On a consolidated basis, the Company had a net loss of $0.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in 2019, compared to net loss of $0.7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in 2018. Operating loss was $7.5 million in 2019 as compared to $3.9 million in 2018. The increase in operating loss was primarily due to unfavorable loss experience in the life and health operations, partially offset by favorable loss experience in the property and casualty operations.
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses at American Southern increased $0.7 million, or 1.8%, during 2019 as compared to 2018. As a percentage of premiums, net losses and loss adjustment expenses were 67.4% in 2019 as compared to 72.2% in 2018. The decrease in the loss ratio was primarily due to more favorable loss experience in the automobile liability line of business as a result of additional writings in 2019 and rate increases on existing business.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Leases. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The objective of this ASU, along with several related ASUs issued subsequently, is to increase transparency and comparability between organizations that enter into lease agreements. For lessees, the key difference of the new standard from the previous guidance (Topic 840) is the recognition of a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability on the balance sheet. The most significant change is the requirement to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases classified as operating leases. The new standard requires disclosures to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.
The following tables set forth the estimated fair value, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and cost or amortized cost of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities and equity securities, aggregated by type and industry, as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Level 2 Observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, for an asset or liability or prices for similar assets or liabilities. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 2 criteria include significantly most of its fixed maturities, which consist of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Government securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and certain corporate fixed maturities, as well as its non-redeemable preferred stocks. In determining fair value measurements of its fixed maturities and non-redeemable preferred stocks using Level 2 criteria, the Company utilizes data from outside sources, including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers. Prices for the majority of the Company’s Level 2 fixed maturities and non-redeemable preferred stocks were determined using unadjusted prices received from pricing services that utilize models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g. interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities) or can be corroborated by observable market data.
In accordance with general practice in the insurance industry, portions of the life, property and casualty insurance written by the Company are reinsured; however, the Company remains liable with respect to reinsurance ceded should any reinsurer be unable or unwilling to meet its obligations. Approximately 99.7% of the Company’s reinsurance recoverables were due from a single reinsurer as of December 31, 2019. Reinsurance recoverables of $32,035 were due from General Re Corporation, rated “AA+” by Standard & Poor’s and “A++” (Superior) by A.M. Best. Allowances for uncollectible amounts are established against reinsurance recoverables, if appropriate.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company has no operating leases that have not yet commenced.