Skip to main content

SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INC

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 28, 2024.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Feb 28, 2024

SAFT$104.27-0.1%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.

See the whole filing, with its images and exhibits

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). The subsidiaries consist of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Safety Northeast Insurance Company, Safety Northeast Insurance Agency, Inc. (“SNIA”), and Safety Management Corporation (“SMC”), which is SNIA’s holding company. All intercompany commission transactions, including commission income and underwriting, operating and related expenses, have been eliminated. Commission income totaled $963 and $50 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company was incorporated on June 25, 2001 in the State of Delaware. On October 16, 2001, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Thomas Black Corporation (“TBC”) and its property and casualty subsidiaries. TBC subsequently merged with and into Safety Insurance Group, Inc. with Safety Insurance Group, Inc. being the corporation surviving the merger.

The Company is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The Company’s principal product line is private passenger automobile insurance, which accounted for 54.7% of its direct written premiums in 2023. The Company primarily operates through its insurance company subsidiaries, Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Safety Northeast Insurance Company (together referred to as the “Insurance Subsidiaries”).

SNIA was established on December 1, 2022, when the Company acquired the assets and operations of Northeast Metrowest Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Northeast / Metrowest”), an independent insurance agency, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SMC. SNIA provides personal and commercial property and casualty insurance products to customers on behalf of the Insurance Subsidiaries and third-party insurance carriers. The Company conducted business with Northeast / Metrowest prior to its acquisition. During the eleven months prior to December 1, 2022, all commissions paid to Northeast / Metrowest were reflected as expenses and were conducted at standard market rates. Subsequent to the acquisition date, all business conducted with SNIA was considered an intercompany transaction and have been eliminated. As of December 31, 2023, fiduciary assets held by SNIA were immaterial and less than$250.

As part of the purchase of SNIA, the Company paid cash and reissued treasury stock of $5,000.

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Investments

Investments in fixed maturities, which include taxable and non-taxable bonds and redeemable preferred stocks, are reported at fair value. Fair values for fixed maturity securities are based on estimates obtained from independent pricing services. Unrealized gains or losses on fixed maturity securities reported at fair value are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholder’s equity known as “accumulated other comprehensive income net of taxes” until realized. For fixed maturities that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the Company separates the credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all other factors and reports the credit loss component as credit loss expense. The impairment related to all other factors (non-credit factors) is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The allowance for expected credit losses is adjusted for any additional credit losses and subsequent recoveries. Upon recognizing a credit loss, the cost basis is not adjusted. See Note 3 for further details of the Company’s accounting for impairments of available-for-sale investments.

Investments in equity securities, which include interests in common stocks, mutual funds and a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), are reported at fair value. Fair values for equity securities are derived from external market quotations, with the exception of the REIT whose fair value was determined using the trust’s net asset value obtained from its audited financial statements. Changes in unrealized gains or losses on equity securities are recognized in earnings.

Other invested assets consist of investments in limited partnerships. The partnership interest is accounted for using the equity method of accounting and recorded in earnings from partnership investments. The carrying value of these investments are written down, or impaired, to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. In applying the equity method (including assessment for other-than-temporary impairment), the Company uses financial information provided by the investee, generally on athree month lag.

Realized gains or losses on the sale or maturity of investments are determined based on the specific cost identification method.

Investment income is recognized on an accrual basis of accounting. Bonds not backed by other loans are amortized using the interest method. Loan-backed bonds and structured securities are amortized using the interest method and significant changes in estimated cash flows from the original purchase assumptions are accounted for using the retrospective method.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes money market accounts and U.S. Treasury bills with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. U.S. Treasury bills are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

Accounts Receivable

Amounts included in accounts receivable represent premiums as well as finance charges, the majority of which are billed on a monthly installment basis. Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, these allowances were $1,053 and $1,446, respectively. Uncollected premium balances over ninety days past due are written off.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Amounts that vary with and are primarily related to the successful acquisition of a new or renewal insurance contract, principally commissions, premium taxes and certain other costs, are deferred and amortized ratably over the effective period of the policy. All other acquisition expenses are expensed as incurred. Deferred policy acquisition costs are reviewed to determine if they are recoverable from future income, and if not, are charged to expense. Future investment income attributable to related premiums is not taken into account in measuring the recoverability of the carrying value of this asset. Amortization of acquisition costs in the amount of $161,630, $146,013 and $146,573 were included in underwriting, operating and other expenses for the years ended 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Equity and Deposits in Pools

Equity and deposits in pools represents the net receivable amounts from the residual market mechanisms, Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (“CAR”) for automobile and Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (“FAIR Plan”) for homeowners insurance in Massachusetts. See Note 11 for a discussion of the Company’s accounting for amounts assumed from residual markets.

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Property, equipment, leasehold improvements, and software which are included in other assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using the straight- line or accelerated method over the

estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 3 to 10 years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided using the straight-line method over the term of the lease. The costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized over the estimated life of the business system, beginning when the software is ready for its intended use. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for acquisitions of entities that qualify as businesses using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805,Business Combinations. Purchase consideration is allocated to the assets acquired, including customer relationship intangible assets, and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at acquisition. Management estimated the fair value of such intangible assets using an income approach that considered cash flows expected to be generated by the acquired business relationships, a weighted average cost of capital discount rate reflecting the relative risk of achieving the anticipated cash flows, profits, the time value of money, and other relevant inputs. The excess of the total purchase consideration over the fair value of the identified net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. The results of acquired businesses are included in the results of operations beginning from the date of acquisition. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the allocation of purchase consideration and to the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed to the extent that additional information becomes available. After this period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded in earnings.

Goodwill

Goodwill generated through acquisition is carried at cost, net of impairments. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently when indicators of potential impairment exist. Management first evaluates impairment of goodwill by assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If after performing the qualitative assessment, management determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative assessment to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Management’s determination of the fair value of the reporting unit incorporates multiple inputs into discounted cash flow calculations, including levels of economic capital required to support the business, future business growth, earnings projections, and the weighted average cost of capital used for purposes of discounting. Goodwill is impaired up to the amount that the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value. The Company did not recognize any goodwill impairments during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Intangible Assets

Acquired intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives on a straight-line basis over the period of expected benefit, generally 10 years. The Company recognized$816 and $44 of amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and expects to recognize $816 of amortization expense annually. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment generally when events or circumstances indicate a potential impairment. If it is determined that the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable, the asset is written down to fair value and an impairment loss is recognized. The Company did not identify any impairment indicators during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue under both ASC 944,Financial Services – Insurance(“ASC 944”) and ASC 606,Revenue from Contracts with Customers(“ASC 606”).

Premiums are earned over the terms of the respective policies, which are generallyone year. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the policies.

Ceded premiums are charged to income over the terms of the respective policies and the applicable term of the reinsurance contracts with third-party reinsurers. Ceded unearned premiums represent the unexpired portion of premiums

ceded to CAR and other reinsurers.

Premiums received in advance of the policy effective date are recorded as a liability and not recognized as income until earned. Such amounts are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and totaled $11,983 and $12,858 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Finance and other service income primarily include revenues from premium installment charges, which are recognized when earned.

Commission revenue includes new and renewal commissions paid by insurance carriers. These commissions are earned at the later of the effective date or billing date, as all rights are passed to the insured, the obligation to pay a claim resides with the insurance carrier, and no further performance obligation exists for the Company. Under the terms of its contracts with insurance carriers, the Company can earn additional, variable commission revenue in the form of annual contingent underwriting commissions (“CUC”) based on the underwriting performance of the insurance book of business. Each carrier contract and related CUC is calculated independently. Under ASC 606, the Company must estimate the amount of consideration that will be received in the coming year such that a significant reversal of revenue is not probable. As such, CUC is recognized as a contract asset as policies are issued using applicable premium and payout factors based on the estimated loss ratio from the contract.

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) include case basis estimates for open claims reported prior to year-end and estimates of unreported claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of salvage and subrogation. The estimates are continually reviewed and modified to reflect current conditions, and any resulting adjustments are reflected in current operating results. Adjustments for anticipated salvage and subrogation are recorded on incurred and reported and incurred but not reported losses.

The Company determines its loss and LAE reserves estimate based upon the analysis of our actuaries. A reasonable estimate is derived by selecting a point estimate within a range of indications as calculated by our actuaries using generally accepted actuarial techniques. The key assumption in most actuarial analysis is that past patterns of frequency and severity will repeat in the future, unless a significant change in the factors described above takes place. Our key factors and resulting assumptions are the ultimate frequency and severity of claims, based upon the most recent ten years of claims reported to the Company, and the data reported to us to calculate our share of the residual market. For each accident year and each coverage within a line of business our actuaries calculate the ultimate losses incurred.

Reinsurance

Liabilities for unearned premiums and unpaid losses are stated before deductions for ceded reinsurance. The ceded amounts are carried as receivables. Earned premiums are stated net of deductions for ceded reinsurance.

The Company, as primary insurer, will be required to pay losses in their entirety in the event that the reinsurers are unable to discharge their obligations under the reinsurance agreements.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are charged to expense when they are incurred. Total advertising costs were $2,405, $2,399 and $2,232 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, and are included in underwriting, operating and related expenses.

Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. The method of allocation among members of the consolidated group is subject to a written agreement approved by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). The consolidated tax liability is allocated on the basis of the members’ proportionate contribution to consolidated taxable income.

Deferred income taxes are generally recognized when assets and liabilities have different values for financial statement and tax reporting purposes, and for other temporary taxable and deductible differences as defined by ASC 740,Income Taxes. A valuation allowance is established where management has assessed that it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to utilize the full deferred tax asset.

Earnings per Weighted Average Common share

Basic earnings per weighted average common share (“EPS”) are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share amounts are based on the weighted average number of common shares including non-vested performance stock grants.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS for the periods indicated.

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​​​2023​​2022​​2021
Earnings attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted:​​​​​​​​​
Net income from continuing operations​$18,875​$46,561​$130,710
Allocation for participating shares​​(85)​​(205)​​575
Net income from continuing operations attributed to common shareholders​$18,790​$46,356​$131,285
Earnings per share denominator - basis and diluted​​​​​​​​​
Total weighted average common shares outstanding, including participating shares​​14,730,547​​14,672,234​​14,894,532
Less: weighted average participating shares​​(66,817)​​(64,751)​​(65,796)
Basic earnings per share denominator​​14,663,730​​14,607,483​​14,828,736
Common equivalent shares- non-vested performance stock grants​46,401​103,128​96,990
Diluted earnings per share denominator​14,710,131​14,710,611​14,925,726
​​​​​​​​​​
Basic earnings per share​$1.28​$3.17​$8.85
Diluted earnings per share​$1.28​$3.15​$8.80
​​​​​​​​​​
Undistributed earnings attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted:​​​​​​​​​
Net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders -Basic​$1.28​$3.17​$8.85
Dividends declared​​(3.60)​​(3.60)​​(3.60)
Undistributed earnings​$(2.32)​$(0.43)​$5.25
​​​​​​​​​​
Net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders -Diluted​$1.28​$3.15​$8.80
Dividends declared​​(3.60)​​(3.60)​​(3.60)
Undistributed earnings​$(2.32)​$(0.45)​$5.20

Diluted EPS excludes non vested performance stock grants with exercise prices and exercise tax benefits greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during the period because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. There wereno anti-dilutive non-vested performance stock grants for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Share-Based Compensation

ASC 718,Compensation —Stock Compensation(“ASC 718”), requires the Company to measure and recognize the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments. Under the provisions of ASC 718, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant).

See Note 7 for further information regarding share-based compensation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity 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 reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07,*Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.*This ASU updates reportable segment disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. This ASU does not change how a Company identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. This ASU is effective for fiscal years starting January 1, 2024, and for interim periods starting January 1, 2025, and will be applied on a retrospective basis. The ASU has not yet been adopted and will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows, but the ASU will require additional disclosures to our annual and interim consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09,*Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures.*This ASU updates the required income tax disclosures to include disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction and greater disaggregation of information in the required rate reconciliation. This ASU is effective for fiscal years starting January 1, 2025, and will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Segments

The Company comprisesone business segment: property and casualty insurance operations. Management organizes the business around private passenger automobile insurance in Massachusetts sold exclusively through independent agents and offers other personal and commercial insurance as complementary products. In accordance with ASC 280,Segment Reporting, the financial information of the segment is presented consistent with the way results are regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

3.Investments

The gross unrealized gains and losses on investments in fixed maturity securities, including redeemable preferred stocks that have characteristics of fixed maturities, and equity securities, including interests in mutual funds, and other invested assets, were as follows for the periods indicated.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · Cost or · Allowance for · Gross Unrealized · Estimated
​​Amortized​Expected Credit​​​​​Fair
​​Cost​Losses​Gains​Losses (3)​Value
U.S. Treasury securities​$2,420​$—​$15​$(115)​$2,320
Obligations of states and political subdivisions​38,682​—​262​(2,421)​36,523
Residential mortgage-backed securities (1)​267,271​—​1,945​(21,979)​247,237
Commercial mortgage-backed securities​153,923​—​200​(14,273)​139,850
Other asset-backed securities​64,043​—​217​(2,927)​61,333
Corporate and other securities​594,343​(1,208)​3,785​(32,038)​564,882
Subtotal, fixed maturity securities​1,120,682​(1,208)​6,424​(73,753)​1,052,145
Equity securities (2)​221,809​—​25,707​(9,494)​238,022
Other invested assets (4)​133,946​—​—​—​133,946
Totals​$1,476,437​$(1,208)​$32,131​$(83,247)​$1,424,113
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2022
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · Cost or · Allowance for · Gross Unrealized · Estimated
​​Amortized​Expected Credit​​​​​Fair
​​Cost​Losses​Gains​Losses (3)​Value
U.S. Treasury securities​$1,825​$—​$—​$(156)​$1,669
Obligations of states and political subdivisions​57,319​—​282​(3,532)​54,069
Residential mortgage-backed securities (1)​259,878​—​385​(25,761)​234,502
Commercial mortgage-backed securities​156,303​—​107​(16,479)​139,931
Other asset-backed securities​74,160​—​—​(5,429)​68,731
Corporate and other securities​603,294​(678)​740​(52,103)​551,253
Subtotal, fixed maturity securities​1,152,779​(678)​1,514​(103,460)​1,050,155
Equity securities (2)​231,444​—​31,857​(23,146)​240,155
Other invested assets (4)​112,850​—​—​—​112,850
Totals​$1,497,073​$(678)​$33,371​$(126,606)​$1,403,160
(1)Residential mortgage-backed securities consists primarily of obligations of U.S. Government agencies including collateralized mortgage obligations issued, guaranteed and/or insured by the following issuers: Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB).
(2)Equity securities include common stock, preferred stock, mutual funds and interests in mutual funds held to fund the Company’s executive deferred compensation plan.
(3)The Company’s investment portfolio included 861 and 1,195 securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(4)Other invested assets are accounted for under the equity method which approximated fair value.

The amortized cost and the estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by maturity, are shown below for the period indicated. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · Amortized · Estimated
​​Cost​Fair Value
Due in one year or less​$31,463​$31,048
Due after one year through five years​338,918​323,755
Due after five years through ten years​241,110​226,452
Due after ten years through twenty years​23,704​22,178
Due after twenty years​250​292
Asset-backed securities​485,237​448,420
Totals​$1,120,682​$1,052,145

The gross realized gains and losses on sales of investments were as follows for the periods indicated.

​​​​​​​​​​
​Years Ended December 31,
​202320222021
Gross realized gains​​​​​​​​​
Fixed maturity securities​$1,025​$1,511​$3,666
Equity securities​8,584​12,367​12,275
Gross realized losses​​​​​​​​​
Fixed maturity securities​(3,577)​(2,987)​(1,036)
Equity securities​(4,705)​(1,701)​(20)
Net realized gains on investments​$1,327​$9,190​$14,885

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into transactions involving various types of financial instruments, including investments in fixed maturities and equity securities. Investment transactions have credit exposure to the extent that a counter party may default on an obligation to the Company. Credit risk is a consequence of carrying, trading and investing in securities. To manage credit risk, the Company focuses on higher quality fixed income securities, reviews the credit strength of all companies in which it invests, limits its exposure in any one investment and monitors the portfolio quality, taking into account credit ratings assigned by recognized statistical rating organizations.

The following tables as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 present the gross unrealized losses included in the Company’s investment portfolio and the fair value of those securities aggregated by investment category. The tables also present the length of time that they have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · Less than 12 Months · ​ · 12 Months or More · ​ · Total
​ · Estimated · Unrealized · Estimated · Unrealized · Estimated · Unrealized
​ · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Losses · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Losses · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Losses
U.S. Treasury securities​$—​$—​$1,708​$115​$1,708​$115
Obligations of states and political subdivisions​403​17​28,893​2,404​29,296​2,421
Residential mortgage-backed securities​11,248​167​182,794​21,812​194,042​21,979
Commercial mortgage-backed securities​4,067​108​130,493​14,165​134,560​14,273
Other asset-backed securities​5,973​​224​​46,600​​2,703​​52,573​​2,927
Corporate and other securities​39,453​1,338​369,163​30,700​408,616​32,038
Subtotal, fixed maturity securities​61,144​1,854​759,651​71,899​820,795​73,753
Equity securities​34,272​3,079​45,797​6,415​80,069​9,494
Total temporarily impaired securities​$95,416​$4,933​$805,448​$78,314​$900,864​$83,247
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2022
​ · ​ · Less than 12 Months · ​ · 12 Months or More · ​ · Total
​ · Estimated · Unrealized · Estimated · Unrealized · Estimated · Unrealized
​ · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Losses · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Losses · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Losses
U.S. Treasury securities​$1,669​$156​$—​$—​$1,669​$156
Obligations of states and political subdivisions​34,178​2,504​3,072​1,028​37,250​3,532
Residential mortgage-backed securities​140,855​12,254​70,956​13,507​211,811​25,761
Commercial mortgage-backed securities​110,073​11,632​24,653​4,847​134,726​16,479
Other asset-backed securities​41,113​​2,358​​27,618​​3,071​68,731​5,429
Corporate and other securities​386,401​28,048​131,046​24,055​517,447​52,103
Subtotal, fixed maturity securities​714,289​56,952​257,345​46,508​971,634​103,460
Equity securities​116,881​21,198​6,209​1,948​123,090​23,146
Total temporarily impaired securities​$831,170​$78,150​$263,554​$48,456​$1,094,724​$126,606

At December 31, 2023, U.S. Government residential mortgage backed securities with a fair value of $53,503 are pledged as collateral for a borrowing with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLB-Boston”) as described in Note 10 – Debt. These securities are included in fixed maturity securities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Impairments

For fixed maturities that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the Company separates the credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all other factors. The expected credit loss component is recognized as an allowance for expected credit losses. The allowance is adjusted for any additional credit losses and subsequent recoveries, which are booked in income as either credit loss expense or credit loss benefit, respectively. Upon recognizing a credit loss, the cost basis is not adjusted. The impairment related to all other factors (non-credit factors) is reported in other comprehensive income.

For fixed maturities where the Company records a credit loss, a determination is made as to the cause of the impairment and whether the Company expects a recovery in the value. For fixed maturities where the Company expects a recovery in value, the constant effective yield method is utilized, and the investment is amortized to par.

For fixed maturity investments the Company intends to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the full amount of the impairment is included in credit loss expense. The new cost basis of the investment is the previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in credit loss expense. The new cost basis is not adjusted for any subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company uses a systematic methodology to evaluate declines in fair values below cost or amortized cost of our investments. Some of the factors considered in assessing impairment of fixed maturities due to credit losses include the extent to which the fair value is less than amortized cost, the financial condition of and the near and long-term prospects of the issuer, whether the debtor is current on its contractually obligated interest and principal payments, changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, the historical volatility of the fair value of the security and whether it is more like than not that the Company will be required to sell the investment prior to an anticipated recovery in value.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company concluded that $1,208 of unrealized losses were due to credit factors and were recorded as an allowance for expected credit losses, compared to $678 as of December 31, 2022. The Company concluded that outside of the securities that were recognized as credit impaired, the unrealized losses recorded on the fixed maturity portfolio at December 31, 2023 and 2022 resulted from fluctuations in market interest rates and other temporary market conditions as opposed to fundamental changes in the credit quality of the issuers of such securities. Based upon the analysis performed, the Company’s decision to hold these securities, the Company’s current level of liquidity and our history of positive operating cash flows, management believes it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell any of its securities before the anticipated recovery in the fair value to its amortized cost basis.

The following tables represent a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the allowance for expected credit losses on fixed maturities classified as available for sale.

​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · Year Ended December 31,
​​​2023​​2022
Beginning of period​$678​$691
Credit losses on securities with no previously recorded credit losses​​1,395​​193
Net increases (decreases) in allowance on previously impaired securities​254​​98
Reduction due to sales​​(771)​​(304)
Writeoffs charged against allowance​(348)​​—
Recoveries of amounts previously written off​—​​—
Ending balance of period​$1,208​$678

The Company holdsno subprime mortgage debt securities. All of the Company’s holdings in mortgage-backed securities are either U.S. Government or Agency guaranteed or are rated investment grade by either Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s.

Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows for the periods indicated.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​ · 2023 · 2022 · 2021
Interest on fixed maturity securities​$46,609​$40,886​$36,160
Dividends on equity securities​7,298​6,746​6,421
Equity in earnings of other invested assets​5,521​2,304​4,895
Interest on other assets​219​61​22
Total Investment Income​59,647​49,997​47,498
Investment expenses​3,270​3,272​3,363
Net investment income​$56,377​$46,725​$44,135

**4.**Allowance for Expected Credit Losses

The Company’s financial instruments include premiums and accounts receivable, and reinsurance recoverables.

Premiums and accounts receivable are reported net of an allowance for expected credit losses. The allowance is based upon the Company’s ongoing review of amounts outstanding, historical loss data, including delinquencies and write-offs, current and forecasted economic conditions and other relevant factors. Credit risk is partially mitigated by the

Company’s ability to cancel the policy if the policyholder does not pay the premium and the Company writes off premiums receivable balances that are more than 90 days overdue.

The following tables present the balances of premiums receivable, net of the allowance for expected credit losses, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and changes in the allowance for expected credit losses for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2023.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · ​ · At and For the · ​ · ​ · At and For the
​ · ​ · ​ · Year Ended December 31, 2023 · ​ · ​ · Year Ended December 31, 2022
​ · ​ · Accounts Receivable Net of Allowance for Expected Credit Losses · ​ · ​ · Allowance for Expected Credit Losses · ​ · ​ · Accounts Receivable Net of Allowance for Expected Credit Losses · ​ · ​ · Allowance for Expected Credit Losses
Balance, beginning of period​$192,542​$1,446​$170,953​$1,808
Current period change for expected credit losses​​​2,598​​​1,339
Writeoffs of uncollectable accounts receivable​​​(2,991)​​​(1,701)
Balance, end of period​$256,687​$1,053​$192,542​$1,446

Reinsurance recoverables include amounts due from reinsurers for both paid and unpaid losses. The Company cedes insurance to CAR and to other reinsurers. The Company has a property catastrophe excess of loss agreement and a casualty excess of loss agreement that qualify as reinsurance treaties and are designed to protect against large or unusual loss and LAE activity. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. The Company reports its reinsurance recoverables net of an allowance for estimated uncollectable reinsurance. A probability-of-default methodology which reflects current and forecasted economic conditions is used to estimate the amount of uncollectible reinsurance due to credit-related factors and the estimate is reported in an allowance for estimated uncollectible reinsurance. Amounts deemed to be uncollectible, including amounts due from known insolvent reinsurers, are written off against the allowance. Changes in the allowance, as well as any subsequent collections of amounts previously written off, are reported as part of claims and claim adjustment expenses.

The majority of the Company’s reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses is a result of our participation as a servicing carrier in the CAR Commercial Automobile Program, which represents 94% of the total reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The remaining 6% of amounts due from reinsurers are related to our other excess of loss and quota share contracts. For amounts due under these contracts, the Company utilizes updated A.M. Best credit ratings on a quarterly basis to determine the allowance for expected credit losses. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, all reinsurers under these programs are rated “A” or better by A.M. Best. Certain of the Company's reinsurance recoverables are collateralized by letters of credit, funds held or trust agreements. The Company’s analysis concludes that there areno expected credit losses at December 31, 2023 or 2022.

5.Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

The carrying value of equipment and leasehold improvements by classification was as follows for the periods indicated. Equipment and leasehold improvements are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31,
​​2023​2022
Software$58,896$58,079
Computer equipment​16,264​15,649
Leasehold improvements​8,264​8,264
Other equipment​3,132​3,132
Furniture and fixtures​4,346​4,346
Total cost​90,902​89,470
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization​79,182​71,342
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net​$11,720​$18,128

Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $7,840, $7,876 and $6,896, respectively and is included in underwriting, operating and related expenses.

6.Employee Benefit Plan

The Company sponsors the Safety Insurance Company 401(k) qualified defined contribution retirement plan (the “Retirement Plan”). The Retirement Plan is available to all eligible employees of the Company. An employee must be 21 years of age to be eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan and is allowed to contribute on a pre-tax basis up to the maximum allowed under federal law. The Retirement Plan is administered by the Company and is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. At the close of each Retirement Plan year, the Company makes a matching contribution equal to 100% of the amount each participant contributed during the plan year from their total pay, up to a maximum amount of 8% of the participant’s base salary, to those participants who have contributed to the Retirement Plan and were employed on the last day of the Retirement Plan year. Compensation expense related to the Retirement Plan was$3,788, $3,382, and $3,433 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

7.Share-Based Compensation

2018 Long Term Incentive Plan

On March 24, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Amended and Restated Safety Insurance Group, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“the Amended 2018 Plan”), which was subsequently approved by our shareholders at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Amended 2018 Plan increases the share pool limit by adding 350,000 common shares to the previously adopted Safety Insurance Group, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Amended 2018 Plan enables the grant of stock awards, performance shares, cash-based performance units, other stock-based awards, stock options, stock appreciation rights, and stock unit awards, each of which may be granted separately or in tandem with other awards. Eligibility to participate includes officers, directors, employees and other individuals who provide bona fide services to the Company. The Amended 2018 Plan supersedes the Company’s 2002 Management Omnibus Incentive Plan (“the 2002 Incentive Plan”).

The Amended 2018 Plan establishes a pool of 700,000 shares of common stock available for issuance to our employees and other eligible participants. The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee intend to issue awards under the Amended 2018 Plan in the future.

The maximum number of shares of common stock between the Amended 2018 Plan and the 2002 Incentive Plan with respect to which awards may be granted is 3,200,000. No further grants will be allowed under the 2002 Incentive Plan. At December 31, 2023, there were 373,422 shares available for future grant.

Restricted Stock

Service-based restricted stock awarded in the form of unvested shares is recorded at the market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date and amortized ratably as compensation expense over the requisite service period. Service-based restricted stock awards generally vest over athree-year period and vest 30% on the first andsecond anniversaries of the grant date and 40% on the third anniversary of the grant date, except for non-executive employees’ restricted stock awards granted prior to 2018 which vest ratably over afive-year service period and independent directors’ stock awards which vest immediately. Our independent directors are subject to stock ownership guidelines, which require them to have a value equal to four times their annual cash retainer.

In addition to service-based awards, the Company grants performance-based restricted shares to certain employees. These performance shares cliff vest after athree-year performance period provided certain performance measures are attained. A portion of these awards, which contain a market condition, vest according to the level of total shareholder return achieved by the Company compared to its property-casualty insurance peers over athree-year period. The remainder, which contain a performance condition, vest according to the level of Company’s combined ratio results compared to a target based on its property-casualty insurance peers.

Actual payouts can range from 0% to 200% of target shares awarded depending upon the level of achievement of the respective market and performance conditions during a three calendar-year performance period. Compensation expense for share awards with a performance condition is based on the probable number of awards expected to vest using the performance level most likely to be achieved at the end of the performance period.

Performance-based awards with market conditions are accounted for and measured differently from awards that have a performance or service condition. The effect of a market condition is reflected in the award’s fair value on the grant date. That fair value is recognized as compensation cost over the requisite service period regardless of whether the market-based performance objective has been satisfied.

All of the Company’s restricted stock awards are issued as incentive compensation and are equity classified.

The following table summarizes restricted stock activity under the Amended 2018 Plan assuming a target payout for the performance-based shares.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​ · ​ · 2023 · ​ · 2022 · ​ · 2021
​ · Shares · Weighted · ​ · Shares · Weighted · Shares · ​ · Weighted
​ · ​ · Under · ​ · Average · ​ · Under · ​ · Average · Under · ​ · Average
​ · ​ · Restriction · ​ · Fair Value · ​ · Restriction · ​ · Fair Value · Restriction · ​ · Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of year63,413​$83.87​65,171​$84.30​66,550​$85.16
Granted40,101​​80.03​38,864​​85.22​39,840​​79.27
Vested and unrestricted(36,352)​​83.87​(38,328)​​86.02​(40,763)​​80.82
Forfeited​(233)​​81.62​(2,294)​​83.10​(456)​​81.17
Outstanding at end of period66,929​​81.58​63,413​​83.87​65,171​​84.30
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​Years Ended December 31,
​​2023​2022​2021
​Performance-basedWeightedPerformance-basedWeightedPerformance-based​Weighted
​​Shares Under​Average​Shares Under​Average​Shares Under​Average
​​Restriction​Fair Value​Restriction​Fair Value​Restriction​Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of year75,069​$84.4672,418​$86.53​71,964​$84.94
Granted (1)30,693​​81.8131,828​​86.35​49,460​​77.56
Vested and unrestricted(26,599)​​90.50(26,504)​​92.52​(48,666)​​75.05
Forfeited​(172)​​83.39​(2,673)​​83.01​(340)​​87.43
Outstanding at end of period78,991​​81.4075,069​​84.46​72,418​​86.53

(1) Includes a true-up of previously awarded performance-based restricted share awards. The updated shares were calculated based on the attainment of pre-established performance objectives.

As of December 31, 2023, there was$4,404 of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years. The total fair value of the shares that were vested and unrestricted during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $5,456, $5,749 and $6,947, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company recorded compensation expense related to awards under the Incentive Plan of $3,422, $4,724, and $4,971, net of income tax benefit of $910, $1,256, and $1,321, respectively.

8.Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

As part of the Company’s investment activity, we have committed $170,000 to investments in limited partnerships. The Company has contributed$133,330 to these commitments as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining committed capital that could be called is $42,043, which includes potential recallable capital distributions.

Contingencies

Various claims, generally incidental to the conduct of normal business, are pending or alleged against the Company from time to time. In the opinion of management, based in part on the advice of legal counsel, the ultimate resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. However, if estimates of the ultimate resolutions of those proceedings are revised, liabilities related to those proceedings could be adjusted in the near term.

The Company had been named in a lawsuit alleging that the Company improperly denied coverage to commercial insureds for loss of business income resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our position is that no coverage existed for this peril. As a result of the lawsuit, the Company accrued a reserve of$6,500 for legal defense costs included in loss and losses adjustment expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the claim against the Company was closed and the accrual of$6,500 was reversed.

On October 19, 2021, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (the “SJC”) unanimously ruled that property and casualty insurers must compensate third-party claimants under property damage coverage, part 4 of the standard Massachusetts automobile insurance policy, 2008 edition (standard policy), for the inherent diminished value (“IDV”) that occurs when their vehicles are damaged in a crash. This ruling overturned a previous decision by the Massachusetts Superior Court (the “Superior Court”), which found that a Massachusetts auto insurance policy did not provide property damage coverage for inherent diminished value damages for third-party claimants. The SJC placed the burden of proof on the individual claimant by explicitly specifying that the claimant must establish that the vehicle has suffered IDV damages and also the amount of IDV damages at issue. The SJC further ruled that an insurer’s previous denial of coverage for such damages could not serve as the basis for a claim of unfair business practices. On June 20, 2023, the Superior Court denied a motion brought by the plaintiffs seeking class certification. The plaintiffs have since filed a motion to amend the complaint, seeking to address the concerns raised by the Superior Court in denying their motion for class certification; Safety has opposed the motion to amend the complaint, which has yet to be heard or ruled on by the Superior Court. Based on the SJC’s rulings, at this time the Company does not expect any claims for IDV damages to be material, and therefore has not accrued for a specific loss contingency.

Massachusetts law requires that insurers licensed to do business in Massachusetts participate in the Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund (“Insolvency Fund”). Members of the Insolvency Fund are assessed a proportionate share of the obligations and expenses of the Insolvency Fund in connection with an insolvent insurer. It is anticipated that there will be additional assessments from time to time relating to various insolvencies. Although the timing and amounts of any future assessments are not known, based upon existing knowledge, management’s opinion is that such future assessments will not have a material effect upon the financial position of the Company.

9. Leases

The Company has various non-cancelable, long-term operating leases, the largest of which are for office space including the corporate headquarters, agency locations, VIP claims centers and law offices. Other operating leases consist of auto leases and various office equipment. The Company has no finance leases. Our leases have remaining lease terms ofone year tofive years, some of which also include options to extend the leases for an additional five-year period.

Certain lease agreements contain renewal options and, in addition to the minimum annual rentals, generally provide for payment of a share of the real estate taxes and operating expenses in excess of a base amount. Rental expense for our office space, law offices and VIP claims centers was $4,294, $3,948 and $3,852 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. All leases expire prior to 2029. The Company expects that in the normal course of business, leases that expire will be renewed.

In calculating lease liabilities the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as of the application date based on original lease terms. The components of lease expense were as follows:

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · ​ · Year Ended December 31,
​ · ​ · 2023 · ​ · ​ · 2022 · ​ · ​ · 2021
Operating lease cost​​$4,115​$4,214​$4,464

Other information related to leases was as follows:

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Year Ended December 31,
​ · ​ · 2023 · ​ · ​ · 2022 · ​ · ​ · 2021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:​​​​​​​​​
Operating cash flows from operating leases​$4,647​$4,757​$4,979
Weighted average remaining lease term​​​​​​​​​
Operating leases​​4.81 Years​​5.75 Years​​6.65 Years
Weighted average discount rate​​​​​​​​​
Operating leases​​2.48%​​2.39%​​2.34%

Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:

​​​​
​ · Operating Leases
2024​$4,598
2025​​4,211
2026​​3,980
2027​​3,973
2028​​3,906
Thereafter​​—
Total lease payments​​20,668
Less imputed interest​​(912)
Total​$19,756
10.Debt

On August 10, 2023, the Company extended its Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Citizens Bank, N.A. (“Citizens Bank”) to a maturity date of August 10, 2028. The Credit Agreement provides a $30,000 revolving credit facility with an accordion feature allowing for future expansion of the committed amount up to $50,000. Loans under the credit facility bear interest at the Company’s option at the higher of Citizens Bank prime rate, the SOFR

rate plus 1.25% per annum, or 0.5% above the federal funds rate. Interest only is payable prior to maturity.

The Company’s obligations under the credit facility are secured by pledges of its assets and the capital stock of its operating subsidiaries. The credit facility is guaranteed by the Company’s non-insurance company subsidiaries. The credit facility contains covenants including requirements to maintain minimum risk-based capital ratios and statutory surplus of Safety Insurance Company as well as limitations or restrictions on indebtedness, liens, and other matters. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants. In addition, the credit facility includes customary events of default, including a cross-default provision permitting the lenders to accelerate the facility if the Company (i) defaults in any payment obligation under debt having a principal amount in excess of $10,000 or (ii) fails to perform any other covenant permitting acceleration of all such debt.

The Company hadno amounts outstanding on its credit facility at December 31, 2023 or 2022. The credit facility commitment fee included in interest expense was computed at a rate of 0.20% and 0.25% per annum on the $30,000 commitment at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company is a member of the FHLB-Boston. Membership in the FHLB-Boston allows the Company to borrow money at competitive interest rates provided the loan is collateralized by specific U.S Government residential mortgage backed securities. At December 31, 2023, the Company has the ability to borrow approximately$203,152 using eligible invested assets that would be used as collateral.

On March 17, 2020, the Company borrowed $30,000 from the FHLB-Boston for a term offive-years, bearing interest at a rate of 1.42%. Interest is payable monthly and the principal is due on the maturity date of March 17, 2025 but may be prepaid in whole or in part by the Company in advance with a minor penalty for prepayment.

On December 29, 2022, the Company borrowed $5,000 from the FHLB-Boston for a term ofone-month, bearing interest at a rate of 4.34%. The interest and principal was paid on the maturity date of January 27, 2023.

On March 7, 2023, the Company borrowed $15,000 from FHLB-Boston for a term ofone-month, bearing an interest rate of 4.92%. The interest and principal was paid on the maturity date of April 5, 2023.

On June 29, 2023, the Company borrowed $5,000 from FHLB-Boston for a term ofone-week, bearing an interest rate of 5.24%. The interest and principal was paid on the maturity date of July 6, 2023.

The Company estimates the fair value of the FHLB-Boston loans by discounting cash flows using the interest rate stated in the loan agreements, which is an observable input. As such, the loans are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the outstanding loans was$30,468 and $35,807 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The loans are fully collateralized by specific U.S. Government residential mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of$53,503 and $40,195 at year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The borrowing is outstanding from the FHLB-Boston at year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Interest expense on the FHLB-Boston borrowing was $818 and $524 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

11.Reinsurance

The Company cedes insurance to CAR and to other reinsurers. The Company has various excess of loss and quota share agreements that qualify as reinsurance treaties and are designed to protect against large or unusual loss and LAE activity. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies.

The Company is subject to concentration of credit risk with respect to reinsurance ceded. At December 31, 2023, reinsurance receivables on paid and unpaid loss and LAE with a carrying value of $116,008 and ceded unearned

premiums of $29,890 were associated with CAR. At December 31, 2022, reinsurance receivables on paid and unpaid loss and LAE with a carrying value of $99,688 and ceded unearned premiums of $26,377 were associated with CAR. The Company assumes a proportionate share of the obligations from CAR. The Company makes an estimate of its share of assumed activity from the most recent quarter reported by CAR and records adjustments to the reported activity to reflect its anticipated final assumed obligations. The Company’s participation in CAR resulted in assumed net income of $100, $3,326 and $5,002 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

CAR has been, with few exceptions, required by law to issue a policy to any applicant who seeks it. As a servicing carrier of CAR, this requirement has applied to the Company.

The effect of assumed and ceded premiums on net written and earned premiums and losses and LAE incurred is as follows.

​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​202320222021
Written Premiums​​​​​​​​​
Direct​$991,224​$823,318​$802,139
Assumed​30,850​28,835​31,359
Ceded​(96,779)​(78,418)​(68,972)
Net written premiums​$925,295​$773,735​$764,526
​​​​​​​​​​
Earned Premiums​​​​​​​​​
Direct​$897,598​$803,289​$811,329
Assumed​29,702​28,976​30,583
Ceded​(92,886)​(73,760)​(67,584)
Net earned premiums​$834,414​$758,505​$774,328
​​​​​​​​​​
Loss and LAE​​​​​​​​​
Direct​$691,768​$515,535​$473,162
Assumed​23,706​18,627​16,873
Ceded​(73,172)​(42,183)​(28,308)
Net loss and LAE​$642,302​$491,979​$461,727
12.Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserves for LAE, as shown in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated.

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Year Ended December 31,
​ · 2023 · 2022 · ​ · 2021
Reserves for losses and LAE at beginning of year​$549,598​$570,651​$567,581
Less receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid losses and LAE​(93,394)​(90,667)​​(106,311)
Net reserves for losses and LAE at beginning of year​456,204​479,984​​461,270
Incurred losses and LAE, related to:​​​​​​​​​
Current year​689,683​549,258​​515,400
Prior years​(47,381)​(57,279)​​(53,673)
Total incurred losses and LAE​642,302​491,979​​461,727
Paid losses and LAE related to:​​​​​​​​​
Current year​409,634​342,971​​310,116
Prior years​198,414​172,788​​132,897
Total paid losses and LAE​608,048​515,759​​443,013
Net reserves for losses and LAE at end of period​490,458​456,204​​479,984
Plus receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid losses and LAE​112,623​93,394​​90,667
Reserves for losses and LAE at end of period​$603,081​$549,598​$570,651

At the end of each period, the reserves were re-estimated for all prior accident years. The Company’s prior year reserves decreased by $47,381, $57,279, and $53,673, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, and resulted from re-estimations of prior years’ ultimate loss and LAE liabilities. The decrease in prior year reserves during 2023 was primarily composed of reductions of $15,451 in the Company’s retained automobile and

$29,782 in the Company’s retained other than auto and homeowners reserves. The decrease in prior year reserves during 2022 was primarily composed of reductions of $20,241 in the Company’s retained automobile and $32,963 in the Company’s retained other than auto and homeowners reserves. The decrease in prior year reserves during 2021 was primarily composed of reductions of $22,313 in the Company’s retained automobile and $26,220 in the Company’s retained homeowners reserves.

The Company’s private passenger automobile line of business prior year reserves decreased during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 primarily due to improved retained private passenger results. The improved retained private passenger results were primarily due to fewer incurred but not yet reported claims than previously estimated and better than previously estimated severity on the Company’s established bodily injury and property damage case reserves.

The following is information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2023, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of incurred-but-not-reported liabilities plus expected development on reported claims included within the net incurred claims amounts for our three largest lines of business. The cumulative number of reported claims include claims closed with payment, claims closed without payment and all open claims. It does not include anticipated IBNR claims. For the Private Passenger Automobile and Commercial Automobile lines of business, claim count is defined on a claimant basis where several claim counts may arise from a single auto accident. For Homeowners and all other lines of business, claim count is defined on an accident basis.

The information about incurred claims and allocated claim adjustment expense, net of reserves and paid ultimate claims development for the years ended December 31, 2014 to 2023 is presented as required supplementary information.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Private Passenger Automobile Liability · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total of Incurred-but-Not-Reported Liabilities Plus Expected Development of Reported Claims · Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​​​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 187,305​$ 187,104​$ 186,798​$ 183,119​$ 181,312​$ 179,251​$ 179,267​$ 179,268​$ 179,264​$ 179,096​($ 182)52,787
2015​​​190,036​190,236​188,317​184,477​181,299​179,451​179,248​178,951​178,833​(56)52,980
2016​​​​​192,912​192,318​185,009​180,486​177,009​176,600​176,700​176,509​(67)49,386
2017​​​​​​​185,673​184,429​182,068​177,941​177,320​176,564​175,513​(620)46,260
2018​​​​​​​​​176,411​175,222​170,447​168,185​166,046​166,164​(1,578)43,088
2019​​​​​​​​​​​176,171​174,439​170,477​166,940​166,175​(3,255)40,577
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​130,335​125,888​120,060​117,985​(4,136)26,224
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​146,997​147,391​148,015​(12,330)30,202
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​157,921​152,752​(16,766)30,264
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​203,726​(580)32,818
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 1,664,768​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Private Passenger Automobile Liability · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 79,049​$ 136,434​$ 156,693​$ 166,815​$ 173,163​$ 176,616​$ 177,360​$ 177,968​$ 178,324​$ 178,486​
2015​​​76,934​138,255​156,483​168,641​173,816​176,652​177,782​178,357​178,643​
2016​​​​​78,862​137,917​154,964​167,458​171,865​174,410​175,803​176,242​
2017​​​​​​​77,519​133,037​153,675​164,467​169,024​172,362​174,207​
2018​​​​​​​​​72,895​126,456​143,656​154,169​159,066​164,000​
2019​​​​​​​​​​​72,219​127,910​143,570​154,633​161,134​
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​52,962​88,037​102,601​112,143​
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​56,826​111,516​130,556​
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​61,227​118,918​
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​78,289​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 1,472,618​
​​​​​​​​​All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance​368​
​​​​​​Liabilities for claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance​$ 192,518​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total of Incurred-but-Not-Reported Liabilities Plus Expected Development of Reported Claims · Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​​​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 123,421​$ 123,622​$ 122,410​$ 122,327​$ 122,341​$ 122,213​$ 122,188​$ 122,182​$ 122,163​$ 122,143​$ -135,006
2015​​​140,219​136,661​134,101​133,737​133,581​133,530​133,523​133,552​133,548​-144,276
2016​​​​​129,528​124,922​122,116​121,717​121,543​121,570​121,615​121,566​(31)126,091
2017​​​​​​​128,340​126,304​124,128​123,715​123,777​123,779​123,775​(65)124,026
2018​​​​​​​​​129,450​130,145​128,426​128,090​128,003​127,991​(28)119,762
2019​​​​​​​​​​​128,698​126,648​124,332​123,858​123,781​(30)117,040
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​98,546​97,244​97,644​97,668​(97)81,870
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​122,943​122,549​121,619​(598)89,623
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​141,041​143,366​(2,995)94,939
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​180,863​(24,097)103,402
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 1,296,320​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 130,732​$ 126,414​$ 122,668​$ 122,402​$ 122,350​$ 122,251​$ 122,216​$ 122,189​$ 122,163​$ 122,142
2015​​​143,532​136,760​134,066​133,701​133,639​133,596​133,575​133,555​133,548
2016​​​​​133,530​124,298​122,023​121,795​121,660​121,634​121,618​121,597
2017​​​​​​​132,409​126,822​124,286​123,844​123,839​123,795​123,816
2018​​​​​​​​​138,036​132,591​128,624​128,154​128,054​128,005
2019​​​​​​​​​​​134,429​128,173​124,467​123,974​123,811
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​102,764​98,819​98,083​97,755
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​123,636​123,847​122,204
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​142,004​146,130
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​171,437
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 1,290,445
​​​​​​​​​All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance​-
​​​​​​Liabilities for claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance​$ 5,875
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Commercial Automobile Liability · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total of Incurred-but-Not-Reported Liabilities Plus Expected Development of Reported Claims · Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​​​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 34,117​$ 34,105​$ 34,376​$ 33,914​$ 32,948​$ 32,438​$ 32,200​$ 32,052​$ 32,313​$ 32,172​$ 26,087
2015​​​35,371​36,150​36,610​37,730​38,015​38,257​37,995​37,630​37,066​(311)7,213
2016​​​​​37,954​39,416​40,947​40,916​40,679​40,996​40,767​40,487​1286,457
2017​​​​​​​42,865​41,373​41,055​39,369​39,232​38,185​37,874​4266,136
2018​​​​​​​​​41,347​40,115​38,589​37,322​36,014​35,154​4655,745
2019​​​​​​​​​​​51,679​49,163​48,783​46,964​45,363​8265,687
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​35,010​31,930​30,869​29,865​1,8603,470
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​41,814​39,564​38,634​(185)4,297
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​43,496​43,061​4944,526
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​46,690​13,7503,782
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 386,366​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Commercial Automobile Liability · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 9,426​$ 17,853​$ 21,968​$ 25,253​$ 27,886​$ 30,420​$ 31,298​$ 31,451​$ 32,085​$ 32,109
2015​​​11,181​21,700​26,018​29,804​31,537​33,416​34,976​35,302​36,483
2016​​​​​9,991​19,902​25,711​32,274​36,237​38,275​39,233​40,248
2017​​​​​​​10,407​20,106​24,409​28,721​31,389​33,569​34,960
2018​​​​​​​​​9,704​18,499​23,544​26,774​29,336​32,996
2019​​​​​​​​​​​12,113​22,480​28,373​36,048​39,233
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​7,025​13,166​16,268​19,635
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​7,883​17,925​25,647
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​10,941​22,702
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​9,615
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 293,628
​​​​​​​​​All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance​6
​​​​​​Liabilities for claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance​$ 92,744
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Commercial Automobile Physical Damage · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total of Incurred-but-Not-Reported Liabilities Plus Expected Development of Reported Claims · Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​​​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 17,426​$ 16,925​$ 15,455​$ 15,419​$ 15,353​$ 15,381​$ 15,373​$ 15,376​$ 15,376​$ 15,375​$ -13,545
2015​​​20,223​19,047​19,021​18,974​18,641​18,535​18,525​18,523​18,521​-15,468
2016​​​​​20,216​18,506​17,909​17,808​17,725​17,713​17,721​17,721​113,593
2017​​​​​​​19,691​19,200​19,021​18,834​18,780​18,774​18,760​213,113
2018​​​​​​​​​21,230​19,937​19,270​19,210​19,196​19,149​212,908
2019​​​​​​​​​​​20,039​19,652​18,956​18,685​18,672​012,757
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​16,507​16,334​16,606​16,434​949,623
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​20,156​21,524​21,810​27311,515
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​27,459​28,007​16812,779
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​29,564​17811,410
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 204,013​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Commercial Automobile Physical Damage · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 15,377​$ 15,862​$ 15,424​$ 15,388​$ 15,381​$ 15,376​$ 15,373​$ 15,376​$ 15,376​$ 15,375​
2015​​​17,787​18,910​18,667​18,549​18,541​18,530​18,525​18,523​18,521​
2016​​​​​17,228​18,143​17,763​17,712​17,709​17,712​17,721​17,720​
2017​​​​​​​17,957​19,336​18,915​18,787​18,786​18,772​18,758​
2018​​​​​​​​​18,842​19,842​19,236​19,208​19,194​19,147​
2019​​​​​​​​​​​18,128​19,161​18,752​18,681​18,672​
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​15,550​16,596​16,407​16,340​
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​18,610​21,620​21,533​
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​24,380​27,806​
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​25,889​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 199,761​
​​​​​​​​​All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance​-​
​​​​​​Liabilities for claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance​$ 4,252​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Homeowners Liability · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total of Incurred-but-Not-Reported Liabilities Plus Expected Development of Reported Claims · Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​​​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 11,494​$ 11,494​$ 9,738​$ 7,388​$ 7,120​$ 6,984​$ 6,984​$ 6,818​$ 6,620​$ 6,620​$ -261
2015​​​12,965​12,555​9,908​9,201​9,201​9,201​8,172​7,582​7,333​-288
2016​​​​​10,594​10,594​10,594​9,847​9,491​9,491​8,873​8,572​-277
2017​​​​​​​11,276​10,058​9,328​8,585​7,819​7,053​6,689​-269
2018​​​​​​​​​9,951​9,951​9,951​9,768​8,616​8,245​38256
2019​​​​​​​​​​​14,130​13,848​11,949​11,371​9,175​197265
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​14,664​13,708​11,025​9,686​534224
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​12,797​12,797​12,797​(1,621)215
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​12,973​11,770​2,649205
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​12,891​5,944134
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 93,778​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Homeowners Liability · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 340​$ 1,834​$ 3,212​$ 4,200​$ 4,828​$ 6,315​$ 6,368​$ 6,419​$ 6,419​$ 6,419​
2015​​​428​3,319​4,267​5,205​6,445​7,022​7,215​7,302​7,302​
2016​​​​​647​2,669​4,257​5,387​6,300​7,128​7,628​8,166​
2017​​​​​​​305​1,676​2,913​3,593​4,217​4,765​4,902​
2018​​​​​​​​​551​2,039​3,972​4,597​5,664​6,958​
2019​​​​​​​​​​​1,634​3,343​5,183​6,038​7,218​
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​220​3,254​3,845​6,870​
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​218​3,388​6,573​
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​451​2,597​
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​287​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 57,292​
​​​​​​​​​All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance​-​
​​​​​​Liabilities for claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance​$ 36,486​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Homeowners Property Damage · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total of Incurred-but-Not-Reported Liabilities Plus Expected Development of Reported Claims · Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​​​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 59,160​$ 60,213​$ 59,751​$ 57,331​$ 55,127​$ 54,607​$ 54,602​$ 54,560​$ 54,556​$ 54,557​$ 2516,077
2015​​​152,586​152,049​162,377​162,788​162,722​162,354​162,244​162,244​162,125​32020,076
2016​​​​​67,116​66,442​64,208​61,262​60,019​59,898​59,857​59,709​2535,421
2017​​​​​​​80,736​76,560​70,689​68,737​67,530​67,388​67,130​1606,011
2018​​​​​​​​​83,443​82,581​77,970​74,989​73,996​73,730​2478,239
2019​​​​​​​​​​​77,976​73,697​68,769​65,624​64,950​3915,453
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​80,093​76,638​72,622​69,503​5826,113
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​75,696​75,011​74,140​(704)6,353
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​72,524​71,467​(10,843)5,032
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​113,941​(937)6,274
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 811,252​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Homeowners Property Damage · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · For the Years Ended December 31, · ​ · ​ · ​
Accident Year​2014​2015​2016​2017​2018​2019​2020​2021​2022​2023​
​ · ​ · (Unaudited) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
2014​$ 40,409​$ 52,161​$ 54,088​$ 54,224​$ 54,262​$ 54,274​$ 54,306​$ 54,305​$ 54,306​$ 54,306​
2015​​​112,563​145,337​160,572​161,745​161,773​161,850​161,783​161,781​161,805​
2016​​​​​44,103​57,238​59,155​59,449​59,403​59,428​59,493​59,456​
2017​​​​​​​46,366​64,401​66,181​66,892​66,765​66,826​66,865​
2018​​​​​​​​​57,704​70,959​72,078​73,119​73,307​73,334​
2019​​​​​​​​​​​49,121​61,905​63,536​64,427​64,412​
2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​50,304​65,927​68,706​68,495​
2021​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​51,390​67,998​70,118​
2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​48,906​66,990​
2023​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​68,479​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​$ 754,260​
​​​​​​​​​All outstanding liabilities before 2014, net of reinsurance​1,155​
​​​​​​Liabilities for claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance​$ 58,147​

The following is unaudited supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31,2023.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance (Unaudited)
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Years​1​2​3​4​5​6​7​8​9​10
Private Passenger Automobile Liability​42.5%​33.5%​10.9%​6.6%​3.1%​2.0%​0.7%​0.3%​0.2%​0.1%
Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage​104.3%​(3.3)%​(2.2)%​(0.3)%​(0.1)%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%
Commercial Automobile Liability​48.8%​19.3%​8.5%​8.3%​5.0%​4.5%​2.2%​0.9%​1.8%​0.0%
Commercial Automobile Physical Damage​93.0%​7.7%​(1.9)%​(0.4)%​0.0%​(0.1)%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%
Homeowners Liability​5.4%​23.9%​18.4%​14.6%​12.1%​12.6%​3.0%​3.0%​0.0%​0.0%
Homeowners Property Damage​70.2%​21.8%​4.6%​0.7%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%​0.0%

The reconciliation of the net incurred and paid claims development tables to the liability for claims and claim adjustment expenses in the consolidated balance sheets is as follows.

​​​
Reconciliation of the Disclosure of Incurred and Paid Claims Development to the Liability for Unpaid claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses
​​​
​​December 31, 2023
Net outstanding liabilities​​
Private Passenger Automobile Liability$192,518
Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage​5,875
Commercial Automobile Liability​92,744
Commercial Automobile Physical Damage​4,252
Homeowners Liability​36,486
Homeowners Property Damage​58,147
Other Short-Duration Insurance Lines​70,954
Liabilities for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance$460,976
​​​
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims​​
Private Passenger Automobile Liability$1,383
Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage​-
Commercial Automobile Liability​102,194
Commercial Automobile Physical Damage​4,334
Homeowners Liability​-
Homeowners Property Damage​2,191
Other Short-Duration Insurance Lines​2,521
Total reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims$112,623
​​​
Unallocated claims adjustment expenses​29,482
​​​
Total gross liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses$603,081

Due to the nature of the risks that the Company underwrites and has historically underwritten, management does not believe that it has an exposure to asbestos or environmental pollution liabilities

13.Income Taxes

A summary of the income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations is shown below.

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​ · ​ · 2023 · ​ · 2022 · ​ · 2021
Current Income Taxes: · ​ · ​ · ​
Federal​$3,614​$21,317​$28,222
State​276​74​15
​​3,890​21,391​28,237
Deferred Income Taxes:​​​​​​​​​
Federal​1,655​(8,371)​5,323
State​—​—​—
​​1,655​(8,371)​5,323
Total income tax expense​$5,545​$13,020​$33,560

The income tax expense attributable to the consolidated results of operations is different from the amounts determined by multiplying income before federal income taxes by the statutory federal income tax rate. The sources of the difference and the tax effects of each were as follows for the periods indicated.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​​2023​2022​2021
Federal income tax expense at statutory rate$5,128$12,512$34,496
Investment income, net​(364)​(559)​(1,060)
State taxes, net​218​58​11
Nondeductible expenses​400​468​613
Tax related to share-based stock compensation​213​222​(101)
Other, net​(50)​319​(399)
Total income tax expense​$5,545​$13,020​$33,560

The deferred income tax asset (liability) represents the tax effects of temporary differences attributable to the Company’s consolidated federal tax return group. Its components were as shown in the following table for the periods indicated.

​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​ · ​ · 2023 · ​ · 2022
Deferred tax assets: · ​ · ​ · ​
Discounting of loss reserves​$5,122​$4,790​
Discounting of unearned premium reserve​21,327​17,546​
Net unrealized losses on investments​​9,648​​16,917​
Bad debt allowance​239​329​
Employee benefits​4,357​4,506​
Rent incentive​570​684​
Other​60​—​
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance​41,323​44,772​
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets​—​—​
Total deferred tax assets​41,323​44,772​
Deferred tax liabilities:​​​​​​​
Deferred acquisition costs​(19,303)​(15,872)​
Investments​(5,926)​(2,662)​
Loss reserve transition adjustment​(554)​(831)​
Software development costs​(2,175)​(2,913)​
Premium acquisition expenses​(432)​(461)​
Depreciation​(783)​(959)​
Total deferred tax liabilities​(29,173)​(23,698)​
Net deferred tax assets (liability)​$12,150​$21,074​

The Company believes that the positions taken on its income tax returns for open tax years will be sustained upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, the Company has not recorded any liability for uncertain

tax positions under ASC 740,Income Taxes.

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 there were no material changes to the amount of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits or to any assumptions regarding the amount of its ASC 740 liability.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company hadno unrecognized tax benefits, andnone which if recognized would affect the effective tax rate. The Company does not currently anticipate significant changes in the amount of unrecognized income tax benefits during the next twelve months.

The Company records interest and penalties associated with audits as a component of income before income taxes. Penalties are recorded in underwriting, operating and other expenses, and interest expense is recorded in interest expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company hadno interest and penalties related to income taxes accrued as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

In the Company’s opinion, adequate tax liabilities have been established for all open years. However, the amount of these tax liabilities could be revised in the near term if estimates of the Company’s ultimate liability are revised. All tax years prior to 2020 are closed.

14.Share Repurchase Program

On August 3, 2007, the Board approved a share repurchase program of up to $30,000 of the Company’s outstanding common shares. The Board had cumulatively authorized increases to the existing share repurchase program of up to$200,000 of its outstanding common shares. Under the program, the Company may repurchase shares of its common stock for cash in public or private transactions, in the open market or otherwise. The timing of such repurchases and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, market conditions and applicable regulatory and corporate requirements. The program does not require the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares and it may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice.

No share purchases were made by the Company during the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company purchased 74,213 shares at a cost of $5,240 during the year ended December 31, 2023 and purchased 170,904 shares at a cost of $14,603 during the year ended December 31, 2022. Included in the cost of treasury stock acquired during 2023 is the one percent excise tax imposed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which became effective January 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had purchased 3,215,690 and 3,141,477 shares at cost of $155,240 and $150,000, respectively.

15.Statutory Net Income and Surplus

Statutory Accounting Practices

The Company’s insurance company subsidiaries, domiciled in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with the accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Division. Prescribed statutory accounting practices are those practices that are incorporated directly or by reference in state laws, regulations, and general administrative rules applicable to all insurance enterprises domiciled in a particular state. Permitted statutory accounting practices include practices not prescribed by the Division, but allowed by the Division. Statutory net loss was $4,022 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Statutory net income was $66,197, and $97,169 for the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Statutory capital and surplus of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries was $744,904 and $782,200 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Dividends

The Insurance Subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions that limit the maximum amount of dividends available to be paid to their parent without prior approval of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance (the “Commissioner”). Massachusetts statute limits the dividends an insurer may pay in anytwelve month period, without the prior permission of the Commissioner, to the greater of (i)10% of the insurer’s surplus as of the preceding December 31 or (ii) the insurer’s net income for the twelve- month period ending the preceding December 31, in each case determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Our insurance company subsidiaries may not declare an “extraordinary dividend” (defined as any dividend or distribution that, together with other distributions made within the preceding twelve months, exceeds the limits established by Massachusetts statute) until thirty days after the Commissioner has received notice of the intended dividend and has not objected. As historically administered by the Commissioner, this provision requires the Commissioner’s prior approval of an extraordinary dividend. Under Massachusetts law, an insurer may pay cash dividends only from its unassigned funds, also known as earned surplus, and the insurer’s remaining surplus must be both reasonable in relation to its outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs. At December 31, 2023, the statutory capital and surplus of Safety Insurance was $744,904 and its net loss for 2023 was $4,022. As a result, a maximum of $74,490 is available in 2024 for such dividends without prior approval of the Commissioner. During the year ended December 31, 2023, Safety Insurance recorded dividends of $56,329. As result of this Massachusetts statute, the Insurance Subsidiaries had restricted net assets in the amount of $670,414 at December 31, 2023.

Risk-Based Capital Requirements

The NAIC has adopted a formula and model law to implement risk-based capital requirements for most property and casualty insurance companies, which are designed to determine minimum capital requirements and to raise the level of protection that statutory surplus provides for policyholder obligations. Under Massachusetts law, insurers having less total adjusted capital than that required by the risk-based capital calculation will be subject to varying degrees of regulatory action, depending on the level of capital inadequacy. The risk-based capital law provides forfour levels of regulatory action. The extent of regulatory intervention and action increases as the level of total adjusted capital to risk-based capital falls. As of December 31, 2023, the Insurance Subsidiaries had total adjusted capital of $744,904, which is in excess of amounts requiring company or regulatory action at any prescribed risk-based capital action level. Minimum statutory capital and surplus, or company action level risk-based capital, was $231,882 at December 31, 2023.

16.Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC 820,Fair Value Measurements and Disclosureprovides a revised definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands financial statement disclosure requirements for fair value information. Under ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (an exit price). ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between inputs based on market data from independent sources (“observable inputs”) and a reporting entity’s internal assumptions based upon the best information available when external market data is limited or unavailable (“unobservable inputs”). The fair value hierarchy in ASC 820 prioritizes fair value measurements into three levels based on the nature of the inputs as follows:

Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs that do not meet the criteria for Level 1, including quoted prices in inactive markets and quoted prices in active markets for similar, but not identical instruments; and

Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs.

Fair values for the Company’s fixed maturity securities are based on prices provided by its custodian bank and its investment managers. Both the Company’s custodian bank and investment managers use a variety of independent, nationally recognized pricing services to determine market valuations. If the pricing service cannot provide fair value determinations, the Company obtains non-binding price quotes from broker-dealers. A minimum of two quoted prices is

obtained for the majority of the Company’s available-for-sale fixed maturity securities in its investment portfolio. The Company uses a third-party pricing service as its primary provider of quoted prices from third-party pricing services and broker-dealers. To provide reasonable assurance of the validity of each price or quote, a secondary third-party pricing service or broker-dealer quote is obtained from the Company’s custodian or investment managers. An examination of the pricing data is then performed for each security. If the variance between the primary and secondary price quotes for a security is within an accepted tolerance level, the quoted price obtained from the Company’s primary source is used for the security. If the variance between the primary and secondary price quotes exceeds an accepted tolerance level, the Company obtains a quote from an alternative source, if possible, and documents and resolves any differences between the pricing sources. In addition, the Company may request that its investment managers and its traders provide input as to which vendor is providing prices that its traders believe are reflective of fair value for the security. Following this process, the Company may decide to value the security in its financial statements using the secondary or alternative source if it believes that pricing is more reflective of the security’s value than the primary pricing provided by its custodian bank. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness, to understand the key assumptions used and their sources, and to determine an appropriate ASC 820 fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Based on this evaluation and investment class analysis, each price is classified into Level 1, 2 or 3.

Fair values of instruments are based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1), (ii) 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 2) or (iii) valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable in the marketplace (Level 3).

The Company’s Level 1 securities consist of equity securities whose values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The Company’s Level 2 securities are comprised of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities whose fair value was determined using observable market inputs. The Company’s Level 3 security consists of an investment in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston related to Safety Insurance Company’s membership stock, which is not redeemable in a short-term time frame. Fair values for securities for which quoted market prices were unavailable were estimated based upon reference to observable inputs such as benchmark interest rates, market comparables, and other relevant inputs. Investments valued using these inputs include U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate and other securities, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, and other asset-backed securities. Inputs into the fair value application that are utilized by asset class include but are not limited to:

●Obligations of states and political subdivisions: overall credit quality, including assessments of market sectors and the level and variability of sources of payment such as general obligation, revenue or lease; credit support such as insurance, state or local economic and political base, prefunded and escrowed to maturity covenants.
●Corporate and other securities: overall credit quality, the establishment of a risk adjusted credit spread over the applicable risk-free yield curve for discounted cash flow valuations; assessments of the level of industry economic sensitivity, company financial policies, indenture restrictive covenants, and/or security and collateral.
●Residential mortgage-backed securities: U.S. agency pass-throughs, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), non U.S. agency CMOs: estimates of prepayment speeds based upon historical prepayment rate trends, underlying collateral interest rates, original weighted average maturity, vintage year, borrower credit quality characteristics, interest rate and yield curve forecasts, U.S. government support programs, tax policies, and delinquency/default trends.
●Commercial mortgage-backed securities: overall credit quality, including assessments of the level and variability of credit support and collateral type such as office, retail, or lodging, predictability of cash flows for the deal structure, prevailing economic market conditions.
●Other asset-backed securities: overall credit quality, estimates of prepayment speeds based upon historical trends and characteristics of underlying loans, including assessments of the level and variability of collateral, revenue generating agreements, area licenses agreements, product sourcing agreements and equipment and property leases.
●FHLB-Boston: value is equal to the cost of the member stock purchased.

In order to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price (consistent with ASC 820), the Company’s procedures for validating quotes or prices obtained from third parties include, but are not limited to, obtaining a minimum of two price quotes for each fixed maturity security if possible, as discussed above, the periodic testing of sales activity to determine if there are any significant differences between the market price used to value the security as of the balance sheet date and the sales price of the security for sales that occurred around the balance sheet date, and the periodic review of reports provided by its external investment manager regarding those securities with ratings changes and securities placed on its “Watch List.” In addition, valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by the Company’s external investment manager, whose investment professionals are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade, to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price.

All unadjusted estimates of fair value for our fixed maturities priced by the pricing services as described above are included in the amounts disclosed in Level 2. With the exception of the FHLB-Boston security, which is categorized as a Level 3 security, the Company’s entire portfolio was priced based upon quoted market prices or other observable inputs as of December 31, 2023. There were no significant changes to the valuation process during the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, no quotes or prices obtained were adjusted by management. All broker quotes obtained were non-binding.

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, investments in fixed maturities classified as available-for-sale had a fair value which equaled carrying value of $1,052,145 and $1,050,155, respectively. At December 31, 2023 and 2022 the Company heldno short-term investments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents and investment income accrued approximated fair value.

The following tables summarize the Company’s total fair value measurements for investments for the periods indicated.

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2023
​ · Total · Level 1 Inputs · Level 2 Inputs · Level 3 Inputs
U.S. Treasury securities​$2,320​$—​$2,320​$—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions​36,523​—​36,523​—
Residential mortgage-backed securities​247,237​—​247,237​—
Commercial mortgage-backed securities​139,850​—​139,850​—
Other asset-backed securities​61,333​—​61,333​—
Corporate and other securities​564,882​—​564,882​—
Equity securities​204,849​202,763​—​2,086
Total investment securities​$1,256,994​$202,763​$1,052,145​$2,086
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · As of December 31, 2022
​ · Total · Level 1 Inputs · Level 2 Inputs · Level 3 Inputs
U.S. Treasury securities​$1,669​$—​$1,669​$—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions​54,069​—​54,069​—
Residential mortgage-backed securities​234,502​—​234,502​—
Commercial mortgage-backed securities​139,931​—​139,931​—
Other asset-backed securities​68,731​—​68,731​—
Corporate and other securities​551,253​—​551,253​—
Equity securities​199,705​197,450​—​2,255
Total investment securities​$1,249,860​$197,450​$1,050,155​$2,255

There wereno transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.

The following tables summarize the changes in the Company’s Level 3 fair value securities for the periods indicated.

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Years Ended December 31,
​ · 2023 · 2022 · 2021
Balance at beginning of period​$2,255​$1,698​$1,698
Net gains and losses included in earnings​—​—​—
Net gains included in other comprehensive income​—​—​—
Purchases​1,351​557​—
Sales​​(1,520)​​—​​—
Transfers into Level 3​—​—​—
Transfers out of Level 3​—​—​—
Balance at end of period​$2,086​$2,255​$1,698

Transfers in and out of Level 3 are attributable to changes in the ability to observe significant inputs in determining fair value exit pricing. As noted in the table above, no transfers were made in or out of Level 3 during 2023, 2022 and 2021. The Company held one Level 3 security at December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were approximately $33,173 and $40,450 in a REIT and is included in equity securities in the consolidated balance sheets. The REIT is excluded from the fair value hierarchy because the fair value is recorded using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The net asset value per share of this REIT is derived from member ownership in the capital venture to which a proportionate share of independently appraised net assets is attributed. The fair value was determined using the trust’s net asset value obtained from its audited financial statements. The Company is required to submit a request 45 days before a quarter end to dispose of the security.

17.Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events for recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements on Form 10-K filed herewith and no events have occurred that require recognition or disclosure.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.