Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesThe significant accounting policies employed by Old Republic International Corporation and its subsidiaries are set forth in the following summary.Accounting Principles - The Company's insurance subsidiaries are managed pursuant to the laws and regulations of the various states in which they operate. As a result, the subsidiaries operate their business in the context of such laws and regulation, and maintain their accounts in conformity with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by various states' insurance regulatory authorities. Federal income taxes and dividends to shareholders are based on financial statements and reports complying with such practices. The statutory accounting requirements vary from the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") in the following major respects: (1) the costs of selling insurance policies are charged to operations immediately, while the related premiums are recognized as income over the terms of the policies. Ceding commissions received in excess of such acquisition costs are amortized over the effective period of the premiums ceded under the related reinsurance agreement; (2) investments in fixed maturity securities designated as available for sale are generally carried at amortized cost rather than their estimated fair value; (3) changes in the fair value of equity securities are recorded directly in earned surplus and not through the income statement as required under GAAP unless such securities are determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired for statutory reporting purposes; (4) certain assets classified as "non-admitted assets" are excluded from the balance sheet through a direct charge to earned surplus; (5) changes in deferred income tax assets or liabilities are recorded directly in earned surplus and not through the income statement; (6) mortgage guaranty contingency reserves intended to provide for future catastrophic losses are established as a liability through a charge to earned surplus whereas, GAAP does not allow provisions for future catastrophic losses; (7) title insurance premium reserves, which are intended to cover losses that will be reported at a future date are based on statutory formulas, and changes therein are charged in the income statement against each year's premiums written; (8) certain required formula-derived reserves for general insurance in particular are established for claim reserves in excess of amounts considered adequate by the Company as well as for credits taken relative to reinsurance placed with other insurance companies not licensed in the respective states, all of which are charged directly against earned surplus; and (9) surplus notes are classified as surplus rather than a liability. In consolidating the statutory financial statements of its insurance subsidiaries, the Company has therefore made necessary adjustments to conform their accounts with GAAP. The following table reflects a summary of all such adjustments:
__________ (a) The insurance laws of the respective states in which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are incorporated prescribe minimum capital and surplus requirements for the lines of business they are licensed to write. For domestic property and casualty and life and accident insurance companies the National Association of Insurance Commissioners also prescribes risk-based capital ("RBC") requirements. The RBC is a measure of statutory capital in relationship to a formula-driven definition of risk relative to a company’s balance sheet and mix of business. The combined RBC ratio of our primary General Insurance subsidiaries was 656% and 625% of the company action level RBC at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The minimum capital requirements for the Company’s Title Insurance subsidiaries are established by statute in the respective states of domicile. The minimum regulatory capital requirements are not significant in relationship to the recorded statutory capital of the Company’s Title and Life & Accident insurance subsidiaries. At December 31, 2021 and 2020 each of the Company’s General, Title, RFIG Run-off and Life and Accident insurance subsidiaries exceeded the minimum statutory capital and surplus requirements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with either statutory practices or GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the 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. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. Consolidation Practices - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those of all of its majority owned insurance underwriting and service subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.Statement Presentation - Amounts shown in the consolidated financial statements and applicable notes are stated (except as otherwise indicated and as to share data) in millions, which amounts may not add to totals shown due to truncation. Reclassifications are made in prior periods' financial statements whenever appropriate to conform to the most current presentation.Investments - The Company classifies its fixed maturity securities as those it either (1) has the intent and ability to hold until maturity, (2) has available for sale or (3) has the intention of trading. As of June 30, 2020 the Company changed its intent to hold its tax exempt municipal bond portfolio until maturity and consequently, reclassified these securities from their previous held to maturity designation to available for sale. As a result, cumulative net of tax unrealized gains of $48.5 were recognized in other comprehensive income as of that date. The Company's entire fixed maturity portfolio is now classified as available for sale. Fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale are included at fair value with changes in such values, net of deferred income taxes, reflected directly in shareholders' equity. Equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in such values reflected as unrealized investment gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of income. Fair values are based on quoted market prices or estimates using values obtained from recognized independent pricing services. Credit losses are recorded through an allowance with the corresponding charge to realized investment gains (losses). If the Company intends to sell or is more likely than not required to sell a security, the asset is written down to fair value directly through realized investment gains (losses). The status and fair value changes of each of the fixed maturity investments are reviewed at least once per quarter during the year to assess whether a decline in fair value of an investment below its cost basis is the result of a credit loss. Factors considered in making this assessment include a security's market price history, as well as the issuer's operating results, financial condition and liquidity, its ability to access capital markets and to make scheduled principal or interest payments, credit rating trends, most current audited financial statements, industry and securities markets conditions and analyst expectations. Sudden fair value declines caused by such adverse developments as newly emerged or imminent bankruptcy filings, issuer default on significant obligations, or reports of financial accounting developments that bring into question the validity of the issuer's previously reported earnings or financial condition are recognized as realized losses as soon as credible publicly available information emerges to confirm such developments. Investment income is reported net of allocated expenses and includes appropriate adjustments for amortization of premium and accretion of discount on fixed maturity securities acquired at other than par value. Dividends on equity securities are credited to income on the ex-dividend date. At December 31, 2021, the Company and its subsidiaries did not have significant amounts of non-income producing fixed maturity or equity securities. Investment gains and losses, which result from sales or write-downs of securities, are reflected as revenues in the income statement and are determined on the basis of amortized value at date of sale for fixed maturity securities, and cost in regard to equity securities; such bases apply to the specific securities sold. Revenue Recognition - Pursuant to GAAP applicable to the insurance industry, revenues are recognized as follows: Substantially all general insurance premiums pertain to annual policies and are reflected in income on a pro-rata basis in association with the related benefits, claims, and expenses. Earned but unbilled premiums are generally taken into income on the billing date, while adjustments for retrospective premiums, commissions and similar charges or credits are accrued on the basis of periodic evaluations of current underwriting experience and contractual obligations. Title premium and fee revenues stemming from the Company's direct operations (which include branch offices of its title insurers and wholly owned agency subsidiaries) represent 22% of 2021, 25% of 2020 and 25% of 2019 consolidated title business revenues. Such premiums are generally recognized as income at the escrow closing date which approximates the policy effective date. Fee income related to escrow and other closing services is recognized when the related services have been performed and completed. The remaining title premium and fee revenues are produced by independent title agents. Rather than making estimates that could be subject to significant variance from actual premium and fee production, the Company recognizes revenues from those sources upon receipt. Such receipts can reflect a three to four month lag relative to the effective date of the underlying title policy, and are offset concurrently by production expenses and claim reserve provisions. The Company's mortgage guaranty premiums primarily stem from monthly installments paid on long-duration, guaranteed renewable insurance policies. Such premiums are written and earned in the month coverage is effective. With respect to relatively few annual or single premium policies, earned premiums are largely recognized on a pro-rata basis over the terms of the policies. The Company recognized total contract revenue from customers of $210.2, $192.2 and $184.3 during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Of these amounts, approximately $127.0, $114.1 and $115.9 were generated from claims handling and related ancillary services (i.e. risk control services) provided to customers within the Company’s General Insurance segment. Claims handling revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract period (generally one year) which is commensurate with the entity’s efforts relative to claims adjudication. The related ancillary services revenues are recognized as services are provided and invoiced to the customer. Additionally, revenues from contracts with customers generated from the Company’s Title Insurance segment, consisting primarily of software licensing arrangements and electronic recording services totaled $75.6, $72.0 and $62.2 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Such revenues are generally recognized at a point in time upon completion and invoicing of the services, or in the case of software maintenance agreements, on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract (generally one year). Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs - Various insurance subsidiaries of the Company defer direct costs related to the successful production of business. Deferred costs consist principally of commissions, premium taxes and policy issuance expenses. With respect to most coverages, deferred acquisition costs are amortized on the same basis as the related premiums are earned or, alternatively, over the periods during which premiums will be paid. To the extent that future revenues on existing policies are not adequate to cover related costs and expenses, deferred policy acquisition costs are charged to earnings. The Company considers investment income when evaluating the recoverability of deferred acquisition costs. Losses, Claims and Settlement Expenses - The establishment of claim reserves by the Company's insurance subsidiaries is a reasonably complex and dynamic process influenced by a large variety of factors. These factors principally include past experience applicable to the anticipated costs of various types of claims, continually evolving and changing legal theories emanating from the judicial system, recurring accounting, statistical, and actuarial studies, the professional experience and expertise of the Company's claim departments' personnel or attorneys and independent claim adjusters, ongoing changes in claim frequency or severity patterns such as those caused by natural disasters, illnesses, accidents, work‑related injuries, and changes in general and industry-specific economic conditions. Consequently, the reserves established are a reflection of the opinions of a large number of persons, of the application and interpretation of historical precedent and trends, of expectations as to future developments, and of management's judgment in interpreting all such factors. At any point in time, the Company is exposed to the possibility of higher or lower than anticipated claim costs due to all of these factors, and to the evolution, interpretation, and expansion of tort law, as well as the effects of unexpected jury verdicts. All reserves are therefore based on estimates which are periodically reviewed and evaluated in the light of emerging claim experience and changing circumstances. The resulting changes in estimates are recorded in operations of the periods during which they are made. Return and additional premiums and policyholders' dividends, all of which tend to be affected by development of claims in future years, may offset, in whole or in part, favorable or unfavorable claim developments for certain coverages such as workers' compensation, portions of which are written under loss sensitive programs that provide for such adjustments. Management believes that its overall reserving practices have been consistently applied over many years, and that its aggregate net reserves have generally resulted in reasonable approximations of the ultimate net costs of claims incurred. However, no representation is made nor is any guaranty given that ultimate net claim and related costs will not develop in future years to be significantly greater or lower than currently established reserve estimates. General Insurance reserves are established to provide for the ultimate expected cost of settling unpaid losses and claims reported at each balance sheet date. Such reserves are based on continually evolving assessments of the facts available to the Company during the settlement process which may stretch over long periods of time. Losses and claims incurred but not reported ("IBNR"), as well as expenses required to settle losses and claims are established on the basis of a large number of formulas that take into account various criteria, including historical cost experience and anticipated costs of servicing reinsured and other risks. As applicable, estimates of possible recoveries from salvage or subrogation opportunities are considered in the establishment of such reserves. Overall claim and claim expense reserves incorporate amounts covering net estimates of unusual claims such as those emanating from asbestosis and environmental ("A&E") exposures. Such reserves can affect claim costs and related claim ratios for such insurance coverages as general liability, commercial automobile (mostly trucking), workers' compensation, and property.Title Insurance and related escrow services loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are established as point estimates to cover the projected settlement costs of known as well as IBNR losses related to premium and escrow service revenues of each reporting period. Reserves for known claims are based on an assessment of the facts available to the Company during the settlement process. The point estimates covering all claim reserves take into account IBNR claims based on past experience and evaluations of such variables as changing trends in the types of policies issued, changes in real estate markets and interest rate environments, and changing levels of loan refinancing, all of which can have a bearing on the emergence, number, and ultimate cost of claims.RFIG Run-off mortgage guaranty insurance reserves for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses are recognized only upon an instance of default, defined as an insured mortgage loan for which two or more consecutive monthly payments have been missed. Loss reserves are based on statistical calculations that take into account the number of reported insured mortgage loan defaults as of each balance sheet date, as well as experience-based estimates of loan defaults that have occurred but have not as yet been reported. Further, the loss reserve estimating process takes into account a large number of variables including trends in claim severity, potential salvage recoveries, expected cure rates for reported loan delinquencies at various stages of default, the level of coverage rescissions and claims denials due to material misrepresentation in key underwriting information or non-compliance with prescribed underwriting guidelines, and management judgments relative to future employment levels, housing market activity, and mortgage loan interest costs, demand, and extensions. The Company has the legal right to rescind mortgage insurance coverage unilaterally as expressly stated in its policy. Moreover, two federal courts that have considered that policy wording have each affirmed that right. According to the policy, if any of those representations are materially false or misleading with respect to a loan, the Company has the right to cancel or rescind coverage for that loan retroactively to commencement of the coverage. In recent years, the incidence of rescissions has been immaterial. In addition to the above reserve elements, the Company establishes reserves for loss settlement costs that are not directly related to individual claims. Such reserves are based on prior years' cost experience and trends, and are intended to cover the unallocated costs of claim departments' administration of known and IBNR claims. Reinsurance - The cost of reinsurance is recognized over the terms of reinsurance contracts. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers for loss and loss adjustment expenses are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured business. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers on a regular basis and allowances are established for estimated credit losses. See Note 9 - Credit Losses for further discussion.Income Taxes - The Company and most of its subsidiaries file a consolidated tax return and provide for income taxes payable currently. Deferred income taxes included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements will not necessarily become payable or recoverable in the future. The Company uses the asset and liability method of calculating deferred income taxes. This method results in the establishment of deferred tax assets and liabilities, calculated at currently enacted tax rates that are applied to the cumulative temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities.Property and Equipment - Property and equipment is generally depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets, (2 to 27 years), substantially by the straight-line method. Depreciation and amortization expenses related to property and equipment were $27.2, $26.9 and $26.8 in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred, and expenditures for major renewals and additions are capitalized.Title Plants and Records - Title plants and records are carried at original cost or appraised value at the date of purchase. Such values represent the cost of producing or acquiring interests in title records and indexes and the appraised value of purchased subsidiaries' title records and indexes at dates of acquisition. The cost of maintaining, updating, and operating title records is charged to income as incurred. Title records and indexes are ordinarily not amortized unless events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the capitalized costs may not be recoverable.Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill resulting from business combinations is not amortizable against operations but must be tested annually for possible impairment of its continued value. Intangible assets with definitive lives are amortized against future operating results; whereas indefinite-lived intangibles are tested annually for impairment. Annual testing did not result in any impairment charges for the periods presented and reporting units with goodwill balances had estimated fair values in excess of their carrying values. The Company's consolidated goodwill balance of $174.5 and $175.1 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, is included as part of sundry assets in the consolidated balance sheets. No significant changes to goodwill balances occurred in either period.Employee Benefit Plans - The Company had an active pension plan (the "Plan") covering a portion of its work force until December 31, 2013. The Plan is a defined benefit plan pursuant to which pension payments are based primarily on years of service and employee compensation near retirement. The Plan was closed to new participants and benefits were frozen as of December 31, 2013. As a result, eligible employees retain all of the vested rights as of the effective date of the freeze. While additional benefits no longer accrue, the Company's cumulative obligation continues to be subject to further adjustment due to changes in actuarial assumptions such as expected mortality and changes in interest rates. The funded status of a pension plan is measured as of December 31 of each year, as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. The underfunded status of the Plan is recognized as a net pension liability; offsetting entries are reflected as a component of shareholders' equity in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred taxes. The Company has a stock based compensation plan in effect for certain key employees. Stock options granted under this plan are valued using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and are generally expensed on a straight line basis over the vesting period. Escrow Funds - Segregated cash deposit accounts and the offsetting liabilities for escrow deposits in connection with Title Insurance segment real estate transactions in the same amounts ($2,662.4 and $1,718.1 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively) are not included as assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the escrow funds are not available for regular operations.
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