Note 1 - Preparation of Interim Unaudited Financial Statements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. Preparation of Interim Unaudited Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of the Company (as defined below), these statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of all interim periods reported herein. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been either condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate for a fair presentation of results of operations and financial position. Operating results for the interim periods reported herein may not be indicative of the results expected for the year. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2023.

HG Holdings, Inc, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company,” “we,” ‘us” or “our”), operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries National Consumer Title Insurance Company (“NCTIC”), National Consumer Title Group, LLC (“NCTG”), Title Agency Ventures, LLC (“TAV”), HG Managing Agency, LLC (“HGMA”), and Omega National Title Agency, LLC (“Omega”) and through an affiliated investment in HC Government Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“HC Realty”).

Description of the Business

Title Insurance

The Company engages in issuing title insurance through its subsidiary NCTIC and providing title agency services through its subsidiaries NCTG, TAV, and Omega. Through NCTIC, the Company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as the primary insurer. The Company currently only provides title insurance services in the state of Florida.

Title insurance protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects that affect real property. When real property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such property.  If a covered claim is made against real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects. There are two basic types of title insurance policies – one for the mortgage lender and one for the real property owner.  A lender often requires the property owner to purchase a lender’s title insurance policy to protect its position as a holder of a mortgage loan, but the lender’s title insurance policy does not protect the property owner.  The property owner has to purchase a separate owner’s title insurance policy to protect its investment.

NCTIC issues title insurance policies in Florida through its home office and through a network of affiliated and independent title agents.  In the State of Florida, issuing agents are independent agents or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending institutions, depending on local customs and regulations.  The ability to attract and retain issuing agents is a key determinant of the Company’s growth in title insurance premiums written.

Revenues for the title insurance segment primarily result from purchases of new and existing residential and commercial real estate, refinance activity and certain other types of mortgage lending such as home equity lines of credit. Title insurance premiums vary from state to state and are subject to extensive regulation. Statutes generally provide that rates must not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. The process of implementing a rate change in most states involves pre-approval by the applicable state insurance regulator.

Volume is a factor in the Company’s title insurance operation’s profitability due to fixed operating costs that are incurred regardless of title insurance premium volume.  The resulting operating leverage tends to amplify the impact of changes in volume on profitability.  The Company’s title insurance profitability also depends, in part, upon its ability to manage its investment portfolio to maximize investment returns and to minimize risks such as interest rate changes, defaults and impairments of assets.

The Company’s volume of title insurance premiums is affected by the overall level of residential and commercial real estate activity, which includes property sales, mortgage financing and mortgage refinancing.  Real estate activity, home sales and mortgage lending are cyclical in nature. Real estate activity is affected by a number of factors, including the availability of mortgage credit, the cost of real estate, consumer confidence, employment and family income levels, and general United States economic conditions.  Interest rate volatility is also an important factor in the level of residential and commercial real estate activity.

The Company’s title insurance premiums in future periods are likely to fluctuate due to these and other factors which are beyond management’s control.

Historically, the title insurance business tends to be seasonal as well as cyclical. Because home sales are typically strongest in periods of favorable weather, the first calendar quarter tends to have the lowest activity levels, while the spring and summer months tend to be more active. Mortgage refinance activity tends to be influenced less by seasonality and more by economic cycles, with activity levels increasing during times of falling interest rates.

Real Estate Related

The Company engages in rental real estate through its equity investment in HC Realty.  HC Realty is an internally-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused on acquiring, developing, financing, owning and managing build-to-suit or renovate-to-suit, single-tenant properties leased primarily to the U.S. government and administered by the U.S. General Services Administration or directly by the federal government agencies or sub-agencies occupying such properties (referred to as “Government Properties”).  HC Realty invests primarily in Government Properties ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 rentable square feet that are in their initial lease term after original construction or renovation-to-suit. HC Realty further emphasizes Government Properties that perform law enforcement, public service or other functions that support the mission of the agencies or sub-agencies occupying such properties.  Leases associated with the Government Properties in which HC Realty invests are full faith and credit obligations of the United States of America.  HC Realty intends to grow its portfolio primarily through direct acquisitions and development of Government Properties; although, HC Realty may elect to invest in Government Properties through indirect investments, such as joint ventures.

The Company currently owns 300,000 shares of HC Realty’s Common Stock (the “HC Common Stock”) and 1,025,000 shares of HC Realty’s 10.00% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred stock (the “HC Series B Stock”). On March 19, 2019, we purchased 300,000 shares of HC Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000 and 200,000 shares of HC Series B Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000. On April 3, April 9, and June 29, 2020, the Company entered into subscription agreements with HC Realty, pursuant to which we purchased 100,000, 250,000, and 475,000 shares of HC Series B Stock, respectively, for an aggregate purchase price of $8,250,000. As a result of these purchases, we currently own approximately 33.9% of the voting interest of HC Realty.

As of March 31, 2023, HC Realty owned 35 Government Properties, comprised of 32 Government Properties that it owns, one Government Property that it owns subject to a ground lease, each of which is leased to the United States government and occupied by tenant agencies and sub-agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Immigration & Customs Enforcement, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Transportation, and two Government Properties for which it has been awarded a lease for a newly constructed build-to-suit facility and for which it is under contract to acquire the land. HC Realty’s portfolio properties contain approximately 663,000 leased rentable square feet located in 22 states. As of March 31, 2023, its portfolio properties are 98% leased to the United States government and occupied by 12 different federal government agencies. Based on leased rentable square feet, the portfolio has a weighted average remaining lease term of 9.5 years if none of the tenants’ early termination rights are exercised and 5.9 years if all of the tenants’ early termination right are exercised.

Reinsurance Related

The Company, through the formation of White Rock USA Cell 47, previously engaged in providing another insurance company excess-of-loss reinsurance coverage related to catastrophic weather risk in Texas.  The Company does not currently have any reinsurance contracts in-force during the three month period ended March 31, 2023; however, the Company may actively look to provide reinsurance coverage to other carriers as future opportunities arise.

Management Advisory Services Related

The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary HGMA, previously engaged in providing management advisory services including formation, operational, and restructuring services. The Company may continue to actively look to provide management advisory services as future opportunities arise.

For information about our reportable segments refer to Note 9 Segment Information.

Developments Impacting Comparison of the Three-Month Periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022

Effective August 1, 2022, Omega acquired substantially all the assets of Omega Title Florida, LLC (“OTF”). In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC’) Topic 805, the Company has determined that the transaction should be accounted for as a business combination. The acquisition allows Omega to expand into additional geographic areas of Florida and expand its footprint.

For information about our business combinations refer to Note 12 Business Combinations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  The amendments in ASU 2016-13 require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.  In addition, ASU 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration.  The amendment is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022.  Early application is permitted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, although the Company has not opted to do so.  The Company has adopted ASU 2016-13 with no related impact to the consolidated financial statements.