Basis of Presentation (Policy)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We file a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred federal income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year end. Deferred taxes are recognized using the liability method, whereby tax rates are applied to cumulative temporary differences based on when and how they are expected to affect the tax return. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for tax rate changes in effect for the year in which these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements

Our preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities and our disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements, as well as our reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Refer to “Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments” under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for information on accounting policies that we consider critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value estimates are made at a point in time based on relevant market data as well as the best information available about the financial instruments. Fair value estimates for financial instruments for which no or limited observable market data is available are based on judgments regarding current economic conditions, credit and interest rate risk. These estimates involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. As a result, such calculated fair value estimates may not be realizable in a current sale or immediate settlement of the instrument. In addition, changes in the underlying assumptions used in the fair value measurement technique, including discount rate and estimates of future cash flows, could significantly affect these fair value estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:  The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for these instruments approximate their fair values.

Restricted Cash:  The carrying amount for restricted cash reported in the balance sheet approximates the fair value.

Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2029:  Our senior unsecured notes payable due in 2029 had a carry value of $49.0 million and a fair value of $49.1 million as of September 30, 2019.  The fair value is based on discounted cash flows using a discount rate derived from LIBOR spot rates plus a market spread resulting in discount rates ranging between 6.2% to 6.8% for each future payment date.  Our senior unsecured notes payable would be included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy if they were reported at fair value

Subordinated Debt Securities:  Our trust preferred securities have a carried value of $55.8 million and a fair value of $39.7 million as of September 30, 2019. The fair value of our trust preferred securities is based on discounted cash flows using a current yield to maturity of 8.0%, which is based on similar issues to discount future cash flows. Our trust preferred securities would be included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy if they were reported at fair value.

For reinsurance balances, premiums receivable, federal income tax recoverable/payable, other assets and other liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of such financial instruments.

Variable Interest Entities

Variable Interest Entities

On June 21, 2005, we formed Hallmark Statutory Trust I (“Trust I”), an unconsolidated trust subsidiary, for the sole purpose of issuing $30.0 million in trust preferred securities. Trust I used the proceeds from the sale of these securities and our initial capital contribution to purchase $30.9 million of subordinated debt securities from Hallmark. The debt securities are the sole assets of Trust I, and the payments under the debt securities are the sole revenues of Trust I.

On August 23, 2007, we formed Hallmark Statutory Trust II (“Trust II”), an unconsolidated trust subsidiary, for the sole purpose of issuing $25.0 million in trust preferred securities. Trust II used the proceeds from the sale of these securities and our initial capital contribution to purchase $25.8 million of subordinated debt securities from Hallmark. The debt securities are the sole assets of Trust II, and the payments under the debt securities are the sole revenues of Trust II.

We evaluate on an ongoing basis our investments in Trust I and Trust II (collectively the “Trusts”) and have determined that we do not have a variable interest in the Trusts. Therefore, the Trusts are not included in our consolidated financial statements.

We are also involved in the normal course of business with variable interest entities (“VIE’s”) primarily as a passive investor in mortgage-backed securities and certain collateralized corporate bank loans issued by third party VIE’s. The maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is the investment carrying values included in the consolidated balance sheets.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance that allows a reclassification of the stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Current guidance requires the effect of a change in tax laws or rates on deferred tax balances to be reported in income from continuing operations in the accounting period that includes the period of enactment, even if the related income tax effects were originally charged or credited directly to AOCI. The amount of the reclassification would include the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate on the gross deferred tax amounts and related valuation allowances, if any, at the date of the enactment of TCJA related to items in AOCI. The updated guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and is to be applied retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the TCJA related to items remaining in AOCI are recognized or at the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the updated guidance effective January 1, 2018 and elected to reclassify the income tax effects of the TCJA from AOCI to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. This reclassification resulted in a decrease in retained earnings of $2.6 million as of January 1, 2018 and an increase in AOCI by the same amount.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑08, “Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Securities” (Subtopic 310‑20). ASU 2017‑08 is intended to enhance the accounting for amortization of premiums for purchased callable debt securities. The guidance amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Securities that contain explicit, noncontingent call features that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates should shorten the amortization period for the premium to the earliest call date (and if the call option is not exercised, the effective yield is reset using the payment terms of the debt security). The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings. The adoption of ASU 2017‑08 had no impact on our financial results and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑01, “Clarifying the Definition of a Business (Topic 715)”. ASU 2017‑01 is intended to assist entities in evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017‑01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (Subtopic 825‑10). ASU 2016‑01 requires equity investments that are not consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. ASU 2016‑01 also requires us to assess the ability to realize our deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) related to an available-for-sale debt security in combination with our other DTAs. ASU 2016‑01 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance resulted in the recognition of $17.0 million of net after-tax unrealized gains on equity investments as a cumulative effect adjustment that increased retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 and decreased AOCI by the same amount. The Company elected to report changes in the fair value of equity investments in investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. ASU 2016-02 requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. Additionally, ASU 2016-02 modifies current guidance for lessors' accounting. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. During 2018, the FASB issued several amendments and targeted improvements to ease the application of the standard, including the addition of a transition approach that gives the Company the option of applying the standard at either the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented or the beginning of the period of adoption. We adopted the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2019. We also elected certain practical expedients that allow us not to reassess existing leases under the new guidance. As of September 30, 2019, $16.6 million of right-of-use assets and $17.5 million of lease liabilities for operating leases were included in the other assets and other liabilities line items of the balance sheet, respectively, as a result of the adoption of this update.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” (Topic 230). ASU 2016‑15 will reduce diversity in practice on how eight specific cash receipts and payments are classified on the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our financial results or disclosures.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” The purpose of ASU 2016‑18 is to eliminate the diversity in classifying and presenting changes in restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance requires restricted cash to be combined with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending balances of cash on the statement of cash flows, thereby no longer requiring transactions such as transfers between restricted and unrestricted cash to be treated as a cash flow activity. Further, the new guidance requires the nature of the restrictions to be disclosed, as well as a reconciliation between the balance sheet and the statement of cash flows on how restricted and unrestricted cash are segregated. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. Effective January 1, 2018, we retrospectively adopted this new guidance which did not have a material impact on our financial results or disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014‑09, guidance which revises the criteria for revenue recognition. Under the guidance, the transaction price is attributed to underlying performance obligations in the contract and revenue is recognized as the entity satisfies the performance obligations and transfers control of a good or service to the customer. Incremental costs of obtaining a contract may be capitalized to the extent the entity expects to recover those costs. The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and is to be applied retrospectively. Revenue from insurance contracts is excluded from the scope of this new guidance. While insurance contracts are excluded from this guidance, policy fee income, billing and other fees and fee income related to property business written as a cover-holder through a Lloyds Syndicate is subject to this updated guidance. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our financial results or disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

On August 28, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework- Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (Topic 820), which amends ASC 820 to add, remove, and modify fair value measurement disclosure requirements.  The requirements to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements have all been removed. However, the changes in unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period must be disclosed along with the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements (or other quantitative information if it is more reasonable). Finally, for investments measured at net asset value, the requirements have been modified so that the timing of liquidation and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse are only disclosed if the investee has communicated the timing to the entity or announced the timing publicly. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. As the amendments are only disclosure related, our financial statements will not be materially impacted by this update.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (Topic 350). ASU 2017‑04 requires only a one-step quantitative impairment test, whereby a goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (not to exceed the total goodwill allocated to that reporting unit). It eliminates Step 2 of the current two-step goodwill impairment test, under which a goodwill impairment loss is measured by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill. The ASU is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2017‑04 will have on our financial results and disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (Topic 326). ASU 2016‑13 requires organizations to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including receivables and available-for-sale debt securities, by introducing an approach based on expected losses. The expected loss approach will require entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. As a smaller reporting company, ASU 2016‑13 is effective for fiscal years of the Company beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years.    ASU 2016‑13 requires a modified retrospective transition method and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial results and disclosures, but do not anticipate that any potential impact would be material.