Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For Quarterly Period Ended
September 30, 2018
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from _____ to _____
 
Commission File Number: 001-15204
 
Kingsway Financial Services Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_________________________
Ontario, Canada
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
45 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 400 Toronto, Ontario M4V 1K9
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
1-416-848-1171
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
_________________________

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T ( 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller Reporting Company x
Emerging Growth Company o
 
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
The number of shares, including restricted common shares, outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of November 9, 2018 was 22,380,178.


KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Table Of Contents
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
 
SIGNATURES
 


















 
2
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
 
 
September 30, 2018

 
December 31, 2017

 
 
(unaudited)

 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $11,316 and $14,707, respectively)
 
$
11,076

 
$
14,541

Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $2,038 and $4,854, respectively)
 
1,334

 
4,476

Limited liability investments
 
6,230

 
4,922

Limited liability investment, at fair value
 
4,529

 
5,771

Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value
 
1,917

 
2,321

Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value
 
151

 
151

Total investments
 
25,237

 
32,182

Cash and cash equivalents
 
23,591

 
20,774

Investment in investee
 
2,827

 
5,230

Accrued investment income
 
194

 
331

Service fee receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $331 and $318, respectively
 
6,747

 
4,286

Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of zero and zero, respectively
 
7,877

 
6,536

Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
6,899

 
6,325

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $14,875 and $11,683, respectively
 
104,196

 
108,008

Goodwill
 
73,928

 
80,112

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $10,232 and $8,333, respectively
 
84,359

 
80,062

Other assets
 
2,560

 
4,302

Assets held for sale
 
133,365

 
136,452

Total Assets
 
$
471,780

 
$
484,600

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
2,292

 
$
1,329

Note payable
 
183,561

 
186,469

Bank loan
 
4,167

 
4,917

Subordinated debt, at fair value
 
53,614

 
52,105

Net deferred income tax liabilities
 
28,472

 
28,745

Deferred service fees
 
46,275

 
42,257

Income taxes payable
 
2,501

 
2,644

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
11,492

 
10,924

Liabilities held for sale
 
107,076

 
105,900

Total Liabilities
 
439,450

 
435,290

 
 
 
 
 
Class A preferred stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 222,876 and 222,876 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively; redemption amount of $5,572
 
5,486

 
5,461

 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' Equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 21,708,190 and 21,708,190 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
 

 

Additional paid-in capital
 
354,141

 
356,021

Accumulated deficit
 
(369,771
)
 
(313,487
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
36,961

 
(3,852
)
Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders
 
21,331

 
38,682

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
 
5,513

 
5,167

Total Shareholders' Equity
 
26,844

 
43,849

Total Liabilities, Class A preferred stock and Shareholders' Equity
 
$
471,780

 
$
484,600


See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 
3
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service fee and commission income
 
$
9,104

 
$
7,670

 
$
28,938

 
$
20,738

Rental income
 
3,341

 
3,345

 
10,033

 
10,041

Net investment (loss) income
 
(84
)
 
1,289

 
(697
)
 
126

Net realized losses
 
(414
)
 

 
(405
)
 
(1
)
Gain on change in fair value of equity investments
 
337

 

 
951

 

Other income
 
15

 
692

 
1,323

 
1,261

Total revenues
 
12,299

 
12,996

 
40,143

 
32,165

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Claims authorized on vehicle service agreements
 
1,442

 
1,387

 
4,206

 
4,066

Loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
(19
)
 
266

 
1,628

 
266

Commissions
 
971

 
525

 
2,843

 
2,154

Cost of services sold
 
2,033

 
1,951

 
5,749

 
4,546

General and administrative expenses
 
5,410

 
6,515

 
20,078

 
18,740

Leased real estate segment interest expense
 
1,540

 
1,563

 
4,638

 
4,706

Total operating expenses
 
11,377

 
12,207

 
39,142

 
34,478

Operating income (loss)
 
922

 
789

 
1,001

 
(2,313
)
Other expenses (revenues), net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense not allocated to segments
 
1,571

 
1,261

 
4,476

 
3,636

Amortization of intangible assets
 
1,356

 
286

 
1,899

 
866

Contingent consideration benefit
 

 

 

 
(212
)
Loss on change in fair value of debt
 
1,450

 
1,178

 
2,511

 
5,769

Gain on disposal of subsidiary
 

 

 
(17
)
 

Equity in net loss (income) of investee
 
339

 
897

 
623

 
(1,343
)
Total other expenses, net
 
4,716

 
3,622

 
9,492

 
8,716

Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
 
(3,794
)
 
(2,833
)
 
(8,491
)
 
(11,029
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
(147
)
 
120

 
291

 
1,636

Loss from continuing operations
 
(3,647
)
 
(2,953
)
 
(8,782
)
 
(12,665
)
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
740

 
1,391

 
2,069

 
960

(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
(1,172
)
 

 
(7,800
)
 
1,017

Net loss
 
(4,079
)
 
(1,562
)
 
(14,513
)
 
(10,688
)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
 
110

 
79

 
353

 
284

Less: dividends on preferred stock, net of tax
 
132

 
(115
)
 
391

 
213

Net loss attributable to common shareholders
 
$
(4,321
)
 
$
(1,526
)
 
$
(15,257
)
 
$
(11,185
)
Loss per share - continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
(0.61
)
Diluted:
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
(0.61
)
(Loss) earnings per share - discontinued operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.06

 
$
(0.26
)
 
$
0.09

Diluted:
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.06

 
$
(0.26
)
 
$
0.09

Loss per share – net loss attributable to common shareholders:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
$
(0.20
)
 
$
(0.07
)
 
$
(0.70
)
 
$
(0.52
)
Diluted:
 
$
(0.20
)
 
$
(0.07
)
 
$
(0.70
)
 
$
(0.52
)
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in ‘000s):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic:
 
21,708

 
21,559

 
21,708

 
21,492

Diluted:
 
21,708

 
21,559

 
21,708

 
21,492


See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 
4
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(4,079
)
 
$
(1,562
)
 
$
(14,513
)
 
$
(10,688
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized losses arising during the period
 
(44
)
 
(3,262
)
 
(481
)
 
(4,489
)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net loss
 
6

 
764

 
(5
)
 
735

Change in fair value of debt attributable to instrument-specific credit risk
 
658

 

 
1,002

 

Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of limited liability investment
 
19

 

 
(205
)
 

Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
639

 
(2,498
)
 
311

 
(3,754
)
Comprehensive loss
 
(3,440
)
 
(4,060
)
 
(14,202
)
 
(14,442
)
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
 
109

 
79

 
346

 
287

Comprehensive loss attributable to common shareholders
 
$
(3,549
)
 
$
(4,139
)
 
$
(14,548
)
 
$
(14,729
)
(1) Net of income tax (benefit) expense of $0 and $0 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 
5
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(14,513
)
 
$
(10,688
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
(2,069
)
 
(960
)
Loss (gain) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
7,800

 
(1,017
)
Equity in net loss (income) of investee
 
623

 
(1,343
)
Dividend received from investee
 
780

 

Equity in net (income) loss of limited liability investments
 
(275
)
 
258

Loss on change in fair value of limited liability investment
 
1,492

 
372

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
5,149

 
4,089

Contingent consideration benefit
 

 
(212
)
Stock-based compensation (benefit) expense, net of forfeitures
 
(1,881
)
 
887

Net realized losses
 
405

 
1

Gain on change in fair value of equity investments
 
(951
)
 

Loss on change in fair value of debt
 
2,511

 
5,769

Deferred income taxes
 
(273
)
 
1,123

Amortization of fixed maturities premiums and discounts
 
47

 
72

Amortization of note payable premium
 
(707
)
 
(722
)
Gain on disposal of subsidiary
 
17

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Service fee receivable, net
 
(2,461
)
 
(1,311
)
Other receivables, net
 
(1,341
)
 
(2,663
)
Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
(574
)
 
(414
)
Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
963

 
(708
)
Deferred service fees
 
4,018

 
1,603

Other, net
 
(2,617
)
 
3,623

Cash used in operating activities - continuing operations
 
(3,857
)
 
(2,241
)
Cash used in operating activities - discontinued operations
 
(12,670
)
 
(11,283
)
Net cash used in operating activities
 
(16,527
)
 
(13,524
)
Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturities
 
5,241

 
982

Proceeds from sales of equity investments
 
4,966

 

Purchases of fixed maturities
 
(1,885
)
 
(192
)
Purchases of equity investments
 
(857
)
 
(4,654
)
Net acquisitions of limited liability investments
 
(1,489
)
 
(1,650
)
Net proceeds from other investments
 
404

 
3

Net proceeds from short-term investments
 

 
250

Proceeds from sale of investee
 
1,001

 

Proceeds from disposal of subsidiary
 
565

 

Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations
 
1,129

 
860

Net disposals of property and equipment
 
550

 
34

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations
 
9,625

 
(4,367
)
Cash provided by investing activities - discontinued operations
 
7,270

 
13,981

Net cash provided by investing activities
 
16,895

 
9,614

Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Principal payments on bank loan
 
(750
)
 

Principal payments on note payable
 
(2,201
)
 
(1,951
)
Cash used in financing activities - continuing operations
 
(2,951
)
 
(1,951
)
Cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations
 

 

Net cash used in financing activities
 
(2,951
)
 
(1,951
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations
 
2,817

 
(8,559
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
44,286

 
36,475

Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations at begininng of period
 
23,512

 
4,524

Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of period
 
20,774

 
31,951

Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of period
 
$
23,591

 
$
23,392


See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 
6
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018








NOTE 1 BUSINESS
Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (the "Company" or "Kingsway") was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on September 19, 1989. Kingsway is a Canadian holding company with operating subsidiaries located in the United States. The Company owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the extended warranty, asset management and real estate industries.

NOTE 2 BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements of the Company. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net loss or total shareholders' equity.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included within our Annual Report on Form 10-K ("2017 Annual Report") for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates and their underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. The critical accounting estimates and assumptions in the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements include the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses; valuation of fixed maturities and equity investments; impairment assessment of investments; valuation of limited liability investment, at fair value; valuation of deferred income taxes; valuation and impairment assessment of intangible assets; goodwill recoverability; deferred acquisition costs; and fair value assumptions for subordinated debt obligations.
The fair values of the Company's investments in fixed maturities and equity investments, limited liability investment, at fair value and subordinated debt are estimated using a fair value hierarchy to categorize the inputs it uses in valuation techniques. Fair values for other investments approximate their unpaid principal balance. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate fair values for cash, short-term investments and certain other assets and other liabilities because of their short-term nature.
The Company's financial results contained herein are reported in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 3 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
There have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies as reported in our 2017 Annual Report.
NOTE 4 RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
(a)    Adoption of New Accounting Standards:
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU 2014-09"), and the related amendments, utilizing the modified retrospective approach, which created a new comprehensive revenue recognition standard that serves as the single source of revenue guidance for all contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Insurance contracts, lease contracts and investments are not within the scope of ASU 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 is applicable to the Company's service fee and commission income. Service fee and commission income represents vehicle service agreement fees, maintenance support service fees, warranty product commissions, homebuilder warranty service fees and

 
7
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







homebuilder warranty commissions based on terms of various agreements with credit unions, consumers, businesses and homebuilders. With the exception of homebuilder warranty service fees, which is discussed further below, the adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not change the way the Company recognized revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The new guidance affects Professional Warranty Service Corporation's ("PWSC") homebuilder warranty service fees, which will be recognized more slowly as compared to the historic revenue recognition pattern prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-09. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company corrected its initial adoption of ASU 2014-09 and applied the expected cost plus a margin approach to develop models to estimate the standalone selling price for each of PWSC’s performance obligations in order to allocate the transaction price to the two separate performance obligations identified. Prior to applying this approach, the Company used a different methodology to allocate the transaction price to the two separate performance obligations. This expected cost plus a margin approach will result in the Company recognizing homebuilder warranty service fees more slowly compared to the previously calculated revenue recognition pattern initially utilized during the six months ended June 30, 2018. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded an adjustment to decrease service fee and commission income by $1.0 million and increase deferred service fees by $1.0 million related to the correction of our prior accounting for PWSC’s homebuilder warranty service fees during the six months ended June 30, 2018. The effect of this adjustment on our previously reported revenues, loss from continuing operations, net loss and loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, is as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended March 31, 2018
 
 
Three months ended June 30, 2018
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2018
 
 
 
As Reported (1)
 
Adjustment
 
As Adjusted
 
As Reported
 
Adjustment
 
As Adjusted
 
As Reported
 
Adjustment
 
As Adjusted
Total revenues
 
$
14,000

 
$
(497
)
 
$
13,503

 
$
13,670

 
$
(493
)
 
$
13,177

 
$
27,670

 
$
(990
)
 
$
26,680

Loss from continuing operations
 
(2,435
)
 
(497
)
 
(2,932
)
 
(2,706
)
 
(493
)
 
(3,199
)
 
(5,141
)
 
(990
)
 
(6,131
)
Net loss
 
(2,028
)
 
(497
)
 
(2,525
)
 
(8,406
)
 
(493
)
 
(8,899
)
 
(10,434
)
 
(990
)
 
(11,424
)
Loss per share - continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$
(0.15
)
 
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.16
)
 
$
(0.26
)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(0.31
)
Diluted
 
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$
(0.15
)
 
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.16
)
 
$
(0.26
)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(0.31
)
Loss per share - net loss attributable to common shareholders:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
(0.11
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.13
)
 
$
(0.40
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.42
)
 
$
(0.50
)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(0.55
)
Diluted
 
$
(0.11
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.13
)
 
$
(0.40
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.42
)
 
$
(0.50
)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(0.55
)
(1) The Company did not report discontinued operations in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2018; however, the Company is presenting the As Reported column for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as if it had reported total revenues from continuing operations, loss from continuing operations and loss per share from continuing operations to be comparable to the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 as presented in the table above.

As a result of the adoption of ASU 2014-09, the Company also recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to increase accumulated deficit by $0.5 million and increase deferred service fees by $0.5 million. Prior periods have not been restated to conform to the current presentation. Refer to Note 14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," for further details.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"). The amendments in ASU 2016-01 address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. Most significantly, ASU 2016-01 requires (1) equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of an investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss); and (2) an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income (loss) the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. Previously, the Company recorded its equity investments at fair value with net unrealized gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recorded its subordinated debt at fair value with the total change in fair value reported in net income (loss). As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-01, at January 1, 2018 cumulative net unrealized losses on equity investments of $0.0 million were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into accumulated deficit and a cumulative $40.5 million change in fair value of subordinated debt attributable to instrument-specific credit risk was reclassified from accumulated deficit to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Prior periods have not been restated to conform to the current presentation.
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15"). The objective of ASU 2016-15 is to reduce diversity in the classification of cash receipts and payments for specific

 
8
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







cash flow issues, including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination and proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims. The adoption of the standard did not affect the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows.

Effective July 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2018-07"). ASU 2018-07 was issued to simplify the accounting for share-based transactions by expanding the scope of Topic 718 from only being applicable to share-based payments to employees to also include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company granted restricted common stock awards to a nonemployee. Refer to Note 17, "Stock-Based Compensation," for further details.

(b)    Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted:
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 was issued to improve the financial reporting of leasing transactions. Under current guidance for lessees, leases are only included on the balance sheet if certain criteria, classifying the agreement as a capital lease, are met. This update will require the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, discounted to the present value, for all leases that extend beyond 12 months. For operating leases, the asset and liability will be expensed over the lease term on a straight-line basis, with all cash flows included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability will be recognized separately from the amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statement of comprehensive income and the repayment of the principal portion of the lease liability will be classified as a financing activity while the interest component will be included in the operating section of the statement of cash flows. The accounting treatment for lessors will remain relatively unchanged. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, leases will be recognized and measured at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effect of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"). ASU 2016-13 replaces the current incurred loss model used to measure impairment losses with an expected loss model for trade, reinsurance, and other receivables as well as financial instruments measured at amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 will require a financial asset measured at amortized cost, including reinsurance balances recoverable, to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by means of an allowance for credit losses that runs through net loss. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. However, the amendments would limit the amount of the allowance to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The measurement of credit losses on available-for-sale investments is similar under current GAAP, but the update requires the use of the allowance account through which amounts can be reversed, rather than through an irreversible write-down. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018 and interim periods within such year. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2016-13 to determine the potential impact that adopting this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-04"). ASU 2017-04 was issued to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. This update changes the impairment test by requiring an entity to compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount as opposed to comparing the carrying amount of goodwill with its implied fair value. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 5 ACQUISITION, DISPOSAL AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
(a)     Acquisition
Professional Warranty Service Corporation:

On October 12, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of PWSC for cash consideration of $10.0 million. As further discussed in Note 19, "Segmented Information," PWSC is included in the Extended Warranty segment. PWSC is based in Virginia and is a leading provider of new home warranty products and administration services to the largest tier of domestic residential construction firms in the United States. This acquisition allows the Company to grow its portfolio of warranty companies and expand into the home warranty business.

 
9
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018








This acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. The purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company completed its fair value analysis of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill of $2.9 million was recognized. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. Separately identifiable intangible assets of $6.2 million were recognized resulting from the valuations of acquired customer relationships, non-compete agreement and trade name. Refer to Note 9, "Intangible Assets," for further disclosure of the intangible assets related to this acquisition.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
October 12, 2017

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
2,071

Other receivables
 
50

Service fee receivable
 
1,422

Deferred tax asset
 
118

Property and equipment
 
238

Goodwill
 
2,867

Intangible assets - subject to amortization
 
5,569

Intangible asset - not subject to amortization
 
627

Other assets
 
206

Total assets
 
$
13,168

 
 
 
Deferred service fees
 
$
2,079

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
1,089

Total liabilities
 
$
3,168

 
 
 
Purchase price
 
$
10,000

(b)     Disposition
On June 1, 2018, the Company disposed of its subsidiary, Itasca Real Estate Investors, LLC ("Itasca Real Estate"). As a result of the disposal, the Company recognized a gain of $0.0 million during the second quarter of 2018. The earnings of Itasca Real Estate are included in the consolidated statements of operations through the June 1, 2018 disposal date.
(c)     Discontinued Operations
Mendota Insurance Company, Mendakota Insurance Company and Mendakota Casualty Company:
On July 16, 2018, the Company announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its non-standard automobile insurance companies Mendota Insurance Company, Mendakota Insurance Company and Mendakota Casualty Company (collectively "Mendota"). On October 18, 2018, the Company completed the previously announced sale of Mendota. The final aggregate purchase price of $28.6 million was redeployed primarily to acquire equity investments, limited liability investments, limited liability investment, at fair value and other investments, which were owned by Mendota at the time of the closing, and to fund $5.0 million into an escrow account to be used to satisfy potential indemnity obligations under the definitive stock purchase agreement. As part of the transaction, the Company will indemnify the buyer for any loss and loss adjustment expenses with respect to open claims and certain specified claims in excess of Mendota's carried unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses at June 30, 2018. The maximum obligation to the Company with respect to the open claims is $2.5 million. There is no maximum obligation to the Company with respect to the specified claims.

As a result of this announcement, Mendota, previously disclosed as part of the Insurance Underwriting segment, has been classified as a discontinued operation and the results of their operations are reported separately for all periods presented. The Company recognized a loss on disposal of Mendota of $1.2 million and $9.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30,

 
10
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







2018, as a result of adjusting the net carrying value of Mendota to be equal to the final purchase price. The assets and liabilities of Mendota are presented as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd.:
On April 1, 2015, the Company closed on the sale of its subsidiary, Assigned Risk Solutions Ltd. ("ARS").  The terms of the sale provided for receipt by the Company of future earnout payments equal to 1.25% of ARS' written premium and fee income during the earnout periods. The earnout payments were payable in three annual installments beginning in April 2016 through April 2018. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company received cash consideration, before expenses, of $1.7 million for the third annual installment earnout payment. Net of expenses, the Company recorded an additional gain on disposal of ARS of $1.3 million and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. As a result of the sale, ARS, previously disclosed as part of the Extended Warranty (formerly Insurance Services) segment, has been classified as a discontinued operation.
Summary financial information for Mendota and ARS included in (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes in the statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 is presented below:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
16,727

 
$
32,556

 
$
68,319

 
$
98,996

Net investment income
 
563

 
1,652

 
1,082

 
1,174

Net realized gains
 
130

 
1,976

 
132

 
3,109

(Loss) gain on change in fair value of equity investments
 
(122
)
 

 
115

 

Other income
 
2,184

 
2,467

 
7,060

 
7,490

Total revenues
 
19,482

 
38,651

 
76,708

 
110,769

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
14,104

 
27,732

 
55,832

 
79,053

Commissions and premium taxes
 
713

 
5,128

 
7,102

 
15,762

General and administrative expenses
 
3,925

 
4,400

 
11,705

 
14,829

Impairment of intangible assets
 

 

 

 
250

Total expenses
 
18,742

 
37,260

 
74,639

 
109,894

Income from discontinued operations before income tax benefit
 
740

 
1,391

 
2,069

 
875

Income tax benefit
 

 

 

 
(85
)
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
740

 
1,391

 
2,069

 
960

(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations before income tax expense
 
(1,172
)
 

 
(7,800
)
 
1,017

Income tax expense
 

 

 

 

(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
(1,172
)
 

 
(7,800
)
 
1,017

Total (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
$
(432
)
 
$
1,391

 
$
(5,731
)
 
$
1,977









 
11
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







The assets and liabilities of Mendota are presented as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets. The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities of Mendota at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows:
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, at fair value
 
$
40,910

 
$
38,673

Equity investments, at fair value
 
242
 
4,518
Limited liability investments
 
16,236
 
20,251
Limited liability investment, at fair value
 
3,453
 
4,543
Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value
 
1,400
 
1,400
Total investments
 
62,241
 
69,385
Cash and cash equivalents
 
18,112
 
23,512
Accrued investment income
 
247

 
195

Premiums receivable, net
 
25,243

 
27,855

Other receivables
 
1

 
603

Deferred acquisition costs, net
 
1,130

 
6,720

Property and equipment, net
 
138

 
222

Intangible assets, net
 

 
7,553

Other assets
 
26,253

 
407

Assets held for sale
 
$
133,365

 
$
136,452

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
56,332

 
$
62,323

Unearned premiums
 
31,159

 
36,686

Net deferred income tax liabilities
 

 
1,586

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
19,585

 
5,305

Liabilities held for sale
 
$
107,076

 
$
105,900



NOTE 6 INVESTMENTS

As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01. As a result of the adoption, equity investments are no longer classified as available-for-sale. Prior periods have not been restated to conform to the current presentation.
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and estimated fair value of the Company's available-for-sale investments at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are summarized in the tables shown below:
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Amortized Cost

 
Gross Unrealized Gains

 
Gross Unrealized Losses

 
Estimated  Fair Value

Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
 
$
5,504

 
$

 
$
75

 
$
5,429

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
622

 

 
21

 
601

Mortgage-backed
 
2,618

 

 
92

 
2,526

Corporate
 
2,572

 

 
52

 
2,520

Total fixed maturities
 
$
11,316

 
$

 
$
240

 
$
11,076



 
12
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(in thousands)
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
Amortized Cost

 
Gross Unrealized Gains

 
Gross Unrealized Losses

 
Estimated  Fair Value

Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
 
$
5,671

 
$

 
$
59

 
$
5,612

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
639

 

 
13

 
626

Mortgage-backed
 
2,933

 

 
57

 
2,876

Corporate
 
5,464

 

 
37

 
5,427

Total fixed maturities
 
14,707

 

 
166

 
14,541

Equity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
3,883

 

 
313

 
3,570

Warrants - publicly traded
 
11

 
47

 

 
58

Warrants - not publicly traded
 
960

 
173

 
285

 
848

Total equity investments
 
4,854

 
220

 
598

 
4,476

Total fixed maturities and equity investments
 
$
19,561

 
$
220

 
$
764

 
$
19,017


Net unrealized gains and losses in the tables above are reported as other comprehensive income (loss) with the exception of net unrealized losses of $0.1 million, at December 31, 2017, related to warrants - not publicly traded, which are reported in the consolidated statements of operations.
The table below summarizes the Company's fixed maturities at September 30, 2018 by contractual maturity periods. Actual results may differ as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without penalties, prior to the contractual maturity of these obligations.
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Amortized Cost

 
Estimated Fair Value

Due in one year or less
 
$
5,138

 
$
5,117

Due after one year through five years
 
4,937

 
4,781

Due after five years through ten years
 
125

 
117

Due after ten years
 
1,116

 
1,061

Total
 
$
11,316

 
$
11,076



 
13
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







The following tables highlight the aggregate unrealized loss position, by security type, of available-for-sale investments in unrealized loss positions as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The tables segregate the holdings based on the period of time the investments have been continuously held in unrealized loss positions.
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
Greater than 12 Months
 
Total
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
$
2,342

 
$
3

 
$
3,087

 
$
72

 
$
5,429

 
$
75

States, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

 
602

 
21

 
602

 
21

Mortgage-backed
369

 
9

 
2,157

 
83

 
2,526

 
92

Corporate
368

 
2

 
2,152

 
50

 
2,520

 
52

Total fixed maturities
$
3,079

 
$
14

 
$
7,998

 
$
226

 
$
11,077

 
$
240


(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
Greater than 12 Months
 
Total
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
$
4,067

 
$
50

 
$
1,545

 
$
9

 
$
5,612

 
$
59

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
626

 
13

 

 

 
626

 
13

Mortgage-backed
2,876

 
57

 

 

 
2,876

 
57

Corporate
2,427

 
37

 

 

 
2,427

 
37

Total fixed maturities
9,996

 
157

 
1,545

 
9

 
11,541

 
166

Equity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
3,570

 
313

 

 

 
3,570

 
313

Warrants
675

 
285

 

 

 
675

 
285

Total equity investments
4,245

 
598

 

 

 
4,245

 
598

Total
$
14,241

 
$
755

 
$
1,545

 
$
9

 
$
15,786

 
$
764

There are approximately 64 and 68 individual available-for-sale investments that were in unrealized loss positions as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. 
The establishment of an other-than-temporary impairment on an investment requires a number of judgments and estimates. The Company performs a quarterly analysis of the individual investments to determine if declines in market value are other-than-temporary. The analysis includes some or all of the following procedures as deemed appropriate by the Company:
identifying all unrealized loss positions that have existed for at least six months;
identifying other circumstances management believes may affect the recoverability of the unrealized loss positions;
obtaining a valuation analysis from third-party investment managers regarding the intrinsic value of these investments based on their knowledge and experience together with market-based valuation techniques;
reviewing the trading range of certain investments over the preceding calendar period;

 
14
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







assessing if declines in market value are other-than-temporary for debt instruments based on the investment grade credit ratings from third-party rating agencies;
assessing if declines in market value are other-than-temporary for any debt instrument with a non-investment grade credit rating based on the continuity of its debt service record;
determining the necessary provision for declines in market value that are considered other-than-temporary based on the analyses performed; and
assessing the Company's ability and intent to hold these investments at least until the investment impairment is recovered.
The risks and uncertainties inherent in the assessment methodology used to determine declines in market value that are other-than-temporary include, but may not be limited to, the following:
the opinions of professional investment managers could be incorrect;
the past trading patterns of individual investments may not reflect future valuation trends;
the credit ratings assigned by independent credit rating agencies may be incorrect due to unforeseen or unknown facts related to a company's financial situation; and
the debt service pattern of non-investment grade instruments may not reflect future debt service capabilities and may not reflect a company's unknown underlying financial problems.
As a result of the analysis performed by the Company to determine declines in market value that are other-than-temporary, there were no write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments related to investments recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.
The Company has reviewed currently available information regarding investments with estimated fair values less than their carrying amounts and believes these unrealized losses are not other-than-temporary and are primarily due to temporary market and sector-related factors rather than to issuer-specific factors. The Company does not intend to sell those investments, and it is not likely it will be required to sell those investments before recovery of its amortized cost.
The Company does not have any exposure to subprime mortgage-backed investments.
Limited liability investments include investments in limited liability companies and limited partnerships. The Company's interests in these investments are not deemed minor and, therefore, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The most recently available financial statements are used in applying the equity method. The difference between the end of the reporting period of the limited liability entities and that of the Company is no more than three months. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of limited liability investments totaled $6.2 million and $4.9 million, respectively. Income or loss from limited liability investments is recognized based on the Company's share of the earnings of the limited liability entities and is included in net investment (loss) income.
Limited liability investment, at fair value represents the Company's investment in 15.9% of the outstanding units of 1347 Investors LLC ("1347 Investors"). The Company has made an irrevocable election to account for this investment at fair value. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of the Company's limited liability investment, at fair value was $4.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively.
Other investments include collateral loans and are reported at their unpaid principal balance. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of other investments totaled $1.9 million and $2.3 million, respectively.
The Company had previously entered into two separate performance share grant agreements with 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. ("PIH"), whereby the Company will be entitled to receive up to an aggregate of 475,000 shares of PIH common stock upon achievement of certain milestones for PIH’s stock price. Pursuant to the performance share grant agreements, if at any time the last sales price of PIH’s common stock equals or exceeds: (i) $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, the Company will receive 100,000 shares of PIH common stock; (ii) $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, the Company will receive 125,000 shares of PIH common stock (in addition to the 100,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clause (i) herein); (iii) $15.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, the Company will receive 125,000 shares of PIH common stock (in addition to the 225,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) herein); and (iv) $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, the Company will receive 125,000 shares of PIH common stock (in addition to the 350,000 shares of common stock earned pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) herein). To the extent shares of PIH common stock are granted to the Company under either of the performance share grant

 
15
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







agreements, they will be recorded at the time the shares are granted and will have a valuation equal to the last sales price of PIH common stock on the day prior to such grant.
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with PIH to cancel the $10.00 per share performance shares grant agreement in exchange for cash consideration of $0.3 million. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with PIH to cancel the $12.00 per share, $15.00 per share and $18.00 per share performance share grant agreement in exchange for cash consideration of $1.0 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded a gain, included in gain on change in fair value of equity investments in the consolidated statements of operations, of $1.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to these transactions. No shares were received by the Company under either of the performance share grant agreements as of September 30, 2018.
Net investment (loss) income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 is comprised as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Investment (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Interest from fixed maturities
 
$
73

 
$
51

 
$
163

 
$
134

Dividends
 
54

 
98

 
162

 
294

Income (loss) from limited liability investments
 
111

 
(92
)
 
275

 
(258
)
(Loss) gain on change in fair value of limited liability investment, at fair value
 
(340
)
 
1,126

 
(1,492
)
 
(394
)
(Loss) gain on change in fair value of warrants - not publicly traded
 

 
(25
)
 

 
22

Other
 
22

 
135

 
216

 
347

Gross investment (loss) income
 
(80
)
 
1,293

 
(676
)
 
145

Investment expenses
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(21
)
 
(19
)
Net investment (loss) income
 
$
(84
)
 
$
1,289

 
$
(697
)
 
$
126

Gross realized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments and limited liability investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 are comprised as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Gross realized gains
 
$

 
$

 
$
10

 
$

Gross realized losses
 
(414
)
 

 
(415
)
 
(1
)
Net realized losses
 
$
(414
)
 
$

 
$
(405
)
 
$
(1
)

Gain on change in fair value of equity investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 is comprised as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Net gains recognized on equity investments sold during the period
 
$
905

 
$

 
$
1,450

 
$

Change in unrealized losses on equity investments held at end of the period
 
(568
)
 

 
(499
)
 

Gain on change in fair value of equity investments
 
$
337

 
$

 
$
951

 
$

Fixed maturities and short-term investments with an estimated fair value of $1.9 million and $1.8 million were on deposit with state and provincial regulatory authorities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. From time to time, the Company pledges investments to third parties as deposits or to collateralize liabilities incurred under its policies of insurance. The amount of such pledged investments was $1.2 million and $1.1 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 
16
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







NOTE 7 INVESTMENT IN INVESTEE
Investment in investee includes the Company's investment in the common stock of Itasca Capital Ltd. ("ICL") and is accounted for under the equity method. The Company's investment in ICL is recorded on a three-month lag basis. The carrying value, estimated fair value and approximate equity percentage for the Company's investment in investee at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
(in thousands, except for percentages)
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Equity Percentage
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Equity Percentage
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
ICL
 
22.9
%
 
$
2,389

 
$
2,827

 
31.2
%
 
$
3,816

 
$
5,230


The estimated fair value of the Company's investment in ICL at September 30, 2018 in the table above is calculated based on the published closing price of ICL at June 30, 2018 to be consistent with the three-month lag in reporting its carrying value under the equity method. The estimated fair value of the Company's investment in ICL based on the published closing price of ICL at September 30, 2018 is $1.7 million.
Prior to the third quarter of 2018, the Company owned 6,799,499 shares of ICL common stock. On July 30, 2018, the Company executed an agreement to sell 1,813,889 shares of ICL common stock, having a carrying value of $1.3 million, for $1.0 million. As a result, the Company recorded a loss of $0.3 million on the sale, which is reflected in equity in net loss of investee in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, and reduced its ownership percentage in ICL to 22.9%.

Also during the third quarter of 2018, the Company received a dividend of $0.8 million from ICL. As a result of the sale and dividend, the carrying value of the Company’s remaining investment in shares of ICL common stock was reduced from $4.9 million as of June 30, 2018 to $2.8 million as of September 30, 2018.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, equity in net loss of investee was $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively (loss of $0.6 million and income of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively).

NOTE 8 DEFERRED ACQUISITION COSTS
Policy acquisition costs consist primarily of commissions and agency expenses incurred related to successful efforts to acquire vehicle service agreements. Acquisition costs deferred on vehicle service agreements are amortized over the period in which the related revenues are earned.
The components of deferred acquisition costs and the related amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 are comprised as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Beginning balance, net
 
$
6,662

 
$
6,054

 
$
6,325

 
$
5,827

Additions
 
1,047

 
1,255

 
3,545

 
3,572

Amortization
 
(810
)
 
(1,068
)
 
(2,971
)
 
(3,158
)
Balance at September 30, net
 
$
6,899

 
$
6,241

 
$
6,899

 
$
6,241


 
17
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







NOTE 9 INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are comprised as follows:
(in thousands)
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Gross Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Value
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Database
 
$
4,918

 
$
2,890

 
$
2,028

Vehicle service agreements in-force
 
3,680

 
3,663

 
17

Customer relationships
 
8,914

 
3,327

 
5,587

In-place lease
 
1,125

 
139

 
986

Contract-based revenues
 
731

 
162

 
569

Non-compete
 
266

 
51

 
215

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tenant relationship
 
73,667

 

 
73,667

Trade names
 
1,290

 

 
1,290

Total
 
$
94,591

 
$
10,232

 
$
84,359


(in thousands)
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
Gross Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Value
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Database
 
$
4,918

 
$
2,521

 
$
2,397

Vehicle service agreements in-force
 
3,680

 
3,640

 
40

Customer relationships
 
3,611

 
1,965

 
1,646

In-place lease
 
1,125

 
92

 
1,033

Contract-based revenues
 
731

 
115

 
616

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tenant relationship
 
73,667

 

 
73,667

Trade name
 
663

 

 
663

Total
 
$
88,395

 
$
8,333

 
$
80,062

As further discussed in Note 5, "Acquisition, Disposition and Discontinued Operations," during the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded $6.2 million of separately identifiable intangible assets, related to acquired customer relationships, non-compete agreement and trade name, as part of the acquisition of PWSC. The customer relationships intangible asset of $5.3 million is being amortized over fifteen years based on the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are expected to be consumed. The non-compete agreement intangible asset of $0.3 million is being amortized on a straight-line basis over five years. The trade name intangible asset of $0.6 million is deemed to have an indefinite useful life and is not amortized.
The Company's other intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized either based on the patterns in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are expected to be consumed or using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from seven to eighteen years. Amortization of intangible assets was $1.4 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively ($1.9 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively).
The tenant relationship and trade names intangible assets have indefinite useful lives and are not amortized. No impairment charges were taken on intangible assets during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.
NOTE 10 UNPAID LOSS AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES
The establishment of the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses is based on known facts and interpretation of circumstances and is, therefore, a complex and dynamic process influenced by a large variety of factors. These factors include

 
18
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







the Company's experience with similar cases and historical trends involving loss payment patterns, pending levels of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, product mix or concentration, loss severity and loss frequency patterns.
Other factors include the continually evolving and changing regulatory and legal environment; actuarial studies; professional experience and expertise of the Company's claims departments' personnel and independent adjusters retained to handle individual claims; the quality of the data used for projection purposes; existing claims management practices including claims-handling and settlement practices; the effect of inflationary trends on future loss settlement costs; court decisions; economic conditions; and public attitudes.
Consequently, the process of determining the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses necessarily involves risks that the actual loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred by the Company will deviate, perhaps materially, from the estimates recorded.
The Company's evaluation of the adequacy of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses includes a re-estimation of the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses relating to each preceding financial year compared to the liability that was previously established.
The results of this comparison and the changes in the provision for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, net of amounts recoverable from reinsurers, as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018

 
September 30, 2017

Balance at beginning of period, gross
 
$
1,329

 
$
2,201

Less reinsurance recoverable related to property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
72

 
354

Balance at beginning of period, net
 
1,257

 
1,847

Incurred related to:
 
 
 
 

      Current year
 

 

      Prior years
 
1,628

 
266

Paid related to:
 
 
 
 

      Current year
 

 

      Prior years
 
(672
)
 
(675
)
Balance at end of period, net
 
2,213

 
1,438

Plus reinsurance recoverable related to property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
79

 
55

Balance at end of period, gross
 
$
2,292

 
$
1,493

The Company reported unfavorable development on property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses of $1.6 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. The unfavorable development for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 was related to an increase in property and casualty loss adjustment expenses due to the continuing voluntary run-off of Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company ("Amigo").
NOTE 11 DEBT
Debt consists of the following instruments at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Principal

 
Carrying Value

 
Fair Value

 
Principal

 
Carrying Value

 
Fair Value

Note payable
 
$
173,935

 
$
183,561

 
$
172,159

 
$
176,136

 
$
186,469

 
$
168,477

Bank loan
 
4,167

 
4,167

 
3,770

 
4,917

 
4,917

 
4,864

Subordinated debt
 
90,500

 
53,614

 
53,614

 
90,500

 
52,105

 
52,105

Total
 
$
268,602

 
$
241,342

 
$
229,543

 
$
271,553

 
$
243,491

 
$
225,446



 
19
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(a)          Note payable:
As part of the acquisition of CMC Industries, Inc. ("CMC") in July 2016, the Company assumed a mortgage, which is recorded as note payable in the consolidated balance sheets ("the Mortgage"). The Mortgage is nonrecourse indebtedness with respect to CMC and its subsidiaries, and the Mortgage is not, nor will it be, guaranteed by Kingsway or its affiliates. The Mortgage was recorded at its estimated fair value of $191.7 million, which included the unpaid principal amount of $180.0 million as of the date of acquisition plus a premium of $11.7 million. The Mortgage matures on May 15, 2034 and has a fixed interest rate of 4.07%. The Mortgage is carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its amortized cost, which reflects the monthly pay-down of principal as well as the amortization of the premium using the effective interest rate method. The fair value of the Mortgage disclosed in the table above is derived from quoted market prices of A-rated industrial bonds with similar maturities.

(b)          Bank loan:
On October 12, 2017, the Company borrowed a principal amount of $5.0 million from a bank at a fixed interest rate of 5.0%. The bank loan matures on October 12, 2022. The carrying value of the bank loan represents its unpaid principal balance. The fair value of the bank loan disclosed in the table above is derived from quoted market prices of B and B minus rated industrial bonds with similar maturities.
(c)          Subordinated debt:
The subordinated debt is carried in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. See Note 20, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments," for further discussion of the subordinated debt. As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01. As a result, the portion of the change in fair value of subordinated debt related to the instrument-specific credit risk is now recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), whereas for 2017, the total change in fair value of subordinated debt was recorded in net income (loss). Of the $1.5 million increase in fair value of the Company’s subordinated debt between December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, $1.0 million is reported as change in fair value of debt attributable to instrument-specific credit risk in the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive loss and $2.5 million is reported as loss on change in fair value of debt in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company gave notice to its Trust Preferred trustees of its intention to exercise its voluntary right to defer interest payments for up to 20 quarters, pursuant to the contractual terms of its outstanding Trust Preferred indentures, which permit interest deferral. This action does not constitute a default under the Company's Trust Preferred indentures or any of its other debt indentures.

Subordinated debt consists of the following trust preferred debt instruments:
Issuer
Principal (in thousands)
Issue date
Interest
Redemption date
Kingsway CT Statutory Trust I
$
15,000

12/4/2002
annual interest rate equal to LIBOR, plus 4.00% payable quarterly
12/4/2032
Kingsway CT Statutory Trust II
$
17,500

5/15/2003
annual interest rate equal to LIBOR, plus 4.10% payable quarterly
5/15/2033
Kingsway CT Statutory Trust III
$
20,000

10/29/2003
annual interest rate equal to LIBOR, plus 3.95% payable quarterly
10/29/2033
Kingsway DE Statutory Trust III
$
15,000

5/22/2003
annual interest rate equal to LIBOR, plus 4.20% payable quarterly
5/22/2033
Kingsway DE Statutory Trust IV
$
10,000

9/30/2003
annual interest rate equal to LIBOR, plus 3.85% payable quarterly
9/30/2033
Kingsway DE Statutory Trust VI
$
13,000

12/16/2003
annual interest rate equal to LIBOR, plus 4.00% payable quarterly
1/8/2034

NOTE 12 FINANCE LEASE OBLIGATION LIABILITY
On October 2, 2014, the Company completed a sale and leaseback transaction involving building and land located in Miami, Florida, which was previously recorded as asset held for sale. The transaction did not qualify for sales recognition and was accounted for as a financing due to the Company's continuing involvement with the property as a result of nonrecourse financing provided to the buyer in the form of prepaid rent. A finance lease obligation liability equal to the selling price of the property was established at the date of the transaction. During the lease term, the Company recorded interest expense on the finance lease obligation at its incremental borrowing rate and increased the finance lease obligation liability by the same amount.


 
20
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018








During the second quarter of 2017, the Company was informed of the landlord's intent to terminate the lease agreement effective October 10, 2017. The Company had the option to vacate the property and effectively terminate the lease earlier than October 10, 2017. As a result of terminating the lease, the Company no longer had continuing involvement with the property and recognized the sale of the property as well as the related gain of $0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The gain, which is included in other income in the consolidated statements of operations, results primarily from removing the carrying values of the land, building and finance lease obligation liability from the consolidated balance sheets and from the return of part of the original prepaid rent.

NOTE 13 VEHICLE SERVICE AGREEMENT LIABILITY
Vehicle service agreement fees include the fees collected to cover the costs of future automobile mechanical breakdown claims and the associated administration of those claims. Vehicle service agreement fees are initially recorded as deferred service fees. On a quarterly basis, the Company compares the remaining deferred service fees balance to the estimated amount of expected future claims under the vehicle service agreement contracts and records an additional accrual when the deferred service fees balance is less than expected future claims costs.

A reconciliation of the changes in the vehicle service agreement liability, including deferred service fees related to vehicle service agreements, as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
Balance at January 1, net
 
$
40,292

 
$
38,713

Deferred service fees for vehicle service agreements sold
 
15,904

 
14,129

Recognition of deferred service fees on vehicle service agreements
 
(13,091
)
 
(12,635
)
Liability for claims authorized on vehicle service agreements
 
4,206

 
4,066

Payments of claims authorized on vehicle service agreements
 
(4,138
)
 
(4,129
)
Re-estimation of deferred service fees
 
(252
)
 
(139
)
Balance at September 30, net
 
$
42,921

 
$
40,005

The vehicle service agreement liability is presented as components of deferred services fees and accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,

 
December 31,

 
 
2018

 
2017

Deferred service fees
 
$
42,590

 
$
40,029

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
331

 
263

Balance at end of period, net
 
$
42,921

 
$
40,292


NOTE 14 REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
Revenue from contracts with customers relates to Extended Warranty segment service fee and commission income. Service fee and commission income represents vehicle service agreement fees, maintenance support service fees, warranty product commissions, homebuilder warranty service fees and homebuilder warranty commissions based on terms of various agreements with credit unions, consumers, businesses and homebuilders.

 
21
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







The following table disaggregates revenues from contracts with customers by revenue type:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vehicle service agreement fees - IWS
 
$
4,766

 
$
4,505

 
$
13,954

 
$
13,238

Maintenance support service fees - Trinity
 
2,720

 
2,603

 
7,655

 
6,175

Warranty product commissions - Trinity
 
739

 
562

 
1,971

 
1,325

Homebuilder warranty service fees - PWSC
 
676

 

 
4,793

 

Homebuilder warranty commissions - PWSC
 
203

 

 
565

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service fee and commission income
 
$
9,104

 
$
7,670

 
$
28,938

 
$
20,738


IWS Acquisition Corporation's ("IWS") vehicle service agreement fees include the fees collected to cover the costs of future automobile mechanical breakdown claims and the associated administration of those claims. Vehicle service agreement contract fees are earned over the duration of the vehicle service agreement contracts as the single performance obligation is satisfied.
  
Trinity Warranty Solutions LLC's ("Trinity") maintenance support service fees include the service fees collected to administer equipment breakdown and maintenance support services and are earned as services are rendered.
Trinity’s warranty product commissions include the commissions from the sale of warranty contracts for certain new and used heating, ventilation, air conditioning ("HVAC"), standby generator, commercial LED lighting and refrigeration equipment. Trinity acts as an agent on behalf of the third-party insurance companies that underwrite and guaranty these warranty contracts. Trinity does not guaranty the performance underlying the warranty contracts it sells. Warranty product commissions are earned at the time of the warranty product sales.

PWSC’s homebuilder warranty service fees include fees collected from the sale of warranties issued by new homebuilders. PWSC receives a single warranty service fee as its transaction price at the time it enters into a written contract with each of its builder customers. Each contract contains two separate performance obligations - warranty administrative services and other warranty services. Warranty administrative services include enrolling each home sold by the builder into the program and the warranty administrative system and delivering the warranty product. Other warranty services include answering builder or homeowner questions regarding the home warranty and dispute resolution services.

Standalone selling prices are not directly observable in the contract for each of the separate performance obligations. As a result, PWSC has applied the expected cost plus a margin approach to develop models to estimate the standalone selling price for each of its performance obligations in order to allocate the transaction price to the two separate performance obligations identified.

For the model related to the warranty administrative services performance obligation, PWSC makes judgments about which of its actual costs are associated with enrolling each home sold by the builder into the program and the warranty administrative system and delivering the warranty product. For the model related to the other warranty services performance obligation, PWSC makes judgments about which of its actual costs are associated with activities, such as answering builder or homeowner questions regarding the home warranty and dispute resolution services, which are performed over the life of the warranty coverage period. The relative percentage of expected costs plus a margin associated with the warranty administrative services performance obligation is applied to the transaction price to determine the estimated standalone selling price of the warranty administrative services performance obligation, which PWSC recognizes as earned at the time the home is enrolled and the warranty product is delivered. The relative percentage of expected costs plus a margin associated with the other warranty services performance obligation is applied to the transaction price to determine the estimated standalone selling price of the other warranty services performance obligation, which PWSC recognizes as earned as services are performed over the warranty coverage period.

For the other warranty services performance obligation, PWSC applies an input method of measurement, based on the expected costs plus a margin of providing services, to determine the transfer of its services over the warranty coverage period. PWSC uses historical data regarding the number of calls it receives and activities performed, in addition to the number of homes enrolled, to estimate the number of complaints and dispute resolution requests to be received by year until coverage expires, which allows PWSC to develop a revenue recognition pattern that it believes provides a faithful depiction of the transfer of services over time for the other warranty services performance obligation.

 
22
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018








PWSC’s homebuilder warranty commissions include commissions from the sale of warranty contracts for those builders who have requested and receive insurance backing of their warranty obligations. PWSC acts as an agent on behalf of the third-party insurance company that underwrites and guaranties these warranty contracts. Homebuilder warranty commissions are earned on the certification date, which is typically the date of the closing of the sale of the home to the buyer. The Company also earns fees to manage remediation or repair services related to claims on insurance-backed warranty obligations, which are earned when the claims are closed, and a profit-sharing bonus on eligible warranties, which is determined based on expected ultimate loss ratio targets and is earned at the time the profit-sharing bonus is received.

Receivables from contracts with customers are reported as service fee receivable, net in the consolidated balance sheets and at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $6.7 million and $4.3 million, respectively.
The Company records deferred service fees resulting from contracts with customers when payment is received in advance of satisfying the performance obligations. The Company expects to recognize within one year as service fee and commission income approximately 35.4% of the deferred service fees as of September 30, 2018. Approximately $12.7 million of service fee and commission income recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was included in deferred service fees as of December 31, 2017.
 
NOTE 15 INCOME TAXES
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including a permanent reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate to 21% starting in 2018. Previously, the Company was subject to a 34% U.S. federal corporate income tax rate.

Income tax (benefit) expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 varies from the amount that would result by applying the applicable U.S. federal corporate income tax rate of 21% and 34%, respectively, to loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense. The following table summarizes the differences:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Income tax benefit at United States statutory income tax rate
 
$
(797
)
 
$
(963
)
 
$
(1,783
)
 
$
(3,750
)
Valuation allowance
 
998

 
724

 
1,940

 
3,488

Non-deductible compensation
 
(638
)
 
101

 
(515
)
 
301

Disposition of subsidiary
 
332

 

 
332

 

State income tax
 
(27
)
 
19

 
106

 
54

Change in unrecognized tax benefits(1)
 
25

 
64

 
155

 
436

Indefinite life intangibles
 
20

 
33

 
61

 
1,123

Foreign operations subject to different tax rates
 
(3
)
 
140

 
(57
)
 
46

Other
 
(57
)
 
2

 
52

 
(62
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
$
(147
)
 
$
120

 
$
291

 
$
1,636

(1) Includes interest and penalty expense related to unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company maintains a valuation allowance for its gross deferred tax assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company's operations have generated substantial operating losses in prior years. These losses can be available to reduce income taxes that might otherwise be incurred on future taxable income; however, it is uncertain whether the Company will generate the taxable income necessary to utilize these losses or other reversing temporary differences. This uncertainty has caused management to place a full valuation allowance on its September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 net deferred tax asset, excluding the deferred income tax asset and liability amounts set forth in the paragraph below.
The Company carries net deferred income tax liabilities of $28.5 million and $28.7 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. At September 30, 2018, $8.0 million relates to deferred income tax liabilities scheduled to reverse in periods after the expiration of the Company's consolidated U.S. net operating loss carryforwards, $21.1 million relates to deferred income

 
23
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







tax liabilities associated with land and indefinite lived intangible assets, $0.5 million relates to deferred income tax assets associated with state income taxes and $0.1 million relates to deferred income tax assets associated with alternative minimum tax credits. At December 31, 2017, $8.0 million relates to deferred income tax liabilities scheduled to reverse in periods after the expiration of the Company's consolidated U.S. net operating loss carryforwards, $20.8 million relates to deferred income tax liabilities associated with land and indefinite lived intangible assets and $0.1 million relates to deferred income tax assets associated with alternative minimum tax credits. The Company considered a tax planning strategy in arriving at its September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 net deferred income tax liabilities.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company carried a liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $1.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, that is included in income taxes payable in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company classifies interest and penalty accruals, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company recorded income tax expense of $0.0 million and $0.1 million related to interest and penalty accruals for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively ($0.2 million and $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively). At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company carried an accrual for the payment of interest and penalties of $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively, included in income taxes payable in the consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 16 LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of numerators and denominators for the basic and diluted loss from continuing operations per share computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss from continuing operations
 
$
(3,647
)
 
$
(2,953
)
 
$
(8,782
)
 
$
(12,665
)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(110
)
 
(79
)
 
(353
)
 
(284
)
(Less) plus: dividends on preferred stock, net of tax
 
(132
)
 
115

 
(391
)
 
(213
)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders
 
$
(3,889
)
 
$
(2,917
)
 
$
(9,526
)
 
$
(13,162
)
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average basic shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
21,708

 
21,559

 
21,708

 
21,492

Weighted average diluted shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
21,708

 
21,559

 
21,708

 
21,492

        Effect of potentially dilutive securities
 

 

 

 

Total weighted average diluted shares
 
21,708

 
21,559

 
21,708

 
21,492

Basic loss from continuing operations per share
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
(0.61
)
Diluted loss from continuing operations per share
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
(0.61
)
Basic loss from continuing operations per share is calculated using weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted loss from continuing operations per share is calculated using weighted-average diluted shares. Weighted-average diluted shares is calculated by adding the effect of potentially dilutive securities to weighted-average common shares outstanding. Potentially dilutive securities consist of stock options, unvested restricted stock awards, unvested restricted stock units, warrants and convertible preferred stock. Because the Company is reporting a loss from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, all potentially dilutive securities outstanding were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss from continuing operations per share since their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

 
24
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







NOTE 17 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
(a)     Stock Options
The following table summarizes the stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of Options Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in Thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
 
651,875

 
$
4.51

 
0.4

 
$
352

Granted
 

 

 
 
 
 
Expired
 
(611,875
)
 
4.50

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2018
 
40,000

 
$
4.67

 
1.6

 
$

Exercisable at September 30, 2018
 
40,000

 
$
4.67

 
1.6

 
$

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable is the difference between the September 30, 2018 market price for the Company's common shares and the exercise price of the options, multiplied by the number of options where the fair value exceeds the exercise price.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of each option on the date of grant. No options were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
(b)     Restricted Stock Awards
Under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2013 Plan"), the Company made grants of restricted common stock awards to certain officers of the Company on March 28, 2014 (the "2014 Restricted Stock Awards"). The 2014 Restricted Stock Awards shall become fully vested and the restriction period shall lapse as of March 28, 2024 subject to the officers' continued employment through the vesting date. The 2014 Restricted Stock Awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the ten-year requisite service period. The grant-date fair value of the 2014 Restricted Stock Awards was determined using the closing price of Kingsway common stock on the date of grant. Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested 2014 Restricted Stock Awards at September 30, 2018 was $0.8 million.
During the third quarter of 2018, the Company modified the terms of the 2014 Restricted Stock Awards for two of its officers.
On September 5, 2018, the Company executed an Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Award Agreement ("Amended RSA Agreement") with its former Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the Amended RSA Agreement, the former Chief Executive Officer was deemed to have forfeited 1,382,665 shares of the 2014 Restricted Stock Awards. The Company’s accounting policy is to account for forfeitures when they occur. As a result, the Company reversed during the third quarter of 2018 $2.4 million of compensation expense previously recognized from March 28, 2014 through June 30, 2018.
Pursuant to the terms of the Amended RSA Agreement, the Company granted to the former Chief Executive Officer a modified award of 350,000 shares of restricted common stock (the "2018 Restricted Stock Award"). The Company deemed the 2018 Restricted Stock Award to be taxable to the former Chief Executive Officer on the modification date. Pursuant to the terms of the 2013 Plan and the Amended RSA Agreement, the former Chief Executive Officer was entitled to satisfy the tax withholding obligation by authorizing the Company to withhold restricted common shares, which would otherwise be deliverable, having an aggregate fair market value, determined as of the tax date, equal to the tax withholding obligation. The former Chief Executive Officer chose to satisfy the tax withholding obligation in this manner. As a result, the Company cancelled 102,550 of the 350,000 shares of the 2018 Restricted Stock Award and recognized payroll tax expense of $0.3 million during the third quarter of 2018.

The remaining 247,450 shares of the 2018 Restricted Stock Award shall become fully vested after the satisfaction of certain performance conditions, as defined in the Amended RSA Agreement. There is no defined term under which the performance conditions must be completed. The unamortized compensation expense for the 2018 Restricted Stock Award will be recognized at the time the performance condition has been satisfied. The grant-date fair value of the 2018 Restricted Stock Award was

 
25
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







determined using the closing price of Kingsway common stock on the modification date. Total unamortized compensation expense related to the unvested 2018 Restricted Stock Award at September 30, 2018 was $0.6 million.

On September 15, 2018, the Company executed an Employee Separation Agreement and Release ("Separation Agreement") with a former officer. Under the terms of the Separation Agreement, the former officer forfeited 112,500 shares of the 2014 Restricted Stock Awards. The Company’s accounting policy is to account for forfeitures when they occur. As a result, the Company reversed during the third quarter of 2018 $0.4 million of compensation expense previously recognized from March 28, 2014 through June 30, 2018.
The Separation Agreement modified the vesting terms related to the remaining 112,500 shares of the original 2014 Restricted Stock Awards ("Modified Restricted Stock Award"), such that they became fully vested on September 22, 2018. The Company deemed the Modified Restricted Stock Award to be taxable to the former officer on the vesting date. Pursuant to the terms of the 2013 Plan and the Separation Agreement, the former officer was entitled to satisfy the tax withholding obligation by authorizing the Company to withhold restricted common shares, which would otherwise be deliverable, having an aggregate fair market value, determined as of the tax date, equal to the tax withholding obligation. The former officer chose to satisfy the tax withholding obligation in this manner. As a result, the Company cancelled 32,962 of the 112,500 shares of the Modified Restricted Stock Award and recognized payroll tax expense of $0.1 million during the third quarter of 2018.
The Company also recorded during the third quarter of 2018 $0.2 million of compensation expense equal to the fair value of the remaining 79,538 fully vested shares of the Modified Restricted Stock Award. The grant-date fair value of the Modified Restricted Stock Award was determined using the closing price of Kingsway common stock on the modification date. Total unamortized compensation expense related to the unvested Modified Restricted Stock Award at September 30, 2018 was zero.

The following table summarizes the activity related to unvested 2014 Restricted Stock Awards, 2018 Restricted Stock Award and Modified Restricted Stock Award (collectively "Restricted Stock Awards") for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of Restricted Stock Awards
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value (per Share)
Unvested at December 31, 2017
 
1,952,665

 
$
4.14

Granted
 
350,000

 
2.55

Vested
 
(79,538
)
 
2.95

Cancelled for Tax Withholding
 
(135,512
)
 
2.65

Forfeited
 
(1,495,165
)
 
4.14

Unvested at September 30, 2018
 
592,450

 
$
3.48

The unvested balance at September 30, 2018 in the table above is comprised of 345,000 shares of 2014 Restricted Stock Awards and 247,450 shares of 2018 Restricted Stock Award.

 
26
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(c)     Restricted Stock Units
The Company granted restricted common stock units ("Restricted Stock Units") to an officer of the Company pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement dated August 24, 2016. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a right to receive one common share on the vesting date. The Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and the restriction period shall lapse as of March 28, 2024 subject to the officer's continued employment through the vesting date. The Restricted Stock Units are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Total unamortized compensation expense related to unvested Restricted Stock Units at September 30, 2018 was $2.1 million. The grant-date fair value of the Restricted Stock Units was determined using the closing price of Kingsway common stock on the date of grant. The following table summarizes the activity related to unvested Restricted Stock Units for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value (per Share)
Unvested at December 31, 2017
 
500,000

 
$
5.73

Granted
 

 

Vested
 

 

Forfeited
 

 

Unvested at September 30, 2018
 
500,000

 
$
5.73

Total stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures, was a benefit of $2.5 million and an expense of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively (benefit of $1.9 million and expense of $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively).

NOTE 18 ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The tables below detail the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 as relates to shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders on the consolidated balance sheets. On the other hand, the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive loss present the components of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, only for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and inclusive of the components attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries.
As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01. As a result of the adoption, equity investments are no longer classified as available-for-sale with unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss); rather, changes in the fair value of equity investments are now recognized in net income (loss). Also as a result of the adoption, the portion of the total change in the fair value of our subordinated debt resulting from the change in instrument-specific credit risk is no longer recognized in net income (loss) and is now presented in other comprehensive income (loss). Prior periods have not been restated to conform to the current presentation.

 
27
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(in thousands)
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Investments
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Change in Fair Value of Debt Attributable to Instrument-Specific Credit Risk
 
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Limited Liability Investment
 
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at July 1, 2018
 
$
(967
)
 
$
(3,286
)
 
$
40,799

 
$
(224
)
 
$
36,322

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) arising during the period
 
(44
)
 

 
658

 
19

 
633

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
6

 

 

 

 
6

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(38
)
 

 
658

 
19

 
639

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
(1,005
)
 
$
(3,286
)
 
$
41,457

 
$
(205
)
 
$
36,961

(in thousands)
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Investments
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at July 1, 2017
 
$
2,313

 
$
(3,780
)
 
$
(1,467
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss arising during the period
 
(3,263
)
 

 
(3,263
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
764

 

 
764

Net current-period other comprehensive loss
 
(2,499
)
 

 
(2,499
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$
(186
)
 
$
(3,780
)
 
$
(3,966
)


 
28
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(in thousands)
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Investments
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Change in Fair Value of Debt Attributable to Instrument-Specific Credit Risk
 
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Limited Liability Investment
 
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2018
 
$
(566
)
 
$
(3,286
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(3,852
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01
 
40

 

 
40,455

 

 
40,495

Balance at January 1, 2018, as adjusted
 
(526
)
 
(3,286
)
 
40,455

 

 
36,643

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) arising during the period
 
(474
)
 

 
1,002

 
(205
)
 
323

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(5
)
 

 

 

 
(5
)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(479
)
 

 
1,002

 
(205
)
 
318

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
(1,005
)
 
$
(3,286
)
 
$
41,457

 
$
(205
)
 
$
36,961

(in thousands)
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Investments
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2017
 
$
3,572

 
$
(3,780
)
 
$
(208
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss arising during the period
 
(4,493
)
 

 
(4,493
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
735

 

 
735

Net current-period other comprehensive loss
 
(3,758
)
 

 
(3,758
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$
(186
)
 
$
(3,780
)
 
$
(3,966
)
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were reclassified to the following lines of the unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
  
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) from unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized losses
 
$
3

 
$
2

 
$
11

 
$
4

Other-than-temporary impairment loss
 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
 
3

 
2

 
11

 
4

Income tax (benefit) expense
 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations
 
3

 
2

 
11

 
4

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
(9
)
 
(766
)
 
(6
)
 
(739
)
Net loss
 
$
(6
)
 
$
(764
)
 
$
5

 
$
(735
)

 
29
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







NOTE 19 SEGMENTED INFORMATION
The Company conducts its business through the following two reportable segments: Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate.
Prior to the second quarter of 2018, the Company conducted its business through a third reportable segment, Insurance Underwriting. Insurance Underwriting included the following subsidiaries of the Company: Mendota, Amigo and Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation ("Kingsway Re"). As further discussed in Note 5, "Acquisition, Disposition and Discontinued Operations," on October 18, 2018, the Company announced that it had completed the sale of Mendota. As a result, Mendota has been classified as discontinued operations and the results of their operations are reported separately for all periods presented. As a result of classifying Mendota as discontinued operations, the composition of the Insurance Underwriting segment has changed such that it no longer meets the criteria of a reportable segment. As such, all segmented information has been restated to exclude the Insurance Underwriting segment for all periods presented.
Extended Warranty Segment
Extended Warranty includes the following subsidiaries of the Company: IWS, Trinity and PWSC (collectively, "Extended Warranty").

IWS is a licensed motor vehicle service agreement company and is a provider of after-market vehicle protection services distributed by credit unions in 23 states and the District of Columbia to their members.
Trinity sells HVAC, standby generator, commercial LED lighting and refrigeration warranty products and provides equipment breakdown and maintenance support services to companies across the United States. As a seller of warranty products, Trinity markets and administers product warranty contracts for certain new and used products in the HVAC, standby generator, commercial LED lighting and refrigeration industries throughout the United States. Trinity acts as an agent on behalf of the third-party insurance companies that underwrite and guaranty these warranty contracts. Trinity does not guaranty the performance underlying the warranty contracts it sells. As a provider of equipment breakdown and maintenance support services, Trinity acts as a single point of contact to its clients for both certain equipment breakdowns and scheduled maintenance of equipment. Trinity will provide such repair and breakdown services by contracting with certain HVAC providers.
PWSC sells new home warranty products and provides administration services to home builders and homeowners across the United States. PWSC distributes its products and services through an in house sales team and through insurance brokers and insurance carriers throughout all states except Alaska and Louisiana.
Leased Real Estate Segment
Leased Real Estate includes the Company's subsidiary, CMC, which was acquired on July 14, 2016. CMC owns a parcel of real property consisting of approximately 192 acres located in the State of Texas (the "Real Property") that is leased to a third party pursuant to a long-term triple net lease. The Real Property is also subject to the Mortgage. When assessing and measuring the operational and financial performance of the Leased Real Estate segment, interest expense related to the Mortgage is included in Leased Real Estate's segment operating income.

Revenues and Operating Income by Reportable Segment
Results for the Company's reportable segments are based on the Company's internal financial reporting systems and are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. The following tables provide financial data used by management. Segment assets are not allocated for management use and, therefore, are not included in the segment disclosures below.

 
30
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







Revenues by reportable segment reconciled to consolidated revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extended Warranty:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service fee and commission income
 
$
9,104

 
$
7,670

 
$
28,938

 
$
20,738

Other income
 
34

 
34

 
136

 
170

Total Extended Warranty
 
9,138

 
7,704

 
29,074

 
20,908

Leased Real Estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rental income
 
3,341

 
3,341

 
10,023

 
10,023

Other income
 
(51
)
 
59

 
168

 
431

Total Leased Real Estate
 
3,290

 
3,400

 
10,191

 
10,454

Total segment revenues
 
12,428

 
11,104

 
39,265

 
31,362

Rental income not allocated to segments
 

 
4

 
10

 
18

Net investment (loss) income
 
(84
)
 
1,289

 
(697
)
 
126

Net realized losses
 
(414
)
 

 
(405
)
 
(1
)
Gain on change in fair value of equity investments
 
337

 

 
951

 

Other income not allocated to segments
 
32

 
599

 
1,019

 
660

Total revenues
 
$
12,299

 
$
12,996

 
$
40,143

 
$
32,165

The operating income by reportable segment in the following table is before income taxes and includes revenues and direct segment costs. Total segment operating income reconciled to the consolidated loss from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were:
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Segment operating income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extended Warranty
 
$
385

 
$
847

 
$
3,615

 
$
2,118

Leased Real Estate
 
473

 
525

 
1,965

 
2,315

Total segment operating income
 
858

 
1,372

 
5,580

 
4,433

Net investment (loss) income
 
(84
)
 
1,289

 
(697
)
 
126

Net realized losses
 
(414
)
 

 
(405
)
 
(1
)
Gain on change in fair value of equity investments
 
337

 

 
951

 

Interest expense not allocated to segments
 
(1,571
)
 
(1,261
)
 
(4,476
)
 
(3,636
)
Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net
 
225

 
(1,872
)
 
(4,428
)
 
(6,871
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
(1,356
)
 
(286
)
 
(1,899
)
 
(866
)
Contingent consideration benefit
 

 

 

 
212

Loss on change in fair value of debt
 
(1,450
)
 
(1,178
)
 
(2,511
)
 
(5,769
)
Gain on disposal of subsidiary
 

 

 
17

 

Equity in net (loss) income of investee
 
(339
)
 
(897
)
 
(623
)
 
1,343

Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
 
(3,794
)
 
(2,833
)
 
(8,491
)
 
(11,029
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
(147
)
 
120

 
291

 
1,636

Loss from continuing operations
 
$
(3,647
)
 
$
(2,953
)
 
$
(8,782
)
 
$
(12,665
)
NOTE 20 FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is best evidenced by quoted bid or ask price, as appropriate, in an active market. Where bid or ask prices are not available, such as in an illiquid or inactive market, the closing price of the most recent transaction of that instrument subject to appropriate adjustments as required is used. Where quoted market prices are not available, the quoted prices of similar financial instruments or valuation models with observable market-based inputs are used to estimate

 
31
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







the fair value. These valuation models may use multiple observable market inputs, including observable interest rates, foreign exchange rates, index levels, credit spreads, equity prices, counterparty credit quality, corresponding market volatility levels and option volatilities. Minimal management judgment is required for fair values calculated using quoted market prices or observable market inputs for models. Greater subjectivity is required when making valuation adjustments for financial instruments in inactive markets or when using models where observable parameters do not exist. Also, the calculation of estimated fair value is based on market conditions at a specific point in time and may not be reflective of future fair values. For the Company's financial instruments carried at cost or amortized cost, the book value is not adjusted to reflect increases or decreases in fair value due to market fluctuations, including those due to interest rate changes, as it is the Company's intention to hold them until there is a recovery of fair value, which may be to maturity.

The Company employs a fair value hierarchy to categorize the inputs it uses in valuation techniques to measure the fair value. The following fair value hierarchy is used in selecting inputs, with the highest priority given to Level 1:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.
Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable.

The Company classifies its investments in fixed maturities as available-for-sale and reports these investments at fair value. The Company's equity investments, limited liability investment, at fair value and subordinated debt are measured and reported at fair value.
Fixed maturities - Fair values of fixed maturities for which no active market exists are derived from quoted market prices of similar instruments or other third party evidence. All classes of the Company’s fixed maturities, primarily consisting of investments in US. Treasury bills and government bonds; obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions; mortgage-backed securities; and corporate securities, are classified as Level 2. Level 2 is applied to valuations based upon quoted prices for similar assets in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are inactive; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
The Company engages a third-party vendor who utilizes third-party pricing sources and primarily employs a market approach to determine the fair values of our fixed maturities. The market approach includes primarily obtaining prices from independent third-party pricing services as well as, to a lesser extent, quotes from broker-dealers. Our third-party vendor also monitors market indicators, as well as industry and economic events, to ensure pricing is appropriate. All classes of our fixed maturities are valued using this technique. The Company has obtained an understanding of our third-party vendor’s valuation methodologies and inputs. Fair values obtained from our third-party vendor are not adjusted by the Company.

The following is a description of the significant inputs, by asset class, used by the third-party pricing services to determine the fair values of our fixed maturities included in Level 2:

U.S. government, government agencies and authorities are generally priced using the market approach. Inputs generally consist of trades of identical or similar securities, quoted prices in inactive markets and maturity.

States, municipalities and political subdivisions are generally priced using the market approach. Inputs generally consist of trades of identical or similar securities, quoted prices in inactive markets, new issuances and credit spreads.

Mortgage-backed securities are generally priced using the market approach. Inputs generally consist of trades of identical or similar securities, quoted prices in inactive markets, expected prepayments, expected credit default rates, delinquencies and issue specific information including, but not limited to, collateral type, seniority and vintage.

Corporate securities are generally priced using the market approach using pricing vendors. Inputs generally consist of trades of identical or similar securities, quoted prices in inactive markets, issuer rating, benchmark yields, maturity and credit spreads.

Equity investments - Fair values of equity investments, including warrants, reflect quoted market values based on latest bid prices, where active markets exist, or models based on significant market observable inputs, where no active markets exist.

 
32
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







Limited liability investment, at fair value - The fair value of the limited liability investment, at fair value is calculated based on a model that distributes the net equity of 1347 Investors to all classes of membership interests. The model uses quoted market prices and significant market observable inputs.
Subordinated debt - The fair value of the subordinated debt is calculated using a model based on significant market observable inputs and inputs developed by a third party. These inputs include credit spread assumptions developed by a third party and market observable swap rates.
The balances of the Company's financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows:
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at the End of the Reporting Period Using
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total

 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)

 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)

 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Recurring fair value measurements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
 
$
5,429

 
$

 
$
5,429

 
$

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
601

 

 
601

 

Mortgage-backed
 
2,526

 

 
2,526

 

Corporate
 
2,520

 

 
2,520

 

Total fixed maturities
 
11,076

 

 
11,076

 

Equity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
926

 
926

 

 

Warrants
 
408

 
36

 
372

 

Total equity investments
 
1,334

 
962

 
372

 

Limited liability investment, at fair value
 
4,529

 

 
4,529

 

Other investments
 
1,917

 

 
1,917

 

Short-term investments
 
151

 

 
151

 

Total assets
 
$
19,007

 
$
962

 
$
18,045

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subordinated debt
 
$
53,614

 
$

 
$
53,614

 
$

Total liabilities
 
$
53,614

 
$

 
$
53,614

 
$



 
33
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at the End of the Reporting Period Using
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total

 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)

 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)

 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Recurring fair value measurements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
 
$
5,612

 
$

 
$
5,612

 
$

States municipalities and political subdivisions
 
626

 

 
626

 

Mortgage-backed
 
2,876

 

 
2,876

 

Corporate
 
5,427

 

 
5,427

 

Total fixed maturities
 
14,541

 

 
14,541

 

Equity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
3,570

 
3,570

 

 

Warrants
 
906

 
58

 
848

 

Total equity investments
 
4,476

 
3,628

 
848

 

Limited liability investment, at fair value
 
5,771

 

 
5,771

 

Other investments
 
2,321

 

 
2,321

 

Short-term investments
 
151

 

 
151

 

Total assets
 
$
27,260

 
$
3,628

 
$
23,632

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subordinated debt
 
$
52,105

 
$

 
$
52,105

 
$

Total liabilities
 
$
52,105

 
$

 
$
52,105

 
$



NOTE 21 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Related party transactions, including services provided to or received by the Company's subsidiaries, are measured in part by the amount of consideration paid or received as established and agreed by the parties. Management believes consideration paid for such services in each case approximates fair value. Except where disclosed elsewhere in these unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, the following is a summary of related party transactions.
On October 25, 2017, the Company executed an agreement to sell 900,000 shares of PIH common stock, at a price of $7.85 per share, to Fundamental Global Investors, LLC and/or one or more of its affiliates ("FGI"), a greater than 5% shareholder of the Company, in two separate transactions for cash proceeds totaling $7.1 million. On November 1, 2017, the Company sold 475,428 of the 900,000 shares of PIH common stock to FGI for cash proceeds totaling $3.7 million. The second transaction, for the sale of the remaining 424,572 shares of PIH common stock for cash proceeds totaling $3.4 million, closed on March 15, 2018 following FGI having obtained the necessary regulatory approvals.

On July 30, 2018, the Company executed an agreement to sell 1,813,889 shares of ICL common stock, at a price of Canadian $0.72 per share, to FGI for cash proceeds totaling Canadian $1.3 million.

On July 30, 2018, the Company executed an agreement to sell 75,000 shares of PIH common stock, at a price of $7.13 per share, to FGI for cash proceeds totaling $0.5 million.

 
34
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018








On January 2, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with PIH to cancel the $10.00 per share Performance Share Grant Agreement in exchange for cash consideration of $0.3 million. On July 24, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with PIH to cancel the $12.00 per share, $15.00 per share and $18.00 per share Performance Share Grant Agreement in exchange for cash consideration of $1.0 million. Kyle Cerminara is the Chairman of the PIH Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of FGI.
On July 16, 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell Mendota to Premier Holdings LLC. Steve Harrison, President of Mendota, is a minority investor in Premier Holdings LLC.
On September 5, 2018, Kingsway America Inc. ("KAI") sold its investment in Itasca Golf Investors LLC to IGI Partners LLC for $1.5 million. Larry G. Swets, Jr., former Chief Executive Officer and current member of the Company's Board of Directors, and Leeann Repta, the Company's Vice President-Operations at the time of the transaction, are members of IGI Partners LLC.
On September 5, 2018, KAI entered into a Senior Advisor Agreement with Larry G. Swets, Jr., its former Chief Executive Officer. The Senior Advisor Agreement is for a one-year term with an annual consulting fee of $300,000.
NOTE 22 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
(a)    Legal proceedings:
In connection with its operations in the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are named as defendants in various actions for damages and costs allegedly sustained by the plaintiffs. While it is not possible to estimate the loss, or range of loss, if any, that would be incurred in connection with any of the various proceedings at this time, it is possible an individual action would result in a loss having a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.
(b)    Guarantees:
The Company provided indemnity and hold harmless agreements to a third party for certain customs bonds reinsured by Lincoln General Insurance Company ("Lincoln General") during a period of the time Lincoln General was a subsidiary of the Company.  These agreements may require the Company to compensate the third party if Lincoln General is unable to fulfill its obligations relating to the customs bonds. The Company's potential exposure under these agreements is not determinable, and no liability has been recorded in the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements at September 30, 2018. No assurances can be given, however, the Company will not be required to perform under these agreements in a manner that would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.
As further discussed in Note 5, "Acquisition, Disposition and Discontinued Operations," as part of the transaction to sell Mendota, the Company will indemnify the buyer for loss and loss adjustment expenses with respect to open claims and certain specified claims in excess of Mendota's carried unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses at June 30, 2018 related to the open claims and specified claims. The Company's potential exposure under these agreements is not determinable, and no liability has been recorded in the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements at September 30, 2018.

 
35
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) September 30, 2018







(c)    Commitments:
The Company has entered into subscription agreements to commit up to $2.7 million of capital to allow for participation in limited liability investments. At September 30, 2018, the unfunded commitment was $0.8 million.


 
36
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Management's Discussion and Analysis includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “seeks” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect Kingsway management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available and include statements relating to the proposed sale of our insurance subsidiaries. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, see Kingsway’s securities filings and Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018. The Company's securities filings can be accessed on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ website at www.sedar.com, on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or through the Company’s website at www.kingsway-financial.com. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.
OVERVIEW
Kingsway is a Canadian holding company with operating subsidiaries located in the United States. The Company owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the extended warranty, asset management and real estate industries. Kingsway conducts its business through the following two reportable segments: Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate.
Prior to the second quarter of 2018, the Company conducted its business through a third reportable segment, Insurance Underwriting. Insurance Underwriting included the following subsidiaries of the Company: Mendota Insurance Company ("Mendota"), Mendakota Insurance Company ("Mendakota"), Mendakota Casualty Company ("MCC"), Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company ("Amigo") and Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation ("Kingsway Re"). On July 16, 2018, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell Mendota, Mendakota and MCC. On October 18, 2018, the Company announced that the sale was completed. As a result, Mendota, Mendakota and MCC have been classified as discontinued operations and the results of their operations are reported separately for all periods presented. As a consequence of classifying Mendota, Mendakota and MCC as discontinued operations, the remaining composition of the Insurance Underwriting segment no longer meets the criteria of a reportable segment. As such, all segmented information has been restated to exclude the Insurance Underwriting segment for all periods presented. The operating results of Amigo and Kingsway Re previously included in the Insurance Underwriting segment are now included in Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net.
Extended Warranty includes the following subsidiaries of the Company: IWS Acquisition Corporation ("IWS"), Trinity Warranty Solutions LLC ("Trinity") and Professional Warranty Service Corporation ("PWSC"). Throughout Management's Discussion and Analysis, the term "Extended Warranty" is used to refer to this segment.
IWS is a licensed motor vehicle service agreement company and is a provider of after-market vehicle protection services distributed by credit unions in 23 states and the District of Columbia to their members.
Trinity sells heating, ventilation, air conditioning ("HVAC"), standby generator, commercial LED lighting and refrigeration warranty products and provides equipment breakdown and maintenance support services to companies across the United States. As a seller of warranty products, Trinity markets and administers product warranty contracts for certain new and used products in the HVAC, standby generator, commercial LED lighting and refrigeration industries throughout the United States. Trinity acts as an agent on behalf of the third-party insurance companies that underwrite and guaranty these warranty contracts. Trinity does not guaranty the performance underlying the warranty contracts it sells. As a provider of equipment breakdown and maintenance support services, Trinity acts as a single point of contact to its clients for both certain equipment breakdowns and scheduled maintenance of equipment. Trinity will provide such repair and breakdown services by contracting with certain HVAC providers.
PWSC sells new home warranty products and provides administration services to home builders and homeowners across the United States. PWSC distributes its products and services through an in house sales team and through insurance brokers and insurance carriers throughout all states except Alaska and Louisiana.
Leased Real Estate includes the Company's subsidiary, CMC Industries, Inc. ("CMC"). CMC owns, through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary (the "Property Owner"), a parcel of real property consisting of approximately 192 acres located in the State of Texas (the "Real Property"), which is subject to a long-term triple net lease agreement. The Real Property is also subject to a

 
37
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

mortgage, which is recorded as note payable in the consolidated balance sheets (the "Mortgage"). Throughout Management's Discussion and Analysis, the term "Leased Real Estate" is used to refer to this segment.
NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE
Throughout this quarterly report, we present our operations in the way we believe will be most meaningful, useful and transparent to anyone using this financial information to evaluate our performance. Our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information. In addition to the U.S. GAAP presentation of net loss, we present segment operating income as a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, which we believe is valuable in managing our business and drawing comparisons to our peers. Below is a definition of our non-U.S. GAAP measure and its relationship to U.S. GAAP.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income represents one measure of the pretax profitability of our segments and is derived by subtracting direct segment expenses from direct segment revenues. Revenues and expenses are presented in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations, but are not subtotaled by segment; however, this information is available in total and by segment in Note 19, "Segmented Information," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, regarding reportable segment information. The nearest comparable U.S. GAAP measure is loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense that, in addition to segment operating income, includes net investment (loss) income, net realized losses, gain on change in fair value of equity investments, interest expense not allocated to segments, other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net, amortization of intangible assets, contingent consideration benefit, loss on change in fair value of debt, gain on disposal of subsidiary and equity in net (loss) income of investee. A reconciliation of segment operating income to loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is presented in Table 1 of the "Results of Continuing Operations" section of Management's Discussion and Analysis.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS
The preparation of unaudited consolidated interim financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates and their underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. The critical accounting estimates and assumptions in the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements include the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses; valuation of fixed maturities and equity investments; impairment assessment of investments; valuation of limited liability investment, at fair value; valuation of deferred income taxes; valuation and impairment assessment of intangible assets; goodwill recoverability; deferred acquisition costs; and fair value assumptions for subordinated debt obligations.
The Company’s critical accounting estimates and assumptions are described in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Annual Report"). There has been no material change subsequent to December 31, 2017 to the information previously disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report with respect to these critical accounting estimates and assumptions, except as disclosed below with regard to the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. The Company has modified its disclosure for this critical accounting estimate as follows:
Provision for Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Overview

The Company records a provision for unpaid losses that have occurred as of a given evaluation date as well as for its estimated liability for loss adjustment expenses. The provision for unpaid losses includes a provision, commonly referred to as case reserves, for losses related to reported claims as well as a provision for losses related to claims incurred but not reported (“IBNR”). The provision for loss adjustment expenses represents the cost to investigate and settle claims.

The provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses does not represent an exact calculation of the liability but instead represents management's best estimate at a given accounting date, utilizing actuarial and statistical procedures, of the undiscounted estimates of the ultimate net cost of all unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. Management continually reviews its estimates and adjusts its provision as new information becomes available. In establishing the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, the Company also takes into account estimated recoveries, reinsurance, salvage and subrogation.


 
38
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Any adjustments to the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations in the periods in which they become known, and the adjustments are accounted for as changes in estimates. Even after such adjustments, ultimate liability or recovery may exceed or be less than the revised provisions. An adjustment that increases the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses is known as unfavorable development or a deficiency and will reduce net income while an adjustment that decreases the provision is known as favorable development or a redundancy and will increase net income.

Process for Establishing the Provision for Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

The process for establishing the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses reflects the uncertainties and significant judgmental factors inherent in predicting future results of both reported and IBNR claims. As such, the process is inherently complex and imprecise and estimates are constantly refined. The process of establishing the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses relies on the judgment and opinions of a large number of individuals, including the opinions of the Company's external reserving actuaries.

Factors affecting the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses include the continually evolving and changing regulatory and legal environment, actuarial studies, professional experience and expertise of the Company's claims department personnel and independent adjusters retained to handle individual claims, the quality of the data used for projection purposes, existing claims management practices including claim-handling and settlement practices, the effect of inflationary trends on future loss settlement costs, court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.

The process for establishing the provision for loss and loss adjustment expenses begins with the collection and analysis of claim data. Data on individual reported claims, both current and historical, including paid amounts and individual claim adjuster estimates, are grouped by common characteristics and evaluated by the Company’s external reserving actuaries in their analyses to estimate ultimate claim liabilities. Such data is occasionally supplemented with external data as available and when appropriate.

Our Company’s external reserving actuaries use the following generally accepted actuarial loss and loss adjustment expenses reserving methods in our analysis, for each coverage or segment that we analyze: 

Paid Loss Development - we use historical loss and loss adjustment expense payments over discrete periods of time to estimate future loss and loss adjustment expense payments. Paid development methods assume that the patterns of paid loss and loss adjustment expenses that occurred in past periods will be similar to loss and loss adjustment expense payment patterns that will occur in future periods. 

Incurred Loss Development - we use historical case incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses (the sum of cumulative loss and loss adjustment expense payments plus outstanding unpaid case losses) over discrete periods of time to estimate future loss and loss adjustment expenses. Incurred development methods assume that the case loss and loss adjustment expenses reserving practices are consistently applied over time. 

Frequency and Severity - we use historical claim count development over discrete periods of time to estimate future claim counts. We divide projected ultimate claim counts by an exposure base (earned premiums or exposures), select expected claim frequencies from the results, and adjust them for trends based on internal and external information. Concurrently, we divide projected ultimate losses by the projected ultimate claim counts to select expected loss severities. We use internal and external information to trend the severities and combine them with the trended, projected frequencies to develop ultimate loss projections.

The methods above all calculate an estimate of total ultimate losses. Our provision for loss and loss adjustment expenses is calculated by subtracting total paid losses from our estimate of total ultimate losses. Our estimate for IBNR is calculated by subtracting case reserves from our provision for loss and loss adjustment expenses.
 
Each estimation method has its own set of assumption variables and its own advantages and disadvantages, with no single estimation method being better than the others in all situations and no one set of assumptions being meaningful for all coverages or segments. For example, Paid Loss Development does not make use of case reserves, and can be more stable when there are changes to the case reserving process. Frequency and Severity, by estimating the frequency separately from severity, can assist in understanding the underlying dynamics when either frequency or severity is changing substantially.

The relative strengths and weaknesses of the particular estimation methods when applied to a particular group of claims can also change over time; therefore, the actual choice of estimation method can change with each evaluation. The estimation methods chosen are those that are believed to produce the most reliable indication at a particular evaluation date.

 
39
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.


We monitor the actual emergence of loss and loss adjustment expenses data and compare it to the expected emergence implied by our booked estimates. Differences in these are part of our considerations for whether it is appropriate to modify our assumptions for developing the estimated provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. 

We review the adequacy of the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses quarterly. For our year-end analysis, we re-estimate the ultimate losses for each coverage and state, by accident year. This involves performing a complete update of the historical development factors used in our analysis, incorporating the experience of the most recent calendar year. On a quarterly basis, we perform a more limited review, which can entail, for example, a comparison of the expected losses to be paid during the quarter versus actual payments, or other similar comparisons to determine the extent to which a given segment is performing as expected. In some cases, a re-estimation (similar to the year-end analysis) may be determined to be useful as part of a quarterly analysis, and we may make adjustments to ultimate losses in response to the results of this analysis. We adjust carried unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses as we learn additional information, and reflect these adjustments in the accounting periods in which they are determined. 

A basic premise in most actuarial analyses is that past patterns demonstrated in the data will repeat themselves in the future, absent a material change in the associated risk factors. Significant structural changes to the available data, product mix or organization can materially impact the provision for loss and loss adjustment expenses. Our 2016 actuarial analysis included certain assumptions regarding improved claim-handling practices that we expected to result from new claim-handling initiatives being implemented by the new claim management team hired in the fall of 2016. These assumptions led us to anticipate a significant reduction in the required provision for loss and loss adjustment expenses at December 31, 2016. These improvements did not materialize as quickly as originally anticipated, in large part due to the disruptions to claim staffing during this period. As a result, the year-end 2017 actuarial analysis removed the explicit adjustments that were made in the 2016 actuarial analysis; otherwise, the 2017 analysis was substantially reliant on historical experience. The anticipated improvements in claim-handling practices are now emerging and are expected to be recognized in future actuarial analyses once sufficient empirical evidence exists to validate the data.

Informed judgment is applied throughout the process. This includes the application of various individual experiences and expertise to multiple sets of data and analyses. In addition to actuaries, experts involved with the reserving process also include underwriting and claims personnel and lawyers, as well as other company management. As a result, management may have to consider varying individual viewpoints when establishing the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.

Our estimate of the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses is proposed each quarter by our external reserving actuaries and approved by an internal management team comprised of our chief executive officer, chief operating officer and chief financial officer; the management of our non-standard automobile insurance companies, including its president, vice president of claims and treasurer; and other selected executives. We begin the process each quarter by responding to detailed information requests submitted by our external reserving actuaries. Upon completion of their estimation analysis of the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, the results are discussed with the internal management team. As part of this discussion, the analyses supporting the actuarial estimates of IBNR by line of business and state for each of our non-standard automobile companies, including separate analyses for our voluntary runoff companies, are reviewed. The external reserving actuaries also present explanations supporting any changes to the underlying assumptions used to calculate the indicated estimates. A review of the resulting variance between the indicated provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses and the carried provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses takes place. The internal management team engages in a discussion with the external reserving actuaries and supplies supplemental information in support of assumptions it believes should be challenged. The external reserving actuaries review the supplemental information and return to the internal management team with their recommendation in regards to the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses that should be booked to reflect their analytical assessment and view of estimation risk. After discussion of these analyses and all relevant risk factors, the internal management team determines whether the carried provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses requires adjustment.

Our external reserving actuaries also develop, as part of their annual actuarial report to the Company, an estimated range around the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses recorded by the Company. At December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a $1.3 million provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. The report of the Company’s external actuaries indicates that a carried provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses anywhere between $1.2 million and $1.7 million at December 31, 2017 would fall within their reasonable range of estimation. This range does not present a forecast of future redundancy or deficiency since actual development of future paid losses related to the current provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses may be affected by many variables. The provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses recorded at December 31, 2017 represents our best estimate of the ultimate amounts that will be paid.


 
40
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

To the extent that the ultimate paid losses are higher or lower than the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses recorded by the Company, the differences would be recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations in the accounting periods in which they are determined. There can be assurance that such differences would not be material.

RESULTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS
A reconciliation of total segment operating income to net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is presented in Table 1 below:
Table 1 Segment Operating Income
(in thousands of dollars)
 
For the three months ended September 30,
 
For the nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018

2017

Change

2018

2017

Change

Segment operating income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extended Warranty
385

847

(462
)
3,615

2,118

1,497

Leased Real Estate
473

525

(52
)
1,965

2,315

(350
)
Total segment operating income
858

1,372

(514
)
5,580

4,433

1,147

Net investment (loss) income
(84
)
1,289

(1,373
)
(697
)
126

(823
)
Net realized losses
(414
)

(414
)
(405
)
(1
)
(404
)
Gain on change in fair value of equity investments
337


337

951


951

Interest expense not allocated to segments
(1,571
)
(1,261
)
(310
)
(4,476
)
(3,636
)
(840
)
Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net
225

(1,872
)
2,097

(4,428
)
(6,871
)
2,443

Amortization of intangible assets
(1,356
)
(286
)
(1,070
)
(1,899
)
(866
)
(1,033
)
Contingent consideration benefit




212

(212
)
Loss on change in fair value of debt
(1,450
)
(1,178
)
(272
)
(2,511
)
(5,769
)
3,258

Gain on disposal of subsidiary



17


17

Equity in net (loss) income of investee
(339
)
(897
)
558

(623
)
1,343

(1,966
)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
(3,794
)
(2,833
)
(961
)
(8,491
)
(11,029
)
2,538

Income tax (benefit) expense
(147
)
120

(267
)
291

1,636

(1,345
)
Loss from continuing operations
(3,647
)
(2,953
)
(694
)
(8,782
)
(12,665
)
3,883

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
740

1,391

(651
)
2,069

960

1,109

(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes
(1,172
)

(1,172
)
(7,800
)
1,017

(8,817
)
Net loss
(4,079
)
(1,562
)
(2,517
)
(14,513
)
(10,688
)
(3,825
)
Loss from Continuing Operations and Net Loss
In the third quarter of 2018, we reported loss from continuing operations of $3.6 million compared to $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we reported loss from continuing operations of $8.8 million compared to $12.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The loss from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily due to interest expense not allocated to segments, amortization of intangible assets and loss on change in fair value of debt, partially offset by operating income in Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate. The loss from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily due to interest expense not allocated to segments, other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net, amortization of intangible assets and loss on change in fair value of debt, partially offset by operating income in Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate.
The loss from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 is primarily due to interest expense not allocated to segments, other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net, loss on change in fair value of debt and equity in net loss of investee, partially offset by operating income in Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate and net investment income. The loss from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is primarily due to interest expense not allocated to segments, other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net and loss on change in fair value of debt, partially offset by operating income in Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate.

 
41
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we reported a net loss of $4.1 million compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we reported a net loss of $14.5 million compared to $10.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Extended Warranty
The Extended Warranty service fee and commission income increased 18.2% to $9.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $7.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 ($28.9 million year to date compared to $20.7 million prior year to date, representing a 39.6% increase). The increase in service fee and commission income is primarily reflective of the inclusion of PWSC in 2018 following its acquisition effective October 12, 2017. PWSC service fee and commission income was $0.9 million and $5.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The increase in service fee and commission income is also partially due to increases at both IWS and Trinity. IWS experienced increased sales of vehicle service agreements due to higher automobile sales and improved penetration of its credit union distribution channel. Trinity experienced increased sales to existing customers of both its maintenance support and warranty products.
PWSC's service fee and commission income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 includes an adjustment to correct revenues reported during the six months ended June 30, 2018. As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, during the third quarter of 2018, the Company corrected its initial adoption of ASU 2014-09 and applied the expected cost plus a margin approach to develop models to estimate the standalone selling price for each of PWSC’s performance obligations in order to allocate the transaction price to the two separate performance obligations identified. Prior to applying this approach, the Company used a different methodology to allocate the transaction price to the two separate performance obligations. This expected cost plus a margin approach will result in the Company recognizing homebuilder warranty service fees more slowly compared to the previously calculated revenue recognition pattern initially utilized during the six months ended June 30, 2018. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded an adjustment to decrease service fee and commission income by $1.0 million related to the correction of our prior accounting for PWSC’s homebuilder warranty service fees during the six months ended June 30, 2018. The expected cost plus a margin approach also resulted in service fee and commission income recorded by PWSC during the third quarter of 2018 being lower by an additional $0.5 million compared to what would have been recognized under the previous revenue recognition model related to PWSC’s homebuilder warranty service fees in the third quarter of 2018.
The Extended Warranty operating income was $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 ($3.6 million year to date compared with $2.1 million prior year to date). The decrease in operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily due to the reduction in PWSC service fee and commission income noted above, partially offset by increased operating income at Trinity and IWS. The increased operating income at Trinity and IWS reflects improved revenues at both Trinity and IWS, partially offset by the related increases in cost of services sold at Trinity and commissions at both Trinity and IWS, for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
The increase in operating income for the nine months September 30, 2018 is primarily due to the inclusion of PWSC in 2018 following its acquisition effective October 12, 2017. PWSC operating income was $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in operating income also reflects the improved revenues at both Trinity and IWS, partially offset by related increases in cost of services sold at Trinity and general and administrative expenses at both Trinity and IWS, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.

 
42
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Leased Real Estate
In the third quarter of 2018, Leased Real Estate rental income was $3.3 million compared to $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2017 ($10.0 million year to date compared with $10.0 million prior year to date). The rental income is derived from CMC's long-term triple net lease. The Leased Real Estate operating income was $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 ($2.0 million year to date compared to $2.3 million prior year to date). The decrease in operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is due to increased legal expenses, compared to the same period in 2017. Leased Real Estate recorded legal expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared with zero for the three months ended September 30, 2017 ($0.4 million year to date compared to zero prior year to date). Leased Real Estate operating income includes interest expense of $1.5 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively ($4.6 million and $4.7 million, respectively, year to date and prior year to date). Leased Real Estate operating income for the three three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 also reflects a non-recurring charge of $0.3 million for transaction expenses related to the execution of a lease amendment. See "Investments" section below for further discussion.
Net Investment (Loss) Income
Net investment loss was $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to net investment income of $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2017 (net investment loss of $0.7 million year to date compared to net investment income of $0.1 million prior year to date). The decrease for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily due to a $0.3 million decrease in fair value of the Company's limited liability investment, at fair value recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a $1.1 million increase in fair value of the Company's limited liability investment, at fair value recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2017 (decrease in fair value of $1.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, year to date and prior year to date).
Net Realized Losses
Net realized losses were $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $0.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 ($0.4 million year to date compared to $0.0 million prior year to date). The net realized losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 resulted from the sale of a limited liability investment as one part of a broader set of arrangements with certain former officers of the Company. Refer to Note 21, "Related Party Transactions," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, for further discussion.
Gain on Change in Fair Value of Equity Investments
Gain on change in fair value of equity investments was $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to zero in the third quarter of 2017 ($1.0 million year to date compared to zero prior year to date). As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01. As a result, all changes in the fair value of equity investments are now recognized in net income (loss). The gain on change in fair value of equity investments for the three months ended September 30, 2018 includes realized gains of $0.9 million ($1.5 million year to date) on equity investments sold during the third quarter of 2018 and unrealized losses of $0.6 million ($0.5 million year to date) on equity investments held as of September 30, 2018.
Interest Expense not Allocated to Segments
Interest expense not allocated to segments for the third quarter of 2018 was $1.6 million compared to $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2017 ($4.5 million year to date compared to $3.6 million prior year to date). The increase for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily attributable to generally higher London interbank offered interest rates for three-month U.S. dollar deposits ("LIBOR") during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017. The Company's subordinated debt bears interest at the rate of LIBOR, plus spreads ranging from 3.85% to 4.20%. The increase is also reflective of the inclusion of interest expense on the Company’s bank loan incurred as part of its acquisition of PWSC effective October 12, 2017.
Other Income and Expenses not Allocated to Segments, Net
Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net was a net income of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to a net expense of $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 (net expense of $4.4 million year to date compared to net expense of $6.9 million prior year to date). The following items were recorded as part of Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net.
Total stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures, was a benefit of $2.5 million and an expense of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively (benefit of $1.9 million and expense of $0.9 million for

 
43
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively). During the third quarter of 2018, the Company modified the terms of grants of restricted common stock awards to certain former officers of the Company. Refer to Note 17, "Stock-Based Compensation," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, for further discussion of the restricted stock awards. The Company also record $0.4 million of payroll tax expense and $0.2 million of other expense during the third quarter of 2018 related to these arrangements with its former officers.

The Company recorded a $0.7 million gain for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to the termination of a financing lease, as further discussed in Note 12, "Finance Lease Obligation Liability," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

The Company recorded other income of zero and $0.9 million related to the write-off of escheat liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

Loss and loss adjustment expenses, net of commissions, at Amigo were an expense of $0.0 million and a benefit of $0.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively (expense of $1.7 million and benefit of $0.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively). Amigo was previously included in the Insurance Underwriting segment along with Mendota, Mendakota and MCC. As a consequence of classifying Mendota, Mendakota and MCC as discontinued operations, the remaining composition of the Insurance Underwriting segment no longer meets the criteria of a reportable segment. As such, all segmented information has been restated to exclude the Insurance Underwriting segment for all periods presented. The operating results of Amigo previously included in the Insurance Underwriting segment are now included in Other income and expenses not allocated to segments, net.
  
Amortization of Intangible Assets
The Company's intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Amortization of intangible assets was $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2017 ($1.9 million year to date compared to $0.9 million prior year to date). The higher amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 is related to amortization of intangible assets recorded in conjunction with the Company's acquisition of PWSC on October 12, 2017. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company finalized its fair value analysis of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in its acquisition of PWSC, which resulted in the Company recording (i) $0.8 million of amortization expense during the third quarter of 2018 for the period from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2018 and (ii) $0.3 million of amortization expense during the third quarter of 2018 for the period July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 related to the intangible assets identified. See Note 5, "Acquisitions, Deconsolidation and Discontinued Operations," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for further details.
Contingent Consideration Benefit
Contingent consideration benefit was zero in the third quarter of 2018 compared to zero in the third quarter of 2017 (zero year to date compared to $0.2 million prior year to date). The benefit recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is attributable to the Company having executed an agreement with the former owner of Trinity. The asset purchase agreement executed by the Company in 2013 related to the acquisition of Trinity provided for additional payments to the former owner of Trinity contingent upon the achievement of certain targets over future reporting periods.
Loss on Change in Fair Value of Debt
Loss on change in fair value of debt amounted to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2017 ($2.5 million year to date compared to $5.8 million prior year to date). The loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 is due to an increase in the fair value of the subordinated debt. As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01. As a result, the portion of the change in fair value of subordinated debt related to the instrument-specific credit risk is now recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), whereas for 2017, the total change in fair value of subordinated debt was recorded in net income (loss). See "Debt" section below for further information.
Gain on Disposal of Subsidiary
On June 1, 2018, the Company disposed of its subsidiary, Itasca Real Estate Investors, LLC. As a result of the disposal, the Company recognized a gain of $0.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 
44
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Equity in Net (Loss) Income of Investee
Equity in net loss of investee for the third quarter of 2018 was $0.3 million compared to $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 (loss of $0.6 million year to date compared to income of $1.3 million prior year to date). Equity in net (loss) income of investee represents the Company's investment in Itasca Capital Ltd. See Note 7, "Investment in Investee," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, for further discussion.
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense
Income tax benefit for the third quarter of 2018 was $0.1 million compared to income tax expense of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 (income tax expense of $0.3 million year to date compared to $1.6 million prior year to date). See Note 15, "Income Taxes," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, for additional detail of the income tax (benefit) expense recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.

INVESTMENTS
As a result of classifying Mendota, Mendakota and MCC as discontinued operations, the results of their operations are reported separately for all periods presented and their assets are presented as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. All investment information in the section below has been restated to exclude Mendota, Mendakota and MCC for all periods presented.
Portfolio Composition
All of our investments in fixed maturities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. All of our equity investments are reported at fair value. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, equity investments were considered available-for-sale. At September 30, 2018, we held cash and cash equivalents and investments with a carrying value of $48.8 million. Investments held by our insurance subsidiary, Amigo, must comply with domiciliary state regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentration of investments. Our U.S. operations typically invest in U.S. dollar-denominated instruments to mitigate their exposure to currency rate fluctuations.
Table 2 below summarizes the carrying value of investments, including cash and cash equivalents, at the dates indicated.
TABLE 2 Carrying value of investments, including cash and cash equivalents
(in thousands of dollars, except for percentages)
Type of investment
 
September 30, 2018

 
% of Total

 
December 31, 2017

 
% of Total

Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government, government agencies and authorities
 
5,429

 
11.1
%
 
5,612

 
10.6
%
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
601

 
1.2
%
 
626

 
1.2
%
Mortgage-backed
 
2,526

 
5.2
%
 
2,876

 
5.4
%
Corporate
 
2,520

 
5.2
%
 
5,427

 
10.2
%
Total fixed maturities
 
11,076

 
22.7
%
 
14,541

 
27.4
%
Equity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
926

 
1.9
%
 
3,570

 
6.7
%
Warrants
 
408

 
0.8
%
 
906

 
1.7
%
Total equity investments
 
1,334

 
2.7
%
 
4,476

 
8.4
%
Limited liability investments
 
6,230

 
12.8
%
 
4,922

 
9.3
%
Limited liability investment, at fair value
 
4,529

 
9.3
%
 
5,771

 
10.9
%
Other investments
 
1,917

 
3.9
%
 
2,321

 
4.4
%
Short-term investments
 
151

 
0.3
%
 
151

 
0.3
%
Total investments
 
25,237

 
51.7
%
 
32,182

 
60.7
%
Cash and cash equivalents
 
23,591

 
48.3
%
 
20,774

 
39.3
%
Total
 
48,828

 
100.0
%
 
52,956

 
100.0
%

 
45
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
The Company performs a quarterly analysis of its investments classified as available-for-sale to determine if declines in market value are other-than-temporary. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, equity investments were considered available-for-sale and were included in the analysis of other-than-temporary impairments. Following the adoption of ASU 2016-01 beginning with the first quarter of 2018, the Company includes only its investments in fixed maturities in its quarterly analysis for other-than-temporary declines in market value. Further information regarding our detailed analysis and factors considered in establishing an other-than-temporary impairment on an investment is discussed within Note 6, "Investments," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. 
As a result of the analysis performed by the Company to determine declines in market value that are other-than-temporary, there were no write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments related to investments recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.
The length of time a fixed maturity investment may be held in an unrealized loss position may vary based on the opinion of the investment manager and their respective analyses related to valuation and to the various credit risks that may prevent us from recapturing the principal investment. In the case of a fixed maturity investment where the investment manager determines that there is little or no risk of default prior to the maturity of a holding, we would elect to hold the investment in an unrealized loss position until the price recovers or the investment matures. In situations where facts emerge that might increase the risk associated with recapture of principal, the Company may elect to sell a fixed maturity investment at a loss. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, the Company considered the ability and intent to hold an equity investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery.
At September 30, 2018, the gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities amounted to $0.2 million, and there were no unrealized losses attributable to non-investment grade fixed maturities. At December 31, 2017, the gross unrealized losses for fixed maturities and equity investments amounted to $0.8 million, and there were no unrealized losses attributable to non-investment grade fixed maturities. At each of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all unrealized losses on individual investments were considered temporary.
Limited Liability Investments
The Company owns investments in various limited liability companies ("LLCs") and limited partnerships ("LPs"). The Company's investments in these LLCs and LPs are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and reported as limited liability investments in the consolidated balance sheets. The most recently available financial statements of the LLCs and LPs are used in applying the equity method. The difference between the end of the reporting period of the LLCs and LPs and that of the Company is no more than three months. Table 3 below presents additional information pertaining to the limited liability investments at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
TABLE 3 Limited liability investments
(in thousands of dollars)
 
 
Carrying Value
 
 
 
September 30, 2018

 
December 31, 2017

Triple net lease limited liability investments
 
2,793

 
1,082

Other real estate related limited liability investments
 

 
110

Non-real estate limited liability investments
 
3,437

 
3,730

Total
 
6,230

 
4,922


 
46
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.


Triple Net Lease Investments
Table 4 below presents total income from triple net lease investments included in the Company’s loss from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.

TABLE 4 Income from triple net lease investments included in loss from continuing operations
(in thousands of dollars)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2018

 
2017

Income from triple net lease limited liability investments
 
104

 
47

 
139

 
47

Income from CMC operations
 
491

 
434

 
1,697

 
1,786

Total income included in loss from continuing operations as a result of triple net lease investments and CMC operations
 
595

 
481

 
1,836

 
1,833

Income from triple net lease limited liability investments in the table above is recognized based on the Company's share of the earnings of the limited liability entities and is included in net investment (loss) income in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Income from CMC operations in the table above for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, is comprised of Leased Real Estate segment operating income of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively ($2.0 million and $2.3 million, respectively, year to date and prior year to date), amortization of intangible assets of $0.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively ($0.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively, year to date and prior year to date) and income tax benefit of $0.0 million and income tax expense of $0.1 million, respectively (income tax expense of $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, year to date and prior year to date).
With respect to CMC, the Company expects to record income each year based upon the rental income recognized under its existing triple net lease agreement on the Real Property less operating expenses, which are comprised principally of interest on the Mortgage and depreciation and amortization of certain of the assets acquired. Over the next three years, the Company generally expects to recognize in its consolidated statements of operations income of approximately $2.8 to $3.1 million per year, before legal expenses, related to its ownership of CMC. Effective beginning the first quarter of 2017, the Company executed a lease amendment between CMC and its tenant under which the tenant will pay an aggregate $25.0 million of additional rental income through May 2034, the remaining term of the lease (the "Lease Amendment"). Because of the Lease Amendment, CMC may be in a position to distribute to the Company some of the cash received from the additional rental income. Any material cash flow to the Company, however, remains likely to occur only upon the occurrence of one of the three events that would trigger payment of service fees. There can be no assurance as to the timing of the occurrence, or the resulting outcome, from one of these events. Refer to the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section below for further discussion.
Limited Liability Investment, at Fair Value
The Company owns 15.9% of the outstanding units of 1347 Investors LLC ("1347 Investors"). The Company's investment in 1347 Investors is accounted for at fair value and reported as limited liability investment, at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, with any changes in fair value to be reported in net investment (loss) income in the consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of the Company's limited liability investment, at fair value was $4.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively.
The fair value of this investment is calculated based on a model that distributes the net equity of 1347 Investors to all classes of membership interests. The model uses quoted market prices and significant market observable inputs. The Company recorded net investment loss of $0.3 million and net investment income of $1.1 million related to this investment for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively (net investment loss of $1.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, year to date and prior year to date).


 
47
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

PROPERTY AND CASUALTY UNPAID LOSS AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES
As a result of classifying Mendota, Mendakota and MCC as discontinued operations, the results of their operations are reported separately for all periods presented and their liabilities are presented as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. All property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses information in the section below has been restated to exclude Mendota, Mendakota and MCC for all periods presented.
Property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses represent the estimated liabilities for reported loss events, incurred but not reported ("IBNR") loss events and the related estimated loss adjustment expenses.
Tables 5 and 6 present distributions, by line of business, of the provision for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses gross and net of external reinsurance, respectively.
TABLE 5 Provision for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses - gross
(in thousands of dollars)

Line of Business
September 30, 2018

December 31, 2017

Non-standard automobile
815

572

Commercial automobile
854

580

Other
623

177

Total
2,292

1,329

TABLE 6 Provision for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses - net of reinsurance recoverable (in thousands of dollars)
Line of Business
September 30, 2018

December 31, 2017

Non-standard automobile
761

508

Commercial automobile
829

572

Other
623

177

Total
2,213

1,257

Non-Standard Automobile
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the gross provisions for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses for our non-standard automobile business were $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The increase is due to an increase in unpaid loss adjustment expenses at Amigo.
Commercial Automobile
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the gross provisions for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses for our commercial automobile business were $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The increase is due to an increase in unpaid loss adjustment expenses at Amigo.
Other
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the gross provisions for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses for our other business were $0.6 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The increase is due to an increase in unpaid loss adjustment expenses at Amigo.
Information with respect to development of our provision for prior years' property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses is presented in Table 7.

 
48
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

TABLE 7 (Decrease) increase in prior years' provision for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses
(in thousands of dollars)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018

2017

2018

2017

(Favorable) unfavorable change in provision for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years
(19
)
267

1,628

266

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported $0.0 million of favorable development for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses from prior accident years (unfavorable development of $1.6 million year to date) compared with unfavorable development of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 (unfavorable development of $0.3 million prior year to date). The favorable development reported for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was related to a decrease in property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses due to the continuing voluntary run-off of Amigo. The unfavorable development reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was related to an increase in property and casualty loss adjustment expenses due to the continuing voluntary run-off of Amigo.
See the "Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions" section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information pertaining to the Company’s process of estimating the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.
DEBT
Note Payable
As part of the acquisition of CMC in July 2016, the Company assumed the Mortgage and recorded the Mortgage at its estimated fair value of $191.7 million, which included the unpaid principal amount of $180.0 million as of the date of acquisition plus a premium of $11.7 million. The Mortgage matures on May 15, 2034 and has a fixed interest rate of 4.07%. The Mortgage is carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its amortized cost, which reflects the monthly pay-down of principal as well as the amortization of the premium using the effective interest rate method.

Bank Loan
On October 12, 2017, the Company borrowed a principal amount of $5.0 million from a bank to partially finance its acquisition of PWSC. The bank loan matures on October 12, 2022 and has a fixed interest rate of 5.0%. The bank loan is carried in the consolidated balance sheets at its unpaid principal balance.
Subordinated Debt
Between December 4, 2002 and December 16, 2003, six subsidiary trusts of the Company issued $90.5 million of 30-year capital securities to third parties in separate private transactions. In each instance, a corresponding floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debenture was then issued by Kingsway America Inc. to the trust in exchange for the proceeds from the private sale. The floating rate debentures bear interest at the rate of LIBOR, plus spreads ranging from 3.85% to 4.20%. The Company has the right to call each of these securities at par value any time after five years from their issuance until their maturity.
During the third quarter of 2018, the Company gave notice to its Trust Preferred trustees of its intention to exercise its voluntary right to defer interest payments for up to 20 quarters, pursuant to the contractual terms of its outstanding Trust Preferred indentures, which permit interest deferral. This action does not constitute a default under the Company's Trust Preferred indentures or any of its other debt indentures.
The Company's subordinated debt is measured and reported at fair value. At September 30, 2018, the carrying value of the subordinated debt is $53.6 million. The fair value of the subordinated debt is calculated using a model based on significant market observable inputs and inputs developed by a third party. For a description of the market observable inputs and inputs developed by a third party used in determining fair value of debt, see Note 20, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the market observable swap rates changed, and the Company experienced an increase in the credit spread assumption developed by the third party. Changes in the market observable swap rates affect the fair value model in different ways. An increase in the LIBOR swap rates has the effect of increasing the fair value of the Company's subordinated debt while an increase in the risk-free swap rates has the effect of decreasing the fair value. The increase in the credit spread assumption has the effect of decreasing the fair value of the Company's subordinated debt while a decrease in the credit spread assumption has the effect of increasing the fair value. The other primary variable affecting the fair value of debt calculation is the passage of time, which will always have the effect of increasing the fair value of debt. The changes to the credit spread and swap rate variables during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, along with the passage of time, contributed to the $1.5 million increase in fair value of the Company’s subordinated debt between December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018.
As further discussed in Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01. As a result, the portion of the change in fair value of subordinated debt related to the instrument-specific credit risk is now recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), whereas for 2017, the total change in fair value of subordinated debt was recorded in net income (loss). Of the $1.5 million increase in fair value of the Company’s subordinated debt between December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, $1.0 million is reported as decrease in fair value of debt attributable to instrument-specific credit risk in the Company's unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive loss and $2.5 million is reported as loss on change in fair value of debt in the Company’s unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Also as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-01, a cumulative $40.5 million change in fair value of subordinated debt attributable to instrument-specific credit risk was reclassified from accumulated deficit to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of January 1, 2018. As long as the Company repays its subordinated debt at maturity, it can be expected that this $40.5 million

 
49
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

reclassification will reverse without being reported in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Though changes in the market observable swap rates will continue to introduce some volatility each quarter to the Company’s reported gain or loss on change in fair value of debt, changes in the credit spread assumption developed by the third party will no longer introduce volatility to the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of the Company’s subordinated debt will eventually equal the principal value of the subordinated debt by the time of the stated redemption date of each trust, beginning with the trust maturing on December 4, 2032 and continuing through January 8, 2034, the redemption date of the last of the Company’s outstanding trusts.

For a description of each of the Company's six subsidiary trusts, see Note 11, "Debt," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See Note 4, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, for discussion of certain accounting standards that may be applicable to the Company's current and future consolidated financial statements.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The purpose of liquidity management is to ensure there is sufficient cash to meet all financial commitments and obligations as they fall due. The liquidity requirements of the Company and its subsidiaries have been met primarily by funds generated from operations, capital raising, disposal of discontinued operations, investment maturities and income and other returns received on investments or from the sale of investments. Cash provided from these sources is used primarily for making investments and for loss and loss adjustment expense payments, debt servicing and other operating expenses. The timing and amount of payments for loss and loss adjustment expenses may differ materially from our provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, which may create increased liquidity requirements.

 
50
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Cash Flows from Continuing Operations
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported on the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows $3.9 million of net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations. The reconciliation between the Company's reported net loss of $14.5 million and the $3.9 million of net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations can be explained primarily by the $7.8 million loss on disposal of discontinued operations, $5.1 million of depreciation and amortization expense, the $2.5 million loss on change in fair value of debt and the increase in deferred service fees of $4.0 million, offset by $2.1 million of income from discontinued operations, $1.9 million of stock-based compensation benefit, the $2.5 million increase in service fee receivable, the $1.3 million increase in other receivables and the $1.0 million gain on change in fair value of equity investments.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the net cash provided by investing activities from continuing operations as reported on the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows was $9.6 million. This source of cash was driven primarily by proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturities, equity investments, other investments and investee in excess of purchases of fixed maturities, equity investments and limited liability investments; proceeds from disposal of subsidiary; and the net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations as reported on the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows was $3.0 million. This use of cash is attributed to principal repayments of $2.2 million on the Mortgage and $0.8 million on the bank loan.
In summary, as reported on the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company's net increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $2.8 million. The absence of cash flows from discontinued operations, whether positive or negative, is not expected to adversely affect the Company’s future liquidity and capital resources given that the discontinued operations are comprised of insurance subsidiaries formerly reported as part of the Company’s Insurance Underwriting segment. Receipt of dividends from the Company's insurance subsidiaries has not generally been considered a source of liquidity for the holding company. The insurance subsidiaries require regulatory approval for the return of capital and, in certain circumstances, prior to the payment of dividends. At September 30, 2018, the U.S. insurance subsidiaries of the Company were restricted from making any dividend payments to the holding company without regulatory approval pursuant to the domiciliary state insurance regulations.
The Company's Extended Warranty subsidiaries fund their obligations primarily through service fee and commission income. The Company's Leased Real Estate subsidiary funds its obligations through rental income. The Company's insurance subsidiaries fund their obligations primarily through investment income and maturities in the investments portfolios.
The liquidity of the holding company is managed separately from its subsidiaries. Actions available to the holding company to raise liquidity in order to meet its obligations include the sale of passive investments; sale of subsidiaries; issuance of debt or equity securities and certain excess cash flow from the Company’s Extended Warranty subsidiaries. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company gave notice to its Trust Preferred trustees of its intention to exercise its voluntary right to defer interest payments for up to 20 quarters, pursuant to the contractual terms of its outstanding Trust Preferred indentures, which permit interest deferral.
Receipt of dividends from the Extended Warranty subsidiaries is limited for the holding company at this time even though excess cash generated by Trinity’s operating results is freely available for distribution to the holding company. IWS is somewhat constrained from paying dividends, given the existence of a 10% minority owner of its common equity, and PWSC is constrained from paying dividends while the bank loan incurred to partially finance the acquisition of PWSC remains outstanding.

Receipt of dividends from the Leased Real Estate segment is not generally considered a source of liquidity for the holding company. Because of the Lease Amendment, CMC may be in a position to distribute to the Company some of the cash received from the additional rental income. Any material cash flow to the Company, however, to help the Company meet its holding company obligations remains likely to occur only upon the occurrence of one of the three events described in the next paragraph that would trigger payment of service fees. There can be no assurance as to the timing of the occurrence, or the resulting outcome, from one of these events.

Pursuant to the terms of the management services agreement entered into at the closing of the acquisition of CMC, an affiliate of the seller (the "Service Provider") will provide certain services to CMC and its subsidiaries in exchange for service fees. Such services (collectively, the "Services") will include (i) causing an affiliate of the Service Provider to guaranty certain obligations of the Property Owner (pursuant to an Indemnity and Guaranty Agreement between such affiliate and the holder of the Mortgage (the "Mortgagor")), (ii) providing certain individuals to serve as members of the board of directors and/or certain executive officers of CMC and/or its subsidiaries and (iii) providing asset management services with respect to the Real Property. In exchange for the Services, the Property Owner will pay certain fees to the Service Provider. The payment of such service fees may be triggered by (i) a sale of the Real Property, (ii) a restructuring of the lease to which the Real Property is subject or (iii) a refinancing or

 
51
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

restructuring of the Mortgage. The amount of the service fees will range from 40%-80% of the net proceeds generated by the event triggering the payment of the service fees (depending on the nature and timing of the triggering event). The Lease Amendment has not triggered the payment of service fees to the Service Provider.

The holding company’s liquidity, defined as the amount of cash in the bank accounts of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. and Kingsway America Inc., was $2.5 million and $0.6 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. These amounts are reflected in the cash and cash equivalents of $23.6 million and $20.8 million reported at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The cash and cash equivalents other than the holding company’s liquidity represent restricted and unrestricted cash held by Amigo, Kingsway Re and the Company’s Extended Warranty and Leased Real Estate subsidiaries and are not considered to be available to meet holding company obligations, which primarily consist of interest payments on subordinated debt; holding company operating expenses; transaction related expenses; investments; and any other extraordinary demands on the holding company. Specifically pursuant to the definitive agreement to sell Mendota, Mendakota and MCC (the “Acquired Companies”) that the Company completed on October 18, 2018, the Company has redeployed the proceeds from the sale to acquire equity investments, limited liability investments, limited liability investment, at fair value and other investments owned by the Acquired Companies at the time of the closing and to fund $5.0 million into an escrow account to be used to satisfy potential indemnity obligations under the definitive agreement. See "Regulatory Capital" section below for further discussion.
The holding company’s liquidity of $2.5 million at September 30, 2018 represented approximately six months of regularly recurring operating expenses before any transaction-related expenses, any new holding company investments or any other extraordinary demands on the holding company. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company gave notice to its Trust Preferred trustees of its intention to exercise its voluntary right to defer interest payments for up to 20 quarters, pursuant to the contractual terms of its outstanding Trust Preferred indentures, which permit interest deferral. As a result of this action, the projected obligations of the holding company for the subsequent twelve-month period have been reduced by approximately $6.2 million based upon current LIBOR. The holding company’s liquidity of $2.5 million at September 30, 2018 represents only actual cash on hand and does not include cash that would be made available to the holding company from the sale of investments, particularly investments in publicly traded securities, owned by the holding company. In addition, the holding company has access to some of the operating cash generated by the Extended Warranty subsidiaries. While these sources do not represent cash of the holding company at September 30, 2018, they do represent future sources of liquidity that make it probable that the holding company will be able to meet its obligations as they become due over the next 12 months.
Regulatory Capital
In the United States, a risk-based capital ("RBC") formula is used by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") to identify property and casualty insurance companies that may not be adequately capitalized. In general, insurers reporting surplus as regards policyholders below 200% of the authorized control level, as defined by the NAIC, at December 31 are subject to varying levels of regulatory action, including discontinuation of operations. As of December 31, 2017, surplus as regards policyholders reported by Amigo exceeded the 200% threshold.
During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company began taking steps to place all of Amigo into voluntary run-off. In April 2013, Kingsway filed a comprehensive run-off plan with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which outlines plans for Amigo's run-off. Amigo remains in compliance with that plan.
Kingsway Re, our reinsurance subsidiary domiciled in Barbados, is required by the regulator in Barbados to maintain minimum statutory capital of $125,000. Kingsway Re is currently operating with statutory capital near the regulatory minimum, requiring us to periodically contribute capital to fund operating expenses. Kingsway Re incurs operating expenses of approximately $0.1 million per year.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has off-balance sheet arrangements related to guarantees, which are further described in Note 22, "Commitments and Contingent Liabilities," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that we will incur losses due to adverse changes in interest or currency exchange rates and equity prices. We have exposure to market risk through our investment activities and our financing activities.

 
52
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Given our U.S. operations typically invest in U.S. dollar denominated fixed maturity instruments, our primary market risk exposures in the investments portfolio are to changes in interest rates. Periodic changes in interest rate levels generally affect our financial results to the extent that the investments are recorded at market value and reinvestment yields are different than the original yields on maturing instruments. During periods of rising interest rates, the market values of the existing fixed maturities will generally decrease. The reverse is true during periods of declining interest rates.
We manage our exposure to risks associated with interest rate fluctuations through active review of our investment portfolio by our management and Board of Directors, consultation with third-party financial advisors and by managing the maturity profile of our fixed maturity portfolio. Our goal is to maximize the total after-tax return on all of our investments. An important strategy we employ to achieve this goal is to try to hold enough in cash and short-term investments in order to avoid liquidating longer-term investments to pay loss and loss adjustment expenses.

Table 8 below summarizes the fair value by contractual maturities of the fixed maturities portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

TABLE 8 Fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturity date
(in thousands of dollars, except for percentages)
 
 
September 30, 2018

 
% of Total

 
December 31, 2017

 
% of Total

Due in less than one year
 
5,117

 
46.2
%
 
3,605

 
24.8
%
Due in one through five years
 
4,781

 
43.2
%
 
9,310

 
64.0
%
Due after five through ten years
 
117

 
1.0
%
 
345

 
2.4
%
Due after ten years
 
1,061

 
9.6
%
 
1,281

 
8.8
%
Total
 
11,076

 
100.0
%
 
14,541

 
100.0
%

At September 30, 2018, 89.4% of fixed maturities, including treasury bills, government bonds and corporate bonds, had contractual maturities of five years or less. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The Company holds cash and high-grade short-term assets that, along with fixed maturities, management believes are sufficient in amount for the payment of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses and other obligations on a timely basis. In the event additional cash is required to meet obligations to our policyholders and customers, we believe the high-quality investments in the portfolios provide us with sufficient liquidity.
Based upon the results of interest rate sensitivity analysis, Table 9 below shows the interest rate risk of our investments in fixed maturities, measured in terms of fair value (which is equal to the carrying value for all our fixed maturity securities), at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
TABLE 9 Sensitivity analysis on fixed maturities
(in thousands of dollars)
 
 
100 Basis Point Decrease in Interest Rates
 
No Change
 
100 Basis Point Increase in Interest Rates
As of September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated fair value
 
$
11,248

 
$
11,076

 
$
10,904

Estimated increase (decrease) in fair value
 
$
172

 
$

 
$
(172
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated fair value
 
$
14,840

 
$
14,541

 
$
14,242

Estimated increase (decrease) in fair value
 
$
299

 
$

 
$
(299
)
We use both fixed and variable rate debt as sources of financing. Because our subordinated debt is LIBOR-based, our primary market risk related to financing activities is to changes in LIBOR. As of September 30, 2018, each one hundred basis point increase in LIBOR would result in an approximately $0.9 million increase in our annual interest expense.
Equity Risk

 
53
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Equity risk is the risk we will incur economic losses due to adverse changes in equity prices. Our exposure to changes in equity prices results from our holdings of common stock. We principally manage equity price risk through industry and issuer diversification and asset allocation techniques and by continuously evaluating market conditions.

Credit Risk
Credit risk is defined as the risk of financial loss due to failure of the other party to a financial instrument to discharge an obligation. Credit risk arises from our positions in short-term investments, corporate debt instruments and government bonds.
The Investment Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight of key investment policies and limits. These policies and limits are subject to annual review and approval by the Investment Committee. The Investment Committee is also responsible for ensuring these policies are implemented and procedures are in place to manage and control credit risk.
Table 10 below summarizes the composition of the fair values of fixed maturities, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, by rating as assigned by Standard and Poor's ("S&P") or Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"). Fixed maturities consist of predominantly high-quality instruments in corporate and government bonds with 100.0% of those investments rated 'A' or better at September 30, 2018. 'Not Rated' in Table 10 below at December 31, 2017 represents $3.0 million of 8% preferred stock of 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., redeemable on February 24, 2020. During the first quarter of 2018, the preferred stock was redeemed at its par value of $3.0 million.
TABLE 10 Credit ratings of fixed maturities
(ratings as a percentage of total fixed maturities)
Rating (S&P/Moody's)
September 30, 2018

December 31, 2017

AAA/Aaa
74.1
%
59.6
%
AA/Aa
12.8

8.8

A/A
13.1

10.9

Percentage rated A/A2 or better
100.0
%
79.3
%
Not rated

20.7

Total
100.0
%
100.0
%
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's management performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, and completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), as adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("the Exchange Act") as of September 30, 2018. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
During the third quarter of 2018, the Company corrected its initial adoption of ASU 2014-09 and recorded an adjustment to decrease service fee and commission income by $1.0 million and increase deferred service fees by $1.0 million related to the correction of our prior accounting for PWSC’s homebuilder warranty service fees during the six months ended June 30, 2018. This adjustment caused the Company to reevaluate its disclosure controls and procedures at March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Despite the Company’s determination pursuant to its SAB 99 analysis that the error is not material, the Company considered not only the actual error but also the potential for the error to be material. Because of this analysis, the Company determined that the error could have been material and the Company’s existing controls might not have been designed effectively to prevent a material misstatement to the financial statements. As a result, the Company has concluded that, as of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting related to the adoption of ASU 2014-09. Subsequent to June 30, 2018, the Company’s management enhanced its internal control over financial reporting related to the adoption of new accounting standards by including a control to engage outside accounting expertise to assist the Company in reviewing the adoption of new accounting standards. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company implemented and tested this enhanced internal control related to the adoption of ASU 2014-09

 
54
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

in order to remediate fully this material weakness. As a result, the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective at September 30, 2018.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the Company's last fiscal quarter, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting except with respect to the material weakness described above.


 
55
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Information concerning pending legal proceedings is incorporated herein by reference to Note 22, "Commitments and Contingencies," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements in Part I of this Form 10-Q.

 
56
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
As a result of the sale of Mendota, which was completed on October 18, 2018, the Company has amended the risk factors disclosed in our 2017 Annual Report as follows.
FINANCIAL RISK
We have substantial outstanding recourse debt, which could adversely affect our ability to obtain financing in the future, react to changes in our business and satisfy our obligations.
As of September 30, 2018, we had $90.5 million principal value of outstanding recourse subordinated debt, in the form of trust preferred debt instruments, with redemption dates beginning in December, 2032. Because of our substantial outstanding recourse debt:
our ability to engage in acquisitions without raising additional equity or obtaining additional debt financing could be limited;
our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements or general corporate purposes and our ability to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt may be impaired in the future;
a large portion of our cash flow must be dedicated to the payment of interest on our debt, thereby reducing the funds available to us for other purposes;
we are exposed to the risk of increased interest rates because our outstanding subordinated debt, representing $90.5 million of principal value, bears interest directly related to the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits ("LIBOR");
it may be more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to our creditors, resulting in possible defaults on, and acceleration of, such debt;
we may be more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
we may be at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors with proportionately less debt or with comparable debt on more favorable terms and, as a result, they may be better positioned to withstand economic downturns;
our ability to refinance debt may be limited or the associated costs may increase;
our flexibility to adjust to changing market conditions and ability to withstand competitive pressures could be limited; and
we may be prevented from carrying out capital spending that is, among other things, necessary or important to our growth strategy and efforts to improve the operating results of our businesses.
Increases in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our subordinated debt and could adversely affect our results of operation.
Our outstanding recourse debt of $90.5 million principal value bears interest directly related to LIBOR. As a result, increases in LIBOR would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could adversely affect our results of operations. As of September 30, 2018, each one hundred basis point increase in LIBOR would result in an approximately $0.9 million increase in our annual interest expense.
Our operations are restricted by the terms of our debt indentures, which could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet our capital needs.
Our debt indentures contain numerous covenants that may limit our ability, among other things, to make particular types of restricted payments and pay dividends or redeem capital stock. The covenants under our debt agreements could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or to meet our capital needs. No assurances can be given that we will be able to maintain compliance with these covenants.
If we are not able to comply with the covenants and other requirements contained in the debt indentures, an event of default under the relevant debt instrument could occur. If an event of default does occur, it could trigger a default under our other debt instruments, and the holders of the defaulted debt instrument could declare amounts outstanding with respect to such debt to become immediately

 
57
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

due and payable. Upon such an event, our assets and cash flow may not be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments. In addition, such a repayment under an event of default could adversely affect our liquidity and force us to sell assets to repay borrowings.
The Investment Committee of the Board of Directors closely monitors the debt and capital position and, from time to time, recommends capital initiatives based upon the circumstances of the Corporation.
The Real Property (as defined herein) is leased pursuant to a long-term triple net lease and the failure of the tenant to satisfy its obligations under the lease may adversely affect the condition of the Real Property or the results of the Leased Real Estate segment.
Because the Real Property is leased pursuant to a long-term triple net lease, we depend on the tenant to pay all insurance, taxes, utilities, common area maintenance charges, maintenance and repair expenses and to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities arising in connection with its business, including any environmental liabilities. There can be no assurance that the tenant will have sufficient assets, income and access to financing to enable it to satisfy its payment obligations to us under the lease. The inability or unwillingness of the tenant to meet its rent obligations to CMC Industries, Inc. (“CMC”) or to satisfy its other obligations, including indemnification obligations, could materially adversely affect the business, financial position or results of operations of our Leased Real Estate segment. Furthermore, the inability or unwillingness of the tenant to satisfy its other obligations under the lease, such as the payment of insurance, taxes and utilities, could materially and adversely affect the condition of the Real Property.
Our triple net lease agreement requires that the tenant maintain comprehensive liability and hazard insurance. However, there are certain types of losses (including losses arising from environmental conditions or of a catastrophic nature, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods) that may be uninsurable or not economically insurable. Insurance coverage may not be sufficient to pay the full current market value or current replacement cost of a loss. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations, and other factors also might make it infeasible to use insurance proceeds to replace the property after such property has been damaged or destroyed. In addition, if we experience a loss that is uninsured or that exceeds policy coverage limits, we could lose the capital invested in the property as well as the anticipated future cash flows from the property.
We may not be able to realize our investment objectives, which could significantly reduce our earnings and liquidity.
We depend on our investments for a substantial portion of our liquidity. Our investments include fixed maturities, at fair value. General economic conditions can adversely affect the markets for interest rate-sensitive instruments, including the extent and timing of investor participation in such markets, the level and volatility of interest rates and, consequently, the fair value of fixed maturities. In addition, changing economic conditions can result in increased defaults by the issuers of investments that we own. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. Given the low interest rate environment that exists for fixed maturities, a significant increase in investment yields or an impairment of investments that we own could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition by reducing the fair value of the investments we own, particularly if we were forced to liquidate investments at a loss. The low interest rate environment for fixed maturities that has existed for years also exposes us to reinvestment risk as these investments mature because the funds may be reinvested at rates lower than those of the maturing investments.
Our investments also include limited liability investments and a limited liability investment, at fair value. These investments are less liquid than fixed maturities. We generally make these investments with long-term time horizons in mind. General economic conditions, stock market conditions and many other factors can adversely affect the fair value of the investments we own. If circumstances necessitated us disposing of our limited liability investments prematurely in order to generate liquidity for operating purposes, we would be exposed to realizing less than their carrying value.
Our ability to achieve our investment objectives is affected by general economic conditions that are beyond our control and our own liquidity needs for operating purposes. We may not be able to realize our investment objectives, which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and available cash resources.
A difficult economy generally may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
An adverse change in market conditions leading to instability in the global credit markets presents additional risks and uncertainties for our business. Depending on market conditions going forward, we could incur substantial realized and unrealized losses in future periods, which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Certain trust accounts and letters of credit for the benefit of related companies and third-parties have been established with collateral on deposit under the terms and conditions of the relevant trust and/or letter of credit agreements. The value of collateral could fall below the levels required under these agreements putting the subsidiary or subsidiaries in breach of the agreements.

 
58
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Market volatility may also make it more difficult to value certain of our investments if trading becomes less frequent. Disruptions, uncertainty and volatility in the global credit markets may also impact our ability to obtain financing for future acquisitions. If financing is available, it may only be available at an unattractive cost of capital, which would decrease our profitability. There can be no assurance that market conditions will not deteriorate in the near future.
Financial disruption or a prolonged economic downturn may materially and adversely affect our business.
Worldwide financial markets have recently experienced periods of extraordinary disruption and volatility, resulting in heightened credit risk, reduced valuation of investments and decreased economic activity. Moreover, many companies have experienced reduced liquidity and uncertainty as to their ability to raise capital during such periods of market disruption and volatility. In the event that these conditions recur or result in a prolonged economic downturn, our results of operations, financial position and/or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected. These market conditions may affect the Corporation’s ability to access debt and equity capital markets. In addition, as a result of recent financial events, we may face increased regulation. Many of the other risk factors discussed in this Risk Factors section identify risks that result from, or are exacerbated by, financial economic downturn. These include risks related to our investments portfolio, the competitive environment and regulatory developments.
We provided indemnity and hold harmless agreements to a third party, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We provided indemnity and hold harmless agreements to a third party for certain customs bonds reinsured by Lincoln General Insurance Company ("Lincoln General") during a period of the time Lincoln General was a subsidiary of ours. These agreements may require us to compensate the third-party if Lincoln General is unable to fulfill its obligations relating to the customs bonds. Our potential exposure under these agreements is not determinable, and no liability has been recorded in our consolidated financial statements. No assurances can be given, however, that we will not be required to perform under these agreements in a manner that has a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We provided certain indemnifications to the buyer of our non-standard automobile businesses, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
On July 16, 2018, we announced we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell our non-standard automobile insurance companies Mendota Insurance Company, Mendakota Insurance Company and Mendakota Casualty Company (collectively "Mendota"). On October 18, 2018, we completed the previously announced sale of Mendota. The final aggregate purchase price of $28.6 million was redeployed primarily to acquire equity investments, limited liability investments, limited liability investment, at fair value and other investments, which were owned by Mendota at the time of the closing, and to fund $5.0 million into an escrow account to be used to satisfy potential indemnity obligations under the definitive stock purchase agreement. As part of the transaction, we will indemnify the buyer for any loss and loss adjustment expenses with respect to open claims and certain specified claims in excess of Mendota's carried unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses at June 30, 2018. The maximum obligation to the Company with respect to the open claims is $2.5 million. There is no maximum obligation to the Company with respect to the specified claims. Our potential exposure under these indemnity obligations is not determinable, and no assurances can be given that we will not be required to perform under these indemnity obligations in a manner that has a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have generated net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. income tax purposes, but our ability to use these net operating losses may be limited by our inability to generate future taxable income.
Our U.S. businesses have generated consolidated net operating loss carryforwards ("U.S. NOLs") for U.S. federal income tax purposes in excess of $800 million as of September 30, 2018. These U.S. NOLs can be available to reduce income taxes that might otherwise be incurred on future U.S. taxable income. The utilization of these U.S. NOLs would have a positive effect on our cash flow. Our operations, however, remain challenged, and there can be no assurance that we will generate the taxable income in the future necessary to utilize these U.S. NOLs and realize the positive cash flow benefit. Also, our U.S. NOLs have expiration dates. There can be no assurance that, if and when we generate taxable income in the future from operations or the sale of assets or businesses, we will generate such taxable income before our U.S. NOLs expire.
We have generated U.S. NOLs, but our ability to preserve and use these U.S. NOLs may be limited or impaired by future ownership changes.
Our ability to utilize the U.S. NOLs after an "ownership change" is subject to the rules of Section 382 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Section 382"). An ownership change occurs if, among other things, the shareholders (or specified groups of shareholders) who own or have owned, directly or indirectly, five (5%) percent or more of the value of our shares or are otherwise treated as five (5%) percent shareholders under Section 382 and the regulations promulgated thereunder increase their aggregate percentage ownership of the value of our shares by more than 50 percentage points over the lowest percentage of

 
59
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

the value of the shares owned by these shareholders over a three-year rolling period. An ownership change could also be triggered by other activities, including the sale of our shares that are owned by our five (5%) shareholders. In the event of an ownership change, Section 382 would impose an annual limitation on the amount of taxable income we may offset with U.S. NOLs. This annual limitation is generally equal to the product of the value of our shares on the date of the ownership change multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate in effect on the date of the ownership change. The long-term tax-exempt rate is published monthly by the Internal Revenue Service. Any unused Section 382 annual limitation may be carried over to later years until the applicable expiration date for the respective U.S. NOLs. In the event an ownership change as defined under Section 382 were to occur, our ability to utilize our U.S. NOLs would become substantially limited. The consequence of this limitation would be the potential loss of a significant future cash flow benefit because we would no longer be able to substantially offset future taxable income with U.S. NOLs. There can be no assurance that such ownership change will not occur in the future.
Expiration of our tax benefit preservation plan may increase the probability that we will experience an ownership change as defined under Section 382.
In order to reduce the likelihood that we would experience an ownership change without the approval of our Board of Directors, our shareholders ratified and approved the tax benefit preservation plan agreement (the "Plan"), dated as of September 28, 2010, between the Corporation and Computershare Investor Services Inc., as rights agent, for the sole purpose of protecting the U.S. NOLs. The Plan expired on September 28, 2013. There can be no assurance that our Board of Directors will recommend to our shareholders that a similar tax benefit preservation plan be approved to replace the expired Plan; furthermore, there can be no assurance that our shareholders would approve any new tax benefit preservation plan were our Board of Directors to present one for shareholder approval. The expiration of the Plan, without a new tax benefit preservation plan, exposes us to certain changes in share ownership that we would not be able to prevent as we would have been able to prevent under the Plan. Such changes in share ownership could trigger an ownership change as defined under Section 382 resulting in restrictions on the use of NOLs in future periods, as discussed above.
We will only be able to utilize our U.S. NOLs against the future taxable income generated by companies we acquire if we are able to include the acquired companies in our U.S. consolidated tax return group.
We have in the past acquired companies and expect to do so in the future. Our ability to include acquired companies in our U.S. consolidated tax return group is subject to the rules of Section 1504 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it were ever determined that an acquired company did not qualify to be included in our U.S. consolidated tax return group, such acquired company would be required to file a U.S. tax return separate and apart from our U.S. consolidated tax return group. In that instance, the acquired company would be required to pay U.S. income tax on its taxable income despite the existence of our U.S. NOLs, which would be a use of cash at the acquired company; furthermore, were the income tax obligation of the acquired company in such instance to be greater than its available cash, we could be obligated to contribute cash to our subsidiary to meet its income tax obligation. There can be no assurance that an acquired company will generate taxable income and, if an acquired company does generate taxable income, there can be no assurance that the acquired company will be allowed to be included in our U.S. consolidated tax return group.
Our being registered as a Canadian domestic company subjects us to being taxed in Canada on foreign accrual property income that cannot be offset by our U.S. NOLs.
Canadian domestic companies are subject to taxation on certain non-Canadian sourced income called foreign accrual property income ("FAPI"). FAPI is traditionally comprised of passive income (i.e. interest, dividends, rents, capital gains and income generated from triple net leases). As a result, our investment portfolio, triple net lease and merchant banking activities are generally deemed to be sources of FAPI. Active trades or businesses are generally not considered sources of FAPI; however, pursuant to current Canadian tax law, our U.S. property-casualty insurance companies may be considered sources of FAPI. Our FAPI is subject to taxation in Canada regardless of whether we separately utilize our U.S. NOLs to offset that same income for U.S. income tax purposes. As a result, we could be required to pay Canadian income tax on FAPI despite the existence of our U.S. NOLs. We are currently in a position to offset some amount of FAPI using available Canadian NOLs and foreign accrual property losses ("FAPLs") that have been generated based upon our prior year loss activity. In the event that we do not have sufficient Canadian NOLs and FAPLs to offset future FAPI, however, we would be required to pay Canadian income tax, which would have a negative effect on our cash flow. There can be no assurance that our available Canadian NOLs and FAPLs will offset our future FAPI. In order for us to avoid paying Canadian income tax on future FAPI, we would have to redomesticate to a non-Canadian jurisdiction.




 
60
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

COMPLIANCE RISK
If we fail to comply with applicable insurance and securities laws or regulatory requirements, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
As a publicly traded holding company currently listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchange, we are subject to numerous laws and regulations. These laws and regulations delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to federal, provincial or state regulators.
In light of financial performance and a number of material transactions executed over the years, the Corporation has been asked to respond to questions from and provide information to regulatory bodies overseeing insurance and/or securities laws in Canada and the United States. The Corporation has cooperated in all respects with these reviews and has responded to information requests on a timely basis.
Any failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines or significant restrictions on our ability to do business, which could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. In addition, any changes in laws or regulations could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. It is not possible to predict the future impact of changing federal, state and provincial regulation on our operations, and there can be no assurance that laws and regulations enacted in the future will not be more restrictive than existing laws and regulations.
Our business is subject to risks related to litigation and regulatory actions.
In connection with our operations in the ordinary course of business, we are named as defendants in various actions for damages and costs allegedly sustained by the plaintiffs. While it is not possible to estimate the loss, or range of loss, if any, that would be incurred in connection with any of the various proceedings at this time, it is possible an individual action would result in a loss having a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements.
We are required, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm has in the past reported on its evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting. As disclosed in Item 9A of our 2016 Annual Report, we previously identified a material weakness as of December 31, 2016 in our internal control over financial reporting related to income tax accounting for non-routine transactions.
Although we successfully remediated this material weakness during 2017, we can provide no assurance that additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future and that such material weaknesses, if identified, will not result in material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements.
STRATEGIC RISK
The achievement of our strategic objectives is highly dependent on effective change management.
We have restructured our operating insurance subsidiaries, including exiting states and lines of business, placing subsidiaries into voluntary run-off, terminating managing general agent relationships, hiring a new management team and ultimately selling Mendota on October 18, 2018, with the objective of focusing on our Extended Warranty segment, creating a more effective and efficient operating structure and focusing on profitability. These actions resulted in changes to our structure and business processes. While these changes are expected to bring us benefits in the form of a more agile and focused business, success is dependent on management effectively realizing the intended benefits. Change management may result in disruptions to the operations of the business or may cause employees to act in a manner that is inconsistent with our objectives. Any of these events could negatively impact our performance. We may not always achieve the expected cost savings and other benefits of our initiatives.    
We may experience difficulty continuing to reduce our holding company expenses while at the same time retaining staff given the significant reduction in size and scale of our businesses.
We have divested a number of subsidiaries. At the same time, we have been downsizing our holding company expense base in an attempt to compensate for the reduction in scale. There can be no assurance that our remaining businesses will produce enough cash flow to adequately compensate and retain staff and to service our other holding company obligations, particularly the interest expense burden of our remaining outstanding debt.


 
61
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

The highly competitive environment in which we operate could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The vehicle service agreement market in which we compete is comprised of a few large companies, which market service agreements to credit unions on a national basis and have significantly more financial, marketing and management resources than we do, as well as several other companies that are somewhat similar in size to IWS that market service agreements to credit unions either on a regional basis or a less robust national basis. The homebuilder warranty market in which we operate is comprised of several competitors. There may also be other companies of which we are not aware that may be planning to enter the vehicle service agreement industry.
Competitors in our market generally compete on coverages offered, claims handling, customer service, financial stability and, to a lesser extent, price. Larger competitors of ours benefit from added advantages such as industry endorsements and preferred vendor status. We do not believe that it is in our best interest to compete solely on price. Instead, we focus our marketing on the total value experience to the credit union and its member, with an emphasis on customer service. While we historically have been able to adjust our product offering to remain competitive when competitors have focused on price, our business could be adversely impacted by the loss of business to competitors offering vehicle service agreements at lower prices.
Engaging in acquisitions involves risks, and, if we are unable to effectively manage these risks, our business may be materially harmed.
From time to time we engage in discussions concerning acquisition opportunities and, as a result of such discussions, may enter into acquisition transactions.
Acquisitions entail numerous risks, including the following:
difficulties in the integration of the acquired business;
assumption of unknown material liabilities, including deficient provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses;
diversion of management's attention from other business concerns;
failure to achieve financial or operating objectives; and
potential loss of policyholders or key employees of acquired companies.
We may not be able to integrate or operate successfully any business, operations, personnel, services or products that we may acquire in the future.
Engaging in new business start-ups involves risks, and, if we are unable to effectively manage these risks, our business may be materially harmed.
From time to time we engage in discussions concerning the formation of a new business venture and, as a result of such discussions, may form and capitalize a new business.
New business start-ups entail numerous risks, including the following:
identification of appropriate management to run the new business;
understanding the strategic, competitive and marketplace dynamics of the new business and, perhaps, industry;
establishment of proper financial and operational controls;
diversion of management's attention from other business concerns; and
failure to achieve financial or operating objectives.
We may not be able to operate successfully any business, operations, personnel, services or products that we may organize as a new business start-up in the future.

 
62
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Our company has executive officers who also serve as directors and executive officers for 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc., Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc., Limbach Holdings, Inc., Itasca Capital Ltd. and 1347 Energy Holdings LLC, entities in which we hold investments, which may lead to conflicting interests.
As a result of our having previously spun off 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. ("PIH") and Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. ("Atlas"); formed 1347 Capital Corp., which later entered into a business combination with Limbach Holdings, Inc. ("Limbach"); and invested in Itasca Capital Ltd. ("ICL") and 1347 Energy Holdings LLC ("1347 Energy"), entities in which we hold investments, we have executive officers who also serve as directors for PIH, Atlas, Limbach, ICL and 1347 Energy and who serve as executive officers, pursuant to a management services agreement, for ICL. Our executive officers and members of our Corporation's board of directors have fiduciary duties to our stockholders; likewise, persons who serve in similar capacities at PIH, Atlas, Limbach, ICL and 1347 Energy have fiduciary duties to those companies’ stockholders. We may find, though, the potential for a conflict of interest if our Corporation and one or more of these other companies pursue acquisitions, investments and other business opportunities that may be suitable for each of us. Our executive officers who find themselves in these multiple roles may, as a result, have conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting more than one of the companies to which they owe fiduciary duties. Furthermore, our executive officers who find themselves in these multiple roles own stock options, shares of common stock and other securities in some of these entities. These ownership interests could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when the applicable individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our Company and these other entities. Our Audit Committee reviews potential conflicts that may arise on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind the applicable fiduciary duties owed by the executive officers and directors of each entity. From time to time, we may enter into transactions with or participate jointly in investments with PIH, Atlas, Limbach, ICL or 1347 Energy. There can be no assurance that we will not create new situations where our directors or executive officers serve as directors or executive officers in future investment holdings of our Corporation.
OPERATIONAL RISK
Our provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses may be inadequate, which would result in a reduction in our net income and might adversely affect our financial condition.
Our provisions for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses at Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company (“Amigo”) do not represent an exact calculation of our actual liability but are estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given point in time of what we expect to be the cost of the ultimate settlement and administration of reported and IBNR claims. The process for establishing the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses reflects the uncertainties and significant judgmental factors inherent in estimating future results of both reported and IBNR claims and, as such, the process is inherently complex and imprecise. These estimates are based upon various factors, including:
actuarial projections of the cost of settlement and administration of claims reflecting facts and circumstances then known;
estimates of future trends in claims severity and frequency;
legal theories of liability;
variability in claims-handling procedures;
economic factors such as inflation;
judicial and legislative trends, actions such as class action lawsuits, and judicial interpretation of coverages or policy exclusions; and
the level of insurance fraud.
Most or all of these factors are not directly quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis, and the effects of these and unforeseen factors could negatively impact our ability to accurately assess the risks of the policies that we write. In addition, there may be significant reporting lags between the occurrence of insured events and the time they are actually reported to us and additional lags between the time of reporting and final settlement of claims.
As time passes and more information about the claims becomes known, the estimates are appropriately adjusted upward or downward to reflect this additional information. Because of the elements of uncertainty encompassed in this estimation process, and the extended time it can take to settle many of the more substantial claims, several years of experience may be required before a meaningful comparison can be made between actual losses and the original provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.
We cannot assure that we will not have unfavorable development in the future and that such unfavorable development will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 
63
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

Our Extended Warranty subsidiaries' deferred service fees may be inadequate, which would result in a reduction in our net income and might adversely affect our financial condition.
Our Extended Warranty subsidiaries' deferred service fees do not represent an exact calculation but are estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given point in time of what we expect to be the remaining future revenue to be recognized in relation to our remaining future obligations to provide policy administration and claim-handling services. The process for establishing deferred service fees reflects the uncertainties and significant judgmental factors inherent in estimating the length of time and the amount of work related to our future service obligations. If we amortize the deferred service fees too quickly, we could overstate current revenues, which may adversely affect future reported operating results.
As time passes and more information about the remaining service obligations becomes known, the estimates are appropriately adjusted upward or downward to reflect this additional information. We cannot assure that we will not have unfavorable re-estimations in the future of our deferred service fees. In addition, we have in the past, and may in the future, acquire companies that record deferred service fees. We cannot assure that the deferred service fees of the companies that we acquire are or will be adequate.
Our reliance on credit unions and automobile sales can impact our ability to maintain business.
We market and distribute our vehicle service agreements through a network of credit unions in the United States. As a result, we rely heavily on these credit unions to attract new business. While these distribution arrangements tend to be exclusive between us and each credit union, we have competitors that offer similar products exclusively through credit unions. Loss of all or a substantial portion of our existing credit union relationships; a significant decline in membership in our existing credit union relationships; or a significant decline in new and used automobile sales could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our reliance on homebuilders and new home sales can impact our ability to maintain business.
We market and distribute our core home warranty products through home builders throughout the United States. As a result, we rely heavily on these home builders to generate new business. Loss of all or a substantial portion of our existing home builder relationships or a significant decline in new home sales could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our reliance on a limited number of warranty and maintenance support clients and customers can impact our ability to maintain business.
We market and distribute our warranty products and equipment breakdown and maintenance support services through a limited number of customers and clients across the United States. Loss of all or a substantial portion of our existing customers and clients could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Disruptions or security failures in our information technology systems could create liability for us and/or limit our ability to effectively monitor, operate and control our operations and adversely impact our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows.
Our information technology systems facilitate our ability to monitor, operate and control our operations. Changes or modifications to our information technology systems could cause disruption to our operations or cause challenges with respect to our compliance with laws, regulations or other applicable standards. For example, delays, higher than expected costs or unsuccessful implementation of new information technology systems could adversely impact our operations. In addition, any disruption in or failure of our information technology systems to operate as expected could, depending on the magnitude of the problem, adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows, including by limiting our capacity to monitor, operate and control our operations effectively. Failures of our information technology systems could also lead to violations of privacy laws, regulations, trade guidelines or practices related to our customers and employees. If our disaster recovery plans do not work as anticipated, or if the third-party vendors to which we have outsourced certain information technology or other services fail to fulfill their obligations to us, our operations may be adversely impacted. Any of these circumstances could adversely impact our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows.
Our success depends on our ability to price accurately the risks we underwrite.
Our results of operation and financial condition depend on our ability to price accurately for a wide variety of risks. Adequate rates are necessary to generate revenues sufficient to pay expenses and to earn a profit. To price our products accurately, we must collect and properly analyze a substantial amount of data; develop, test and apply appropriate pricing techniques; closely monitor and timely recognize changes in trends; and project both severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy. Our ability to undertake these efforts successfully, and as a result price our products accurately, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties,

 
64
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

some of which are outside our control, including:
the availability of reliable data and our ability to properly analyze available data;
the uncertainties that inherently characterize estimates and assumptions;
our selection and application of appropriate pricing techniques; and
changes in applicable legal liability standards and in the civil litigation system generally.
Consequently, we could underprice risks, which would adversely affect our results, or we could overprice risks, which would reduce our sales volume and competitiveness. In either case, our results of operation could be materially and adversely affected.
Our results of operation and financial condition could be adversely affected by the results of our voluntary run-off of our insurance subsidiary.
The Corporation currently has Amigo operating in voluntary run-off. Our success at managing this run-off is highly dependent upon proper claim-handling and the availability of the necessary liquidity to pay claims when due. As a result, we are dependent in part on our ability to retain the services of appropriately trained and supervised claim-handling personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key claim-handling personnel working in our run-offs, or the inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified claim-handling personnel in the future, could adversely affect our results of operations. We are also dependent on the continuing availability of the necessary liquidity, from the sale of investments, collection of reinsurance recoverables and, potentially, capital contributions, to properly settle claims. Our inability to sell investments when needed or to collect outstanding reinsurance recoverables when due could have an adverse effect on our results of operation or financial condition.            
HUMAN RESOURCES RISK
Our business depends upon key employees, and if we are unable to retain the services of these key employees or to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, our business may be adversely affected.
Our success at improving our performance will be dependent in part on our ability to retain the services of our existing key employees and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel in the future. The loss of the services of any of our key employees, or the inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future, could adversely affect our results of operations.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None

 
65
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.


Item 6. Exhibits
 
 
Offer Letter, dated September 5, 2018, between the Company and John T. Fitzgerald (included as Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Severance Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, between the Company and John T. Fitzgerald (included as Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Restricted Stock Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, between the Company and John T. Fitzgerald (included as Exhibit 10.4 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers (included as Exhibit 10.5 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Separation Agreement and Release, dated September 5, 2018, between Kingsway America Inc. and Larry G. Swets, Jr. (included as Exhibit 10.6 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Senior Advisor Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, between Kingsway America Inc. and Larry G. Swets, Jr. (included as Exhibit 10.7 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, between the Company and Larry G. Swets, Jr. (included as Exhibit 10.8 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, between 1347 Capital LLC and IGI Partners, LLC (included as Exhibit 10.9 to Form 8-K, filed September 10, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference).
 
 
Letter Agreement, dated May 30, 2018, between the Company and Larry Swets
 
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

 
66
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase



 
67
 

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
 
 
 
 
Date:
November 9, 2018
By:
/s/ John T. Fitzgerald
 
 
 
John T. Fitzgerald, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
Date:
November 9, 2018
By:
/s/ William A. Hickey, Jr.
 
 
 
William A. Hickey, Jr., Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
 
 
 
(principal financial officer)
 
 
 
 


 
68