Note 1 - Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Business Overview and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions, and intercompany profits and losses, have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. While the amounts included in our condensed consolidated financial statements include our best estimates and assumptions, actual results may vary materially.

Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We accounted for the 2016 purchases of a portion of our outstanding convertible debt in exchange for cash and shares of Radian Group common stock as induced conversions of convertible debt in accordance with the accounting standard regarding derecognition of debt with conversion and other options, and the accounting standard regarding debt modifications and extinguishments. The accounting standards require the recognition through earnings of an inducement charge equal to the fair value of the consideration delivered in excess of the consideration issuable under the original conversion terms. The remaining consideration delivered and transaction costs incurred are required to be allocated between the extinguishment of the liability component and the reacquisition of the equity component. As a result, we recognized a loss on induced conversion and debt extinguishment equal to: (i) the inducement charges; (ii) the differences between the fair value and the carrying value of the liability component of the purchased debt; (iii) transaction costs allocated to the debt components; and (iv) unamortized debt issuance costs related to the purchased debt.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

In accordance with GAAP, we established a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level I measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level III measurements). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined below:

Level I —    Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

Level II —    Prices or valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; and

Level III —    Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. Level III inputs are used to measure fair value only to the extent that observable inputs are not available.

The level of market activity used to determine the fair value hierarchy is based on the availability of observable inputs market participants would use to price an asset or a liability, including market value price observations.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an update to the accounting standard regarding revenue recognition. This update is intended to provide a consistent approach in recognizing revenue. In accordance with the new standard, recognition of revenue occurs when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the new standard requires that reporting companies disclose the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This update is not expected to change revenue recognition principles related to investments and our insurance products, which represents a significant portion of total revenues. This update is primarily applicable to revenues from our Services segment. In July 2015, the FASB delayed the effective date for this updated standard for public companies to interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and in March, April and May 2016, issued clarifying updates. We are currently evaluating the impact to our financial statements and future disclosures as a result of these updates, if any.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard for the accounting of internal-use software. The update provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with its treatment of the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The provisions of this update are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The implementation of this update did not have a material impact to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2015, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard for the accounting of short-duration insurance contracts by insurance entities. The amendments in this update require insurance entities to disclose certain information about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The additional information required is focused on improving disclosures regarding insurance liabilities, including the timing, nature and uncertainty of future cash flows related to insurance liabilities and the effect of those cash flows on the statement of comprehensive income. The disclosures required by this update are effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the additional disclosures required in our financial statements as a result of this update.

In January 2016, the FASB issued an update to the standard for the accounting of financial instruments. Among other things, the update requires: (i) equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) the use of an exit price (i.e., the price that would be received to sell the asset) when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (iii) separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset; and (iv) separate presentation in other comprehensive income of the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the organization has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The update also eliminates the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. This update is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is not permitted, with the exception of the “own credit” provision. We are currently evaluating the impact to our financial statements and future disclosures as a result of this update.

In February 2016, the FASB issued an update that replaces the existing accounting and disclosure requirements for leases of property, plant and equipment. The update requires lessees to recognize, as of the lease commencement date, assets and liabilities for all such leases with lease terms of more than 12 months, which is a change from the current GAAP requirement to recognize only capital leases on the balance sheet. Pursuant to the new standard, the liability initially recognized for the lease obligation is equal to the present value of the lease payments not yet made, discounted over the lease term at the implicit interest rate of the lease, if available, or otherwise at the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate. The lessee is also required to recognize an asset for its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, based on the liability subject to certain adjustments, such as for initial direct costs. Leases are required to be classified as either operating or finance, with expense on operating leases recorded as a single lease cost on a straight-line basis. For finance leases, interest expense on the lease liability is required to be recognized separately from the straight-line amortization of the right-of-use asset. Quantitative disclosures are required for certain items, including the cost of leases, the weighted-average remaining lease term, the weighted-average discount rate and a maturity analysis of lease liabilities. Additional qualitative disclosures are also required regarding the nature of the leases, such as basis, terms and conditions of: (i) variable interest payments; (ii) extension and termination options; and (iii) residual value guarantees. This update is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The new standard must be adopted by applying the new guidance as of the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented, using a modified retrospective transition approach with certain optional practical expedients. We are currently evaluating the impact to our financial statements and future disclosures as a result of this update.

In March 2016, the FASB issued an update seeking to reduce complexity in the accounting standards for share-based payment transactions, including: (i) accounting for income taxes; (ii) classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows; (iii) forfeitures; (iv) minimum statutory tax withholding requirements; (v) classification of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax withholding purposes; (vi) the practical expedient for estimating the expected term; and (vii) intrinsic value. Among other things, the update requires: (i) all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement as they occur; (ii) recognition of excess tax benefits, regardless of whether the benefits reduce taxes payable in the current period; and (iii) excess tax benefits to be classified along with other cash flows as an operating activity, rather than separated from other income tax cash flows as a financing activity. For companies with significant share-based compensation, these changes may result in more volatile effective tax rates and net earnings, and result in additional dilution in earnings per share calculations. This update is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any annual or interim period; however, an entity electing early adoption must adopt all amendments in the same period. We are currently evaluating the impact to our financial statements, earnings per share and future disclosures as a result of this update.

In June 2016, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. This update requires that financial assets measured at amortized cost basis be presented at the net (of allowance for credit losses) amount expected to be collected. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities are to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than a write-down of the asset, with the amount of the allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is less than amortized cost. This update is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact to our financial statements and future disclosures as a result of this update.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We are required to establish a valuation allowance against our DTAs when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of our DTAs will not be realized. At each balance sheet date, we assess our need for a valuation allowance. Our assessment is based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. This requires management to exercise judgment and make assumptions regarding whether our DTAs will be realized in future periods.

As required under the accounting standard regarding accounting for income taxes, our deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) and deferred tax liabilities (“DTLs”) are recognized under the balance sheet method, which recognizes the future tax effect of temporary differences between the amounts recorded in our condensed consolidated financial statements and the tax bases of these amounts. DTAs and DTLs are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the DTA or DTL is expected to be realized or settled.

Our provision for income taxes for interim financial periods is based on an estimate of our annual effective tax rate for continuing operations for the full year. When estimating our full year 2016 and 2015 annual effective tax rates, we accounted for the tax effects of gains and losses on our investments, changes as a result of the accounting standard regarding the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes and certain other adjustments, as discrete items at the federal applicable tax rate.