Interim financial statements (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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 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 from those estimates.

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 20% through 50% of the equity, are accounted for by the equity method.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the 2013 interim financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes. Net earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart, as previously reported, were not affected.

Restrictions on cash and investments

The Company maintains investments in accordance with certain statutory requirements for the funding of statutory premium reserves. Such reserves for statutory reserve funds were approximately $438.7 million and $450.6 million at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. In addition to those investments, cash and cash equivalents – statutory reserve funds were approximately $16.4 million and $15.1 million at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents – statutory reserve funds are not restricted or segregated in depository accounts. If the Company fails to maintain minimum investments or cash and cash equivalents 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.

Recent Significant Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard will eliminate the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.