Recent Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Note 3: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13)

In June of 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” ASU 2016-13 requires financing receivables and other financial assets measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by recording an allowance for credit losses with changes in the allowance recorded as credit loss expense or a reversal of credit loss expense based on management’s current estimate of expected credit losses each period. ASU 2016-13 does not apply to credit losses on financial guarantee insurance contracts within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 944, “Financial Services-Insurance.” ASU 2016-13 also makes targeted amendments to the current impairment model for AFS debt securities, which include requiring the recognition of an allowance rather than a direct write-down of the investment’s cost basis. An allowance on an AFS investment may be reversed in the event that the credit quality of the issuer improves. The new guidance also replaces the model for purchased credit impaired debt securities and requires the establishment of an allowance for credit losses at acquisition of such securities by grossing up the purchase price when recording the initial amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2019. ASU 2016-13 is applied on a modified retrospective basis except that prospective application is applied to AFS debt securities with other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) recognized before the date of adoption.

The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 in its entirety as of January 1, 2020. For financial assets held by the Company and measured at amortized cost, which primarily include HTM debt securities, premiums receivable, accrued investment income and reinsurance recoverables, the Company’s aggregate cumulative-effect adjustment, net of tax, related to allowances for credit losses as of the date of adoption was a $42 million reduction in retained earnings. In addition, the Company updated its models and implemented or modified processes and controls necessary for the proper identification, measurement and recording of expected credit losses on financial assets within the scope of ASU 2016-13.  

Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13)

In August of 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 was effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted to remove or modify disclosures upon issuance of the standard and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until the effective date. Since the amendments of ASU 2018-13 only impact disclosure requirements, the adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted the amendments of ASU 2018-13 in its entirety as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 only impacted the fair value disclosures within the Company’s consolidated financial statements and did not impact amounts reported on the Company’s balance sheet, statement of operations, statement of comprehensive income or statement of cash flows.

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12)

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” as of January 1, 2019. As a result of adopting ASU 2019-12, the Company revised its previously reported amounts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019. For the three months ended June 30, 2019, the Company previously reported an income tax benefit and a net loss of $37 million and $170 million, respectively, which were revised to zero and a net loss of $207 million, respectively. In addition, for the three months ended June 30, 2019, the Company previously reported a net loss per basic and diluted common share of $2.02 which was revised to a $2.45 net loss per basic and diluted common share. For the six months ended June 30, 2019 the Company previously reported an income tax benefit and a net loss of $39 million and $187 million, respectively, which were revised to an income tax provision and a net loss of $2 million and $228 million, respectively. In addition, for the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company previously reported a net loss per basic and diluted common share of $2.20 which was revised to a $2.68 net loss per basic and diluted common share. There was no impact to the Company’s consolidated shareholders’ equity.

The Company has not adopted any other new accounting pronouncements that had a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Developments

Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (ASU 2020-04)

In March of 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and another rate that is expected to be discontinued. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2020-04.