Interim financial statements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Interim financial statements

Interim financial statements. The financial information contained in this report for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and as of September 30, 2022, is unaudited. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2022 (2021 Form 10-K).

A. Management’s responsibility. The accompanying interim financial statements were prepared by management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the United States (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including management’s best judgments and estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of this information for all interim periods, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, have been made. The Company’s results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year and actual results could differ.

B. Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company owns more than 50% voting rights in electing directors. All significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated and provisions have been made for noncontrolling interests. Unconsolidated investees, in which the Company typically owns from 20% to 50% of the voting stock, are accounted for using the equity method.

C. Restrictions on cash and investments. The Company maintains investments in accordance with certain statutory requirements for the funding of statutory premium reserves. Statutory reserve funds are required to be fully funded and invested in high-quality securities and short-term investments. Statutory reserve funds are not available for current claim payments, which must be funded from current operating cash flow. Included in investments in debt and equity securities are statutory reserve funds of approximately $541.0 million and $523.5 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. In addition, included within cash and cash equivalents are statutory reserve funds of approximately $10.5 million and $41.4 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Although these cash statutory reserve funds are not restricted or segregated in depository accounts, they are required to be held pursuant to state statutes. If the Company fails to maintain minimum investments or cash and cash equivalents sufficient to meet statutory requirements, the Company may be subject to fines or other penalties, including potential revocation of its business license. These funds are not available for any other purpose. In the event that insurance regulators adjust the determination of the statutory premium reserves of the Company’s title insurers, these restricted funds as well as statutory surplus would correspondingly increase or decrease.

D. Recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act. On August 16, 2022, the U.S. government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the Act) that includes, among other provisions, changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system, including a 15% minimum tax based on book income of certain large corporations for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022 and a 1% excise tax on net repurchases of stock starting in 2023. Management is still in the process of evaluating the Act and its requirements, however it does not believe that the Act will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.