Item 1. BUSINESS
Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana in 1930. Through its divisions and subsidiaries, Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. (referred to herein as "B&L") engages in marketing and underwriting property and casualty insurance including a limited assumption of risks as a reinsurer of other companies.
B&L's principal subsidiaries are:
1.
Protective Insurance Company (referred to herein as "Protective"), which is licensed by insurance authorities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, all Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico;
2.
Protective Specialty Insurance Company (referred to herein as "Protective Specialty"), which is currently approved for excess and surplus lines business by insurance authorities in 48 states and the District of Columbia and licensed in Indiana;
3.
Sagamore Insurance Company (referred to herein as "Sagamore"), which is licensed by insurance authorities in 49 states and the District of Columbia and approved for excess and surplus lines business in one additional state;
4.
B&L Brokerage Services, Inc., (referred to herein as "BLBS"), an Indiana domiciled insurance broker licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; and
5.
B&L Insurance, Ltd. (referred to herein as "BLI"), which is domiciled and licensed in Bermuda.
Protective, Protective Specialty, Sagamore and BLI are collectively referred to herein as the "Insurance Subsidiaries." The "Company", as used herein, refers to Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and all its subsidiaries unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Approximately 21% of premiums written by the Insurance Subsidiaries during 2015 was attributable to business produced directly by B&L. The remainder was produced through a network of broker and agent partners.
As is a common practice in the property & casualty insurance industry, the Insurance Subsidiaries share (referred to as "ceding") portions of their gross premiums written with several non-affiliated reinsurers under excess of loss and quota-share treaties covering predetermined groups of risks and by facultative (individual policy-by-policy) placements. Reinsurance is ceded to spread the risk of loss from individual accidents or groups of accidents among several reinsurers and is an integral part of the Company's business.
The Insurance Subsidiaries serve a variety of specialty markets as follows:
Fleet Transportation
The Insurance Subsidiaries provide coverage for larger companies in the motor carrier industry which retain substantial amounts of self-insurance, for independent contractors utilized by trucking companies, for medium-sized and small trucking companies on a first dollar or small deductible basis and for public livery concerns, principally covering fleets of commercial buses. This group of products is collectively referred to as fleet transportation. Large fleet trucking products are marketed both by the B&L agency organization directly to fleet transportation clients and also through relationships with non-affiliated brokers and specialized independent agents. The principal types of fleet transportation insurance marketed by the Insurance Subsidiaries are:
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Commercial motor vehicle liability, physical damage and general liability insurance.
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Workers' compensation insurance.
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Specialized accident (medical and indemnity) insurance for independent contractors of trucking concerns.
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Non-trucking motor vehicle liability insurance for independent contractors.
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Fidelity and surety bonds.
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Inland Marine consisting principally of cargo insurance.
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"Captive" insurance company products, which are provided through BLI in Bermuda.
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B&L also performs a variety of additional services, primarily for the Company's insureds, including risk surveys and analyses, safety program design and monitoring, government compliance assistance, loss control and cost studies and research, development, and consultation in connection with new insurance programs including development of computerized systems to assist customers in monitoring their accident data. Extensive claims handling services are also provided, primarily to clients with self-insurance programs.
Reinsurance Assumptions
The Company accepts cessions and retrocessions from selected insurance and reinsurance companies, providing reinsurance coverage for both property and casualty events. Participation in reinsurance markets fluctuates based on market conditions for these products. In recent years, unfavorable pricing and terms available in reinsurance markets, particularly property markets, has resulted in a significant decline in premium assumed by the Company.
Approximately 86% of net reinsurance premium earned during 2015 relates to professional liability coverages provided to domestic insurance companies and produced through a network of independent brokers.
Property reinsurance premium for 2015 was limited to the final runoff of United States wind and earthquake business produced through a single exclusive managing general agency partnership. Effective July 1, 2014, this final property catastrophe exposure was not renewed and, as of June 30, 2015, no property reinsurance risk remained inforce.
In addition to the assumption of risks described above, the Insurance Subsidiaries participate in numerous mandatory government-operated reinsurance pools which require insurance companies to provide coverages on assigned risks. These assigned risk pools allocate participation to all insurers based upon each insurer's portion of direct premium writings on a state or national level. Assigned risk premium typically comprises less than 1% of gross direct premium written and assumed by the Insurance Subsidiaries and are included with the property and casualty segment because they are linked to premiums written and earned by that segment.
Professional Liability
The Company markets a variety of professional liability products through wholesale and retail agents on both an admitted and surplus lines basis throughout the United States, specializing in smaller insureds.
Private Passenger Automobile Insurance
In late 2015, the Company discontinued marketing private passenger automobile liability and physical damage coverages and all business for this product line will expire in 2016.
Property/Casualty Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred typically comprise nearly two-thirds of the Company's operating expenses. A discussion of this expense category follows.
The consolidated balance sheets include the estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") of the Insurance Subsidiaries before the application of reinsurance credits (gross reserves). The liabilities for losses and LAE are determined using case basis evaluations and statistical projections and represent estimates of the Company's ultimate exposure for all unpaid losses and LAE incurred through December 31 of each year. These estimates are subject to the effects of trends in claim severity and frequency and are continually reviewed and, as experience develops and new information becomes known, the liability is adjusted as necessary. Such adjustments, either positive or negative, are reflected in current operations as recorded.
The Company's reserves for losses and loss expenses are determined based on evaluations of individual reported claims and by actuarial estimation processes using historical experience, current economic information and, when necessary, available industry statistics. "Case basis" loss reserves, which comprise approximately 66% of total gross reserves at December 31, 2015, are evaluated on an individual case-by-case basis by experienced claims adjusters using established Company guidelines and are monitored by claims management. Additionally, "bulk" reserves , which comprise approximately 34% of total gross reserves at December 31, 2015 are established for (1) those losses which have occurred, but have not yet been reported to the Company ("incurred but not reported" claims), (2) provisions for any possible deficiencies in the case reserving process and (3) the expected external and internal costs to fully settle each claim ("loss adjustment expenses). Common actuarial methods are employed in the establishment of bulk reserves using Company historical loss data, consideration of changes in the Company's business and study of current economic trends affecting ultimate claims costs. Loss adjustment expense reserves include amounts ultimately allocable to individual claims as well as amounts required for the general overhead of the claims handling operation which are not specifically allocable to individual claims. Historical analyses of the ratio of loss adjusting expenses to losses paid on prior closed claims and study of current economic trends affecting loss settlement costs are used to estimate the loss adjustment reserve needs related to the established loss reserves. Each of these reserve categories contain elements of uncertainty which assure variability when compared to the ultimate costs to settle the underlying claims for which the reserves are established. For a more detailed discussion of the three categories of reserves, see "Loss and Loss Expense Reserves" under the caption, "Critical Accounting Policies" beginning on page 28 in Management's Discussion and Analysis.
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The reserving process requires management to continuously monitor and evaluate the life cycle of claims. Our claims range from the very routine private passenger automobile "fender bender" to the highly complex and costly claims involving large tractor-trailer rigs and large-scale losses resulting from catastrophic events. Reserving for each class of claims requires a set of assumptions based upon historical experience, knowledge of current industry trends and seasoned judgment. The high limits provided by the Company's fleet transportation liability policies provide for greater volatility in the reserving process for more serious claims. Court rulings, legislative actions, geographic location of the claim under consideration and trends in jury awards also play a significant role in the estimation process of larger claims. The Company continuously reviews and evaluates loss developments subsequent to each measurement date and adjusts its reserve estimation assumptions, as necessary, in an effort to achieve the best possible estimate of the ultimate remaining loss costs at any point in time.
Loss reserves related to certain permanent total disability (PTD) workers' compensation claims have been discounted to present value using tables provided by the National Council on Compensation Insurance which are based upon a pretax interest rate of 3.5% and adjusted for those portions of the losses retained by the insured. The loss and LAE reserves at December 31, 2015 have been reduced by approximately $2.1 million as a result of such discounting. Had the Company not discounted these loss reserves, pretax income would have been approximately $1.0 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2015.
For policies inforce at December 31, 2015, the maximum amount for which the Company insures a fleet transportation risk is $10 million, less applicable self-insured retentions, although for the majority of policies written, the maximum limits provided by the Company are $5 million or less. Occasionally, limits above $10 million required by customers are placed directly by Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. with non-affiliated carriers or written by the Company but 100% reinsured with non-affiliated reinsurers. Certain coverages, such as workers' compensation, provide essentially unlimited exposure, although the Company protects itself to the extent believed prudent through the purchase of excess reinsurance for these coverages. After giving effect to treaty and facultative reinsurance arrangements the Company's maximum exposure to loss from a single occurrence for currently inforce business ranges from approximately $.25 million to $1.3 million for the vast majority of risks insured although, for certain losses occurring within the past five policy years, maximum exposure could be as high as $2.5 million for a single occurrence. Certain reinsurance agreements effective since June 3, 2005 include provisions for aggregate deductibles that must be exceeded before the Company can recover under the terms of the treaties. The Company retains a higher percentage of the direct premium (and, therefore, cedes less premium to reinsurers) in consideration of these deductible provisions.
The Company is cedent under numerous reinsurance treaties covering its varied product lines. Treaties are typically written on an annual basis, each with its own renewal date. However, treaty terms may occasionally be agreed to for periods beyond one year. Treaty renewals are expected to largely continue to occur annually in the foreseeable future. Because losses from certain of the Company's products can experience delays in being reported and can take years to settle, losses reported to the Company in the current year may be covered by a number of older reinsurance treaties with higher or lower net loss exposures than those provided by current treaty provisions.
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The table on page 5 sets forth a reconciliation of beginning and ending loss and LAE liability balances for 2015, 2014 and 2013. That table is presented net of reinsurance recoverable to correspond with income statement presentation. However, a reconciliation of these net reserves to those gross of reinsurance recoverable, as presented in the balance sheet, is also shown. The table on page 10 shows the development of the estimated liability, net of reinsurance recoverable, for the ten years prior to 2015. The table on page 11 is a summary of the re-estimated liability, before consideration of reinsurance, for the ten years prior to 2015 as well as the related re-estimated reinsurance ceded for the same periods.
The reconciliation above shows that the Company's estimate of net losses on 2014 and prior accidents is approximately $10.1 million lower at December 31, 2015 than was provided in loss reserves at December 31, 2014 (referred to as "reserve savings"), with comparative reserve savings for the two previous calendar years.
The following table is a summary of the 2015 calendar year reserve savings by accident year (dollars in thousands):
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The (savings) deficiency recorded for the above individual loss years was derived from varied sources, as follows (dollars in thousands):
Loss and loss expense development savings, presented separately by segment, were as follows for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
In the first table on page 6, the amounts identified as "Net (savings) deficiency on losses from directly-produced business" consist of development on cases known at December 31, 2014, losses reported which were previously unknown at December 31, 2014 (incurred but not reported), unallocated loss expense paid related to accident years 2014 and prior and changes in the reserves for incurred but not reported losses and loss expenses. Bulk loss reserves are established to provide for potential future adverse development on cases known to the Company and for cases unknown at the reserve date. Changes in the reserves for incurred but not reported losses and loss expenses occur based upon information received on known and newly reported cases during the current year and the effect of that development on the application of standard actuarial methods used by the Company.
Also shown in the table are amounts representing the "(savings) deficiency reported under reinsurance assumption agreements and residual markets". These amounts relate to the Company's participation in both voluntary reinsurance policies and treaties and government mandated pools. The Company records its share of losses from these policies, treaties and pools based on reports from the reinsured companies, retrocessionaires and residual market administrators and does not directly establish case reserves related to this portion of the Company's business. The Company does, however, establish additional reserves for reinsurance losses to supplement case reserves reported by the ceding companies, when considered necessary. Involuntary residual market premiums and losses are included in the property and casualty segment; however, claims are not administered by the Company but, rather, reserves on this business are established by the regulatory entities and, accordingly, development on these losses is largely dependent on the adequacy of loss reserving by these entities. Development deficiencies on residual market business were $3.0 million, $0.7 million, and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
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The property and casualty insurance segment has historically constituted the largest portion of net reserve development savings as it has historically generated the majority of the Company's premium revenue. As shown, the savings from this segment ranged from $1.7 million to a savings of $10.3 million during the past three years. This fluctuation reflects the variability associated with higher premium volumes and, hence, the larger claims covered by the Company, as well as fluctuations in the Company's net retentions. The Company continues to incorporate more recent loss development data into its loss reserving formulae; however, the change from excess of loss to quota share treaties beginning in 2005, the use of facultative reinsurance on larger risks, and the dynamic nature of losses associated with the fleet transportation business as well as the timing of settlement of large claims increases the likelihood of variability in loss developments from period to period. As discussed elsewhere, the Company has historically experienced savings in its loss developments owing to, among other things, its long-standing policy of reserving for the ultimate value of losses quickly and realistically and a willingness to settle claims based upon a seasoned evaluation of its exposures. While the Company's basic assumptions have remained consistent, we continue to update loss data to reflect changing trends which can be expected to result in fluctuations in loss developments over time.
The development for the reinsurance segment is heavily dependent on the establishment of case basis and IBNR reserves by other insurance and reinsurance companies. However, the Company evaluates the sufficiency of such reserving and often adjusts reserves based on management's independent analysis, considering the number of different entities involved and the fact that the Company must rely on external sources of information, reserve development from these products is potentially subject to fluctuation from year to year.
Factors affecting the development of environmental claims are more fully discussed in the following paragraphs. The Company has very limited exposure to environmental losses and activity with respect to environmental losses during the three year period ending 2015 has been insignificant.
Management's goal is to produce an overall estimate of reserves which is sufficient and as close to expected ultimate losses as possible. The $10.1 million in net savings developed during 2015 represents approximately 30% of pre-tax net income before realized capital gains for 2015 but only 3.4% of December 31, 2014 net loss and LAE reserves, which is well within the acceptable range of variation for the Company's diverse and complex book of business. The Company has maintained a consistent, conservative posture in its reserving process which has proven to be fully adequate with no overall deficiencies developed since 1985. The Company constantly monitors changes in trends related to the numbers of claims incurred relative to correlative variances with premium volume, average settlement amounts, numbers of claims outstanding at period ends and the average value per claim outstanding and adjusts actuarial assumptions as necessary to accommodate observed trends.
As described on page 4, changes have occurred in the Company's net per accident retained exposure under reinsurance agreements in place during the periods presented in the previous table. It is much more difficult to reserve for losses where policy limits are as high as $10 million per accident as opposed to those losses related to business which carries lower policy limits, such as private passenger automobile. This is because there are fewer policy limit losses in the Company's historical loss database on which to project future loss developments and the larger and more complex the loss, the greater the likelihood that litigation will become involved in the settlement process. Consequently, the level of uncertainty in the reserving process is much greater when dealing with larger losses and will routinely result in fluctuations among accident year developments.
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Ten Year Historical Development Tables:
The table on page 10 presents the development of GAAP balance sheet insurance reserves for each year-end from 2005 through 2014, as of December 31, 2015, net of all reinsurance credits. The top line of the table shows the estimated liability for unpaid losses and LAE recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and LAE for claims arising in all prior years that were unpaid at the respective balance sheet date, including losses that had been incurred, but not yet reported, to the Company.
The upper portion of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on additional information available to the Company as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of individual claims and as claims are settled and paid.
The "cumulative redundancy" represents the aggregate change in the estimates of each calendar year end reserve through December 31, 2015. For example, the 2005 liability has developed a $51.9 million redundancy over ten years. That amount has been reflected in income over those ten years, as shown on the table. The effect on calendar year income of changes in estimates of the liability for losses and LAE during each of the past three years is shown in the table on page 5.
Historically, the Company's net loss developments have been favorable. Reserve developments for all years ended in the period 1986 through 2014 have produced redundancies as of December 31, 2015. In addition to a consistently conservative approach to reserving methods, loss reserve developments in recent years have been favorably affected by several other factors. Perhaps the most significant single factor has been the improvement in safety programs by the fleet transportation industry in general and by the Company's insureds specifically. Statistics produced by a variety of sources show that driver quality in general and specifically as relates to the type of transportation companies underwritten by the Company, has improved markedly in the past decade resulting in fewer fatalities and serious accidents. The Company's experience also shows that improved safety and hiring programs have a dramatic impact on the frequency and severity of fleet transportation accidents and, more recently, the introduction of numerous safety devices using state-of-the-art technology has reduced rear end and cross over accidents which often produce the most serious injuries. In addition, the expanded use of telematics to precisely measure driver behavior and provide focused training and remediation is positively impacting loss experience. Significant trucking industry and regulatory initiatives, such as CSA 2010, have provided strong motivation to trucking companies to upgrade their driver roster, increase monitoring of driver behavior and improve equipment maintenance, all resulting in fewer accidents. Higher self-insured retentions also play a part in reduced insurance losses. Higher retentions not only raise the excess insurance entry point but also encourage fleet transportation company management to focus even more intensely on safety programs.
The establishment of bulk reserves requires the use of historical data, where available, and generally a minimum of ten years of such data is required to provide statistically valid samples for most lines of business. As previously mentioned, numerous factors must be considered in reviewing historical data including inflation, legislative actions, new coverages provided and trends noted in the current book of business which are different from those present in the historical data. Clearly, the Company's book of business in 2015 is different, both in terms of exposures provided and rates charged, from that which generated much of the ten-year historical loss data used to establish reserves in recent years. Management has noted trends toward significantly higher settlements and jury awards associated with the more serious fleet transportation liability claims over the past several years. The inflationary factors affecting these claims appear to be more subjective in nature and not in line with compensatory equity. In addition to the factors mentioned above, savings realized in recent years upon the closing of claims, as reflected in the tables on pages 5 and 11, are attributable to the Company's experience in specializing in long-haul trucking business for over 50 years as well as its long-standing policy of reserving for losses realistically and a willingness to settle claims based upon a seasoned evaluation of the underlying exposures. The Company will continue to review the trends noted and, should it appear that such trends are permanent and projectable, they will be reflected in future reserving method refinements.
The lower section of the table on page 10 shows the cumulative amount paid with respect to the previously recorded calendar year end liability as of the end of each succeeding year. For example, as of December 31, 2015, the Company had paid $168.3 million of losses and LAE that had been incurred, but not paid, as of December 31, 2005; thus, an estimated $22.0 million (12%) of losses incurred through 2005 remain unpaid as of the current financial statement date ($190.3 million incurred less $168.3 million paid). The payment patterns shown in this table demonstrate the "long-tail" nature of much of the Company's business whereby portions of claims, principally in workers compensation coverages, do not fully pay out for more than ten years.
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Readers should note that the table on page 10 does not present accident or policy year development data which they may be more accustomed to analyzing. Rather, this table is intended to present an evaluation of the Company's ability to establish its liability for losses and loss expenses at a given balance sheet date. In reviewing this information, it is important to understand that this method of presentation causes some development experience to be duplicated. For example, the amount of any redundancy or deficiency related to losses settled in 2008, but incurred in 2005, will be included in the cumulative development amount for each of the years ending December 31, 2005, 2006, and 2007. It is also important to note that conditions and trends that have affected development of the liability in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on this table.
The table presented on page 11 presents loss development data on a gross (before consideration of reinsurance) basis for the same ten year period December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2014, as of December 31, 2015, with a reconciliation of the data to the net amounts shown in the table on page 10. Readers are reminded that the gross data presented on page 11 requires significantly more subjectivity in the estimation of incurred but not reported and loss expense reserves because of the high limits provided by the Company to its fleet transportation customers, some of which has been covered by excess of loss and facultative reinsurance. This is particularly true of excess of loss treaties where the Company retains risk in only the lower, more predictable, layers of coverage. Accordingly, one would generally expect more variability in development on a gross basis than on a net basis. The difference between loss developments before consideration of reinsurance, as presented on page 11, and those net of reinsurance, as shown on page 10 do not impact the Company's operating results as all such differences are borne by reinsurers.
Environmental Matters:
Given the Company's principal business is insuring fleet transportation companies, on occasion claims involving a commercial automobile accident which has resulted in the spill of a pollutant are made. Certain of the Company's policies may cover these situations on the basis that they were caused by an accident that resulted in the immediate and isolated spill of a pollutant. These claims are typically reported, evaluated and fully resolved within a short period of time.
In general, establishing reserves for environmental claims, other than those associated with "sudden and accidental" losses, is subject to uncertainties that are greater than those represented by other types of claims. Factors contributing to those uncertainties include a lack of historical data, long reporting delays, uncertainty as to the number and identity of insureds with potential exposure, unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage, and the extent and timing of any such contractual liability. Courts have reached different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions as to when the loss occurred and what policies provide coverage, what claims are covered, whether there is an insured obligation to defend, how policy limits are determined, how policy exclusions are applied and interpreted, and whether cleanup costs represent insured property damage.
As previously noted, very few environmental claims have been reported to the Company. In addition, a review of the businesses of our past and current insureds indicates that exposure to claims of an environmental nature is limited because the vast majority of the Company's accounts are not currently, and have not in the past been, involved in the hauling of hazardous substances. Also, the revision of the pollution exclusion in the Company's policies since 1986 has, and is expected to, further limit exposure to claims from that point forward.
The Company has never been presented with an environmental claim relating to asbestos and, based on the types of business the Company has insured over the years, it is not expected that the Company could have any significant asbestos exposure.
The Company's reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses at December 31, 2015 did not include significant amounts for liability related to environmental damage claims. The Company does not foresee significant future exposure to environmental damage claims and accordingly has established no reserve for incurred but not reported environmental losses at December 31, 2015.
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Marketing
The Company's primary marketing areas are outlined on pages 2 and 3.
Historically, the Company has focused its fleet transportation marketing efforts on large and medium trucking fleets, with its biggest market share in the larger trucking fleets (over 150 power units). The largest of these fleets (over 250 power units) self-insure a significant portion of their risk and self-insurance plans are a specialty of the Company. The indemnity contract provided to self-insured customers is designed to cover all aspects of fleet transportation liability, including third party liability, property damage, physical damage, cargo and workers' compensation, arising from vehicular accident or other casualty loss. The self-insured program is supplemented with large deductible workers' compensation policies in states which do not allow for self-insurance of this coverage. Fleets with fewer than 250 power units typically purchase full insurance coverage or retain small deductibles on each claim. The Company's fleet transportation offerings also include public livery risks, principally large and medium sized operators of bus fleets. The Company's fleet transportation offerings include work-related accident insurance, on a group or individual basis, to independent contractors under contract to a fleet sponsor as well as workers' compensation coverage to employees of independent contractor fleet owners.
In addition, the Company offers a program of coverages for "small fleet" trucking concerns (owner-operators generally with one to six power units).
In 2015, fleet transportation products generated approximately 95% of direct premium written by the Property & Casualty Insurance Segment.
Beginning in 2010, the Company began underwriting miscellaneous professional liability coverages through wholesale and retail agents and brokers on both an admitted and surplus lines basis.
Since 1992, the Company has accepted reinsurance cessions and retrocessions covering property and casualty risks from selected insurers and reinsurers. Participation in this market has varied over the years depending on the adequacy of pricing. Effective June 30, 2015, no property reinsurance risk remained inforce.
The Company terminated marketing of its private passenger automobile insurance products in late 2015 and all inforce business for this product line will expire in 2016.
Investments
The Company's investment portfolio is essentially divided between (1) funds which are considered necessary to support insurance underwriting activities and (2) excess capital funds. Management believes the funds invested in fixed maturity and short-term securities are more than sufficient to cover underwriting operations while equity securities and limited partnerships are utilized to invest excess capital funds to achieve higher long-term returns. The following discussion will concentrate on the different investment strategies for these two major categories.
At December 31, 2015 the financial statement value of the Company's investment portfolio was approximately $730 million, including $70 million of short-term funds classified as cash equivalents. The adjusted cost of the portfolio was $670 million with the $60 million difference representing pre-tax unrealized appreciation.
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A comparison of the allocation of assets within the Company's investment portfolio, using adjusted cost as a basis, is as follows as of December 31:
Fixed Maturity and Short-Term Investments
Fixed maturity and short-term securities comprised 69.7% of the market value of the Company's total invested assets at December 31, 2015. Excluding U.S. government obligations, the fixed maturity portfolio is widely diversified with no concentrations in any single industry, geographic location or municipality. The largest amount invested in any single issuer was $8.4 million (1.1% of total invested assets) although most individual investments, other than municipal bonds, are less than $750,000. The Company's fixed maturity portfolio has a short duration compared to the duration of its insurance liabilities and, accordingly, the Company does not actively trade fixed maturity securities but typically holds such investments until maturity. Exceptions exist in instances where the underlying credit for a specific issue is deemed to be diminished. In such cases, the security will be considered for disposal prior to maturity. In addition, fixed maturity securities may be sold when realignment of the portfolio is considered beneficial (i.e., moving from taxable to non-taxable issues) or when valuations are considered excessive compared to alternative investments.
The Investment Committee has determined that the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries will, at all times, hold high grade fixed maturity securities and short-term investments with a market value equal to at least 100% of reserves for losses and loss expenses and unearned premiums, net of applicable reinsurance credits. At December 31, 2015, investment grade bonds and short-term instruments held by Insurance Subsidiaries equaled 136% of designated underwriting liabilities, thus providing a substantial margin above this conservative guideline.
The Company's concentration of fixed maturity funds in relatively short-term investments provides it with a level of liquidity which is more than adequate to provide for its anticipated cash flow needs.
The following comparison of the Company's fixed maturity and short-term investment portfolios, using par value as a basis, shows the changes in contractual maturities in the portfolio during 2015. Note that the expected average maturity of the portfolio is less than the contractual maturity average life shown below because the Company has, in some cases, the right to put obligations and borrowers have, in some cases, the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
Approximately $61.3 million of fixed maturity investments (8.4% of total invested assets) consists of bonds rated as less than investment grade by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners at year end. These investments include a diversified portfolio of over 40 investments with a cost basis of approximately $64.5 million.
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The market value of the consolidated fixed maturity portfolio was $5.4 million lower than cost at December 31, 2015, before income taxes, which compares to a $3.6 million unrealized loss at December 31, 2014, with the change due primarily to the decline in oil prices and the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar. The Company analyzes fixed maturity securities for other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") OTTI guidance. As has been the Company's consistent policy, other-than-temporary impairment is considered for any individual issue which has sustained a decline in current market value of at least 20% below original or adjusted cost, and the decline is ongoing for more than six months, regardless of the evaluation of the creditworthiness of the issuer or the specific issue. Additionally, the Company takes into account any known subjective information in evaluating for impairment without consideration to the Company's 20% threshold. In 2015, the net effect of OTTI adjustments to fixed maturity securities was a charge against income of $4.7 million with securities owned at year end having only an insignificant credit related loss treated as unrealized. The current net unrealized gain on fixed maturity securities consists of $4.1 million of gross unrealized gains and $9.5 million of gross unrealized losses. The gross unrealized loss equals approximately 2.2% of the cost of all bonds in this category.
Equity Securities
Because of the large amount of high quality fixed maturity investments owned, relative to the Company's loss and loss expense reserves and other liabilities, amounts invested in equity securities are not needed to fund current operations and, accordingly, can be committed for long periods of time. Equity securities comprise 19.9% of the market value of the consolidated investment portfolio at December 31, 2015, but only 12.0% of the related adjusted cost basis, as long-term holdings have appreciated significantly. The Company's equity securities portfolio consists of over 200 separate issues with diversification from large to small capitalization issuers and among several industries. The largest single equity issue owned has a market value of $6.2 million at December 31, 2015 (0.9% of total invested assets) although the average equity holding of an individual issuer is less than $150,000.
In general, the Company maintains a buy-and-hold philosophy with respect to equity securities. Many current holdings have been continuously owned for more than ten years, which accounts for the fact that the portfolio, in total, carries a $60.0 million pre-tax unrealized gain at the current year end using original cost and over $65.3 million in unrealized gains using cost adjusted for previous other-than-temporary impairment adjustments. An individual equity security will be disposed of when it is determined by investment managers or the Investment Committee that there is little potential for future appreciation. All equity securities are considered to be available for sale although portfolio turnover has historically been very low. Securities are not sold to meet any quarterly or annual earnings quotas but, rather, are disposed of only when market conditions are deemed to dictate, regardless of the impact, positively or negatively, on current period earnings. In addition, equity securities may be sold when realignment of the portfolio is considered beneficial or when valuations are considered excessive compared to alternative investments. Sales of equity securities during 2015 generated both gains and losses but netted to a realized gain of $8.4 million before taxes.
The net effect of other-than-temporary impairment adjustments, including recovery of prior year write downs upon sale or disposal, increased investment gains from equity securities by $1.3 million for the year before taxes. The reclassification of unrealized losses to realized losses occurred on each individual issue where the current market value was at least 20% below original or adjusted cost, and the decline was ongoing for more than six months at the date of write-down, regardless of the evaluation of the issuer or the potential for recovery. Additionally, for any equity security where the decline has existed for a period of at least one year, the decline is treated as an other-than-temporary impairment, regardless of the percentage decline. Further, the Company takes into account any known subjective information in evaluating for impairment without consideration to the Company's 20% threshold. Net unrealized gains on the equity security portfolio were $65.3 million, before tax at December 31, 2015 compared to $83.3 million at December 31, 2014. The current net unrealized gain consists of $70.4 million of gross unrealized gains and $5.1 million of gross unrealized losses.
Limited Partnerships
The Company invests in various limited partnerships engaged in securities trading activities, real estate development or small venture capital funding, as an alternative to direct equity investments. The funds used for these investments are part of the Company's excess capital strategy. At December 31, 2015, aggregate funds invested in limited partnerships was $31.0 million and the aggregate carrying value was $75.5 million, comprising 10.3% of the market value of invested assets.
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As a group, these investments experienced decreases in value during 2015, with the aggregate of the Company's share of such losses reported by the limited partnerships totaling approximately $1.7 million. The decrease in value is composed of estimated realized gains of $6.5 million and decreases in estimated unrealized gains of $8.2 million. On an inception-to-date basis, active limited partnerships have produced estimated realized income of $38.8 million and estimated unrealized income of $5.1 million.
The Company follows the equity method of accounting for its limited partnership investments and, accordingly, records the total change in value as a component of net gains or losses on investments. However, readers are cautioned that, to the extent that reported increases in equity value are unrealized, they can be reduced or eliminated quickly by volatile market conditions. Further, assets purchased with reinvested realized gains can also diminish in value. In addition, a significant minority of the investments included in the limited partnerships do not have readily ascertainable fair market values and, accordingly, values assigned by the general partners may not be realizable upon the sale or disposal of the related assets, which may not occur for several years. Limited partnerships also are highly illiquid investments and the Company's ability to withdraw funds is generally subject to significant restrictions.
Investment Yields
Interest rates, particularly those on the short end of the yield curve where the vast majority of the Company's fixed maturity investments are maintained, continued at historically low levels during 2015. Pre-tax net investment income increased $3.4 million, or 38% and after tax income increased $2.2 million, or 32% during 2015 reflecting a larger concentration in high-yield bonds and higher average invested assets from continuing positive cash flow from operations. A comparison of consolidated investment yields, before consideration of investment management expenses, is as follows:
Readers are also directed to the Results of Operations of this document for additional details of investment operations.
Regulatory Framework
The Company's businesses are currently subject to insurance industry regulation by each of the fifty states in which the Company's subsidiaries are licensed. In addition, minor portions of the Company's business are subject to regulation by Bermudian and Canadian federal and provincial authorities. There can be no assurance that laws and regulations will not be changed by one or more of these regulatory bodies in ways that will require the Company to modify its business models and objectives. In particular, the United States federal government continues to undertake a substantial review and revision of the regulation and supervision of financial institutions, including insurance companies as well as tax laws and regulation, which could impact the Company's operations and performance. While it is currently expected that federal government regulation will be focused on the largest financial companies, additional regulations are likely to increase the cost of compliance to the Company. Further, while management is not aware of any significant pending changes, the Company is also subject to regulatory risks from changes to state and federal tax laws that may affect the treatment of insurance related deductions or income recognition.
Additionally, changes in laws and regulations governing the insurance industry could have an impact on the Company's ability to generate historical levels of income from its insurance operations. The Company is obliged to comply with numerous complex and varied governmental regulations in order to maintain its authority to write insurance business. While the Company has continuously maintained each of its licenses without exception, failure to maintain compliance could result in governmental regulators temporarily preventing the Company from writing new business, thus having a detrimental effect on the Company. Also, the ability for the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries to increase insurance rates is heavily regulated for significant portions of the Company's business and such rate increases are often denied or delayed for substantial periods by regulators.
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Employees
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 438 employees, an increase of 13 employees from the prior year end.
Competition
The insurance brokerage and agency business is highly competitive. B&L competes with a large number of insurance brokerage and agency firms and individual brokers and agents throughout the country, many of which are considerably larger than B&L. B&L also competes with insurance companies which write insurance directly with their customers.
Insurance underwriting is also highly competitive. The Insurance Subsidiaries compete with other stock and mutual companies and inter-insurance exchanges (reciprocals). There are numerous insurance companies offering the lines of insurance which are currently written or may in the future be written by the Insurance Subsidiaries. Many of these companies have been in business for longer periods of time, have significantly larger volumes of business, offer more diversified lines of insurance coverage and have significantly greater financial resources than the Company. In many cases, competitors are willing to provide coverage for rates lower than those charged by the Insurance Subsidiaries. Many potential clients self-insure workers' compensation and other risks for which the Company offers coverage, and some concerns have organized "captive" insurance companies as subsidiaries through which they insure their own operations. Some states have workers' compensation funds that preclude private companies from writing this business in those states. Federal law also authorizes the creation of "Risk Retention Groups" which may write insurance coverages similar to those offered by the Company.
The Company believes it has a competitive advantage in its major lines of business as the result of the extensive experience of its long-tenured management and staff, its superior service and products, its willingness to custom build insurance programs for its customers, its centralized location with ready access to management, its extensive proprietary data bases and the use of technology with respect to its insureds and independent agent force. However, the Company is not "top-line" oriented and will readily sacrifice premium volume during periods of unrealistic rate competition. Accordingly, should competitors determine to "buy" market share with unprofitable rates, the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries will generally experience a decline in business until pricing returns to profitable levels.
Availability of Documents
This Form 10-K as well as the Company's Audit Committee Charter and Code of Conduct will be sent to shareholders without charge upon written request to the Company's Investor Contact at the corporate address. These documents, along with all other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available for review, download or printing from the Company's web site at www.baldwinandlyons.com.
Item 101(b), (c)(1)(i) and (vii), and (d) of Regulation S-K:
Reference is made to Note J to the consolidated financial statements which provide information concerning industry segments and is filed herewith under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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Item 1A.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
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The Company operates in the Property and Casualty insurance industry where many of its competitors are larger with far greater resources. Further, this industry is heavily regulated. Changes in laws and regulations governing the insurance industry could have a significant impact on the Company's ability to generate income from its insurance operations. The Company's Insurance Subsidiaries, as a group, are regulated and licensed in all 50 of the United States, the District of Columbia, all Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and Bermuda. The Company is obliged to comply with numerous complex and varied governmental regulations in order to maintain its authority to write insurance business. Failure to maintain compliance could result in various governmental regulators preventing the Company from writing new business and therefore having a material impact on the Company. Further, the ability for the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries to adjust insurance rates is regulated for significant portions of the Company's business and needed rate adjustments can be denied or delayed for substantial periods by regulators.
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The Company's main insurance subsidiary, Protective, currently has a financial strength rating of "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best. A decline in the Company's rating below "A-" could adversely affect the Company's position in the insurance market, make it more difficult to market the Company's insurance products and cause a significant reduction in the Company's premiums and earnings. A downgrade could result in a loss of a number of insurance contracts the Company writes and in a substantial loss of business to other competitors. Financial ratings are an important factor influencing the competitive position of insurance companies. A.M. Best ratings, which are commonly used in the insurance industry, currently range from "A++" (Superior) to "F" (In Liquidation). The objective of A.M. Best's rating system is to provide potential policyholders and other interested parties an expert independent opinion of an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations, including paying claims. This rating is subject to periodic review and may be revised downward, upward or revoked at the sole discretion of A.M. Best.
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The Company has two classes of common stock with unequal voting rights. The Company is effectively controlled by its principal stockholders and management, which limits other stockholders' ability to influence operations. The Company's executive officers, directors and principal stockholders and their affiliates control approximately 58% of the outstanding shares of voting Class A common stock and approximately 28% of the outstanding shares of non-voting Class B common stock. These parties effectively control the Company, direct its affairs, and exert significant influence in the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. The interests of these stockholders may conflict with those of other stockholders, limit marketability of the stock and this concentration of voting power has the potential to delay, defer or prevent a change in control.
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The Company limits its risk of loss from policies of insurance issued by its Insurance Subsidiaries through the purchase of reinsurance coverage from other insurance companies. Such reinsurance does not relieve the Company from its responsibility to policyholders should the reinsurers be unable to meet their obligations to the Company under the terms of the underlying reinsurance agreements. As a result, the Company is subject to credit risk relating to our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers. While the Company has not experienced any significant reinsurance losses for over twenty five years, a small number of our less significant historical reinsurance carriers have experienced deteriorating financial conditions or have been downgraded by rating agencies and provisions for potential uncollectible balances from these reinsurers have been established. If the Company is unable to collect the amounts due to it from reinsurers, any unreserved credit losses could adversely affect its results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength.
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Operating in the Property and Casualty insurance industry, the Company is exposed to loss from policies of insurance issued to its policyholders. A large portion of the provision for losses recorded by the Company is composed of estimates of future loss payments to be made. Such estimates of future loss payments may prove to be inadequate. Loss and loss expense reserves represent management's best estimate at a given point in time but are not an exact calculation of ultimate liability. Rather, they are complex estimates derived by utilizing a variety of reserve estimation techniques from numerous assumptions and expectations about future events, many of which are highly uncertain, such as estimates of claims severity, frequency of claims, inflation, claims handling, case reserving policies and procedures, underwriting and pricing policies, changes in the legal and regulatory environment and the lag time between the occurrence of an insured event and the time of its ultimate settlement. Many of these uncertainties are not precisely quantifiable and require significant judgment on management's part. As trends in underlying claims develop, particularly in so-called "long tail" lines where the adjudication of claims can take many years, management is sometimes required to revise reserves. This results in a charge to the Company's earnings in the amount of the adjusted reserves, recorded in the period the change in estimate is made. These charges can be substantial and can potentially have a material impact, either positively or negatively, on calendar year results of operations and shareholders' equity.
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While much less significant in the past few years, a portion of the risk underwritten by the Insurance Subsidiaries prior to June 30, 2015 covered property losses resulting from catastrophic events on a worldwide basis. The occurrence and valuation of loss events for this business is highly unpredictable and a single catastrophic event could result in a materially significant loss to the Company. Catastrophe losses can take many months, or even years, for the ultimate cost to be finally determined. As our claim experience develops on a particular catastrophe, management may be required to adjust recorded reserves to reflect our revised estimates of the total cost of claims.
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The Company derives a significant percentage of its direct premium volume from certain FedEx subsidiaries and related entities ("FedEx"), and from insurance coverage provided to FedEx's contracted service providers. While the loss of this major customer could severely impact the Company's revenue earnings potential and A.M. Best rating, insurance programs provided to FedEx and programs provided to the contracted service providers are not necessarily dependent upon one another and, therefore, could be viewed as separate entities.
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The Company, through its Insurance Subsidiaries, requires collateral from its insureds covering the insureds' obligations for self-insured retentions or deductibles related to policies of insurance provided. Should the Company, as surety, become responsible for such insured obligations, the collateral held may prove to be insufficient. In this regard, FedEx utilizes significant self-insured retentions and deductibles under policies of insurance provided by the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries. In the case of FedEx, the Company has determined that the financial strength of the customer is sufficient to allow for holding only partial collateral at this time. Should the Company become responsible for this entire customer's self-insured retention and deductible obligations, the collateral held would be insufficient and the Company would sustain a significant operating loss.
●
Given the Company's significant interest-bearing investment portfolio, a material drop in interest rates could have an adverse impact on the Company's earnings and, potentially, its financial position. Conversely, because of the inverse relationship between interest rates and the market value of bonds, a material increase in interest rates could have a significant temporary negative impact on the market value of the Company's fixed maturity investment portfolio. The functioning of the fixed income markets, the values of the investments the Company holds and the Company's ability to liquidate them may be adversely affected if those markets are disrupted by a change in interest rates or otherwise affected by significant negative factors, including, without limitation: local, national, or international events, such as regulatory changes, wars, or terrorist attacks; a recession, depression, or other adverse developments in either the U.S. or other economies that adversely affects the value of securities held in the Company's portfolio; financial weakness or failure of one or more financial institutions that play a prominent role in securities markets or act as a counterparty for various financial instruments, which could further disrupt the markets; inactive markets for specific kinds of securities, or for the securities of certain issuers or in certain sectors, which could result in decreased valuations and impact the Company's ability to sell a specific security or a group of securities at a reasonable price when desired; a significant change in inflation expectations, or the onset of deflation or stagflation. If the fixed-income portfolio were to suffer a decrease in value to a substantial degree, the Company's liquidity, financial position, and financial results could be materially adversely affected. Under these circumstances, the Company's income from these investments could be materially reduced, and declines in the value of certain securities could further reduce the Company's results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength.
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The Company has a large portfolio of equity securities and limited partnership investments which can fluctuate in value with a wide variety of market conditions. A decline in the aggregate value of the equity securities and limited partnership investments would result in a commensurate decline in the Company's shareholders equity, either through the income statement or directly to equity. The resultant decline could, at least temporarily, materially adversely affect the Company's results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength ratings.
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●
Technological advances, including those specific to the transportation industry, could present the Company with added competitive risks. An increase in accident prevention technologies and the growth of autonomous or partially autonomous vehicles could reduce the amount of accidents over time and shift the liability from the owner of the vehicle to the manufacturer, which would cause automobile insurance to become a smaller portion of the Company's overall Property and Casualty insurance book of business. Innovations in telematics and the increase in usage-based information have become more important and will likely change the way premiums are determined in the future. These advances in technology could materially change the way products in the transportation industry are designed, priced and underwritten and it will take time for the Company to adjust to these changes.
●
The Company's operations rely upon complex and expensive information technology systems for interacting with policyholders, brokers and employers. The Company's success involves providing customers with easy-to-use products and ensuring the Company's workforce has the technology to support the customer base. The pace at which information systems must be upgraded is continually increasing, requiring an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain or upgrade to current standards. The Company's success is reliant on developing and expanding the effectiveness of existing systems and continuing to enhance information systems that support the Company's operations in a cost effective manner.
●
The Company relies upon the information technology systems and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data to run the businesses and service the customers. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances wholly or partly beyond our control. Despite our implementation of a variety of security measures, the information technology and other systems could be subject to physical or electronic break-ins, unauthorized tampering or other cyber security breaches, resulting in a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to customers, or in theft of intellectual property or proprietary information. A failure to maintain proper security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems could delay or disrupt the Company's ability to do business and service customers, harm the Company's reputation, subject the Company to litigation, regulatory fines, a loss of customers and revenues or otherwise adversely affect the business.
●
Changes in current accounting practices and future pronouncements may materially impact the Company's reported financial results. Developments in accounting practices may require the Company to incur considerable additional expenses to comply with such developments, particularly if the Company is required to prepare information relating to prior periods for comparative purposes or to apply the new requirements retroactively. The impact of changes in current accounting practices and future pronouncements cannot be predicted but may affect the calculation of net income, net equity and other historical financial statement line items that are important to users of the financial statements. Changes could also introduce significant volatility in the Company's results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength.
Item 2.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
The Company owns its home office building and the adjacent real estate in Carmel, Indiana, approximately 14 miles from downtown Indianapolis. The home office building contains a total of 181,000 usable square feet and the Company currently occupies approximately 70% of this space with the remainder being leased to non-affiliated entities on relatively short-term leases.
The Company also owns a building and the adjacent real estate in Indianapolis, approximately nine miles from its main office in Carmel. The building contains approximately 15,000 square feet of usable space, and is used primarily for off-site data storage and as a contingent back up and disaster recovery site.
The Company's entire operations are conducted from these facilities. The current facilities are expected to be adequate for the Company's operations for the foreseeable future.
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Item 3.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In the ordinary, regular and routine course of their business, the Company and its Insurance Subsidiaries are frequently involved in various matters of litigation relating principally to claims for insurance coverage provided. No currently pending matter is deemed by management to be material to the Company.
Item 4.
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Nothing to report.
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PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's Class A and Class B common stocks are traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbols BWINA and BWINB, respectively. The Class A and Class B common shares have identical rights and privileges except that Class B shares have no voting rights other than on matters for which Indiana law requires class voting. As of December 31, 2015, there were approximately 400 record holders of Class A Common Stock and approximately 1,000 record holders of Class B Common Stock.
The table below sets forth the range of high and low sale prices for the Class A and Class B Common Stock for 2015 and 2014, as reported by NASDAQ and published in the financial press. The quotations reflect interdealer prices without retail markup, markdown or commission and do not necessarily represent actual transactions.
The Company has paid quarterly cash dividends continuously since 1974. The current regular quarterly dividend rate has been increased to $.26 per share, effective February 2016. The Company expects to continue its policy of paying regular cash dividends although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they are dependent on future earnings, capital requirements and financial conditions and are subject to regulatory restrictions. The Board intends to address the subject of dividends at each of its future meetings considering the Company's earnings, returns on investments and its capital needs.
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Corporate Performance
The following graph shows a five year comparison of cumulative total return for the Corporation's Class B common shares, the NASDAQ Insurance Stock Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The basis of comparison is a $100 investment at December 31, 2010, in each of (i) Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., (ii) Nasdaq Insurance Stocks, and (iii) the Russell 2000 Index. All dividends are assumed to be reinvested.
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Item 6.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The table below provides selected consolidated financial data of the Company. The information has been derived from our consolidated financial statements for each of the years in the five year period ended December 31, 2015. You should read this selected consolidated financial data in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data", and Part II, Item 7
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary sources of the Company's liquidity are (1) funds generated from insurance operations including net investment income, (2) proceeds from the sale of investments and (3) proceeds from maturing investments. The Company generally experiences positive cash flow from operations resulting from the fact that premiums are collected on insurance policies in advance of the disbursement of funds in payment of claims. Operating costs of the Insurance Subsidiaries, other than loss and loss expense payments, generally average less than 33% of net premiums earned on a consolidated basis and the remaining amount is available for investment for varying periods of time depending on the type of insurance coverage provided. Because losses are often settled in periods subsequent to when they are incurred, operating cash flows may, at times, become negative as loss settlements on claim reserves established in prior years exceed current revenues. During 2015, cash flow from operations totaled $38.2 million compared to $30.2 million total for 2014. The increase in operating cash flow resulted mainly from decreased loss, LAE and other operating expense payments in addition to higher premium volume in 2015.
For several years, the Company's investment philosophy has emphasized the purchase of short-term bonds with superior quality and liquidity. As flat yield curves have not provided incentive to lengthen maturities in recent years, the Company has continued to maintain its fixed maturity portfolio at short-term levels. The average contractual life of the Company's bond and short-term investment portfolio decreased slightly to 4.6 years during 2015. The average duration of the Company's fixed maturity portfolio remains much shorter than the contractual maturity average and significantly shorter than the duration of the Company's liabilities. The Company also remains an active participant in the equity securities market using capital which is in excess of amounts considered necessary to fund current operations. The long-term horizon for the Company's equity investments allows it to invest in positions where ultimate value, and not short-term market fluctuation, is the primary focus. Investments made by the Company's domestic Insurance Subsidiaries are regulated by guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which are designed to provide protection for both policyholders and shareholders.
The Company's assets at December 31, 2015 included $71.7 million in short-term and cash equivalent investments which are readily convertible to cash without market penalty and an additional $73.9 million of fixed maturity investments (at par) maturing in less than one year. The Company believes that these liquid investments, plus the expected cash flow from premium collections, are more than sufficient to provide for projected claim payments and operating cost demands. In the event competitive conditions produce inadequate premium rates and the Company chooses to further restrict volume, the liquidity of its investment portfolio would permit management to continue to pay claims as settlements are reached without requiring the disposal of investments at a loss, regardless of interest rates in effect at the time. In addition, the Company's reinsurance program is structured to avoid significant cash outlays that accompany large losses.
Net premiums written by the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries for 2015 equaled approximately 65% of the combined statutory surplus of these subsidiaries, a level consistent with the past several years. Premium writings of 100% to 200% of surplus are generally considered acceptable by regulatory authorities. Further, the statutory capital of each of the Insurance Subsidiaries substantially exceeds minimum risk based capital requirements set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Accordingly, the Company has the ability to significantly increase its business without seeking additional capital to meet regulatory guidelines.
At December 31, 2015, $87.7 million, or 22% of shareholders' equity, represented net assets of the Company's Insurance Subsidiaries which, at that time, could not be transferred in the form of dividends, loans or advances to the parent company because of minimum statutory capital requirements. However, management believes that these restrictions pose no material liquidity concerns for the Company. The financial strength and stability of the subsidiaries permit ready access by the parent company to short-term and long-term sources of credit. The Company maintains a $40 million unsecured line of credit with $20 million of unused capacity at December 31, 2015.
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Results of Operations
2015 Compared to 2014
Premiums written by the Property and Casualty Insurance segment for 2015 totaled $366.7 million, an increase of $23.5 million (7%) from 2014. This increase is attributable to a $30.1 million (10%) increase in premiums generated by fleet transportation products resulting from the addition of several new accounts during 2015, rate increases and increased revenue and miles driven by our insureds, which is immediately reflected in premium. This increase was partially offset by decreases of $4.7 million and $4.1 million in premiums generated by primary professional liability and personal automobile, respectively, reflecting the Company's strategic initiatives of reducing exposures in these products. Premiums ceded to reinsurers on Property and Casualty Insurance segment business averaged 35.0% of gross written premium for 2015 compared to 34.7% for 2014, with the small variation attributable to fluctuation in the mix of business as well reinsurance treaty placement changes.
Premiums written by the Reinsurance segment totaled $16.9 million during 2015, a decrease of $22.3 million (57%) from 2014. Premiums generated by property reinsurance products decreased $13.4 million (85%), reflective of management's decision to completely withdraw from the property catastrophe market. As of June 30, 2015, all exposure to catastrophic losses has expired. Further contributing to the Reinsurance segment premium written decrease was an $8.9 million (38%) decline in the Company's book of professional liability reinsurance assumed, reflective of the Company's decision to non-renew certain business in response to deteriorating rates and treaty terms.
After giving effect to changes in unearned premiums, consolidated net premiums earned totaled $263.3 million for 2015 compared to $261.6 million for 2014, an increase of 0.7%. The small net premium earned increase reflects a 10.3% increase in premium earned from the fleet transportation products mentioned above, partially offset by decreased premium written from primary professional liability and personal automobile products and in the Reinsurance segment.
Pre-tax investment income of $12.5 million during 2015 was 38% higher than the 2014 reflecting an increased allocation to high-yield bonds and increases in average invested assets. After tax investment income increased by 32% during 2015 compared to the prior year reflecting a mix in taxable compared to tax-exempt investment income.
Net pre-tax losses on investments, before taxes, totaled $1.3 million in 2015 compared to net pre-tax gains on investments of $14.9 million during 2014. The 2015 results were heavily influenced by direct trading results with gains of $4.5 million in 2015 compared to gains of $7.9 million in 2014. In addition, limited partnership results produced losses of $1.7 million in 2015 compared to gains of $7.1 million during the prior year. Limited partnership ventures utilized by the Company are primarily engaged in the trading of public and private securities, including foreign securities and, to a lesser extent, small venture capital activities and real estate development. The aggregate of the Company's share of gains and losses in these entities represented a 2% decrease in value for 2015 compared to a 10% appreciation in value for 2014. To the extent that accounting rules require the limited partnerships to include realized and unrealized gains or losses in their net income, the Company's proportionate share of net income will include the results as reported to the Company by the various general partners. During 2015, the limited partnership $1.7 million net loss was composed of $8.2 million attributable to a decrease in unrealized gains and $6.5 million attributable to realized gains. Other-than-temporary impairments of $7.7 million netted with losses of $4.4 million on previously impaired available-for-sale securities that were sold in 2015 are included in the net losses stated above.
Losses and loss expenses incurred during 2015 decreased $3.8 million (2.4%) from 2014 to $155.8 million, a decrease generally consistent with the decreased reinsurance exposure described above. The 2015 consolidated loss and loss expense ratio was 59.2% compared to 61.0% for 2014. The Company's loss and loss expense ratios for major product lines are summarized in the following table:
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The lower loss ratio for Fleet Transportation during 2015 was the result of more favorable frequency and severity related to current accident year losses. Prior year reserve savings lowered the 2015 calendar year Fleet Transportation loss ratio by 4.3 points compared to a 4.4 point decrease experienced in 2014.
The Company produced an overall savings on the handling of prior year claims during 2015 of $10.1 million. This net savings is included in the computation of loss ratios shown in the previous table, as is the $10.4 million savings produced during 2014 on prior year claims. Separated by segment, a $10.3 million net savings attributable to the property and casualty insurance segment during 2015 was primarily attributable to the Company's Fleet Transportation business, a described in the previous paragraph. A $0.2 million deficiency attributable to the reinsurance segment in 2015 related primarily to professional liability assumed losses. Because of the high limits provided by the Company to its fleet transportation insureds, the length of time necessary to settle larger, more complex claims and the volatility of the fleet transportation liability insurance business, the Company believes it is important to take a conservative posture in its reserving process. As claims are settled in years subsequent to their occurrence, the Company's claim handling process has, historically, tended to produce savings from the reserves provided. Changes in both gross premium volumes and the Company's reinsurance structure for its fleet transportation business can have a significant impact on future loss developments and, as a result, loss and loss expense ratios and prior year reserve development may not be consistent year to year.
Other operating expenses for 2015, before credits for ceding allowances from reinsurers, increased $7.7 million (7%) to $119.5 million, generally in line with increases in Property and Casualty Insurance segment premium written. This increase is due primarily to (1) an increase in salary and salary related expenses, reflective of the Company's growing workforce in response to the continued expansion of the Company's products and services, (2) a non-recurring recovery during 2014 of a substantial previously written off reinsurance recovery and (3) increased commissions related to business produced by non-affiliated agents and brokers. Reinsurance ceded credits were 22% higher in 2015, resulting primarily from favorable changes to the terms of certain reinsurance treaties. After consideration of these expense offsets, operating expenses increased $2.5 million, or 3%, from the prior year.
A portion of the Company's fleet transportation business is produced by the direct sales efforts of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. employees and, accordingly, this business does not incur commission expense on a consolidated basis. Rather, the expenses of the agency operations, including salaries and bonuses of salesmen, travel expenses, etc. is included in operating expenses. In general, commissions paid by the Insurance Subsidiaries to the parent company exceed related acquisition costs incurred in the production of the property and casualty insurance business. The ratio of net operating expenses of the Insurance Subsidiaries to net premiums earned was 32.2% in 2015 and 32.0% in 2014. Including the agency operations and corporate expenses, and after elimination of inter-company commissions, the ratio of operating expenses to operating revenue (defined as total revenue less gains or losses on investments) was 32.2% for 2015 compared with 31.8% for 2014.
The effective federal tax rate on the consolidated pre-tax income for 2015 was 31.4%. The effective rate differs from the normal statutory rate primarily as a result of tax-exempt investment income.
Net income for 2015 of $23.3 million compares to net income of $29.7 million during 2014 with the decline attributable to realized investment gains. Diluted earnings per share of $1.55 were recorded in 2015 compared to per share income of $1.98 in 2014.
2014 Compared to 2013
Premiums written by the Property and Casualty Insurance segment for 2014 totaled $343.2 million, an increase of $28.4 million (9%) from 2013. This increase is primarily attributable to a $32.0 million (11%) increase in premiums generated by fleet transportation products resulting from the addition of several new accounts during 2014, rate increases and increased revenue and miles driven by our insureds, which is immediately reflected in premium. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of $10.0 million in premiums generated by primary professional liability reflecting the termination of products produced through a single managing general agency which had experienced unfavorable results in recent years. Premiums ceded to reinsurers on direct business averaged 34.7% of gross written premium for 2014 compared to 35.9% for 2013, with the decrease attributable to the above-described changes in mix of business.
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Premiums written by the Reinsurance segment totaled $39.2 million during 2014, a decrease of $15.5 million (28%) from 2013. Premiums generated by property reinsurance products decreased $13.0 million (45%), reflective of management's decision to reduce exposures to property catastrophe losses. Further contributing to the Reinsurance segment decrease was a decrease in the Company's book of professional liability reinsurance assumed.
After giving effect to changes in unearned premiums, consolidated net premiums earned totaled $261.6 million for 2014 compared to $252.7 million for 2013, an increase of 3.5%. The premium earned increase also reflects the higher premium volume generated by the fleet transportation products mentioned above which was partially offset by decreased premium written in the primary professional liability products.
Pre-tax investment income of $9.1 million during 2014 was 3% higher than the 2013 total as available pre-tax yields began to level and average invested assets continued to grow marginally. After tax investment income increased by 5% during 2014 compared to the prior year reflecting a mix in taxable compared to tax-exempt investment income.
Net gains on investments, before taxes, totaled $14.9 million in 2014 compared to net gains on investments of $23.5 million during 2013. The 2014 results were once again heavily influenced by direct trading results with gains of $7.9 million in 2014 compared to gains of $13.6 million in 2013. In addition, limited partnership results produced gains of $7.1 million in 2014 compared to gains of $8.0 million during the prior year. Limited partnership ventures utilized by the Company are primarily engaged in the trading of public and private securities, including foreign securities and, to a lesser extent, small venture capital activities and real estate development. The aggregate of the Company's share of gains in these entities represented a 10% appreciation in value for 2014 compared to a 13% appreciation in value for 2013. To the extent that accounting rules require the limited partnerships to include realized and unrealized gains or losses in their net income, the Company's proportionate share of net income will include the results as reported to the Company by the various general partners. During 2014, the $7.1 million net gain was composed of $5.8 million attributable to an increase in unrealized gains and $1.3 million attributable to realized gains. Recoveries of $0.3 million on previously impaired available-for-sale securities that were sold in 2014 are included in the net gains stated above.
Losses and loss expenses incurred during 2014 increased $8.9 million (5.9%) from 2013 to $159.6 million, an increase generally consistent with the increased premium volume described above and reflects higher property catastrophe losses occurring in 2014. The 2014 consolidated loss and loss expense ratio was 61.0% compared to 59.6% for 2013. The Company's loss and loss expense ratios for major product lines are summarized in the following table:
The lower loss ratio for Fleet Transportation was the result of more favorable frequency and severity experience during the year as well as prior year reserve savings. The increase in the All Other loss ratio in 2014 was attributable to unfavorable loss development on a single MGA produced program in Primary Professional Liability and a small number of catastrophic losses aggregating over $11 million.
The Company produced an overall savings on the handling of prior year claims during 2014 of $10.4 million. This net savings is included in the computation of loss ratios shown in the previous table, as is the $5.6 million savings produced during 2013 on prior year claims. Separated by segment, a $5.4 million net savings attributable to the property and casualty insurance segment during 2014 was attributable to the Company's Fleet Transportation and Personal Automobile business with deficiencies in Primary Professional Liability and a discontinued line of Commercial Multi-Peril partially offsetting the savings. The $4.9 million savings attributable to the reinsurance segment in 2014 related largely to the casualty reinsurance business. Because of the high limits provided by the Company to its fleet transportation insureds, the length of time necessary to settle larger, more complex claims and the volatility of the fleet transportation liability insurance business, the Company believes it is important to take a conservative posture in its reserving process. As claims are settled in years subsequent to their occurrence, the Company's claim handling process has, historically, tended to produce savings from the reserves provided. Changes in both gross premium volumes and the Company's reinsurance structure for its fleet transportation business can have a significant impact on future loss developments and, as a result, loss and loss expense ratios and prior year reserve development may not be consistent year to year.
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Other operating expenses for 2014, before credits for ceding allowances from reinsurers, increased $5.7 million (5%) to $111.8 million, generally in line with increases in premium written. This increase is due primarily to an increase in salary and salary related expenses, reflective of the Company's growing workforce in response to the continued expansion of the Company's products and services, and from higher expenses related to technological advances within the Company, both in the area of telematics and information technology. Reinsurance ceded credits were 14% higher in 2014, resulting from favorable changes to the terms of certain reinsurance treaties as well as increased business ceded to other companies under quota share reinsurance treaties which provide commissions to the Insurance Subsidiaries. After consideration of these expense offsets, operating expenses increased $2.7 million, or 3% from the prior year.
A portion of the Company's fleet transportation business is produced by the direct sales efforts of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. employees and, accordingly, this business does not incur commission expense on a consolidated basis. Rather, the expenses of the agency operations, including salaries and bonuses of salesmen, travel expenses, etc. is included in operating expenses. In general, commissions paid by the Insurance Subsidiaries to the parent company exceed related acquisition costs incurred in the production of the property and casualty insurance business. The ratio of net operating expenses of the Insurance Subsidiaries to net premiums earned was 32.0% in 2014 and 32.4% in 2013. Including the agency operations and corporate expenses, and after elimination of inter-company commissions, the ratio of operating expenses to operating revenue (defined as total revenue less gains or losses on investments) was 31.8% for 2014 compared with 31.9% for 2013.
The effective federal tax rate on the consolidated pre-tax income for 2014 was 33.1%. The effective rate differs from the normal statutory rate primarily as a result of tax-exempt investment income.
Net income for 2014 of $29.7 million compares to net income of $36.6 million during 2013. Diluted earnings per share of $1.98 were recorded in 2014 compared to per share income of $2.45 in 2013.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company's significant accounting policies which are material and/or subject to significant degrees of judgment are highlighted below.
Investment Valuation
All marketable securities are included in the Company's balance sheets at current fair market value.
Approximately 67% of the Company's assets are composed of investments at December 31, 2015. Approximately 90% of these investments are publicly-traded, owned directly and have readily-ascertainable market values. The remaining 10% of investments are composed primarily of minority interests in several limited partnerships. These
limited partnerships are engaged in the trading of public and non-public equity securities and debt, hedging transactions, real estate development and venture capital investment. These partnerships, themselves, do not have readily-determinable market values. Rather, the values recorded are those provided to the Company by the respective partnerships based on the underlying assets of the partnerships. While a substantial portion of the underlying assets are publicly-traded securities, those which are not publically traded have been valued by the respective partnerships using their experience and judgment.
Under FASB guidance, if a fixed maturity security is in an unrealized loss position and the Company has the intent to sell the security, or it is more likely than not that the Company will have to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the decline in value is deemed to be other-than-temporary and is recorded to net realized losses on investments in the consolidated statements of operations. For impaired fixed maturity securities that the Company does not intend to sell or it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell such securities, but the Company expects that it will not fully recover the amortized cost basis, the credit component of the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in net realized losses on investments in the consolidated statements of operations and the non-credit component of the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized directly in shareholder's equity (accumulated other comprehensive income).
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In determining if and when an equity security's decline in market value below cost is other-than-temporary, we first make an objective analysis of each individual equity security where current market value is less than cost. For any equity security where the unrealized loss exceeds 20% of original or adjusted cost, and where that decline has existed for a period of at least six months, the decline is treated as an other-than-temporary impairment, without any subjective evaluation as to possible future recovery. For individual issues where the decline in value is less than 20% but the amount of the decline is considered significant, we will also evaluate the market conditions, trends of earnings, price multiples and other key measures for the securities to determine if it appears that the decline is other-than-temporary. In those instances, the Company also considers its intent and ability to hold equity investments until recovery can be reasonably expected. Additionally, for any equity security where the decline has existed for a period of at least one year, the decline is treated as an other-than-temporary impairment. For any decline which is considered to be other-than-temporary, we recognize an impairment loss in the current period earnings as an investment loss. Declines which are considered to be temporary are recorded as a reduction in shareholders' equity, net of related federal income tax credits.
It is important to note that all available for sale securities included in the Company's financial statements are valued at current fair market values. The evaluation process for determination of other-than-temporary decline in value of investments, as described above, does not change these valuations but, rather, determines when a decline in value will be recognized in the income statement (other-than-temporary decline) as opposed to a charge to shareholders' equity (temporary decline). Another seemingly inconsistent aspect of this accounting policy which is important to understand is that any subsequent recoveries in value of investments which have incurred other-than-temporary impairment adjustments are accounted for as unrealized gains (with credits to equity but not reflected in the income statement) until the security is actually disposed of or sold. At December 31, 2015, unrealized gains include $14.7 million of appreciation on investments previously adjusted for other-than-temporary impairment, compared to a cumulative total of $10.5 million of impairment write-downs at that date. This evaluation process is subject to risks and uncertainties since it is not always clear what has caused a decline in value of an individual security or since some declines may be associated with general market conditions or economic factors which relate to an industry, in general, but not necessarily to an individual issue. The Company has attempted to minimize many of these uncertainties by adopting a largely objective evaluation process as described above. However, to the extent that certain declines in value are reported as unrealized at December 31, 2015, it is possible that future earnings charges will result should the declines in value increase or persist or should the security actually be disposed of while market values are less than cost. At December 31, 2015, the total gross unrealized loss included in the Company's investment portfolio was approximately $14.6 million. No individual issue constituted a material amount of this total. Had this entire amount been considered other-than-temporary at December 31, 2015, there would have been no impact on total shareholders' equity or book value since the decline in value of these securities was recognized as a reduction to shareholders' equity.
Reinsurance Recoverable
Reinsurance ceded transactions were as follows for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
A discussion of the Company's reinsurance strategies is presented in Item 1, Business, on page 3.
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Amounts recoverable under the terms of reinsurance contracts comprise approximately 20% of total Company assets as of December 31, 2015. In order to be able to provide the high limits required by the Company's insureds, the Company shares a significant amount of the insurance risk of the underlying contracts with various insurance entities through the use of reinsurance contracts. Some reinsurance contracts provide that a loss be shared among the Company and its reinsurers on a predetermined pro-rata basis ("quota-share") while other contracts provide that the Company keep a fixed amount of the loss, similar to a deductible, with reinsurers taking all losses above this fixed amount ("excess of loss"). Some risks are covered by a combination of quota-share and excess of loss contracts. The computation of amounts due from reinsurers is based upon the terms of the various contracts and follows the underlying estimation process for loss and loss expense reserves, as described below. Accordingly, the uncertainties inherent in the loss and loss expense reserving process also affect the amounts recorded as recoverable from reinsurers. Estimation uncertainties are greatest for claims which have occurred but which have not yet been reported to the Company. Further, the high limits provided by the Company's insurance policies for fleet transportation liability, workers' compensation and professional liability risks provide more variability in the estimation process than lines of business with lower coverage limits.
It should be noted, however, that a change in the estimate of amounts due from reinsurers on unpaid claims will not, in itself, result in charges or credits to losses incurred. This is because any change in estimated recovery follows the estimate of the underlying loss. Thus, it is the computation of the gross underlying loss that is critical.
As with any receivable, credit risk exists in the recoverability of reinsurance. This may be even more pronounced than in normal receivable situations since recoverable amounts are not generally due until the loss is settled which, in some cases, may be many years after the contract was written. If a reinsurer is unable, in the future, to meet its financial commitments under the terms of the contracts, the Company would be responsible to satisfy the reinsurer's portion of the loss. The financial condition of each of the Company's reinsurers is vetted upon the execution of a given treaty and only reinsurers with the superior credit ratings available are utilized. However, as noted above, reinsurers are often not called upon to satisfy their obligations for several years and changes in credit worthiness can occur in the interim period. Reviews of the current financial strength of each reinsurer are made frequently and, should impairment in the ability of a reinsurer be determined to exist, current year operations would be charged in amounts sufficient to provide for the Company's additional liability. Such charges are included in other operating expenses, rather than losses and loss expenses incurred, since the inability of the Company to collect from reinsurers is a credit loss rather than a deficiency associated with the loss reserving process.
Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
The Company's loss and loss expense reserves for each segment are shown in the following table on both a gross (before consideration of reinsurance) and on a net of reinsurance basis at December 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in thousands).
The Company's reserves for losses and loss expenses ("reserves") are determined based on complex estimation processes using historical experience, current economic information and, when necessary, available industry statistics. The Company's claims range from the very routine private passenger automobile "fender bender" to the highly complex and costly third party bodily injury claim involving large tractor-trailer rigs. Reserving for each class of claims requires a set of assumptions based upon historical experience, knowledge of current industry trends and seasoned judgment. The high limits provided in many of the Company's policies provide for greater volatility in the reserving process for more serious claims. Court rulings, legislative actions and trends in jury awards also play a significant role in the estimation process of larger claims. The Company continuously reviews and evaluates loss developments subsequent to each measurement date and adjusts its reserve estimation assumptions, as necessary, in an effort to achieve the best possible estimate of the ultimate remaining loss costs at any point in time. Changes to previously established reserve amounts are charged or credited to losses and loss expenses incurred in the accounting periods in which they are determined. Note C to the consolidated financial statements includes additional information relating to loss and loss adjustment expense reserve development.
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The Company's methods for determining loss and loss expense reserves are essentially identical for interim and annual reporting periods.
A detailed analysis and discussion for each of the above basic reserve categories follows.
Reserves for known losses (Case reserves)
Each known claim, regardless of complexity, is handled by a claims adjuster experienced with claims of this nature and a "case" reserve, appropriate for the individual loss occurrence, is established. For very routine "short-tail" claims such as private passenger physical damage, the Company records an initial reserve that is based upon historical loss settlements adjusted for current trends. As information regarding the loss occurrence is gathered in the claim handling process, the initial reserve is adjusted to reflect the anticipated ultimate cost to settle the claim. For more complex claims which can tend toward being "long-tail" in nature, an experienced claims adjuster will review the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss occurrence to make a determination of the reserve to be established. Many of the more complex claims involve litigation and necessitate an evaluation of potential jury awards in addition to the factual information to determine the value of each claim. Each claim is frequently monitored and the recorded reserve is increased or decreased relative to information gathered during the settlement life cycle.
Reserves for incurred but not reported losses
The Company uses both standard actuarial techniques common to most insurance companies as well as proprietary techniques developed by the Company in consideration of its specialty business products. For its short-tail lines of business, the Company uses predominantly the incurred or paid loss development factor methods. The Company has found that the use of accident quarter loss development triangles, rather than those based upon accident year, are most responsive to claim settlement trends and fluctuations in premium exposures for its short-tail lines. A minimum of 12 running accident quarters is used to project the reserve necessary for incurred but not reported losses for its short-tail lines.
The Company also uses the loss development factor approach for its long-tail lines of business. A minimum of 15 accident years is included in the loss development triangles used to calculate link ratios and the selected loss development factors used to determine the reserves for incurred but not reported losses. A minimum of 20 accident years is used for long-tail workers' compensation reserve projections. Significant emphasis is placed on the use of tail factors for the Company's long-tail lines of business.
For the Company's fleet transportation risks, which are covered by regularly changing reinsurance agreements and which contain wide-ranging self-insured retentions ("SIR"), traditional actuarial methods are supplemented by other methods in consideration of the Company's exposures to loss. In situations where the Company's reinsurance structure, the insured's SIR selections, policy volume, and other factors are changing, current accident period loss exposures may not be homogenous with historical loss data to allow for reliable projection of future developed losses. Therefore, the Company supplements the above-described actuarial methods with loss ratio reserving techniques developed from the Company's extensive, proprietary databases to arrive at the reserve for losses incurred but not reported for the calendar/accident period under review. As losses for a given calendar/accident period develop with the passage of time, management evaluates such development on a monthly and quarterly basis and adjusts reserve factors, as necessary, to reflect current judgment with regard to the anticipated ultimate incurred losses. This process continues until all losses are settled for each period subject to this method.
Reserves for loss adjustment expenses
While certain of the Company's products involve case basis reserving for allocated loss adjustment expenses, the majority of such reserves are determined on a bulk basis. The Company uses historical analysis of the ratios of allocated loss adjustment expenses paid to losses paid on closed claims to arrive at the expected ultimate incurred loss adjustment expense factors applicable to each affected product. Once developed, the factors are applied to the expected ultimate incurred losses, including IBNR, on all open claims. The resulting ultimate incurred allocated loss adjustment expense is then reduced by amounts paid to date on all open claims to arrive at the reserve for allocated loss adjustment expenses to be incurred in the future for the handling of specific claims.
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For those loss adjustment expenses not specific to individual claims (general claims handling expenses referred to as unallocated loss adjustment expenses) the Company uses standard industry loss adjustment expenses paid to losses paid (net of reinsurance) ratio analysis to establish the necessary reserves. The selected factors are applied to 100% of IBNR reserves and to case reserves with consideration given for that portion of loss adjustment expense already paid at the reserve measurement date. Such factors are monitored and revised, as necessary, on a quarterly basis.
The reserving process requires management to continuously monitor and evaluate the life cycle of claims based on the class of business and the nature of the individual losses. As previously noted, our claims vary widely in scope and complexity. Reserving for each class of claims requires a set of assumptions based upon historical experience, knowledge of current industry trends and seasoned judgment. The high limits provided in the Company's fleet transportation liability policies provide for greater volatility in the reserving process for more serious claims. Court rulings, legislative actions and trends in jury awards also play a significant role in the estimation process of larger claims. The Company continuously reviews and evaluates loss developments subsequent to each measurement date and adjusts its reserve estimations, as necessary, in an effort to achieve the best possible estimate of the ultimate remaining loss costs at any point in time.
Sensitivity Analysis - Potential impact on reserve volatility from changes in key assumptions
Management is aware of the potential for variation from the reserves established at any particular point in time. Savings or deficiencies could develop in future valuations of the currently established loss and loss expense reserve estimates under a variety of reasonably possible scenarios. The Company's reserve selections are developed to be a "best estimate" of unpaid loss at a point in time and, due to the unique nature of our exposures, particularly in the large fleet transportation excess product where insured's policies of insurance combine large self-insured retentions with high policy limits, ranges of reserve estimates are not established during the reserving process. However, basic assumptions that could potentially impact future volatility of our valuations of current loss and loss expense reserve estimates include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
Consistency in the individual case reserving processes
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The selection of loss development factors in the establishment of bulk reserves for incurred but reported losses and loss expenses
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Projected future loss trend
•
Expected loss ratios for the current book of business, particularly the Company's fleet transportation products, where the number of accounts insured, selected self-insured retentions, policy limits and reinsurance structure may vary widely period to period
Under reasonably possible scenarios, it is conceivable that the Company's selected loss reserve estimates could be 10%, or more, redundant or deficient. The majority of the Company's reserves for losses and loss expenses, on either a gross or a net of reinsurance basis, relate to its fleet transportation products. Perhaps the most significant example of sensitivity to variation in the key assumptions is the loss ratio selection for the Company's fleet transportation products for policies subject to certain major reinsurance treaties (approximately $169.5 million, or approximately 37% of carried gross reserves for directly produced property and casualty business). The following table presents the approximate impacts on gross and net loss reserves of both a 10 percentage point and 20 percentage point increase or decrease in the loss factors actually utilized in the Company's reserve determination at December 31, 2015. The Company's selection of the range of values presented should not be construed as the Company's prediction of future events, but rather simply an illustration of the impact of such events, should they occur:
The variation in impact from loss ratio increases and decreases is attributable to minimum and maximum premium rate factors included in the various reinsurance contracts.
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Federal Income Tax Considerations
The liability method is used in accounting for federal income taxes. Using this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The provision for deferred federal income tax is based on items of income and expense which are reported in different years in the financial statements and tax returns and are measured at the tax rate in effect in the year the difference originated. Net deferred tax liabilities reported at December 31 are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Deferred tax assets at December 31, 2015, include approximately $9.3 million related to the timing of deductibility of loss and loss expense reserves, the majority of which relates to policy liability discounts required by the Internal Revenue Code which are perpetual in nature and, in the absence of the termination of business, will not, in the aggregate, reverse to a material degree in the foreseeable future. An additional $3.4 million relates to impairment adjustments made to investments, as required by accounting regulations. The sizable unrealized gains in the Company's investment portfolios would allow for the recovery of this deferred tax at any time. Unearned premiums discount and deferred ceding commissions represent $1.6 and $0.4 million of deferred tax assets, respectively. The balance of deferred tax assets consists of various normal operating expense accruals and is not considered to be material. As a result of its analysis, management has determined that no valuation allowance is necessary at December 31, 2015.
FASB provides guidance for recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions and prescribes a threshold condition that a tax position must meet for any of the benefit of the uncertain tax position to be recognized in the financial statements. Based on this guidance, management regularly analyzes tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return based on the threshold condition prescribed. Tax positions that do not meet or exceed this threshold condition are considered uncertain tax positions. Interest related to uncertain tax positions, if any, would be recognized in income tax expense. Penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions would be recorded in income tax expenses.
Forward-Looking Information
Any forward-looking statements in this report including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the following: (i) the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the Company's business is highly competitive and the entrance of new competitors into or the expansion of the operations by existing competitors in the Company's markets and other changes in the market for insurance products could adversely affect the Company's plans and results of operations; and (iii) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Impact of Inflation
To the extent possible, the Company attempts to recover the impact of inflation to loss costs and operating expenses by increasing the premiums it charges. Within the fleet transportation business, a majority of the Company's accounts are charged as a percentage of an insured's gross revenue, mileage or payroll. As these charging bases increase with inflation, premium revenues are immediately increased. The remaining premium rates charged are adjustable only at periodic intervals and often require state regulatory approval. Such periodic increases in premium rates may lag far behind cost increases.
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To the extent inflation influences yields on investments, the Company is also affected. The Company's short-term and fixed investment portfolios are structured in direct response to available interest rates over the yield curve. As available market interest rates fluctuate in response to the presence or absence of inflation, the yields on the Company's investments are impacted. Further, as inflation affects current market rates of return, previously committed investments might increase or decline in value depending on the type and maturity of investment (see additional comments under Market Risk, following).
Inflation must also be considered by the Company in the creation and review of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves since portions of these reserves are expected to be paid over extended periods of time. The anticipated effect of inflation is implicitly considered when estimating liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses.
Market Risk
The Company operates within the property and casualty insurance industry and, accordingly, has significant invested assets which are exposed to various market risks. These market risks relate to interest rate fluctuations, credit risks, equity security market prices and, to a lesser extent, foreign currency rate fluctuations. All of the Company's invested assets, with the exception of investments in limited partnerships, are classified as available for sale.
Based on the structure of the Company's investment portfolio, the most potentially significant of the three identified market risks relates to prices in the equity security market. Though not the largest category of the Company's invested assets, equity securities have a high potential for short-term price fluctuation. The market value of the Company's equity positions at December 31, 2015 was $145.4 million or approximately 20% of invested assets. This market valuation includes $65.3 million of appreciation over the adjusted cost basis of the equity security investments. Funds invested in the equities market are not considered to be assets necessary for the Company to conduct its daily operations and, therefore, can be committed for extended periods of time. The long-term nature of the Company's equity investments allows it to invest in positions where ultimate value, and not short-term market fluctuations, is the primary focus.
Reference is made to the discussion of limited partnership investments in Critical Accounting Policies in this report. All of the market risks, attendant to equity securities, apply to the underlying assets in these partnerships, and to a greater degree because of the generally more aggressive investment philosophies utilized by the partnerships. In addition, these investments are illiquid. There is no primary or secondary market on which these limited partnerships trade and, in most cases, the Company is prohibited from disposing of its limited partnership interests for some period of time and must seek approval from the general partner for any such disposal. Distributions of earnings from these partnerships are largely at the sole discretion of the general partners and distributions are generally not received by the Company for many years after the earnings have been reported. Finally, through the application of the equity method of accounting, the Company's share of net income reported by the limited partnerships often includes significant amounts of unrealized appreciation on the underlying investments. As such, the likelihood that reported income from limited partnership investments will be ultimately returned to the Company in the form of cash is markedly lower than the Company's other investments, where appreciation is recognized as income only when a security is actually sold.
The Company's fixed maturity portfolio totaled $437.2 million at December 31, 2015. Approximately 49% of this portfolio is made up of U.S. Government and government agency obligations and state and municipal debt securities; 78% of the portfolio matures within 5 years; and the average contractual maturity of the Company's fixed maturity investments is approximately 4.6 years with an average modified duration of approximately 2.3 years. Although the Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its fixed maturity investments, given the anticipated duration of the Company's liabilities (principally insurance loss and loss expense reserves) relative to investment maturities, even a 100 to 200 basis point increase in interest rates would not have even a moderate impact on the Company's ability to conduct daily operations or to meet its obligations and would, in fact, result in significantly higher investment income in a relatively short period of time as short term investments and maturing bonds could be reinvested in the higher yielding securities very quickly.
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There is an inverse relationship between interest rate fluctuations and the fair value of the Company's fixed maturity investments. Additionally, the fair value of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by the financial strength of the issuer, prepayment options, relative values of alternative investments, liquidity of the investment, currency fluctuations for non-U.S. debt holdings and other general market conditions. The Company monitors its sensitivity to interest rate risk by measuring the change in fair value of its fixed maturity investments relative to hypothetical changes in interest rates.
The following tables present the estimated effects on the fair value of financial instruments at December 31 which would result from an instantaneous change in yield rates of varying magnitudes on a static balance sheet to determine the effect such a change in rates would have on current fair value. The analysis presents the sensitivity of the fair value of the Company's financial instruments to selected changes in market rates and prices. The range of change chosen reflects the Company's view of changes that the Company believes are reasonably possible over a one-year period. The Company's selection of the range of values chosen to represent changes in interest rates should not be construed as the Company's prediction of future market events, but rather an illustration of the impact of such events, should they occur. The equity portfolio was compared to the S&P 500 index due to its correlation with the vast majority of the Company's current equity portfolio. The limited partnership portfolio was compared to the S&P 500 and Indian BSE 500 indices due to their significant correlation with the vast majority of our limited partnership portfolio. As previously indicated, several other factors can impact the fair values of fixed maturity investments and, therefore, significant variations in market interest rates could produce quite different results from the hypothetical estimates presented below.
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The following tables present the estimated effects on the fair value of financial instruments at December 31 due to an instantaneous change in yield rates of 100 basis points and a 10% decline in the S&P 500 and Indian BSE 500 indices (dollars in thousands).
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The following tables present the estimated effects on the fair value of financial instruments at December 31 due to an instantaneous change in yield rates of 150 basis points and a 15% decline in the S&P 500 and Indian BSE 500 indices (dollars in thousands).
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Contractual Obligations
The table below sets forth the amounts of the Company's contractual obligations at December 31, 2015.
The Company's loss and loss expense reserves do not have contractual maturity dates and the exact timing of the payment of claims cannot be predicted with certainty. However, based upon historical payment patterns, the above table presents an estimate of when we might expect our direct loss and loss expense reserves (without the benefit of reinsurance recoveries) to be paid. Timing of the collection of the related reinsurance recoverable, estimated to be $215.9 million at December 31, 2015, or 39% of the amounts presented in the above table, would approximate that of the above projected direct reserve payout but could lag such payments by several months in some instances.
The investment commitments in the above table relate to maximum unfunded capital obligations for limited partnership investments and unfunded bridge loan obligations at December 31, 2015. The actual call dates for such funding could vary from that presented.
Borrowings made under a line of credit can be called by the bank, under certain circumstances, with short notice. The line of credit has a current expiration of September 23, 2018; however, it is expected that this line of credit will be renewed for a multiple year period prior to maturity.
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ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
ITEM 8
ITEM 8 - -FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
BALDWIN & LYONS, INC.
CARMEL, INDIANA
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, 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 4, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Indianapolis, IN
March 4, 2016
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business: Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., (the "Company") based in Carmel, Indiana, is a specialty property-casualty insurer providing liability coverage for large and medium-sized trucking and public transportation fleets as well as coverages for trucking industry independent contractors. Additionally, the Company's product offerings include coverage for small fleet trucking and professional liability as well as workers' compensation for small businesses and casualty reinsurance.
Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates: Preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results will differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company considers investments in money market funds to be cash equivalents. Carrying amounts for these instruments approximate their fair values.
Investments: Carrying amounts for fixed maturity securities represent fair value and are based on quoted market prices, where available, or broker/dealer quotes for specific securities where quoted market prices are not available. Equity securities are carried at quoted market prices (fair value). The Company accounts for investments in limited partnerships using the equity method of accounting, which requires an investor in a limited partnership to record its proportionate share of the limited partnership's net income. To the extent that the limited partnership investees include both realized and unrealized investment gains or losses in the determination of net income or loss, then the Company would also recognize, through its statements of operations, its proportionate share of the investee's unrealized as well as realized investment gains or losses.
Other investments, if any, are carried at either market value or cost, depending on the nature of the investment. Short-term investments are carried at cost, which approximates their fair values.
Realized gains and losses on disposals of investments are determined by specific identification of cost of investments sold and are included in income. All fixed maturity and equity securities are considered to be available for sale; the related unrealized net gains or losses (net of applicable tax effect) are reflected directly in shareholders' equity. Included within available for sale fixed maturity securities are insurance linked securities and convertible debt securities. The changes in fair values of insurance-linked securities and portions of the changes in fair values of convertible debt securities are reflected as a component of net realized gains (losses) on investments.
In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standard Board's ("FASB") other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") guidance, if a fixed maturity security is in an unrealized loss position and the Company has the intent to sell the fixed maturity security, or it is more likely than not that the Company will have to sell the fixed maturity security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the decline in value is deemed to be other-than-temporary and is recorded to net realized losses on investments in the consolidated statements of operations. For impaired fixed maturity securities that the Company does not intend to sell or in cases where it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell such securities, but the Company expects that it will not fully recover the amortized cost basis, the credit component of the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in net realized losses on investments in the consolidated statements of operations and the non-credit component of the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized directly in shareholder's equity (accumulated other comprehensive income).
The credit component of an other-than-temporary impairment is determined by comparing the net present value of projected future cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity security. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company's best estimate of projected future cash flows at the appropriate effective interest rate.
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Note A - Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
The unrealized net gains or losses (net of applicable tax effect) related to equity securities are reflected directly in shareholders' equity, unless a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, in which case the loss is charged to income. In determining if and when a decline in market value below cost is other-than-temporary, an objective analysis is made of each individual security where current market value is less than cost. For any equity security where the unrealized loss exceeds 20% of original or adjusted cost, and where that decline has existed for a period of at least six months, the decline is treated as an other-than-temporary impairment. Additionally, for any equity security where the decline has existed for a period of at least one year, the decline is treated as an other-than-temporary impairment. Additionally, the Company takes into account any known subjective information in evaluating for impairment, without consideration to the Company's quantitative criteria defined above, as well as the Company's intent and ability to retain the equity security for a period of time sufficient to allow for such recovery in fair value.
Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill is not amortized. Rather, it is tested for impairment in accordance with FASB guidance, at the reporting-unit level. Goodwill is tested annually (during the fourth quarter) or more often if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate, indicate there may be impairment. Intangible assets determined to have finite lives, such as customer relationships and employment agreements, are amortized over their estimated useful lives in a manner that best reflects the economic benefits of the intangible asset. In addition, impairment testing is performed on these amortizing intangible assets if impairment indicators are noted.
Reserves for Losses and Loss Expenses: The reserves for losses and loss expenses, minor portions of which are discounted, are determined using case basis evaluations and statistical analyses and represent estimates of the ultimate cost of all reported and unreported losses which are unpaid at year end. These reserves include estimates of future trends in claim severity and frequency and other factors which could vary as the losses are ultimately settled. While actual results will differ from such estimates, management believes that the reserves for losses and loss expenses are adequate. The estimates are continually reviewed and as adjustments to these reserves become necessary, such adjustments are reflected in current operations.
Recognition of Revenue and Costs: Premiums are earned over the period for which insurance protection is provided. A reserve for unearned premiums, computed by the daily pro-rata method, is established to reflect amounts applicable to subsequent accounting periods. Commissions to unaffiliated companies and premium taxes applicable to unearned premiums are deferred and expensed as the related premiums are earned. The Company does not defer acquisition costs which are not directly variable with the production of premium. If it is determined that expected losses and deferred expenses will likely exceed the related unearned premiums, the asset representing deferred policy acquisition costs is reduced and an expense is charged against current operations to reflect any such premium deficiency. In the event that the expected premium deficiency exceeds deferred policy acquisition costs, an additional liability would be recorded with a corresponding expense to current operations for the amount of the excess premium deficiency. Anticipated investment income is considered in determining recoverability of deferred acquisition costs.
Reinsurance: Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursements and reserves related to reinsured business are accounted for on bases consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Premiums ceded to other insurers have been reported as a reduction of premium earned. Amounts applicable to reinsurance ceded for unearned premium and claim loss reserves have been reported as reinsurance recoverable assets. Certain reinsurance contracts provide for additional or return premiums and commissions based upon profits or losses to the reinsurer over prescribed periods. Estimates of additional or return premiums and commissions are adjusted quarterly to recognize actual loss experience to date as well as projected loss experience applicable to the various contract periods. Estimates of reinstatement premiums on reinsurance contracts covering catastrophic events are, to the extent reasonably determinable, recorded concurrently with the related loss.
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Note A - Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Should impairment in the ability of a reinsurer to satisfy its obligations to the Company be determined to exist, current year operations would be charged in amounts sufficient to provide for the Company's additional liability. Such charges, when incurred, are included in other operating expenses, rather than losses and loss expenses incurred, since the inability of the Company to collect from reinsurers is a credit risk rather than a deficiency associated with the loss reserving process.
The Company accounts for foreign and domestic reinsurance using the periodic method. Under the periodic method, premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the contract term, and claims, including an estimate of claims incurred but not reported, are recognized as they occur.
Deferred Taxes: Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the financial statement and tax return bases of assets and liabilities based on enacted tax rates and laws. The deferred tax benefits of the deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent realization of such benefits is more likely than not. Deferred income tax expense or benefit generally represents the net change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities during the year. Current income tax expense represents the tax liability associated with revenues and expenses currently taxable or deductible on various income tax returns for the year reported.
Restricted Stock: Restricted shares vest ratably over the vesting period from the date of grant and are accelerated for retirement eligible recipients in accordance with the non-substantive post-grant date vesting clause of Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 715, Compensation-Retirement Benefits. Restricted stock is valued based on the closing price of the stock on the day the award is granted. Non-vested restricted shares will be forfeited should an executive's employment terminate for any reason other than death, disability, or retirement as defined by the Compensation Committee.
Earnings Per Share: Diluted earnings per share of common stock are based on the average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding during the year, adjusted for the dilutive effect, if any, of restricted stock awards outstanding. Basic earnings per share are presented exclusive of the effect of share-based awards outstanding.
Comprehensive Income: The Company records accumulated other comprehensive income from unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities as a separate component of shareholders' equity. Foreign exchange adjustments are generally not material and the Company has no defined benefit pension plan. A reclassification adjustment to other comprehensive income is made for gains or losses during the period included in net income.
Fair Value Measurements: The Company provides disclosures related to recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements with separate disclosures for the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements, along with an explanation for the transfers. Additionally, separate disclosures are provided for purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis for Level 3 fair value measurements as well as additional clarification for both the level of disaggregation reported for each class of assets or liabilities and disclosures of inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements for assets and liabilities categorized as Level 2 or Level 3.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, or ASU 2016-01. The amendments in ASU 2016-01 change the accounting for non-consolidated equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method of accounting by requiring changes in fair value to be recognized in income. Under current guidance, changes in fair value for investments of this nature are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of shareholders' equity. Additionally, ASU 2016-01 simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values; requires entities to use the exit price when estimating the fair value of financial instruments; and modifies various presentation disclosure requirements for financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has not yet adopted the guidance and the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on presentation of data in the consolidated financial statements.
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Note A - Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-09, Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts, and this new guidance will enhance disclosures about an entity's insurance liabilities. This guidance will provide additional information about unpaid claims and claim development, including supplemental disaggregated incurred and paid claim data. Under the guidance, enhanced disclosures on claim frequency and reserving methodologies are required. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, however early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet adopted the guidance and the adoption of this guidance will not impact our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-07 - Fair Value Measurement - (Topic 820) Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or its equivalent) (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The new pronouncement was issued to ensure that all investments categorized in the fair value hierarchy are classified using a consistent approach. The Company has not yet adopted the guidance and the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on presentation of data in the consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. While insurance contracts are not within the scope of this updated guidance, the Company's service and fee income could be subject to this updated guidance. The updated guidance requires an entity to recognize revenue as performance obligations are met, in order to reflect the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity is entitled to receive for those goods or services. The following steps are applied in the updated guidance: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to the quarter ending March 31, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity. The Company does not expect the guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
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Note B - Investments (continued)
The following table summarizes, for fixed maturity and equity security investments in an unrealized loss position at December 31, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss categorized by the duration those securities have been continuously in an unrealized loss position.
Unrealized losses in the Company's fixed maturity portfolio are generally the result of interest rate or foreign currency fluctuations as well as the disruption of credit markets occasioned by financial market turmoil. The average unrealized loss for all fixed maturity securities in a loss position at December 31, 2015 is approximately 3% of original or adjusted cost. The Company does not intend to sell any fixed maturity securities which are in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2015 and it is not more likely than not that the Company will have to sell any fixed maturity security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. For equity securities, the Company has evaluated the near-term prospects of the investments in relation to the severity and duration of the impairment and, based on that evaluation, the Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments for a period sufficient to allow for recovery of fair value. Accordingly, the Company does not believe the unrealized losses represent an other-than-temporary impairment as of December 31, 2015.
The fair value and the cost or amortized cost of fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2015, by contractual maturity, is shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have, in some cases, the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Pre-refunded municipal bonds are classified based on their pre-refunded call dates.
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Note B - Investments (continued)
Major categories of investment income for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:
Gains and losses on investments, including equity method earnings from limited partnerships, for the years ended December 31 are summarized below:
Shareholders' equity includes approximately $26,521, net of deferred federal income taxes, of undistributed earnings from limited partnerships as of December 31, 2015.
Gain and loss activity for fixed maturity and equity security investments, as shown in the previous table, include adjustments for other-than-temporary impairment for the years ended December 31 summarized as follows:
Note: Recovery in market value of an investment which has previously been adjusted for other-than-temporary impairment is treated as an unrealized gain until the investment matures or is sold.
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Note B - Investments (continued)
There is no primary or secondary market for the Company's investments in limited partnerships and, in most cases, the Company is prohibited from disposing of its limited partnership interests for some period of time and generally must seek approval from the applicable general partner for any such disposal. Distributions of earnings from these partnerships are largely at the sole discretion of the general partners and distributions are generally not received by the Company for many years after the earnings have been reported. The Company has commitments to contribute an additional $2,459 to various limited partnerships as of December 31, 2015.
The Company has invested a total of $23,000 in two limited partnerships, with an aggregate estimated value of $45,009 at December 31, 2015, that are managed by organizations in which four directors of the Company are executive officers, directors or owners. The Company's ownership interest in these limited partnerships ranges from 5% to 17%. These limited partnerships added ($1,978), $7,088 and $1,154, net of fees, to investment gains (losses) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company has recorded management fees of $749, $697 and $640, respectively, and performance-based fees of $0, $0 and $18, respectively, to these organizations for management of these limited partnerships.
The Company utilizes the services of an investment firm of which two directors of the Company are employees or partial owners. This investment firm may serve as agent for purchases and sales of securities and manages equity securities and fixed maturity portfolios with an aggregate market value of approximately $62,156 at December 31, 2015. Total commissions and net fees earned by the investment firm and affiliates on these transactions and for advice and consulting were approximately $235, $212 and $239 during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Company's limited partnerships include one significant investment which invests in public and private equity markets in India. This limited partnership investment's value as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $28,270 and $29,868, respectively. At December 31, 2015, the Company's estimated ownership interest in this limited partnership investment was approximately 5%. The Company's share of earnings (losses) from this limited partnership investment was ($1,599), $7,176 and ($3,176) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The summarized financial information of the significant limited partnership investment as of and for the years ended December 31 is as follows:
The fair value of regulatory deposits with various insurance departments in the United States and Canada totaled $84,198 and $76,406 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Short-term investments at December 31, 2015 include $2,220 in time certificates of deposit issued by a Bermuda bank.
The Company's fixed maturities are over 85% invested in investment grade fixed maturity investments. The Company has a total of $2,969, representing three different investments, of fixed maturity investments which were originally issued with guarantees by three different third party insurance companies, with the largest exposure to a single investment being $1,997. The average S&P credit rating of such investments, with consideration of the guarantee, is AA. The average S&P underlying credit rating of such investments, without consideration of the guarantee, would remain AA. The Company does not have any direct exposure to any guarantor.
Approximately $61,271 of fixed maturity investments (8.4% of total invested assets) consists of bonds rated as less than investment grade at year end. These investments include a diversified portfolio of over 40 investments and have a $3,185 aggregate net unrealized loss position at December 31, 2015.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had committed funds totaling $5,000 related to one bridge loan agreement. The Company retains possession of these committed funds which will only be loaned in the unlikely event that long-term financing is unavailable to the counter party in the market.
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Note C - Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
Activity in the reserves for losses and loss expenses is summarized as follows. All amounts are shown net of reinsurance, unless otherwise indicated.
The table above shows that a savings of $10,062 was developed during 2015 in the settlement of claims occurring on or before December 31, 2014 with comparative developments for the two previous calendar years. The net savings for each year are composed of individual claim savings and deficiencies which, in the aggregate have resulted from the settlement of claims at amounts lower than previously reserved and from changes in estimates of losses incurred but not reported as part of the normal reserving process.
Favorable loss development is influenced by the Company's long-standing policy of reserving for losses realistically and a willingness to settle claims based upon a seasoned evaluation of its exposures. Loss reserves pertaining to the Company's property reinsurance business are established partially by the ceding reinsurers although the Company routinely adjusts such reserves if management determines that additional reserves could be necessary. There is potential for fluctuations in loss developments related to reinsurance assumed to be more pronounced than those experienced on directly produced business which is reserved entirely by Company personnel. In addition, changes in the Company's net retention under reinsurance treaties will impact developments as more or less business is retained. These trends were considered in the establishment of the Company's reserves at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Loss reserves on certain permanent total disability workers' compensation reserves have been discounted to present value at pre-tax rates not exceeding 3.5%. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, loss reserves have been reduced by approximately $2,110 and $3,129, respectively. Discounting is applied to these claims since the amount of periodic payments to be made during the lifetime of claimants is fixed and determinable.
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Note D - Reinsurance
The insurance subsidiaries cede portions of their gross premiums written to certain other insurers under excess of loss and quota share treaties and by facultative placements. Reinsurance treaties with other companies permit the recovery of a portion of related direct losses. Management determines the amount of net exposure it is willing to accept generally on a product line basis. Certain treaties covering fleet transportation risks include annual deductibles which must be exceeded before the Company can recover under the terms of the treaty. The Company retains a higher percentage of the direct premium in consideration of these deductible provisions. The Company remains liable to the extent the reinsuring companies are unable to meet their obligations under reinsurance contracts.
The Company also serves as an assuming reinsurer on treaties with direct writing insurance companies and, prior to June 30, 2015, under retrocessions from other reinsurers for catastrophic property coverages. Accordingly, for periods prior to that date, the occurrence of catastrophic events could have had a significant impact on the Company's operations. The Company also assumes reinsurance from direct writing insurance companies for casualty insurance coverages. In addition, the insurance subsidiaries participate in certain mandatory residual market pools which require insurance companies to provide coverages on assigned risks. The assigned risk pools allocate participation to all insurers based upon each insurer's portion of premium writings on a state or national level. Historically, the operation of these assigned risk pools have resulted in net losses allocated to the Company although such losses have not been material in relation to the Company's operations.
The following table summarizes the impact of reinsurance ceded and assumed on the Company's net premiums written and earned for the most recent three years:
Net losses and loss expenses incurred for 2015, 2014 and 2013 have been reduced by ceded reinsurance recoveries of approximately $75,581, $105,891 and $107,321, respectively. Ceded reinsurance premiums and loss recoveries for the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance coverage on the Company's net direct business were not material.
Net losses and loss expenses incurred for 2015, 2014 and 2013 include approximately $13,492, $20,288 and $17,696, respectively, relating to reinsurance assumed from non-affiliated insurance or reinsurance companies.
Components of reinsurance recoverable at December 31 are as follows:
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Note E - Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are calculated to account for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 are as follows:
A summary of the difference between federal income tax expense computed at the statutory rate and that reported in the consolidated financial statements is as follows:
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Note E - Income Taxes (continued)
Cash flows related to federal income taxes paid, net of refunds received, for 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $14,500, $11,619 and $17,250, respectively.
The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion of the gross deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized. Management has determined that no such valuation allowance is necessary at December 31, 2015 or 2014. As of December 31, 2015, only the calendar year 2014 remains subject to examination by the IRS.
The Company has no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2015 or 2014. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense and changes in such accruals would impact the Company's effective tax rate. There were no amounts accrued for the payment of interest at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
The Company's Class A and Class B common stock has a stated value of approximately $.04 per share. The Company paid a total of $15,003, $14,947 and $14,943, or $1.00 per share, in dividends for the years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
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The Company entered into a consulting contract with an insurance intermediary, capital advisor and insurance management firm of which a director of the Company is CEO and a Managing Director. The consulting contract provides for an annual fee of $300.
Note H - Employee Benefit Plans
The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan") which covers nearly all employees who have completed one year of service. The Company's contributions to the Plan for 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $2,090, $1,798 and $1,798, respectively.
Note I - Stock Purchase and Option Plans
In accordance with the terms of the 1981 Stock Purchase Plan (1981 Plan), the Company is obligated to repurchase shares issued under the 1981 Plan, at a price equal to 90% of the book value of the shares at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the date of repurchase. A limited number of shares have ever been repurchased under the 1981 Plan. At December 31, 2015, there were 121,286 shares (Class A) and 339,546 shares (Class B) outstanding which remain eligible for repurchase by the Company.
The Company maintains a single restricted stock unit plan which is described below.
Restricted Stock:
Each year, beginning in 2009, the Company has issued shares of class B restricted stock to the Company's outside directors. The shares serve as the annual retainer compensation for the outside directors for the periods shown below. The shares are distributed on the vesting date and have a total value of $480, $440 and $440 for the annual periods ended 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The table below provides detail of the stock issuances for 2015, 2014 and 2013:
Compensation expense related to the above stock grant is recognized over the period in which the directors render the services.
Director compensation cost associated with restricted stock grants of $460, $440 and $440 was charged against income for the restricted stock units for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
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Note I - Stock Purchase and Option Plans (continued)
Effective February 4, 2015, the Company issued 36,646 shares of class B restricted stock to certain of the Company's executives. The restricted shares will be paid solely in the Company's class B stock. The restricted shares represent a portion of the calendar year 2014 compensation to certain executives under the terms of the Company's Executive Incentive Bonus Plan. The restricted shares will vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant and are accelerated for retirement eligible recipients in accordance with the non-substantive post-grant date vesting clause of ASC 715, Compensation-Retirement Benefits. Restricted stock was valued based on the closing price of the stock on the day the award was granted. Each share was valued at $23.29 per share representing a total value of $853. Non-vested restricted shares will be forfeited should an executive's employment terminate for any reason other than death, disability, or retirement as defined by the Compensation Committee.
Effective February 5, 2016, the Company issued 47,333 shares of class B restricted stock to certain of the Company's executives. The restricted shares will be paid solely in the Company's class B stock. The restricted shares represent a portion of the calendar year 2015 compensation to certain executives under the terms of the Company's Executive Incentive Bonus Plan. The restricted shares will vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant and are accelerated for retirement eligible recipients in accordance with the non-substantive post-grant date vesting clause of ASC 715, Compensation-Retirement Benefits. Restricted stock was valued based on the closing price of the stock on the day the award was granted. Each share was valued at $23.30 per share representing a total value of $1,103. Non-vested restricted shares will be forfeited should an executive's employment terminate for any reason other than death, disability, or retirement as defined by the Compensation Committee.
Note J - Reportable Segments
The Company operates within two reportable business segments: property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. The property and casualty insurance segment provides multiple line insurance coverage primarily to fleet transportation companies as well as to independent contractors who contract with fleet transportation companies. In addition, the Company provides private passenger automobile products to individuals, workers' compensation coverage to small businesses and professional liability products on a selective basis. The reinsurance segment currently accepts professional liability cessions from other insurance companies. From 1992 until July 1, 2014, the reinsurance segment accepted property cessions from other insurance companies and retrocessions from reinsurance companies, principally reinsuring against catastrophes. Final exposure to property catastrophe losses expired on June 30, 2015.
The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on past or expected results from insurance underwriting operations before income taxes. Underwriting gain or loss does not include net investment income or gains or losses on the Company's investment portfolio. All investment-related revenues are managed at the corporate level. Underwriting gain or loss for the property and casualty insurance segment includes revenue and expense from the Company's agency operations since the agency operations serve as a primary direct marketing facility for this segment. Management does not identify or allocate assets to reportable segments when evaluating segment performance and depreciation expense is not material for any of the reportable segments. The accounting policies of each reportable segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.
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Note J - Reportable Segments (continued)
The following table provides certain profit and loss information for each reportable segment for the years ended
December 31:
The following table reconciles reportable segment profits to the Company's consolidated income before federal income taxes:
One customer of the property and casualty insurance segment, FedEx Ground Systems, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and related entities ("FedEx") represents approximately $17,773, $18,951 and $27,004 of the Company's consolidated direct and assumed premium written in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
An additional $209,434, $197,767 and $171,615 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is placed with the Company by a non-affiliated broker on behalf of contracted service providers of this same customer but this business is not dependent upon the direct business with this customer.
Note K - Earnings Per Share
The following is a reconciliation of the denominators used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:
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Note L - Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Company writes policies of excess insurance attaching above self-insured retentions ("SIR") and also writes policies that contain per-claim deductibles. Those losses and claims that fall within the SIR limits are obligations of the insured; however, the Company writes surety bonds in favor of various regulatory agencies guaranteeing the insureds' payment of claims within the SIR. Further, specified portions of losses and claims incurred under large deductible policies, while obligations of the Company, are contractually reimbursable to the Company from the insureds. The Company requires collateral from its insureds to serve as a source of reimbursement if the Company is obligated to pay claims within the SIR by reason of an insured's default or if the insured fails to reimburse the Company for deductible amounts paid by the Company.
Acceptable collateral may be provided in the form of letters of credit on Company approved banks, Company approved marketable securities or cash. At December 31, 2015, the Company held collateral in the aggregate amount of $248,637.
The amount of collateral required of an insured is determined by the financial condition of the insured, the type of obligations guaranteed by the Company, estimated reserves for incurred losses within the SIR or deductible that have been reported to the insured or the Company, estimated incurred but not reported losses, and estimates for losses that are expected to occur, within the SIR or deductible, prior to the next collateral adjustment date. In general, the Company attempts to hold collateral equal to 100% of the ultimate losses that would be paid by or due the Company in the event of an insured's default. Periodic audits are conducted by the Company to evaluate its exposure and the collateral required. If a deficiency in collateral is noted as the result of an audit, additional collateral is requested immediately. Because collateral amounts contain numerous estimates of the Company's exposure, are adjusted only periodically and are sometimes reduced based on the superior financial condition of the insured, the amount of collateral held by the Company at a given point in time may not be sufficient to fully reimburse the Company for all of its guarantees or amounts due in the event of an insured's default. In that regard, the Company is not fully collateralized for the guarantees made for, or the deductible amounts that may be due from FedEx Ground and certain of its subsidiaries and related entities, and in the event of their default, such default may have a material adverse impact on the Company. The Company estimates its uncollateralized exposure related to this customer to be as much as 47% of shareholders' equity at December 31, 2015.
The Company's balance sheet includes paid and estimated unpaid amounts recoverable from reinsurers under various agreements totaling $232,735 at December 31, 2015. These recoverables are only partially collateralized. The two largest amounts due from individual reinsurers, net of collateral and offsets, were $36,796 and $17,817 at December 31, 2015.
Investments in limited partnerships include an aggregate of $45,009 invested in two limited partnerships, New Vernon India Fund and New Vernon Global Opportunity Fund which are managed by organizations in which four directors of the Company are executive officers, directors and owners.
Note M - Acquisition and related Goodwill and Intangibles
On October 31, 2008, the Company purchased a commercial lines specialty insurance agency for a cash purchase price of $3,500. The acquisition is part of the Company's property and casualty insurance segment. As part of the purchase, the Company recorded goodwill of $3,152 and intangible assets related to customer relationships and employment agreements of $179 which are included in Other Assets in the consolidated balance sheets and have recorded amortization of intangible assets of $0, $4 and $17 during 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Accumulated amortization of intangible assets was $179 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
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Note N - Fair Value
Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivables, reinsurance recoverable, notes receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, income taxes payable, short term borrowings and unearned income approximate fair value because of the short term nature of these items. The following tables summarize fair value measurements by level for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
As of December 31, 2015:
As of December 31, 2014:
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Note N - Fair Value (continued)
Level inputs, as defined by the FASB guidance, are as follows:
Level Input:
Input Definition:
Level 1
Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
Level 2
Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
Level 3
Unobservable inputs that reflect management's best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.
The Level 3 assets consist of a portfolio of corporate convertible bonds, commercial mortgage-backed securities and a limited amount of foreign government obligations. The assets are valued using various unobservable inputs including extrapolated data, proprietary models and indicative quotes. Transfers into Level 3 during 2015 and 2014 relate to securities previously classified as Level 2. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs is as follows for the years ended December 31:
Quoted market prices are obtained whenever possible. Where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are estimated using present value or other valuation techniques. These techniques are significantly affected by our assumptions, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows. Potential taxes and other transaction costs have not been considered in estimating fair values.
Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period. There were no significant transfers of assets between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2015.
In addition to the preceding disclosures on assets recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, FASB guidance also requires the disclosure of fair values for certain other financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair value, whether or not such values are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets.
Non-financial instruments such as real estate, property and equipment, other assets, deferred income taxes and intangible assets, and certain financial instruments such as policy reserve liabilities are excluded from the fair value disclosures. Therefore, the fair value amounts cannot be aggregated to determine the underlying economic value to the Company.
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Note N - Fair Value (continued)
The following methods, assumptions and inputs were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:
Limited partnerships: The Company accounts for investments in limited partnerships using the equity method of accounting, which requires an investor in a limited partnership to carry the investment at its proportionate share of the limited partnership's equity. The underlying assets of the Company's investments in limited partnerships are carried primarily at fair value, and, therefore, the Company's carrying value of limited partnerships approximates fair value. As these investments are not actively traded and the corresponding inputs are based on data provided by the investees, they are classified as Level 3.
Short-term borrowings: The fair value of our short-term borrowings is based on quoted market prices for the same or similar debt, or, if no quoted market prices are available, on the current market interest rates available to us for debt of similar terms and remaining maturities.
A summary of the carrying value and fair value by level of financial instruments not recorded at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:
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Note P - Statutory
Net income of the insurance subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices, was $25,627, $27,143 and $30,886 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Consolidated statutory capital and surplus for these subsidiaries was $390,823 and $398,762 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, of which $62,539 may be transferred by dividend or loan to the parent company during calendar year 2016 with proper notification to, but without approval from, regulatory authorities. An additional $239,249 of shareholders' equity of such insurance subsidiaries could, under existing regulations, be advanced or loaned to the parent company with prior notification to and approval from regulatory authorities, although it is unlikely that transfers of this size would be practical.
State regulatory authorities prescribe calculations of the minimum amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary for each insurance company to remain authorized. These computations are referred to as Risk Based Capital ("RBC") requirements and are based on a number of complex factors taking into consideration the quality and nature of assets, the historical adequacy of recorded liabilities and the specific nature of business conducted. At December 31, 2015 the minimum statutory capital and surplus requirements of the insurance subsidiaries was $87,688. Actual consolidated statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2015 exceeded this requirement by $303,135, which equals to 346% of minimum RBC.
Note Q - Leases
The Company leases certain computer and related equipment using noncancelable operating leases. Lease expense for 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $175, $330 and $1,324, respectively. At December 31, 2015, future lease payments for operating leases with initial or remaining noncancelable terms of one year or more consisted of the following:
Note R - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
A reconciliation of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31 is as follows:
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Note R - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (continued)
Details of changes in net unrealized gains on investments for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
Reconciliation of accumulated other comprehensive income and retained earnings for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
Note S - Debt
The Company maintains a revolving line of credit with a $40,000 limit and an expiration date of September 23, 2018. Interest on this line of credit is referenced to LIBOR and can be fixed for periods of up to one year at the Company's option. Outstanding drawings on this line of credit were $20,000 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. At December 31, 2015, the effective interest rate was 1.52%. The Company has $20,000 remaining unused under the line of credit at December 31, 2015. The current outstanding borrowings were used for general corporate purposes.
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Item 9.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
No response to this item is required.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company carried out an evaluation as of December 31, 2015, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting the Company to material information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act. In addition, based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. The Company noted no change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Responsibility for Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements and related information appearing in this report. Management believes that the consolidated financial statements fairly reflect the form and substance of transactions and that the financial statements reasonably present the Company's financial position and results of operations in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Management has included in the Company's financial statements amounts that are based upon estimates and judgments which it believes are reasonable under the circumstances.
The Board of Directors of the Company has an Audit Committee composed of four non-management Directors. The committee meets periodically with financial management, the internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm to review accounting, control, auditing and financial reporting matters.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework). Based on our evaluation under this framework, management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015. The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.
We have audited Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries' (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, 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). 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 conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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.
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.
In our opinion, Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the COSO criteria.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 and our report dated March 4, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Indianapolis, IN
March 4, 2016
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PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The information with respect to the directors of the Registrant to be provided under this item is omitted from this Report because the Registrant will file with the Commission a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A involving the election of directors not later than 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.
The information required by Item 10 of this Report with respect to directors which will appear in the definitive proxy statement is incorporated by reference herein.
The executive officers of the Company are expected to serve until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Except as otherwise indicated, the occupation of each officer during the past five years has been in his current position with the Company.
The following summary sets forth certain information concerning the Company's executive officers as of December 31, 2015:
(1) Mr. DeVito was elected Chief Executive Officer in December, 2010. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2007 until 2010 and has served in various capacities since 1981.
(2) Mr. Shapiro was elected Executive Chairman in October, 2015. He has been lead director since 2010 and has served on the Board since 2007.
(3) Mr. Miller was appointed Deputy Chairman in October, 2015. He served as Chairman of the Board from 1997 until 2015. Mr. Miller has served in various capacities since 1965.
(4) Mr. Corydon was elected Executive Vice President in 2008 and has served as CFO since 1979.
(5) Mr. Birchfield was elected Executive Vice President in April, 2014. He previously served as Vice President of the Company from 2013 until 2014.
(6) Mr. Case was elected Senior Vice President in May, 2015. He has served in various capacities since July, 2003.
Code of Conduct
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct (the Code) as our code of ethics document which is applicable to all directors, officers at the vice president level and above as well as certain other employees with control over accounting data. The Code incorporates our guidelines designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Code also incorporates our expectations of our employees that enable us to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations and to provide accurate and timely disclosure in our filings with the SEC and other public communications.
The Code is available on the Corporation's website at www.baldwinandlyons.com. The Board of Directors reviews the Code annually and approves any amendments necessary to update the Code. Any amendments are properly posted. Copies can also be obtained by contacting our investor relations at pcorydon@baldwinandlyons.com or by written request to Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 111 Congressional Blvd., Suite 500, Carmel, Indiana 46032.
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Item 11.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION *
Item 12.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT *
Item 13.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE *
Item 14.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES *
* The information to be provided under Items 11, 12, 13 and 14 is omitted from this Report because the Registrant will file with the Commission a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A involving the election of directors not later than 120 days after the close of its fiscal year. The information required by these items of this Report which will appear in the definitive proxy statement is incorporated by reference herein.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) 1. List of Financial Statements--The following consolidated financial statements of the registrant and its subsidiaries (including the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm) are submitted in Item 8 of this report.
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2.
List of Financial Statement Schedules--The following consolidated financial statement schedules of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. and subsidiaries are included in Item 15(d):
Pursuant to Article 7:
Schedule I -- Summary of Investments--Other than Investments in Related Parties
Schedule II -- Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant
Schedule III -- Supplementary Insurance Information
Schedule IV -- Reinsurance
Schedule VI -- Supplemental Information Concerning Property/Casualty Insurance
Operations
All other schedules to the consolidated financial statements required by Article 7 and Article 5 of Regulation S-X are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
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3. Listing of Exhibits:
Number & Caption from
Exhibit Table of
Item 601 of Regulation S-K
Exhibit Number and Description
(3) (Articles of Incorporation & By Laws)
EXHIBIT 3(i) -
Articles of Incorporation of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., as amended (Incorporated as an exhibit by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1986)
EXHIBIT 3(ii)--
By-Laws of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., as restated
(10) (Material Contracts)
EXHIBIT 10(a)-- 1981 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Incorporated as an exhibit by reference to Exhibit A to the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting held May 5, 1981)
EXHIBIT 10(f)--
Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. Executive Incentive Bonus Plan (Incorporated as an exhibit by reference to the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting held May 4, 2010)
(21) (Subsidiaries of the registrant)
EXHIBIT 21--
Subsidiaries of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.
(23) (Consents of experts and counsel)
EXHIBIT 23--
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
(24) (Powers of Attorney)
EXHIBIT 24--
Powers of Attorney for certain Officers and Directors
(31) (Certification)
EXHIBIT 31.1--
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
EXHIBIT 31.2--
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
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Number & Caption from
Exhibit Table of
Item 601 of Regulation S-K Exhibit Number and Description
(32) (Certification) EXHIBIT 32--
Certification of CEO and CFO pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act and 18 U.S.C. 1350
(b) A report on Form 8-K was filed by the Company in the fourth quarter of 2015 to announce its third quarter earnings press release.
(c) Exhibits. The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section of this report.
(d) Financial Statement Schedules. The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted on pages 73 through 79 of this report.
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Note to Condensed Financial Statements -- Basis of Presentation
The Company's investment in subsidiaries is stated at cost plus equity in the undistributed earnings of subsidiaries since the date of acquisition. The Company's share of net income of its subsidiaries is included in income using the equity method. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements.
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(A) Allocations of certain expenses have been made to investment income, settlement expenses and other operating expenses and are based on a number of assumptions and estimates. Results among these categories would change if different methods were applied.
(B) Commission allowances relating to reinsurance ceded are offset against other operating expenses.
(C) Amounts are not broken down into separate segments; entire consolidated amount included in each segment.
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Note: Included in Ceded to Other Companies is $562, $1,275 and $2,825 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, relating to retrocessions associated with premiums assumed from other companies. Amount Assumed to Net percentage above considers the impact of this retrocession.
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(A) Loss reserves on certain reinsurance assumed and permanent total disability worker's compensation claims have been discounted to present value using pretax interest rates not exceeding 3.5%.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BALDWIN & LYONS, INC.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
March 4, 2016
By /s/ G. Patrick Corydon
G. Patrick Corydon,
Executive Vice President and CFO
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
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SIGNATURES (continued)
March 4, 2016
March 4, 2016
By /s/ Philip V. Moyles Jr.
Philip V. Moyles Jr.,
Director
By /s/ John M. O'Mara
John M. O'Mara,
Director
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ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
ITEM 15(c)--CERTAIN EXHIBITS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
BALDWIN & LYONS, INC.
CARMEL, INDIANA
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BALDWIN & LYONS, INC.
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2015
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Begins on sequential page number of Form 10-K
EXHIBIT 3(i)--
Articles of Incorporation of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. as amended (Incorporated as an exhibit by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1986)
N/A
EXHIBIT 3(ii)--
By-Laws of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., as restated
N/A
EXHIBIT 10(a)--
1981 Employees Stock Purchase Plan (Incorporated as an exhibit by reference to Exhibit A to the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting
held May 5, 1981)
N/A
EXHIBIT 10(f)--
Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. Executive Incentive Bonus Plan (Incorporated as an exhibit by reference to the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting held May 4, 2010)
N/A
EXHIBIT 21--
Subsidiaries of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.
EXHIBIT 23--
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
EXHIBIT 24--
Powers of Attorney for certain Officers and Directors
86 - 88
EXHIBIT 31.1--
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
89 - 90
EXHIBIT 31.2--
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
91 - 92
EXHIBIT 32.1--
Certification of CEO and CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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