Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We carry certain of our financial instruments at fair value. We define fair value as the current amount that would be exchanged to sell an asset or transfer a liability, other than in a forced liquidation.

Fair Value Hierarchy

ASC No. 820 specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market assumptions. The level within the fair value hierarchy to measure the financial instrument shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:


•	Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets accessible at the measurement date.


•	Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. Inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.


•	Level 3—Valuations derived from one or more significant inputs that are unobservable.

Determination of Fair Value

When available, we generally use quoted market prices to determine fair value and classify the financial instrument in Level 1. In cases where quoted market prices for similar financial instruments are available, we utilize these inputs for valuation techniques and classify the financial instrument in Level 2. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using discounted cash flows, present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rates and estimates of future cash flows and we classify the financial instrument in Level 3. Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.

We used the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair values of financial instruments:

•

Investments available for sale—Investments available for sale are valued using quoted market prices in active markets, when available, and those investments are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Level 1 investments available for sale include investments such as U.S. Treasury securities and money market funds. Investments available for sale are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy if quoted market prices are not available and fair values are estimated using quoted prices of similar securities or recently executed transactions for the securities. U.S. agency securities, U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities, municipal debt securities, corporate debt securities, residential and commercial mortgage securities and asset-backed securities are classified as Level 2 investments.

We use independent pricing sources to determine the fair value of securities available for sale in Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We use one primary pricing service to provide individual security pricing based on observable market data and receive one quote per security. To ensure securities are appropriately classified in the fair value hierarchy, we review the pricing techniques and methodologies of the independent pricing service and believe that their policies adequately consider market activity, either based on specific transactions for the issue valued or based on modeling of securities with similar credit quality, duration, yield and structure that were recently traded. U.S. agency securities, U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities, municipal and corporate debt securities are valued by our primary vendor using recently executed transactions and proprietary models based on observable inputs, such as interest rate spreads, yield curves and credit risk. Residential and commercial mortgage securities and asset-backed securities are valued by our primary vendor using proprietary models based on observable inputs, such as interest rate spreads, prepayment speeds and credit risk. As part of our evaluation of investment prices provided by our primary pricing service, we obtained and reviewed their pricing methodologies which include a description of how each security type is evaluated and priced. We review the reasonableness of prices received from our primary pricing service by comparison to prices obtained from additional pricing sources. We have not made any adjustments to the prices obtained from our primary pricing service.

•

Derivative liabilities—Through June 30, 2016, certain of our Freddie Mac ACIS contracts were accounted for as derivatives. In determining an exit market, we considered the fact that there is not a principal market for these contracts. In the absence of a principal market, we valued these ACIS contracts in a hypothetical market where market participants, and potential counterparties, included other mortgage guaranty insurers or reinsurers with similar credit quality to us. We believed that in the absence of a principal market, this hypothetical market provided the most relevant information with respect to fair value estimates. These ACIS contracts were classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, these contracts were amended and are now accounted for as insurance contracts rather than as derivatives. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had no derivative instruments.

Through June 30, 2016, we determined the fair value of our derivative instruments primarily using internally-generated models. We utilized market observable inputs, such as the performance of the underlying pool of mortgages, mortgage prepayment speeds and pricing spreads on the reference STACR notes issued by Freddie Mac, whenever they were available. There was a high degree of uncertainty about our fair value estimates since our contracts were not traded or exchanged, which made external validation and corroboration of our estimates difficult. Considerable judgment was required to interpret market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates may not have been indicative of amounts we could have realized in a market exchange or negotiated termination. The use of different market assumptions or estimation methodologies may have had a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

All assets measured at fair value are categorized in the table below based upon the lowest level of significant input to the valuations. All fair value measurements at the reporting date were on a recurring basis.



December 31, 2016 (In thousands)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Recurring fair value measurements
Financial Assets:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	191,548	$	—	$	—	$	191,548
U.S. agency securities	—		18,441		—		18,441
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		316,494		—		316,494
Municipal debt securities	—		334,324		—		334,324
Corporate debt securities	—		456,357		—		456,357
Residential and commercial mortgage securities	—		68,336		—		68,336
Asset-backed securities	—		127,172		—		127,172
Money market funds	102,430		—		—		102,430
Total assets at fair value	$	293,978	$	1,321,124	$	—	$	1,615,102
Financial Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Total liabilities at fair value	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—



December 31, 2015 (In thousands)	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Recurring fair value measurements
Financial Assets:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	177,607	$	—	$	—	$	177,607
U.S. agency securities	—		13,782		—		13,782
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		159,602		—		159,602
Municipal debt securities	—		279,828		—		279,828
Corporate debt securities	—		396,732		—		396,732
Residential and commercial mortgage securities	—		55,356		—		55,356
Asset-backed securities	—		126,629		—		126,629
Money market funds	67,098		—		—		67,098
Total assets at fair value	$	244,705	$	1,031,929	$	—	$	1,276,634
Financial Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	1,232	$	1,232
Total liabilities at fair value	$	—	$	—	$	1,232	$	1,232

Changes in Level 3 Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents changes during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and the net realized and unrealized losses (gains) related to the Level 3 liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and 2015. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had no Level 3 assets.



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2016			2015
Level 3 Liabilities
Fair value of derivative liabilities at beginning of period	$	1,232		$	661
Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) included in income	(1,934		)	(1,092		)
Other comprehensive (income) loss	—			—
Purchases, sales, issues and settlements, net	702			1,663
Gross transfers in	—			—
Gross transfers out	—			—
Fair value of derivative liabilities at end of period	$	—		$	1,232

Changes in net unrealized losses (gains) included in income on instruments held at end of period	$	(1,934	)	$	(1,092	)

The following table summarizes the significant unobservable inputs used in our recurring Level 3 fair value measurements as of December 31, 2015:



December 31, 2015
($ in thousands)	Fair Value		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Weighted Average
Derivative Liabilities	$	1,232	Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	10.60	%
				Default rate	0.50	%
				Reference STACR credit spread	3.93	%

The significant unobservable inputs used for derivative liabilities are constant prepayment rates ("CPR") and default rates on the reference pool of mortgages and the credit spreads on the reference STACR notes. An increase in the CPR, default rate or reference STACR credit spread will increase the fair value of the liability.