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Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

5.	Fair Value Measurements

The accounting standards related to fair value measurements define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value, outline a fair value hierarchy based on inputs used to measure fair value, and enhance disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. These standards do not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. The Company has determined that its fair value measurements are in accordance with the requirements of these accounting standards.

The Company’s invested assets and derivative instruments are carried at their fair value and are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy:

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Level 1 – inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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Level 2 – inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for similar assets, either directly or indirectly.

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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.

The following table presents information about the Company’s invested assets and derivative instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value.

	Fair Value Measurements
As of June 30, 2021 (Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasuries	$	147,049	$	—	$	—	$	147,049
Agency obligations		—		10,577		—		10,577
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		—		65,486		—		65,486
Mortgage-backed securities		—		308,197		—		308,197
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		—		110,033		—		110,033
Asset-backed securities		—		131,784		831		132,615
Corporate bonds		—		276,036		404		276,440
Foreign corporate bonds		—		123,700		—		123,700
Total fixed maturities		147,049		1,025,813		1,235		1,174,097
Equity securities		68,261		22,408		—		90,669
Total assets measured at fair value	$	215,310	$	1,048,221	$	1,235	$	1,264,766
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	12,712	$	—	$	12,712
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	12,712	$	—	$	12,712

	Fair Value Measurements
As of December 31, 2020 (Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. treasuries	$	197,480	$	—	$	—	$	197,480
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		—		61,243		—		61,243
Mortgage-backed securities		—		358,778		—		358,778
Commercial mortgage-backed securities		—		110,959		—		110,959
Asset-backed securities		—		117,593		—		117,593
Corporate bonds		—		240,717		—		240,717
Foreign corporate bonds		—		104,416		—		104,416
Total fixed maturities		197,480		993,706		—		1,191,186
Equity securities		87,307		11,683		—		98,990
Total assets measured at fair value	$	284,787	$	1,005,389	$	—	$	1,290,176
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	16,430	$	—	$	16,430
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	16,430	$	—	$	16,430

The securities classified as Level 1 in the above table consist of U.S. treasuries and equity securities actively traded on an exchange.

The securities classified as Level 2 in the above table consist primarily of fixed maturity securities and derivative instruments. 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. The estimated fair value of the derivative instruments, consisting of interest rate swaps, is obtained from a third party financial institution that utilizes observable inputs such as the forward interest rate curve.

The investments classified as Level 3 in the above table consist of fixed maturities with unobservable inputs. The Company does not have access to daily valuations; therefore, market trades, performance of the underlying assets, and key risks are considered in order to estimate fair values of these debt instruments.

The following table presents changes in Level 3 investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

	Quarters Ended June 30,					For the Six Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	2021			2020		2021			2020
Beginning balance	$	2,203		$	—	$	—		$	—
Total gains (realized / unrealized):
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income	7				—	-32				—
Transfers into level 3		702			—		702			—
Transfers out of level 3		(1,720	)		—		(1,720	)		—
Amortization of bond premium and discount, net		—			—		—			—
Purchases		43			—		2,285			—
Sales		—			—		—			—
Ending balance	$	1,235			—	$	1,235			—

For the Company’s material debt arrangements, the current fair value of the Company’s debt at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was as follows:

	June 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 ₍₁₎	$	126,359	$	133,587	$	126,288	$	132,008
Total	$	126,359	$	133,587	$	126,288	$	132,008

(1)	As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the carrying value and fair value of the 7.875% Subordinated Notes due 2047 are net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $3.6 million and $3.7 million, respectively.

The subordinated notes due 2047 are publicly traded instruments and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value of Alternative Investments

Other invested assets consist of limited liability companies and limited partnerships whose carrying value approximates fair value. The following table provides the fair value and future funding commitments related to these investments at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

	June 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value		Future Funding Commitment		Fair Value		Future Funding Commitment
European Non-Performing Loan Fund, LP ₍₁₎	$	9,930	$	14,214	$	10,808	$	14,214
Distressed Debt Fund, LP ₍₂₎		13,748		17,000		15,721		17,000
Mortgage Debt Fund, LP ₍₃₎		11,615		—		10,489		—
Credit Fund, LLC ₍₄₎		105,710		—		60,000		—
Global Debt Fund, LP ₍₅₎		25,000		—		—		—
Total	$	166,003	$	31,214	$	97,018	$	31,214

(1)

This limited partnership invests in distressed securities and assets through senior and subordinated, secured and unsecured debt and equity, in both public and private large-cap and middle-market companies. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.

(2)

This limited partnership invests in stressed and distressed securities and structured products. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.

(3)

This limited partnership invests in REIT qualifying assets such as mortgage loans, investor property loans, and commercial mortgage loans. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.

(4)	This limited liability company invests in a broad portfolio of non-investment grade loans, secured and unsecured corporate debt, credit default swaps, reverse repurchase agreements and synthetic indices. The Company does have the ability to sell its interest by providing notice to the fund.

(5)

This limited partnership invests in performing, stressed or distressed securities and loans across the global fixed income markets. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets.

Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships with ownership interest exceeding 3%

The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in limited liability companies and limited partnerships where its ownership interest exceeds 3%. The equity method of accounting for an investment in limited liability companies and limited partnerships requires that its cost basis be updated to account for the income or loss earned on the investment. In the Fair Value of Alternative Investments table above, all of the investments, except for the Credit Fund, LLC, are booked on a one quarter lag due to non-availability of data at the time the financial statements are prepared. Information for the Credit Fund, LLC is received on a timely basis and is included in current results. The investment income associated with these limited liability companies and limited partnerships is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $3.8 million and ($12.0) million for the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $6.8 million and ($11.5) million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Pricing

The Company’s pricing vendors provide prices for all investment categories except for investments in limited liability companies and limited partnerships. Two primary vendors are utilized to provide prices for equity and fixed maturity securities.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company’s pricing vendors for investment securities carried at fair value:

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Equity security prices are received from primary and secondary exchanges.

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Corporate and agency bonds are evaluated by utilizing a spread to a benchmark curve. Bonds with similar characteristics are grouped into specific sectors. Inputs for both asset classes consist of trade prices, broker quotes, the new issue market, and prices on comparable securities.

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Data from commercial vendors is aggregated with market information, then converted into an option adjusted spread (“OAS”) matrix and prepayment model used for collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMO”). CMOs are categorized with mortgage-backed securities in the tables listed above. For asset-backed securities, spread data is derived from trade prices, dealer quotations, and research reports. For both asset classes, evaluations utilize standard inputs plus new issue data, and collateral performance. The evaluated pricing models incorporate cash flows, broker quotes, market trades, historical prepayment speeds, and dealer projected speeds.

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For obligations of state and political subdivisions, an attribute-based modeling system is used. The pricing model incorporates trades, market clearing yields, market color, and fundamental credit research.

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U.S. treasuries are evaluated by obtaining feeds from a number of live data sources including primary and secondary dealers as well as inter-dealer brokers.

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For mortgage-backed securities, various external analytical products are utilized and purchased from commercial vendors.

The Company performs certain procedures to validate whether the pricing information received from the pricing vendors is reasonable, to ensure that the fair value determination is consistent with accounting guidance, and to ensure that its assets are properly classified in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s procedures include, but are not limited to:

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Reviewing periodic reports provided by the Investment Manager that provides information regarding rating changes and securities placed on watch. This procedure allows the Company to understand why a particular security’s market value may have changed or may potentially change.

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Understanding and periodically evaluating the various pricing methods and procedures used by the Company’s pricing vendors to ensure that investments are properly classified within the fair value hierarchy.

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On a quarterly basis, the Company corroborates investment security prices received from its pricing vendors by obtaining pricing from a second pricing vendor for a sample of securities.

During the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company has not adjusted quotes or prices obtained from the pricing vendors.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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