EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1494904
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1494904_10-K_2021_0001564590-21-012923.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
BUSINESS
Some of the information contained in this Item 1 or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to Global Indemnity Group, LLC and its subsidiaries’ plans and strategy, constitutes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of Item 7 of Part II and “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “Company” refer to Global Indemnity Group, LLC and its subsidiaries or, if prior to August 28, 2020, to Global Indemnity Limited and its subsidiaries.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Global Indemnity” refer to Global Indemnity Group, LLC or, if prior to August 28, 2020, to Global Indemnity Limited.
References to class A common shares refer to, at and after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on August 28, 2020 (the “Effective Time”), Global Indemnity Group, LLC class A common shares or, prior to the Effective Time, Global Indemnity Limited A ordinary shares.
History
Global Indemnity Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed on June 23, 2020, replaced Global Indemnity Limited, incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability, as the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies as a result of a redomestication transaction completed on August 28, 2020. This transaction resulted in the redomestication of the Company and its Bermuda subsidiary, Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“Global Indemnity Reinsurance”), to the United States. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GBLI. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s predecessors have been publicly traded since 2003. See Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information regarding the redomestication.
Effective August 28, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC became a publicly traded partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Global Indemnity Group, LLC meets the qualifying income exception to maintain partnership status. As a publicly traded partnership, Global Indemnity Group, LLC is generally not subject to federal income tax and most state income taxes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a holder of Global Indemnity Group, LLC common shares is treated as a partner in a publicly traded partnership. Shareholders are required to take into account their allocable share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s items of income, gain, loss, deduction and other items of the partnership for Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s taxable year ending within or with the shareholders’ taxable year, regardless of whether any cash or other distributions are made to shareholders. Global Indemnity Group, LLC will furnish to each shareholder, as soon as reasonably practical after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes the shareholders’ share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s income, gain, loss and deduction for Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s preceding taxable year. Income earned by the subsidiaries of Global Indemnity Group, LLC is subject to corporate tax in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions and, therefore, is not taxable to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s shareholders until the income is distributed by the subsidiaries to Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
General
Global Indemnity provides its insurance products across a distribution network that includes binding authority, program, brokerage, and reinsurance. The Company manages the distribution of these products through four business segments. Commercial Specialty offers specialty property and casualty products designed for product lines such as Small Business Binding Authority, Property Brokerage, Vacant Express, and Programs, which are written through the United National Plus brand and provide insurance for businesses such as snowplowing and pest control. Specialty Property offers specialty personal lines property and casualty insurance products. Farm, Ranch & Stable offers specialized property and casualty coverage including Commercial Farm Auto and Excess/Umbrella Coverage for the agriculture industry as well as specialized insurance products for the equine mortality and equine major medical industry. Reinsurance Operations provides reinsurance solutions through brokers and primary writers including insurance and reinsurance companies.
The Commercial Specialty, Specialty Property, and Farm, Ranch & Stable segments comprise the Company’s Insurance Operations (“Insurance Operations”).
Business Segments
See Note 21 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for gross and net written premiums, income and total assets of each operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. For a discussion of the variances between years, see “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report.
During the first quarter of 2019, the Company re-evaluated its Personal Lines segment and determined that Personal Lines should be bifurcated into two reportable segments: Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable. This is the result of changing how Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable are managed and reported. Specialty Property is managed out of the Company’s Scottsdale, Arizona office; whereas, Farm, Ranch & Stable is managed out of the Company’s Omaha, Nebraska office. In the past, Farm, Ranch & Stable reported to the Scottsdale, Arizona office and now it reports directly to the Company’s main headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Results for Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable are separately measured, resources are separately allocated to each of these lines, and employees in each line are now being rewarded based on each line’s separate results. Accordingly, the Company now reports Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable as two separate reportable segments. In addition, the Company has changed the name of its Commercial Lines segment to Commercial Specialty to better align with its key product offerings. The segment results for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been revised to reflect these changes.
Commercial Specialty
The Company’s Commercial Specialty segment distribute specialty property and casualty insurance products and operates predominantly in the excess and surplus lines, or non-admitted, marketplace. The excess and surplus lines market differs significantly from the standard property and casualty insurance market. For additional information on the standard property and casualty insurance market, see “Specialty Property” below.
The excess and surplus lines market provides coverage for businesses that often do not fit the underwriting criteria of an insurance company operating in the standard markets due to their relatively greater unpredictable loss patterns and unique niches of exposure requiring rate and policy form flexibility. Without the excess and surplus lines market, certain businesses would have to self-insure their exposures, or seek coverage outside the U.S. market.
Competition in the excess and surplus lines market tends to focus less on price and more on availability, service, and other considerations. While excess and surplus lines market exposures may have higher perceived insurance risk than their standard market counterparts, excess and surplus lines market underwriters historically have been able to generate underwriting profitability superior to standard market underwriters.
A portion of the Company’s Commercial Specialty segment is written on a specialty admitted basis. When writing on a specialty admitted basis, the Company’s focus is on writing insurance for insureds that engage in similar but often highly specialized types of activities. The specialty admitted market is subject to greater state regulation than the surplus lines market, particularly with regard to rate and form filing requirements and the ability to enter and exit lines of business. Insureds purchasing coverage from specialty admitted insurance companies do so because the insurance product is not otherwise available from standard market insurers. Yet, for regulatory or marketing reasons, these insureds require products that are written by an admitted insurance company.
Commercial Specialty’s insurance products target specific, defined groups of insureds with customized coverage to meet their needs. To manage operations, the Commercial Specialty segment differentiates its products by product classification. These product classifications are as follows:
•
Penn-America Group distributes property and general liability products for small commercial businesses through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority;
•
United National Group distributes property, general liability, and professional lines products through program administrators with specific binding authority; and
•
Diamond State Group distributes property, casualty, and professional lines products through wholesale brokers that are underwritten by the Company’s personnel and selected brokers with specific binding authority.
•
Vacant Express primarily distributes products for dwellings which are currently vacant, undergoing renovations, or are under construction through aggregators, brokers, and retail agents.
These product classifications comprise the Commercial Specialty business segment and are not considered individual business segments because each product has similar economic characteristics, distribution, and coverage.
The Company’s Commercial Specialty segment provide property, casualty, and professional liability products utilizing customized guidelines, rates, and forms tailored to the Company’s risk and underwriting philosophy. See “Underwriting” below for a discussion on how the Company’s insurance products are underwritten.
In 2020, gross written premiums for the Commercial Specialty segment were $321.9 million compared to $297.3 million for 2019. For 2020, surplus lines business accounts for approximately 90.8% of the business written while specialty admitted business accounts for the remaining 9.2%.
Specialty Property
The Company’s Specialty Property segment distributes specialty personal lines property and casualty insurance products and operates primarily in the standard, or admitted markets. In this standard property and casualty insurance market, insurance rates and forms are highly regulated; products and coverage are largely uniform and have relatively predictable exposures. In the standard market, policies must be written by insurance companies that are admitted to transact business in the state in which the policy is issued. As a result, in the standard property and casualty insurance market, insurance companies tend to compete for customers primarily on the basis of price, coverage, value-added service, and financial strength.
The Company’s Specialty Property segment writes specialty products such as mobile homes, manufactured homes, homeowners, via American Reliable and Collectibles. These products are distributed through retail agents, wholesale general agents, and brokers. The insurance products are either underwritten via specific binding authority or by internal personnel.
See “Underwriting” below for additional discussion on how the Company’s insurance products are underwritten.
In 2020 and 2019, gross written premiums for the Specialty Property segment were $138.4 million and $163.5 million, respectively, and includes business written by American Reliable that is ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement in the amount of less than $0.1 million and ($0.3) million, respectively.
Farm, Ranch & Stable
The Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment provides specialized property and casualty coverage including Commercial Farm Auto and Excess/Umbrella Coverage for the agriculture industry as well as specialized insurance products for the equine mortality and equine major medical industry primarily on an admitted basis. These insurance products are sold through wholesalers and retail agents, with a selected number having specific binding authority. For additional information on the standard property and casualty insurance market, see “Specialty Property” above.
See “Underwriting” below for additional discussion on how the Company’s insurance products are underwritten.
In 2020, gross written premiums for the Farm, Ranch & Stable segment were $85.6 million compared to $87.7 million for 2019
Reinsurance Operations
The Company’s Reinsurance Operations segment provides reinsurance solutions through brokers and primary writers including insurance and reinsurance companies. Prior to the redomestication transaction, the Company’s Reinsurance Operations consisted solely of the operations of its Bermuda-based wholly-owned subsidiary, Global Indemnity Reinsurance. As part of the redomestication transactions, Global Indemnity Reinsurance was merged with and into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company ("Penn-Patriot"), with Penn-Patriot surviving, resulting in the assumption of Global Indemnity Reinsurance's business by the Global Indemnity group of companies’ existing U.S. insurance company subsidiaries.
The Company is focused on using its capital capacity to write casualty and specialty-focused contracts meeting the Company’s risk tolerance and return thresholds.
In 2020, gross written premiums from third parties were $60.7 million compared to $88.3 million for 2019.
Products and Product Development
The Company’s Insurance Operations distribute property and casualty insurance products. The Company’s Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable segments operate primarily in the admitted marketplace; whereas, its Commercial
Specialty segment operates predominantly in the excess and surplus lines marketplace. To manage its operations, the Company seeks to differentiate its products by product classification. See “Commercial Specialty”, “Specialty Property”, and “Farm, Ranch & Stable” above for a description of these product classifications. The Company’s Insurance Operations are licensed to write on a surplus lines (non-admitted) basis and/or an admitted basis in all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which provides the Company with flexibility in designing products and programs, and in determining rates to meet emerging risks and discontinuities in the marketplace.
The Company’s Reinsurance Operations offer third party treaty reinsurance for casualty insurance and reinsurance companies as well as professional liability products to companies. Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company’s Reinsurance Operations also provided reinsurance to its Insurance Operations in the form of quota share arrangements. As a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”), effective January 1, 2018, premiums being ceded under the quota share arrangement could have potentially been subject to a 10% base erosion minimum tax (“BEAT”). As a result, Global Indemnity Reinsurance and the Company’s insurance companies terminated the quota share arrangement effective January 1, 2018.
Geographic Concentration
The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of gross written premiums for the periods indicated:
For the Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
California
$
57,542
9.5
%
$
54,850
8.5
%
$
58,744
10.8
%
Texas
55,045
9.1
54,381
8.5
49,544
9.1
Florida
49,122
8.1
48,093
7.6
42,116
7.7
New York
42,183
7.0
37,288
5.9
28,718
5.2
Louisiana
22,590
3.7
21,710
3.4
21,610
3.9
Arizona
22,045
3.6
21,975
3.5
20,973
3.8
Massachusetts
19,349
3.2
18,510
2.9
15,968
2.9
North Carolina
19,221
3.2
19,989
3.1
19,021
3.5
Georgia
15,971
2.6
19,427
3.1
15,017
2.7
New Jersey
14,840
2.4
15,318
2.4
13,931
2.5
Subtotal
317,908
52.4
311,541
48.9
285,642
52.1
All other states
228,018
37.6
237,039
37.2
214,212
39.1
Reinsurance Operations
60,677
10.0
88,281
13.9
48,043
8.8
Total
$
606,603
100.0
%
$
636,861
100.0
%
$
547,897
100.0
%
Marketing and Distribution
The Company provides its insurance products across a full distribution network - binding authority, program, brokerage, direct, and reinsurance. For its binding authority and program product classifications, the Company distributes its insurance products primarily through a group of wholesale general agents and program administrators that have specific quoting and binding authority. For its brokerage business, the Company distributes its insurance products through wholesale insurance brokers who in turn sell the Company’s insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. For its reinsurance business, the Company distributes its products through brokers and on a direct basis.
The Company’s Commercial Specialty segment distributes its insurance products primarily through a group of approximately 185 wholesale general agents, wholesale insurance brokers, and program administrators. Of Commercial Specialty’s non-affiliated professional wholesale general agents, wholesale insurance brokers, and program administrators, the top five accounted for 41.4% of Commercial Specialty’s gross written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2020. Two agencies individually represented more than 10.0% of Commercial Specialty’s gross written premiums.
The Company’s Specialty Property segment distributes specialty personal lines property and casualty insurance products through a group of approximately 225 wholesale general agents and retail agents. Its retail distribution is limited to products written primarily in New Mexico and Arizona. Of Specialty Property’s non-affiliated professional wholesale general agents and retail agents, the top five accounted for 48.0% of Specialty Property’s gross written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2020. One agency individually represented more than 10.0% of Specialty Property’s gross written premiums.
The Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment distributes their insurance products through a group of approximately 220 wholesale general agents and retail agents. Farm, Ranch & Stable’s top five agents accounted for 21.0% of its gross written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2020 . No one agency represented more than 10% of Farm, Ranch & Stable’s gross written premiums.
There is no agency which accounts for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Company assumed premiums on three treaties from three cedants which accounted for 85.5% of the Reinsurance Operations’ 2020 gross written premiums. There was no treaty that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Company’s primary distribution strategy is to seek to maintain strong relationships with a limited number of high-quality wholesale professional general agents and wholesale insurance brokers. The Company carefully selects distribution sources based on their expertise, experience and reputation. The Company believes that its distribution strategy enables it to effectively access numerous markets through the marketing, underwriting, and administrative support of the Company’s professional general agencies and wholesale insurance brokers. The Company believes these wholesale general agents and wholesale insurance brokers have local market knowledge and expertise that enables them to access business in these markets more effectively.
Underwriting
For Commercial Specialty, the Company’s insurance products are primarily underwritten via specific binding authority in which the Company grants underwriting authority to its wholesale general agents and program administrators and via brokerage in which the Company’s internal personnel underwrites business submitted by wholesale insurance brokers.
For Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable, the Company’s insurance products are distributed through retail agents, wholesale general agents, and brokers. The insurance products for these two segments are either underwritten via specific binding authority or by internal personnel. Some of the Company’s specialized property business for these two segments is submitted by retail agents and underwritten by internal personnel. Some of Specialty Property’s specialized property business is submitted directly from insureds and is underwritten by internal personnel.
Specific Binding Authority - Several of the Company’s wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators for the Company’s Insurance Operations have specific quoting and binding authority with respect to the lines they write and some have limited quoting and binding authority with respect to multiple products.
The Company’s wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators will either utilize company administered policy systems with the Company’s underwriting guidelines embedded within the system or the agents will use their own proprietary systems. When the agents use their own proprietary systems, the Company provides its wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators with a comprehensive, regularly updated underwriting manual that specifically outlines risk eligibility which is developed based on the type of insured, nature of exposure and overall expected profitability. This manual also outlines (a) premium pricing, (b) underwriting guidelines, including but not limited to policy forms, terms and conditions, and (c) policy issuance instructions.
The Company’s wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators are appointed to underwrite submissions received in accordance with the Company’s underwriting manual. Risks that are not within the specific binding authority must be submitted to the Company’s underwriting personnel directly for underwriting review and approval or denial of the application of the insured. The Company’s wholesale general agents provide all policy issuance services in accordance with the Company’s underwriting manuals.
Farm, Ranch & Stable partners are not provided with underwriting manuals. Rather, they are provided with letters of authority; whereby, policies and endorsement issuance rights are extended. Agents who write Farm, Ranch & Stable utilize a Company administered system which contains an abbreviated version of the Company’s underwriting guidelines on various exposures including appetite on types of risks to insure.
The Company regularly monitors the underwriting quality of its wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators through a disciplined system of controls, which includes the following:
•
automated system criteria edits and exception reports;
•
individual policy reviews to measure adherence to the Company’s underwriting manual including: risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing;
•
periodic on-site and virtual comprehensive audits to evaluate processes, controls, profitability and adherence to all aspects of the Company’s underwriting manual including: risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing;
•
internal quarterly actuarial analysis of loss ratios produced by business underwritten by the Company’s wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators; and
•
internal quarterly analysis of financial results, including premium growth and overall profitability of business produced by the Company’s wholesale general agents, retail agents, and program administrators.
The Company provides incentives to certain of its wholesale general agents and program administrators to produce profitable business through contingent profit commission structures that are tied directly to the achievement of profitability targets.
Brokerage -The wholesale insurance brokers are within the Company’s Commercial Specialty segment and are subject to the same guidelines and monitoring as discussed above. The Company’s wholesale insurance brokers do not have specific binding authority; therefore, these risks are submitted to the Company’s underwriting personnel for review and processing.
The Company provides its underwriters with a comprehensive, regularly updated underwriting manual that outlines risk eligibility which is developed based on the type of insured, nature of exposure and overall expected profitability. This manual also outlines (a) premium pricing, (b) underwriting guidelines, including but not limited to policy forms, terms and conditions.
The Company’s underwriting personnel review submissions, issue all quotes and perform all policy issuance functions. The Company regularly monitors the underwriting quality of its underwriters through a disciplined system of controls, which includes the following:
•
individual policy reviews to measure the Company’s underwriters’ adherence to the underwriting manual including: risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing;
•
periodic underwriting review to evaluate adherence to all aspects of the Company’s underwriting manual including: risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing;
•
internal quarterly actuarial analysis of loss ratios produced by business underwritten by the Company’s underwriters; and
•
internal quarterly analysis of financial results, including premium growth and overall profitability of business produced by the Company’s underwriters.
Reinsurance - The Company’s Reinsurance Operations primarily offers retrocessional coverage to Bermuda based reinsurance companies. The Company primarily writes professional lines excess liability business and casualty retrocession contracts. Prior to entering into any agreement, the Company evaluates a number of factors for each cedant including, but not limited to, reputation and financial condition, underwriting and claims practices and historical claims experience.
Contingent Commissions
Certain professional general agencies of the Company’s Insurance Operations are paid special incentives, referred to as contingent commissions, when results of business produced by these agencies are more favorable than predetermined thresholds. Similarly, in some circumstances, companies that cede business to the Reinsurance Operations are paid a profit commission based on the profitability of the ceded portfolio. These commissions are charged to other underwriting expenses when incurred.
Pricing
Actuaries establish pricing tailored to each specific product the Company underwrites, taking into account historical loss experience, historical rate level changes, property catastrophe modeling output, and individual risk and coverage characteristics. The Company generally uses the actuarial loss costs promulgated by the Insurance Services Office as a benchmark in the development of pricing for most products. Specific products will utilize proprietary rating when deemed appropriate including utilizing machine learning and other analytical methods to assist with risk segmentation and pricing. The Company will seek to only write business if it believes it can achieve an adequate risk adjusted rate of return.
Reinsurance of Underwriting Risk
The Company’s philosophy is to purchase reinsurance from third parties to limit its liability on individual risks and to protect against property catastrophe and casualty clash losses. Reinsurance assists the Company in controlling exposure to severe losses and protecting capital resources. The type, cost and limits of reinsurance it purchases can vary from year to year based upon the Company’s desired retention levels and the availability of quality reinsurance at an acceptable price. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge an insurer from its primary liability for the full amount of limits on the policies it has written, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the insurer to the extent of the insurance ceded. The Company’s reinsurance contracts renew throughout the year and all of its reinsurance is purchased following guidelines established by management. The Company primarily utilizes treaty reinsurance products made up of proportional and excess of loss reinsurance. Additionally, the Company may purchase facultative reinsurance protection on single risks when deemed necessary.
The Company purchases specific types and structures of reinsurance depending upon the characteristics of the lines of business and specialty products underwritten. The Company will typically seek to place proportional reinsurance for umbrella and excess products, certain specialty products, or new products in the development stage. The Company believes that this approach allows it to control net exposure in these product areas most cost effectively.
The Company purchases reinsurance on an excess of loss basis to cover individual risk severity. These structures are utilized to protect the Company’s primary positions on property and casualty products. The excess of loss structures allow the Company to maximize underwriting profits over time by retaining a greater portion of the risk in these products, while helping to protect against the possibility of unforeseen volatility.
The Company analyzes its reinsurance contracts to ensure that they meet the risk transfer requirements of applicable accounting guidance, which requires that the reinsurer must assume significant insurance risk under the reinsured portions of the underlying insurance contracts and that there must be a reasonably possible chance that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the transaction.
The Company continually evaluates its retention levels across its entire line of business and specialty product portfolio seeking to ensure that the ultimate reinsurance structures are aligned with the Company’s corporate risk tolerance levels associated with such products. Any decision to decrease the Company’s reliance upon proportional reinsurance or to increase the Company’s excess of loss retentions could increase the Company’s earnings volatility. In cases where the Company decides to increase its excess of loss retentions, such decisions will be a result of a change or progression in the Company’s risk tolerance level. The Company endeavors to purchase reinsurance from financially strong reinsurers with which it has long-standing relationships. In addition, in certain circumstances, the Company holds collateral, including letters of credit, under reinsurance agreements.
The Company’s Insurance Operations’ material reinsurance treaties are as follows:
Property Catastrophe Excess of Loss - The Company’s current property writings create exposure to catastrophic events. To protect against these exposures, the Company purchases a property catastrophe treaty. Effective June 1, 2020, the Company purchased three layers of occurrence coverage for losses of $235 million in excess of $15 million. The first layer provides coverage of 100% of $35 million in excess of $15 million and can be reinstated twice at no additional charge. The second layer provides coverage of $50 million in excess of $50 million and can be reinstated once at no additional charge. The third layer provides coverage of $150 million in excess of $100 million and can be reinstated once at no additional charge.
This replaced the treaty which expired on May 31, 2020 and provided three layers of occurrence coverage for losses of $275 million in excess of $25 million. The first layer provided coverage of 50% of $25 million in excess of $25 million and could be reinstated twice at no additional charge. The second layer provided coverage of $50 million in excess of $50 million and was unable to be reinstated. The third layer provided coverage of $200 million in excess of $100 million and included one 100% paid reinstatement. The second layer also included a cascading feature. Any erosion of the first layer lowered the
attachment point of the second layer by the same amount. Should the second layer of limit be exhausted and reinstated, the attachment point would be in excess of $50 million.
Location-Specific Quota Share - Effective May 1, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement, which expired September 1, 2020, to cede 50% of the net underwriting results for certain Specialty Property products in certain states, subject to an occurrence limit of $50 million for property coverages and $1.5 million for casualty coverages.
Catastrophe Quota Share - Effective June 1, 2019, the Company renewed its agreement to cede 50% of its catastrophe losses which are above $3 million. The occurrence limit was reduced to $25 million and the aggregate limit was reduced to $75 million. This treaty expired on May 31, 2020.
Property Per Risk Excess of Loss - Effective January 1, 2021, the Company renewed its property per risk excess of loss treaty. This treaty provides coverage of $1 million per risk excess of $1 million per risk for the Company’s Specialty Personal and Farm, Ranch & Stable segments. This treaty also provides coverage of $13 million per risk in excess of $2 million per risk for the entire Company. This treaty also provides coverage of $35 million per risk excess of $15 million per risk for Property Brokerage business only. This replaced the treaty which expired December 31, 2020 and provided coverage of $8 million per risk in excess of $2 million per risk, of which the Company participated on 25% of the placement. This treaty also provided coverage of $20 million per risk in excess of $10 million per risk and $20 million per risk in excess of $30 million per risk for Property Brokerage business only.
Casualty Excess of Loss - Effective January 1, 2018, the Company entered into a casualty excess of loss treaty, which is still in effect, that provides coverage of $10 million per occurrence in excess of $2 million per occurrence for all casualty lines of business. The treaty is subject to an aggregate limit of $20 million.
To the extent that there may be an increase or decrease in catastrophe or casualty clash exposure in the future, the Company may increase or decrease its reinsurance protection for these exposures commensurately. There were no other significant changes to any of the Company’s Insurance Operations’ reinsurance treaties during 2020.
The following table sets forth the ten reinsurers for which the Company has the largest reinsurance receivables as of December 31, 2020. Also shown are the amounts of premiums ceded by the Company to these reinsurers during the year ended December 31, 2020.
(Dollars in millions)
AM
Best
Rating
Gross
Reinsurance
Receivables
Percent
of Total
Ceded
Premiums
Written
Percent
of Total
Munich Re America Corp.
A+
$
44.8
45.9
%
$
14.8
25.3
%
General Reinsurance Corp.
A++
7.1
7.3
4.1
7.0
Swiss Reinsurance America Corp.
A+
4.4
4.5
8.8
15.1
Scor Reinsurance Company
A+
4.1
4.2
2.7
4.6
Westport Insurance Corporation
A+
3.9
4.0
-
-
Clearwater Insurance Company
NR
3.0
3.1
-
-
American Standard Insurance Company of WI
A
2.5
2.6
8.2
14.0
American Bankers Insurance Company
A
2.0
2.0
-
-
Factory Mutual Insurance Company
A+
1.7
1.7
3.3
5.7
Hannover Rueckversicherung Ag
A+
1.7
1.7
2.1
3.6
Subtotal
$
75.2
77.0
%
$
44.0
75.3
%
All other reinsurers
22.5
23.0
14.4
24.7
Total reinsurance receivables before allowance for expected credit losses
$
97.7
100.0
%
$
58.4
100.0
%
Allowance for expected credit losses
(9.0
)
Total receivables, net of allowance for expected credit losses
88.7
Collateral held in trust from reinsurers
(5.0
)
Net receivables
$
83.7
At December 31, 2020, the Company carried reinsurance receivables, net of collateral held in trust, of $83.7 million. This amount is net of an allowance for expected credit losses of $9.0 million at December 31, 2020.
Historically, there have been insolvencies following a period of competitive pricing in the industry. While the Company has recorded allowances for reinsurance receivables based on currently available information, conditions may change or additional information might be obtained that may require the Company to record additional allowances. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews its financial exposure to the reinsurance market and assesses the adequacy of its collateral and allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. The Company continues to take actions to mitigate its exposure to possible loss.
Claims Management and Administration
The Company’s approach to claims management is designed to investigate reported incidents at the earliest juncture, to select, manage, and supervise all legal and adjustment aspects of claims, including settlement, for the mutual benefit of the Company, its professional general agents, wholesale brokers, reinsurers and insureds. The Company’s professional general agents and wholesale brokers have no authority to settle claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process, with the exception of one statutory managing general agent. The Insurance Operations’ claims management staff supervises or processes all claims. The Company’s Insurance Operations has a formal claims review process, and all claims greater than $250,000 are reviewed by senior claims management and certain senior executives. Large loss trends and analysis are reviewed by a Large Loss committee.
To handle claims, the Company’s Insurance Operations utilizes its own in-house claims department as well as third-party assuming reinsurers, to whom it delegates limited claims handling authority. The Insurance Operations’ experienced in-house staff of claims management professionals are assigned to one of five dedicated claim units: casualty and automobile claims, latent exposure claims, property claims, and a wholly-owned subsidiary that administers construction defect claims. The dedicated claims units meet regularly to communicate current developments within their assigned areas of specialty.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $349.0 million of gross incurred case losses and loss adjustment expenses at its Insurance Operations. Claims relating to approximately 88% of those incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses are handled by in-house claims management professionals. Approximately 12% of its incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses are handled by the Company’s assuming reinsurers. The Company reviews and supervises the claims handled by its reinsurers seeking to protect its reputation and minimize exposure.
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Applicable insurance laws require the Company to maintain reserves to cover its estimated ultimate losses under insurance policies and reinsurance treaties that it writes and for loss adjustment expenses relating to the investigation and settlement of claims.
The Company establishes losses and loss adjustment expense reserves for individual claims by evaluating reported claims on the basis of:
•
knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the claim;
•
the severity of injury or damage;
•
jurisdiction of the occurrence;
•
the potential for ultimate exposure;
•
litigation related developments;
•
the type of loss; and
•
the Company’s experience with the insured and the line of business and policy provisions relating to the particular type of claim.
The Company generally estimates such losses and claims costs through an evaluation of individual reported claims. The Company also establishes reserves for incurred but not reported losses (“IBNR”). IBNR reserves are based in part on statistical information and in part on industry experience with respect to the expected number and nature of claims arising from occurrences that have not been reported. The Company also establishes its reserves based on estimates of future trends in claims severity and other subjective factors. Insurance companies are not permitted to reserve for a catastrophe until it has occurred. Reserves are recorded on an undiscounted basis other than fair value adjustments recorded under purchase accounting. The Company’s Insurance Operations’ reserves are reviewed quarterly by the in-house actuarial staff. Loss
reserve estimates for the Company’s Reinsurance Operations are developed by independent, external actuaries; however management is responsible for the final determination of loss reserve selections. The data for this analysis is organized by treaty and treaty year. Reviews for both Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations are generally performed both gross and net of reinsurance and ceded reviews are also completed for most reserve categories.
In addition to the Company’s internal reserve analysis, independent external actuaries perform a full, detailed review of the Insurance Operations’ reserves annually. The Company does not rely upon the review by the independent actuaries to develop its reserves; however, the data is used to corroborate the analysis performed by the in-house actuarial staff. The Company’s independent external actuaries also perform a full, detailed review of the Reinsurance Operations’ reserves annually. The results of the detailed reserve reviews by internal and external actuaries are summarized and discussed with the Company’s senior management to determine the best estimate of reserves.
With respect to some classes of risks, the period of time between the occurrence of an insured event and the final resolution of a claim may be many years, and during this period it often becomes necessary to adjust the claim estimates either upward or downward. Certain classes of umbrella and excess liability that the Company underwrites have historically had longer intervals between the occurrence of an insured event, reporting of the claim and final resolution. In such cases, the Company must estimate reserves over long periods of time with the possibility of several adjustments to reserves. Other classes of insurance that the Company underwrites, such as most property insurance, historically have shorter intervals between the occurrence of an insured event, reporting of the claim and final resolution. Reserves with respect to these classes are therefore inherently less likely to be adjusted.
The losses and loss adjustment expense reserving process is intended to reflect the impact of inflation and other factors affecting loss payments by taking into account changes in historical payment patterns and perceived trends. However, there is no precise method for the subsequent evaluation of the adequacy of the consideration given to inflation, or to any other specific factor, or to the way one factor may affect another.
See the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a reconciliation of the Company’s liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance ceded, as well as further discussion surrounding changes to reserves for prior accident years.
Asbestos and Environmental (“A&E”) Exposure
The Company’s environmental exposure arises from the sale of general liability and commercial multi-peril insurance. Currently, the Company’s policies continue to exclude classic environmental contamination claims. However, in some states, the Company is required, depending on the circumstances, to provide coverage for certain bodily injury claims, such as an individual's exposure to a release of chemicals. The Company has also issued policies that were intended to provide limited pollution and environmental coverage. These policies were specific to certain types of products underwritten by the Company. The Company has also received a number of asbestos-related claims, the majority of which are declined based on well-established exclusions. In establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to A&E exposures, management considers facts currently known and the current state of the law and coverage litigations. Estimates of these liabilities are reviewed and updated continually.
Uncertainty remains as to the Company’s ultimate liability for asbestos-related claims due to such factors as the long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease manifestation and the resulting potential for involvement of multiple policy periods for individual claims, the increase in the volume of claims made by plaintiffs who claim exposure but who have no symptoms of asbestos-related disease, and an increase in claims subject to coverage under general liability policies that do not contain aggregate limits of liability.
The liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, inclusive of A&E reserves, reflects the Company’s best estimates for future amounts needed to pay losses and related loss adjustment expenses as of each of the balance sheet dates reflected in the financial statements herein in accordance with GAAP. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $15.8 million of net loss reserves for asbestos-related claims and $12.9 million for environmental claims. The Company attempts to estimate the full impact of the A&E exposures by establishing specific case reserves on all known losses. See Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for tables showing the Company’s gross and net reserves for A&E losses.
In addition to the factors referenced above, establishing reserves for A&E and other mass tort claims involves considerably more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, an increase in bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos related liabilities, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage.
See Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the survival ratios on a gross and net basis for the Company’s A&E claims.
Investments
The Company’s investment policy is determined by the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company engages third-party investment advisors to oversee and manage its investments and to make recommendations to the Investment Committee. The Company’s investment policy allows it to invest in taxable and tax-exempt fixed income investments including corporate bonds as well as publicly traded equities and private equity and private debt investments. Investment guidelines for the insurance group require investments to be made in fixed income and preferred stock. The insurance group holds $1,099.3 million of investments, of which, 98.9% are comprised of fixed income and 1.1% of preferred stock. To provide diversification, the Company limits exposure to individual issuers. With respect to fixed income investments, the maximum exposure per issuer varies as a function of the credit quality of the security. The allocation between taxable and tax-exempt bonds is determined based on market conditions and tax considerations. The Company’s maximum allowable exposure to equities and alternatives is 50% of the portfolio not backing loss reserves, unearned premium reserves, and catastrophe exposure. At December 31, 2020, such maximum allowable exposure was $274.4 million. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $1,454.6 million of investments and cash and cash equivalent assets, including $99.0 million of equity securities and $97.0 million of limited liability companies and limited partnership investments.
Insurance company investments must comply with applicable statutory regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentration of investments. These regulations permit investments, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in federal, state, and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, and preferred and common equity securities.
The following table summarizes by type the estimated fair value of Global Indemnity’s investments and cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
Estimated
Fair Value
Percent
of Total
Estimated
Fair Value
Percent
of Total
Estimated
Fair Value
Percent
of Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
67,359
4.6
%
$
44,271
2.8
%
$
99,497
6.6
%
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
197,480
13.6
156,689
9.7
78,855
5.2
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
61,243
4.2
63,838
4.0
95,613
6.3
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
358,778
24.7
328,374
20.4
117,854
7.8
Asset-backed securities
117,593
8.1
168,537
10.5
183,754
12.2
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
110,959
7.6
188,104
11.7
202,722
13.4
Corporate bonds
240,717
16.5
248,259
15.4
440,855
29.2
Foreign corporate bonds
104,416
7.2
99,358
6.2
115,502
7.6
Total fixed maturities
1,191,186
81.9
1,253,159
77.9
1,235,155
81.7
Equity securities
98,990
6.8
263,104
16.4
124,747
8.3
Other invested assets
97,018
6.7
47,279
2.9
50,753
3.4
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents (2)
$
1,454,553
100.0
%
$
1,607,813
100.0
%
$
1,510,152
100.0
%
(1)
Includes collateralized mortgage obligations of $108,136, $146,868, and $96,897 for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
(2)
Does not include net receivable (payable) for securities sold (purchased) of ($4,667), ($850), and $15 for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The Company does not acquire fixed maturities with the intention to sell these securities in a short period of time. The Company can hold fixed maturities to recovery and/or maturity; however, the Company regularly re-evaluates its positions and will sell a security if warranted by market conditions.
The overall weighted average duration of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio was 4.2 years as of December 31, 2020. The Company’s fixed maturities, excluding the asset-backed, mortgage-backed, commercial mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligations, had a weighted average maturity of 7.3 years and a weighted average duration, including cash and short-term investments, of 5.3 years as of December 31, 2020. The weighted average duration of the Company’s asset-backed, mortgage-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities is 2.5 years.
The Company’s financial statements reflect a net unrealized gain on fixed maturities available for sale as of December 31, 2020 of $42.2 million on a pre-tax basis.
The following table shows the average amount of fixed maturities, income earned on fixed maturities, and the book yield thereon, as well as unrealized gains for the periods indicated:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Average fixed maturities at book value
$
1,190,289
$
1,244,699
$
1,250,487
Gross income on fixed maturities (1)
$
31,987
$
36,673
$
37,085
Book yield
2.69
%
2.95
%
2.97
%
Fixed maturities at book value
$
1,149,009
$
1,231,568
$
1,257,830
Unrealized gain (loss)
$
42,177
$
21,591
$
(22,675
)
(1)
Represents income earned by fixed maturities, gross of investment expenses and excluding realized gains and losses.
The Company has sought to structure its portfolio to reduce the risk of default on collateralized commercial real estate obligations and asset-backed securities. Of the $358.8 million of mortgage-backed securities, $250.7 million is invested in U.S. agency paper and $108.1 million is invested in collateralized mortgage obligations, of which $87.8 million, or 81.2%, are rated AA or better. In addition, the Company holds $117.6 million in asset-backed securities, of which 66.1% are rated AA- or better and $111.0 million in commercial mortgaged-backed securities, of which 90.0% are rated AA- or better. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s asset-backed securities is 33.6. The Company also faces liquidity risk. Liquidity risk is when the fair value of an investment is not able to be realized due to lack of interest by outside parties in the marketplace. The Company attempts to diversify its investment holdings to minimize this risk. The Company’s investment managers run periodic analysis of liquidity costs to the fixed income portfolio. The Company also faces credit risk. 96.1% of the Company’s fixed income securities are investment grade securities. 10.8% of the Company’s fixed maturities are rated AAA. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Item 7A of Part II of this report for a more detailed discussion of the credit market and the Company’s investment strategy.
The following table summarizes, by Standard & Poor's rating classifications, the estimated fair value of Global Indemnity’s investments in fixed maturities, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Estimated
Fair Value
Percent
of Total
Estimated
Fair Value
Percent
of Total
AAA
$
129,061
10.8
%
$
159,118
12.7
%
AA
633,630
53.2
633,090
50.5
A
136,009
11.4
177,611
14.2
BBB
245,780
20.6
219,111
17.5
BB
17,501
1.5
8,820
0.7
B
3,888
0.3
1,921
0.1
CCC
4,897
0.4
2,595
0.2
CC
NM
0.1
C
1,883
0.2
-
-
D
0.1
-
-
Not rated
17,333
1.5
50,035
4.0
Total fixed maturities
$
1,191,186
100.0
%
$
1,253,159
100.0
%
The following table sets forth the expected maturity distribution of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio at their estimated market value as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Estimated
Market Value
Percent
of Total
Estimated
Market Value
Percent
of Total
Due in one year or less
$
45,346
3.8
%
$
18,931
1.5
%
Due in one year through five years
214,737
18.0
272,472
21.7
Due in five years through ten years
250,462
21.1
186,057
14.9
Due in ten years through fifteen years
25,349
2.1
26,338
2.1
Due after fifteen years
67,962
5.7
64,346
5.1
Securities with fixed maturities
603,856
50.7
568,144
45.3
Mortgaged-backed securities
358,778
30.1
328,374
26.2
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
110,959
9.3
188,104
15.0
Asset-backed securities
117,593
9.9
168,537
13.5
Total fixed maturities
$
1,191,186
100.0
%
$
1,253,159
100.0
%
The value of the Company’s portfolio of bonds is inversely related to changes in market interest rates. In addition, some of the Company’s bonds have call or prepayment options. This could subject the Company to reinvestment risk should interest rates fall and issuers call their securities and the Company is forced to invest the proceeds at lower interest rates. The Company seeks to mitigate its reinvestment risk by investing in securities with varied maturity dates, so that only a portion of the portfolio will mature, be called, or be prepaid at any point in time.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had aggregate equity securities of $99.0 million that consisted of common stocks, preferred stocks, and mutual funds.
The Company’s investments in other invested assets is comprised of four limited liability companies and limited partnerships. At December 31, 2020, a partnership that invests in distressed securities and assets was valued at $15.7 million, a partnership that invests in stressed and distressed debt instruments was valued at $10.8 million, a partnership that invests in REIT qualifying assets was valued at $10.5 million, and during the 4th quarter, the Company made a $60.0 million investment in a fourth VIE that invests in a broad portfolio of non-investment grade loans. The carrying value of these investments approximates fair value. There is no readily available independent market price for these limited liability partnership investments and the Company does not have access to daily valuations. The Company receives annual audited financial statements from each of the partnership investments it owns.
Net realized investment gains (losses), including impairments in 2020 and other than temporary impairments in previous years, were ($14.7) million, $35.3 million and $16.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Competition
The Company competes with numerous domestic and international insurance and reinsurance companies, mutual companies, specialty insurance companies, underwriting agencies, diversified financial services companies, Lloyd's syndicates, risk retention groups, insurance buying groups, risk securitization products and alternative self-insurance mechanisms. In particular, the Company competes against insurance subsidiaries of the groups in the specialty insurance market noted below, insurance companies, and others, including:
•
American International Group
•
American Modern Insurance Group
•
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
•
Berkshire Hathaway
•
Everest Re Group, Ltd.
•
Foremost Insurance Group
•
Great American Insurance Group
•
Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.
•
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
•
IFG Companies
•
James River Group Holdings
•
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.
•
Markel Corporation
•
Nationwide Insurance
•
RLI Corporation
•
Selective Insurance Group, Inc.
•
The Hartford
•
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
•
W.R. Berkley Corporation
In addition to the companies mentioned above, the Company is facing competition from standard line companies who are continuing to write risks that traditionally had been written by excess and surplus lines carriers, Bermuda companies who are establishing relationships with wholesale brokers and purchasing carriers, and other excess and surplus lines competitors.
Competition may take the form of lower prices, broader coverage, greater product flexibility, higher quality services, reputation and financial strength or higher ratings by independent rating agencies. In all of the Company’s markets, it competes by developing insurance products to satisfy well-defined market needs and by maintaining relationships with brokers and insureds that rely on the Company’s expertise. For its program and specialty wholesale products, offerings and underwriting products that are not readily available is the Company’s principal means of differentiating itself from its competition. Each of the Company’s products has its own distinct competitive environment. The Company seeks to compete through innovative products, appropriate pricing, niche underwriting expertise, and quality service to policyholders, general agencies and brokers.
Employees
The Company had 390 employees at December 31, 2020 as compared with 412 employees at December 31, 2019. None of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements as of December 31, 2020. The Company focuses on attracting, developing and retaining a team of highly talented and motivated employees. The Company conducts regular assessments of its compensation and benefit practices and pay levels to help ensure that its employees are compensated fairly and competitively. The Company devotes resources to employee training and development. Individual objectives are set annually for each employee, and attainment of those objectives is an element of the employee’s performance assessment. The Company recognizes that its success is based on the talents and dedication of those it employs, and is highly invested in its employees' success.
Ratings
AM Best has seven rating categories in the AM Best Financial Strength Rating Scale. The categories ranging from best to worst are Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, Marginal, Weak, and Poor. Within each rating category, there are rating notches of plus or minus to show additional gradation of the ratings. AM Best currently assigns the Company’s insurance companies with a financial strength rating of "A" (Excellent).
Publications of AM Best indicate that "A" (Excellent) ratings are assigned to those companies that, in AM Best's opinion, have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. To determine a credit rating, AM Best performs quantitative and qualitative analysis which includes evaluating balance sheet strength, operating performance, enterprise risk management, and the business profile. These ratings are based on factors relevant to policyholders, general agencies, insurance brokers and intermediaries and are not directed to the protection of investors.
Regulation
General
The insurance industry is regulated in most countries, although the degree and type of regulation varies significantly from one jurisdiction to another. The redomestication and related transactions simplified and streamlined Global Indemnity’s organizational, statutory and regulatory structure. As a result, the United States is now Global Indemnity’s only governing, and taxing nation.
U.S. Regulation
At December 31, 2020, the Company had six operating insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the United States; United National Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, and Penn-Star Insurance Company, which are domiciled in Pennsylvania; Diamond State Insurance Company which is domiciled in Indiana; Penn-Patriot Insurance Company, which is domiciled in Virginia; and American Reliable Insurance Company, which is domiciled in Arizona.
As the parent of these insurance companies, Global Indemnity is subject to the insurance holding company laws of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, and Arizona. These laws generally require each of the insurance companies to register with its respective domestic state insurance department and to annually furnish financial and other information about the operations of the companies within the insurance holding company system. Generally, all material transactions among affiliated companies in the holding company system to which any of the insurance companies is a party must be fair, and, if material or of a specified category, require prior notice and approval or absence of disapproval by the insurance department where the subsidiary is domiciled. Material transactions include sales, loans, contributions, reinsurance agreements, certain types of dividends, and service agreements with the non-insurance companies within Global Indemnity’s family of companies, the Insurance Operations, or the Reinsurance Operations.
State Insurance Regulation
State insurance authorities have broad regulatory powers with respect to various aspects of the business of insurance companies, including, but not limited to, licensing companies to transact admitted business or determining eligibility to write surplus lines business, accreditation of reinsurers, admittance of assets to statutory surplus, regulating unfair trade and claims practices, establishing reserve requirements and solvency standards, management of enterprise risk, regulating investments and dividends, approving policy forms and related materials in certain instances and approving premium rates in certain instances. State insurance laws and regulations may require the Company’s insurance companies to file financial statements with insurance departments everywhere they will be licensed or eligible or accredited to conduct insurance business, and their operations are subject to review by those departments at any time. The Company’s insurance companies prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting principles ("SAP") and procedures prescribed or permitted by these departments. State insurance departments also conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years, although market conduct examinations may take place at any time. These examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. In addition, admitted insurers are subject to targeted market conduct examinations involving specific insurers by state insurance regulators in any state in which the insurer is admitted. The insurance departments for the states of Indiana, Virginia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania completed their most recent financial examinations of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries for the period ended December 31, 2017. Their final reports were issued in 2019 and there were no materially adverse findings.
Before a person can acquire control of an U.S. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the state where the insurer is domiciled. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of a domestic insurer, the state insurance commissioner will consider factors such as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and management of the applicant's board of directors and executive officers, the acquirer’s plans for the management, board of directors, executive officers, and employees of the company being acquired, the acquirer’s plans for the future operations of the domestic insurer and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control. Generally, state statutes provide that control over a domestic insurer is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing 10% or more of the voting securities of the domestic insurer. Because a person acquiring 10% or more of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares would indirectly control the same percentage of the stock of the insurance companies, the insurance change of control laws of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia and Arizona would likely apply to such a transaction.
These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of Global Indemnity Group, LLC, including through transactions, and in particular unsolicited transactions, that some or all of the shareholders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC might consider desirable.
Insurance Regulatory Information System Ratios
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Insurance Regulatory Information System ("IRIS") was developed by a committee of the state insurance regulators and is intended primarily to assist state insurance departments in executing their statutory mandates to oversee the financial condition of insurance companies operating in their respective states. IRIS identifies thirteen industry ratios and specifies "usual values" for each ratio. Departure from the usual values of the ratios can lead to inquiries from individual state insurance commissioners that require the insurer to describe certain aspects of a business that are causing such departures. It is not uncommon for companies to have ratios that fall outside of these usual values. Although the Company’s insurance subsidiaries have departures from usual values of certain IRIS ratios, the Company believes that their insurance subsidiaries have adequate capital and liquidity to meet their operational needs.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries departures from usual values of certain IRIS ratios are as follows:
•
Investment yields were lower than the IRIS range for United National Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company and Penn-Patriot Insurance Company. A high percentage of invested assets for these companies consisted of wholly-owned subsidiaries which did not distribute dividends in 2020.
•
Adjusted liabilities to liquid assets ratio for United National Insurance Company and Penn-America Insurance Company were outside of the IRIS range mainly due to intercompany payables to parents and affiliates that were settled in the 1st quarter of 2021.
•
Change in net written premiums and estimated current reserve deficiencies were outside of the range for Penn-Patriot Insurance Company resulting from the merger with Global Indemnity Reinsurance in 2020. As a result of the merger, and in accordance with statutory accounting principles, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company’s statutory financial statements for were restated to reflect the merger of these companies as if these companies were merged for the periods presented in those statutory financial statements. Furthermore, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company’s 2020 financial statements reflect the addition of Global Indemnity Reinsurance’s insurance premiums and liabilities to the Global Indemnity’s U.S. Insurance pool in August of 2020.
•
Change in policyholders’ surplus and adjusted policyholders’ surplus were outside of the range for Penn-Patriot Insurance Company. Penn-Patriot Insurance Company’s financial statements for 2020 reflect a dividend of $226.0 million made by Global Indemnity Reinsurance to its parent, Global Indemnity Limited, in June 2020 prior to its merger with Global Indemnity Reinsurance.
Risk-Based Capital Regulations
The state insurance departments of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia and Arizona require that each domestic insurer report its risk-based capital based on a formula calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium and reserve items. The formula takes into account the risk characteristics of the insurer, including asset risk, insurance risk, interest rate risk and business risk. The respective state insurance regulators use the formula as an early warning regulatory tool to identify possible inadequately capitalized insurers for purposes of initiating regulatory action, and generally not as a means to rank insurers. State insurance laws impose broad confidentiality requirements on those engaged in insurance (including insurers, general agencies, brokers and others) and on state insurance departments as to the use and publication of risk-based capital data. The respective state insurance regulators have explicit regulatory authority to require various actions by, or to take various actions against, insurers whose total adjusted capital does not exceed certain company action level risk-based capital levels.
Based on the standards currently adopted, the insurance companies reported in their 2020 statutory filings that their capital and surplus are above the prescribed risk-based capital requirements. See Note 20 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the NAIC's risk-based capital model for determining the levels of statutory capital and surplus an insurer must maintain.
Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”)
SAP is a basis of accounting developed to assist insurance regulators in monitoring and regulating the solvency of insurance companies. SAP is primarily concerned with measuring an insurer's surplus. Accordingly, statutory accounting focuses on valuing assets and liabilities of insurers at financial reporting dates in accordance with appropriate insurance laws, regulatory provisions, and practices prescribed or permitted by each insurer's domiciliary state.
GAAP is concerned with a company's solvency, but it is also concerned with other financial measurements, such as matching revenues and expenses, income, and cash flows. As a direct result, different line item groupings of assets and liabilities and different amounts of assets and liabilities are reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP than financial statements prepared in accordance with SAP.
Statutory accounting practices established by the NAIC and adopted in part by the Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, and Arizona regulators determine, among other things, the amount of statutory surplus and statutory net income (loss) of the insurance companies and thus determine, in part, the amount of funds these subsidiaries have available to pay dividends.
State Dividend Limitations
The insurance companies are restricted by statute as to the amount of dividends that they may pay without the prior approval of the applicable state regulatory authorities. Dividends may be paid without advanced regulatory approval only out of unassigned surplus. The dividend limitations imposed by the applicable state laws are based on the statutory financial results of each company within the Insurance Operations that are determined using statutory accounting practices that differ in various respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP. See “Regulation - Statutory Accounting Principles.” Key differences relate to, among other items, deferred acquisition costs, limitations on deferred income taxes, reserve calculation assumptions and surplus notes, if any.
See the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section in Item 7 of Part II of this report for a more complete description of the state dividend limitations. See Note 20 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the maximum amount of distributions that the Company’s insurance companies could pay as dividends in 2021.
Guaranty Associations and Similar Arrangements
Most of the jurisdictions in which the insurance companies are admitted to transact business require property and casualty insurers doing business within that jurisdiction to participate in guaranty associations. These associations are organized to pay contractual benefits owed pursuant to insurance policies issued by impaired, insolvent or failed insurers. These associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired, insolvent, or failed insurer is engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets or in limited circumstances by surcharging policyholders.
Federal Insurance Regulation
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) includes a number of provisions having a direct impact on the insurance industry, most notably, the creation of a Federal Insurance Office to monitor the insurance industry, streamlining of surplus lines insurance, credit for reinsurance, and systemic risk regulation. The Federal Insurance Office is empowered to gather data and information regarding the insurance industry and insurers, including conducting a study for submission to the U.S. Congress on how to modernize and improve insurance regulation in the United States. With respect to surplus lines insurance, the Dodd-Frank Act gives exclusive authority to regulate surplus lines transactions to the home state of the insured, and the requirement that a surplus lines broker must first attempt to place coverage in the admitted market is substantially softened with respect to large commercial policyholders. Significantly, the Dodd-Frank Act provides that a state may not prevent a surplus lines broker from placing surplus lines insurance with a non-U.S. insurer that appears on the quarterly listing of non-admitted insurers maintained by the International Insurers Department of the NAIC. Regarding credit for reinsurance, the Dodd-Frank Act generally provides that the state of domicile of the ceding company (and no other state) may regulate financial statement credit for the ceded risk. The Dodd-Frank Act also provides the U.S. Federal Reserve with supervisory authority over insurance companies that are deemed to be “systemically important.” The Company continues to monitor federal insurance regulations and any changes thereto that may impact operations.
Available Information
The Company maintains a website at www.global-indemnity.com. The information on the Company’s website is not incorporated herein by reference. The Company will make available, free of charge on its website, the most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company files such material with, or furnishes it to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
The public may also read and copy any materials the Company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549 or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains, free of charge, an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS
The risks and uncertainties described below are those the Company believes to be material. If any of the following actually occur, the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Related to the Company’s Business
If actual claims payments exceed the Company’s reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company’s success depends upon its ability to accurately assess the risks associated with the insurance and reinsurance policies that it writes. The Company establishes reserves on an undiscounted basis to cover its estimated liability for the payment of all losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred with respect to premiums earned on the insurance policies that it writes. Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves are estimates of what the Company expects to be the ultimate cost of resolution and administration of claims under the insurance policies that it writes. These estimates are based upon actuarial and statistical projections, the Company’s assessment of currently available data, as well as estimates and assumptions as to future trends in claims severity and frequency, judicial theories of liability and other factors. The Company continually refines its reserve estimates in an ongoing process as experience develops and claims are reported and settled. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries obtain an annual statement of opinion from an independent actuarial firm on the reasonableness of these reserves.
Establishing an appropriate level of reserves is an inherently uncertain process. The following factors may have a substantial impact on the Company’s future actual losses and loss adjustment experience:
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claim and expense payments;
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frequency and severity of claims;
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legislative and judicial developments; and
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changes in economic conditions, including the effect of inflation.
For example, as industry practices and legal, judicial, social and other conditions change, unexpected and unintended exposures related to claims and coverage may emerge. These exposures may either extend coverage beyond the Company’s underwriting intent or increase the frequency or severity of claims. As a result, such developments could cause the Company’s level of reserves to be inadequate.
Actual losses and loss adjustment expenses the Company incurs under insurance policies that it writes may be different from the amount of reserves it establishes, and to the extent that actual losses and loss adjustment expenses exceed the Company’s expectations and the reserves reflected on its financial statements, the Company will be required to immediately reflect those changes by increasing its reserves. In addition, regulators could require that the Company increase its reserves if they determine that the reserves were understated in the past. When the Company increases reserves, pre-tax income for the period in which it does so will decrease by a corresponding amount. In addition to having an effect on reserves and pre-tax income, increasing or "strengthening" reserves causes a reduction in the Company’s insurance companies' surplus and could cause the rating of its insurance company subsidiaries to be downgraded or placed on credit watch. Such a downgrade could, in turn, adversely affect the Company’s ability to sell insurance policies.
The occurrence of natural or man-made disasters, including the COVID-19 outbreak, could result in declines in business and increases in claims that could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is exposed to various risks arising out of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, floods, landslides, tornadoes, typhoons, tsunamis, hailstorms, explosions, climate events or weather patterns and public health crises, illness, epidemics or pandemic health events, as well as man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism, military actions, cyber-terrorism, explosions and biological, chemical or radiological events. The continued threat of terrorism and ongoing military actions may cause significant volatility in global financial markets, and a natural or man-made disaster could trigger an economic downturn in the areas directly or indirectly affected by the disaster. These consequences could, among other things, result in a decline in business and increased claims from those areas. They could also result in reduced underwriting capacity making it more difficult for the Company’s agents to place business. Disasters also could disrupt public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services, which could disrupt the Company’s ordinary business operations.
A natural or man-made disaster also could disrupt the operations of the Company’s counterparties or result in increased prices for the products and services they provide to the Company. Finally, a natural or man-made disaster could increase the incidence or severity of E&O claims against the Company.
For example, the Company may experience disruptions to its business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and any associated protective or preventative measures as COVID-19 continues to spread in the United States and around the world, including but not limited to:
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clients choosing to limit purchases of insurance due to declining business conditions, which would inhibit the Company’s ability to generate earned premium;
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travel restrictions and quarantines leading to a lack of in-person meetings, which would hinder the Company’s ability to establish relationships or originate new business;
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cancellation, delays, or non-payment of premium could negatively impact the Company’s liquidity;
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risk that legislation could be passed or there could be a court ruling which would require the Company to cover business interruption claims regardless of terms, exclusions or other conditions included in policies that would otherwise preclude coverage.
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alternative working arrangements, including colleagues working remotely, which could negatively impact the Company’s business should such arrangements remain for an extended period of time; and
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significant volatility in financial markets affecting the market value and liquidity of the Company’s investment portfolio;
The global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s business will depend on future developments in the United States and other countries, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including:
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the ultimate geographic spread and severity of COVID-19;
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the duration of the outbreak;
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business closures, travel restrictions, social distancing and other actions taken to contain the threat of COVID-19; and
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the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the virus, including vaccine development, distribution and effectiveness.
Given the dynamic nature of these events, the Company cannot reasonable estimate the period of time that the COVID-19 pandemic and related market conditions will persist, the full extent of the impact they will have on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations or the pace or extent of any subsequent recovery.
These and other disruptions related to COVID-19 could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
A decline in rating for any of the Company’s insurance or reinsurance subsidiaries could adversely affect its position in the insurance market; making it more difficult to market its insurance products and cause premiums and earnings to decrease.
If the rating of any of the Company’s insurance companies is reduced from its current level of “A” (Excellent) by AM Best, the Company’s competitive position in the insurance industry could suffer, and it could be more difficult to market its insurance products. A downgrade could result in a significant reduction in the number of insurance contracts the Company writes and in a substantial loss of business; as such business could move to other competitors with higher ratings, thus causing premiums and earnings to decrease.
These ratings are not an evaluation of, nor are they directed to, investors in Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares and are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares. Publications of AM Best indicate that companies are assigned "A" (Excellent) ratings if, in AM Best's opinion, they have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. These ratings are subject to periodic review by, and may be revised downward or revoked at the sole discretion of AM Best.
A failure in the Company’s operational systems or infrastructure or those of third parties, including security breaches or cyber-attacks, could disrupt the Company’s business, its reputation, and / or cause losses which would have a material effect on the Company’s business operations and financial results.
The Company’s business is dependent upon the secure processing, storage, and transmission of information over computer networks using applications, systems and other technologies. The business depends on effective information security and systems to perform accounting, policy administration, claims, underwriting, actuarial and all aspects of day to day operations necessary to service the Company’s customers and agents, to value the Company’s investments and to timely and accurately report the Company’s financial results.
The information systems the Company relies upon must ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data, including systems maintained by the Company as well as data in and assets held through third-party service providers and systems. The Company employs various measures, systems, applications and software to address the data security. The Company reviews its existing security measures and systems on a continuing basis through internal and independent evaluations. The Company has implemented administrative and technical controls and takes protective actions in an attempt to reduce the risk of cyber incidents.
The Company’s internal and external controls, processes, and the vendors used to protect networks, systems and applications, individually or together, may be insufficient to prevent a security incident. Employee or third party vendor errors, malicious acts, unauthorized access, computer viruses, malware, the introduction of malicious code, system failures and disruptions and or cyber-attacks can result in business interruption, compromise of data and loss of assets and that could have security consequences. Complexity of the Company’s technology increases regularly and has increased the risk of a security incident involving data, network, systems and applications.
The Company has, from time to time, experienced security incidents, none of which had a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, results of operations, or financial condition. Security incidents have the potential to interrupt business, cause delays in processes and procedures directly affecting the Company, and jeopardize the Company’s, insureds, claimants, agents and others confidential data resulting in data loss and loss of assets and reputational damages. If this occurs it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business operations and financial results.
Security incidents could require significant resources, both internal and external, to resolve or remediate and could result in financial losses that may not be covered by insurance or not fully recoverable under any insurance. The Company may be subject to litigation and damages or regulatory action under data protection and privacy laws and regulations enacted by federal, state and foreign governments, or other regulatory bodies. As a result, the Company’s ability to conduct its business and its results of operations might be materially and adversely affected.
Investment and Debt Related Risks
The Company’s investment performance may suffer as a result of adverse capital market developments or other factors, which would in turn adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations.
The Company derives a significant portion of its income from its invested assets. As a result, the Company’s operating results depend in part on the performance of its investment portfolio. The Company’s operating results are subject to a variety of investment risks, including risks relating to general economic conditions, market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity risk and credit and default risk. The fair value of fixed income investments can fluctuate depending on changes in interest rates and the credit quality of underlying issuers. Generally, the fair market value of these investments has an inverse relationship with changes in interest rates, while net investment income earned by the Company from future investments in fixed maturities will generally increase or decrease with changes in interest rates. Additionally, with respect to certain of its investments, the Company is subject to pre-payment or reinvestment risk.
Credit tightening could negatively impact the Company’s future investment returns and limit the ability to invest in certain classes of investments. Credit tightening may cause opportunities that are marginally attractive to not be financed, which could cause a decrease in the number of bond issuances. If marginally attractive opportunities are financed, they may be at higher interest rates, which would cause credit risk of such opportunities to increase. If new debt supply is curtailed, it could cause interest rates on securities that are deemed to be credit-worthy to decline. Funds generated by operations, sales, and maturities will need to be invested. If the Company invests during a tight credit market, investment returns could be lower than the returns the Company is currently realizing and/or it may have to invest in higher risk securities.
With respect to its longer-term liabilities, the Company strives to structure its investments in a manner that recognizes liquidity needs for its future liabilities. However, if the Company’s liquidity needs or general and specific liability profile unexpectedly changes, it may not be successful in continuing to structure its investment portfolio in that manner. To the extent that the Company is unsuccessful in correlating its investment portfolio with its expected liabilities, the Company may be forced to liquidate its investments at times and prices that are not optimal, which could have a material adverse effect on the performance of its investment portfolio. The Company refers to this risk as liquidity risk, which is when the fair value of an investment is not able to be realized due to low demand by outside parties in the marketplace.
The Company is also subject to credit risk due to non-payment of principal or interest. Several classes of securities that the Company holds have default risk. As interest rates rise for companies that are deemed to be less creditworthy, there is a greater risk that they will be unable to pay contractual interest or principal on their debt obligations.
Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond the Company’s control. Although the Company attempts to take measures to manage the risks of investing in a changing interest rate environment, the Company may not be able to mitigate interest rate sensitivity effectively. A significant increase in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the market value of the Company’s fixed maturities securities.
The Company also has an equity portfolio as well as mutual funds that invest in fixed income securities. The performance of the Company’s equity portfolio and mutual funds are dependent upon a number of factors, including many of the same factors that affect the performance of its fixed income investments, although those factors sometimes have the opposite effect on the performance of the equity portfolio. Individual equity securities have unsystemic risk. The Company could experience market declines on these investments. The Company also has systemic risk, which is the risk inherent in the general market due to broad macroeconomic factors that affect all companies in the market. If the market indexes were to decline, the Company anticipates that the value of its portfolio would be negatively affected.
The Company has investments in limited liability companies and limited partnerships which are not liquid. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its interests but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interests without consent from the general partner. The Company’s returns could be negatively affected if the market value of the limited liability companies and limited partnerships declines. If the Company needs liquidity, it might be forced to liquidate other investments at a time when prices are not optimal.
See Note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further information surrounding the Company’s investments as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
The Company’s outstanding indebtedness could adversely affect its financial flexibility and a failure to make required payments on the Subordinated Notes could adversely affect the Company.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company sold $130 million aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (“Subordinated Notes”) of which the Company and the Company’s indirect subsidiary, GBLI Holdings, LLC (“GBLI Holdings”), are co-obligors is outstanding. The level of debt outstanding could adversely affect the Company’s financial flexibility, including:
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increasing vulnerability to changing economic, regulatory and industry conditions;
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limiting the ability to borrow additional funds; and
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requiring the Company to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to debt payments, thereby, reducing funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other purposes.
Furthermore, failure to make periodic payments related to outstanding indebtedness could impact rating agencies’ and regulators’ assessment of the Company’s capital position, adequacy and flexibility and accordingly, ratings assigned by rating agencies and regulators’ assessment of the solvency of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Risks Related to the Company’s Business Partners
The Company cannot guarantee that its reinsurers will pay in a timely fashion, if at all, and as a result, the Company could experience losses.
The Company cedes a portion of gross written premiums to third party reinsurers under reinsurance contracts. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to the Company to the extent the risk is transferred, it does not relieve the Company of its liability to its policyholders. Upon payment of claims, the Company will bill its reinsurers for their share of such claims. The reinsurers may not pay the reinsurance receivables that they owe to the Company or they may not pay such receivables on a timely basis. If the reinsurers fail to pay it or fail to pay on a timely basis, the Company’s financial results would be adversely affected. Lack of reinsurer liquidity, perceived improper underwriting or claim handling by the Company, and other factors could cause a reinsurer not to pay. See "Business - Reinsurance of Underwriting Risk" in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
See Note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further information surrounding the Company’s reinsurance receivable balances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Since the Company depends on professional general agencies, brokers, other insurance companies and other reinsurance companies for a significant portion of its revenue, a loss of one or more could adversely affect the Company.
The Company markets and distributes its insurance products through a group of approximately 580 professional general agencies (net of 50 professional general agencies which write business in more than one of the Company’s segments) that have specific quoting and binding authority and that in turn sell the Company’s insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. The Company also markets and distributes its reinsurance products through third-party brokers, insurance companies and reinsurance companies. A loss of all or substantially all of the business produced by one or more of these general agencies, brokers, insurance companies or reinsurance companies could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
If market conditions cause reinsurance to be more costly or unavailable, the Company may be required to bear increased risks or reduce the level of its underwriting commitments.
As part of the Company’s overall strategy of risk and capacity management, it purchases reinsurance for a portion of the risk underwritten by its insurance subsidiaries. Market conditions beyond the Company’s control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance it purchases, which may affect the level of its business and profitability. The Company’s third party reinsurance facilities are generally subject to annual renewal. The Company may be unable to maintain its current reinsurance facilities or obtain other reinsurance facilities in adequate amounts and at favorable rates. If the Company is unable to renew expiring facilities or obtain new reinsurance facilities, either the net exposure to risk would increase or, if the Company is unwilling to bear an increase in net risk exposures, it would have to reduce the amount of risk it underwrites.
The Company’s financial and business results may fluctuate as a result of many factors, including cyclical changes in the insurance industry.
Historically, the results of companies in the property and casualty insurance industry have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. The industry's profitability can be affected significantly by:
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competition;
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capital capacity;
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rising levels of actual costs that are not foreseen by companies at the time they price their products;
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volatile and unpredictable developments, including man-made, weather-related and other natural catastrophes or terrorist attacks;
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changes in loss reserves resulting from the general claims and legal environments as different types of claims arise and judicial interpretations relating to the scope of insurers' liability develop; and
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fluctuations in interest rates, inflationary pressures and other changes in the investment environment, which affect returns on invested assets and may affect the ultimate payout of losses.
The demand for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance can also vary significantly, rising as the overall level of economic activity increases and falling as that activity decreases. The property and casualty insurance industry historically is cyclical in nature. These fluctuations in demand and competition could produce underwriting results that would have a negative impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
The Company faces significant competitive pressures in its business that could cause demand for its products to fall and adversely affect the Company’s profitability.
The Company competes with a large number of other companies in its selected lines of business. The Company competes, and will continue to compete, with major U.S. and non-U.S. insurers and other regional companies, as well as mutual companies, specialty insurance companies, reinsurance companies, underwriting agencies and diversified financial services companies. The Company’s competitors include, among others: American International Group, American Modern Insurance Group, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Berkshire Hathaway, Everest Re Group, Ltd., Foremost Insurance Group, Great American Insurance Group, Hallmark Financial Services, Inc., HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., IFG Companies, James River Group Holdings, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc., Markel Corporation, Nationwide Insurance, RLI Corporation, Selective Insurance Group, Inc., The Hartford, The Travelers Companies, Inc., and W.R. Berkley Corporation. Some of the Company’s competitors have greater financial and marketing resources than the Company does. The Company’s profitability could be adversely affected if it loses business to competitors offering similar products at or below the Company’s prices.
Many of the Company’s general agencies pay the insurance premiums on business they have bound to the Company on a monthly basis. This accumulation of balances due to the Company exposes it to credit risk.
Insurance premiums generally flow from the insured to their retail broker, then into a trust account controlled by the Company’s professional general agencies. Several of the Company’s professional general agencies are required to forward funds, net of commissions, to the Company following the end of each month. Consequently, the Company assumes a degree of credit risk on the aggregate amount of these balances that have been paid by the insured but have yet to reach the Company.
Brokers, insurance companies and reinsurance companies typically pay premiums on reinsurance treaties written with the Company on a quarterly basis. This accumulation of balances due to the Company exposes it to credit risk.
Assumed premiums on reinsurance treaties generally flow from the ceding companies to the Company on a quarterly basis. In some instances, the reinsurance treaties allow for funds to be withheld for longer periods as specified in the treaties. Consequently, the Company assumes a degree of credit risk on the aggregate amount of these balances that have been collected by the reinsured but have yet to reach the Company.
Because the Company provides its general agencies with specific quoting and binding authority, if any of them fail to comply with pre-established guidelines, the Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company markets and distributes its insurance products through professional general agencies that have limited quoting and binding authority and that in turn sell the Company’s insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. These professional general agencies can bind certain risks without the Company’s initial approval. If any of these wholesale professional general agencies fail to comply with the Company’s underwriting guidelines and the terms of their appointment, the Company could be bound on a particular risk or number of risks that were not anticipated when it developed the insurance products or estimated losses and loss adjustment expenses. Such actions could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
Risks Related to Regulation of the Company
The Company’s business practices with respect to data could give rise to liabilities or reputational harm as a result of governmental regulation, legal requirements or industry standards relating to consumer privacy and data protection.
In June 2018, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”), which went into effect on January 2020. The CCPA, among other things, requires covered companies to provide new disclosures to California consumers and afford such consumers with the rights to opt-out of certain sales of personal information. The CCPA creates a private right of action for statutory damages for certain breaches of information. If the Company fails to protect the privacy of third-party data or implement practices and procedures deemed necessary by regulators or consumers or to comply with the CCPA or other applicable regimes, the Company may be subject to fines, penalties, litigation, and reputational harm and its business may be seriously harmed. In addition, various government and consumer agencies and public advocacy groups have called for new regulation and changes in industry practices. It is possible that new laws, regulations, standards, recommendations, best practices or requirements will be adopted that would affect the Company’s business. To the extent that the Company is subject to new laws or recommendations or chooses to adopt new standards, recommendations, or other requirements, the Company may have greater compliance burdens. If the Company is perceived as not operating in accordance with industry best practices or any such guidelines or codes with regard to privacy, the Company’s reputation may suffer, and the Company could lose relationships with customers or partners.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s holding company structure and regulatory constraints limit its ability to receive dividends from subsidiaries in order to meet its cash requirements.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC is a holding company and, as such, has no substantial operations of its own. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s assets primarily consist of cash and ownership of the shares of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Dividends and other permitted distributions from insurance subsidiaries, which include payment for equity awards granted by Global Indemnity Group, LLC to employees of such subsidiaries, are expected to be Global Indemnity Group, LLC 's sole source of funds to meet ongoing cash requirements, including debt service payments and other expenses.
Due to its corporate structure, most of the dividends that Global Indemnity Group, LLC receives from its subsidiaries must pass through Penn-Patriot Insurance Company (“Penn-Patriot”). The inability of Penn-Patriot to pay dividends in an amount sufficient to enable Global Indemnity Group, LLC to meet its cash requirements at the holding company level could have a material adverse effect on its operations.
In addition, the inability of Penn-Patriot’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to GBLI Holdings, LLC could limit GBLI Holdings, LLC’s ability to meet its debt obligations and corporate expense obligations and could have a material adverse effect on its operations.
See "Regulation - U.S. Regulation” in Item 1 of Part I of this report and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section in Item 7 of Part II of this report for more information on state dividend limitations. Also, see Note 20 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the maximum amount of dividends that could be paid by the Company’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries in 2021.
The Company’s businesses are heavily regulated and changes in regulation may limit the way it operates.
The Company is subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the U.S. states in which the Insurance Operations operate. This is particularly true in those states in which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are licensed, as opposed to those states where its insurance subsidiaries write business on a surplus lines basis. The supervision and regulation relate to numerous aspects of the Company’s business and financial condition. The primary purpose of the supervision and regulation is the protection of the Company’s insurance policyholders and not its investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally is governed by state statutes. These statutes delegate regulatory, supervisory, and administrative authority to state insurance departments. This system of regulation covers, among other things:
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standards of solvency, including risk-based capital measurements;
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restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments;
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restrictions on the types of terms that the Company can include or exclude in the insurance policies it offers;
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restrictions on the way rates are developed and the premiums the Company may charge;
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standards for the manner in which general agencies may be appointed or terminated;
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credit for reinsurance;
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certain required methods of accounting;
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reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes; and
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potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain insurance policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies.
The statutes or the state insurance department regulations may affect the cost or demand for the Company’s products and may impede the Company from obtaining rate increases or taking other actions it might wish to take to increase profitability. Further, the Company may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals and its business may not fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority's interpretation of the laws and regulations. Also, regulatory authorities have discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses and approvals subject to the applicable state statutes and appeal process. If the Company does not have the requisite licenses and approvals (including in some states the requisite secretary of state registration) or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could stop or temporarily suspend the Company from carrying on some or all of its activities or monetarily penalize the Company.
The U.S. insurance regulatory framework has come under increased federal scrutiny and some state legislators have considered or enacted laws that may alter or increase state regulation of insurance and reinsurance companies and holding companies. Moreover, the NAIC, which is an association of the insurance commissioners of all 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia, and state insurance regulators regularly re-examine existing laws and regulations. Changes in these laws and regulations or the interpretation of these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
Although the U.S. federal government has not historically regulated the insurance business, there have been proposals from time to time to impose federal regulation on the insurance industry. The Dodd-Frank Act establishes a Federal Insurance Office within the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The Federal Insurance Office initially has limited regulatory authority and is empowered to gather data and information regarding the insurance industry and insurers, including conducting a study for submission to the U.S. Congress on how to modernize and improve insurance regulation in the U.S. Further, the Dodd-Frank Act gives the Federal Reserve supervisory authority over a number of financial services companies, including insurance companies, if they are designated by a two-thirds vote of a Financial Stability Oversight Council as "systemically important." While the Company does not believe that it is "systemically important," as defined in the Dodd-Frank Act, it is possible that the Financial Stability Oversight Council may conclude that it is. If the Company were designated as "systemically important," the Federal Reserve's supervisory authority could include the ability to impose heightened financial regulation and could impact requirements regarding the Company’s capital, liquidity, leverage, business and investment conduct. As a result of the foregoing, the Dodd-Frank Act, or other additional federal regulation that is adopted in the future, could impose significant burdens on the Company, including impacting the ways in which it conducts business, increasing compliance costs and duplicating state regulation, and could result in a competitive disadvantage, particularly relative to smaller insurers who may not be subject to the same level of regulation.
Risks Related to Ownership of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Shares and Certain Limited Liability Company Agreement (“LLCA”) Provisions
The interests of holders of class A common shares may conflict with the interests of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s controlling shareholder.
Fox Paine Capital Fund II International L.P. and certain of its affiliates (the “Fox Paine Funds”), which are investment funds managed by Fox Paine & Company, LLC, together with Fox Mercury Investments, L.P. and certain of its affiliates (the “FM Entities”), and Fox Paine & Company LLC (collectively, the “Fox Paine Entities”) beneficially own shares representing approximately 83.9% of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s total voting power. The percentage of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s total voting power that the Fox Paine Entities may exercise is greater than the percentage of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s total shares that the Fox Paine Entities beneficially own because the Fox Paine Entities beneficially own all of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class B common shares, which are entitled to ten votes per share as opposed to class A common shares, which are entitled to one vote per share. The class A common shares and the class B common shares generally vote together as a single class on matters presented to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s shareholders. As a result, the Fox Paine Entities have and will continue to have control over the outcome of certain matters requiring shareholder approval, including the power to, among other things:
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elect any of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s directors not otherwise appointed by the Fox Paine Entities pursuant to the provisions of the LLCA (as defined below) (which entitles the Fox Paine Entities, in their collective capacity as the “Class B Majority Shareholder” (as defined in the LLCA), to certain Director appointment rights);
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approve changes to the LLCA that require shareholder approval; and
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ratify the appointment of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s auditors.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Fox Paine Entities may also be able to prevent or cause a change of control of Global Indemnity Group, LLC. The Fox Paine Entities’ control over Global Indemnity Group, LLC, and the Fox Paine Entities’ ability in certain circumstances to prevent or cause a change of control of Global Indemnity Group, LLC, may delay or prevent a change of control, or cause a change of control to occur at a time when it is not favored by other shareholders. As a result, the trading price of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares could be adversely affected.
In addition, Global Indemnity Group, LLC has agreed to pay Fox Paine & Company, LLC an annual management fee of $2.6 million, adjusted annually to reflect change in the consumer price index published by the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics “CPI-U”, in exchange for management services. Global Indemnity Group, LLC has also agreed to pay a termination fee of cash in an amount to be agreed upon, plus reimbursement of expenses, upon the termination of Fox Paine & Company, LLC’s management services in connection with the consummation of a change of control transaction that does not involve Fox Paine & Company, LLC and its affiliates. Global Indemnity Group, LLC has also agreed to pay Fox Paine & Company, LLC a transaction advisory fee of cash in an amount to be agreed upon, plus reimbursement of expenses upon the consummation of a change of control transaction that does not involve Fox Paine & Company, LLC and its affiliates in exchange for advisory services to be provided by Fox Paine & Company, LLC in connection therewith. The Fox Paine Entities may in the future make significant investments in other insurance or reinsurance companies. Some of these companies may compete with Global Indemnity Group, LLC or its subsidiaries. The Fox Paine Entities are not obligated to advise Global Indemnity Group, LLC of any investment or business opportunities of which they are aware, and they are not prohibited or restricted from competing with Global Indemnity Group, LLC or its subsidiaries.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s controlling shareholder has the right to appoint a certain number of the members of the Board of Directors proportionate to such shareholder’s ownership in Global Indemnity Group, LLC and also otherwise controls the election of Directors due to its share ownership.
While the Fox Paine Entities have the right under the terms of the LLCA to appoint a certain number of directors of the Board of Directors, equal in aggregate to the pro rata percentage of the voting power in Global Indemnity Group, LLC beneficially held by the Fox Paine Entities for so long as the Fox Paine Entities beneficially own (i) a majority of the outstanding class B common shares and (ii) shares representing, in the aggregate, at least 25% or more of the voting power in Global Indemnity Group, LLC, it also controls the election of all directors to the Board of Directors due to its controlling share ownership. The Board of Directors currently consists of six directors, all of whom were identified and proposed for consideration for the Board of Directors by the Fox Paine Entities.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s LLCA contains an exclusive forum provision that may discourage lawsuits against the Company or Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s directors and officers.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s LLCA requires that, unless Global Indemnity Group, LLC otherwise consents, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any federal securities laws claims brought under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, although, for the avoidance of doubt, all claims accompanying any such federal securities laws claim will be subject to the mandatory arbitration provisions of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s LLCA. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s capital stock is deemed to have received notice of and consented to these provisions.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC believes that these provisions are enforceable under both state and federal law. Nevertheless, federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision.
These provisions may increase costs to bring a claim, discourage claims or limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with Global Indemnity Group, LLC or Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against Global Indemnity Group, LLC or Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s directors, officers or other employees. If a court were to find Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s choice of forum provision to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, Global Indemnity Group, LLC may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.
Because the Company relies on certain services provided by Fox Paine & Company, LLC, the loss of such services could adversely affect its business.
Fox Paine & Company, LLC provides certain management services to the Company. To the extent that Fox Paine & Company, LLC is unable or unwilling to provide similar services in the future, and the Company is unable to perform those services itself or is unable to secure replacement services, the Company’s business could be adversely affected.
Risks Related to Taxation
Legislative and regulatory action by the U.S. Congress could materially and adversely affect the Company.
The Company’s tax position could be adversely impacted by changes in tax laws or tax regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof. Legislative action may be taken by the U.S. Congress which, if ultimately enacted, could, among other things, adversely affect the Company’s effective tax rate and cash tax position.
Holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares may be subject to U.S. federal income tax and state and local income taxes on their share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s taxable income, regardless of whether they receive any cash distributions from Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
Under current law, so long as Global Indemnity Group, LLC is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and 90% of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s gross income for each taxable year constitutes “qualifying income” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code on a continuing basis, Global Indemnity Group, LLC currently expects that it will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a partnership and not as an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation. Holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares may be subject to U.S. federal, state, and local taxation on their allocable share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit, for each of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s taxable years ending with or within their taxable year, regardless of whether they receive any cash distributions from Global Indemnity Group, LLC. Such holders may not receive cash distributions equal to their allocable share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s net taxable income or even the tax liability that results from that income. Accordingly, such holders may be required to make tax payments in connection with their ownership of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares that significantly exceed their cash distributions in any specific year. Income earned by the subsidiaries of Global Indemnity Group, LLC is subject to corporate tax in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions and, therefore, is not taxable to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s shareholders until the income is distributed by the subsidiaries to Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
There can be no assurance that amounts paid as distributions on Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares will be sufficient to cover the tax liability arising from ownership of the common shares.
Any distributions paid on Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares will not take into account a holder’s particular tax situation and, therefore, because of the foregoing as well as other possible reasons, may not be sufficient to pay their full amount of tax based upon such holder’s share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s net taxable income. In addition, the actual
amount and timing of distributions will always be subject to the discretion of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s board of directors. Even if Global Indemnity Group, LLC does not distribute cash in an amount that is sufficient to fund a holder’s tax liabilities, they will still be required to pay income taxes on their share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s taxable income.
If Global Indemnity Group, LLC is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the value of the shares could be adversely affected.
The value of an investment in Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares may depend in part on Global Indemnity Group, LLC being treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A publicly traded partnership will be treated as a partnership, and not as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes so long as 90% or more of its gross income for each taxable year constitutes “qualifying income” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code, and it is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and related rules. Qualifying income generally includes dividends, interest, capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks and securities and certain other forms of investment income.
Although Global Indemnity Group, LLC currently intends to manage its affairs so that the partnership will meet the 90% test described above in each taxable year, no assurance can be given as to the types of income that will be earned in any given year. As a result, Global Indemnity Group, LLC may not meet these requirements or Global Indemnity Group, LLC may determine it is prudent to change Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s structure. In either case, Global Indemnity Group, LLC may be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the future. Global Indemnity Group, LLC have not requested, and does not plan to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) on its treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or on any other matter affecting Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s interests in certain businesses are held through entities that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes; such corporations may be liable for significant taxes and may create other adverse tax consequences, which could potentially adversely affect the value of an investment in Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
In light of the publicly traded partnership rules under U.S. federal income tax law and other requirements, Global Indemnity Group, LLC currently holds interests in certain businesses through entities that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including, in particular, each of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s insurance company subsidiaries. Each such corporation could be liable for significant U.S. federal income taxes and applicable state, local and other taxes, which could adversely affect the value of an investment in Global Indemnity Group, LLC. Furthermore, it is possible that the IRS could challenge the manner in which such corporation’s taxable income is computed by Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
Taxable gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares could be more or less than expected.
If a sale or other disposition of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares by a holder of such shares is taxable in the United States, the holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by such holder on the sale or other disposition and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in those shares. A holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares at the time of sale or other disposition will generally be lower than the holder’s original tax basis in the shares to the extent that prior distributions to such holder exceed the total taxable income allocated to such holder. A holder of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares may therefore recognize a gain on a sale or other disposition of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares if the shares are sold or disposed of at a price that is less than their original cost. In addition, a portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be treated as ordinary income to such holder to the extent attributable to the holder’s allocable share of unrealized gain or loss in Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s assets that consist of certain unrealized receivables or inventory (if any).
Global Indemnity Group, LLC cannot match transferors and transferees of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares, and therefore, Global Indemnity Group, LLC has adopted certain income tax accounting conventions that may not conform with all aspects of applicable tax requirements.
The Internal Revenue Code provides that items of partnership income and deductions must be allocated between transferors and transferees of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares. Because Global Indemnity Group, LLC cannot match transferors and transferees of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares, Global Indemnity Group, LLC will apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with applicable rules and to report income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to holders in a manner that reflects such holders’ beneficial shares of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s items. These conventions are designed to more closely align the receipt of cash and the allocation of income between holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares, but these assumptions and conventions may not be in compliance with all aspects
of applicable tax requirements. In addition, as a result of such allocation method, you may be allocated income even if you do not receive any distributions.
If Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s conventions are not allowed by the Treasury Regulations (or only apply to transfers of less than all of a holder’s shares) or if the IRS otherwise does not accept Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s conventions, the IRS may contend that Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s income or losses must be reallocated among the holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares. If such a contention were sustained, certain holders’ respective tax liabilities would be adjusted to the possible detriment of certain other holders.
Tax-exempt shareholders may face certain adverse U.S. tax consequences from owning Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC is not required to manage its operations in a manner that would minimize the likelihood of generating income that would constitute “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”) to the extent allocated to a tax-exempt shareholder. Although Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s insurance operations are conducted by subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the operations of such corporation would generally not result in an allocation of UBTI to a shareholder on account of the activities of those subsidiaries, Global Indemnity Group, LLC may make certain investments other than through a corporate subsidiary.
Moreover, UBTI also includes income attributable to debt-financed property and Global Indemnity Group, LLC is not prohibited from incurring debt to finance its investments, including investments in subsidiaries. Furthermore, Global Indemnity Group, LLC is not prohibited from being (or causing a subsidiary to be) a guarantor of loans made to a subsidiary. If Global Indemnity Group, LLC (or certain of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s subsidiaries) were treated as the borrower for U.S. tax purposes on account of such guarantees, some or all of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s investments could be considered debt-financed property. The potential for income to be characterized as UBTI could make Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares an unsuitable investment for a tax-exempt entity. Tax-exempt shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares.
The IRS Schedules K-1 Global Indemnity Group, LLC provides to holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares each year are more complicated than the IRS Forms 1099 provided by corporations to their stockholders. In addition, Global Indemnity Group, LLC may not be able to furnish to each holder of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares specific tax information within 90 days after the close of each calendar year and such holders may be required to request an extension of time to file their tax returns.
Holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares are required to take into account their allocable share of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s items of income, gain, loss, deduction and other items of the partnership for Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s taxable year ending within or with their taxable year, regardless of whether they received cash distributions. As a publicly traded partnership, Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s operating results, including distributions of income, dividends, gains, losses or deductions and adjustments to carrying basis, for each year will be reported on IRS Schedules K-1. Income earned by the subsidiaries of Global Indemnity Group, LLC is subject to corporate tax in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions and, therefore, is not taxable to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s shareholders until the income is distributed by the subsidiaries to Global Indemnity Group, LLC.Global Indemnity Group, LLC intends to furnish holders of the common shares, as soon as reasonably practicable after the close of each calendar year, with tax information (including IRS Schedules K-1), which describes their allocable share of gross ordinary income for Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s preceding taxable year. However, it may require longer than 90 days after the end of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s calendar year to obtain the requisite information from all lower-tier entities so that IRS Schedules K-1 may be prepared by Global Indemnity Group, LLC. Consequently, holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares who are U.S. taxpayers may need to file annually with the IRS (and certain states) a request for an extension past the April 15 or the otherwise applicable due date of their income tax return for the taxable year.
In addition, holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares are required to report for all tax purposes consistently with the information provided by Global Indemnity Group, LLC for each taxable year. As a result, it is possible that a holder of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares will be required to file amended income tax returns as a result of adjustments to items on the corresponding income tax returns of the partnership. Any obligation for a holder of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares to file amended income tax returns for that or any other reason, including any costs incurred in the preparation or filing of such returns, are the responsibility of each such holder.
Finally, because holders are required to report their allocable share of gross ordinary income, tax reporting for holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares is more complicated than for shareholders of a regular corporation.
Holders of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares may be subject to an additional U.S. federal income tax on net investment income allocated to such holder by Global Indemnity Group, LLC and on gain on the sale of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common shares.
Individuals, estates and trusts are currently subject to an additional 3.8% tax on “net investment income” (or undistributed “net investment income,” in the case of estates and trusts) for each taxable year, with such tax applying to the lesser of such income or the excess of such person’s adjusted gross income (with certain adjustments) over a specified amount. Net investment income includes net income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties and rents and net gain attributable to the disposition of investment property. It is anticipated that net income and gain attributable to an investment in Global Indemnity Group, LLC will be included in a holder of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common share’s “net investment income” subject to this additional tax.
The ability of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s corporate subsidiaries to use their net operating loss carryforwards to offset their future taxable income may be subject to limitations.
The ability of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s corporate subsidiaries to use their federal net operating losses and built-in losses (“NOLs”) to offset potential future taxable income and related income taxes may be limited. The Internal Revenue Code imposes an annual limitation on the amount of taxable income that may be offset by loss carryforwards of a “loss corporation” if the corporation experiences an “ownership change” (generally, a cumulative change in ownership that exceeds 50% of the value of a corporation’s stock over a rolling three-year period). Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s corporate subsidiaries may experience an ownership change as a result of issuances or other changes in ownership of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s shares. In addition, certain anti-avoidance rules could result in the application of similar limitations on the ability of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s corporate subsidiaries to use their NOLs. To the extent Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s corporate subsidiaries experience an ownership change or the above rules otherwise become applicable, the ability of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s corporate subsidiaries to utilize their federal NOLs could be significantly limited, and similar limitations may apply at the state level.
Risks Related to Employees
If the Company does not successfully manage the transition associated with the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer and the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, it could adversely affect the Company.
On January 19, 2021, the Company announced that Cynthia Y. Valko, chief executive officer and a member of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Board of Directors, informed the Board of Directors that she will retire effective as of January 31, 2021. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Valko resigned from her positions as chief executive officer of the Company and a member of the Board of Directors, in each case, effective as of January 15, 2021, although Ms. Valko will continue to serve the Company in an advisory capacity. The Board of Directors is conducting a search to identify the successor to Ms. Valko for the chief executive officer position of the Company. Such leadership transitions can be inherently difficult to manage, and an inadequate transition may cause disruption to the Company and may also make it more difficult to hire and retain key employees.
The Company is dependent on its senior executives and the loss of any of these executives or the Company’s inability to attract and retain other key personnel could adversely affect its business.
The Company’s success depends upon its ability to attract and retain qualified employees and upon the ability of senior management and other key employees to implement the Company’s business strategy. The Company believes there are a limited number of available, qualified executives in the business lines in which it competes. The success of the Company’s initiatives and future performance depend, in significant part, upon the continued service of the senior management team. The future loss of any of the services of members of the Company’s senior management team or the inability to attract and retain other talented personnel could impede the further implementation of the Company’s business strategy, which could have a material adverse effect on its business. In addition, the Company does not currently maintain key man life insurance policies with respect to any of its employees.
General Risk Factors
If the Company is unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, the Company’s business may be adversely affected, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of the Company’s financial reports and the market price of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common stock could be adversely affected.
The Company is required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in such internal control. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that the Company evaluate and determine the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting, provide a management report on internal control over financial reporting and requires that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting be attested to by its independent registered public accounting firm.
The Company may discover material weaknesses in the future which may lead to its financial statements being materially misstated. As a result, the market price of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s common stock could be adversely affected, and Global Indemnity Group, LLC could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which its securities are listed, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources. The cost of remediating a potential material weakness could materially adversely affect the Company’s business and financial condition.
The Company’s operating results and shareholders’ equity may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.
The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The Reinsurance Operations conducts business with some customers in foreign currencies and several of the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries maintain cash accounts in foreign currencies. At period-end, the Company re-measures non-U.S. currency financial assets to their current U.S. dollar equivalent. The resulting gain or loss on foreign denominated cash accounts is reflected in income during the period. Financial liabilities, if any, are generally adjusted within the reserving process. However, for known losses on claims to be paid in foreign currencies, the Company re-measures the liabilities to their current U.S. dollar equivalent each period end with the resulting gain or loss reflected in income during the period. Foreign exchange risk is reviewed as part of the Company’s risk management process. The Company may experience losses resulting from fluctuations in the values of non-U.S. currencies relative to the strength of the U.S. dollar, which could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
PROPERTIES
At December 31, 2020, office space leased in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, holds the Commercial Specialty segment’s principal executive offices and headquarters. Office space leased in Arizona is used by the Company’s Specialty Property segment. Office space leased in Nebraska is used by the Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment. Office space leased in Cavan, Ireland is used to support the operating needs of the Insurance and Reinsurance Operations. The leases for the properties listed are held by various Company subsidiaries. The Company believes the properties listed are suitable and adequate to meet its needs. Additionally, a number of the Company’s personnel work remotely and almost all of the Company’s personnel have the ability to work remotely.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Company purchased insurance and reinsurance coverage for risks in amounts that it considers adequate. However, there can be no assurance that the insurance and reinsurance coverage that the Company maintains is sufficient or will be available in adequate amounts or at a reasonable cost. The Company does not believe that the resolution of any currently pending legal proceedings, either individually or taken as a whole, will have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
There is a greater potential for disputes with reinsurers who are in runoff. Some of the Company’s reinsurers’ have operations that are in runoff, and therefore, the Company closely monitors those relationships. The Company anticipates that, similar to the rest of the insurance and reinsurance industry, it will continue to be subject to litigation and arbitration proceedings in the ordinary course of business.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market for Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Class A Common Shares
On August 28, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC completed a scheme of arrangement and amalgamation that effected certain transactions that resulted in the shareholders of Global Indemnity Limited becoming the holders of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Global Indemnity Group, LLC. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GBLI. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s predecessors have been publicly traded since 2003.
There is no established public trading market for Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class B common shares.
As of December 31, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares were held by approximately 180 shareholders of record. There were four holders of record of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class B common shares, all of whom are affiliated investment funds of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, as of December 31, 2020.
See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for information regarding securities authorized under Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s equity compensation plans.
Performance of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Class A Common Shares
The following graph represents a five-year comparison of the cumulative total return to shareholders for the Company’s class A common shares and stock of companies included in the NASDAQ Insurance Index and NASDAQ Composite Index, which the Company believes are the most comparative indexes.
12/31/15
12/31/16
12/31/17
12/31/18
12/31/19
12/31/20
GBLI
$
100.0
$
131.7
$
144.8
$
124.8
$
102.1
$
98.5
NASDAQ Insurance Index
100.0
115.6
119.3
109.2
138.3
139.6
NASDAQ Composite Index
100.0
107.5
137.9
132.5
179.2
257.4
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Except as disclosed in the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2020, there were no sales of unregistered equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Purchases of Class A Common Shares
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Share Incentive Plan allows employees to surrender class A common shares as payment for the tax liability incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units that were issued under the Share Incentive Plan. During 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC purchased an aggregate 5,120 of surrendered class A common shares from employees for $0.2 million. All shares purchased from employees are held as treasury stock and recorded at cost
until formally retired. All treasury stock existing as of August 28, 2020 was retired as part of the redomestication transactions.
See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the retirement of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares as well as a tabular disclosure of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s share repurchases by month.
Dividend / Distribution Policy
On December 27, 2017, the Company adopted a dividend / distribution program with an anticipated distribution rate of $0.25 per share per quarter ($1.00 per share per year). Continued payment of distributions is subject to future determinations by the Board of Directors based on the Company’s results, financial conditions, amounts required to grow the Company’s business, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
See Note 14 of the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for dividends / distributions declared until the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC is a holding company and has no direct operations. The ability of Global Indemnity to pay distributions is subject to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLCA”), and depends, in part, on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting their ability to declare and pay dividends. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Sources and Uses of Funds” in Item 7 of Part II of this report for dividend limitation and Note 20 of the notes to the consolidated financial statement in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the dividends declared and paid by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries in 2020. For a discussion of factors affecting the Company’s ability to make distributions, see “Business - Regulation” in Item 1 of Part I, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Sources and Uses of Funds” in Item 7 of Part II, and Note 20 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected consolidated historical financial data for the Company and should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this report. Cash dividends / distributions totaling $1.00 per share were declared and paid on common stock in 2020, 2019 and 2018. No cash dividends were declared or paid on common stock during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
For the Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except shares and per share data)
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Gross written premiums
$
606,603
$
636,861
$
547,897
$
516,334
$
565,845
Net written premiums
548,167
562,089
472,547
450,180
470,940
Net earned premiums
567,699
525,262
467,775
438,034
468,465
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(14,662
)
35,342
(16,907
)
1,576
21,721
Total revenues
583,547
604,472
498,938
485,515
534,514
Net income (loss)
(21,006
)
70,015
(56,696
)
(9,551
)
49,868
Per share data:
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders (1)
$
(21,158
)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
$
(9,551
)
$
49,868
Basic
$
(1.48
)
$
4.93
$
(4.02
)
$
(0.55
)
$
2.89
Diluted
$
(1.48
)
$
4.88
$
(4.02
)
$
(0.55
)
$
2.84
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic
14,291,265
14,191,756
14,088,883
17,308,663
17,246,717
Diluted
14,291,265
14,334,706
14,088,883
17,308,663
17,547,061
Cash dividends / distributions declared per common share
$
1.00
$
1.00
$
1.00
$
-
$
-
(1)
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2018 and 2017, weighted average shares outstanding - basic was used to calculate diluted earnings per share due to a net loss for the period.
Consolidated Insurance Operating Ratios based on the Company’s GAAP Results: (1)
Loss ratio (2) (3)
59.2
52.5
71.5
61.5
56.4
Expense ratio
38.0
39.7
40.8
41.9
42.0
Combined ratio (2) (3)
97.2
92.2
112.3
103.4
98.4
Net/gross written premiums
90.4
88.3
86.2
87.2
83.2
Financial Position as of Last Day of Period:
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents
$
1,454,553
$
1,607,813
$
1,510,152
$
1,533,900
$
1,501,819
Reinsurance receivables, net of allowance
88,708
83,938
114,418
105,060
143,774
Total assets
1,904,908
2,075,885
1,960,266
2,001,669
1,972,946
7.75% Subordinated notes payable
-
96,864
96,742
96,619
96,497
7.875% Subordinated notes payable
126,288
126,147
126,005
125,864
-
Margin borrowing facility
-
73,629
65,818
72,230
66,646
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
662,811
630,181
680,031
634,664
651,042
Total shareholders’ equity
718,324
726,809
629,059
718,394
797,951
Book value per share
49.62
50.82
44.21
50.57
45.42
(1)
The Company’s insurance operating ratios are GAAP financial measures that are generally viewed in the insurance industry as indicators of underwriting profitability. The loss ratio is the ratio of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums. The expense ratio is the ratio of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net earned premiums. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and expense ratios. The ratios presented here represent the consolidated results of the Company’s Commercial Specialty segment, Specialty Property segment, Farm, Ranch & Stable segment, and Reinsurance Operations.
(2)
A summary of prior accident year adjustments is summarized as follows:
•
2020 loss and combined ratios reflect a $31.5 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses
•
2019 loss and combined ratios reflect a $32.8 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses
•
2018 loss and combined ratios reflect a $28.8 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses
•
2017 loss and combined ratios reflect a $53.9 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses
•
2016 loss and combined ratios reflect a $57.3 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses
See “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report for details of these items and their impact on the loss and combined ratios.
(3)
The Company’s loss and combined ratios for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 include $88.5 million, $30.4 million, $80.6 million, $61.1 million, and $72.1 million, respectively, of catastrophic losses on a current accident year basis from the Insurance Operations. See “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report for a discussion of the impact of these losses on the loss and combined ratios.

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Global Indemnity included elsewhere in this report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to the Company’s plans and strategy, constitutes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this Item 7 and “Risk Factors” in Item 1A above for more information. You should review “Risk Factors” in Item 1A above for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein.
Recent Developments
COVID-19
The global outbreak of COVID-19 presents significant risks to the Company which it continues to evaluate. The COVID-19 pandemic may affect the Company’s operations indefinitely. The Company may experience reductions in premium volume, delays in the collection of premiums, and increases in COVID-19 related claims. Volatility in the global financial markets may negatively impact the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio and may result in net realized investment losses as well as a decline in the liquidity of the investment portfolio. All of these factors may have far reaching impacts on the Company’s business, operations, and financial results and conditions, directly and indirectly, including without limitation impacts on the health of the Company’s management and employees, distribution, marketing, customers and agents, and on the overall economy. The scope and nature of these impacts, most of which are beyond the Company’s control, continue to evolve and such effects could exist for an extended period of time even after the pandemic ends.
Retirement of Chief Executive Officer
On January 19, 2021, the Company announced that Cynthia Y. Valko, chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Global Indemnity Group, LLC, informed the Board of Directors that she would retire effective as of January 31, 2021. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Valko resigned from her positions as chief executive officer of the Company and a member of the Board of Directors, in each case, effective as of January 15, 2021, although Ms. Valko will continue to serve the Company in an advisory capacity. The Board of Directors is conducting a search to identify the successor to Ms. Valko for the chief executive officer position of the Company. Effective as of January 19, 2021, the Company named Jonathan E. Oltman as president of the Company’s insurance operations. Until Ms. Valko’s successor as chief executive officer of the Company is duly appointed, Mr. Oltman will act as the Company’s principal executive officer. Mr. Oltman will report directly to the Board of Directors through its chairman on a day-to-day basis. Please see Note 25 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information regarding the retirement of Ms. Valko and the appointment of Mr. Oltman.
Board of Directors
On December 1, 2020, Michele A. Colucci informed the Company that she was resigning from the Board effective at the conclusion of the Board’s meeting held on December 5, 2020 and December 6, 2020.
In connection with the resignation of Ms. Valko and Ms. Colucci, the size of the Board has been reduced from eight to six directors.
Redomestication
On August 28, 2020, the Company completed its plan to redomesticate to the United States. Please see Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the redomestication.
As a result of the Company moving its Reinsurance Operations to the United States, Steve Green, President of the Company’s Reinsurance Operations, will depart the Company effective March 31, 2021.
Redemption of Debt
In August 2020, GBLI Holdings and Global Indemnity Limited redeemed the entire outstanding $100 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045 (the “2045 Notes”).
Dividends / Distributions
During 2020, the Board of Directors approved a dividend payment of $0.25 per common share to all shareholders of record on the close of business on March 24, 2020 and June 23, 2020 and approved a distribution payment of $0.25 per common share to all shareholders of record on the close of business on September 25, 2020 and December 24, 2020. Dividends / distributions paid were $14.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, distributions of $0.1 million were paid to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s preferred shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020.
AM Best Rating
AM Best has seven Rating Categories in the AM Best Financial Strength Rating Scale. The categories ranging from best to worst are Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, Marginal, Weak and Poor. Within each rating category, there are rating notches of plus or minus to show additional gradation of the ratings. On September 23, 2020, AM Best assigned the Company’s insurance subsidiaries a financial strength rating of "A" (Excellent).
Overview
The Company operates and manages its business through four business segments: Commercial Specialty, Specialty Property, Farm, Ranch & Stable, and Reinsurance Operations.
The Company’s Commercial Specialty segment sells its property and casualty insurance products through a group of approximately 185 professional general agencies that have limited quoting and binding authority, as well as a number of wholesale insurance brokers who in turn sell the Company’s insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. Commercial Specialty operates predominantly in the excess and surplus lines marketplace. The Company manages its Commercial Specialty segment via product classifications. These product classifications are: 1) Penn-America, which includes property and general liability products for small commercial businesses sold through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority; 2) United National, which includes property, general liability, and professional lines products sold through program administrators with specific binding authority; 3) Diamond State, which includes property, casualty, and professional lines products sold through wholesale brokers and program administrators with specific binding authority; and 4) Vacant Express, which primarily insures dwellings which are currently vacant, undergoing renovation, or are under construction and is sold through aggregators, brokers, and retail agents.
The Company’s Specialty Property segment, primarily via American Reliable, offers specialty personal lines property and casualty insurance products through a group of approximately 225 agents, primarily comprised of wholesale general agents, with specific binding authority.
The Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment, primarily via American Reliable, provides specialized property and casualty coverage including Commercial Farm Auto and Excess/Umbrella Coverage for the agriculture industry as well as specialized insurance products for the equine mortality and equine major medical industry. These insurance products are sold through a group of approximately 220 agents, primarily comprised of wholesalers and retail agents, with a selected number having specific binding authority.
The Company’s Reinsurance Operations provides reinsurance solutions through brokers and on a direct basis. It uses its capital capacity to write niche and specialty-focused treaties and business which meet the Company’s risk tolerance and return thresholds. Prior to the redomestication, the Company’s Reinsurance Operations consisted solely of the operations of Global Indemnity Reinsurance. In connection with the redomestication, Global Indemnity Reinsurance merged into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company and all of its business was assumed by the Company’s existing insurance company subsidiaries.
The Company derives its revenues primarily from premiums paid on insurance policies that it writes and from income generated by its investment portfolio, net of fees paid for investment management services. The amount of insurance premiums that the Company receives is a function of the amount and type of policies it writes, as well as prevailing market prices.
The Company’s expenses include losses and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses, corporate and other operating expenses, interest, investment expenses, and income taxes. Losses and loss adjustment expenses are estimated by management and reflect the Company’s best estimate of ultimate losses and costs arising during the reporting period and revisions of prior period estimates. The Company records its best estimate of losses and loss adjustment expenses considering both internal and external actuarial analyses of the estimated losses the Company expects to incur on the insurance policies it writes. The ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses will depend on the actual costs to resolve claims. Acquisition costs consist principally of commissions and premium taxes that are typically a percentage of the premiums on the insurance policies the Company writes, net of ceding commissions earned from reinsurers. Other underwriting expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses and general operating expenses related to underwriting activities. Corporate and other operating expenses are comprised primarily of outside legal fees, other professional and accounting fees, directors’ fees, management fees & advisory fees, and salaries and benefits for company personnel whose services relate to the support of corporate activities. Interest expense is primarily comprised of amounts due on outstanding debt.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, which require it to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. See Note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8 of Part II of this report. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
The Company believes that of the Company’s significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and estimation.
Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Although variability is inherent in estimates, the Company believes that the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses reflects Management’s best estimate for future amounts needed to pay losses and related loss adjustment expenses and the impact of its reinsurance coverage with respect to insured events.
In developing losses and loss adjustment expense ("loss" or "losses") reserve estimates for the Company’s Insurance Operations, the Company’s actuaries perform detailed reserve analyses each quarter. To perform the analysis, the data is organized at a "reserve category" level. A reserve category can be a line of business such as commercial automobile liability, or it can be a particular type of claim such as construction defect. The reserves within a reserve category level are characterized as long-tail or short-tail. For long-tail business, it will generally be several years between the time the business is written and the time when all claims are settled. The Company’s long-tail exposures include general liability, professional liability, products liability, commercial automobile liability, and excess and umbrella. Short-tail exposures include property, commercial automobile physical damage, and equine mortality. To manage its insurance operations, the Company differentiates by product classifications, which are Penn-America, United National, Diamond State, American Reliable, Collectibles, and Vacant Express. For further discussion about the Company’s product classifications, see “General - Business Segments - Insurance Operations” in Item 1 of Part I of this report. Each of the Company’s product classifications contain both long-tail and short-tail exposures. Every reserve category is analyzed by the Company’s actuaries each quarter. Management is responsible for the final determination of loss reserve selections.
Loss reserve estimates for the Company’s Reinsurance Operations are developed by independent, external actuaries; at least annually; however, management is responsible for the final determination of loss reserve selections. The data for this analysis is organized by treaty and treaty year. As with the Company’s reserves for its Insurance Operations, reserves for its Reinsurance Operations are characterized as long-tail or short-tail. Long-tail exposures include workers compensation, professional liability, and excess and umbrella liability. Short-tail exposures are primarily catastrophe exposed property and marine accounts.
In addition to the Company’s internal reserve analysis, independent external actuaries perform a full, detailed review of the Insurance and Reinsurance Operations’ reserves annually. The Company reviews both the internal and external actuarial analyses in determining its reserve position.
The actuarial methods used to project ultimate losses for both long-tail and short-tail reserve categories include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
Paid Development method;
•
Incurred Development method;
•
Expected Loss Ratio method;
•
Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and paid loss;
•
Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and incurred loss; and
•
Average Loss method.
The Paid Development method estimates ultimate losses by reviewing paid loss patterns and applying them to accident years with further expected changes in paid loss. Selection of the paid loss pattern requires analysis of several factors including the impact of inflation on claims costs, the rate at which claims professionals make claim payments and close claims, the impact of judicial decisions, the impact of underwriting changes, the impact of large claim payments and other factors. Claim cost inflation requires evaluation of changes in the cost of repairing or replacing property, changes in the cost of medical care, changes in the cost of wage replacement, judicial decisions, legislative changes and other factors. Because this method assumes that losses are paid at a consistent rate, changes in any of these factors can impact the results. Since the method does not rely on case reserves, it is not directly influenced by changes in the adequacy of case reserves.
For many reserve categories, paid loss data for recent periods may be too immature or erratic for reliable loss projections. This situation often exists for long-tail exposures. In addition, changes in the factors described above may result in inconsistent payment patterns. Finally, estimating the paid loss pattern subsequent to the most mature point available in the data analyzed often involves considerable uncertainty for long-tail reserve categories.
The Incurred Development method is similar to the Paid Development method, but it uses case incurred losses instead of paid losses. Since this method uses more data (case reserves in addition to paid losses) than the Paid Development method, the incurred development patterns may be less variable than paid development patterns. However, selection of the incurred loss pattern requires analysis of all of the factors listed in the description of the Paid Development method. In addition, the inclusion of case reserves can lead to distortions if changes in case reserving practices have taken place and the use of case incurred losses may not eliminate the issues associated with estimating the incurred loss pattern subsequent to the most mature point available.
The Expected Loss Ratio method multiplies premiums by an expected loss ratio to produce ultimate loss estimates for each accident year. This method may be useful if loss development patterns are inconsistent, losses emerge very slowly, or there is relatively little loss history from which to estimate future losses. The selection of the expected loss ratio requires analysis of loss ratios from earlier accident years or pricing studies and analysis of inflationary trends, frequency trends, rate changes, underwriting changes, and other applicable factors.
The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and paid losses is a combination of the Paid Development method and the Expected Loss Ratio method. This method normally determines expected loss ratios similar to the method used for the Expected Loss Ratio method and requires analysis of the same factors described above. The method assumes that only future losses will develop at the expected loss ratio level. The percent of paid loss to ultimate loss implied from the Paid Development method is used to determine what percentage of ultimate loss is yet to be paid. The use of the pattern from the Paid Development method requires consideration of all factors listed in the description of the Paid Development method. The estimate of losses yet to be paid is added to current paid losses to estimate the ultimate loss for each accident year. This method will react very slowly if actual ultimate loss ratios are different from expectations due to changes not accounted for by the Expected Loss Ratio calculation.
The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and incurred losses is similar to the Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and paid losses except that it uses case incurred losses. The use of case incurred losses instead of paid losses can result in development patterns that are less variable than paid development patterns. However, the inclusion of case reserves can lead to distortions if changes in case reserving practices have taken place. The method requires analysis of all the factors that need to be reviewed for the Expected Loss Ratio and Incurred Development methods.
The Average Loss method multiplies a projected number of ultimate incurred claims by an estimated ultimate average loss for each accident year to produce ultimate loss estimates. Since projections of the ultimate number of claims are often less variable than projections of ultimate loss, this method can provide more reliable results for reserve categories where loss development patterns are inconsistent or too variable to be relied on exclusively. In addition, this method can more directly account for changes in coverage that impact the number and size of claims. However, this method can be difficult to apply to situations where very large claims or a substantial number of unusual claims result in volatile average claim sizes. Projecting the ultimate number of claims requires analysis of several factors including the rate at which policyholders report claims to the Company, the impact of judicial decisions, the impact of underwriting changes and other factors. Estimating the ultimate average loss requires analysis of the impact of large losses and claim cost trends based on changes in the cost of repairing or replacing property, changes in the cost of medical care, changes in the cost of wage replacement, judicial decisions, legislative changes and other factors.
For many reserve categories, especially those that can be considered long-tail, a particular accident year may not have a sufficient volume of paid losses to produce a statistically reliable estimate of ultimate losses. In such a case, the Company’s actuaries typically assign more weight to the Incurred Development method than to the Paid Development method. As claims continue to settle and the volume of paid losses increases, the actuaries may assign additional weight to the Paid Development method. For most of the Company’s reserve categories, even the case incurred losses for accident years that are early in the claim settlement process will not be of sufficient volume to produce a reliable estimate of ultimate losses. In these cases, the Company will not assign any weight to the Paid and Incurred Development methods and will use the Bornhuetter-Ferguson and Expected Loss Ratio methods. For short-tail exposures, the Paid and Incurred Development methods can often be relied on sooner primarily because the Company’s history includes a sufficient number of accident years to cover the entire period over which paid and incurred losses are expected to change. However, the Company may also assign weights to the Expected Loss Ratio, Bornhuetter-Ferguson and Average Loss methods for short-tail exposures when developing estimates of ultimate losses.
Generally, reserves for long-tail lines give more weight to the Expected Loss Ratio method in the more recent immature years. As the accident years mature, weight shifts to the Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods and eventually to the Incurred and/or Paid Development method. Claims related to umbrella business are usually reported later than claims for other long-tail lines. For umbrella business, the shift from the Expected Loss Ratio method to the Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods to the Loss Development method may be more protracted than for most long-tailed lines. Reserves for short-tail lines tend to make the shift across methods more quickly than the long-tail lines.
For other more complex reserve categories where the above methods may not produce reliable indications, the Company uses additional methods tailored to the characteristics of the specific situation. Such reserve categories include losses from construction defect and A&E claims.
For construction defect losses, the Company’s actuaries organize losses by the year in which they were reported to develop an IBNR provision for development on known cases. To estimate losses from claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to the Company (pure IBNR), various extrapolation techniques are applied to the pattern of claims that have been reported to estimate the number of claims yet to be reported. This process requires analysis of several factors including the rate at which policyholders report claims to the Company, the impact of judicial decisions, the impact of underwriting changes and other factors. An average claim size is determined from past experience and applied to the number of unreported claims to estimate reserves for these claims.
Establishing reserves for A&E and other mass tort claims involves considerably more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos-related liabilities, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage. The insurance industry continues to receive a substantial number of asbestos-related bodily injury claims, with an increasing focus being directed toward other parties, including installers of products containing asbestos rather than against asbestos manufacturers. This shift has resulted in significant insurance coverage litigation implicating applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including but not limited to, determinations as to whether or not an asbestos-related bodily injury claim is subject to aggregate limits of liability found in most comprehensive general liability policies. The Company continues to closely monitor its asbestos exposure and make adjustments where they are warranted.
Reserve analyses performed by the Company’s internal and external actuaries result in actuarial point estimates. The results of the detailed reserve reviews were summarized and discussed with the Company’s senior management to determine the best estimate of reserves. This group considered many factors in making this decision. The factors included, but were not limited to, the historical pattern and volatility of the actuarial indications, the sensitivity of the actuarial indications to changes in paid and incurred loss patterns, the consistency of claims handling processes, the consistency of case reserving practices, changes in the Company’s pricing and underwriting, and overall pricing and underwriting trends in the insurance market.
Management’s best estimate at December 31, 2020 was recorded as the loss reserve. Management’s best estimate is as of a particular point in time and is based upon known facts, the Company’s actuarial analyses, current law, and the Company’s judgment. This resulted in carried gross and net reserves of $662.8 million and $580.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. A breakout of the Company’s gross and net reserves as of December 31, 2020 is as follows:
Gross Reserves
(Dollars in thousands)
Case
IBNR (1)
Total
Commercial Specialty
$
141,066
$
283,928
$
424,994
Specialty Property
13,740
31,528
45,268
Farm, Ranch & Stable
12,017
32,824
44,841
Reinsurance Operations
51,241
96,467
147,708
Total
$
218,064
$
444,747
$
662,811
Net Reserves (2)
(Dollars in thousands)
Case
IBNR (1)
Total
Commercial Specialty
$
113,779
$
247,299
$
361,078
Specialty Property
10,288
24,505
34,793
Farm, Ranch & Stable
10,966
26,108
37,074
Reinsurance Operations
51,241
96,467
147,708
Total
$
186,274
$
394,379
$
580,653
(1)
Losses incurred but not reported, including the expected future emergence of case reserves.
(2)
Does not include reinsurance receivables on paid losses.
The Company continually reviews these estimates and, based on new developments and information, includes adjustments of the estimated ultimate liability in the operating results for the periods in which the adjustments are made. The establishment of losses and loss adjustment expense reserves makes no provision for the possible broadening of coverage by legislative action or judicial interpretation, or the emergence of new types of losses not sufficiently represented in the Company’s historical experience or that cannot yet be quantified or estimated. The Company regularly analyzes its reserves and reviews reserving methodologies so that future adjustments to prior accident year reserves can be minimized. However, given the complexity of this process, reserves require continual updates and the ultimate liability may be higher or lower than previously indicated. Changes in estimates for losses and loss adjustment expense reserves are recorded in the period that the change in these estimates is made. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the changes in the estimate for incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses related to prior accident years.
The detailed reserve analyses that the Company’s internal and external actuaries complete use a variety of generally accepted actuarial methods and techniques to produce a number of estimates of ultimate loss. The Company determines its best estimate of ultimate loss by reviewing the various estimates provided by its actuaries and other relevant information. The reserve estimate is the difference between the estimated ultimate loss and the losses paid to date. The difference between the estimated ultimate loss and the case incurred loss (paid loss plus case reserve) is considered to be IBNR. IBNR calculated as such includes a provision for development on known cases (supplemental development) as well as a provision for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to the Company (pure IBNR).
In light of the many uncertainties associated with establishing the estimates and making the assumptions necessary to establish reserve levels, the Company reviews its reserve estimates on a regular basis and makes adjustments in the period that the need for such adjustments is determined.
The key assumptions fundamental to the reserving process are often different for various reserve categories and accident years. Some of these assumptions are explicit assumptions that are required of a particular method, but most of the assumptions are implicit and cannot be precisely quantified. An example of an explicit assumption is the pattern employed in the Paid Development method. However, the assumed pattern is itself based on several implicit assumptions such as the impact of inflation on medical costs and the rate at which claim professionals close claims. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Each reserve category has an implicit frequency and severity for each accident year as a result of the various assumptions made.
Previous reserve analyses have resulted in the Company’s identification of information and trends that have caused it to increase or decrease frequency and severity assumptions in prior periods and could lead to the identification of a need for additional material changes in losses and loss adjustment expense reserves, which could materially affect results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength and debt ratings. Factors affecting loss frequency include, among other things, the effectiveness of loss controls and safety programs and changes in economic activity or weather patterns. Factors affecting loss severity include, among other things, changes in policy limits and deductibles, rate of inflation and judicial interpretations. Another factor affecting estimates of loss frequency and severity is the loss reporting lag, which is the period of time between the occurrence of a loss and the date the loss is reported to the Company. The length of the loss reporting lag affects the Company’s ability to accurately predict loss frequency (loss frequencies are more predictable for short-tail lines) as well as the amount of reserves needed for IBNR.
If the actual levels of loss frequency and severity are higher or lower than expected, the ultimate losses will be different than management’s best estimate. For most of its reserve categories, the Company believes that frequency can be predicted with greater accuracy than severity. Therefore, the Company believes management’s best estimate is more likely influenced by changes in severity than frequency. The following table, which the Company believes reflects a reasonable range of variability around its best estimate based on historical loss experience and management’s judgment, reflects the impact of changes (which could be favorable or unfavorable) in frequency and severity on the Company’s current accident year net loss estimate of $367.7 million for claims occurring during the year ended December 31, 2020:
Severity Change
(Dollars in thousands)
-10%
-5%
0%
5%
10%
Frequency Change
-5%
$
(53,317
)
$
(35,851
)
$
(18,385
)
$
(919
)
$
16,547
-3%
(46,698
)
(28,864
)
(11,031
)
6,802
24,636
-2%
(43,389
)
(25,371
)
(7,354
)
10,663
28,681
-1%
(40,079
)
(21,878
)
(3,677
)
14,524
32,725
0%
(36,770
)
(18,385
)
-
18,385
36,770
1%
(33,461
)
(14,892
)
3,677
22,246
40,815
2%
(30,151
)
(11,399
)
7,354
26,107
44,859
3%
(26,842
)
(7,906
)
11,031
29,968
48,904
5%
(20,224
)
(919
)
18,385
37,689
56,994
The Company’s net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses of $580.7 million as of December 31, 2020 relate to multiple accident years. Therefore, the impact of changes in frequency and severity for more than one accident year could be higher or lower than the amounts reflected above.
Recoverability of Reinsurance Receivables
The Company regularly reviews the collectability of its reinsurance receivables, and includes adjustments resulting from this review in earnings in the period in which the adjustment arises. An allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables is recognized based upon the Company’s ongoing review of key aspects of amounts outstanding, including but not limited to, length of collection periods, disputes, applicable coverage defenses, insolvent reinsurers, financial strength of solvent reinsurers based on AM Best Ratings and other relevant factors. Changes in loss reserves can also affect the valuation of reinsurance receivables if the change is related to loss reserves that are ceded to reinsurers. Certain amounts may be uncollectible if the Company’s reinsurers dispute a loss or if the reinsurer is unable to pay. If its reinsurers do not pay, the Company remains legally obligated to pay the loss.
See Note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further information surrounding the Company’s reinsurance receivable balances and collectability as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. For a listing of the ten reinsurers for which the Company has the largest reinsurance asset amounts as of December 31, 2020, see “Reinsurance of Underwriting Risk” in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
Investments
The carrying amount of the Company’s investments approximates their fair value. The Company regularly performs various analytical valuation procedures with respect to investments, including reviewing each fixed maturity security in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost basis has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, such as changes in interest rates. In assessing whether a credit loss exists, the Company compares the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for expected credit losses is recorded. Subsequent changes in the allowances are recorded in the period of change as either credit loss expense or reversal of credit loss expense. Any impairments related to factors other than credit losses or the intent to sell are recorded through other comprehensive income, net of taxes. During its review, the Company considers credit rating, market price, and issuer specific financial information, among other factors, to assess the likelihood of collection of all principal and interest as contractually due. See Note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the specific methodologies and significant assumptions used by asset class as well as an analysis of the Company’s securities with gross unrealized losses as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company categorizes its invested assets and derivative instruments that are accounted for at fair value in the consolidated statements into a fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy is directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs utilized to determine the fair value of these assets. The reported value of financial instruments not carried at fair value, principally cash and cash equivalents and margin borrowing facility approximate fair value. See Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further information about the fair value hierarchy and the Company’s assets that are accounted for at fair value.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company tests for impairment of goodwill at least annually and more frequently as circumstances warrant in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Accounting guidance allows for the testing of goodwill for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative factors. Impairment of goodwill is recognized only if the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit. The amount of the impairment loss would be equal to the excess carrying value of the goodwill over the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. Based on the qualitative assessment performed, there was no impairment of goodwill as of December 31, 2020.
Impairment of intangible assets with indefinite useful lives is tested at least annually and more frequently as circumstances warrant in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Accounting guidance allows for the testing of intangible assets for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative factors. Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible assets exceeds the fair value of said assets. The amount of the impairment loss would be equal to the excess carrying value of the assets over the fair value of said assets. Based on the qualitative assessment performed, there were no impairments of indefinite lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2020.
Intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The carrying amounts of definite lived intangible assets are regularly reviewed for indicators of impairment in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Impairment is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is in excess of its undiscounted projected cash flows. The impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset. As of December 31, 2020, there were no triggering events that occurred during the year that would result in an impairment of definite lived intangible assets.
See Note 7 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for more details concerning the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets.
Deferred Acquisition Costs
The costs of acquiring new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts include commissions, premium taxes and certain other costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts. The excess of the Company’s costs of acquiring new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts over the related ceding commissions earned from reinsurers is capitalized as deferred acquisition costs and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned.
In accordance with accounting guidance for insurance enterprises, the method followed in computing such amounts limits them to amounts recoverable from premium to be earned, related investment income, losses and loss adjustment expenses, and certain other costs expected to be incurred as the premium is earned. A premium deficiency is recognized if the sum of expected losses and loss adjustment expenses and unamortized acquisition costs exceeds related unearned premium. This evaluation is done at a distribution and product line level in Insurance Operations and at a treaty level in Reinsurance Operations. Any future expected loss on the related unearned premium is recorded first by impairing the unamortized acquisition costs on the related unearned premium followed by an increase to losses and loss adjustment expense reserves on additional expected loss in excess of unamortized acquisition costs. The Company calculates deferred acquisition costs for Insurance Operations separately by distribution lines and for its Reinsurance Operations separately for each treaty.
Taxation
The Company provides for income taxes in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities primarily result from temporary differences between the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities.
At each balance sheet date, management assesses the need to establish a valuation allowance that reduces deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that all, or some portion, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance would be based on all available information including the Company’s assessment of uncertain tax positions and projections of future taxable income from each tax-paying component in each jurisdiction, principally derived from business plans and available tax planning strategies. There are no valuation allowances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The deferred tax asset balance is analyzed regularly by management. This assessment requires significant judgment and considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of carryforward periods, and tax planning strategies and/or actions. Based on these analyses, the Company has determined that its deferred tax asset is recoverable. Projections of future taxable income incorporate several assumptions of future business and operations that are apt to differ from actual experience. If, in the future, the Company’s assumptions and estimates that resulted in the forecast of future taxable income for each tax-paying component prove to be incorrect, a valuation allowance may be required. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.
The Company applies a more likely than not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties, only allowing the recognition of those tax benefits that have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by relevant taxing authorities. Please see Note 10 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a discussion of the Company’s tax uncertainties.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. Lease right-of-use assets (“ROU”) are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and lease liabilities are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. The Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate; therefore, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU asset is calculated using the initial lease liability amount, plus any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, minus any lease incentives received, plus any initial direct costs incurred. Lease expenses for minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company’s lease agreements may contain both lease and non-lease components which are accounted separately. The Company elected the practical expedient on not separating lease components from non-lease components for its equipment leases.
Business Segments
The Company manages its business through four business segments: Commercial Specialty, Specialty Property, Farm, Ranch & Stable, and Reinsurance Operations. The Commercial Specialty, Specialty Property, and Farm, Ranch & Stable segments comprise the Company’s Insurance Operations, which currently includes the operations of United National Insurance Company, Diamond State Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, Penn-Star Insurance Company, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company, American Reliable Insurance Company, American Insurance Adjustment Agency, Inc., Collectibles Insurance Services, LLC, Global Indemnity Insurance Agency, LLC, and J.H. Ferguson & Associates, LLC. Prior to the redomestication, the Company’s Reinsurance Operations consisted solely of the operations of Global Indemnity Reinsurance. In connection with the redomestication, Global Indemnity Reinsurance merged into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company and all of its business was assumed by the Company’s existing insurance company subsidiaries.
The Company evaluates the performance of these four segments based on gross and net written premiums, revenues in the form of net earned premiums, and expenses in the form of (1) net losses and loss adjustment expenses, (2) acquisition costs, and (3) other underwriting expenses.
During the first quarter of 2019, the Company re-evaluated its Personal Lines segment and determined that Personal Lines should be bifurcated into two reportable segments: Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable. This is the result of changing how Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable are managed and reported. Specialty Property is managed out of the Company’s Scottsdale, Arizona office; whereas, Farm, Ranch & Stable is managed out of the Company’s Omaha, Nebraska office. In the past, Farm, Ranch & Stable reported to the Scottsdale, Arizona office and now it reports directly to the Company’s main headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Results for Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable are separately measured, resources are separately allocated to each of these lines, and employees in each line are now being rewarded based on each line’s separate results. Accordingly, the Company now reports Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable as two separate reportable segments. In addition, the Company changed the name of its Commercial Lines segment to Commercial Specialty to better align with its key product offerings. The segment results for the years ended December 31, 2018 have been revised to reflect these changes.
See “Business Segments” in Item 1 of Part I of this report for a description of the Company’s segments.
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes the Company’s results for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Years Ended
December 31,
%
Years Ended
December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Gross written premiums
$
606,603
$
636,861
(4.8
%)
$
636,861
$
547,897
16.2
%
Net written premiums
$
548,167
$
562,089
(2.5
%)
$
562,089
$
472,547
18.9
%
Net earned premiums
$
567,699
$
525,262
8.1
%
$
525,262
$
467,775
12.3
%
Other income
2,038
1,816
12.2
%
1,816
1,728
5.1
%
Total revenues
569,737
527,078
8.1
%
527,078
469,503
12.3
%
Losses and expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
336,201
275,402
22.1
%
275,402
334,625
(17.7
%)
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
215,607
208,403
3.5
%
208,403
190,778
9.2
%
Underwriting income (loss)
17,929
43,273
(58.6
%)
43,273
(55,900
)
(177.4
%)
Net investment income
28,392
42,052
(32.5
%)
42,052
46,342
(9.3
%)
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(14,662
)
35,342
(141.5
%)
35,342
(16,907
)
-
Other income
-
NM
-
-
-
Corporate and other operating expenses
(41,998
)
(18,888
)
122.4
%
(18,888
)
(29,766
)
(36.5
%)
Interest expense
(15,792
)
(20,022
)
(21.1
%)
(20,022
)
(19,694
)
1.7
%
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(3,060
)
-
NM
-
-
-
Income (loss) before income taxes
(29,111
)
81,757
(135.6
%)
81,757
(75,925
)
NM
Income tax (expense) benefit
8,105
(11,742
)
(169.0
%)
(11,742
)
19,229
(161.1
%)
Net income (loss)
$
(21,006
)
$
70,015
(130.0
%)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
NM
Underwriting Ratios:
Loss ratio (1)
59.2
%
52.5
%
52.5
%
71.5
%
Expense ratio (2)
38.0
%
39.7
%
39.7
%
40.8
%
Combined ratio (3)
97.2
%
92.2
%
92.2
%
112.3
%
NM - not meaningful
(1)
The loss ratio is a GAAP financial measure that is generally viewed in the insurance industry as an indicator of underwriting profitability and is calculated by dividing net losses and loss adjustment expenses by net earned premiums.
(2)
The expense ratio is a GAAP financial measure that is calculated by dividing the sum of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by net earned premiums.
(3)
The combined ratio is a GAAP financial measure and is the sum of the Company’s loss and expense ratios.
Premiums
The following table summarizes the change in premium volume by business segment:
Years Ended
December 31,
%
Years Ended
December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Gross written premiums (1)
Commercial Specialty (4)
$
321,879
$
297,332
8.3
%
$
297,332
$
249,948
19.0
%
Specialty Property (3) (4)
138,401
163,503
(15.4
%)
163,503
170,168
(3.9
%)
Farm, Ranch & Stable (4)
85,646
87,745
(2.4
%)
87,745
79,738
10.0
%
Reinsurance (5)
60,677
88,281
(31.3
%)
88,281
48,043
83.8
%
Total gross written premiums
$
606,603
$
636,861
(4.8
%)
$
636,861
$
547,897
16.2
%
Ceded premiums written
Commercial Specialty (4)
$
29,663
$
38,613
(23.2
%)
$
38,613
$
23,121
67.0
%
Specialty Property (4)
17,290
22,833
(24.3
%)
22,833
42,698
(46.5
%)
Farm, Ranch & Stable (4)
11,483
13,329
(13.8
%)
13,329
9,521
40.0
%
Reinsurance (5)
-
(3
)
(100.0
%)
(3
)
(130.0
%)
Total ceded premiums written
$
58,436
$
74,772
(21.8
%)
$
74,772
$
75,350
(0.8
%)
Net written premiums (2)
Commercial Specialty (4)
$
292,216
$
258,719
12.9
%
$
258,719
$
226,827
14.1
%
Specialty Property (4)
121,111
140,670
(13.9
%)
140,670
127,470
10.4
%
Farm, Ranch & Stable (4)
74,163
74,416
(0.3
%)
74,416
70,217
6.0
%
Reinsurance (5)
60,677
88,284
(31.3
%)
88,284
48,033
83.8
%
Total net written premiums
$
548,167
$
562,089
(2.5
%)
$
562,089
$
472,547
18.9
%
Net earned premiums
Commercial Specialty (4)
$
285,694
$
237,758
20.2
%
$
237,758
$
218,357
8.9
%
Specialty Property (4)
131,474
140,232
(6.2
%)
140,232
128,768
8.9
%
Farm, Ranch & Stable (4)
76,166
71,312
6.8
%
71,312
69,248
3.0
%
Reinsurance (5)
74,365
75,960
(2.1
%)
75,960
51,402
47.8
%
Total net earned premiums
$
567,699
$
525,262
8.1
%
$
525,262
$
467,775
12.3
%
(1)
Gross written premiums represent the amount received or to be received for insurance policies written without reduction for reinsurance costs or other deductions.
(2)
Net written premiums equal gross written premiums less ceded premiums written.
(3)
Includes business written by American Reliable that is ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement of less than $0.1 million, ($0.3) million, and ($2.1) million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
(4)
Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations under a quota share agreement. This quota share agreement was cancelled effective January 1, 2018.
(5)
External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
Gross written premiums decreased by 4.8% for year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to 2019. Gross written premiums include business written by American Reliable that is ceded to insurance entities owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement in the amount of less than $0.1 million and ($0.3) million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Excluding the business that is ceded 100% to insurance entities owned by Assurant, gross written premiums decreased by 4.8% for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to 2019. The decrease is mainly due to the reduction of catastrophe exposed business within both Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable, reduction in business not providing an adequate return on capital within Specialty Property, and Reinsurance Operations’ non-renewal of its property catastrophe treaties. In addition, non-renewals of several small business classes was higher and new business growth slowed within Commercial Specialty which was likely the result of Covid-19. These reductions in premiums were partially offset by organic growth from existing agents, increased pricing, and several new programs within Commercial Specialty and growth of the new casualty treaty entered into by Reinsurance Operations in 2019.
Gross written premiums increased by 16.2% for year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 2018. Gross written premiums include business written by American Reliable that is ceded to insurance entities owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement in the amount of ($0.3) million and ($2.1) million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Excluding the business that is ceded 100% to insurance entities owned by Assurant, gross written premiums increased by 15.9% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 2018. The increase is mainly due to several new programs and increases in excess & surplus lines submissions within Commercial Specialty, rate increases within Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable, new agent appointments within Farm, Ranch & Stable, and growth in the Reinsurance Operation’s property catastrophe book primarily driven by rate increases as well as a new casualty treaty. This new casualty treaty contributed $26.9 million in gross written premiums during the year ended December 31, 2019. This growth in premiums was partially offset by a continued reduction of catastrophe exposed business within both Commercial Specialty and Specialty Property.
Net Retention
The ratio of net written premiums to gross written premiums is referred to as the Company’s net premium retention. The Company’s net premium retention is summarized by segments as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Commercial Specialty
90.8
%
87.0
%
3.8
%
87.0
%
90.7
%
(3.7
%)
Specialty Property (1)
87.5
%
85.9
%
1.6
%
85.9
%
74.0
%
11.9
%
Farm, Ranch & Stable
86.6
%
84.8
%
1.8
%
84.8
%
88.1
%
(3.3
%)
Reinsurance
100.0
%
100.0
%
-
%
100.0
%
100.0
%
-
%
Total (1)
90.4
%
88.2
%
2.2
%
88.2
%
85.9
%
2.3
%
(1)
Excludes business written by American Reliable that is ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement of less than $0.1 million, ($0.3) million, and ($2.1) million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The net premium retention for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased by 2.2 points as compared to 2019. This increase in retention is driven by the restructuring of the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance treaties as well as a change in the mix of business.
The net premium retention for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased by 2.3 points as compared to 2018. This increase in retention is primarily driven by growth of casualty premiums and reinsurance premiums. It is also being driven by the downsizing of catastrophe exposed business within Specialty Property.
Net Earned Premiums
Net earned premiums within the Commercial Specialty segment increased by 20.2% for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. The increase in net earned premiums was primarily due to a growth in premiums written as a result of organic growth from existing agents, pricing increases, and several new programs. Property net earned premiums were $131.1 million and $110.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $154.6 million and $127.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Net earned premiums within the Commercial Specialty segment increased by 8.9% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018. The increase in net earned premiums was primarily due to a growth in premiums written as a result of several new programs. Property net earned premiums were $110.7 million and $115.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $127.0 million and $103.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net earned premiums within the Specialty Property segment decreased by 6.2% for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to a continued reduction of catastrophe exposed business and a reduction in business not providing an adequate return on capital. Property net earned premiums were $122.6 million and $129.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $8.6 million and $10.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Net earned premiums within the Specialty Property segment increased by 8.9% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018 primarily due to an increase in net written premiums. Property net earned premiums were $129.5 million and $117.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $10.8 million and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net earned premiums within the Farm, Ranch & Stable segment increased by 6.8% for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to a growth in premiums written in prior periods as a result of rate increases and new agent appointments. Property net earned premiums were $55.8 million and $50.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $20.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Net earned premiums within the Farm, Ranch & Stable segment increased by 3.0% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018 primarily due to a growth of the business as a result of adding new agents. Property net earned premiums were $50.9 million and $49.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $20.4 million and $19.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net earned premiums within the Reinsurance Operations segment decreased by 2.1% for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 due to the non-renewal of its property catastrophe treaties partially offset by the new casualty treaty entered into during 2019. Property net earned premiums were $28.3 million and $56.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $46.1 million and $19.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Net earned premiums within the Reinsurance Operations segment increased by 47.8% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018 primarily due to growth in gross written premiums within the property catastrophe line of business as well as the new casualty treaty entered into during 2019. Property net earned premiums were $56.8 million and $45.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Casualty net earned premiums were $19.2 million and $6.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Underwriting Results
Commercial Specialty
The components of income from the Company’s Commercial Specialty segment and corresponding underwriting ratios are as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
2019 (2)
Change
2019 (2)
2018 (2)
Change
Gross written premiums
$
321,879
$
297,332
8.3
%
$
297,332
$
249,948
19.0
%
Net written premiums
$
292,216
$
258,719
12.9
%
$
258,719
$
226,827
14.1
%
Net earned premiums
$
285,694
$
237,758
20.2
%
$
237,758
$
218,357
8.9
%
Total revenues
285,694
237,758
20.2
%
237,758
218,357
8.9
%
Losses and expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
155,271
108,911
42.6
%
108,911
114,476
(4.9
%)
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses (1)
104,659
96,475
8.5
%
96,475
87,371
10.4
%
Underwriting income
$
25,764
$
32,372
(20.4
%)
$
32,372
$
16,510
96.1
%
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
2019 (2)
Change
2019 (2)
2018 (2)
Change
Underwriting Ratios:
Loss ratio:
Current accident year
60.5
%
53.5
%
7.0
53.5
%
55.7
%
(2.2
)
Prior accident year
(6.2
%)
(7.7
%)
1.5
(7.7
%)
(3.3
%)
(4.4
)
Calendar year loss ratio
54.3
%
45.8
%
8.5
45.8
%
52.4
%
(6.6
)
Expense ratio
36.6
%
40.6
%
(4.0
)
40.6
%
40.0
%
0.6
Combined ratio
90.9
%
86.4
%
4.5
86.4
%
92.4
%
(6.0
)
(1)
Includes excise tax related to cessions from the Company’s Commercial Specialty segment to its Reinsurance Operations of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, respectively. Due to the termination of the quota share agreement in 2018, there was no excise tax related to cessions from the Company’s Commercial Specialty segment to its Reinsurance Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(2)
Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations under a quota share agreement. This quota share agreement was cancelled effective January 1, 2018.
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and ratios
The table below reconciles the non-GAAP measures or ratios, which excludes the impact of prior accident year adjustments, to its most directly comparable GAAP measure or ratio. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures or ratios are useful to investors when evaluating the Company's underwriting performance as trends in the Company's Commercial Specialty segment may be obscured by prior accident year adjustments. These non-GAAP measures or ratios should not be considered as a substitute for its most directly comparable GAAP measure or ratio and does not reflect the overall underwriting profitability of the Company.
Years Ended December 31,
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Property
Non catastrophe property losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
59,424
45.3
%
$
46,026
41.6
%
$
49,846
43.3
%
Effect of prior accident year
(684
)
(0.5
%)
(4,310
)
(3.9
%)
(1,251
)
(1.1
%)
Non catastrophe property losses and ratio (2)
$
58,740
44.8
%
$
41,716
37.7
%
$
48,595
42.2
%
Catastrophe losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
27,254
20.8
%
$
9,996
9.0
%
$
12,179
10.6
%
Effect of prior accident year
6,479
4.9
%
3,387
3.1
%
(626
)
(0.5
%)
Catastrophe losses and ratio (2)
$
33,733
25.7
%
$
13,383
12.1
%
$
11,553
10.1
%
Total property losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
86,678
66.1
%
$
56,022
50.6
%
$
62,025
53.9
%
Effect of prior accident year
5,795
4.4
%
(923
)
(0.8
%)
(1,877
)
(1.6
%)
Total property losses and ratio (2)
$
92,473
70.5
%
$
55,099
49.8
%
$
60,148
52.3
%
Casualty
Total Casualty losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
86,219
55.8
%
$
71,255
56.1
%
$
59,701
57.9
%
Effect of prior accident year
(23,421
)
(15.2
%)
(17,443
)
(13.7
%)
(5,373
)
(5.2
%)
Total Casualty losses and ratio (2)
$
62,798
40.6
%
$
53,812
42.4
%
$
54,328
52.7
%
Total
Total net losses and loss adjustment expense and total loss ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
172,897
60.5
%
$
127,277
53.5
%
$
121,726
55.7
%
Effect of prior accident year
(17,626
)
(6.2
%)
(18,366
)
(7.7
%)
(7,250
)
(3.3
%)
Total net losses and loss adjustment expense and total loss ratio (2)
$
155,271
54.3
%
$
108,911
45.8
%
$
114,476
52.4
%
(1)
Non-GAAP measure / ratio
(2)
Most directly comparable GAAP measure / ratio
Premiums
See “Result of Operations” above for a discussion on consolidated premiums.
Loss Ratio
The current accident year losses and loss ratio is summarized as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Property losses
Non-catastrophe
$
59,424
$
46,026
29.1
%
$
46,026
$
49,846
(7.7
%)
Catastrophe
27,254
9,996
172.6
%
9,996
12,179
(17.9
%)
Property losses
86,678
56,022
54.7
%
56,022
62,025
(9.7
%)
Casualty losses
86,219
71,255
21.0
%
71,255
59,701
19.4
%
Total accident year losses
$
172,897
$
127,277
35.8
%
$
127,277
$
121,726
4.6
%
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Change
Change
Current accident year loss ratio:
Property
Non-catastrophe
45.3
%
41.6
%
3.7
41.6
%
43.3
%
(1.7
)
Catastrophe
20.8
%
9.0
%
11.8
9.0
%
10.6
%
(1.6
)
Property loss ratio
66.1
%
50.6
%
15.5
50.6
%
53.9
%
(3.3
)
Casualty loss ratio
55.8
%
56.1
%
(0.3
)
56.1
%
57.9
%
(1.8
)
Total accident year loss ratio
60.5
%
53.5
%
7.0
53.5
%
55.7
%
(2.2
)
The current accident year property non-catastrophe loss ratio for 2020 increased by 3.7 points compared to 2019. The increase in the loss ratio primarily reflects a higher claims severity as the claims incurred frequency was up slightly at twelve months of development from last year. The current accident year property non-catastrophe loss ratio for 2019 improved by 1.7 points compared to 2018. The loss ratio improvement reflects a lower claims severity compared to last year as each accident quarter except for the third accident quarter had a lower claims severity compared to the same accident quarters last year. The twelve-month claims incurred frequency was unchanged from last year.
The current accident year property catastrophe loss ratio for 2020 increased by 11.8 points compared to 2019 due to a higher claims frequency and severity. The current accident year property catastrophe loss ratio for 2019 improved by 1.6 points compared to 2018 reflecting a lower claims severity compared to last year. The twelve-month claims incurred frequency was equivalent to last year.
The current accident year casualty loss ratio for 2020 improved by 0.3 points compared to 2019 reflecting a lower claims frequency at twelve months of development. The current accident year casualty loss ratio for 2019 improved by 1.8 points compared to 2018 reflecting lower claims frequency compared to last year. The claims frequency was lower for each accident quarter compared to the same accident quarters last year.
The calendar year loss ratio for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 includes a decrease of $17.6 million, or 6.2% percentage points, a decrease of $18.4 million or 7.7% percentage points, and a decrease of $7.3 million or 3.3% percentage points, respectively, related to reserve development on prior accident years. Please see Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further discussion on prior accident year development.
Expense Ratios
The expense ratio improved 4.0 points from 40.6% for 2019 to 36.6% for 2020 primarily due to higher earned premiums.
The expense ratio increased 0.6 points from 40.0% for 2018 to 40.6% for 2019 primarily due to an increase in compensation cost related to good results for 2019.
COVID-19
COVID-19 could result in declines in business, non-payment of premiums, and increases in claims that could adversely affect Commercial Specialty’s business, financial condition, and results of operation.
There is risk that legislation could be passed or there could be a court ruling which would require the Company to cover business interruption claims regardless of terms, exclusions including the virus exclusions contained within the Company’s Commercial Specialty policies, or other conditions included in these policies that would otherwise preclude coverage.
Specialty Property
The components of income from the Company’s Specialty Property segment and corresponding underwriting ratios are as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
2019 (3)
Change
2019 (3)
2018 (3)
Change
Gross written premiums (1)
$
138,401
$
163,503
(15.4
%)
$
163,503
$
170,168
(3.9
%)
Net written premiums
$
121,111
$
140,670
(13.9
%)
$
140,670
$
127,470
10.4
%
Net earned premiums
$
131,474
$
140,232
(6.2
%)
$
140,232
$
128,768
8.9
%
Other income
1,705
1,820
(6.3
%)
1,820
1,782
2.1
%
Total revenues
133,179
142,052
(6.2
%)
142,052
130,550
8.8
%
Losses and expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
94,540
75,426
25.3
%
75,426
122,709
(38.5
%)
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses (2)
55,547
58,768
(5.5
%)
58,768
55,760
5.4
%
Underwriting income (loss)
$
(16,908
)
$
7,858
NM
$
7,858
$
(47,919
)
116.4
%
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
2019 (3)
Change
2019 (3)
2018 (3)
Change
Underwriting Ratios:
Loss ratio:
Current accident year
76.9
%
61.5
%
15.4
61.5
%
101.4
%
(39.9
)
Prior accident year
(5.0
%)
(7.7
%)
2.7
(7.7
%)
(6.1
%)
(1.6
)
Calendar year loss ratio
71.9
%
53.8
%
18.1
53.8
%
95.3
%
(41.5
)
Expense ratio
42.2
%
41.9
%
0.3
41.9
%
43.3
%
(1.4
)
Combined ratio
114.1
%
95.7
%
18.4
95.7
%
138.6
%
(42.9
)
(1)
Includes business written by American Reliable that is ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement of less than $0.1 million, ($0.3) million, and ($2.1) million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
(2)
Includes excise tax related to cessions from the Company’s Specialty Property segment to its Reinsurance Operations of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Due to the termination of the quota share agreement in 2018, there was no excise tax related to cessions from the Company’s Specialty Property segment to its Reinsurance Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(3)
Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations under a quota share agreement. This quota share agreement was cancelled effective January 1, 2018.
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and ratios
The table below reconciles the non-GAAP measures or ratios, which excludes the impact of prior accident year adjustments, to its most directly comparable GAAP measure or ratio. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures or ratios are useful to investors when evaluating the Company's underwriting performance as trends in the Company's Specialty Property segment may be obscured by prior accident year adjustments. These non-GAAP measures or ratios should not be considered as a substitute for its most directly comparable GAAP measure or ratio and does not reflect the overall underwriting profitability of the Company.
Years Ended December 31,
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Property
Non catastrophe property losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
52,022
42.4
%
$
67,944
52.5
%
$
68,492
58.2
%
Effect of prior accident year
(3,192
)
(2.6
%)
0.1
%
(4,153
)
(3.5
%)
Non catastrophe property losses and ratio (2)
$
48,830
39.8
%
$
68,065
52.6
%
$
64,339
54.7
%
Catastrophe losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
45,149
36.8
%
$
12,375
9.6
%
$
54,905
46.7
%
Effect of prior accident year
(1,295
)
(1.1
%)
(10,308
)
(8.0
%)
(1,575
)
(1.3
%)
Catastrophe losses and ratio (2)
$
43,854
35.7
%
$
2,067
1.6
%
$
53,330
45.4
%
Total property losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
97,171
79.2
%
$
80,319
62.1
%
$
123,397
104.9
%
Effect of prior accident year
(4,487
)
(3.7
%)
(10,187
)
(7.9
%)
(5,728
)
(4.8
%)
Total property losses and ratio (2)
$
92,684
75.5
%
$
70,132
54.2
%
$
117,669
100.1
%
Casualty
Total Casualty losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
3,968
44.8
%
$
5,957
55.3
%
$
7,198
64.8
%
Effect of prior accident year
(2,112
)
(23.8
%)
(663
)
(6.2
%)
(2,158
)
(19.4
%)
Total Casualty losses and ratio (2)
$
1,856
21.0
%
$
5,294
49.1
%
$
5,040
45.4
%
Total
Total net losses and loss adjustment expense and total loss ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
101,139
76.9
%
$
86,276
61.5
%
$
130,595
101.4
%
Effect of prior accident year
(6,599
)
(5.0
%)
(10,850
)
(7.7
%)
(7,886
)
(6.1
%)
Total net losses and loss adjustment expense and total loss ratio (2)
$
94,540
71.9
%
$
75,426
53.8
%
$
122,709
95.3
%
(1)
Non-GAAP measure / ratio
(2)
Most directly comparable GAAP measure / ratio
Premiums
See “Result of Operations” above for a discussion on consolidated premiums for 2020.
Other Income
Other income was $1.7 million, $1.8 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Other income is primarily comprised of fee income.
Loss Ratio
The current accident year losses and loss ratio is summarized as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Property losses
Non-catastrophe
$
52,022
$
67,944
(23.4
%)
$
67,944
$
68,492
(0.8
%)
Catastrophe
45,149
12,375
NM
12,375
54,905
(77.5
%)
Property losses
97,171
80,319
21.0
%
80,319
123,397
(34.9
%)
Casualty losses
3,968
5,957
(33.4
%)
5,957
7,198
(17.2
%)
Total accident year losses
$
101,139
$
86,276
17.2
%
$
86,276
$
130,595
(33.9
%)
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Change
Change
Current accident year loss ratio:
Property
Non-catastrophe
42.4
%
52.5
%
(10.1
)
52.5
%
58.2
%
(5.7
)
Catastrophe
36.8
%
9.6
%
27.2
9.6
%
46.7
%
(37.1
)
Property loss ratio
79.2
%
62.1
%
17.1
62.1
%
104.9
%
(42.8
)
Casualty loss ratio
44.8
%
55.3
%
(10.5
)
55.3
%
64.8
%
(9.5
)
Total accident year loss ratio
76.9
%
61.5
%
15.4
61.5
%
101.4
%
(39.9
)
NM - not meaningful
The current accident year property non-catastrophe loss ratio for 2020 improved by 10.1 points compared to 2019. The improvement in the loss ratio recognizes a lower claims frequency and severity compared to last year. The current accident year property non-catastrophe loss ratio for 2019 improved by 5.7 points compared to 2018. The decrease in the loss ratio reflects a lower claims frequency compared to last year.
The current accident year property catastrophe loss ratio for 2020 increased by 27.2 points compared to 2019 due to a higher claims frequency and severity at twelve months of development. The impact from Hurricanes Laura and Delta on the loss ratio was 18.8 points which were the two largest events impacting this segment. The current accident year property catastrophe loss ratio for 2019 improved by 37.1 points compared to 2018 reflecting a lower claims frequency and severity for each accident quarter.
The current accident year casualty loss ratio for 2020 improved by 10.5 points compared to 2019. The improvement reflects a lower claims frequency and severity compared to last year. The current accident year casualty loss ratio for 2019 improved by 9.5 points compared to 2018. The improvement reflects a lower claims frequency and severity compared to last year.
The calendar year loss ratio for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 includes a decrease of $6.6 million, or 5.0 percentage points, a decrease of $10.9 million, or 7.7 percentage points, and an decrease of $7.9 million, or 6.1 percentage points, respectively, related to reserve development on prior accident years. Please see Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further discussion on prior accident year development.
Expense Ratios
The expense ratio increased 0.3 points from 41.9% for 2019 to 42.2% for 2020 primarily due to a reduction in net earned premiums as discussed above.
The expense ratio improved 1.4 points from 43.3% for 2018 to 41.9% for 2019 primarily due to an increase in net earned premiums as discussed above partially offset by an increase in commission expense.
COVID-19
COVID-19 could result in declines in business and non-payment of premiums that could adversely affect Specialty Property’s business, financial condition, and results of operation.
Farm, Ranch & Stable
The components of income from the Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment and corresponding underwriting ratios are as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
2019 (2)
Change
2019 (2)
2018 (2)
Change
Gross written premiums
$
85,646
$
87,745
(2.4
%)
$
87,745
$
79,738
10.0
%
Net written premiums
$
74,163
$
74,416
(0.3
%)
$
74,416
$
70,217
6.0
%
Net earned premiums
$
76,166
$
71,312
6.8
%
$
71,312
$
69,248
3.0
%
Other income
7.6
%
(15.4
%)
Total revenues
76,308
71,444
6.8
%
71,444
69,404
2.9
%
Losses and expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
47,151
42,700
10.4
%
42,700
41,180
3.7
%
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses (1)
29,761
29,551
0.7
%
29,551
29,801
(0.8
%)
Underwriting loss
$
(604
)
$
(807
)
25.2
%
$
(807
)
$
(1,577
)
48.8
%
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
2019 (2)
Change
2019 (2)
2018 (2)
Change
Underwriting Ratios:
Loss ratio:
Current accident year
64.9
%
67.6
%
(2.7
)
67.6
%
66.3
%
1.3
Prior accident year
(3.0
%)
(7.8
%)
4.8
(7.8
%)
(6.9
%)
(0.9
)
Calendar year loss ratio
61.9
%
59.8
%
2.1
59.8
%
59.4
%
0.4
Expense ratio
39.1
%
41.4
%
(2.3
)
41.4
%
43.0
%
(1.6
)
Combined ratio
101.0
%
101.2
%
(0.2
)
101.2
%
102.4
%
(1.2
)
(1)
Includes excise tax related to cessions from the Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment to its Reinsurance Operations of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Due to the termination of the quota share agreement in 2018, there was no excise tax related to cessions from the Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment to its Reinsurance Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(2)
Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations under a quota share agreement. This quota share agreement was cancelled effective January 1, 2018.
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and ratios
The table below reconciles the non-GAAP measures or ratios, which excludes the impact of prior accident year adjustments, to its most directly comparable GAAP measure or ratio. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures or ratios are useful to investors when evaluating the Company's underwriting performance as trends in the Company's Farm, Ranch & Stable segment may be obscured by prior accident year adjustments. These non-GAAP measures or ratios should not be considered as a substitute for its most directly comparable GAAP measure or ratio and does not reflect the overall underwriting profitability of the Company.
Years Ended December 31,
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Losses
Loss
Ratio
Property
Non catastrophe property losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
22,854
41.0
%
$
29,892
58.7
%
$
21,996
44.3
%
Effect of prior accident year
(2,112
)
(3.8
%)
(2,031
)
(4.0
%)
(2,072
)
(4.2
%)
Non catastrophe property losses and ratio (2)
$
20,742
37.2
%
$
27,861
54.7
%
$
19,924
40.1
%
Catastrophe losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
16,130
28.9
%
$
8,074
15.9
%
$
13,519
27.2
%
Effect of prior accident year
0.2
%
(1,855
)
(3.6
%)
1.6
%
Catastrophe losses and ratio (2)
$
16,219
29.1
%
$
6,219
12.3
%
$
14,310
28.8
%
Total property losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
38,984
69.9
%
$
37,966
74.6
%
$
35,515
71.5
%
Effect of prior accident year
(2,023
)
(3.6
%)
(3,886
)
(7.6
%)
(1,281
)
(2.6
%)
Total property losses and ratio (2)
$
36,961
66.3
%
$
34,080
67.0
%
$
34,234
68.9
%
Casualty
Total Casualty losses and ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
10,448
51.3
%
$
10,264
50.3
%
$
10,414
53.1
%
Effect of prior accident year
(258
)
(1.3
%)
(1,644
)
(8.1
%)
(3,468
)
(17.7
%)
Total Casualty losses and ratio (2)
$
10,190
50.0
%
$
8,620
42.2
%
$
6,946
35.4
%
Total
Total net losses and loss adjustment expense and total loss ratio excluding the effect of prior accident year (1)
$
49,432
64.9
%
$
48,230
67.6
%
$
45,929
66.3
%
Effect of prior accident year
(2,281
)
(3.0
%)
(5,530
)
(7.8
%)
(4,749
)
(6.9
%)
Total net losses and loss adjustment expense and total loss ratio (2)
$
47,151
61.9
%
$
42,700
59.8
%
$
41,180
59.4
%
(1)
Non-GAAP measure / ratio
(2)
Most directly comparable GAAP measure / ratio
Premiums
See “Result of Operations” above for a discussion on consolidated premiums for 2020.
Other Income
Other income was $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Other income is primarily comprised of fee income.
Loss Ratio
The current accident year losses and loss ratio is summarized as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Property losses
Non-catastrophe
$
22,854
$
29,892
(23.5
%)
$
29,892
$
21,996
35.9
%
Catastrophe
16,130
8,074
99.8
%
8,074
13,519
(40.3
%)
Property losses
38,984
37,966
2.7
%
37,966
35,515
6.9
%
Casualty losses
10,448
10,264
1.8
%
10,264
10,414
(1.4
%)
Total accident year losses
$
49,432
$
48,230
2.5
%
$
48,230
$
45,929
5.0
%
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Change
Change
Current accident year loss ratio:
Property
Non-catastrophe
41.0
%
58.7
%
(17.7
)
58.7
%
44.3
%
14.4
Catastrophe
28.9
%
15.9
%
13.0
15.9
%
27.2
%
(11.3
)
Property loss ratio
69.9
%
74.6
%
(4.7
)
74.6
%
71.5
%
3.1
Casualty loss ratio
51.3
%
50.3
%
1.0
50.3
%
53.1
%
(2.8
)
Total accident year loss ratio
64.9
%
67.6
%
(2.7
)
67.6
%
66.3
%
1.3
The current accident year property non-catastrophe loss ratio for 2020 improved by 17.7 points compared to 2019 reflecting a lower claims frequency and severity. The current accident year property non-catastrophe loss ratio for 2019 increased by 14.4 points compared to 2018 reflecting a higher claims frequency and severity compared to last year.
The current accident year property catastrophe loss ratio for 2020 increased by 13.0 points compared to 2019 reflecting a reflecting a higher claims frequency and severity at twelve months of development. The impact from the Midwest derecho on the loss ratio was 7.3 points which was the largest event impacting this segment. The current accident year property catastrophe loss ratio for 2019 improved by 11.3 points compared to 2018 reflecting a lower claims frequency and severity compared to last year.
The current accident year casualty loss ratio for 2020 increased by 1.0 point compared to 2019. The increase in the loss ratio reflects a higher claims severity compared to last year. The current accident year casualty loss ratio for 2019 improved by 2.8 points compared to 2018. The decrease in the loss ratio reflects a lower claims severity compared to last year
The calendar year loss ratio for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 includes a decrease of $2.3 million, or 3.0 percentage points, a decrease of $5.5 million, or 7.8 percentage points, and an decrease of $4.7 million, or 6.9 percentage points, respectively, related to reserve development on prior accident years. Please see Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further discussion on prior accident year development.
Expense Ratios
The expense ratio improved 2.3 points from 41.4% for 2019 to 39.1% for 2020 primarily due to higher earned premiums.
The expense ratio improved 1.6 points from 43.0% for 2018 to 41.4% for 2019 primarily due to an increase in net earned premiums as discussed above as well as a decrease in commission expense.
COVID-19
There is risk that legislation could be passed or there could be a court ruling which would require the Company to cover business interruption claims regardless of terms, exclusions including the virus exclusions contained within the Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable policies, or other conditions included in these policies that would otherwise preclude coverage.
COVID-19 could result in declines in business, non-payment of premiums, and increases in claims that could adversely affect Farm, Ranch & Stable’s business, financial condition, and results of operation.
Reinsurance Operations
The components of income from the Company’s Reinsurance Operations segment and corresponding underwriting ratios are as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
2020 (1)
2019 (1)
Change
2019 (1)
2018 (1)
Change
Gross written premiums
$
60,677
$
88,281
(31.3
%)
$
88,281
$
48,043
83.8
%
Net written premiums
$
60,677
$
88,284
(31.3
%)
$
88,284
$
48,033
83.8
%
Net earned premiums
$
74,365
$
75,960
(2.1
%)
$
75,960
$
51,402
47.8
%
Other income (loss)
(136
)
NM
(136
)
(210
)
35.2
%
Total revenues
74,556
75,824
(1.7
%)
75,824
51,192
48.1
%
Losses and expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
39,239
48,365
(18.9
%)
48,365
56,260
(14.0
%)
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
25,640
23,609
8.6
%
23,609
17,846
32.3
%
Underwriting income (loss)
$
9,677
$
3,850
151.4
%
$
3,850
$
(22,914
)
(116.8
%)
Years Ended December 31,
Point
Years Ended December 31,
Point
2020 (1)
2019 (1)
Change
2019 (1)
2018 (1)
Change
Underwriting Ratios:
Loss ratio:
Current accident year (2)
59.5
%
61.1
%
(1.6
)
61.1
%
126.8
%
(65.7
)
Prior accident year
(6.8
%)
2.6
%
(9.4
)
2.6
%
(17.3
%)
19.9
Calendar year loss ratio (3)
52.7
%
63.7
%
(11.0
)
63.7
%
109.5
%
(45.8
)
Expense ratio
34.5
%
31.1
%
3.4
31.1
%
34.7
%
(3.6
)
Combined ratio
87.2
%
94.8
%
(7.6
)
94.8
%
144.2
%
(49.4
)
(1)
External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates
(2)
Non-GAAP ratio
(3)
Most directly comparable GAAP ratio
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial ratios
The table above includes a reconciliation of the current accident year loss ratio, which is a non-GAAP ratio, to its calendar year loss ratio, which is its most directly comparable GAAP ratio. The Company believes this non-GAAP ratio is useful to investors when evaluating the Company's underwriting performance as trends in the Company's Reinsurance Operations may be obscured by prior accident year adjustments. This non-GAAP ratio should not be considered as a substitute for its most directly comparable GAAP ratio and does not reflect the overall underwriting profitability of the Company.
Premiums
See “Result of Operations” above for a discussion on consolidated premiums.
Other Income (Loss)
Reinsurance Operations recognized other income of $0.2 million in 2020, other loss of $0.1 million in 2019, and other loss of $0.2 million in 2018. Other income (loss) is comprised of foreign exchange gains and losses.
Loss Ratio
The current accident year loss ratio for 2020 improved by 1.6 points compared to 2019. The property and casualty treaties both performed better than 2019. The current accident year loss ratio for 2019 improved by 65.7 points compared to 2018 primarily due to less catastrophes.
The calendar year loss ratio for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 includes a decrease of $5.0 million, or 6.8 percentage points, an increase of $1.9 million or 2.6 percentage points, and a decrease of $8.9 million or 17.3 percentage points, respectively, related to reserve development on prior accident years. Please see Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further discussion on prior accident year development.
Expense Ratio
The expense ratio increased 3.4 points from 31.1% for 2019 to 34.5% for 2020. The increase in the expense ratio is primarily due to an increase in commission expense resulting from a change in business mix.
The expense ratio improved 3.6 points from 34.7% for 2018 to 31.1% for 2019. The improvement in the expense ratio is primarily due to an increase in the net earned premiums as discussed above as well as a reduction in contingent commissions due to prior accident year development.
COVID-19
COVID-19 could result in declines in business, non-payment of premiums, and increases in claims that could adversely affect the Reinsurance Operations’ business, financial condition, and results of operation.
Unallocated Corporate Items
The Company’s fixed income portfolio, excluding cash, continues to maintain high quality with an AA- average rating and a duration of 4.2 years.
Net Investment Income
Years Ended December 31,
%
Years Ended December 31,
%
(Dollars in thousands)
Change
Change
Gross investment income (1)
$
31,487
$
45,267
(30.4
%)
$
45,267
$
49,178
(8.0
%)
Investment expenses
(3,095
)
(3,215
)
(3.7
%)
(3,215
)
(2,836
)
13.4
%
Net investment income
$
28,392
$
42,052
(32.5
%)
$
42,052
$
46,342
(9.3
%)
(1)
Excludes realized gains and losses
Gross investment income for 2020 decreased by 30.4% and net investment income for 2020 decreased by 32.5% compared to 2019. The decrease was primarily due to decreased returns from alternative investments, a decrease in yield within the fixed maturities portfolio, and a decrease in dividend income related to equity securities. Gross investment income for 2019 decreased by 8.0% and net investment income for 2019 decreased by 9.3% compared to 2018. The decrease was primarily due to decreased returns from alternative investments offset by an increase in dividend income related to equity securities.
At December 31, 2020, the Company held agency mortgage-backed securities with a market value of $250.6 million. Excluding the agency mortgage-backed securities, the average duration of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio was 4.8 years as of December 31, 2020, compared with 4.4 years as of December 31, 2019. Including cash and short-term investments, the average duration of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio, excluding agency mortgage-backed securities, was 4.4 years as of December 31, 2020, compared to 4.2 years as of December 31, 2019. Changes in interest rates can cause principal payments on certain investments to extend or shorten which can impact duration. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s embedded book yield on its fixed maturities, not including cash, was 2.3% compared with 3.0% at December 31, 2019. The embedded book yield on the $61.2 million of taxable municipal bonds in the Company’s portfolio was 3.0% at December 31, 2020, compared to an embedded book yield of 3.1% on the Company’s taxable municipal bonds of $63.4 million at December 31, 2019.
At December 31, 2019, the Company held agency mortgage-backed securities with a market value of $181.5 million. Excluding the agency mortgage-backed securities, the average duration of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio was 4.4 years as of December 31, 2019, compared with 3.1 years as of December 31, 2018. Including cash and short-term investments, the average duration of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio, excluding agency mortgage-backed securities, was 4.2 years as of December 31, 2019 compared with 2.9 years as of December 31, 2018. Changes in interest rates can cause principal payments on certain investments to extend or shorten which can impact duration. At December 31, 2019, the Company’s embedded book yield on its fixed maturities, not including cash, was 3.0% compared with 3.1% at December 31, 2018. The embedded book yield on the $63.8 million of municipal bonds in the Company’s portfolio, which includes $63.4 million of taxable municipal bonds, was 3.2% at December 31, 2019, compared to an embedded book yield of 3.2% on the Company’s municipal bond portfolio of $95.6 million at December 31, 2018.
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
The components of net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Equity Securities
$
(15,250
)
$
33,993
$
(16,101
)
Fixed maturities
23,604
7,956
(2,467
)
Derivatives
(22,256
)
(4,710
)
2,117
Other than temporary impairment losses
(760
)
(1,897
)
(456
)
Net realized investment gains (losses)
$
(14,662
)
$
35,342
$
(16,907
)
See Note 4 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for an analysis of total investment return on a pre-tax basis for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
Corporate and Other Operating Expenses
Corporate and other operating expenses consist of outside legal fees, other professional fees, directors’ fees, management fees & advisory fees, salaries and benefits for holding company personnel, development costs for new products, and taxes incurred which are not directly related to operations. Corporate and other operating expenses were $42.0 million, $18.9 million, and $29.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The increase in 2020 as compared to 2019 is primarily due to incurring $10.0 million in advisory fees related to the redomestication as well as an increase in legal and professional fees due to the redomestication. See Note 15 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the redomestication fee. The reduction in 2019 as compared to 2018 is primarily due to incurring an advisory fee related to the Reorganization transaction of $12.5 million during 2018.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $15.8 million, $20.0 million, and $19.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The reduction in 2020 as compared to 2019 is primarily due to a reduction in the Fed Funds effective interest rate in March, 2020 as well as the redemption of the 2045 Notes and repayment of the margin borrowing facility in August, 2020. The increase in 2019 as compared to 2018 is primarily due to increased borrowings on the Margin Borrowing Facility.
See Note 12 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details on the Company’s debt.
Income Tax Benefit/ Expense
The income tax benefit was $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared with income tax expense of $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in income tax benefit was primarily due to higher pre-tax loss for the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries for 2020 as compared to 2019 and the change in tax status which is the income tax benefit recognized on net insurance liabilities that were redomiciled from Bermuda at 0% tax rate to the United States at a 21% tax rate. The income tax expense was $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared with income tax benefit of $19.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in the income tax expense is primarily due to an increase in pretax income in the U.S.
See Note 10 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a comparison of income tax between periods.
Net Income (Loss)
The factors described above resulted in a net loss of $21.0 million, net income of $70.0 million, and a net loss of $56.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources and Uses of Funds
Global Indemnity Group, LLC is a holding company. Its principal asset is its ownership of the shares of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including those of its insurance companies: United National Insurance Company, Diamond State Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, Penn-Star Insurance Company, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company, and American Reliable Insurance Company.
Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s short term and long term liquidity needs include but are not limited to the payment of corporate expenses, debt service payments, dividend payments to shareholders, and share repurchases. In order to meet their short term and long term needs, Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s principal sources of cash includes dividends from subsidiaries, other permitted disbursements from its direct and indirect subsidiaries, reimbursement for equity awards granted to employees and intercompany borrowings. The principal sources of funds at these direct and indirect subsidiaries include underwriting operations, investment income, proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments, capital contributions, intercompany borrowings, and dividends from subsidiaries. Funds are used principally by these operating subsidiaries to pay claims and operating expenses, to make debt payments, fund margin requirements on interest rate swap agreements, to purchase investments, and to make dividend / distribution payments. In addition, the Company periodically reviews opportunities related to business acquisitions and as a result, liquidity may be needed in the future.
GBLI Holdings, LLC is a holding company which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn-Patriot Insurance Company. GBLI Holdings, LLC’s principal asset is its ownership of the shares of its direct and indirect subsidiaries which include United National Insurance Company, Diamond State Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, Penn-Star Insurance Company, and American Reliable Insurance Company. GBLI Holdings, LLC is dependent on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet its debt obligations as well as corporate expense obligations.
The future liquidity of both Global Indemnity and GBLI Holdings, LLC is dependent on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends. Global Indemnity and GBLI Holdings, LLC’s insurance companies are restricted by statute as to the amount of dividends that they may pay without the prior approval of regulatory authorities. The dividend limitations imposed by state laws are based on the statutory financial results of each insurance company within the Insurance Operations that are determined by using statutory accounting practices that differ in various respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP. See “Regulation-Statutory Accounting Principles.” Key differences relate to, among other items, deferred acquisition costs, limitations on deferred income taxes, reserve calculation assumptions and surplus notes.
Under Virginia law, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution of cash or other property, the fair market value of which, together with that of any other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 consecutive months exceeds the lesser of either (1) 10% of its surplus as of the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, or (2) its net income, not including net realized capital gains, for the 12 month period ending on the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, not including pro rata distributions of any class of its securities, unless the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment. In determining whether the dividend must be approved, undistributed net income from the second and third preceding years, not including net realized capital gains, may be carried forward.
Under Pennsylvania law, United National Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, and Penn-Star Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution that, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 consecutive months, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of its surplus as shown on its last annual statement on file with the commissioner or (2) its net income for the period covered by such statement, not including pro rata distributions of any class of its own securities, unless the commissioner has received notice from the insurer of the declaration of the dividend and the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment. An additional limitation is that Pennsylvania does not permit a domestic insurer to declare or pay a dividend except out of unassigned funds (surplus) unless otherwise approved by the commissioner before the dividend is paid. Furthermore, no dividend or other distribution may be declared or paid by a Pennsylvania insurance company that would reduce its total capital and surplus to an amount that is less than the amount required by the Insurance Department for the kind or kinds of business that it is authorized to transact. Pennsylvania law allows loans to affiliates up to 10% of statutory surplus without prior regulatory approval.
Under Indiana law, Diamond State Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution of cash or other property, the fair market value of which, together with that of any other dividends or distributions made within the 12 consecutive months ending on the date on which the proposed dividend or distribution is scheduled to be made, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of its surplus as of the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, or (2) its net income for the 12 month period ending on the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, unless the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment. An additional limitation is that Indiana does not permit a domestic insurer to declare or pay a dividend except out of unassigned surplus unless otherwise approved by the commissioner before the dividend is paid.
Under Arizona law, American Reliable Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution of cash or other property, the fair market value of which, together with that of any other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 months exceeds the lesser of either (1) 10% of its surplus as of the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, or (2) its net income for the 12 month period ending on the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, not including pro rata distributions of any class of its securities, unless the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment.
In 2020, the U.S. insurance companies did not declare or pay a dividend. See Note 20 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the maximum amount of distributions that U.S. insurance companies could pay as dividends in 2021.
Global Indemnity Reinsurance was prohibited, without the approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”), from reducing by 15% or more its total statutory capital or 25% or more of its total statutory capital and surplus as set out in its previous year’s statutory financial statements, and any application for such approval must include such information as the BMA may require. In June, 2020, the Board of Directors of Global Indemnity Reinsurance declared and paid a dividend of $226 million to its parent company, Global Indemnity Limited. On August 26, 2020, Global Indemnity Reinsurance merged into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company.
Surplus Levels
Global Indemnity’s insurance companies are required by law to maintain a certain minimum level of policyholders' surplus on a statutory basis. Policyholders' surplus is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets. The NAIC has risk-based capital standards that are designed to identify property and casualty insurers that may be inadequately capitalized based on the inherent risks of each insurer's assets and liabilities and mix of net written premiums. Insurers falling below a calculated threshold may be subject to varying degrees of regulatory action. Based on the standards currently adopted, the policyholders’ surplus of each of the insurance companies is in excess of the prescribed minimum company action level risk-based capital requirements.
Sources of operating funds consist primarily of net written premiums and investment income. Funds are used primarily to pay claims and operating expenses and to purchase investments. As a result of the dividend / distribution policy, funds may also be used in the future to pay distributions to shareholders of the Company.
The Company’s reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used for) operations is generally influenced by the following:
•
the fact that the Company collect premiums, net of commission, in advance of losses paid;
•
the timing of the Company’s settlements with its reinsurers; and
•
the timing of the Company’s loss payments.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2020, 2019, and 2018 was $32.7 million, $32.4 million and $42.1 million, respectively.
In 2020, the increase in operating cash flows of approximately $0.3 million from the prior year was primarily a net result of the following items:
Change
Net premiums collected
$
552,692
$
531,637
$
21,055
Net losses paid
(308,341
)
(298,788
)
(9,553
)
Underwriting and corporate expenses
(241,906
)
(229,645
)
(12,261
)
Net investment income
36,002
48,964
(12,962
)
Net federal income taxes recovered (paid)
10,825
(81
)
10,906
Recovery of loss indemnification
-
-
-
Interest paid
(16,602
)
(19,711
)
3,109
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
32,670
$
32,376
$
In 2019, the decrease in operating cash flows of approximately $9.7 million from the prior year was primarily a net result of the following items:
Change
Net premiums collected
$
531,637
$
476,885
$
54,752
Net losses paid
(298,788
)
(298,616
)
(172
)
Underwriting and corporate expenses
(229,645
)
(218,429
)
(11,216
)
Net investment income
48,964
57,430
(8,466
)
Net federal income taxes paid
(81
)
(859
)
Recovery of loss indemnification (1)
-
45,045
(45,045
)
Interest paid
(19,711
)
(19,387
)
(324
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
32,376
$
42,069
$
(9,693
)
(1)
Excludes a $3.5 million payment related to a purchase price adjustment for American Reliable in 2018. This payment is included in the net cash used in investing activities on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows in 2018. The recovery on loss indemnification, net of the purchase price adjustment, is $41.5 million in 2018. For additional information on the loss indemnification, please see Note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report.
See the consolidated statements of cash flows in the financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Company’s investing and financing activities.
Liquidity
Currently, the Company believes each company in its Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations maintains sufficient liquidity to pay claims through cash generated by operations and liquid investments. The holding companies also maintain sufficient liquidity to meet their obligations. The Company monitors its investment portfolios to assure liability and investment durations are closely matched.
Prospectively, as fixed income investments mature and new cash is obtained, the cash available to invest will be invested in accordance with the Company’s investment policy. The Company’s investment policy allows the Company to invest in taxable and tax-exempt fixed income investments as well as publicly traded and private equity investments. With respect to bonds, the Company’s credit exposure limit for each issuer varies with the issuer’s credit quality. The allocation between taxable and tax-exempt bonds is determined based on market conditions and tax considerations. The fixed income portfolio currently has a duration of 4.2 years.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company also had future funding commitments of $31.2 million related to investments. The timing of commitments related to investments is uncertain.
The Company has access to various capital sources including dividends from insurance subsidiaries, invested assets in its non-U.S. subsidiaries, and access to the debt and equity capital markets. The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to meet its capital needs. See Note 20 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a discussion of the Company’s dividend capacity. However, the Company’s future capital requirements depend on many factors, including the amount of premium it writes, the amount of loss reserves by lines of business, and catastrophe exposure. To the extent that the Company needs to raise additional funds, any equity or debt financing for this purpose, if available at all, may be on terms that are not favorable to the Company. If the Company cannot obtain adequate capital, its business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
COVID-19
The Company’s liquidity could be negatively impacted by the cancellation, delays, or non-payment of premiums related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is risk that legislation could be passed or there could be a court ruling which would require the Company to cover business interruption claims regardless of terms, exclusions including the virus exclusions contained within the Company’s Commercial Specialty and Farm, Ranch & Stable policies, or other conditions included in policies that would otherwise preclude coverage which would negatively impact liquidity. In addition, the liquidity of the Company’s investment portfolio could be negatively impacted by disruption experienced in global financial markets. Management is taking actions it considers prudent to minimize the impact on the Company’s liquidity. However, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the duration, magnitude and geographic reach of COVID-19, the Company is regularly evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on its liquidity.
Dividends / Distributions
Global Indemnity has adopted a dividend / distribution program. Although subject to the absolute discretion of the Board of Directors and factors, conditions, and prospects as such may exist from time to time when the Board of Directors considers the advisability of declaring a quarterly distribution, Global Indemnity Group, LLC currently anticipates a distribution rate of $0.25 per share per quarter ($1.00 per share per year). As of December 31, 2020, there are currently 14,397,088 shares issued and outstanding.
During 2020, the Board of Directors approved a dividend payment of $0.25 per common share to all shareholders of record on the close of business on March 24, 2020 and June 23, 2020 and approved a distribution payment of $0.25 per common share to all shareholders of record on the close of business on September 25, 2020 and December 24, 2020. Dividends / distributions paid were $14.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, distributions of $0.1 million were paid to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s preferred shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020.
During 2019, the Board of Directors approved a dividend payment of $0.25 per common share to all shareholders of record on the close of business on March 22, 2019, June 21, 2019, September 26, 2019, and December 24, 2019. Dividends paid were $14.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Redemption of Debt
In August 2020, GBLI Holdings and Global Indemnity Limited redeemed the entire outstanding $100 million aggregate principal amount of the 7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045.
Repayment of Margin Borrowing Facility
The Company repaid all of the outstanding debt on the margin borrowing facility in August, 2020.
Quota Share Arrangements and Intercompany Pooling Arrangement
For 2017, the Company’s U.S. insurance companies participated in quota share reinsurance agreements with Global Indemnity Reinsurance whereby 40% of the net retained business of the U.S. insurance companies was ceded to Global Indemnity Reinsurance. These agreements exclude named storms. As a result of the enactment of the TCJA, effective January 1, 2018, premiums being ceded under the quota share arrangement could potentially be subject to a 10% BEAT tax. As a result, Global Indemnity Reinsurance and the Company’s U.S. insurance companies terminated the quota share arrangement effective January 1, 2018.
Global Indemnity Reinsurance is an unauthorized reinsurer. As a result, any losses and unearned premiums that were ceded to Global Indemnity Reinsurance by the U.S. insurance companies prior to the termination of the quota share arrangement must be collateralized. To satisfy this requirement, Global Indemnity Reinsurance has set up custodial trust accounts on behalf of the U.S. insurance companies. These custodial trust accounts were terminated in 2020 due to the 2018 termination of the quota share arrangement.
Global Indemnity Reinsurance also has established trust accounts to collateralize exposure it has to certain third party ceding companies. As a result of the redomestication, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company now holds these trust accounts. The Company invests the funds in securities that have durations that closely match the expected duration of the liabilities assumed. The Company believes that Penn-Patriot Insurance Company will have sufficient liquidity to pay claims prospectively.
Global Indemnity’s U.S. insurance companies participate in an intercompany pooling arrangement whereby premiums, losses, and expenses are shared pro rata amongst the U.S. insurance companies.
Capital Resources
In connection with the Company’s redomestication to the United States, actions were taken to simplify the Company’s organizational structure. Various intercompany capital contributions and distributions took place between many of the Company’s subsidiaries. Several of the Company’s subsidiaries merged into new or existing companies. This included, but was not limited to, the merger of Global Indemnity Reinsurance into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company (“Penn-Patriot”) with Penn-Patriot surviving as well as the amalgamation of Global Indemnity Limited with a newly formed company, New Cayco. The surviving company, New Cayco, then merged into Global Indemnity Group, LLC, a newly formed parent company, with Global Indemnity Group, LLC surviving as the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies. In addition, $541.4 million of intercompany debt between Global Indemnity Limited and Global Indemnity Reinsurance was cancelled. Through a series of transactions, the Company also settled $402.3 million of notes between Global Indemnity Holdings (U.K.) Limited and Global Indemnity Financial (U.K.) Limited in 2020. The cancellation and settlement of these debt arrangements had no impact to the consolidated results of the Company.
Intercompany Loan
On June 16, 2020, GBLI Holdings, LLC entered into a loan agreement with Global Indemnity Reinsurance. Under the terms of the loan agreement, GBLI Holdings, LLC agreed to lend $40.0 million to Global Indemnity Reinsurance by transferring cash and / or securities to Global Indemnity Reinsurance. This loan bore interest at a rate of 0.18% and was due on June 16, 2023. This loan was fully repaid at December 31, 2020.
On August 28, 2020, Global Indemnity Investments, Inc. entered into a promissory note with Global Indemnity Group, LLC for the principal amount of $11.3 million. This note was issued in conjunction with Global Indemnity Investment Inc.’s purchase of limited liability partnership interests from Global Indemnity Group, LLC. The note bears interest at a rate of 1.47% and is due on August 28, 2030. The outstanding balance on the note was $11.3 million at December 31, 2020.
Intercompany Dividends
In June, 2020, Global Indemnity Reinsurance declared and paid a dividend of $226.0 million to its parent, Global Indemnity Limited.
All of the intercompany transactions discussed above eliminate in consolidation and have no impact on the consolidating financial statements.
Margin Borrowing Facility
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had available a margin borrowing facility. The Company did not have any amounts outstanding on the margin borrowing facility as of December 31, 2020. The amount outstanding on the Company’s margin borrowing facility was $73.6 million as of December 31, 2019. The borrowing rate for this facility was tied to the Fed Funds Effective rate and was approximately 0.8% and 1.9% at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This facility is due on demand. The borrowings are subject to maintenance margin, which is a minimum account balance that must be maintained. A decline in market conditions could require an additional deposit of collateral. The Company did not have any securities that were deposited as collateral at December 31, 2020. Approximately $88.2 million in securities were deposited as collateral to support borrowings as of December 31, 2019. The amount borrowed against the margin account may fluctuate as routine investment transactions, such as dividends received, investment income received, maturities and pay-downs, impact cash balances. The margin facility contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, insolvency, failure to make required payments, failure to comply with any representations or warranties, failure to adequately assure future performance, and failure of a guarantor to perform under its guarantee. The amount outstanding on the Company’s margin borrowing facility was $73.6 million as of December 31, 2019.
Derivative Instruments
The Company entered into derivative instruments related to interest rate swaps. Due to fluctuations in interest rates, the Company paid $20.5 million and $7.7 million in connection with these derivative instruments for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Co-obligor Financial Information
The Company is providing the following information in compliance with Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X, “Financial Disclosures about Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities” with respect to the Company’s 7.875% Subordinated Notes due in 2047 (“2047 Notes”). See Note 12 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the 2047 Notes, the supplemental indenture whereby Global Indemnity Group, LLC assumes the obligation under the 2047 Notes, and the co-obligor transaction whereby GBLI Holdings, LLC becomes a co-obligor on the 2047 Notes.
The following tables present summarized financial information for Global Indemnity Group, LLC (Parent co-obligor) and GBLI Holdings, LLC (Subsidiary co-obligor) on a combined basis after transactions and balances within the combined entities have been eliminated.
Parent and Subsidiary Co-obligors
The following table presents the summarized balance sheet information as of December 31, 2020.
(Dollars in thousands)
Intercompany note receivable
$
11,283
Intercompany receivables
Investments
250,863
Total assets
871,225
Intercompany payables
5,515
Total liabilities
152,908
The following table presents the summarized statement of operations information for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(Dollars in thousands)
Total revenue
$
(36,456
)
Intercompany interest income
Intercompany interest expense
-
Income (loss) before income taxes
(40,532
)
Net income (loss)
(29,320
)
Contractual Obligations
The Company has commitments in the form of operating leases, commitments to fund limited liability investments, subordinated notes, and unpaid losses and loss expense obligations. As of December 31, 2020, contractual obligations related to Global Indemnity’s commitments, including any principal and interest payments, were as follows:
Payment Due by Period
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
Less than 1 year
1 - 3
years
3 - 5
years
More than
5 years
Operating leases (1)
$
25,773
$
2,883
$
5,546
$
5,687
$
11,657
Commitments to fund limited liability investments (2)
31,214
31,214
-
-
-
Subordinated notes due 2047 (3)
401,294
10,238
20,475
20,475
350,106
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses obligations (4)
662,811
283,683
220,716
89,480
68,932
Total
$
1,121,092
$
328,018
$
246,737
$
115,642
$
430,695
(1)
The Company leases office space and equipment as part of its normal operations. The amounts shown above represent future commitments under such operating leases.
(2)
Represents future funding commitment of the Company’s participation in three separate limited partnership investments. See Note 16 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on these commitments.
(3)
Represents the Subordinated Notes due in 2047 in the aggregate principal amount of $130.0 million through an underwritten public offering. The notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to 7.875% payable quarterly. See Note 12 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the 2047 Subordinated Notes.
(4)
These amounts represent the gross future amounts needed to pay losses and related loss adjustment expenses and do not reflect amounts that are expected to be recovered from the Company’s reinsurers. See discussion in “Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for more details.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no off balance sheet arrangements.
Inflation
Property and casualty insurance premiums are established before the Company knows the amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses or the extent to which inflation may affect such amounts. The Company attempts to anticipate the potential impact of inflation in establishing its reserves.
Future increases in inflation could result in future increases in interest rates, which in turn are likely to result in a decline in the market value of the investment portfolio and resulting in unrealized losses and reductions in shareholders' equity.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements under “Business,” “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this report may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Security Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "project," "plan," "seek," "intend," or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and include discussions of strategy, financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of identified transactions or natural disasters, and statements about the future performance, operations, products and services of the companies.
The Company’s business and operations are and will be subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Consequently, actual results and experience may materially differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. See “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of this report for risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected.
The forward-looking statements contained in this report are primarily based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events and trends that it believes may affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, business strategy and financial needs. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors described in the section captioned “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report. These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this report include additional factors that could adversely impact the Company’s business and financial performance. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this report. The Company cannot provide assurance that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
In addition, statements that “the Company believes” and similar statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this report, and while the Company believes such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and these statements should not be read to indicate that the Company have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
This report and the documents that are referenced in this report and have filed as exhibits to this report should be read with the understanding that actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be materially different from what the Company expects. The Company qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
The Company’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or as of the date they were made. The Company undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of economic losses due to adverse changes in the estimated fair value of a financial instrument as the result of changes in interest rates, equity prices, credit risk, illiquidity, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices. The Company’s consolidated balance sheets includes the estimated fair values of assets that are subject to market risk. The Company’s primary market risks are interest rate risk and credit risks associated with investments in fixed maturities, equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities, and foreign exchange risk associated with premium received that is denominated in foreign currencies. Each of these risks is discussed in more detail below. The Company has no commodity risk.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates. The Company’s fixed income investments are exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. As interest rates rise, the market value of the Company’s fixed income investments fall, and the converse is also true. The Company seeks to manage interest rate risk through an active portfolio management strategy that involves the selection, by the Company’s managers, of investments with appropriate characteristics, such as duration, yield, currency, and liquidity that are tailored to the anticipated cash outflow characteristics of the Company’s liabilities. The Company’s strategy for managing interest rate risk also includes maintaining a high quality bond portfolio with a relatively short duration to reduce the effect of interest rate changes on book value. A significant portion of the Company’s investment portfolio matures each year, allowing for reinvestment at current market rates. The Company also holds interest rate swaps that are inversely correlated with the fixed income portfolio which helps to partially mitigate and manage interest rate risk.
As of December 31, 2020, assuming identical shifts in interest rates for securities of all maturities, the table below illustrates the sensitivity of market value in Global Indemnity’s bonds to selected hypothetical changes in basis point increases and decreases:
(Dollars in thousands)
Change in Market Value
Basis Point Change
Market Value
%
(200)
$
1,258,960
$
67,774
5.7
%
(100)
1,235,864
44,678
3.8
%
No change
1,191,186
-
-
1,140,901
(50,285
)
(4.2
%)
1,090,777
(100,409
)
(8.4
%)
The Company’s interest rate swaps are also exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these financial instruments. As interest rates decline, the market value of the Company’s interest rate swaps fall, and the converse is also true. Since the Company has designated the interest rate swaps as non-hedge instruments, the changes in the fair value is recognized as net realized investment gains / losses in the consolidated statements of operations. Therefore, changes in interest rates will have a direct impact to the Company’s results of operations. In addition, on a daily basis, a margin requirement is calculated. If interest rates decline, the Company is required to pay a margin call equal to the change in the fair market value of the interest rate swap. When interest rates rise, the counterparty is required to pay to the Company a margin call equal to the change in fair market value of the interest rate swaps.
As of December 31, 2020, the table below illustrates the sensitivity of market value of the Company’s interest rate swaps as well as the impact on the consolidated statements of operation to selected hypothetical changes in basis point increases and decreases:
(Dollars in thousands)
Basis Point Change
Market Value
Change in Market Value
and Impact to Consolidated
Statements of Operations
(200)
$
(29,242
)
$
(12,812
)
(100)
(22,717
)
(6,287
)
No change
(16,430
)
-
(10,373
)
6,057
(4,537
)
11,893
Credit Risk
The Company’s investment policy requires that its investments in debt instruments are of high credit quality issuers and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer based upon the rating of the security.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $49.5 million worth of investment exposure to subprime and Alt-A investments. As of December 31, 2020, approximately $34.1 million of those investments have been rated BBB- to AAA by Standard & Poor’s and $15.4 million were rated below investment grade. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $41.3 million worth of investment exposure to subprime and Alt-A investments. As of December 31, 2019, approximately $31.1 million of those investments have been rated BBB- to AAA by Standard & Poor’s and $10.2 million were rated below investment grade. There was no credit loss recorded on these investments during the years ended December 31, 2020 or 2019.
In addition, the Company has credit risk exposure to its general agencies and reinsurers. The Company seeks to mitigate and control its risks to producers by typically requiring its general agencies to render payments within no more than 45 days after the month in which a policy is effective and including provisions within the Company’s general agency contracts that allow it to terminate a general agency's authority in the event of non-payment.
With respect to its credit exposure to reinsurers, the Company seeks to mitigate and control its risk by ceding business to only those reinsurers having adequate financial strength and sufficient capital to fund their obligation. In addition, the Company seeks to mitigate credit risk to reinsurers through the use of trusts and letters of credit for collateral.
Equity Price Risk
Starting in December 2020, the strategy for the Company’s equity portfolio was to invest in companies with stable dividends. The strategy also generates long-term capital appreciation through a combination of market upside participation and downside protection. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s investment related to this strategy totaled $60.4 million and consisted of common stocks.
The carrying values of investments subject to equity price risk are based on quoted market prices as of the balance sheet dates. Market prices are subject to fluctuation and thus the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may differ from the reported market value. Fluctuation in the market price of an equity security results from perceived changes in the underlying economic makeup of a stock, the price of alternative investments and overall market conditions.
The Company attempts to mitigate its unsystemic risk, which is the risk that is associated with holding a particular security, by holding a large number of securities in that market. At year end, no security represented more than 2.4% of the market value of the equity portfolio. The Company continues to have systemic risk, which is the risk inherent in the general market due to broad macroeconomic factors that affect all companies in the market.
As of December 31, 2020, the table below summarizes the Company’s equity price risk and reflects the effect of a hypothetical 10% and 20% increase or decrease in market prices. The selected hypothetical changes do not indicate what could be the potential best or worst scenarios.
(Dollars in thousands)
Hypothetical Price Change
Estimated Fair Value
after Hypothetical
Change in Prices
Hypothetical Percentage
Increase (Decrease) in
Shareholders’ Equity
(20%)
$
48,303
(1.7%)
(10%)
54,341
(0.8%)
No change
60,379
-
10%
66,417
0.8%
20%
72,455
1.7%
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
The Company has foreign currency exchange risk associated with a portion of the business previously written at Global Indemnity Reinsurance, as well as a small portion of expenses related to corporate overhead in its Ireland office. The Company also maintains cash accounts in foreign currencies in order to pay expenses in foreign countries. At period-end, the Company re-measures those non-U.S. currency financial assets to their current U.S. dollar equivalent. Financial liabilities, if any, are generally adjusted within the reserving process. However, for known losses on claims to be paid in foreign currencies, the Company re-measures the liabilities to their current U.S. dollar equivalent each period end.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Index to Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule I
Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties
S-1
Schedule II
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
S-2
Schedule III
Supplementary Insurance Information
S-8
Schedule IV
Reinsurance Earned Premiums
S-9
Schedule V
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
S-10
Schedule VI
Supplementary Information for Property Casualty Underwriters
S-11
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Global Indemnity Group, LLC
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Global Indemnity Group, LLC (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated March 12, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits 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. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
Valuation of Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Description of the Matter
At December 31, 2020, the Company’s liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses was $663 million, of which a significant portion represents incurred but not reported reserves. As described in Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements, the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses represents the Company’s best estimate of future amounts needed to pay losses and related settlement expenses with respect to events insured by the Company. The difference between the estimated ultimate loss and loss adjustment expenses and the case incurred loss (paid loss plus case reserve) is considered to be incurred but not reported. There is significant uncertainty inherent in determining management’s best estimate of the ultimate loss and loss adjustment expenses, requiring the use of informed actuarially based estimates and management’s judgment. In particular, the Company’s long-tail reserve categories (such as general liability, construction defect and environmental exposures) are influenced by factors that are subject to significant variation over a long period of time or have high potential severities within the selection and weighting of actuarial methods and assumptions. Assumptions fundamental to the reserving process include claims frequency and severity as well as the review of historical payment and claim reporting patterns.
Auditing management’s best estimate of the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses was complex and involved the use of our actuarial specialists due to the significant estimation uncertainty associated with evaluating management’s methods and assumptions in determining the Company’s recorded loss and loss adjustment reserves.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of internal controls over the process for estimating loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. This included, among others, the review and approval processes management has in place for the methods and assumptions used in estimating the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves.
To test the Company’s estimate of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, our audit procedures included among others, the assistance of our actuarial specialists to evaluate the assumptions used in the actuarial methods, by comparing the significant assumptions, including severity, frequency, payment patterns and expected loss ratios to the Company’s historical experience. In addition, we evaluated the selection and the weighting of actuarial methods used by management with those methods used in prior periods and those used in the industry. We developed a range of reasonable reserve estimates which included performing independent projections for a sample of lines of business and compared the range of reserve estimates to the Company’s recorded reserves. We also performed a review of historical results of the development of the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves related to prior years.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 12, 2021
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share amounts)
ASSETS
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
Fixed maturities:
Available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,149,009 and $1,231,568; net of allowance for expected credit losses of: 2020 - $0)
$
1,191,186
$
1,253,159
Equity securities, at fair value
98,990
263,104
Other invested assets
97,018
47,279
Total investments
1,387,194
1,563,542
Cash and cash equivalents
67,359
44,271
Premiums receivable, net of allowance for expected credit losses of $2,900
at December 31, 2020
109,431
118,035
Reinsurance receivables, net of allowance for expected credit losses of $8,992
at December 31, 2020
88,708
83,938
Funds held by ceding insurers
45,480
48,580
Federal income taxes receivable
-
10,989
Deferred federal income taxes
34,265
31,077
Deferred acquisition costs
65,195
70,677
Intangible assets
20,962
21,491
Goodwill
6,521
6,521
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
12,881
16,716
Other assets
66,912
60,048
Total assets
$
1,904,908
$
2,075,885
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
$
662,811
$
630,181
Unearned premiums
291,495
314,861
Ceded balances payable
8,943
20,404
Payable for securities purchased
4,667
Contingent commissions
10,832
11,928
Debt
126,288
296,640
Other liabilities
81,548
74,212
Total liabilities
1,186,584
1,349,076
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
-
-
Shareholders’ equity:
Series A cumulative fixed rate preferred shares, $1,000 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding: 4,000 and 0 shares, respectively, liquidation preference: $1,000 per share and $0, respectively
4,000
-
Common shares, par value: no par at December 31, 2020 and $0.0001 at December 31, 2019, 900,000,000 common shares authorized; class A common shares issued: 10,263,722 and 10,282,277 respectively; class A common shares outstanding: 10,263,722 and 10,167,056, respectively; class B common shares issued and outstanding: 4,133,366 and 4,133,366, respectively
-
Additional paid-in capital
445,051
442,403
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
34,308
17,609
Retained earnings
234,965
270,768
Class A common shares in treasury, at cost: 0 and 115,221 shares, respectively
-
(3,973
)
Total shareholders’ equity
718,324
726,809
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
1,904,908
$
2,075,885
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except shares and per share data)
Years Ended December 31,
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
606,603
$
636,861
$
547,897
Net written premiums
$
548,167
$
562,089
$
472,547
Net earned premiums
$
567,699
$
525,262
$
467,775
Net investment income
28,392
42,052
46,342
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(14,662
)
35,342
(16,907
)
Other income
2,118
1,816
1,728
Total revenues
583,547
604,472
498,938
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
336,201
275,402
334,625
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
215,607
208,403
190,778
Corporate and other operating expenses
41,998
18,888
29,766
Interest expense
15,792
20,022
19,694
Loss on extinguishment of debt
3,060
-
-
Income (loss) before income taxes
(29,111
)
81,757
(75,925
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
(8,105
)
11,742
(19,229
)
Net income (loss)
(21,006
)
70,015
(56,696
)
Less: preferred stock distributions
-
-
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
$
(21,158
)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
Per share data:
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders (1)
Basic
$
(1.48
)
$
4.93
$
(4.02
)
Diluted
$
(1.48
)
$
4.88
$
(4.02
)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
Basic
14,291,265
14,191,756
14,088,883
Diluted
14,291,265
14,334,706
14,088,883
Cash dividends/distributions declared per common share
$
1.00
$
1.00
$
1.00
(1)
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2018, “weighted average shares outstanding - basic” was used to calculate “diluted earnings per share” due to a net loss for the period.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(In thousands)
Years Ended December 31,
Net income (loss)
$
(21,006
)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized holding gains (losses)
33,334
43,980
(20,748
)
Portion of other than temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)
-
(5
)
(3
)
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income (loss)
(17,794
)
(5,437
)
2,450
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
1,159
(1,885
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
16,699
38,840
(20,186
)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
$
(4,307
)
$
108,855
$
(76,882
)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Years Ended December 31,
Number of Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares
Preferred shares issued
4,000
-
-
Number at end of period
4,000
-
-
Number of class A common shares issued:
Number at beginning of period
10,282,277
10,171,954
10,102,927
Common shares issued / (forfeited) under share incentive plans
(6,576
)
43,404
37,381
Common shares issued to directors
108,521
66,919
31,646
Reduction in treasury shares due to redomestication
(120,500
)
-
-
Number at end of period
10,263,722
10,282,277
10,171,954
Number of class B common shares issued:
Number at beginning and end of period
4,133,366
4,133,366
4,133,366
Par value of Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares:
Preferred shares issued
$
4,000
$
-
$
-
Balance at end of period
$
4,000
$
-
$
-
Par value of class A common shares:
Balance at beginning of period
$
$
$
Reduction in par due to redomestication
(1
)
-
-
Balance at end of period
$
-
$
$
Par value of class B common shares:
Balance at beginning of period
$
$
$
Reduction in par due to redomestication
(1
)
-
-
Balance at end of period
$
-
$
$
Additional paid-in capital:
Balance at beginning of period
$
442,403
$
438,182
$
434,730
Reduction in treasury shares due to redomestication
(4,126
)
-
-
Share compensation plans
6,774
4,221
3,452
Balance at end of period
$
445,051
$
442,403
$
438,182
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income tax:
Balance at beginning of period
$
17,609
$
(21,231
)
$
8,983
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses)
15,540
38,543
(18,298
)
Change in other than temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)
-
(5
)
(3
)
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
1,159
(1,885
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
16,699
38,840
(20,186
)
Cumulative effect adjustment resulting from adoption of new accounting guidance
-
-
(10,028
)
Balance at end of period
$
34,308
$
17,609
$
(21,231
)
Retained earnings:
Balance at beginning of period
$
270,768
$
215,132
$
275,838
Cumulative effect adjustment resulting from adoption of new accounting guidance
-
(5
)
10,198
Net income (loss)
(21,006
)
70,015
(56,696
)
Preferred share distributions
(152
)
-
-
Dividends / distributions to shareholders
(14,645
)
(14,374
)
(14,208
)
Balance at end of period
$
234,965
$
270,768
$
215,132
Number of treasury shares:
Number at beginning of period
115,221
76,642
29,551
Class A common shares purchased
5,120
27,028
45,233
Retirement of treasury shares
11,551
1,858
Reduction in treasury shares due to redomestication
(120,500
)
-
-
Number at end of period
-
115,221
76,642
Treasury shares, at cost:
Balance at beginning of period
$
(3,973
)
$
(3,026
)
$
(1,159
)
Class A common shares purchased, at cost
(153
)
(947
)
(1,813
)
Reduction in treasury shares due to redomestication
4,126
-
-
Retirement of shares
-
-
(54
)
Balance at end of period
$
-
$
(3,973
)
$
(3,026
)
Total shareholders’ equity
$
718,324
$
726,809
$
629,059
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLOBAL INDEMNITY GROUP, LLC
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Years Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$
(21,006
)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization and depreciation
7,027
7,103
7,019
Amortization of debt issuance costs
Restricted stock and stock option expense
6,774
4,221
3,452
Deferred federal income taxes
(8,268
)
11,783
(19,554
)
Amortization of bond premium and discount, net
6,957
4,887
5,925
Net realized investment (gains) losses
14,662
(35,342
)
16,907
Loss on extinguishment of debt
3,060
-
-
Loss from equity method investments, net of distributions
6,346
-
-
Changes in:
Premiums receivable, net
8,604
(30,356
)
(3,293
)
Reinsurance receivables, net
(4,770
)
30,480
(9,358
)
Funds held by ceding insurers
4,294
(5,791
)
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
32,630
(49,850
)
45,367
Unearned premiums
(23,366
)
32,949
(3,485
)
Ceded balances payable
(11,461
)
5,410
4,143
Other assets and liabilities
(8,240
)
(16,162
)
46,823
Contingent commissions
(1,096
)
1,292
2,652
Federal income tax receivable/payable
10,989
(123
)
(534
)
Deferred acquisition costs
5,482
(9,001
)
(29
)
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
3,835
3,878
8,257
Net cash provided by operating activities
32,670
32,376
42,069
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities
791,554
977,321
293,348
Proceeds from sale of equity securities
604,772
260,891
35,639
Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturities
119,326
180,546
55,182
Proceeds from other invested assets
4,211
16,757
43,377
Amounts received (paid) in connection with derivatives
(20,456
)
(7,654
)
4,392
Purchases of fixed maturities
(808,618
)
(1,129,567
)
(370,536
)
Purchases of equity securities
(455,907
)
(365,255
)
(36,258
)
Purchases of other invested assets
(60,297
)
(13,283
)
(16,309
)
Acquisition of business
-
-
(3,515
)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
174,585
(80,244
)
5,320
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under margin borrowing facility
(73,629
)
7,811
(6,412
)
Dividends paid to common shareholders
(14,252
)
(14,222
)
(14,027
)
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders
(133
)
-
-
Issuance of series A cumulative fixed rate preferred shares
4,000
-
-
Purchases of class A common shares
(153
)
(947
)
(1,867
)
Redemption of subordinated notes
(100,000
)
-
-
Net cash used for financing activities
(184,167
)
(7,358
)
(22,306
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
23,088
(55,226
)
25,083
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
44,271
99,497
74,414
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
67,359
$
44,271
$
99,497
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1.
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
Global Indemnity Group, LLC (“Global Indemnity”), a Delaware limited liability company formed on June 23, 2020, replaced Global Indemnity Limited, incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability, as the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies as a result of a redomestication transaction completed on August 28, 2020. This transaction resulted in the redomestication of the Company and its Bermuda subsidiary, Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“Global Indemnity Reinsurance”), to the United States. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GBLI. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s predecessors have been publicly traded since 2003. See Note 2 below for additional information regarding the redomestication.
During the first quarter of 2019, the Company re-evaluated its Personal Lines segment and determined that Personal Lines should be bifurcated into two reportable segments: Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable. This is the result of changing how Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable are managed and reported. Specialty Property is managed out of the Company’s Scottsdale, Arizona office; whereas, Farm, Ranch & Stable is managed out of the Company’s Omaha, Nebraska office. In the past, Farm, Ranch & Stable reported to the Scottsdale, Arizona office and now it reports directly to the Company’s main headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Results for Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable are separately measured, resources are separately allocated to each of these lines, and employees in each line are now being rewarded based on each line’s separate results. Accordingly, the Company now reports Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable as two separate reportable segments. In addition, the Company has changed the name of its Commercial Lines segment to Commercial Specialty to better align with its key product offerings. The segment results for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been revised to reflect these changes. See Note 21 for additional information regarding segments.
The Company manages its business through four business segments: Commercial Specialty, Specialty Property, Farm, Ranch & Stable, and Reinsurance Operations. The Company’s Commercial Specialty segment offers specialty property and casualty insurance products in the excess and surplus lines marketplace. The Company manages Commercial Specialty by differentiating them into four product classifications: 1) Penn-America, which markets property and general liability products to small commercial businesses through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority; 2) United National, which markets insurance products for targeted insured segments, including specialty products, such as property, general liability, and professional lines through program administrators with specific binding authority; 3)Diamond State, which markets property, casualty, and professional lines products, which are developed by the Company’s underwriting department by individuals with expertise in those lines of business, through wholesale brokers and also markets through program administrators having specific binding authority; and 4) Vacant Express, which primarily insures dwellings which are currently vacant, undergoing renovation, or are under construction and is marketed through aggregators, brokers, and retail agents. These product classifications comprise the Company’s Commercial Specialty business segment and are not considered individual business segments because each product has similar economic characteristics, distribution, and coverage. The Company’s Specialty Property segment offers specialty personal lines property and casualty insurance products through general and specialty agents with specific binding authority. The Company’s Farm, Ranch & Stable segment provides specialized property and casualty coverage including Commercial Farm Auto and Excess/Umbrella Coverage for the agriculture industry as well as specialized insurance products for the equine mortality and equine major medical industry. These insurance products are sold through wholesalers and retail agents, with a selected number having specific binding authority. Collectively, the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Commercial Specialty, Specialty Property, and Farm, Ranch & Stable segments comprise the Company’s Insurance Operations (“Insurance Operations”). The Company’s Reinsurance Operations segment provides reinsurance solutions through brokers and primary writers including insurance and reinsurance companies. Prior to the redomestication transactions, the Company’s Reinsurance Operations consisted solely of the operations of its Bermuda-based wholly-owned subsidiary, Global Indemnity Reinsurance. As part of the redomestication transactions, Global Indemnity Reinsurance was merged with and into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company ("Penn-Patriot"), with Penn-Patriot surviving, resulting in the assumption of Global Indemnity Reinsurance's business by the Global Indemnity group of companies’ existing U.S. insurance company subsidiaries.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which differs in certain respects from those principles followed in reports to insurance regulatory authorities. 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 and 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 those estimates.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Global Indemnity and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
2.
Redomestication
At 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 28, 2020 (the "Effective Time"), Global Indemnity Limited, incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability, completed a scheme of arrangement and amalgamation under Sections 86 and 87 of the Cayman Islands Companies Law (2020 Revision) (the "Scheme of Arrangement") that effected certain transactions (the "Redomestication") that resulted in the shareholders of Global Indemnity Limited becoming the holders of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
As a result, any references to class A common shares or class B common shares after the Effective Time refer to Global Indemnity Group, LLC class A common shares or class B common shares and any references to class A common shares or class B common shares prior to the Effective Time refers to Global Indemnity Limited A ordinary shares or B ordinary shares.
The Redomestication was approved by Global Indemnity Limited’s shareholders at a special meeting and an extraordinary general meeting held on August 25, 2020, convened by Order of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands dated July 22, 2020. The terms and conditions of the issuance of the securities in connection with the Redomestication were sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands pursuant to an Order granted on August 26, 2020 after a hearing upon the fairness of such terms and conditions at which all holders of Global Indemnity Limited ordinary shares had a right to appear and of which adequate notice had been given.
Following completion of the Scheme of Arrangement, Global Indemnity Group, LLC survived as the ultimate parent company of the Global Indemnity group of companies. Additionally, as part of the Redomestication transactions, Global Indemnity Reinsurance Company was merged with and into Penn-Patriot, with Penn-Patriot surviving, resulting in the assumption of Global Indemnity Reinsurance’s business by the Global Indemnity group of companies’ existing U.S. insurance company subsidiaries (the "GI Bermuda Transaction" and, together with the Redomestication and the other transactions described in Global Indemnity Limited's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2020 (the "Redomestication Proxy Statement"), the "Transactions").
Prior to the Redomestication, the Global Indemnity Limited A ordinary shares were listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "GBLI" and registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). At the Effective Time, Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares were deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act. The issuance of the class A common shares by Global Indemnity Group, LLC in the Redomestication was exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), by virtue of Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act. The Company’s class A common shares began trading on Nasdaq under the symbol "GBLI," the same symbol under which the Global Indemnity Limited ordinary shares previously traded, at the commencement of trading on Nasdaq on August 28, 2020.
On August 27, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC issued 4,000 series A cumulative fixed rate preferred interests. Following the Effective Time, all of the issued and outstanding series A fixed rate preferred interests were unaffected by the Scheme of Arrangement. See Note 14 for additional information regarding the issuance of these preferred interests. The issuance of series A preferred interests was made pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The series A preferred interests are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
3.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Investments
The Company’s investments in fixed maturities, which are classified as available for sale, and equity securities are carried at their fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair values of the Company's fixed maturities and equity securities are determined on the basis of quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company uses third party pricing services to assist in determining fair value. In many instances, these services examine the pricing of similar instruments to estimate fair value. The Company purchases bonds with the expectation of holding them to their maturity; however, changes to the portfolio are sometimes required to assure it is appropriately matched to liabilities. In addition, changes in financial market conditions and tax considerations may cause the Company to sell an investment before it matures. The difference between amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity and, accordingly, has no effect on net income (loss) other than for the credit loss component of impairments and losses recognized as a result of the intent to sell. Equity securities are measured at fair value with the changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss).
For investments in limited partnerships and limited liability companies where the ownership interest is less than 3%, the Company carries these investments at fair value, and the change in the difference between cost and the fair value of these interests, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity and, accordingly, has no effect on net income (loss). The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in limited partnerships and limited liability companies where its ownership interest exceeds 3%. The equity method of accounting for an investment in a limited partnership and limited liability company requires that its cost basis be updated to account for the income or loss earned on the investment. The income or loss associated with the limited partnerships and limited liability companies is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations, and the adjusted cost basis approximates fair value.
The Company’s investments in other invested assets were valued at $97.0 million and $47.3 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts relate to investments in limited partnerships and limited liability companies whose carrying value approximates fair value.
Net realized gains and losses on investments are determined based on the first-in, first-out method.
The Company implemented new accounting guidance on January 1, 2020 related to the measurement of expected credit losses on financial instruments. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses are still measured similar to the old guidance; however, the new guidance requires that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down of the amortized cost basis of the impaired security and allows for the reversal of credit losses in the current period net income (loss). Any impairments related to factors other than credit losses and the intent to sell continue to be recorded through other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
The Company regularly performs various analytical valuation procedures with respect to its investments, including reviewing each available for sale debt security in an unrealized loss position to assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost basis has resulted from a credit loss or other factors. In assessing whether a credit loss exists, the Company compares the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for expected credit losses is recorded. Subsequent changes in the allowances are recorded in the period of change as either credit loss expense or reversal of credit loss expense. Any impairments related to factors other than credit losses and the intent to sell are recorded through other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
For fixed maturities, the factors considered in reaching the conclusion that a credit loss exists include, among others, whether:
(1)
the extent to which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis;
(2)
the issuer is in financial distress;
(3)
the investment is secured;
(4)
a significant credit rating action occurred;
(5)
scheduled interest payments were delayed or missed;
(6)
changes in laws or regulations have affected an issuer or industry;
(7)
the investment has an unrealized loss and was identified by the Company’s investment manager as an investment to be sold before recovery or maturity;
(8)
the investment failed cash flow projection testing to determine if anticipated principal and interest payments will be realized; and
(9)
changes in US Treasury rates and/or credit spreads since original purchase to identify whether the unrealized loss is simply due to interest rate movement.
According to accounting guidance for debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company is required to assess whether it has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery. If either of these conditions is met, any allowance for expected credit losses is written off and the amortized cost basis is written down to the fair value of the fixed maturity security with any incremental impairment reported in earnings. That new amortized cost basis shall not be adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.
The Company elected the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the available for sale debt securities for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment and to not measure an allowance for expected credit losses for accrued interest receivables. Accrued interest receivable is written off through net realized investment gains (losses) at the time the issuer of the bond defaults or is expected to default on payment. The Company made an accounting policy election to present the accrued interest receivable balance with other assets on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position.
Variable Interest Entities
A Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) refers to an investment in which an investor holds a controlling interest that is not based on the majority of voting rights. Under the VIE model, the party that has the power to exercise significant management influence and maintain a controlling financial interest in the entity’s economics is said to be the primary beneficiary, and is required to consolidate the entity within their results. Other entities that participate in a VIE, for which their financial interests fluctuate with changes in the fair value of the investment entity’s net assets but do not have significant management influence and the ability to direct the VIE’s significant economic activities are said to have a variable interest in the VIE but do not consolidate the VIE in their financial results.
The Company has variable interests in four VIEs for which it is not the primary beneficiary. These investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as their ownership interest exceeds 3% of their respective investments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For the purpose of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company has a cash management program that provides for the investment of excess cash balances primarily in short-term money market instruments. Generally, bank balances exceed federally insured limits. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had approximately $58.0 million and $35.8 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents that was invested in a diversified portfolio of high quality short-term debt securities.
Valuation of Premium Receivable
The Company evaluates the collectability of premium receivable based on a combination of factors. In instances in which the Company is aware of a specific circumstance where a party may be unable to meet its financial obligations to the Company, a specific allowance for expected credit losses against amounts due is recorded to reduce the net receivable to the amount reasonably believed by management to be collectible. For all remaining balances, the allowance is based upon the Company’s ongoing review of key aspects of amounts outstanding, including but not limited to, length of collection periods, direct placement with collection agencies, solvency of insured or agent, terminated agents, and other relevant factors. The allowance for expected credit losses was $2.9 million and $2.8 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company tests for impairment of goodwill at least annually and more frequently as circumstances warrant in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Accounting guidance allows for the testing of goodwill for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative factors. Impairment of goodwill is recognized only if the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit. The amount of the impairment loss would be equal to the excess carrying value of the goodwill over the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. Based on the qualitative assessment performed, there was no impairment of goodwill as of December 31, 2020.
Impairment of intangible assets with an indefinite useful life is tested at least annually and more frequently as circumstances warrant in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Accounting guidance allows for the testing of indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative factors. Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible assets exceeds the fair value of said assets. The amount of the impairment loss would be equal to the excess carrying value of the assets over the fair value of said assets. Based on the qualitative assessment performed, there were no impairments of indefinite lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2020.
Intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The carrying amounts of definite lived intangible assets are regularly reviewed for indicators of impairment in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Impairment is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is in excess of its undiscounted projected cash flows. The impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset. As of December 31, 2020, there were no triggering events that occurred during the year that would result in an impairment of definite lived intangible assets.
See Note 7 for additional information on goodwill and intangible assets.
Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce the loss that may arise from events that cause unfavorable underwriting results by reinsuring certain levels of risk from various areas of exposure with reinsurers. Amounts receivable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the reinsured policy and the reinsurance contract.
The Company regularly reviews the collectability of reinsurance receivables. An allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivable is recognized based upon the Company’s ongoing review of key aspects of amounts outstanding, including but not limited to, length of collection periods, disputes, applicable coverage defenses, insolvent reinsurers, financial strength of solvent reinsurers based on AM Best Ratings and other relevant factors. Any changes in the allowance resulting from this review are included in net losses and loss adjustment expenses on the consolidated statements of operations during the period in which the determination is made. The allowance for expected credit losses was $9.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
The applicable accounting guidance requires that the reinsurer must assume significant insurance risk under the reinsured portions of the underlying insurance contracts and that there must be a reasonably possible chance that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the transaction. The Company has evaluated its reinsurance contracts and concluded that each contract qualifies for reinsurance accounting treatment pursuant to this guidance.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The deferred tax asset balance is analyzed regularly by management. This assessment requires significant judgment and considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of carryforward periods, and tax planning strategies and/or actions. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations can generate sufficient taxable income to realize the remaining deferred income tax assets, and accordingly, the Company has not established any valuation allowances.
Deferred Acquisition Costs
The costs of acquiring new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts include commissions, premium taxes and certain other costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts. The excess of the Company’s costs of acquiring new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts over the related ceding commissions earned from reinsurers is capitalized as deferred acquisition costs and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned.
The amortization of deferred acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 was $140.9 million, $132.3 million, and $118.0 million, respectively.
Premium Deficiency
A premium deficiency is recognized if the sum of expected loss and loss adjustment expenses and unamortized acquisition costs exceeds related unearned premium after consideration of investment income. This evaluation is done at a distribution and product line level in Insurance Operations and at a treaty level in Reinsurance Operations. Any future expected loss on the related unearned premium is recorded first by impairing the unamortized acquisition costs on the related unearned premium followed by an increase to loss and loss adjustment expense reserves on additional expected loss in excess of unamortized acquisition costs. No premium deficiency reserve existed as of December 31, 2020 or 2019.
Derivative Instruments
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to cash flow variability from interest rate risk and limit exposure to severe equity market changes. The derivative instruments are carried on the balance sheet at fair value and included in other assets and other liabilities. Changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments and the periodic net interest settlements under the derivatives instruments are recognized as net realized investment gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations.
Margin Borrowing Facility
The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet represent the outstanding borrowings. The outstanding borrowings are due on demand; therefore, the cash receipts and cash payments related to the margin borrowing facility are shown net in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Subordinated Notes
The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet represent the outstanding balances, net of deferred issuance cost. See Note 12 for details.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses represents the Company’s best estimate of future amounts needed to pay losses and related settlement expenses with respect to events insured by the Company. This liability is based upon the accumulation of individual case estimates for losses reported prior to the close of the accounting period with respect to direct business, estimates received from ceding companies with respect to assumed reinsurance, and estimates of unreported losses.
The process of establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment is complex, requiring the use of informed actuarially based estimates and management’s judgment. In some cases, significant periods of time, up to several years or more, may elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss and the reporting of that loss to the Company. To establish this liability, the Company regularly reviews and updates the methods of making such estimates and establishing the resulting liabilities. Any resulting adjustments are recorded in consolidated statements of operations during the period in which the determination is made.
Retirement of Treasury Stock
Upon the formal retirement of treasury stock, Global Indemnity Group, LLC offsets the par value of the treasury stock that is being retired against common shares and reflects any excess of cost over par value as a deduction from Additional Paid-in Capital.
Share Redemptions
When shares are redeemed, Global Indemnity Group, LLC offsets the par value of the redeemed shares against common shares and reflects any excess of cost over par value as a deduction from Retained Earnings.
Premiums
Premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the term of the respective policies and treaties. Unearned premiums are computed on a pro rata basis to the day of expiration.
Mandatory reinstatement premiums assessed on reinsurance policies are earned in the period of the loss event that gave rise to the reinstatement premiums.
Contingent Commissions
Certain professional general agencies of the Insurance Operations are paid special incentives, referred to as contingent commissions, when results of business produced by these agencies are more favorable than predetermined thresholds. Similarly, in some circumstances, companies that cede business to the Reinsurance Operations are paid profit commissions based on the profitability of the ceded portfolio. These commissions are charged to other underwriting expenses when incurred.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock options and other equity based compensation using the modified prospective application of the fair value-based method permitted by the appropriate accounting guidance. See Note 17 for details.
Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per share have been calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. In periods of net income, diluted earnings per share have been calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the sum of the weighted-average common shares outstanding and the weighted-average common share equivalents outstanding, which include options and other equity awards. In periods of net loss, diluted earnings per share is the same as basic earnings per share. See Note 19 for details.
Foreign Currency
At times, the Company maintains investments and cash accounts in foreign currencies related to the operations of its business. At period-end, the Company re-measures non-U.S. currency financial assets to their current U.S. dollar equivalent. The resulting gain or loss for foreign denominated fixed maturity investments, if any, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity; whereas, the gain or loss on foreign denominated cash accounts and equity securities is reflected in income during the period. Financial liabilities, if any, are generally adjusted within the reserving process. However, for known losses on claims to be paid in foreign currencies, the Company re-measures the liabilities to their current U.S. dollar equivalent each period end with the resulting gain or loss reflected in income during the period. Net transaction gains and losses, primarily comprised of re-measurement of known losses on claims to be paid in foreign currencies, were a gain of $0.1 million, a gain of $0.3 million, and a loss of $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. Lease right-of-use assets (“ROU”) are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and lease liabilities are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. The Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate; therefore, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU asset is calculated using the initial lease liability amount, plus any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, minus any lease incentives received, plus any initial direct costs incurred. Lease expenses for minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company’s lease agreements may contain both lease and non-lease components which are accounted separately. The Company elected the practical expedient on not separating lease components from non-lease components for its equipment leases.
Other Income
Other income is primarily comprised of fee income and foreign exchange gains and losses.
4.
Investments
The Company implemented new accounting guidance on January 1, 2020 related to the measurement of expected credit losses on financial instruments. For financial assets held at amortized cost basis, the new guidance requires a forward-looking methodology for in-scope financial assets that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of information for credit loss estimates, including historical experience, current economic conditions and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the financial assets. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses are still measured similar to the old guidance; however, the new guidance requires that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down of the amortized cost basis of the impaired security and allows for the reversal of credit losses in the current period net income (loss). Any impairments related to factors other than credit losses or the intent to sell continue to be recorded through other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
The Company elected the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the available for sale debt securities for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment and to not measure an allowance for expected credit losses for accrued interest receivables. Accrued interest receivable is written off through net realized investment gains (losses) at the time the issuer of the bond defaults or is expected to default on payment. The Company made an accounting policy election to present the accrued interest receivable balance with other assets on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position. Accrued interest receivable was $5.7 million and $7.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities securities were as follows as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
(Dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
As of December 31, 2020
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
$
195,444
$
-
$
3,125
$
(1,089
)
$
197,480
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
58,140
-
3,170
(67
)
61,243
Mortgage-backed securities
351,453
-
7,876
(551
)
358,778
Asset-backed securities
116,349
-
1,890
(646
)
117,593
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
105,509
-
6,094
(644
)
110,959
Corporate bonds
223,387
-
17,703
(373
)
240,717
Foreign corporate bonds
98,727
-
5,716
(27
)
104,416
Total fixed maturities
$
1,149,009
$
-
$
45,574
$
(3,397
)
$
1,191,186
(Dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
As of December 31, 2019
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
$
153,906
$
3,580
$
(797
)
$
156,689
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
63,256
(271
)
63,838
Mortgage-backed securities
325,448
3,177
(251
)
328,374
Asset-backed securities
168,020
(420
)
168,537
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
183,944
4,369
(209
)
188,104
Corporate bonds
239,860
8,478
(79
)
248,259
Foreign corporate bonds
97,134
2,247
(23
)
99,358
Total fixed maturities
$
1,231,568
$
23,641
$
(2,050
)
$
1,253,159
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s investments in equity securities consist of the following:
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Common stock
$
60,379
$
135,329
Preferred stock
11,683
11,656
Index funds that invest in fixed maturities
26,928
54,648
Index funds that invest in common stock
-
61,471
Total
$
98,990
$
263,104
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company held Fannie Mae mortgage pools that totaled as much as 3.9% and 4.2% of shareholders’ equity, respectively. Excluding the Fannie Mae pools, U.S. treasuries, agency bonds, index funds, and limited liability companies and limited partnerships, the Company did not hold any debt or equity investments in a single issuer in excess of 2% and 3% of shareholders' equity at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio classified as available for sale at December 31, 2020, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
(Dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$
45,055
$
45,346
Due in one year through five years
204,299
214,737
Due in five years through ten years
238,966
250,462
Due in ten years through fifteen years
23,682
25,349
Due after fifteen years
63,696
67,962
Mortgage-backed securities
351,453
358,778
Asset-backed securities
116,349
117,593
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
105,509
110,959
Total
$
1,149,009
$
1,191,186
The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s fixed income securities with gross unrealized losses that are not deemed to have credit losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2020. The fair value amounts reported in the table are estimates that are prepared using the process described in Note 6.
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Total
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
$
81,999
$
(1,089
)
$
-
$
-
$
81,999
$
(1,089
)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
2,588
(67
)
-
-
2,588
(67
)
Mortgage-backed securities
57,350
(551
)
-
57,354
(551
)
Asset-backed securities
22,268
(389
)
13,354
(257
)
35,622
(646
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
10,294
(526
)
1,154
(118
)
11,448
(644
)
Corporate bonds
7,783
(373
)
-
-
7,783
(373
)
Foreign corporate bonds
(27
)
-
-
(27
)
Total fixed maturities
$
183,167
$
(3,022
)
$
14,512
$
(375
)
$
197,679
$
(3,397
)
The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s fixed income securities with gross unrealized losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2019. The fair value amounts reported in the table are estimates that are prepared using the process described in Note 6.
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Total
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
$
35,633
$
(797
)
$
-
$
-
$
35,633
$
(797
)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
27,180
(271
)
-
-
27,180
(271
)
Mortgage-backed securities
93,579
(244
)
(7
)
94,481
(251
)
Asset-backed securities
43,402
(167
)
16,152
(253
)
59,554
(420
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
25,698
(196
)
1,945
(13
)
27,643
(209
)
Corporate bonds
19,407
(79
)
-
-
19,407
(79
)
Foreign corporate bonds
4,822
(20
)
2,035
(3
)
6,857
(23
)
Total fixed maturities
$
249,721
$
(1,774
)
$
21,034
$
(276
)
$
270,755
$
(2,050
)
Subject to the risks and uncertainties in evaluating the potential impairment of a security’s value, the impairment evaluation conducted by the Company as of December 31, 2020 concluded the unrealized losses discussed above are non-credit losses on securities where management does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be forced to sell the security before recovery. The impairment evaluation process is discussed in the “Investment” section of Note 3 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”).
The following is a description, by asset type, of the methodology and significant inputs that the Company used to measure the amount of credit loss recognized in earnings, if any:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to U.S. treasury and agency obligations were $1.089 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, macroeconomic and market analysis is conducted in evaluating these securities. Consideration is given to the interest rate environment, duration and yield curve management of the portfolio, sector allocation and security selection. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on U.S. treasury and agency obligations during the period.
Obligations of states and political subdivisions - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to obligations of states and political subdivisions were $0.067 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, elements that may influence the performance of the municipal bond market are considered in evaluating these securities such as investor expectations, supply and demand patterns, and current versus historical yield and spread relationships. The analysis relies on the output of fixed income credit analysts, as well as dedicated municipal bond analysts who perform extensive in-house fundamental analysis on each issuer, regardless of their rating by the major agencies. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on obligations of states and political subdivisions during the period.
Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to mortgage-backed securities were $0.551 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, mortgage-backed securities are modeled to project principal losses under downside, base, and upside scenarios for the economy and home prices. The primary assumption that drives the security and loan level modeling is the Home Price Index (“HPI”) projection. These forecasts incorporate not just national macro-economic trends, but also regional impacts to arrive at the most granular and accurate projections. These assumptions are incorporated into the model as a basis to generate delinquency probabilities, default curves, loss severity curves, and voluntary prepayment curves at the loan level within each deal. The model utilizes HPI-adjusted current LTV, payment history, loan terms, loan modification history, and borrower characteristics as inputs to generate expected cash flows and principal loss for each bond under various scenarios. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on mortgage-backed securities during the period.
Asset backed securities (“ABS”) - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to asset backed securities were $0.646 million. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s asset backed portfolio is 33.6. This represents the percentage of pool losses that can occur before an asset backed security will incur its first dollar of principal losses. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, every ABS transaction is analyzed on a stand-alone basis. This analysis involves a thorough review of the collateral, prepayment, and structural risk in each transaction. Additionally, the analysis includes an in-depth credit analysis of the originator and servicer of the collateral. The analysis projects an expected loss for a deal given a set of assumptions specific to the asset type. These assumptions are used to calculate at what level of losses the deal will incur its first dollar of principal loss. The major assumptions used to calculate this ratio are loss severities, recovery lags, and no advances on principal and interest. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on asset backed securities during the period.
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to the CMBS portfolio were $0.644 million. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s CMBS portfolio is 39.5. This represents the percentage of pool losses that can occur before a mortgage-backed security will incur its first dollar of principal loss. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, a loan level analysis is utilized where every underlying CMBS loan is re-underwritten based on a set of assumptions reflecting expectations for the future path of the economy. Each loan is analyzed over time using a series of tests to determine if a credit event will occur during the life of the loan. Inherent in this process are several economic scenarios and their corresponding rent/vacancy and capital market states. The five primary credit events that frame the analysis include loan modifications, term default, balloon default, extension, and ability to pay off at balloon. The resulting output is the expected loss adjusted cash flows for each bond under the base case and distressed scenarios. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on commercial mortgage-backed securities during the period.
Corporate bonds - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to corporate bonds were $0.373 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, analysis for this asset class includes maintaining detailed financial models that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral. The analysis incorporates the macroeconomic environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, the issuer’s current competitive position, its vulnerability to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection. Part of the process also includes running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on corporate bonds during the period.
Foreign bonds - As of December 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to foreign bonds were $0.027 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, detailed financial models are maintained that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral. The analysis incorporates the macroeconomic environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, the issuer’s current competitive position, its vulnerability to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection. Part of the process also includes running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default. Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on foreign bonds during the period.
The Company has evaluated its investment portfolio and has determined that an allowance for credit losses on its investments is not required.
The Company recorded the following impairments on its investment portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and are related to securities in an unrealized loss position where the Company had an intent to sell the securities:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities:
OTTI losses, gross
$
-
$
(1,897
)
$
(456
)
Impairment related to intent to sell
(760
)
-
-
Total
$
(760
)
$
(1,897
)
$
(456
)
The following table is an analysis of the credit losses recognized in earnings on fixed maturities held by the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income.
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period
$
$
Additions where no OTTI was previously recorded
-
-
Additions where an OTTI was previously recorded
-
-
Reductions for securities for which the company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery
-
-
Reductions reflecting increases in expected cash flows to be collected
-
-
Reductions for securities sold during the period
(13
)
-
Balance at end of period
$
-
$
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Net unrealized gains (losses) from:
Fixed maturities
$
42,177
$
21,591
Foreign currency fluctuations
(1,032
)
Deferred taxes
(8,030
)
(2,950
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
$
34,308
$
17,609
The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, by component for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Year Ended December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)
Unrealized Gains
and Losses on
Available for Sale
Securities
Foreign Currency
Items
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income
Beginning balance, net of tax
$
18,641
$
(1,032
)
$
17,609
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, before tax
43,430
1,193
44,623
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
(22,844
)
-
(22,844
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
20,586
1,193
21,779
Income tax benefit (expense)
(5,046
)
(34
)
(5,080
)
Ending balance, net of tax
$
34,181
$
$
34,308
Year Ended December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Unrealized Gains
and Losses on
Available for Sale
Securities
Foreign Currency
Items
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income
Beginning balance, net of tax
$
(19,897
)
$
(1,334
)
$
(21,231
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, before tax
50,325
50,627
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
(6,059
)
-
(6,059
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
44,266
44,568
Income tax benefit (expense)
(5,728
)
-
(5,728
)
Ending balance, net of tax
$
18,641
$
(1,032
)
$
17,609
The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
Amounts Reclassified from
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income
Years Ended December 31,
Details about Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income Components
Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities
Other net realized investment (gains) losses
$
(23,604
)
$
(7,956
)
Other than temporary impairment losses on investments
1,897
Total before tax
(22,844
)
(6,059
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
5,050
Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities, net of tax
(17,794
)
(5,437
)
Foreign currency items
Other net realized investment (gains) losses
-
-
Income tax expense
-
-
Foreign currency items, net of tax
-
-
Total reclassifications
Total reclassifications, net of tax
$
(17,794
)
$
(5,437
)
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
The components of net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities:
Gross realized gains
$
28,381
$
9,675
$
Gross realized losses
(5,537
)
(3,616
)
(3,277
)
Net realized gains (losses)
22,844
6,059
(2,923
)
Equity Securities:
Gross realized gains
16,997
40,730
6,491
Gross realized losses
(32,247
)
(6,737
)
(22,592
)
Net realized gains (losses)
(15,250
)
33,993
(16,101
)
Derivatives:
Gross realized gains
19,460
3,518
3,906
Gross realized losses
(41,716
)
(8,228
)
(1,789
)
Net realized gains (losses) (1)
(22,256
)
(4,710
)
2,117
Total net realized investment gains (losses)
$
(14,662
)
$
35,342
$
(16,907
)
(1)
Includes periodic net interest settlements related to the derivatives of $4.5 million, $1.2 million, and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The following table shows the calculation of the portion of realized gains and losses related to equity securities held as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Net gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities
$
(15,250
)
$
33,993
$
(16,101
)
Less: net gains (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period
(103
)
10,846
5,921
Unrealized gains and (losses) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date
$
(15,147
)
$
23,147
$
(22,022
)
The proceeds from sales and redemptions of available for sale and equity securities resulting in net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities
$
791,554
$
977,321
$
293,348
Equity securities
604,772
260,891
35,639
Net Investment Income
The sources of net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities
$
31,987
$
36,673
$
37,085
Equity securities
4,944
7,006
4,037
Cash and cash equivalents
1,510
1,177
Other invested assets
(6,228
)
6,879
Total investment income
31,487
45,267
49,178
Investment expense
(3,095
)
(3,215
)
(2,836
)
Net investment income
$
28,392
$
42,052
$
46,342
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not own any fixed maturity securities that were non-income producing for the preceding twelve months.
The Company’s total investment return on a pre-tax basis for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Net investment income
$
28,392
$
42,052
$
46,342
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(14,662
)
35,342
(16,907
)
Change in unrealized holding gains and losses
21,779
44,568
(22,853
)
Net realized and unrealized investment returns
7,117
79,910
(39,760
)
Total investment return
$
35,509
$
121,962
$
6,582
Total investment return %
2.3
%
7.8
%
0.4
%
Average investment portfolio
$
1,528,425
$
1,558,565
$
1,522,805
Insurance Enhanced Asset-Backed and. Credit Securities
As of December 31, 2020, the Company held insurance enhanced bonds with a market value of approximately $37.3 million, which represented 2.6% of the Company’s total cash and invested assets, net of payable/receivable for securities purchased and sold. The insurance enhanced bonds are comprised of $15.2 million of municipal bonds, $14.3 million of commercial mortgage-backed securities, and $7.8 million of collateralized mortgage obligations. The financial guarantors of the Company’s $37.3 million of insurance enhanced commercial-mortgage-backed, municipal securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations include Municipal Bond Insurance Association ($3.1 million), Assured Guaranty Corporation ($9.9 million), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ($22.1 million), and Ambac Financial Group ($2.2 million).
The Company had no direct investments in the entities that have provided financial guarantees or other credit support to any security held by the Company at December 31, 2020.
Bonds Held on Deposit
Certain cash balances, cash equivalents, equity securities, and bonds available for sale were deposited with various governmental authorities in accordance with statutory requirements, were held as collateral, or were held in trust pursuant to intercompany reinsurance agreements. The fair values were as follows as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Estimated Fair Value
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
On deposit with governmental authorities
$
26,966
$
26,431
Intercompany trusts held for the benefit of U.S. policyholders
-
179,116
Held in trust pursuant to third party requirements
100,234
133,122
Letter of credit held for third party requirements
3,970
1,458
Securities held as collateral
91,229
Total
$
131,664
$
431,356
Variable Interest Entities
A Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) refers to an investment in which an investor holds a controlling interest that is not based on the majority of voting rights. Under the VIE model, the party that has the power to exercise significant management influence and maintain a controlling financial interest in the entity’s economics is said to be the primary beneficiary, and is required to consolidate the entity within their results. Other entities that participate in a VIE, for which their financial interests fluctuate with changes in the fair value of the investment entity’s net assets but do not have significant management influence and the ability to direct the VIE’s significant economic activities are said to have a variable interest in the VIE but do not consolidate the VIE in their financial results.
The Company has variable interests in four VIE’s for which it is not the primary beneficiary. These investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as their ownership interest exceeds 3% of their respective investments.
The carrying value of one of the Company’s VIE’s, which invests in distressed securities and assets, was $10.8 million and $13.5 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $25.0 million and $27.7 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The carrying value of a second VIE that also invests in distressed securities and assets was $15.7 million and $24.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $32.7 million and $41.0 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The carrying value of a third VIE that invests in REIT qualifying assets was $10.5 million and $9.8 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $10.5 million and $10.3 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During the 4th quarter, the Company made a $60.0 million investment in a fourth VIE that invests in a broad portfolio of non-investment grade loans. As of December 31, 2020, the carry value and maximum exposure to loss from this VIE were $60.0 million. The Company’s investment in VIEs is included in other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in carrying value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
5.
Derivative Instruments
Derivatives are used by the Company to reduce risks from changes in interest rates and limit exposure to severe equity market changes. The Company has interest rate swaps with terms to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts as calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. In 2019, the Company began to utilize exchange-traded futures contracts, which give the holder the right and obligation to participate in market movements at a future date, to allow the Company to react faster to market conditions. The Company posts collateral and settles variation margin in cash on a daily basis equal to the amount of the futures contracts’ change in value scaled by a multiplier.
The Company accounts for the interest rate swaps and futures as non-hedge instruments and recognizes the fair value of the interest rate swaps in other assets or other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with the changes in fair value recognized as net realized investment gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company is ultimately responsible for the valuation of the interest rate swaps. To aid in determining the estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps, the Company relies on the forward interest rate curve and information obtained from a third party financial institution.
The following table summarizes information on the location and the gross amount of the derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under ASC 815
Balance Sheet
Location
Notional
Amount
Fair Value
Notional
Amount
Fair Value
Interest rate swap agreements
Other assets/liabilities
$
213,022
$
(16,430
)
$
200,000
$
(10,275
)
Futures contracts on bonds (1)
Other assets/liabilities
28,996
-
16,894
-
Futures contracts on equities (1)
Other assets/liabilities
-
-
57,816
-
Total (2)
$
242,018
$
(16,430
)
$
274,710
$
(10,275
)
(1)
Futures are settled daily such that their fair value is not reflected in the consolidated statements of financial position
(2)
The derivatives are held by GBLI Holdings, LLC and are guaranteed by Global Indemnity Group, LLC
The following table summarizes the net gains (losses) included in the consolidated statements of operations for changes in the fair value of the derivatives and the periodic net interest settlements under the derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Consolidated Statements of
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Operations Line
Interest rate swap agreements
Net realized investment gains (losses)
$
(10,691
)
$
(7,449
)
$
2,117
Futures contracts on bonds
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(2,576
)
-
Futures contracts on equities
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(8,989
)
1,866
-
$
(22,256
)
$
(4,710
)
$
2,117
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company is due $2.8 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for funds it needed to post to execute the swap transaction and $17.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively, for margin calls made in connection with the interest rate swaps. These amounts are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company posted initial margin of $0.5 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in securities for trading futures contracts and has a mark-to-market receivable of less than $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in connection with the futures contracts. Variation margin is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
6.
Fair Value Measurements
The accounting standards related to fair value measurements define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value, outline a fair value hierarchy based on inputs used to measure fair value, and enhance disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. These standards do not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. The Company has determined that its fair value measurements are in accordance with the requirements of these accounting standards.
The Company’s invested assets and derivative instruments are carried at their fair value and are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy:
•
Level 1 - inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
•
Level 2 - inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for similar assets, either directly or indirectly.
•
Level 3 - inputs are unobservable for the asset, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset.
The following table presents information about the Company’s invested assets and derivative instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value.
As of December 31, 2020
Fair Value Measurements
(Dollars in thousands)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
$
197,480
$
-
$
-
$
197,480
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
-
61,243
-
61,243
Mortgage-backed securities
-
358,778
-
358,778
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
-
110,959
-
110,959
Asset-backed securities
-
117,593
-
117,593
Corporate bonds
-
240,717
-
240,717
Foreign corporate bonds
-
104,416
-
104,416
Total fixed maturities
197,480
993,706
-
1,191,186
Equity securities
87,307
11,683
-
98,990
Total assets measured at fair value
$
284,787
$
1,005,389
$
-
$
1,290,176
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments
$
-
$
16,430
$
-
$
16,430
Total liabilities measured at fair value
$
-
$
16,430
$
-
$
16,430
As of December 31, 2019
Fair Value Measurements
(Dollars in thousands)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
$
156,689
$
-
$
-
$
156,689
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
-
63,838
-
63,838
Mortgage-backed securities
-
328,374
-
328,374
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
-
188,104
-
188,104
Asset-backed securities
-
168,537
-
168,537
Corporate bonds
-
248,259
-
248,259
Foreign corporate bonds
-
99,358
-
99,358
Total fixed maturities
156,689
1,096,470
-
1,253,159
Equity securities
251,448
11,656
-
263,104
Total assets measured at fair value
$
408,137
$
1,108,126
$
-
$
1,516,263
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments
$
-
$
10,275
$
-
$
10,275
Total liabilities measured at fair value
$
-
$
10,275
$
-
$
10,275
The securities classified as Level 1 in the above table consist of U.S. Treasuries and equity securities actively traded on an exchange.
The securities classified as Level 2 in the above table consist primarily of fixed maturity securities and derivative instruments. Based on the typical trading volumes and the lack of quoted market prices for fixed maturities, security prices are derived through recent reported trades for identical or similar securities making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available market observable information. If there are no recent reported trades, matrix or model processes are used to develop a security price where future cash flow expectations are developed based upon collateral performance and discounted at an estimated market rate. Included in the pricing of asset-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and mortgage-backed securities are estimates of the rate of future prepayments of principal over the remaining life of the securities. Such estimates are derived based on the characteristics of the underlying structure and prepayment speeds previously experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the underlying collateral. The estimated fair value of the derivative instruments, consisting of interest rate swaps, is obtained from a third party financial institution that utilizes observable inputs such as the forward interest rate curve.
For the Company’s material debt arrangements, the current fair value of the Company’s debt at December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Carrying Value
Fair Value
Carrying Value
Fair Value
Margin Borrowing Facility (1)
$
-
$
-
$
73,629
$
73,629
7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045 (2)
-
-
96,864
100,264
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (3)
126,288
132,008
126,147
134,462
Total
$
126,288
$
132,008
$
296,640
$
308,355
(1)
The Margin Borrowing Facility was fully paid down in August 2020.
(2)
As of December 31, 2019, the carrying value and fair value of the 7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045 are net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $3.1 million. In August 2020, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding 7.75% subordinated notes due 2045 and unamortized debt issuance cost of $3.1 million was written off and included in the consolidated statements of operations as loss on the extinguishment of debt.
(3)
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying value and fair value of the 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 are net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $3.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
The fair value of the margin borrowing facility approximates its carrying value due to the facility being due on demand. The subordinated notes due 2045 and 2047 are publicly traded instruments and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.
Fair Value of Alternative Investments
Other invested assets consist of limited liability companies and limited partnerships whose carrying value approximates fair value.
The following table provides the fair value and future funding commitments related to these investments at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
Future Funding
Commitment
Fair Value
Future Funding
Commitment
European Non-Performing Loan Fund, LP (1)
$
10,808
$
14,214
$
13,530
$
14,214
Distressed Debt Fund, LP (2)
15,721
17,000
23,966
17,000
Mortgage Debt Fund, LP (3)
10,489
-
9,783
Credit Fund, LLC (4)
60,000
-
-
-
Total
$
97,018
$
31,214
$
47,279
$
31,720
(1)
This limited partnership invests in distressed securities and assets through senior and subordinated, secured and unsecured debt and equity, in both public and private large-cap and middle-market companies. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.
(2)
This limited partnership invests in stressed and distressed securities and structured products. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.
(3)
This limited partnership invests in REIT qualifying assets such as mortgage loans, investor property loans, and commercial mortgage loans. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.
(4)
This limited liability company invests in a broad portfolio of non-investment grade loans, secured and unsecured corporate debt, credit default swaps, reverse repurchase agreements and synthetic indices. The Company does have the ability to sell its interest by providing notice to the fund.
Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships with ownership interest exceeding 3%
The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in limited liability companies and limited partnerships where its ownership interest exceeds 3%. The equity method of accounting for an investment in a limited liability companies and limited partnership requires that its cost basis be updated to account for the income or loss earned on the investment. The investment income
associated with these limited liability companies and limited partnerships, which is booked on a one quarter lag, is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $(6.2) million, less than $0.1 million, and $6.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Pricing
The Company’s pricing vendors provide prices for all investment categories except for investments in limited liability companies and limited partnerships. Two primary vendors are utilized to provide prices for equity and fixed maturity securities.
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company’s pricing vendors for investment securities carried at fair value:
•
Equity security prices are received from primary and secondary exchanges.
•
Corporate and agency bonds are evaluated by utilizing a spread to a benchmark curve. Bonds with similar characteristics are grouped into specific sectors. Inputs for both asset classes consist of trade prices, broker quotes, the new issue market, and prices on comparable securities.
•
Data from commercial vendors is aggregated with market information, then converted into an option adjusted spread (“OAS”) matrix and prepayment model used for collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMO”). CMOs are categorized with mortgage-backed securities in the tables listed above. For asset-backed securities, spread data is derived from trade prices, dealer quotations, and research reports. For both asset classes, evaluations utilize standard inputs plus new issue data, and collateral performance. The evaluated pricing models incorporate cash flows, broker quotes, market trades, historical prepayment speeds, and dealer projected speeds.
•
For obligations of state and political subdivisions, an attribute-based modeling system is used. The pricing model incorporates trades, market clearing yields, market color, and fundamental credit research.
•
U.S. treasuries are evaluated by obtaining feeds from a number of live data sources including primary and secondary dealers as well as inter-dealer brokers.
•
For mortgage-backed securities, various external analytical products are utilized and purchased from commercial vendors.
The Company performs certain procedures to validate whether the pricing information received from the pricing vendors is reasonable, to ensure that the fair value determination is consistent with accounting guidance, and to ensure that its assets are properly classified in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s procedures include, but are not limited to:
•
Reviewing periodic reports provided by the Investment Manager that provides information regarding rating changes and securities placed on watch. This procedure allows the Company to understand why a particular security’s market value may have changed or may potentially change.
•
Understanding and periodically evaluating the various pricing methods and procedures used by the Company’s pricing vendors to ensure that investments are properly classified within the fair value hierarchy.
•
On a quarterly basis, the Company corroborates investment security prices received from its pricing vendors by obtaining pricing from a second pricing vendor for a sample of securities.
During 2020 and 2019, the Company has not adjusted quotes or prices obtained from the pricing vendors.
7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
As a result of acquisitions in 2015 and 2010, the Company has goodwill, within the Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable segments, of $6.5 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the Company’s best estimate of the fair value of the assets acquired. Impairment testing performed in 2020 and 2019 did not result in impairment of the goodwill acquired.
Intangible assets
The following table presents details of the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2020:
(Dollars in thousands)
Description
Weighted Average Amortization Period
Cost
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Value
Trademarks
Indefinite
$
4,800
$
-
$
4,800
Tradenames
Indefinite
4,200
-
4,200
State insurance licenses
Indefinite
10,000
-
10,000
Customer relationships
15 years
5,300
3,784
1,516
Agent relationships
10 years
Tradenames
7 years
$
25,800
$
4,838
$
20,962
The following table presents details of the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2019:
(Dollars in thousands)
Description
Weighted Average Amortization Period
Cost
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Value
Trademarks
Indefinite
$
4,800
$
-
$
4,800
Tradenames
Indefinite
4,200
-
4,200
State insurance licenses
Indefinite
10,000
-
10,000
Customer relationships
15 years
5,300
3,430
1,870
Agent relationships
10 years
Tradenames
7 years
$
25,800
$
4,309
$
21,491
Amortization related to the Company’s definite lived intangible assets was $0.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. The weighted average amortization period for total definite lived intangible assets was 13.6 years.
The Company expects that amortization expense for the next five years will be as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
$
Intangible assets with indefinite lives
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, indefinite lived intangible assets, which are comprised of tradenames, trademarks, and state insurance licenses, were $19.0 million. Impairment testing performed in 2020 and 2019 indicated that there was no impairment of these assets.
Intangible assets with definite lives
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, definite lived intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, were $2.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively, and were comprised of customer relationships, agent relationships, and tradenames. There was no impairment of these assets in 2020 or 2019.
8.
Allowance for Expected Credit Losses - Premiums Receivable and Reinsurance Receivables
The Company implemented new accounting guidance on January 1, 2020 related to the measurement of expected credit losses on financial instruments. Please see Note 23 for further discussion on this new accounting guidance.
For premiums receivables, the allowance is based upon the Company’s ongoing review of key aspects of amounts outstanding, including but not limited to, length of collection periods, direct placement with collection agencies, solvency of insured or agent, terminated agents, and other relevant factors.
For reinsurance receivables, the allowance is based upon the Company’s ongoing review of key aspects of amounts outstanding, including but not limited to, length of collection periods, disputes, applicable coverage defenses, insolvent reinsurers, financial strength of solvent reinsurers based on AM Best Ratings and other relevant factors.
The following table is an analysis of the allowance for expected credit losses related to the Company's premiums receivable and reinsurance receivables for the year ended December 31, 2020:
December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)
Premiums
Receivable
Reinsurance Receivables
Beginning balance
$
2,754
$
8,992
Current period provision for expected credit losses
1,050
-
Write-offs
(904
)
-
Ending balance
$
2,900
$
8,992
9.
Reinsurance
The Company cedes risk to unrelated reinsurers on a pro rata (“quota share”) and excess of loss basis in the ordinary course of business to limit its net loss exposure on insurance contracts. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the Company of primary liability. Moreover, reinsurers may fail to pay the Company due to a lack of reinsurer liquidity, perceived improper underwriting, and losses for risks that are excluded from reinsurance coverage and other similar factors, all of which could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.
The Company had the following reinsurance balances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
Reinsurance receivables, net
$
88,708
$
83,938
Collateral securing reinsurance receivables
(4,984
)
(3,802
)
Reinsurance receivables, net of collateral
$
83,724
$
80,136
Allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables
$
8,992
$
8,992
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
12,881
16,716
The reinsurance receivables above are net of a purchase accounting adjustment related to discounting acquired loss reserves to their present value and applying a risk margin to the discounted reserves. This adjustment was $0.4 million at December 31, 2019. There was no adjustment at December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had one aggregate unsecured reinsurance receivables that exceeded 3% of shareholders’ equity from the following reinsurer. Unsecured reinsurance receivables include amounts receivable for paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, less amounts secured by collateral.
(Dollars in thousands)
Reinsurance Receivables
AM Best Ratings
(As of December 31, 2020)
Munich Re America Corporation
$
44,785
A+
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned is as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
Written
Earned
For the year ended December 31, 2020:
Direct business
$
554,617
$
560,658
Reinsurance assumed
51,986
69,312
Reinsurance ceded (1)
(58,436
)
(62,271
)
Net premiums
$
548,167
$
567,699
For the year ended December 31, 2019:
Direct business
$
548,618
$
527,018
Reinsurance assumed
88,243
76,893
Reinsurance ceded (1)
(74,772
)
(78,649
)
Net premiums
$
562,089
$
525,262
For the year ended December 31, 2018:
Direct business
$
495,129
$
483,229
Reinsurance assumed
52,768
68,156
Reinsurance ceded (1)
(75,350
)
(83,610
)
Net premiums
$
472,547
$
467,775
(1)
Includes ceded written premiums of less than $0.1 million, ($0.3) million, and ($2.1) million and ceded earned premiums of $1.6 million, $2.3 million and $7.3 million to American Bankers Insurance Company for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
10.
Income Taxes
Effective August 28, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC became a publicly traded partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Global Indemnity Group, LLC meets the qualifying income exception to maintain partnership status. As a publicly traded partnership, Global Indemnity Group, LLC is generally not subject to federal income tax and most state income taxes. However, income earned by the subsidiaries of Global Indemnity Group, LLC is subject to corporate tax in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions.
As of December 31, 2020, the statutory income tax rates of the countries where the Company conducts or conducted business are 21% in the United States, 0% in Bermuda, 0% in the Cayman Islands, 19% in the United Kingdom and 25% on non-trading income, 33% on capital gains and 12.5% on trading income in the Republic of Ireland. The statutory income tax rate of each country is applied against the expected annual taxable income of the Company in each country to estimate the annual income tax expense.
The Company’s income (loss) before income taxes from its non-U.S. subsidiaries and U.S. subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)
Non-U.S.
Subsidiaries
U.S.
Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
46,654
$
559,949
$
-
$
606,603
Net written premiums
$
46,654
$
501,513
$
-
$
548,167
Net earned premiums
$
53,384
$
514,315
$
-
$
567,699
Net investment income
17,186
20,348
(9,142
)
28,392
Net realized investment losses
(3,867
)
(10,795
)
-
(14,662
)
Other income
1,970
-
2,118
Total revenues
66,851
525,838
(9,142
)
583,547
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
12,874
323,327
-
336,201
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
17,827
197,780
-
215,607
Corporate and other operating expenses
23,357
18,641
-
41,998
Interest expense
24,065
(9,142
)
15,792
Loss on extinguishment of debt
3,060
-
-
3,060
Income (loss) before income taxes
$
8,864
$
(37,975
)
$
-
$
(29,111
)
Year Ended December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Non-U.S.
Subsidiaries
U.S.
Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
88,282
$
548,579
$
-
$
636,861
Net written premiums
$
88,285
$
473,804
$
-
$
562,089
Net earned premiums
$
75,961
$
449,301
$
-
$
525,262
Net investment income
29,307
26,816
(14,071
)
42,052
Net realized investment gains
3,121
32,221
-
35,342
Other income (loss)
(165
)
1,981
-
1,816
Total revenues
108,224
510,319
(14,071
)
604,472
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
36,502
238,900
-
275,402
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
23,610
184,793
-
208,403
Corporate and other operating expenses
7,462
11,426
-
18,888
Interest expense
1,409
32,684
(14,071
)
20,022
Income before income taxes
$
39,241
$
42,516
$
-
$
81,757
Year Ended December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
Non-U.S.
Subsidiaries
U.S.
Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
48,050
$
499,847
$
-
$
547,897
Net written premiums
$
48,041
$
424,506
$
-
$
472,547
Net earned premiums
$
135,826
$
331,949
$
-
$
467,775
Net investment income
49,699
27,294
(30,651
)
46,342
Net realized investment losses
(669
)
(16,238
)
-
(16,907
)
Other income (losses)
(210
)
1,938
-
1,728
Total revenues
184,646
344,943
(30,651
)
498,938
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
91,178
243,447
-
334,625
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
57,487
133,291
-
190,778
Corporate and other operating expenses
12,234
17,532
-
29,766
Interest expense
7,108
43,237
(30,651
)
19,694
Income (loss) before income taxes
$
16,639
$
(92,564
)
$
-
$
(75,925
)
The following table summarizes the components of income tax expense (benefit):
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Foreign
$
-
$
(41
)
$
U.S. Federal
-
-
Total current income tax expense (benefit)
(41
)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. Federal
(8,268
)
11,783
(19,554
)
Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)
(8,268
)
11,783
(19,554
)
Total income tax expense (benefit)
$
(8,105
)
$
11,742
$
(19,229
)
The weighted average expected tax provision has been calculated using income (loss) before income taxes in each jurisdiction multiplied by that jurisdiction’s applicable statutory tax rate.
The following table summarizes the differences between the tax provision for financial statement purposes and the expected tax provision at the weighted average tax rate:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Amount
% of Pre-
Tax Income
Amount
% of Pre-
Tax Income
Amount
% of Pre-
Tax Income
Expected tax provision at weighted average
$
(7,975
)
27.4
%
$
8,928
10.9
%
$
(19,112
)
25.2
%
Adjustments:
Tax exempt interest
(2
)
-
(3
)
-
(6
)
-
Dividend exclusion
(202
)
0.7
(284
)
(0.3
)
(279
)
0.4
Non-deductible interest
1,773
(6.1
)
2,714
3.3
(0.5
)
Change in tax status
(1,704
)
5.8
-
-
-
-
Parent income treated as partnership for tax
(533
)
1.8
-
-
-
-
Other
(1.8
)
0.5
(188
)
0.2
Effective income tax expense (benefit)
$
(8,105
)
27.8
%
$
11,742
14.4
%
$
(19,229
)
25.3
%
The effective income tax benefit rate for 2020 was 27.8%, compared with an effective income tax expense rate of 14.4% and an effective income tax benefit rate of 25.3% for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in the effective income tax benefit for 2020 is primarily due to a pre-tax loss of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries in 2020 as compared to pre-tax income in 2019. In addition, the income tax benefit for 2020 was also impacted by a change in tax status which is the income tax benefit recognized on net insurance liabilities that were redomiciled from Bermuda at a 0% tax rate to the United States at a 21% tax rate. The increase in the effective income tax expense rate in 2019 compared to 2018 is due to higher pretax income in the U.S. in 2019.
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented below:
(Dollars in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Discounted unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
$
7,490
$
3,681
Unearned premiums
11,703
10,234
Section 163(j) carryforward
5,580
9,023
Net operating loss carryforward
26,220
21,871
Partnership K1 basis differences
1,703
Loss on derivative instruments
3,450
2,158
Investment impairments
Stock options
1,546
1,352
Stat-to-GAAP reinsurance reserve
1,517
Depreciation and amortization
-
Other
1,860
1,840
Total deferred tax assets
61,172
52,737
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets
4,505
3,112
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale and investments in limited partnerships included in accumulated other comprehensive income
7,996
2,950
Unrealized gain on equity securities
3,438
Deferred acquisition costs
13,691
11,608
Depreciation and amortization
-
Other
Total deferred tax liabilities
26,907
21,660
Total net deferred tax assets
$
34,265
$
31,077
The deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities listed in the table above relate to temporary differences between the Company’s accounting and tax carrying values and carryforwards for its companies in the United States. Management believes it is more likely than not that the remaining deferred tax assets will be completely utilized in future years. As a result, the Company has not recorded a valuation allowance at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
The Company has a net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward of $26.2 million as of December 31, 2020, which begins to expire in 2036 based on when the original NOL was generated. The Company’s NOL carryforward as of December 31, 2019 was $21.9 million.
The Company has a Section 163(j) (“163(j)”) carryforward of $5.6 million and $9.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which can be carried forward indefinitely. The 163(j) carryforward relates to the limitation on the deduction for business interest expense paid or accrued.
The Company had an alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward of $11.0 million as of December 31, 2019. Under the provisions of the CARES Act, the Company filed a request for a full refund in 2020. The Company received $11.0 million of the AMT credit carryforward during the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Company and some of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various U.S. states and certain foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years before 2017.
The Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties whereby it only recognizes those tax benefits that have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by relevant taxing authorities. All tax benefits recognized by the Company in 2020, 2019, and 2018 have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by relevant taxing authorities.
The Company classifies all interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense. The Company did not incur any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. As of December 31, 2020, the Company did not record any liabilities for tax-related interest and penalties on its consolidated balance sheets.
11.
Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Consolidated Activity
Activity in the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is summarized as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period
$
630,181
$
680,031
$
634,664
Less: Ceded reinsurance receivables
76,273
109,342
97,243
Net balance at beginning of period
553,908
570,689
537,421
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses related to:
Current year
367,739
308,211
363,423
Prior years
(31,538
)
(32,809
)
(28,798
)
Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses
336,201
275,402
334,625
Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to:
Current year
183,109
146,128
173,545
Prior years
126,347
146,055
127,812
Total paid losses and loss adjustment expenses
309,456
292,183
301,357
Net balance at end of period
580,653
553,908
570,689
Plus: Ceded reinsurance receivables
82,158
76,273
109,342
Balance at end of period
$
662,811
$
630,181
$
680,031
When analyzing loss reserves and prior year development, the Company considers many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
During 2020, the Company reduced its prior accident year loss reserves by $31.5 million, which consisted of a $17.6 million decrease related to Commercial Specialty, a $6.6 million decrease related to Specialty Property, a $2.3 million decrease related to Farm, Ranch & Stable, and a $5.0 million decrease related to Reinsurance Operations.
The $17.6 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Commercial Specialty primarily consisted of the following:
•
General Liability: A $20.4 million reduction in aggregate with $6.6 million of favorable development in the construction defect reserve category and $13.8 million of favorable development in the other general liability reserve categories. The reduction in the construction defect reserve category primarily recognizes lower than expected claims frequency and severity in the 2005 through 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2017 accident years, slightly offset by an increase in the 2016 accident year. For the other general liability reserve categories, lower than anticipated claims severity was the main driver of the favorable development primarily in the 2005 through 2015 accident years, partially offset by increases in the 2016 through 2019 accident years.
•
Professional Liability: A $1.8 million decrease mainly in the 2007 through 2010 and 2019 accident years recognizes lower than expected claims severity, partially offset by an increase in the 2006 accident year.
•
Commercial Auto Liability: A $1.0 million reduction primarily in the 2010 and 2012 through 2016 accident years recognizes lower than anticipated claims severity.
•
Property: A $5.8 million increase primarily recognizes higher than expected claims severity mainly in the 2013 and 2015 through 2018 accident years, partially offset by a decrease in the 2014 accident year. The bulk of the increase was in the 2018 accident year which reflects a higher estimated ultimate for Hurricane Michael. The increase in ultimate resulted from receiving additional information during the year for a Property Brokerage claim.
•
Workers Compensation: A $0.2 million decrease primarily in loss adjustment expense reserves in the 2012 accident year and accident years prior to 2005.
The $6.6 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Specialty Property primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $4.5 million decrease reflects a decrease in the 2017 accident year catastrophe reserve categories for subrogation recoveries from the California wildfires and mainly recognizes lower than anticipated claims severity in the 2015 through 2018 accident years, partially offset by an increase in the 2019 accident year due to higher than expected claims severity.
•
General Liability: A $2.1 million decrease primarily recognizes lower than expected claims severity mainly in the 2015 through 2019 accident years.
The $2.3 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Farm, Ranch & Stable primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $2.0 million decrease mainly reflects lower than anticipated claims severity in the 2016 through 2018 accident years and a reduction in the catastrophe reserve category in the 2017 accident year for subrogation recoveries from the California wildfires, partially offset by an increase in the 2019 accident year.
•
Liability: A $0.3 million decrease primarily recognizes lower than expected claims severity mainly in the 2009 and 2015 through 2019 accident years, mostly offset by increases in the 2007 and 2013 accident years due to higher than anticipated claims severity.
The $5.0 million decrease in prior accident year loss reserves related to Reinsurance Operations were primarily based on a review of the experience reported from cedants. There was a $2.9 million decrease in the property lines in the 2009 through 2018 accident years, partially offset by an increase in the 2019 accident year. In addition, there was a reduction of $1.7 million in the professional lines in the 2014 and 2015 accident years and a reduction of $0.4 million in the liability & workers compensation lines in the 2009 through 2012 accident years.
During 2019, the Company reduced its prior accident year loss reserves by $32.8 million, which consisted of a $18.4 million decrease related to Commercial Specialty, $10.8 million decrease related to Specialty Property, $5.5 million decrease related to Farm, Ranch & Stable, and a $1.9 million increase related to Reinsurance Operations.
The $18.4 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Commercial Specialty primarily consisted of the following:
•
General Liability: A $14.5 million reduction in aggregate with $3.5 million of favorable development in the construction defect reserve category and $11.0 million of favorable development in the other general liability reserve categories. The favorable development in the construction defect reserve category recognizes better than expected claims frequency and severity in the 2004 through 2009, 2011 through 2015, 2017 and 2018 accident years, partially offset by increases in the 2010 and 2016 accident years which reflects higher than anticipated claims severity. The decreases in the other general liability reserve categories primarily recognizes lower than anticipated claims severity in the 1999 through 2014, 2016 and 2017 accident years, partially offset by an increase in the 2015 accident year which was impacted by higher than expected claims severity.
•
Commercial Auto Liability: A $2.0 million decrease primarily driven by better than expected claims severity in the 2000 through 2002, 2010 through 2013, 2015 and 2016 accident years.
•
Professional Liability: A $1.9 million reduction primarily in the 2007 through 2011 accident years recognizes better than expected claims severity.
•
Property: A $0.9 million decrease in aggregate mainly due to lower than anticipated claims severity in the 2012 through 2016 accident years, partially offset by increases in the 2010, 2017 and 2018 accident years which were impacted by higher than expected claims severity.
•
Reinsurance: A $1.0 million increase was recognized based on a review of expected ceded recoverables by reinsurer. The increase was primarily in the general liability reserve categories and older accident years.
The $10.8 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Specialty Property primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $10.2 million decrease in aggregate primarily recognizes a reduction in the catastrophe reserve category for subrogation recoveries from the California Camp wildfire loss in the 2018 accident year. There also was favorable development in accident years 2015 through 2017 reflecting better than expected claims severity.
•
General Liability: A $0.6 million decrease primarily recognizes lower than expected claims severity in the 2014 through 2016 and 2018 accident years, partially offset by increases in the 2010 and 2017 accident years, recognizing higher than expected claims severity.
The $5.5 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Farm, Ranch & Stable primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $3.9 million decrease in aggregate in the 2015 through 2018 accident years primarily reflects lower than expected claims severity. Also, there were ceded recoveries from a second accident quarter catastrophe in the 2018 accident year leading to favorable development in that year.
•
Liability: A $1.6 million decrease primarily in the 2015 through 2017 accident years recognizes lower than anticipated claims severity, partially offset by increases in the 2013, 2014, and 2018 accident years which reflects higher than expected claims severity.
The $1.9 million increase in prior accident year loss reserves related to Reinsurance Operations primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $5.0 million increase primarily in the 2016 through 2018 accident years partially offset by favorable development in the 2011 through 2015 accident years based on a review of the experience reported from the cedants. The 2018 accident year was adversely impacted by $9.0 million of development from Typhoon Jebi.
•
Professional Liability: A $3.1 million decrease was recognized in the 2008, 2010 and 2013 through 2015 accident years, partially offset by an increase in the 2007 accident year based on a review of the experience reported from the cedants.
During 2018, the Company reduced its prior accident year loss reserves by $28.8 million, which consisted of a $7.3 million decrease related to Commercial Specialty, $7.9 million decrease related to Specialty Property, $4.7 million decrease related to Farm, Ranch & Stable, and a $8.9 million decrease related to Reinsurance Operations.
The $7.3 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Commercial Specialty primarily consisted of the following:
•
General Liability: A $1.3 million reduction in reserve categories excluding construction defect. Lower than expected claims severity was the primary driver of the favorable development, mainly in the 2002 through 2004, 2006 through 2010, and 2012 through 2014 accident years which was partially offset by increases in the 2011 and 2015 through 2017 accident years.
•
Commercial Auto Liability: A $3.2 million decrease in the aggregate primarily due to a reduction in the 2010, 2012 and 2013 accident years resulting from lower than anticipated claims severity partially offset by an increase in the 2015 and 2017 accident years.
•
Professional Liability: A $0.9 million decrease reflects lower than expected claims severity mainly in the 2008, 2011, and 2014 accident years.
•
Property: A $1.9 million decrease in the aggregate recognizes lower than anticipated claims severity primarily in the 2007, 2014, 2015, and 2017 accident years partially offset by an increase in the 2016 accident year.
The $7.9 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Specialty Property primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $5.7 million reduction in the property reserve categories. The decrease reflects lower than anticipated claims severity primarily in the 2014 through 2017 accident years.
•
General Liability: A $2.2 million decrease primarily in the 2011 through 2014 and 2016 through 2017 accident years, which recognizes lower than expected claims severity, partially offset by an increase in the 2015 accident year which reflects higher than expected claims severity.
The $4.7 reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Farm, Ranch & Stable primarily consisted of the following:
•
Property: A $1.3 million reduction primarily in the 2014 through 2017 accident years mainly reflects lower than expected claims severity.
•
Liability: A $3.4 million decrease reflects lower than expected claims severity primarily in the 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 accident years, partially offset by increases in the 2007 and 2013 accident years recognizing higher than anticipated claims severity.
The $8.9 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves related to Reinsurance Operations was from the property lines for accident years 2007, 2009 through 2012, 2015, and 2016 partially offset by increases in the 2013, 2014, and 2017 accident years. The accident year changes were based on a review of the experience reported from cedants.
Prior to 2001, the Company underwrote multi-peril business insuring general contractors, developers, and sub-contractors primarily involved in residential construction that has resulted in significant exposure to construction defect (“CD”) claims. The Company’s reserves for CD claims are established based upon management’s best estimate in consideration of known facts, existing case law and generally accepted actuarial methodologies. However, due to the inherent uncertainty concerning this type of business, the ultimate exposure for these claims may vary significantly from the amounts currently recorded. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, gross reserves for CD claims were $31.4 million and $36.9 million, respectively, and net reserves for CD claims were $29.8 million and $35.4 million, respectively.
The Company has exposure to asbestos and environmental (“A&E”) claims. The asbestos exposure primarily arises from the sale of product liability insurance, and the environmental exposure arises from the sale of general liability and commercial multi-peril insurance. In establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to A&E exposures, management considers facts currently known and the current state of the law and coverage litigation. Liabilities are recognized for known claims (including the cost of related litigation) when sufficient information has been developed to indicate the involvement of a specific insurance policy, and management can reasonably estimate its liability. In addition, liabilities have been established to cover additional exposures on both known and unasserted claims. Estimates of the liabilities are reviewed and updated regularly. Case law continues to evolve for such claims, and uncertainty exists about the outcome of coverage litigation and whether past claim experience will be representative of future claim experience. Included in net unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were IBNR reserves of $27.3 million, $27.1 million, and $27.4 million, respectively, and case reserves of approximately $1.4 million, $2.0 million, and $2.1 million, respectively, for known A&E-related claims.
The following table shows the Company’s gross reserves for A&E losses:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Gross reserve for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses - beginning of period
$
48,825
$
50,445
$
51,873
Plus: Change in incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses
(259
)
(2
)
(1
)
Less: Payments
1,618
1,427
Gross reserves for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses - end of period
$
47,593
$
48,825
$
50,445
The following table shows the Company’s net reserves for A&E losses:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Net reserve for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses - beginning of period
$
29,033
$
29,524
$
30,124
Plus: Change in incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses
(1
)
-
Less: Payments
Net reserves for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses - end of period
$
28,679
$
29,033
$
29,524
Establishing reserves for A&E and other mass tort claims involves more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, an increase in bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos-related liabilities, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage. The insurance industry continues to receive a substantial number of asbestos-related bodily injury claims, with an increasing focus being directed toward other parties, including installers of products containing asbestos rather than against asbestos manufacturers. This shift has resulted in significant insurance coverage litigation implicating applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including but not limited to, determinations as to whether or not an asbestos-related bodily injury claim is subject to aggregate limits of liability found in most comprehensive general liability policies.
As of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the survival ratio on a gross basis for the Company’s open A&E claims was 35.5 years, 32.1 years, and 24.2 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the survival ratio on a net basis for the Company’s open A&E claims was 59.5 years, 47.8 years, and 35.7 years, respectively. The survival ratio, which is the ratio of gross or net reserves to the 3-year average of annual paid claims, is a financial measure that indicates how long the current amount of gross or net reserves are expected to last based on the current rate of paid claims.
Line of Business Categories
The following is information, presented by lines of business with similar characteristics including similar payout patterns, about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2020, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities included within the net incurred claims amounts. The years included represent the number of years for which claims incurred typically remain outstanding but need not exceed 10 years including the most recent report period presented.
The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2010 to 2019, is presented as required supplementary unaudited information.
Commercial Specialty
Property and Casualty Methodologies
Commercial Specialty’s internal actuarial reserve reviews were completed for loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses (“ALAE”) separately for property excluding catastrophe experience, property catastrophes, and casualty reserve categories. The internal actuarial reserve reviews were completed with data through December, 2020. Actuarial methodologies, such as the Loss Development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods, were employed to develop estimates of ultimate Loss & ALAE for most reserve categories. Additional actuarial methodologies were employed to develop estimates of ultimate Loss & ALAE for mass tort and constructions defect reserve categories due to the unique characteristics of the exposures involved. Management’s ultimate selections considered the internal actuarial review and a third party actuarial review completed during the 4th quarter of 2020. Case incurred is subtracted from the management selected ultimates to obtain the booked IBNR reserves. These methodologies are consistent with last year.
Commercial Specialty’s cumulative claim frequency has been calculated at the claim level and includes claims closed without payment.
Commercial Specialty - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment Expenses,
Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative Number
of Reported Claims
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
60,555
$
62,219
$
66,925
$
5,114
2,698
54,853
54,974
2,543
2,903
84,693
14,729
3,812
Total
$
206,592
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Commercial Specialty - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment Expenses,
Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
36,161
$
54,400
$
56,350
34,921
48,737
51,119
Total
156,206
All outstanding liabilities before 2018, net of reinsurance
2,344
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
52,730
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age,
Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Commercial Specialty - Property
59.3
%
26.2
%
2.9
%
Commercial Specialty - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
115,441
$
117,602
$
117,288
$
115,193
$
108,720
$
96,361
$
84,269
$
87,045
$
83,825
$
82,777
$
3,163
3,895
61,340
65,911
65,637
63,359
55,137
52,504
50,022
47,966
45,404
3,567
2,406
63,807
68,089
67,702
66,301
64,877
61,487
58,756
56,696
2,248
2,555
61,325
60,227
58,042
56,837
56,129
53,955
50,311
4,619
2,354
57,262
56,620
57,775
58,392
59,568
55,821
5,233
2,112
54,130
53,776
53,584
51,893
52,564
6,607
1,948
54,338
54,572
53,385
54,227
8,316
1,854
57,879
57,457
57,766
18,596
2,223
68,952
68,938
33,346
2,340
83,372
64,738
1,778
Total
$
607,876
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Commercial Specialty - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
5,451
$
21,325
$
41,282
$
56,562
$
64,722
$
72,087
$
74,839
$
77,675
$
78,595
$
79,121
3,500
11,884
22,456
31,231
36,360
39,596
39,899
40,595
40,877
6,400
17,881
29,510
38,438
46,272
50,964
52,265
52,991
3,968
15,690
26,268
33,697
39,361
42,517
44,842
3,336
14,584
25,147
35,816
42,543
45,661
4,135
14,027
21,966
34,872
40,531
4,914
12,711
22,988
33,137
4,297
13,827
22,065
5,174
13,954
5,466
Total
378,645
All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance
58,261
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
287,492
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age,
Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Commercial Specialty - Casualty
7.8
%
18.2
%
19.5
%
18.7
%
11.5
%
7.2
%
2.7
%
2.1
%
0.9
%
0.6
%
Specialty Property
Property and Casualty Methodologies
Specialty Property’s internal actuarial reserve reviews were completed for loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses (ALAE) separately for property excluding catastrophe experience, property catastrophes, and casualty reserve categories. The internal actuarial reserve reviews were completed with data through December, 2020. Actuarial methodologies, such as the Loss Development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods, were employed to develop estimates of ultimate Loss & ALAE. Management’s ultimate selections considered the internal actuarial review and a third party actuarial review completed during the 4th quarter of 2020. Case incurred is subtracted from the management selected ultimates to obtain the booked IBNR reserves. These methodologies are consistent with last year.
Specialty Property is primarily comprised of business acquired in the purchase of American Reliable, which occurred on January 1, 2015. The acquisition included the purchase of the business of the legal entity as well as additional books of business written by other Assurant entities. In addition, ceding arrangements subsequent to the date of the acquisition are not consistent with years prior to the acquisition. As a result, it is not practical, nor would it be consistent, to include information for years prior to 2015 in the development tables for Specialty Property.
Specialty Property’s cumulative claim frequency has been calculated at the claim level and includes claims closed without payment.
Specialty Property - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claims
Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
$
79,798
$
80,721
$
2,722
10,379
94,686
5,532
11,049
Total
$
175,407
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Specialty Property - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated
Claims Adjustment Expenses, Net of
Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
$
66,786
$
76,942
84,514
Total
161,456
All outstanding liabilities before 2019, net of reinsurance
5,339
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
19,290
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020.
Average Annual Percentage Payout
of Incurred Claims by Age,
Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Specialty Property - Property
86.0
%
12.6
%
Specialty Property - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
6,875
$
8,455
$
11,230
$
11,656
$
11,412
$
11,208
$
8,249
8,068
7,613
6,713
6,495
1,249
7,213
6,966
7,515
7,366
5,242
5,028
4,875
2,467
3,986
3,948
2,170
3,503
2,386
Total
$
37,395
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Specialty Property - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment
Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
1,301
$
4,979
$
6,698
$
9,129
$
10,050
$
10,136
1,165
2,654
3,889
4,856
4,971
2,658
4,502
5,803
1,339
1,844
1,221
Total
24,527
All outstanding liabilities before 2015, net of reinsurance
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
13,529
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims
by Age, Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Specialty Property - Casualty
12.3
%
24.4
%
17.4
%
18.1
%
5.0
%
0.8
%
Farm, Ranch & Stable
Property and Casualty Methodologies
Farm, Ranch & Stable’s internal actuarial reserve reviews were completed for loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses (ALAE) separately for property excluding catastrophe experience, property catastrophes, and casualty reserve categories. The internal actuarial reserve reviews were completed with data through December, 2020. Actuarial methodologies, such as the Loss Development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods, were employed to develop estimates of ultimate Loss & ALAE. Management’s ultimate selections considered the internal actuarial review and a third party actuarial review completed during the 4th quarter of 2020. Case incurred is subtracted from the management selected ultimates to obtain the booked IBNR reserves. These methodologies are consistent with last year.
Farm, Ranch & Stable is primarily comprised of business acquired in the purchase of American Reliable, which occurred on January 1, 2015. The acquisition included the purchase of the business of the legal entity as well as additional books of business written by other Assurant entities. In addition, ceding arrangements subsequent to the date of the acquisition are not consistent with years prior to the acquisition. As a result, it is not practical, nor would it be consistent, to include information for years prior to 2015 in the development tables for Farm, Ranch & Stable.
Farm, Ranch & Stable’s cumulative claim frequency has been calculated at the claim level and includes claims closed without payment.
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated
Claims Adjustment Expenses,
Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
$
37,120
$
37,350
$
1,406
3,023
38,226
1,810
2,821
Total
$
75,576
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment
Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
$
31,461
$
35,338
32,721
Total
68,059
All outstanding liabilities before 2019, net of reinsurance
1,214
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
8,731
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020.
Average Annual Percentage Payout
of Incurred Claims by Age,
Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Property
84.9
%
10.4
%
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment
Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
12,055
$
12,052
$
10,621
$
10,664
$
10,383
$
10,145
$
1,059
13,226
13,005
11,977
10,507
10,420
1,495
12,786
12,171
10,600
10,167
3,493
9,934
10,559
10,695
1,998
9,781
9,746
4,616
9,963
7,689
Total
$
61,136
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims
Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
2,138
$
3,778
$
6,228
$
6,986
$
8,481
$
9,057
2,342
4,231
5,954
7,069
7,615
1,153
2,145
4,242
6,156
1,092
3,225
7,125
1,626
3,853
1,075
Total
34,881
All outstanding liabilities before 2015, net of reinsurance
1,130
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
27,385
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims
by Age, Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Casualty
15.4
%
17.4
%
24.4
%
12.3
%
10.0
%
5.7
%
Reinsurance Lines
Property & Casualty Methodologies
Reinsurance Operations’ internal reserve reviews were completed for loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses (ALAE) combined for run off treaties and the current book of business. The current book of business is constituted of professional liability portfolios and retrocessions from Bermuda based companies for property catastrophe, marine and casualty business. The reserve reviews were completed based on the latest data reported from the cedants which is typically on a quarter lag. Paid loss, ALAE and Case reserves, shown in the reinsurance category tables below, which are originally based in a foreign currency, are remeasured in U.S. dollars based on the Foreign Exchange (FX) rate at the end of the period. Management’s ultimate selections were based on a review of ultimates reported from the cedants, including loss emergence during the reporting period, and consideration of the internal actuarial review and a third party actuarial review completed during the 4th quarter of 2020. Case incurred is subtracted from the management selected ultimates to obtain the booked IBNR reserves. These methodologies are consistent with last year.
The Company does not have direct access to claim frequency information underlying certain reinsurance contracts. As a result, the Company does not believe providing claim frequency information is practicable.
Reinsurance Lines - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
21,787
$
18,861
$
14,139
$
13,590
$
14,301
$
13,554
$
13,170
$
-
19,877
16,738
12,526
9,945
9,050
8,434
-
23,646
22,485
12,497
13,021
11,902
1,176
-
43,782
50,032
51,711
47,197
5,042
-
59,022
66,314
65,190
11,107
-
32,442
36,896
9,576
-
13,751
9,209
-
Total
$
196,540
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Reinsurance Lines - Property
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
2,243
$
9,035
$
10,460
$
11,182
$
12,339
$
12,480
$
12,558
5,163
6,768
7,139
7,411
7,492
2,071
5,704
7,161
8,514
9,399
2,152
20,609
28,079
32,668
21,608
36,936
13,033
Total
112,647
All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
84,621
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age,
Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
Year
Reinsurance Lines - Property
7.5%
40.3%
16.3%
7.7%
6.5%
1.0%
0.6%
Reinsurance Lines - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
As of December 31, 2020
Accident
Year
IBNR (1)
Cumulative
Number of
Reported
Claims
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
45,726
$
48,846
$
44,692
$
47,980
$
46,510
$
43,657
$
42,968
$
42,235
$
41,826
$
41,885
$
-
15,865
15,624
17,123
17,579
17,360
17,348
16,982
16,449
16,301
-
1,224
1,262
1,172
1,013
-
1,988
2,095
2,060
1,957
1,957
-
-
2,908
2,911
2,780
2,780
2,180
1,091
1,090
-
3,627
3,627
3,627
3,627
3,627
3,627
-
4,358
4,358
4,358
4,358
4,356
-
5,573
5,573
5,573
5,573
-
13,686
13,686
10,936
-
30,398
30,252
-
Total
$
117,019
(1)
Incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims
Reinsurance Lines - Casualty
(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claims Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Accident
Year
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
$
7,968
$
20,072
$
28,495
$
36,020
$
38,907
$
39,815
$
40,079
$
40,303
$
40,476
$
40,693
5,312
9,435
11,658
15,534
15,696
15,790
15,625
15,691
15,749
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total
57,366
All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance
2,273
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
$
61,926
The following is required supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited) (1) (2)
Year
Reinsurance Lines - Casualty
408.4%
(204.0%)
23.8%
(305.2%)
(1.2%)
0.6%
1.5%
(0.1%)
0.4%
0.5%
(1)
May not be indicative of future average annual percentage payout of incurred claims due to a change in mix of business
(2)
The payout patterns are calculated using simple averages consistent with last year’s calculation methodology. However, these payout patterns based on simple averages look unusual given the change in estimate of ultimate losses for accident years 2013 through 2015 during the year and due to very minimal yet volatile payment activity for those accident years. Using a weighted average approach would produce smoother payout patterns as less weight is given to the accident years with minimal paid losses. The resulting volume weighted ten year annual payout pattern, for ages one through ten would be 11.7%, 19.5%, 14.4%, 16.9%, 4.8%, 1.7%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 0.4%, and 0.5%, respectively.
The reconciliation of the net incurred and paid claims development tables to the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 is as follows:
Net outstanding liabilities
Commercial Specialty - Property
$
52,730
Commercial Specialty - Casualty
287,492
Specialty Property - Property
19,290
Specialty Property - Casualty
13,529
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Property
8,731
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Casualty
27,385
Reinsurance Lines - Property
84,621
Reinsurance Lines - Casualty
61,926
Liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
555,704
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims
Commercial Specialty - Property
18,362
Commercial Specialty - Casualty
44,483
Specialty Property - Property
7,089
Specialty Property - Casualty
2,334
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Property
1,318
Farm, Ranch & Stable - Casualty
6,449
Reinsurance Lines - Property
-
Reinsurance Lines - Casualty
-
Total reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims
80,035
Other outstanding liabilities
Commercial Specialty
Ceded Allowance
8,992
Unallocated claims adjustment expenses
14,967
Purchase accounting adjustment
-
Loss Clearing
(2,034
)
Specialty Property
-
Fronted business ceded to Assurant
2,098
Unallocated claims adjustment expenses
Loss Clearing
-
Farm, Ranch & Stable
-
Ceded Allowance
-
Unallocated claims adjustment expenses
Loss Clearing
-
Reinsurance Lines
-
Unallocated claims adjustment expenses
Other
Total other outstanding liabilities
27,072
Total gross liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
$
662,811
Loss indemnification related to Purchase of American Reliable
On March 8, 2018, the Company settled its final reserve calculation which resulted in $41.5 million being due to Global Indemnity Group, LLC in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement between Global Indemnity Group, LLC and American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. for the purchase of American Reliable. The settlement is comprised of (i) receipt of $38.8 million for loss and loss adjustment expenses paid on or after January 1, 2015 or payable as of December 31, 2017 with respect to losses incurred prior to January 1, 2015, (ii) receipt of $6.2 million for accrued interest and (iii) payment of $3.5 million for the difference between the agreed upon purchase price and actual settlement on January 1, 2015. These amounts, which were included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017, were received on March 9, 2018.
12.
Debt
The Company’s outstanding debt consisted of the following at December 31, 2020 and 2019:
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Margin Borrowing Facility
$
-
$
73,629
7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045
-
96,864
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047
126,288
126,147
Total
$
126,288
$
296,640
Margin Borrowing Facility
The Company has available a margin borrowing facility. The borrowing rate for this facility is tied to the Fed Funds Effective rate and was approximately 0.8% and 1.9% at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This facility is due on demand. The borrowings are subject to maintenance margin, which is a minimum account balance that must be maintained. A decline in market conditions could require an additional deposit of collateral. The Company did not have any securities that were deposited as collateral at December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, approximately $88.2 million in securities were deposited as collateral to support borrowings. The amount borrowed against the margin account may fluctuate as routine investment transactions, such as dividends received, investment income received, maturities and pay-downs, impact cash balances. The margin facility contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, insolvency, failure to make required payments, failure to comply with any representations or warranties, failure to adequately assure future performance, and failure of a guarantor to perform under its guarantee. The amount outstanding on the Company’s margin borrowing facility was $73.6 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company did not have any amounts outstanding on the margin borrowing facility as of December 31, 2020.
The Company recorded interest expense related to the Margin Borrowing Facility of approximately $0.5 million, $1.8 million, and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045
In August 2020, GBLI Holdings and Global Indemnity Limited redeemed the entire outstanding $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045 (“2045 Notes”). In connection with the redemption, the Company wrote off deferred issuance costs of $3.1 million which was recognized as a loss on extinguishment of debt in its consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Interest expense, including amortization of deferred issuance costs through the date of redemption, recognized on the 2045 Notes was $4.9 million, $7.9 million, and $7.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047
On March 23, 2017, Global Indemnity Limited issued Subordinated Notes due in 2047 in the aggregate principal amount of $120.0 million through an underwritten public offering (the “2047 Notes”). Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, Global Indemnity Limited granted the underwriters a 30 day option to purchase up to an additional $18 million aggregate principal amount of the 2047 Notes solely to cover over-allotments, if any. On March 30, 2017, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in the amount of $10 million principal amount of the 2047 Notes. As a result, the aggregate principal amount of the 2047 Notes increased to $130.0 million. The sale of the 2047 Notes pursuant to the over-allotment option closed on March 30, 2017.
The 2047 Notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to 7.875%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2017. The 2047 Notes mature on April 15, 2047. The Company has the right to redeem the 2047 Notes in $25 increments, in whole or in part, on and after April 15, 2022, or on any interest payment date thereafter, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2047 Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption. If the Company redeems only a portion of the 2047 Notes on any date of redemption, the Company may subsequently redeem additional 2047 Notes.
The 2047 Notes are subordinated unsecured obligations and rank (i) senior to the Company’s existing and future capital stock, (ii) senior in right of payment to future junior subordinated debt, (iii) equally in right of payment with any existing unsecured, subordinated debt that the Company has issued or may issue in the future that ranks equally with the 2047 Notes, and (iv) subordinate in right of payment to any of the Company’s future senior debt. In addition, the 2047 Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries including the Company’s margin borrowing facility.
The 2047 Notes do not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity, and do not contain provisions that would afford holders of the 2047 Notes protection in the event of a sudden and dramatic decline in the Company’s credit quality resulting from any highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving the Company that may adversely affect holders. The 2047 Notes do not restrict the Company in any way, now or in the future, from incurring additional indebtedness, including senior indebtedness that would rank senior in right of payment to the 2047 Notes. There is no right of acceleration of maturity of the 2047 Notes in the case of default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the 2047 Notes or in the performance of any other obligation of the Company under the notes or if the Company defaults on any other debt securities. Holders may accelerate payment of indebtedness on the 2047 Notes only upon the Company’s bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
The Company incurred $4.2 million in deferred issuance costs associated with the 2047 Notes, which is being amortized over the term of the 2047 Notes. Interest expense, including amortization of deferred issuance costs, recognized on the 2047 Notes was $10.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
The following table represents the amounts recorded for the subordinated notes as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)
Outstanding
Principal
Unamortized
Debt Issuance
Costs
Net Carrying
Amount
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047
130,000
(3,712
)
126,288
$
130,000
$
(3,712
)
$
126,288
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)
Outstanding
Principal
Unamortized
Debt Issuance
Costs
Net Carrying
Amount
7.75% Subordinated Notes due 2045
$
100,000
$
(3,136
)
$
96,864
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047
130,000
(3,853
)
126,147
$
230,000
$
(6,989
)
$
223,011
Supplemental Indentures
On August 28, 2020, in connection with the merger of Global Indemnity Limited with and into New Cayco, each of Global Indemnity Limited, as successor to Global Indemnity plc, an Irish public limited company, GBLI Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as co-obligor (the "Co-Obligor"), New CayCo, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the "Original Trustee"), and U.S. Bank National Association, as series trustee of the 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (the "Series Trustee" and, together with the Original Trustee, the "Trustees") entered into a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020 (the "Fourth Supplemental Indenture"), to the base indenture, dated as of August 12, 2015 (as supplemented, the "Indenture").
Pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, New CayCo expressly assumed the obligations of Global Indemnity Limited under the Indenture, including the obligations of Global Indemnity Limited under the outstanding 2047 Notes issued pursuant to such Indenture.
On August 28, 2020, in connection with the merger of New Cayco with and into Global Indemnity Group, LLC, each of New CayCo, the Co-Obligor, Global Indemnity Group, LLC and the Trustees entered into a Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020 (the "Fifth Supplemental Indenture"), to the Indenture.
Pursuant to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, Global Indemnity Group, LLC expressly assumed the obligations of New CayCo under the Indenture, including the obligations of New CayCo under the outstanding 2047 Notes issued pursuant to such Indenture.
Co-obligor Transaction
In April, 2018, GBLI Holdings, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, became a subordinated co-obligor with respect to the 2045 Notes, which were fully redeemed in August 2020, and the 2047 Notes with the same obligations and duties as the Company under the Indenture (including the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions to be performed by the Company, including, without limitation, the obligation to pay the principal of, and interest on, the 2047 Notes when due whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise), and with the same rights, benefits and privileges of the Company thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, GBLI Holdings, LLC's obligations (including the obligation to pay the principal of and interest in respect of the 2047 Notes) are subject to subordination to all monetary obligations or liabilities of GBLI Holdings, LLC owing to any regulated reinsurance or insurance company that is a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company, in addition to indebtedness of GBLI Holdings, LLC for borrowed money. If the Company pays any amount with respect to the subordinated note obligations, the Company is entitled to be reimbursed by GBLI Holdings, LLC within 10 business days after a demand is made to GBLI Holding, LLC by the Company. In consideration for becoming a subordinated co-obligor on the subordinated notes, GBLI Holdings, LLC received a promissory note from Global Indemnity Limited with a principal amount of $230 million due April 15, 2047 that has since been assigned to an affiliate. This promissory note was settled in August 2020.
13.
Leases
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted new accounting guidance which increased transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The Company adopted this new accounting guidance using the optional transition method. Under this method, the Company applied the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognized a cumulative effect adjustment of less than $0.1 million to the opening balance sheet of retained earnings. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard. In addition, the Company elected the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term for existing leases.
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. For leases with a term of greater than 12 months, lease right-of-use assets (“ROU”) are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and lease liabilities are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. The Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate; therefore, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU assets are calculated using the initial lease liability amount, plus any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, minus any lease incentives received, plus any initial direct costs incurred.
The Company’s lease agreements may contain both lease and non-lease components which are accounted separately. The Company elected the practical expedient on not separating lease components from non-lease components for its equipment leases.
The Company leases office space and equipment under various operating lease arrangements. The Company’s leases have remaining lease terms ranging from 3 months to 10 years. Some building leases have options to extend, terminate, or retract the leased area. The Company did not factor in term extension, terminations, or space retractions into the lease terms used to calculate the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities since it was uncertain as to whether these options would be executed.
The Company is also party to certain service contracts. These agreements will continue to be accounted for as service contracts and expensed in the period the services have been provided. As contracts are signed, renewed, or renegotiated, they will be evaluated using the criteria set forth in the new lease guidance to determine if these contracts contain a lease and will be accounted for properly depending upon the terms and language in the contract.
Lease expenses for minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The components of lease expenses were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating lease expenses
$
2,952
$
3,293
Short-term lease expenses
Total lease expenses
$
2,959
$
3,300
Prior to the adoption of the new accounting guidance, rental expense under operating leases was $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
There was no sublease income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of liabilities:
Operating leases
$
2,012
$
2,530
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases
$
$
13,858
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
The table below presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the consolidated balance sheets.
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Classification on the
consolidated balance sheets
Assets:
Operating lease assets
Other assets
$
21,077
$
22,761
Liabilities:
Operating lease liabilities
Other liabilities
$
22,950
$
23,539
Weighted-average remaining lease term
Operating leases
8.8 years
10.2 years
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases (1)
2.6
%
2.7
%
(1)
Represents the Company’s incremental borrowing rate
At December 31, 2020, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
$
2,883
2,756
2,790
2,816
2,871
Thereafter
11,657
Total future minimum lease payments
25,773
Less: amount representing interest
2,823
Present value of minimum lease payments
$
22,950
14.
Shareholders’ Equity
On August 28, 2020, Global Indemnity completed a scheme of arrangement and amalgamation that effected certain transactions (the "Redomestication") that resulted in the shareholders of Global Indemnity Limited becoming the holders of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Global Indemnity Group, LLC. Please see Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details on the redomestication.
The treasury shares of Global Indemnity Limited were not subject to the scheme of arrangement. The carrying value of the Global Indemnity Limited treasury shares, $4.1 million, were offset against the Additional Paid-in Capital account of Global Indemnity Limited, according to the Company’s policy regarding the treatment of treasury shares. Please see Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 Part II of the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information on the Company’s policy regarding the treatment of treasury shares.
Issuance of Preferred Shares
On August 27, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC issued and sold to Wyncote LLC (“Wyncote”), an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, 4,000 Series A Preferred Interests at a price of $1,000 per Series A Preferred Interest, for the aggregate purchase price of $4,000,000. The issuance of Series A Preferred Interests to Wyncote was made pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Series A Preferred Interests are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of Global Indemnity Group, LLC. The preferred shares are redeemable at the discretion of Global Indemnity Group, LLC after five years or at the discretion of the holders upon the occurrence of a change in control of Global Indemnity Group, LLC. While the preferred shares are non-voting, the preferred shareholders are entitled to appoint two additional members to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Board of Directors whenever the “Unpaid Targeted Priority Return” (as defined in the applicable Share Designation) with respect to the preferred shares exceed zero immediately following six or more “Distribution Dates” (as defined in the applicable Share Designation), whether or not such Distribution Dates occur consecutively and Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Board of Directors is obligated to take, and cause Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s officers to take, any necessary actions to effectuate such appointments, including expanding the size of the Board of Directors, in connection with any exercise of the foregoing provisions.
Following the effective time of the Redomestication (the “Effective Time”), all of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Interests sold to Wyncote remain outstanding as "Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares", unaffected by the Scheme of Arrangement and subject to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Global Indemnity Group, LLC (the “LLCA”) and that certain Share Designation, effective as of the Effective Time, that sets forth the designation, rights, preferences, powers, duties, restrictions, limitations and obligations of the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Shares from and after the Effective Time.
Distribution Restrictions
The ability of Global Indemnity Group, LLC to pay distributions is subject to applicable federal and state laws and Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s LLCA. Distributions of cash or other assets of Global Indemnity Group, LLC may be paid to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s shareholders out of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s assets legally available therefor only when, and if determined by the Board. Each Series A Preferred Shareholder is entitled to a “Priority Return” (as defined in the applicable Share Designation). On each Distribution Date, Global Indemnity Group, LLC shall make a distribution to each holder of the Series A Preferred Shares out of, and subject to a determination by the Board that the Company has on the applicable Distribution Date, funds legally available therefor, payable in cash only, in an amount equal to the estimated amount necessary to reduce the Unpaid Priority Return of each Series A Preferred Share immediately after such Distribution Date to zero. All such distributions shall be made pro rata in relation to each such Series A Preferred Share’s Unpaid Priority Return.
Since Global Indemnity Group, LLC is a holding company and has no direct operations, its ability to pay distributions depends, in part, on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends. Penn-Patriot Insurance Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting their ability to declare and pay dividends. Global Indemnity Investments, Inc. is dependent on generating investment income in order to pay a dividend to Global Indemnity Group, LLC. See Note 20 for additional information regarding dividend limitations imposed on Penn-Patriot Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.
Dividend / Distribution Program
During the fourth quarter of 2017, Global Indemnity announced the adoption of a dividend / distribution program. Although subject to the absolute discretion of the Board of Directors and factors, conditions, and prospects as such may exist from time to time when the Board of Directors considers the advisability of declaring a quarterly dividend / distribution, Global Indemnity Group, LLC currently anticipates a distribution rate of $0.25 per share per quarter ($1.00 per share per year).
Dividends/ Distributions
Dividend & distribution payments of $0.25 per common share per quarter were declared during the year ended December 31, 2020 as follows:
Approval Date
Record Date
Payment Date
Total Dividends / Distributions Declared
(Dollars in thousands)
February 9, 2020 (1)
March 24, 2020
March 31, 2020
$
3,539
June 7, 2020 (1)
June 23, 2020
June 30, 2020
3,545
September 13, 2020 (2)
September 25, 2020
September 30, 2020
3,552
December 6, 2020 (2)
December 24, 2020
December 31, 2020
3,558
Various (3)
Various
Various
Total
$
14,645
(1)
Represents dividend payments
(2)
Represents distribution / return of capital payments
(3)
Represents dividends / distributions declared on unvested shares, net of forfeitures
Dividend payments of $0.25 per common share per quarter were declared during the year ended December 31, 2019 as follows:
Approval Date
Record Date
Payment Date
Total Dividends / Distributions Declared
(Dollars in thousands)
February 10, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 29, 2019
$
3,521
June 2, 2019
June 21, 2019
June 28, 2019
3,525
September 15, 2019
September 26, 2019
October 2, 2019
3,528
December 8, 2019
December 24, 2019
December 31, 2019
3,532
Various (1)
Various
Various
Total
$
14,374
(1)
Represents dividends declared on unvested shares, net of forfeitures.
Dividend payments of $0.25 per common share per quarter were declared during the year ended December 31, 2018 as follows:
Approval Date
Record Date
Payment Date
Total Dividends / Distributions Declared
(Dollars in thousands)
March 4, 2018
March 21, 2018
March 29, 2018
$
3,499
June 3, 2018
June 22, 2018
June 29, 2018
3,502
September 16, 2018
September 27, 2018
October 1, 2018
3,504
December 2, 2018
December 24, 2018
December 31, 2018
3,506
Various (1)
Various
Various
Total
$
14,208
(1)
Represents dividends declared on unvested shares, net of forfeitures.
In addition, distributions of $0.1 million were paid to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s preferred shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, accrued dividends on unvested common shares, which were included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, were $0.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Accrued preferred distributions were less than $0.1 million as of December 31, 2020 and were also included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. There was no accrued preferred distributions at December 31, 2019.
Repurchases and Redemptions of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Common Shares
Global Indemnity Group, LLC allows employees to surrender A common shares as payment for the tax liability incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock that was issued under the Company’s share incentive plan in effect at the time of issuance. During 2020, 2019, and 2018, Global Indemnity purchased an aggregate of 5,120, 27,028 and 45,233, respectively, of surrendered A common shares from its employees for $0.2 million, $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively. All shares purchased from employees by Global Indemnity Group, LLC are held as treasury stock and recorded at cost until formally retired by Global Indemnity Group, LLC.
The following table provides information with respect to the class A common shares that were surrendered, repurchased, or redeemed in 2020:
Period (1)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased or
Redeemed
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plan or Program
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
Class A common shares:
January 1-31, 2020
3,124
(2)
$
29.63
-
-
February 1-28, 2020
1,600
(2)
$
31.13
-
-
August 1-31, 2020
(2)
$
24.95
-
-
Total
5,120
$
29.74
-
-
(1)
Based on settlement date.
(2)
Surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
There were no class B common shares that were surrendered, repurchased, or redeemed in 2020.
The following table provides information with respect to the class A common shares that were surrendered, repurchased, or redeemed in 2019:
Period (1)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased or
Redeemed
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plan or Program
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
Class A common shares:
January 1-31, 2019
7,945
(2)
$
36.23
-
-
February 1-28, 2019
19,083
(2)
$
34.59
-
-
Total
27,028
$
35.07
-
-
(1)
Based on settlement date.
(2)
Surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
There were no class B common shares that were surrendered, repurchased, or redeemed in 2019.
Each class A common share has one vote and each B common share has ten votes.
As of December 31, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class A common shares were held by approximately 180 shareholders of record. There were four holders of record of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s class B common shares, all of whom are affiliated investment funds of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, as of December 31, 2020. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s preferred shares were held by 1 holder of record, an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, as of December 31, 2020.
15.Related Party Transactions
Fox Paine Entities
Pursuant to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s LLCA, Fox Paine Capital Fund II International, L.P. and certain of its affiliates (the “Fox Paine Funds”), together with Fox Mercury Investments, L.P. and certain of its affiliates (the “FM Entities”), and Fox Paine & Company LLC (collectively, the “Fox Paine Entities”) currently constitute a Class B Majority Shareholder (as defined in the LLCA) and, as such, have the right to appoint a number of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s directors equal in aggregate to the pro rata percentage of the voting power in Global Indemnity Group, LLC beneficially held by the Fox Paine Entities, rounded up to the nearest whole number of directors. The Fox Paine Entities beneficially own shares representing approximately 83.9% of the voting power of Global Indemnity Group, LLC as of December 31, 2020. The Fox Paine Entities control the election of all of Global Indemnity
Group, LLC’s Directors due to their controlling share ownership. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Chairman is the chief executive and founder of Fox Paine & Company, LLC.
On August 27, 2020, Global Indemnity Group, LLC issued and sold to Wyncote LLC, an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, 4,000 Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Interests at a price of $1,000 per Series A Preferred Interest, for the aggregate purchase price of $4,000,000. While these preferred interests are non-voting, the preferred shareholders are entitled to appoint two additional members to Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Board of Directors whenever the “Unpaid Targeted Priority Return” with respect to the preferred interests exceed zero immediately following six or more “Distribution Dates”, whether or not such Distribution Dates occur consecutively. Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Board of Directors is obligated to take, and cause Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s officers to take, any necessary actions to effectuate such appointments, including expanding the size of the Board of Directors, in connection with any exercise of the foregoing provisions. See Note 14 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information on the Series A Cumulative Fixed Rate Preferred Interests.
Pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement, (“Management Agreement”) dated August 28, 2020, between Global Indemnity Group, LLC and Fox Paine & Company, LLC, Global Indemnity Group, LLC agrees to pay, or to cause one of its affiliates to pay, an annual service fee (“Annual Service Fee”) as compensation for Fox Paine & Company, LLC’s ongoing provision of certain financial and strategic consulting, advisory and other services to Global Indemnity Group, LLC and its affiliates, and to reimburse all direct and indirect expenses paid or incurred in connection with such services upon request, excluding expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and other items relating to attendance at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors. For the twelve-month period beginning on September 5, 2019 and ending September 4, 2020, the Annual Service Fee was equal to $2.6 million, which amount will be adjusted on an ongoing basis in each subsequent twelve-month period to reflect the aggregate increase in the CPI-U. Should Global Indemnity Group, LLC and Fox Paine & Company, LLC agree that the Annual Service Fee will be deferred, the Annual Service Fee will become subject to an annual adjustment equal to the percentage rate of return the Company earns on its investment portfolio multiplied by the aggregate Annual Service Fees and adjustment amounts accumulated and unpaid through such date.
Management fee expense of $2.6 million, $2.1 million, and $2.1 million was incurred during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Prepaid management fees, which were included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, were $1.8 million and $1.4 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
In addition, Fox Paine & Company, LLC may also propose and negotiate transaction fees with the Company subject to the provisions of the Company’s related party transaction and conflict matter policies, including approval of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors or Global Indemnity Limited’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, for those services from time to time. Each of the Company’s transactions with Fox Paine & Company, LLC described below was reviewed and approved by either Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Conflicts Committee or Audit Committee, which is composed of independent directors, and the Board of Directors (other than Saul A. Fox, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and Chief Executive of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, who is not a member of the Conflicts Committee and was not a member of Global Indemnity Limited’s Audit Committee and recused himself from the Board of Directors’ deliberations).
Recapitalization and Reorganization Transactions Fee
On April 25, 2018, Global Indemnity Limited and its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (including GBLI Holdings, LLC and Global Indemnity Reinsurance) entered into a series of recapitalization and reorganization transactions (collectively, the “Reorganization”) designed to improve the Company’s annual results and long-term financial performance. Pursuant to the Reorganization, the Company’s affiliated group implemented the following, among other things: (i) GBLI Holdings, LLC became a subordinated co-obligor with Global Indemnity Limited under the Company’s 7.75% Subordinated Notes due in 2045 and its 7.875% Subordinated Notes due in 2047, (ii) GBLI Holdings, LLC agreed to provide capital to Global Indemnity Reinsurance from time to time to satisfy Global Indemnity Reinsurance’s obligations incurred in connection with its insurance and reinsurance business and (iii) GBLI Holdings, LLC received a promissory note from Global Indemnity Limited, which was subsequently assigned within the Company’s affiliated group in connection with the settlement of certain intra-group indebtedness.
Fox Paine & Company, LLC acted as financial advisor to the Company's affiliated group in connection with the design, structuring and implementation of the Reorganization. Fox Paine & Company, LLC’s services for the Company’s affiliated group in connection with the Reorganization were performed during the first and second quarter of 2018. The total fee for these services was $12.5 million which was paid in June 2018. As with each of the Company's transactions with Fox Paine & Company, LLC, this transaction was reviewed and approved by Global Indemnity Group, LLC 's Audit Committee and the Board of Directors (other than Saul A. Fox, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Indemnity Group, LLC and Chief Executive of Fox Paine & Company, LLC, who is not a member of the Audit Committee and recused himself from the Board of Directors’ deliberations), and, in connection with its review and approval of this transaction, the Audit Committee also engaged its own investment banking firm for advice.
Illiquid Investment Fund Divestiture Fee
On December 21, 2018, GBLI Holdings, LLC exited an investment in a private credit fund pursuant to a sale of GBLI Holdings, LLC’s investment to third parties at par plus accrued interest. Fox Paine & Company, LLC provided services to GBLI Holdings, LLC in connection with the sale, including conducting due diligence to evaluate the private fund, recommending that GBLI Holdings, LLC withdraw from the private fund, and conducting extended negotiations with the private fund to secure GBLI Holdings, LLC’s withdrawal from the private fund on favorable terms. Fox Paine & Company, LLC’s services for GBLI Holdings, LLC in connection with the sale were performed during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2018. The total fee for these services was $2.0 million which was accrued in the 4th quarter of 2018, which is the period in which the transaction was completed, and was paid in May 2019.
Redomestication Fee
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, Fox Paine & Company, LLC performed extensive financial advisory services for the Company in connection with the conceptualization, design, structuring and implementation of the redomestication plan. In accordance with the Management Agreement, Fox Paine & Company, LLC may propose and negotiate advisory fees for such services with the Company, subject to the provisions of the Company’s related party transaction policies. The Company agreed to pay an advisory fee to Fox Paine & Company, LLC for such services in an amount of $10.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. The $10.0 million fee was approved by the Conflicts Committee.
16.
Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The Company is, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains insurance and reinsurance coverage for such risks in amounts that it considers adequate. However, there can be no assurance that the insurance and reinsurance coverage that the Company maintains is sufficient or will be available in adequate amounts or at a reasonable cost. The Company does not believe that the resolution of any currently pending legal proceedings, either individually or taken as a whole, will have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
There is a greater potential for disputes with reinsurers who are in runoff. Some of the Company’s reinsurers’ have operations that are in runoff, and therefore, the Company closely monitors those relationships. The Company anticipates that, similar to the rest of the insurance and reinsurance industry, it will continue to be subject to litigation and arbitration proceedings in the ordinary course of business.
Commitments
In 2014, the Company entered into a $50 million commitment to purchase an alternative investment vehicle which is comprised of European non-performing loans. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has funded $35.8 million of this commitment leaving $14.2 million as unfunded. Since the investment period has concluded, the Company expects minimal capital calls will be made prospectively.
In 2017, the Company entered into a $50 million commitment to purchase an alternative investment vehicle comprised of stressed and distressed securities and structured products. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has funded $33.0 million of this commitment leaving $17.0 million as unfunded. Since the investment period has concluded, the Company expects minimal capital calls will be made prospectively.
In 2019, the Company entered into a $10 million commitment to purchase an alternative investment vehicle which is comprised of mortgage loans and other real-estate related investments. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has fully funded this commitment.
In 2020, the Company entered into a $60 million commitment to purchase an alternative investment vehicle which is comprised of non-investment grade loans. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has fully funded this commitment.
Other Commitments
The Company is party to a Management Agreement, as amended, with Fox Paine & Company, LLC, whereby in connection with certain management services provided to it by Fox Paine & Company, LLC, the Company agreed to pay an annual management fee to Fox Paine & Company, LLC. See Note 15 above for additional information pertaining to this management agreement.
COVID-19
There is risk that legislation could be passed or there could be a court ruling which would require the Company to cover business interruption claims regardless of terms, exclusions including the virus exclusions contained within the Company’s Commercial Specialty and Farm, Ranch & Stable policies, or other conditions included in policies that would otherwise preclude coverage.
17.
Share-Based Compensation Plans
The fair value method of accounting recognizes share-based compensation to employees and non-employee directors in the consolidated statements of operations using the grant-date fair value of the stock options and other equity-based compensation expensed over the requisite service and vesting period.
For the purpose of determining the fair value of stock option awards, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company elected a policy to accrue for compensation cost based on the number of awards that are expected to vest. An estimation of forfeitures is required when recognizing compensation expense which is then adjusted over the requisite service period should actual forfeitures differ from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures are recognized through a cumulative adjustment to compensation in the period of change.
Excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies associated with share-based payment awards are required to be recognized as an income tax benefit or expense in net income (loss) with the corresponding cash flows recognized as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow.
In connection with the Redomestication, the 2018 Share Incentive Plan was amended and restated to reflect Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s assumption of the sponsorship of the plan and other changes deemed necessary and appropriate to reflect the completion of the Redomestication.
Options
Award activity for stock options granted under the Plan and the weighted average exercise price per share are summarized as follows:
Time-Based
Options
Performance-
Based Options
Total
Options
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price Per Share
Options outstanding at January 1, 2018
300,000
300,000
(1)
600,000
$
25.13
Options issued
300,000
-
300,000
50.00
Options forfeited
-
(100,000
)
(100,000
)
38.43
Options exercised
-
-
-
-
Options expired
-
-
-
-
Options purchased by the Company
-
-
-
-
Options outstanding at December 31, 2018
600,000
200,000
800,000
35.06
Options issued
-
-
-
-
Options forfeited
-
-
-
-
Options exercised
-
-
-
-
Options expired
-
-
-
-
Options purchased by the Company
-
-
-
-
Options outstanding at December 31, 2019
600,000
200,000
800,000
35.06
Options issued
300,000
-
300,000
52.79
Options forfeited
-
(100,000
)
(100,000
)
38.43
Options exercised
-
-
-
-
Options expired
-
-
-
-
Options purchased by the Company
-
-
-
-
Options outstanding at December 31, 2020
900,000
100,000
1,000,000
$
40.04
Options exercisable at December 31, 2020
600,000
100,000
700,000
$
34.58
(1)
In 2014, 300,000 performance-based options were granted. On March 6, 2018, the existing vesting provisions of these options were eliminated and replaced with new vesting provisions related to return on equity targets for 2018, 2019, and 2020 (“Bonus Years”). Return on equity targets for the 2018 and 2020 bonus years were not met. As a result, 100,000 performance-based options related to the 2018 bonus year and 100,000 performance-based options related to the 2020 bonus year were forfeited. 100,000 performance-based options remain outstanding. The remaining 100,000 performance-based options, which were related to return on equity targets for the 2019 bonus year, vested on December 31, 2019. These options are subject to remeasurement of 2019 bonus year results after the third full calendar year following the bonus year.
The Company awarded 300,000 time-based options in each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2018 with an average strike price of $52.79 and $50.00, respectively. There were no stock options granted in 2019.
The Company recorded $1.6 million, $ 1.1 million, and $0.3 million of compensation expense for stock options under the Plan during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The Company did not receive any proceeds from the exercise of options during 2020, 2019 or 2018 under the Plan.
Option intrinsic values, which are the differences between the fair value of $28.59 at December 31, 2020 and the strike price of the option, are as follows:
Number
of Shares
Weighted Average Strike Price
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding
1,000,000
40.04
$3.2 Million
Exercisable
700,000
34.58
$3.2 Million
Exercised (1)
-
-
-
(1)
The intrinsic value of the exercised options is the difference between the fair market value at time of exercise and the strike price of the option.
The options exercisable at December 31, 2020 include the following:
Option Price
Number of options exercisable
$
17.87
300,000
$
38.43
(1)
100,000
$
50.00
300,000
Options exercisable at December 31, 2020
700,000
(1)
the weighted average per share exercise price on these shares outstanding is variable. See note below under Chief Executive Officer for additional information.
There were no options granted under the Plan in 2019. The weighted average fair value of options granted under the Plan was $1.92 in 2020 and $3.79 in 2018 using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions.
Dividend yield
2.0%
2.0%
Expected volatility
38.32%
22.47%
Risk-free interest rate
0.4%
2.0%
Expected option life
3.5 years
3.3 years
The following tables summarize the range of exercise prices of options outstanding at December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Ranges of
Exercise Prices
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
Weighted Average Per
Share Exercise Price
Weighted Average
Remaining Life
$17.87 - $19.99
300,000
$
17.87
0.7 years
$30.00 - $38.43
100,000
(1)
$
38.43
4.0 years
$49.62 - $59.99
600,000
$
51.40
8.5 years
Total
1,000,000
(1)
the weighted average per share exercise price on these shares outstanding is variable. See note below under Chief Executive Officer for additional information.
Ranges of
Exercise Prices
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
Weighted Average Per
Share Exercise Price
Weighted Average
Remaining Life
$17.87 - $19.99
300,000
$
17.87
1.7 years
$30.00 - $38.43
200,000
(1)
$
38.43
5.0 years
$50.00 - $59.99
300,000
$
50.00
8.0 years
Total
800,000
(1)
the weighted average per share exercise price on these shares outstanding is variable. See note below under Chief Executive Officer for additional information.
Ranges of
Exercise Prices
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
Weighted Average Per
Share Exercise Price
Weighted Average
Remaining Life
$17.87 - $19.99
300,000
$
17.87
2.7 years
$30.00 - $38.43
200,000
(1)
$
38.43
6.0 years
$50.00 - $59.99
300,000
$
50.00
9.0 years
Total
800,000
(1)
the weighted average per share exercise price on these shares outstanding is variable. See note below under Chief Executive Officer for additional information.
Restricted Shares / Restricted Stock Units
In addition to stock option grants, the Plan also provides for the granting of restricted shares and restricted stock units to employees and non-employee Directors. The Company recognized compensation expense for restricted stock of $3.2 million, $2.8 million and $3.1 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The total unrecognized compensation expense for the non-vested restricted stock is $0.2 million at December 31, 2020, which will be recognized over a weighted average life of 1.0 years. The Company recognized compensation expense for restricted stock units of $3.2 million and $0.4 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively. There was no compensation expense for restricted stock units in 2018. The total unrecognized compensation expense for the non-vested restricted stock units is $4.7 million at December 31, 2020, which will be recognized over a weighted average life of 1.8 years.
The following table summarizes the restricted stock grants since the 2003 inception of the original share incentive plan:
Restricted Stock Awards
Year
Employees
Directors
Total
Inception through 2017
1,089,118
540,515
1,629,633
38,778
31,646
70,424
43,680
66,919
110,599
-
108,521
108,521
1,171,576
747,601
1,919,177
The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit grants since the 2003 inception of the original share incentive plan:
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
Year
Employees
Directors
Total
Inception through 2018
-
-
-
175,498
-
175,498
161,238
41,667
202,905
336,736
41,667
378,403
The following table summarizes the non-vested restricted shares activity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Price Per
Share
Non-vested Restricted Shares at January 1, 2018
212,812
29.67
Shares issued
70,424
38.85
Shares vested
(166,117
)
30.88
Shares forfeited
(3,255
)
28.91
Non-vested Restricted Shares at December 31, 2018
113,864
33.61
Shares issued
110,599
30.93
Shares vested
(150,395
)
29.86
Shares forfeited
(11,828
)
38.42
Non-vested Restricted Shares at December 31, 2019
62,240
37.00
Shares issued
108,521
24.86
Shares vested
(128,623
)
26.84
Shares forfeited
(6,735
)
27.74
Non-vested Restricted Shares at December 31, 2020
35,403
$
38.45
The following table summarizes the non-vested restricted stock units activity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Number
of Restricted
Stock Units
Weighted Average Price Per Restricted Stock Unit
Non-vested Restricted Stock Units at January 1, 2018
-
$
-
Restricted Stock Units issued
-
-
Restricted Stock Units vested
-
-
Restricted Stock Units forfeited
-
-
Non-vested Restricted Stock Units at December 31, 2018
-
$
-
Restricted Stock Units issued
175,498
30.18
Restricted Stock Units vested
-
-
Restricted Stock Units forfeited
-
-
Non-vested Restricted Stock Units at December 31, 2019
175,498
$
30.18
Restricted Stock Units issued
202,905
29.02
Restricted Stock Units vested
(41,667
)
24.00
Restricted Stock Units forfeited
(21,710
)
30.06
Non-vested Restricted Stock Units at December 31, 2020
315,026
$
30.26
Based on the terms of the restricted share and restricted stock unit grants, all forfeited shares revert back to the Company.
During 2018, the Company granted 38,778 restricted class A common shares, with a weighted average grant date value of $40.57 per share, to key employees under the Plan. 11,843 of these shares vested immediately. The remainder will vest as follows:
•
16.5% vested on both January 1, 2019 and January 1, 2020. 17.0% of the granted restricted stock will vest on January 1, 2021.
•
Subject to Board approval, 50% of granted restricted stock will vests 100%, no later than March 15, 2021, following a re-measurement of 2017 results as of December 31, 2020.
During 2018, the Company granted 31,646 restricted A common shares, at a weighted average grant date fair value of $36.74 per share, to non-employee directors of the Company under the Plan.
During 2019, the Company granted 43,680 restricted A common shares, with a weighted average grant date value of $34.23 per share, to key employees under the Plan. 9,063 of these shares vested immediately. 27,117 of these shares will vest as follows:
•
16.5% vested on January 1, 2020. 16.5% and 17.0% of the restricted stock will vest on January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, respectively.
•
Subject to Board approval, 50% of restricted stock will vest 100%, no later than March 15, 2022, following a remeasurement of 2018 results as of December 31, 2021.
Of the remaining 7,500 shares, 20% vested on August 26, 2020 and 20% will vest on August 26, 2021, August 26, 2022, August 26, 2023 and August 26, 2024.
In addition, the Company granted 175,498 restricted stock units with a weighted average grant date value of $30.18 per unit, to key employees under the Plan. These restricted stock units will vest as follows:
•
10.0%, 20.0%, 30.0%, and 40.0% of the restricted stock units will vest on June 18, 2021, June 18, 2022, June 18, 2023 and June 18, 2024, respectively.
During 2019, the Company granted 66,619 restricted A common shares at a weighted average grant date fair value of $28.77 per share, to non-employee directors of the Company under the plan.
During 2020, the Company granted 161,238 restricted stock units, with a weighted average grant date value of $30.32 per share, to key employees under the Plan. 3,375 of these restricted stock units will vest evenly over the next three years on January 1, 2021, January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
66,957 of these restricted stock units will vest as follows:
•
10.0%, 20.0%, 30.0% and 40.0% of the restricted stock units will vest on June 18, 2021, June 18, 2022, June 18, 2023 and June 18, 2024, respectively.
The remaining 90,906 restricted stock units will vest as follows:
•
16.5%, 16.5%, and 17.0% of the restricted stock units will vest on January 1, 2021, January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023, respectively.
•
Subject to Board approval, 50% of restricted stock units will vest 100%, no later than March 15, 2023, following a re-measurement of 2019 results as of December 31, 2022.
The Company did not grant any restricted class A common shares during 2020.
During 2020, the Company granted 108,521 restricted A common shares at a weighted average grant date fair value of $24.86 per share, to non-employee directors of the Company under the plan.
During 2020, the Company granted 41,667 restricted stock units at a weighted average grant date fair value of $24.00 per share, to a non-employee director of the Company under the plan.
All of the shares and restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors in 2020, 2019, and 2018 were fully vested but subject to certain restrictions.
Chief Executive Officer
On March 6, 2018, the Company entered into a Chief Executive Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Cynthia Y. Valko, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In accordance with the Employment Agreement, the vesting schedule for the 300,000 stock options issued in 2014 (“Tranche 2 Options”) was modified. 100,000 of the Tranche 2 Options were related to the attainment of Return on Equity criteria for 2018 and were scheduled to vest on December 31, 2018. These options were forfeited on December 31, 2018 because the Return on Equity criteria was not met. 100,000 of the Tranche 2 Options were related to the attainment of Return on Equity criteria for 2020 and were scheduled to vest on December 31, 2020. These options were forfeited on December 31, 2020 because the Return on Equity criteria was not met. The remaining 100,000 options vested on December 31, 2019. These options are subject to remeasurement of 2019 bonus year results after the third full calendar year following the bonus year.
Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Ms. Valko was also granted an additional 300,000 Time-Based Options (“Tranche 3 Options”) with an exercise price of $50 per share. 100,000 of the Tranche 3 Options each vested on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2020. Tranche 3 Options expire on the earlier of December 31, 2027 or 90 calendar days after Ms. Valko is neither employed by Global Indemnity nor a member of the Board of Directors.
On December 10, 2020, the Company entered into a new Chief Executive Agreement (the “Chief Executive Agreement”) with Ms. Valko. The Chief Executive Agreement grants Ms. Valko 300,000 options (“Tranche 4 Options”) to buy Shares, which are in addition to the 900,000 stock options previously granted by the Company to Ms. Valko. 100,000 of the Tranche 4 Options shall have an exercise price equal to the greater of the book value per share of the Company’s Shares on December 31, 2020 and the closing per-share price of the Company’s shares on the last NASDAQ trading day prior to the effective date of the Chief Executive Agreement (“Tranche 4-I Options”). 100,000 of the Tranche 4 Options shall have an exercise price equal to the exercise price of the Tranche 4-I Options, plus $3.09 (“Tranche 4-II Options”). 100,000 of the Tranche 4 Options shall have an exercise price equal to the exercise price of the Tranche 4-II Options, plus $3.33 (“Tranche 4-III Options”). Tranche 4-I Options vest on the earlier of April 1, 2022 or the date a party that is not affiliated with Fox Paine & Company, LLC or Saul Fox acquires 50% or more of the Company’s voting shares (“Change in Control”). Tranche 4-II Options vest on the earlier of April 1, 2023 or a Change in Control. Tranche 4-III Options vest on the earlier of April 1, 2024 or a Change in Control. Vesting is contingent upon Ms. Valko being a Company employee in good standing as of the applicable vesting date. Tranche 4 Options may only be exercised if vested. Tranche 4 Options are subject to the terms of the Company’s stock option plans and ancillary agreements.
Ms. Valko will also be granted fully vested and exercisable options to acquire 300,000 Shares (“Tranche 5 Options”) on September 20, 2021, regardless of whether Ms. Valko is employed by the Company on such date. Tranche 5 Options shall have an exercise price equal to the greater of $17.87 and the closing per-share price of the Shares on the date of grant. Tranche 5 Options are subject to the terms of the Company’s stock option plans and ancillary agreements.
In January, 2021, Ms. Valko announced her retirement effective January 31, 2021. Corporate expenses includes $1.3 million related to extending the time to exercise existing options and for the accrual of Tranche 5 options. See Note 25 for additional information regarding Ms. Valko’s retirement.
18.
401(k) Plan
The Company maintains a 401(k) defined contribution plan that covers all eligible U.S. employees. Under this plan, the Company matches 100% of the first 6% contributed by an employee. Vesting on contributions made by the Company is immediate. Total expenses for the plan were $1.9 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
19.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share have been computed using the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the period.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Numerator:
Net income (loss)
$
(21,006
)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
Less: preferred stock distributions
-
-
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
$
(21,158
)
$
70,015
$
(56,696
)
Denominator:
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share
14,291,265
14,191,756
14,088,883
Non-vested restricted stock
-
20,492
-
Non-vested restricted stock units
-
3,392
-
Options
-
119,066
-
Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (1)
14,291,265
14,334,706
14,088,883
Earnings per share - Basic
$
(1.48
)
$
4.93
$
(4.02
)
Earnings per share - Diluted
$
(1.48
)
$
4.88
$
(4.02
)
(1)
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2018, “weighted average shares outstanding - basic” was used to calculate “diluted earnings per share” due to a net loss for these periods.
If the Company had not incurred a loss in the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2018, 14,458,008 and 14,325,276 weighted average shares, respectively, would have been used to compute the diluted loss per share calculations. In addition to the basic shares, weighted average shares for the diluted calculations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2018 would have included 17,470 and 76,568 shares of non-vested restricted stock, respectively, 57,456 and 0 restricted stock units, respectively, and 91,816 and 159,825 share equivalents for options, respectively.
The weighted average shares outstanding used to determine dilutive earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2020 did not include 700,000 options and 66,957 restricted stock units which were deemed to be anti-dilutive. The weighted average shares outstanding used to determine dilutive earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 do not include 500,000 options which were deemed to be anti-dilutive.
20.
Statutory Financial Information
GAAP differs in certain respects from Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”) as prescribed or permitted by the various U.S. state insurance departments. The principal differences between SAP and GAAP are as follows:
•
Under SAP, investments in debt securities are primarily carried at amortized cost, while under GAAP the Company records its debt securities at estimated fair value.
•
Under SAP, policy acquisition costs, such as commissions, premium taxes, fees and other costs of underwriting policies are charged to current operations as incurred, while under GAAP such costs are deferred and amortized on a pro rata basis over the period covered by the policy.
•
Under SAP, certain assets designated as "Non-admitted assets" (such as prepaid expenses) are charged against surplus.
•
Under SAP, net deferred income tax assets are admitted following the application of specified criteria, with the resulting admitted deferred tax amount being credited directly to surplus.
•
Under SAP, certain premium receivables are non-admitted and are charged against surplus based upon aging criteria.
•
Under SAP, the costs and related receivables for guaranty funds and other assessments are recorded based on management's estimate of the ultimate liability and related receivable settlement, while under GAAP such costs are accrued when the liability is probable and reasonably estimable and the related receivable amount is based on future premium collections or policy surcharges from in-force policies.
•
Under SAP, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported net of the effects of reinsurance transactions, whereas under GAAP, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported gross of reinsurance.
•
Under SAP, a provision for reinsurance is charged to surplus based on the authorized status of reinsurers, available collateral, and certain aging criteria, whereas under GAAP, an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance is established based on management’s best estimate of the collectability of reinsurance receivables.
•
Under SAP, the tax impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 is recorded through surplus, whereas under GAAP, the tax impact is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) issues model laws and regulations, many of which have been adopted by state insurance regulators, relating to: (a) risk-based capital ("RBC") standards; (b) codification of insurance accounting principles; (c) investment restrictions; and (d) restrictions on the ability of insurance companies to pay dividends.
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required by law to maintain certain minimum surplus on a statutory basis, and are subject to regulations under which payment of a dividend from statutory surplus is restricted and may require prior approval of regulatory authorities. Applying the current regulatory restrictions as of December 31, 2020, the maximum amount of distributions that could be paid in 2021 by Penn-Patriot Insurance Company, the United National insurance companies, the Penn-America insurance companies, and American Reliable under applicable laws and regulations without regulatory approval is approximately $34.3 million, $17.4 million, $8.1 million, and $10.0 million, respectively. The Penn-America insurance companies limitation includes $2.7 million that would be distributed to United National Insurance Company or its subsidiary, Penn Independent Corporation, based on the December 31, 2020 ownership percentages. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries did not declare or pay any dividends in 2020.
The NAIC's RBC model provides a tool for insurance regulators to determine the levels of statutory capital and surplus an insurer must maintain in relation to its insurance and investment risks, as well as its reinsurance exposures, to assess the potential need for regulatory attention. The model provides four levels of regulatory attention, varying with the ratio of an insurance company's total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC ("ACLRBC"). If a company’s total adjusted capital is:
(a)
less than or equal to 200%, but greater than 150% of its ACLRBC (the "Company Action Level"), the company must submit a comprehensive plan to the regulatory authority proposing corrective actions aimed at improving its capital position;
(b)
less than or equal to 150%, but greater than 100% of its ACLRBC (the "Regulatory Action Level"), the regulatory authority will perform a special examination of the company and issue an order specifying the corrective actions that must be followed;
(c)
less than or equal to 100%, but greater than 70% of its ACLRBC (the "Authorized Control Level"), the regulatory authority may take any action it deems necessary, including placing the company under regulatory control; and
(d)
less than or equal to 70% of its ACLRBC (the "Mandatory Control Level"), the regulatory authority must place the company under its control.
Based on the standards currently adopted, the Company reported in its 2020 statutory filings that the capital and surplus of the insurance companies are above the prescribed Company Action Level RBC requirements.
The following is selected information for the Company’s insurance companies, net of intercompany eliminations, where applicable, as determined in accordance with SAP:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Statutory capital and surplus, as of end of period
$
342,987
$
263,793
$
225,645
Statutory net income (loss)
73,655
39,971
(52,036
)
Prior to Global Indemnity Reinsurance’s merger into Penn-Patriot on August 28, 2020, Global Indemnity Reinsurance was required to also prepare annual statutory financial statements. The Bermuda Insurance Act 1978 (the “Insurance Act”) prescribes rules for the preparation and substance of these statutory financial statements which include, in statutory form, a balance sheet, an income statement, a statement of capital and surplus and notes thereto. The statutory financial statements are not prepared in accordance with GAAP or SAP and are distinct from the financial statements prepared for presentation to Global Indemnity Reinsurance's shareholders and under the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 (the “Companies Act”), which financial statements will be prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The principal differences between statutory financial statements prepared under the Insurance Act and GAAP are as follows:
•
Under the Insurance Act, policy acquisition costs, such as commissions, premium taxes, fees and other costs of underwriting policies are charged to current operations as incurred, while under GAAP such costs are deferred and amortized on a pro rata basis over the period covered by the policy.
•
Under the Insurance Act, prepaid expenses and intangible assets are charged to current operations as incurred, while under GAAP such costs are deferred and amortized on a pro rata basis.
•
Under the Insurance Act, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported net of the effects of reinsurance transactions, whereas under GAAP, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported gross of reinsurance.
Under the Companies Act, Global Indemnity Reinsurance may only declare or pay a dividend if it has no reasonable grounds for believing that it is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or if the realizable value of its assets would not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. Global Indemnity Reinsurance is also prohibited, without the approval of the BMA, from reducing by 15% or more its total statutory capital or 25% or more of its total statutory capital and surplus as set out in its previous year’s statutory financial statements, and any application for such approval must include such information as the BMA may require. In June, 2020, Global Indemnity Reinsurance declared and paid a dividend of $226.0 million to its parent company, Global Indemnity Limited. On August 26, 2020, Global Indemnity Reinsurance merged into Penn-Patriot Insurance Company.
The following is selected information for Global Indemnity Reinsurance, net of intercompany eliminations, where applicable, as determined in accordance with the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Statutory capital and surplus, as of end of period
$
885,763
$
835,620
Statutory net income (loss)
34,086
(3,972
)
As a result of the merger, the Company no longer has any subsidiaries which are Bermuda licensed companies and is not required to prepare annual statutory financial statements in accordance with the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978 for 2020.
21. Segment Information
During the 1st quarter of 2019, the Company re-evaluated its Personal Lines segment and determined that Personal Lines should be bifurcated into two reportable segments: Specialty Property and Farm, Ranch & Stable. In addition, the Company has changed the name of its Commercial Lines segment to Commercial Specialty to better align with its key product offerings. The segment results for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been revised to reflect these changes. Please see Note 1 for additional information related to these segment changes.
All four segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements. For further disclosure regarding the Company’s accounting policies, please see Note 3.
The Company manages its business through four business segments. Commercial Specialty offers specialty property and casualty products designed for product lines such as Small Business Binding Authority, Property Brokerage, and Programs. Specialty Property offers specialty personal lines property and casualty insurance products. Farm, Ranch & Stable offers specialized property and casualty coverage including Commercial Farm Auto and Excess/Umbrella Coverage for the agriculture industry as well as specialized insurance products for the equine mortality and equine major medical industry. Reinsurance Operations provides reinsurance solutions through brokers and primary writers including insurance and reinsurance companies.
The following are tabulations of business segment information for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. Corporate information is included to reconcile segment data to the consolidated financial statements.
2020: (Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
Specialty
Specialty
Property
Farm, Ranch,
& Stable
Reinsurance
Operations
(1)
Total
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
321,879
$
138,401
(2)
$
85,646
$
60,677
$
606,603
Net written premiums
$
292,216
$
121,111
$
74,163
$
60,677
$
548,167
Net earned premiums
$
285,694
$
131,474
$
76,166
$
74,365
$
567,699
Other income
-
1,705
2,038
Total revenues
285,694
133,179
76,308
74,556
569,737
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
155,271
94,540
47,151
39,239
336,201
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
104,659
55,547
29,761
25,640
215,607
Income (loss) from segments
$
25,764
$
(16,908
)
$
(604
)
$
9,677
17,929
Unallocated Items:
Net investment income
28,392
Net realized investment losses
(14,662
)
Other income
Corporate and other operating expenses
(41,998
)
Interest expense
(15,792
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(3,060
)
Loss before income taxes
(29,111
)
Income tax benefit
8,105
Net loss
$
(21,006
)
Segment assets
$
850,813
$
237,835
$
152,037
$
278,174
$
1,518,859
Corporate assets
386,049
Total assets
$
1,904,908
(1)
External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
(2)
Includes less than $0.1 million of business written by American Reliable that was ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement.
2019: (Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
Specialty
(1)
Specialty
Property
(1)
Farm, Ranch,
& Stable
(1)
Reinsurance
Operations
(2)
Total
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
297,332
$
163,503
(3)
$
87,745
$
88,281
$
636,861
Net written premiums
$
258,719
$
140,670
$
74,416
$
88,284
$
562,089
Net earned premiums
$
237,758
$
140,232
$
71,312
$
75,960
$
525,262
Other income (loss)
-
1,820
(136
)
1,816
Total revenues
237,758
142,052
71,444
75,824
527,078
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
108,911
75,426
42,700
48,365
275,402
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
96,475
58,768
29,551
23,609
208,403
Income (loss) from segments
$
32,372
$
7,858
$
(807
)
$
3,850
43,273
Unallocated Items:
Net investment income
42,052
Net realized investment gains
35,342
Corporate and other operating expenses
(18,888
)
Interest expense
(20,022
)
Income before income taxes
81,757
Income tax expense
(11,742
)
Net income
$
70,015
Segment assets
$
713,010
$
226,388
$
136,891
$
325,451
$
1,401,740
Corporate assets
674,145
Total assets
$
2,075,885
(1)
Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations. This quota share agreement was cancelled effective January 1, 2018.
(2)
External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
(3)
Includes ($273) of business written by American Reliable that was ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement.
2018: (Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
Specialty
(1)
Specialty
Property
(1)
Farm, Ranch,
& Stable
(1)
Reinsurance
Operations
(2)
Total
Revenues:
Gross written premiums
$
249,948
$
170,168
(6)
$
79,738
$
48,043
$
547,897
Net written premiums
$
226,827
$
127,470
$
70,217
$
48,033
$
472,547
Net earned premiums
$
218,357
$
128,768
$
69,248
$
51,402
$
467,775
Other income (loss)
-
1,782
(210
)
1,728
Total revenues
218,357
130,550
69,404
51,192
469,503
Losses and Expenses:
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
114,476
122,709
41,180
56,260
334,625
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
87,371
(3)
55,760
(4)
29,801
(5)
17,846
190,778
Income (loss) from segments
$
16,510
$
(47,919
)
$
(1,577
)
$
(22,914
)
(55,900
)
Unallocated Items:
Net investment income
46,342
Net realized investment losses
(16,907
)
Corporate and other operating expenses
(29,766
)
Interest expense
(19,694
)
Loss before income taxes
(75,925
)
Income tax benefit
19,229
Net loss
$
(56,696
)
Segment assets
$
712,632
$
270,083
$
134,056
$
316,922
$
1,433,693
Corporate assets
526,573
Total assets
$
1,960,266
(1)
Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations. This quota share agreement was cancelled effective January 1, 2018.
(2)
External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
(3)
Includes federal excise tax of $386 relating to cessions from Commercial Specialty to Reinsurance Operations.
(4)
Includes federal excise tax of $313 relating to cessions from Specialty Property to Reinsurance Operations.
(5)
Includes federal excise tax of $145 relating to cessions from Farm, Ranch & Stable to Reinsurance Operations.
(6)
Includes ($2,062) of business written by American Reliable that was ceded to insurance companies owned by Assurant under a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement.
22.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Taxes and Interest Paid
The Company paid the following net federal income taxes and interest for 2020, 2019, and 2018:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
Federal income taxes paid
$
$
$
Federal income taxes recovered
10,987
-
Interest paid
16,602
19,711
19,387
23.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2020
In March 2020, the SEC amended Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X regarding financial disclosure requirements for registered debt offerings involving subsidiaries as either issuers or guarantors and affiliates whose securities are pledged as collateral. This new guidance narrows the circumstances that require separate financial statements of subsidiary issuers and guarantors and streamlines the alternative disclosures required in lieu of those statements. This rule is effective January 4, 2021 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this new standard in the fourth quarter of 2020. Accordingly, summarized financial information has been presented only for the parent and subsidiary co-obligor of the Company’s registered debt securities for the most recent fiscal year. The location of the required disclosures has been moved outside the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is provided in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Co-obligor Financial Information” section of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition’ in Item 7 of Part II of this report.
In March, 2020, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that affected a variety of topics in the Codification. The amendments in this update are meant to make the Codification easier to understand and easier to apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarification. This guidance is effective for all fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this new accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
In August, 2018, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which removed, modified, and added certain disclosures related to Topic 820, Fair Value. The affected disclosures are related to transfers between fair value levels, level 3 assets, and investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value. This guidance is effective for all fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this new accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
In January, 2017, the FASB issued updated guidance that simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e. Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test). Under the new amendments, an entity may still first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. If determined to be necessary, the quantitative impairment test shall be used to identify goodwill impairment and measure the amount of a goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized for the amount that the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This guidance is effective for public business entities’ annual or interim goodwill impairment testing in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this new accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
In June, 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance addressing the measurement of expected credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance requires financial assets measured at amortized cost, which includes but are not limited to premiums receivable and reinsurance receivables, to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected over the life of the asset using an allowance for expected credit losses. Changes in the allowance are charged to earnings. The measurement of expected credit losses should consider relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current information, as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the financial assets. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured similar to the old guidance; however, the new guidance requires that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down of the amortized cost basis of the impaired securities and allows for the reversal of credit losses in the current period net income. In addition, the Company made certain accounting policy elections related to accrued interest receivables which are described in Note 3. The Company adopted this new accounting guidance on January 1, 2020 using a modified-retrospective approach. The adoption of this new accounting guidance and the impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is described primarily within Note 3 and Note 6.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
In December, 2019, the FASB issued updated guidance related to the accounting for income taxes. The updated guidance is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing several exceptions contained in existing guidance and amending other existing guidance to simplify several other income tax accounting matters. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this new accounting guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
24.
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
An unaudited summary of the Company’s 2020 and 2019 quarterly performance is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Net earned premiums
$
144,468
$
141,847
$
140,302
$
141,082
Net investment income (loss)
10,129
(2,359
)
11,746
8,876
Net realized investment gains (losses)
(68,162
)
38,507
7,323
7,670
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
77,647
67,297
97,148
94,109
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
56,412
53,578
53,268
52,349
Income (loss) before income taxes
(56,547
)
44,556
(18,379
)
1,259
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
(44,578
)
37,551
(15,212
)
1,081
Per share data - Diluted:
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
$
(3.13
)
$
2.61
$
(1.06
)
$
0.07
Year Ended December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Net earned premiums
$
122,089
$
128,201
$
133,312
$
141,660
Net investment income
7,219
13,826
11,348
9,659
Net realized investment gains (losses)
10,390
3,590
(2,690
)
24,052
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
58,321
70,075
73,583
73,423
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
49,743
50,534
53,366
54,760
Income before income taxes
23,894
15,849
6,404
35,610
Net income available to common shareholders
19,600
14,663
6,721
29,031
Per share data - Diluted:
Net income available to common shareholders
$
1.37
$
1.02
$
0.47
$
2.02
25.
Subsequent events
Retirement of Chief Executive Officer
On January 19, 2021, the Company announced that Ms. Valko informed the Board that she would retire effective as of January 31, 2021. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Valko has resigned from her positions as chief executive officer of Global Indemnity Group, LLC and a member of the Board of Directors, in each case effective as of January 15, 2021, although Ms. Valko will continue to serve the Company in an advisory capacity. The size of the Board has been reduced from seven to six directors, effective upon Ms. Valko’s resignation from the Board.
In connection with Ms. Valko’s retirement, the Company has entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Ms. Valko. Among other provisions, the Separation Agreement provides for (a) a severance payment of $675,000 to be paid ratably through December 2021, (b) preservation of all vested stock options held by Ms. Valko as of the date of her retirement to remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) 24 months from the date of Ms. Valko’s retirement or (ii) the expiration date of the applicable option, (c) forfeiture or continued vesting, as applicable, of unvested stock options held by Ms. Valko in accordance with their terms, with any such options that vest remaining exercisable for a period 24 to 38 months from the date of Ms. Valko’s retirement depending upon the vesting date, (d) the grant of 300,000 fully vested options as provided in Ms. Valko’s current employment agreement and (e) eligibility for an annual bonus for 2020 and true-up of bonus awards, based on a true-up of underwriting results for the applicable year, in the fourth calendar year following the applicable bonus award for all bonus years that remain open as of the date of retirement, including pro rata payment of bonus awards for January 2021. The receipt of the severance payment and the extension of the term of the stock options are subject to Ms. Valko’s execution of a general release in favor of the Company. The Separation Agreement also includes perpetual confidentiality and mutual non-disparagement provisions, and non-competition and employee and customer non-solicitation provisions effective until January 31, 2023. The foregoing description of the Separation Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Separation Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.21 in Item 15 of Part IV of this report.
Effective as of January 19, 2021, the Company named Jonathan E. Oltman as president of the Company’s insurance operations. Mr. Oltman joined the Company in 2014, serving most recently as executive vice president - commercial lines since February 2019. Until Ms. Valko’s successor as chief executive officer of the Company is duly appointed, Mr. Oltman will act as Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s principal executive officer. Mr. Oltman will report directly to the Board through its chairman on a day-to-day basis.
In connection with Mr. Oltman’s appointment, the Company and Mr. Oltman executed an agreement (the “Terms of Employment”) on January 19, 2021 setting forth the principal terms of Mr. Oltman’s employment with the Company. The Company expects to enter into definitive documentation with Mr. Oltman incorporating the provisions set forth in the Terms of Employment.
The Terms of Employment provides for Mr. Oltman’s term of office as president of the Company’s insurance operations to run from January 19, 2021 through December 31, 2023. The Terms of Employment also provides for an annual base salary of $650,000 (“Base Salary”) and an annual bonus opportunity of $487,500 to $812,500 (the “Bonus Opportunity”), payable based on the achievement of certain underwriting results, as determined by the Board, for each year of Mr. Oltman’s term as president of the Company’s insurance operations, with 50% of the Bonus Opportunity payable in cash in the subsequent calendar year and 50% payable in Global Indemnity Group, LLC stock following a true-up of underwriting results for the applicable year in the fourth calendar year following the applicable bonus award.
The Terms of Employment provides for a grant of 140,000 stock options to acquire Global Indemnity Group, LLC shares. One-third of the options will vest on April 1 of each of 2022, 2023 and 2024, subject to the achievement of certain underwriting results for the applicable year as determined by the Board and Mr. Oltman being a Company employee in good standing as of the applicable vesting date. The stock options will be subject to the terms of Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s stock option plans and ancillary agreements.
The Terms of Employment provides that the Company may terminate Mr. Oltman’s employment at any time for any reason. In the event of Mr. Oltman’s termination by the Company without “cause” (as defined in the Terms of Employment), Mr. Oltman will receive as severance an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (i) one month of Base Salary for each 12 months of employment and (ii) the Base Salary otherwise payable between the termination date and December 31, 2023 (such Base Salary payments, the “Severance Amount”). Payment of the Severance Amount is contingent upon compliance with the terms in the Terms of Employment, including Mr. Oltman’s execution of and not revoking a general release of claims in favor of the Company.
The Terms of Employment includes perpetual confidentiality and mutual non-disparagement provisions, and two-year post-termination non-competition and employee and customer non-solicitation provisions.
The foregoing description of the Terms of Employment is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Terms of Employment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.24 in Item 15 of Part IV of this report.
Commitment
In January, 2021, the Company entered into a $25 million commitment to purchase an alternative investment vehicle that invests in performing, stressed or distressed securities and loans across the global fixed income markets.
Distribution
On February 14, 2021, Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s Board of Directors approved a distribution payment of $0.25 per common share to be paid on March 31, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 22, 2021.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The Company's management, with the participation of its Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2020. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
•
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
•
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company's management and Directors; and
•
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management has assessed the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. The standard measures adopted by management in making its evaluation are the measures in the Internal Control Integrated Framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.
Based upon its assessment, management has concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective at December 31, 2020, and that there were no material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of that date.
Ernst & Young, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, which has audited and reported on the consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-K, has issued its report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. See “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on page 143.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Global Indemnity Group, LLC
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Global Indemnity Group, LLC’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Global Indemnity Group, LLC (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2) and our report dated March 12, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 12, 2021

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
None
PART III

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, the Company’s definitive proxy statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (“2021 Proxy Statement”).

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, the Company’s 2021 Proxy Statement.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, the Company’s 2021 Proxy Statement.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, the Company’s 2021 Proxy Statement.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, the Company’s 2021 Proxy Statement.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by the Company in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(a)(1)
The Financial Statements listed in the accompanying index on page 74 are filed as part of this report.
(a)(2)
The Financial Statement Schedules listed in the accompanying index on page 74 are filed as part of this report.
Exhibit
No.
Description
3.1
Share Designation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File No. 001-34809)).
3.2
Second Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of Global Indemnity Group, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
4.1+
Description of Securities
4.2
Indenture, dated as of August 12, 2015, by and between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 12, 2015) (File No. 001-34809)).
4.3
First Supplemental Indenture, dated November 7, 2016, among Global Indemnity Limited, Global Indemnity plc and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, to the Indenture dated as of August 12, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated November 7, 2016 (File No. 001-34809)).
4.4
Officers’ Certificate, dated August 12, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 12, 2015 (File No. 001-34809)).
4.5
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2017, among Global Indemnity Limited, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 23, 2017 (File No. 001-34809)).
4.6
Form of 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (File No. 001-34809)).
4.7
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 25, 2018, by and among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 25, 2018 (File No. 001-34809)).
4.8
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020, among Global Indemnity Limited, GBLI Holdings, LLC, New CayCo, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee, to the Indenture dated as of August 12, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
4.9
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 28, 2020, among New CayCo, GBLI Holdings, LLC, Global Indemnity Group, LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee, to the Indenture dated as of August 12, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
10.1*
Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated May 6, 2020, by and among Global Indemnity Limited and Fox Paine & Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.2*
Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2020, by and between Global Indemnity Group, LLC and Fox Paine & Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
10.3*
Management Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2003, by and among United National Group, Ltd., Fox Paine & Company, LLC and The AMC Group, L.P. with related Indemnity Letter (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108857) filed on October 28, 2003)(File No. 000-50511)).
10.4*
Global Indemnity Limited Share Incentive Plan, as amended and restated and effective as of November 7, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated November 7, 2016 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.5*
Global Indemnity Limited 2018 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current Report on Form 8-K dated June 14, 2018 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.6*
Amended and Restated Global Indemnity Group, LLC 2018 Share Incentive Plan, dated as of August 28, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
10.7*
Global Indemnity Limited Annual Incentive Awards Program, as amended and restated and effective as of November 7, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated November 7, 2016 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.8*
Amended and Restated Global Indemnity Group, LLC Annual Incentive Awards Program, dated as of August 28, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
10.9*
Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated July 2, 2010, by and among Global Indemnity plc (as successor to United America Indemnity, Ltd.) and the signatories thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated July 2, 2010 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.10*
Assignment and Assumption Agreement relating to the Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated July 2, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated July 2, 2010 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.11*
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2013, by and among Global Indemnity plc and the signatories thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.12*
Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2016, between Global Indemnity Limited and Global Indemnity plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated November 7, 2016 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.13*
Indemnification Agreement between United America Indemnity, Ltd. and Fox Paine Capital Fund II International L.P., dated July 2, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12b dated July 2, 2010 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.14*
Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2016, between Global Indemnity Limited, Global Indemnity plc and Fox Paine Capital Fund II International L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated November 7, 2016 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.15*
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2009, between United America Indemnity, Ltd. and Thomas M. McGeehan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-50511)).
10.16*
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement with Thomas M. McGeehan, dated November 7, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated November 7, 2016 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.17*
Amendment to the Executive Employment Agreement with Thomas M. McGeehan, dated as of August 28, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809)).
10.18*
Cynthia Valko Chief Executive Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 9, 2018 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.19*
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement with Cynthia Y. Valko, dated as of August 28, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File no. 001-34809).
10.20*
Chief Executive Agreement with Cynthia Y. Valko effective January 1, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 14, 2020 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.21+
Separation Agreement with Cynthia Y. Valko effective January 15, 2021.
10.22*
Executive Employment Term Sheet with Stephen Green, dated effective as of January 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.23*
Amendment to the Executive Employment Term Sheet with Stephen Green, dated as of August 28, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.24+
Terms of Employment with Jonathan E. Oltman effective January 19, 2021.
10.25
Institutional Services Customer Agreement dated as of December 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.26
Confidentiality Agreement between Fox Paine & Company, LLC and Global Indemnity Limited, dated September 17, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 (File No. 001-34809)).
10.27
Preferred Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2020, by and between Global Indemnity Group, LLC and Wyncote LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12B dated August 28, 2020 (File No. 001-34809)).
21.1+
List of Subsidiaries.
22.1+
List of Co-Issuer Subsidiaries.
23.1+
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1+
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2+
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1+
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2+
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
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+
Filed or furnished herewith.
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.