Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Midwest Holding Inc. (“Midwest,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) was incorporated in Nebraska on October 31, 2003 for the primary purpose of operating a financial services company. The Company redomesticated from the State of Nebraska to the State of Delaware on August 27, 2020. The Company is in the life and annuity insurance business and operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries, American Life & Security Corp. (“American Life”), and 1505 Capital LLC (“1505 Capital”) as well as through its sponsored captive reinsurance company, Seneca Reinsurance Company, LLC (“Seneca Re”).

American Life is a Nebraska-domiciled life insurance company, that was licensed to sell, underwrite, and market life insurance and annuity products in 25 states and the District of Columbia as of September 30, 2023.

Effective March 12, 2020, Seneca Re, a Vermont limited liability company, was formed by Midwest to operate as a sponsored captive insurance company for the purpose of insuring and reinsuring various types of risks of its participants through one or more protected cells and to conduct any other business or activity that is permitted for sponsored captive insurance companies under Vermont insurance regulations. On March 30, 2020, Seneca Re received its Certificate of Authority to transact the business of a captive insurance company. On May 12, 2020, Midwest contributed $0.3 million to Seneca Re for a 100% ownership interest. On April 15, 2020, Midwest entered into an operating agreement with Seneca Re and as of September 30, 2023, Seneca Re has three incorporated cells, including Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“SRC1”) and Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2021-03 (“SRC3”), which are consolidated in our financial statements. Additionally, Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2022-04 (“SRC4”) was established on September 30, 2022; however, management has determined that the entity does not qualify for consolidation into our financial statements.

Midwest initially owned a 100% interest in SRC1; however, on December 30, 2021 Midwest closed the sale of approximately 70% of SRC1 to a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA (“ORIX USA”) for $15.0 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Midwest now holds a 30% ownership interest in SRC1. ORIX Advisers, LLC, another subsidiary of ORIX USA, is the manager of the assets underlying SRC1’s reinsurance obligations going forward, replacing Midwest’s asset management arm, 1505 Capital.

On July 27, 2020, American Life entered into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) with a new protected cell formed by Seneca Re (Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-02 (“SRC2”)). SRC2 was capitalized by Crestline Management, L.P. (“Crestline”), an affiliate of Crestline Assurance Holdings LLC, a significant shareholder of Midwest. The Reinsurance Agreement, which was effective as of April 24, 2020, was entered into pursuant to a Master Letter Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) also dated and effective as of April 24, 2020, by and among American Life, Seneca Re and Crestline. The Reinsurance Agreement supports American Life’s new business production by providing reinsurance capacity for American Life to write certain kinds of fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuity products. Concurrently with the Reinsurance Agreement:

●

American Life and SRC2 each entered into investment management agreements with Crestline, pursuant to which Crestline manages the assets that support the reinsured business; and

●

American Life and SRC2 entered into a trust agreement whereby SRC2 maintains for American Life’s benefit a trust account that supports the reinsured business.

Under the Master Agreement, Crestline agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 25% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its multi-year guaranteed annuities (“MYGA”) and a quota share percentage of 40% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its fixed indexed annuity (“FIA”) products. Effective December 8, 2020, American Life entered into a novation agreement with SRC2 and Crestline Re SPC, an exempted segregated portfolio company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, for and on behalf of Crestline SP1, a segregated portfolio company of Crestline Re SPC, under which the above-described Reinsurance Agreement, as well as the trust and related asset management agreements, were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline SP1. The Reinsurance Agreement was most recently amended effective in April 2023 to allow Crestline to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 20% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its three-year MYGAs, a quota share percentage of 10% of its five-year MYGAs, and a quota share percentage of 0% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its FIAs. The amended agreement limited the total amounts to be reinsured to $550 million.

In addition, pursuant to the Master Agreement, the parties thereto have agreed to enter into one or more separate agreements whereby, among other things and subject to certain conditions, American Life will agree to reinsure additional new business production to one or more reinsurers formed and/or capitalized by Crestline, Midwest or an appropriate affiliate will be compensated for providing

administrative services to certain advisory clients of Crestline, and American Life will consider investing in certain assets originated or sourced by Crestline.

On June 26, 2021, the Nebraska Department of Insurance (“NDOI”) issued its non-disapproval of the Modified Coinsurance Agreement (“Modco AEG Agreement”) of American Life with American Republic Insurance Company (“AEG”), an Iowa-domiciled reinsurance company. The agreement was executed on June 29, 2021. Under the Modco AEG Agreement, American Life initially ceded to AEG (and subsequently renewed), on a modified coinsurance basis, a 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its five-year MYGA business and an initial 20% quota share of certain liabilities with respect to its FIA products. American Life has established a Modco Deposit Account to hold the assets for the Modco AEG Agreement. Effective February 28, 2023, AEG elected not to extend its commitment period for reinsuring liabilities under its Modco AEG Agreement; as a result, AEG’s current quota share with respect to both MYGA and FIA policies is 0%. The Modco AEG Agreement remains in place, and AEG remains responsible for previously ceded liabilities.

As of November 10, 2021, Midwest formed and purchased 100% of the common stock of an intermediary holding company which immediately purchased 100% of SRC3 Class A and B membership interests. Also dated as of November 10, 2021 but effective as of July 1, 2021, American Life and SRC3 entered into a Funds Withheld and Modified Coinsurance Agreement, whereby SRC3 agreed to provide reinsurance funding for an ongoing quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its MYGA products and a quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its FIA products. The agreement with SRC3 has been amended, most recently in the fourth quarter of 2022, to provide one-time reinsurance funding for a quota share of $10.0 million of the liabilities of American Life arising from its 10-year FIA products.

As of September 30, 2022, American Life entered into a reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”) with a new protected cell formed by Seneca Re (Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2022-04 (“SRC4”)). SRC4 was capitalized by loans from Embrace Software, Inc. and Tillman Networks LLC. The Reinsurance Agreement was effective as of July 1, 2022, by and between American Life and SRC4. The Reinsurance Agreement supports American Life’s new business production by providing reinsurance capacity for American Life to write certain kinds of fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuity products. Under the Reinsurance Agreement, SRC4 initially agreed to provide reinsurance funding for a quota share percentage of 45% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its five-year MYGA products and a quota share percentage of 10% of the liabilities of American Life arising from its three-year MYGA products. American Life has established a Modco Deposit Account, a Funds Withheld custody account, and a Trust Account pursuant to the Reinsurance Agreement. The initial settlement included net premium of $21.4 million and net reserves of $21.5 million for the Modco Deposit Account. Also on September 30, 2022, American Life entered into an Investment Management Agreement (“IMA”) with CoVenture Management, LLC (“CoVenture”) naming CoVenture as the manager of certain assets held by American Life on behalf of SRC4.

Management evaluates the Company as one reporting segment in the life insurance industry. The Company is primarily engaged in the underwriting and marketing of annuity products through American Life, and then reinsuring such products with third-party reinsurers, and since May 13, 2020, with Seneca Re protected cells. American Life’s legacy product offerings consisted of a multi-benefit life insurance policy that combined cash value life insurance with a tax deferred annuity and a single premium term life product. American Life presently offers six annuity products: two MYGAs, two FIAs, and two bonus plans associated with the FIA product. It is not presently offering any traditional life insurance products.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The following is a summary of our significant accounting policies and estimates. These accounting policies inherently require significant judgment and assumptions, and actual operating results could differ significantly from management’s estimates determined using these policies. We believe the following accounting policies, judgments and estimates are the most critical to the understanding of our results of operations and financial position. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation and certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to the prior period results to conform to the current period’s presentation with no impact on results of operations or total stockholders’ equity.

Credit Loss Impairments for Fixed Maturities and Other Invested Assets

Credit Loss Impairments for Fixed Maturities and Other Invested Assets

The Company adopted new current expected credit loss guidance on January 1, 2023 impacting the Company’s investment portfolio. For fixed maturities, the difference between amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance, (amortized cost, net) and fair value is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) on the consolidated balance sheet and is not reflected in the operating results of any period until reclassified to net income upon consummation of a transaction with an unrelated third party or when a credit loss allowance is recorded. The Company has a comprehensive portfolio monitoring process to evaluate all our fixed maturities

on a quarterly basis that may require a credit loss allowance. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company’s investment managers’ reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; (2) the Company’s intent to sell a fixed maturity or whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a fixed maturity before the anticipated recovery in value; (3) the market leadership of the issuer; (4) the debt ratings of the issuer; and (5) the cash flows and liquidity of the issuer or the underlying cash flows, as required for our investment models, are all considered in the impairment assessment.

If the Company has not made the decision to sell and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before the anticipated recovery of its amortized cost basis, the Company evaluates whether it expects to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity. The Company estimates the anticipated recovery value based on the best estimate of future cash flows considering past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The estimated future cash flows are discounted at the fixed maturity’s current effective rate and are compared to the amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity. The determination of cash flow estimates is inherently subjective, and methodologies may vary depending on facts and circumstances specific to the fixed maturity. All reasonably available information relevant to the collectability of the fixed maturity are considered when developing the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected. That information generally includes, but is not limited to, the remaining payment terms of the fixed maturity, prepayment speeds, the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer, expected defaults, expected recoveries, the value of underlying collateral, origination vintage year, geographic concentration of underlying collateral, available reserves or escrows, current subordination levels, third-party guarantees and other credit enhancements. Other information, such as industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings, and other market data relevant to the realizability of contractual cash flows, may also be considered. The estimated fair value of collateral will be used to estimate the anticipated recovery value if the Company determines that the fixed maturity is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for ultimate settlement.

If the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis, a credit loss allowance is recorded as a net investment loss for the shortfall in expected cash flows; however, the amortized cost basis, net of the credit loss allowance, may not be lower than the fair value of the fixed maturity. The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in AOCI. If the Company determines that the fixed maturity does not have sufficient cash flows or other information to estimate a recovery value for the fixed maturity, the Company may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit-related and the loss is recognized as a net investment loss.

When a fixed maturity is sold or otherwise disposed of or the fixed maturity is deemed uncollectible and written-off, the Company reverses amounts previously recognized in the credit loss allowance through net investment gains (losses). Recoveries after write-offs are recognized when received. The Company does not measure a credit loss allowance on accrued interest receivable as accrued interest receivable is written off to net investment income in a timely manner when there are concerns regarding collectability.

Fixed Maturities

Fixed Maturities

All fixed maturities owned by the Company are considered available-for-sale and are included in the consolidated financial statements at their fair value, net of allowances for expected credit losses, as of the financial statement date. Premiums and discounts on fixed maturity debt instruments are amortized using the scientific-yield method over the term of the instruments. Realized gains and losses on fixed maturities sold during the year are determined using the specific identification method. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income.

Investment income consists of interest, dividends, gains and losses from investments, and real estate income, which are recognized on an accrual basis along with the amortization of premiums and discounts.

Certain available-for-sale investments are maintained as collateral under Funds Withheld (“FW”) and Modified Coinsurance (“Modco”) agreements but the assets and total returns or losses on the asset portfolios belong to the third-party reinsurers. American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and Modco provisions. In a Modco agreement, the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In an FW agreement, assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurers to reduce the potential credit risk. The unrealized gains/losses on those investments are passed through to the third-party reinsurers as either a realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

Mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment are carried at unpaid principal balances, net of allowance for expected credit losses. Interest income is recognized in net investment income at the contract interest rate when earned. A mortgage loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the mortgage agreement. Valuation allowances for impairments on mortgage loans are established based upon losses expected by management to be realized in connection with future dispositions or settlements of mortgage loans, including foreclosures. The Company establishes valuation allowances for estimated impairments on an individual loan basis as of the balance sheet date. Such valuation

allowances are based on the excess carrying value of the loan over the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate and disposition of collateral. These evaluations are revised as conditions change and added information becomes available. As of September 30, 2023, the Company held one asset valued at $7.7 million with a total impairment of $1.4 million, and another asset with an impairment for the full value of $0.6 million. At December 31, 2022, the company had one asset valued at $7.7 million with a total impairment of $1.4 million.

Derivative Instruments

Derivatives are used to hedge the risks experienced in our ongoing operations, such as equity, interest rate and cash flow risks, or for other risk management purposes, which primarily involve managing liability risks associated with our indexed annuity products and reinsurance agreements. Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, or other underlying notional amounts. Derivative assets and liabilities are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets.

To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of the hedging relationship, the Company must formally document our designation of the hedge as a cash flow or fair value hedge and our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. In this documentation, we would identify how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risks related to the hedged item, the method that would be used to retrospectively and prospectively assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness and the method which would be used to measure ineffectiveness. A derivative designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness would be formally assessed at inception and periodically throughout the life of the designated hedging relationship.

During the last quarter of 2020, the Company began investing in futures to hedge the fluctuations in various aspects of our business. The formal documentation and hedge effectiveness was not completed at the date we entered into those futures contracts; therefore, they do not qualify for hedge accounting. The change in fair market values of these futures were recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss as realized gains or (losses).

Additionally, reinsurance agreements written on an FW or Modco basis contain embedded derivatives on our annuity products. Gains or (losses) associated with the performance of assets maintained in the modified coinsurance deposit and funds withheld custody accounts are reflected as realized (losses) or gains in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Equity Securities

Equity securities at September 30, 2023, consisted of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). The ETFs are carried at fair value with the change in fair value recorded through realized gains and losses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022 we held $5.1 million of ETFs.

Preferred Stock

The company holds investments in preferred stock of $33.9 million as of September 30, 2023 and $31.4 million as of December 31, 2022, of which $10.0 million was redeemable at both dates. Changes in the fair value of preferred stock are recorded through unrealized gains and losses in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

In 2020 American Life entered into a series of transactions with an unaffiliated entity, Ascona Group Holdings Ltd (“AGH”), acquiring preferred equity and warrants, and later created a special purpose vehicle, Ascona Asset Holding LLC (“AAH”), to hold the preferred equity and warrants, and also created Ascona Collinwood HoldCo LLC (“ACH”) to be the sole member of AAH. American Life and Crestline Re SP1 own 74% and 26%, respectively, of ACH. American Life is carrying the preferred equity and warrants at a market value in USD of $12.3 million as of September 30, 2023 and $10.5 million of December 31, 2022. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, $ (0.7) million of investment income related to ACH was recognized, and $ (0.2) million was attributed to the noncontrolling interest held by Crestline Re SP1. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, $0.2 million of investment income was recognized, and less than $0.1 million was attributed to Crestline Re SP1. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 $2.1 million of investment income related to ACH was recognized, and $0.6 million was attributed to the noncontrolling interest held by Crestline Re SP1. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, $1.8 million of investment income was recognized, and $0.5 million was attributed to Crestline Re SP1.

Other Invested Assets

Other Invested Assets

Other invested assets consists of approximately $126.8 million of various investments. Of this total, approximately $113.7 million are primarily collateral loans, and $13.1 million of private credit and equipment leases. The collateral loans, private credit and equipment leases are carried at fair market value, net of allowance for expected credit losses. Also, we had an initial investment of $19.0 million investment in a private fund between American Life and an unaffiliated entity, PF Collinwood Holdings, LLC (“PFC”), with American Life owning 100% of the entity effective January 2021. The fair value of the PFC investment as of September 30, 2023, was $11.2 million and as of December 31, 2022, $13.7 million, respectively, with any change in fair market value recorded in unrealized gains and losses in equity on the balance sheet. On February 2, 2022, we established a special purpose vehicle, Python Asset Holding LLC, with American Life owning 100% of the entity with an initial investment of $7.4 million. As of September 30, 2023, our investment in Python was carried at the net asset value (“NAV”) plus approximately $0.7 million of investment income.

Deposits and notes receivable

Deposits and notes receivable

Investment escrow

The Company held in escrow $1.3 million and $0.8 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The cash held at year end was used to purchase mortgages in October and January 2023, respectively.

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

American Life initially purchased Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (“FHLB”) common stock on May 5, 2021. This investment was made to solidify our membership with FHLB Topeka. The carrying value of FHLB stock approximates fair value since the Company can redeem the stock with FHLB at cost. As a member of the FHLB, the Company is required to purchase this stock, which is carried at cost and classified as restricted equity securities.

Membership allows access to various funding arrangements to provide a source of additional liquidity. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had pledged assets with a market value of $233.5 million to FHLB to allow a borrowing capacity of $212.0 million and $121.1 million pledged as of December 31, 2022 to allow a borrowing capacity of $109.8 million. As of September 30, 2023 we had $68.0 million of outstanding funding arrangements, and $29.0 million outstanding as of December 31, 2022.

Notes Receivable

The Company held notes receivable carried at fair value of $6.5 million and $6.3 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, between American Life and a related party. The note receivable has an annual interest rate of 5% which is paid in kind (“PIK”) interest per annum that increases the outstanding note balance. This note was rated BBB+ by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. This note matures on June 18, 2050. See Note 16 – Related Party – Chelsea for details regarding this note.

Policy Loans

Policy Loans

Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances. Interest income on policy loans is recognized in net investment income at the contract interest rate when earned. No valuation allowance is established for these policy loans as the amount of the loan is fully secured by the death benefit of the policy and cash surrender value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) consist of incremental direct costs, net of amounts ceded to third-party reinsurers, that result directly from and are essential to the contract acquisition transaction and would not have been incurred by the Company had the contract acquisition not occurred. These costs are capitalized, to the extent recoverable, and amortized over the life of the premiums produced. The Company evaluates the types of acquisition costs it capitalizes. The Company capitalizes agent compensation and benefits and other expenses that are directly related to the successful acquisition of contracts. The Company also capitalizes expenses directly related to activities performed by the Company, such as underwriting, policy issuance, and processing fees incurred in connection with successful contract acquisitions.

The following table represents a roll forward of DAC, net of reinsurance:


(In thousands)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Beginning balance	$	43,433	$	24,530
Additions		32,425		23,857
Amortization		(4,369)		(3,905)
Interest		(1,463)		(883)
Impact of unrealized investment losses		(556)		(166)
Ending balance	$	69,470	$	43,433

Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs is evaluated periodically by comparing the current estimate of the present value of expected pretax future profits to the unamortized asset balance. If this current estimate is less than the existing balance, the difference is charged to expense. The Company performs a recoverability analysis annually in the fourth quarter unless events occur which in management’s judgment require an immediate review. The Company performed a recoverability analysis during the third quarter of 2023 and determined that all DAC balances were recoverable as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Premiums Receivable

Premiums receivable consists of premiums earned on our legacy insurance business which have been earned but have not yet been collected. Amounts are receivable from our legacy business partners and were less than $0.1 million and $0.4 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Annual depreciation is primarily computed using straight-line methods for financial reporting and straight-line and accelerated methods for tax purposes. Furniture and equipment is depreciated over three to seven years and computer software and equipment is generally depreciated over three years. Depreciation expense totaled $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Depreciation expense totaled $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The accumulated depreciation, net of disposals, totaled $1.7 million and $1.4 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Replacements and improvements which extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. The net book value of assets sold or retired are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable and exceeds estimated future undiscounted cash flows of the asset. A recognized impairment loss reduces the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value. The Company determined that no such events occurred in the periods covered by the Consolidated Financial Statements that would indicate the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

Reinsurance

We seek to reinsure a significant portion of our new annuity policies with a variety of reinsurers in exchange for upfront ceding commissions, expense reimbursements and administrative fees. Under these reinsurance agreements, we expect there will be a monthly or quarterly settlement of premiums, claims, surrenders, collateral, and other administration fees. We believe this will help preserve American Life’s capital while supporting its growth because American Life will have lower capital requirements when its business is reinsured due to lower overall financial exposure versus retaining the insurance policy business itself. See Note 8 below for further discussion of our reinsurance activities.

There are two main categories of reinsurance transactions: 1) “indemnity,” where we cede a portion of our risk but retain the legal responsibility to our policyholders should our reinsurers not meet their financial obligations; and 2) “assumption,” where we transfer the risk and legal responsibilities to the reinsurers. The reinsurers are required to acquire the appropriate regulatory and policyholder approvals to convert indemnity policies to assumption policies.

Our reinsurers may be domestic or foreign capital markets investors or traditional reinsurance companies seeking to assume U.S. insurance business. We plan to mitigate the credit risk relating to reinsurers generally by requiring other financial commitments from the reinsurers to secure the reinsured risks (such as posting substantial collateral). It should be noted that under indemnity reinsurance agreements American Life remains exposed to the credit risk of its reinsurers. If one or more reinsurers become insolvent or are otherwise unable or unwilling to pay claims under the terms of the applicable reinsurance agreement, American Life retains legal responsibility to pay policyholder claims, which in such event would likely materially and adversely affect the capital and surplus of American Life.

Midwest formed Seneca Re in early 2020, followed by Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-01 (“SRC1”) and Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2021-03 (“SRC3”) which are consolidated in these financial statements. Midwest sold approximately 70% ownership of SRC1 to an ORIX Corporation USA subsidiary on December 30, 2021, and retained 30% ownership. Midwest maintains control over SRC1 and we continue to consolidate SRC1, in these financial statements. Additionally, Seneca Re has established Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2022-04; however, management has determined that Midwest does not control the entity and thus it is not consolidated into these financial statements. American Life entered into a novation agreement with Seneca Incorporated Cell, LLC 2020-02 (“SRC2”) and Crestline Re SPC, for and on behalf of Crestline Re SP1, under which the above-described reinsurance, trust and related asset management agreements were novated and replaced with substantially similar agreements entered into by American Life and Crestline Re SP1.

Some reinsurers are not and may not be “accredited” or qualified as reinsurers under Nebraska law and regulations. In order to enter into reinsurance agreements with such reinsurers and to reduce potential credit risk, American Life holds a deposit or withholds funds from the reinsurer and/or requires the reinsurer to maintain a trust that holds assets backing up the reinsurer’s obligation to pay claims on the business it assumes. The reinsurer may also appoint an investment manager for such funds, which in some cases may be our investment adviser subsidiary, 1505 Capital, to manage these assets pursuant to guidelines adopted by us that are consistent with Nebraska investment statutes and reinsurance regulations.

American Life currently has treaties with several third-party reinsurers and one related party reinsurer. In a Modco agreement, the ceding entity retains the assets equal to the modified coinsurance reserves retained. In an FW agreement, assets that would normally be paid over to a reinsurer are withheld by the ceding company to permit statutory credit for unauthorized reinsurers, to reduce the potential credit risk. Under those provisions with third-party reinsurers, the assets backing the treaties are maintained by American Life as investments but the assets and total returns or losses on the investments are owned by the reinsurers. Under GAAP, this arrangement is considered an embedded derivative as discussed in Comprehensive Loss and Note 4 below.

Assets carried as investments on American Life’s financial statements for the third-party reinsurers contained cumulative unrealized gains and (losses) as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The terms of the contracts with the third-party reinsurers provide that changes in the unrealized gains and (losses) on the portfolios accrue to the third-party reinsurers. To recognize changes in the third-party unrealized gains and (losses), American Life records the year-to-date change as an offsetting realized (loss) or gain in Net Realized (Loss) Gain on Investments on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and in amounts recoverable from third-party reinsurers on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For further discussion see Note 4 below.

Benefit Reserves

The Company establishes liabilities for amounts payable under insurance policies, including traditional life insurance and annuities. Generally, amounts are payable over an extended period of time. Liabilities for future policy benefits of traditional life insurance have been computed by a net level premium method based upon estimates at the time of issue for investment yields, mortality and withdrawals. These estimates include provisions for experience less favorable than initially expected. Mortality assumptions are based on industry experience expressed as a percentage of standard mortality tables.

Policy Claims

Policy claims are based on reported claims plus estimated incurred but not reported claims developed from trends of historical data applied to current exposure.

Deposit-type Contracts

Deposit-type contracts consist of amounts on deposit associated with deferred annuity riders, premium deposit funds and supplemental contracts without life contingencies.

Deposit-type contracts also include balances outstanding under funding agreements with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (“FHLB”). The funding agreements are carried at cost. Amounts received and repaid under FHLB funding agreements are classified as financing activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In 2021, the Company became a member of FHLB, which provides access to collateralized borrowings and other FHLB products. Any borrowing from FHLB requires the purchase of FHLB activity-based common stock in an amount equal to 4.5% of the borrowing. In 2022, the Board authorized a maximum amount equal to 5% of net aggregate admitted retained assets of American Life for FHLB advances and funding agreements combined. In 2023 and 2022, American Life received advances of $39.0 million and $29.0 million respectively, from FHLB under funding agreements and made no repayments on FHLB funding agreements. Outstanding advances under FHLB funding agreements are reported as part of deposit-type contracts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $68.0 million as of September 30, 2023, and $29.0 million as of December 31, 2022. Interest on the funding agreements accrues at their effective interest rates.

As of September 30, 2023, scheduled maturity dates for outstanding FHLB funding agreements were as follows:


(Dollar amounts in thousands)	Interest
Maturity Date	Rate		Amount
March 1, 2024		5.540%	$	16,000
January 22, 2025		5.690%		13,000
January 22, 2025		5.655%		2,000
August 16, 2025		5.955%		8,000
September 1, 2027		5.885%		4,000
September 15, 2027		5.965%		8,000
October 1, 2027		5.895%		9,000
December 1, 2027		5.875%		6,000
December 1, 2027		5.860%		2,000
			$	68,000

Note Payable


(Dollar amounts in thousands)	Interest
Maturity Date	Rate		Amount
March 1, 2024		5.540%	$	16,000
January 22, 2025		5.690%		13,000
January 22, 2025		5.655%		2,000
August 16, 2025		5.955%		8,000
September 1, 2027		5.885%		4,000
September 15, 2027		5.965%		8,000
October 1, 2027		5.895%		9,000
December 1, 2027		5.875%		6,000
December 1, 2027		5.860%		2,000
			$	68,000

Deferred Gain on Coinsurance Transactions

Deferred Gain on Coinsurance Transactions

American Life entered into several reinsurance contracts where it has earned or is earning ceding commissions. These ceding commissions are recorded as a deferred liability and amortized over the life of the business ceded. American Life receives commission and administrative expenses from reinsurance transactions that represent recovery of acquisition costs. These remittances first reduce the DAC associated with the reinsured blocks of business with the remainder being included in the deferred gain on coinsurance transactions that is also being amortized.

Revenue Recognition and Related Expenses

Revenue Recognition and Related Expenses

Amounts received as payment for annuities are recognized as deposits to policyholder account balances and are included in deposit-type liabilities. Revenues from these contracts are comprised of fees earned for administrative and contract-holder services and cost of insurance, which are recognized over the period of the contracts, and included in revenue. Deposits are shown as a financing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Revenues on traditional life insurance products consist of direct and assumed premiums reported as earned when due.

Liabilities for future policy benefits provided and acquisition costs are amortized by associating benefits and expenses with earned premiums to recognize related profits over the life of the contracts. Acquisition costs are amortized over the expected life of the annuity contracts.

Service fee revenue is comprised of third-party administration (“TPA”) fees and investment management fees:

●

The TPA fees are related to accounting services performed based on service agreements with varying lengths. Revenue associated with TPA fees are only recognized when the services are performed, which is typically on a monthly or quarterly basis.

●

Fees for investment management fees are based on the total assets managed for each client at a contracted rate. The length of term on the contracts varies by client. The Company accrues investment advisory fees and recognizes revenue based on the market value of the client’s assets at the end of the applicable period, at the client’s contracted rate.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, or local tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2019. The Company is not currently under examination for any open years for income taxes. The provision for income taxes is based on income as reported in the financial statements. The income tax provision is calculated under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates. The principal assets and liabilities giving rise to such differences are investments, insurance reserves, and DAC. A deferred tax asset valuation allowance is established when there is uncertainty that such assets would be realized. The Company has no uncertain tax positions that it believes are more-likely-than not that the benefit will not to be realized. When applicable, the Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income tax expense.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive Loss is comprised of net income (loss) and other comprehensive loss. Other comprehensive loss includes unrealized gains and losses from fixed maturities classified as available for sale, unrealized gains and losses from other invested assets, and unrealized gains and losses from preferred stock, net of applicable taxes. American Life has treaties with several third-party reinsurers that have FW and Modco provisions. Under those provisions, the assets backing the treaties are maintained by American Life as collateral but are owned by the third-party reinsurers, thus, the total return on the asset portfolio belongs to the third-party reinsurers. Under GAAP this is considered an embedded derivative as discussed above under “Reinsurance” and in Note 8 below.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic income per share for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.10 and $1.99 respectively, which includes a loss of $ (2.1) million and a gain of $0.1 million from an embedded derivative, respectively. Basic income per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.09 and $4.52 respectively, which includes a gain of $1.8 million and $14.6 million from an embedded derivative, respectively.

The Company has 20.0 million voting common shares authorized, two million non-voting common shares authorized, and two million preferred shares authorized. There were 3,744,645 voting common shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and 3,727,976 as of December 31, 2022.


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022

(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Midwest Holding Inc.	$	385	$	7,431	$	332	$	16,883

Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		3,738,070		3,736,933		3,734,946		3,791,082
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and deferred compensation agreements		138,600		52,000		138,600		52,000
Denominator for earnings per common share		3,876,670		3,788,933		3,873,546		3,843,082

Income per common share	$	0.10	$	1.99	$	0.09	$	4.52

Income per common share, diluted	$	0.10	$	1.96	$	0.09	$	4.45

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 846): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848. In 2020, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. The objective of the guidance in Topic 848 is to provide temporary relief during the transition period. The FASB included a sunset provision within Topic 848 based on expectations of when the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) would cease being published. At the time that Update 2020-04 was issued, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had established its intent that it would no longer be necessary to persuade, or compel, banks to submit to LIBOR after December 31, 2021. As a result, the sunset provision was set for December 31, 2022—12 months after the expected cessation date of all currencies and tenors of LIBOR. In March 2021, the FCA announced that the intended cessation date of the overnight 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month tenors of USD LIBOR would be June 30, 2023, which is beyond the current sunset date of Topic 848. Because the current relief in Topic 848 may not cover a period of time during which a significant number of modifications may take place, the amendments in ASU 2022-06 defer the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. The amendments in this update include items brought to the FASB’s attention by stakeholders to clarify the guidance in the amendments in ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) which was issued in June 2016. These updated amendments clarify that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Under ASU 2016-13, the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP is replaced with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses that is referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables and held-to maturity debt securities. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures, not accounted for as insurance (loan commitments, standby letters of credit financial guarantees, and other instruments). In addition, ASU 2016-13 made changes to the accounting for available for sale debt fixed maturities. One such change is to require credit losses to be presented as an allowance rather than a write-down on available for sale debt fixed maturities management does not intend to sell or believes that it is not more likely than not they will be required to sell. The new standard became effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022, and for most affected instruments must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to beginning accumulated deficit.

The Company’s implementation activities are complete, and the impacts relate to the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2023 and recognized a cumulative effect adjustment that decreased retained earnings by $4.7 million, in conjunction with the $16.5 million allowance for credit losses and $11.8 million to Reinsurance Recoverables. Additionally, the Company recognized an incremental change in the allowance for expected credit losses of $0.2 million in the current period, to bring the retained allowance to approximately $4.5 million. The Company will apply the provisions of the guidance to investments that have

an other-than-temporary impairment on a prospective basis. Accordingly, the amortized cost basis will remain the same before and after adoption and the effective interest rate was not changed at the time of adoption.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Accounting for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, as amended by ASU 2019-09, Financial Services —Insurance (Topic 944). The new guidance (i) prescribes the discount rate to be used in measuring the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited payment long-duration contracts, and requires assumptions for those liability valuations to be updated after contract inception, (ii) requires more market-based product guarantees on certain separate account and other account balance long-duration contracts to be accounted for at fair value, (iii) simplifies the amortization of DAC for virtually all long duration contracts, and (iv) introduces certain financial statement presentation requirements, as well as significant additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures. The new standard becomes effective for reporting periods after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 for companies eligible as smaller reporting companies. Early application of the amendments in Update 2018-12 is permitted. We anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2018-12 will have a broad impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require us to make changes to certain of our processes, systems and controls. The Company is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its results of operations and financial position.

MIDWEST HOLDING INC. 10-Q