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Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments Investments
Available-for-sale fixed maturities at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 included the following:
December 31, 2022
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit LossesGross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesEstimated Fair Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$243,999 $ $8 $22,399 $221,608 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations21,562   1,628 19,934 
State and municipal bonds483,584  177 44,311 439,450 
Corporate debt1,980,579  735 199,862 1,781,452 
Residential mortgage-backed securities450,870 229 555 61,656 389,540 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities10,576   872 9,704 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities217,021  63 22,994 194,090 
Other asset-backed securities444,220 198 289 27,617 416,694 
$3,852,411 $427 $1,827 $381,339 $3,472,472 
 December 31, 2021
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesEstimated Fair Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations
$239,765 $1,166 $2,424 $238,507 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations
20,467 29 262 20,234 
State and municipal bonds
511,750 9,620 2,174 519,196 
Corporate debt
1,884,455 29,050 14,949 1,898,556 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
455,438 4,254 5,751 453,941 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities
13,909 294 62 14,141 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities
231,226 2,530 2,273 231,483 
Other asset-backed securities
457,837 2,747 2,920 457,664 
$3,814,847 $49,690 $30,815 $3,833,722 
The recorded cost basis and estimated fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturities at December 31, 2022, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Due in one
year or less
Due after
one year
through
five years
Due after
five years
through
ten years
Due after
ten years
Total Fair
Value
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$243,999 $23,523 $139,958 $56,909 $1,218 $221,608 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations21,562 2,195 13,790 3,949  19,934 
State and municipal bonds483,584 37,427 144,161 151,294 106,568 439,450 
Corporate debt1,980,579 174,542 854,788 654,558 97,564 1,781,452 
Residential mortgage-backed securities450,870 389,540 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities10,576 9,704 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities217,021 194,090 
Other asset-backed securities444,220 416,694 
$3,852,411 $3,472,472 
Excluding obligations of the U.S. Government, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises and a U.S. Government obligations money market fund, no investment in any entity or its affiliates exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2022.
Cash and securities with a carrying value of $51.6 million at December 31, 2022 were on deposit with various state insurance departments to meet regulatory requirements. ProAssurance also held securities with a carrying value of $31.3 million at December 31, 2022 that are pledged as collateral security for advances under the Company's borrowing relationships with FHLBs.
As a member of Lloyd's, ProAssurance is required to maintain capital at Lloyd's, referred to as FAL, to support underwriting by Syndicate 1729. At December 31, 2022, ProAssurance's FAL investments were comprised of available-for-sale fixed maturities with a fair value of $23.8 million and cash and cash equivalents of $1.0 million on deposit with Lloyd's in order to satisfy these FAL requirements. During the second quarter of 2022, ProAssurance received a return of approximately $5.5 million of cash from its FAL balances given Syndicate 6131 ceased underwriting on a quota share basis with Syndicate 1729 as Syndicate 6131's business is retained within Syndicate 1729 beginning with the 2022 underwriting year. The return of FAL during the second quarter of 2022 also related to the settlement of the Company's participation in the results of Syndicate 1729 and Syndicate 6131 for the 2019 underwriting year. Further, during the fourth quarter of 2022, ProAssurance received a return of approximately $5.6 million of cash from its FAL balances due to lower capital requirements for the 2023 underwriting year following Lloyd's of London's review of Syndicate 1729's 2023 business plan.
Investments Held in a Loss Position
The following tables provide summarized information with respect to investments held in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, including the length of time the investment had been held in a continuous unrealized loss position.
December 31, 2022
 TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
 FairUnrealizedFairUnrealizedFairUnrealized
(In thousands)ValueLossValueLossValueLoss
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$220,991 $22,399 $53,199 $2,393 $167,792 $20,006 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations19,934 1,628 8,082 663 11,852 965 
State and municipal bonds421,769 44,311 177,393 12,352 244,376 31,959 
Corporate debt1,708,529 199,862 687,947 42,977 1,020,582 156,885 
Residential mortgage-backed securities363,945 61,656 155,212 15,275 208,733 46,381 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities9,704 872 3,086 110 6,618 762 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities192,359 22,994 53,270 4,087 139,089 18,907 
Other asset-backed securities396,452 27,617 162,192 7,050 234,260 20,567 
$3,333,683 $381,339 $1,300,381 $84,907 $2,033,302 $296,432 

December 31, 2021
 TotalLess than 12 months12 months or longer
 FairUnrealizedFairUnrealizedFairUnrealized
(In thousands)ValueLossValueLossValueLoss
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury obligations$190,054 $2,424 $181,689 $2,206 $8,365 $218 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations16,287 262 16,287 262 — — 
State and municipal bonds175,442 2,174 171,930 2,039 3,512 135 
Corporate debt945,196 14,949 866,731 11,828 78,465 3,121 
Residential mortgage-backed securities326,248 5,751 290,019 4,320 36,229 1,431 
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities4,529 62 4,355 54 174 
Other commercial mortgage-backed securities151,827 2,273 145,467 1,884 6,360 389 
Other asset-backed securities278,915 2,920 271,463 2,796 7,452 124 
$2,088,498 $30,815 $1,947,941 $25,389 $140,557 $5,426 
As of December 31, 2022, excluding U.S. Government or U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations, there were 2,901 debt securities (74.4% of all available-for-sale fixed maturity securities held) in an unrealized loss position representing 1,433 issuers. The greatest and second greatest unrealized loss positions among those securities were approximately $5.7 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The securities were evaluated for impairment as of December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2021, excluding U.S. Government or U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise obligations, there were 1,766 debt securities (45.8% of all available-for-sale fixed maturity securities held) in an unrealized loss position representing 998 issuers. The greatest and second greatest unrealized loss positions among those securities were each approximately $0.4 million. The securities were evaluated for impairment as of December 31, 2021.
Each quarter, ProAssurance performs a detailed analysis for the purpose of assessing whether any of the securities it holds in an unrealized loss position has suffered an impairment due to credit or non-credit factors. A detailed discussion of the factors considered in the assessment is included in Note 1.
Fixed maturity securities held in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2022, excluding asset-backed securities, have paid all scheduled contractual payments and are expected to continue. Expected future cash flows of asset-backed securities, excluding those issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, held in an unrealized loss position were estimated as part of the December 31, 2022 impairment evaluation using the most recently available six-month historical performance data for the collateral (loans) underlying the security or, if historical data was not available, sector based assumptions, and equaled or exceeded the current amortized cost basis of the security.
The following tables present a roll forward of the allowance for expected credit losses on available-for-sale fixed maturities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Year Ended December 31, 2022
(In thousands)Corporate DebtResidential mortgage-backed securitiesOther asset-backed securitiesTotal
Balance, at December 31, 2021$ $ $ $ 
Additional credit losses related to securities for which:
No allowance for credit losses has been previously recognized553 229 198 980 
Reductions related to:
Securities for which there is an intent to sell or will more likely than not be sold before recovery of its amortized cost(553)  (553)
Balance, at December 31, 2022$ $229 $198 $427 
Year Ended December 31, 2021
(In thousands)Corporate DebtTotal
Balance, at December 31, 2020$552 $552 
Reductions related to:
Securities sold during the period(552)(552)
Balance, at December 31, 2021$— $— 

Other information regarding sales and purchases of fixed maturity available-for-sale securities is as follows:
Year Ended December 31
(In millions)202220212020
Proceeds from sales (exclusive of maturities and paydowns)$131.0 $504.0 $354.4 
Purchases$607.8 $1,438.2 $917.0 
Equity Investments
ProAssurance's equity investments are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in income as a component of net investment gains (losses) during the period of change. Equity investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 primarily included bond funds and, to a lesser degree, stocks and investment funds.
Short-term Investments
ProAssurance's short-term investments, which have a maturity at purchase of one year or less, are primarily comprised of investments in U.S. treasury obligations, commercial paper and money market funds. Short-term investments are carried at fair value which approximates the cost of the securities due to their short-term nature.
BOLI
ProAssurance holds BOLI policies that are carried at the current cash surrender value of the policies (original cost $42 million), which includes the BOLI policies acquired from NORCAL (original cost $10 million). All insured individuals were members of ProAssurance or NORCAL management at the time the policies were acquired. The primary purpose of the program is to offset future employee benefit expenses through earnings on the cash value of the policies. ProAssurance is the owner and beneficiary of these policies.
Net Investment Income
Net investment income by investment category was as follows:
Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)202220212020
Fixed maturities$93,736 $74,437 $69,308 
Equities3,706 2,539 4,369 
Short-term investments, including Other5,681 1,969 2,683 
BOLI1,141 2,698 2,023 
Investment fees and expenses(8,292)(11,121)(6,385)
Net investment income$95,972 $70,522 $71,998 
Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
ProAssurance's investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries were as follows:
 December 31, 2022Carrying Value
(In thousands)Percentage
Ownership
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnershipsSee below$4,088 $12,424 
All other investments, primarily investment fund LPs/LLCs
See below301,122 323,152 
$305,210 $335,576 
Qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnership interests held by ProAssurance generate investment returns by providing tax benefits to fund investors in the form of tax credits and project operating losses. The carrying value of these investments reflects ProAssurance's total commitments (both funded and unfunded) to the partnerships, less any amortization. At December 31, 2022, ProAssurance did not have an ownership percentage greater than 20% in any tax credit partnership interests. At December 31, 2021, ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to two of the tax credit partnership interests was almost 100%; these interests had a carrying value of $3.2 million at December 31, 2021. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to the remaining tax credit partnership interests is less than 20%; these interests had a carrying value of $4.1 million and $9.2 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Since ProAssurance has the ability to exert influence over the partnerships but does not control them, all are accounted for using the equity method. See further discussion of the entities in which ProAssurance holds passive interests in Note 14.
ProAssurance holds interests in investment fund LPs/LLCs and other equity method investments and LPs/LLCs which are not considered to be investment funds. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to three of the LPs/LLCs is greater than 25%, which is expected to be reduced as the funds mature and other investors participate in the funds; these investments had a carrying value of $36.0 million and $49.0 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. ProAssurance's ownership percentage relative to the remaining investments and LPs/LLCs is less than 25%; these interests had a carrying value of $265.1 million and $274.2 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. ProAssurance does not have the ability to exert control over any of these funds.
Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries included losses from qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnerships and a historic tax credit partnership. Investment results recorded reflect ProAssurance's allocable portion of partnership operating results. Tax credits reduce income tax expense in the period they are utilized. The results recorded and tax credits recognized related to ProAssurance's tax credit partnership investments were as follows:
Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)202220212020
Qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnerships
Losses recorded$8,278 $15,239 $18,684 
Tax credits recognized$4,805 $13,160 $17,465 
Historic tax credit partnership*
Losses (gains) recorded$(1,212)$(182)$1,092 
Tax credits recognized$ $— $412 
*ProAssurance holds a historic tax credit partnership which was fully amortized in 2020. This partnership generated investment returns by providing benefits to partnership investors in the form of tax credits, tax deductible project operating losses and distributions resulting from positive cash flows. ProAssurance received a distribution associated with this investment during the second quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2021, as a result of positive cash flows from a completed project, which was recognized as an operating gain in each respective period.
The tax credits generated from the Company's tax credit partnership investments of $4.8 million, $13.2 million and $17.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, were deferred and are expected to be utilized in future periods. Not included in the table above is $0.5 million of tax credits recaptured from the 2019 tax year during the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the carryback of the Company's estimated NOL for the year ended December 31, 2022 to the 2021 tax year. The recaptured tax credits were earned in 2019 but not utilized until 2021 due to NOL's generated in both 2019 and 2020. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $51.2 million of available tax credit carryforwards generated from its investments in tax credit partnerships which they expect to utilize in future periods (see further discussion in Note 6).
Tax credits provided by the underlying projects of the Company's historic tax credit partnership are typically available in the tax year in which the project is put into active service, whereas the tax credits provided by qualified affordable housing project tax credit partnerships are provided over approximately a ten year period.
Equity Method Investees
As previously discussed, ProAssurance holds certain investments that are measured using the equity method of accounting, primarily investments in LPs/LLCs, which are carried as a part of investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2022, the following equity method investees represent the largest funds on an absolute basis contributing to ProAssurance's equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries:
NB Co Investment Fund II, LP is a private equity fund that is a co-investor in small and mid-cap companies.
NB Real Estate Secondary Opportunities Fund, LP is an equity fund that invests in real estate private equity investments.
NB Private Equity Credit Opportunities Fund II makes credit and equity investments in private equity owned companies.
Prime Storage Fund II, LP primarily invests in self-storage real estate.
Sageview Capital Partners II, LP is a private equity fund that primarily invests in technology, financial services and business services mid-cap companies.
USB LIHTC is a fund that invests in tax credit entities in low-income residential rental properties.
The following tables presents aggregated gross summarized financial information for the funds as of December 31, 2022, including the portion not attributable to ProAssurance, derived from the funds' financial statements which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. As the majority of ProAssurance's equity method investments report their results to the Company on a one quarter lag, the majority of the summarized financial information below is for the twelve months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
Balance Sheet Information
(In thousands)September 30, 2022September 30, 2021
Total assets$2,727,876 $3,544,866 
Total liabilities$140,157 $230,133 
Total partners' capital$2,587,719 $3,314,733 
Income Statement Information
(In thousands)Year Ended September 30
202220212020
Net investment income (loss)$13,009 $2,506 $(16,557)
Net investment gains (losses)47,824 219,089 655 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)135,218 490,761 123,942 
Operating Expenses4,870 6,527 7,528 
Net gain (loss)$191,181 $705,829 $100,512 
Net gain (loss) attributable to ProAssurance(1)
$(375)$10,171 $(8,296)
(1) Represents ProAssurance's share of the funds' aggregate income or loss, which is included as a component of equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries in its Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Net Investment Gains (Losses)
Realized investment gains and losses are recognized on the first-in, first-out basis. The following table provides detailed information regarding net investment gains (losses):
Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)202220212020
Total impairment losses:
Corporate debt$(1,331)$— $(1,745)
Asset-backed securities(441)— — 
Portion of impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income before taxes:
Corporate debt — 237 
Asset-backed securities14 — — 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings(1,758)— (1,508)
Gross realized gains, available-for-sale fixed maturities1,740 14,311 13,855 
Gross realized (losses), available-for-sale fixed maturities(3,387)(1,218)(2,501)
Net realized gains (losses), trading fixed maturities(155)(20)288 
Net realized gains (losses), equity investments(5,252)7,337 13,192 
Net realized gains (losses), other investments(222)8,660 3,883 
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), trading fixed maturities (613)(529)501 
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), equity investments(22,166)(2,941)(16,287)
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses), convertible securities, carried at fair value (10,557)(1,701)3,850 
Other(1)
9,213 411 405 
Net investment gains (losses)$(33,157)$24,310 $15,678 
(1) Includes a gain of $9.0 million recognized during the fourth quarter of 2022 reflecting the change in the fair value of contingent consideration issued in connection with the NORCAL acquisition. See further discussion on the contingent consideration in Note 2 and Note 3.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, ProAssurance recognized credit-related impairment losses in earnings of $1.8 million and a nominal amount of non-credit impairment losses in OCI. The credit-related impairment losses recognized in 2022 related to a corporate bond in the consumer sector as well as certain mortgage-backed and other asset backed securities. For the year ended December 31, 2021, ProAssurance did not recognize any credit-related impairment losses in earnings or non-credit impairment losses in OCI. For the year ended December 31, 2020, ProAssurance recognized credit-related impairment losses in earnings of $1.5 million and nominal amount of non-credit impairment losses in OCI. The credit-related impairment losses recognized in 2020 primarily related to corporate bonds in the energy and consumer sectors. Additionally, 2020 included credit-related impairment losses related to four corporate bonds in various sectors, which were sold during 2020. The non-credit impairment losses recognized in 2020 related to three corporate bonds in the energy and consumer sectors.
The following table presents a roll forward of cumulative credit losses recorded in earnings related to impaired debt securities for which a portion of the impairment was recorded in OCI.
Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)202220212020
Balance beginning of period
$ $552 $470 
Additional credit losses recognized during the period, related to securities for which:
No impairment has been previously recognized610 — 1,064 
Impairment has been previously recognized — 258 
Reductions due to:
Securities sold during the period (realized) (552)(1,240)
Securities for which there is an intent to sell or will more likely than not be sold before recovery of amortized cost(553)— — 
Balance December 31$57 $— $552