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Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments

2.

Investments

 

The Company implemented new accounting guidance on January 1, 2020 related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments.  For financial assets held at amortized cost basis, the new guidance requires a forward-looking methodology for in-scope financial assets that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of information for credit loss estimates, including historical experience, current economic conditions and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the financial asset.  For available for sale debt securities, credit losses are still measured similar to the old guidance; however, the new guidance requires that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down of the amortized cost basis of the impaired security and allows for the reversal of credit losses in the current period net income.  Any impairments related to factors other than credit losses continue to be recorded through other comprehensive income, net of taxes.

 

The Company elects the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the available for sale debt securities for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment and to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued investment receivables.  Accrued interest receivable is written off through net realized investment gains (losses) at the time the issuer of the bond defaults or is expected to default of payment.  The Company made an accounting policy election to present the accrued interest receivable balance with other assets on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position.  Accrued interest receivable was $6.6 million and $7.0 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.    

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities securities were as follows as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

Cost

 

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Estimated

Fair Value

 

As of March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

 

$

174,475

 

 

$

 

 

$

15,739

 

 

$

(25

)

 

$

190,189

 

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

 

63,878

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,667

 

 

 

(218

)

 

 

65,327

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

377,274

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,551

 

 

 

(3,179

)

 

 

388,646

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

155,937

 

 

 

 

 

 

375

 

 

 

(9,215

)

 

 

147,097

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

164,211

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,490

 

 

 

(3,739

)

 

 

166,962

 

Corporate bonds

 

 

221,326

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,613

 

 

 

(7,965

)

 

 

218,974

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

95,830

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,075

 

 

 

(2,394

)

 

 

94,511

 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

1,252,931

 

 

$

 

 

$

45,510

 

 

$

(26,735

)

 

$

1,271,706

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Estimated

Fair Value

 

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

 

$

153,906

 

 

$

3,580

 

 

$

(797

)

 

$

156,689

 

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

 

63,256

 

 

 

853

 

 

 

(271

)

 

 

63,838

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

325,448

 

 

 

3,177

 

 

 

(251

)

 

 

328,374

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

168,020

 

 

 

937

 

 

 

(420

)

 

 

168,537

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

183,944

 

 

 

4,369

 

 

 

(209

)

 

 

188,104

 

Corporate bonds

 

 

239,860

 

 

 

8,478

 

 

 

(79

)

 

 

248,259

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

97,134

 

 

 

2,247

 

 

 

(23

)

 

 

99,358

 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

1,231,568

 

 

$

23,641

 

 

$

(2,050

)

 

$

1,253,159

 

 

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s investments in equity securities consist of the following:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Common stock

 

$

102,349

 

 

$

135,329

 

Preferred stock

 

 

10,354

 

 

 

11,656

 

Mutual funds that invest in fixed maturities

 

 

38,685

 

 

 

54,648

 

Mutual funds that invest in common stock

 

 

22,998

 

 

 

61,471

 

Total

 

$

174,386

 

 

$

263,104

 

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company held a Fannie Mae mortgage pool totaling 4.7% and 4.2% of shareholders’ equity, respectively.  Excluding the Fannie Mae pool, U.S. treasuries, agency bonds, mutual funds, and limited partnerships, the Company did not hold any debt or equity investments in a single issuer in excess of 3% of shareholders' equity at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio classified as available for sale at March 31, 2020, 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.

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

Cost

 

 

Estimated

Fair Value

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

31,859

 

 

$

32,006

 

Due in one year through five years

 

 

245,462

 

 

 

250,110

 

Due in five years through ten years

 

 

190,598

 

 

 

189,500

 

Due in ten years through fifteen years

 

 

27,834

 

 

 

29,712

 

Due after fifteen years

 

 

59,756

 

 

 

67,673

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

377,274

 

 

 

388,646

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

155,937

 

 

 

147,097

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

164,211

 

 

 

166,962

 

Total

 

$

1,252,931

 

 

$

1,271,706

 

 

The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s fixed income securities with gross unrealized losses that are not deemed to have credit losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of March 31, 2020.  The fair value amounts reported in the table are estimates that are prepared using the process described in Note 4 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report:

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

 

12 months or longer (1)

 

 

Total

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

 

$

7,498

 

 

$

(25

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

7,498

 

 

$

(25

)

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

 

6,654

 

 

 

(218

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,654

 

 

 

(218

)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

33,010

 

 

 

(3,178

)

 

 

60

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

33,070

 

 

 

(3,179

)

Asset-backed securities

 

 

107,158

 

 

 

(7,030

)

 

 

16,820

 

 

 

(2,185

)

 

 

123,978

 

 

 

(9,215

)

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

41,561

 

 

 

(3,739

)

 

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

 

41,595

 

 

 

(3,739

)

Corporate bonds

 

 

75,676

 

 

 

(7,965

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

75,676

 

 

 

(7,965

)

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

47,548

 

 

 

(2,394

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47,548

 

 

 

(2,394

)

Total fixed maturities

 

$

319,105

 

 

$

(24,549

)

 

$

16,914

 

 

$

(2,186

)

 

$

336,019

 

 

$

(26,735

)

 

(1)

Fixed maturities in a gross unrealized loss position are comprised of non-credit losses on investment grade securities where management does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be forced to sell the security before recovery.

 

The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s fixed income securities with gross unrealized losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2019.  The fair value amounts reported in the table are estimates that are prepared using the process described in Note 4 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report:  

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

 

12 months or longer (1)

 

 

Total

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency obligations

 

$

35,633

 

 

$

(797

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

35,633

 

 

$

(797

)

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

 

27,180

 

 

 

(271

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,180

 

 

 

(271

)

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

93,579

 

 

 

(244

)

 

 

902

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

94,481

 

 

 

(251

)

Asset-backed securities

 

 

43,402

 

 

 

(167

)

 

 

16,152

 

 

 

(253

)

 

 

59,554

 

 

 

(420

)

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

25,698

 

 

 

(196

)

 

 

1,945

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

27,643

 

 

 

(209

)

Corporate bonds

 

 

19,407

 

 

 

(79

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,407

 

 

 

(79

)

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

4,822

 

 

 

(20

)

 

 

2,035

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

6,857

 

 

 

(23

)

Total fixed maturities

 

$

249,721

 

 

$

(1,774

)

 

$

21,034

 

 

$

(276

)

 

$

270,755

 

 

$

(2,050

)

 

(1)

Fixed maturities in a gross unrealized loss position are comprised of non-credit losses on investment grade securities where management does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be forced to sell the security before recovery.

 

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 and uncertainty around the extent of its economic impact caused severe declines in financial markets which are reflected in the fair values of our investments.

 

The Company regularly performs various analytical valuation procedures with respect to its investments, including reviewing each available for sale debt security in an unrealized loss position to assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost basis has resulted from a credit loss or other factors.  In assessing whether a credit loss exists, the Company compares the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security to the amortized cost basis of the security.  If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded.  Subsequent changes in the allowances are recorded in the period of change as either credit loss expense or reversal of credit loss expense.  Any impairments related to factors other than credit losses are recorded through other comprehensive income, net of taxes.  

 

For fixed maturities, the factors considered in reaching the conclusion that a credit loss exists include, among others, whether:

 

 

(1)

the extent to which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis;

 

(2)

the issuer is in financial distress;

 

(3)

the investment is secured;

 

(4)

a significant credit rating action occurred;

 

(5)

scheduled interest payments were delayed or missed;

 

(6)

changes in laws or regulations have affected an issuer or industry;

 

(7)

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;

 

(8)

the investment failed cash flow projection testing to determine if anticipated principal and interest payments will be realized; and

 

(9)

changes in US Treasury rates and/or credit spreads since original purchase to identify whether the unrealized loss is simply due to interest rate movement.

 

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, any allowance for credit losses is written off and the amortized cost basis is written down to the fair value of the fixed maturity security with any incremental impairment reported in earnings.  That new amortized cost basis shall not be adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

 

The following is a description, by asset type, of the methodology and significant inputs that the Company used to measure the amount of credit loss recognized in earnings, if any:

 

U.S. treasury and agency obligations – As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to U.S. treasury and agency obligations were $0.025 million.  To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, macroeconomic and market analysis is conducted in evaluating these securities.  Consideration is given to the interest rate environment, duration and yield curve management of the portfolio, sector allocation and security selection.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on U.S. treasury and agency obligations during the period.

 

Obligations of states and political subdivisions – As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to obligations of states and political subdivisions were $0.218 million.  To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, elements that may influence the performance of the municipal bond market are considered in evaluating these securities such as investor expectations, supply and demand patterns, and current versus historical yield and spread relationships. The analysis relies on the output of fixed income credit analysts, as well as dedicated municipal bond analysts who perform extensive in-house fundamental analysis on each issuer, regardless of their rating by the major agencies.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on obligations of states and political subdivisions during the period.

 

Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) – As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to mortgage-backed securities were $3.179 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, mortgage-backed securities are modeled to project principal losses under downside, base, and upside scenarios for the economy and home prices.  The primary assumption that drives the security and loan level modeling is the Home Price Index (“HPI”) projection.  These forecasts incorporate not just national macro-economic trends, but also regional impacts to arrive at the most granular and accurate projections.  These assumptions are incorporated into the model as a basis to generate delinquency probabilities, default curves, loss severity curves, and voluntary prepayment curves at the loan level within each deal. The model utilizes HPI-adjusted current LTV, payment history, loan terms, loan modification history, and borrower characteristics as inputs to generate expected cash flows and principal loss for each bond under various scenarios.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on mortgage-backed securities during the period.

 

Asset backed securities (“ABS”) - As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to asset backed securities were $9.215 million.  The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s asset backed portfolio is 32.3.  This represents the percentage of pool losses that can occur before an asset backed security will incur its first dollar of principal losses.  To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, every ABS transaction is analyzed on a stand-alone basis.  This analysis involves a thorough review of the collateral, prepayment, and structural risk in each transaction.  Additionally, the analysis includes an in-depth credit analysis of the originator and servicer of the collateral.  The analysis projects an expected loss for a deal given a set of assumptions specific to the asset type.  These assumptions are used to calculate at what level of losses the deal will incur its first dollar of principal loss.  The major assumptions used to calculate this ratio are loss severities, recovery lags, and no advances on principal and interest.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on asset backed securities during the period.

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) - As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to the CMBS portfolio were $3.739 million. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s CMBS portfolio is 29.8.  This represents the percentage of pool losses that can occur before a mortgage-backed security will incur its first dollar of principal loss.  To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, a loan level analysis is utilized where every underlying CMBS loan is re-underwritten based on a set of assumptions reflecting expectations for the future path of the economy.  Each loan is analyzed over time using a series of tests to determine if a credit event will occur during the life of the loan. Inherent in this process are several economic scenarios and their corresponding rent/vacancy and capital market states. The five primary credit events that frame the analysis include loan modifications, term default, balloon default, extension, and ability to pay off at balloon. The resulting output is the expected loss adjusted cash flows for each bond under the base case and distressed scenarios.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on commercial mortgage-backed securities during the period.

 

Corporate bonds - As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to corporate bonds were $7.965 million. To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, analysis for this asset class includes maintaining detailed financial models that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral.  The analysis incorporates the macroeconomic environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, the issuer’s current competitive position, its vulnerability to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection.  Part of the process also includes running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on corporate bonds during the period.

 

Foreign bonds – As of March 31, 2020, gross unrealized losses related to foreign bonds were $2.394 million.  To assess whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost has resulted from a credit loss or other factors, detailed financial models are maintained that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral.  The analysis incorporates the macroeconomic environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, the issuer’s current competitive position, its vulnerability to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection.  Part of the process also includes running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company did not recognize a credit loss on foreign bonds during the period.

 

The Company recorded the following other than temporary impairments (“OTTI”) on its investment portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Quarter Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2019

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

OTTI losses, gross

 

$

(1,897

)

Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

 

 

 

Net impairment losses on fixed maturities recognized in earnings

 

$

(1,897

)

 

The following table is an analysis of the credit losses recognized in earnings on fixed maturities held by the Company for the   quarter ended March 31, 2019 for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

 

 

Quarter Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2019

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

13

 

Additions where no OTTI was previously recorded

 

 

 

Additions where an OTTI was previously recorded

 

 

 

Reductions for securities for which the company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery

 

 

 

Reductions reflecting increases in expected cashflows to be collected

 

 

 

Reductions for securities sold during the period

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

13

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Net unrealized gains (losses) from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

$

18,775

 

 

$

21,591

 

Foreign currency fluctuations

 

 

(2,335

)

 

 

(1,032

)

Deferred taxes

 

 

(3,880

)

 

 

(2,950

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

$

12,560

 

 

$

17,609

 

 

The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, by component for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2020

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Securities

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Items

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

Beginning balance, net of tax

 

$

18,641

 

 

$

(1,032

)

 

$

17,609

 

Other comprehensive income before reclassification, before tax

 

 

(884

)

 

 

(1,303

)

 

 

(2,187

)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (income), before tax

 

 

(1,932

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,932

)

Other comprehensive income, before tax

 

 

(2,816

)

 

 

(1,303

)

 

 

(4,119

)

Income tax (expense)

 

 

(930

)

 

 

 

 

 

(930

)

Ending balance, net of tax

 

$

14,895

 

 

$

(2,335

)

 

$

12,560

 

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2019

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Securities

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Items

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

Beginning balance, net of tax

 

$

(19,897

)

 

$

(1,334

)

 

$

(21,231

)

Other comprehensive income before reclassification, before tax

 

 

23,907

 

 

 

194

 

 

 

24,101

 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, before tax

 

 

2,195

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,195

 

Other comprehensive income, before tax

 

 

26,102

 

 

 

194

 

 

 

26,296

 

Income tax expense

 

 

(3,396

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,396

)

Ending balance, net of tax

 

$

2,809

 

 

$

(1,140

)

 

$

1,669

 

  

The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Amounts Reclassified from

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

Quarters Ended March 31,

 

Details about Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income Components

 

Affected Line Item in the Consolidated

Statements of Operations

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities

 

Other net realized investment (gains) losses

 

$

(1,932

)

 

$

298

 

 

 

Other than temporary impairment losses on investments

 

 

 

 

 

1,897

 

 

 

Total before tax

 

 

(1,932

)

 

 

2,195

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

218

 

 

 

(273

)

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities, net of tax

 

 

(1,714

)

 

 

1,922

 

Foreign currency items

 

Other net realized investment (gains) losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency items, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total reclassifications

 

Total reclassifications, net of tax

 

$

(1,714

)

 

$

1,922

 

 

Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

 

The components of net realized investment gains (losses) for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

Quarters Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Fixed maturities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross realized gains

 

$

2,243

 

 

$

26

 

Gross realized losses

 

 

(311

)

 

 

(2,221

)

Net realized gains (losses)

 

 

1,932

 

 

 

(2,195

)

Equity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross realized gains

 

 

1,822

 

 

 

16,685

 

Gross realized losses

 

 

(51,804

)

 

 

(1,533

)

Net realized gains (losses)

 

 

(49,982

)

 

 

15,152

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross realized gains

 

 

13,623

 

 

 

 

Gross realized losses

 

 

(33,735

)

 

 

(2,567

)

Net realized gains (losses) (1)

 

 

(20,112

)

 

 

(2,567

)

Total net realized investment gains (losses)

 

$

(68,162

)

 

$

10,390

 

 

(1)

Includes periodic net interest settlements related to the derivatives of $0.6 million and $0.2 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Net realized investment losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 were primarily due to the impact of changes in fair value on equity securities and derivatives due to the recent disruption in the global financial markets as a result of COVID-19.

The following table shows the calculation of the portion of realized gains and losses related to equity securities held as of March 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

 

Quarters Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Net gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities

 

$

(49,982

)

 

$

15,152

 

Less: Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period

 

 

(4,221

)

 

 

2,034

 

Unrealized gains and (losses) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date

 

$

(45,761

)

 

$

13,118

 

 

The proceeds from sales and redemptions of available for sale and equity securities resulting in net realized investment gains (losses) for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

Quarters Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Fixed maturities

 

$

124,070

 

 

$

61,258

 

Equity securities

 

 

49,546

 

 

 

15,354

 

 

Net Investment Income

 

The sources of net investment income for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

Quarters Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Fixed maturities

 

$

9,041

 

 

$

9,968

 

Equity securities

 

 

1,364

 

 

 

1,137

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

180

 

 

 

401

 

Other invested assets

 

 

533

 

 

 

(3,704

)

Total investment income

 

 

11,118

 

 

 

7,802

 

Investment expense

 

 

(989

)

 

 

(583

)

Net investment income

 

$

10,129

 

 

$

7,219

 

 

The Company’s total investment return on a pre-tax basis for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

Quarters Ended March 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Net investment income

 

$

10,129

 

 

$

7,219

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

(68,162

)

 

 

10,390

 

Change in unrealized holding gains and losses

 

 

(4,119

)

 

 

26,296

 

Net realized and unrealized investment returns

 

 

(72,281

)

 

 

36,686

 

Total investment return

 

$

(62,152

)

 

$

43,905

 

Total investment return % (1)

 

 

(3.9

%)

 

 

2.9

%

Average investment portfolio (2)

 

$

1,578,765

 

 

$

1,514,292

 

 

(1)

Not annualized.

(2)

Average of total cash and invested assets, net of receivable/payable for securities purchased and sold, as of the beginning and end of the period.

 

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not own any fixed maturity securities that were non-income producing for the preceding twelve months.

 

Insurance Enhanced Asset-Backed and Credit Securities

 

As of March 31, 2020, the Company held insurance enhanced bonds with a market value of approximately $37.5 million which represented 2.4% of the Company’s total cash and invested assets, net of payable/ receivable for securities purchased and sold.    

 

The insurance enhanced bonds are comprised of $16.4 million of municipal bonds, $9.9 million of commercial mortgage-backed securities, and $11.2 million of collateralized mortgage obligations.  The financial guarantors of the Company’s $37.5 million of insurance enhanced commercial-mortgage-backed, municipal securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations include Municipal Bond Insurance Association ($3.9 million), Assured Guaranty Corporation ($10.3 million), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ($21.1 million), Ambac Financial Group ($2.2 million), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (less than $0.1 million).

 

The Company had no direct investments in the entities that have provided financial guarantees or other credit support to any security held by the Company at March 31, 2020.

Bonds Held on Deposit

 

Certain cash balances, cash equivalents, equity securities, and bonds available for sale were deposited with various governmental authorities in accordance with statutory requirements, were held as collateral, or were held in trust pursuant to intercompany reinsurance agreements.  The fair values were as follows as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

On deposit with governmental authorities

 

$

27,278

 

 

$

26,431

 

Intercompany trusts held for the benefit of U.S. policyholders

 

 

177,012

 

 

 

179,116

 

Held in trust pursuant to third party requirements

 

 

126,451

 

 

 

133,122

 

Letter of credit held for third party requirements

 

 

1,458

 

 

 

1,458

 

Securities held as collateral

 

 

107,258

 

 

 

91,229

 

Total

 

$

439,457

 

 

$

431,356

 

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

A Variable Interest Entity (VIE) refers to an investment in which an investor holds a controlling interest that is not based on the majority of voting rights.  Under the VIE model, the party that has the power to exercise significant management influence and maintain a controlling financial interest in the entity’s economics is said to be the primary beneficiary, and is required to consolidate the entity within their results. Other entities that participate in a VIE, for which their financial interests fluctuate with changes in the fair value of the investment entity’s net assets but do not have significant management influence and the ability to direct the VIE’s significant economic activities are said to have a variable interest in the VIE but do not consolidate the VIE in their financial results.

 

The Company has variable interests in three VIE’s for which it is not the primary beneficiary. These investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as their ownership interest exceeds 3% of their respective investments.   

 

The carrying value of one of the Company’s VIE’s, which invests in distressed securities and assets, was $12.5 million and $13.5 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $26.7 million and $27.7 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.  The carrying value of a second VIE that also invests in distressed securities and assets was $24.3 million and $24.0 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $41.3 million and $41.0 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.  The carrying value of a third VIE that invests in REIT qualifying assets was $10.5 million and $9.8 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.  The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from this VIE, which factors in future funding commitments, was $11.0 million and $10.3 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.  The Company’s investment in VIEs is included in other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheet with changes in carrying value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

The limited partnerships typically report results one to three months following the end of the reporting period.  As a result, the impact of the recent disruption in markets due to COVID-19 is not reflected in the 1st quarter results.  Certain information has come to our attention that these limited partnership investments will have a decline in value which will be reflected in the 2nd quarter.