Acquisitions, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Acquisitions, Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Acquisitions, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

4.Acquisitions, Goodwill and Intangible Assets:

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating unit or one level below an operating unit) on an annual basis (October 1) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. For purposes of evaluating goodwill for impairment, we have determined that our reporting units are the same as our operating units except for the Specialty Commercial operating unit for which reporting units are at the component level (“one level below”). Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 includes goodwill of acquired businesses of $44.7 million that is assigned to our operating units as follows: Standard Commercial P&C operating unit - $2.1 million; Contract Binding operating unit - $19.9 million; Specialty Commercial operating unit- $17.4 million (comprised of $7.7 million for the primary/excess and umbrella component and $9.7 million for the general aviation and satellite component); and Specialty Personal Lines operating unit - $5.3 million. This amount has been recorded as a result of prior business acquisitions accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Under ASC 350, “Intangibles- Goodwill and Other,” goodwill is tested for impairment annually. We completed our last annual test for impairment on the first day of the fourth quarter of 2018 and determined that there was no impairment.

The income approach to determining fair value computed the projections of the cash flows that the reporting unit was expected to generate converted into a present value equivalent through discounting. Significant assumptions in the income approach model included income projections, discount rates and terminal growth values. The income projections reflected an improved premium rate environment across most of our lines of business that continued throughout 2018. The income projections also included loss and LAE assumptions which reflected recent historical claim trends and the movement towards a more favorable pricing environment. The income projections also included assumptions for expense growth and investment yields which were based on business plans for each of our operating units. The discount rate was based on a risk free rate plus a beta adjusted equity risk premium and specific company risk premium. The assumptions were based on historical experience (including factors such as prior year loss reserve development), expectations of future performance (including premium growth rates, premium rate increases and loss costs), expected market conditions and other factors requiring judgment and estimates. While we believe the assumptions used in these models were reasonable, the inherent uncertainty in predicting future performance and market conditions may change over time and influence the outcome of future testing.

During 2018 and 2017, we completed the first step prescribed by ASC 350 for testing for impairment and determined that there was no impairment.

We have obtained various intangible assets from several acquisitions. The table below details the gross and net carrying amounts of these assets by major category (in thousands):


	December 31
	2018		2017
Gross Carrying Amount:
Customer/agent relationships	$	32,177	$	32,177
Tradename		3,440		3,440
Management agreement		3,232		3,232
Non-compete & employment agreements		4,235		4,235
Insurance licenses		1,300		1,300
Total gross carrying amount		44,384		44,384

Accumulated Amortization:
Customer/agent relationships		(26,515)		(24,276)
Tradename		(2,847)		(2,618)
Management agreement		(3,232)		(3,232)
Non-compete & employment agreements		(4,235)		(4,235)
Total accumulated amortization		(36,829)		(34,361)
Total net carrying amount	$	7,555	$	10,023

Insurance licenses are not amortized because they have an indefinite life. We amortize definite-lived intangible assets straight line over their respective lives. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets for the next five years is as follows (in thousands):


2019	$	2,467
2020	$	2,467
2021	$	503
2022	$	501
2023	$	317

The weighted average amortization period for definite-lived intangible assets by major class is as follows:


		Years
Tradename		15
Customer/ agent relationships		15
Management agreement		4
Non-compete agreements		5

The aggregate weighted average period to amortize these assets is approximately 13 years.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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