Fair Values of Financial Instruments |
Note 4. | Fair Values of Financial Instruments |
The estimated fair values have been determined by the Company using available market information from various market sources and appropriate valuation methodologies as of the respective dates. However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and to develop the estimates of fair value. Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts which the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
The following describes the fair value hierarchy and provides information as to the extent to which the Company uses fair value to measure the value of its financial instruments and information about the inputs used to value those financial instruments. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs in the valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.
Level 1 | Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 1 criteria include cash equivalents and exchange traded common stocks. |
Level 2 | Observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, for an asset or liability or prices for similar assets or liabilities. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 2 criteria include significantly most of its fixed maturities, which consist of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Government securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and certain corporate fixed maturities, as well as its non-redeemable preferred stocks. In determining fair value measurements of its fixed maturities and non-redeemable preferred stocks using Level 2 criteria, the Company utilizes data from outside sources, including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers. Prices for the majority of the Company’s Level 2 fixed maturities and non-redeemable preferred stocks were determined using unadjusted prices received from pricing services that utilize models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g. interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities) or can be corroborated by observable market data. |
Level 3 | Valuations that are derived from techniques in which one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable (including assumptions about risk). Fair value is based on criteria that use assumptions or other data that are not readily observable from objective sources. With little or no observable market, the determination of fair values uses considerable judgment and represents the Company’s best estimate of an amount that could be realized in a market exchange for the asset or liability. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 3 criteria consist of two fixed maturity securities and one equity security. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the value of the fixed maturities valued using Level 3 criteria was $250 and $0, respectively. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the value of the equity security valued using Level 3 criteria was $83 and $143, respectively. The equity security is not traded and valued at cost. The use of different criteria or assumptions regarding data may have yielded materially different valuations. |
As of March 31, 2021, financial instruments carried at fair value were measured on a recurring basis as summarized below:
| | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | | Total | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fixed maturities | | $ | — | | | $ | 246,551 | | | $ | 250 | | | $ | 246,801 | | Equity securities | | | 17,817 | | | | — | | | | 83 | | | | 17,900 | | Cash equivalents | | | 9,011 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 9,011 | | Total | | $ | 26,828 | | | $ | 246,551 | | | $ | 333 | | | $ | 273,712 | |
As of December 31, 2020, financial instruments carried at fair value were measured on a recurring basis as summarized below:
| | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | | Total | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fixed maturities | | $ | — | | | $ | 254,106 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 254,106 | | Equity securities | | | 18,573 | | | | — | | | | 143 | | | | 18,716 | | Cash equivalents | | | 12,010 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,010 | | Total | | $ | 30,583 | | | $ | 254,106 | | | $ | 143 | | | $ | 284,832 | |
The following table sets forth the carrying amount, estimated fair value and level within the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
| | | | | March 31, 2021 | | | December 31, 2020 | | | | Level in Fair Value Hierarchy (1) | | | Carrying Amount | | | Estimated Fair Value | | | Carrying Amount | | | Estimated Fair Value | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash and cash equivalents | | Level 1 | | | $ | 20,446 | | | $ | 20,446 | | | $ | 19,319 | | | $ | 19,319 | | Fixed maturities | | | (1)
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| | | 246,801 | | | | 246,801 | | | | 254,106 | | | | 254,106 | | Equity securities | | | (1)
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| | | 17,900 | | | | 17,900 | | | | 18,716 | | | | 18,716 | | Other invested assets | | Level 3 | | | | 3,183 | | | | 3,183 | | | | 3,238 | | | | 3,238 | | Policy loans | | Level 2 | | | | 1,963 | | | | 1,963 | | | | 1,975 | | | | 1,975 | | Investment in unconsolidated trusts | | Level 2 | | | | 1,238 | | | | 1,238 | | | | 1,238 | | | | 1,238 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Junior subordinated debentures, net | | Level 2 | | | | 33,738 | | | | 34,021 | | | | 33,738 | | | | 32,297 | |
(1) | See the aforementioned information for a description of the fair value hierarchy as well as a disclosure of levels for classes of these financial assets. |
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