Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including those identified in Item 1A. of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 , that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from period to period. The risks described in our 2019 Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity.
Circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are complex, uncertain and rapidly evolving. We therefore may not be able to accurately predict the longer-term effects that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our financial condition or results of operations. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our financial condition or results of operations, it may also have the effect of heightening additional risks described in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The impact of COVID-19 and related risks has adversely affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, our business, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity and capital resources, and any future impact on our business is difficult to predict at this time.
The evolving COVID-19 global pandemic has caused significant disruption to the economy and financial markets globally, and the full extent of the potential impacts of COVID-19 are not yet known. Our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity and capital resources have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the future impact of the pandemic is difficult to predict. In particular, we believe we are subject to the following risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Investments . Due in large part to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in global financial markets, our investment portfolio has experienced significant unrealized losses (largely due to widening credit spreads on fixed income investments), increased volatility, heightened credit risk, and declines in yields on our fixed income investments. Our investment portfolios may continue to be adversely impacted by unfavorable market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which could cause continued volatility in our results of operations and negatively impact our financial condition.
Debt and Equity Financing. As a result of the economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, capital and credit markets continue to experience volatility that could negatively impact our ability to raise additional capital through the debt or equity markets or through bank or other debt financing. If we are unable to obtain adequate capital on suitably attractive terms, or at all, we may be unable to implement our future operating plans and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Liquidity. Due to the change in fair value of our investments caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we and our reinsurance subsidiaries may need additional capital to maintain compliance with regulatory capital requirements and/or be required to post additional collateral under existing reinsurance arrangements, which could reduce our liquidity. In addition, we may experience a reduction in the amount of available distribution or dividend capacity from our regulated reinsurance subsidiaries, which would also reduce liquidity.
Operational Disruptions. We rely on the continued productivity of our senior executive team, our employees, and our agents, brokers, third party administrators, suppliers and outsourcing providers to carry out our operations. If any of these people are unable to continue to work productively, or at all, due to illness, government restrictions, remote working conditions, or other disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to conduct our operations may be adversely affected. In addition, like many other companies, the vast majority of our employees are working remotely, and we are therefore more dependent on our information technology systems and the continued access by our employees and service providers to reliable internet and telecommunications systems. We will be adversely affected if these systems do not function effectively or are disrupted due to heightened demand, cybersecurity attacks and data security incidents, or for any other related reason. These types of operational disruptions that impact our people and/or systems and others we may not foresee, would negatively impact our ability to settle claims efficiently, complete acquisitions, integrate our acquired businesses, manage our investments, provide or submit timely filing requirements with the SEC and other regulators or otherwise conduct our business.
Claims. As described herein, the Company is not engaged in active reinsurance underwriting currently and is running off the remaining unearned exposures it has reinsured. Our IIS unit does write limited primary insurance coverages that could be exposed to COVID-19 claims. While we assess our exposure to COVID-19 insurance and reinsurance claims on our existing insurance exposures and remaining reinsurance exposures as limited and immaterial, given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the insurance industry, our preliminary estimates of losses and loss adjustment expenses and estimates of reinsurance recoverable arising from the COVID-19 pandemic may materially change. Unanticipated issues relating to claims and coverage may emerge, which could adversely affect our business by increasing the scope of coverage beyond our intent and/or increasing the frequency and severity of claims.
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