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Derivative Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments

4.

Derivative Instruments

 

Derivatives are used by the Company to reduce risks from changes in interest rates and limit exposure to severe equity market changes.  The Company has interest rate swaps with terms to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts as calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. In 2019, the Company began to utilize exchange-traded futures contracts, which give the holder the right and obligation to participate in market movements at a future date, to allow the Company to react faster to market conditions.  The Company posts collateral and settles variation margin in cash on a daily basis equal to the amount of the futures contracts’ change in value scaled by a multiplier.

 

The Company accounts for the interest rate swaps and futures as non-hedge instruments and recognizes the fair value of the interest rate swaps in other assets or other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with the changes in fair value recognized as net realized investment gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations.  The Company is ultimately responsible for the valuation of the interest rate swaps.  To aid in determining the estimated fair value of the

interest rate swaps, the Company relies on the forward interest rate curve and information obtained from a third party financial institution.  

 

The following table summarizes information on the location and the gross amount of the derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Derivatives Not Designated as

Hedging Instruments under ASC 815

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

Notional Amount

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Notional Amount

 

 

Fair Value

 

Interest rate swap agreements

 

Other assets/liabilities

 

$

200,000

 

 

$

(17,931

)

 

$

200,000

 

 

$

(10,275

)

Futures contracts on bonds (1)

 

Other assets/liabilities

 

 

30,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,894

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts on equities (1)

 

Other assets/liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57,816

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

230,418

 

 

$

(17,931

)

 

$

274,710

 

 

$

(10,275

)

 

(1)

Futures are settled daily such that their fair value is not reflected in the consolidated statements of financial position

 

The following table summarizes the net gains (losses) included in the consolidated statements of operations for changes in the fair value of the derivatives and the periodic net interest settlements under the derivatives for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2020  and 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

Quarters Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations Line

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Interest rate swap agreements

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

$

45

 

 

$

(1,831

)

 

$

(10,827

)

 

$

(9,064

)

Futures contracts on bonds

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

115

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

(2,343

)

 

 

15

 

Futures contracts on equities

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

 

 

 

(355

)

 

 

(8,989

)

 

 

(355

)

Total

 

 

 

$

160

 

 

$

(2,171

)

 

$

(22,159

)

 

$

(9,404

)

 

As of both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company is due $3.0 million, for funds it needed to post to execute the swap transaction and $18.6 million and $12.5 million, respectively, for margin calls made in connection with the interest rate swaps.  These amounts are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company posted initial margin of $0.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in securities for trading futures contracts and has a mark-to-market payable of less than $0.1 million and receivable of $0.3 million, respectively, in connection with the futures contracts.  Variation margin is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.