Financing Arrangements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes Payable [Abstract]

Notes Payable

FHLB Advances, Notes Payable and Other Financing Arrangements

On December 15, 2020, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of financial institutions. The Credit Agreement provides for a $75.0 million three-year revolving credit facility and is guaranteed by certain of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries (Employers Group, Inc. and Cerity Group, Inc.). Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Company also has an option to request an increase of the credit available under the facility up to a maximum facility amount of $125.0 million, subject to the consent of lenders and the satisfaction of certain conditions.

The interest rates applicable to loans under the Credit Agreement are generally based on a base rate plus a specified margin, ranging from 0.25% to 1.25%, or the Eurodollar rate (which will convert to an alternative reference rate once LIBOR is discontinued), plus a specified margin, ranging from 1.25% to 2.25%. In addition, the Company will pay a fee on each lender’s commitment, ranging from 0.20% to 0.50%, irrespective of usage. The applicable margin and the amount of such commitment fee vary based upon the financial strength rating of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries as most recently announced by A.M. Best or the Company’s debt to total capitalization ratio if such financial strength rating is not available. Total interest paid during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $0.3 million.

The Credit Agreement contains covenants that require the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries to maintain: (i) a minimum consolidated net worth of no less than 70% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2020, plus 50% of the Company’s aggregate net income thereafter; and (ii) a debt to total capitalization ratio of no more than 35%, in each case as determined in accordance with the Credit Agreement. At December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company incurred $0.7 million in debt issuance costs in connection with the Credit Agreement, which are being amortized over the three-year life of the facility in Interest and Financing expenses. The annual commitment and administrative fee on the unused portion of the facility is 0.30%, for a maximum of $225,000, and an annual agency fee of $25,000. Advances can be repaid at any time without prepayment penalties or additional fees. The Company borrowed and subsequently repaid $27.0 million under the credit facility during the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding borrowings on the credit facility.

EPIC had a $10.0 million surplus note to Dekania CDO II, Ltd. issued as part of a pooled transaction. On April 12, 2019, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved EPIC's request to pay off the Dekania surplus note. Subsequently, on April 15, 2019, EPIC formally called this note. The outstanding principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest, in the amount of $10.2 million, was paid on May 14, 2019. Interest paid during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $0.2 million.

EPIC had a $10.0 million surplus note to Alesco Preferred Funding V, LTD issued as part of a pooled transaction. On April 12, 2019, the Florida Office of Insurance regulation approved EPIC's request to pay off the Alesco surplus note. Subsequently, on May 6, 2019, EPIC formally called this note. The outstanding principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest, in the amount of $10.2 million, was paid on June 13, 2019. Interest paid during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $0.2 million.

Other financing arrangements are comprised of the following:

EICN, ECIC, EPIC, and EAC are members of the FHLB. Membership allows the insurance subsidiaries access to collateralized advances, which may be used to support and enhance liquidity management. The amount of advances that may be taken is dependent on statutory admitted assets on a per company basis.

During the second quarter of 2020, the FHLB announced its Zero Interest Recovery Advance Program (the FHLB Advance Program). The FHLB Advance Program is a zero percent interest, six-month or one-year credit product that members can use to provide immediate relief to property owners, businesses, and other customers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Each member was allocated up to $10.0 million in advances under the FHLB Advance Program.

On May 11, 2020, the Company's insurance subsidiaries received a total of $35.0 million of advances under the FHLB Advance Program. The advances were secured by collateral previously pledged to the FHLB by the Company's insurance subsidiaries in support of their existing collateralized advance facility, which has been reduced by the amount of these outstanding advances. The Company repaid $15.0 million on November 4, 2020, $5.0 million on March 31, 2021, and the remaining $15.0 million on May 4, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has no outstanding advances.

FHLB membership also allows the Company's insurance subsidiaries access to standby letters of credit. On March 9, 2018, ECIC, EPIC, and EAC entered into standby Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreements (Letter of Credit Agreements) with the FHLB. On January 26, 2021, we chose to amend our existing Letter of Credit Agreements among the FHLB and EPIC to decrease its respective credit amount. On August 13, 2021, we chose to amend our existing Letter of Credit Agreements among the FHLB, ECIC and EAC to decrease their respective credit amounts. The amended Letter of Credit Agreements are between the FHLB and each of EAC, in the amount of $25.0 million, ECIC, in the amount of $35.0 million, and EPIC, in the amount of $10.0 million. The amended Letter of Credit Agreements will expire March 31, 2022, and will remain evergreen with automatic one-year extensions unless the FHLB notifies the beneficiary at least 60 days prior to the then applicable expiration date of its

election not to renew. The Letter of Credit Agreements may only be used to satisfy, in whole or in part, insurance deposit requirements with the State of California and are fully secured with eligible collateral at all times. The Letter of Credit Agreements are subject to annual maintenance charges and a fee of 15 basis points on issued amounts. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 letters of credit totaling $70.0 million and $275.0 million were issued in lieu of securities on deposit with the State of California under these Letter of Credit Agreements, respectively.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, investment securities having a fair value of $261.0 million and $385.6 million, respectively, were pledged to the FHLB by the Company's insurance subsidiaries in support of the collateralized advance facility and the Letter of Credit Agreements.