Notes to Financial Statements 1.Description of Plan
The following description of The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan (the “Plan”) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description or the Plan document for more complete information.
The Plan is a qualified defined contribution plan covering all employees of Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and its Affiliated Companies: RMIC Corporation, Republic Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (formerly known as Republic Mortgage Insurance Company of North Carolina) and Republic Mortgage Assurance Company (formerly known as Republic Mortgage Insurance Company of Florida (collectively, the “Sponsor”). Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan at the start of their employment and must elect to enroll in the plan. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”).
On December 31, 2020, Empower Retirement acquired the retirement business of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). Following an initial transition period, Empower Retirement will become the sole administrator of this business. Empower Retirement refers to the products and services offered by Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (GWLA) and its subsidiaries, including Empower Retirement, LLC. Empower Retirement is not affiliated with MassMutual or its affiliates.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was passed by Congress. The CARES Act provided immediate and temporary relief for retirement plan sponsors and their participants with respect to employer contributions, distributions and participant loans. These required provisions were adopted by the Plan during 2020.
Contributions
The Sponsor makes contributions to the Plan at the discretion of the Sponsor’s Board of Directors at a sum determined by the Board without regard to current and accumulated profits for the taxable year, for years ending with or within such Plan year. Contributions are allocated to eligible participants based on the participant’s eligible compensation relative to the total eligible compensation of all eligible participants.
Participants may contribute up to 25% of their compensation pre-tax and 25% after-tax for a combined maximum of 50% of compensation during any Plan year.
Participants may also make rollover contributions into the Plan from distributions from other qualified plans, as defined in the Plan.
Contributions are subject to certain limitations as prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service with contributions in excess of IRC limits returned to participants or sponsor when determined. There were no material excess contributions to be returned to participants based on qualification testing for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Vesting
Participant account balances provided by Sponsor contributions and related allocated Plan earnings become 40% vested after one year of service. Vesting percentages increase by 10% for each of the next four years with full vesting after six years of service.
The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Participant account balances provided by participant contributions and allocated Plan earnings are always fully vested.
Participant Accounts
A separate account balance is maintained for each participant and is credited with participant contributions, participant rollover contributions from other qualified plans, and allocations of Sponsor contributions, Plan earnings, and forfeitures of terminated participants’ non-vested accounts. Allocations of Plan earnings are based on participants’ daily account balances. Sponsor contributions and forfeitures of non-vested accounts are allocated based on eligible annual compensation of participants. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the participant’s vested account. Participants direct the investment of their account by electing among a variety of investment options offered by the Plan. Participants may change their investment designation with respect to their account balance and future contributions at any time.
Forfeitures
If a participant terminates employment with the Sponsor prior to becoming fully vested, the non-vested portion of the Sponsor contributions and allocated earnings thereon are forfeited and are reallocated to eligible participants when the terminated participant incurs a break-in-service. Forfeited amounts are reallocated to the active eligible participants based on eligible participant compensation, as defined in the Plan agreement. There were no unallocated forfeitures as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Payment of Benefits
In the event of retirement, disability, or death, accumulated benefits become vested and are distributed to participants or designated beneficiaries by lump-sum payment or through various annuity options.
In the event of termination of employment, participants have the option of receiving vested accumulated benefits through lump-sum distributions, leaving the vested value of their accounts in the Plan until retirement, or transferring amounts into an individual retirement account.
Participants may withdraw after-tax voluntary contributions at any time. Participants may withdraw pre-tax voluntary contributions at age 59½ or for financial hardship purposes.
Participants may elect to take early withdrawals of employer contributions if they have participated in the Plan for at least five years and in-service distributions after attaining age 59½. Such early withdrawals will not result in suspension of Sponsor contribution allocations.
Net assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020, included funds totaling $32,729,567 and $30,139,597, respectively, which represent the account balances of retired and terminated participants who have elected to leave their funds in the Plan upon retirement or termination.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Participants may borrow a minimum of $1,000 from their accounts up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. Participants may have no more than two loans outstanding at one time. Loans plus interest must be repaid within five years through payroll deductions. These loans bear interest at the prevailing prime rate at the loan inception date. The loans are collateralized by the vested balance in the participant’s account. Outstanding loans of
The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
terminated participants are repaid prior to distribution of the participant’s account balance or the outstanding loans are repaid from the participant’s account balance before distribution.
The Plan was amended, effective January 1, 2022, to no longer permit Participant Loans under the Plan.
Partial Plan Termination
In August 2011, the Plan Sponsor ceased writing new business and placed its insurance companies into run-off operating mode. As a result, the Sponsor initiated a series of significant staff reductions. In accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by ERISA, the IRC, and by Plan documents, these involuntary terminations were considered a partial plan termination. When such an event occurs, the Plan is impacted in the following ways: (1) the number of active participants is reduced; (2) the vesting schedule for those Participants that are involuntarily terminated by the Plan Sponsor is accelerated and; (3) a market value adjustment is applied to the insurance company guaranteed interest account (“GIA”) for those terminated participants invested in that option.
Notwithstanding the market value adjustment, participants who remain invested in the GIA option subsequent to termination continue to transact with the GIA at contract value. The Plan remains a viable qualified defined contribution plan for those participants remaining with the Sponsor.
2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The Plan prepares its financial statements on an accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
Investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value except for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, which are reported at contract value. Contract value is the relevant measure for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.
Investments in pooled separate accounts are valued on a net asset value per unit basis which approximates their fair value. The pooled separate accounts are credited with earnings on the underlying investments and charged for Plan benefits paid and deductions for investment expenses, risk, profit, and annual management fees. Redemptions may occur on a daily basis. The use of net asset value as fair value is deemed appropriate as the pooled separate accounts do not have a finite life, unfunded commitments relating to investments, or significant restrictions on redemptions.
Investments in mutual funds are traded on a national securities exchange and are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year.
Old Republic International Corporation common shares are traded on a national securities exchange and are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year.
Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments includes unrealized and realized gains and losses. Capital gain distributions are recorded as dividend income. Interest income is recorded
The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2021 or 2020. If a participant ceases to make loan repayments and the Plan deems the participant loan to be in default, the participant loan balance is reduced and a benefit payment is recorded.
Benefits and Withdrawals
Benefits and withdrawals are recorded when paid. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no significant amounts due but unpaid to participants.
Income Tax Status
The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on February 20, 2015, in which the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.
Plan management has evaluated the effects of accounting guidance related to uncertain income tax positions and concluded that the Plan had no significant financial statement exposure to uncertain income tax positions at December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Plan is not currently under audit by any tax jurisdiction.
Plan Expenses
Costs of administering the Plan are paid by the Sponsor except for investment management fees of individual fund investments which are charged to the respective investment and included in the net appreciation (depreciation) of the investment as they are paid through revenue sharing, rather than direct payment. Processing fees on participating loans are charged as a reduction to the respective participant accounts.
Use of Estimates
The presentation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
3.Investments
The Plan is invested in a group annuity contract with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”). The contract allows for a participant-directed investment program in pooled separate accounts sponsored by MassMutual. Investment options include fixed income, asset allocation, domestic equity, and international equity subaccount options and a guaranteed interest account. In
The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
addition to the investment options offered through the MassMutual contract, participants may also invest in certain mutual funds and in the common stock of the Sponsor’s parent, Old Republic International Corporation (“ORI”).
Fair Value Measurements
Investments, other than the guaranteed interest account, are reported at fair value in the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits. Fair value is defined as the estimated price that is likely to be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (an exit price) at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is established that prioritizes the sources (“inputs”) used to measure fair value into three broad levels: inputs based on quoted prices in active markets, including publicly traded common stocks and mutual funds (Level 1); observable inputs based on corroboration with available marketdata (Level 2); and unobservable inputs based on uncorroborated market data or a reporting entity’s own assumptions (Level 3). A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value are discussed further in Note 2. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2021 and 2020. The following tables provide information by level on the Plan’s assets which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
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| | | | | Fair value measurements as of December 31, 2021: |
| | | | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
Old Republic International Corporation | | | | | | | |
| Common Stock Fund | $ 4,197,904 | | $ - | | $ - | | $ 4,197,904 |
Mutual Funds | 5,647,362 | | - | | - | | 5,647,362 |
| | | | | $ 9,845,266 | | $ - | | $ - | | 9,845,266 |
Insurance Company Guaranteed | | | | | | | |
| Interest Account, at contract value | | | | | | | 20,465,617 |
Pooled Separate Accounts, at net asset value | | | | | | 16,192,084 |
| Total Investments | | | | | | | | $46,502,967 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Fair value measurements as of December 31, 2020: |
| | | | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
Old Republic International Corporation | | | | | | | |
| Common Stock Fund | $ 3,315,719 | | $ - | | $ - | | $ 3,315,719 |
Mutual Funds | 5,495,247 | | - | | - | | 5,495,247 |
| | | | | $ 8,610,966 | | $ - | | $ - | | 8,610,966 |
Insurance Company Guaranteed | | | | | | | |
| Interest Account, at contract value | | | | | | | 20,717,964 |
Pooled Separate Accounts, at net asset value | | | | | | 13,771,924 |
| Total Investments | | | | | | | | $43,100,854 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Guaranteed Interest Account
Through the group annuity contract the Plan offers a guaranteed interest account (GIA) as a stable value investment option. Participant accounts invested in the GIA are paid out at contract (or “book”) value for participant-initiated transactions such as transfers to other investment options, loans, and other distributions. The GIA account balances are maintained in MassMutual’s general investment account. There are no reserves against the contract value of this account for credit risk of MassMutual.
The GIA is credited with earnings at an interest rate which, by contract, cannot fall below three percent. The rate is subject to semiannual adjustments on June 1 and December 1 of each year. The guaranteed interest rate was 3.00% as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
As described in Note 2, because the guaranteed interest account is fully benefit-responsive, contract value is the relevant measurement for that portion of the net assets available for benefits attributable to the guaranteed interest account. Contract value represents participant contributions made under the contract, plus credited interest earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Contract value also includes the effects of market value adjustments required in the event of a full or partial plan or contract termination as described in Note 1 – Partial Plan Termination.
Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. Such events include the following: (1) amendments to the plan documents (including complete termination or merger with another plan), (2) changes to the plan’s prohibition on competing investment options or deletion of equity wash provisions, (3) bankruptcy of the plan sponsor or other plan sponsor events (for example, divestitures or spin-offs of a subsidiary) that cause a significant withdrawal from the plan, or (4) the failure of the trust to qualify for exemption from federal income taxes or any required prohibited transaction exemption under Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any such event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable.
The guaranteed investment account does not permit the insurance company to terminate the agreement prior to the scheduled maturity date.
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| Average Yields; | | 2021 | | 2020 |
| Based on actual earnings | | 2.99% | | 3.05% |
| Based on interest rate credited to participants | 2.99% | | 3.05% |
4.Parties In Interest and Related Parties
MassMutual is deemed to be the Trustee of the assets invested in the pooled separate accounts and the guaranteed interest account and is therefore considered a party in interest.
Old Republic International Corporation, the Plan Sponsor’s ultimate parent and issuer of the common stock held within the Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) Common Stock Fund, is a party in interest.
Pending the transition to Empower’s administrative and servicing platform, MassMutual continues to provide record-keeping and other administrative services to the Plan. Fees paid to MassMutual by Plan participants and Plan Sponsor totaled $391 and $1,650, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The Republic Mortgage Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies Profit Sharing Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
5.Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Sponsor has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become fully vested in their employer accounts.
6.Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan offers investments in various investment securities. Investment securities, including those invested in the group annuity contract, are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
In addition, it is possible that the Plan could be adversely affected in subsequent periods by future economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated governmental responses.
7.Subsequent Events
Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued. No significant matters were identified for disclosure during this evaluation.
Supplemental Schedule