XML 152 R36.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.4
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Investments

Investments

Investments in fixed maturities, which include taxable and non-taxable bonds, are reported at fair value. Fair values for fixed maturity securities are based on estimates obtained from independent pricing services. Unrealized gains or losses on fixed maturity securities reported at fair value are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholder’s equity known as “accumulated other comprehensive income net of taxes” until realized. For fixed maturities that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the Company separates the credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all other factors and reports the credit loss component as credit loss expense. The impairment related to all other factors (non-credit factors) is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The allowance for expected credit losses is adjusted for any additional credit losses and subsequent recoveries. Upon

recognizing a credit loss, the cost basis is not adjusted. See Note 3, Investments, for further details of the Company’s accounting for impairments of available-for-sale investments.

Investments in equity securities, which include interests in common stocks, mutual funds and a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), are reported at fair value. Fair values for equity securities are derived from external market quotations, with the exception of the REIT whose fair value was determined using the trust’s net asset value obtained from its audited financial statements. Changes in unrealized gains or losses on equity securities are recognized in earnings.

Other invested assets consist primarily of investments in limited partnerships. The partnership interest is accounted for using the equity method of accounting and recorded in earnings from partnership investments. The carrying value of these investments are written down, or impaired, to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. In applying the equity method (including assessment for other-than-temporary impairment), the Company uses financial information provided by the investee, generally on a three-month lag.

As an element of the FAIR Plan Restructuring, in a non-cash transaction, the Company liquidated its net asset position in the FAIR Plan and established Investment in FAIR Plan Trust. The Company’s Investment in FAIR Plan Trust is adjusted to its current fair value on a quarterly basis based on information from the FAIR Plan, with changes recognized through earnings. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company’s Investment in the FAIR Plan Trust of $14,209 and $14,477, respectively, was included in other invested assets. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $616 and $247, respectively, of income in earnings from partnership investments from its Investment in FAIR Plan Trust.

Realized gains or losses on the sale or maturity of investments are determined based on the specific cost identification method.

Investment income is recognized on an accrual basis of accounting. Bonds not backed by other loans are amortized using the interest method. Loan-backed bonds and structured securities are amortized using the interest method and significant changes in estimated cash flows from the original purchase assumptions are accounted for using the retrospective method.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes money market accounts and U.S. Treasury bills with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. U.S. Treasury bills are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Amounts included in accounts receivable represent premiums as well as finance charges, the majority of which are billed on a monthly installment basis. Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, these allowances were $802 and $918, respectively. Uncollected premium balances over ninety days past due are written off.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Amounts that vary with and are primarily related to the successful acquisition of a new or renewal insurance contract, principally commissions, premium taxes and certain other costs, are deferred and amortized ratably over the effective period of the policy. All other acquisition expenses are expensed as incurred. Deferred policy acquisition costs are reviewed to determine if they are recoverable from future income, and if not, are charged to expense. Future investment income attributable to related premiums is not taken into account in measuring the recoverability of the carrying value of this asset. Amortization of acquisition costs in the amount of $220,893, $207,016 and $161,630 were included in underwriting, operating and other expenses for the years ended 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Equity and Deposits in Pools

Equity and Deposits in Pools

Equity and deposits in pools represents the net receivable amounts from the residual market mechanism, Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (“CAR”) for automobile insurance in Massachusetts. See Note 11, Reinsurance, for a discussion of the Company’s accounting for amounts assumed from the residual market.

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Property, equipment, leasehold improvements, and software which are included in other assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line or accelerated method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 3 to 10 years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided using the straight-line method over the term of the lease. The costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized over the estimated life of the business system, beginning when the software is ready for its intended use. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for acquisitions of entities that qualify as businesses using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations. Purchase consideration is allocated to the assets acquired, including customer relationship intangible assets, and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at acquisition. Management estimated the fair value of such intangible assets using an income approach that considered cash flows expected to be generated by the acquired business relationships, a weighted average cost of capital discount rate reflecting the relative risk of achieving the anticipated cash flows, profits, the time value of money, and other relevant inputs. The excess of the total purchase consideration over the fair value of the identified net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. The results of acquired businesses are included in the results of operations beginning from the date of acquisition. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the allocation of purchase consideration and to the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed to the extent that additional information becomes available. After this period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded in earnings.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill generated through acquisition is carried at cost, net of impairments. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently when indicators of potential impairment exist. Management first evaluates impairment of goodwill by assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If after performing the qualitative assessment, management determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative assessment to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Management’s determination of the fair value of the reporting unit incorporates multiple inputs into discounted cash flow calculations, including levels of economic capital required to support the business, future business growth, earnings projections, and the weighted average cost of capital used for purposes of discounting. Goodwill is impaired up to the amount that the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value. The Company did not recognize any goodwill impairments during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Acquired intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives on a straight-line basis over the period of expected benefit, generally 10 years. The Company recognized $948, $885 and $816 of amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and expects to recognize $948 of amortization expense annually through July 31, 2034. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment generally when events or circumstances indicate a potential impairment. If it is determined that the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable, the asset is written down to fair value and an impairment loss is recognized. The Company did not identify any impairment indicators during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue under both ASC 944, Financial Services – Insurance (“ASC 944”) and ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”).

Premiums are earned over the terms of the respective policies, which are generally one year. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the policies.

Ceded premiums are charged to income over the terms of the respective policies and the applicable term of the reinsurance contracts with third-party reinsurers. Ceded unearned premiums represent the unexpired portion of premiums ceded to CAR and other reinsurers.

Premiums received in advance of the policy effective date are recorded as a liability and not recognized as income until earned. Such amounts are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and totaled $15,546 and $10,144 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Finance and other service income primarily include revenues from premium installment charges, which are recognized when earned.

Commission revenue includes new and renewal commissions paid by insurance carriers. These commissions are earned at the later of the effective date or billing date, as all rights are passed to the insured, the obligation to pay a claim resides with the insurance carrier, and no further performance obligation exists for the Company. Under the terms of its contracts with insurance carriers, the Company can earn additional, variable commission revenue in the form of annual contingent underwriting commissions (“CUC”) based on the underwriting performance of the insurance book of business. Each carrier contract and related CUC is calculated independently. Under ASC 606, the Company must estimate the amount of consideration that will be received in the coming year such that a significant reversal of revenue is not probable. As such, CUC is recognized as a contract asset as policies are issued using applicable premium and payout factors based on the estimated loss ratio from the contract. Other expenses represent commissions remitted to insurance carriers by SNIA.

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) include case basis estimates for open claims reported prior to year-end and estimates of unreported claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of salvage and subrogation. The estimates are continually reviewed and modified to reflect current conditions, and any resulting adjustments are reflected in current operating results. Adjustments for anticipated salvage and subrogation are recorded on incurred and reported and incurred but not reported losses.

The Company determines its loss and LAE reserves estimate based upon the analysis of our actuaries. A reasonable estimate is derived by selecting a point estimate within a range of indications as calculated by our actuaries using generally accepted actuarial techniques. The key assumption in most actuarial analysis is that past patterns of frequency and severity will repeat in the future, unless a significant change in the factors described above takes place. Our key factors and resulting assumptions are the ultimate frequency and severity of claims, based upon the most recent ten years of claims reported to the Company, and the data reported to us to calculate our share of the residual market.

For each accident year and each coverage within a line of business our actuaries calculate the ultimate losses incurred.

Reinsurance

Reinsurance

Liabilities for unearned premiums and unpaid losses are stated before deductions for ceded reinsurance. The ceded amounts are carried as receivables. Earned premiums are stated net of deductions for ceded reinsurance.

The Company, as primary insurer, will be required to pay losses in their entirety in the event that the reinsurers are unable to discharge their obligations under the reinsurance agreements.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are charged to expense when they are incurred. Total advertising costs were $2,544, $2,125 and $2,405 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, and are included in underwriting, operating and related expenses.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. The method of allocation among members of the consolidated group is subject to a written agreement approved by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). The consolidated tax liability is allocated on the basis of the members’ proportionate contribution to consolidated taxable income.

Deferred income taxes are generally recognized when assets and liabilities have different values for financial statement and tax reporting purposes, and for other temporary taxable and deductible differences as defined by ASC 740, Income Taxes. A valuation allowance is established where management has assessed that it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to utilize the full deferred tax asset.

Earnings per Weighted Average Common share

Earnings per Weighted Average Common Share

Basic earnings per weighted average common share (“EPS”) are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share amounts are based on the weighted average number of common shares including non-vested performance stock grants.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS for the periods indicated.

Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024

2023

Earnings attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted:

Net income from continuing operations

$

99,255

$

70,734

$

18,875

Allocation for participating shares

(457)

(318)

(85)

Net income from continuing operations attributed to common shareholders

$

98,798

$

70,416

$

18,790

Earnings per share denominator - basis and diluted

Total weighted average common shares outstanding, including participating shares

14,780,289

14,757,905

14,730,547

Less: weighted average participating shares

(68,347)

(65,816)

(66,817)

Basic earnings per share denominator

14,711,942

14,692,089

14,663,730

Common equivalent shares- non-vested performance stock grants

 

33,183

 

25,029

 

46,401

Diluted earnings per share denominator

 

14,745,125

 

14,717,118

 

14,710,131

Basic earnings per share

$

6.72

$

4.79

$

1.28

Diluted earnings per share

$

6.70

$

4.78

$

1.28

Undistributed earnings attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted:

Net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders -Basic

$

6.72

$

4.79

$

1.28

Dividends declared

(3.64)

(3.60)

(3.60)

Undistributed earnings

$

3.08

$

1.19

$

(2.32)

Net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders -Diluted

$

6.70

$

4.78

$

1.28

Dividends declared

(3.64)

(3.60)

(3.60)

Undistributed earnings

$

3.06

$

1.18

$

(2.32)

Diluted EPS excludes non vested performance stock grants with exercise prices and exercise tax benefits greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during the period because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. There were no anti-dilutive non-vested performance stock grants for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

ASC 718, Compensation —Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), requires the Company to measure and recognize the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments. Under the provisions of ASC 718, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant).

See Note 7, Share-Based Compensation, for further information regarding share-based compensation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

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 reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segments

Segments

The Company has one reportable operating segment, property and casualty insurance operations. Property and casualty insurance operations accounted for substantially all of the Company’s operations in 2025, 2024, and 2023. The Company’s business is organized around private passenger automobile insurance in Massachusetts sold exclusively through independent agents and offers other personal and commercial insurance as complementary products. The accounting policies of the segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.

The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the chief executive officer. The CODM assesses performance for the property and casualty insurance operations segment and decides how to allocate resources based on consolidated net income, which is reported in the consolidated statements of operations. The significant segment expenses regularly provided and reviewed by the CODM are the consolidated expenses as reported in the consolidated statements of operations. The measure of segment assets is reported on the consolidated balance sheets as total assets. The CODM uses consolidated net income in deciding whether to reinvest profits into the property and casualty insurance operations or into other parts of the entity, such as for acquisitions or to pay dividends.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This ASU updated reportable segment disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. This ASU does not change how a Company identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. This ASU was effective for fiscal years starting January 1, 2024, and for interim periods starting January 1, 2025, and was applied on a retrospective basis. The effect of implementing this guidance was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU updates the required income tax disclosures to include disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction and greater disaggregation of information in the required rate reconciliation. This ASU was effective for fiscal years starting January 1, 2025 and was applied on a prospective basis. Refer to Note 13, Income Taxes, for the enhanced disclosures required by this ASU.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting of Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This ASU requires disaggregated disclosure of income statement expenses. This ASU does not change how a Company presents expense captions on the face of the income statement; however, it requires disaggregation of certain expense captions into specified categories in disclosures in the footnotes to the financial statements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years starting January 1, 2027, and for interim periods starting January 1, 2028 and will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is evaluating the disclosure impact of this new guidance; however, it will not have an impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software. Under the new guidance, costs associated with software developed for internal use will now be capitalized when management authorizes a project and when it is probable the project will be completed and used to perform the function intended, rather than when a project reaches the application development stage under existing guidance. The guidance is effective beginning January 1, 2028, with early adoption permitted, and can be applied prospectively, retrospectively, or on a modified retrospective basis. The Company has not yet determined the transition method or timing for adoption; however, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.