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Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation (Policies)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

The interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which differs in certain respects from those principles followed in reports to insurance regulatory authorities. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods. Results of operations for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results of a full year. The accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Intercompany Balances and Transactions

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Global Indemnity and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Business Trust Subsidiaries

The Company’s wholly owned business trust subsidiaries, United National Group Capital Trust I and United National Group Capital Statutory Trust II, are not consolidated pursuant to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification. The Company’s business trust subsidiaries have issued $30.0 million in floating rate capital securities (“Trust Preferred Securities”) and $0.9 million of floating rate common securities. The sole assets of the Company’s business trust subsidiaries are $30.9 million of junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company, which have the same terms with respect to maturity, payments, and distributions as the Trust Preferred Securities and the floating rate common securities.
New Accounting Guidance

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted new accounting guidance that modified the definition of costs that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal business for insurance companies. Under the new guidance, only direct incremental costs associated with successful insurance contract acquisitions or renewals are deferrable. This guidance was adopted retrospectively and has been applied to all prior period information contained in these consolidated financial statements. For further information please see Note 2.
Deferred Costs

The Company’s deferrable costs include: incremental direct costs of contract acquisition, primarily commissions and premium taxes, the portion of an employee’s total compensation attributable to successful acquisition or renewal of insurance and reinsurance contracts and other costs directly related to acquisition activities that would not have been incurred had the contract not been acquired. These costs are deferred and amortized ratably over the period in which the related premiums are earned.
Insurance

In accordance with accounting guidance for insurance enterprises, the method followed in computing such amounts limits them to their estimated realizable value that gives effect to the premium to be earned, related investment income, losses and loss adjustment expenses, and certain other costs expected to be incurred as the premium is earned. A premium deficiency shall be recognized if the sum of expected loss and loss adjustment expenses and unamortized acquisition costs exceeds related unearned premium. Any future expected loss on the related unearned premium is recorded first by impairing the unamortized acquisition costs on the related unearned premium followed by an increase to loss and loss adjustment expense reserves on additional expected loss in excess of unamortized acquisition costs.
Profit Enhancement Initiative

On November 2, 2010, the Company committed to a Profit Enhancement Initiative with respect to its Insurance Operations. The plan was initiated on November 4, 2010, and is part of the Company’s efforts to streamline its operations in response to the continuing impact of the domestic recession as well as the competitive landscape within the excess and surplus lines market. This initiative was intended to enhance profitability and earnings by aligning corporate overhead costs with changes in the Company’s business. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company reduced its U.S. based census by approximately 25%, closed underperforming U.S. facilities, and supplemented staffing in Bermuda and in Ireland. All action items relating to this initiative were implemented by December 31, 2010.
Investments Classification

The Company’s investments in fixed maturities and common stock are classified as available for sale and are carried at their fair value.
Available for Sale Portfolio

The fair values of the Company’s available for sale portfolio, excluding the limited partnership interest, are determined on the basis of quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company uses third party pricing services to assist in determining fair value.
Partnership Interests

The change in the difference between amortized cost and the fair value of the partnership interests, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity and, accordingly, has no effect on net income other than for impairments deemed to be other than temporary.
Investments Valuation Procedure

The Company regularly performs various analytical valuation procedures with respect to its investments, including reviewing each fixed maturity security in an unrealized loss position to assess whether the security is a candidate for credit loss. Specifically, the Company considers credit rating, market price, and issuer specific financial information, among other factors, to assess the likelihood of collection of all principal and interest as contractually due. Securities for which the Company determines that a credit loss is likely are subjected to further analysis through discounted cash flow testing to estimate the credit loss to be recognized in earnings, if any. The specific methodologies and significant assumptions used by asset class are discussed below. Upon identification of such securities and periodically thereafter, a detailed review is performed to determine whether the decline is considered other than temporary. This review includes an analysis of several factors, including but not limited to, the credit ratings and cash flows of the securities and the magnitude and length of time that the fair value of such securities is below cost.

For fixed maturities, the factors considered in reaching the conclusion that a decline below cost is other than temporary include, among others, whether:

 

  (1) the issuer is in financial distress;

 

  (2) the investment is secured;

 

  (3) a significant credit rating action occurred;

 

  (4) scheduled interest payments were delayed or missed;

 

  (5) changes in laws or regulations have affected an issuer or industry;

 

  (6) the investment has an unrealized loss and was identified by the Company’s investment manager as an investment to be sold before recovery or maturity; and

 

  (7) the investment failed cash flow projection testing to determine if anticipated principal and interest payments will be realized.

According to accounting guidance, for debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company is required to assess whether it has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery. If either of these conditions is met, the Company must recognize an other than temporary impairment with the entire unrealized loss being recorded through earnings. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position not meeting these conditions, the Company assesses whether the impairment of a security is other than temporary. If the impairment is deemed to be other than temporary, the Company must separate the other than temporary impairment into two components: the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors, such as changes in interest rates. The credit loss represents the portion of the amortized book value in excess of the net present value of the projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The credit loss component of the other than temporary impairment is recorded through earnings, whereas the amount relating to factors other than credit losses is recorded in other comprehensive income, net of taxes.

 

For equity securities, management carefully reviews all securities with unrealized losses to determine if a security should be impaired and further focuses on securities that have either:

 

  (1) persisted with unrealized losses for more than twelve consecutive months or

 

  (2) the value of the investment has been 20% or more below cost for six continuous months or more.
Fair Value Measurment Policy
The Company elected to apply the fair value option within its limited partnership investment portfolio to an investment where the Company previously owned more than a 3% interest.
 
The fair value option was not elected for the Company’s investments in limited partnerships with less than a 3% ownership interest.
 
The Company’s invested assets are carried at their fair value and are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy:
 
•   Level 1—inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets that the Company can access at the measurement date.
•   Level 2—inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for similar assets, either directly or indirectly.
•   Level 3—inputs are unobservable for the asset, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset.
 

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset.

Both observable and unobservable inputs may be used to determine the fair value of positions that the Company has classified within the Level 3 category. As a result, the unrealized gains and losses for invested assets within the Level 3 category presented in the tables below may include changes in fair value that are attributed to both observable (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable (e.g., changes in unobservable long-dated volatilities) inputs.

 
Based on the typical trading volumes and the lack of quoted market prices for fixed maturities, security prices are derived through recent reported trades for identical or similar securities making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available market observable information. If there are no recent reported trades, matrix or model processes are used to develop a security price where future cash flow expectations are developed based upon collateral performance and discounted at an estimated market rate. Included in the pricing of asset-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and mortgage-backed securities are estimates of the rate of future prepayments of principal over the remaining life of the securities. Such estimates are derived based on the characteristics of the underlying structure and prepayment speeds previously experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the underlying collateral. For corporate loans, price quotes from multiple dealers along with recent reported trades for identical or similar securities are used to develop prices.  
 
The estimated fair values of these limited partnerships are measured utilizing net asset value as a practical expedient for the limited partnerships. Material assumptions and factors utilized in pricing these investments include future cash flows, constant default rates, recovery rates, and any market clearing activity that may have occurred since the previous pricing period. The Company’s investment in a mutual fund of $9.0 million was measured utilizing the fund’s net asset value. The net asset value of the fund was based on the actual market price of the assets of the portfolio, including accrued income less liabilities and provisions for accrued expenses.
 
The Company’s pricing vendors provide prices for all investment categories except for investments in limited partnerships.
 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company’s pricing vendors for investment securities carried at fair value:
 
•   Equity prices are received from all primary and secondary exchanges.
•   Corporate bonds are individually evaluated on a nominal spread, discount margin, or an option adjusted spread   basis depending on how the market trades a security or sector. Spreads are updated each day and compared with those from the broker/dealer community and contributing firms. Issues are generally benchmarked off of the U.S. treasuries or LIBOR.
•   Agencies are individually evaluated on an option adjusted spread basis or a nominal spread for non-callable issues.
•   For CMOs, which are categorized with mortgage-backed securities in the tables listed above, volatility-driven and ratings based multi-dimensional spread tables or an option-adjusted spread model and prepayment model is used. For ABSs, multi-dimensional, collateral specific spread / prepayment speed tables are utilized. For both asset classes, evaluations utilize standard inputs plus new issue data, monthly payment information, and collateral performance. The evaluated pricing models incorporate security set-up, prepayment speeds, cash flows, and treasury swap curves and spread adjustments.
•   For municipals, a series of matrices are used to evaluate securities within this asset class. The evaluated pricing models for this asset class incorporate security set-up, sector curves, yield to worst, ratings updates, and adjustments for material events notices.
• U.S. Treasuries are priced on the bid side by a market maker.  
• For MBSs, the pricing vendor utilizes a matrix model correlation to a forward MBS trade or benchmarking to value a security.
• Corporate loans are priced using averages of bids and offers obtained from the broker/dealer community involved in trading such loans.

 

 

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Reinsurance Accounting Policy

The Company cedes risk to unrelated reinsurers on a pro rata (“quota share”) and excess of loss basis in the ordinary course of business to limit its net loss exposure on insurance contracts. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the Company of primary liability.
Estimated Annual and Interim Income Tax Rate

For 2012, the statutory income tax rate of each country is applied against the expected annual taxable income of the Company in each country to estimate the annual income tax expense. Total estimated annual income tax expense is divided by total estimated annual pre-tax income to determine the expected annual income tax rate used to compute the income tax provision. The expected annual income tax rate is applied against interim pre-tax income, excluding net realized gains and losses and discrete items such as limited partnership distributions, and then that amount is added to income taxes on net realized gains and losses, discrete items and limited partnership distributions.
Actual Income Tax Provision versus Estimated Effective Income Tax Rate

On an interim basis in 2011, the Company recorded the actual income tax provision in lieu of using the estimated effective income tax rate due to wide variability in the expected annual effective income tax rate across several similar pre-tax income scenarios.
Income Tax Uncertainties Policy

The Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties whereby it only recognizes those tax benefits that have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities.
Liability or Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment

The method for determining the Company’s liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses includes, but is not limited to, reviewing past loss experience and considering other factors such as industry data and legal, social, and economic developments. As additional experience and data become available, the Company’s estimate for the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is revised accordingly.
Loss Reserves And Prior Year Development

When analyzing loss reserves and prior year development, the Company considers many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
Share Repurchase

All shares repurchased under the repurchase program and additional authorization have been retired. The excess cost of the repurchased shares over their par value was classified to additional paid in capital as of September 30, 2012.
Policy on Computation of Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share have been computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share equivalents outstanding during the period.
Business Segments

The Company manages its business through two business segments: Insurance Operations, which includes the operations of United National Insurance Company, Diamond State Insurance Company, United National Casualty Insurance Company, United National Specialty Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, Penn-Star Insurance Company, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company, American Insurance Adjustment Agency, Inc., Collectibles Insurance Services, LLC, United America Insurance Services, LLC, and J.H. Ferguson & Associates, LLC, and Reinsurance Operations, which includes the operations of Wind River Reinsurance.
Impairment of Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

In July, 2012, the FASB issued new accounting guidance surrounding impairment testing for indefinite lived intangible assets. The new guidance allows for an entity to elect first assessing qualitative factors when evaluating for impairment. If qualitative factors indicate that there may be impairment, prior guidance using quantitative factors should still be applied. This guidance is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. This guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position or results of operations.