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Fair Value Disclosures
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Disclosures
FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
Fair Values, Inputs and Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Liabilities Disclosures
The fair value measurements and disclosures guidance defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with this guidance, the Company has categorized its recurring basis financial assets and liabilities into a three-level fair value hierarchy based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique.
The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and takes into account factors specific to the asset or liability.

The levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
•  Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company can access.
•  Level 2 inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable in the marketplace for the asset. The observable inputs are used in valuation models to calculate the fair value for the asset.
•  Level 3 inputs are unobservable but are significant to the fair value measurement for the asset, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset. These inputs reflect management's own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset.
The Company reviews fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.
The following tables present the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The amounts presented below for Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements, Cash equivalents, Other assets and Assets and Liabilities held in separate accounts differ from the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets because only certain investments or certain assets and liabilities within these line items are measured at estimated fair value. The fair value amount and the majority of the associated levels presented for Assets and Liabilities held in separate accounts are received directly from third parties.
 
December 31, 2015
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States Government and government
 agencies and authorities
$
2,053

 
$

 
 
$
2,053

 
 
$

 
State, municipalities and political subdivisions
38,740

 

 
 
38,740

 
 

 
Foreign governments
17,211

 

 
 
17,211

 
 

 
Asset-backed
612

 

 
 
612

 
 

 
Commercial mortgage-backed
1,079

 

 
 
977

 
 
102

 
Residential mortgage-backed
70,950

 

 
 
70,950

 
 

 
Corporate
2,316,276

 

 
 
2,289,652

 
 
26,624

 
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
453

 
453

 
 

 
 

 
Non-redeemable preferred stocks
157,629

 

 
 
156,504

 
 
1,125

 
Short-term investments
90,497

 
90,497

(b)
 

 
 

 
Cash equivalents
54,887

 
54,887

(b)
 

 
 

 
Other assets
398

 

 
 

 
 
398

(d)
Assets held in separate accounts
1,595,505

 
1,535,267

(a)
 
60,238

(c)
 

 
Total financial assets
$
4,346,290

 
$
1,681,104

 
 
$
2,636,937

 
 
$
28,249

 
Financial Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities related to separate accounts
$
1,595,505

 
$
1,535,267

(a)
 
$
60,238

(c)
 
$

 
 
December 31, 2014
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States Government and government
 agencies and authorities
$
19,475

 
$

 
 
$
19,475

 
 
$

 
State, municipalities and political subdivisions
45,788

 

 
 
45,788

 
 

 
Foreign governments
21,824

 

 
 
21,824

 
 

 
Asset-backed
734

 

 
 
734

 
 

 
Commercial mortgage-backed
3,896

 

 
 
3,694

 
 
202

 
Residential mortgage-backed
72,026

 

 
 
72,026

 
 

 
Corporate
2,514,945

 

 
 
2,492,920

 
 
22,025

 
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
414

 
414

 
 

 
 

 
Non-redeemable preferred stocks
135,332

 

 
 
134,332

 
 
1,000

 
Short-term investments
64,104

 
61,150

(b)
 
2,954

(c)
 

 
Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements
33,541

 
30,315

(b)
 
3,226

(c)
 

 
Cash equivalents
1

 
1

(b)
 

 
 

 
Other assets
692

 

 
 

 
 
692

(d)
Assets held in separate accounts
1,683,739

 
1,645,964

(a)
 
37,775

(c)
 

 
Total financial assets
$
4,596,511

 
$
1,737,844

 
 
$
2,834,748

 
 
$
23,919

 
Financial Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities related to separate accounts
$
1,683,739

 
$
1,645,964

(a)
 
$
37,775

(c)
 
$

 
(a)  Mainly includes mutual funds.
(b)  Mainly includes money market funds.
(c)  Mainly includes fixed maturity securities.
(d)  Mainly includes the Consumer Price Index Cap Derivatives ("CPI Caps").
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets during 2015 or 2014. However, there were transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 financial assets in 2015 and 2014, which are reflected in the "Transfers in" and "Transfers out" columns below. Transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 most commonly occur from changes in the availability of observable market information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs. Any remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers who provide non-binding broker quotes or are priced by other qualified sources.











The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with Level 3 financial assets carried at fair value during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
Balance,
beginning
of period
 
Total
losses
(realized/
unrealized)
included in
earnings (1)
 
Net
unrealized
(losses) gains
included in
other comprehensive
 income (2)
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Transfers
in (3)
 
Transfers
out (3)
 
Balance,
end of
period
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
$
202

 
$

 
$
(6
)
 
$

 
$
(94
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
102

Corporate
22,025

 
(19
)
 
(1,029
)
 

 
(1,318
)
 
17,112

 
(10,147
)
 
26,624

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-redeemable preferred
 stocks
1,000

 

 
125

 

 

 

 

 
1,125

Other assets
692

 
(294
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
398

Total level 3 assets
$
23,919

 
$
(313
)
 
$
(910
)
 
$

 
$
(1,412
)
 
$
17,112

 
$
(10,147
)
 
$
28,249

 
Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Balance,
beginning
of period
 
Total
(losses) gains
(realized/
unrealized)
included in
earnings (1)
 
Net
unrealized
(losses) gains
included in
other comprehensive
 income (2)
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Transfers
in (3)
 
Transfers
out (3)
 
Balance,
end of
period
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
$
299

 
$

 
$
(9
)
 
$

 
$
(88
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
202

Residential mortgage-backed
884

 

 

 

 

 

 
(884
)
 

Corporate
23,124

 
(117
)
 
471

 
4,733

 
(1,653
)
 
217

 
(4,750
)
 
22,025

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-redeemable preferred
 stocks
1,448

 
134

 
(134
)
 

 
(448
)
 

 

 
1,000

Other assets
2,016

 
(1,324
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
692

Total level 3 assets
$
27,771

 
$
(1,307
)
 
$
328

 
$
4,733

 
$
(2,189
)
 
$
217

 
$
(5,634
)
 
$
23,919

(1)  Included as part of net realized gains on investments in the consolidated statement of operations.
(2)  Included as part of change in unrealized gains on securities in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
(3) Transfers are primarily attributable to changes in the availability of observable market information and re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.
Three different valuation techniques can be used in determining fair value for financial assets and liabilities: the market, income or cost approaches. The three valuation techniques described in the fair value measurements and disclosures guidance are consistent with generally accepted valuation methodologies. The market approach valuation techniques use prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. When possible, quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets are used as of the period-end date (such as for mutual funds and money market funds). Otherwise, the Company uses valuation techniques consistent with the market approach including matrix pricing and comparables. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique employed principally to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for those securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Market approach valuation techniques often use market multiples derived from a set of comparables. Multiples might lie in ranges with a different multiple for each comparable. The selection of where within the range the appropriate multiple falls requires judgment, considering both qualitative and quantitative factors specific to the measurement.
Income approach valuation techniques convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount, or a discounted amount. These techniques rely on current market expectations of future amounts as of the period-end date. Examples of income approach valuation techniques include present value techniques, option-pricing models, binomial or lattice models that incorporate present value techniques and the multi-period excess earnings method.
Cost approach valuation techniques are based upon the amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset at the period-end date, or the current replacement cost. That is, from the perspective of a market participant (seller), the price that would be received for the asset is determined based on the cost to a market participant (buyer) to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility, adjusted for obsolescence.
While not all three approaches are applicable to all financial assets or liabilities, where appropriate, the Company may use one or more valuation techniques. For all the classes of financial assets and liabilities included in the above hierarchy, excluding the CPI Caps and certain privately placed corporate bonds, the Company generally uses the market valuation technique. For certain privately placed corporate bonds and the CPI Caps, the Company generally uses the income valuation technique. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the application of the valuation technique applied to the Company’s classes of financial assets and liabilities has been consistent.
Level 1 Securities
The Company’s investments and liabilities classified as Level 1 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, consisted of mutual funds, money market funds and common stocks that are publicly listed and/or actively traded in an established market.
Level 2 Securities
The Company values Level 2 securities using various observable market inputs obtained from a pricing service. The pricing service prepares estimates of fair value measurements for the Company’s Level 2 securities using proprietary valuation models based on techniques such as matrix pricing which include observable market inputs. The fair value measurements and disclosures guidance defines observable market inputs as the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. The extent of the use of each observable market input for a security depends on the type of security and the market conditions at the balance sheet date. Depending on the security, the priority of the use of observable market inputs may change as some observable market inputs may not be relevant or additional inputs may be necessary. The Company uses the following observable market inputs (“standard inputs”), listed in the approximate order of priority, in the pricing evaluation of Level 2 securities: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data including market research data. Further details for Level 2 investment types follow:
United States Government and government agencies and authorities: U.S. government and government agencies and authorities securities are priced by the Company’s pricing service utilizing standard inputs. Included in this category are U.S. Treasury securities which are priced using vendor trading platform data in addition to the standard inputs.
State, municipalities and political subdivisions: State, municipalities and political subdivisions securities are priced by the Company’s pricing service using material event notices and new issue data inputs in addition to the standard inputs.
Foreign governments: Foreign government securities are priced by the Company’s pricing service utilizing standard inputs. The pricing service also evaluates each security based on relevant market information including relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news.
Commercial mortgage-backed, residential mortgage-backed and asset-backed: Commercial mortgage-backed, residential mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are priced by the Company’s pricing service using monthly payment information and collateral performance information in addition to the standard inputs. Additionally, commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities utilize new issue data while residential mortgage-backed securities utilize vendor trading platform data.
Corporate: Corporate securities are priced by the Company’s pricing service using standard inputs. Non-investment grade securities within this category are priced by the Company’s pricing service using observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer in addition to the standard inputs. Certain privately placed corporate bonds are priced by a non-pricing service source using a model with observable inputs including, but not limited to, the credit rating, credit spreads, sector add-ons, and issuer specific add-ons.
Non-redeemable preferred stocks: Non-redeemable preferred stocks are priced by the Company’s pricing service using observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer in addition to the standard inputs.
Short-term investments, collateral held/pledged under securities agreements, and assets/liabilities held in separate accounts: To price the fixed maturity securities in these categories, the pricing service utilizes the standard inputs.
Valuation models used by the pricing service can change period to period, depending on the appropriate observable inputs that are available at the balance sheet date to price a security. When market observable inputs are unavailable to the pricing service, the remaining unpriced securities are submitted to independent brokers who provide non-binding broker quotes or are priced by other qualified sources. If the Company cannot corroborate the non-binding broker quotes with Level 2 inputs, these securities are categorized as Level 3 securities.
Level 3 Securities
The Company's investments classified as Level 3 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, consisted of fixed maturity and equity securities and derivatives. All of the Level 3 fixed maturity and equity securities are priced using non-binding broker quotes which cannot be corroborated with Level 2 inputs. At December 31, 2015, no securities were priced by a pricing service using single broker quotes. At December 31, 2014, of the Company’s total Level 3 fixed maturity and equity securities, $12,029 were priced by a pricing service using single broker quotes due to insufficient information to provide an evaluated price. The single broker quotes are provided by market makers or broker-dealers who are recognized as market participants in the markets in which they are providing the quotes. The remaining $27,851 and $11,198 were priced internally using independent and non-binding broker quotes as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The inputs factoring into the broker quotes include trades in the actual bond being priced, trades of comparable bonds, quality of the issuer, optionality, structure and liquidity. Significant changes in interest rates, issuer credit, liquidity, and overall market conditions would result in a significantly lower or higher broker quote. The prices received from both the pricing service and internally are reviewed for reasonableness by management and if necessary, management works with the pricing service or broker to further understand how they developed their price. Further details on Level 3 derivative investment types follow:
Other assets: A non-pricing service source prices the CPI Cap derivatives using a model with inputs including, but not limited to, the time to expiration, the notional amount, the strike price, the forward rate, implied volatility and the discount rate.
Management evaluates the following factors in order to determine whether the market for a financial asset is inactive. The factors include, but are not limited to:
•  There are few recent transactions,
•  Little information is released publicly,
•  The available prices vary significantly over time or among market participants,
•  The prices are stale (i.e., not current), and
•  The magnitude of the bid-ask spread.
Illiquidity did not have a material impact in the fair value determination of the Company's financial assets.
The Company generally obtains one price for each financial asset. The Company performs a monthly analysis to assess if the evaluated prices represent a reasonable estimate of their fair value. This process involves quantitative and qualitative analysis and is overseen by investment and accounting professionals. Examples of procedures performed include, but are not limited to, initial and on-going review of pricing service methodologies, review of the prices received from the pricing service, review of pricing statistics and trends, and comparison of prices for certain securities with two different appropriate price sources for reasonableness. Following this analysis, the Company generally uses the best estimate of fair value based upon all available inputs. On infrequent occasions, a non-pricing service source may be more familiar with the market activity for a particular security than the pricing service. In these cases the price used is taken from the non-pricing service source. The pricing service provides information to indicate which securities were priced using market observable inputs so that the Company can properly categorize our financial assets in the fair value hierarchy.


Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
The Company also measures the fair value of certain assets on a non-recurring basis, generally on an annual basis, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. These assets include commercial mortgage loans, goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets.
For its 2015 fourth quarter annual goodwill impairment tests, a qualitative assessment was performed. Based on this assessment, it was determined that it was not necessary to perform a Step 1 quantitative goodwill impairment test for the Company and that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value continues to exceed its net book value at year-end 2015.
For its 2014 and 2013 fourth quarter annual goodwill impairment tests, the Company performed a Step 1 analysis. Based on these analyses, it was determined that goodwill was not impaired. See Note 14 for further information.
The Company utilizes both the income and market valuation approaches to measure its fair value when required. Under the income approach, the Company determined the fair value considering distributable earnings, which were estimated from operating plans. The resulting cash flows were then discounted using a market participant weighted average cost of capital. After discounting the future discrete earnings to their present value, the Company estimated the terminal value attributable to the years beyond the discrete operating plan period. The discounted terminal value was then added to the aggregate discounted distributable earnings from the discrete operating plan period to estimate the fair value. Under the market approach, the Company derived the fair value based on various financial multiples, including but not limited to: price to tangible book value of equity, price to estimated 2015 earnings and price to estimated 2016 earnings, which were estimated based on publicly available data related to comparable guideline companies. In addition, financial multiples were also estimated from publicly available purchase price data for acquisitions of companies operating in the insurance industry. The estimated fair value was more heavily weighted towards the income approach because in the current economic environment the earnings capacity of a business is generally considered the most important factor in the valuation of a business enterprise. This fair value determination was categorized as Level 3 (unobservable) in the fair value hierarchy.
There was no remaining goodwill or other intangible assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis on which an impairment charge was recorded as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Disclosures
The financial instruments guidance requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, as defined therein, for which it is practicable to estimate such fair value. Therefore, it requires fair value disclosure for financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. However, this guidance excludes certain financial instruments, including those related to insurance contracts and those accounted for under the equity method and joint ventures guidance (such as real estate joint ventures).
For the financial instruments included within the following financial assets and financial liabilities, the carrying value in the consolidated balance sheets equals or approximates fair value. Please refer to the Fair Value Inputs and Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Liabilities Disclosures section above for more information on the financial instruments included within the following financial assets and financial liabilities and the methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value:
•  Cash and cash equivalents
•  Fixed maturity securities
•  Equity securities
•  Short-term investments
•  Collateral held/pledged under securities agreements
•  Other assets
•  Assets held in separate accounts
•  Liabilities related to separate accounts
In estimating the fair value of the financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, the Company used the following methods and assumptions:
Commercial mortgage loans: the fair values of mortgage loans are estimated using discounted cash flow models. The model inputs include mortgage amortization schedules and loan provisions, an internally developed credit spread based on the credit risk associated with the borrower and the U.S. Treasury spot curve. Mortgage loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations.
Policy loans: the carrying value of policy loans reported in the balance sheets approximates fair value.
Other investments: Other investments include Certified Capital Company and low income housing tax credits which are recorded at amortized cost. The carrying value reported for these investments approximates fair value. Due to the nature of these investments, there is a lack of liquidity in the primary market which results in the holdings being classified as Level 3.
Policy reserves under investment products: the fair values for the Company's policy reserves under investment products are determined using discounted cash flow analysis. Key inputs to the valuation include projections of policy cash flows, reserve run-off, market yields and risk margins.
Obligations under securities agreements: obligation under securities agreements is reported at the amount of cash received from the selected broker/dealers.
The following tables disclose the carrying value, fair value amount and hierarchy level of the financial instruments that are not recognized or are not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets:
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
 Value
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate
$
420,569

 
$
443,678

 
$

 
$

 
$
443,678

Policy loans
10,031

 
10,031

 
10,031

 

 

Other investments
365

 
365

 

 

 
365

Total financial assets
$
430,965

 
$
454,074

 
$
10,031

 
$

 
$
444,043

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policy reserves under investment products (Individual and group annuities, subject to discretionary withdrawal) (1)
$
220,053

 
$
240,124

 
$

 
$

 
$
240,124

 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
 Value
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage loans on real estate
$
499,814

 
$
569,754

 
$

 
$

 
$
569,754

Policy loans
11,663

 
11,663

 
11,663

 

 

Other investments
944

 
944

 

 

 
944

Total financial assets
$
512,421

 
$
582,361

 
$
11,663

 
$

 
$
570,698

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Policy reserves under investment products
 (Individual and group annuities, subject to
 discretionary withdrawal) (1)
$
227,240

 
$
255,472

 
$

 
$

 
$
255,472

Obligation under securities agreements
42,941

 
42,941

 
42,941

 

 

Total financial liabilities
$
270,181

 
$
298,413

 
$
42,941

 
$

 
$
255,472

(1)  Only the fair value of the Company's policy reserves for investment-type contracts (those without significant mortality or morbidity risk) are reflected in the table above.