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Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Nature of Business
United Fire Group, Inc. ("UFG," the "Registrant," the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") and its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates are engaged in the business of writing property and casualty insurance through a network of independent agencies. Our insurance company subsidiaries are licensed as property and casualty insurers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Basis of Presentation
The financial information for interim periods presented in these Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC. Certain financial information that is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, including financial statement footnote disclosures, is not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting and has been condensed or omitted.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The financial statement categories that are most dependent on management estimates and assumptions include: investments; deferred policy acquisition costs; reinsurance receivables; loss settlement expenses; and pension benefit obligations.
Management believes the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results reported for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the year. The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed on February 29, 2024.
Segment Information
UFG has one reporting segment, which is consistent with and reflects the manner by which our Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") views and manages the business. The property and casualty insurance business profit or loss is consistent with consolidated reporting as disclosed on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. We analyze the property and casualty insurance business results based on profitability (i.e., loss ratios), expenses and return on equity. The Company's property and casualty insurance business was determined using a management approach to make decisions on operating matters, including allocating resources, assessing performance, determining which products to market and sell, determining distribution networks with insurance agents and monitoring the regulatory environment. The property and casualty insurance business products have similar economic characteristics and use a similar marketing and distribution strategy with our independent agents. We will continue to evaluate our operations on the basis of both statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by our states of domicile and GAAP.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash, money market accounts and non-negotiable certificates of deposit with original maturities of three months or less.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs ("DAC")

Deferred policy acquisition costs include commissions, premium taxes and variable underwriting and policy issue expenses, which are incremental direct costs of successful contract acquisitions. Property and casualty insurance policy acquisition costs deferred are amortized ratably as the related premium revenue is recognized. The following table is a summary of the components of DAC, including the related amortization recognized for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024.
Recorded asset at beginning of period$126,532 
Underwriting costs deferred227,010 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs(204,504)
Recorded asset at September 30, 2024
$149,038 

The method followed in computing DAC limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value. This takes into account the premium to be earned, losses and loss settlement expenses expected to be incurred and certain other costs expected to be incurred as the premium is earned.
Other Intangible Assets
Our other intangible assets, which consist of agency relationships, trade names, and state insurance licenses are being amortized using the straight-line method over periods ranging from two years to 15 years, with the exception of state insurance licenses, which are indefinite-lived and not amortized.
Contingent Liability
In July 2024, the Company identified rating errors related to umbrella and general liability products that resulted in an overcharge to certain policyholders. The Company recorded an estimated liability of $3.2 million to cover our anticipated exposure for this matter based on information available to management at this time. This amount is recorded as "Other income (loss)" in the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Corrective actions have been implemented and the Company has reached a resolution with the Iowa Insurance Division resulting in no further action and no financial impact to the Company. Our estimated liability may change as additional information becomes available and as we continue to work with regulators in other states to achieve resolution. Fines, penalties or further refunds related to the foregoing are reasonably possible, but the amount of such losses, if any, cannot be estimated at this time.
Long Term Debt
The Company issued debt through private placement transactions in the form of senior unsecured notes and surplus notes. The notes are presented as a long-term debt liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a financing activity in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Costs incurred in the issuance of debt are capitalized and amortized over the life of the non-cancellable period of the debt. The capitalization of such debt issuance costs are included as an offset to the long-term debt liability and the related amortization is included in interest expense.
Interest payments under the long-term debt are paid quarterly each year. The interest rate is defined in each respective note agreement. Interest is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and as interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. For more information on long-term debt refer to Note 8 "Debt."
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are established based on differences between the financial statement bases of assets and liabilities and the tax bases of those same assets and liabilities, using the currently enacted statutory tax rates. Deferred income tax expense is measured by the year-to-year change in the net deferred tax asset or liability, except for certain changes in deferred tax amounts that affect stockholders' equity and do not impact federal income tax expense.
We reported a consolidated federal income tax expense of $6,974 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 compared to an income tax benefit of $14,544 during the same period of 2023. Our effective tax rate for 2024 and 2023 is different than the federal statutory rate of 21 percent, due principally to the net effect of tax-exempt municipal bond interest income.
The Company performs a quarterly review of its tax positions and makes a determination of whether it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination. If, based on this review, it appears not more likely than not that the positions will be sustained, the Company will calculate any unrecognized tax benefits and, if necessary, calculate and accrue any related interest and penalties. We did not recognize any liability for unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023. In addition, we have not accrued for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. However, if interest and penalties would need to be accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits, such amounts would be recognized as a component of federal income tax expense.
Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when management believes it is more likely than not that some, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. After considering all positive and negative evidence of taxable income in the carryback and carryforward periods and our tax planning strategy of holding debt securities with unrealized losses to maturity or recovery, we believe it is more likely than not that all the deferred assets will be realized. As a result, we have no valuation allowance at September 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
For each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we made payments for income taxes totaling $10,712 and $1,336, respectively. We did not receive a federal tax refund for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
We file a consolidated federal income tax return. We also file income tax returns in various state jurisdictions. We are no longer subject to federal or state income tax examination for tax years 2017 and prior.

Leases

The Company determines if a contract contains a lease at inception of the contract. The Company's inventory of leases consists of operating leases which are recorded as a lease obligation liability disclosed in the "Accrued expenses and other liabilities" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a lease right-of-use asset disclosed in the "Other assets" line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The lease right-of-use asset represents the Company's right to use each underlying asset for the lease term and the lease obligation liability represents the Company's obligation over the lease term. The Company's lease obligation is recorded at the present value of the lease payments based on the term of the applied lease. Short-term leases of 12 months or less are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and lease payments are recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. For more information on leases refer to Note 10 "Leases."

Credit Losses
The Company recognizes credit losses for our available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities, reinsurance receivables, mortgage loans and premium receivables by setting up allowances which are remeasured each reporting period and recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
For our available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities an allowance for credit losses is recorded net of available-for-sale fixed maturities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and a corresponding credit loss is recognized as a realized loss or gain in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The Company determines if an allowance for credit losses is recorded based on a number of factors including current economic conditions, management's expectations of future economic conditions and performance indicators, such as market value versus amortized cost, investment spreads widening or contracting, rating actions, payment and default history. For more information on credit losses and the allowance for credit losses for our available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities, see Note 2 "Summary of Investments."
An allowance for mortgage loan losses is established based on historical loss information of the collective pool of the Company's commercial mortgage loan investments which have similar risk characteristics. To calculate the allowance for mortgage loan losses, the Company starts with historical loan experience to predict the future expected losses and then layers on a market-linked adjustment. On a quarterly basis, quantitative credit risk metrics, including, for example, cash-flows, rent rolls and financial statements are reviewed for each loan to determine if it is performing in line with its expectations. This allowance is recorded net of mortgage loans in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and a corresponding credit loss recognized as a realized loss or gain in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. For more information on credit losses and the allowance for credit losses for our investment in mortgage loans see Note 3 "Fair Value of Financial Instruments."
For reinsurance receivables, the Company's model estimates expected credit loss by multiplying the exposure at default by both the probability of default and loss given default ("LGD"). The LGD is estimated by the rating of the reinsurer, historical relationship with UFG, existence of letters of credit and known regulation for which the Company may be held accountable. The ultimate LGD percentage is estimated after considering Moody's experience with unsecured year one bond recovery rates from 1983-2017. The allowance is recorded net of reinsurance receivables in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and through the line "Other underwriting expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had a credit loss allowance for reinsurance receivables of $103.
Rollforward of credit loss allowance for reinsurance receivables:
As of
September 30, 2024
Beginning balance, January 1, 2024
$97 
Current-period provision for expected credit losses
Ending balance of the allowance for reinsurance receivables, September 30, 2024
$103 

With respect to premiums receivable, the Company utilizes an aging method to estimate credit losses. An allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a periodic evaluation of the aging and collectability of amounts due from agents and policyholders. "Premiums receivable" are presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of an estimated allowance for doubtful accounts and recorded through "Other underwriting expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Subsequent Events

In the preparation of the accompanying financial statements, the Company has evaluated all material subsequent events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date on which the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure in the Company's financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Adopted Pronouncements
We have not adopted any Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) in the current period nor year-to-date.
Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this update improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expense categories that are regularly provided to the CODM and included in each reported measure of a segment’s profit or loss. In addition, the amendments enhance interim disclosure requirements that are currently required annually, clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss, and contain other disclosure requirements. Additionally, the amendments require that entities with a single reportable segment must now provide all the disclosures previously required under Topic 280. The amendments in this update are incremental to the current requirements of Topic 280 and do not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. The enhanced segment disclosure requirements apply retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The significant segment expense and other segment item amounts disclosed in prior periods shall be based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. The amendments in this update are effective for all public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the updates must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements. We do not expect to early adopt this standard and are in the process of assessing its impact on our disclosures upon adoption.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update enhance the transparency of the income tax disclosures by expanding on the disclosures required annually. The amendments require entities to disclose in their rate reconciliation table additional categories of information about federal, state, and foreign income taxes, in addition to providing details about the reconciling items in some categories if above a quantitative threshold. Additionally, the amendments require annual disclosure of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by jurisdiction based on a quantitative threshold. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis, and retrospective application is permitted. We do not expect to early adopt this standard and are in the process of assessing its impact on our disclosures upon adoption.