Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

A. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial reporting and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. As such, these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, and all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position at September 30, 2020 and the results of operations of RLI Corp. (the Company) and subsidiaries for all periods presented have been made. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for a full year. Certain reclassifications were made to 2019 to conform to the classifications used in the current year.

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. These estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

Adopted Accounting Standards

B. ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

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

ASU 2016-13 was issued to provide more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments. Previous guidance delayed the recognition of credit losses until it was probable a loss had been incurred. This update requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by means of an allowance for credit losses that is included in net earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities are also required to be recorded through a reversible allowance for credit losses, but is limited to the amount by which fair value is less than amortized cost.

We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 using the modified-retrospective approach. The standard applied to three of the Company’s balance sheet accounts: available-for-sale fixed income securities, premiums receivable and reinsurance balances recoverable. The impact of this standard was and is expected to continue to be immaterial, as our fixed income portfolio is weighted towards higher rated bonds (83 percent rated A or better at September 30, 2020 and 85 percent at December 31, 2019), we purchase reinsurance from financially strong reinsurers, we have a long history of collecting premium receivables through various economic cycles and we had previously maintained an allowance for uncollectible premium and reinsurance balances. In total, the cumulative-effect adjustment made to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the year resulted in a $1.1 million increase to retained earnings and an increase to accumulated other comprehensive earnings of less than $0.1 million.

Reinsurance

C. REINSURANCE

Ceded unearned premiums and reinsurance balances recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and settlement expenses are reported separately as assets, instead of being netted with the related liabilities, since reinsurance does not relieve the Company of our legal liability to our policyholders. Such balances are subject to the credit risk associated with the individual reinsurer. We continuously monitor the financial condition of our reinsurers and actively follow up on any past due or disputed amounts. As part of our monitoring efforts, we review their annual financial statements, quarterly disclosures and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings for those reinsurers that are publicly traded. We also review insurance industry developments that may impact the financial condition of our reinsurers. We analyze the credit risk associated with our reinsurance balances recoverable by monitoring the AM Best and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) ratings of our reinsurers. Additionally, we perform an in-depth reinsurer financial condition analysis prior to the renewal of our reinsurance placements.

Once regulatory action (such as receivership, finding of insolvency, order of conservation or order of liquidation) is taken against a reinsurer, the paid and unpaid balances recoverable from the reinsurer are specifically identified and charged to earnings in the form of an allowance for uncollectible amounts. We subject our remaining reinsurance balances receivable to detailed recoverability tests, including a segment-based analysis using the average default rating percentage by S&P rating, and record an additional allowance for unrecoverable amounts from reinsurers. This credit allowance is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the amount makes a reasonable provision for reinsurance balances that we may be unable to recover.

The allowances for uncollectible amounts on paid and unpaid reinsurance recoverables were $15.9 million and $8.1 million, respectively, at September 30, 2020. At December 31, 2019, the amounts were $15.7 million and $9.4 million, respectively. Adoption of ASU 2016-13 resulted in a $1.3 million decrease to the allowance for uncollectible amounts on reinsurance recoverables in 2020, while other changes in the allowances were due to changes in the amount of reinsurance balances outstanding, the composition of reinsurers from whom the balances were recoverable and their associated S&P default ratings. No write-offs or recoveries were applied to the allowances in the first nine months of 2020.

Intangible Assets

D. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The composition of goodwill and intangible assets at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is detailed in the following table:

	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2020		2019
Goodwill
Surety	$	40,816	$	40,816
Casualty		5,246		5,246
Total goodwill	$	46,062	$	46,062
Intangibles
Indefinite-lived intangibles - state insurance licenses		7,500		7,500
Definite-lived intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $3,776 at 9/30/20 and $3,470 at 12/31/19		259		565
Total intangibles	$	7,759	$	8,065
Total goodwill and intangibles	$	53,821	$	54,127

All definite-lived intangible assets are amortized based on their estimated useful lives. Amortization of intangible assets was $0.1 million for the third quarter of 2020 and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the same as for the comparable periods in 2019.

Annual impairment assessments were performed on our goodwill and state insurance license indefinite-lived intangible asset during the second quarter of 2020. Based upon these reviews, none of the assets were impaired. In addition, there were no triggering events as of September 30, 2020 that would suggest an updated impairment test would be needed for our goodwill and intangible assets.

Earnings Per Share

E. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock or common stock equivalents were exercised or converted into common stock. When inclusion of common stock equivalents increases the earnings per share or reduces the loss per share, the effect on earnings is anti-dilutive. Under these circumstances, the diluted net earnings or net loss per share is computed excluding the common stock equivalents. The following represents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted EPS computations contained in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements:

	For the Three Months						For the Three Months
	Ended September 30, 2020						Ended September 30, 2019
	Income		Shares		Per Share		Income		Shares		Per Share
(in thousands, except per share data)	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount		(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
Basic EPS
Earnings available to common shareholders	$	42,387		45,014	$	0.94	$	32,324		44,823	$	0.72
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Stock options and restricted stock units		—		412				—		526
Diluted EPS
Earnings available to common shareholders	$	42,387		45,426	$	0.93	$	32,324		45,349	$	0.71
Anti-dilutive options excluded from diluted EPS				339						—
	For the Nine Months						For the Nine Months
	Ended September 30, 2020						Ended September 30, 2019
	Income		Shares		Per Share		Income		Shares		Per Share
(in thousands, except per share data)	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount		(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
Basic EPS
Earnings available to common shareholders	$	73,286		44,962	$	1.63	$	138,264		44,689	$	3.09
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Stock options and restricted stock units		—		377				—		503
Diluted EPS
Earnings available to common shareholders	$	73,286		45,339	$	1.62	$	138,264		45,192	$	3.06
Anti-dilutive options excluded from diluted EPS				339						277

Comprehensive Earnings

F. COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS

Our comprehensive earnings include net earnings plus after-tax unrealized gains and losses on our fixed income portfolio. In reporting other comprehensive earnings on a net basis, we used the federal statutory tax rate of 21 percent. Other comprehensive earnings, as shown in the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings, is net of tax expense of $2.5 million and $4.1 million for the third quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, other comprehensive earnings is net of tax expense of $13.3 million and $19.3 million, respectively.

Unrealized gains, net of tax, on the fixed income portfolio were $50.1 million for the first nine months of 2020, compared to $72.5 million during the same period last year. The unrealized gains were attributable to declining interest rates in both periods, which increased the fair value of securities held in the fixed income portfolio.

The following table illustrates the changes in the balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings for each period presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements:

(in thousands)	For the Three Months						For the Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
Unrealized Gains/Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities	2020			2019			2020			2019
Beginning balance	$	93,035		$	42,593		$	52,473		$	(14,572	)
Cumulative-effect adjustment of ASU 2016-13 (see note 1.B.)		—			—			22			—
Adjusted beginning balance	$	93,035		$	42,593		$	52,495		$	(14,572	)
Other comprehensive earnings before reclassifications		10,412			16,231			52,264			74,414
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings		(862	)		(890	)		(2,174	)		(1,908	)
Net current-period other comprehensive earnings	$	9,550		$	15,341		$	50,090		$	72,506
Ending balance	$	102,585		$	57,934		$	102,585		$	57,934
Balance of securities for which an allowance for credit losses has been recognized in net earnings							$	795		$	—

Credit losses on or the sale of an available-for-sale security results in amounts being reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings to current period net earnings. The effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive earnings by the respective line items of net earnings are presented in the following table:

	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other
(in thousands)	Comprehensive Earnings
	For the Three Months						For the Nine Months
Component of Accumulated	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,						Affected line item in the
Other Comprehensive Earnings	2020			2019			2020			2019			Statement of Earnings
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities	$	738		$	1,126		$	3,356		$	2,415		Net realized gains
		353			—			(604	)		—		Credit losses presented within net realized gains
	$	1,091		$	1,126		$	2,752		$	2,415		Earnings before income taxes
		(229	)		(236	)		(578	)		(507	)	Income tax expense
	$	862		$	890		$	2,174		$	1,908		Net earnings

Fair Value Measurements

G. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price in the principal market that would be received for an asset to facilitate an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. We determined the fair value of certain financial instruments based on their underlying characteristics and relevant transactions in the marketplace. We maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The following are the levels of the fair value hierarchy and a brief description of the type of valuation inputs that are used to establish each level. Financial assets are classified based upon the lowest level of significant input that is used to determine fair value.

Pricing Level 1 is applied to valuations based on readily available, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

Pricing Level 2 is applied to valuations based upon quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in inactive markets, or valuations based on 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.

Pricing Level 3 is applied to valuations that are derived from techniques in which one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable.

As a part of management’s process to determine fair value, we utilize widely recognized, third-party pricing sources to determine our fair values. We have obtained an understanding of the third-party pricing sources’ valuation methodologies and inputs. The following is a description of the valuation techniques used for financial assets that are measured at fair value, including the general classification of such assets pursuant to the fair value hierarchy.

Corporate, Agencies, Government and Municipal Bonds: The pricing vendor employs a multi-dimensional model which uses standard inputs including (listed in approximate order of priority for use) benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, market bids/offers and other reference data. The pricing vendor also monitors market indicators, as well as industry and economic events. All bonds valued using these techniques are classified as Level 2. All corporate, agency, government and municipal securities are deemed Level 2.

Mortgage-backed Securities (MBS)/Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities (CMBS) and Asset-backed Securities (ABS): The pricing vendor evaluation methodology includes principally interest rate movements and new issue data. Evaluation of the tranches (non-volatile, volatile or credit sensitivity) is based on the pricing vendors’ interpretation of accepted modeling and pricing conventions. This information is used to determine the cash flows for each tranche, benchmark yields, pre-payment assumptions and to incorporate collateral performance. To evaluate MBS and CMBS volatility, an option adjusted spread model is used in combination with models that simulate interest rate paths to determine market price information. This process allows the pricing vendor to obtain evaluations of a broad universe of securities in a way that reflects changes in yield curve, index rates, implied volatility, mortgage rates and recent trade activity. MBS/CMBS and ABS with corroborated, observable inputs are classified as Level 2. All of our MBS/CMBS and ABS are deemed Level 2.

Regulation D Private Placement Securities: All Regulation D privately placed bonds are classified as corporate securities and deemed Level 3. The pricing vendor evaluation methodology for these securities includes a combination of observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs include public corporate spread matrices classified by sector, rating and average life, as well as investment and non-investment grade matrices created from fixed income indices. Unobservable inputs include a liquidity spread premium calculated based on public corporate spread and private corporate spread matrices. The

quantitative detail of the liquidity spread premium is neither provided nor reasonably available to the Company. An increase to the credit spread assumptions would result in a lower fair value measurement.

For all of our fixed income securities classified as Level 2, as described above, we periodically conduct a review to assess the reasonableness of the fair values provided by our pricing services. Our review consists of a two-pronged approach. First, we compare prices provided by our pricing services to those provided by an additional source. In some cases, we obtain prices from securities brokers and compare them to the prices provided by our pricing services. If discrepancies are found in our comparisons, we compare our prices to actual reported trade data for like securities. No changes to the fair values supplied by our pricing services have occurred as a result of our reviews. Based on these assessments, we have determined that the fair values of our Level 2 securities provided by our pricing services are reasonable.

Common Stock: As of September 30, 2020, all of our common stock holdings were traded on an exchange. Exchange traded equities have readily observable price levels and are classified as Level 1 (fair value based on quoted market prices).

Due to the relatively short-term nature of cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable, their carrying amounts are reasonable estimates of fair value. Our investments in private funds, classified as other invested assets, are measured using the investments’ net asset value per share and are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy.

Risk And Uncertainties

H. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Certain risks and uncertainties are inherent to our day-to-day operations. Adverse changes in the economy could lower demand for our insurance products or negatively impact our investment results, both of which could have an adverse effect on the revenue and profitability of our operations. The COVID-19 pandemic may continue to result in significant disruptions in economic activity and financial markets. The cumulative effects of any public health outbreak could reduce demand for our insurance policies, result in increased level of losses, settlement expenses or other operating costs, reduce the market value of invested assets held by the Company or negatively impact the fair value of our goodwill.

Catastrophe Exposures

Our catastrophe reinsurance treaty renewed on January 1, 2020. We purchased limits of $400 million in excess of $25 million first-dollar retention for earthquakes in California, $425 million in excess of $25 million first-dollar retention for earthquakes outside of California and $275 million in excess of $25 million first-dollar retention for all other perils. These amounts are subject to certain co-participations by the Company on losses in excess of the $25 million retentions. On March 1, 2020, we purchased $100 million of additional catastrophe reinsurance protection on top of the previously described coverage. This increases the limits to $500 million for earthquakes in California, $525 million for earthquakes outside of California and $375 for all other perils, all of which are still subject to $25 million first-dollar retentions and certain co-participations in excess of the retentions.