10-Q 1 a06301910-q.htm 10-Q Document
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
þ

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2019
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 For the transition period from            to
 
Commission file number 001-37536
 
 
Conifer Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan
 
27-1298795
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
550 West Merrill Street, Suite 200
 
 
Birmingham, Michigan
 
48009
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)
 
(248) 559-0840
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
Smaller reporting company þ
Emerging growth company þ
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No þ
 
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, no par value, as of August 6, 2019, was 9,508,257.
 


CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Form 10-Q
 
INDEX
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 

2

PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands) 
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Investment securities:
 
 
 
Debt securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $123,324 and $122,678, respectively)
$
124,118

 
$
120,440

Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $10,333 and $9,559, respectively)
11,862

 
10,737

Short-term investments, at fair value
4,614

 
8,925

Total investments
140,594

 
140,102

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
20,415

 
10,792

Premiums and agents' balances receivable, net
23,125

 
21,247

Receivable from Affiliate
1,783

 
3,582

Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses
21,396

 
29,685

Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses
9,835

 
5,060

Prepaid reinsurance premiums
2,281

 
1,829

Deferred policy acquisition costs
12,302

 
12,011

Other assets
11,665

 
8,444

Total assets
$
243,396

 
$
232,752

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
$
97,981

 
$
92,807

Unearned premiums
51,606

 
52,852

Debt
34,658

 
33,502

Deferred gain on ADC
481

 
5,677

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
12,161

 
5,751

Total liabilities
196,887

 
190,589

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, no par value (100,000,000 shares authorized; 9,519,550 and 8,478,202 issued and outstanding, respectively)
91,410

 
86,533

Accumulated deficit
(45,322
)
 
(41,758
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
421

 
(2,612
)
Total shareholders' equity
46,509

 
42,163

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
243,396

 
$
232,752

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross earned premiums
$
25,082

 
$
27,856

 
$
50,632

 
$
55,581

Ceded earned premiums
(3,733
)
 
(3,918
)
 
(7,596
)
 
(7,842
)
Net earned premiums
21,349

 
23,938

 
43,036

 
47,739

Net investment income
1,051

 
838

 
1,961

 
1,639

Net realized investment gains
715

 
12

 
734

 
173

Change in fair value of equity securities
(915
)
 
29

 
350

 
(268
)
Other income
581

 
450

 
1,003

 
807

Total revenue
22,781

 
25,267

 
47,084

 
50,090

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
14,382

 
15,067

 
28,838

 
28,396

Policy acquisition costs
6,210

 
6,472

 
11,799

 
12,985

Operating expenses
4,340

 
4,303

 
8,663

 
8,489

Interest expense
725

 
617

 
1,435

 
1,236

Total expenses
25,657

 
26,459

 
50,735

 
51,106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before equity earnings of affiliates and income taxes
(2,876
)
 
(1,192
)
 
(3,651
)
 
(1,016
)
Equity earnings of affiliates, net of tax
(8
)
 
89

 
98

 
144

Income tax expense
—

 
10

 
11

 
28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(2,884
)
 
$
(1,113
)
 
$
(3,564
)
 
$
(900
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per common share, basic and diluted
$
(0.34
)
 
$
(0.13
)
 
$
(0.42
)
 
$
(0.11
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
8,370,782

 
8,520,328

 
8,411,835

 
8,520,328

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
  
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss)
$
(2,884
)
 
$
(1,113
)
 
$
(3,564
)
 
$
(900
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized investment gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period
1,366

 
(376
)
 
2,923

 
(2,222
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax
1,366

 
(376
)
 
2,923

 
(2,222
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less: reclassification adjustments to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized investment gains (losses) included in net income (loss)
30

 
(4
)
 
(110
)
 
(4
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total reclassifications included in net income (loss), net of tax
30

 
(4
)
 
(110
)
 
(4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
1,336

 
(372
)
 
3,033

 
(2,218
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
$
(1,548
)
 
$
(1,485
)
 
$
(531
)
 
$
(3,118
)
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
  
 
 
No Par, Common Stock
 
Retained Earnings
(Accumulated
deficit)
 
Accumulated
Other
 
Total Shareholders' Equity
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Balances at December 31, 2017
 
8,520,328

 
$
86,199

 
$
(33,010
)
 
$
(363
)
 
$
52,826

Net income (loss)
 
—

 
—

 
(900
)
 
—

 
(900
)
Restricted stock unit expense, net
 
—

 
460

 
—

 
—

 
460

Other comprehensive loss
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,218
)
 
(2,218
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU No. 2016-01, net of taxes
 
—

 
—

 
556

 
(556
)
 
—

Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, net of taxes
 
—

 
—

 
(77
)
 
77

 
—

Balances at June 30, 2018
 
8,520,328

 
$
86,659

 
$
(33,431
)
 
$
(3,060
)
 
$
50,168

Net income (loss)
 
—

 
—

 
(8,327
)
 
—

 
(8,327
)
Repurchase of common stock
 
(137,228
)
 
(636
)
 
—

 
—

 
(636
)
Restricted stock unit expense, net
 
95,102

 
510

 
—

 
—

 
510

Other comprehensive loss
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
448

 
448

Balances at December 31, 2018
 
8,478,202

 
$
86,533

 
$
(41,758
)
 
$
(2,612
)
 
$
42,163

Net income (loss)
 
—

 
—

 
(3,564
)
 
—

 
(3,564
)
Repurchase of common stock
 
(142,815
)
 
(608
)
 
—

 
—

 
(608
)
Issuance of common stock private placement
 
1,176,471

 
5,000

 
—

 
—

 
5,000

Restricted stock unit expense
 
7,692

 
485

 
—

 
—

 
485

Other comprehensive income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,033

 
3,033

Balances at June 30, 2019
 
9,519,550

 
$
91,410

 
$
(45,322
)
 
$
421

 
$
46,509



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In thousands) 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(3,564
)
 
$
(900
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
233

 
175

Amortization of bond premium and discount, net
220

 
272

Net realized investment (gains) losses
(734
)
 
(173
)
Change in fair value of equity securities
(350
)
 
268

Restricted stock unit expenses
485

 
460

Other
(98
)
 
(144
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in:
 
 
 
Premiums and agents' balances and other receivables
(79
)
 
(250
)
Reinsurance recoverables
3,514

 
1,198

Prepaid reinsurance premiums
(452
)
 
(17
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
(291
)
 
760

Other assets
(3,743
)
 
(1,894
)
Increase (decrease) in:
 
 
 
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
5,174

 
(4,234
)
Unearned premiums
(1,246
)
 
(5,282
)
Accounts payable and other liabilities
708

 
2,640

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
(223
)
 
(7,121
)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
 
 
 
Purchase of investments
(55,037
)
 
(41,360
)
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of investments
8,417

 
15,531

Proceeds from sales of investments
51,102

 
38,126

Purchases of property and equipment
(23
)
 
(28
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
4,459

 
12,269

Cash Flows From Financing Activities
 
 
 
Proceeds received from issuance of shares of common stock
5,000

 
—

Repurchase of common stock
(608
)
 
—

Borrowings under debt arrangements
995

 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
5,387

 
—

Net increase (decrease) in cash
9,623

 
5,148

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
10,792

 
11,868

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
20,415

 
$
17,016

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
1,269

 
$
1,805

Payable for securities - non cash item
979

 
1,000

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

7
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




 
1.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 Basis of Presentation
 The consolidated financial statements include accounts, after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions, of Conifer Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “Conifer”), its wholly owned subsidiaries, Conifer Insurance Company ("CIC"), White Pine Insurance Company ("WPIC"), Red Cedar Insurance Company ("RCIC"), and Sycamore Insurance Agency, Inc. ("SIA"). CIC, WPIC, and RCIC are collectively referred to as the "Insurance Company Subsidiaries." On a stand-alone basis, Conifer Holdings, Inc. is referred to as the "Parent Company."
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company has applied the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting and therefore the consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of items of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated interim financial statements, have been included. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2019, are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year ended December 31, 2019.
These consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC.
 Business
The Company is engaged in the sale of property and casualty insurance products and has organized its operations into three insurance businesses: commercial insurance lines, personal insurance lines, and agency business. The Company underwrites a variety of specialty insurance products, including property, general liability, liquor liability, automobile, homeowners and dwelling policies. The Company markets and sells its insurance products through a network of independent agents and managing general agents. Policies are written in all 50 states. The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in Birmingham, Michigan with additional office facilities in Florida, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
The Company also generates other revenues through investment income and other income which mainly consists of installment fees and policy issuance fees generally related to the policies we write. We also generate equity earnings from SIA's 50% owned agency (the "Affiliate"). The Affiliate places small commercial risks mainly for alarm and security guard markets.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While management believes the amounts included in the consolidated financial statements reflect management's best estimates and assumptions, actual results may differ from these estimates.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments
Cash consists of cash deposits in banks, generally in operating accounts. Cash equivalents consist of money-market funds that are specifically used as overnight investments tied to cash deposit accounts. Short-term investments, consisting of money-market funds, are classified as investments in the consolidated balance sheets as they relate to the Company’s investment activities.
Lease Accounting
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which addresses the financial reporting of leasing transactions. This update required the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, discounted to the present value, for all leases that extend beyond 12 months. For operating leases, the asset and liability will be expensed over the lease term on a straight-line basis, with all cash flows included in the operating section of the consolidated statement of cash flows. We do not have any financing leases. The Company elected to use the transition option of practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which allows for the adoption of the new standard at the effective date without adjusting the comparative prior periods presented. Our operating leases consist primarily of real estate utilized in the operation of our businesses with lease terms ranging from 5 to 10 years. Management has determined the appropriate discount rate to use in calculating the right-to-use asset and lease liability is 6.75%. The Company recorded a right-of-use asset of $3.9 million and lease liabilities of $3.9 million included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet on January 1, 2019.

8
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




 Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), which amends the current methodology and timing for recognizing credit losses. This amendment will replace the current GAAP "incurred loss" methodology for credit losses with a methodology based on expected credit losses. The new guidance will also require expanded consideration of a broader range of reasonable and increased supportable information for the credit loss estimates. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 840), which modifies the disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The requirements to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements have all been removed. However, the changes in unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period must be disclosed along with the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements (or other quantitative information if it is more reasonable). Finally, for investments measured at net asset value, the requirements have been modified so that the timing of liquidation and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse are only disclosed if the investee has communicated the timing to the entity or announced the timing publicly. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 
 


9
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




2.     Investments
The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gain or loss, and estimated fair value of the investments in securities classified as available for sale at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, were as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
June 30, 2019
 
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized
Estimated
Fair Value 
 
 
Gains
Losses
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government
$
14,787

$
51

$
(18
)
$
14,820

State and local government
14,467

461

(4
)
14,924

Corporate debt
32,281

600

(23
)
32,858

Asset-backed securities
21,718

73

(75
)
21,716

Mortgage-backed securities
32,409

85

(481
)
32,013

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
4,673

113

(9
)
4,777

Collateralized mortgage obligations
2,989

21

—

3,010

Total debt securities available for sale
$
123,324

$
1,404

$
(610
)
$
124,118


 
December 31, 2018
 
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized
Estimated
Fair Value 
 
Gains
Losses
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government
$
15,360

$
3

$
(178
)
$
15,185

State and local government
15,847

115

(174
)
15,788

Corporate debt
30,423

74

(651
)
29,846

Asset-backed securities
24,468

24

(208
)
24,284

Mortgage-backed securities
30,377

18

(1,155
)
29,240

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
4,025

5

(77
)
3,953

Collateralized mortgage obligations
2,178

9

(43
)
2,144

Total debt securities available for sale
$
122,678

$
248

$
(2,486
)
$
120,440


10
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




The following table summarizes the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized losses, by security type, of the available-for-sale securities in unrealized loss positions. The table segregates the holdings based on the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as follows (dollars in thousands):  
 
June 30, 2019
 
Less than 12 months
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total
 
No.
of
Issues
Fair Value of
Investments
with Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
No.
of
Issues
Fair Value of
Investments
with Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
No.
of
Issues
Fair Value of
Investments
with Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government
—

$
—

$
—

 
11

$
7,534

$
(18
)
 
11

$
7,534

$
(18
)
State and local government
1

238

(1
)
 
4

412

(3
)
 
5

650

(4
)
Corporate debt
—

—

—

 
10

4,901

(23
)
 
10

4,901

(23
)
Asset-backed securities
8

7,205

(22
)
 
17

7,707

(53
)
 
25

14,912

(75
)
Mortgage-backed securities
4

485

(1
)
 
35

23,702

(480
)
 
39

24,187

(481
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
1

118

—

 
3

1,441

(9
)
 
4

1,559

(9
)
Collateralized mortgage obligations
1

19

—

 
1

30

—

 
2

49

—

Total debt securities available for sale
15

$
8,065

$
(24
)
 
81

$
45,727

$
(586
)
 
96

$
53,792

$
(610
)
 
December 31, 2018
 
Less than 12 months
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total
 
No.
of
Issues
Fair Value of
Investments
with Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
No.
of
Issues
Fair Value of
Investments
with Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
No.
of
Issues
Fair Value of
Investments
with Unrealized
Losses
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government
1

$
2,470

$
(24
)
 
16

$
11,725

$
(154
)
 
17

$
14,195

$
(178
)
State and local government
21

4,935

(40
)
 
16

4,273

(134
)
 
37

9,208

(174
)
Corporate debt
36

12,096

(140
)
 
25

11,993

(511
)
 
61

24,089

(651
)
Asset-backed securities
25

17,743

(148
)
 
9

4,166

(60
)
 
34

21,909

(208
)
Mortgage-backed securities
20

5,474

(138
)
 
30

21,715

(1,017
)
 
50

27,189

(1,155
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
4

1,082

(12
)
 
3

2,632

(65
)
 
7

3,714

(77
)
Collateralized mortgage obligations
4

116

(1
)
 
6

1,587

(42
)
 
10

1,703

(43
)
Total debt securities available for sale
111

$
43,916

$
(503
)
 
105

$
58,091

$
(1,983
)
 
216

$
102,007

$
(2,486
)

11
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




The Company analyzed its investment portfolio in accordance with its other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") review procedures and determined the Company did not need to record a credit-related OTTI loss in net income, nor recognize a non-credit related OTTI loss in other comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.
 The Company’s sources of net investment income are as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Debt securities
$
998

 
$
868

 
$
1,855

 
$
1,694

Equity securities
35

 
38

 
75

 
65

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
116

 
13

 
186

 
36

Total investment income
1,149

 
919

 
2,116

 
1,795

Investment expenses
(98
)
 
(81
)
 
(155
)
 
(156
)
Net investment income
$
1,051

 
$
838

 
$
1,961

 
$
1,639

The following table summarizes the gross realized gains and losses from sales or maturities of available-for-sale debt and equity securities (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross realized gains
$
204

 
$
—

 
$
223

 
$
2

Gross realized losses
(3
)
 
(10
)
 
(52
)
 
(15
)
Total debt securities
201

 
(10
)
 
171

 
(13
)
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross realized gains
539

 
36

 
588

 
206

Gross realized losses
(25
)
 
(14
)
 
(25
)
 
(20
)
Total equity securities
514

 
22

 
563

 
186

Total net realized investment gains (losses)
$
715

 
$
12

 
$
734

 
$
173

Proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale debt securities were $10.3 million and $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company carries other equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value at cost, less impairment or observable changes in price. We review these investments for impairment during each reporting period. There was no impairment or observable changes in price recorded during 2019 related to the Company's equity securities without readily determinable fair value. These investments are a component of Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

12
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




The table below summarizes the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale debt securities by contractual maturity at June 30, 2019. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers 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
$
9,812

 
$
9,809

Due after one year through five years
30,418

 
30,848

Due after five years through ten years
12,301

 
12,659

Due after ten years
9,004

 
9,286

Securities with contractual maturities
61,535

 
62,602

Asset-backed securities
21,718

 
21,716

Mortgage-backed securities
32,409

 
32,013

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
4,673

 
4,777

Collateralized mortgage obligations
2,989

 
3,010

Total debt securities
$
123,324

 
$
124,118

 At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Insurance Company Subsidiaries had an aggregate of $8.6 million and $8.5 million, respectively, on deposit in trust accounts to meet the deposit requirements of various state insurance departments. At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had $47.7 million and $45.4 million, respectively, held in trust accounts to meet collateral requirements with other third-party insurers, relating to various fronting arrangements. There are withdrawal and other restrictions on these deposits, including the type of investments that may be held, however, the Company may generally invest in high-grade bonds and short-term investments and earn interest on the funds. 


13
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




3.     Fair Value Measurements
 The Company’s financial instruments include assets and liabilities carried at fair value, as well as assets and liabilities carried at cost or amortized cost but disclosed at fair value in these consolidated financial statements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principally most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. In determining fair value, the Company applies the market approach, which uses prices and other relevant data based on market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. The inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are prioritized into a three-level hierarchy. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices from sources independent of the reporting entity (“observable inputs”) and the lowest priority to prices determined by the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (“unobservable inputs”). The fair value hierarchy is as follows:
 Level 1—Valuations that are based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 Level 2—Valuations that are based on observable inputs (other than Level 1 prices) such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities at the measurement date; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
 Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity. The unobservable inputs represent the Company’s best assumption of how market participants would price the assets or liabilities.
Net Asset Value (NAV)—The fair values of investment company limited partnership investments are based on the capital account balances reported by the investment funds subject to their management review and adjustment. These capital account balances reflect the fair value of the investment funds.

14
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




The following tables present the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, classified by the valuation hierarchy as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
June 30, 2019
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government
$
14,820

 
$
—

 
$
14,820

 
$
—

State and local government
14,924

 
—

 
14,924

 
—

Corporate debt
32,858

 
—

 
32,858

 
—

Asset-backed securities
21,716

 
—

 
21,716

 
—

Mortgage-backed securities
32,013

 
—

 
32,013

 
—

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
4,777

 
—

 
4,777

 
—

Collateralized mortgage obligations
3,010

 
—

 
3,010

 
—

Total debt securities
124,118

 
—

 
124,118

 
—

Equity Securities
6,906

 
6,642

 
264

 
—

Short-term investments
4,614

 
4,614

 
—

 
—

Total marketable investments measured at fair value
$
135,638

 
$
11,256

 
$
124,382

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments measured at NAV:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment in limited partnership
$
4,956

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments measured at NAV
$
4,956

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets measured at fair value
$
140,594

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Unsecured Notes *
$
21,758

 
$
—

 
$
21,758

 
$
—

Subordinated Notes *
11,089

 
—

 
—

 
11,089

Line of credit **
$
995

 
—

 
995

 
—

Total Liabilities measured at fair value
$
33,842

 
$
—

 
$
21,758

 
$
11,089

* Carried at face value of debt net of unamortized debt issuance costs on the consolidated balance sheet
** Carried at cost on the consolidated balance sheet



15
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




 
December 31, 2018
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government
$
15,185

 
$
—

 
$
15,185

 
$
—

State and local government
15,788

 
—

 
15,788

 
—

Corporate debt
29,846

 
—

 
29,846

 
—

Asset-backed securities
24,284

 
—

 
24,284

 
—

Mortgage-backed securities
29,240

 
—

 
29,240

 
—

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
3,953

 
—

 
3,953

 
—

Collateralized mortgage obligations
2,144

 
—

 
2,144

 
—

Total debt securities
120,440

 
—

 
120,440

 
—

Equity securities
6,587

 
6,323

 
264

 
—

Short-term investments
8,925

 
8,925

 
—

 
—

Total marketable investments measured at fair value
$
135,952

 
$
15,248

 
$
120,704

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments measured at NAV:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment in limited partnership
$
4,150

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments measured at NAV
$
4,150

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets measured at fair value
$
140,102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Unsecured Notes *
$
21,252

 
$
—

 
$
21,252

 
$
—

Subordinated Notes *
10,640

 
—

 
—

 
10,640

Total Liabilities measured at fair value
$
31,892

 
$
—

 
$
21,252

 
$
10,640

* Carried at face value of debt net of unamortized debt issuance costs on the consolidated balance sheet
Level 1 investments consist of equity securities traded in an active exchange market. The Company uses unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments to measure fair value. Level 1 also includes money market funds and other interest-bearing deposits at banks, which are reported as short-term investments. The fair value measurements that were based on Level 1 inputs comprise 8.0% of the fair value of the total investment portfolio as of June 30, 2019.
Level 2 investments include debt securities, which consist of U.S. government agency securities, state and local municipal
bonds (including those held as restricted securities), corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The fair value of securities included in the Level 2 category were based on the market values obtained from a third party pricing service that were evaluated using pricing models that vary by asset class and incorporate available trade, bid and other observable market information. The third party pricing service monitors market indicators, as well as industry and economic events. The fair value measurements that were based on Level 2 inputs comprise 88.5% of the fair value of the total investment portfolio as of June 30, 2019.

16
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)





 The Company obtains pricing for each security from independent pricing services, investment managers or consultants to assist in determining fair value for its Level 2 investments. To validate that these quoted prices are reasonable estimates of fair value, the Company performs various quantitative and qualitative procedures, such as (i) evaluation of the underlying methodologies, (ii) analysis of recent sales activity, (iii) analytical review of our fair values against current market prices and (iv) comparison of the pricing services’ fair value to other pricing services’ fair value for the same investment. No markets for the investments were determined to be inactive at period-ends. Based on these procedures, the Company did not adjust the prices or quotes provided from independent pricing services, investment managers or consultants.
As of June 30, 2019, Level 3 is entirely comprised of the Company's subordinated debt. In determining the fair value of the subordinated debt outstanding at June 30, 2019, the security attributes (issue date, maturity, coupon, calls, etc.) and market rates on September 24, 2018 (the date of issuance) were fed into a valuation model. A lognormal trinomial interest rate lattice was created within the model to compute the option adjusted spread (“OAS”) which is the amount, in basis points, of interest rate required to be paid under the debt agreement over the risk-free U.S. Treasury rates. The OAS was then fed back into the model along with the June 30, 2019, U.S. Treasury rates. A new lattice was generated and the fair value was computed from the OAS. There were no changes in assumptions of credit risk from the issuance date.
The Level 2 financial instruments also include the Company's senior debt. The fair value of the borrowings under the senior revolving credit facility approximates its carrying amount because interest is based on a short-term, variable, market-based rate.
 The Company’s policy on recognizing transfers between hierarchy levels is applied at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

4. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
The Company defers costs incurred which are incremental and directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance business, net of corresponding amounts of ceded reinsurance commissions. Net deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized and charged to expense in proportion to premium earned over the estimated policy term. The Company anticipates that its deferred policy acquisition costs will be fully recoverable and there were no premium deficiencies for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The activity in deferred policy acquisition costs, net of reinsurance transactions, is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Balance at beginning of period
$
12,153

 
$
12,050

 
$
12,011

 
$
12,781

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs
6,359

 
6,443

 
12,090

 
12,225

Amortization of policy acquisition costs
(6,210
)
 
(6,472
)
 
(11,799
)
 
(12,985
)
Net change
149

 
(29
)
 
291

 
(760
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at end of period
$
12,302

 
$
12,021

 
$
12,302

 
$
12,021


5.     Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 The Company establishes reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") which represent the estimated ultimate cost of all losses incurred that were both reported and unreported (i.e., incurred but not yet reported losses; or “IBNR”) and LAE incurred that remain unpaid at the balance sheet date. The Company’s reserving process takes into account known facts and interpretations of circumstances and factors including the Company’s experience with similar cases, actual claims paid, historical trends involving claim payment patterns and pending levels of unpaid claims, loss management programs, product mix and contractual terms, changes in law and regulation, judicial decisions, and economic conditions. In the normal course of business, the Company may also supplement its claims processes by utilizing third party adjusters, appraisers, engineers, inspectors, and other professionals and information sources to assess and settle catastrophe and non-catastrophe related claims. The effects of inflation are implicitly considered in the reserving process.
 Reserves are estimates of unpaid portions of losses that have occurred, including IBNR losses; therefore the establishment of appropriate reserves is an inherently uncertain and complex process. The ultimate cost of losses may vary materially from recorded amounts, which are based on management’s best estimates. The highest degree of uncertainty is associated with reserves for losses incurred in the current reporting period as it contains the greatest proportion of losses that have not been

17
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




reported or settled. The Company regularly updates its reserve estimates as new information becomes available and as events unfold that may affect the resolution of unsettled claims. Changes in reserve estimates, which may be material, are reported in the results of operations in the period such changes are determined to be needed and recorded.
  Management believes that the reserve for losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoverables, is appropriately established in the aggregate and adequate to cover the ultimate net cost of reported and unreported claims arising from losses which had occurred by the date of the consolidated financial statements based on available facts and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
 The table below provides the changes in the reserves for losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoverables, for the periods indicated as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Gross reserves - beginning of period
$
93,966

 
$
85,491

 
$
92,807

 
$
87,896

Less: reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses
24,551

 
20,063

 
29,685

 
20,066

Plus: deferred gain on ADC
(3,394
)
 
(1,431
)
 
(5,677
)
 
—

Net reserves - beginning of period
72,809

 
66,859

 
68,799

 
67,830

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Add: incurred losses and LAE, net of reinsurance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current period
11,994

 
13,581

 
24,465

 
26,926

Prior period
2,388

 
1,486

 
4,373

 
1,470

Total net incurred losses and LAE
14,382

 
15,067

 
28,838

 
28,396

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deduct: loss and LAE payments, net of reinsurance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current period
2,692

 
4,437

 
3,742

 
6,026

Prior period
7,433

 
11,882

 
16,829

 
24,593

Total net loss and LAE payments
10,125

 
16,319

 
20,571

 
30,619

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net reserves - end of period
77,066

 
65,607

 
77,066

 
65,607

Plus: reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses
21,396

 
20,467

 
21,396

 
20,467

Less: deferred gain on ADC
(481
)
 
(2,412
)
 
(481
)
 
(2,412
)
Gross reserves - end of period
$
97,981

 
$
83,662

 
$
97,981

 
$
83,662


On September 28, 2017, the Company entered into an adverse development cover reinsurance agreement (the "ADC") to cover loss development of up to $17.5 million in excess of stated reserves as of June 30, 2017. The agreement provides up to $17.5 million of reinsurance for adverse net loss reserve development for accident years 2005 through 2016. The agreement attaches when net losses exceed $1.4 million of the $36.6 million carried reserves at June 30, 2017, and extends to $19.5 million in coverage up to $57.5 million (inclusive of a 10% co-participation). As of June 30, 2019, the Company has ceded to the limit of the ADC. The Company accounts for the agreement as retroactive reinsurance.
The Company’s incurred losses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, include prior-year adverse reserve development of $2.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively. The reported reserve development is net of the amortization of the deferred gain on the ADC of $3.0 million and $5.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. As of June 30, 2019, there remained $481,000 of deferred gain on the ADC that will be recognized in future periods. The adverse development mainly stemmed from commercial liability and Florida homeowners lines business.
The Company’s incurred losses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, included prior-year adverse reserve development of $1.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Before the effect of the ADC deferred gain, the commercial lines of business reported $1.2 million of adverse prior-year development and $900,000 of adverse development from the personal lines of business for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Before the effect of the ADC deferred gain, the commercial lines of business reported $1.1 million of adverse prior-year development and $1.3 million of adverse development from the personal lines of business for the six months ended June 30, 2018. Included in the unfavorable development was $121,000 and $388,000 attributable to additional 2017 losses from Hurricane Harvey for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

18
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




The ADC had a favorable impact of $583,000 and $862,000 on prior year reserve development for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

6.     Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to minimize the loss that may arise from catastrophes or other events that cause unfavorable underwriting results by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with reinsurers. The Company participates in reinsurance agreements in order to limit its loss exposure including protecting against catastrophe losses. The Company primarily ceded all specific property risks in excess of $300,000 in both 2019 and 2018 and primarily ceded all specific liability risks in excess of $400,000 in 2019, and $500,000 in 2018. Reinsurance does not discharge the direct insurer from liability to its policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors the concentration of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. To date, the Company has not experienced any significant difficulties in collecting reinsurance recoverables.
The Company assumes written premiums under a few fronting arrangements, most of which are net of other reinsurance arrangements. The fronting arrangements are with unaffiliated insurers who write on behalf of the Company in markets that require a higher A.M. Best rating than the Company’s current rating, where the policies are written in a state where the Company is not licensed or for other strategic reasons.
The following table presents the effects of such reinsurance and assumption transactions on premiums and losses and LAE (dollars in thousands). The three and six months ended June 30, 2019 written and earned premiums amounts includes $93,000 and $343,000 of reinsurance reinstatement costs relating to Hurricane Irma, respectively.
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Written premiums:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct
$
14,954

 
$
17,568

 
$
33,417

 
$
36,423

Assumed
10,215

 
8,994

 
15,968

 
13,876

Ceded
(3,735
)
 
(3,967
)
 
(7,629
)
 
(7,860
)
Net written premiums
$
21,434

 
$
22,595

 
$
41,756

 
$
42,439

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct
$
17,254

 
$
20,561

 
$
35,258

 
$
41,785

Assumed
7,828

 
7,295

 
15,374

 
13,796

Ceded
(3,733
)
 
(3,918
)
 
(7,596
)
 
(7,842
)
Net earned premiums
$
21,349

 
$
23,938

 
$
43,036

 
$
47,739

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and LAE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct
$
17,434

 
$
14,432

 
$
34,232

 
$
27,390

Assumed
5,741

 
3,414

 
10,255

 
6,969

Ceded
(8,793
)
 
(2,779
)
 
(15,649
)
 
(5,963
)
Net Losses and LAE
$
14,382

 
$
15,067

 
$
28,838

 
$
28,396

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

19
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




7.     Debt
The Company's debt is comprised of three instruments: $25.3 million of publicly traded senior unsecured notes which were issued in September and October of 2018, a $10.0 million line of credit which commenced in June 2018, and $10.5 million of privately placed subordinated notes (the “Subordinated Notes”). A summary of the Company's outstanding debt is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Senior unsecured notes
$
24,153

 
$
24,018

Subordinated notes
9,510

 
9,484

Line of credit
995

 
—

Total
$
34,658

 
$
33,502

As of March 31, 2019, the Company was not in compliance with the tangible net worth financial covenants for the Subordinated Notes and line of credit (which are identical). In May 2019, the holders of the Subordinated Notes and the line of credit (the “Lenders”) waived the March 31, 2019, tangible net worth requirement.
On June 21, 2019, the Company renewed the $10.0 million line of credit with substantially the same terms and conditions other than adjustments to the tangible net worth covenant and the debt-to-total capital ratio covenant which were modified. The renewed line of credit matures on June 19, 2020. On June 21, 2019, the Company also entered into an amendment of the Subordinated Notes agreement to conform the tangible network and debt-to-total capital ratio covenants to the modified terms in the line of credit agreement. Under the modified debt covenant terms management expects to remain compliant going forward.
On September 24, 2018, the Company issued $22.0 million of public senior unsecured notes (the "Notes"). Maturing on September 30, 2023, the Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum, payable quarterly at the end of March, June, September and December. The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at face value at any time after September 30, 2021.
On October 12, 2018 the Company issued an additional $3.3 million of the Notes as the underwriters fully exercised their over-allotment option. The total aggregate principal amount of Notes sold by the Company in the public offering increased to $25.3 million. Proceeds from the Notes were primarily used to pay down $19.5 million of the Subordinated Notes.
Effective September 24, 2018, the Company amended the terms of the Subordinated Notes to reduce the principle value to $10.5 million, change the maturity to September 30, 2038 and modify the call provisions. The amended Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.5% per annum until September 30, 2023, and 12.5% thereafter, and allow for four quarterly interest payment deferrals. Interest is payable quarterly at the end of March, June, September and December. Beginning September 30, 2021, the Company may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, for a call premium of $1.1 million. The call premium escalates each quarter to ultimately $1.75 million on September 30, 2023, then steps up to $3.05 million on December 31, 2023, and increases quarterly at a 12.5% per annum rate thereafter. The debt covenants were consistent with the original Subordinated Note terms. The Company paid a $105,000 loan origination fee on the effective date. The Company recorded the Subordinated Notes amendment as a debt modification and retained the unamortized debt issuance costs from the original loan which will be amortized over the 20-year life of the amended Subordinated Notes in conjunction with the $105,000 origination fee.
The carrying value of the Notes and Subordinated Notes are offset by $1.1 million and $1.0 million of debt issuance costs, respectively. The debt issuance costs will be amortized through interest expense over the life of the loans.
The Subordinated Notes contain various restrictive covenants that relate to the Company’s tangible net worth, fixed-charge coverage ratios, dividend paying capacity, reinsurance retentions, and risk-based capital ratios. At June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt financial covenants.
On June 21, 2018, the Company entered into a $10.0 million line of credit. The line of credit bears interest at the London Interbank rate ("LIBOR") plus 2.75% per annum, payable monthly. The agreement includes several covenants, including but not limited to a minimum tangible net worth, a minimum fixed-charge coverage ratio, and minimum statutory risk-based capital levels. As of June 30, 2019, the Company has $995,000 outstanding on the line of credit, and was in compliance with all of its financial covenants.
On September 29, 2017, the Company executed $30.0 million of Subordinated Notes. These Subordinated Notes were amended as described above, and $19.5 million was paid down with proceeds from the Notes. These Subordinated Notes had a maturity date of September 29, 2032, bore interest, payable quarterly at a fixed annual rate of 8.0%, and allowed for up to four

20
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




quarterly interest deferrals. On the fifth and tenth anniversary of the notes, the interest rate reset to 1,250 basis points and 1,500 basis points, respectively, above the 5-year mid-swap rate.

8.     Shareholders’ Equity
In June 2019, the Company issued $5.0 million of common equity through a private placement for 1,176,471 shares priced at $4.25 per share. The participants in the private placement consisted of members of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company used the proceeds for growth capital in the Company's specialty core business segments.
On December 5, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program, under which the Company may repurchase up to one million shares of the Company's common stock. Shares may be purchased in the open market or through negotiated transactions. The program may be terminated or suspended at any time, at the discretion of the Company. The Company may in the future enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan to effect a portion of the authorized purchases, if criteria set forth in the plan are met. Such a plan would enable the Company to repurchase its shares during periods outside of its normal trading windows, when the Company typically would not be active in the market. The timing of purchases, and the exact number of any shares to be purchased, will depend on market conditions. The repurchase program does not include specific price targets or timetables. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company had repurchased 142,815 shares of stock valued at approximately $608,000. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had repurchased 129,175 shares of stock valued at approximately $584,000 related to the stock repurchase program.
For six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company had repurchased 2,308 shares of stock valued at approximately $11,000 related to the vesting of the Company's restricted stock units. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 8,053 shares of stock valued at approximately $52,000 related to the vesting of the Company’s restricted stock units. Upon the repurchase of the Company's shares, the shares remain authorized, but not issued or outstanding.
As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 the Company had 9,519,550 and 8,478,202 issued and outstanding shares of common stock, respectively.
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share and to receive dividends only when and if declared by the board of directors. The holders have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights.



21
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




9. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 The following table presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Balance at beginning of period
$
(915
)
 
$
(2,688
)
 
$
(2,612
)
 
$
(363
)
Plus: cumulative effect of adoption of ASU No. 2016-01, net of taxes
—

 
—

 
—

 
(556
)
Plus: cumulative effect of adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, net of taxes
—

 
—

 
—

 
77

Balance after cumulative effects
(915
)
 
(2,688
)
 
(2,612
)
 
(842
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
1,366

 
(376
)
 
2,923

 
(2,222
)
Less: amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
30

 
(4
)
 
(110
)
 
(4
)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)
1,336

 
(372
)
 
3,033

 
(2,218
)
Balance at end of period
$
421

 
$
(3,060
)
 
$
421

 
$
(3,060
)
10. Earnings Per Share
 Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share, as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss)
$
(2,884
)
 
$
(1,113
)
 
$
(3,564
)
 
$
(900
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares, basic and diluted*
8,370,782

 
8,520,328

 
8,411,835

 
8,520,328

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per common share, basic and diluted
$
(0.34
)
 
$
(0.13
)
 
$
(0.42
)
 
$
(0.11
)
* The nonvested shares of the restricted stock units were anti-dilutive as of June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018. Therefore, the basic and diluted weighted average common shares are equal for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018.



22
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




11.     Stock-based Compensation

In 2015, the Company issued 390,352 restricted stock units ("RSUs") to executive officers and other employees to be settled in shares of common stock. The total RSUs were valued at $4.1 million on the dates of grant. In 2016, the Company issued 111,281 RSUs to executive officers and other employees valued at $909,000 on the date of grant. In 2018, the Company issued 70,000 RSUs to executive officers and other employees valued at $404,000 on the dates of grant.
 
The following summarizes our RSU activity (units in thousands):
 
Number of Units
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
307

 
$
9.84

Units granted
70

 
5.76

Units forfeited
(15
)
 
8.76

Outstanding at June 30, 2018
362

 
9.09

Units vested
(95
)
 
9.84

Units forfeited
(3
)
 
9.96

Outstanding at December 31, 2018
264

 
8.91

Units vested
(8
)
 
5.65

Units forfeited
(6
)
 
6.13

Outstanding at June 30, 2019
250

 
$
9.08

The Company recorded $485,000 and $460,000 of compensation expense related to the RSUs for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The total compensation cost related to the non-vested portion of the restricted stock units which has not been recognized as of June 30, 2019, was $1.8 million.

 

12.     Commitments and Contingencies
 Legal proceedings
 The Company and its subsidiaries are subject at times to various claims, lawsuits and proceedings relating principally to alleged errors or omissions in the placement of insurance, claims administration, and other business transactions arising in the ordinary course of business. Where appropriate, the Company vigorously defends such claims, lawsuits and proceedings. Some of these claims, lawsuits and proceedings seek damages, including consequential, exemplary or punitive damages, in amounts that could, if awarded, be significant. Most of the claims, lawsuits and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business are related to the insurance policy issued. On the basis of current information, the Company does not believe that there is a reasonable possibility that any material loss exceeding amounts already accrued, if any, will result from any of the claims, lawsuits and proceedings to which the Company is subject, either individually, or in the aggregate.



23
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




13.     Segment Information
The Company is engaged in the sale of property and casualty insurance products and has organized its business model around three classes of insurance businesses: commercial lines, personal lines, and wholesale agency business. Within these three businesses, the Company offers various insurance products and insurance agency services. Such insurance businesses are engaged in underwriting and marketing insurance coverages, and administering claims processing for such policies. The Company views the commercial and personal lines segments as underwriting business (business that takes on insurance underwriting risk). The wholesale agency business provides non-risk bearing revenue through commissions and policy fees. The wholesale agency business increases the product options to the Company’s independent retail agents by offering both insurance products from the Insurance Company Subsidiaries as well as products offered by other insurers. This segment has expanded in 2019, resulting in its separate disclosure. Prior periods have been recast to reflect the separate disclosure of the wholesale agency segment.
The Company defines its operating segments as components of the business where separate financial information is available and used by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources to its segments and in assessing its performance. In assessing performance of its operating segments, the Company’s chief operating decision maker, the Chief Executive Officer, reviews a number of financial measures including gross written premiums, net earned premiums, losses and LAE, net of reinsurance recoveries, and other revenue and expenses. The primary measure used for making decisions about resources to be allocated to an operating segment and assessing its performance is segment underwriting gain or loss which is defined as segment revenues, consisting of net earned premiums and other income, less segment expenses, consisting of losses and LAE, policy acquisition costs and operating expenses of the operating segments. Operating expenses primarily include compensation and related benefits for personnel, policy issuance and claims systems, rent and utilities. The Company markets, distributes and sells its insurance products through its own insurance agencies and a network of independent agents. All of the Company’s insurance activities are conducted in the United States with a concentration of activity in Florida, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania. For the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, gross written premiums attributable to these four states were 54% and 59%, respectively, of the Company’s total gross written premiums.
The Agency business sells insurance products on behalf of the Company’s commercial and personal lines businesses as well as to third-party insurers. Certain acquisition costs incurred by the commercial and personal lines businesses are reflected as commission revenue for the Agency business and are eliminated in the Eliminations category. 
In addition to the reportable operating segments, the Company maintains a Corporate category to reconcile segment results to the consolidated totals. The Corporate category includes: (i) corporate operating expenses such as salaries and related benefits of the Company’s executive management team and finance and information technology personnel, and other corporate headquarters expenses, (ii) interest expense on the Company’s debt obligations; (iii) depreciation and amortization on property and equipment, and (iv) all investment income activity. All investment income activity is reported within net investment income, net realized investment gains, and change in fair value of equity securities on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s assets on the consolidated balance sheet are not allocated to the reportable segments.

24
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




The following tables present information by reportable operating segment (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2019
 
Commercial Lines
 
Personal Lines
 
Total Underwriting
 
Wholesale Agency
 
Corporate
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Gross written premiums
 
$
23,459

 
$
1,710

 
$
25,169

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
25,169

Net written premiums
 
$
20,178

 
$
1,256

 
$
21,434

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
21,434

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Net earned premiums
 
$
20,154

 
$
1,195

 
$
21,349

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
21,349

Other income
 
50

 
45

 
95

 
2,575

 
46

 
(2,135
)
 
581

Total revenue
 
20,204

 
1,240

 
21,444

 
2,575

 
46

 
(2,135
)
 
21,930

Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
 
12,549

 
1,833

 
14,382

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
14,382

Policy acquisition costs
 
5,807

 
345

 
6,152

 
1,574

 
—

 
(1,516
)
 
6,210

Operating expenses
 
3,411

 
276

 
3,687

 
535

 
118

 
—

 
4,340

Total expenses
 
21,767

 
2,454

 
24,221

 
2,109

 
118

 
(1,516
)
 
24,932

Underwriting gain (loss)
 
$
(1,563
)
 
$
(1,214
)
 
$
(2,777
)
 
$
466

 
$
(72
)
 
$
(619
)
 
$
(3,002
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Net investment income
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
1,051

 
—

 
1,051

Net realized investment gains
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
715

 
—

 
715

Change in fair value of equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(915
)
 
—

 
(915
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(725
)
 
—

 
(725
)
Income (loss) before equity earnings of affiliates and income taxes
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
$
54

 
$
—

 
$
(2,876
)

25
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Three Months Ended
June 30, 2018
 
Commercial Lines
 
Personal Lines
 
Total Underwriting
 
Wholesale Agency
 
Corporate
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Gross written premiums
 
$
25,008

 
$
1,554

 
$
26,562

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
26,562

Net written premiums
 
$
22,284

 
$
311

 
$
22,595

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
22,595

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
 
$
20,872

 
$
3,066

 
$
23,938

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
23,938

Other income
 
23

 
58

 
81

 
2,546

 
36

 
(2,213
)
 
450

Total revenue
 
20,895

 
3,124

 
24,019

 
2,546

 
36

 
(2,213
)
 
24,388

Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
 
12,334

 
2,733

 
15,067

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15,067

Policy acquisition costs
 
5,797

 
1,267

 
7,064

 
1,621

 
—

 
(2,213
)
 
6,472

Operating expenses
 
3,732

 
258

 
3,990

 
383

 
(70
)
 
—

 
4,303

Total expenses
 
21,863

 
4,258

 
26,121

 
2,004

 
(70
)
 
(2,213
)
 
25,842

Underwriting gain (loss)
 
$
(968
)
 
$
(1,134
)
 
(2,102
)
 
542

 
106

 
—

 
(1,454
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
838

 
—

 
838

Net realized investment gains
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
12

 
—

 
12

Change in fair value of equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29

 
—

 
29

Interest expense
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
(617
)
 
—

 
(617
)
Income (loss) before equity earnings of affiliates and income taxes
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
$
368

 
$
—

 
$
(1,192
)



26
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019
 
Commercial Lines
 
Personal Lines
 
Total Underwriting
 
Wholesale Agency
 
Corporate
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Gross written premiums
 
$
46,043

 
$
3,342

 
$
49,385

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
49,385

Net written premiums
 
$
39,484

 
$
2,272

 
$
41,756

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
41,756

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
 
$
40,852

 
$
2,184

 
$
43,036

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
43,036

Other income
 
74

 
75

 
149

 
4,480

 
132

 
(3,758
)
 
1,003

Total revenue
 
40,926

 
2,259

 
43,185

 
4,480

 
132

 
(3,758
)
 
44,039

Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
 
25,095

 
3,743

 
28,838

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
28,838

Policy acquisition costs
 
11,221

 
755

 
11,976

 
2,962

 
—

 
(3,139
)
 
11,799

Operating expenses
 
6,375

 
541

 
6,916

 
1,138

 
609

 
—

 
8,663

Total expenses
 
42,691

 
5,039

 
47,730

 
4,100

 
609

 
(3,139
)
 
49,300

Underwriting gain (loss)
 
$
(1,765
)
 
$
(2,780
)
 
$
(4,545
)
 
$
380

 
$
(477
)
 
$
(619
)
 
$
(5,261
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,961

 
—

 
1,961

Net realized investment gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
734

 
—

 
734

Change in fair value of equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
350

 
—

 
350

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,435
)
 
—

 
(1,435
)
Income (loss) before equity earnings of affiliates and income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,133

 
$
(619
)
 
$
(3,651
)


27
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Six Months Ended
June 30, 2018
 
Commercial Lines
 
Personal Lines
 
Total Underwriting
 
Wholesale Agency
 
Corporate
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Gross written premiums
 
$
46,796

 
$
3,503

 
$
50,299

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
50,299

Net written premiums
 
$
41,706

 
$
733

 
$
42,439

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
42,439

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
 
$
41,000

 
$
6,739

 
$
47,739

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
47,739

Other income
 
56

 
132

 
188

 
4,311

 
65

 
(3,757
)
 
807

Total revenue
 
41,056

 
6,871

 
47,927

 
4,311

 
65

 
(3,757
)
 
48,546

Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
 
22,535

 
5,861

 
28,396

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
28,396

Policy acquisition costs
 
11,630

 
2,299

 
13,929

 
2,813

 
—

 
(3,757
)
 
12,985

Operating expenses
 
6,957

 
376

 
7,333

 
1,106

 
50

 
—

 
8,489

Total expenses
 
41,122

 
8,536

 
49,658

 
3,919

 
50

 
(3,757
)
 
49,870

Underwriting gain (loss)
 
$
(66
)
 
$
(1,665
)
 
$
(1,731
)
 
$
392

 
$
15

 
$
—

 
$
(1,324
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,639

 
—

 
1,639

Net realized investment gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
173

 
—

 
173

Change in fair value of equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(268
)
 
—

 
(268
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,236
)
 
—

 
(1,236
)
Income (loss) before equity earnings of affiliates and income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
323

 
$
—

 
$
(1,016
)



28

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
For the Periods Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
 
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 13, 2019 with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-Looking Statements 
Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “seek” and similar terms and phrases, or the negative thereof, may be used to identify forward-looking statements. 
The forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on management’s good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. The forward-looking statements are qualified by important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those described in our Form 10-K (“Item 1A Risk Factors”) filed with the SEC on March 13, 2019 and subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date hereof or as of the date specified herein. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws or regulations.
Business Overview 
We are an insurance holding company that markets and services our product offerings through specialty commercial and specialty personal insurance business lines. Our growth has been significant since our founding in 2009. Currently, we are authorized to write insurance as an excess and surplus lines carrier in 45 states, including the District of Columbia. We are also licensed to write insurance as an admitted carrier in 42 states, including the District of Columbia, and we offer our insurance products in all 50 states.
Our revenues are primarily derived from premiums earned from our insurance operations. We also generate other revenues through investment income and other income which mainly consists of installment fees and policy issuance fees generally related to the policies we write.
Our expenses consist primarily of losses and loss adjustment expenses, agents’ commissions, and other underwriting and administrative expenses. We organize our operations into three insurance businesses: commercial insurance lines, personal insurance lines, and agency business. Together, the commercial and personal lines refer to "underwriting" operations that take insurance risk, and the agency business refers to non-risk insurance business.
Through our commercial insurance product lines, we offer coverage for both commercial property and commercial liability. We also offer coverage for commercial automobiles and workers’ compensation. Our insurance policies are sold to targeted small and mid-sized businesses on a single or multiple-coverage basis.
Through our personal insurance product lines, we offer homeowners insurance and dwelling fire insurance policies to
individuals in several states. Our specialty homeowners insurance product line is primarily comprised of either wind-exposed
homeowners insurance providing hurricane and wind coverage to underserved homeowners in Texas, Hawaii and Florida or
low-value dwelling insurance tailored for owners of lower valued homes, which we offer in Illinois, Indiana and
Texas. Due to recent Florida-based industry events, we have been de-emphasizing our Florida homeowners' business and
reducing our exposures in that state, as well as other wind-exposed states like Texas and Hawaii.
Through our wholesale agency business segment, we offer commercial and personal lines insurance products for our Insurance Company Subsidiaries as well as third-party insurers. We have expanded the wholesale agency business to develop more non-risk revenue streams, and provide our agents with more insurance product options.

29

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 In certain circumstances, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. We evaluate these estimates and assumptions periodically on an on-going basis based on a variety of factors. There can be no assurance, however, that actual results will not be materially different than our estimates and assumptions, and that reported results of operation will not be affected by accounting adjustments needed to reflect changes in these estimates and assumptions. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, there were no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates, which are disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2019.

Executive Overview
The Company reported a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.34 per share and $3.6 million, or $0.42 per share, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, compared to net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.13 per share, and $900,000, or $0.11 per share, for the same period in 2018.
Adjusted operating loss, a non-GAAP measure, was $5.6 million, or $0.67 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2019. Adjusted operating loss was $9.8 million, or $1.17 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Adjusted operating loss was $173,000, or $0.02 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Adjusted operating income was $1.6 million, or $0.18 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Our combined ratio was 113.0% and 110.5% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to 108.8% and 103.6% for the same periods in 2018, respectively.

30

Results of Operations For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
 The following table summarizes our operating results for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
Summary of Operating Results
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Gross written premiums
$
25,169

 
$
26,562

 
$
(1,393
)

(5.2
)%
Net written premiums
$
21,434

 
$
22,595

 
$
(1,161
)
 
(5.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
$
21,349

 
$
23,938

 
$
(2,589
)
 
(10.8
)%
Other income
581

 
450

 
131

 
29.1
 %
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
14,382

 
15,067

 
(685
)
 
(4.5
)%
Policy acquisition costs
6,210

 
6,472

 
(262
)
 
(4.0
)%
Operating expenses
4,340

 
4,303

 
37

 
0.9
 %
Underwriting gain (loss)
(3,002
)
 
(1,454
)
 
(1,548
)
 
*
Net investment income
1,051

 
838

 
213

 
25.4
 %
Net realized investment gains (losses)
715

 
12

 
703

 
*
Change in fair value of equity securities
(915
)
 
29

 
(944
)
 
*
Interest expense
725

 
617

 
108

 
17.5
 %
Income (loss) before equity earnings in affiliate and income taxes
(2,876
)
 
(1,192
)
 
(1,684
)
 
*
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of tax
(8
)
 
89

 
(97
)
 
*
Income tax expense (benefit)
—

 
10

 
(10
)
 
*
Net income (loss)
$
(2,884
)
 
$
(1,113
)
 
$
(1,771
)
 
*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book value per common share outstanding
$4.89
 
$5.89
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Underwriting Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (1)
67.1
%
 
62.8
%
 
 

 
 

Expense ratio (2)
45.9
%
 
46.0
%
 
 

 
 

Combined ratio (3)
113.0
%
 
108.8
%
 
 

 
 

(1)
The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income from underwriting operations.
(2)
The expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net earned premiums and other income from underwriting operations.
(3)
The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% indicates an underwriting loss.
*Percentage change is not meaningful

31

Premiums 
Earned premiums are earned ratably over the term of the policy, whereas written premiums are reflected on the effective date of the policy. Almost all commercial lines and homeowners products have annual policies, under which premiums are earned evenly over one year. The resulting net earned premiums are impacted by the gross and ceded written premiums, earned ratably over the terms of the policies. 
Our premiums are presented below for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands): 
Summary of Premium Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Gross written premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines
$
23,459

 
$
25,008

 
$
(1,549
)
 
(6.2
)%
Personal lines
1,710

 
1,554

 
156

 
10.0
 %
Total
$
25,169

 
$
26,562

 
$
(1,393
)
 
(5.2
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net written premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Commercial lines
$
20,178

 
$
22,284

 
$
(2,106
)
 
(9.5
)%
Personal lines
1,256

 
311

 
945

 
303.9
 %
Total
$
21,434

 
$
22,595

 
$
(1,161
)
 
(5.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Commercial lines
$
20,154

 
$
20,872

 
$
(718
)
 
(3.4
)%
Personal lines
1,195

 
3,066

 
(1,871
)
 
(61.0
)%
Total
$
21,349

 
$
23,938

 
$
(2,589
)
 
(10.8
)%
 
Gross written premiums decreased $1.4 million, or 5.2%, to $25.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $26.6 million for the same period in 2018.
 Commercial lines gross written premiums decreased $1.5 million, or 6.2%, to $23.5 million in the second quarter of 2019, as compared to $25.0 million for the second quarter of 2018. The decreased gross written premiums were due to the strategic reduction of premiums in areas that were generating higher loss results. Additional premiums grew in areas that were historically more profitable which partially offset the decrease. We expect to see commercial lines premiums grow over the next few quarters as we penetrate existing lines further and add new programs.
 Personal lines gross written premiums increased $156,000, or 10.0%, to $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2019, as compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was the result of growth in the low-value dwelling lines. We expect to see additional moderate growth in the low-value dwelling lines in the next few quarters as we expand our penetration in existing distribution channels.
 Net written premiums decreased $1.2 million, or 5.1%, to $21.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $22.6 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease was consistent with the decrease in gross written premium for the comparative periods. Ceded written and earned premiums were impacted by $93,000 of reinstatement catastrophe reinsurance premiums from Hurricane Irma, $137,000 of minimum premiums on the catastrophe reinsurance treaties, and $70,000 of specific loss reinsurance reinstatement premiums. As of June 1, 2019, the Company entered into new catastrophe reinsurance treaties that will reduce the average cost of the catastrophe reinsurance on the property lines from 12.2% to 4.2% of gross earned premium. This should reduce the overall weighted average rate of reinsurance premiums to gross earned premiums by approximately 2.1 percentage points going forward.
Other Income 
Other income consists primarily of fees charged to policyholders by the Company for services outside of the premium charge, such as installment billings and policy issuance costs. Commission income is also received by the Company’s insurance agencies for writing policies for third party insurance companies. Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2019, increased $131,000, or 29.1%, to $581,000 as compared to $450,000 for the same period in 2018. The increase in other

32

income was primarily due to additional commission income in the Agency operations as well as increased fees charged on existing business.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses 
The tables below detail our losses and loss adjustment expenses and loss ratios in our underwriting business for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands). 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
Commercial
Lines
 
Personal
Lines
 
Total
Accident year net losses and LAE
$
11,089

 
$
905

 
$
11,994

Net (favorable) adverse development
1,460

 
928

 
2,388

Calendar year net losses and LAE
$
12,549

 
$
1,833

 
$
14,382

 
 
 
 
 
 
Accident year loss ratio
54.9
%
 
73.0
%
 
55.9
%
Net (favorable) adverse development
7.2
%
 
74.8
%
 
11.2
%
Calendar year loss ratio
62.1
%
 
147.8
%
 
67.1
%
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Commercial
Lines
 
Personal
Lines
 
Total
Accident year net losses and LAE
$
11,766

 
$
1,816

 
$
13,582

Net (favorable) adverse development
568

 
917

 
1,485

Calendar year net losses and LAE
$
12,334

 
$
2,733

 
$
15,067

 
 
 
 
 
 
Accident year loss ratio
56.3
%
 
58.1
%
 
56.6
%
Net (favorable) adverse development
2.7
%
 
29.4
%
 
6.2
%
Calendar year loss ratio
59.0
%
 
87.5
%
 
62.8
%

Net losses and LAE decreased by $0.7 million, or 4.5%, for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018. The calendar year loss ratios were 67.1% and 62.8% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company's incurred losses during the three months ended June 30, 2019, included adverse prior-year reserve development of $2.4 million. The Commercial lines experienced $1.5 million of unfavorable reserve development mostly attributable to liability lines in 2017 accident years. Personal lines was unfavorable by $0.9 million, partly attributable to the Florida homeowners line, and mostly related to the 2016 and 2017 accident years. The reported reserve development is net of the amortization of the deferred gain on the ADC of $2.9 million, of which almost the entire amount favorably impacted the commercial lines. This provided $2.9 million of benefit toward the adverse development for the three months ended June 30, 2019, leaving $481,000 of benefit to be recognized from the ADC in future periods.
The Company's incurred losses during the three months ended June 30, 2018, included unfavorable prior-year reserve development of $1.5 million. The Commercial lines experienced $568,000 of unfavorable reserve development, while personal lines was unfavorable by $918,000. The adverse development cover reinsurance agreement (the "ADC") provided $583,000 of benefit toward the adverse development, however another $980,000 of benefit to be received from the ADC was required to be deferred and recognized in future periods. Included in the unfavorable development was $121,000 attributable to additional 2017 losses from Hurricane Harvey for the three months ended June 30, 2018.

33

Expense Ratio 
Our expense ratio is a measure of the efficiency and performance of the commercial and personal lines of business (our risk-bearing underwriting operations). It is calculated by dividing the sum of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by the sum of net earned premiums and other income of the underwriting business. Costs that cannot be readily identifiable as a direct cost of a segment or product line remain in Corporate for segment reporting purposes. The expense ratio excludes wholesale agency and Corporate expenses. In prior periods the wholesale agency operations and Corporate expenses were included in expense ratio calculation. We have changed the calculation to remove wholesale agency operations and Corporate expenses to provide a better measure of the underwriting operations’ efficiency. The 2018 ratios have been recast to reflect the new presentation. Refer to Note 13 ~ Segment Information for further details.  
The table below provides the expense ratio by major component. 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Commercial Lines
 
 
 
Policy acquisition costs
28.7
%
 
27.7
%
Operating expenses
16.9
%
 
17.9
%
Total
45.6
%
 
45.6
%
 
 
 
 
Personal Lines
 
 
 
Policy acquisition costs
27.8
%
 
40.5
%
Operating expenses
22.3
%
 
8.3
%
Total
50.1
%
 
48.8
%
 
 
 
 
Total Underwriting
 
 
 
Policy acquisition costs
28.7
%
 
29.4
%
Operating expenses
17.2
%
 
16.6
%
Total
45.9
%
 
46.0
%
Our expense ratio decreased 0.1 percentage points in the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018. The current period expense ratio was negatively impacted by the reinstatement and minimum premium costs related to our reinsurance, which increased our expense ratio by 0.6 percentage points. We have made progress in reducing overhead costs as part of our cost cutting initiatives however, the reduction in net earned premiums has offset some of the benefit.
Policy acquisition costs are costs we incur to issue policies, which include commissions, premium taxes, underwriting reports and underwriter compensation costs. The Company offsets direct commissions with ceded commissions from reinsurers. For the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the percentage of policy acquisition costs to net earned premiums and other underwriting income was slightly lower at 28.7% compared to 29.4%, respectively.
Operating expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, information technology and occupancy costs, such as rent and utilities. Operating expenses as a percent of net earned premiums and other income was 17.2% and 16.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The commercial lines ratio showed a 1.0 percentage point improvement while the personal lines expense ratio increased significantly in 2019 due to the steep decrease in net earned premiums from our planned reduction in wind-exposed business. We believe this should stabilize as we more fully transition out of these lines.


34

Underwriting Results 
We measure the performance of our consolidated results, in part, based on our underwriting gain or loss. The following table provides the underwriting gain or loss for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
Underwriting Gain (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
Commercial Lines
$
(1,563
)
 
$
(968
)
 
$
(595
)
Personal Lines
(1,214
)
 
(1,134
)
 
(80
)
Total Underwriting
(2,777
)
 
(2,102
)
 
(675
)
Wholesale Agency
466

 
542

 
(76
)
Corporate
(72
)
 
106

 
(178
)
Eliminations
(619
)
 
—

 
(619
)
Total underwriting income (loss)
$
(3,002
)
 
$
(1,454
)
 
$
(1,548
)



35
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Results of Operations For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018
 The following table summarizes our operating results for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
Summary of Operating Results
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Gross written premiums
$
49,385

 
$
50,299

 
$
(914
)

(1.8
)%
Net written premiums
$
41,756

 
$
42,439

 
$
(683
)
 
(1.6
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
$
43,036

 
$
47,739

 
$
(4,703
)
 
(9.9
)%
Other income
1,003

 
807

 
196

 
24.3
 %
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net
28,838

 
28,396

 
442

 
1.6
 %
Policy acquisition costs
11,799

 
12,985

 
(1,186
)
 
(9.1
)%
Operating expenses
8,663

 
8,489

 
174

 
2.0
 %
Underwriting gain (loss)
(5,261
)
 
(1,324
)
 
(3,937
)
 
*
Net investment income
1,961

 
1,639

 
322

 
19.6
 %
Net realized investment gains (losses)
734

 
173

 
561

 
*
Change in fair value of equity securities
350

 
(268
)
 
618

 
*
Interest expense
1,435

 
1,236

 
199

 
16.1
 %
Income (loss) before equity earnings in affiliate and income taxes
(3,651
)
 
(1,016
)
 
(2,635
)
 
*
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of tax
98

 
144

 
(46
)
 
*
Income tax expense (benefit)
11

 
28

 
(17
)
 
*
Net income (loss)
$
(3,564
)
 
$
(900
)
 
$
(2,664
)
 
*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book value per common share outstanding
$4.89
 
$5.89
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Underwriting Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (1)
66.8
%
 
59.2
%
 
 

 
 

Expense ratio (2)
43.7
%
 
44.4
%
 
 

 
 

Combined ratio (3)
110.5
%
 
103.6
%
 
 

 
 

(1)
The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income from underwriting operations.
(2)
The expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition costs and underwriting expenses to net earned premiums and other income from underwriting operations.
(3)
The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% indicates an underwriting loss.
*Percentage change is not meaningful

36
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Premiums 
Earned premiums are earned ratably over the term of the policy, whereas written premiums are reflected on the effective date of the policy. Almost all commercial lines and homeowners products have annual policies, under which premiums are earned evenly over one year. The resulting net earned premiums are impacted by the gross and ceded written premiums, earned ratably over the terms of the policies. 
Our premiums are presented below for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands): 
Summary of Premium Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Gross written premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines
$
46,043

 
$
46,796

 
$
(753
)
 
(1.6
)%
Personal lines
3,342

 
3,503

 
(161
)
 
(4.6
)%
Total
$
49,385

 
$
50,299

 
$
(914
)
 
(1.8
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net written premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Commercial lines
$
39,484

 
$
41,706

 
$
(2,222
)
 
(5.3
)%
Personal lines
2,272

 
733

 
1,539

 
210.0
 %
Total
$
41,756

 
$
42,439

 
$
(683
)
 
(1.6
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earned premiums
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Commercial lines
$
40,852

 
$
41,000

 
$
(148
)
 
(0.4
)%
Personal lines
2,184

 
6,739

 
(4,555
)
 
(67.6
)%
Total
$
43,036

 
$
47,739

 
$
(4,703
)
 
(9.9
)%
 
Gross written premiums decreased $914,000, or 1.8%, to $49.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $50.3 million for the same period in 2018.
 Commercial lines gross written premiums decreased $753,000, or 1.6%, to $46.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $46.8 million for the same period in 2018. The decreased gross written premiums were due to the strategic reduction of premiums in areas that were generating higher loss results. Additional premiums grew in areas that were historically more profitable which partially offset the decrease. We expect to see commercial lines premiums grow over the next few quarters as we penetrate existing lines further and add new programs.
 Personal lines gross written premiums decreased $161,000, or 4.6%, to $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease was the result of the planned reductions in wind-exposed homeowners business, partially offset by growth in the low-value dwelling lines. We expect to see additional moderate growth in the low-value dwelling lines in the next few quarters as we expand our penetration in existing distribution channels.
 Net written premiums decreased $683,000, or 1.6%, to $41.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $42.4 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease was consistent with the decrease in gross written premium for the comparative periods. Ceded written and earned premiums were impacted by a combination of $343,000 of reinstatement catastrophe reinsurance premiums, mostly from Hurricane Irma, and $137,000 of minimum premiums on the catastrophe reinsurance treaties as well as $70,000 from reinstatement premiums on our specific loss property treaties. As of June 1, 2019, the Company entered into new catastrophe reinsurance treaties that will reduce the average cost of the catastrophe reinsurance on the property lines from 12.2% to 4.2% of gross earned premium. This is expected to reduce the overall weighted average rate of reinsurance premiums to gross earned premiums by approximately 2.5 percentage points going forward.
Other Income 
Other income consists primarily of fees charged to policyholders by the Company for services outside of the premium charge, such as installment billings and policy issuance costs. Commission income is also received by the Company’s insurance agencies for writing policies for third party insurance companies. Other income for the six months ended June 30, 2019, increased $196,000, or 24.3%, to $1.0 million as compared to $807,000 for the same period in 2018. The increase in

37
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




other income was primarily due to additional commission income in the Agency operations as well as increased fees charged on existing business. As the Agency operations grow, we expect Other Income to grow.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses 
The tables below detail our losses and loss adjustment expenses and loss ratios in our underwriting business for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands). 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
Commercial
Lines
 
Personal
Lines
 
Total
Accident year net losses and LAE
$
22,721

 
$
1,744

 
$
24,465

Net (favorable) adverse development
2,374

 
1,999

 
4,373

Calendar year net losses and LAE
$
25,095

 
$
3,743

 
$
28,838

 
 
 
 
 
 
Accident year loss ratio
55.5
%
 
77.2
%
 
56.7
%
Net (favorable) adverse development
5.8
%
 
88.5
%
 
10.1
%
Calendar year loss ratio
61.3
%
 
165.7
%
 
66.8
%
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Commercial
Lines
 
Personal
Lines
 
Total
Accident year net losses and LAE
$
22,875

 
$
4,051

 
$
26,926

Net (favorable) adverse development
(340
)
 
1,810

 
1,470

Calendar year net losses and LAE
$
22,535

 
$
5,861

 
$
28,396

 
 
 
 
 
 
Accident year loss ratio
55.7
 %
 
59.0
%
 
56.1
%
Net (favorable) adverse development
(0.8
)%
 
26.3
%
 
3.1
%
Calendar year loss ratio
54.9
 %
 
85.3
%
 
59.2
%

Net losses and LAE increased by 442,000, or 1.6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018. The calendar year loss ratios were 66.8% and 59.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company's incurred losses during the six months ended June 30, 2019, included adverse prior-year reserve development of $4.4 million. The Commercial lines experienced $2.4 million of unfavorable reserve development mostly attributable to liability lines in the 2017 accident years. Personal lines was unfavorable by $2.0 million, of which $1.4 million was attributable to the Florida homeowners line, and mostly related to the 2016 and 2017 accident years. The reported reserve development is net of the amortization of the deferred gain on the ADC of $5.2 million, of which almost the entire amount favorably impacted the commercial lines. This provided $5.2 million of benefit toward the adverse development for the six months ended June 30, 2019, leaving $481,000 of benefit to be recognized from the ADC in future periods.
Net losses and LAE decrease by $4.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to the same period in 2017. Overall reserve development on prior accident years for the six months ended June 30, 2018, was $1.5 million or 3.0 percentage points on the loss ratio. The commercial lines experienced $341,000 of favorable reserve development, while personal lines was unfavorable by $1.8 million. The ADC provided $862,000 of benefit toward the adverse development however another $2.4 million of benefit to be received from the ADC was required to be deferred and recognized in future periods. Included in the unfavorable development was $388,000 related to losses generated from Hurricane Harvey.


38
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Expense Ratio 
Our expense ratio is a measure of the efficiency and performance of the commercial and personal lines of business (our risk-bearing underwriting operations). It is calculated by dividing the sum of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by the sum of net earned premiums and other income of the underwriting business. Costs that cannot be readily identifiable as a direct cost of a segment or product line remain in Corporate for segment reporting purposes. The expense ratio excludes wholesale agency and Corporate expenses. In prior periods the wholesale agency operations and Corporate expenses were included in expense ratio calculation. We have changed the calculation to remove wholesale agency operations and Corporate expenses to provide a better measure of the underwriting operations’ efficiency. The 2018 ratios have been recast to reflect the new presentation. Refer to Note 13 ~ Segment Information for further details.  
The table below provides the expense ratio by major component. 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019
 
2019
 
2018
Commercial Lines
 
 
 
Policy acquisition costs
27.4
%
 
28.3
%
Operating expenses
15.6
%
 
17.0
%
Total
43.0
%
 
45.3
%
 
 
 
 
Personal Lines
 
 
 
Policy acquisition costs
33.4
%
 
33.4
%
Operating expenses
24.0
%
 
5.5
%
Total
57.4
%
 
38.9
%
 
 
 
 
Total Underwriting
 
 
 
Policy acquisition costs
27.7
%
 
29.1
%
Operating expenses
16.0
%
 
15.3
%
Total
43.7
%
 
44.4
%
Our expense ratio decreased by 0.7 percentage points in the six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018. The current period expense ratio was negatively impacted by the reinstatement and minimum premium costs related to our reinsurance. This made the expense ratio 0.5 percentage points higher than it otherwise would have been. We have made progress in reducing overhead costs as part of our cost cutting initiatives however, the reduction in net earned premiums has offset some of the benefit.
Policy acquisition costs are costs we incur to issue policies, which include commissions, premium taxes, underwriting reports and underwriter compensation costs. The Company offsets direct commissions with ceded commissions from reinsurers. For the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the percentage of policy acquisition costs to net earned premiums and other underwriting income was slightly lower at 27.7% compared to 29.1%, respectively.
Operating expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, information technology and occupancy costs, such as rent and utilities. Operating expenses as a percent of net earned premiums and other income was 16.0% and 15.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The commercial lines ratio showed a 1.4 percentage point improvement while the personal lines expense ratio increased significantly in 2019 due to the steep decrease in net earned premiums from our planned reduction in wind-exposed business. We believe this should stabilize as we more fully transition out of these lines.


39
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




Underwriting Results 
We measure the performance of our consolidated results, in part, based on our underwriting gain or loss. The following table provides the underwriting gain or loss for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
Underwriting Gain (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
Commercial Lines
$
(1,765
)
 
$
(66
)
 
$
(1,699
)
Personal Lines
(2,780
)
 
(1,665
)
 
(1,115
)
Total Underwriting
(4,545
)
 
(1,731
)
 
(2,814
)
Wholesale Agency
380

 
392

 
(12
)
Corporate
(477
)
 
15

 
(492
)
Eliminations
(619
)
 
—

 
(619
)
Total underwriting income (loss)
$
(5,261
)
 
$
(1,324
)
 
$
(3,937
)

Liquidity and Capital Resources 
Sources and Uses of Funds 
At June 30, 2019, we had $25.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Our principal sources of funds, excluding capital raises, are insurance premiums, investment income, proceeds from maturities and sales of invested assets and installment fees. These funds are primarily used to pay claims, commissions, employee compensation, taxes and other operating expenses, and service debt. 
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and investment securities balances will be adequate to meet our capital and liquidity needs and the needs of our subsidiaries on a short-term and long-term basis. 
We conduct our business operations primarily through our Insurance Company Subsidiaries. Our ability to service debt, and pay administrative expenses is primarily reliant upon our intercompany service fees paid by the Insurance Company Subsidiaries to the Parent Company for management, administrative, and information technology services provided to the Insurance Company Subsidiaries by the Parent Company. Secondarily, the Parent Company may receive dividends from the Insurance Company Subsidiaries; however, this is not the primary means in which the Parent Company supports its funding as state insurance laws restrict the ability of our Insurance Company Subsidiaries to declare dividends to the Parent Company. Generally, the limitations are based on the greater of statutory net income for the preceding year or 10% of statutory surplus at the end of the preceding year. There were no dividends paid from our Insurance Company Subsidiaries during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. 
Cash Flows 
Operating Activities. Cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019, was $0.2 million as compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2018. The $6.9 million decrease in cash used in operations was mostly due to a $11.3 million reduction in paid claims, partially offset by a $3.1 million reduction in premiums collected.
Investing Activities. Cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019, was $4.5 million as compared to $12.3 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease in cash provided by investing activities was related to the Company withdrawing less from its portfolio for six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. The Company withdrew more from its portfolio in 2018 due the significant reduction in gross written premium in the Company's personal lines in during the first half of 2018.
Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $5.4 million, compared to $0.0 million for the same period in 2018. The Company drew down $1.0 million from its line of credit during the first quarter of 2019, and raised $5.0 million through the issuance of additional common stock on June 28, 2019. These amounts were partially offset by $608,000 of the company's stock repurchases.

40

Outstanding Debt 
In September and October 2018, we issued $25.3 million of public senior unsecured notes (the “Notes”). The Notes mature on September 30, 2023, and bear interest, payable quarterly, at the annual rate of 6.75%. We used a portion of the proceeds from the Notes to pay down $19.5 million of the $30.0 million subordinated notes originally entered into on September 29, 2017 (“Subordinated Notes”).
Effective September 24, 2018, the Subordinated Notes agreement was amended. Under the new terms, the Subordinated Notes carry a principle value of $10.5 million, mature on September 30, 2038, and bear an annual interest rate of 7.5% until September 30, 2023, and 12.5% thereafter.  Interest is payable quarterly. Beginning September 30, 2021, the Company may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, or any quarter thereafter, for a call premium of $1.1 million.  The call premium escalates quarterly to $1.75 million on September 30, 2023, then steps up to $3.05 million on December 31, 2023, and increases quarterly at a 12.5% per annum rate thereafter.  The debt covenants were consistent with the existing Subordinated Note terms.  A $105,000 loan origination fee was paid on the effective date.
The carrying value of the Notes and Subordinated Notes are offset by $2.1 million of debt issuance costs that will be amortized through interest expense over the life of the loans. Refer to Note 7 ~ Debt of the Notes to the consolidated financial statements, for additional information regarding our outstanding debt.
On June 21, 2018, the Company entered into a $10.0 million line of credit. On June 21, 2019, the Company renewed the $10.0 million line of credit with a maturity date of June 19, 2020. The agreement bears interest at the London Interbank rate ("LIBOR") plus 2.75% per annum, payable monthly. The agreement includes several covenants, including but not limited to a minimum tangible net worth, a minimum fixed-charge coverage ratio, and minimum statutory risk-based capital levels. As of June 30, 2019, the Company has $995,000 outstanding on the line of credit, and was in compliance with all of its financial covenants.

41

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
Statutory Capital and Surplus
  
Statutory capital and surplus is a non-GAAP measure. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries’ aggregate statutory capital and surplus was $59.3 million and $64.0 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
 
Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Income Per Share
  
Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share are non-GAAP measures that represent net income allocable to common shareholders excluding net realized investment and other gains, net of tax. Beginning in 2018, the change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax, and the deferred gain on losses ceded to the ADC are also excluded from net income to arrive at adjusted operating income. The most directly comparable financial GAAP measures to adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share are net income and net income per share, respectively. Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share are intended as supplemental information and are not meant to replace net income or net income per share. Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share should be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial results. Our definition of adjusted operating income may be different from that used by other companies. The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted operating income (loss) (dollars in thousands), as well as net income (loss) per share to adjusted operating income (loss) per share:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss)
$
(2,884
)
 
$
(1,113
)
 
$
(3,564
)
 
$
(900
)
Exclude:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) and other gains, net of tax
715

 
12

 
734

 
173

Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax
(915
)
 
29

 
350

 
(268
)
Net decrease (increase) in deferred gain on losses ceded to ADC, net of tax
2,913

 
(981
)
 
5,196

 
(2,412
)
Adjusted operating income (loss)
$
(5,597
)
 
$
(173
)
 
$
(9,844
)
 
$
1,607

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares diluted
8,370,782

 
8,520,328

 
8,411,835

 
8,520,328

Diluted income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(0.34
)
 
$
(0.13
)
 
$
(0.42
)
 
$
(0.11
)
Exclude:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) and other gains, net of tax
0.09

 
—

 
0.09

 
0.02

Tax effect of investment unrealized gains and losses
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax
(0.11
)
 
—

 
0.04

 
(0.03
)
Net decrease (increase) in deferred gain on losses ceded to ADC, net of tax
0.35

 
(0.11
)
 
0.62

 
(0.28
)
Adjusted operating income (loss) per share
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(1.17
)
 
$
0.18

 
We use adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share to assess our performance and to evaluate the results of our overall business. We believe these measures provide investors with valuable information relating to our ongoing performance that may be obscured by the net effect of realized gains and losses as a result of our market risk sensitive instruments, which primarily relate to debt securities that are available for sale and not held for trading purposes. The change in fair value of equity securities and realized gains and losses may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by external economic developments, such as capital market conditions. Adjusted operating income also excludes the deferment of ceded losses related to the ADC (“deferred gain”) that are directly related to gross losses reported in the current period. Deferring these ceded losses (while required under GAAP) does not reflect the economics of the reinsurance agreement which allows gross losses subject to the ADC to be offset by ceded losses in that period. Accordingly, adjusted operating income excludes the effect of items that tend to be highly variable from period to period and highlights the results from our ongoing business operations and the underlying loss or profitability of our business. We believe that it is useful for investors to evaluate adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share, along with net income and net income per share, when reviewing and evaluating our performance.

42


Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 Refer to Note 1 ~ Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Recently Issued Accounting Guidance of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for detailed information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.

43

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, as well as, other relevant market rates or price changes. The volatility and liquidity in the markets in which the underlying assets are traded directly influence market risk. The following is a discussion of our primary market risk exposures and how those exposures are currently managed as of June 30, 2019. Our market risk sensitive instruments are primarily related to our debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk
At June 30, 2019, the fair value of our investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, was $140.6 million. Our investment portfolio consists principally of investment-grade, debt securities, all of which are classified as available for sale. Accordingly, the primary market risk exposure to our debt securities is interest rate risk. In general, the fair market value of a portfolio of debt securities increases or decreases inversely with changes in market interest rates, while net investment income realized from future investments in debt securities increases or decreases along with interest rates. We attempt to mitigate interest rate risks by investing in securities with varied maturity dates and by managing the duration of our investment portfolio to a defined range of three to four years. The effective duration of our portfolio as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was 3.5 and 3.1 years, respectively.
The table below illustrates the sensitivity of the fair value of our debt investments, classified as debt securities and short-term investments, to selected hypothetical changes in interest rates as of June 30, 2019. The selected scenarios are not predictions of future events, but rather illustrate the effect that events may have on the fair value of the debt portfolio and shareholders’ equity (dollars in thousands). 
 
 
 
Estimated
 
Hypothetical Percentage
Increase (Decrease) in
Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates
Estimated
 
Change in
 
 
 
Shareholders'
As of June 30, 2019
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Equity
200 basis point increase
$
120,364

 
$
(8,368
)
 
(6.5
)%
 
(18.0
)%
100 basis point increase
124,613

 
(4,119
)
 
(3.2
)%
 
(8.9
)%
No change
128,732

 
—

 
—
 %
 
—
 %
100 basis point decrease
132,336

 
3,604

 
2.8
 %
 
7.7
 %
200 basis point decrease
135,297

 
6,565

 
5.1
 %
 
14.1
 %
 
Credit Risk
 An additional exposure to our debt securities portfolio is credit risk. We manage our credit risk by investing only in investment-grade securities. In addition, we comply with applicable statutory requirements which limit the portion of our total investment portfolio that we can invest in any one security.
 We are subject to credit risks with respect to our reinsurers. Although a reinsurer is liable for losses to the extent of the coverage which it assumes, our reinsurance contracts do not discharge our insurance companies from primary liability to each policyholder for the full amount of the applicable policy, and consequently our insurance companies remain obligated to pay claims in accordance with the terms of the policies regardless of whether a reinsurer fulfills or defaults on its obligations under the related reinsurance agreement. To mitigate our credit risk to reinsurance companies, we attempt to select financially strong reinsurers with an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or better and continue to evaluate their financial condition throughout the duration of our agreements.
At June 30, 2019, the net amount due to the Company from reinsurers, including prepaid reinsurance premiums, was $33.5 million. We believe all amounts recorded as due from reinsurers are recoverable. 
Effects of Inflation
We do not believe that inflation has a material effect on our results of operations, except for the effect that inflation may have on interest rates and claims costs. We consider the effects of inflation in pricing and estimating reserves for unpaid losses and LAE. The actual effects of inflation on our results are not known until claims are ultimately settled. In addition to general price inflation, we are exposed to a long-term upward trend in the cost of judicial awards for damages.
 

44

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to ensure that required information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required timeframe as specified in the SEC’s rules and forms of the SEC. Our disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures at June 30, 2019. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at the reasonable assurance level, as of June 30, 2019. 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
For the three months ended June 30, 2019, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

45

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
The information required by this item is included under Note 12 ~ Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
 
There were no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Item 1A Risk
Factors”) filed with the SEC on March 13, 2019.

46
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
On June 13, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a private placement stock purchase offering wherein the Company was authorized to sell a maximum of $10.0 million of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act and in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b5-1 and 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. The participants in the private placement consisted mainly of members of the Company's Board of Directors.
Under this private placement offering, the Company issued $5.0 million of common equity consisting of 1,176,471 shares at a price of $4.25 per share on June 28, 2019. The Company's common stock closing market price on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 28, 2019, was $3.99 per share. The offering was made to accredited investors only. No commissions or other remuneration were paid in connection with the issuance. The actual timing, number and value of shares to be issued under the private placement offering was determined by management in its discretion and depended on a number of factors, including the market price of the Company’s stock, general marketing conditions, and other factors. The Company used the proceeds for growth capital in the Company's specialty core commercial business segments.
On December 5, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program, under which the Company may repurchase up to one million shares of the Company's common stock. Shares may be purchased in the open market or through negotiated transactions. The program may be terminated or suspended at any time, at the discretion of the Company. The Company may in the future enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan to effect a portion of the authorized purchases, if criteria set forth in the plan are met. Such a plan would enable the Company to repurchase its shares during periods outside of its normal trading windows, when the Company typically would not be active in the market. The timing of purchases, and the exact number of any shares to be purchased, will depend on market conditions. The repurchase program does not include specific price targets or timetables. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company had repurchased 142,815 shares of stock valued at approximately $608,000. Upon the repurchase of the Company's shares, the shares remain authorized, but not issued or outstanding.
On September 27, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a private placement stock purchase offering wherein the Company was authorized to sell a maximum of $7.0 million of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act and in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b5-1 and 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. The participants in the private placement consisted mainly of members of the Company’s management team and Board of Directors, including the Company’s Chairman and CEO, James Petcoff.
Under this private placement offering, the Company issued $5.0 million of common equity consisting of 800,000 shares at the price of $6.25 per share on September 28, 2017. The Company’s common stock closing market price on the Nasdaq Stock Market on September 28, 2017, was $6.05 per share. The offering was made to accredited investors only. No commissions or other remuneration were paid in connection with the issuance. The actual timing, number and value of shares to be issued under the private placement offering was determined by management in its discretion and depended on a number of factors, including the market price of the Company’s stock, general marketing conditions, and other factors. The Company used the proceeds from the issuance to strengthen its balance sheet through contributions to the Insurance Company Subsidiaries to support future growth, as well as to cover the cost of the ADC and reserve strengthening.
On February 25, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program, under which the Company may repurchase up to $2.1 million of its outstanding common stock. Under this program, management was authorized to repurchase shares at prevailing market prices through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block purchases or otherwise in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b5-1 and 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the program was determined by management in its discretion and depended on a number of factors, including the market price of the Company’s stock, general market conditions, and other factors. Repurchased shares remain authorized but not issued or outstanding, and are available to be reissued in the future.
No underwriters were involved in the foregoing sales of securities. The issuances of the securities described above were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering.


47

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
 
 
 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
 
Form
 
Period
Ending
 
Exhibit /
Appendix
Number
 
Filing Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.1*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.2*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

48

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CONIFER HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Harold J. Meloche
 
 
Harold J. Meloche
 
 
Chief Financial Officer,
 
 
Principal Financial Officer,
 
 
Principal Accounting Officer
 
Dated: August 7, 2019



49