These consolidated financial statements of NI Holdings include the financial position and results of operations of NI Holdings and six other entities:
On August 31, 2018, NI Holdings completed the acquisition of 100% of the common stock of Direct Auto from private shareholders and Direct Auto became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. Direct Auto is a property and casualty insurance company specializing in non-standard automobile insurance in the state of Illinois. Direct Auto remains headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and the current president of Direct Auto will continue to manage the Direct Auto insurance operations along with the current staff and management team. The results of Direct Auto are included as part of the Company’s non-standard auto business segment following the closing date.
Gross premiums written is equal to direct premiums written and assumed premiums before the effect of ceded reinsurance. Gross premiums written are recognized upon sale of new insurance contracts or renewal of existing contracts. Net premiums written is equal to gross premiums written less premiums ceded or paid to reinsurers (ceded premiums written).
Expenses incurred to underwrite risks are referred to as policy acquisition costs. Policy acquisition costs consist of commission expenses, premium taxes, and certain other underwriting expenses that vary with and are primarily related to the writing and acquisition of new and renewal business. These policy acquisition costs are deferred and amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies. Other underwriting and general expenses consist of salaries, professional fees, office supplies, depreciation, and all other operating expenses not otherwise classified separately, as well as payments to bureaus and assessments of statistical agencies for policy service and administration items such as rating manuals, rating plans, and experience data.
NI Holdings evaluates its insurance operations in the way it believes will be most meaningful and representative of its business results. Some of these measurements are “non-GAAP financial measures” under Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. GAAP is the acronym for “accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America”. The non-GAAP financial measures that NI Holdings presents may not be compatible to similarly-named measures reported by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures described in this section are used widely in the property and casualty insurance industry, and are the expense ratio, loss and LAE ratio, combined ratio, written premiums, ratio of net written premiums to statutory surplus, underwriting gain, return on average equity, and risk based capital.
The Company’s combined ratio is the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the sum of losses and LAE incurred and expenses to premiums earned, and measures its overall underwriting profit. Generally, if the combined ratio is below 100%, NI Holdings is making an underwriting profit. If the combined ratio is above 100%, it is not profitable without investment income and may not be profitable if investment income is insufficient.
Underwriting gain (loss) measures the pre-tax profitability of insurance operations. It is derived by subtracting losses and LAE, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, and other underwriting and general expenses from net premiums earned. Each of these items is presented as a caption in NI Holdings’ Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires both the use of estimates and judgment relative to the application of appropriate accounting policies. NI Holdings is required to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in its consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. NI Holdings evaluates these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis based on historical developments, market conditions, industry trends, and other information that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will conform to these estimates and assumptions and that reported results of operations would not be materially adversely affected by the need to make accounting adjustments to reflect changes in these estimates and assumptions from time to time. NI Holdings believes the following policies are the most sensitive to estimates and judgments.
When a claim is reported to NI Holdings, its claims personnel establish a case reserve for the estimated amount of the ultimate payment to the extent it can be determined or estimated. The amount of the loss reserve for the reported claim is based primarily upon an evaluation of coverage, liability, damages suffered, and any other information considered pertinent to estimating the exposure presented by the claim. Each claim is contested or settled individually based upon its merits, and some property and casualty claims may take years to resolve, especially if legal action is involved. Case reserves are reviewed on a regular basis and are updated as new information becomes available.
In addition to case reserves, NI Holdings maintains estimates of reserves for losses and LAE incurred but not reported. These reserves include estimates for the future development of case reserves. Some claims may not be reported for several years. As a result, the liability for unpaid losses and LAE may include significant estimates for IBNR.
Paid and Case Incurred Loss Development Method - The Paid and Case Incurred Loss Development Method utilizes ratios of cumulative paid or case incurred losses or LAE at each age of development as a percent of the preceding development age. Selected ratios are then multiplied together to produce a set of loss development factors which when applied to the most current data value, by accident year, develop the estimated ultimate losses or LAE. Ultimate losses or LAE are then selected for each accident year from the various methods employed.
Ratio of Paid ALAE to Paid Loss Method - This method utilizes the ratio of paid allocated loss adjustment expense (“ALAE”) to paid losses and is similar to the Paid and Case Incurred Method described above, except that the data projected are the ratios of paid ALAE to paid losses. The projected ultimate ratio is then multiplied by the selected ultimate losses, by accident year, to yield the ultimate ALAE. ALAE reserves are calculated by subtracting paid losses from ultimate ALAE.
The process of estimating loss reserves involves a high degree of judgment and is subject to a number of variables. These variables can be affected by both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, inflation, legal trends, and legislative changes, among others. The impact of many of these items on ultimate costs for losses and loss adjustment expenses is difficult to estimate. Loss reserve estimation is affected by the volume of claims, the potential severity of individual claims, the determination of occurrence date for a claim, and reporting lags (the time between the occurrence of the policyholder event and when it is actually reported to the insurer). Informed judgment is applied throughout the process, including the application of various individual experiences and expertise to multiple sets of data and analyses. NI Holdings continually refines its estimates of unpaid losses and LAE in a regular ongoing process as historical loss experience develops and additional claims are reported and settled. NI Holdings considers all significant facts and circumstances known at the time the liabilities for unpaid losses and LAE are established.
Sensitivity of Major Assumptions Underlying the Liabilities for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Inflation is not explicitly selected in the loss reserve analysis. However, historical inflation is embedded in the estimated loss development factors. The following table displays the impact on net income, after income taxes of 21%, resulting from various changes from the inflation factor implicitly embedded in the estimated payment pattern as of December 31, 2018. A change in inflation may or may not fully affect loss payments in the future because some of the underlying expenses have already been paid. The table below assumes that any change in inflation will be fully reflected in future loss payments. This variance in future IBNR emergence could occur in one year or over multiple years, depending when the change is recognized.
Fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates that generally translate, respectively, into decreases and increases in fair values of fixed income securities. The fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments also may be affected by the credit worthiness of the issuer, prepayment options, relative values of other investments, the liquidity of the instrument, and other general market conditions.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, NI Holdings’ investment portfolio experienced a loss in the net change in unrealized gains/losses of $12,279, with losses occurring in both fixed income and equity securities.
Level I: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
NI Holdings uses quoted values and other data provided by an independent pricing service in its process for determining fair values of its investments. The evaluations of such pricing services represent an exit price and a good faith opinion as to what a buyer in the marketplace would pay for a security in a current sale. This pricing service provides NI Holdings with one quote per instrument. For fixed income securities that have quoted prices in active markets, market quotations are provided. For fixed income securities that do not trade on a daily basis, the independent pricing service prepares estimates of fair value using a wide array of observable inputs including relevant market information, benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings, and matrix pricing. The observable market inputs that the Company’s independent pricing service utilizes may include (listed in order of priority for use) benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, market bids/offers, and other reference data on markets, industry, and the economy. Additionally, the independent pricing service uses an option-adjusted spread model to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios. The pricing service did not use broker quotes in determining fair values of the Company’s investments.
Certain direct policy acquisition costs consisting of commissions, premium taxes, and other direct underwriting expenses that vary with and are primarily related to the production of business are deferred and amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies as the underlying policy premiums are earned.
NI Holdings uses the asset and liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes arise from the recognition of temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of our assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized.
Accounting guidance provides companies the option to reclassify income tax effects that are stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) as a result of income tax reform to retained earnings. The Company accumulates unrealized gains on investments in equity with the corresponding income tax effects. The Company early adopted this guidance on a prospective basis as of December 31, 2017, and elected to reclassify material stranded income tax effects in AOCI to retained earnings using a portfolio method.
As of December 31, 2018, NI Holdings had no material unrecognized tax benefits or accrued interest and penalties. Federal income tax returns for the years 2013 through 2017 are open for examination.
NI Holdings premium levels and underwriting results have been, and will continue to be, influenced by market conditions. Pricing in the property and casualty insurance industry historically has been cyclical. During a soft market cycle, price competition is more significant than during a hard market cycle and makes it difficult to attract and retain properly priced business. During a hard market cycle, it is more likely that insurers will be able to increase their rates or profit margins. A hard market typically has a positive effect on premium growth. The markets that NI Holdings serve are diversified, which requires management to regularly monitor the Company’s performance and competitive position by line of business and geographic market to schedule appropriate rate actions. We believe that the market is generally in a stable phase as different portions of the market respond to higher frequency and severity of weather-related events.
Premiums in the multi-peril crop insurance business are primarily influenced by the number of acres and types of crops insured because the pricing is set by the RMA rather than individual insurance carriers. The expected experience of this business for the calendar year may also significantly affect the reported net earned premiums and losses due to the risk-sharing arrangement with the federal government. Multi-peril crop insurance premiums are generally written in the second quarter, and earned ratably over the period of risk, which extends into the fourth quarter.
Premiums in the personal lines of business (private passenger auto and home and farm) are generally written throughout the year and earned throughout the year. Losses on this business are also incurred throughout the year, but usually are more frequent and/or severe during periods of weather-related activity in the second and third quarters.
Loss experience for our crop business improved considerably year-over-year. Conditions were very favorable during the 2018 growing season, and early snows and cold temperatures did not materially affect crop production through the harvest. A year ago, early season drought conditions in western North Dakota was the primary reason for the higher loss ratio.
NI Holdings realized favorable development on prior accident years of $589 in the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $10,101 of favorable development on prior accident years realized in the year ended December 31, 2017. Net favorable development is primarily the result of prior years’ claims settling for less than originally estimated. Adjustments to our original estimates resulting from claims are not made until the period in which there is reasonable evidence that an adjustment to the reserve is appropriate.
Total underwriting and general expenses, including amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, increased $10,287 in 2018, or 23.2%, compared to 2017.
Underlying expenses were $14,377 higher in the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to a year ago across various expense categories. Policy acquisition costs have increased due to higher written premiums. Employee costs have increased, due primarily to stock compensation costs. Consulting expenses have increased relating to technology and public company services. The new Direct Auto subsidiary contributed $5,981 of underlying expenses and $3,507 amortization of other intangibles to the current year.
The expense ratio of 28.0% for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 3.2 percentage points higher than a year ago, due to the higher policy acquisition costs, higher consulting services and share-based compensation, and the increased ceding of crop insurance premiums. The Direct Auto business model, which includes a higher level of expenses offset by lower losses and LAE than the Primero business model, also contributes to a higher expense ratio.
Underwriting gain (loss) measures the pretax profitability of a company’s insurance business. It is derived by subtracting losses and LAE, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, and other underwriting and general expenses from net premiums earned.
The underwriting results for all of our business segments improved significantly year-over-year, other than the private passenger auto business. The private passenger auto business benefited from a higher amount of favorable claim reserve development in 2017 compared to 2018.
The underwriting results on our crop insurance business are significantly improved compared to a year ago. In 2017, higher loss experience was reported due to the early season drought conditions in western North Dakota. In 2018, favorable growing conditions reduced our loss experience considerably, which was partially offset by increased gain-sharing of profits back to the FCIC.
NI Holdings had fee and other income of $6,496 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $1,648 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The majority of fee income is typically attributable to the fees charged in Primero’s non-standard auto business, and increased year-over-year due to growth of the business. However, in the third quarter of 2018, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $4,578 as part of other income as a result of the purchase accounting afforded the purchase of Direct Auto.
NI Holdings had net realized capital gains on investment of $3,974 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $2,997 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company recorded $382 and $330 of other-than-temporary impairments during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, NI Holdings had annualized return on average equity, after non-controlling interest, of 11.8% compared to annualized return on average equity, after non-controlling interest, of 7.9% for the year ended December 31, 2017. Average equity is calculated as the average between beginning and ending equity excluding non-controlling interest for the period.
NI Holdings’ net losses and LAE for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased 3.6% to $122,711 compared to $118,508 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company’s loss and LAE ratio decreased to 68.4% for 2017, compared to 77.6% for 2016.
Private passenger auto business, and home and farm business, experienced fewer weather related losses in 2017 compared to 2016, particularly in North Dakota. Our non-standard auto business improved from a year ago as a result of strategic pricing and underwriting actions.
A very dry start to the 2017 growing season increased our loss experience for the multi-peril crop business when compared to prior years. The loss and LAE ratio for the entire year ended December 31, 2017 came in line with average expectations, which provided a normal level of premium retention under the risk-sharing arrangement with the federal government compared to a year ago.
In the all other segment, the assumed reinsurance book of business was adversely impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria during the third quarter of 2017, and by the California wildfires during the fourth quarter of 2017. This adverse experience was more than offset by improvements in excess liability and commercial multi-peril coverages.
Rate increases and other underwriting actions on our non-standard auto business reduced the underwriting loss considerably from a year ago. Fee income attributable to this segment is a key component in measuring its profitability. Fee income on this business was $1,087 and $1,157 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
NI Holdings had realized capital gains on investment of $2,997 for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $5,681 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company recorded other-than-temporary impairments of $330 in the year ended December 31, 2017, and no other-than-temporary impairments in the year ended December 31, 2016.
At December 31, 2018, NI Holdings had total assets of $458,492, an increase of $81,504, or 21.6%, from December 31, 2017. The acquisition of Direct Auto on August 31, 2018 added $70,533 in cash and investments, $5,849 of premium-related receivables, and $5,502 of intangible assets. Consideration paid for Direct Auto was $17,000. Receivables from policyholders increased due to growth in the business, and the receivable from the FCIC increased $5,668 from year to year due to improved loss experience on the multi-peril crop insurance business. Deferred policy acquisition costs also increased due to growth in the business and the addition of Direct Auto.
Total equity increased by $20,180, or 7.9%, during the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in equity primarily reflects consolidated net income of $31,244 for the year, partially offset by a $9,700 decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income due to lower fair values within our investment portfolio caused by an increase in the interest rate environment and a general decrease in the stock market during December 2018.
NI Holdings generates sufficient funds from its operations and maintains a high degree of liquidity in its investment portfolio to meet the demands of claim settlements and operating expenses. The primary sources of funds are premium collections, investment earnings, and maturing investments. In 2017, we raised $93,145 in net proceeds from our initial public offering, which are available if necessary to meet the demands of claim settlements and operating expenses. In 2018, we used $17,000 for the acquisition of Direct Auto.
The change in cash and cash equivalents for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 were as follows:
Net cash used in financing activities was $2,996 for the year ended December 31, 2018, and was attributable to the purchase of treasury stock. Net cash provided by financing activities of $82,708 for the year ended December 31, 2017 reflects the net proceeds from our initial public offering, offset by the initial funding of our new employee stock option plan and the purchase of treasury stock.
The amount available for payment of dividends from Nodak Insurance to us during 2019 without the prior approval of the North Dakota Insurance Department is approximately $17,588 based upon the policyholders’ surplus of Nodak Insurance at December 31, 2018. Prior to its payment of any extraordinary dividend, Nodak Insurance will be required to provide notice of the dividend to the North Dakota Insurance Department. This notice must be provided to the North Dakota Insurance Department 30 days prior to the payment of an extraordinary dividend and 10 days prior to the payment of an ordinary dividend. The North Dakota Insurance Department has the power to limit or prohibit dividend payments if an insurance company is in violation of any law or regulation. These restrictions or any subsequently imposed restrictions may affect our future liquidity. No dividends were declared or paid by Nodak Insurance during the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2017.
The amount available for payment of dividends from Direct Auto to NI Holdings during 2019 without the prior approval of the Illinois Department of Insurance is $6,653 based upon the policyholders’ surplus of Direct Auto at December 31, 2018. Prior to its payment of any dividend, Direct Auto will be required to provide notice of the dividend to the Illinois Department of Insurance. This notice must be provided to the Illinois Department of Insurance within five business days following declaration of any dividend and no less than 30 days prior to the payment of an extraordinary dividend or 10 days prior to the payment of an ordinary dividend. The Illinois Department of Insurance has the power to limit or prohibit dividend payments if Direct Auto is in violation of any law or regulation. These restrictions or any subsequently imposed restrictions may affect our future liquidity. No dividends were declared or paid by Direct Auto during the year ended December 31, 2018.
For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included elsewhere in this Report.
We make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our consolidated financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to our reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, earned premiums for crop insurance, valuation of investments, determination of other-than-temporary impairments, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, deferred policy acquisition costs, and the valuations used to establish intangible assets acquired related to business combinations. While we believe our estimates are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates as well as the continuing appropriateness of the estimated amounts, and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our current results of operations.
method. Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method and included in the determination of net income. Net investment income includes interest and dividend income together with amortization of purchase premiums and discounts, and is net of investment management and custody fees.
Level II - Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly. Level II inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities other than quoted in prices in Level I, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Certain amounts in the 2017 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation.
With the exception of Battle Creek, which files a stand-alone federal income tax return, we currently file a consolidated federal income tax return. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the consolidated federal income tax return included Nodak Mutual Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and thereafter, the consolidated federal income tax return included and will include thereafter NI Holdings and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Direct Auto became part of the consolidated federal income tax return as of its acquisition date.
The Company reports tax-related interest and penalties, if any, as part of income tax expense in the year such amounts are determinable.
Our primary investment objective is to earn competitive returns by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities. Our portfolio of fixed income securities and, to a lesser extent, short-term investments, is subject to credit risk. We define this risk as the potential loss in fair value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay the debt. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment staff and advisors. We also limit the amount of our total investment portfolio that we invest in any one security.
Intangibles arising from the acquisition of Direct Auto in 2018 represent the estimated fair values of certain intangibles, including a favorable lease contract, a state insurance license, the value of the Direct Auto trade name, and the value of business acquired (“VOBA”). The state insurance license asset has an indefinite life, while the favorable lease contract, Direct Auto trade name, and VOBA assets will be amortized over eighteen months, five years, and twelve months, respectively, from the August 31, 2018 valuation date.
On August 31, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the common stock of Direct Auto from private shareholders and Direct Auto became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. Direct Auto is a property and casualty insurance company specializing in non-standard automobile insurance in the state of Illinois. The Company realized a gain of $4,578 on the purchase of Direct Auto due to the use of applicable purchase accounting guidance (known as a “bargain purchase”).
Direct Auto will remain headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and the current president (who was also one of the principal shareholders) of Direct Auto will continue to manage the Direct Auto insurance operations along with the current staff and management team. The results of Direct Auto are included as part of the Company’s non-standard auto business segment following the closing date.
The acquired Direct Auto business contributed revenues of $14,178 and net income of $2,979 to the Company for the period from September 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidated information of the Company as if the business combination had occurred on January 1, 2017:
Other than the gain on bargain purchase, the Company did not have any material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination to be included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings.
The fair value of the assets acquired includes premiums and agents’ balances receivable of $5,849. This is the gross amount due from policyholders and agents, none of which is anticipated to be uncollectible. The Company did not acquire any other material class of receivable as a result of the acquisition of Direct Auto.
We have completed our final analysis of the assets and liabilities acquired and assigned fair values to the acquired intangibles consisting of favorable lease contract, state insurance license, Direct Auto trade name, and VOBA of $20, $100, $248, and $5,134, respectively. The state insurance license has an indefinite life, while the other intangibles will be amortized over useful lives of up to five years.
On July 1, 2017, the Company early adopted amended guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) on goodwill impairment testing. Under the amended guidance, the optional qualitative assessment (Step 0) and the first step of the quantitative assessment (Step 1) remain unchanged. Step 2 is eliminated. As a result, for annual impairment testing or in the event a test is required prior to the annual test, the Company will use Step 0 to determine if an impairment might exist and Step 1 to determine the amount of goodwill impairment. An impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill in the reporting unit. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 for public business entities. For private companies and emerging growth companies, this guidance is also effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for all entities beginning in 2017. The Company early adopted this guidance during the year ended December 31, 2017 on a prospective basis as a change in accounting principle, therefore at the date of adoption there was no impact to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In February 2018, the FASB issued new guidance to provide companies the option to reclassify income tax effects that are stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of income tax reform to retained earnings. This guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. In the period of adoption, an entity would be able to choose whether to apply the amendments retrospectively or in the period of adoption. The Company elected to early adopt this guidance during the year ended December 31, 2017 on a prospective basis, resulting in a $2,717 reclassification of stranded income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings within the Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017. There was no impact to the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that requires lessees to recognize leases, including operating leases, on the lessee’s Consolidated Balance Sheet, unless a lease is considered a short-term lease. The new guidance also requires entities to make new judgments to identify leases. In July 2018, the FASB issued additional guidance to allow an optional transition method. An entity may apply the new leases guidance at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements, or at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of cumulative adoption. The new guidance, which replaces the current lease guidance, is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 for public business entities. For private companies and emerging growth companies, this guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. We do not expect the adoption of this new guidance to have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In August 2016, the FASB issued amended guidance that addresses diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The amendments provide clarity on the treatment of eight specifically defined types of cash inflows and outflows. For private companies and emerging growth companies, this guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 using a retrospective transition method to each period presented or prospectively if adoption of an issue is impracticable. The adoption of this amended guidance will have no effect on our financial position or results of operations. We do not expect this amended guidance to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
In November 2016, the FASB issued amended guidance on the presentation of restricted cash in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Entities will be required to explain the changes during a reporting period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. For private companies and emerging growth companies, this guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The amendments are to be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The adoption of this amended guidance will no effect on our financial position or results of operations. We do not expect this amended guidance to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
In August 2018, the FASB issued modified disclosure requirements relating to the fair value of assets and liabilities. The amended requirements are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect these modified requirements will have a material impact on our financial disclosures.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
As of December 31, 2018, we held 317 fixed income securities with unrealized losses. As of December 31, 2017, we held 196 fixed income securities with unrealized losses. In conjunction with our outside investment advisors, we analyzed the credit ratings of the securities as well as the historical monthly amortized cost to fair value ratio of securities in an unrealized loss position. This analysis yielded no fixed income securities that had fair values less than 80% of amortized cost for the preceding 12-month period.
There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2018 or 2017.
Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligation to policyholders. Additionally, failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in significant losses to us. There can be no assurance that reinsurance will continue to be available to us at the same extent, and at the same cost, as it has in the past. The Company may choose in the future to reevaluate the use of reinsurance to increase or decrease the amounts of risk ceded to reinsurers.
The prior years’ provision for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses decreased by $589, $10,101, and $4,756 during 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Increases and decreases are generally the result of ongoing analysis of recent loss development trends. As additional information becomes known regarding individual claims, original estimates are increased or decreased accordingly.
The following tables present information, organized by our primary operating segments, about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2018, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported claims. The cumulative number of reported claims represents open claims, claims closed with payment, and claims closed without payment. It does not include an estimated amount for unreported claims. The number of claims is measured by claim event (such as a car accident or storm damage) and an individual claim event may result in more than one reported claim (such as a car accident with both property and liability damages). The Company considers a claim that does not result in a liability as a claim closed without payment. The tables include unaudited information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2009 through 2015, and through 2017 for the Direct Auto information, which we present as supplementary information.
State insurance laws require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum capital and surplus amounts on a statutory basis. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulations that restrict the payment of dividends from statutory surplus and may require prior approval from their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that may further affect their ability to pay dividends. Our insurance subsidiaries statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2018 exceeded the amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, by a significant margin.
The Company also sponsors a 401(k) plan with an automatic contribution to all eligible employees and a matching contribution for eligible employees of 50% up to 3% of eligible compensation. The Company’s contributions expense to the 401(k) plan totaled $475, $411, and $422 during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. All fees associated with both plans are deducted from the eligible employee accounts.
In connection with our initial public offering in March 2017, Nodak Insurance loaned $2,400 to the ESOP’s related trust (the “ESOP Trust”). The ESOP loan will be for a period of ten years and bears interest at the long-term Applicable Federal Rate effective on the closing date of the offering (2.79% annually). The ESOP Trust used the proceeds of the loan to purchase shares in our initial public offering, which results in the ESOP Trust owning approximately 1.0% of the Company’s authorized shares. The ESOP has purchased the shares for investment and not for resale.
Through December 31, 2018, 48,630 ESOP shares had been released and allocated to participants, with the remainder of 191,370 ESOP shares held in suspense at December 31, 2018. Using the Company’s year-end market price of $15.73, the fair value of the unearned ESOP shares was $3,010 at December 31, 2018.
Nodak Insurance has a $5,000 line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. There were no outstanding amounts during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, or 2016. This line of credit is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2019.
The components of our provision for income tax expense were as follows:
Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes a reduction of $1,274 to current income tax expense due to a new corporate income tax rate for tax year 2018 and beyond, enacted on December 22, 2017. Accounting guidance requires that companies re-measure existing deferred income tax assets (including loss carryforwards) and liabilities when a change in tax rate occurs and record an offset for the net amount of the change as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations in the period of enactment. The guidance also requires any change to a previously recorded valuation allowance as a result of re-measuring existing temporary differences and loss carryforwards to be reflected as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations. The valuation allowance against certain deferred income tax assets was $587, $628, and $1,022 at December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
The income tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of our deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities, valued at the new effective tax rate of 21% at December 31, 2018 and 2017, are as follows:
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had no unrecognized tax benefits, no accrued interest and penalties, and no significant uncertain tax positions. No interest and penalties were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, or 2016.
We also sub-lease a portion of our home office building under non-cancellable operating leases.
The Company does not have any unrecorded or potential contingent liabilities or material commitments requiring the use of assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Changes in the number of common stock shares outstanding are as follows:
On May 23, 2017, our Board of Directors approved an authorization for the repurchase of up to $8 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. We completed the repurchase of 446,671 shares of our common stock for $8,037 during the three months ended June 30, 2017, and reflected the cost of this treasury stock as a reduction of Equity within our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
At its 2017 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, the NI Holdings 2017, Inc. Stock and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by shareholders. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining employees, officers, consultants, advisors, and non-employee directors capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such persons incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business, to compensate such persons through various stock and cash-based arrangements, and to provide them with opportunities for stock ownership in the Company, thereby aligning the interests of such persons with the Company’s shareholders.
On March 1, 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded additional RSUs to select executives with the same terms as the previous awards.
On May 22, 2018, the RSUs awarded to non-employee directors vested and additional RSUs were awarded to non-employee directors to vest on the date of the next annual meeting of shareholders.
A summary of the Company’s outstanding restricted stock units is presented below:
The following table shows the impact of RSU activity to the Company’s financial results:
The following table shows the impact of PSU activity to the Company’s financial results:
The PSU grants above represent initial target awards and do not reflect potential increases or decreases resulting from financial performance objectives to be determined at the end of the performance period. The actual number of shares to be issued at the end of the performance period will range from 0% to 150% of the initial target awards.
At December 31, 2018, there was $556 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding PSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.00 years.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators we used in the basic and diluted per share computations for our common stock:
State insurance laws require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum capital and surplus amounts on a statutory basis. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulations that restrict the payment of dividends from statutory surplus and may require prior approval from their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that may further affect their ability to pay dividends. Our insurance subsidiaries statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2018 and 2017 exceeded the amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, by a significant margin.
Amounts available for distribution in 2019 to Nodak Insurance as dividends from its insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of insurance regulatory authorities are $1,389 from American West and $977 from Primero. No dividends were paid to Nodak Insurance from either entity during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, or 2016.
The amount available for payment of dividends from Nodak Insurance to NI Holdings during 2019 without the prior approval of the North Dakota Insurance Department is $17,588 based upon the policyholders’ surplus of Nodak Insurance at December 31, 2018. Prior to its payment of any extraordinary dividend, Nodak Insurance will be required to provide notice of the dividend to the North Dakota Insurance Department. This notice must be provided to the North Dakota Insurance Department 30 days prior to the payment of an extraordinary dividend and 10 days prior to the payment of an ordinary dividend. The North Dakota Insurance Department has the power to limit or prohibit dividend payments if Nodak Insurance is in violation of any law or regulation. These restrictions or any subsequently imposed restrictions may affect our future liquidity. No dividends were declared or paid in the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2017.