Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

(6)           Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  We hold available-for-sale fixed maturity securities and equity securities, which are carried at fair value.

Fair value measurements are generally based upon observable and unobservable inputs.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information.  We utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  All assets and liabilities carried at fair value are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories.

· Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

· Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or whose significant value drivers are observable.

· Level 3 - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as U.S. Treasury securities and actively traded mutual fund and stock investments.

Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services or broker quotes.  These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various inputs, such as interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange rates for the underlying financial instruments.  All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.  Financial instruments in this category primarily include corporate fixed maturity securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities and certain mortgage and asset-backed securities.

Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker prices utilizing significant inputs not based on or corroborated by readily available market information.  This category consists of two private placement mortgage-backed securities.

The following tables set forth our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated.

	March 31, 2012
Available-for-sale investments	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	$	13,439		97,611		-		111,050
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states		-		165,885		-		165,885
Corporate		-		212,517		-		212,517
Mortgage-backed		-		7,946		441		8,387
Foreign governments		-		138		-		138
Total fixed maturities		13,439		484,097		441		497,977
Equity securities:
Stock mutual funds		13,246		-		-		13,246
Bond mutual funds		31,711		-		-		31,711
Common stock		21		-		-		21
Preferred stock		1,745		-		-		1,745
Total equity securities		46,723		-		-		46,723
Total financial assets	$	60,162		484,097		441		544,700
Financial liabilities:
Warrants outstanding	$	-		415		-		415

	December 31, 2011
Available-for-sale investments	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	$	13,958		146,817		-		160,775
States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states		-		159,942		-		159,942
Corporate		-		184,545		-		184,545
Mortgage-backed		-		8,390		459		8,849
Foreign governments		-		142		-		142
Total fixed maturities		13,958		499,836		459		514,253
Equity securities:
Stock mutual funds		12,725		-		-		12,725
Bond mutual funds		31,414		-		-		31,414
Common stock		24		-		-		24
Preferred stock		1,974		-		-		1,974
Total equity securities		46,137		-		-		46,137
Total financial assets	$	60,095		499,836		459		560,390
Financial liabilities:
Warrants outstanding	$	-		451		-		451

Financial Instruments Valuation

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale.  At March 31, 2012, our fixed maturity securities, valued using a third-party pricing source, totaled $484.1 million for Level 2 assets and comprised 88.9% of total reported fair value of our financial assets.  The Level 1 and Level 2 valuations are reviewed and updated quarterly through random testing by comparisons to separate pricing models, other third-party pricing services, and back tested to recent trades.  In addition, we obtain information relative to the third-party pricing models and review model parameters for reasonableness.  Fair values for Level 3 assets are based upon unadjusted broker quotes that are non-binding, and consist of two private placement mortgage-backed securities with a total value of $0.4 million.  Our Level 3 assets are current relative to principal and interest payments and are considered immaterial to our financial statements.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, there were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values, and no broker or third party prices were changed from the values received.

Equity securities, available-for-sale.  Our available-for-sale equity securities are classified as Level 1 assets as their fair values are based upon quoted market prices.

Warrants outstanding.  Our outstanding warrants are classified as Level 2 liabilities as their fair values are based upon industry standard models that consider various observable inputs.

The following table presents additional information about fixed maturity securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis that are classified as Level 3 assets and for which we have utilized significant unobservable  inputs to determine fair value.

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	459			519
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)
Included in net income		-			-
Included in other comprehensive income		(2	)		6
Principal paydowns		(16	)		(66	)
Transfer in and (out) of Level 3		-			-
Balance at end of period	$	441			459

We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period.  Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets.  Such reclassifications are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value

Estimates of fair values are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market prices and information about the financial instruments.  The estimated fair values of financial instruments presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might realize in actual market transactions.

The carrying amount and fair value for the financial assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets not otherwise disclosed for the periods indicated are as follows:

	March 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	$	239,040		242,383		227,500		230,093
Mortgage loans		1,546		1,488		1,557		1,428
Policy loans		40,170		40,170		39,090		39,090
Short-term investments		2,030		2,030		2,048		2,048
Cash and cash equivalents		61,096		61,096		33,255		33,255
Financial liabilities:
Annuities		48,119		48,211		47,060		43,402

Fair values for fixed income securities, which are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy, are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities.  In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other assumptions, including a discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.

Mortgage loans are secured principally by residential and commercial properties.  Weighted average interest rates for these loans were approximately 6.6% per year as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, with maturities ranging from one to thirty years.  Management estimated the fair value using an annual interest rate of 6.25% at March 31, 2012.  Our mortgage loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Policy loans had a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.7% as of both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and no specified maturity dates.  The aggregate fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value reflected on the consolidated balance sheets.  These loans typically carry an interest rate that is tied to the crediting rate applied to the related policy and contract reserves.  Policy loans are an integral part of the life insurance policies we have in force, cannot be valued separately and are not marketable.  Therefore, the fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value and policy loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of short-term investments approximate carrying value due to their short-term nature.  Our short-term investments are considered Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximate carrying value and are characterized as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Company's liabilities under annuity contract policies, which are considered Level 3 assets, was estimated at March 31, 2012 using discounted cash flows with an interest rate based upon swap rates adjusted for various risk adjustments.  The fair value of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the overall management of interest rate risk, which seeks to minimize exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.