The following consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet data have been derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II -
I Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A)
Measures within this MD&A that are not based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (non-GAAP) are marked with an asterisk (*) the first time they are presented within this Part II - Item 7. An explanation of these measures is contained in the Glossary of Selected Terms included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are reconciled to the most directly comparable measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) in the Appendix to the Company's Fourth Quarter 2020 Investor Supplement.
Statements made in the following discussion that are not historical in nature are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Horace Mann Educators Corporation (referred to in this report as "we", "our", "us", the "Company", "Horace Mann" or "HMEC") is an insurance holding company. We are not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. It is important to note that our actual results could differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in our business. See Part I - Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding risks and uncertainties.
This MD&A covers our consolidated financial highlights followed by consolidated results of operations, an outlook for future performance, details about critical accounting estimates, results of operations by segment, investment results, liquidity and financial resources, future adoption of new accounting standards and effects of inflation and changes in interest rates.
Horace Mann markets primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families and we estimate that 80% of our customer base are educators or other individuals employed by public school systems. In our experience, educators generally remain employed during periods of economic disruption. As the country entered the 2020 - 2021 school year facing continued pandemic-related challenges, educators have largely remained employed, although they may be even busier than before, as many are being asked to devote time to both in-person teaching as well as remote learning to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.
For further discussion regarding the current period and potential future impacts of COVID-19 and related economic conditions on us, see Outlook for 2021 and other content within this MD&A as well as Part I - Item 1A of this report.
In addition, over the past several years, we proactively de-risked our portfolio in anticipation of an economic downturn and believe we are well positioned for any potential market dislocation. Although we have experienced the impacts of market volatility on our fixed maturity security and limited partnership interest valuations during 2020, the investment portfolio is well diversified. It is 90.9% investment grade-rated and has an average credit quality rating of A+. Because of the annuity reinsurance transaction, the spread in our retained annuity business is achieving our targeted returns and new business is priced to do so as well. We believe our capital and reserves are adequate to address any unusual loss patterns resulting from COVID-19.
Amid rapidly changing dynamics, we are continuing to evaluate all aspects of our operations and making necessary adjustments to manage our business. Ultimately, the extent of the impact will depend on how long it takes for the economy to return to some degree of normality. To date, these steps have been effective and have maintained business continuity. Based on assumptions that we will return to a normal operating environment within 12 months, our capital and liquidity situations are expected to remain at or above target levels. We believe we are financially strong despite the potential impact of COVID-19 and continued to produce solid operating results throughout 2020.
For 2020, our net income decreased $51.1 million compared to 2019. The favorable automobile loss experience and full year net income contribution from Supplemental in 2020 partially offset the recognition of a $106.9 million after tax realized investment gain in the second quarter of 2019 associated with the annuity reinsurance transaction. Net income for both years was impacted by goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in Retirement. See Part II - Item 8, Notes 1, 5 and 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for more information regarding Supplemental, the annuity reinsurance transaction and the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges.
For 2020, insurance premiums and contract charges earned increased $32.7 million compared to 2019, primarily due to the addition of a full year of reported earned premiums from Supplemental partially offset by lower premiums earned by Property and Casualty, including recognition of $10.2 million of automobile premium credits to our policyholders related to reduced driving activity due to COVID-19. For 2019, insurance premiums and contract charges earned increased $80.7 million compared to 2018, primarily due to the addition of Supplemental and increases in average premium per risk for both automobile and property.
Excluding accreted investment income on the deposit asset on reinsurance, 2020 net investment income decreased $34.0 million compared to 2019 for two reasons. First, we had a smaller invested asset base for full-year 2020. In 2019, the invested asset base was higher in the first quarter, prior to the transfer of $2.1 billion of invested assets as part of the annuity reinsurance transaction. Second, market weakness in early 2020 resulted in lower full-year returns from limited partnership interests.
2019 net investment income excluding accreted investment income on the deposit asset on reinsurance was $82.2 million below 2018 because of the transfer of invested assets. In addition, interest rates declined significantly in 2019 and our yield on new investments also reflected a strategic decision to further improve the quality of the portfolio. This was partially offset by stronger returns on alternative investments and increased prepayment activity.
The annualized yield on the total investment portfolio for the past three years was as follows:
During 2020, management continued to identify and purchase investments, including alternative investments, with attractive risk-adjusted yields relative to market conditions without venturing into asset classes or individual securities that would be inconsistent with our overall investment guidelines.
The break down of net investment gains (losses) by transaction type is shown in the following table:
For 2020, operating expenses increased $3.2 million compared to 2019, primarily due to the inclusion of $42.7 million of operating expenses from Supplemental operations compared to $22.3 million in 2019, offset by expense reduction initiatives as well as lower levels of spending on travel and other expenses because of COVID-19. For 2019, operating expenses increased $29.2 million compared to 2018, driven by the inclusion of NTA and BCG operations as well as $5.5 million of severance charges incurred in 2019 pertaining to expense reduction initiatives.
For 2020, intangible asset amortization expense increased $5.6 million compared to 2019, primarily due a full year of reported intangible asset amortization expense for NTA. For 2019, the increase in intangible asset amortization expense compared to 2018 was due to the acquisitions of NTA and BCG.
For 2020, interest expense decreased slightly compared to 2019 due to lower interest rates. For 2019, interest expense increased $2.6 million compared to 2018, primarily due to utilizing our senior revolving credit facility in the third quarter of 2019 to partially fund the acquisition of NTA.
For 2020, other expense represents goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges with regards to BCG. For 2019, other expense represents an annuity goodwill impairment charge in Retirement resulting from the annuity reinsurance transaction. See Part II - Item 8, Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for further information.
The effective income tax rate on our pretax income, including net investment gains (losses) was 16.5%, 22.0% and 6.2% for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Income from investments in tax-advantaged securities reduced the effective income tax rates by 3.6, 2.3 and 21.2 percentage points for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in the Retirement
segment decreased the effective income tax rate by 0.1 percentage points at December 31, 2020 and increased the effective income tax rate by 2.3 percentage points at December 31, 2019.
At December 31, 2020, our federal income tax returns for years prior to 2014 are no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. We do not anticipate any assessments for tax years that remain subject to examination to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. See Part II - Item 8, Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for further information.
The following discussion provides outlook information for our results of operations and capital position.
As a result, the Property and Casualty full-year combined ratio is expected to be 95% - 96%, assuming catastrophe losses add approximately 9.5 points. Net income for Property and Casualty is anticipated to be in the range of $54 million to $58 million.
We expect Retirement to generate net income in the range of $38 million to $40 million in 2021, reflecting higher net investment income from the alternatives portfolio as well as an increase in fees on our annuity business.
As described in Critical Accounting Estimates, certain of our significant accounting measurements require the use of estimates and assumptions. As additional information becomes available, adjustments may be required. Those adjustments are charged or credited to net income for the period in which the adjustments are made and may impact actual results compared to our estimates above. Additionally, see forward-looking information in Part I - Items 1 and 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K concerning other important factors that could impact actual results. We believe that a projection of net income is not appropriate on a forward-looking basis because it is not possible to provide a valid forecast of net investment gains (losses), which can vary substantially from one period to another and may have a significant impact on net income.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of our consolidated assets, liabilities, shareholders' equity and net income. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to our consolidated financial statements and because of the possibility that subsequent events and available information may differ markedly from management's judgments at the time the consolidated financial statements were prepared. We have discussed with our Audit Committee the quality, not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles as applied in our financial reporting. The discussions generally included such matters as to the consistency of our accounting policies and their application, and the clarity and completeness of our consolidated financial statements, which include related disclosures. Information regarding our accounting policies pertaining to these topics is located in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements as listed in Part II - Item 8 of this report.
•Valuation of hard-to-value fixed maturity securities, including evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments
•Valuation of liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses
The valuation of hard-to-value fixed maturity securities (generally 100 -150 securities) is more subjective because the markets are less liquid and there is a lack of observable market-based inputs. This may increase the potential that the estimated fair value of an investment is not reflective of the price at which an actual transaction would occur. When the pricing sources cannot provide fair value determinations, the investment managers and custodian bank obtain non-binding price quotes from broker-dealers. For those securities where the investment manager cannot obtain broker-dealer quotes, they will model the security, generally using anticipated cash flows of the underlying collateral. Broker-dealers' valuation methodologies as well as investment managers’ modeling methodologies are sometimes matrix-based, using indicative evaluation measures and adjustments for specific security characteristics and market sentiment. The selection of the market inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of hard-to-value fixed maturity securities requires judgment and includes: benchmark yield, liquidity premium, estimated cash flows, prepayment and default speeds, spreads, weighted average life, and credit rating. The extent of the use of each market input depends on the market sector and market conditions. Depending on the security, the priority of the use of inputs may change or some market inputs may not be relevant. For some securities, additional inputs may be necessary.
At December 31, 2020, Level 3 invested assets comprised 5.3% of our total investment portfolio based on fair value. Invested assets are classified as Level 3 when fair value is determined based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and those inputs are significant to the determination of fair value.
Goodwill represents the excess of the amounts paid to acquire a business over the fair value of its net assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. Goodwill impairment is the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. A goodwill impairment charge could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Our reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to our operating segments. As of December 31, 2020, our allocation of goodwill by reporting unit was as follows: $9.5 million, Property and Casualty; $19.6 million, Supplemental; $4.5 million, Retirement; and $9.9 million, Life. Also see Part II - Item 8, Notes 1 and 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment requires management to make multiple judgments and assumptions to determine the fair value of each reporting unit, including discounted cash flow calculations, the level of our own share price and assumptions that market participants would make in valuing each reporting unit. Fair value estimates are based primarily on an in-depth analysis of historical experience, projected future cash flows and relevant discount rates, which consider market participant inputs and the relative risk associated with the projected cash flows. Other assumptions include levels of economic capital, future business growth, earnings projections and assets under management for each reporting unit. Estimates of fair value are subject to assumptions that are sensitive to change and represent our reasonable expectation regarding future developments. We also consider other valuation techniques such as peer company price-to-earnings and price-to-book multiples.
The assessment of goodwill recoverability requires significant judgment and is subject to inherent uncertainty. The use of different assumptions, within a reasonable range, could cause the fair value of a reporting unit to be below carrying value. Subsequent goodwill assessments could result in impairment, particularly for each reporting unit with at-risk goodwill, due to the impact of a volatile financial markets on earnings, discount rate assumptions, liquidity and market capitalization. For 2020, lower than anticipated BCG wealth management sales outside of the education markets triggered a requirement to evaluate the goodwill associated with the BCG business of the Retirement reporting unit resulting in a write-down of a certain amount of goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2020. For 2019, the annuity reinsurance transaction triggered an assessment resulting in a write-down of a certain amount of goodwill for impairment during the second quarter of 2019 (see Part II - Item 8, Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for more information). There were no other events or material changes in circumstances during 2020 that indicated that an adverse material change in the fair value of our reporting units had occurred.
The value of business acquired (VOBA) represents the difference between the fair value of insurance contracts and insurance policy reserves measured in accordance with our accounting policies for insurance contracts acquired. VOBA was based on an actuarial estimate of the present value of future distributable earnings for insurance in force on the acquisition date. VOBA was $83.6 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized by product based on the present value of future premiums to be received. We estimate that we will
recognize VOBA amortization of $6.6 million in 2021, $6.2 million in 2022, $5.8 million in 2023, $5.4 million in 2024 and $5.1 million in 2025.
We account for the value of distribution acquired (VODA) associated with the acquisition of NTA based on an actuarial estimate of the present value of future business to be written by the existing distribution channel. VODA was $44.7 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized on a straight-line basis. We estimate that we will recognize VODA amortization of $2.9 million in each of the years 2021 through 2025, respectively.
VOBA is reviewed for recoverability from future income, including net investment income, and costs which are deemed unrecoverable are expensed in the period in which the determination is made. No such costs were deemed unrecoverable during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Amortizing intangible assets (i.e., VODA, agency relationships and customer relationships) are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of an amortizing intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying amount is not recoverable from undiscounted cash flows, the impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value. The results from our annual impairment assessment for VODA at October 1, 2020 resulted in the write-down of a certain amount for impairment related to the 2019 acquisition of BCG. See Part II - Item 8, Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for more information.
The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of net investment gains (losses). For the variable deposit portion of Retirement, we amortize DAC utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of an 8.0% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean during the reversion period, representing a cap and a floor on our long-term assumption. Our practice with regard to future financial market performance assumes that long-term appreciation in the financial markets is not changed by short-term market fluctuations, but is only changed when sustained annual deviations are experienced. We monitor these fluctuations and only change the assumption when the long-term expectation changes. The potential effect of an increase by 100 basis points in the assumed future rate of return is reasonably likely to result in an estimated decrease in DAC amortization expense of approximately $3.5 million. The potential effect of an decrease by 100 basis points in the assumed future rate of return is reasonably likely to result in an estimated increase in DAC amortization expense of approximately $2.0 million. Although this evaluation reflects likely outcomes, it is possible an actual outcome may fall below or above these estimates. At December 31, 2020, the ratio of DAC to the total annuity accumulated cash value was 1.7%.
The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of life insurance gross profits include interest rates expected to be received on investments, business persistency, and mortality. Conversions from term to permanent insurance cause an immediate write down of the associated DAC. The impact on amortization due to assumption changes has an immaterial impact on the results of operations.
The process by which these reserves are established requires reliance upon estimates based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including our experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payments and related patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions, public attitudes and medical costs. We calculate and record a single best estimate of the reserve (which is equal to the actuarial point estimate) as of each reporting date.
business, we have no exposure to losses related to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under property insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.
Based on our products and coverages, historical experience, and modeling of various actuarial methodologies used to develop reserve estimates, we estimate that the potential variability of the Property and Casualty loss reserves within a reasonable probability of other possible outcomes may be approximately plus or minus 6.0%, which equates to plus or minus approximately $12.0 million of net income based on net reserves as of December 31, 2020. Although this evaluation reflects the most likely outcomes, it is possible the final outcome may fall below or above these estimates.
There are a number of assumptions involved in the determination of our Property and Casualty loss reserves. Among the key factors affecting recorded loss reserves for both long-tail and short-tail related coverages, claim severity and claim frequency are of particular significance. We estimate that a 2.0% change in claim severity or claim frequency for the most recent 36 month period is a reasonably likely scenario based on recent experience and would result in a change in the estimated net reserves of between $5.0 million and $9.0 million for long-tail liability related exposures (automobile liability coverages) and between $1.0 million and $3.0 million for short-tail liability related exposures (property and automobile physical damage coverages). Actual results may differ, depending on the magnitude and direction of the deviation.
Our actuaries discuss their loss and loss adjustment expense actuarial analysis with management. As part of this discussion, the indicated point estimate of the IBNR loss reserve by line of business (coverage) is reviewed. Our actuaries also discuss any indicated changes to the underlying assumptions used to calculate the indicated point estimate. Any variance between the indicated reserves from these changes in assumptions and the previously carried reserves is reviewed. After discussion of these analyses and all relevant risk factors, management determines whether the reserve balances require adjustment. Our best estimate of loss reserves may change depending on a revision in the underlying assumptions.
The facts and circumstances leading to our re-estimate of reserves relate to revisions of the development factors used to predict how losses are likely to develop from the end of a reporting period until all claims have been paid. Re-estimates occur because actual loss amounts are different than those predicted by the estimated development factors used in prior reserve estimates. At December 31, 2020, the impact of a reserve re-estimation resulting in a 1.0% increase in net reserves would be a decrease of approximately $2.0 million in net income. A reserve re-estimation resulting in a 1.0% decrease in net reserves would increase net income by approximately $2.0 million.
Liabilities for future policy benefits on life insurance policies, excluding indexed universal life (IUL) products, are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and lapses. Mortality and lapse assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with our own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in recognition of a loss in the period for which the increase in reserves occurred. Also, see Part II - Item 8, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. Liabilities for IUL products are bifurcated into an embedded derivative and a host contract. The embedded derivative is recognized at fair value and is set equal to the fair value of the current call options purchased to hedge the liability. The host contract is measured using the retrospective deposit method which is equal to the account balance.
Consolidated financial results primarily reflect the results of four operating segments as well as the corporate and other line. These segments are defined based on financial information management uses to evaluate performance and to determine the allocation of resources (see Part II - Item 8, Note 1 of this report for a description of changes to our reporting segments).
•Written premiums* and earned premiums reduced by lower new business and $10.2 million of COVID-19 related premium credits
•8.2 points of improvement in the Property and Casualty underlying loss ratio* driven by lower automobile loss frequency
•3.3 points of improvement in the reported loss ratio as the lower automobile loss frequency and a $5.2 million property subrogation recovery more than offset a 5.4 point increase from catastrophe losses
•A one-time tax benefit of $2.8 million as a result of the CARES Act
2019 core earnings reflected 12.8 points of improvement in the Property and Casualty combined ratio for the year due to lower catastrophe losses, favorable prior years' reserve development and improved automobile underwriting results compared to 2018. 2018 results included losses from the Camp Fire in California, which was our largest single catastrophe event since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Camp Fire generated gross losses of $150.0 million, and, net costs after reinsurance of $37.9 million pretax in 2018.
On a reported basis, the 9.6 points of improvement in the automobile combined ratio in 2020 was mainly attributable to a 10.2 point reduction in the automobile underlying loss ratio*, reflecting lower automobile loss frequency as well as the ongoing benefit of profitability initiatives. We experienced a lower level of automobile loss frequency resulting from temporary changes in policyholder driving patterns due to COVID-19. The average decline in automobile loss frequency experienced in 2020 was approximately 20% lower than in 2019. The reported property combined ratio increased 7.8 points in 2020 due to a 14.4 point increase in catastrophe losses. In 2020, the underlying property loss ratio* improved 2.9 points, primarily due to the return of reinsurance reinstatement premiums of $3.7 million.
In 2020, total written premiums* decreased $47.6 million compared to 2019, primarily due to a reduction in automobile written premiums*. In 2020, average approved rate changes were 0.5% for automobile and 1.0% for property. Growth in sales* slowed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Automobile written premiums* decreased $44.9 million compared to 2019, primarily due to lower automobile risks in force and a lower level of rate increases implemented as well as $10.2 million of COVID-19 related premium credits. In 2020, the number of automobile risks in force declined and the average written premium per risk and average earned premium per risk declined 2.5% and 1.0%, respectively, compared to 2019. In 2019, automobile premiums written decreased $8.2 million compared to 2018. In 2019, the average written premium per risk and average earned premium per risk increased 4.1% and 5.3%, respectively, compared to 2018. Based on risks in force, the automobile 12 month retention rate for new and renewal risks was 81.2%, 81.1% and 81.9% at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, with the decrease due to recent rate and underwriting actions. The number of educator risks has been stable relative to overall automobile risks over the past three years as educators represented 85.2%, 85.5% and 85.5% of the automobile risks in force as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Property and Casualty expense ratio was 26.4%, 26.9% and 27.0% for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
We continue to evaluate and implement actions to further mitigate our risk exposure. Such actions could include, but are not limited to, non-renewal of property risks, restricted agent geographic placement, limitations on agent new business sales, further tightening of underwriting standards and increased utilization of third-party vendor products.
The Supplemental segment was formed when we acquired NTA in July 2019.
•12 month contribution to net income compared to a six month contribution in 2019
•Favorable trends in benefits from temporary changes in policyholder behavior due to COVID-19
In 2020, Supplemental contributed $43.1 million to net income, reflecting favorable trends in reserves and some short-term benefit from changes in policyholder behavior due to COVID-19. The non-cash impact from
•Lower levels of net investment income in 2020, reflecting lower invested asset levels resulting from the prior year annuity reinsurance transaction and subsequent use of capital to purchase NTA, as well as lower returns on limited partnership interests
•$1.8 million pretax of favorable DAC unlocking in 2020 compared to $3.5 million of unfavorable DAC unlocking in 2019 due to accelerated amortization of the DAC asset associated with the reinsured annuity block
(2) 2019 includes the results of BCG acquired on January 2, 2019.
At December 31, 2020, annuity assets under management were $462.2 million above a year ago, driven primarily by positive net inflows and market appreciation. Assets under administration, which includes broker and advisory as well as recordkeeping assets added through the acquisition of BCG in 2019, were up 5.0% from December 31, 2019. The full-year 2020 annualized net interest spread on fixed annuities, excluding reinsurance, increased 18 basis points, reflecting the benefits of the 2019 annuity reinsurance transaction.
The expectation for future annualized net interest spreads is also an important component in the amortization of DAC. In terms of the sensitivity of this amortization to the annualized net interest spread, based on DAC as of December 31, 2020 and assuming all other assumptions are met, a 10 basis point deviation in the current year targeted annualized net interest rate spread assumption would impact amortization between $0.3 million and $0.4 million. This result may change depending on the magnitude and direction of any actual deviations but represents a range of reasonably likely experience for the noted assumption.
Because of the annuity reinsurance transaction, the spread in our retained annuity business is achieving our targeted returns and new business is priced to do so as well. Information regarding the interest crediting rates and balances equal to the minimum guaranteed rate for deferred annuity account values is shown below.
The following table provides certain financial information for Corporate and Other for the periods indicated.
Net income in 2020 decreased from the prior year primarily due to recognition of a $106.9 million after tax realized investment gain in 2019 with respect to the transfer of investments as consideration with the annuity reinsurance transaction. In 2019, core earnings* decreased $3.1 million compared to 2018, driven by increased interest expense as we utilized our senior revolving credit facility on July 1, 2019 to partially fund the acquisition of NTA.
Our investment strategy is primarily focused on generating income to support product liabilities and balances principal protection and risk. Total net investment income includes net investment income from our investment portfolio as well as accreted investment income from the deposit asset on reinsurance related to our reinsured block of approximately $2.9 billion of policy liabilities related to legacy individual annuities written in 2002 or earlier that was effective April 1, 2019.
(1)At December 31, 2020, the fair value amount included $15.6 million which were non-investment grade.
(2)The All Other Corporates category contains 19 additional industry classifications. Broadcasting and media, telecommunications, consumer products, metal and mining, and industry manufacturing represented $243.2 million of fair value at December 31, 2020, with the remaining 14 classifications each representing less than $218.7 million.
(5)Based on fair value, 94.1% of the collateralized loan obligation securities were rated investment grade by Standard & Poor's Global Inc. (S&P), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) and/or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch) at December 31, 2020.
At December 31, 2020, our diversified fixed maturity securities portfolio consisted of 3,558 investment positions, issued by 2,257 entities, and totaled approximately $6.3 billion in fair value. This portfolio was 91.4% investment grade, based on fair value, with an average credit quality rating of A+. Our investment guidelines generally limit single corporate issuer concentrations to 0.5% of invested assets for AA or AAA rated securities, 0.35% of invested assets for A or BBB rated securities, and 0.2% of invested assets for non-investment grade securities.
That proactive effort to improve portfolio quality resulted in a significant reduction in BBB-rated corporate credit, high yield and below-investment-grade structured securities. During this same period, purchases focused on government agency and agency mortgage-backed securities and high quality corporate bonds and municipal securities. Today, that proactive flight to quality has our investment portfolio in all insurance subsidiaries well positioned for market disruptions with ample liquidity.
Further, we believe our investment portfolio is well positioned to withstand an extended period of elevated investment market volatility, and have relatively modest exposure to asset sectors that we expect to be most impacted by the public health response to COVID-19. While we expect other segments of the economy may be disrupted, we believe these effects could be most acute in the sectors listed below. These sectors have experienced more pronounced price dislocation due to their perceived exposure to COVID-19 related impacts. Exposure to these sectors totals 7.4% of our investment portfolio, and as of December 31, 2020, informed by extensive stress testing and portfolio review, we continue to hold the following securities:
(1) Below investment grade and non-rated securities included in this population account for $40.2 million of amortized cost, $40.5 million of fair value, and $0.3 million of net unrealized investment gains. There are 97 issuers with an average rating of BB-. The majority of these securities are concentrated in the travel and leisure and retail sectors.
The following table presents the composition and fair value of our fixed maturity and equity securities portfolios by rating category. At December 31, 2020, 90.9% of these combined portfolios were investment grade, based on fair value, with an overall average credit quality rating of A+. We have classified the entire fixed maturity securities portfolio as available for sale, which is carried at fair value.
(2)At December 31, 2020, the AA rated fair value amount included $429.3 million of U.S. Government and federally sponsored agency securities and $669.0 million of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities issued by U.S. Government and federally sponsored agencies.
(3)This category primarily represents private placement and municipal securities not rated by either S&P, Moody's or Fitch.
As a holding company, we conduct our principal operations in the personal lines portion of the property and casualty, supplemental and life insurance industries through our subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries generate cash flow from premium and investment income, generally well in excess of their immediate needs for policy obligations, operating expenses and other cash requirements. Cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects net cash flows generated by the insurance subsidiaries.
For 2020, net cash provided by operating activities increased $132.2 million compared to 2019, primarily due to lower claims paid on insurance policies in the current year partially offset by lower investment income collected as a result of a $2.1 billion reduction of invested assets from investments transferred under the annuity reinsurance transaction in the second quarter of 2019.
Our insurance subsidiaries maintain significant investments in fixed maturity securities to meet future contractual obligations to policyholders. In conjunction with our management of liquidity and other asset/liability management objectives, we, from time to time, will sell fixed maturity securities prior to maturity, and reinvest the proceeds into other investments with different interest rates, maturities or credit characteristics. Accordingly, we have classified the entire fixed maturity securities portfolio as available for sale.
Financing activities include primarily payment of dividends, receipt and withdrawal of funds by annuity contractholders, issuances and repurchases of our common stock, fluctuations in book overdraft balances, and borrowings, repayments and repurchases related to debt facilities.
The following table shows activity from FHLB funding agreements for the periods indicated.
The following table reflects our contractual obligations, as well as the projected timing of payments.
(1)This information represents estimates of both the amounts to be paid to policyholders and the timing of such payments and is net of anticipated reinsurance recoveries.
(5)We have entered into various operating lease agreements, primarily for real estate offices.
Estimated Future Policy Benefit and Claim Payments - Supplemental, Retirement and Life
This discussion addresses the following contractual obligations disclosed above: fixed annuities and fixed option of variable annuities, payout annuity contracts and supplemental and life insurance policies. Payment amounts reflect our estimate of undiscounted future cash flows related to these obligations and commitments. Balance sheet amounts were determined in accordance with GAAP, including the effect of discounting, and consequently in many cases differ significantly from the summation of undiscounted cash flows.
For the majority of our Retirement and Life insurance operations, the estimated contractual obligations for future policyholder benefits as presented in the table above were derived from the annual cash flow testing analysis used to develop actuarial opinions of statutory reserve adequacy for state regulatory purposes. These cash flows are materially representative of the future cash flows under GAAP. Actual amounts may vary, potentially in a significant manner, from the amounts indicated due to deviations between assumptions and actual results and the addition of new business in future periods.
See Part II - Item 8, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for a description of our methods for establishing supplemental, life and annuity reserves in accordance with GAAP.
This discussion addresses claims and claim adjustment expenses as disclosed above. The amounts reported in the table are presented on a nominal basis, have not been discounted and represent the estimated timing of future payments for both reported and unreported claims incurred and related claim adjustment expenses. Both the total liability and the estimated payments are based on actuarial projection techniques, at a given reporting date. These estimates include assumptions of the ultimate settlement and administrative costs based on our assessment of facts and circumstances then known, review of historical settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity, frequency and other factors. Variables in the reserve estimation process can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, economic inflation, legal trends and legislative changes. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis. Additionally, there may be significant reporting lags between the occurrence of a claim and the time it is actually reported to us. The future cash flows related to the items contained in the table above required estimation of both amount (including severity considerations) and timing. Amount and timing are frequently estimated separately. An estimation of both amount and timing of future cash flows related to claims and claim adjustment expenses is generally reliable only in the aggregate with some unavoidable estimation uncertainty.
We actively manage our financial position and liquidity levels in light of changing market, economic and business conditions. Liquidity is managed at both the entity and enterprise level across HMEC and is assessed on both base and stressed level liquidity needs. We believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet these needs. Additionally, we have existing intercompany agreements in place that facilitate liquidity management across HMEC to enhance flexibility.
Certain remote events and circumstances could constrain our liquidity. Those events and circumstances include, for example, a catastrophe resulting in extraordinary losses, a downgrade of our Senior Notes rating to non-investment grade status or a downgrade in our insurance subsidiaries' financial strength ratings. The rating agencies also consider the interdependence of our individually rated entities; therefore, a rating change in one entity could potentially affect the ratings of other related entities.
We have determined the amount of capital which is needed to adequately fund and support business growth, primarily based on risk-based capital formulas including those developed by the NAIC. Historically, our insurance subsidiaries have generated capital in excess of such needed levels. These excess amounts have been paid to us through dividends. We have then utilized these dividends and our access to the capital markets to service and retire debt, pay dividends to our shareholders, fund growth initiatives, repurchase shares of our common stock and for other corporate purposes. If necessary, we also have other potential sources of liquidity that could provide for additional funding to meet corporate obligations or pay shareholder dividends, which include a revolving line of credit, as well as issuances of various securities. The insurance subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions which limit the amount of annual dividends or other distributions, including loans or cash advances, available to us without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities. The aggregate amount of dividends that may be paid in 2021 from all of our insurance subsidiaries without prior regulatory approval is $248.7 million, excluding the impact and timing of prior year dividends, of which $155.0 million was paid during the year ended December 31, 2020. We anticipate that our sources of capital will continue to generate sufficient capital to meet the needs for business growth, debt interest payments, shareholder dividends and our share repurchase program. Additional information is contained in Part II - Item 8, Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Shareholders' equity was $1,790.1 million at December 31, 2020, including net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturity securities of $366.3 million after taxes and the related impact of DAC associated with annuity contracts and life insurance products with account values. The market value of our common stock and the market value per share were $1,741.1 million and $42.04, respectively, at December 31, 2020. Book value per share was $43.22 at December 31, 2020 ($34.38 excluding net unrealized investment gains on fixed maturity securities*).
Total shareholder dividends paid were $49.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. In March, May, September and December 2020, the Board declared regular quarterly dividends of $0.30 per share. Compared to the full year per share dividends paid in 2019 of $1.15, the total 2020 dividends paid per share of $1.20 represented an increase of 4.3%.
As of December 31, 2020, we had outstanding $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.50% Senior Notes (Senior Notes), which mature on December 1, 2025, issued at a discount resulting in an effective yield of 4.53%. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually at a rate of 4.50%. Detailed information regarding the redemption terms of the Senior Notes is contained in Part II - Item 8, Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. The Senior Notes are traded in the open market (HMN 4.50).
As of December 31, 2020, we had $54.0 million of borrowings outstanding with FHLB. The Board has authorized a maximum amount equal to 15% of net aggregate admitted assets less separate account assets of the insurance subsidiaries for FHLB borrowing and funding agreements which is below our maximum FHLB borrowing capacity. For the total $54.0 million received, $4.0 million matures on May 17, 2021, $25.0 million matures on October 5, 2022 and $25.0 million matures on December 2, 2022. Interest on the borrowings accrue at an annual weighted average rate of 0.44% as of December 31, 2020. The $54.0 million of FHLB borrowings is reported as Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
On June 21, 2019, we, as borrower, replaced our current line of credit with a new five-year Credit Agreement (Bank Credit Facility). The new Bank Credit Facility increased the amount available on this senior revolving credit facility to $225.0 million from $150.0 million. PNC Capital Markets, LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. served as joint leads on the new agreement, with The Northern Trust Company, U.S. Bank National Association, KeyBank National Association, Comerica Bank and Illinois National Bank participating in the syndicate. Terms and conditions of the new Bank Credit Facility are substantially consistent with the prior agreement, with an interest rate based on LIBOR plus 115 basis points.
On March 13, 2018, we filed a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC which became effective on May 2, 2018. Under this registration statement, we may from time to time offer and issue up to 5,000,000 shares of our common stock in connection with future acquisitions of other businesses, assets or securities. Unless withdrawn by us, this registration statement remains effective indefinitely. No securities associated with the registration statement have been issued at the time of issuance of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The various impacts of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy, our operations and our investment portfolio have been material. Nonetheless, we believe that the liquidity available to our holding company and its operating subsidiaries remains adequate and we do not foresee a need to suspend ordinary dividends or seek additional sources of capital at this time. Our current forecast assumes a return to a normal operating environment within 12 months, and as such, capital and liquidity are expected to remain at or near target levels during that period.
All four agencies currently have assigned the same insurance financial strength ratings to our Property and Casualty and Life insurance subsidiaries. Only A.M Best currently rates our Supplemental segment's subsidiaries. Assigned ratings and respective affirmation/review dates as of February 18, 2021 were as follows:
We identified the assessment of the Company’s estimate of the fair value of hard-to-value fixed maturity securities as a critical audit matter. Significant measurement uncertainty associated with the fair value of such securities existed because the markets for the hard-to-value securities are less liquid and there is a lack of observable market-based inputs. As such, there was a high degree of subjectivity and judgment in evaluating the fair value and, specifically, the benchmark yield used in the valuation. Additionally, evaluation of the benchmark yield used in the estimation of fair value required specialized skills and knowledge.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We, with involvement of valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s process to measure fair value of hard-to-value securities. This included controls related to the Company’s selection of pricing assumptions, including the benchmark yield used to value, for hard-to-value fixed maturity securities. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
•developing an independent range of fair value estimates using information from the Company, market data sources, models, and key assumptions derived by the valuation professional for a selection of securities
Valuation of the liability for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses
As discussed in Notes 1 and 7 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company employs actuarial techniques to estimate the liability for property and casualty unpaid claims and claims expenses (reserves). The Company develops reserves based on the application of actuarial methods and best estimate assumptions to historical claim experience. The reserves are continually updated by the Company as experience develops and new information becomes known. The Company recorded an estimated liability of $259.3 million for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses as of December 31, 2020.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We, with involvement of actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s process for the development of the estimate of reserves. This included controls related to the methods and assumptions used for the Company’s best estimate. We also involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
•developing a range of reserves based on actuarial methodologies and assumptions in order to evaluate the Company’s consolidated reserves
•assessing movement of the Company’s consolidated reserves within the range of reserves
Effective for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company decided to change the approach it uses for presentation in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows from the direct method to the indirect method as management considers presentation under the indirect method as more comparable to the method used by others in the insurance industry. Accordingly, the Company has recast all prior periods presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform to the current year’s presentation.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The most significant critical accounting estimates include valuation of hard-to-value fixed maturity securities (including evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments), evaluation of goodwill and intangible assets for impairment, valuation of annuity and life deferred policy acquisition costs, valuation of liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses and valuation of certain investment contracts and policy reserves.
Beginning January 1, 2018, equity securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized as Net investment gains (losses). This category includes nonredeemable preferred stocks and common stocks.
Investment income is recognized as earned. Investment income reflects amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on an effective-yield basis.
For fixed maturity securities that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the Company separates the
For fixed maturity securities the Company intends to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the full amount of the impairment is included in net investment gains (losses). The new cost basis of the investment is the previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in net investment gains (losses). The new cost basis is not adjusted for any subsequent recoveries in fair value.
Judgment regarding whether a corporate fixed maturity security is other-than-temporarily impaired includes analyzing the issuer's financial condition and whether there has been a decline in the issuer's ability to service the specific security. The analysis of the security issuer is based on asset coverage, cash flow multiples or other industry standards. Several factors assessed include, but are not limited to, credit quality ratings, cash flow sustainability, liquidity, financial strength, industry and market position. Sources of information include, but are not limited to, management projections, independent consultants, external analysts' research, peer analysis and the Company's internal analysis.
The Company's municipal bond portfolio consists primarily of revenue bonds, which present unique considerations in evaluating OTTI, but also includes general obligation bonds. The Company evaluates a revenue bond for OTTI based on guarantees associated with the repayment from revenues generated by the specified revenue-generating activity associated with the purpose of the bond. Judgment regarding whether a municipal bond is other-than-temporarily impaired includes analyzing the issuer's financial condition and whether there has been a decline in the overall financial condition of the issuer or its ability to service the specific security. Security credit ratings are reviewed with emphasis on the economy, finances, debt and management of the municipal issuer. Certain securities may be guaranteed by monoline credit insurers or other forms of guarantee.
While not relied upon in the initial security purchase decision, insurance benefits are considered in the assessments for OTTI, including the credit-worthiness of the guarantor. Municipalities possess unique powers, along with a special legal standing and protections, that enable them to act quickly to restore budgetary balance and fiscal integrity. These powers include the sovereign power to tax, access to one-time revenue sources, capacity to issue or restructure debt, and ability to shift spending to other authorities. State governments often provide secondary support to local governments in times of financial stress and the federal government has provided assistance to state governments during recessions.
The Company's deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) by reporting segment were as follows:
DAC consists of commissions, policy issuance and other costs which are incremental and directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal business, which are deferred and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For property and casualty risks, DAC is amortized over the terms of the insurance policies (6 or 12 months). For supplemental policies, DAC is amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (approximately 6 years, based on an estimated average duration across all supplemental products). For all annuity contracts, DAC is amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. DAC is amortized in proportion to estimated gross profits over 20 years for certain life insurance products with account values and over 30 years for indexed universal life (IUL) products. For other individual life contracts, DAC is amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (10, 15, 20, 30 years).
The Company periodically reviews the assumptions and estimates used in DAC and also periodically reviews its estimations of gross profits, a process sometimes referred to as "unlocking". The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of net investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity and equity securities. For the variable deposit portion of Retirement, the Company amortizes DAC utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of an 8% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean during the reversion period, representing a cap and a floor on the Company's long-term assumption. The Company's practice with regard to future financial market performance assumes that long-term appreciation in the financial markets is not changed by short-term market fluctuations, but is only changed when sustained deviations are experienced. The Company monitors these fluctuations and only changes the assumption when long-term expectations change.
Annually, the Company performs a gross premium valuation (GPV) on life insurance policies to assess whether a loss recognition event has occurred. This involves discounting expected future benefits and expenses less expected future premiums. To the extent that this amount is greater than the liability for future benefits less the DAC asset, in aggregate for the life insurance block, a loss would be recognized by first writing off the DAC asset and then increasing the liability.
DAC for annuity contracts and life insurance products with account values are adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities had been realized at the reporting date. This adjustment reduced DAC by $90.5 million, $41.2 million and $17.9 million at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The after tax impact of this adjustment is included in AOCI (along with net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities) within shareholders' equity.
DAC is reviewed for recoverability from future income, including net investment income, and costs that are deemed unrecoverable are expensed in the period in which the determination is made. No such costs were deemed unrecoverable during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The value of business acquired (VOBA) represents the difference between the fair value of insurance contracts and insurance policy reserves measured in accordance with the Company's accounting policies for insurance contracts acquired. VOBA was based on an actuarial estimate of the present value of future distributable earnings for insurance in force on the acquisition date. VOBA was $83.6 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized by product based on the present value of future premiums to be received. The Company estimates that it will recognize VOBA amortization of $6.6 million in 2021, $6.2 million in 2022, $5.8 million in 2023, $5.4 million in 2024 and $5.1 million in 2025.
The Company accounts for VODA associated with the acquisition of Benefit Consultants Group, Inc. (BCG) based on management's estimate of the present value of future business to be written by the existing distribution channel. VODA was $0.7 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized based on the present value of future profits to be received. The Company estimates that it will recognize cumulative VODA amortization of $0.3 million for the years 2021 through 2025.
Trade names represents the present value of future savings accruing to NTA and BCG by virtue of not having to pay royalties for the use of the trade names, valued using the relief from royalty method. State licenses represents the regulatory licenses held by NTA that were valued using the cost approach. Both trade names and state licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets that are not subject to amortization.
current expected experience are consistently better than the initial VOBA assumptions, the remaining value in the block is sufficient to support the VOBA intangible asset and no loss recognition is necessary. If the historical and current expected assumptions are not uniformly better than the initial VOBA assumptions, a GPV is performed to assess whether a loss recognition event has occurred. This involves discounting expected future benefits and expenses less expected future premiums. To the extent that this amount is greater than the liability for future benefits less the VOBA intangible asset, in aggregate for the supplemental insurance block, a loss would be recognized by first writing off the VOBA and then increasing the liability. Currently, a GPV is not required for the acquired supplemental block. No such costs were deemed unrecoverable during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Amortizing intangible assets (i.e., VODA, agency relationships and customer relationships) are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of an amortizing intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying amount is not recoverable from undiscounted cash flows, the impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.
Goodwill represents the excess of the amounts paid to acquire a business over the fair value of its net assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or a business unit one level below an operating segment, if separate financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at that level. The Company's reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to the Company's operating segments. Refer to Note 6 for the allocation of goodwill by reporting unit as of December 31, 2020.
The goodwill impairment test, as defined in GAAP, allows an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the entity performs a quantitative goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount for purposes of confirming and measuring an impairment. In the second quarter of 2019, the Company adopted guidance to eliminate Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment is now the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. Any amount of goodwill determined to be impaired is recognized as an expense in the period in which the impairment determination is made.
At October 1, 2020, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test. Based on the assessment, there were no events or circumstances that led to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount with exception to lower than anticipated BCG wealth
management sales outside of the education markets which triggered an impairment of the goodwill associated with the BCG business of the Retirement reporting unit. For the evaluation, the fair value of BCG was measured using a discounted cash flow method. The carrying amount exceeded the fair value, resulting in a $5.6 million goodwill impairment charge.
During each year from 2018 through 2020, the Company completed the required annual goodwill impairment testing. With exception to the goodwill impairment charges described in Note 6, no other goodwill impairment charges were necessary as a result of such assessments. The assessment of goodwill recoverability requires significant judgment and is subject to inherent uncertainty. The use of different assumptions, within a reasonable range, could cause the fair value of a reporting unit to fall below its carrying amount. Subsequent goodwill assessments could result in impairment, particularly for any reporting unit with at-risk goodwill, due to the impact of a volatile financial market on earnings, discount rate assumptions, liquidity and market capitalization.
Separate Account assets represent variable annuity contractholder funds invested in various mutual funds. The Separate Account assets comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values that are readily determinable for identical assets that the Company can access. Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the Separate Account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers. Separate Account liabilities are equal to the estimated fair value of Separate Account assets. The investment income, gains and losses of these accounts accrue directly to the contractholders and are not included in the results of operations of the Company. The activity of the Separate Accounts is not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations except for (1) contract charges earned, (2) the activity related to contract guarantees, which are benefits on existing variable annuity contracts, and (3) the impact of financial market performance on the amortization of DAC. The Company's contract charges earned include fees charged to the Separate Accounts, including mortality charges, risk charges, policy administration fees, investment management fees and surrender charges.
Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain supplemental and life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method including assumptions as to investment yields, mortality, morbidity, persistency, expenses and other assumptions based on the Company's experience, including a provision for adverse deviation. These assumptions are established at the time the policy is issued and are intended to estimate the
Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges. The liability also includes provisions for the unearned portion of certain policy charges.
See Note 3 for more information regarding the determination of fair value for derivatives embedded in FIA and IUL and purchased call options.
Other policyholder funds includes payout annuity contracts without life contingencies and dividend accumulations, as well as balances outstanding under funding agreements with FHLB and embedded derivatives related to FIA products. Except for embedded derivatives, each of these components is carried at cost. Embedded derivatives are carried at fair value. Amounts received and repaid under FHLB funding agreements are classified as financing activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
In 2013, Horace Mann Life Insurance Company (HMLIC), and in 2019, NTA became members of FHLB, which provides both subsidiaries with access to collateralized borrowings and other FHLB products. Any borrowing from FHLB requires the purchase of FHLB activity-based common stock in an amount equal to 4.5% of the borrowing, or a lower percentage - such as 2.0% based on the Reduced Capitalization Advance Program. In 2019, HMEC's Board of Directors (Board) authorized a maximum amount equal to 15% of net aggregate admitted assets less separate account assets of the insurance subsidiaries for FHLB advances and funding agreements combined. In 2020, HMLIC and NTA collectively received an additional $95.5 million from FHLB under funding agreements. Outstanding advances under FHLB funding agreements are reported as Other policyholder funds in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $590.5 million as of December 31, 2020. Interest on the funding agreements accrues at their effective interest rates.
As of December 31, 2020, scheduled maturity dates for outstanding FHLB funding agreements were as follows:
If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement exposes the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the ceded unearned premiums and reinsurance balances recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and settlement expenses are reported separately as assets, instead of being netted with the related liabilities, since reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its legal liability to its policyholders. See Note 8 for further details.
If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the Company recognizes the reinsurance agreement using the deposit method of accounting. The assets transferred to the reinsurer as consideration paid is reported as a Deposit asset on reinsurance on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. As amounts are received or paid or received, consistent with the underlying reinsured contracts, the Deposit asset on reinsurance is adjusted. The Deposit asset on reinsurance is accreted to the estimated ultimate cash flows using the interest method and the adjustment is reported as Net investment income. See Note 5 for further details.
Stock options are accounted for under the fair value method of accounting using a Black-Scholes valuation model to measure stock option expense at the date of grant. The fair value of RSUs is measured at the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, with the exception of market-based performance awards, for which the Company uses a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine fair value for purposes of measuring RSU expense. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $1.2 million, respectively, of stock option expense as a result of stock options that vested during the respective periods. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $4.8 million, $5.2 million and $6.6 million, respectively, in RSU expense as a result of the performance and/or vesting of RSUs during the respective periods.
The Company uses the asset and liability method for calculating deferred federal income taxes. Income tax provisions are generally based on income reported for financial statement purposes. The provisions for federal income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 included amounts currently payable and deferred income taxes resulting from the cumulative differences in the Company's assets and liabilities, determined on a tax return versus financial statement basis.
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the weighted average number of fully vested RSUs and common stock units (CSUs) payable as shares of HMEC common stock. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding, to the extent dilutive. The Company's common stock equivalents relate to outstanding common stock options, deferred compensation CSUs and incentive compensation RSUs, which are described in Note 12.
The computations of net income per share on both basic and diluted bases, including reconciliations of the numerators and denominators, were as follows:
The Company’s implementation activities are complete and the impacts relate to the Company’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio, agent advances, reinsurance recoverables and off-balance-sheet credit exposures for unfunded commercial mortgage loan commitments. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and recognized a cumulative effect adjustment that decreased retained earnings by $0.5 million.
In August 2018, the FASB issued accounting and disclosure guidance that contains targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts. Under the new guidance, the cash flow assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for traditional insurance contracts will be required to be updated at least annually with changes recognized as a benefit expense (i.e., assumptions will no longer be locked-in). Insurance entities will be required to use a standard discount rate to measure the liabilities that will be equivalent to the yield from a high-quality bond. The new guidance also changes the amortization of DAC to be on a constant-level basis over the expected term of the related contracts with no interest accruing on the DAC balance. The new guidance also introduces a new category of contract features associated with deposit type contracts referred to as market risk benefits (MRBs). Contract features meeting the definition of a MRB will be measured at fair value. New disclosures will be required for long-duration insurance contracts in order to provide better transparency into the exposure of insurance entities and the drivers of their results. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years. With regards to the liability for future policy benefits and DAC, the guidance applies to contracts in force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented and may be applied retrospectively. With regards to MRBs, the guidance is to be applied retrospectively at the beginning of the earliest period presented. Early adoption is permitted. Management is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the results of operations and financial position of the Company.
Net investment gains (losses) for the following periods were as follows:
(1) Net investment gains on fixed maturity securities include a $135.3 million realized investment gain associated with a transfer of investments to a reinsurer as consideration paid during the second quarter of 2019 in connection with the reinsurance of a $2.9 billion block of in force fixed and variable annuity business. See Notes 5 and 17 for further information.
(1) Effective January 1, 2018, with the adoption of new accounting guidance for recognition and measurement of financial instruments, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in Net investment gains (losses) and are no longer included in impairment write-downs or change in intent write-downs.
(1) Fair value includes securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) of $387.1 million and $405.1 million; Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) of $344.3 million and $283.1 million; and Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) of $132.3 million and $147.4 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The following table presents the fair value and gross unrealized losses for fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company views the decrease in fair value of all of the fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2020 - which was driven largely by increasing interest rates, spread widening, financial market illiquidity and/or market volatility from the date of acquisition - as temporary. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has not made the decision to sell and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses before recovery in value. Therefore, it was determined that the unrealized losses on the fixed maturity securities presented in the table below were not other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2020.
The following table summarizes the cumulative amounts related to the Company's credit loss component of OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities held as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 that the Company did not intend to sell as of those dates, and it was not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the securities before an anticipated recovery in value, for which the non-credit portions of OTTI losses were recognized in OCI:
For the year ended December 31, 2020, there was no allowance recognized for current expected credit losses with respect to fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale.
The following table presents the distribution of the Company's fixed maturity securities portfolio by estimated expected maturity. Estimated expected maturities differ from contractual maturities, reflecting assumptions regarding borrowers' utilization of the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. For structured securities, estimated expected maturities consider broker-dealer survey prepayment assumptions and are verified for consistency with the interest rate and economic environments.
Proceeds received from sales of fixed maturity and equity securities, each determined using the specific identification method, and gross gains and gross losses realized as a result of those sales for each year were as follows:
(1) Gross gains realized presented above include a $135.3 million realized investment gain associated with a transfer of investments to a reinsurer as consideration paid during the second quarter of 2019 in connection with the reinsurance of a $2.9 billion block of in force fixed and variable annuity business. See Notes 5 and 17 for further information.
The following table reconciles the net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities, net of tax, included in AOCI, before the impact on DAC:
(1) Effective January 1, 2018, with the adoption of new accounting guidance for recognition and measurement of financial instruments, available for sale equity securities were reclassified to equity securities at fair value and the related net unrealized gains were reclassified from AOCI to Retained earnings.
The Company's derivatives are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements. Collateral support agreements associated with each master netting arrangement provide that the Company will receive or pledge financial collateral in the event minimum thresholds have been reached.
The following table presents the instruments that were subject to a master netting arrangement for the Company.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $26.9 million and $26.0 million, respectively, were on deposit with governmental agencies as required by law in various states for which the insurance subsidiaries of HMEC conduct business. In addition, at December 31, 2020 and 2019, fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $707.3 million and $594.2 million, respectively, were on deposit with FHLB as collateral for amounts subject to funding agreements, advances and borrowings which were equal to $644.5 million and $545.0 million at the respective dates. The deposited securities are reported as Fixed maturity securities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following discussion describes the valuation methodologies used for financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value. The techniques utilized in estimating the fair values are affected by the assumptions used, including discount rates and estimates of the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. The use of different methodologies, assumptions and inputs may have a material effect on the estimated fair values of the Company's investment holdings. Care is exercised in deriving conclusions about the Company's business, its value or financial position based on the fair value information of financial assets and liabilities presented below.
In summary, the following financial assets and financial liabilities are carried at fair value:
•Fixed maturity securities including hard-to-value fixed maturity securities, as described above.
•FHLB membership and activity stocks - Fair value is based on redemption value, which is equal to par value.
Financial Instruments Measured and Carried at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
(1) Separate Account (variable annuity) assets represent contractholder funds invested in various actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values that are readily determinable for identical assets that the Company can access. Separate Account (variable annuity) liabilities are equal to the estimated fair value of Separate Account (variable annuity) assets.
(1) Represents embedded derivatives, all related to the Company's FIA products, reported in Other policyholder funds in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3) Transfers into and out of Level 3 during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were attributable to changes in the availability of observable market information for individual fixed maturity securities and short-term investments. The Company's policy is to recognize transfers into and out of the levels as having occurred at the end of the reporting period in which the transfers were determined.
The following table provides quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs for recurring fair value measurements categorized within Level 3.
(2) "I spread" is the interpolated weighted average life point on the "on the run" (OTR) point of the curve.
The Company has various other financial assets and financial liabilities used in the normal course of business that are not carried at fair value, but for which fair value disclosure is required. The following table presents the carrying amount, fair value and fair value hierarchy of these financial assets and financial liabilities.
Also, included in investment contract and policy reserves are embedded derivatives related to the Company's IUL products which are carried at fair value. See Note 4 for further information.
The Company carries short-term debt at amortized cost which approximates fair value.
The change in fair value of derivatives includes the gains or losses recognized at the expiration of the option term or early termination and the changes in fair value for open positions. Call options are not purchased to fund the index liabilities that may arise after the next deposit anniversary date. On the respective anniversary dates of the indexed deposits, the index used to compute the annual index credit is reset and new one-year call options are purchased to fund the next annual index credit. The cost of these purchases is managed through the terms of the FIA and IUL contracts, which permit changes to index return caps, participation rates and/or asset fees, subject to guaranteed minimums on each contract's anniversary date. By adjusting the index return caps, participation rates or asset fees, crediting rates generally can be managed except in cases where the contractual features would prevent further modifications.
The future annual index credits on FIA are accounted for as a "series of embedded derivatives" over the expected life of the applicable contract with a corresponding reserve recognized. For IUL, the embedded derivative represents a single year liability for the index return.
(1) Includes gains or losses recognized at option expiration or early termination and changes in fair value for open positions.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company held $16.3 million and $14.3 million, respectively, of cash and financial instruments received from counterparties for derivative collateral, which is included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This derivative collateral limits the Company's maximum amount of economic loss due to credit risk that would be incurred if parties to the call options failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts to $0.3 million per counterparty.
The annuity reinsurance transaction was effective April 1, 2019. Under the agreement, approximately $2.2 billion of fixed annuity reserves were reinsured on a coinsurance basis for consideration of approximately $2.3 billion which resulted in recognition of an after tax realized investment gain of $106.9 million in the second quarter of 2019. The separate account assets and liabilities of approximately $0.7 billion were reinsured on a modified coinsurance basis and thus, remain on the Company's consolidated financial statements, but the related results of operations are fully reinsured.
The Company determined that the reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk. Therefore, the Company recognizes the reinsurance agreement using the deposit method of accounting. The assets transferred to the reinsurer as consideration paid is reported as a Deposit asset on reinsurance on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. As amounts are received or paid, consistent with the underlying reinsured contracts, the Deposit asset on reinsurance is adjusted. The Deposit asset on reinsurance is accreted to the estimated ultimate cash flows using the interest method and the adjustment is reported as Net investment income. Interest accreted on the Deposit asset on reinsurance was $97.3 million and $70.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Estimated future amortization of the Company's definite-lived intangible assets were as follows:
The Company conducts intangible asset impairment testing at least annually, or more often if events, changes or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. See Note 1 for further description of impairment testing.
(1) Unpaid claims and claim expenses as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets also include reserves for Supplemental, Retirement and Life of $66.6 million, $55.9 million and $29.5 million as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in addition to Property and Casualty reserves.
(3) Shows the amounts by which the Company decreased its reserves in each of the periods indicated for claims occurring in previous periods to reflect subsequent information on such claims and changes in their projected final settlement costs. Also refer to the paragraphs below for additional information regarding prior years' reserve development recognized in 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The Company believes the Property and Casualty loss reserves are appropriately established based on available facts, laws, and regulations. The Company calculates and recognizes a single best estimate of the reserve (which is equal to the actuarial point estimate) as of each reporting date, for each line of business and its coverages for reported losses and for IBNR losses and as a result, the Company believes no other estimate is better than the recognized amount. Due to uncertainties involved, the ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recognized amounts.
Numerous risk factors will affect more than one product line. One of these factors is changes in claim department practices, including claim closure rates, number of claims closed without payment, the use of third-party claim adjusters and the level of needed case reserve estimated by the adjuster. Other risk factors include changes in claim frequency, changes in claim severity, regulatory and legislative actions, court actions, changes in economic conditions and trends (e.g., medical costs, labor rates and the cost of materials), the occurrence of unusually large or frequent catastrophic loss events, timeliness of claim reporting, the state in which the claim occurred and degree of claimant fraud. The extent of the impact of a risk factor will also vary by coverages within a product line. Individual risk factors are also subject to interactions with other risk factors within product line coverages.
While all product lines are exposed to these risks, there are some loss types or product lines for which the financial effect will be more significant. For instance, given the relatively large proportion (approximately 74.0% as of December 31, 2020) of the Company's reserves that are in the longer-tail automobile liability coverages, regulatory and court actions, changes in economic conditions and trends, and medical costs could be expected to impact this product line more extensively than others.
Reserves are established for claims as they occur for each line of business based on estimates of the ultimate cost to settle the claims. The actual loss results are compared to prior estimates and differences are recorded as re-estimates. The primary actuarial techniques (development of paid loss dollars, development of reported loss dollars, methods based on expected loss ratios and methods utilizing frequency and severity of claims) used to estimate reserves and provide for losses are applied to actual paid losses and reported losses (paid losses plus individual case reserves set by claim adjusters) for an accident year to create an estimate of how losses are likely to develop over time.
Reserves are re-estimated quarterly. When new development factors are calculated from actual losses that differ from estimated development factors used in previous reserve estimates, assumptions about losses and required reserves are revised based on the new development factors. Changes to reserves are recognized in the period in which development factor changes result in reserve re-estimates.
Claim count estimates are also established for claims as they occur for each line of business based on estimates of the ultimate claim counts. These counts are derived by counting the number of claimants by insurance coverage. The primary actuarial techniques (development of paid claim counts and development of reported claim counts) used to estimate ultimate claim counts are applied to actual paid claim counts and reported claim counts (paid claims plus individual unpaid claims set by claim adjusters) for an accident year to create an estimate of how claims are likely to develop over time. An accident year refers to classifying claims based on the year in which the claim occurred. The ultimate claim count generally gives equal consideration to the results of the two actuarial techniques described.
Occasionally, unusual aberrations in claim reporting patterns or claim payment patterns may occur. In these instances, analyses of alternate development factor selections are performed to evaluate the effect of these factors and judgment is applied to make appropriate development factor assumptions needed to develop a best estimate of ultimate claims.
See tables on the following pages of Note 7 for details of the average annual percentage payout of incurred claims by age, also referred to as a history of claims duration and tables illustrating the incurred and paid claims development information by accident year on a net basis for the lines of homeowners, automobile Liability, and automobile physical damage, which represents 99.0% of the Company's incurred losses for 2020.
Net favorable development of total reserves for Property and Casualty claims occurring in prior years was $10.2 million in 2020, $7.5 million in 2019 and $0.3 million in 2018. In 2020, the favorable development was predominantly the result of favorable loss trends in property for accident years 2019 and prior including the recognition of $4.8 million of subrogation received on the 2018 Camp Fire event. In 2019, the favorable development was predominantly the result of favorable loss trends in automobile for accident years 2018 and prior. In 2018, the favorable development was predominantly the result of favorable loss trends in property for accident years 2017 and prior.
The Company completes a detailed study of Property and Casualty reserves based on information available at the end of each quarter and year. Trends of reported losses (paid amounts and case reserves on claims reported to the Company) for each accident year are reviewed and ultimate loss costs for those accident years are estimated. The Company engages an independent property and casualty actuarial consulting firm to prepare an independent study of the Company's Property and Casualty reserves at December 31st of each year. The result of the independent actuarial study at December 31, 2020 was consistent with management's analysis and selected estimates and did not result in any adjustments to the Company's Property and Casualty reserves recognized.
The following tables illustrate the incurred and paid claims development by accident year on a net basis for the lines of homeowners, automobile liability and automobile physical damage. Conditions and trends that have affected the development of these reserves in the past will not necessarily reoccur in the future. It may not be appropriate to use this cumulative history in the projection of future performance.
The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2011 to 2019 is presented as unaudited supplementary information.
(1) This line includes Supplemental, Retirement and Life reserves included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Company is a national underwriter and therefore has exposure to catastrophic losses in certain coastal states and other regions throughout the U.S. Catastrophes can be caused by various events including hurricanes, windstorms, hail, severe winter weather, wildfires and earthquakes, and the frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. The financial impact from catastrophic losses results from both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the catastrophe as well as the severity of the event. The Company seeks to reduce its exposure to catastrophe losses through the geographic diversification of its insurance coverage, deductibles, maximum coverage limits and the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance.
(2) This measure is not based on accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (non-GAAP). An explanation of this non-GAAP measure is contained in the Glossary of Selected Terms included as an exhibit in the Company's reports filed with the SEC.
The Company maintains catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance coverage. For 2020, the Company's catastrophe excess of loss coverage consisted of one contract in addition to a minimal amount of coverage by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF). The catastrophe excess of loss contract provided 95% coverage for catastrophe losses above a retention of $25.0 million per occurrence up to $175.0 million per occurrence. This contract consisted of three layers, each of which provided for one mandatory reinstatement. The layers were $25.0 million excess of $25.0 million, $40.0 million excess of $50.0 million and $85.0 million excess of $90.0 million.
losses. Also, the Company could submit to the reinsurers two per risk losses from the same occurrence for a total of $8.0 million of property recovery in any one event.
The maximum individual life insurance risk retained by the Company is $0.5 million on any individual life, while either $0.1 million or $0.125 million is retained on each group life policy depending on the type of coverage. Excess amounts are reinsured. The Company also maintains a life catastrophe reinsurance program. For 2020, the Company reinsured 100% of the catastrophe risk in excess of $1.0 million up to $35.0 million per occurrence, with one reinstatement. The Company's life catastrophe risk reinsurance program covers acts of terrorism and includes nuclear, biological and chemical explosions but excludes other acts of war.
On July 1, 2019, the Company utilized the senior revolving credit facility to partially fund the acquisition of NTA. As of December 31, 2020, the amount outstanding on the senior revolving credit facility was $135.0 million. The unused portion of the Bank Credit Facility is subject to a variable commitment fee, which was 0.15% on an annual basis at December 31, 2020.
The Company is in compliance with all of the financial covenants contained in the Senior Notes indenture and the Bank Credit Facility agreement, consisting primarily of relationships of (1) debt to capital, (2) net worth, as defined in the financial covenants, (3) insurance subsidiaries' risk-based capital and (4) securities subject to funding agreements and repurchase agreements.
Income tax expense for the following periods differed from the expected tax computed by applying the federal corporate tax rate of 21% for 2020, 2019 and 2018 to income before income taxes as follows:
The Company's federal income tax returns for years prior to 2014 are no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The Company records liabilities for uncertain tax filing positions where it is more likely than not that the position will not be sustainable upon audit by taxing authorities. These liabilities are reevaluated routinely and are adjusted appropriately based upon changes in facts or law. The Company has no unrecorded liabilities from uncertain tax filing positions.
Interest and penalties were both immaterial in each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
On September 30, 2015, the Board authorized a share repurchase program allowing repurchases of up to $50.0 million of HMEC's common stock, par value $0.001 (Program). The Program authorizes the repurchase of common shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions. The Program does not have an expiration date and may be limited or terminated at any time without notice.
During 2018, the Company repurchased 129,112 shares of its common stock, or 0.3% of the shares outstanding as of December 31, 2017, at an aggregate cost of $5.1 million, or an average price of $39.41 per share. During 2019, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. During 2020, the Company repurchased 52,095 shares of its common stock, or 0.1% of the shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019, at an aggregate cost of $2.2 million, or an average price of $41.17 per share. In total and through December 31, 2020, 899,468 shares were repurchased under the Program at an average price of $32.68 per share. The repurchase of shares was funded through use of cash. As of December 31, 2020, $20.6 million remained authorized for future share repurchases under the Program.
At December 31, 2020, the Company held 24,902,579 shares in treasury.
The weighted average exercise prices of vested and exercisable options as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $34.81 and $31.42, respectively.
RSUs may be granted to executive officers, other employees and Directors and represent an equal number of common shares to be issued in the future. The RSUs vest in installments based on service or attainment of performance criteria generally beginning in the first year from the date of grant and generally become fully vested 1 to 5 years from the date of grant. The outstanding units accrue dividends at the same rate as dividends paid to HMEC's shareholders. These dividends are reinvested into additional RSUs.
The discount rates at December 31, 2020 were based on the average yield for long-term, high-grade securities available during the benefit payout period. To set its discount rate, the Company looks to leading indicators, including the Mercer Above Mean Yield Curve.
The Company has an investment policy for the defined benefit pension plan that aligns the assets within the plan's trust to an approximate allocation of 35% equity and 65% fixed income funds. Management believes this allocation will produce the targeted long-term rate of return on assets necessary for payment of future benefit obligations, while providing adequate liquidity for payments to current beneficiaries. Assets are reviewed against the defined benefit pension plan's investment policy and the trustee has been directed to adjust invested assets at least quarterly to maintain the target allocation percentages.
(1) None of the trust fund assets for the defined benefit pension plan have been invested in shares of HMEC's common stock.
As of December 31, 2006, upon discontinuation of retiree medical benefits, Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) were established for eligible participants and totaled $7.3 million. As of December 31, 2020, the balance of the previously established HRAs was $1.3 million. Funding of HRAs was $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(1) HMEC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
At the time of issuance of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company does not have pending litigation from which there is a reasonable possibility of material loss.
NOTE 16 - Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) represents the change in shareholders' equity during a reporting period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-shareholder sources. For the Company, comprehensive income (loss) is equal to net income plus or minus the after tax change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities and the after tax change in net funded status of benefit plans for the periods as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity. AOCI represents the accumulated change in shareholders' equity from these transactions and other events and circumstances from non-shareholder sources as shown in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Company recognizes the net funded status of benefit plans as a component of AOCI, net of tax.
NOTE 16 - Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (continued)
The following table reconciles the components of AOCI for the periods indicated.
(2) The pretax amounts reclassified from AOCI, $11.2 million, $157.4 million and $(16.4) million, are included in net investment gains (losses) and the related tax expenses, $2.4 million, $33.1 million and $(3.4) million, are included in income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(3) The Company adopted guidance on January 1, 2018 that resulted in reclassifying $15.0 million of after tax net unrealized gains on equity securities from AOCI to Retained earnings.
Non-cash investing activities include $2.1 billion of investments transferred to a reinsurer as consideration paid during the second quarter of 2019 in connection with the Company's reinsurance of a $2.9 billion block of in force fixed and variable annuity business. See Note 5 for further information.
Non-cash investing activities in respect to modifications or exchanges of fixed maturity securities as well as paid-in-kind activity for policy loans were insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company conducts and manages its business through five reporting segments. See Note 1 for a description of the Company's reporting segments that changed effective in the third quarter of 2019. The four operating segments, representing the major lines of insurance business, are: Property and Casualty (primarily personal lines of automobile and property insurance products), the newly created Supplemental (primarily cancer, heart, hospital, supplemental disability and accident coverages), Retirement (primarily tax-qualified fixed and variable annuities) and Life (life insurance). The Company does not allocate the impact of corporate-level transactions to these operating segments, consistent with the basis for management's evaluation of the results of those segments, but classifies those items in the fifth segment, Corporate and Other. In addition to ongoing transactions such as corporate debt service, net investment gains (losses) and certain public company expenses, such items also have included corporate debt retirement costs, when applicable.
(1) Acquired on July 1, 2019. The twelve month comparison is not meaningful.