v3.26.1
Note 14 - Business Acquisitions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Business Combination [Abstract]  
Business Combination [Text Block]

14. Business Acquisitions

On January 31, 2026, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Gray Surety for aggregate consideration of approximately $314.0 million. The acquisition was funded with proceeds from the Term Loan (as defined in Note 13) and cash on hand and was completed to expand the Company’s surety platform. The Company subsequently renamed Gray Surety to Palomar Casualty and Surety Company (“PCSC”).

The acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations and ASC 944 Financial Services - Insurance. The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed remains preliminary and subject to adjustment during the measurement period, which will not exceed one year from the acquisition date. The results of operations of Gray Surety have been included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements since the January 31, 2026 acquisition date. For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2026, Gray Surety contributed revenue of $21.6 million and $33.6 million, respectively, and net loss of $4.6 million and $5.8 million, respectively.

During the three months ended June 30, 2026, the Company recorded measurement-period adjustments primarily related to the valuation of customer relationships, a non-compete agreement and VOBA. These adjustments increased customer relationship intangible assets by $15.6 million, resulted in the recognition of a non-compete intangible asset of $0.7 million, increased VOBA by $3.5 million, increased the deferred tax liability by $3.6 million and decreased goodwill by $16.1 million.

As a result of these measurement-period adjustments, during the three months ended June 30, 2026, the Company recognized $1.4 million of additional amortization expense related to amounts that would have been recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2026, including $1.2 million within Other underwriting expenses and $0.2 million within Acquisition expenses.

 

The Company recognized $7.4 million of acquisition-related expenses associated with the Gray Surety acquisition for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. These expenses were recognized within Other underwriting expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income and primarily consisted of advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other due diligence costs.

 

The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

67,683

 

Investments

 

 

113,149

 

Receivables (premiums and investment income)

 

 

14,520

 

Reinsurance recoverable

 

 

5,652

 

Intangible assets

 

 

66,500

 

Value of business acquired (VOBA)

 

 

26,532

 

Other assets

 

 

1,350

 

Total assets

 

 

295,386

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

 

 

11,088

 

Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

22,178

 

Unearned premiums

 

 

33,730

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

829

 

Deferred tax liability

 

 

18,655

 

Net assets acquired

 

 

208,906

 

Goodwill

 

$

105,097

 

 

Intangible assets were comprised of the following:

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

Useful Life

 

Amortization

 

Valuation Approach

Customer relationships

 

$

60,800

 

 

8 years

 

Straight-line

 

Multi-period excess earnings method

Non-compete agreements

 

$

700

 

 

5 years

 

Straight-line

 

With-and-without method

State licenses

 

 

5,000

 

 

Indefinite

 

Not amortized

 

Multi-period excess earnings method

Total intangible assets

 

$

66,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The table above excludes VOBA, which is presented separately in the purchase price allocation due to its insurance-specific nature and amortization pattern. In connection with the acquisition, the Company recognized VOBA in accordance with ASC 944-805-30-1. Upon acquisition, the Company acquired the contractual insurance and reinsurance assets of Gray Surety, including existing deferred acquisition costs. These deferred acquisition costs were derecognized, as they represent historical costs of the acquiree, and the Company recognized the fair value of the in-force insurance contracts, including a VOBA component representing the present value of future underwriting profits. This component was determined using an income approach based on expected future cash flows discounted at a weighted-average cost of capital.

 

The Company recognized total VOBA of approximately $26.5 million, which is recorded within intangible assets and represents the present value of future underwriting profits associated with the acquired in-force policies.

 

VOBA is amortized over the expected remaining lives of the underlying policies in proportion to the estimated earning pattern of the related unearned premiums as of the acquisition date. VOBA balances are subject to recoverability testing. No impairment was identified as of June 30, 2026.

 

Goodwill of $105.1 million represents the excess of consideration transferred over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired. Goodwill reflects the expected synergies from combining Gray Surety’s surety and bond platform with the Company’s specialty insurance operations, including expanded distribution relationships, cross-selling opportunities, and operational efficiencies. Goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations of the Company and Gray Surety as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2025. The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the acquisition been completed on January 1, 2025, nor does it purport to project the future results of operations of the combined company. Significant pro forma adjustments include amortization of VOBA, acquisition-related financing costs, transactions costs, and related income tax

effects. The pro forma results reflect the revised provisional purchase-price allocation and related amortization as of June 30, 2026.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

 

(Unaudited, $ in thousands)

 

 

(Unaudited, $ in thousands)

 

Pro forma revenue

 

$

314,423

 

 

$

224,973

 

 

$

600,244

 

 

$

417,189

 

Pro forma net income

 

 

52,592

 

 

 

43,689

 

 

 

99,344

 

 

 

79,815