Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Tiptree have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) and include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. The condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, the main operating currency of the Company. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial information reflects all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for each of the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending on December 31, 2017.

As a result of changes in presentation made in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations. The primary difference in the presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements from the prior year is the aggregation of investments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the summation of the net investment income of our specialty insurance business in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The condensed consolidated cash flow statement has also been conformed to this new presentation. In addition certain immaterial balances have been combined in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Tiptree consolidates those entities in which it has an investment of 50% or more of voting rights or has control over significant operating, financial and investing decisions of the entity as well as variable interest entities (VIEs) in which Tiptree is determined to be the primary beneficiary. VIEs are defined as entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties.

A VIE is required to be consolidated only by its primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party who has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and who has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Generally, Tiptree’s consolidated VIEs are entities which Tiptree is considered the primary beneficiary through its controlling financial interests.

Non-controlling interests on the condensed consolidated balance sheets represent the ownership interests in certain consolidated subsidiaries held by entities or persons other than Tiptree. Accounts and transactions between consolidated entities have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management makes estimates and assumptions that include, but are not limited to, the determination of the following significant items:


•	Fair value of financial assets and liabilities, including, but not limited to, securities, loans and derivatives


•	Value of acquired assets and liabilities;


•	Carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles, including estimated amortization period and useful lives;


•	Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, estimated future claims and losses, potential litigation and other claims;


•	Valuation of contingent share issuances for compensation and purchase consideration, including estimates of number of shares and vesting schedules;


•	Revenue recognition including, but not limited to, the timing and amount of insurance premiums, service, administration fees, and loan origination fees; and


•	Other matters that affect the reported amounts and disclosure of contingencies in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Although these and other estimates and assumptions are based on the best available estimates, actual results could differ materially from management’s estimates.

Business Combination Accounting

The Company accounts for business combinations by applying the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination be measured at fair value as of the closing date of the acquisition. The net assets acquired may consist of tangible and intangible assets and the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired, or goodwill. The determination of estimated useful lives and the allocation of the purchase price to the intangible assets requires significant judgment and affects the amount of future amortization and possible impairment charges. Contingent consideration, if any, is measured at fair value on the date of acquisition. The fair value of any contingent consideration liability is remeasured at each reporting date with any change recorded in other expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Acquisition and transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

In certain instances, the Company may acquire less than 100% ownership of an entity, resulting in the recording of a non-controlling interest. The measurement of assets and liabilities acquired and non-controlling interest is initially established at a preliminary estimate of fair value, which may be adjusted during the measurement period, primarily due to the results of valuation studies applicable to the business combination.

Acquisitions that do not meet the criteria for the acquisition method of accounting are accounted for as acquisitions of assets.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels, from highest to lowest, are defined as follows:

•Level 1 – Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

•Level 2 – Significant inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. The types of financial assets and liabilities carried at level 2 are valued based on one or more of the following:

a) Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

b) Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in nonactive markets;

c) Pricing models whose inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;

d) Pricing models whose inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 – Significant inputs that are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including the Company’s own data and assumptions that are used in pricing the asset or liability.

Fair Value Option

In addition to the financial instruments the Company is required to measure at fair value, the Company has elected to make an irrevocable election to utilize fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain eligible financial assets and liabilities. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) within the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The decision to elect the fair value option is determined on an instrument-by-instrument basis and must be applied to an entire instrument and is irrevocable once elected. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value pursuant to this guidance are reported separately in our condensed consolidated balance sheets from those instruments using another accounting method.

Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships, which clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under Topic 815, does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07, Investments -Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), which eliminates the requirement in Topic 323 that an entity retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and should be applied prospectively upon their effective date to increases in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence that result in the adoption of the equity method. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Some of the areas for simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. In addition, the amendments in this Update eliminate the guidance in Topic 718 that was indefinitely deferred shortly after the issuance of FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held Through Related Parties that Are Under Common Control, which amends the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity, that is the single decision maker of a VIE, evaluates whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The amendments in this standard affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods and services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. On July 9, 2015, the FASB decided to delay the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. Reporting entities may choose to adopt the standard as of the original effective date. The deferral results in ASU 2014-09 being effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which makes targeted improvements to the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of certain financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 focuses primarily on the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for certain financial instruments. Among its provisions for public business entities, ASU 2016-01 eliminates the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost, requires the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, requires the separate presentation in other comprehensive income of the change in fair value of a liability due to instrument-specific credit risk for a liability for which the reporting entity has elected the fair value option, requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) and clarifies guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted for a limited number of provisions. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. ASU 2016-02 supersedes the previous leases standard, Leases (Topic 840). The standard is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus net considerations. The effective date and transition requirements for this standard are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies guidance related to identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance contained in the new revenue recognition standard. The Update includes targeted improvements based on input the FASB received from the Transition Resource Group for Revenue Recognition and other stakeholders. The Update seeks to proactively address areas in which diversity in practice potentially could arise, as well as to reduce the cost and complexity of applying certain aspects of the guidance both at implementation and on an ongoing basis. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this Update are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic 606 (and any other Topic amended by Update 2014-09). The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-11, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting, which rescinds SEC paragraphs pursuant to the SEC Staff Announcement, “Rescission of Certain SEC Staff Observer Comments upon Adoption of Topic 606,” and the SEC Staff Announcement, “Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or Equity,” announced at the March 3, 2016 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) meeting. The Company believes that that the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which provides guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. Additionally, the amendments in this Update provide a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this Update are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for Topic 606 (and any other Topic amended by Update 2014-09). The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments -Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however Topic 326 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. This Update affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments will affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses the following eight specific cash flow issues: Debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies (COLIs) (including bank-owned life insurance policies (BOLIs)); distributions received from equity method investees; beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including the adoption in an interim period. The amendments in this Update should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force), which addresses classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 requires an entity’s reconciliation of the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows to include in cash and cash equivalents amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. The ASU does not define restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents, but an entity will need to disclose the nature of the restrictions. ASU 2016-18 is effective for public business entities for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 does not change the qualitative assessment; however, it removes “the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test.” Instead, all reporting units, even those with a zero or negative carrying amount will apply the same impairment test. Therefore, as the FASB notes in the ASU’s Basis for Conclusions, the goodwill of reporting units with zero or negative carrying values will not be impaired, even when conditions underlying the reporting unit indicate that goodwill is impaired. Entities will, however, be required to disclose any reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts and the respective amounts of goodwill allocated to those reporting units. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20) Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The guidance may be applied retrospectively for all periods presented or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment at the date of adoption. The new guidance clarifies the scope and accounting of a financial asset that meets the definition of an “in-substance nonfinancial asset” and defines the term, “in-substance nonfinancial asset.” The ASU also adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The guidance shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium, requiring the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which provided clarity as to what changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. ASU 2017-09 is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted, and is applied prospectively to changes in terms or conditions of awards occurring on or after the adoption date. The Company will consider the impact that this standard may have on future stock-based payment award modifications should they occur.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which amends the guidance on hedge accounting. The amendment will make more financial and nonfinancial hedging strategies eligible for hedge accounting and amend the presentation and disclosure requirements. It is intended to more closely align hedge accounting with companies’ risk management strategies, simplify the application of hedge accounting, and increase transparency as to the scope and results of hedging programs. ASU 2017-12 can be adopted immediately in any interim or annual period. The mandatory effective date for calendar year-end public companies is January 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.