AMERISAFE INC

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

AMERISAFE, Inc. is an insurance holding company incorporated in the state of Texas. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMERISAFE and its subsidiaries: American Interstate Insurance Company (AIIC) and its insurance subsidiaries, Silver Oak Casualty, Inc. (SOCI) and American Interstate Insurance Company of Texas (AIICTX), Amerisafe Risk Services, Inc. (RISK) and Amerisafe General Agency, Inc. (AGAI). AIIC and SOCI are property and casualty insurance companies organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska. AIICTX is a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of the state of Texas. RISK, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a claims and safety service company currently servicing only affiliated insurance companies. AGAI, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a general agent for the Company. AGAI sells insurance, which is underwritten by AIIC, SOCI and AIICTX, as well as by nonaffiliated insurance carriers.

The terms “AMERISAFE,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to AMERISAFE, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context requires.

The Company provides workers’ compensation insurance for small to mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, principally construction, trucking, logging and lumber, agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, and maritime. Assets and revenues of AIIC and its subsidiaries represent at least 95% of comparable consolidated amounts of the Company for each of 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Adopted Accounting Guidance

The Company has not adopted any new accounting guidance in 2023.

Prospective Accounting Guidance

All other issued but not yet effective accounting and reporting standards as of December 31, 2023 are either not applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a material impact on the Company.

The Company has the ability and positive intent to hold certain investments until maturity. Therefore, fixed maturity securities classified as held-to-maturity are recorded at amortized cost net of the allowance for credit losses. Fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair value. Temporary changes in the fair value of these securities are reported in shareholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income, net of deferred income taxes. Changes in the fair value of equity securities are recorded in net income.

Investment income is recognized as it is earned. The discount or premium on fixed maturity securities is amortized using the “constant yield” method. Anticipated prepayments, where applicable, are considered when determining the amortization of premiums or discounts. Realized investment gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include short-term money market funds with a maturity date, at the time of purchase, of 90 days or less.

Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments include municipal securities and corporate bonds with an original maturity date greater than 90 days but less thanone year.

Premiums Receivable

Premiums receivable consist primarily of premium-related balances due from policyholders. The Company considers premiums receivable as past due based on the payment terms of the underlying policy. The balance is shown net of the allowance for credit losses. Receivables due from insureds are charged off when a determination has been made by management that a specific balance will not be collected. An estimate of amounts that are likely to be charged off is established as an allowance for credit losses as of the balance sheet date. The estimate is primarily comprised of specific balances that are considered probable to be charged off after all collection efforts have ceased, as well as historical trends and an analysis of the aging of the receivables.

Property and Equipment

The Company’s property and equipment, including certain costs incurred to develop or obtain software for internal use, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated primarily by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally 39 years for buildings andthree toseven years for all other fixed assets.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

The direct costs of successfully acquiring and renewing business are capitalized to the extent recoverable and are amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies in proportion to premium revenue earned. These capitalized costs consist mainly of sales commissions, premium taxes and other underwriting costs. The Company evaluates deferred policy acquisition costs for recoverability by comparing the unearned premiums to the estimated total expected claim costs and related expenses, offset by anticipated investment income. The Company would reduce the deferred costs if the unearned premiums were less than expected claims and expenses after considering investment income, and report any adjustments in amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs. There were no adjustments necessary in 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Reserves for Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses represent the estimated ultimate cost of all reported and unreported losses incurred through December 31. The Company does not discount loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. In establishing our reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses, we review the results of analyses using individual case-base valuations and statistical and actuarial methods that utilize historical loss data from our more than 38 years of underwriting workers’ compensation insurance. The actuarial analysis of our historical data provides the factors we use in estimating our loss reserves. These factors are primarily measures over time of the number of claims paid and reported, average paid and incurred claim amounts, claim closure rates and claim payment patterns. In evaluating the results of our analyses, management also uses substantial judgment in considering other factors that are not considered in these actuarial analyses, including changes in business mix, claims management, regulatory issues, medical trends, employment and wage patterns, insurance policy coverage interpretations, judicial determinations and other subjective factors. Due to the inherent uncertainty associated with these estimates, and the cost of incurred but unreported claims, our actual liabilities may vary significantly from our original estimates. Although considerable variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes that the reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses are adequate. The estimates are continually reviewed and adjusted as necessary as experience develops or new information becomes known. Any such adjustments are included in income from current operations.

Subrogation recoverables, as well as deductible recoverables from policyholders, are estimated using individual case-basis valuations and aggregate estimates. Deductibles that are recoverable from policyholders and other recoverables from state funds decrease the liability for loss and loss adjustment expenses.

The Company funds its obligations under certain settled claims where the payment pattern and ultimate cost are fixed and determinable on an individual claim basis through the purchase of annuities. These annuities are purchased from unaffiliated carriers and name the claimant as payee. The cost of purchasing the annuity is recorded as paid loss and loss adjustment expenses. To the extent the annuity funds estimated future claims, reserves for loss and loss adjustment expense are reduced.

Premium Revenue

Premiums on workers’ compensation insurance are based on actual payroll costs or production during the policy term and are normally billed monthly in arrears or annually. However, the Company generally requires a deposit at the inception of a policy.

Premium revenue is earned on a pro rata basis over periods covered by the policies. The reserve for unearned premiums on these policies is computed on a daily pro rata basis.

The Company estimates the annual premiums to be paid by its policyholders when the Company issues the policies and records those amounts on the balance sheet as premiums receivable. The Company conducts premium audits on all of its voluntary business policyholders annually, upon the expiration of each policy, including when the policy is renewed. The purpose of these audits is to verify that policyholders have accurately reported their payroll expenses and employee job classifications, and therefore have paid the Company the premium required under the terms of the policies. The difference between the estimated premium and the ultimate premium is referred to as “earned but unbilled” (EBUB) premium. EBUB premium can be higher or lower than the estimated premium. EBUB premium is subject to significant variability and can either increase or decrease earned premium based upon several factors, including changes in premium growth, industry mix and economic conditions. Due to the timing of audits and other adjustments, ultimate premium earned is generally not determined for several months after the expiration of the policy.

The Company estimates EBUB premiums on a quarterly basis using historical data and applying various assumptions based on the current market and economic conditions, and records an adjustment to premium, related losses, and expenses as warranted.

Reinsurance premiums, losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts.

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers include balances currently owed to the Company for losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses that have been paid to policyholders, amounts that are currently reserved for and will be recoverable once the related expense has been paid and experience-rated commissions recoverable upon commutation.

Upon management’s determination that an amount due from a reinsurer is uncollectible due to the reinsurer’s insolvency or other matters, the amount is written off.

Ceding commissions are earned from certain reinsurance companies and are intended to reimburse the Company for policy acquisition costs related to those premiums ceded to the reinsurers. Ceding commission income is recognized over the effective period of the related insurance policies in proportion to premium revenue earned and is reflected as a reduction in underwriting and certain other operating costs.

Experience-rated commissions are earned from certain reinsurance companies based on the financial results of the applicable risks ceded to the reinsurers. These commission revenues on reinsurance contracts are recognized during the related reinsurance treaty period and are based on the same assumptions used for recording loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses. These commissions are reflected as a reduction in underwriting and certain other operating costs and are adjusted as necessary as experience develops or new information becomes known. Any such adjustments are included in income from current operations. Experience-rated commissions decreased underwriting and certain other operating costs by $1.7 million in 2023, $0.1 million in 2022 and $1.0 million in 2021.

Fee and Other Income

The Company recognizes income related to commissions earned by AGAI as the related services are performed.

Advertising

All advertising expenditures incurred by the Company are charged to expense in the period to which they relate and are included in underwriting and certain other operating costs in the consolidated statements of income. Total advertising expenses incurred were $0.2 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. The provision for income taxes has two components, amounts currently payable or receivable and deferred amounts. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company considers deferred tax assets to be recoverable if it is probable that the related tax losses can be offset by future taxable income. The Company includes reversal of existing temporary differences, tax planning strategies available and future operating income in this assessment. To the extent the deferred tax assets exceed the amount expected to be recovered in future years, the Company records a valuation allowance for the amount determined unrecoverable.

Insurance-Related Assessments

Insurance-related assessments are accrued in the period in which they have been incurred. The Company is subject to a variety of assessments related to insurance commerce, including those by state guaranty funds and workers’ compensation second-injury funds. State guaranty fund assessments are used by state insurance oversight agencies to cover losses of policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated insurance companies and for the operating expenses of such agencies. Assessments based on premiums are generally paidone year after the calendar year in which the premium is written, while assessments based on losses are generally paid within one year of the calendar year in which the loss is paid.

Policyholder Dividends

The Company writes certain policies for which the policyholder may participate in favorable claims experience through a dividend. An estimated provision for workers’ compensation policyholders’ dividends is accrued as the related premiums are earned. Dividends do not become a fixed liability unless and until declared by the respective Boards of Directors of AMERISAFE’s insurance subsidiaries. The dividend to which a policyholder may be entitled is set forth in the policy and is related to the amount of losses sustained under the policy. Dividends are calculated after the policy expiration. The Company is able to estimate the policyholder dividend liability because the Company has information regarding the underlying loss experience of the policies written with dividend provisions and can estimate future dividend payments from the policy terms.

Earnings Per Share

The Company computes earnings per share (EPS) in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. The Company has no participating unvested common shares which contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends and applies the treasury stock method in computing basic and diluted earnings per share.

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The diluted EPS calculation includes potential common shares assumed issued under the treasury stock method, which reflects the potential dilution that would occur if any outstanding options or warrants were exercised or restricted stock becomes vested.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes the impact of its share-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. All share-based grants are recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. The target value of long-term incentive awards are recognized as compensation over the performance period.

There wereno short-term investments held at December 31,2023. Short-term investments held at December 31, 2022 include $9.9 million of corporate bonds, $3.0 million of U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies, and $1.2 million of obligations of states and political subdivisions.

The amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, carrying amount, gross unrecognized gains and losses, and the fair value of those investments classified as held-to-maturity at December 31,2023 are summarized as follows:

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, fair value, and the allowance for credit losses of those investments classified as available-for-sale at December 31,2023 are summarized as follows:

The cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and the fair value of equity securities at December 31,2023 are summarized as follows:

The amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, carrying amount, gross unrealized gains and losses, and the fair value of those investments classified as held-to-maturity at December 31,2022 are summarized as follows:

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, fair value, and the allowance for credit losses of those investments classified as available-for-sale at December 31,2022 are summarized as follows:

The cost, gross unrealized gains and losses on, and fair value of equity securities at December 31,2022 are summarized as follows:

A summary of the carrying amounts and fair value of investments in fixed maturity securities classified as held-to-maturity, by contractual maturity, is as follows:

A summary of the amortized cost and fair value of investments in fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale, by contractual maturity, is as follows:

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

At December 31, 2023, there were $24.4 million of held-to-maturity investments on deposit with regulatory agencies of states in which the Company does business.

A summary of the Company’s realized gains and losses on sales, calls or redemptions of investments for 2023, 2022 and 2021 is as follows:

Major categories of the Company’s net investment income are summarized as follows:

The following table summarizes the fair value and gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale, aggregated by major investment category and length of time that the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

At December 31, 2023, the Company held 156 individual fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale that were in an unrealized loss position, of which 134 were in a continuous unrealized loss position for longer than 12 months.

The following table illustrates the changes in the allowance for credit losses by major security type of the investments classified as held-to-maturity for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The Company has established an allowance for credit losses on 471 held-to-maturity securities totaling $0.2 million as of December 31, 2023. The majority of those securities were issued by states and political subdivisions and corporate bonds at 451 and 17, respectively.

The Company hasno allowance for credit losses on investments classified as available-for-sale as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The credit rating used for held-to-maturity fixed income securities is the rating for each security as published by Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch to determine the probability of default. If there are two ratings, the lower rating is used. If there are three ratings, the median rating is used. If there is one rating, that rating is used. For corporate fixed income securities (given a rating), the probability of default comes from Moody’s annual study of corporate bond defaults published each February. The maximum maturity using the default rate is 20 years (any maturity greater than 20 years will use the 20-year rate). For municipal fixed income securities (given a rating), the probability of default comes from Moody’s annual study of municipal bond defaults published each July/August.

The calculation of the credit loss allowance takes the amortized cost of the fixed income security and assumes default and recovery based on the average recovery rates from the Moody’s default studies. The amortized cost of the security plus any accrued interest, minus the amount recovered, is the estimated full amount the Company could lose in a default scenario. Then this amount is multiplied by the probability of default to determine the allowance for credit loss. The lower the security is rated, the higher likelihood of default, and therefore a higher allowance for credit loss. The longer to the maturity date of a security, the higher the default risk.

The table below presents the amortized cost of held-to-maturity securities aggregated by credit quality indicator as of December 31, 2023.

Premiums Receivable

Premiums receivable consist primarily of premium-related balances due from policyholders. The balance is shown net of the allowance for credit losses. The components of premiums receivable are shown below:

The following summarizes the activity in the allowance for credit losses on premiums receivable:

Included in premiums receivable at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is the Company’s estimate for EBUB premium of $9.9 million, $8.6 million and $7.9 million, respectively.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Deferred policy acquisition costs represent those costs that are incremental and directly related to the successful acquisition of new or the renewal of existing insurance policies. We defer incremental costs that result directly from, and are essential to, the acquisition or renewal of an insurance policy.

We also defer a portion of employee total compensation costs directly related to time spent performing specific acquisition or renewal activities.

These costs are deferred and expensed over the life of the related policies. Major categories of the Company’s deferred policy acquisition costs are summarized as follows:

The following summarizes the activity in the deferred policy acquisition costs:

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of the following:

Accumulated depreciation and amortization includes $0.3 million and $0.2 million that is related to equipment held under finance leases at December 31,2023 and 2022, respectively, and is included in the underwriting and certain other operating costs line item on the income statement. The lease liabilities related to these properties are included in accounts payable and other liabilities.

The Company cedes certain premiums and losses to various reinsurers under excess-of-loss treaties. These reinsurance arrangements provide for greater diversification of business, allow management to control exposure to potential losses arising from large risks, and provide additional capacity for growth. Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. The Company remains liable to its policyholders for the portion reinsured to the extent that any reinsurer does not meet the obligations assumed under the reinsurance agreements. To minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies, the Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurers on a continual basis. The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned in 2023, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:

The amounts recoverable from reinsurers consist of the following:

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers consists of ceded case reserves, ceded incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves, and paid losses recoverable. Ceded case and ceded IBNR reserves represent the portion of gross loss and loss adjustment expense liabilities that are recoverable under reinsurance agreements, but are not yet due from reinsurers. Paid losses recoverable are receivables currently due from reinsurers for ceded paid losses. The Company considers paid losses recoverable outstanding for more than 90 days to be past due. At December 31,2023, there were immaterial paid losses recoverable past due.

The Company received reinsurance recoveries of $16.0 million in 2023, $1.4 million in 2022 and $5.8 million in 2021.

The Company generally secures large reinsurance recoverable balances with various forms of collateral, including funds withheld accounts, irrevocable letters of credit and secured trusts. At December 31, 2023, reinsurance recoverables from reinsurers that exceeded 1.5% of statutory surplus of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries areshown below.

(1)

Current participant in our 2024 reinsurance program.

The table below presents the change in the allowance for credit losses on amounts recoverable from reinsurers for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Income Taxes

The Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

The components of consolidated income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:

As of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company hadno valuation allowance against its deferred income tax assets and liabilities.

Income tax expense from operations is different from the amount computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax statutory rate of 21% to income before income taxes as follows:

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. There wereno uncertain tax positions as of December 31,2023, 2022 and 2021.

The Inflation Reduction Act was enacted on August 16, 2022, and included a new Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT). The Company has determined they do not expect to be liable for CAMT in 2023.

Tax years 2019 through 2023 are subject to examination by the federal and state taxing authorities.

Line of Credit

The Company has an agreement providing for a line of credit in the maximum amount of $20.0 million with Frost Bank. The agreement was renewed in December 2023. Under the agreement, advances may be made either in the form of loans or letters of credit. Borrowings under the agreement accrue at interest rates based upon prime rate or the one-month term SOFR rate. The line of credit is unsecured. No borrowings or letters of credit were outstanding under the line of credit arrangement at December 31,2023 or 2022.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

The following development tables provide the incurred and paid losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance, for workers’ compensation and general liability for accident years 2014 through 2023. The incurred but not reported (IBNR) losses and claims frequency is included for each accident year presented.

The average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance, for workers’ compensation and general liability as of December 31,2023 is summarized below. Since workers’ compensation has long payout periods, the table below shows less than 100% in the years disclosed. This is required supplementary information, which is unaudited.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending reserve balances, net of related amounts recoverable from reinsurers, for 2023, 2022 and 2021:

The final resolution of the estimated loss reserve liability may be different from that anticipated at the reporting date because of the inherent uncertainty in loss reserve estimates, including, but not limited to, the future settlement environment. Consequently, actual paid losses in the future may result in a significantly different amount than currently reserved, favorable or unfavorable.

The difference between currently estimated losses and losses estimated for a prior period at a prior valuation date is known as development. Development is unfavorable when the losses ultimately settle for more than they were reserved for or future estimates suggest that reserves should be increased on unresolved claims. Development is favorable when the losses ultimately settle for less than they were reserved for or future estimates suggest that reserves should be decreased on unresolved claims. Favorable or unfavorable development of loss reserves are reflected in our results of operations in the period the estimates are changed.

The foregoing reconciliation reflects favorable development of the net reserves at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The favorable development reduced loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred by $41.4 million in 2023, driven primarily by accident years 2018 through 2021. In 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded favorable development of $40.6 million and $61.9 million, respectively. The revisions to the Company’s reserves reflect new information gained by claims adjusters in the normal course of adjusting claims and is reflected in the financial statements when the information becomes available. It is typical for more serious claims to take several years or longer to settle and the Company continually revises estimates as more information about claimants’ medical conditions and potential disability becomes known and the claims get closer to being settled. Multiple factors can cause loss development both unfavorable and favorable. The favorable loss development we experienced across accident years was largely due to favorable case reserve development from closed claims and claims where the worker had reached maximum medical improvement.

Reserves established for workers’ compensation insurance includes the exposure to occupational disease or accidents related to asbestos or environmental claims. The exposure to asbestos claims emanates from the direct sale of workers’ compensation insurance. These claims resulted from industry workers who were exposed to tremolite asbestos dust and electricians and carpenters who were exposed to products that contained asbestos. There has been no known exposure to asbestos claims arising from assumed business. The emergence of these claims is slow and highly unpredictable. The Company estimates full impact of the asbestos exposure by establishing full case basis reserves on all known losses. Reserves for losses incurred but not reported (IBNR) include a provision for development of reserves on reported losses. Reserves are established for loss adjustment expenses (LAE) associated with these case and IBNR loss reserves.

The following table details our exposures to various asbestos related claims:

The Company has historically written general liability coverages that are reported in other liability lines of business. These coverages may be associated with the property and casualty industry’s exposure to environmental claims. However, the Company has not been notified by any insured for which exposure exists due to these types of claims. Company management believes potential exposure to environmental claims to be remote. Therefore, the Company has no loss or loss adjustment expense reserves for such liabilities.

The anticipated effect of inflation is implicitly considered when estimating liabilities for loss and loss adjustment expenses. In establishing our reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses, we review the results of analyses using individual case-base valuations and statistical and actuarial methods that utilize historical loss data from our more than 38 years of underwriting workers’ compensation insurance. The actuarial analysis of our historical data provides some of the factors we use in estimating our loss reserves. These factors are primarily measures over time of the number of claims paid and reported, average paid and incurred claim amounts, claim closure rates and claim payment patterns. In evaluating the results of our analyses, management also uses substantial judgment in considering other factors that are not considered in these actuarial analyses, including changes in business mix, claims management, regulatory issues, medical trends, employment and wage patterns, insurance policy coverage interpretations, judicial determinations and other subjective factors. Due to the inherent uncertainty associated with these estimates, and the cost of incurred but unreported claims, our actual liabilities may vary significantly from our original estimates. These anticipated trends are monitored based on actual development and are modified if necessary.

Statutory Accounting and Regulatory Requirements

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries file financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by the insurance regulatory authorities of the states in which the subsidiaries are domiciled. Statutory-basis shareholders’ capital and surplus at December 31,2023, 2022 and 2021 of the directly owned insurance subsidiary, AIIC, and the combined statutory-basis net income and realized investment gains for all AMERISAFE’s insurance subsidiaries for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, were as follows:

Property and casualty insurance companies are subject to certain risk-based capital requirements (RBC) specified by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Under these requirements, a target minimum amount of capital and surplus maintained by a property/casualty insurance company is determined based on the various risk factors related to it. At December 31, 2023, the capital and surplus of AIIC and its subsidiaries exceeded the minimum RBC requirements.

Pursuant to regulatory requirements, AIIC cannot pay dividends to the Company in excess of the greater of 10% of statutory surplus, or statutory net income, excluding realized investment gains, for the preceding 12-month period, without the prior approval of the Nebraska Director of Insurance. However, for purposes of this dividend calculation, net income from the previous two calendar years may be carried forward to the extent that it has not already been paid out as dividends. AIIC paid $56.0 million in dividends to the Company in 2023, $77.7 million in 2022 and $148.4 million in 2021. Based upon the dividend limitation described above, AIIC could pay to the Company dividends of up to $52.6 million in 2024 without seeking regulatory approval.

Capital Stock

Common Stock

The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. At December 31, 2023, there were 20,704,448 shares of common stock issued and 19,135,008 shares outstanding.

Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. At December 31,2023, there wereno shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Restricted Stock and Stock Options

2012 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan

In 2012, the Company’s shareholders approved the AMERISAFE 2012 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2012 Incentive Plan). The 2012 Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board and is designed to attract, retain and motivate non-employee directors, officers, key employees and consultants by providing incentives for superior performance. The 2012 Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of equity-based compensation in the form of option rights, appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, cash incentive awards, performance shares and units, and other types of awards. In connection with the approval of the 2022 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2022 Incentive Plan) by the Company’s shareholders, no further grants will be made under the 2012 Incentive Plan. All grants made under the 2012 Incentive Plan will continue in effect, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2012 Incentive Plan.

In 2023,32,928 shares of common stock were granted under the 2012 Incentive Plan, which will vest through 2027. In 2022,40,959 shares of common stock and 1,062 shares of restricted stock were granted under the 2012 Incentive Plan which will vest through 2027.

The following table summarizes information about the common and restricted stock activity under the 2012 Incentive Plan:

The Company recognized a forfeiture benefit of $43,000 in 2023 and compensation expense of $232,000 and $234,000 in 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to share-based grants. The Company recognized a forfeiture benefit of $223,000 and compensation expense of $1,608,000 and $1,741,000 in 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to long-term incentive awards under the 2012 Incentive Plan. The long-term incentive award is a liability award.

2022 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan

In 2022, the Company’s shareholders approved the AMERISAFE 2022 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2022 Incentive Plan). The 2022 Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board and is designed to attract, retain and motivate non-employee directors, officers, key employees and consultants by providing incentives for superior performance. The 2022 Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of equity-based compensation in the form of option rights, appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, cash incentive awards, performance shares and units, and other types of awards.

A maximum of 500,000 shares of common stock may be issued or transferred upon the exercise of option rights or appreciation rights, as restricted shares and released from substantial risk of forfeiture, in payment of restricted stock units, in payment of performance shares or performance units that have been earned, as awards of shares of common stock, as other awards granted under the 2022 Incentive Plan, or in payment of dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under the plan subject to adjustment in the event of a merger, stock dividend, stock split or similar event, which may be original issue shares or treasury shares or a combination of the two.

In 2023,33,369 restricted stock units were granted under the 2022 Incentive Plan, which will vest through 2027. At December 31, 2023, there were 442,694 shares of common stock available for future awards under the 2022 Incentive Plan.

The following table summarizes information about the restricted stock activity under the 2022 Incentive Plan:

The following table summarizes information about the restricted stock unit activity under the 2022 Incentive Plan:

The Company recognized compensation expense of $559,000 and $137,000 in 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to share-based grants under the 2022 Incentive Plan. The Company recognized compensation expense of $780,000 in 2023 related to long-term incentive awards under the 2022 Incentive Plan. The long-term incentive award is a liability award.

Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan

The AMERISAFE Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan (the Restricted Stock Plan) is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board and provides for the automatic grant of restricted stock awards to non-employee directors of the Company. Awards to non-employee directors are generally subject to terms including non-transferability, immediate vesting upon death or total disability of a director, forfeiture of unvested shares upon termination of service by a director and acceleration of vesting upon a change of control of the Company. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to restricted stock awards under the Restricted Stock Plan is 150,000 shares, subject to the authority of the Board to adjust this amount in the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or similar transaction affecting the common stock. At December 31,2023, there were 21,622 shares of common stock available for future awards under the Restricted Stock Plan.

Under the Restricted Stock Plan, each non-employee director is automatically granted a restricted stock award for a number of shares equal to $75,000 divided by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders at which the non-employee director is elected or is continuing as a member of the Board. Each restricted stock award vests on the date of the next annual meeting of shareholders following the date of grant, subject to the continued service of the non-employee director.

As of December 31, 2023, there were 9,856 shares of restricted stock outstanding under the Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan, all of which will vest on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders in 2024.

The following table summarizes information about the restricted stock activity under the Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan:

The Company recognized compensation expense of $484,000, $502,000, and $344,000 in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, related to the Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan.

Earnings Per Share

The Company computes earnings per share (EPS) in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. The Company has no participating unvested common shares which contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends and applies the treasury stock method in computing basic and diluted earnings per share.

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.

The diluted EPS calculation includes potential common shares assumed issued under the treasury stock method, which reflects the potential dilution that would occur if any outstanding options were exercised or restricted stock becomes vested.

The calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the years ended December 31,2023, 2022 and 2021 are presented below.

The table below sets forth the reconciliation of the weighted average shares used for the basic and diluted EPS calculation.

Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income includes net income plus unrealized gains (losses) on our available-for-sale investment securities, net of tax. In reporting comprehensive income on a net basis in the statements of comprehensive income, we used a 21 percent tax rate. The difference between net income as reported and comprehensive income was due primarily to changes in unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on available-for-sale debt securities. The following table illustrates the changes in the balance of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for each period presented in the financial statements.

The sale or credit loss allowance adjustment of an available-for-sale security results in amounts being reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to current period net income. The effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by the respective line items of net income are presented in the following table.

Employee Benefit Plan

The Company’s 401(k) benefit plan is available to all employees. The Company matches 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of compensation for participating employees, subject to certain limitations. Employees are fully vested in employer contributions to this plan after five years. Company contributions to this plan were $0.7 million in each of 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is a party to various legal actions arising principally from claims made under insurance policies and contracts. Those actions are considered by the Company in estimating reserves for loss and loss adjustment expenses. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

The Company provides workers’ compensation insurance in several states that maintain second-injury funds. Incurred losses on qualifying claims that exceed certain amounts may be recovered from these state funds. There is no assurance that the applicable states will continue to provide funding under these programs.

The Company manages risk on certain long-duration claims by settling these claims through the purchase of annuities from unaffiliated carriers. In the event these carriers are unable to meet their obligations under these contracts, the Company could be liable to the claimants. The following table summa rizes the fair value of the annuities at December 31, 2023, that the Company has purchased to satisfy its obligations.

Substantially all of the annuities are issued or guaranteed by life insurance companies that have an A.M. Best Company rating of “A” (Excellent) or better.

The Company has operating and finance leases for office space and equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms ofone month to 47 months, some of which include options to extend the leases for up tofive years.

The components of lease expense wereas follows:

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

Right-of-use assets obtained in the exchange for the lease obligations were as follows:

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

The following is a maturity analysis of the annual undiscounted cash flows of the operating and finance lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023:

Rental expense was $0.1 million in 2023, $0.1 million in 2022 and $0.2 million in 2021.

Concentration of Operations

The Company derives its premium revenues from its operations in the workers’ compensation insurance line of business.

Net premiums earned during 2023, 2022 and 2021 for the top ten states in 2023 and all others are shown below:

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company determines fair value amounts for financial instruments using available third-party market information. When such information is not available, the Company determines the fair value amounts using appropriate valuation methodologies. Nonfinancial instruments such as real estate, property and equipment, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income taxes and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are excluded from the fair value disclosure.

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair values.

Investments—The Company’s fixed maturity securities are priced by an independent pricing service. The prices provided by the independent pricing service are estimated based on observable market data in active markets utilizing pricing models and processes, which may include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, sector groupings, matrix pricing and reference data. The Company reviews the prices provided by pricing services for reasonableness and compares them to prices provided by the Company’s custodian which uses different pricing services.

Short-Term Investments—The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair value.

The following table summarizes the carrying or reported values and corresponding fair values for financial instruments:

The Company carries available-for-sale securities and equity securities at fair value in our consolidated financial statements and determines fair value measurements and disclosure in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy established in ASC Topic 820, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard defines fair value, describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

Fair value is defined in ASC Topic 820 as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability and, therefore, represents an exit price, not an entry price. Fair value is the exit price in the principal market (or, if lacking a principal market, the most advantageous market) in which the reporting entity would transact. Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and, as such, is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The exit price objective of a fair value measurement applies regardless of the reporting entity’s intent and/or ability to sell the asset or transfer the liability at the measurement date.

ASC Topic 820 requires the use of valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach, the income approach and/or the cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present value amount on a discounted basis. The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset, also known as current replacement cost. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value are to be consistently applied.

In ASC Topic 820, inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value (such as a pricing model) and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable:

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Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity.

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Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Valuation techniques used to measure fair value are intended to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the use of inputs used in valuation techniques into the following three levels:

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Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

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Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are to be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

In general, fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, observable market-based parameters.

The fair values of the Company’s investments are based upon prices provided by an independent pricing service. The Company has reviewed these prices for reasonableness and has not adjusted any prices received from the independent provider. Securities reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs represent assets whose fair value is determined based upon observable unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets in active markets. Level 2 securities represent assets whose fair value is determined using observable market information such as previous day trade prices, quotes from less active markets or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31,2023 and 2022 are as follows:

Assets measured at amortized cost net of allowance for credit losses as of December 31,2023 and 2022 are as follows:

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not hold any securities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis due to expected credit losses.

Capital Management

The Company’s Board of Directors initiated a share repurchase program in February 2010. In October 2016, the Board reauthorized this program with a limit of $25.0 million with no expiration date. There were 46,741 shares repurchased under this program in 2023 for $2.2 million, or an average price of $46.45, including commissions and excise tax. There were 264,449 shares repurchased under this program in 2022 for $12.4 million, or an average price of $46.84, including commissions. There wereno shares repurchased under this program in 2021. Since the beginning of this plan, the Company has repurchased a total of 1,569,440 shares for $36.9 million, or an average price of $23.53, including commissions and excise tax.

In 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors initiated a regular quarterly dividend. During 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share compared to $0.31 per share in 2022, and $0.29 per share in 2021. The Company declared extraordinary dividends totaling $3.50 in 2023 and $4.00 in both 2022 and 2021.

20. Subsequent Events

On February 19, 2024 the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.37 per share payable on March 22, 2024 to shareholders of record as of March 8, 2024. The Board considers the payment of a regular cash dividend each calendar quarter.