We believe our claim liability reserves are appropriately established based on available methodology, facts, technology, laws and regulations. We calculate and record a single best reserve estimate, in conformance with generally accepted actuarial standards, for reported and unreported claim liabilities.
DTAs related to the carry-forward of unused tax losses and credits, and those arising from temporary differences are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable income will be available against which they can be utilized. DTAs and DTLs are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on future tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of enactment or substantive enactment.
We derive our revenues primarily from premiums from our insurance policies and income from our investment portfolio. Our underwriting approach is to price our products with the objective of generating underwriting profit for the insurance companies we own. The Company’s philosophy is to prioritize improvement in underwriting margin over top line growth. As with all P&C insurance companies, the impact of price changes and other underwriting activities is reflected in our financial results over time. Underwriting changes on our in-force policies occur as they are renewed. This cycle generally takes twelve months for our entire book of business and up to an additional twelve months to earn a full year of premium at the renewal rate.
Atlas identified that claim expenses in Michigan were significantly outpacing other states and took a significant charge in 2016. Although exposure in Michigan was reduced to approximately 1.4% of the Company’s insured vehicles in force by year end 2017, payments for claims in this state continued to be disproportionate to historic premiums earned.
Atlas intends to only write its products in areas where it believes the Company can generate an above average underwriting profit. As a specialty insurer, Atlas puts a priority on addressing changes in our market in a nimble way. Despite industry challenges that have impacted our results in recent years, Atlas enhanced and initiated numerous underwriting and claim related processes designed to leverage our experience in the specialty light commercial auto sector, including the elevated use of predictive analytics. We have proactively compressed settlement time, particularly with respect to larger claims, providing earlier visibility into potentially changing claim trends. Atlas endeavored to maintain operating efficiency and improve loss ratios through appropriate underwriting and pricing, disciplined claims handling, as well as further leveraging the investments it has made in predictive analytics. However, the impact of such improvement will only be recognized if positive results are reflected in future loss settlements. In the meantime, overall reserve levels are being set based on the estimates provided by the Insurance Subsidiaries’ outside independent actuaries and include strengthening related to prior accident years. Under the MGA focused strategy implemented in 2019, the Company expects to create value for its stakeholders through partnerships with unrelated risk bearing insurers and reinsurers.
On April 26, 2017, Atlas issued $25 million of five-year 6.625% senior unsecured notes and received net proceeds of approximately $23.9 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. A portion of the net proceeds from this issuance, together with cash on hand, were used to repay all outstanding borrowings under the Loan Agreement, as defined below in the ‘Liquidity and Capital Resources’ section. Interest expense was $1.9 million, $1.8 million and $1.0 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in interest expense from 2017 to 2018 was due to a full year’s worth of interest expense in 2018 on the senior unsecured notes, partially offset by the decrease in amortization of debt issuance costs upon the repayment of outstanding amounts under the Loan Agreement in 2017. The increase in interest expense from 2016 to 2017 primarily resulted from the accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs upon the repayment of outstanding amounts under the Loan Agreement and higher interest rate related to the senior unsecured notes.
IBNR reserves increased by 31.2%. The increase in case reserves was primarily due to an increase in new and re-opened claims reported on the three most recent accident years. The increase in IBNR was primarily due to the settlement of claims reported on prior accident years for our commercial auto and non-voluntary assigned risk programs above established case reserves for 2018.
The process of establishing the estimated provision for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses is complex and imprecise, as it relies on the judgment and opinions of a large number of individuals, on historical precedent and trends, on prevailing legal, economic, social and regulatory trends, and on expectations as to future developments. The process of determining the provision necessarily involves risks that the actual results may deviate, perhaps substantially, from the best estimates made. The change to the provision for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses is consistent with the changes in written premium. However, because the establishment of reserves is an inherently uncertain process involving estimates, current provisions may not be sufficient. Adjustments to reserves, both positive and negative, are reflected quarterly in the statement of income as estimates are updated.
During 2017, the 128,191 restricted voting common shares that were beneficially owned or controlled by Kingsway were sold to non-affiliates of Kingsway. The restricted voting common shares are entitled to vote at all meetings of shareholders, except at meetings of holders of a specific class that are entitled to vote separately as a class. The restricted voting common shares as a class shall not carry more than 30% of the aggregate votes eligible to be voted at a general meeting of common shareholders. The Kingsway-owned restricted voting common shares automatically converted to ordinary voting common shares upon their sale to non-affiliates of Kingsway. There are no restricted voting common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018.
In the normal course of investing activities, the Company enters into relationships with variable interest entities (“VIE”), as an investor in limited partnerships or limited liability company. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, and therefore does not consolidate them. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE based on a qualitative assessment of the relative power and benefits of the Company and the other participants in the VIE. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the investment carrying values and any unfunded commitments.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. One provision of this update requires that equity investments, except those accounted for under the equity method, be measured at fair value and changes in fair value recognized in net income. The provisions of this update are recognized as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. For public entities, this guidance is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is not permitted, except for certain provisions. The Company adopted the update in the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this ASU resulted in the recognition of $377,000 of net after-tax unrealized gains on equity investments as a cumulative-effect adjustment to increase retained earnings and decrease accumulated other comprehensive income. The investment section of the consolidated statements of financial position has been modified from year end to reflect that equity securities are no longer classified as available-for-sale. Changes in the fair value of equity securities are recorded as income (loss) in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and as an adjustment to net income in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Atlas recognized amortization expense of $390,000 in each of the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Estimated future amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets is $390,000 for each of the next five years.
determining the necessary provision for declines in market value that are considered other-than-temporary based on the analyses performed.
The following table reconciles the net incurred and paid claims and claims adjustment expenses development tables to the liability for claims and claims adjustment expenses in the consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2018.
On March 12, 2015, the Board of Directors of Atlas granted equity awards of (i) 200,000 restricted stock grants for ordinary voting common shares of the Company and (ii) 200,000 options to acquire ordinary voting common shares to the executive officers of the Company as part of the Company’s annual compensation process. The awards were made under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan. The awards vest in five equal annual installments of 20%, provided that an installment shall not vest unless an annual performance target based on specific book value growth rates linked to return on equity goals is met. In the event the performance target is not met in any year, the 20% installment for such year shall not vest, but such non-vested installment shall carry forward and can become vested in future years (up to the fifth year from the date of grant), subject to achievement in a future year of the applicable performance target for such year. In 2018, no shares of either the restricted stock grants for ordinary voting common shares or the options to acquire ordinary voting common shares vested, due to not meeting annual performance targets. In 2017, 40,000 shares of each of the restricted stock grants for ordinary voting common shares and the options to acquire ordinary voting common shares vested.