SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


(a)	Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits with financial institutions and short-term, highly-liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased.


(b)	Investments

We currently classify all of our investments in fixed maturities, equity securities and other investments as available-for-sale, and report them at fair value. Subsequent to our acquisition of available-for-sale securities, we record changes in value through the date of disposition as unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax effects, and include them as a component of comprehensive income. We include realized gains and losses, which we calculate using the specific-identification method for determining the cost of securities sold, in net income. We amortize any premium or discount on fixed maturities over the remaining maturity period of the related securities using the effective interest method, and we report the amortization in net investment income. We recognize dividends and interest income when earned.

Quarterly, we perform an assessment of our investments to determine if any are other-than-temporarily impaired. An investment is impaired when the fair value of the investment declines to an amount less than the cost or amortized cost of that investment. As part of our assessment process, we determine whether the impairment is temporary or other-than-temporary. We base our assessment on both quantitative criteria and qualitative information, considering a number of factors including, but not limited to: how long the security has been impaired; the amount of the impairment; whether, in the case of equity securities, we intend to hold, and have the ability to hold, the security for a period sufficient for us to recover our cost basis, or whether, in the case of debt securities, we intend to sell the security or it is more likely than not that we will have to sell the security before we recover the amortized cost; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; whether the issuer is current on contractually-obligated interest and principal payments; key corporate events pertaining to the issuer and whether the market decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions.

If we determine that an equity security has incurred an other-than-temporary impairment, we permanently reduce the cost of the security to fair value and recognize an impairment charge in net income. If a debt security is impaired and we either intend to sell the security or it is more likely than not that we will have to sell the security before we are able to recover the amortized cost, then we record the full amount of the impairment in net income. If we determine that an impairment of a debt security is other-than-temporary and we neither intend to sell the security nor it is more likely than not that we will have to sell the security before we are able to recover its cost or amortized cost, then we separate the impairment into (a) the amount of impairment related to credit loss and (b) the amount of impairment related to all other factors. We record the amount of the impairment related to the credit loss as an impairment charge in net income, and we record the amount of the impairment related to all other factors in accumulated other comprehensive income.

A large portion of our investment portfolio consists of fixed maturities, which may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates as a result of governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. A rise in interest rates would decrease the net unrealized holding gains of our investment portfolio, offset by our ability to earn higher rates of return on funds reinvested. Conversely, a decline in interest rates would increase the net unrealized holding gains of our investment portfolio, offset by lower rates of return on funds reinvested.

(c)Fair Value

See Note 3 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion regarding the fair value measurement of our investments at December 31, 2016.

(d)Premiums

We recognize premiums as revenue, net of ceded reinsurance amounts, on a daily pro rata basis over the contract period of the related policies that are in force. For any portion of premiums not earned at the end of the reporting period, we record an unearned premium liability.

Premiums receivable represents amounts due from our policyholders for billed premiums and related policy fees. We perform a policy-level evaluation to determine the extent to which the balance of premium receivable exceeds the balance of unearned premium. We then age any resulting exposure based on the last date the policy was billed to the policyholder, and we establish an allowance for credit losses for any amounts outstanding for more than 90 days. When we receive payments on amounts previously charged off, we credit bad debt expense in the period we receive the payment. The balances of our allowance for uncollectible premiums totaled $144,000 and $132,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

When we receive premium payments from policyholders prior to the effective date of the related policy, we record an advance premiums liability. On the policy effective date, we reduce the advance premium liability and record the premiums as described above.

(e)Policy Acquisition Costs

We incur policy acquisition costs that vary with, and are directly related to, the production of new business. We capitalize policy acquisition costs to the extent recoverable, then we amortize those costs over the contract period of the related policy.

At each reporting date, we determine whether we have a premium deficiency. A premium deficiency would result if the sum of our expected losses, deferred policy acquisition costs, and policy maintenance costs (such as costs to store records and costs incurred to collect premiums and pay commissions) exceeded our related unearned premiums plus investment income.

Should we determine that a premium deficiency exists, we would write off the unrecoverable portion of deferred policy acquisition costs and record a liability to the extent the deficiency exceeded the deferred policy acquisition costs.

(f)Debt Issuance Costs

We record our debt issuance costs associated with a recognized debt liability as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the corresponding debt liability. These costs are then amortized over the life of the liability using the effective interest method.

(g)Long-lived Assets

i)Property and Equipment

We record our property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. We use the straight-line method of calculating depreciation over the estimated useful lives of the assets. We periodically review estimated useful lives and, where appropriate, we make changes prospectively. We charge maintenance and repair costs to expense as incurred.

ii)Capitalized Software

We capitalize certain direct development costs associated with internal-use software. We expect to amortize the capitalized software costs related to our new data warehouse over its expected seven year useful life. We amortize the costs related to our new policy administration and claims processing systems over their expected seven-year useful lives.

See Note 7 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our property, equipment and capitalized software, including our properties, that were purchased during 2016 and 2015.

iii)Impairment of Long-lived Assets

We annually review our long-lived assets, including intangible assets, to determine if their carrying amounts are recoverable. If the non-discounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets are less than their carrying amounts, we reduce their carrying amounts to fair value and recognize an impairment loss.

(h)Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Our reserves for unpaid losses represent the estimated ultimate cost of settling all reported claims plus all claims we incurred related to insured events that have occurred as of the reporting date, but that policyholders have not yet reported to us.

We estimate our reserves for unpaid losses using individual case-basis estimates for reported claims and actuarial estimates for IBNR claims, and we continually review and adjust our estimated losses as necessary based on our historical experience and as we obtain new information. If our unpaid loss reserves prove to be deficient or redundant, we increase or decrease the liability in the period in which we identify the difference, thereby impacting net income. Though our estimate of the ultimate cost of settling all reported and unreported claims may change at any point in the future, a reasonable possibility exists that our estimate may vary significantly in the near term from the estimated amounts included in our consolidated financial statements.

On our Consolidated Balance Sheets, we report our reserves for unpaid losses gross of the amounts related to unpaid losses recoverable from reinsurers. On our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, we report losses net of amounts ceded to reinsurers. We do not discount our loss reserves for financial statement purposes.

(i)Managing General Agent Fees and Policy Fees

Our policy fees consist of the managing general agent fee and a pay-plan fee. Regulatory authorities in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey and Rhode Island allow managing general agents to charge policyholders a $25 fee on each policy written. The regulatory authority in Hawaii allows managing general agents to charge policyholders a $50 fee on each policy written, while the regulatory authority in Texas allows managing general agents to charge policyholders a $25 or $75 fee, depending on the type of policy issued. Regulatory authorities in Massachusetts and Texas also allow managing general agents to charge a $25 inspection fee and regulatory authorities in Louisiana allow managing general agents to charge up to a $125 inspection fee, depending on the type of homeowner policy issued. We defer such fees as unearned revenue and then include them in income on a pro rata basis over the term of the underlying policies. We record our pay-plan fees, which we charge to all policyholders that pay their premium in more than one installment, as income when collected. We report all policy-related fees in other revenue on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

(j)Reinsurance

We follow industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our risks. Reinsurance involves transferring, or "ceding", all or a portion of the risk exposure on policies we write to another insurer, known as a reinsurer. To the extent that our reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations they assume under our reinsurance agreements, we remain liable for the entire insured loss.

Our reinsurance agreements are short-term, prospective contracts. We record an asset, prepaid reinsurance premiums, and a liability, reinsurance payable, for the entire contract amount upon commencement of our new reinsurance agreements. We amortize our prepaid reinsurance premiums over the 12-month contract period.

We record amounts recoverable from our reinsurers on paid losses plus an estimate of amounts recoverable on unpaid losses. The estimate of amounts recoverable on unpaid losses is a function of our liability for unpaid losses associated with the reinsured policies; therefore, the amount changes in conjunction with any changes to our estimate of unpaid losses. Though our estimate of amounts recoverable from reinsurers on unpaid losses may change at any point in the future because of its relation to our reserves for unpaid losses, a reasonable possibility exists that our estimate may change significantly in the near term from the amounts included in our consolidated financial statements.

We estimate uncollectible amounts receivable from reinsurers based on an assessment of factors including the creditworthiness of the reinsurers and the adequacy of collateral obtained, where applicable. We recorded no bad debt expense related to reinsurance during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

(k)Assessments

We record guaranty fund and other insurance-related assessments imposed upon us as an expense in the period the regulatory agency imposes the assessment. To recover Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (FIGA) assessments, we calculate and begin collecting a policy surcharge that will allow us to collect the entire assessment over a 12-month period, based on our estimate of the number of policies we expect to write. We then submit an information only filing, pursuant to Florida Statute 631.57(3)(h), to the insurance regulatory authority requesting formal approval of the policy FIGA surcharge. The process may be repeated in successive 12-month periods until we collect the entire assessment. We record the recoveries as revenue in the period that we collect the cash. While current regulations allow us to recover from policyholders the amount of assessments imposed upon us, our payment of the assessments and our recoveries may not offset each other in the same fiscal period in our consolidated financial statements.

Where permitted by law or regulatory authority, we collect assessments imposed upon policyholders as a policy surcharge and we record the amounts collected as a liability until we remit the amounts to the regulatory agency that imposed the assessment. During 2016, we received an assessment for $415,000 from the North Carolina Joint Underwriting Association related to Hurricane Matthew. We did not receive any additional significant assessments from regulatory authorities in the states in which our insurance affiliates operate.

(l)Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which we expect to recover or settle those temporary differences. Should a change in tax rates occur, we recognize the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities in operations in the period that includes the enactment date. Realization of our deferred income tax assets depends upon our generation of sufficient future taxable income.

We recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority.

We record any income tax penalties and income-tax-related interest as income tax expense in the period incurred. We did not incur any material tax penalties or income-tax-related interest during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

(m)Advertising Costs

We expense all advertising costs when we incur those costs. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we incurred advertising costs of $907,000, $2,630,000, and $1,819,000, respectively.

(n)Earnings Per Share

We report both basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share. To calculate basic earnings per share, we divide net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common stock shares outstanding during the period. We calculate diluted earnings per share by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common stock shares, common stock equivalents, and restricted shares outstanding during the period.

(o)Concentrations of Risk

Our current operations subject us to the following concentrations of risk:

•a concentration of revenue because we write primarily homeowners policies


•	a geographic concentration resulting from the fact that, though we now operate in twelve states, we still write approximately 47% of our gross written premium in Florida


•	a group concentration of credit risk with regard to our reinsurance recoverable, since all of our reinsurers engage in similar activities and have similar economic characteristics that could cause their ability to repay us to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions


•	a concentration of credit risk with regard to our cash, because we choose to deposit all our cash at six financial institutions

We mitigate our geographic and group concentrations of risk by entering into reinsurance contracts with financially-stable reinsurers, and by securing irrevocable letters of credit from reinsurers when necessary.

With regard to our cash balances held at financial institutions, we had $159,288,000 and $72,405,000 in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance limits at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The $86,883,000 increase in excess of FDIC insurance limits is the result of holding more cash and at the end of 2016 than we did in 2015.

(p)Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of cost over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. We attribute all goodwill associated with the acquisition of FSIC and IIC to one reporting unit.

Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate, indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. The goodwill impairment process requires a comparison of the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. We test goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative assessment or a two-step quantitative test. The qualitative assessment is an assessment of historical information and relevant events and circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. We may elect not to perform the qualitative assessment for our reporting unit and perform a two-step quantitative impairment test. In performing the two-step quantitative impairment test, we may use a market multiple valuation approach and a discounted cash flow valuation approach.

The market multiple valuation approach utilizes market multiples of companies with similar businesses and the projected operating earnings of the reporting unit. The discounted cash flow valuation approach requires judgments about revenues, operating earnings projections, capital market assumptions and discount rates. The key inputs, judgments and assumptions necessary in determining estimated fair value of the reporting units include projected operating earnings, current book value, the level of economic capital required to support the mix of business, long-term growth rates, comparative market multiples, control premium, the account value of in-force business, projections of new and renewal business, as well as margins on such business, the level of interest rates, credit spreads, equity market levels, and the discount rate that we believe is appropriate for the respective reporting unit.

When testing goodwill for impairment, we also considers our market capitalization in relation to the aggregate estimated fair value of our reporting unit. We apply significant judgment when determining the estimated fair value of our reporting unit and when assessing the relationship of market capitalization to the aggregate estimated fair value of our reporting unit.

The valuation methodologies utilized are subject to key judgments and assumptions that are sensitive to change. Estimates of fair value are inherently uncertain and represent only management’s reasonable expectation regarding future developments. These estimates and the judgments and assumptions upon which the estimates are based will, in all likelihood, differ in some respects from actual future results. Declines in the estimated fair value of our reporting unit could result in goodwill impairments in future periods which could materially adversely affect our results of operations or financial position.

For the 2016 annual goodwill impairment test, we utilized the qualitative assessment and determined it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit tested using the qualitative assessment was less than its carrying amount and, therefore no further testing was needed for the reporting unit. We determined that the fair values of the reporting unit was in excess of the carrying value and, therefore goodwill was not impaired.

(q)Intangible Assets

Identifiable intangible assets that are amortized generally represent the cost of client relationships, trade names and agency agreements acquired. In valuing these assets, we make assumptions regarding useful lives and projected growth rates, and significant judgment is required. We periodically reviews identifiable intangibles for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If the carrying amounts of the assets exceed their respective fair values, additional impairment tests are performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any.

Non-amortizing intangible assets generally represent the cost of insurance licenses acquired. Non-amortizing intangible assets are tested for impairment in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year by comparing the fair value of the licenses acquired to their carrying values. We established fair value for purposes of impairment testing using the income approach. If the carrying value of a license acquired exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess. For 2016, we determined that the fair values of the intangible assets were not impaired.

(r)Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted Policies

In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-09, which requires expanded disclosures for insurance entities that issue short-duration contracts. The expanded disclosures are designed to provide additional insight into an insurance entity's significant estimates made in measuring the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The disclosures include information about incurred and paid claims development by accident years, on a net basis after reinsurance, for the number of years' claims incurred typically remain outstanding, not to exceed ten years. Each period presented in the disclosure about claims development that precedes the current reporting period is considered required supplementary information. The expanded disclosures also include information about significant changes in methodologies and assumptions, a reconciliation of incurred and paid claims development to the carrying amount of the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, the total amount of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development, the incidence of claims including the methodology used to determine the incidence of claims, and claim duration. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and is to be applied retrospectively. The new guidance affects disclosures only and therefore, the adoption as of December 31, 2016 had no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

Pending Policies

We have evaluated recent accounting pronouncements that have had or may have a significant effect on our financial statements or on our disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (ASU 2016-15). This update is intended to address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The cash flow issues impacting our company include the presentation and classification of debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs and contingent consideration payments made after a business combination. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. We do not intend to early adopt and are assessing the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13). This update is intended to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a method that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 will provide users with more useful information regarding the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. In addition, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will now have to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted for certain requirements. We do not intend to early adopt and are assessing the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09). This update is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted for certain requirements. We do not intend to early adopt and are assessing the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). This updated is intended to replace existing lease guidance by requiring a lessee to recognize substantially all leases (whether operating or finance leases) on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and an associated least liability. Short-term leases of 12 months or less are excluded from this amendment. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We do not intend to early adopt and are assessing the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01). This update substantially revises standards for the recognition, measurement and presentation of financial instruments. This standard revises an entity's accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted for certain requirements. We are assessing the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.