Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Markel Corporation is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. Markel Corporation's principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Markel Ventures, Inc. (Markel Ventures), Markel Corporation also owns interests in various businesses that operate outside of the specialty insurance marketplace.

a)Basis of Presentation. The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020 and the related consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for fair presentation of such consolidated financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal, recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 was derived from Markel Corporation's audited annual consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and include the accounts of Markel Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, as well as any variable interest entities (VIEs) that meet the requirements for consolidation (the Company). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company consolidates the results of its Markel Ventures subsidiaries on a one-month lag, with the exception of significant transactions or events that occur during the intervening period. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and notes. The following accounting policies were updated to reflect accounting pronouncements that became effective in 2020. See note 2. Readers are urged to review the Company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete description of the Company's business and accounting policies.

b)Investments. Available-for-sale investments and equity securities are recorded at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, net of income taxes, are included in other comprehensive income. Unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, net of income taxes, are included in earnings.

The Company completes a detailed analysis each quarter to assess declines in the fair value of available-for-sale investments. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and related amendments, which created a new comprehensive credit losses standard, FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. Upon adoption of ASC 326, any impairment losses on the Company's available-for-sale investments are recorded as an allowance, subject to reversal, rather than as a reduction in amortized cost, as was required under the previous other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) model. In accordance with the provisions of the ASU, prior periods have not been restated.  

Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the lives of the related fixed maturities as an adjustment to the yield using the effective interest method. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. The Company excludes accrued interest receivable from both the estimated fair value and the amortized cost basis of available-for-sale securities and includes such amount within other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Any uncollectible accrued interest receivable is written off in the period it is deemed uncollectible. Realized investment gains or losses on available-for-sale investments are included in earnings. Realized gains or losses from sales of available-for-sale investments are derived using the first-in, first-out method on the trade date.

c)    Receivables. Receivables include amounts receivable from agents, brokers and insureds, which represent premiums that are both currently due and amounts not yet due on insurance and reinsurance policies. Premiums for insurance policies are generally due at inception. Premiums for reinsurance policies generally become due over the period of coverage based on the policy terms. Changes in the estimate of reinsurance premiums written will result in an adjustment to premiums receivable in the period they are determined. Receivables also include amounts receivable from contracts with customers, which represent the Company’s unconditional right to consideration for satisfying the performance obligations outlined in the contract.

The Company monitors credit risk associated with receivables, taking into consideration the fact that in certain instances in the Company’s insurance operations, credit risk may be reduced by the Company's right to offset loss obligations or unearned premiums against premiums receivable. An allowance is established for amounts deemed uncollectible and receivables are recorded net of this allowance. Following the adoption of ASC 326, as described in note 2, beginning January 1, 2020 an allowance is established for expected credit losses to be recognized over the life of the receivable. The Company considers reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions in addition to information about past events and current conditions when estimating the allowance for credit losses. The Company uses information obtained from external sources to forecast short-term changes in macroeconomic conditions that are expected to impact the Company’s exposure to credit losses. Any allowance for credit losses is charged to net income in the period the receivable is recorded and revised in subsequent periods to reflect changes in the Company’s estimate of expected credit losses.

d)    Reinsurance Recoverables. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured business. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentration of credit risk to minimize its exposure to significant losses from individual reinsurers. To further reduce credit exposure on reinsurance recoverables, the Company has received collateral, including letters of credit and trust accounts, from certain reinsurers. Collateral related to these reinsurance agreements is available, without restriction, when the Company pays losses covered by the reinsurance agreements. An allowance is established for amounts deemed uncollectible and reinsurance recoverables are recorded net of this allowance. Following the adoption of ASC 326, as described in note 2, beginning January 1, 2020 the allowance is established for expected credit losses to be recognized over the life of the receivable. The Company considers reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions in addition to information about past events and current conditions when estimating the allowance for credit losses. The Company uses information obtained from external sources to forecast short-term changes in macroeconomic conditions that are expected to impact the Company’s exposure to credit losses. Any allowance for credit losses is charged to net income in the period the recoverable is recorded and revised in subsequent periods to reflect changes in the Company’s estimate of expected credit losses.