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Note 1. Basis of Presentation
AMERISAFE, Inc. (the “Company”) is an insurance holding company incorporated in the state of Texas. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMERISAFE and its subsidiaries: American Interstate Insurance Company (“AIIC”) and its insurance subsidiaries, Silver Oak Casualty, Inc. (“SOCI”) and American Interstate Insurance Company of Texas (“AIICTX”), Amerisafe Risk Services, Inc. (“RISK”) and Amerisafe General Agency, Inc. (“AGAI”). AIIC and SOCI are property and casualty insurance companies organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska. AIICTX is a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of the state of Texas. RISK, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a claims and safety service company currently servicing only affiliated insurance companies. AGAI, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a general agent for the Company. AGAI sells insurance, which is underwritten by AIIC, SOCI and AIICTX, as well as by nonaffiliated insurance carriers. The assets and operations of AGAI are not significant to that of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The terms “AMERISAFE,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to AMERISAFE, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context requires.
The Company provides workers’ compensation insurance for small to mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, principally construction, trucking, logging and lumber, manufacturing, and agriculture. Assets and revenues of AIIC and its subsidiaries represent at least 95% of comparable consolidated amounts of the Company for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
In the opinion of management of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position, the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and therefore do not include all information and footnotes to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the year. The unaudited consolidated financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of our assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures. Some of the estimates result from judgments that can be subjective and complex and, consequently, actual results in future periods might differ from these estimates.
Adopted Accounting Guidance
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new guidance requires a lessee to recognize a lease liability and a right of use asset for all leases extending beyond twelve months. This standard was effective for us beginning in the first quarter of 2019. We elected the new transition method under the transition guidance within the new standard. Therefore, prior comparative periods are not adjusted. We also elected the package of practical expedients, which among other things, allows us to carryforward the historical lease classification. We made an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for short-term operating leases. Adoption of the new guidance resulted in the Company recognizing right-of-use assets of $0.4 million and lease liabilities of $0.3 million. The cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was minimal. Adoption of this new guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company does not have any significant leases.
Prospective Accounting Guidance
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses. The current guidance delays the recognition of credit losses until a probable loss has occurred. The new guidance requires credit losses for securities measured at amortized cost to be determined using current expected credit loss estimates. These estimates are to be derived from historical, current and reasonable supporting forecasts, including prepayments and estimates, and will be recorded through a valuation account. The same method will be used for available-for-sale securities, but the valuation account will be limited to the amount by which the fair value is below amortized cost. The standard is effective for us in the first quarter of 2020. Implementation of the new guidance requires a modified retrospective approach without restatement, which means the first cumulative adjustment required will be a charge to retained earnings, with subsequent changes in the valuation account reported in the income statement. The financial statement impact will be determined by the nature of the portfolio held and the economic conditions at the time of implementation.
In establishing a current expected credit allowance for held-to-maturity fixed income securities under the new accounting standard, the Company will use a probability of default and loss given default methodology based on the securities credit rating and maturity date of the specific security. The amount is currently estimated to be in the range of $250,000 to $400,000. This estimated amount will change depending on the amount of held-to-maturity fixed income securities, the credit ratings and maturity dates of those securities, at the time of implementation of the new current expected credit loss accounting standard.
In establishing a current expected credit allowance for reinsurance recoverables under the new accounting standard, the Company will use a probability of default and loss given default methodology based on the credit ratings of our reinsurers. The amount is currently estimated to be in the range of $400,000 to $600,000. This estimated amount will change depending on the amount of reinsurance recoverables and the ratings of our reinsurers at the time of implementation of the new current expected credit loss accounting standard.
The Company’s internal working group has evaluated the remainder of the balance sheet assets, including available-for-sale securities and net premiums receivable, and determined the implementation of the new credit loss guidance in relation to those assets will have an immaterial impact on the financial statements.
The estimated impacts could change based upon economic changes, events or conditions. The Company will continue to monitor and evaluate the financial impact as the implementation date approaches.
All other issued but not yet effective accounting and reporting standards as of September 30, 2019 are either not applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a material impact on the Company.
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