreased $1.05 to $(1.76) as of December 31, 2020 from $(0.71) as of December 31, 2019.
The loss ratio relating to the net claims incurred was 73.3% in 2019. The loss ratio decreasing to 0% in 2020 was the result of the deconsolidation of the ASI Pool Companies.
- Evaluated management’s ability and intent to execute management’s plans based on prior experience.
Prior to a strategic transition, our core business was the underwriting of commercial automobile insurance policies, focusing on the “light” commercial automobile sector, through American Country Insurance Company (“American Country”), American Service Insurance Company, Inc. (“American Service”) and Gateway Insurance Company (“Gateway” and together with American Country and American Service, the “ASI Pool Companies”) and Global Liberty Insurance Company of New York (“Global Liberty” and together with the ASI Pool Companies, our “Insurance Subsidiaries”), along with our wholly owned managing general agency, AGMI. The ASI Pool Companies were placed into rehabilitation under the statutory control of the Illinois Department of Insurance during the second half of 2019 and were subsequently placed into liquidation and have been deconsolidated from our consolidated financial statements as of October 1, 2019 as a result of these actions. Other regulatory actions were taken in certain states, including restriction, suspension, or revocation of certain state licenses and certificates of authority held by the ASI Pool Companies preceding and following the initiation of rehabilitation.
During 2019, the Company received notice from General Reinsurance Corporation (“Gen Re”) that effective July 31, 2019, the XOL reinsurance coverage for the ASI Pool Companies would terminate on a cut-off basis. Additionally, effective September 30, 2019, the ASI Pool Companies’ Quota Share contract with Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation (“Swiss Re”) was terminated on a run-off basis. During 2020, the Company received notice from Gen Re that effective January 1, 2020, the XOL reinsurance coverage for Global Liberty would terminate on a run-off basis.
The Atlas Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) encourages employee interest in the operation, growth and development of Atlas and provides an additional investment opportunity to employees. Full time and permanent part time employees working more than 30 hours per week are allowed to invest up to 7.5% of adjusted salary in Atlas ordinary voting common shares. Atlas matches 100% of the employee contribution up to 2.5% of annual earnings, plus 50% of additional contributions up to 5% of annual earnings, for a total maximum expense of 5% of annual earnings per participant. Atlas’ matching contributions are discretionary. Atlas also pays all administrative costs related to this plan. In 2020 and 2019, Atlas’ costs incurred related to the matching portion of the ESPP were $21,000 and $108,000, respectively. Share purchases pursuant to this plan are made in the open market. The matching portion of this plan was suspended during the third quarter of 2020.