3. Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements

Use of Estimates

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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates and assumptions, which include the reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, are subject to considerable estimation error due to the inherent uncertainty in projecting ultimate claim amounts that will be reported and settled over a period of several years. In addition, estimates and assumptions associated with receivables under reinsurance contracts related to contingent ceding commission revenue require considerable judgment by management. On an on-going basis, management reevaluates its assumptions and the methods of calculating its estimates. Actual results may differ significantly from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements consist of Kingstone and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include KICO and its subsidiaries, CMIC Properties, Inc. (“Properties”) and 15 Joys Lane, LLC (“15 Joys Lane”), which together own the land and building from which KICO operates. All significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment, to simplify the guidance for testing the decline in the realizable value (impairment) of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill. Under this update, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible asset is less than its carrying amount.  If such a determination is not reached, then performance of further impairment testing is not necessary. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  However, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2012-02 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

In June 2011 (and as amended in December 2011), the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 provides amendments to ASC No. 220 “Comprehensive Income”, which require an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments in this update are effective retrospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2012.

The Company has determined that all other recently issued accounting pronouncements will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows, or do not apply to its operations.