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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
(3) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

(A)  Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of our financial statements include estimates associated with management's evaluation of the determination of (i) liability for unpaid losses and LAE, (ii) the amount and recoverability of amortization of DPAC, and (iii) estimates for our reserves with respect to finance contracts, premiums receivable and deferred income taxes. Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of these significant estimates, which are described in greater detail in Footnote 2 of the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which we included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2011.

We believe that there were no significant changes in those critical accounting policies and estimates during the first six months of fiscal 2011. Senior management has reviewed the development and selection of our critical accounting policies and estimates and their disclosure in this Form 10-Q with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

The process of determining significant estimates is fact-specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, and in the case of unpaid losses and LAE, an actuarial valuation. Management regularly reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. In selecting the best estimate, we utilize various actuarial methodologies. Each of these methodologies is designed to forecast the number of claims we will be called upon to pay and the amounts we will pay on average to settle those claims. In arriving at our best estimate, our actuaries consider the likely predictive value of the various loss development methodologies employed in light of underwriting practices, premium rate changes and claim settlement practices that may have occurred, and weight the credibility of each methodology. Our actuarial methodologies take into account various factors, including, but not limited to, paid losses, liability estimates for reported losses, paid allocated LAE, salvage and other recoveries received, reported claim counts, open claim counts and counts for claims closed with and without payment for loss.
 
Accounting for loss contingencies pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance involves the existence of a condition, situation or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future event(s) occur or fail to occur. Additionally, accounting for a loss contingency requires management to assess each event as probable, reasonably possible or remote. Probable is defined as the future event or events are likely to occur. Reasonably possible is defined as the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than probable, while remote is defined as the chance of the future event or events occurring is slight. An estimated loss in connection with a loss contingency shall be recorded by a charge to current operations if both of the following conditions are met: First, the amount can be reasonably estimated, and second, the information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements. It is implicit in this condition that it is probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact of the loss or incurrence of a liability.

We are required to review the contractual terms of all our reinsurance purchases to ensure compliance with FASB issued guidance. The guidance establishes the conditions required for a contract with a reinsurer to be accounted for as reinsurance and prescribes accounting and reporting standards for those contracts. Contracts that do not result in the reasonable possibility that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the insurance risk assumed generally do not meet the conditions for reinsurance accounting and must be accounted for as deposits. The guidance also requires us to disclose the nature, purpose and effect of reinsurance transactions, including the premium amounts associated with reinsurance assumed and ceded. It also requires disclosure of concentrations of credit risk associated with reinsurance receivables and prepaid reinsurance premiums.

FASB issued guidance addresses accounting and reporting for (a) investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and (b) all investments in debt securities. The guidance requires that these securities be classified into one of three categories: Held-to-maturity, Trading, or Available-for-sale securities.

Investments classified as held-to-maturity include debt securities wherein the Company's intent and ability are to hold the investment until maturity. The accounting treatment for held-to-maturity investments is to carry them at amortized cost without consideration to unrealized gains or losses. Investments classified as trading securities include debt and equity securities bought and held primarily for the sale in the near term. The accounting treatment for trading securities is to carry them at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in current period operations. Investments classified as available-for-sale include debt and equity securities that are not classified as held-to-maturity or as trading security investments. The accounting treatment for available-for-sale securities is to carry them at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders' equity, namely “Other Comprehensive Income”.

A decline in the fair value of an available-for-sale security below cost that is deemed other-than temporary results in a charge to income, resulting in the establishment of a new cost basis for the security.  Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted, respectively, over the life of the related debt security as an adjustment to yield using a method that approximates the effective interest method. Dividends and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in earnings and are derived using the specific-identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.
 
Financial instruments, which potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of investments, premiums receivable, amounts due from reinsurers on paid and unpaid losses and finance contracts. We have not experienced significant losses related to premiums receivable from individual policyholders or groups of policyholders in a particular industry or geographic area. We believe no credit risk beyond the amounts provided for collection losses is inherent in our premiums receivable or finance contracts. In order to reduce credit risk for amounts due from reinsurers, we seek to do business with financially sound reinsurance companies and regularly review the financial strength of all reinsurers used. Additionally, our credit risk in connection with our reinsurers is mitigated by the establishment of irrevocable clean letters of credit in favor of Federated National.
 
The fair value of our investments is estimated based on prices published by financial services or quotations received from securities dealers and is reflective of the interest rate environment that existed as of the close of business on June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Changes in interest rates subsequent to June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 may affect the fair value of our investments.

The carrying amounts for the following financial instrument categories approximate their fair values at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 because of their short-term nature: cash and short term investments, premiums receivable, finance contracts, due from reinsurers, revolving credit outstanding, bank overdraft, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

(B) Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-29:  Business Combinations (Topic 805):  Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.  The objective of this update is to address diversity in practice about the interpretation of the pro forma revenue and earnings disclosure requirements for business combinations. Paragraph 805-10-50-2(h) requires a public entity to disclose pro forma information for business combinations that occurred in the current reporting period. The disclosures include pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the current reporting period as though the acquisition date for all business combinations that occurred during the year had been as of the beginning of the annual reporting period. If comparative financial statements are presented, the pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the comparable prior reporting period should be reported as though the acquisition date for all business combinations that occurred during the current year had been as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period.  In practice, some preparers have presented the pro forma information in their comparative financial statements as if the business combination that occurred in the current reporting period had occurred as of the beginning of each of the current and prior annual reporting periods. Other preparers have disclosed the pro forma information as if the business combination occurred at the beginning of the prior annual reporting period only, and carried forward the related adjustments, if applicable, through the current reporting period.  The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010.  The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-26: Financial Services – Insurance (Topic 944): Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, a consensus of FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.  The amendments in this update modify the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts. The amendments in this update specify that the costs must be based on successful efforts (that is, acquiring a new or renewal contract).  The amendments also specify that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs under certain circumstances.  The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim period within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively upon adoption.  Retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption also is permitted, but not required.  Early adoption is permitted, but only at the beginning of an entity's annual reporting period.  The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-09:  Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements, an amendment to Topic 855 Subsequent Events, to address potentially conflicting interactions of the requirements in this Topic with the SEC's reporting requirements. This update amends Topic 855 as follows: i) an entity that either is a SEC filer or a conduit bond obligor is required to evaluate subsequent events through the date that the financial statements are issued, if the entity does not meet either of these criteria then it should evaluate subsequent events through the date the financial statements are available to be issued; and ii) an SEC filer is not required to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. All amendments in this ASU are effective upon issuance of this ASU, except for the use of the issued date for conduit debt obligors which effective date is for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2010. Adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06: Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.  The amendments in ASU 2010-06 require additional disclosures about fair value measurements, including transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and activity in Level 3 on a gross basis, and clarifies certain other existing disclosure requirements including level of disaggregation and disclosures around inputs and valuation techniques. The provisions of the new standards are effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the additional Level 3 disclosures, which will become effective for fiscal years beginnings after December 15, 2010. These standards are disclosure only in nature and do not change accounting requirements. Accordingly, adoption of the new standard had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 165, “Subsequent Events” (“SFAS No. 165”), which is now part of ASU Topic 855, Subsequent Events.  In SFAS No. 165, the FASB establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. Our adoption of SFAS No. 165 on April 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP FAS 157-4“).  FSP FAS 157-4 is related to determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased and identifying transactions that are not orderly.  The guidance indicates that if an entity determines that either the volume and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and management judgment will be required to estimate fair value. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted and must be applied prospectively. The adoption of FSP FAS 157-4 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements or condition.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 115-2 and FSP FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than Temporary Impairments” (“FSP FAS 115-2 and FSP FAS 124-2”) related to the recognition and presentation of other-than temporary impairments.  In April 2009, the SEC also adopted similar guidance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 111 (“SAB 111”) on Other-Than-Temporary Impairment. FSP FAS 115-2 and FSP FAS 124-2 establishes a new method of recognizing and reporting other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities and contains additional disclosure requirements related to debt and equity securities.  This new accounting guidance establishes a new method of recognizing and reporting other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities and contains additional disclosure requirements related to debt and equity securities. For debt securities, the “ability and intent to hold” provision is eliminated, and impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary if an entity (i) intends to sell the security, (ii) more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost, or (iii) does not expect to recover the security's entire amortized cost basis (even if the entity does not intend to sell).  This new framework does not apply to equity securities (i.e., impaired equity securities will continue to be evaluated under previously existing guidance).  The “probability” standard relating to the collectability of cash flows is eliminated, and impairment is now considered to be other-than-temporary if the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security is less than the amortized cost basis of the security.  The accounting guidance provides that for debt securities which (i) an entity does not intend to sell and (ii) it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis, the impairment is separated into the amount related to estimated credit losses and the amount related to all other factors. The amount of the total impairment related to all other factors is recorded in other comprehensive loss and the amount related to estimated credit loss is recognized as a charge against current period earnings.  The new guidance expands disclosure requirements for both debt and equity securities and requires a more detailed, risk-oriented breakdown of security types and related information, and requires that the annual disclosures be made in interim periods.  The accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted.  At the time of adoption, the Company did not have any Other-Than-Temporary Impairments for debt securities, and, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 
Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”), and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company's present or future financial statements.
 
(C) Stock Options

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FASB-issued guidance using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2011 includes compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the guidance.

(D) Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period presented.  Diluted earnings per share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period presented; outstanding warrants and stock options are considered common stock equivalents and are included in the calculation using the treasury stock method.

(E) Reclassifications

No reclassification of the 2010 financial statements was necessary to conform to the 2011 presentation.