Fair value measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurements

Fair value measurements. The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal, or most advantageous, market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This guidance establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs when possible. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

• Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

• Level 2 – observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; and

• Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair values of the assets or liabilities, including certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

At December 31, 2017, financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Fair value measurements
	($000 omitted)
Investments available-for-sale:
Debt securities:
Municipal	—	72,669	—	72,669
Corporate	—	357,933	—	357,933
Foreign	—	228,237	—	228,237
U.S. Treasury Bonds	—	12,602	—	12,602
Equity securities:	37,914	—	—	37,914
	37,914	671,441	—	709,355

At December 31, 2016, financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Fair value measurements
	($000 omitted)
Investments available-for-sale:
Debt securities:
Municipal	—	72,432	—	72,432
Corporate	—	343,047	—	343,047
Foreign	—	167,027	—	167,027
U.S. Treasury Bonds	—	12,613	—	12,613
Equity securities:	36,384	—	—	36,384
	36,384	595,119	—	631,503

At December 31, 2017, Level 1 financial instruments consist of equity securities. Level 2 financial instruments consist of municipal, governmental, and corporate bonds, both U.S. and foreign. In accordance with the Company’s policies and guidelines which incorporate relevant statutory requirements, the Company’s third-party registered investment manager invests only in securities rated as investment grade or higher by the major rating services, where observable valuation inputs are significant. The fair value of the Company's investments in available-for-sale securities are primarily determined using a third-party pricing service provider. The third-party pricing service provider calculates the fair values using both market approach and model valuation methods, as well as pricing information obtained from brokers, dealers and custodians. Management ensures the reasonableness of the third-party service valuations by comparing them with pricing information from the Company's investment manager.

There were no transfers of investments between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three years ended December 31, 2017.