Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Insurance - Specialty / MGIC Investment

MGIC Investment

mtg · NYSE Financial Services
Claim this profile
Ticker mtg
Exchange NYSE
Sector Financial Services
Industry Insurance - Specialty
Employees 501-1000
← All annual reports
FY2016 Annual Report · MGIC Investment
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
MGIC Investment Corporation
Annual Report

2016 

Financial Summary

Net income ($ millions)

Diluted income per share ($)

Net operating income (1) ($ millions)

Net operating income per diluted share (1) ($)

2014

2015

2016

$

$

$

$

251.9

$ 1,172.0

0.64

162.8

0.43

$

$

$

2.60

306.1

0.75

$

$

$

$

342.5

0.86

395.6

0.99

(1)  We believe that use of the Non-GAAP measures of net operating income (loss) and net operating income 
(loss) per diluted share facilitate the evaluation of the company's core financial performance thereby providing 
relevant information. See "Explanation and Reconciliation of our use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of 
this Annual Report for further information.

(2) 

Includes the impact of the 2015 reversal of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 1

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

In last year’ s letter I informed you that our efforts  would be focused on the following 
business strategies: 1) prudently growing insurance in force, 2) pursuing new business 
opportunities that leverage our core competencies, 3) preserving and expanding our role 
and  that  of  the  private  mortgage  insurance  industry  in  housing  finance  policy, 
4) managing  and  deploying  capital  to  optimize  creation  of  shareholder  value  and
5) developing and diversifying the talents of our co-workers.  I am pleased to report that
in 2016 we executed exceptionally well and made great progress in furthering each of 
the strategies.  Specifically, in 2016 we:

•

•

•

•

•

Earned $342.5 million of GAAP Net Income and $395.6 million of Net Operating Income compared to
$1,172.0 of GAAP Net Income (which reflects a one-time benefit of $847.8 million associated with the
reversal of a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets) and $306.1 million of Net Operating
Income for 2015. Net Operating Income is a non-GAAP measure of performance. For a description of
how we calculate this measure and for a reconciliation of this measure to its nearest comparable GAAP
measure,  see  "Explanation  and  Reconciliation  of  our  use  of  Non-GAAP  Financial  Measures"  in
Management’ s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Increased insurance in force by 4.3% despite persistency declining from 79.7% in 2015 to 76.9% in 2016.

Increased new insurance written by 11.4% from $43.0 billion in 2015 to $47.9 billion in 2016.  The new
insurance written is consistent with the Company’ s risk and return goals.

Exceeded the Minimum Required Assets of the GSEs’  private mortgage insurer eligibility requirements,
or PMIERs, by $0.6 billion and the statutory capital requirement of the State of Wisconsin by $1.6 billion.

Improved our capital profile, including: 1) the elimination of 66 million potentially dilutive shares through
various capital market transactions, 2) the re-establishment of dividend payments ($64 million for 2016)
from our writing company, MGIC, to our holding company and 3) a return of investment grade rating for
our writing company.

• Maintained our industry low expense ratio while making additional investments in co-worker professional

development.

The growth in insurance in force reflects the expanding purchase mortgage market, our company’ s market 
share and the hard work and dedication of my fellow co-workers to deliver stellar customer service.  The 
increasing size and  quality  of  our  insurance in  force, the  runoff  of  the  older  books,  solid  housing  market 
fundamentals such as household formations and home sales, and our improved capital structure, position 
us well to provide credit enhancement and low down payment solutions to lenders, GSEs and borrowers. 

The growth in insurance in force also reflects the value proposition we offer to both lenders (ease of execution 
and ancillary services) and consumers (faster equity buildup and ability to cancel, when compared to FHA 
execution).  As reported by Inside Mortgage Finance, the private mortgage insurance industry’ s 2016 market 
share of total originations increased to 13.1% from 12.5% in 2015, and MGIC’ s 2016 market share within the 
PMI industry, excluding the U.S. Treasury’ s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), was 17.9%. 

In 2017, we are looking for an increase in home purchase activity and a decrease in refinance activity. This 
would be a net positive for us and the industry, as we estimate that our industry’ s market share is approximately 
3-4  times  higher  for  purchase  loans  compared  to  refinances.    Among  the  factors  influencing  increased 
purchase activity are: 1) an improving economy, which typically leads consumers to have more confidence 
in their future employment and increases their desire to purchase a home, 2) household formations continuing 
to modestly increase as they return to long-term averages, 3) the national homeownership rate remaining 
stable  to marginally  higher, and  4)  mortgage  interest rates remaining  relatively affordable.  And  since  the 
majority of purchasers who need a mortgage do not have a 20% down payment, over the long term, we should 
have a wonderful opportunity in front of us.  Despite an expected smaller total mortgage origination market, 
as the decrease in refinance transactions is expected to be greater than the increase in purchase transactions, 
we  expect  to write  approximately the  same  amount  of  new  insurance in  2017  that  we  did  in  2016.   This 
combined with increasing persistency should lead to a modest increase in our insurance in force.  

2 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Fellow Shareholders

As of December 31, 2016, the book years beginning in 2009 account for approximately 71% of our primary 
risk in force. The portion of the 2005 - 2008 book years that have not been refinanced under HARP, which have 
experienced higher incurred losses, now account for just 16% of our primary risk in force. The risk in force 
associated with the total 2005 - 2008 books has decreased 19% from 2015.  The quality and profitability of 
the book years beginning in 2009 is best captured by the following statistics:

•  

•  

delinquencies from those book years represent approximately 8% of the total delinquent inventory 
at year-end 2016, and

as of December 31, 2016, the ever-to-date incurred loss ratio of the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, 
books are 14.0%, 7.0%, 4.5%, 2.9% and 3.8%,  respectively.  The life-to-date development of the 2014 
- 2016 books suggests that, as they season, they will also provide meaningful contributions to our 
future success.

Net losses incurred were 30% lower in 2016 than 2015.  The improvement was primarily due to a decrease in 
losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred in respect to defaults reported in 2016, and more favorable 
loss reserve development on prior-year defaults. In 2016, we received 9% fewer default notices than in 2015 
and  we  applied  a  lower  claim  rate  assumption  to  those  new  notices,  primarily  reflecting  the  underlying 
improvements in the housing and labor markets and the ability of borrowers to cure their delinquencies. In 
2016, favorable loss reserve development on prior-year defaults was primarily the result of a lower claim rate 
assumption for those defaults.  The lower claim rate assumption reflects that the actual cure rate experience 
has outperformed our previous estimates. We expect to receive fewer new default notices and to see the 
inventory decrease again in 2017 when compared to 2016.    

Our capital management objectives include a continuation of our positive credit ratings trajectory of the last 
several quarters, and the elimination of potentially dilutive shares that resulted from the capital raises during 
the Great Recession.  

In 2016, with our improved capital position, we accessed the non-convertible senior debt market when we 
issued $425 million 7-year 5.75% Senior Notes.  This is the first time since 2006 that we accessed the non-
convertible senior debt market and marked an important milestone for our company.  We used the majority 
of the proceeds to purchase $292.4 million of our 2% Convertible Senior Notes and the common shares that 
were issued as part of that transaction.  Earlier in the year, MGIC purchased $132.7 million of our 9% Convertible 
Junior Debentures.  Finally, we repurchased $188.5 million of our 5% Convertible Senior Notes. Combined, 
these transactions eliminated 66 million potentially dilutive shares.

Further  reflecting  the  improving  financial  condition  of  the  company, during  2016,  MGIC  was  returned  to 
investment grade by both Moody’ s and Standard and Poor’ s.  While credit ratings are not inhibiting our ability 
to write new primary business, we think that long-term, ratings will become more relevant.  Therefore in the 
future,  when  we  analyze  various  options  to  improve our  capital  profile,  as  well  as  the  ability  to  minimize 
potentially dilutive shares, we need to consider the resulting leverage ratio, the impact on ratings, and the debt 
service capability of the holding company. 

Regarding housing reform, our initial reaction to the tone coming from the Administration and Congress is 
generally positive.  It is hard to predict the actions that may be taken and the timing of such actions, but the 
message that private capital can play a greater role in housing policy is positive for MGIC and our industry.   
As an individual company, and through various trade associations including USMI, we are actively engaged 
in Washington with the goal of shaping a greater role for private mortgage insurance. 

Regarding the FHA, we don’ t believe that it makes sense to change FHA pricing without first addressing the 
larger question of the government’ s role in housing.  Simply put, another FHA price reduction would likely shift 
business away from private capital and expose the taxpayer to increased risk at a time when private capital, 
primarily in the form of private mortgage insurance, is ready, willing, and able to take this risk.  I want to be 
clear: the FHA has played and continues to play a very important role in our country’ s housing market; however, 
the discussion needs to be around a comprehensive housing policy that includes the proper role for the FHA, 
the GSEs and private capital.  

MGIC has a reputation of not only offering a compelling business proposition for its customers, but also 
offering a compelling value proposition for its employees.  This is one way we have been able to maintain a 
low turnover rate and to keep our expense ratio the lowest in the industry.  This is also why we invest in co-
worker development programs that promote accountability and a continuous-improvement culture, and that 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 3

Fellow Shareholders

address  issues  arising  from  the  changing  workforce,  evolving  work  environment,  and  ever  changing 
competitive landscape.    

2016 was indeed a good year.  We achieved strong financial results and continued to position our company 
for further success.  2017 marks the 60th anniversary of MGIC and the dream of Max Karl, our company’ s 
and industry’ s founder, to allow private capital to help support the US housing market and help individuals 
and families find a better way to homeownership.  I am very excited and confident about the opportunities 
MGIC has to continue to serve the housing market for another 60 years and keep Max’ s vision alive.  

Much like last year, in 2017, our energies will be focused on the strategies outlined at the beginning of this 
letter.  I firmly believe that there is a greater opportunity for us to play in providing increased access to credit 
for consumers and reducing GSE credit risk while generating good returns for shareholders. We are committed 
to pursuing those opportunities.   

I would like thank our shareholders and customers for their support and my fellow co-workers for their hard 
work and dedication which has enabled our company to accomplish all that it did in 2016.

Respectfully,

Patrick Sinks
President and Chief Executive Officer

Standing from left:  Sal Miosi, Executive Vice President - Business Strategies and Operations
Tim Mattke, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Lane, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Seated from left:  Jay Hughes, Executive Vice President - Sales and Business Development
Pat Sinks, President and Chief Executive Officer
Steve Mackey, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer

4 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Five-Year Summary of Financial Information

MGIC Investment Corporation & Subsidiaries

(In thousands, except per share data)

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

As of and for the Years Ended December 31,

Summary of Operations

Revenues:

Net premiums written

Net premiums earned

Investment income, net

Realized investment gains, net including net
impairment losses

Other revenue

Total revenues

Losses and expenses:

Losses incurred, net

$ 975,091

$ 1,020,277

$

881,962

$

923,481

$ 1,017,832

925,226

110,666

8,932

17,659

896,222

103,741

28,361

12,964

844,371

87,647

943,051

1,033,170

80,739

121,640

1,357

9,259

5,731

9,914

195,409

28,145

1,062,483

1,041,288

942,634

1,039,435

1,378,364

240,157

343,547

496,077

838,726

2,067,253

Change in premium deficiency reserve

—

(23,751)

(24,710)

(25,320)

(61,036)

Underwriting and other expenses

Interest expense

Loss on debt extinguishment

Total losses and expenses

Income (loss) before tax
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes (1)

160,409

56,672

90,531

547,769

514,714

172,197

164,366

68,932

507

553,601

487,687

146,059

69,648

837

192,518

79,663

—

201,447

99,344

—

687,911

1,085,587

2,307,008

254,723

(46,152)

(928,644)

(684,313)

2,774

3,696

(1,565)

Net income (loss)

$ 342,517

$ 1,172,000

$

251,949

$

(49,848) $ (927,079)

Weighted average common shares outstanding (2)

431,992

468,039

413,547

311,754

201,892

Diluted income (loss) per share

Dividends per share

$

$

0.86

$

2.60

$

0.64

$

(0.16) $

(4.59)

— $

— $

— $

— $

—

Balance sheet data

Total investments

$ 4,692,350

$ 4,663,206

$ 4,612,669

$ 4,866,819

$ 4,230,275

Cash and cash equivalents

155,410

181,120

197,882

332,692

1,027,625

Total assets

Loss reserves

Premium deficiency reserve

Short- and long-term debt

Convertible senior notes

Convertible junior subordinated debentures

Shareholders' equity

Book value per share

5,734,529

5,868,343

5,251,414

5,582,579

5,566,894

1,438,813

1,893,402

2,396,807

3,061,401

4,056,843

—

572,406

349,461

256,872

—

—

822,301

389,522

23,751

61,883

830,015

389,522

2,548,842

2,236,140

1,036,903

7.48

6.58

3.06

48,461

82,662

826,300

389,522

744,538

2.20

73,781

99,700

338,419

378,970

196,940

0.97

(1) 

(2) 

In the third quarter of 2015 we reversed the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. See Note 12 –  "Income 
Taxes" to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the reversal of the valuation allowance and impact on 
our consolidated financial statements.

Includes dilutive shares in years with net income. See Note 4 –  "Earnings Per Share" to our consolidated financial statements 
for a discussion of our Earnings Per Share.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Five-Year Summary of Financial Information

Other data

New primary insurance written ($ millions)

New primary risk written ($ millions)

$

$

47,875

11,831

$

$

43,031

10,824

$

$

33,439

8,530

$

$

29,796

7,541

$

$

24,125

5,949

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

IIF (at year-end) ($ millions)

Direct primary IIF

RIF (at year-end) ($ millions)

Direct primary RIF

Direct pool RIF

With aggregate loss limits

Without aggregate loss limits

Primary loans in default ratios

Policies in force

Loans in default

$ 182,040

$ 174,514

$ 164,919

$ 158,723

$

162,082

$

47,195

$

45,462

$

42,946

$

41,060

$

41,735

244

303

271

388

303

505

376

636

439

879

998,294

50,282

992,188

62,633

968,748

79,901

960,163

103,328

1,006,346

139,845

Percentage of loans in default

5.04%

6.31%

8.25%

10.76%

13.90%

Insurance operating ratios (GAAP)

Loss ratio

Expense ratio

Risk-to-capital ratio (statutory)

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation

Combined insurance companies

26.0%

15.3%

38.3%

14.9%

58.8%

14.7%

88.9%

18.6%

200.1%

15.2%

10.7:1

12.0:1

12.1:1

13.6:1

14.6:1

16.4:1

15.8:1

18.4:1

44.7:1

47.8:1

6 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

We have reproduced below the “Management’ s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results 
for  the  year  ended 
of  Operations” and  “Risk Factors” that  appeared  in  our  Annual  Report  on  Form 
December 31, 2016, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2017. 
Except for various cross-references, we have not changed what appears below from what was in our Form 
10-K. As a result, the Management’ s Discussion and Analysis and Risk Factors are not updated to reflect any 
events or changes in circumstances that have occurred since our Annual Report on Form 10-K was filed with 
the  SEC.  Our  Risk  Factors  are  an  integral  part  of  Management’ s Discussion  and  Analysis  and  appear 
immediately after it.

Forward Looking and Other Statements

As discussed under “Forward Looking Statements and Risk Factors” in this Annual Report, actual results may 
differ materially from the results contemplated by forward looking statements. We are not undertaking any 
obligation  to  update  any  forward  looking  statements  or  other  statements  we  may  make  in  the  following 
discussion  or  elsewhere  in  this  document  even  though  these  statements  may  be  affected  by  events  or 
circumstances occurring after the forward looking statements or other statements were made. Therefore no 
reader of this document should rely on these statements being current as of any time other than the time at 
which this document was filed with the SEC.

See the "Glossary of terms and acronyms" for definitions and descriptions of terms used throughout this 
Annual Report.

Introduction
Through our subsidiary, MGIC, we are a leading provider of PMI in the United States, as measured by $182.0 
billion of primary IIF on a consolidated basis at December 31, 2016.

As used below, “we” and “our” refer to MGIC Investment Corporation’ s consolidated operations or to MGIC 
Investment Corporation, as a separate entity, as the context requires. References to "we" and "our" in the 
context of debt obligations refer to MGIC Investment Corporation.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 7

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Overview
This  Overview  of  the  MD&A  highlights  selected 
information and may not contain all of the information 
that  is  important  to  readers  of  this  Annual  Report. 
Hence,  this  Overview  is  qualified  by  the  information 
that  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  Annual  Report, 
including the other portions of the MD&A.

Summary Financial Results of MGIC Investment
Corporation

Year Ended
December 31,

2016

2015

Change

(In millions, except per
share data, unaudited)

Selected statement of
operations data

Total revenues

$1,062.5

$1,041.3

Losses incurred, net

240.2

343.5

Loss on debt
extinguishment

Income before tax

Provision for (benefit
from) income taxes

Net income

90.5

514.7

172.2

342.5

0.5

487.7

(684.3)

1,172.0

Diluted income per share

$

0.86

$

2.60

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (1)

Pretax operating income

$ 596.3

$ 459.8

Net operating income

395.6

306.1

2 %

(30)%

N/M

6 %

N/M

(71)%

(67)%

30 %

29 %

Net operating income per
diluted share

$

0.99

$

0.75

32 %

(1) 

See  "Explanation  and  Reconciliation  of  our  use  of  Non-
GAAP Financial Measures".

SUMMARY OF 2016 RESULTS
Net  operating income  for  2016  was  $395.6  million 
(2015: $306.1 million) and net operating income per 
diluted  share  was  $0.99  (2015:  $0.75).  The  29% 
increase in net operating income was driven primarily 
by lower losses incurred, net. 

We  recorded  full-year  2016  net  income  of  $342.5 
million, and diluted income per share of $0.86. Net 
income decreased by $829.5 million compared with 
net income of $1.2 billion in 2015, primarily due to the 
$847.8  million  of  tax  benefits  realized during  2015 
from  changes  in  our  deferred  tax  asset  valuation 
allowance, including its reversal in the third quarter 
of  2015;  and  the  $90.5  million 
loss  on  debt 
extinguishment resulting from our debt transactions 
completed  during  2016. The  decline  in  net  income 
was partially offset primarily by a decrease in losses 
incurred, net.

on  prior  year  delinquencies  and  on  our  IBNR  when 
compared to the prior year.

The  loss  on  debt  extinguishment  recorded  during 
2016 resulted from debt transactions in which we, or 
MGIC, repurchased portions of our outstanding long-
term  debt  at  amounts  that  in  aggregate  were  in 
excess of our carrying values. In addition, we wrote-
issuance  costs  on  the 
off  unamortized  debt 
repurchased portions of some of our long-term debt. 
See  Note  7  -  "Debt"  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements for further discussion of the accounting 
for  these  transactions.  We  will  continue  to  assess 
opportunities  to  improve  our  debt  profile  and  /  or 
reduce  potential  dilution 
remaining 
outstanding  convertible  debt,  which  could  result  in 
additional debt extinguishment losses in the future.

from  our 

The provision for (benefit from) income taxes in our 
2016 results reflects a tax provision at the statutory 
rate while our prior year results reflect the impact of 
the changes in our valuation allowance against our 
deferred tax assets, including its reversal in that year.

Our  operating  results  for  2016  reflect  a  larger 
mortgage  origination market compared to the prior 
year and improved credit performance of our primary 
RIF. We grew our IIF to $182.0 billion, or 4.3%, during 
2016 and we wrote our highest annual level of new 
insurance since 2008. Importantly, the NIW in 2016 
in  our  view,  strong  underlying  credit 
has, 
characteristics. Our 2009 and later books continued 
to experience a low level of losses and accounted for 
71% of our total primary RIF as of December 31, 2016. 
Our  legacy  books,  particularly  those  written  in 
2005-2008,  continued  to  drive  our  new  delinquent 
notice and claim activity, but they have experienced 
a  continued  decline  in  default  inventory  and  paid 
claims.

In  2016,  we  completed  a  series  of  financing 
transactions  that,  in  our  view,  improved  our  debt 
profile and reduced potentially dilutive shares, while 
maintaining  strong  levels  of  regulatory  capital. 
Specifically,  we  issued  senior  notes  in  the  third 
quarter, which allowed us to repurchase a significant 
portion  of our 2% Notes, and in the first half of the 
year we repurchased a portion of our 5% Notes with 
cash on hand and MGIC purchased a portion of our 
9%  Debentures. 
transactions 
total, 
eliminated  approximately  66  million  potentially 
dilutive shares and reduced our annual consolidated 
interest expense.

these 

In 

Losses incurred, net were $240.2 million, down 30% 
as  new  delinquent  notice  activity  declined  and  we 
experienced  higher  favorable  reserve  development 

MGIC's  capital  position  in  relation  to  the  PMIERs 
requirements continued to strengthen as MGIC held 

8 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

over $630 million of Available Assets in excess of the 
Minimum Required Assets at December 31, 2016. Our 
current strategy is to maintain an excess of 10%-15% 
over  the  Minimum  Required  Assets.  Our  ability  to 
manage  to  this  range  is  primarily  subject  to  OCI 
approval  of  dividends  from  MGIC  to  our  holding 
company  (which  would  reduce  MGIC's  Available 
Assets),  the  credit  performance  of  our  RIF  (which 
would  increase  or  decrease  its  Minimum  Required 
Assets),  and  any  changes  made  to  the  PMIERs 
financial  requirements  (which  could  increase  or 
decrease Available Assets and/or Minimum Required 
Assets). During 2016, MGIC distributed $64 million of 
its  excess  Available  Assets  as  dividends  to  our 
holding  company.  These  dividends  were  the  first 
dividends from MGIC since 2008. 

the 

to  operating  under 

In  the  first  half  of  2016,  the  PMI  industry  broadly 
adopted new premium rates, we believe, primarily in 
response 
financial 
requirements  of  the  PMIERs,  which  first  became 
effective on December 31, 2015. We revised both our 
BPMI  and  LPMI  premium  rates  effective  in  April, 
which  are  competitively  positioned  within  the 
industry, and are structured to generate comparable 
risk-adjusted  returns  across the  spectrum  of  loans 
we  insure.  Premium  rates  within  the  marketplace, 
which  includes  PMI  and  government  programs 
offered by the FHA and VA, have an impact on the PMI 
industry's  total  market  share,  as  well  as  our  share 
within the PMI industry from period to period. In 2016, 
PMI  as  an  industry  captured  a  greater  share  of 
mortgage  originations  having  insurance,  but  our 
estimated  market  share  within  the  PMI  industry 
declined to 17.8% from 19.9% in 2015.

OUTLOOK FOR 2017
Our outlook for 2017 should be viewed against the 
backdrop  of 
the  U.S.  economy,  competition, 
mortgage  origination  levels,  and  regulatory  and 
legislative developments. Each of these interrelated 
factors will affect our performance.

Our 2017 NIW is expected to be comparable to our 
2016  NIW.  Our  NIW  is  affected  by  total  mortgage 
originations,  the  percentage  of  total  mortgage 
originations utilizing private mortgage insurance (the 
"PMI penetration rate") and our market share within 
the  PMI  industry.  As  of  late  January  2017,  total 
mortgage  originations  are  forecasted  to  decline  in 
2017 from 2016 levels due to declines in refinancing 
originations more than offsetting a small increase in 
purchase  originations.  We  expect 
the  PMI 
penetration rate to increase because historically PMI 
has captured a share of purchase originations that is 
estimated  to  be  3-4  times  greater  than  that  of 
refinancing  originations.  This  increase  in  the  PMI 
penetration rate should serve to mitigate the decline 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

in total mortgage  originations. Although we cannot 
predict  our  2017  market  share,  recent  industry 
consolidation may have a positive influence if lenders 
re-allocate the combined share of the consolidating 
companies among the remaining companies in the 
industry.  Although  our  expectation  is  for  our  2017 
NIW  to  be  comparable to  that  of  2016,  this  will  be 
highly dependent on the actual mortgage origination 
market  and  competition.  If  pricing  competition 
intensifies  and  customers  can  obtain  lower  prices 
elsewhere, our NIW may be lower than we expect.

Our book of IIF is the main driver of our revenues and 
earnings  and  its  growth  is  driven  by  our  ability  to 
generate NIW and retain existing policies in force, as 
measured by our persistency. Interest rates influence 
both our NIW and persistency. Since the Presidential 
election, mortgage rates, as reflected in the 30-year 
fixed rate, have risen. In a rising rate environment, we 
expect the level of cancellation activity to decelerate, 
and in turn increase persistency, although the impact 
generally  lags  the  change  in  interest  rates.  Higher 
interest 
for 
borrowers, which could slow housing activity, and of 
particular importance to our industry, slow first time 
home buyer purchase activity resulting in less NIW.  
Historically  however,  purchase  origination  volume 
has not been significantly impacted by interest rate 
changes  of  less  than  100  bps  on  a  year-over-year 
basis.

reduce  affordability 

rates  could 

We  expect  to  face  challenges  growing  our  earned 
premium  revenues  in  2017  from  2016  levels,  even 
with a larger book of IIF, as the impact of changing 
premium  rates  on  our  IIF  continues  to  adversely 
impact  our  premium  yield.  Our  premium  yield  is 
expected to decline in 2017 from the 2016 level as a 
greater percentage of our IIF will be from book years 
2009 and later, which were generally written at lower 
premium  rates  than  the  earlier  books.  In  addition, 
premium  rates  are  resetting  to  lower  rates  on  a 
substantial  portion  of  our  monthly  and  annual 
premium  policies  that  have  not  been  refinanced 
under  HARP  and  remain  in  force  on  their  ten  year 
anniversary. The initial ten-year period is reset when 
a loan is refinanced under HARP. As of December 31, 
2016,  the  2007  book  year  IIF  that  is  subject  to 
premium rate resets during 2017 was approximately 
4%  of  our  total  IIF.  Counter  to  this  trend,  our  net 
premiums  earned  may  continue  to  benefit  from 
cancellations  on  single  premium  policies  in  2017, 
which increases our premium yield when persistency 
is  less  than  was  assumed  when  the  policy  was 
written, as the premium is generally non-refundable 
and becomes fully earned. Higher persistency on our 
monthly  and  annual  premium  business  would  also 
counteract the impact of lower premium rates.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 9

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Credit trends on our RIF continue to improve and we 
have experienced a declining level of new delinquent 
notices,  losses  paid  and  total  delinquent  notice 
inventory. We expect these trends to continue in 2017. 
Significant  favorable  reserve  development  due  to 
lower  claims  rates on  prior  year  delinquencies  has 
occurred over the past two  years, but  this may not 
continue in 2017.

As  of  December  31,  2016,  our  PMIERs  Available 
Assets were 16% greater than our Minimum Required 
Assets. We believe that maintaining Available Assets 
at  a  level  of  10-15%  in  excess  of  our  Minimum 
Required Assets is prudent to preserve our ability to 
write new business, meet unexpected losses without 
the need to access the capital markets, pursue new 
business opportunities, and continually comply with 
the PMIERs which are subject to change and the GSEs 
could  make  them  more  onerous  in  future  periods, 
which  could  materially  affect  our  Available  Assets 
and/or  Minimum  Required  Assets.  We  expect  the 
GSEs  to  perform  a  comprehensive  review  of  the 
PMIERs financial requirements and to update them 
in  2017  as  the  PMIERs  provide  that  the  tables  of 
factors that determine Minimum Required Assets will 
be updated at least every two years. As part  of the 
GSEs' comprehensive review, changes may also be 
made to provisions of the PMIERs that determine our 
Available  Assets.  As  of  December  31,  2016,  we 
believe any  reasonably foreseeable changes  to the 
PMIERs financial requirements would not result in our 
failing  to  be 
in  compliance  with  those  new 
requirements.

In 2016, MGIC paid a total of $64 million in dividends 
to our holding company, its first dividends since 2008, 
and  we  expect  MGIC  to  continue  to  pay  quarterly 
dividends. OCI authorization is sought before MGIC 
pays dividends and MGIC will pay a dividend of $20 
million to our holding company in the first quarter of 
2017.  Dividends  from  MGIC  allow  us  to  effectively 
utilize excess capital at MGIC to manage liquidity at 
our holding company, deploy capital to other business 
opportunities,  or  repurchase  debt  or  shares  of  our 
common stock. 

CAPITAL

GSEs
We  must  comply  with  the  PMIERs  to  be  eligible  to 
insure loans purchased by the GSEs.  In  addition to 
their  financial  requirements,  the  PMIERs  include 
business,  quality  control  and  certain  transaction 
approval requirements. The financial requirements of 
the  PMIERs  require  a  mortgage  insurer’ s Available 
Assets  to  equal  or  exceed  its  Minimum  Required 
Assets. Based on our interpretation of the PMIERs, 
as  of  December 31,  2016,  MGIC’ s Available Assets 
are $4.7 billion and its Minimum Required Assets are 

10 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

$4.1  billion;  and  MGIC  is  in  compliance  with  the 
requirements  of  the  PMIERs  and  eligible  to  insure 
loans purchased by the GSEs. 

If  MGIC  ceases  to  be  eligible  to  insure  loans 
purchased  by  one  or  both  of  the  GSEs,  it  would 
significantly reduce the volume of our NIW. Factors 
that may negatively impact MGIC’ s ability to continue 
to comply with the PMIERs include the following:

•   The GSEs could make the PMIERs more onerous in 
the future; in this regard, the PMIERs provide that 
the  tables  of  factors  that  determine  Minimum 
Required Assets will be updated every two years 
and  may  be  updated  more  frequently  to  reflect 
changes  in  macroeconomic  conditions  or  loan 
performance.  The  GSEs  will  provide  notice  180 
days prior to the effective date of table updates. In 
addition,  the  GSEs  may  otherwise  amend  the 
PMIERs at any time.

•   The  GSEs  may  reduce  the  amount  of  credit  they 
allow under the PMIERs for the risk ceded under 
our quota share reinsurance transaction. The GSEs’  
ongoing approval of that transaction is subject to 
several  conditions  and  the  transaction  will  be 
reviewed under the PMIERs at least annually by the 
GSEs. For more information about the transaction, 
see our risk factor titled “The mix of business we 
write affects our Minimum Required Assets under 
the PMIERs, our premium yields and the likelihood 
of losses occurring.”

•   Our  future  operating  results  may  be  negatively 
impacted  by  the  matters  discussed  in  our  risk 
factors. Such matters could decrease our revenues, 
increase  our  losses  or  require  the  use  of  liquid 
assets,  thereby  creating  a  shortfall  in  Available 
Assets.

•   Should  capital  be  needed  by  MGIC  in  the  future, 
capital  contributions  from  our  holding  company 
may not be available due to competing demands 
on  holding  company  resources,  including  for 
repayment of debt.

On an overall basis, the amount of Available Assets 
MGIC must hold in order to continue to insure GSE 
loans  increased under  the  PMIERs  over what  state 
regulation currently requires.

State Regulations
The  insurance  laws  of  16  jurisdictions,  including 
Wisconsin, our domiciliary state, require a mortgage 
insurer to maintain a minimum amount of statutory 
capital  relative  to  its  RIF  (or  a  similar  measure)  in 
order for  the mortgage  insurer to continue to write 
new business. We refer to these requirements as the 

“State Capital Requirements.” While they vary among 
jurisdictions,  the  most  common  State  Capital 
Requirements  allow  for  a  maximum  risk-to-capital 
ratio of 25 to 1. A risk-to-capital ratio will increase if 
(i)  the  percentage  decrease  in  capital  exceeds  the 
percentage  decrease  in  insured  risk,  or  (ii)  the 
percentage  increase  in  capital  is  less  than  the 
percentage increase in insured risk. Wisconsin does 
not regulate capital by using a risk-to-capital measure 
but instead requires an MPP.

At  December 31,  2016,  MGIC’ s risk-to-capital  ratio 
was  10.7  to 1,  below  the  maximum  allowed  by the 
jurisdictions with State Capital Requirements, and its 
policyholder  position  was  $1.6  billion  above  the 
required MPP of $1.1 billion. In calculating our risk-
to-capital ratio and MPP, we are allowed full credit for 
the risk ceded under our reinsurance transaction with 
a group of unaffiliated reinsurers. It is possible that 
under  the  revised  State  Capital  Requirements 
discussed below, MGIC will not be allowed full credit 
for  the  risk  ceded  to  the  reinsurers.  If  MGIC  is  not 
allowed an agreed level of credit under either the State 
Capital  Requirements  or  the  PMIERs,  MGIC  may 
terminate  the  reinsurance  transaction,  without 
penalty. At this time, we expect MGIC to continue to 
comply with the current State Capital Requirements; 
however,  you  should  read  our  risk  factors  for 
information  about  matters  that  could  negatively 
affect such compliance.

At December 31, 2016, the risk-to-capital ratio of our 
combined  insurance  operations  (which  includes  a 
reinsurance  affiliate)  was  12.0  to  1.  Reinsurance 
transactions with our affiliate permit MGIC to write 
insurance with a higher coverage percentage than it 
its  own  under  certain  state-specific 
could  on 
requirements.

The NAIC previously announced that it plans to revise 
the  minimum  capital  and  surplus  requirements  for 
mortgage  insurers  that  are  provided  for  in  its 
Mortgage  Guaranty  Insurance  Model  Act.  In  May 
2016, a working group of state regulators released an 
exposure draft of a risk-based capital framework to 
establish capital requirements for mortgage insurers, 
although no date has been established by which the 
NAIC  must  propose  revisions 
the  capital 
requirements. We continue to evaluate the impact of 
the  framework  contained  in  the  exposure  draft, 
including the potential impact of certain  items that 
have  not  yet  been  completely  addressed  by  the 
framework which include: the treatment of ceded risk, 
minimum  capital  floors,  and  action  level  triggers. 
Currently  we  believe  that  the  PMIERs  contain  the 
more  restrictive  capital  requirements 
in  most 
circumstances.

to 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

increase  the 

GSE REFORM
The FHFA has been the conservator of the GSEs since 
2008 and has the authority to control and direct their 
operations.  The  increased  role  that  the  federal 
government has assumed in the residential housing 
finance  system  through  the  GSE  conservatorship 
may 
likelihood  that  the  business 
practices  of  the  GSEs  change  in  ways  that  have  a 
material adverse effect on us and that the charters of 
the GSEs are changed by new federal legislation. In 
the  past,  members  of  Congress  have  introduced 
several  bills 
intended  to  change  the  business 
practices  of  the  GSEs  and  the  FHA;  however,  no 
legislation has been enacted. The new  Presidential 
the 
administration 
conservatorship of the GSEs should end; however, it 
is unclear whether and when that would occur and 
how that would impact us. As a result of the matters 
referred to above, it is uncertain what role the GSEs, 
FHA and private capital, including PMI, will play in the 
residential housing finance system in the future or the 
impact  of  any  such  changes  on  our  business.  In 
addition,  the  timing  of  the  impact  of  any  resulting 
changes  on  our  business 
is  uncertain.  Most 
meaningful  changes  would  require  Congressional 
action  to  implement  and  it  is  difficult  to  estimate 
when Congressional action would be final and how 
long any associated phase-in period may last.

indicated 

that 

has 

For  additional 
information  about  the  business 
practices  of  the  GSEs,  see  our  risk  factor  titled 
“Changes  in  the  business  practices  of  the  GSEs, 
federal  legislation  that  changes  their  charters  or  a 
restructuring of the GSEs could reduce our revenues 
or increase our losses.”

loans  more  affordable 

LOAN  MODIFICATIONS  AND  OTHER  SIMILAR 
PROGRAMS
The federal government, including through the U.S. 
Department of the Treasury and the GSEs, and several 
lenders have modification and refinance programs to 
make  outstanding 
to 
borrowers with the goal of reducing the number of 
foreclosures. These  programs  included  HAMP  and 
similar  modification  programs,  and  HARP.  During 
2015 and 2016, we were notified of modifications that 
cured  delinquencies  that  had  they  become  paid 
claims  would  have  resulted  in  approximately  $0.6 
billion  and  $0.5  billion,  respectively,  of  estimated 
claim payments. These levels are down from a high 
of $3.2 billion in 2010.

HAMP expired at the end of 2016 and although HARP 
has  been  extended  through  September  2017,  we 
believe  that  we  have  realized  the  majority  of  the 
benefits from that program because the number of 
loans insured by us that we are aware are entering 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 11

Management's Discussion and Analysis

that program has decreased significantly. The GSEs 
have introduced the "Flex Modification" program to 
replace  HAMP  effective  in  October  2017.  Until  it 
becomes effective, loan servicers must still evaluate 
borrowers for other GSE modification programs.

We cannot determine the total benefit we may derive 
from loan modification programs, particularly given 
the  uncertainty  around  the  re-default  rates  for 
defaulted  loans  that  have  been  modified.  Our  loss 
reserves do not account for potential re-defaults of 
current  loans  whose  defaults  were  cured  through 
modifications. 

As shown in the following table, as of December 31, 
2016 approximately 19% of our primary RIF has been 
modified:

Policy Year

2003 and Prior

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010 - 2016

Total

HARP (1) 
Modifications

HAMP & Other
Modifications

11.1%

18.1%

24.9%

27.8%

38.7%

53.0%

29.2%

—%

10.3%

36.0%

35.3%

35.7%

35.9%

29.5%

17.2%

3.5%

0.1%

8.8%

(1)  Includes proprietary programs that are substantially the 

same as HARP.

As of December 31, 2016 based on loan count, the 
loans  associated  with  97.5%  of  all  HARP 
modifications  and  75.3%  of  HAMP  and  other 
modifications were current.

FACTORS AFFECTING OUR RESULTS
Our results of operations are affected by:

•   Cancellations, which reduce IIF. Cancellations due 
to refinancings are affected by the level of current 
mortgage interest rates compared to the mortgage 
coupon rates throughout the in force book, current 
home values compared to values when the loans 
in the in force book were insured and the terms on 
which  mortgage  credit  is  available.  Home  price 
appreciation  can  give  homeowners  the  right  to 
cancel  mortgage 
insurance  on  their  loans  if 
sufficient home equity is achieved. Cancellations 
also result from policy rescissions, which require 
us  to  return  any  premiums  received  on  the 
rescinded  policies  and  claim  payments,  which 
require us to return any premium received on the 
related  policies  from  the  date  of  default  on  the 
insured loans. 

•   Premium rates, which are affected by product type, 
competitive pressures, the  risk  characteristics of 
the insured loans and the percentage of coverage 
on the insured loans. The substantial majority of 
our  monthly  and  annual  mortgage 
insurance 
premiums are under premium plans for which, for 
the  first  ten  years  of  the  policy,  the  amount  of 
premium  is  determined  by  multiplying  the  initial 
loan  balance; 
premium  rate  by  the  original 
thereafter,  the  premium  resets  and  a 
lower 
premium rate is used for the remaining life of the 
policy. However, for loans that have utilized HARP, 
the initial ten-year period resets as of the date of 
the  HARP  transaction.  The  remainder  of  our 
monthly and annual premiums are under premium 
plans for which premiums are determined by a fixed 
percentage of the loan’ s amortizing  balance over 
the life of the policy.

•   Premiums ceded, net of a profit commission, under 
reinsurance  agreements.  See  Note  9  – 
“Reinsurance” 
financial 
statements  for  a  discussion  of  our  reinsurance 
agreements.

to  our  consolidated 

Premiums written and earned
Premiums written and earned in a year are influenced 
by:

•   NIW, which increases IIF, is the aggregate principal 
amount of the mortgages that are insured during a 
period.  Many  factors  affect  NIW,  including  the 
volume  of  low  down  payment  home  mortgage 
originations  and  competition  to  provide  credit 
enhancement  on  those  mortgages, 
including 
competition from the FHA, the VA, other mortgage 
insurers,  GSE  programs  that  may  reduce  or 
eliminate the demand for mortgage insurance and 
other  alternatives  to  mortgage  insurance.  NIW 
does not include loans previously insured by us that 
are modified, such as loans modified under HARP.

Premiums are generated by the insurance that is in 
force during all or a portion of the period. A change 
in the average IIF in the current period compared to 
an earlier period is a factor that will increase (when 
the average in force is higher) or reduce (when it is 
lower)  premiums  written  and  earned  in  the  current 
period,  although  this  effect  may  be  enhanced  (or 
mitigated) by differences in the average premium rate 
between the two periods, as well as by premiums that 
are returned or expected to be returned in connection 
with claim payments and rescissions, and premiums 
ceded under reinsurance agreements. Also, NIW and 
cancellations  during  a  period  will  generally  have  a 
greater  effect  on  premiums  written  and  earned  in 
subsequent periods than in the period in which these 
events occur.

12 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Investment income
Our investment portfolio is composed principally of 
investment  grade  fixed 
income  securities.  The 
principal  factors  that  influence  investment  income 
are the size of the portfolio and its yield. As measured 
by  amortized  cost  (which  excludes  changes  in  fair 
value, such as from changes in interest rates), the size 
of  the  investment  portfolio  is  mainly  a  function  of 
cash generated from (or used in) operations, such as 
NPW, investment  income,  net  claim  payments  and 
expenses,  and  cash  provided  by  (or  used  for)  non-
operating activities, such as debt or stock issuances 
or repurchases. 

•   The distribution of claims over the life of a book. 
Historically,  the  first  few  years  after  loans  are 
originated are a period of relatively low claims, with 
claims  increasing  substantially  for  several  years 
then  declining,  although 
subsequent  and 
the  economy, 
persistency,  the  condition  of 
including unemployment and housing prices, and 
other factors can affect this pattern. For example, 
a weak economy or housing value declines can lead 
to claims from older books increasing, continuing 
at  stable  levels  or  experiencing  a  lower  rate  of 
decline. See further information under “Mortgage 
Insurance Earnings and Cash Flow Cycle” below.

Losses incurred
Losses incurred are the current expense that reflects 
estimated payments that will ultimately be made as 
a  result  of  delinquencies  on  insured  loans.  As 
explained under “Critical Accounting Policies” below, 
except in the case of a premium deficiency reserve, 
we  recognize  an  estimate  of  this  expense  only  for 
delinquent loans. The level of new delinquencies has 
historically  followed  a  seasonal  pattern,  with  new 
delinquencies in the first part of the year lower than 
new delinquencies in the latter part of the year, though 
this  pattern  can  be  affected  by  the  state  of  the 
economy and local housing markets. Losses incurred 
are generally affected by:

•   The state of the economy, including unemployment 
and  housing  values,  each  of  which  affects  the 
likelihood  that  loans  will  become  delinquent  and 
whether  loans  that  are  delinquent  cure  their 
delinquency. Changes in housing values also affect 
our ability to mitigate our losses through sales of 
properties we acquire after paying a claim as well 
as  borrower  willingness  to  continue  to  make 
mortgage payments when the value of the home is 
below the mortgage balance.

•   The  product mix  of  the  in  force book,  with  loans 
risk  characteristics  generally 

having  higher 
resulting in higher delinquencies and claims.

•   The size of loans insured, with higher average loan 

amounts tending to increase losses incurred.

•   The percentage of coverage on insured loans, with 
deeper  average  coverage  tending  to  increase 
incurred losses.

•   The  rate  at  which  we  rescind  policies.  Our 
estimated  loss  reserves  reflect  mitigation  from 
rescissions of policies and denials of claims. We 
collectively refer to such rescissions and denials as 
“rescissions” and variations of this term.

•   Losses ceded under reinsurance agreements. See 
Note  9  –  “Reinsurance”  to  our  consolidated 
financial  statements  for  a  discussion  of  our 
reinsurance agreements.

Underwriting and other expenses
The majority of our operating expenses are fixed, with 
some variability due to contract underwriting volume. 
Contract underwriting generates fee income included 
in “Other revenue.” Underwriting and other expenses 
are net  of  any  ceding  commission  associated  with 
reinsurance  agreements.  See  Note  9  – 
our 
“Reinsurance” 
financial 
to  our  consolidated 
statements  for  a  discussion  of  our  reinsurance 
agreements.

Interest expense
Interest expense reflects the interest associated with 
our outstanding debt obligations discussed in Note 
7 –  “Debt” to our consolidated financial statements 
and under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.

Other

Certain activities that we do not consider to be part 
of our fundamental operating activities may also 
impact our results of operations and are described 
below.

Net realized investment gains (losses)
Realized  gains  and  losses  are  a  function  of  the 
difference between the amount received on the sale 
of a security and the security’ s cost basis, as well as 
any  OTTI  recognized  in  earnings.  The  amount 
received  on  the  sale  of  fixed  income  securities  is 
affected by the coupon rate of the security compared 
to the yield of comparable securities at the time of 
sale.

Loss on debt extinguishment
At times, we may undertake activities to improve our 
debt profile and/or reduce potential dilution from our 
outstanding  convertible  debt.  Extinguishing  our 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 13

Management's Discussion and Analysis

outstanding  debt  obligations  early  through  these 
discretionary activities may result in losses primarily 
driven by the payment of consideration in excess of 
our carrying value, and the write off of unamortized 
debt issuance costs on the extinguished portion  of 
the long-term debt.

Refer to “Explanation and reconciliation of our use of 
Non-GAAP financial measures” below to understand 
how  these  items  impact  our  evaluation  of  our 
fundamental financial performance.

MORTGAGE INSURANCE  EARNINGS AND  CASH 
FLOW CYCLE
In general, the majority of any underwriting profit that 
a book generates occurs in the early years of the book, 
with  the  largest  portion  of  any  underwriting  profit 
realized in the first year following the year the book 
was  written.  Subsequent  years  of  a  book  generally 
result  in  either  underwriting  profit  or  underwriting 
losses.  This  pattern  of  results  typically  occurs 
because relatively few of the claims that a book will 
ultimately experience typically occur in the first few 
years of the book, when premium revenue is highest, 
while  subsequent  years  are  affected  by  declining 
premium revenues, as the number of insured loans 
decreases (primarily due to loan prepayments) and 
increasing  losses.  The  typical  pattern  is  also  a 
function of premium rates generally resetting to lower 
levels after ten years.

14 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Explanation  and  Reconciliation  of  our  use  of  Non-GAAP 
Financial Measures

Management's Discussion and Analysis

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We believe that use of the Non-GAAP measures of 
pretax operating income (loss), net operating income 
(loss)  and  net  operating  income  (loss)  per  diluted 
share facilitate the evaluation of the company's core 
financial  performance  thereby  providing  relevant 
information. These measures are not recognized in 
accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally 
accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and 
should  not  be  viewed  as  alternatives  to  GAAP 
measures of performance. The measures described 
below  have  been  established 
increase 
transparency  for  the  purpose  of  evaluating  our 
fundamental operating trends.

to 

Pretax operating income (loss) is defined as GAAP 
income (loss) before tax, excluding the effects of net 
realized  investment  gains  (losses),  gain  (loss)  on 
losses 
debt  extinguishment,  net 
recognized  in  income  (loss)  and  infrequent  or 
unusual non-operating items, if any.

impairment 

Net operating income (loss) is defined as GAAP net 
income (loss) excluding the after-tax effects of net 
realized  investment  gains  (losses),  gain  (loss)  on 
debt  extinguishment,  net 
losses 
recognized  in  income  (loss),  and  infrequent  or 
unusual  non-operating  items,  and  the  effects  of 
changes in our deferred tax valuation allowance. The 
amounts of adjustments to net income (loss) are tax 
effected using a federal statutory tax rate of 35%.

impairment 

Net  operating  income  (loss)  per  diluted  share  is 
calculated by dividing (i) net operating income (loss) 
adjusted  for  interest  expense  on  convertible  debt, 
share dilution from convertible debt, and the impact 
of 
arrangements 
consistent  with  the  accounting  standard  regarding 
earnings per share, whenever the impact is dilutive, 
by  (ii)  diluted  weighted  average  common  shares 
outstanding. 

compensation 

stock-based 

Although  pretax  operating  income  (loss)  and  net 
operating income  (loss)  exclude  certain  items  that 
have occurred in the past and are expected to occur 
in the future, the excluded items represent items that 
are:  (1)  not  viewed  as  part  of  the  operating 
performance of our primary activities; or (2) impacted 
by both discretionary and other economic factors and 
are not necessarily indicative of operating trends, or 
both. These adjustments, along with the reasons for 
treatment,  are  described  below.  Other 
their 
companies  may 
these  measures 
calculate 
differently.  Therefore,  their  measures  may  not  be 
comparable to those used by us. 

(1)  Net  realized  investment  gains  (losses).  The 
recognition of net realized investment gains or 
losses can vary significantly across periods as 
the timing of individual securities sales is highly 
discretionary and is influenced by such factors 
as  market  opportunities,  our  tax  and  capital 
profile, and overall market cycles.

Trends  in  the  profitability  of  our  fundamental 
operating activities can be more clearly identified 
without  the  fluctuations  of  these  realized 
investment gains and losses. 

(2)  Gains and losses on debt extinguishment. Gains 
and losses on debt extinguishment result from 
discretionary  activities  that  are  undertaken  to 
enhance our capital position, improve our debt 
profile, and/or reduce potential dilution from our 
outstanding convertible debt. 

(3)  Net  impairment  losses  recognized  in  earnings. 
The  recognition  of  net  impairment  losses  on 
investments  can  vary  significantly  in  both  size 
and timing, depending on market credit cycles, 
individual 
issuer  performance,  and  general 
economic conditions. 

(4)  Deferred  tax  asset  valuation  allowance.  The 
recognition, or reversal, of a valuation allowance 
against  deferred  tax  assets 
is  subject  to 
significant  management  judgment  and  such 
recognition or reversal may significantly impact 
the  discrete  accounting  period  in  which  it  is 
recorded.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 15

 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Reconciliation of Income before tax to pretax operating income and calculation of Net operating income

(In thousands)

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

Income before tax per Statement of Operations

$

514,714

$

487,687

$

254,723

Adjustments:

Net realized investment gains

Loss on debt extinguishment

Pretax operating income

Income taxes:

Provision for income taxes (1)

Net operating income

(8,932)

90,531

596,313

(28,361)

507

459,833

(1,357)

837

254,203

200,757

153,748

91,425

$

395,556

$

306,085

$

162,778

(1) Income before tax within operating income is tax effected at our effective tax rate. The effective tax rate for the years December 
31, 2015 and 2014 exclude the effects of the change in our valuation allowance. Adjustments are tax effected at the federal 
statutory rate of 35%.

Reconciliation of Net income to Net operating income

(In thousands)

Net income

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

$

342,517

$

1,172,000

$

251,949

Effect of change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance

—

(847,810)

(88,833)

Adjustments, net of tax(1):

Net realized investment gains

Loss on debt extinguishment

Net operating income

(1) Adjustments are tax effected at the federal statutory rate of 35%.

(5,806)

58,845

(18,435)

330

(882)

544

$

395,556

$

306,085

$

162,778

Reconciliation of Net operating income per diluted share to Net income per diluted share

Net income per diluted share
Effect of change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance (1)

Net realized investment gains

Loss on debt extinguishment

Net operating income per diluted share

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

$

$

0.86

$

2.60

$

—

(0.01)

0.14

(1.81)

(0.04)

—

0.64

(0.21)

—

—

0.99

$

0.75

$

0.43

(1) The change in our deferred tax asset valuation allowance includes a $686.7 million reduction to our tax provision for amounts 

to be realized in future periods, or $1.47 per diluted share. 

16 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Mortgage Insurance Portfolio

MORTGAGE  ORIGINATIONS  GREW  AGAIN  IN 
2016;  FORECASTED  TO  DECLINE  IN  2017  (see 
chart 01)

lower 

in  2017 

In  2016,  the  primary  mortgage  insurance  market 
grew, driven by a larger mortgage origination market 
as solid housing fundamentals, such as household 
formations, an improved employment environment, 
and  low  interest  rates  supported  housing  activity. 
Mortgage  origination  estimates  indicate  that  both 
purchase  and  refinance  volume  increased  in  2016 
compared to the prior year. The expected decline in 
is  based  upon 
mortgage  originations 
significantly 
refinancing  originations  as 
mortgage  interest  rates  are  anticipated  to  trend 
higher. Generally, the purchase origination market has 
a greater impact on the PMI industry as historically 
the industry's share is 3-4 times higher for purchase 
originations  than  refinancing  originations.  While  a 
smaller mortgage origination market is expected to 
result in lower NIW for the overall PMI industry in 2017 
recent industry consolidation is expected to result in 
lenders allocating NIW away from combining insurers 
to other private mortgage insurers. Competition from 
government  mortgage 
programs, 
discussed  below,  will  also  continue  to  impact  the 
market  share  of  PMI.  In  consideration  of  these 
factors, our 2017 NIW is expected to be comparable 
to that of 2016.

insurance 

01 MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS IN BILLIONS

Management's Discussion and Analysis

ESTIMATED TOTAL OF PMI, FHA, and VA 
PRIMARY MORTGAGE INSURANCE IN BILLIONS

Primary mortgage insurance

2016

$744

2015

$628

2014

$438

Source: Inside Mortgage Finance - February 16, 2017 (excluding 
USDA insured amounts), or SEC filings. Includes HARP NIW.

THE  MORTGAGE 
REMAINS INTENSELY COMPETITIVE
(see tables 02 and 03)

INSURANCE 

INDUSTRY 

team 

pricing, 

financial 

strength, 

including 

We  compete  against  five  other  private  mortgage 
insurers, as well as government mortgage insurance 
programs such as the FHA and VA. There are various 
ways  in  which  we  compete  with  other  mortgage 
underwriting 
insurers, 
requirements, 
customer 
relationships,  reputation,  and  the  strength  of  our 
management 
field  organization. 
and 
Competition  in  2016  primarily  centered  on  pricing 
practices in the market and included: (i) reductions in 
standard  filed  rates  on  BPMI  policies,  (ii)  use  by 
certain  competitors  of  a  spectrum  of  filed  rates to 
allow  for  formulaic,  risk-based  pricing  (commonly 
referred  to  as  "black-box"  pricing);  and  (iii)  use  of 
customized rates (discounted from published rates) 
on  LPMI  single  premium  policies.  These  pricing 
practices were driven by both the implementation of 
PMIERs  at  the  end  of  2015,  as  well  as  industry 
competition to maintain or grow market share. The 
result  of 
in  which  we 
participated, generally decreased filed premium rates 
on higher-FICO score loans and increased rates on 
lower-FICO  score  loans.  We  also  continue  to  use 
authority  set  forth  in  our  rate  filings  to  provide 
customized LPMI single premium policy rates on a 
selective basis. We believe our current rates allow us 
to  compete  effectively  across  many  FICO  scores; 
however 
that  pricing 
competition  will  not  intensify  further,  which  could 
result in a decrease in our NIW and/or product-based 
returns. 

the  pricing  changes, 

is  no  guarantee 

there 

Purchase originations

Refinance originations

Source:  GSEs  and  MBA  estimates/forecasts  as  of  January 
2017. Amounts represent the average of all sources.

The FHA offers fixed premium rates across all FICO 
scores and often has lower monthly premium rates 
across  lower  FICO  business,  which  are  effectively 
cross-subsidized  by  higher-FICO  score  premium 
rates.  As  a  result,  we  have  seen,  and  expect  to 
continue to see some lenders utilize FHA insurance 
for  the  lower-FICO  score  business  for  which  we 
compete. However, not all lower-FICO score business 
is  migrating  to  the  FHA  because  PMI  may  be 
cancelable when FHA insurance is not, lenders value 
our customer service, PMI continues to be an efficient 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 17

Management's Discussion and Analysis

and  cost-effective  alternative  to  the  FHA  for  many 
borrowers, and some lenders perceive greater legal 
risks under FHA versus GSE programs. Any reduction 
in  premium  rates  by  the  FHA  that  create  a  larger 
payment differential than at present could result in 
more business utilizing FHA mortgage insurance.

Even  though  the  PMI  industry's  pricing  changes 
raised premiums on lower-FICO score loans, the PMI 
industry captured a greater share of the total PMI and 
government insured volume in 2016. The increase in 
PMI  share  was  due  in  part  to  new  97%  LTV loan 
offerings from lenders that securitize loans with the 
GSEs, which provided an alternative to similar FHA 
loan  programs  for  qualified  borrowers,  and  some 
lenders are shifting business away from the FHA due 
to perceived legal risks.

While our market share in 2016 declined from 2015 
levels due to the overall competitive environment, we 
believe  the  decline  is  principally  attributable  to  our 
maintaining  greater  pricing  discipline  than  certain 
competitors in LPMI single premium policies. We plan 
to continue  to focus  on  writing  new  insurance that 
meets our risk-adjusted return thresholds across the 
spectrum  of  loans  we  insure  and  provide  market-
leading customer service. Our market share in 2017 
will  again  primarily  be  influenced  by  competitive 
pricing  practices,  but 
is  also  expected  to  be 
influenced  by  customer  service,  and  changes  in 
ownership  of  our  competitors  as  lenders  prefer  to 
allocate  business  across  a  spectrum  of  mortgage 
insurers, with limitations on amounts allocated to any 
individual mortgage insurer.

02 ESTIMATED PRIMARY MI MARKET SHARE

% OF TOTAL PRIMARY MI VOLUME

INSURANCE  WRITTEN 

NEW 
INCREASED 
11%  WITH  STRONG  UNDERLYING  CREDIT 
CHARACTERISTICS
For the full-year 2016, NIW was higher than our initial 
expectations  due  to  a  stronger  than  expected 
mortgage origination market. From our perspective, 
the  2016  NIW  has  strong  underlying  credit 
characteristics  as 
lenders  maintained  high 
underwriting standards and our pricing is competitive 
for higher-FICO score business (see tables 04 and 05). 
Our mix between policy payment types was relatively 
stable from the prior year, and we maintained a high 
mix of monthly premium business, which is almost 
exclusively  BPMI  (see  table  06).  Refinances  were  a 
larger percentage of our NIW in 2016 (see table 07)
driven by a significant increase in refinancing activity 
in the second half of 2016 as average interest rates 
on 30-year fixed rate loans fell to multi-year lows in 
the  third  quarter  following  Britain's vote  to  exit  the 
European  Union.  Across  the  spectrum  of  loan-to-
value  ratios,  we  had  a  greater  increase  in  the 
percentage of NIW from LTVs 95.01 and above, which 
was largely a function of new 97% LTV loan programs 
offered by lenders and a shift by lenders from the FHA 
to PMI. The percentage of NIW from LTVs 80.01% to 
85%  also  increased  for  a  number  of  reasons:  our 
lowering  of  premiums  in  this  LTV segment  and  for 
borrowers  with  higher  FICO  scores,  and  a  higher 
amount  of  refinancing  originations  by  borrowers 
whose home values increased but still were required 
to have PMI.

04 PRIMARY NIW BY FICO SCORE IN BILLIONS

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

740 and greater

$

28.3

$

PMI

FHA

VA

2016

36.3%

36.4%

27.3%

2015

35.0%

40.4%

24.6%

2014

40.7%

33.9%

25.4%

700 - 739

660 - 699

659 and less

Total

12.2

5.9

1.5

24.8

10.8

5.8

1.6

$

18.8

8.6

4.8

1.2

$

47.9

$

43.0

$

33.4

Source: Inside Mortgage Finance - February 16, 2017 (excluding 
USDA insured amounts). Includes HARP NIW.

05 LOAN-TO-VALUE % OF PRIMARY NIW

03 ESTIMATED MGIC MARKET SHARE

% OF TOTAL PRIMARY PRIVATE MI VOLUME

MGIC

2016

17.8%

2015

19.9%

2014

19.8%

Source: Inside Mortgage  Finance - February 16, 2017 or SEC 
filings. Excludes HARP NIW.

95.01% and above

90.01% to 95.00%

85.01% to 90.00%

80.01% to 85%

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

5.8%

47.8%

31.7%

14.7%

4.4%

50.1%

33.1%

12.4%

1.8%

55.5%

31.5%

11.2%

18 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

06 POLICY PAYMENT TYPE % OF PRIMARY NIW

08 INSURANCE AND RISK IN FORCE

IN BILLIONS

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Monthly premiums

Single premiums

Annual Premiums

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

80.6%

19.1%

0.3%

79.3%

20.4%

0.3%

84.8%

14.9%

0.3%

07 TYPE OF MORTGAGE % OF PRIMARY NIW

Purchases

Refinances

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

80.4%

19.6%

81.3%

18.7%

86.6%

13.4%

IIF INCREASED 4% TO $182B; RIF INCREASED 4% 
TO $47.2B (see table 08)
The  amount  of  our  IIF  and  RIF  is  impacted  by  the 
amount  of  NIW  and  cancellations  of  primary  IIF 
during the year. Although we wrote $47.9 billion of 
new insurance in 2016, we experienced an increasing 
level of cancellation volume, which hindered our IIF 
growth  from  the  prior  year. Cancellation  activity  is 
primarily  due  to  refinancing  activity,  but  is  also 
impacted by rescissions, cancellations due to claim 
payment,  and  policies  cancelled  when  borrowers 
achieve  the  required  amount  of  home  equity. 
Refinancing activity has historically been affected by 
the level of mortgage interest rates and the level of 
home  price  appreciation.  Cancellations  generally 
move  inversely  to  the  change  in  the  direction  of 
interest rates, although they generally lag a change in 
direction.

Persistency
Our  persistency  at  December 31,  2016  was  76.9% 
compared  to  79.7%  at  December 31,  2015.  Since 
2000, our year-end persistency ranged from a high of 
84.7%  at  December  31,  2009  to  a  low  of  47.1%  at 
December  31,  2003.  We  expect  our  persistency  to 
trend higher during 2017 from the level experienced 
at  the  end  of  2016  because  interest  rates  are 
forecasted to increase during 2017.

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

NIW

$

47.9

$

43.0

$

33.4

Cancellations

(40.4)

(33.4)

(27.2)

Increase in primary
IIF

Direct primary IIF as
of December 31,

Direct primary RIF as
of December 31,

$

7.5

$

9.6

$

6.2

$ 182.0

$

174.5

$

164.9

$

47.2

$

45.5

$

42.9

CREDIT  PROFILE  OF  OUR  PRIMARY  RIF  IS 
IMPROVING (see table 09)
The proportion of our total primary RIF written after 
2008 has been steadily increasing in proportion to our 
total primary RIF. Our 2009 and later books possess 
significantly  improved  credit  characteristics  when 
compared  to  our  2005-2008  origination  years.  The 
loans we insured beginning in 2009, on average, have 
substantially higher FICO scores and lower LTVs than 
those insured in 2005-2008. The credit profile of our 
RIF has also benefited from programs such as HARP. 
HARP allows borrowers who are not delinquent, but 
who  may  not  otherwise  be  able  to  refinance  their 
loans under the current GSE underwriting standards 
due to, for example, the current LTV exceeding 100%, 
to  refinance  and  lower  their  note  rate.  Loans 
associated  with  97.5%  of  all  of  our  HARP 
modifications  were  current  as  of  December 31, 
2016. The following chart shows the composition of 
our primary RIF as of December 31, 2016. As shown 
in the chart  below, the aggregate of our 2009-2016 
books  and  our  HARP  modifications  accounted  for 
approximately  81%  of  our 
total  primary  RIF 
at December 31, 2016.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 19

reasons, 

POOL AND OTHER INSURANCE
MGIC has written no new pool insurance since 2009, 
however,  for  a  variety  of 
including 
responding to capital market alternatives to private 
mortgage insurance and customer demands, MGIC 
may write pool risk in the future. Our direct pool RIF 
was $547 million ($244 million on pool policies with 
limits  and $303  million on  pool 
aggregate  loss 
policies  without  aggregate 
limits)  at 
loss 
December 31, 2016 compared to $659 million ($271 
million on pool policies with aggregate loss limits and 
$388 million on pool policies without aggregate loss 
limits)  at December 31,  2015.  If  claim  payments 
associated with a specific pool reach the aggregate 
loss limit, the remaining IIF within the pool would be 
cancelled and any remaining defaults under the pool 
would be removed from our default inventory.

In  the  second  half  of  2016  we  participated  in  GSE 
credit risk transfer transactions through an affiliate 
of MGIC. Each GSE launched a new credit risk transfer 
offering that involved credit insurance policies with a 
pool  structure  that  primarily  covered  loans  to  be 
delivered to the GSE in the future. The policies provide 
additional  coverage  beyond  primary  mortgage 
insurance  on  30-year  fixed-rate  mortgages  with 
80.01-95% LTVs. These transactions were immaterial 
to our financial statements in 2016 and given the risk 
insured  will  remain  immaterial  to  our  financial 
statements in future periods. Future participation in 
GSE credit risk transfer transactions will need to be 
evaluated  based  upon  the  terms  offered  and 
expected returns.

Management's Discussion and Analysis

09 PRIMARY RISK IN FORCE IN BILLIONS

December 31,
2016

December 31,
2015

December 31,
2014

RIF

% of
RIF

RIF

% of 
RIF

RIF

% of 
RIF

$33,368

71% $28,339

62% $22,590

53%

4,489

9%

5,237

12%

5,758

13%

396

1%

509

1%

591

1%

2009+

2005 -
2008
(HARP)

Other
years
(HARP)

Subtotal

38,253

81% 34,085

75% 28,939

67%

1,475

3%

1,933

4%

2,488

6%

Other
years
(Non-
HARP)

2005-
2008
(Non-
HARP)

7,467

16%

9,444

21% 11,520

Subtotal

8,942

19% 11,377

25% 14,008

27%

33%

Total
Primary
RIF

$47,195 100% $45,462 100% $42,947 100%

20 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Consolidated Results of Operations

Management's Discussion and Analysis

The  following  section  of  the  MD&A  provides  a 
comparative discussion of our Consolidated Results 
of  Operations  for  the  three-year  period  ended 
December 31,  2016.  For  a  discussion  of  the  Critical 
Accounting  Policies  used  by  us  that  affect  the 
Consolidated  Results  of  Operations,  see  "Critical 
Accounting Policies" below.

Revenues

Year Ended December 31,

(In millions)

2016

2015

2014

Net premiums written

$ 975.1

$ 1,020.3

$ 882.0

Net premiums earned

$ 925.2

$ 896.2

$ 844.4

Investment income, net
of expenses

Net realized investment
gains

Other revenue

110.7

103.7

87.6

8.9

17.7

28.4

13.0

1.4

9.3

Total revenues

$1,062.5

$ 1,041.3

$ 942.6

transaction.  As  part  of 

NPE INCREASED 3.2% IN 2016 AND 6.1% IN 2015
2016  compared  to 2015.  NPW  declined  4.4%  from 
the  prior  year,  primarily  because  ceded  premiums 
were lower in 2015 due to the commutation of our 
2013 QSR Transaction in the third quarter, which was 
a  non-recurring 
the 
commutation,  unearned  ceded  premiums  were 
remitted  back  to  us  from  the  reinsurers,  and  we 
returned the related ceding commissions, which had 
the  effect  of  increasing  our  profit  commission. 
Partially offsetting the higher 2016 ceded premiums 
was an increase in new  business premiums in 2016 
and a reduction in premium refunds, and our related 
accrual, due to lower claim activity. 

NPE  increased  3.2%  from  the  prior  year  reflecting 
higher  earned  premiums  from  single  premium 
policies  and  lower  premium  refunds  and  accruals. 
The increase in earned premiums on single premium 
policies  was  driven  by  refinance  activity  as  single 
premium policies are generally non-refundable. The 
decrease  in  premium  refund  accruals  was  due  to 
lower  claim  activity. The  increase  in  net  premiums 
earned was offset in part by the effects of our 2013 
in  2015,  which 
QSR  Transaction  commutation 
resulted  in  a  non-recurring  increase  in  our  profit 
commission. See "Overview –  Factors Affecting Our 
Results"  above  for  additional  factors  that  also 
influence  the  amount  of  net  premiums  written  and 
earned in a year.

2015 compared to 2014. NPW increased 15.7% from 
the prior year. The increase reflects higher premiums 

refund  accruals. 

from  new  business,  as  well  as  a  reduction  to  our 
In  addition,  ceded 
premium 
the 
premiums  were 
commutation of our 2013 QSR Transaction in the third 
quarter. 

in  2015  due 

lower 

to 

NPE  increased  6.1%  from  the  prior  year  reflecting 
higher  profit  commission  and  higher  earned 
premiums  on  single  premium  policies.  The  higher 
profit commission was the result of the 2015 return 
of ceding commissions to reinsurers as part of the 
commutation  of  our  2013  QSR  Transaction.  The 
increase in  earned  premiums from single  premium 
policies  was  driven  by  refinance activity  as  singles 
are generally non-refundable. 

Premium Yield (see table 10)
Premium  yield  decreased  to  51.9  basis  points  for 
2016 (2015: 52.8, 2014: 52.2)

The amount of premiums earned from our average 
IIF during the year is important to understanding our 
consolidated results of operations and is influenced 
by a number of key drivers, which are described below. 
The impact each driver has from period to period will 
vary.

Change in premium rates
Changing  premium  rates  have  decreased  our 
premium yield in 2016 primarily due to the following 
factors.

•   The books we wrote in 2009 and after were 72% of 
our IIF as of December 31, 2016, compared to 64% 
as of December 31, 2015 and these book years have 
a lower average premium rate than prior books due 
to  several 
risk 
characteristics.

including, 

factors, 

lower 

•   The  monthly  premium  program  used  for  the 
substantial majority of loans we insured provides 
for a set premium rate for the first ten years of the 
policy  and  a  lower  premium  rate  thereafter. The 
initial  ten-year  period  is  reset  when  the  loan  is 
refinanced under HARP.

As of December 31, 2016 approximately 4% and 
2% of our total primary IIF was written in 2007 
and 2008; respectively, was not refinanced under 
HARP and is subject to reset after ten years. 

Change  in  premium  refunds  and  premium  refund 
accruals (excluding most single premium policies)

•   Premium 

refunds  upon  claim  payment  or 
rescission decrease our premium yield. Generally, 
the level of premiums we refund and our premium 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 21

commutation of our 2013 QSR Transaction in 2015 
that resulted in a non-recurring increase in our profit 
commission  and  in  turn  reduced  ceded  premiums. 
These reductions were partially negated by a lower 
amount of premium refunds and a higher amount of 
earned premiums from single premium policies due 
to refinancings.

2015 compared to 2014. Our 2015 full-year premium 
yield increased when compared to full-year 2014 (see 
table 10). As shown in the chart the increase in our 
premium  yield  was  due  to  lower  premium  refunds, 
higher  earned  premiums  from  single  premium 
policies  due  to  refinancings,  and  a  less  adverse 
impact from reinsurance due to the commutation of 
our 2013 QSR Transaction in 2015. These increases 
were offset in part by a lower average premium rate 
on the 2015 average IIF.

10

PREMIUM YIELD IN BASIS POINTS

2016

2015

Prior year premium yield

52.8

52.2

Reconciliation:

change in premium rates

(3.0)

(2.9)

change in premium refunds and
accruals

single premium policy persistency

reinsurance

End of year premium yield

2.6

1.0

(1.5)

51.9

2.2

0.7

0.6

52.8

Management's Discussion and Analysis

refund  accrual  are  highly  variable  from  period  to 
period. 

•   When a policy is cancelled for a reason other than 
rescission  or  claim  payment,  all  premium  that  is 
non-refundable  is  immediately  earned  and  any 
refundable premium from the cancellation date is 
returned  to  the  servicer  or  borrower.  Non-
refundable  premium  is  primarily  associated  with 
our single premium policies, which are discussed 
below. 

When  a  policy 
is  rescinded,  all  previously 
collected  premium  is  returned  to  the  servicer. 
When a policy is cancelled due to claim payment, 
we return any premium received since the date 
of default.

Single premium policy persistency

•   The  recent  decrease  in  single  premium  policy 
persistency has increased our premium yield, with 
an  increasing  impact  in  recent  periods  as  single 
premium policies have become a larger portion of 
our IIF and mortgage interest rates have remained 
low resulting in greater cancellations of policies. 

•   Generally, the premium on a single premium policy 
is not refundable and is earned over the estimated 
policy life. Therefore, if persistency is less than was 
assumed when the policy was written, the effective 
premium yield will increase. 

Reinsurance
•   The use of reinsurance lowers our premium yield, 
however the magnitude of the impact varies from 
period 
following 
considerations.

to  period  due 

the 

to 

The 2015 QSR Transaction increased the amount 
of our IIF covered by reinsurance and results in 
an  increase  in  the  amount  of  premiums  and 
losses  ceded.  We  cede  30%  of  earned  and 
received  premiums  and  losses  incurred.  The 
premiums  we  cede  are  reduced  by  a  profit 
commission, which primarily varies by the level 
of losses we cede.

Our  reinsurance  affects  premiums,  underwriting 
expenses and losses incurred and should be analyzed 
by  reviewing  its  total  effect  on  our  statements  of 
operations, as discussed below under “Reinsurance 
agreements.”

2016 compared to 2015. Our 2016 full-year premium 
yield declined when compared to full-year 2015 (see 
table  10).  As  shown  in  the  chart  the  decline  in  our 
premium yield was primarily due to a lower average 
premium rate on the 2016 average IIF. Our reinsurance 
reduced  our  premium  yield  an  additional  1.5  basis 
points  from  2015,  which  was  in  part  due  the 

22 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Reinsurance agreements

Our quota share reinsurance affects various lines of 
our  statements  of  operations  and  therefore  we 
believe it should be analyzed by reviewing its effect 
on our pre-tax net income, as described below.

•   We cede a fixed percentage of premiums earned 
insurance  covered  by  the 

and  received  on 
agreement.

•   We  receive  the  benefit  of  a  profit  commission 
through a reduction in the premiums we cede. The 
profit commission varies directly and inversely with 
the level of losses on a "dollar for dollar" basis and 
is  eliminated  at  levels  of  losses  that  we  do  not 
expect  to  occur. This  means  that  lower  levels  of 
losses result in a higher profit commission and less 
benefit from ceded losses; higher levels of losses 
result  in  more  benefit  from  ceded  losses  and  a 
lower profit commission (or for levels of losses we 
do not expect, its elimination).

•   We  receive  the  benefit  of  a  ceding  commission 
through a reduction in underwriting expenses equal 
to 20% of premiums ceded (before the effect of the 
profit commission).

•   We cede a fixed percentage of losses incurred on 

insurance covered by the agreement. 

The effects described above result in a net cost of the 
reinsurance, with respect to a covered loan, of 6% (but 
can be lower if losses are materially higher than we 
expect). This cost is derived by dividing the reduction 
in  our  pre-tax  net  income  from  such  loans  with 
reinsurance by our direct (that is, without reinsurance) 
premiums from such loans. Although the net cost of 
the reinsurance is generally constant at 6%, the effect 
of the reinsurance on the various components of pre-
tax income discussed above will vary from period to 
period,  depending  on  the  level  of  ceded  losses.  
Because more of our IIF is covered under the 2015 
QSR  Transaction  than  was  covered  under  the 
commuted 2013 QSR Transaction, the absolute dollar 
cost of the 2015 QSR Transaction will be higher than 
the cost of the 2013 QSR Transaction. Although the 
use of reinsurance reduces our pre-tax net income, 
we  receive  credit  under  the  PMIERs  for  risk  ceded 
under our 2015 QSR Transaction, which mitigates the 
negative effect of the PMIERs on our returns. 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

The following table provides additional information 
related to our premiums written and earned and RIF 
subject  to  reinsurance agreements  for  2016,  2015, 
and 2014.

(Dollars in
thousands)

NIW subject to
quota share
reinsurance
agreements

IIF subject to quota
share reinsurance
agreements

IIF subject to
captive reinsurance
agreements

As of and For the Years Ended December
31,

2016

2015

2014

89%

91 %

90%

76%

73 %

56%

2%

3 %

5%

2015 QSR Transaction (1)

Ceded premiums
written, net of profit
commission

% of direct
premiums written

Ceded premiums
earned, net of profit
commission

% of direct
premiums earned

Ceding
commissions

Ceded RIF

$

125,460

$

52,588

11%

5 %

$

125,460

$

52,588

12%

5 %

$

47,629

$

20,582

$10,763,637

$9,886,952

2013 QSR Transaction (1)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Ceded premiums
written, net of profit
commission

% of direct
premiums written

Ceded premiums
earned, net of profit
commission

% of direct
premiums earned

Ceding
commissions

Ceded RIF

Captives

Ceded premiums
written

% of direct
premiums written

Ceded premiums
earned

% of direct
premiums earned

n/a

$ (11,355)

$ 100,031

n/a

(1)%

10%

n/a

$

35,999

$

88,528

n/a

n/a

n/a

$

$

4 %

9%

10,234

$

37,833

—

$8,229,173

$

$

7,987

$

13,547

$

18,794

1.0%

1.3 %

1.9%

8,090

$

13,650

$

18,917

1.0%

1.4 %

2.0%

(1)  As discussed in Note 9 - "Reinsurance" to our consolidated financial 
statements, the 2013 QSR Transaction was commuted on July 1, 2015 
and replaced with our 2015 QSR Transaction, which increased the IIF 
and corresponding RIF covered by reinsurance. Premiums are ceded 
on an earned and received basis under the 2015 QSR Transaction. 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 23

Management's Discussion and Analysis

INVESTMENT INCOME INCREASED IN 2016 AND 
INVESTMENT  YIELDS 
2015  AS  AVERAGE 
INCREASED (see chart 11)

The  net  unrealized  (losses)  gains  position  of  our 
investment portfolio  (see chart  12) as of December 
31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 is as follows. 

2016  compared  to  2015.  Net  investment  income 
increased 6.7% to $111 million in 2016 compared to 
$104  million  in  2015.    The  increase  in  investment 
income was due to higher average investment yields, 
as  well  as  a  higher  average  investment  portfolio 
balance.

2015  compared  to  2014.  Net  investment  income 
increased  18.4%  to  $104M  in  2015  compared  to 
$88M in 2014.  The increase in investment income 
was due to higher average investment yields.

See "Balance Sheet Analysis" in this MD&A for further 
discussion regarding our investment portfolio.

11 PORTFOLIO DURATION IN YEARS

INVESTMENT YIELD % OF AVERAGE 
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO ASSETS

NET  REALIZED  INVESTMENT  GAINS  LOWER  IN 
2016;  2015  GAINS  REFLECT  OPPORTUNISTIC 
SALES ACTIVITY
Net realized gains were $9 million in 2016 compared 
to $28 million in 2015 and $1M in 2014. Net realized 
gains  in  2015  were  primarily  taken  from  our  fixed 
income portfolio as we sold securities to realize gains 
under favorable market conditions.

12 NET UNREALIZED INVESTMENT (LOSSES) 

GAINS IN MILLIONS

The  net  unrealized  losses  (gains)  position  of  our 
investments  as  of  December 31,  2016,  2015,  2014
was  primarily  caused  by  changes  in  interest  rates 
between the time of purchase and the respective year 
end.  See  Note  5  -  "Investments"  for  additional 
information on our investment portfolio.

OTHER  REVENUE 
IN  2016  ON 
FOREIGN  CURRENCY  GAINS  AND  2015  ON 
CONTRACT UNDERWRITING ACTIVITY

INCREASED 

2016 compared to 2015. Other revenue increased to 
$18M in 2016 from $13M in 2015, primarily due to the 
substantial  liquidation  of  our  Australian operations 
for which we recognized approximately $4 million of 
gains  related  to  changes 
in  foreign  currency 
exchange  rates  in  the  first  quarter  of  2016.  Other 
revenue also  increased  compared  to  the  prior  year 
due  to  an  increase  in  contract  underwriting  fees 
attributable to higher mortgage origination volumes.

2015 compared to 2014. Other revenue increased to 
$13M in 2015 from $9 million in 2014 primarily due 
to  an  increase  in  our  contract  underwriting  fees 
attributable to higher mortgage origination volumes.

24 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Losses and expenses

(In millions)

2016

2015

2014

Year Ended December 31,

Losses incurred, net

$ 240.2

$ 343.5

$ 496.1

Change in premium
deficiency reserve

Amortization of deferred
policy acquisition costs

Other underwriting and
operating expenses, net

Interest expense

Loss on debt
extinguishment

Total losses and
expenses

—

(23.8)

(24.7)

9.6

8.8

7.6

150.8

56.7

155.6

68.9

138.4

69.6

90.5

0.5

0.8

$ 547.8

$ 553.6

$ 687.9

LOSSES 
INCURRED,  NET  CONTINUED  TO 
DECLINE  AS  CREDIT  QUALITY  CONTINUED  TO 
IMPROVE

and 

“default” 

As  discussed  in  “Critical  Accounting  Policies” 
below and consistent with industry practices, we 
establish loss reserves for future claims only for 
loans  that  are  currently  delinquent.  The  terms 
“delinquent” 
used 
interchangeably  by  us.  We  consider  a  loan  in 
default when it is two or more payments past due. 
Loss reserves are established based on estimating 
the number of loans in our default inventory that 
will result in a claim payment, which is referred to 
as  the  claim  rate,  and  further  estimating  the 
amount of the claim payment, which is referred to 
as claim severity. 

are 

factors, 

Estimation of losses is inherently judgmental. The 
conditions  that  affect  the  claim  rate  and  claim 
severity include the current and future state of the 
domestic economy, including unemployment and 
the  current  and  future  strength  of  local  housing 
markets. The actual amount of the claim payments 
may be substantially different than our loss reserve 
estimates.  Our  estimates  could  be  adversely 
affected  by  several 
including  a 
deterioration  of  regional  or  national  economic 
conditions, including unemployment, leading to a 
reduction in borrower income and thus their ability 
to make mortgage payments, and a drop in housing 
values,  that  could  result  in,  among  other  things, 
greater losses on loans, and may affect borrower 
willingness  to  continue  to  make  mortgage 
payments when the value of the home is below the 
mortgage balance. Historically, losses incurred have 
followed a seasonal trend in which the second half of 
the year has weaker credit performance than the first 
half, with higher new notice activity and a lower cure 
rate.  Our  estimates  are  also  affected  by  any 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

agreements  we  enter  into  regarding  our  claims 
the  settlement 
paying  practices,  such  as 
agreements discussed in Note 17 –  “Litigation and 
Contingencies”  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements. Changes to our estimates could result 
in a material impact to our consolidated results of 
operations and  capital  position,  even  in  a  stable 
economic environment.

Losses incurred, net

2016  compared  to  2015.  Losses  incurred,  net 
decreased  30%  to  $240  million  compared  to  $344 
million in 2015. The decrease was primarily due to a 
decrease  in  losses  and  LAE  incurred  in  respect  to 
defaults  reported  in  the  current  year  and  favorable 
development on defaults that occurred in prior years. 
Current year losses declined due to a 9% reduction in 
new notices received and a lower claim rate applied 
to  the  new  notices.  The  claim  rate  applied  to  new 
notices in each quarter of 2016 and 2015 generally 
ranged from 12% to 13% with the full-year 2016 claim 
rate on new notices declining by approximately 0.5 
percentage  points  compared  to  the  full-year  2015 
claim  rate.  Favorable  development  on  prior  year 
defaults occurred in 2016 and 2015 due to a lower 
claim rate on previously reported defaults. In 2015, 
the  amount  of  development  was  also  favorably 
impacted  by  $21  million  due  to  re-estimation  of 
previously recorded reserves related to disputes on 
our claims paying practices and IBNR. The favorable 
development recognized in both 2016 and 2015 due 
to  lower  claim  rates  on  prior  year  defaults  was 
partially offset by increases in our expected severity 
assumption on prior year defaults. The increases in 
our  severity  assumption  reflected  a  rising  trend, 
following periods of relative stability, in our average 
claim  paid,  expressed  as  a  percentage  of  our 
exposure  (the  unpaid  principal  balance  of  the  loan 
times our insurance coverage percentage), from the 
first quarter of 2015 through the first quarter of 2016 
(see table 17). Our loss reserves estimates take into 
consideration 
the 
development  of  the  delinquencies  may  vary  from 
period  to  period  without  establishing  a  meaningful 
trend.

time,  because 

trends  over 

2015  compared  to  2014.  Losses  incurred,  net 
decreased  31%  to  $344  million  compared  to  $496 
million in 2014. The decrease was primarily due to a 
decrease  in  losses  and  LAE  incurred  in  respect  to 
defaults reported in 2015 and favorable development 
on  defaults  that  occurred  in  prior  years.  The  2015 
current year losses declined due to a 16% reduction 
in new notices received and a lower claim rate applied 
to  the  new  notices.  The  claim  rate  applied  to  new 
notices in each quarter of 2015 and 2014 generally 
ranged from 12% to 16%, with the full-year 2015 claim 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 25

Management's Discussion and Analysis

rate  on  new  notices  declining  by  approximately  2 
percentage  points  compared  to  the  full-year  2014 
claim rate. The claim rate declined due to improved 
housing  and  economic  conditions.  The  favorable 
development recognized in 2015 resulting from lower 
claim rates on prior year defaults was partially offset 
by increases in our expected severity assumption on 
prior  year's  defaults.  The  increases  in  our  severity 
assumption reflected a rising trend, following periods 
of  relative  stability,  in  our  average  paid  claim 
expressed  as  a  percentage  of  our  exposure, 
throughout 2015 (see table 17). In 2014, the favorable 
development reflected a lower claim rate and a lower 
severity assumption on prior years defaults.

13 COMPOSITION OF LOSSES INCURRED 

IN MILLIONS

Loss Ratio (see chart 14)
The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, 
of  the  sum  of  incurred  losses  and  LAE,  net  to  net 
premiums earned. The decline in the loss ratio in 2016 
when compared to 2015, and in 2015 when compared 
to 2014 was primarily due to a lower level of losses 
incurred, net. 

14 LOSS RATIO

Claim Rate (see chart 15)
Loans insured in 2008 and prior continue to represent 
a  substantial  portion  of  our  new  default  notices 
received each quarter, with many new default notices 
relating to loans  that  previously had  been  reported 
delinquent (see chart 16). For 2016, loans insured in 
2008 and prior represented approximately 87% of the 
new  notices  received  and  90%  of  those  notices 
related to loans that were previously delinquent. For 
2015,  loans  insured  in  2008  and  prior  represented 
approximately 92% of the new notices received and 
88%  of  those  notices  related  to  loans  that  were 
previously delinquent. For 2014, loans insured in 2008 
and  prior  represented  approximately  96%  of  new 
notices received and 86% of those notices related to 
loans that were previously delinquent (see chart 16). 
As a result of this cycle (in which loans default, cure, 
and re-default, along with the duration that defaults 
may  ultimately  remain  in  our  notice  inventory), 
significant  judgment  is  required in  establishing  the 
claim rate.

26 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

15 PRIMARY NEW NOTICES IN VOLUME
NEW NOTICE CLAIM RATE (1) %

17 CLAIMS SEVERITY TREND

Note: Table excludes material settlements (1).

Management's Discussion and Analysis

(1)  Claim rate is the respective full year weighted average 

rate and is rounded to nearest whole percent.

16 NEW NOTICES FROM BOOK YEARS 2008 

AND PRIOR IN VOLUME
PREVIOUSLY DELINQUENT %

Claims Severity (see table 17)
Factors  that  impact  claim  severity  include  the 
exposure on the loan, the amount of time between 
default and claim filing (which impacts the amount 
of interest and expenses) and curtailments. All else 
being  equal,  the  longer  the  period  between  default 
and claim filing, the greater the severity. The majority 
of  loans  from  2005-2008  (which  represent  the 
majority  of  loans  in  the  delinquent  inventory)  are 
covered  by  master  policy  terms  that,  except  under 
certain  circumstances,  do  not  limit  the  number  of 
years that an insured can include interest when filing 
a claim if they comply with their obligations under the 
terms of the master policy.

Average
exposure
on claim
paid

Average
claim
paid

% Paid to
exposure

Period

Q4 2016

$ 43,200

$ 48,297

Q3 2016

$ 43,747

$ 48,050

Q2 2016

Q1 2016

Q4 2015

Q3 2015

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q4 2014

Q3 2014

Q2 2014

Q1 2014

43,709

44,094

44,342

44,159

44,683

44,403

44,321

43,769

43,402

43,711

47,953

49,281

49,134

48,156

48,587

47,366

46,714

45,849

45,531

45,897

111.8%

109.8%

109.7%

111.8%

110.8%

109.1%

108.7%

106.7%

105.4%

104.8%

104.9%

105.0%

Average
number of
missed
payments
at claim
received
date

35

34

35

34

35

33

34

33

32

30

30

28

(1)              Settlements include amounts paid in settlement disputes 
for claims paying practices and NPL settlements.

See  Note  8  –  “Loss Reserves”  to  our  consolidated 
financial  statements  and 
“Critical  Accounting 
Policies”  below  for  a  discussion  of  our  losses 
incurred  and  claims  paying  practices  (including 
curtailments).

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 27

Management's Discussion and Analysis

NET  LOSSES  AND  LAE  PAID  CONTINUED  TO 
IMPROVED  ON  OUR 
DECLINE  AS  CREDIT 
PRIMARY RIF
This  section  provides  information  on  our  claim 
payment trends and exposure on our outstanding RIF 
for the three years ending December 31, 2016.

Net  losses  and  LAE  paid  decreased  16%  in  2016 
compared to 2015 driven by lower claim activity on 
our primary business as the credit profile of our RIF 
continued  to  improve  and  our  delinquent  inventory 
declined.  This 
is  a  continuation  of  the  trend 
experienced  in  2015  as  net  losses  and  LAE  paid 
decreased 28% compared to 2014. During 2016, there 
was an increase in loss payments from settlements 
of  disputes  for  claims  paying  practices  and  NPL 
settlements 
to  NPL 
settlements with the GSEs to resolve legacy defaults. 
Pool losses paid included our 2011 settlement with 
Freddie Mac; our final payment under this settlement 
was  made  on  December  1,  2016.  We  believe  paid 
claims will continue to decline in 2017.

increased,  primarily  due 

The following table presents our net losses and LAE 
paid for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 
and 2014.

Net Losses and LAE Paid

(In millions)

2016

2015

2014

Total primary (excluding 
settlements)

Claims paying practices 
and NPL settlements(1)
Pool (2)

Other

Direct losses paid

Reinsurance

Net losses paid

LAE

Net losses and LAE paid 
before terminations

Reinsurance terminations

Net losses and LAE 
paid

$ 599

$ 767

$ 1,082

53

56

(1)

707

(23)

684

20

704

(3)

10

68

5

850

(23)

827

22

849

(15)

(8)

84

1

1,159

(34)

1,125

29

1,154

—

Primary losses paid for the top 15 jurisdictions (based 
on 2016 losses paid, excluding settlement amounts) 
and  all  other  jurisdictions  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 appears in the 
following table. 

Paid Losses by Jurisdiction 

(In millions)

Florida

New Jersey

Illinois

New York

Maryland

California

Pennsylvania

Ohio

Puerto Rico

Washington

Virginia

Michigan

Massachusetts

Connecticut

Georgia

2016

2015

2014

$

85

60

43

35

29

27

26

21

17

15

15

14

14

14

13

$

154

$

256

44

60

31

45

38

33

26

14

24

16

17

15

18

19

38

91

27

49

55

42

41

16

38

18

29

12

18

29

All other jurisdictions

171

213

323

Total primary
(excluding
settlements)

$

599

$

767

$

1,082

Note: Jurisdictions in italics in the table above are those that 
predominately  use  a  judicial  foreclosure  process,  which 
generally increases the amount of time it takes for a foreclosure 
to be completed. 

The  primary  average  claim  paid  for  the  top  5 
jurisdictions (based on 2016 losses paid, excluding 
settlement amounts) for the years ended December 
31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 appears in the table below. 
The primary average claim paid  can vary materially 
from period to period based upon a variety of factors, 
including the local market conditions, average loan 
amount,  average  coverage  percentage,  and  loss 
mitigation efforts on loans for which claims are paid.

$ 701

$ 834

$ 1,154

Primary average claim paid

(1) 

(2) 

See Note 8 - "Loss Reserves" for additional information on 
our settlements of disputes for claims paying practices 
and NPL settlements.

2016,  2015  and  2014  each  include  $42  million  paid 
under the  terms  of  our  settlement  with  Freddie Mac  as 
discussed in Note 8 - "Loss Reserves" to our consolidated 
financial statements.

Florida

New Jersey

Illinois

New York

Maryland

All other jurisdictions

2016

2015

2014

$ 60,737

$ 58,709

$ 55,537

81,955

50,047

70,869

72,396

40,828

74,160

49,673

68,341

77,404

41,065

74,477

48,278

68,377

66,270

40,419

All jurisdictions

$ 48,416

$ 47,931

$ 46,039

Note: Jurisdictions in italics in the table above are those that 
predominately  use  a  judicial  foreclosure  process,  which 
generally increases the amount of time it takes for a foreclosure 
to be completed.

28 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

The  primary  average  exposure  for  the  top  5 
jurisdictions (based on 2016 losses paid, excluding 
settlement amounts) for the years ended December 
31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 appears in the table below.

Primary average exposure

Florida

New Jersey

Illinois

New York

Maryland

All other jurisdictions

2016

2015

2014

$ 49,908

$ 49,095

$ 47,487

63,351

40,696

52,006

63,812

46,481

62,496

40,368

50,964

62,912

44,887

61,484

39,888

50,042

62,630

43,301

All jurisdictions

47,276

45,820

44,332

Management's Discussion and Analysis

LOSS  RESERVES  CONTINUED  TO  DECLINE  ON 
LOWER DEFAULT INVENTORY
Our primary default rate at December 31, 2016 was 
5.04%  (2015:  6.31%,  2014:  8.25%).  Our  primary 
default inventory was 50,282 loans at December 31, 
2016, representing a decrease of 20% from 2015 and 
37% from 2014. The reduction in our primary default 
inventory is the result of the total number of defaulted 
loans:  (1)  that  have  cured;  (2)  for  which  claim 
payments have been made; or (3) that have resulted 
in rescission, claim denial, or removal from inventory 
due  to  NPL  settlements,  collectively  exceeding  the 
total  number  of  new  defaults  on  insured  loans.  In 
recent periods we have experienced improved cure 
rates and the overall mix of our default inventory, as 
represented by the number of missed payments, has 
improved  compared  to  the  prior  years.  As  of 
December  31,  2016,  the  percentage  of  our  default 
inventory that has 12 or more missed payments was 
38%  (2015:  43%,  2014:  47%).  Generally,  the  fewer 
missed payments a defaulted loan has the lower the 
likelihood it will result in a claim. The NPL settlements 
were each completed at amounts approximating the 
loss reserves previously established on the defaulted 
loans. We expect our default inventory to continue to 
decline in 2017 from 2016 levels; however, the pace 
of decline is expected to moderate as our more recent 
book years naturally season.

The primary and pool loss reserves as of December 
31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 appear in the table below.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 29

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Gross Reserves

Primary:

Direct loss reserves (in millions)

IBNR and LAE

Total primary loss reserves

Ending default inventory

Percentage of loans delinquent (default rate)

Average direct reserve per default

Primary claims received inventory included in ending
default inventory

Pool (1):

Direct loss reserves (in millions):

With aggregate loss limits

Without aggregate loss limits
Reserves related to Freddie Mac settlement (2)

Total pool direct loss reserves

Ending default inventory:

With aggregate loss limits

Without aggregate loss limits

Total pool ending default inventory

Pool claims received inventory included in ending default
inventory

2016

December 31,

2015

2014

$ 1,334

79

1,413

$ 1,681

126

1,807

$ 2,114

132

2,246

50,282

5.04%

$ 28,104

62,633

6.31%

$ 28,859

79,901

8.25%

$ 28,107

1,385

2,769

4,746

18

7

—

25

34

9

42

85

53

12

84

149

1,382

501

1,883

72

2,126

613

2,739

60

3,020

777

3,797

99

Other gross reserves (in millions)

1

1

2

(1) 

(2) 

Since a number of our pool policies include aggregate loss limits and/or deductibles, we do not disclose an average direct 
reserve per default for our pool business.

See our Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2012 for a discussion of our settlement 
with Freddie Mac regarding a pool policy. As of December 31, 2016 we had completed our obligation under this settlement 
agreement.

30 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

The  primary  default 
inventory  for  the  top  15 
jurisdictions (based on 2016 losses paid, excluding 
settlement  amounts)  at  December  31,  2016,  2015 
and 2014 appears in the table below.

Primary Default Inventory by Jurisdiction

2016

2015

2014

Florida

New Jersey

Illinois

New York

Maryland

California

Pennsylvania

Ohio

Puerto Rico

Washington

Virginia

Michigan

Massachusetts

Connecticut

Georgia

4,150

2,586

2,649

3,171

1,312

1,590

2,984

2,614

1,844

754

885

1,482

1,108

690

1,853

5,903

3,498

3,301

3,901

1,609

2,019

3,574

3,209

2,221

1,049

1,109

1,877

1,390

832

2,225

9,442

4,077

4,481

4,595

2,119

2,777

4,480

3,908

2,453

1,415

1,355

2,447

1,631

1,095

2,726

All other jurisdictions

Total

20,610

50,282

24,916

62,633

30,900

79,901

Note: Jurisdictions in italics in the table above are those that 
predominately  use  a  judicial  foreclosure  process,  which 
generally increases the amount of time it takes for a foreclosure 
to be completed.

The  primary  default  inventory  by  policy  year  at 
December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 appears in the 
table below.

Primary Default Inventory by Policy Year

2016

2015

2014

2004 and prior

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

11,116

5,826

9,267

15,816

4,140

421

222

246

364

686

1,142

814

222

14,599

7,890

11,853

20,000

5,418

515

274

246

388

615

672

163

—

19,797

10,630

15,529

25,232

6,721

648

300

260

316

335

133

—

—

Total

50,282

62,633

79,901

Our results of operations continue to be negatively 
impacted by the mortgage insurance we wrote during 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

2005  through  2008  (see  chart  18).  Although 
uncertainty  remains  with  respect  to  the  ultimate 
losses we will experience on these books of business, 
as we continue to write new insurance on mortgages, 
those books have become a smaller percentage of 
our  total  mortgage  insurance  portfolio.  Our  2005 
through  2008  books  of  business  represented 
approximately 25% and 32% of our total primary RIF 
at  December 31,  2016  and  2015,  respectively. 
Approximately 38% of the remaining primary RIF on 
our  2005-2008  books  of  business  benefited  from 
HARP as of December 31, 2016, compared to 36% as 
of December 31, 2015.

18 DEFAULT INVENTORY MIX BY BOOK YEAR 

% OF TOTAL INVENTORY

On our primary business, the highest claim frequency 
years  have  typically  been  the  third  and  fourth  year 
after the year of loan origination. However, the pattern 
of claims frequency can be affected by many factors, 
including  persistency  and  deteriorating  economic 
conditions.  Low  persistency  can  accelerate  the 
period in the life of a book during which the highest 
claim  frequency  occurs.  Deteriorating  economic 
conditions can result in increasing claims following 
a  period  of  declining  claims.  As  of  December 31, 
2016, 54% of our primary RIF was written subsequent 
to December 31, 2013, 62% of our primary RIF was 
written subsequent to December 31, 2012, and 67%
of  our  primary  RIF  was  written  subsequent  to 
December 31, 2011.

UNDERWRITING AND OTHER EXPENSES, NET AS 
A PERCENTAGE OF NPW REMAIN LOW 

includes 

2016  compared  to  2015.  Underwriting  and  other 
expenses 
items  such  as  employee 
compensation costs, fees for professional services, 
and premium taxes, and are reported net of ceding 
commissions. Underwriting and other expenses for 
2016 decreased when compared to 2015 due to an 
increase  in  ceding  commissions  from  reinsurers, 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 31

 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis

offset  by 
increases 
professional services.

in  employee  costs  and 

2015  compared  to  2014.  Underwriting  and  other 
expenses  for  2015  increased  when  compared  to 
2014. The increase was primarily due to a return of 
ceding  commissions  to  reinsurers  as  a  result  of 
commuting  our  2013  QSR  Transaction  and  an 
increase in employee costs.

Underwriting  expense  ratio  (see  chart  19).  The 
underwriting expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as 
a  percentage,  of  the  underwriting  and  operating 
expenses,  net  and  amortization  of  DAC  of  our 
combined  insurance  operations  (which  excludes 
underwriting  and  operating  expenses  of  our  non-
insurance  operations)  to  NPW. The  increase  in  the 
underwriting expense ratio in 2016 when compared 
to 2015 was primarily due to a decrease in NPW. The 
increase  in  the  underwriting  expense  ratio  in  2015 
when compared to 2014 was due to an increase in 
employee compensation expense and a decrease in 
ceding commissions, offset in part by an increase in 
NPW.

19 UNDERWRITING EXPENSE RATIO

INTEREST  EXPENSE  IN  2016  DECLINED  FROM 
2015 AND 2014 LEVELS ON DEBT TRANSACTION 
ACTIVITY,  WHICH  ALSO  RESULTED  IN  DEBT 
EXTINGUISHMENT LOSSES
2016 compared to 2015. Interest expense for 2016 
decreased  when  compared  to  2015  reflecting  the 
following activities.

Reductions to interest expense:

•   maturity of our 5.375% Notes;

•   repurchase of $188.5 million in par value of our 5% 

Notes in the first half of 2016;

•   purchase by MGIC of $132.7 million in par value of 
our  9%  Debentures,  which  are  eliminated 
in 
consolidation, in the first quarter of 2016;

•   repurchase of $292.4 million in par value of our 2% 

Notes in the third quarter of 2016.

32 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Increases to interest expense:
•   MGIC borrowed $155 million in the form of a 1.91% 
fixed rate advance from the FHLB in the first quarter 
of 2016; and 

•   we issued $425 million of 5.75% Senior Notes in 

the third quarter of 2016.

2015 compared to 2014. Interest expense for 2015 
decreased  when  compared  to  2014  due  to  the 
maturity of our 5.375% Notes on November 1, 2015, 
which  were  repaid  with  holding  company  cash  on 
hand. 

Loss on debt extinguishment
Loss  on  debt  extinguishment  in  2016  reflects  our 
repurchases of a portion of our 2% Notes, 5% Notes, 
and  MGIC's  purchase  of  a  portion  of  our  9% 
Debentures,  which  were  all  completed  at  amounts 
that were in excess of the purchased debt's carrying 
value.  The  loss  also  includes  the  write-off  of  debt 
issuance  costs  on  the  extinguished  portion  of  the 
outstanding  2%  Notes. The  9%  Debentures  held  by 
MGIC are eliminated in consolidation.

INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT) REFLECTS THE 
CHANGE IN OUR TAX STATUS AND VALUATION 
ALLOWANCE REVERSAL

(In millions, except
rate)

2016

2015

2014

Income before tax

$ 514,714

$ 487,687

$ 254,723

Provision for
(benefit from)
income taxes

Effective tax
provision (benefit)
rate

172,197

(684,313)

2,774

33.5%

(140.3)%

1.1%

2016  compared  to  2015.  Income  tax  expense  for 
2016  increased  compared  to  2015. This  change  is 
primarily  due  to  the  reversal  of  our  deferred  tax 
valuation  allowance  in  2015  and  because  we  were 
required to establish a full tax provision for 2016. The 
difference between our statutory tax rate of 35% and 
our effective tax provision rate of 33.5% in 2016 was 
primarily  due  to  the  benefits  of  tax  preferenced 
securities. The difference between our statutory tax 
rate of 35% and our effective tax (benefit) rate on our 
pre-tax income of (140.3%) in 2015 was primarily due 
to  the  impact  of  the  changes  in  our  valuation 
allowance against our deferred tax assets.

2015  compared  to  2014.  Income  tax  (benefit)  for 
2015  increased  compared  to  2014. This  change  is 
primarily  due  to  the  reversal  of  our  deferred  tax 
valuation  allowance  in  2015.  During  2014,  our 
effective  tax  rate  provision  was  reduced  by  the 
change in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  

Management's Discussion and Analysis

During  2015  and  2014,  the  difference  between  our 
statutory  tax  rate  of  35%  and  our  effective  tax 
(benefit)  provision  rate  was  primarily  due  to  the 
impact  of  the  changes  in  our  overall  valuation 
allowance against our deferred tax assets.

See Note 12 –  “Income Taxes” to our consolidated 
financial  statements  for  a  discussion  of  our  tax 
position.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 33

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Balance Sheet Analysis

Assets

As of December 31, 2016 total assets were $5,735 
million compared to $5,868 million in the prior year. 
The investment portfolio increased to $4,692 million 
as  of  December 31,  2016  (2015:  $4,663  million). 
Deferred income tax assets decreased 20% to $607.7 
million  at  the  end  of  December 31,  2016  (2015: 
$762.1 million) as our net income utilized a portion 
of  our  net  operating 
loss  carryforwards.  The 
combined other assets increased to $279 million as 
of December 31, 2016 (2015: $262 million), primarily 
due  to  increases  in  accrued  investment  income, 
reinsurance  recoverables,  and  home  office  and 
equipment, net. These increases were offset in part 
by  a  decrease  in  the  funded  status  of  our  defined 
pension  plan  resulting  from  an  increase  in  the 
projected  benefit  obligation  as  the  discount  rate 
decreased from the prior year.

STRUCTURE OF BALANCE SHEET 
% OF TOTAL ASSETS

(in thousands)

Assets

December 31,
2016

December 31,
2015

$

5,734,529

$

5,868,343

2016

2015

Investments Analysis
The return we generate on our investment portfolio, 
which primarily consists of investment income, is an 
important  component of our consolidated financial 
results and the protection of principal is an important 
component  of  our  portfolio  objectives.  Our 
investment portfolio  primarily consists of a diverse 
mix of highly rated fixed income securities (see chart 
20) and targets an intermediate 4 to 6 year duration 
that  is  designed  to  achieve  the  following  main 
portfolio objectives:

• protect principal;

• preserve statutory capital;

• minimize realized losses;

• meet projected liabilities; and

• maximize yield.

To  achieve  our  portfolio  objectives,  we  employ  a 
strategic asset allocation approach which considers 
the risk and return parameters of the various asset 
classes in which we invest. This asset allocation is 
informed by, and based on the following factors:

• our economic and market outlooks;

• diversification effects;

• security duration;

•

liquidity; and

• capital considerations.

The  credit  risk  of  specific  securities  is  evaluated 
through analysis of the underlying fundamentals that 
includes consideration of the issuer's sector, scale, 
profitability,  debt  coverage,  and 
ratings.  The 
investment policy guidelines limit the amount of our 
credit exposure to any one issue, issuer and type of 
instrument.

34 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

20 FIXED INCOME SECURITY RATINGS (1)

% OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES AT FAIR 
VALUE

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2015

(1)  Ratings are provided by one or more of: Moody's, Standard 
& Poor's and Fitch Ratings. If three ratings are available, the 
middle  rating  is  utilized;  otherwise  the  lowest  rating  is 
utilized.

See  Note  5  –  “Investments”  to  our  consolidated 
financial statements for additional disclosure on our 
investment portfolio.

Investments outlook
In the fourth quarter of 2016, the FOMC increased its 
benchmark interest rate 25 basis points, which was 
a highly anticipated move that had been signaled for 
months.  At  the  time,  the  FOMC  cited  strong 
employment gains and other economic indicators as 
the reason for the increase. In conjunction with the 
most recent rate increase the FOMC indicated that 
increases will continue at a gradual pace. It is widely 
expected that further interest rate increases will take 
place in 2017 as the economy continues to add jobs 
and expand. Our investment portfolio of fixed income 
securities  is  subject  to  interest  rate  risk  and  fair 
values of fixed rate securities are likely to decline in 
a  rising  rate  environment.  We  seek  to  manage  our 
exposure  to  interest  rate  risk  and  volatility  by 
maintaining a diverse mix of high quality securities 
that  have  an  intermediate  duration  profile.  While 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

higher  interest  rates may  adversely  impact  the  fair 
values  of  our  fixed  income  securities  from  current 
levels,  they  present  an  opportunity  to  reinvest 
investment  income  and  proceeds  from  security 
maturities into higher yielding securities.

In  addition  to  our  interest  rate  exposure,  the  new 
Presidential  administration  could  make  policy 
changes  that  affect  both  economic  and  market 
conditions. A federal statutory tax rate reduction has 
been discussed, which could impact the relative value 
between  taxable  and  tax-exempt  fixed 
income 
securities, but we do not expect this to have a material 
impact on our investment portfolio if enacted. Other 
policy changes, which are uncertain at this time, could 
result  in  both  market  volatility  and/or  opportunity 
which we will monitor.

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
Deferred  income  taxes  primarily  consist  of  net 
operating loss carryforwards from operating losses 
experienced in prior years that we expect to realize in 
future  periods.  During  2015,  we  reversed  the 
valuation allowance that had been recorded against 
our deferred tax assets since 2009. The reversal of 
the valuation allowance was based on analysis that 
it was more likely than not that our deferred tax assets 
would be fully realizable.

The reversal of our valuation allowance against our 
deferred tax assets was a discrete period item and 
was recognized as a component of our tax provision 
in continuing operations during 2015. As a result, we 
received  a  benefit 
tax  provision  of 
approximately  $687  million  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2015. As this benefit increased our net 
income,  the  benefit  had  the  effect  of  substantially 
increasing our retained earnings as of December 31, 
2015.

in  our 

As of December 31, 2016, our deferred tax asset is 
recorded at $607.7 million.  A decrease in the federal 
statutory rate will result in a one-time reduction in the 
amount at which our deferred tax asset is recorded, 
thereby  reducing  our  net  income  and  book  value; 
however,  such  a  decrease  will  also  reduce  our 
effective tax rate in future periods, thereby increasing 
net  income.  We  estimate  that  every  1  percentage 
point  reduction  in  the  federal  statutory  rate  would 
result in a one-time reduction in our deferred tax asset 
of $17.2 million.

Other tax matters
We continue to have unresolved tax matters primarily 
related to reviews of our 2000-2007 federal income 
tax returns by the IRS. In January 2017, we and the 
IRS  informed  the Tax Court  that  we  had  reached  a 
basis  for  settlement  of  the  major  unresolved  tax 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 35

 
 
 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis

matters. Any agreed settlement terms will ultimately 
be  subject  to  review  by  the  Joint  Committee  on 
Taxation before a settlement can be completed and 
there  is  no  assurance  that  a  settlement  will  be 
completed.  Our  consolidated  financial  statements 
reflect  our  estimates  of  the  tax  contingencies 
discussed more fully in Note 12 - "Income Taxes" to 
our  consolidated  financial  statements.  Based  on 
information  we  have  regarding  the  status  of  the 
dispute, we expect to record a provision for additional 
taxes  and  interest  of  $15-$25  million  in  the  first 
quarter of 2017.

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Total liabilities decreased 12% to $3,186 million as of 
December 31, 2016 from $3,632 million in the prior 
year. Loss reserves, which represent our estimated 
liability  for  losses  and  settlement  expenses  under 
MGIC's mortgage guaranty insurance policies, net of 
reinsurance balances recoverable on our estimated 
losses and settlement expenses decreased, 25% to 
$1,388  million  as  of  December 31,  2016  versus 
$1,849  million  as  of  December 31,  2015.  This 
decrease was driven by the payment of losses during 
2016  and  favorable  development  on  delinquencies 
received  in  prior  years,  offset  in  part  by  losses 
incurred  on  new  delinquency  notices  received  in 
2016.  Unearned  premiums  increased  18%  to  $330 
million as of December 31, 2016 (2015: $280 million), 
primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  the  amount  of  NIW 
from LPMI single premium policies. Long-term debt 
is down 3% to $1,179 million as of December 31, 2016 
versus $1,212 million as of December 31, 2015 due 
to a net repayment of borrowings during 2016 through 
our various debt transactions, which also extended 
the maturity profile of our debt. See Note 7 - "Debt" 
for  further  discussion  of  these  transactions.  Other 
liabilities  decreased  3%  to  $238  million  as  of 
December 31,  2016  (2015:  $247  million),  primarily 
due to a decline in our premium refund accrual, offset 
in part by an increase in our interest payable.

Total equity  increased  14%  to  $2,549  million  as  of 
December 31,  2016  from  $2,236  million  as  of 
December 31, 2015. This increase from the prior year 
was driven by net income generated during 2016.

36 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

STRUCTURE OF BALANCE SHEET 
% OF TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

(in thousands)

December 31,
2016

December 31,
2015

Liabilities and equity

$

5,734,529

$

5,868,343

2016

2015

BENEFIT PLANS
We have a non-contributory defined benefit pension 
plan covering substantially all domestic employees, 
as well as a supplemental executive retirement plan. 
Retirement benefits are based on compensation and 
years of service. We maintain plan assets to fund our 
benefit  obligations.  As  of  December  31,  2016  and 
2015 our pension and post-retirement benefit plans 
have  plan  assets  in  excess  of  their  projected 
obligations. The supplemental executive retirement 
plan benefits are paid from MGIC assets  following 
retirements.  Our  projected  benefit 
employee 
obligations  under  these  plans  are  subject  to 
numerous actuarial assumptions that may change in 
the future and as a result could substantially increase 
or decrease our obligations. Plan assets held to pay 
our obligations are primarily invested in a portfolio of 
debt  securities  to  preserve  capital  and  to  provide 
monthly  cash  flows  aligned  with  the 
liability 
component of our obligations, with a lesser allocation 
to a mix of equity securities. If the performance of our 
invested plan assets differs from our expectations, 
the funded status of the benefit plans may decline, 
even  with  no  significant  change  in  the  obligations. 
See  Note  11  -  "Benefit  Plans"  to  our  consolidated 
financial  statements  for  a  complete  discussion  of 
these  plans  and  their  effect  on  the  consolidated 
financial statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis

We  have  three  primary  types  of  cash  flows: 
(1) operating  cash  flows,  which  consist  mainly  of 
cash  generated  by  our  insurance  operations  and 
income  earned  on  our  investment  portfolio,  less 
amounts  paid  for  claims,  interest  expense  and 
operating expenses, (2) investing cash flows related 
to the purchase, sale and maturity of investments and 
(3) financing cash flows generally from activities that 
impact our capital structure, such as changes in debt 
table 
and  shares  outstanding.  The 
summarizes 
flows  on  a 
these 
consolidated basis for the last three years.

three  cash 

following 

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Years ended December 31,

Net cash and cash
equivalents provided
by (used in):

Operating activities

$ 219,663

$ 152,036

$(405,277)

Investing activities

(93,392)

(96,958)

292,234

Financing activities

(151,981)

(71,840)

(21,767)

Decrease in cash
and cash
equivalents

$ (25,710) $ (16,762) $(134,810)

Operating activities
The following list highlights the major sources and 
uses of cash flow from operating activities:

Sources

+ Premiums received

+ Loss payments from reinsurers

+ Investment income

Uses

- Claim payments

- Ceded premium to reinsurers

-

Interest expense

- Operating expenses

installment  basis 

Our largest source of cash is from premiums received 
from our insurance policies, which we receive on a 
monthly 
for  most  policies. 
Premiums  are  received  at  the  beginning  of  the 
coverage  period  for  single  premium  and  annual 
premium  policies.  Our  largest  cash  outflow  is  for 
claims that arise when a default results in an insured 
loss. Because the payment of claims occurs after the 
receipt of the premium, often years later, we invest 
the cash in  various investment securities  that earn 
interest.  We  also  use  cash  to  pay  for  our  ongoing 
expenses such as salaries, debt interest, and rent. We 
also utilize reinsurance to manage the risk we take 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

on our insurance policies. We cede, or pay out, part 
of  the  premiums  we  receive  to  our  reinsurers  and 
collect  cash  back  when  losses  subject  to  our 
reinsurance coverage are paid.

Net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  in  2016
increased compared to 2015 primarily due to a lower 
level of losses paid. The increase was offset in part 
by the commutation of our 2013 QSR Transaction in 
2015,  which  resulted  in  a  return  to  us  of  unearned 
ceded premiums written and settlement of our profit 
commission  accrued  during  the  term  of  the 
agreement.

The increase in net cash from operating activities in 
2015 compared to 2014 was primarily due to a lower 
level of losses paid and the result of commuting our 
2013 QSR Transaction. Cash flows from operations 
in 2015 also increased compared to 2014 due to an 
increase in premiums collected as our mix of single 
premium policies written and our IIF increased, and 
also from a higher level of investment income. 

Investing activities
The following list highlights the major sources and 
uses of cash flow from investing activities:

Sources

+

Proceeds from fixed income securities sold, called or
matured

+ Decreases in restricted cash

Uses

- Purchases of fixed income securities

- Purchases of property and equipment

We maintain an investment portfolio that is primarily 
invested in a diverse mix of fixed income securities. 
As  of  December 31,  2016,  our  portfolio  had  a  fair 
value  of  $4.7  billion.  As  of  December 31,  2016  the 
value of our investment portfolio increased by $29.1 
million, or 0.6% from December 31, 2015. In addition 
to  investment  portfolio  activities,  our 
investing 
activities 
to  property  and 
included  additions 
equipment. In 2016, we began an initiative to update 
our corporate headquarters  building and continued 
to invest in our technology infrastructure to enhance 
our  ability  to  conduct  business  and  execute  our 
strategies.

Net  cash  flows  used  in  investing  activities  in  2016 
primarily reflect purchasing fixed income securities 
in an amount that exceeded our proceeds from sales 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 37

 
Management's Discussion and Analysis

and maturities of fixed income securities during the 
year. Investing cash flows also include an increase in 
amounts spent on property and equipment.

Net  cash  flows  used  in  investing  activities  in  2015 
primarily reflect purchasing investment securities in 
an amount that exceeded our proceeds from sales 
and maturities of fixed income securities during the 
year. This outflow was offset in part by a reduction of 
cash restricted in its use. 

In  2014,  net  cash  flows  provided  by  investing 
activities primarily reflect proceeds from sales and 
maturities of our fixed income securities exceeding 
our investment purchases.

Financing activities
The following list highlights the major sources and 
uses of cash flow from financing activities:

Sources

For a further discussion of matters affecting our cash 
flows, see "Balance Sheet Analysis" and "Debt at our 
Holding Company" and Holding Company Liquidity" 
below.

Capitalization

Capital Risk
Capital  risk  is  the  risk  that  we  have  an  insufficient 
level  and  composition  of  capital  to  comply  with 
applicable requirements and to support our business 
activities  and  associated  risks  during  normal 
economic environments and stressed conditions.

A strong capital position is essential to our business 
strategy and is important to maintain a competitive 
position in our industry. Our capital strategy focuses 
on long-term stability, which enables us to build and 
in  a  stressed 
invest 
environment.

in  our  business,  even 

+ Proceeds from debt and/or common stock issuances

Our capital management objectives are to:

•   Cover claim obligations arising from our underlying 

mortgage insurance activities;

•   Maintain 

compliance  with 

financial 
requirements  of  PMIERs,  and  regulatory  capital, 
and  sizing  the 
level  of  capital  to  balance 
competitive  needs,  handle  contingencies,  and 
create shareholder value;

the 

•   Position our mix of debt, equity and/or reinsurance 
to support our business strategy while considering 
the competing needs of credit ratings, regulators, 
and shareholders;

•   Retain 

flexibility 

to  pursue  new  business 

opportunities;

•   Provide additional holding company liquidity; and

•   Achieve our target leverage ratio over time.

These  objectives  are  achieved  through  ongoing 
monitoring and management of our capital position, 
mortgage insurance portfolio stress modeling, and a 
capital governance framework. Capital management 
is intended to be flexible in order to react to a range 
of potential events.

Uses

- Repayment/repurchase of debt

- Repurchases of common stock

- Payment of debt issuance costs

Net cash flows used in financing activities for 2016 
primarily  reflect  the  transactions 
in  which  we 
repurchased a portion of the outstanding principal on 
our  5%  Notes  and  2%  Notes,  and  in  which  MGIC 
purchased a portion of the outstanding principal on 
our  9%  Debentures.  MGIC's  ownership  of  our  9% 
Debentures by MGIC is eliminated in consolidation. 
These  transactions  were  completed  at  amounts  in 
excess of the carrying value of the debt obligations 
and the excess amount settled in cash is reflected in 
our  financing  activities.      These  transactions  were 
offset in part by the issuance of long-term debt that 
included  an  FHLB  borrowing  and  our  5.75%  Notes 
offering, net of related issuance fees.

Net cash flows used in financing activities for 2015 
reflect  the  repayment  of  our  Senior  Notes  that 
matured on  November 1,  2015  and  repurchases of 
$11.5  million  par  value  of  our  Convertible  Senior 
Notes due in May 2017, offset in part by tax benefits 
related to share-based compensation.

Net cash flows used in financing activities for 2014 
reflect the repurchase of $20.9 million of our Senior 
Notes due in November 2015.

*     *      *

38 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Capital Structure
The following table summarizes our capital structure 
as of December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

21 HOLDING COMPANY LONG-TERM DEBT 

IN MILLIONS

Management's Discussion and Analysis

(In thousands, except
ratio)

Common stock, paid-
in capital, retained
earnings (deficit), less
treasury stock

Accumulated other
comprehensive loss,
net of tax

Total shareholders'
equity

Long-term debt, par
value

Total capital
resources

Ratio of long-term
debt to shareholders'
equity

2016

2015

2014

$2,623,942

$2,297,020

$1,118,244

(75,100)

(60,880)

(81,341)

2,548,842

2,236,140

1,036,903

1,189,472

1,223,025

1,296,475

$3,738,314

$3,459,165

$2,333,378

46.7%

54.7%

125.0%

2016

2015

Net income in 2016 increased our total shareholders' 
equity from 2015. The increase was offset in part by 
the cost of repurchasing the shares issued in our 2% 
Notes repurchases and an increase in accumulated 
other comprehensive losses.

Net  income  and  a  decrease  in  accumulated  other 
comprehensive  losses  in  2015  increased  our  total 
shareholders'  equity  from  2014.  The  net  income 
generated in 2015 included a substantial tax benefit 
from  the  reversal  of  our  valuation  allowance  on 
deferred tax assets.

DEBT AT OUR HOLDING COMPANY AND HOLDING 
COMPANY LIQUIDITY 

Investment  Corporation,  and  not  of 

Debt - holding company (see charts 21 and 22)
The  5.75%  Notes,  2%  Notes,  5%  Notes,  and  9% 
Debentures are obligations of our holding company, 
MGIC 
its 
subsidiaries. In 2016, we accessed the senior debt 
market and issued $425.0 million aggregate principal 
amount of 5.75% Notes due in 2023 to simplify and 
lengthen our debt structure. The proceeds received 
were  primarily  used  as  (i)  cash  consideration  to 
repurchase  a  portion  of  our  2%  Notes,  and  (ii)  to 
repurchase the shares issued as partial consideration 
in  the  repurchases  of  our  2%  Notes.  In  total,  we 
purchased  $292.4  million 
in  par  value  of  our 
outstanding  2%  Notes.  In  addition,  during  2016  we 
repurchased  $188.5  million  of  our  5%  Notes  with 
funds held at our holding company. MGIC's ownership 
of $132.7 million of our 9% Debentures is eliminated 
in  consolidation,  but  they  remain  outstanding 
obligations owed by us to MGIC. The result of these 
transactions 
reduced  our  holding  company's 
outstanding  debt  obligations  by  5%  from  the  prior 
year to $1,167.1 million.

22 REMAINING TIME TO MATURITY OF 

HOLDING COMPANY LONG-TERM DEBT
 IN MILLIONS

2016

2015

Liquidity analysis - holding company
As  of  December 31,  2016,  we  had  approximately 
$283 million in cash and investments at our holding 
company. These resources are maintained primarily 
to  service  our  debt  interest  expense,  pay  debt 
maturities, repurchase outstanding debt obligations 
as  opportunities  arise,  and  to  settle  intercompany 
obligations.  We  may  also  use  available  holding 
company cash to repurchase shares of our common 
stock.  While  these  assets  are  held,  we  generate 
investment income that serves to offset a portion of 
our  interest  expense.  In  addition  to  investment 
income, the payment of dividends from our insurance 
subsidiaries  and/or  raising  capital  in  the  public 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 39

Management's Discussion and Analysis

markets are the principal sources of holding company 
cash inflow. MGIC is the principal source of dividend-
paying  capacity,  which  is  restricted  by  insurance 
regulation. The  ability  to  raise  capital  in  the  public 
markets  is  subject  to  prevailing market  conditions, 
investor demand for the securities to be issued, and 
our deemed creditworthiness.

In 2016, our holding company cash and investments 
decreased  by  $119  million,  to  $283  million  as  of 
December 31, 2016. Our holding company received 
$418 million in net proceeds from the issuance of our 
5.75% Notes. The net proceeds were primarily used 
in the repurchases of our 2% Notes; this use consisted 
of approximately $231 million in cash consideration 
and $147 million for the repurchase of shares issued 
as consideration in the 2% Notes repurchases. Cash 
on  hand  at  our  holding  company  was  used  to 
repurchase a portion of our 5% Notes at a cost of $196 
million.  Our  holding  company  made 
interest 
payments  of  approximately  $55  million,  of  which 
approximately $12 million was paid to MGIC for the 
portion of our 9% Debentures owned by MGIC. Cash 
included  an 
inflows  to  our  holding  company 
aggregate of $64 million of dividends received from 
MGIC, and we dissolved other insurance subsidiaries 
resulting  in  a  net  cash  infusion  to  the  holding 
company of approximately $16 million.  Investment 
income was approximately $7 million and other net 
cash inflows were approximately $5 million.

The  net  unrealized losses  on  our  holding  company 
investment portfolio were approximately $2.0 million 
at  December 31,  2016  and  the  portfolio  has  a 
modified duration of approximately 1.5 years.

The dividends paid by MGIC to our holding company 
were the first since 2008. We expect MGIC to continue 
to  pay  quarterly  dividends.  OCI  authorization  is 
sought before MGIC pays dividends and MGIC will pay 
a dividend of $20 million to our holding company in 
the first quarter of 2017.

Over the next twelve months the principal demand on 
holding company resources will be the maturity of the 
remaining $145 million of 5% Notes outstanding that 
mature in May 2017. We currently hold sufficient cash 
and investments to repay the outstanding obligations 
at their maturity. Based on our holding company debt 
obligations at December 31, 2016, interest payments 
for  2017  are  expected  to  approximate  $68  million. 
Dividends  from  MGIC  provide  additional  quarterly 
liquidity.  We  believe  our  holding  company  has 
sufficient liquidity to meet its payment obligations for 
the foreseeable future.

Scheduled  debt  maturities  beyond  the  next  twelve 
months  include  $207.6  million  of  our  2%  Notes  in 

40 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

2020, $425 million of our 5.75% Notes in 2023, and 
$389.5 million of our 9% Debentures in 2063, of which 
MGIC owns $132.7 million. Both the 2% Notes and 9% 
Debentures  are  convertible  debt  issues.  Subject  to 
certain  limitations and restrictions, holders of each 
of the convertible debt issues may convert their notes 
into shares of our common stock at their option prior 
to certain dates prescribed under the terms of their 
issuance, in which case our corresponding obligation 
will be eliminated. The holders of the 2% Notes may 
convert  all or part  of their notes into shares of our 
common  stock,  at  a  rate  of  143.8332  shares  per 
$1,000 of notes, in any quarter following a quarter in 
which  the  closing  price  our  common  stock  was  at 
least $9.04 for at least 20 of the last 30 trading days 
of  that  quarter  (the  “Conversion  Stock  Price 
Condition”). The  Conversion  Stock  Price  Condition 
was met for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, 
therefore,  the  2%  Notes  are  convertible  in  the  first 
quarter of 2017. They will also be convertible in later 
quarters 
in  which  the  Conversion  Stock  Price 
Condition was met for the prior quarter.

We  may  redeem  all  or  part  of  the  2%  Notes  if  the 
closing price our common stock was at least $9.04 
for at least 20 of the last 30 trading days (including 
on the last trading day) preceding the date notice is 
provided to the holders of the notes that we intend to 
redeem  the  notes  (the  “Redemption  Notice”). The 
Redemption Notice is irrevocable and must be given 
not less than 30 days and not more than 60 calendar 
days prior to the redemption date, which cannot be 
before April 10, 2017. Once the Redemption Notice is 
given,  holders  may  convert  their  notes  at  any  time 
before  the  redemption  date  specified 
in  the 
Redemption Notice and we expect they will do so if 
the  price  of  our  common  stock  remains  above  the 
conversion price of $6.95

In  2015,  we  purchased  $11.5  million  in  aggregate 
principal of our 5% Notes at a purchase price of $12.0 
million, plus accrued interest using funds held at our 
holding company.

See  Note  7  –  “Debt”  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements  for  additional  information  about  the 
conversion terms of these issuances and the terms 
of  our  indebtedness,  including  our  option  to  defer 
interest on our 9% Debentures. Any deferred interest 
compounds at the stated rate of 9%. The description 
in  Note  7  -  “Debt"  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements is qualified in its entirety by the terms of 
the notes and debentures. The terms of our 5% Notes 
are contained in a Supplemental Indenture, dated as 
of April 26, 2010, between us and U.S. Bank National 
Association,  as  trustee,  which  is  included  as  an 
exhibit to our 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010, 
and in the Indenture dated as of October 15, 2000, 

between us and the trustee ("2000 Indenture"). The 
terms  of  our  2%  Notes  are  contained  in  a  Second 
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2013, 
between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as 
trustee, which is included as an exhibit to our 8-K filed 
with  the  SEC  on  March  15,  2013,  and  the  2000 
Indenture.  The  terms  of  our  9%  Debentures  are 
contained  in  the  Indenture  dated  as  of  March  28, 
2008, between us and U.S. Bank National Association 
filed as an exhibit to our Form 10-Q filed with the SEC 
on May 12, 2008.

Although  not  anticipated  in  the  near  term,  we  may 
also contribute funds to our insurance operations to 
comply  with  the  PMIERs  or  the  State  Capital 
Requirements. See “Overview –  Capital” above for a 
discussion of these requirements. See the discussion 
of our non-insurance contract underwriting services 
in  Note  17  –  “Litigation and  Contingencies” to  our 
consolidated financial statements for other possible 
uses of holding company resources.

We may from time to time continue to seek to acquire 
our debt obligations through cash purchases and/or 
exchanges  for  other  securities.  We  may  also  from 
time  to  time  seek  to  acquire  our  common  stock 
through  cash  purchases, 
including  with  funds 
provided by debt. We may make such acquisitions in 
open  market  purchases,  privately  negotiated 
acquisitions  or  other  transactions.  The  amounts 
involved may be material.

DEBT AT SUBSIDIARIES
During  the  third  quarter  of  2015,  MGIC  became  a 
member  of  the  FHLB.  Membership  in  the  FHLB 
provides  MGIC  access  to  an  additional  source  of 
liquidity  via  a  secured  lending  facility.  In  February 
2016, MGIC borrowed $155.0 million in the form of a 
fixed  rate  advance  from  the  FHLB.  Interest  on  the 
Advance is payable monthly at an annual rate, fixed 
for the term of the Advance, of 1.91%. The principal 
of the Advance matures on February 10, 2023. MGIC 
may  prepay  the  Advance  at  any  time.  Such 
prepayment would be below par if interest rates have 
risen after the Advance was originated, or above par 
if  interest  rates  have  declined.  The  Advance  is 
secured  by  eligible  collateral  whose  market  value 
must be maintained at 102% of the principal balance 
of the Advance. MGIC provided eligible collateral from 
its investment portfolio.

Capital Adequacy

PMIERs
We  operate  under  the  PMIERs  of  the  GSEs  that 
became effective December 31, 2015. The PMIERS 
were most recently revised in December 2016, which 
had  had  no  impact  on  our  calculation  of  Available 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Assets  or  Minimum  Required  Assets,  and  did  not 
impact our operations. The GSEs may further amend 
the  PMIERs  at  any  time,  and  they  have  broad 
discretion to interpret the requirements, which could 
impact the calculation of our Available Assets and/
or  Minimum  Required  Assets.  The  PMIERS 
specifically provided that the tables of factors used 
to  determine  Minimum  Required  Assets  will  be 
updated every two years following a minimum of 180 
days' notice and may be updated more frequently to 
reflect changes in macroeconomic conditions or loan 
performance. We expect the GSEs to perform a more 
comprehensive review of the PMIERs, including their 
financial requirements, in 2017.

is 

As  of  December 31,  2016,  MGIC’ s Available Assets 
under PMIERs totaled approximately $4.7 billion, an 
in  excess  of  approximately  $630  million  over  its 
Minimum  Required  Assets  of  approximately  $4.1 
billion;  and  MGIC 
in  compliance  with  the 
requirements  of  the  PMIERs  and  eligible  to  insure 
loans purchased by the GSEs. Maintaining a sufficient 
level of excess Available Assets will allow MGIC to 
remain  in  compliance  with  the  PMIERs  financial 
requirements, including , we believe, to the extent they 
are modified further in the next scheduled review; and 
will also allow us flexibility to participate in additional 
business opportunities as they may arise. The 2015 
QSR  Transaction  provided  an  aggregate  of 
approximately $730 million of PMIERs capital credit 
as of December 31, 2016. Our 2017 QSR transaction 
terms are similar to our 2015 QSR transaction and will 
also provide PMIERs capital credit.

We  plan  to  continuously  comply  with  the  PMIERs 
through  our  operational  activities  or  through  the 
contribution  of  funds  from  our  holding  company, 
subject  to  demands  on  the  holding  company's 
resources, as outlined above.

RISK-TO-CAPITAL
We  compute  our  risk-to-capital  ratio  on  a  separate 
company statutory basis, as well as on a combined 
insurance operations basis. The risk-to-capital ratio 
is our net RIF divided by our policyholders’  position. 
Our net RIF includes both primary and pool RIF, and 
excludes risk on policies that are currently in default 
and for which loss reserves have been established 
and those covered by reinsurance. The risk amount 
includes pools of loans with contractual aggregate 
loss  limits  and  without  these  limits.  Policyholders’  
position consists primarily of statutory policyholders’  
surplus (which increases as a result of statutory net 
income and decreases as a result of statutory net loss 
and dividends paid), plus the statutory contingency 
reserve and  a  portion  of  the  reserves for  unearned 
premiums.  The  statutory  contingency  reserve  is 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 41

factor titled “State capital requirements may prevent 
us  from  continuing  to  write  new  insurance  on  an 
uninterrupted basis.”

Financial Strength Ratings

The financial strength of MGIC, is as follows:

Rating Agency

Moody's Investor Services

Standard and Poor's Rating Services'

Rating

Outlook

Baa3

BBB+

Stable

Stable

For  further  information  about  the  importance  of 
MGIC’ s ratings, see our risks factor titled “We may not 
continue to meet the GSEs’  private mortgage insurer 
eligibility requirements and our returns may decrease 
as we are required to maintain more capital in order 
to  maintain  our  eligibility”  and  “Competition  or 
changes  in  our  relationships  with  our  customers 
could  reduce  our  revenues,  reduce  our  premium 
yields and/or increase our losses.”

Management's Discussion and Analysis

reported as a liability on the statutory balance sheet. 
A mortgage insurance company is required to make 
annual  additions  to  the  contingency  reserve  of 
approximately 50% of net earned premiums. These 
contributions  must  generally  be  maintained  for  a 
period  of  ten  years.   However,  with  regulatory 
approval a mortgage insurance company may make 
early withdrawals from the contingency reserve when 
incurred losses exceed 35% of net earned premiums 
in a calendar year.

MGIC’ s separate company risk-to-capital calculation 
appears in the table below. 

(In millions, except ratio)
RIF - net (1)

December 31,

2016

2015

$ 28,668

$ 27,301

Statutory policyholders' surplus

$ 1,505

$

1,574

Statutory contingency reserve

1,181

691

Statutory policyholders' position

$ 2,686

$

2,265

Risk-to-capital

10.7:1

12.1:1

(1) 

RIF –  net, as shown in the table above, is net of reinsurance 
and exposure on policies currently in default and for which 
loss reserves have been established.

Our  combined  insurance  companies’  risk-to-capital 
calculation appears in the table below.

(In millions, except ratio)
RIF - net (1)

December 31,

2016

2015

$ 34,465

$ 33,072

Statutory policyholders' surplus

$ 1,507

$

1,608

Statutory contingency reserve

1,360

827

Statutory policyholders' position

$ 2,867

$

2,435

Risk-to-capital

12.0:1

13.6:1

(1) 

RIF  –  net,  as  shown  in  the  table  above,  is  net  of 
reinsurance and exposure on policies currently in default 
($2.6  billion  at  December 31,  2016  and  $3.2  billion  at 
December 31,  2015)  and  for  which  loss  reserves  have 
been established.

to  an 

increase 

The  reductions 
in  MGIC's  and  our  combined 
insurance  companies  risk-to-capital  in  2016  were 
primarily  due 
in  statutory 
policyholders' position due to an increase in statutory 
contingency reserves, partially offset by an increase 
in  net  RIF  in  both  calculations.  Our  RIF,  net  of 
reinsurance, increased in 2016, due to an increase in 
our  IIF. Our  risk-to-capital  ratio  will  decrease  if  the 
percentage 
the 
increase 
percentage increase in insured risk.  

in  capital  exceeds 

For  additional 
information  regarding  regulatory 
capital see Note 14 –  “Statutory Information” to our 
consolidated financial statements as well as our risk 

42 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis

Contractual Obligations

As of December 31, 2016, the approximate future payments under our contractual obligations of the type 
described in the table below are as follows:

Contractual Obligations:

Payments due by period

(In millions)

Long-term debt obligations

Operating lease obligations

Tax obligations

Purchase obligations

Pension, SERP and other post-retirement benefit
plans

Other long-term liabilities

Total

Less than

More than

Total

1 year

1-3 years

3-5 years

5 years

$

2,472.7

$

204.0

$

109.4

$

310.8

$

1,848.5

2.6

44.0

11.6

287.1

1,438.8

0.7

44.0

10.4

22.7

676.2

1.4

—

1.2

52.4

575.5

0.5

—

—

57.0

187.1

—

—

—

155.0

—

$

4,256.8

958.0

$

739.9

$

555.4

$

2,003.5

Note  8  –  “Loss  Reserves”  to  our  consolidated 
financial  statements  and  “Critical  Accounting 
Policies” below.  In  accordance  with  GAAP  for  the 
mortgage  insurance  industry,  we  establish  loss 
reserves  only  for  loans  in  default.  Because  our 
reserving  method  does  not  take  account  of  the 
impact of future losses that could occur from loans 
that  are  not  delinquent,  our  obligation  for  ultimate 
losses that we expect to occur under our policies in 
force  at  any  period  end  is  not  reflected  in  our 
consolidated  financial  statements  or  in  the  table 
above.

Our long-term debt obligations as of December 31, 
2016 include their related interest and are discussed 
in  Note  7  –  “Debt”  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements  and  under  “Liquidity  and  Capital 
Resources” above.  Our operating lease obligations 
include  operating  leases  on  certain  office  space, 
data processing equipment and autos, as discussed 
in Note 16 –  “Leases” to our consolidated financial 
statements.  Tax  obligations  consist  primarily  of 
amounts related to our current dispute with the IRS, 
as  discussed  in  Note  12  –  “Income Taxes”  to  our 
consolidated 
financial  statements.  Purchase 
obligations  consist  primarily  of  agreements  to 
purchase items related to our ongoing infrastructure 
projects and information technology investments in 
the normal course of business. See Note 11 - “Benefit 
Plans” to our consolidated financial statements for 
discussion of expected benefit payments under our 
benefit plans.

Our  other  long-term  liabilities  represent  the  loss 
reserves  established  to  recognize  the  liability  for 
losses  and  LAE  related  to  existing  defaults  on 
insured  mortgage  loans.  The  timing  of  the  future 
claim payments associated with the established loss 
reserves was determined primarily based on two key 
assumptions: the length of time it takes for a notice 
of default to develop into a received claim and the 
length  of  time  it  takes  for  a  received  claim  to  be 
ultimately paid. The future claim payment periods are 
estimated based on historical experience, and could 
emerge significantly different than this estimate. Due 
to  the  uncertainty  regarding  how  certain  factors, 
such  as  loss  mitigation  protocols  established  by 
servicers  and  changes  in  some  state  foreclosure 
laws that may include, for example, a requirement for 
additional  review  and/or  mediation  process,  will 
affect our future paid claims it is difficult to estimate 
the amount and timing of future claim payments. See 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 43

rate, 

interest 

The claim rates and claim severities are likely to be 
including  actual 
affected  by  external  events, 
in 
economic  conditions  such  as  changes 
unemployment 
rate  or  housing 
values. Our  estimation  process  does  not  include  a 
correlation between claim rates and claim amounts 
to projected economic conditions such as changes 
in  unemployment  rate,  interest  rate  or  housing 
values. Our experience is that analysis of that nature 
would not produce reliable results. The results would 
not  be  reliable  as  the  change  in  one  economic 
condition  cannot  be  isolated  to  determine  its  sole 
effect on our ultimate paid losses as our ultimate paid 
losses are also influenced at the same time by other 
economic conditions. Additionally, the changes and 
interaction  of  these  economic  conditions  are  not 
likely homogeneous throughout the regions in which 
we conduct business. Each economic environment 
influences our ultimate paid losses differently, even 
if apparently similar in nature. Furthermore, changes 
in  economic  conditions  may  not  necessarily  be 
reflected  in  our  loss  development in  the  quarter  or 
year in which the changes occur. Actual claim results 
often lag changes in economic conditions by at least 
nine to twelve months.

In considering the potential sensitivity of the factors 
underlying our estimate of loss reserves, it is possible 
that even a relatively small change in our estimated 
claim rate or  severity could have a material impact 
on 
reserves  and,  correspondingly,  on  our 
consolidated results of operations even in a stable 
economic environment.  For example, assuming all 
other  factors  remain  constant,  a  $1,000  increase/
decrease in the average severity reserve factor would 
change the reserve amount by approximately +/- $27 
million.  A  1  percentage  point  increase/decrease  in 
the average claim rate reserve factor would change 
the reserve amount by approximately +/- $28 million 
as of December 31, 2016. Historically, it has not been 
uncommon  for  us  to  experience  variability  in  the 
development of the loss reserves through the end of 
the following year at this level or higher, as shown by 
the historical development of our loss reserves in the 
table below:

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Critical Accounting Policies

The  accounting  policies  described  below  require 
significant 
the 
preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

judgments  and  estimates 

in 

Loss reserves
Reserves  are  established  for  reported  insurance 
losses and LAE based on when notices of default on 
insured mortgage  loans are received. For reporting 
purposes, we consider a loan in default when it is two 
or  more  payments  past  due.  Even  though  the 
accounting standard, ASC 944, regarding accounting 
and  reporting  by  insurance  entities  specifically 
excluded  mortgage  insurance  from  its  guidance 
relating to loss reserves, we establish loss reserves 
using  the  general  principles  contained 
in  the 
insurance  standard.  However,  consistent  with 
industry standards for mortgage insurers, we do not 
establish loss reserves for future claims on insured 
loans which are not currently in default.

We  establish  reserves  using  estimated  claim  rates 
and claim severities in estimating the ultimate loss. 
The  liability  for  reinsurance  assumed  is  based  on 
information provided by the ceding companies.

The  estimated  claim  rates  and  claim  severities 
represent what we estimate will actually be paid on 
the loans in default as of the reserve date. If a policy 
is rescinded we do not expect that it will result in a 
claim  payment  and  thus  the  rescission  generally 
reduces the historical claim rate used in establishing 
reserves. In addition, if a loan cures its delinquency, 
including successful loan modifications that result in 
a  cure  being  reported  to  us,  the  cure  reduces  the 
historical  claim  rate  used  in  establishing  reserves. 
Our methodology to estimate claim rates and claim 
amounts is based on our review of recent trends in 
the default inventory. To establish reserves we utilize 
a  reserving  model  that  continually  incorporates 
historical  data  into  the  estimated  claim  rate.  The 
model also incorporates an estimate for the amount 
of the claim we will pay, or severity. The severity is 
estimated  using  the  historical  percentage  of  our 
claim paid compared to our loan exposure, as well as 
the RIF of the loans currently in default. We do not 
utilize  an  explicit  rescission  rate  in  our  reserving 
methodology, but rather our reserving methodology 
incorporates the effects rescission activity has had 
on our historical claim rate and claim severities. We 
review recent trends in the claim rate, severity, levels 
of defaults by geography and average loan exposure. 
As a result, the process to determine reserves does 
not include quantitative ranges of outcomes that are 
reasonably likely to occur.

44 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

(In
thousands)

Losses incurred 
related to prior years (1)

Reserve at end of
prior year

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

$

(147,658) $

(110,302)

(100,359)

(59,687)

573,120

1,893,402

2,396,807

3,061,401

4,056,843

4,557,512

(1)  A negative number for a prior year indicates a redundancy 
of  loss  reserves,  and  a  positive  number  for  a  prior  year 
indicates a deficiency of loss reserves.

See  Note  8  –  “Loss Reserves”  to  our  consolidated 
financial statements for a discussion of recent loss 
development.

IBNR Reserves
Reserves  are  also  established  for  estimated  IBNR, 
which  results  from  defaults  occurring  prior  to  the 
close  of  an  accounting  period,  but  which  have  not 
been  reported  to  us.  Consistent  with  reserves  for 
reported  defaults,  IBNR  reserves  are  established 
using estimated claim rates and claim severities for 
the estimated number of defaults not reported. As of 
December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had IBNR reserves 
of  approximately  $54 million  and  $98 million, 
respectively.

LAE
Reserves  also  provide  for  the  estimated  costs  of 
settling  claims,  including  legal  and  other  expenses 
and  general  expenses  of  administering  the  claims 
settlement process.

loss 

than  our 

The  actual  amount  of  the  claim  payments  may  be 
reserve 
substantially  different 
estimates. Our estimates could be adversely affected 
by  several  factors,  including  a  deterioration  of 
regional or national economic conditions, including 
unemployment,  leading  to  a  reduction  in  borrower 
income  and  thus  their  ability  to  make  mortgage 
payments, and a drop in housing values, that could 
result in, among other things, greater losses on loans, 
and may affect borrower willingness to continue to 
make  mortgage  payments  when  the  value  of  the 
home is below the mortgage balance. Our estimates 
are  also  affected  by  any  agreements  we  enter  into 
regarding our  claims  paying  practices, such  as  the 
settlement  agreements  discussed  in  Note  17  – 
“Litigation and  Contingencies”  to  our  consolidated 
financial statements. 

Revenue recognition
When  a  policy  term  ends,  the  primary  mortgage 
insurance written by us is renewable at the insured’ s 
option through continued payment of the premium in 
accordance  with  the  schedule  established  at  the 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

inception  of  the  policy  life.  We  have  no  ability  to 
reunderwrite or reprice these policies after issuance. 
Premiums  written  under  policies  having  single  and 
annual  premium  payments  are  initially  deferred  as 
unearned premium reserve and earned over the policy 
life. Premiums written on policies covering more than 
one  year  are  amortized  over  the  policy  life  in 
relationship to the anticipated incurred loss pattern 
based on historical experience. Premiums written on 
annual  policies  are  earned  on  a  monthly  pro  rata 
basis.  Premiums  written  on  monthly  policies  are 
earned as the monthly coverage is provided. When a 
policy is cancelled, all premium that is non-refundable 
is  immediately  earned.  Any  refundable  premium  is 
returned  to  the  servicer  or  borrower. Cancellations 
also include rescissions and policies cancelled due 
to  claim  payment.  When  a  policy  is  rescinded,  all 
previously  collected  premium  is  returned  to  the 
servicer  and  when  a  claim  is  paid  we  return  any 
premium  received  since  the  date  of  default.  The 
liability associated with our estimate of premium to 
be returned is accrued for separately and this liability 
is included in “Other liabilities” on our consolidated 
balance  sheets.  Changes  in  these  liabilities  affect 
premiums written and earned and change in premium 
deficiency reserve, respectively. The actual return of 
premium affects premium written and earned. Policy 
cancellations also lower the persistency rate which 
is  a  variable  used 
in  calculating  the  rate  of 
amortization  of  deferred  policy  acquisition  costs 
discussed below.

Fee  income  of  our  non-insurance  subsidiaries  is 
earned and recognized as the services are provided 
and the customer is obligated to pay.

Deferred insurance policy acquisition costs
Costs  directly  associated  with  the  successful 
acquisition  of  mortgage 
insurance  business, 
consisting  of  employee  compensation  and  other 
policy  issuance  and  underwriting  expenses,  are 
initially deferred and reported as deferred insurance 
policy acquisition costs ("DAC"). The deferred costs 
are  net  of  any  ceding  commissions  received 
associated  with  our  reinsurance  agreements.  For 
each underwriting year of business, these costs are 
amortized to income in proportion to estimated gross 
profits  over  the  estimated  life  of  the  policies.  We 
utilize  anticipated 
in  our 
calculation.  This  includes  accruing  interest  on  the 
unamortized balance of DAC. The estimates for each 
underwriting year are reviewed quarterly and updated 
when necessary to reflect actual experience and any 
changes to key variables such as persistency or loss 
development.

investment 

income 

Because  our  insurance  premiums  are  earned  over 
time,  changes  in  persistency  result  in  DAC  being 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 45

 
 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis

amortized against revenue over a comparable period 
of time. At December 31, 2016, the persistency rate 
of  our  primary  mortgage  insurance  was  76.9%, 
compared  to  79.7%  at  December 31,  2015.   This 
change did not significantly affect the amortization 
of deferred insurance policy acquisition costs for the 
period ended December 31, 2016.  A 10% change in 
persistency would not have a material effect on the 
amortization of DAC in the subsequent year.

Fair Value Measurements

Investment Portfolio
Our  entire  investment  portfolio  is  classified  as 
available-for-sale and is reported at fair value or, for 
certain equity securities carried at cost, amounts that 
approximate  fair  value.  The  related  unrealized 
investment gains or losses are, after considering the 
related  tax  expense  or  benefit,  recognized  as  a 
component  of  accumulated  other  comprehensive 
income in shareholders' equity.  Realized investment 
gains and losses on investments are recognized in 
income  based  upon  specific 
identification  of 
securities sold.

To determine the fair value of securities available-for-
sale in Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, 
independent pricing sources have been utilized. One 
price  is  provided per  security  based  on  observable 
market data. To ensure securities are appropriately 
classified  in  the  fair  value  hierarchy, we  review  the 
pricing  techniques  and  methodologies  of  the 
independent  pricing  sources  and  believe  that  their 
policies  adequately  consider  market  activity, either 
based on specific transactions for the issue valued 
or based on modeling of securities with similar credit 
quality, duration, yield and structure that were recently 
traded.  A  variety  of  inputs  are  utilized  by  the 
independent  pricing  sources  including  benchmark 
yields,  reported  trades,  non-binding  broker/dealer 
quotes, 
two  sided  markets, 
benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data 
including  data  published 
research 
publications. Inputs may be weighted differently for 
any  security,  and  not  all  inputs  are  used  for  each 
security evaluation.

issuer  spreads, 

in  market 

Market indicators, industry and economic events are 
also considered. This information is evaluated using 
a  multidimensional  pricing  model.  This  model 
combines all inputs to arrive at a value assigned to 
each security. Quality controls are performed by the 
independent pricing sources throughout this process, 
which  include  reviewing  tolerance  reports,  trading 
information,  data  changes,  and  directional  moves 
compared  to  market  moves.    In  addition,  on  a 
quarterly  basis,  we  perform  quality  controls  over 
values received from the pricing sources which also 
trading 
tolerance 
include 

reviewing 

reports, 

46 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

information,  data  changes,  and  directional  moves 
compared to market moves. We have not made any 
adjustments  to  the  prices  obtained  from  the 
independent pricing sources.

In  accordance with  fair  value guidance,  we  applied 
the following fair value hierarchy in order to measure 
fair value for assets and liabilities:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in 
active markets that we can access. Financial assets 
utilizing Level 1 inputs primarily include U.S. Treasury 
securities,  equity  securities,  and  Australian 
government and semi government securities.

Level  2  -  Quoted  prices  for  similar  instruments  in 
active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar 
instruments in markets that are not active; and inputs, 
other than quoted prices, that are observable in the 
marketplace  for  the  financial 
instrument.  The 
observable  inputs  are  used  in  valuation  models  to 
calculate the fair value of the financial instruments. 
Financial  assets  utilizing  Level  2  inputs  primarily 
include obligations of U.S. government corporations 
and  agencies,  corporate  bonds,  mortgage-backed 
securities, and certain municipal bonds.

The independent pricing sources used for our Level 
2 investments varies by type of investment See Note 
3  -  "Significant  Accounting  Policies"  for  further 
information on the independent pricing sources used.

-  Valuations  derived  from  valuation 
Level  3 
techniques in which one or more significant inputs or 
value drivers are unobservable or from par values for 
equity  securities  restricted  in  their  ability  to  be 
redeemed  or  sold.  Level  3  inputs  reflect  our  own 
assumptions  about  the  assumptions  a  market 
participant would use in pricing an asset or liability. 
Financial  assets  utilizing  Level  3  inputs  primarily 
include equity securities that can only be redeemed 
or sold at their par value and only to the security issuer 
and  certain  state  premium  tax  credit  investments. 
Our non-financial assets that are classified as Level 
3 securities consist of real estate acquired through 
claim  settlement.  The  fair  value  of  real  estate 
acquired  is  the  lower  of  our  acquisition  cost  or  a 
percentage of the appraised value. The percentage 
applied  to  the  appraised  value  is  based  upon  our 
historical  sales  experience  adjusted  for  current 
trends.

Unrealized losses and other-than-temporary 
impairment ("OTTI")
Each quarter we perform reviews of our investments 
in order to determine whether declines in fair value 
below  amortized  cost  were  considered  other-than-
temporary.  In  evaluating  whether  a  decline  in  fair 

Management's Discussion and Analysis

value  is  other-than-temporary,  we  consider  several 
factors including, but not limited to:

our intent to sell the security or whether it is 
more likely than not that we will be required to 
its 
sell  the  security  before  recovery  of 
amortized cost basis;

the present value of the discounted cash flows 
we  expect  to  collect  compared  to  the 
amortized cost basis of the security;

extent and duration of the decline;

failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest 
or principal payments;

change in rating below investment grade; and

adverse conditions specifically related to the 
security, an industry, or a geographic area.

Based  on  our  evaluation,  we  will  record  an  OTTI 
adjustment  on  a  security  if  we  intend  to  sell  the 
impaired security, if it is more likely than not that we 
will be required to sell the impaired security prior to 
recovery of its amortized cost basis, or if the present 
value  of  the  discounted  cash  flows  we  expect  to 
collect is less than the amortized costs basis of the 
security. If  the  fair  value  of  a  security  is  below  its 
amortized  cost at the time of our intent to sell, the 
is  classified  as  other-than-temporarily 
security 
impaired  and  the  full  amount  of  the  impairment  is 
recognized as a loss in the statement of operations. 
Otherwise, when a security is considered to be other-
than-temporarily impaired, the losses are separated 
into the portion of the loss that represents the credit 
loss; and the portion that is due to other factors. The 
credit  loss  portion  is  recognized  as  a  loss  in  the 
statement of operations, while the loss due to other 
in  accumulated  other 
factors 
comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes. A credit 
loss is determined to exist if the present value of the 
discounted cash flows, using the security’ s original 
yield,  expected  to be  collected  from the  security  is 
less than the cost basis of the security.

recognized 

is 

Fair Value Option
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 
2014, we did not elect the fair value option for any 
financial instruments acquired, or issued, such as our 
outstanding debt obligations, for which the primary 
basis of accounting is not fair value.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 47

GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS

/ A

ARMs
Adjustable rate mortgages

ABS
Asset-backed securities

ASC
Accounting Standards Codification

Available Assets

Assets, as designated under the PMIERs, that are 
readily  available  to  pay  claims,  and  include  the 
most liquid investments

/ B

operations 
(which  excludes  underwriting  and 
operating expenses of our non-insurance operations) 
to NPW

/ F

Fannie Mae 
Federal National Mortgage Association

FCRA
Fair Credit Reporting Act

FHA
Federal Housing Administration

FHFA
Federal Housing Finance Agency

Book or book year
A group of loans insured in a particular calendar year

FHLB
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, of which MGIC 
is a member

BPMI
Borrower-paid mortgage insurance

/ C

CECL
Current expected credit losses

CFPB
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

CLO
Collateralized loan obligations

CMBS
Commercial mortgage-backed securities

/ D

FICO score

A  measure  of  consumer  credit  risk  provided  by 
credit bureaus, typically produced from statistical 
models  by  Fair  Isaac  Corporation  utilizing  data 
collected by the credit bureaus

FOMC 
Federal Open Market Committee

Freddie Mac 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

/ G

GAAP 
Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles  in  the 
United States

DAC 
Deferred insurance policy acquisition costs

GSEs 
Collectively, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

/ E

ETFs 
Exchange traded funds

Expense ratio 
The  ratio,  expressed  as  a  percentage,  of  the 
underwriting  and  operating  expenses,  net  and 
amortization  of  DAC  of  our  combined  insurance 

48 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

/ H

HAMP
Home Affordable Modification Program

HARP
Home Affordable Refinance Program

HOPA
Homeowners Protection Act

/ I

IBNR
Losses incurred but not reported

IIF
Insurance in force, which for loans insured by us, is 
equal to the unpaid principal balance, as reported to 
us

/ J

JCT
Joint Committee on Taxation

/ L

LAE
Loss adjustment expenses

Legacy book
Mortgage insurance policies written prior to 2009 

Loan-to-value ("LTV") ratio
The  ratio, expressed  as  a  percentage,  of  the  dollar 
amount of the first mortgage loan to the value of the 
property  at  the  time  the  loan  became  insured  and 
reflect  subsequent  housing  price 
does  not 
appreciation or depreciation. Subordinate mortgages 
may also be present.

Long-term debt:

5.375% Notes
5.375% Senior Notes due on November 2, 2015, with 
interest  payable  semi-annually  on  May  1  and 
November 1 of each year.

5% Notes
5% Convertible Senior Notes due May 1, 2017, with 
interest  payable  semi-annually  on  May  1  and 
November 1 of each year

2% Notes
2% Convertible Senior Notes due on April 1, 2020, with 
interest payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 
1 of each year

5.75% Notes
5.75%  Senior  Notes  due  on  August  15,  2023,  with 
interest  payable  semi-annually  on  February  15  and 
August 15 of each year

Glossary

9% Debentures
9% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures due 
on April 1, 2063, with interest payable semi-annually 
on April 1 and October 1 of each year

FHLB Advance or the Advance
1.91%  Fixed  rate  advance  from  the  FHLB  due  on 
February 10, 2023, with interest payable monthly 

Loss ratio
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the sum of 
incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses to NPE

Low down payment loans or mortgages
Loans with less than 20% down payments

LPMI
Lender-paid mortgage insurance

/ M

MBA
Mortgage Bankers Association

MBS
Mortgage-backed securities

MD&A 
Management's discussion and analysis

MGIC 
Mortgage  Guaranty 
subsidiary of MGIC Investment Corporation

Insurance  Corporation,  a 

MIC 
MGIC Indemnity Corporation

Minimum Required Assets
The  greater  of  $400  million  or  the  total  of  the 
minimum amount of Available Assets that must be 
held under the PMIERs based upon a percentage of 
RIF weighted by certain risk attributes

MPP
Minimum  Policyholder  Position,  as  required  under 
“policyholder 
requirements.  The 
certain  state 
position” of  a  mortgage  insurer  is  its  net  worth  or 
surplus,  contingency  reserve  and  a  portion  of  the 
reserves for unearned premiums

/ N

N/A
Not applicable for the period presented

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 49

Glossary

NAIC
National 
The 
Commissioners

Association 

of 

Insurance 

NIW
New Insurance Written

/ R

REMIC
Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

RESPA
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

N/M
Data, or calculation, deemed not meaningful for the 
period presented

NPE 
The amount of premiums earned, net of premiums 
assumed and ceded under reinsurance agreements

NPL 
Non-performing loan, which is a delinquent loan, at 
any stage in its delinquency

RIF
Risk in force, which for an individual loan insured by 
us, is equal to the unpaid loan principal balance, as 
reported to us, multiplied by the insurance coverage 
percentage. RIF is sometimes referred to as exposure

Risk-to-capital
Under certain state regulations, the ratio of RIF, net of 
reinsurance  and  exposure  on  policies  currently  in 
default  and  for  which  loss  reserves  have  been 
established, to the level of statutory capital

NPW 
The amount of premiums written, net of premiums 
assumed and ceded under reinsurance agreements

RMBS
Residential mortgage-backed securities

/ O

OCI
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State 
of Wisconsin

/ S

SAP
Statutory accounting practices 

/ U

/ P

Persistency
The percentage of our insurance remaining in force 
from one year prior

PMI
Private Mortgage Insurance (as an industry or 
product type)

PMIERs
Private  Mortgage  Insurer  Eligibility  Requirements 
issued by the GSEs

Underwriting Expense Ratio
The  ratio,  expressed  as  a  percentage,  of  the 
underwriting  and  operating  expenses,  net  and 
amortization  of  DAC  of  our  combined  insurance 
(which  excludes  underwriting  and 
operations 
operating 
non-insurance 
our 
expenses 
subsidiaries) to NPW

of 

Underwriting profit
NPE minus incurred losses

USDA
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Premium Yield
The  ratio  of  NPE  divided  by  the  average  IIF 
outstanding for the period measured

/ V

VA
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

/ Q

QSR Transaction
Quota share reinsurance transaction

50 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Quantitative and Qualitative 
Disclosures About Market 
Risk

Our investment portfolio is essentially a fixed income 
portfolio  and  is  exposed  to  market  risk.  Important 
drivers of the market risk are credit spread risk and 
interest rate risk.

Credit spread risk is the risk that we will incur a loss 
due  to  adverse  changes  in  credit  spreads.  Credit 
spread  is  the  additional  yield  on  fixed  income 
(typically 
securities  above 
referenced as the yield on U.S. Treasury securities) 
that market participants require to compensate them 
for  assuming  credit,  liquidity  and/or  prepayment 
risks.

risk-free 

rate 

the 

We  manage  credit  risk  via  our  investment  policy 
guidelines which primarily place our investments in 
investment grade securities and limit the amount of 
our credit exposure to any one issue, issuer and type 
of instrument. 

Interest rate risk is the risk that we will incur a loss 
due to adverse changes in interest rates relative to 
the characteristics of our interest bearing assets.

One of the measures used to quantify interest rate 
this exposure is modified duration. Modified duration 
measures  the  price  sensitivity  of  the  assets  to  the 
changes  in  spreads.  At  December  31,  2016,  the 
modified  duration  of  our  fixed  income  investment 
portfolio  was  4.6  years,  which  means  that  an 
instantaneous parallel shift in the yield curve of 100 
basis points would result in a change of 4.6% in the 
fair value of our fixed income portfolio. For an upward 
shift in the yield curve, the fair value of our portfolio 
would decrease and for a downward shift in the yield 
curve, the fair value would increase. A discussion of 
portfolio  strategy  appears 
"Management's 
Discussion and Analysis –  Balance Sheet Analysis."

in 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 51

Risk Factors

As  used  below,  “we,” “our” and  “us” refer  to  MGIC 
Investment Corporation’ s consolidated operations or 
to  MGIC  Investment  Corporation,  as  the  context 
requires;  “MGIC”  refers  to  Mortgage  Guaranty 
Insurance  Corporation;  and  “MIC” refers  to  MGIC 
Indemnity Corporation.

Our actual results could be affected by the risk factors 
below. These risk factors are an integral part of this 
annual  report.  These  risk  factors  may  also  cause 
actual  results  to  differ  materially  from  the  results 
contemplated by forward looking statements that we 
may  make.  Forward  looking  statements  consist  of 
statements  which  relate  to  matters  other  than 
historical fact, including matters that inherently refer 
to  future  events.  Among  others,  statements  that 
include words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “will” or 
“expect,” or  words  of  similar  import,  are  forward 
looking  statements.  We  are  not  undertaking  any 
obligation to update any forward looking statements 
or other statements we may make even though these 
statements  may  be  affected  by  events  or 
circumstances  occurring  after  the  forward  looking 
statements  or  other  statements  were  made.  No 
reader  of  this  annual  report  should  rely  on  these 
statements being current at any time other than the 
time  at  which  this  annual  report  was  filed  with  the 
Securities and Exchange Commission.

Competition or changes in our relationships with our 
customers  could  reduce  our  revenues,  reduce  our 
premium yields and / or increase our losses.

Our private mortgage insurance competitors include:

•   Arch  Mortgage 

Insurance  Company,  which 
completed  its  acquisition  of  United  Guaranty 
Residential  Insurance  Company  in  the  fourth 
quarter of 2016,

•   Essent Guaranty, Inc.,

•   Genworth Mortgage Insurance Corporation,

•   National Mortgage Insurance Corporation, and

•   Radian Guaranty Inc.

The  private  mortgage  insurance  industry  is  highly 
competitive and is expected to remain so. We believe 
that  we  currently  compete  with  other  private 
mortgage  insurers  based  on  pricing,  underwriting 
requirements, financial strength (including based on 
credit  or  financial  strength  ratings),  customer 

52 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

relationships,  name  recognition,  reputation,  the 
strength  of  our  management  team  and  field 
organization,  the  ancillary  products  and  services 
provided to lenders (including contract underwriting 
services),  the  depth  of  our  databases  covering 
insured loans and the effective use of technology and 
innovation  in  the  delivery  and  servicing  of  our 
mortgage insurance products.

Much of the competition in the industry has centered 
on  pricing  practices  which,  in  the  last  few  years 
included:  (i) reductions  in  standard  filed  rates  on 
borrower-paid policies, (ii) use by certain competitors 
of a spectrum of filed rates to allow for formulaic, risk-
based pricing (commonly referred to as “black-box” 
pricing); and (iii) use of customized rates (discounted 
from published rates) on lender-paid, single premium 
policies.  The  willingness  of  mortgage  insurers  to 
offer  reduced  pricing  (through  filed  or  customized 
rates) has been met with an increased demand from 
various lenders for reduced rate products.  There can 
be  no  assurance  that  pricing  competition  will  not 
intensify further, which could result in a decrease in 
our new insurance written and/or returns.

In each of 2015 and 2016, approximately 5% of our 
new insurance written was for loans for which one 
lender was the original insured. Our relationships with 
our  customers  could  be  adversely  affected  by  a 
variety of factors, including if our premium rates are 
higher 
those  of  our  competitors,  our 
underwriting requirements result in our declining to 
insure some of the loans originated by our customers, 
or our insurance rescissions and curtailments affect 
the customer. 

than 

Substantially all of our insurance written since 2008 
has  been  for  loans  purchased  by  Fannie  Mae  and 
Freddie  Mac  (the  "GSEs").  The  current  private 
mortgage insurer eligibility requirements ("PMIERs") 
of the GSEs require a mortgage insurer to maintain a 
minimum  amount  of  assets  to  support  its  insured 
risk, as discussed in our risk factor titled “We may not 
continue to meet the GSEs’  private mortgage insurer 
eligibility requirements and our returns may decrease 
as we are required to maintain more capital in order to 
maintain our eligibility.” The PMIERs do not require an 
insurer  to  maintain  minimum  financial  strength 
ratings; however, our  financial  strength  ratings can 
affect us in the following ways:

•   A downgrade in our financial strength ratings could 
result 
increased  scrutiny  of  our  financial 
condition by our customers, potentially resulting in 

in 

a  decrease  in  the  amount  of  our  new  insurance 
written.

first  mortgage  with  a  90%,  95%  or  100%  loan-to-
value ratio that has private mortgage insurance.

Risk Factors

ratings 

for  our  mortgage 

•   Our ability to participate in the non-GSE mortgage 
market (which has been limited since the financial 
crisis, but may grow in the future), could depend on 
our ability to maintain and improve our investment 
insurance 
grade 
subsidiaries.  We 
competitively 
could 
disadvantaged  with  some  market  participants 
because  the  financial  strength  ratings  of  our 
insurance  subsidiaries  are  lower  than  those  of 
some competitors. MGIC's financial strength rating 
from Moody’ s is Baa3 (with a stable outlook) and 
from  Standard  &  Poor’ s is  BBB+  (with  a  stable 
outlook). 

be 

•   Financial strength ratings may also play a greater 
role if the GSEs no longer operate in their current 
capacities,  for  example,  due  to  legislative  or 
regulatory action. In addition, although the PMIERs 
do not require minimum financial strength ratings, 
the GSEs consider financial strength ratings to be 
forms  of  credit 
important  when  utilizing 
enhancement  other  than  traditional  mortgage 
insurance,  including  in  the  credit  risk  transfer 
offering  discussed  in  our  risk  factor  titled  "The 
amount  of  insurance we  write  could  be  adversely 
affected if lenders and investors select alternatives 
to private mortgage insurance." If we are unable to 
compete  effectively  in  the  current  or  any  future 
markets as a result of the financial strength ratings 
assigned to our insurance subsidiaries, our future 
new insurance written could be negatively affected.

The amount of insurance we write could be adversely 
affected if lenders and investors select alternatives 
to private mortgage insurance.

Alternatives to private mortgage insurance include:

•   lenders  using  FHA,  VA  and  other  government 

mortgage insurance programs,

•   lenders and other investors holding mortgages in 

portfolio and self-insuring,

•   investors  using  risk  mitigation  and  credit  risk 
transfer  techniques  other  than  private  mortgage 
insurance, and

•   lenders  originating  mortgages  using  piggyback 
structures  to  avoid  private  mortgage  insurance, 
such as a first mortgage with an 80% loan-to-value 
ratio and a second mortgage  with a 10%, 15% or 
20%  loan-to-value  ratio  (referred  to  as  80-10-10, 
80-15-5 or 80-20 loans, respectively) rather than a 

investors;  using  other 

Investors  (including  the  GSEs)  have  used  risk 
mitigation and credit risk transfer techniques other 
than private mortgage insurance, such as obtaining 
insurance from non-mortgage insurers, engaging in 
credit-linked note transactions executed in the capital 
markets, or using other forms of debt issuances or 
securitizations  that  transfer  credit  risk  directly  to 
risk  mitigation 
other 
techniques  in  conjunction  with  reduced  levels  of 
private mortgage  insurance coverage; or  accepting 
credit risk without credit enhancement. Although the 
risk  mitigation  and  credit  risk  transfer  techniques 
used by the GSEs in the past several years have not 
displaced  primary  mortgage  insurance,  we  cannot 
predict  the  impact  of  future  transactions.  In  the 
second half of 2016, the GSEs each launched a new 
credit  risk  transfer  offering  that  involved  forward 
credit  insurance  policies  written  by  a  panel  of 
mortgage insurance company affiliates, including an 
affiliate  of  MGIC.  The  policies  provide  additional 
coverage beyond the primary mortgage insurance on 
30-year  fixed-rate  mortgages  with  80-95%  loan-to-
value  ratios  ("LTVs").  It  is  difficult  to  predict  the 
amount  of  risk  that  will  be  insured  under  such 
transactions in the future. The amount of capital we 
have  allocated  to  this  pilot  program  and  the 
associated  premiums  are 
immaterial.  Future 
participation  in  credit risk  transfers will  need  to be 
evaluated  based  upon  the  terms  offered  and 
expected returns.

The FHA's share of the low down payment residential 
mortgages that were subject to FHA, VA or primary 
private mortgage insurance was an estimated 36.4% 
in  2016,  compared  to  40.4%  in  2015  and  33.9%  in 
2014. In the past ten years, the FHA’ s share has been 
as low as 15.5% in 2006 and as high as 70.8% in 2009. 
Factors that influence the FHA’ s market share include 
relative rates and fees, underwriting guidelines and 
loan limits of the FHA, VA, private mortgage insurers 
and  the  GSEs;  lenders'  perceptions  of  legal  risks 
under  FHA  versus  GSE  programs;  flexibility  for  the 
FHA to establish new products as a result of federal 
legislation  and  programs;  returns  expected  to  be 
obtained by lenders for Ginnie Mae securitization of 
FHA-insured loans compared to those obtained from 
selling  loans  to  Fannie  Mae  or  Freddie  Mac  for 
securitization; and differences in policy terms, such 
as  the  ability  of  a  borrower  to  cancel  insurance 
coverage  under  certain  circumstances.  In  January 
2017,  the  FHA  announced  a  significant  premium 
Presidential 
reduction, 
the 
administration  suspended 
reduction 
indefinitely.  We cannot predict how the factors that 

however, 

new 

rate 

the 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 53

Risk Factors

affect the FHA’ s share of new insurance written will 
change in the future. 

coverage  and,  if  so,  any  transactions  that  are 
related to that selection,

The VA's share of the low down payment residential 
mortgages that were subject to FHA, VA or primary 
private mortgage insurance was an estimated 27.3% 
in  2016,  compared  to  24.6%  in  2015  and  25.4%  in 
2014. The VA’ s 2016 market share was its highest in 
the past ten years and its lowest market share in the 
past ten years was 5.4% in 2007. We believe that the 
VA’ s market  share  has  generally  been  increasing 
because the VA offers 100% LTV loans and charges 
a one-time funding fee that can be included in the loan 
amount  but  no  additional  monthly  expense,  and 
because of an increase in the number of borrowers 
who are eligible for the VA’ s program.

Changes  in  the  business  practices  of  the  GSEs, 
federal  legislation  that  changes  their  charters  or  a 
restructuring of the GSEs could reduce our revenues 
or increase our losses.

The  GSEs’   charters  generally 
require  credit 
enhancement for a low down payment mortgage loan 
(a loan amount that exceeds 80% of a home’ s value) 
in order for such loan to be eligible for purchase by 
the  GSEs.  Lenders  generally  have  used  private 
this  credit 
mortgage 
enhancement  requirement  and  low  down  payment 
mortgages  purchased  by  the  GSEs  generally  are 
insured with private mortgage insurance. As a result, 
the business practices of the GSEs greatly impact our 
business and include:

to  satisfy 

insurance 

•   private mortgage insurer eligibility requirements of 
the  GSEs  (for  information  about  the  financial 
requirements included in the PMIERs, see our risk 
factor titled “We may not continue to meet the GSEs’  
private  mortgage  insurer  eligibility  requirements 
and our returns may decrease as we are required to 
maintain  more  capital  in  order  to  maintain  our 
eligibility”),

•   the level of private mortgage insurance coverage, 
subject  to  the  limitations  of  the  GSEs’  charters 
(which  may  be  changed  by  federal  legislation), 
when  private  mortgage  insurance is  used  as  the 
required credit enhancement on low down payment 
mortgages,

•   the  amount  of  loan  level  price  adjustments  and 
guaranty  fees  (which  result  in  higher  costs  to 
borrowers)  that  the  GSEs  assess  on  loans  that 
require private mortgage insurance,

•   whether the GSEs influence the mortgage lender’ s 
insurer  providing 

selection  of  the  mortgage 

54 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

•   the  underwriting  standards that  determine  which 
loans are eligible for purchase by the GSEs, which 
can  affect  the  quality  of  the  risk  insured  by  the 
mortgage insurer and the availability of mortgage 
loans,

•   the terms on which mortgage insurance coverage 
can be canceled before reaching the cancellation 
thresholds established by law,

•   the programs established by the GSEs intended to 
avoid or mitigate loss on insured mortgages  and 
the  circumstances  in  which  mortgage  servicers 
must implement such programs,

•   the terms that the GSEs require to be included in 
mortgage  insurance  policies  for  loans  that  they 
purchase,

•   the terms on which the GSEs offer lenders relief on 
their representations and warranties made at the 
time of sale of a loan to the GSEs, which creates 
pressure  on  mortgage 
insurers  to  limit  their 
rescission rights to conform to such relief, and the 
extent  to  which  the  GSEs  intervene  in  mortgage 
insurers’   rescission  practices  or 
rescission 
settlement practices with lenders, and

•   the maximum loan limits of the GSEs in comparison 

to those of the FHA and other investors.

The  Federal Housing  Finance  Agency  (“FHFA”) has 
been the conservator of the GSEs since 2008 and has 
the  authority  to control and  direct their  operations. 
The increased role that the federal government has 
assumed in the residential housing finance system 
through the GSE conservatorship may increase the 
likelihood  that  the  business  practices  of  the  GSEs 
change in ways that have a material adverse effect 
on us and that the charters of the GSEs are changed 
by new federal legislation. In the past, members of 
Congress  have  introduced  several bills  intended  to 
change the business practices of the GSEs and the 
FHA; however, no legislation has been enacted. The 
new  Presidential  administration  has  indicated  that 
the conservatorship of the GSEs should end; however, 
it is unclear whether and when that would occur and 
how that would impact us. As a result of the matters 
referred to above, it is uncertain what role the GSEs, 
FHA and private capital, including private mortgage 
insurance, will play in the residential housing finance 
system  in  the  future  or  the  impact  of  any  such 
changes on our business. In addition, the timing of 
the impact of any resulting changes on our business 
is uncertain. Most meaningful changes would require 

Congressional action to implement and it is difficult 
to estimate when Congressional action would be final 
and  how  long  any  associated  phase-in  period  may 
last.

We  may  not  continue  to  meet  the  GSEs’  private 
mortgage  insurer  eligibility  requirements  and  our 
returns may decrease as we are required to maintain 
more capital in order to maintain our eligibility.

We  must  comply  with  the  PMIERs  to  be  eligible  to 
insure  loans  purchased  by  the  GSEs.  The  PMIERs 
include financial requirements, as well as business, 
quality  control  and  certain  transaction  approval 
requirements.  The  financial  requirements  of  the 
PMIERs  require  a  mortgage  insurer’ s  “Available 
Assets” (generally only the most liquid assets of an 
insurer)  to  equal  or  exceed  its  “Minimum Required 
Assets” (which are based on an insurer’ s book and 
are calculated from tables of factors with several risk 
dimensions and are subject to a floor amount). Based 
on our interpretation of the PMIERs, as of December 
31, 2016, MGIC’ s Available Assets are $4.7 billion and 
its Minimum Required Assets are $4.1 billion. MGIC 
is  in  compliance  with  the  PMIERs  and  eligible  to 
insure loans purchased by the GSEs. 

If  MGIC  ceases  to  be  eligible  to  insure  loans 
purchased  by  one  or  both  of  the  GSEs,  it  would 
significantly reduce the volume of our new business 
writings. Factors that may negatively impact MGIC’ s 
ability  to  continue  to  comply  with  the  financial 
requirements of the PMIERs include the following:

•   The GSEs could make the PMIERs more onerous in 
the future; in this regard, the PMIERs provide that 
the  tables  of  factors  that  determine  Minimum 
Required Assets will be updated every two years 
and  may  be  updated  more  frequently  to  reflect 
changes  in  macroeconomic  conditions  or  loan 
performance.  The  GSEs  will  provide  notice  180 
days prior to the effective date of table updates. In 
addition, the GSEs may amend the PMIERs at any 
time.

•   The  GSEs  may  reduce  the  amount  of  credit  they 
allow under the PMIERs for the risk ceded under 
our quota share reinsurance transaction. The GSEs’  
ongoing approval of that transaction is subject to 
several  conditions  and  the  transaction  will  be 
reviewed under the PMIERs at least annually by the 
GSEs. For more information about the transaction, 
see our risk factor titled “The mix of business we 
write affects our Minimum Required Assets under 
the PMIERs, our premium yields and the likelihood 
of losses occurring.”

Risk Factors

•   Our  future  operating  results  may  be  negatively 
impacted by the matters discussed in the rest of 
these risk factors. Such matters could decrease our 
revenues, increase our losses or require the use of 
assets,  thereby  creating  a  shortfall  in  Available 
Assets.

•   Should  capital  be  needed  by  MGIC  in  the  future, 
capital  contributions  from  our  holding  company 
may not be available due to competing demands 
on  holding  company  resources,  including  for 
repayment of debt.

While  on  an  overall basis,  the  amount  of  Available 
Assets MGIC must hold in order to continue to insure 
GSE  loans  increased  under  the  PMIERs  over  what 
state  regulation  currently  requires,  our  reinsurance 
transaction  mitigates  the  negative  effect  of  the 
PMIERs on our returns. In this regard, see the second 
bullet point above.

The benefit of our net operating loss carryforwards 
may become substantially limited.

As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately $1.5 
billion of net operating losses for tax purposes that 
we can use in certain circumstances to offset future 
taxable income and thus reduce our federal income 
tax 
liability.  Any  unutilized  carryforwards  are 
scheduled  to  expire  at  the  end  of  tax  years  2030 
through 2033. Our ability to utilize these net operating 
losses  to  offset  future  taxable  income  may  be 
significantly limited if we experience an “ownership 
change” as  defined  in  Section  382  of  the  Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In 
general, an ownership change will occur if there is a 
cumulative  change  in  our  ownership  by  “5-percent 
shareholders” (as defined in the Code) that exceeds 
50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. 
A corporation that experiences an ownership change 
will generally be subject to an annual limitation on the 
corporation’ s subsequent use of net operating loss 
carryovers  that  arose  from  pre-ownership  change 
periods  and  use  of  losses  that  are  subsequently 
recognized with respect to assets that had a built-in-
loss  on  the  date  of  the  ownership  change.  The 
amount of the annual limitation generally equals the 
fair value of the corporation immediately before the 
ownership  change  multiplied  by  the  long-term  tax-
exempt interest rate (subject to certain adjustments). 
To the extent that the limitation in a post-ownership-
change  year  is  not  fully  utilized,  the  amount  of  the 
limitation for the succeeding year will be increased.

While we have adopted our Amended and Restated 
Rights  Agreement  to  minimize  the  likelihood  of 
transactions in our stock resulting in an ownership 
change, future issuances of equity-linked securities 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 55

Risk Factors

or  transactions 
in  our  stock  and  equity-linked 
securities  that  may  not  be  within  our  control  may 
cause us to experience an ownership change. If we 
experience an ownership change, we may not be able 
to fully  utilize our  net  operating losses,  resulting in 
additional  income  taxes  and  a  reduction  in  our 
shareholders’  equity.

As of December 31, 2016, our deferred tax asset is 
recorded at $607.7 million, which relates primarily to 
the future tax effects of our prior year net operating 
losses expected to be carried forward to offset future 
taxable income. A decrease in the federal statutory 
income tax rate will result in a one-time reduction in 
the  amount  at  which  our  deferred  tax  asset  is 
recorded, thereby reducing our net income and book 
value  in  that  period;  however, such  a  decrease  will 
also  reduce  our  effective  income  tax  rate,  thereby 
increasing net income in future periods.

We are involved in legal proceedings and are subject 
to  the  risk  of  additional  legal  proceedings  in  the 
future.

Before paying an insurance claim, we review the loan 
and servicing files to determine the appropriateness 
of the claim amount. When reviewing the files, we may 
determine that we have the right to rescind coverage 
on the loan. In our SEC reports, we refer to insurance 
rescissions  and  denials  of  claims  collectively  as 
“rescissions” and variations of that term. In addition, 
all  of  our  insurance  policies  provide  that  we  can 
reduce or deny a claim if the servicer did not comply 
with  its  obligations  under  our  insurance policy. We 
call such reduction of claims “curtailments.” In recent 
quarters,  an 
immaterial  percentage  of  claims 
in  a  quarter  have  been  resolved  by 
received 
rescissions.  In 2015 and 2016, curtailments reduced 
our  average claim  paid  by  approximately  6.7%  and 
5.5%, respectively.  

Our  loss  reserving  methodology  incorporates  our 
estimates  of  future  rescissions,  curtailments,  and 
reversals of rescissions and curtailments. A variance 
between ultimate actual rescission, curtailment and 
reversal rates and our estimates, as a result of the 
outcome  of  litigation,  settlements  or  other  factors, 
could materially affect our losses.

When  the  insured  disputes  our  right  to  rescind 
coverage  or  curtail  claims,  we  generally  engage  in 
discussions in an attempt to settle the dispute.  If we 
are unable to reach a settlement, the outcome of a 
dispute  ultimately  would  be  determined  by  legal 
proceedings.

Under  ASC  450-20,  until  a  liability  associated  with 
legal  proceedings 
settlement  discussions  or 

56 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated, 
we consider our claim payment or rescission resolved 
for financial reporting purposes and do not accrue an 
estimated loss. Where we have determined that a loss 
is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we have 
recorded our best estimate of our probable loss. If we 
are not able to implement settlements we consider 
probable,  we  intend  to  defend  MGIC  vigorously 
against any related legal proceedings.

In addition to matters for which we have recorded a 
probable loss, we are involved in other discussions 
and/or proceedings with insureds with respect to our 
claims  paying  practices.  Although  it  is  reasonably 
possible that when these matters are resolved we will 
not  prevail  in  all  cases,  we  are  unable  to  make  a 
reasonable  estimate  or  range  of  estimates  of  the 
potential 
the  maximum 
exposure  associated  with  matters  where  a  loss  is 
reasonably  possible  to  be  approximately  $295 
million,  although  we  believe  (but  can  give  no 
assurance  that)  we  will  ultimately  resolve  these 
matters for significantly less than this amount. This 
estimate of our maximum exposure does not include 
interest or consequential or exemplary damages.

liability.  We  estimate 

insurers, 

Mortgage 
including  MGIC,  have  been 
involved in litigation and regulatory actions related to 
alleged violations of the anti-referral fee provisions of 
the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, which is 
commonly  known  as  RESPA,  and  the  notice 
provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which is 
commonly known as FCRA.  While these proceedings 
in the aggregate have not resulted in material liability 
for MGIC, there can be no assurance that the outcome 
of future proceedings under these laws, if any, would 
not have a material adverse affect on us. In addition, 
various 
the  CFPB,  state 
including 
insurance  commissioners  and  state  attorneys 
general  may  bring  other  actions  seeking  various 
forms of relief in connection with alleged violations 
of  RESPA.  The  insurance  law  provisions  of  many 
states  prohibit  paying  for  the  referral  of  insurance 
business and provide various mechanisms to enforce 
this prohibition. While we believe our practices are in 
conformity with applicable laws and regulations, it is 
not possible to predict the eventual scope, duration 
or outcome of any such reviews or investigations nor 
is  it  possible  to  predict  their  effect  on  us  or  the 
mortgage insurance industry.

regulators, 

In  addition  to  the  matters  described  above, we  are 
involved  in  other  legal  proceedings  in  the  ordinary 
course of business. In our opinion, based on the facts 
known at this time, the ultimate resolution of these 
ordinary  course  legal  proceedings  will  not  have  a 
material adverse effect on our financial position or 
results of operations.

We are subject to comprehensive regulation and other 
requirements, which we may fail to satisfy.

We are subject to comprehensive, detailed regulation 
by  state  insurance departments.  These  regulations 
are  principally  designed  for  the  protection  of  our 
insured policyholders, rather than for the benefit of 
investors.  Although 
their  scope  varies,  state 
insurance  laws  generally  grant  broad  supervisory 
powers to agencies or officials to examine insurance 
companies and enforce rules or exercise discretion 
affecting  almost  every  significant  aspect  of  the 
insurance  business.  State 
insurance  regulatory 
authorities could take actions, including changes in 
capital  requirements,  that  could  have  a  material 
adverse  effect  on  us.  For  more  information  about 
state capital requirements, see our risk factor titled 
“State  capital  requirements  may  prevent  us  from 
continuing to write new insurance on an uninterrupted 
basis.” To the extent that we are construed to make 
independent credit decisions in connection with our 
contract  underwriting  activities,  we  also  could  be 
subject to increased regulatory requirements under 
the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, commonly known 
as  ECOA,  the  FCRA,  and  other  laws.  In  addition  to 
regulation  by  state  insurance  regulators,  the  CFPB 
may issue additional rules or regulations, which may 
materially affect our business.

In  December  2013,  the  U.S. Treasury Department’ s 
Federal Insurance Office released a report that calls 
for  federal  standards  and  oversight  for  mortgage 
insurers  to  be  developed  and  implemented.  It  is 
uncertain what form the standards and oversight will 
take and when they will become effective.

Resolution of our dispute with the Internal Revenue 
Service could adversely affect us.

The  Internal  Revenue  Service  (“IRS”)  completed 
examinations  of  our  federal income  tax  returns for 
the  years  2000  through 2007  and  issued  proposed 
assessments for taxes, interest and penalties related 
to our treatment of the flow-through income and loss 
from an investment in a portfolio of residual interests 
of  Real  Estate  Mortgage 
Investment  Conduits 
(“REMICs”). The IRS indicated that it did not believe 
that,  for  various  reasons,  we  had  established 
sufficient tax basis in the REMIC residual interests to 
deduct the losses from taxable income. We appealed 
these  assessments  within  the  IRS  and  in  August 
2010, we reached a tentative settlement agreement 
with the IRS which was not finalized.

In  2014,  we 
received  Notices  of  Deficiency 
(commonly referred to as “90 day letters”) covering 
the 2000-2007 tax years. The Notices of Deficiency 
reflect  taxes  and  penalties  related  to  the  REMIC 

Risk Factors

matters of $197.5 million and at December 31, 2016, 
there would also be interest related to these matters 
of approximately $200.6 million. In 2007, we made a 
payment  of  $65.2  million  to  the  United  States 
Department  of  the  Treasury  which  will  reduce  any 
amounts  we  would  ultimately  owe. The  Notices  of 
Deficiency  also  reflect  additional  amounts  due  of 
$261.4  million,  which  are primarily  associated  with 
the  disallowance  of  the  carryback  of  the  2009  net 
operating loss to the 2004-2007 tax years. We believe 
the  IRS  included  the  carryback  adjustments  as  a 
precaution to keep open the statute of limitations on 
collection of the tax that was refunded when this loss 
was carried back, and not because the IRS actually 
intends  to  disallow  the  carryback  permanently. 
Depending on the outcome of this matter, additional 
state income taxes and state interest may become 
due  when  a  final  resolution  is  reached.  As  of 
December  31,  2016,  those  state  taxes  and  interest 
would  approximate $50.7 million. In  addition,  there 
could also be state tax penalties. Our total amount of 
unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2016 
is $108.2 million, which represents the tax benefits 
generated by the REMIC portfolio included in our tax 
returns  that  we  have  not  taken  benefit  for  in  our 
financial statements, including any related interest. 

We filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court contesting 
most of the IRS’  proposed adjustments reflected in 
the Notices of Deficiency and the IRS filed an answer 
to our petition which continued to assert their claim. 
The case has twice been scheduled for trial and in 
each instance, the parties  jointly filed, and the U.S. 
Tax Court approved (most recently in February 2016), 
motions for continuance to postpone the trial date. 
Also in February 2016, the U.S. Tax Court approved a 
joint  motion  to  consolidate  for  trial,  briefing,  and 
opinion, our case with similar cases of Radian Group, 
Inc.,  as  successor  to  Enhance  Financial  Services 
Group,  Inc.,  et  al.  In  January  2017,  the  parties 
informed the Tax Court that they had reached a basis 
for settlement of the major issues in the case. Any 
agreed settlement terms will ultimately be subject to 
review by the Joint Committee on Taxation (“JCT”) 
before a settlement can be completed and there is no 
assurance that a settlement will be completed. Based 
on information that we currently have regarding the 
status of our ongoing dispute, we expect to record a 
provision for additional taxes and interest of $15-25 
million in the first quarter of 2017.

Should  a  settlement  not  be  completed,  ongoing 
litigation to resolve our dispute with the IRS could be 
lengthy and costly in terms of legal fees and related 
expenses.  We  would  need 
further 
adjustments,  which  could  be  material,  to  our  tax 
provision and liabilities if our view of the probability 
of success in this matter changes, and the ultimate 

to  make 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 57

Risk Factors

resolution  of  this  matter  could  have  a  material 
negative impact on our effective tax rate, results of 
operations, cash flows, available assets and statutory 
capital. In this regard, see our risk factors titled “We 
may not continue to meet the GSEs’  private mortgage 
insurer  eligibility  requirements  and  our  returns  may 
decrease as we are required to maintain more capital 
in order to maintain our eligibility” and “State capital 
requirements may prevent us from continuing to write 
new insurance on an uninterrupted basis.”

Because we establish loss reserves only upon a loan 
default rather than based on estimates of our ultimate 
losses  on  risk 
losses  may  have  a 
disproportionate  adverse  effect  on  our  earnings  in 
certain periods.

in  force, 

In  accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally 
accepted in the United States, commonly referred to 
as GAAP, we establish reserves for insurance losses 
and loss adjustment expenses only when notices of 
default on insured mortgage loans are received and 
for  loans  we  estimate  are  in  default  but  for  which 
notices of default have not yet been reported to us by 
the  servicers  (this  is  often  referred  to  as  “IBNR”). 
Because our reserving method does not take account 
of  losses  that  could  occur  from  loans  that  are  not 
delinquent,  such  losses  are  not  reflected  in  our 
financial  statements,  except  in  the  case  where  a 
premium deficiency exists. As a result, future losses 
on loans that are not currently delinquent may have 
a  material  impact  on  future  results as  such  losses 
emerge.

Because  loss  reserve  estimates  are  subject  to 
uncertainties,  paid  claims  may  be  substantially 
different than our loss reserves.

rescissions 

curtailments. 

When we establish reserves, we estimate the ultimate 
loss on delinquent loans using estimated claim rates 
and claim amounts. The estimated claim rates and 
claim amounts represent our best estimates of what 
we will actually pay on the loans in default as of the 
reserve date and incorporate anticipated mitigation 
from 
The 
and 
establishment of loss reserves is subject to inherent 
uncertainty and requires judgment by management. 
The  actual  amount  of  the  claim  payments  may  be 
substantially  different 
reserve 
estimates. Our estimates could be affected by several 
factors,  including  a  change  in  regional  or  national 
economic conditions, and a change in the length of 
time loans are delinquent before claims are received. 
The  change  in  conditions  may  include  changes  in 
unemployment,  affecting  borrowers’   income  and 
thus  their  ability  to  make  mortgage  payments,  and 
changes 
in  housing  values,  which  may  affect 
borrower willingness to continue to make mortgage 

than  our 

loss 

58 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

payments when the value of the home is below the 
mortgage balance. Changes to our estimates could 
have a material impact on our future results, even in 
a  stable  economic  environment. 
In  addition, 
historically, losses incurred have followed a seasonal 
trend in which the second half of the year has weaker 
credit performance than the first half, with higher new 
default notice activity and a lower cure rate. 

We rely on our management team and our business 
could be harmed if we are unable to retain qualified 
personnel or successfully develop and/or recruit their 
replacements.

Our success depends, in part, on the skills, working 
relationships  and  continued  services  of  our 
management  team  and  other  key  personnel.  The 
unexpected  departure  of  key  personnel  could 
adversely affect the conduct of our business. In such 
event, we would be required to obtain other personnel 
to manage and operate our business. In addition, we 
will  be  required  to  replace  the  knowledge  and 
expertise  of  our  aging  workforce  as  our  workers 
retire. In either case, there can be no assurance that 
we  would  be  able  to  develop  or  recruit  suitable 
replacements  for  the  departing  individuals;  that 
replacements could be hired, if necessary, on terms 
that are favorable to us; or that we can successfully 
transition such replacements in a timely manner. We 
currently  have  not  entered  into  any  employment 
agreements  with  our  officers  or  key  personnel. 
Volatility or  lack  of  performance  in  our  stock  price 
may affect our ability to retain our key personnel or 
attract  replacements  should  key  personnel  depart. 
Without a properly skilled and experienced workforce, 
our costs, including productivity costs and costs to 
replace  employees  may  increase,  and  this  could 
negatively impact our earnings.

Loan  modification  and  other  similar  programs may 
not continue to provide substantial benefits to us.

The federal government, including through the U.S. 
Department of the Treasury and the GSEs, and several 
lenders have modification and refinance programs to 
make  loans  more  affordable  to  borrowers  with  the 
goal of reducing the number of foreclosures. These 
programs include the Home Affordable Modification 
Program  (“HAMP”)  and  the  Home  Affordable 
Refinance Program (“HARP”). During 2015 and 2016, 
we  were  notified  of  modifications  that  cured 
delinquencies  that  had  they  become  paid  claims 
would have resulted in approximately $0.6 billion and 
respectively,  of  estimated  claim 
$0.5  billion, 
payments. These levels are down from a high of $3.2 
billion in 2010.

HAMP expired at the end of 2016 and although HARP 
has  been  extended  through  September  2017,we 
believe  that  we  have  realized  the  majority  of  the 
benefits from that program because the number of 
loans insured by us that we are aware are entering 
that program has decreased significantly. The GSEs 
have introduced the "Flex Modification" program to 
replace  HAMP  effective  in  October  2017.  Until  it 
becomes effective, loan servicers must still evaluate 
borrowers for other GSE modification programs.

We cannot determine the total benefit we may derive 
from loan modification programs, particularly given 
the  uncertainty  around  the  re-default  rates  for 
defaulted  loans  that  have  been  modified.  Our  loss 
reserves do not account for potential re-defaults of 
current loans. 

If the volume of low down payment home mortgage 
originations declines, the amount of insurance that 
we write could decline.

The  factors  that  affect  the  volume  of  low  down 
payment mortgage originations include:

•   restrictions  on  mortgage  credit  due  to  more 
stringent underwriting standards, liquidity issues or 
requirements 
risk-retention 
affecting lenders,

capital 

and/or 

•   the level of home mortgage interest rates and the 
deductibility  of  mortgage  interest  or  mortgage 
insurance premiums for income tax purposes,

•   the  health  of  the  domestic  economy  as  well  as 
conditions in regional and local economies and the 
level of consumer confidence,

•   housing affordability,

•   population trends, including the rate of household 

formation,

•   the rate of home price appreciation, which in times 
of heavy refinancing can affect whether refinanced 
loans have loan-to-value ratios that require private 
mortgage insurance, and

•   government housing  policy  encouraging loans  to 

first-time homebuyers.

A decline in the volume of low down payment home 
mortgage  originations  could  decrease  demand  for 
mortgage insurance and decrease our new insurance 
written  .  For  other  factors  that  could  decrease  the 
demand for mortgage insurance, see our risk factor 
titled  “The amount  of  insurance  we  write  could  be 

Risk Factors

adversely  affected  if  lenders  and  investors  select 
alternatives to private mortgage insurance.”

State  capital  requirements  may  prevent  us  from 
continuing to write new insurance on an uninterrupted 
basis.

The  insurance  laws  of  16  jurisdictions,  including 
Wisconsin, our domiciliary state, require a mortgage 
insurer to maintain a minimum amount of statutory 
capital  relative  to  its  risk  in  force  (or  a  similar 
measure)  in  order  for  the  mortgage  insurer  to 
continue  to  write  new  business.  We  refer  to  these 
requirements  as  the  “State Capital  Requirements.” 
While  they  vary  among  jurisdictions,  the  most 
common  State  Capital  Requirements  allow  for  a 
maximum  risk-to-capital  ratio  of  25  to  1.  A  risk-to-
capital  ratio  will  increase  if  (i)  the  percentage 
decrease in capital exceeds the percentage decrease 
in  insured  risk,  or  (ii)  the  percentage  increase  in 
capital is less than the percentage increase in insured 
risk. Wisconsin does not regulate capital by using a 
risk-to-capital  measure  but 
instead  requires  a 
(“MPP”).  The 
minimum  policyholder  position 
“policyholder position” of a mortgage insurer is its net 
worth or surplus, contingency reserve and a portion 
of the reserves for unearned premiums.

At  December  31,  2016,  MGIC’ s risk-to-capital  ratio 
was  10.7  to 1,  below  the  maximum  allowed  by the 
jurisdictions with State Capital Requirements, and its 
policyholder  position  was  $1.6  billion  above  the 
required MPP of $1.1 billion. In calculating our risk-
to-capital ratio and MPP, we are allowed full credit for 
the risk ceded under our reinsurance transaction with 
a group of unaffiliated reinsurers. It is possible that 
under  the  revised  State  Capital  Requirements 
discussed below, MGIC will not be allowed full credit 
for  the  risk  ceded  to  the  reinsurers.  If  MGIC  is  not 
allowed an agreed level of credit under either the State 
Capital  Requirements  or  the  PMIERs,  MGIC  may 
terminate  the  reinsurance  transaction,  without 
penalty. At this time, we expect MGIC to continue to 
comply with the current State Capital Requirements; 
however, you should read the rest of these risk factors 
for information about matters that could negatively 
affect such compliance.

At December 31, 2016, the risk-to-capital ratio of our 
combined  insurance  operations  (which  includes  a 
reinsurance  affiliate)  was  12.0  to  1.  Reinsurance 
transactions with our affiliate permit MGIC to write 
insurance with a higher coverage percentage than it 
its  own  under  certain  state-specific 
could  on 
requirements.  A  higher  risk-to-capital  ratio  on  a 
combined basis may indicate that, in order for MGIC 
to continue to utilize reinsurance arrangements with 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 59

Risk Factors

reinsurance 

its 
contributions to the affiliate could be needed.

additional 

affiliate, 

capital 

The NAIC it plans to revise the minimum capital and 
surplus requirements for mortgage insurers that are 
provided  for  in  its  Mortgage  Guaranty  Insurance 
Model  Act.  In  May  2016,  a  working  group  of  state 
regulators released an exposure draft of a risk-based 
capital framework to establish capital requirements 
for  mortgage  insurers,  although  no  date  has  been 
established  by  which  the  NAIC  must  propose 
revisions to the capital requirements. We continue to 
evaluate the  impact  of  the  framework contained  in 
the exposure draft, including the potential impact of 
certain  items  that  have  not  yet  been  completely 
addressed  by  the  framework  which  include:  the 
treatment of ceded risk, minimum capital floors, and 
action  level  triggers.  Currently  we  believe  that  the 
restrictive  capital 
the  more 
PMIERs  contain 
requirements in most circumstances.

While  MGIC  currently  meets  the  State  Capital 
Requirements  of  Wisconsin  and  all  other 
jurisdictions, it could be prevented from writing new 
business in the future in all jurisdictions if it fails to 
meet the State Capital Requirements of Wisconsin, 
or it could be prevented from writing new business in 
a  particular  jurisdiction  if  it  fails  to  meet  the  State 
Capital Requirements of that jurisdiction, and in each 
case  MGIC  does  not  obtain  a  waiver  of  such 
requirements. It is possible that regulatory action by 
one or more jurisdictions, including those that do not 
have  specific  State  Capital  Requirements,  may 
prevent MGIC from continuing to write new insurance 
in  such  jurisdictions.  If  we  are  unable  to  write 
business in all jurisdictions, lenders may be unwilling 
to procure insurance from us anywhere. In addition, 
a  lender’ s assessment  of  the  future  ability  of  our 
insurance  operations  to  meet  the  State  Capital 
Requirements  or 
its 
willingness  to  procure  insurance  from  us.  In  this 
regard,  see  our  risk  factor  titled  “Competition  or 
changes in our relationships with our customers could 
reduce our revenues, reduce our premium yields and/
or increase our losses.” A possible future failure by 
MGIC to meet the State Capital Requirements or the 
PMIERs  will  not  necessarily  mean  that  MGIC  lacks 
sufficient  resources to pay claims  on  its  insurance 
liabilities.  While  we  believe  MGIC  has  sufficient 
claims paying resources to meet its claim obligations 
on its insurance in force on a timely basis, you should 
read  the  rest  of  these  risk  factors  for  information 
about  matters  that  could  negatively  affect  MGIC’ s 
claims paying resources.

the  PMIERs  may  affect 

60 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Downturns  in  the  domestic  economy  or  declines  in 
the value of borrowers’  homes from their value at the 
time  their 
in  more 
loans  closed  may  result 
homeowners  defaulting  and  our  losses  increasing, 
with a corresponding decrease in our returns.

Losses result from events that reduce a borrower’ s 
ability or willingness to continue to make mortgage 
payments,  such  as  unemployment,  health  issues, 
family status, and whether the home of a borrower 
who  defaults  on  his  mortgage  can  be  sold  for  an 
amount that will cover unpaid principal and interest 
and  the  expenses  of  the  sale.  In  general, favorable 
economic  conditions  reduce  the  likelihood  that 
borrowers  will  lack  sufficient  income  to  pay  their 
mortgages  and  also  favorably  affect  the  value  of 
homes,  thereby  reducing  and  in  some  cases  even 
eliminating  a  loss  from  a  mortgage  default.  A 
deterioration  in  economic  conditions,  including  an 
increase  in  unemployment,  generally  increases  the 
likelihood  that  borrowers  will  not  have  sufficient 
income to pay their mortgages and can also adversely 
affect housing values, which in turn can influence the 
willingness of borrowers with sufficient resources to 
make  mortgage  payments  to  do  so  when  the 
mortgage  balance  exceeds  the  value  of  the  home. 
Housing  values  may  decline  even  absent  a 
deterioration in economic conditions due to declines 
in demand for homes, which in turn may result from 
changes  in  buyers’  perceptions  of  the  potential  for 
future  appreciation,  restrictions  on  and  the  cost  of 
mortgage credit due to more stringent underwriting 
standards, higher interest rates generally, changes to 
the  deductibility  of  mortgage  interest  or  mortgage 
insurance  premiums  for  income  tax  purposes,  or 
other  factors.  Changes 
in  housing  values  and 
inherently  difficult  to 
unemployment 
forecast given the uncertainty in the current market 
environment, including uncertainty  about the effect 
of actions the federal government has taken and may 
take with respect to tax policies, mortgage  finance 
programs and policies, and housing finance reform.

levels  are 

The mix of business we write affects our Minimum 
Required  Assets  under  the  PMIERs,  our  premium 
yields and the likelihood of losses occurring.

The Minimum Required Assets under the PMIERs are, 
in part, a function of the direct risk-in-force and the 
risk profile of the loans we insure, considering loan-
to-value ratio, credit score, vintage, HARP status and 
delinquency  status;  and  whether  the  loans  were 
insured  under 
insurance 
policies  or  other  policies  that  are  not  subject  to 
automatic 
the 
Homeowners  Protection  Act 
requirements  for 
borrower paid mortgage insurance. Therefore, if our 
direct  risk-in-force  increases  through  increases  in 

lender-paid  mortgage 

consistent  with 

termination 

new  insurance  written,  or  if  our  mix  of  business 
changes  to  include  loans  with  higher  loan-to-value 
ratios  or  lower  FICO  scores,  for  example,  or  if  we 
insure  more  loans  under  lender-paid  mortgage 
insurance policies, all other things equal, we will be 
required  to  hold  more  Available  Assets  in  order  to 
maintain GSE eligibility.

The  minimum  capital  required  by  the  risk-based 
capital  framework  contained  in  the  exposure  draft 
released by the NAIC in May 2016 would be, in part, 
a function of certain loan factors, including property 
location, loan-to-value ratio and credit score; general 
underwriting quality in the market at the time of loan 
origination; the age of the loan; and the premium rate 
we charge. Depending on the provisions of the capital 
requirements when they are released in final form and 
become effective, our mix of business may affect the 
minimum capital we are required to hold under the 
new framework.

Beginning in 2014, we have increased the percentage 
of  our  business  from  lender-paid  single  premium 
policies.  Depending  on  the  actual  life  of  a  single 
premium policy and its premium rate relative to that 
of a monthly premium policy, a single premium policy 
may generate more or less premium than a monthly 
premium policy over its life. 

We  have 
in  place  a  quota  share  reinsurance 
transaction  with  a  group  of  unaffiliated  reinsurers 
that covers most of our insurance written from 2013 
through 2016, and a portion of our insurance written 
prior to 2013. We expect that in the first quarter  of 
2017, we will enter into a similar agreement covering 
most of our new insurance written in 2017. Although 
the transactions reduce our premiums, they have a 
lesser impact on our overall results, as losses ceded 
under  the  transactions  reduce  our  losses  incurred 
and  the  ceding  commission  we  receive reduce  our 
underwriting expenses. The net cost of reinsurance, 
with respect to a covered loan, is 6% (but can be lower 
if losses are materially higher than we expect). This 
cost is derived by dividing the reduction in our pre-tax 
net income from such loan with reinsurance by our 
direct (that is, without reinsurance) premiums from 
such loan. Although the net cost of the reinsurance 
is  generally  constant  at  6%,  the  effect  of  the 
reinsurance  on  the  various  components  of  pre-tax 
income will vary from period to period, depending on 
the level of ceded losses. 

In  addition  to  the  effect  of  reinsurance  on  our 
premiums,  we  expect  a  modest  decline  in  our 
premium  yield  resulting  from  the  premium  rates 
themselves:  the books we wrote before 2009, which 
have a higher average premium rate than subsequent 
books,  are  expected  to  continue  to  decline  as  a 

Risk Factors

percentage of the insurance in force; and the average 
premium  rate  on  these  books  is  also  expected  to 
decline as the premium rates reset to lower levels at 
the time the loans reach the ten-year anniversary of 
their  initial  coverage  date.  However, for  loans  that 
have  utilized  HARP, the  initial  ten-year  period  was 
reset to begin as of the date of the HARP transaction. 
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 4% and 2%
of our total primary insurance in force was written in 
2007 and 2008, respectively, has not been refinanced 
under HARP and is subject to a reset after ten years.

The circumstances in which we are entitled to rescind 
coverage  have  narrowed  for  insurance  we  have 
written in recent years. During the second quarter of 
2012, we began writing a portion of our new insurance 
under  an  endorsement  to  our  then  existing  master 
policy (the “Gold Cert Endorsement”), which limited 
our  ability  to  rescind  coverage  compared  to  that 
master  policy. To comply  with  requirements  of  the 
GSEs,  we  introduced  our  current  master  policy  in 
2014. Our rescission rights under our current master 
policy  are  comparable to  those  under  our  previous 
master  policy,  as  modified  by  the  Gold  Cert 
Endorsement,  but  may  be  further  narrowed  if  the 
GSEs  permit  modifications  to  them.  Our  current 
master policy is filed as Exhibit 99.19 to our quarterly 
report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 
30, 2014 (filed with the SEC on November 7, 2014). 
All  of  our  primary  new  insurance  on  loans  with 
mortgage  insurance  application  dates  on  or  after 
October 1, 2014, was written under our current master 
policy. As of December 31, 2016, approximately 63%
of  our  flow, primary  insurance in  force  was  written 
under  our  Gold  Cert  Endorsement  or  our  current 
master policy.

From time to time, in response to market conditions, 
we change the types of loans that we insure and the 
requirements under which we insure them. We also 
change our underwriting guidelines, in part through 
aligning some of them with Fannie Mae and Freddie 
Mac  for  loans  that  receive  and  are  processed  in 
accordance with certain approval recommendations 
from  a  GSE  automated  underwriting  system.  As  a 
result of changes to our underwriting guidelines and 
requirements and other factors, our business written 
beginning in the second half of 2013 is expected to 
have  a  somewhat  higher  claim  incidence  than 
business written in 2009 through the first half of 2013. 
However,  we  believe  this  business  presents  an 
acceptable 
risk.  Our  underwriting 
requirements are available on our website at http://
www.mgic.com/underwriting/index.html. 
We monitor the competitive landscape and will make 
adjustments 
to  our  pricing  and  underwriting 
guidelines as warranted. We also make exceptions to 
our  underwriting  requirements  on  a  loan-by-loan 

level  of 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 61

Risk Factors

basis and for certain customer programs. Together, 
the number of loans for which exceptions were made 
accounted for fewer than 2% of the loans we insured 
in each of 2015 and 2016.  

including 

limited  underwriting, 

Even  when  housing  values  are  stable  or  rising, 
mortgages  with certain  characteristics have higher 
probabilities of claims. These characteristics include 
loans  with  higher  loan-to-value  ratios,  lower  FICO 
scores, 
limited 
borrower  documentation,  or  higher  total  debt-to-
income ratios, as well as loans having combinations 
of  higher  risk  factors.  As  of  December  31,  2016, 
approximately  14.4%  of  our  primary  risk  in  force 
consisted of loans with loan-to-value ratios greater 
than 95%, 3.8% had FICO scores below 620, and 3.7% 
had limited underwriting, including limited borrower 
documentation, each attribute as determined at the 
time of loan origination. A material number of these 
loans were originated in 2005 - 2007 or the first half 
of 2008. For information about our classification of 
loans  by  FICO  score  and  documentation,  see 
footnotes (6) and (7) to the Characteristics of Primary 
Risk in Force table under “Business –  Our Products 
and Services” in Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 
for the year ended December 31, 2016, which 

was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017.

As of December 31, 2016, approximately 2% of our 
primary  risk  in  force  consisted  of  adjustable  rate 
mortgages  in  which  the  initial  interest rate may  be 
adjusted  during  the  five  years  after  the  mortgage 
closing  (“ARMs”). We  classify  as  fixed  rate  loans 
adjustable rate mortgages in which the initial interest 
rate is fixed during the five years after the mortgage 
closing. If interest rates should rise between the time 
of origination of such loans and when their interest 
rates may be reset, claims on ARMs and adjustable 
rate  mortgages  whose  interest  rates  may  only  be 
adjusted after five years would be substantially higher 
than for fixed rate loans. In addition, we have insured 
“interest-only” loans, which may also be ARMs, and 
loans  with  negative  amortization  features, such  as 
pay  option  ARMs.  We  believe  claim  rates on  these 
loans  will  be  substantially  higher  than  on  loans 
without scheduled payment increases that are made 
to borrowers of comparable credit quality.

If state or federal regulations or statutes are changed 
in ways that ease mortgage lending standards and/
or  requirements, it  is  possible  that  more  mortgage 
loans  could  be  originated  with  higher 
risk 
characteristics  than  are  currently  being  originated 
such as loans with lower FICO scores, higher debt to 
income 
ratios  and  non-amortizing  payments. 
Lenders could pressure mortgage insurers to insure 
such loans. Although we attempt to incorporate these 
higher expected claim rates into our underwriting and 

62 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

pricing models, there can be no assurance that the 
premiums  earned  and  the  associated  investment 
income  will  be  adequate  to  compensate  for  actual 
losses  even  under  our  current  underwriting 
requirements.  We  do,  however,  believe  that  our 
insurance  written  beginning  in  the  second  half  of 
2008 will generate underwriting profits.

The  premiums  we  charge  may  not  be  adequate  to 
compensate us for our liabilities for losses and as a 
result  any  inadequacy  could  materially  affect  our 
financial condition and results of operations.

We set premiums at the time a policy is issued based 
on our expectations regarding likely performance of 
the insured risks over the long-term. Our premiums 
are subject to approval by state regulatory agencies, 
which  can  delay  or  limit  our  ability  to  increase  our 
premiums.  Generally,  we  cannot  cancel  mortgage 
insurance  coverage  or  adjust  renewal  premiums 
during the life of a mortgage insurance policy. As a 
result,  higher  than  anticipated  claims  generally 
cannot be offset by premium increases on policies in 
force or mitigated by our non-renewal or cancellation 
of insurance coverage. The premiums we charge, and 
the  associated  investment  income,  may  not  be 
adequate to compensate us for the risks and costs 
associated with the insurance coverage provided to 
customers.  An  increase  in  the  number  or  size  of 
claims,  compared  to  what  we  anticipate,  could 
adversely affect our results of operations or financial 
condition. Our premium rates are also based in part 
on  the  amount  of  capital  we  are  required  to  hold 
against the insured risk. If the amount of capital we 
are required to hold increases from the amount we 
were required to hold when a policy was written, we 
cannot adjust premiums to compensate for this and 
our returns may be lower than we assumed.

The losses we have incurred on our 2005-2008 books 
have exceeded our premiums from those books. Our 
current expectation is that the incurred losses from 
those  books,  although  declining,  will  continue  to 
generate  a  material  portion  of  our  total  incurred 
losses for a number of years. The ultimate amount of 
these losses will depend in part on general economic 
conditions, 
the 
direction of home prices. 

including  unemployment,  and 

We are susceptible to disruptions in the servicing of 
mortgage loans that we insure.

We  depend  on  reliable,  consistent  third-party 
servicing  of  the  loans  that  we  insure. Over the  last 
several years, the mortgage  loan servicing industry 
has experienced consolidation and an increase in the 
number  of  specialty  servicers  servicing  delinquent 
loans.  The  resulting  change  in  the  composition  of 

servicers could lead to disruptions in the servicing of 
mortgage  loans  covered by  our  insurance policies. 
Further changes in the servicing industry resulting in 
the transfer of servicing could cause a disruption in 
the servicing of delinquent loans which could reduce 
servicers’  ability to undertake mitigation efforts that 
could  help  limit  our  losses.  Future  housing  market 
conditions  could  lead  to  additional  increases  in 
delinquencies and transfers of servicing. 

Changes in interest rates, house prices or mortgage 
insurance cancellation requirements may change the 
length of time that our policies remain in force.

The  premium  from  a  single  premium  policy  is 
collected  upfront  and  generally  earned  over  the 
estimated  life  of  the  policy.  In  contrast,  premiums 
from  a  monthly  premium  policy  are  received  and 
earned each month over the life of the policy. In each 
year,  most  of  our  premiums  received  are  from 
insurance that has been written in prior years. As a 
result, the length of time insurance remains in force, 
which is also generally referred to as persistency, is 
a  significant  determinant  of  our  revenues.  Future 
premiums on our monthly premium policies in force 
represent  a  material  portion  of  our  claims  paying 
resources  and  a  low  persistency  rate  will  reduce 
those  future  premiums.  In  contrast,  a  higher  than 
expected  persistency 
the 
profitability  from  single  premium  policies  because 
they will remain in force longer than was estimated 
when the policies were written.

rate  will  decrease 

The  monthly  premium  policies  for  the  substantial 
majority of loans we insured provides that, for the first 
ten years of the policy, the premium is determined by 
the product of the premium rate and the initial loan 
balance; thereafter, a lower premium rate is applied 
to the initial loan balance. The initial ten-year period 
is reset when the loan is refinanced under HARP. The 
premiums on many of the policies in our 2006 book 
that were not refinanced under HARP reset in 2016. 
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 4% and 2% 
of our total primary insurance in force was written in 
2007 and 2008, respectively, has not been refinanced 
under HARP, and is subject to a rate reset after ten 
years. 

Our  persistency  rate  was  76.9%  at  December  31, 
2016, compared to 79.7% at December 31, 2015 and 
82.8% at December 31, 2014. Since 2000, our year-
end  persistency  ranged  from  a  high  of  84.7%  at 
December 31, 2009 to a low of 47.1% at December 
31, 2003.

Risk Factors

which  affects  the  vulnerability  of  the  insurance  in 
force  to  refinancing.  Our  persistency  rate  is  also 
affected by mortgage insurance cancellation policies 
of mortgage investors along with the current value of 
the homes underlying the mortgages in the insurance 
in force.

Your  ownership  in  our  company  may  be  diluted  by 
additional capital that we raise or if the holders of our 
outstanding convertible  debt convert  that debt into 
shares of our common stock.

As noted above under our risk factor titled “ We may 
not  continue  to  meet  the  GSEs’  private  mortgage 
insurer  eligibility  requirements  and  our  returns  may 
decrease as we are required to maintain more capital 
in  order  to  maintain  our  eligibility,” although  we  are 
currently in compliance with the requirements of the 
PMIERs, there can be no assurance that we would not 
seek  to  issue  non-dilutive  debt  capital  or  to  raise 
additional  equity  capital  to  manage  our  capital 
position under the PMIERs or for other purposes. Any 
future issuance of equity securities may dilute your 
ownership interest in our company. In addition, the 
market price of our common stock could decline as 
a result of sales of a large number of shares or similar 
securities in the market or the perception that such 
sales could occur.

in  2063 

At  December  31,  2016,  we  had  outstanding  $390 
million  principal  amount  of  9%  Convertible  Junior 
("9% 
Subordinated  Debentures  due 
Debentures")  (of  which  approximately  $133  million 
was  purchased  by  and  is  held  by  MGIC,  and  is 
eliminated on the consolidated balance sheet), $145 
million  principal  amount  of  5%  Convertible  Senior 
Notes  due  in  2017  ("5%  Notes")  and  $208  million 
principal amount of 2% Convertible Senior Notes due 
in 2020 ("2% Notes"). The principal amount of the 9% 
Debentures  is  currently  convertible,  at  the  holder’ s 
option, at an initial conversion rate, which is subject 
to adjustment, of 74.0741 common shares per $1,000 
principal amount of debentures. This represents an 
initial conversion price of approximately $13.50 per 
share.  We  have  the  right,  and  may  elect,  to  defer 
interest payable under the debentures in the future. If 
a holder elects to convert its debentures, the interest 
that  has  been  deferred  on  the  debentures  being 
converted  is  also  convertible  into  shares  of  our 
common stock. The conversion rate for such deferred 
interest is based on the average price that our shares 
traded at during a 5-day period immediately prior to 
the election to convert the associated debentures. We 
may elect to pay cash for some or all of the shares 
issuable upon a conversion of the debentures. 

Our persistency rate is primarily affected by the level 
of current mortgage interest rates compared to the 
mortgage  coupon  rates  on  our  insurance  in  force, 

The 5% Notes are convertible, at the holder’ s option, 
at  an  initial  conversion  rate,  which  is  subject  to 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 63

Risk Factors

adjustment, of 74.4186 shares per $1,000 principal 
amount at any time prior to the maturity date. This 
represents 
conversion  price  of 
approximately $13.44 per share. 

initial 

an 

Prior to January 1, 2020, the 2% Notes are convertible 
only upon satisfaction of one or more conditions. One 
such condition is that conversion may occur during 
any  calendar  quarter  commencing  after  March  31, 
2014, if the last reported sale price of our common 
stock for each of at least 20 trading days during the 
30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, 
the  last  trading  day  of  the  immediately  preceding 
calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of 
the  applicable  conversion  price  on  each  applicable 
trading  day. The  notes  are  convertible  at  an  initial 
conversion  rate, which  is  subject  to  adjustment,  of 
143.8332 shares per $1,000 principal amount. This 
conversion  price  of 
represents 
approximately  $6.95  per  share.  130%  of  such 
conversion price is $9.04. This condition was met for 
the quarter ended December 31, 2016, therefore, the 
2% Notes are convertible in the first quarter of 2017. 
They will also be convertible in later quarters in which 
the  stock  price  condition  was  met  for  the  prior 
quarter.  On  or  after  January  1,  2020,  holders  may 
convert their notes irrespective of satisfaction of the 
conditions. 

initial 

an 

Beginning  on  April  10,  2017,  we  may redeem all  or 
part of the 2% Notes if the last reported sale price of 
our common stock was at least $9.04 for each of at 
least  20  trading  days  during  the  30  consecutive 
trading  days  (including  on  the  last  trading  day) 
preceding the date notice is provided to the holders 
of the notes that we intend to redeem the notes (the 
“Redemption  Notice”).  The  Redemption  Notice  is 
irrevocable and must be given not less than 30 days 
and  not  more  than  60  calendar  days  prior  to  the 
redemption  date.  Once  the  Redemption  Notice  is 
given,  holders  may  convert  their  notes  at  any  time 
before  the  redemption  date  specified 
in  the 
Redemption Notice and we expect they will do so if 
the  price  of  our  common  stock  remains  above  the 
conversion price of $6.95  

We do not have the right to defer interest on our 5% 
Notes or 2% Notes. For a discussion of the dilutive 
effects of our convertible securities on our earnings 
per  share,  see  Note  6  –  “Summary  of  Significant 
Accounting  Policies  Earnings  per  Share”  to  our 
consolidated  financial  statements  in  our  Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 
7, 2016. 

64 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Our  holding  company  debt  obligations  materially 
exceed our holding company cash and investments.

At December 31, 2016, we had approximately $283 
million  in  cash  and  investments  at  our  holding 
company and our holding company’ s debt obligations 
were  $1,168  million  in  aggregate  principal  amount, 
consisting of $145 million of 5% Notes, $208 million
of 2% Notes, $425 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due 
in  2023  ("5.75%  Notes"),  and  $390  million  of  9% 
Debentures  (of  which  approximately  $133  million
was  purchased  by  and  is  held  by  MGIC,  and  is 
eliminated  on  the  consolidated  balance  sheet). 
Annual  debt  service  on  the  outstanding  holding 
is 
company  debt  as  of  December  31,  2016, 
approximately  $71  million  (of  which  approximately 
$12 million will be paid to MGIC and will be eliminated 
on  the  consolidated  statement  of  operations).  For 
more information about the purchase by MGIC of a 
portion  of  our  outstanding  9%  Convertible  Junior 
Subordinated  Debentures,  see 
"Management's 
Discussion  and  Analysis  –  Debt  at  Our  Holding 
Company and Holding Company Capital Resources" 
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC 
on February 26, 2016. For information about our 2016 
public  offering  of  the  5.75%  Notes  and  the  use  of 
proceeds from the offering to purchase a portion of 
the 2% Notes, see Note 3 –  “Debt” to our consolidated 
financial statements in our Quarterly Report on Form 
10-Q filed with the SEC on November 7, 2016. We may 
continue to purchase our debt securities in the future. 

The  Convertible  Senior  Notes,  Senior  Notes  and 
Convertible  Junior  Subordinated  Debentures  are 
obligations  of  our  holding  company,  MGIC 
Investment Corporation, and not of its subsidiaries. 
The  payment  of  dividends  from  our  insurance 
subsidiaries  which,  other  than  investment  income 
and  raising  capital  in  the  public  markets,  is  the 
principal source of our holding company cash inflow, 
is  restricted  by  insurance  regulation.  MGIC  is  the 
principal source of dividend-paying capacity. In 2016, 
MGIC paid a total of $64 million in dividends to our 
holding company, its first dividends since 2008, and 
we  expect  MGIC  to  continue  to  pay  quarterly 
dividends. OCI authorization is sought before MGIC 
pays dividends and MGIC will pay a dividend of $20 
million to our holding company in the first quarter of 
2017.  If  any  additional  capital  contributions  to  our 
subsidiaries were required, such contributions would 
decrease  our  holding  company  cash  and 
investments. As described in our Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed on February 11, 2016, MGIC borrowed 
$155  million  from  the  Federal Home  Loan  Bank  of 
Chicago. This is an obligation of MGIC and not of our 
holding company.

Risk Factors

We  could  be  adversely  affected 
if  personal 
information  on  consumers  that  we  maintain  is 
improperly disclosed and our information technology 
systems may become outdated and we may not be 
able  to  make  timely  modifications  to  support  our 
products and services.

We rely on the efficient and uninterrupted operation 
of  complex  information  technology  systems.  All 
information  technology  systems  are  potentially 
vulnerable to damage or interruption from a variety 
of  sources,  including  through  the  actions  of  third 
parties.  Due  to  our  reliance  on  our  information 
technology  systems,  their  damage  or  interruption 
could  severely  disrupt  our  operations,  which  could 
have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business, 
business prospects and results of operations. As part 
of  our  business,  we  maintain  large  amounts  of 
personal information on consumers. While we believe 
we  have  appropriate  information  security  policies 
and  systems  to  prevent  unauthorized  disclosure, 
there  can  be  no  assurance  that  unauthorized 
disclosure, either through the actions of third parties 
or employees, will not occur. Unauthorized disclosure 
could adversely affect our reputation and expose us 
to material claims for damages.

In addition, we are in the process of upgrading certain 
of our information systems that have been in place 
for a number of years. The implementation of these 
technological  improvements is  complex,  expensive 
and  time  consuming.  If  we  fail  to  timely  and 
successfully 
technology 
systems,  or  if  the  systems  do  not  operate  as 
expected,  it  could  have  an  adverse  impact  on  our 
business,  business  prospects  and 
results  of 
operations.

implement 

the  new 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 65

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial 
Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial 
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed 
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial 
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of 
its  inherent  limitations,  however,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect 
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk 
that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance 
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has 
evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the framework in Internal 
Control –  Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission. Based on such evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial 
reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated  
financial statements and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, 
as stated in their report which appears herein. 

66 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
MGIC Investment Corporation:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of 
operations,  comprehensive  income,  shareholders’  equity  and  of  cash  flows  present  fairly,  in  all  material 
respects,  the  financial  position  of  MGIC  Investment  Corporation  and  its  subsidiaries  (the  “Company”) at 
December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three 
years in the period ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in 
the United States of America.   Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective  
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal 
Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission  (COSO).  The  Company's  management  is  responsible  for  these  financial  statements,  for 
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  included  in  the  accompanying  Management's Report  on  Internal 
Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, and 
on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits.  We conducted our 
audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial 
reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, 
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the 
accounting  principles  used  and  significant  estimates  made  by  management,  and  evaluating  the  overall 
financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an 
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, 
and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed 
risk.    Our  audits  also  included  performing  such  other  procedures  as  we  considered  necessary  in  the 
circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’ s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance 
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’ s internal control over financial 
reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that  (i) pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in 
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; 
(ii) provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of 
financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts  and 
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and 
directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of 
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’ s assets that could have a material effect on the 
financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect 
misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk 
that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance 
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 21, 2017

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 67

MGIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

ASSETS

Investment portfolio:

Securities, available-for-sale, at fair value:

December 31,

Note

2016

2015

5 / 6

Fixed income (amortized cost, 2016 - $4,717,211; 2015 - $4,684,148)

$ 4,685,222

$

4,657,561

7,128

5,645

4,692,350

4,663,206

155,410

181,120

44,073

50,493

4,964

52,392

36,088

17,759

607,655

73,345

40,224

44,487

3,319

48,469

30,095

15,241

762,080

80,102

$ 5,734,529

$

5,868,343

$ 1,438,813

$

1,893,402

329,737

155,000

417,406

349,461

256,872

238,398

279,973

—

—

822,301

389,522

247,005

3,185,687

3,632,203

359,400

340,097

1,782,337

1,670,238

(150,359)

(75,100)

632,564

(3,362)

(60,880)

290,047

2,548,842

2,236,140

$ 5,734,529

$

5,868,343

9

9

12

8

7

7

7

7

17

13

10

Equity securities

Total investment portfolio

Cash and cash equivalents

Accrued investment income

Reinsurance recoverable on loss reserves

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

Premiums receivable

Home office and equipment, net

Deferred insurance policy acquisition costs

Deferred income taxes, net

Other assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Liabilities:

Loss reserves

Unearned premiums

FHLB Advance

Senior notes

Convertible senior notes

Convertible junior subordinated debentures

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Contingencies

Shareholders' equity:

Common stock (one dollar par value, shares authorized 1,000,000; shares issued 
2016 - 359,400; 2015 - 340,097; outstanding 2016 - 340,663; 2015 - 339,657)

Paid-in capital

Treasury stock (shares at cost 2016 - 18,737; 2015 - 440)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

Retained earnings

Total shareholders' equity

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

68 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

MGIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

Note

2016

2015

2014

Years Ended December 31,

Revenues:

Premiums written:

Direct

Assumed

Ceded

Net premiums written

Increase in unearned premiums

Net premiums earned

Investment income, net of expenses

Net realized investment gains (losses):

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses

Portion of losses recognized in other comprehensive
income (loss), before taxes

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings

Other realized investment gains

Net realized investment gains

Other revenue

Total revenues

Losses and expenses:

Losses incurred, net

Change in premium deficiency reserve

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

Other underwriting and operating expenses, net

Interest expense

Loss on debt extinguishment

Total losses and expenses

Income before tax

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

Net income

Earnings per share:

Basic

Diluted

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

9

9

5

5

$

1,107,923

$

1,074,490

$

999,943

1,053

1,178

1,653

(133,885)

(55,391)

(119,634)

975,091

(49,865)

925,226

1,020,277

(124,055)

896,222

881,962

(37,591)

844,371

110,666

103,741

87,647

—

—

—

8,932

8,932

17,659

—

—

—

28,361

28,361

12,964

(144)

—

(144)

1,501

1,357

9,259

1,062,483

1,041,288

942,634

8 / 9

240,157

3

7

7

12

4

4

4

—

9,646

150,763

56,672

90,531

547,769

514,714

172,197

343,547

(23,751)

8,789

155,577

68,932

507

553,601

487,687

(684,313)

496,077

(24,710)

7,618

138,441

69,648

837

687,911

254,723

2,774

$

342,517

$

1,172,000

$

251,949

$

$

$

1.00

0.86

$

$

3.45

2.60

$

$

0.74

0.64

342,890

431,992

339,552

468,039

338,523

413,522

— $

— $

—

Dividends per share

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MGIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

Net income

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:

Change in unrealized investment gains and losses

Benefit plans adjustment

Foreign currency translation adjustment

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

Comprehensive income

Years Ended December 31,

Note

2016

2015

2014

$

342,517

$

1,172,000

$

251,949

10

5

11

(3,649)

(9,620)

(951)

(14,220)

40,403

(15,714)

(4,228)

20,461

91,139

(52,112)

(2,642)

36,385

$

328,297

$

1,192,461

$

288,334

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

70 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

MGIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Years Ended December 31,

Note

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands)

Common stock

Balance, beginning of year

Common stock issuance

Net common stock issued under share-based compensation plans

Balance, end of year

Paid-in capital

Balance, beginning of year

Common stock issuance

13

13

Net common stock issued under share-based compensation plans

Reissuance of treasury stock, net

Tax benefit from share-based compensation

Equity compensation

Reacquisition of convertible junior subordinated debentures-equity 
component

7

Balance, end of year

$

340,097

$

340,047

$

340,047

18,313

990

—

50

—

—

359,400

340,097

340,047

1,670,238

1,663,592

1,661,269

113,146

(6,020)

(130)

67

11,373

—

(478)

(6,894)

2,116

11,902

—

—

(6,680)

—

9,003

(6,337)

—

—

1,782,337

1,670,238

1,663,592

Treasury stock

Balance, beginning of year

Purchases of common stock

Reissuance of treasury stock, net

Balance, end of year

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Balance, beginning of year

Other comprehensive (loss) income

Balance, end of year

Retained earnings (deficit)

Balance, beginning of year

Net income

Reissuance of treasury stock, net

Balance, end of year

(3,362)

(32,937)

(64,435)

13

(147,127)

130

(150,359)

—

29,575

(3,362)

—

31,498

(32,937)

10

(60,880)

(14,220)

(75,100)

(81,341)

(117,726)

20,461

(60,880)

36,385

(81,341)

290,047

342,517

(852,458)

(1,074,617)

1,172,000

—

(29,495)

251,949

(29,790)

632,564

290,047

(852,458)

Total shareholders' equity

$ 2,548,842

$ 2,236,140

$ 1,036,903

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MGIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Depreciation and other amortization

Deferred tax expense (benefit)

Net realized investment gains

Loss on debt extinguishment

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

Change in certain assets and liabilities:

Accrued investment income

Prepaid reinsurance premium

Reinsurance recoverable on loss reserves

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

Premiums receivable

Deferred insurance policy acquisition costs

Profit commission receivable

Loss reserves

Premium deficiency reserve

Unearned premiums

Return premium accrual

Income taxes payable - current

Other, net

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of investments:

Fixed income

Equity securities

Proceeds from sales of fixed income

Proceeds from maturity of fixed income

Proceeds from sale of equity securities

Net decrease in payables for securities

Net decrease in restricted cash

Additions to property and equipment

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

Repayment of long-term debt

Repurchase of convertible senior notes

Payment of original issue discount - convertible senior notes

Purchase of convertible junior subordinated debentures

Payment of original issue discount-convertible junior subordinated debentures

Cash portion of loss on debt extinguishment

Repurchase of common stock

Payment of debt issuance costs

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

$ 342,517

$1,172,000

$ 251,949

61,342

52,559

162,356

(692,810)

48,861

312

(8,932)

(28,361)

(1,357)

90,531

507

(67)

(2,117)

837

—

(3,849)

(9,706)

101

(6,006)

(1,645)

(3,923)

(2,518)

(747)

47,457

13,354

3,105

8,973

(3,001)

64,525

1,142

(11,380)

6,244

4,001

4,859

(2,519)

(89,132)

(454,589)

(503,405)

(664,594)

—

(23,751)

(24,710)

49,764

(18,800)

1,123

13,005

76,559

(9,600)

2,518

(16,770)

48,935

22,200

(674)

(251)

219,663

152,036

(405,277)

(1,360,386)

(2,462,844)

(1,979,917)

(3,197)

(2,623)

(94)

728,042

1,796,153

1,147,624

547,444

559,774

1,129,087

5,257

—

—

(10,552)

—

—

17,212

(4,630)

—

13

228

(4,707)

(93,392)

(96,958)

292,234

573,094

—

(363,778)

(11,250)

(100,860)

(41,540)

(59,460)

(147,127)

(1,127)

—

(61,953)

(11,152)

(345)

—

—

—

(20,772)

—

(158)

—

—

(507)

(837)

—

—

—

—

—

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

67

2,117

Net cash used in financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

72 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

(151,981)

(71,840)

(21,767)

(25,710)

(16,762)

(134,810)

181,120

197,882

332,692

$ 155,410

$ 181,120

$ 197,882

 
 
 
MGIC INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 

Note 1. Nature of Business

Note 2. Basis of Presentation

through  Mortgage  Guaranty 

MGIC Investment Corporation is a holding company 
which, 
Insurance 
Corporation  ("MGIC"),  is  principally  engaged  in  the 
mortgage insurance business.  We provide mortgage 
insurance  to  lenders  throughout  the  United  States 
and  to  government  sponsored  entities  to  protect 
against  loss  from  defaults  on  low  down  payment 
residential mortgage loans. Our principal product is 
insurance.  Primary  insurance 
primary  mortgage 
provides  mortgage  default  protection  on  individual 
loans  and  covers  unpaid  loan  principal,  delinquent 
interest  and  certain  expenses  associated  with  the 
default and subsequent foreclosure or sale approved 
by  us.  Through  certain  other  non-insurance 
subsidiaries, we also provide various services for the 
industry,  such  as  contract 
mortgage 
loan  originations  and 
underwriting,  analysis  of 
lead  generation.  An 
portfolios,  and  mortgage 
insurance  subsidiary  of  MGIC  provides  credit 
insurance for certain  mortgages  under Fannie Mae 
and  Freddie  Mac  (the  "GSEs")  credit  risk  transfer 
programs.

finance 

At December 31, 2016, our direct domestic primary 
insurance  in  force  ("IIF")  was  $182.0  billion,  which 
represents the principal balance in our records of all 
mortgage  loans  that  we  insure,  and  our  direct 
domestic  primary  risk  in  force  ("RIF")  was  $47.2 
billion,  which  represents  the  insurance  in  force 
multiplied by the insurance coverage percentage. 

Substantially all of our insurance written since 2008 
has  been  for  loans  purchased  by  the  GSEs.  We 
operate under the Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility 
Requirements ("PMIERs") of the GSEs that became 
effective December 31, 2015, and were most recently 
revised 
financial 
in  December  2016.  The 
requirements  of  the  PMIERs  require  a  mortgage 
insurer’ s "Available Assets" (generally only the most 
liquid  assets  of  an  insurer)  to  equal  or  exceed  its 
"Minimum Required Assets" (which are based on an 
insurer's  book  and  are  calculated  from  tables  of 
factors with several risk dimensions and are subject 
to a floor amount). Based on our interpretation of the 
PMIERs, as of December 31, 2016, MGIC’ s Available 
Assets are in excess of its Minimum Required Assets; 
and MGIC is in compliance with the requirements of 
the PMIERs and eligible to insure loans purchased by 
the GSEs. The revisions to the PMIERs in December 
2016 had no impact on our calculation of Available 
Assets  or  Minimum  Required  Assets,  and  did  not 
impact our operations.

include 

consolidated 

Basis of presentation
The 
financial 
accompanying 
statements have been prepared in accordance with 
accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the 
United States of America ("GAAP"), as codified in the 
Accounting  Standards  Codification  ("ASC").  Our 
consolidated 
the 
financial  statements 
accounts  of  MGIC 
Investment  Corporation 
and its majority-owned  subsidiaries. Intercompany 
transactions and balances have been eliminated. In 
accordance  with  GAAP,  we  are  required  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 
consolidated financial statements and the reported 
amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the 
reporting  periods.  Actual  results  could  differ  from 
those  estimates.  We  have  considered  subsequent 
events through the date of this filing.

Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications to 2015 and 2014 amounts 
have been made in the accompanying consolidated 
financial  statements  to  conform  to  the  2016
presentation.  See  Note  3  -  "Significant  Accounting 
Policies"  for  a  discussion  of  our  adoption  of 
accounting  guidance  in  2016  related  to:  (1)  the 
presentation  of  debt  issuance  costs  in  the  first 
quarter of 2016, and (2) clarification of certain cash 
receipts  and  cash  payments.  Both  of  the  adopted 
accounting updates were retrospectively applied to 
all periods presented, as applicable.

Note 3. Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider money market funds and investments 
with original maturities of three months or less to be 
cash equivalents.

Fair value measurements
The  authoritative  guidance  around  fair  value 
established  a  framework  for  measuring  fair  value. 
Fair value is disclosed using a fair value hierarchy that 
prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to 
measure fair value and includes Levels 1, 2, and 3. To 
determine  the  fair  value  of  securities  available-for-
sale in Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, 
independent pricing sources have been utilized. One 
price  is  provided per  security  based  on  observable 
market data. To ensure securities are appropriately 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 73

Notes

classified  in  the  fair  value  hierarchy, we  review  the 
pricing  techniques  and  methodologies  of  the 
independent  pricing  sources  and  believe  that  their 
policies  adequately  consider  market  activity, either 
based on specific transactions for the issue valued 
or based on modeling of securities with similar credit 
quality, duration, yield and structure that were recently 
traded.  A  variety  of  inputs  are  utilized  by  the 
independent  pricing  sources  including  benchmark 
yields,  reported  trades,  non-binding  broker/dealer 
two  sided  markets, 
quotes, 
benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data 
including  data  published 
research 
publications. Inputs may be weighted differently for 
any  security,  and  not  all  inputs  are  used  for  each 
security evaluation. 

issuer  spreads, 

in  market 

Market indicators, industry and economic events are 
also considered. This information is evaluated using 
a  multidimensional  pricing  model.  This  model 
combines all inputs to arrive at a value assigned to 
each security. Quality controls are performed by the 
independent pricing sources throughout this process, 
which  include  reviewing  tolerance  reports,  trading 
information,  data  changes,  and  directional  moves 
compared  to  market  moves.    In  addition,  on  a 
quarterly  basis,  we  perform  quality  controls  over 
values received from the pricing sources which also 
include 
trading 
tolerance 
information,  data  changes,  and  directional  moves 
compared to market moves. We have not made any 
adjustments  to  the  prices  obtained  from  the 
independent pricing sources.

reviewing 

reports, 

In accordance with fair value accounting guidance, 
we applied the following fair value hierarchy in order 
to measure fair value for assets and liabilities:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in 
active markets that we can access. Financial assets 
utilizing Level 1 inputs primarily include U.S. Treasury 
securities,  equity  securities,  and  Australian 
government and semi government securities.

Level  2  -  Quoted  prices  for  similar  instruments  in 
active markets that we can access; quoted prices for 
identical or similar instruments in markets that are 
not active; and inputs, other than quoted prices, that 
are observable in the marketplace for the instrument. 
The observable inputs are used in valuation models 
to  calculate  the  fair  value  of  the  instruments. 
Financial  assets  utilizing  Level  2  inputs  primarily 
include obligations of U.S. government corporations 
and  agencies,  corporate  bonds,  mortgage-backed 
securities,  asset-backed  securities,  and  most 
municipal bonds.

74 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

The 
independent  pricing  sources  utilize  these 
approaches  to  determine  the  fair  value  of  the 
instruments  in  Level  2  of  the  fair  value  hierarchy 
based on type of instrument:

Corporate Debt & U.S. Government and Agency Bonds
are  evaluated  by  surveying  the  dealer  community, 
obtaining relevant trade data, benchmark quotes and 
spreads and incorporating this information into the 
evaluation process.

Obligations of U.S. States & Political Subdivisions are 
evaluated  by  tracking,  capturing,  and  analyzing 
quotes for active issues and trades reported via the 
Municipal  Securities  Rulemaking  Board  records. 
Daily  briefings  and  reviews  of  current  economic 
conditions, trading levels, spread relationships, and 
the slope of the yield curve provide further data for 
evaluation.

Residential  Mortgage-Backed  Securities  ("RMBS")
are evaluated by monitoring interest rate movements, 
and other pertinent data daily. Incoming market data 
is enriched to derive spread, yield and/or price data 
as  appropriate,  enabling  known  data  points  to  be 
extrapolated for valuation application across a range 
of related securities. 

Commercial  Mortgage-Backed  Securities  ("CMBS")
are evaluated using valuation techniques that reflect 
market participants’  assumptions and maximize the 
use  of  relevant observable  inputs  including  quoted 
prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and 
market  corroborated 
inputs.  Evaluation  utilizes 
regular reviews of the inputs for securities covered, 
including  executed  trades,  broker  quotes,  credit 
information,  collateral  attributes  and/or  cash  flow 
waterfall as applicable.

Asset-Backed Securities ("ABS") are evaluated using 
spreads and other information solicited from market 
buy-and-sell-side  sources,  including  primary  and 
secondary dealers, portfolio managers, and research 
analysts. Cash flows are generated for each tranche, 
benchmark yields are determined, and deal collateral 
performance  and  tranche  level  attributes  including 
trade activity, bids, and offers are applied, resulting in 
tranche specific prices.

Collateralized loan obligations ("CLO") Collateralized 
Loan  Obligations  are  evaluated  by  manager  rating, 
seniority in the capital structure, assumptions about 
prepayment, default and recovery and their impact on 
cash flow generation. Loan level net asset values are 
determined  and  aggregated  for  tranches  and  as  a 
final step prices are checked against available recent 
trade activity.

Level  3 
-  Valuations  derived  from  valuation 
techniques in which one or more significant inputs or 
value drivers are unobservable or from par values for 
equity  securities  restricted  in  their  ability  to  be 
redeemed or sold. The inputs used to derive the fair 
value  of  Level  3  securities  reflect  our  own 
assumptions  about  the  assumptions  a  market 
participant would use in pricing an asset or liability. 
Financial  assets  utilizing  Level  3  inputs  primarily 
include equity securities that can only be redeemed 
or sold at their par value and only to the security issuer 
and  certain  state  premium  tax  credit  investments. 
Our non-financial assets that are classified as Level 
3 securities consist of real estate acquired through 
claim  settlement.  The  fair  value  of  real  estate 
acquired  is  the  lower  of  our  acquisition  cost  or  a 
percentage of the appraised value. The percentage 
applied  to  the  appraised  value  is  based  upon  our 
historical  sales  experience  adjusted  for  current 
trends.

Investments
Our  entire  investment  portfolio  is  classified  as 
available-for-sale and is reported at fair value or, for 
certain equity securities carried at cost, amounts that 
approximate  fair  value.  The  related  unrealized 
investment gains or losses are, after considering the 
related  tax  expense  or  benefit,  recognized  as  a 
component  of  accumulated  other  comprehensive 
income  (loss) 
in  shareholders'  equity.  Realized 
investment gains and losses are reported in income 
based upon specific identification of securities sold.  
(See Note 5 –  “Investments.”)

Each quarter we perform reviews of our investments 
in order to determine whether declines in fair value 
below  amortized  cost  were  considered  other-than-
temporary.  In  evaluating  whether  a  decline  in  fair 
value  is  other-than-temporary,  we  consider  several 
factors including, but not limited to:

our intent to sell the security or whether it is more 
likely than not that we will be required to sell the 
security  before  recovery  of  its  amortized  cost 
basis;

the present value of the discounted cash flows we 
expect to collect compared to the amortized cost 
basis of the security;

extent and duration of the decline;

failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or 
principal payments;

change in rating below investment grade; and

adverse  conditions  specifically  related  to  the 
security, an industry, or a geographic area.

Based on our evaluation, we will record an other-than-
temporary  impairment  ("OTTI")  adjustment  on  a 

Notes

security if we intend to sell the impaired security, if it 
is more likely than not that we will be required to sell 
the 
its 
impaired  security  prior  to  recovery  of 
amortized  cost basis, or if the present value of the 
discounted  cash  flows  we  expect  to collect  is  less 
than the amortized cost basis of the security. If the 
fair value of a security is below its amortized cost at 
the time of our intent to sell, the security is classified 
as  other-than-temporarily  impaired  and  the  full 
amount of the impairment is recognized as a loss in 
the  statement  of  operations.  Otherwise,  when  a 
security  is  considered  to  be  other-than-temporarily 
impaired, the losses are separated into the portion of 
the loss that represents the credit loss and the portion 
that is due to other factors. The credit loss portion is 
recognized as a loss in the statement of operations, 
while the loss due to other factors is recognized in 
accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes. 
A credit loss is determined to exist if the present value 
of  the  discounted  cash  flows,  using  the  security’ s 
original  yield,  expected  to  be  collected  from  the 
security is less than the cost basis of the security.

Home office and equipment
Home office and equipment is carried at cost net of 
depreciation.   For  financial  reporting  purposes, 
depreciation is determined on a straight-line basis for 
the home office and equipment over estimated lives 
ranging from 3 to 45 years. For income tax purposes, 
we use accelerated depreciation methods.

is  shown  net  of 
Home  office  and  equipment 
accumulated  depreciation  of  $30.6  million,  $26.1 
million and $54.9 million as of December 31, 2016, 
2015  and  2014,  respectively. Depreciation  expense 
for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2016,  2015  and 
2014 was $4.6 million, $3.2 million and $2.2 million, 
respectively.

Deferred Insurance Policy Acquisition Costs
Costs  directly  associated  with  the  successful 
acquisition  of  mortgage 
insurance  business, 
consisting  of  employee  compensation  and  other 
policy  issuance  and  underwriting  expenses,  are 
initially deferred and reported as deferred insurance 
policy acquisition costs ("DAC"). The deferred costs 
are  net  of  any  ceding  commissions  received 
associated  with  our  reinsurance  agreements.   For 
each underwriting year of business, these costs are 
amortized to income in proportion to estimated gross 
profits  over  the  estimated  life  of  the  policies.   We 
utilize  anticipated 
in  our 
calculation.  This  includes  accruing  interest  on  the 
unamortized balance of DAC. The estimates for each 
underwriting year are reviewed quarterly and updated 
when necessary to reflect actual experience and any 
changes to key variables such as persistency or loss 
development.  If a premium deficiency exists (in other 

investment 

income 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 75

Notes

words,  no  gross  profit  is  expected),  we  reduce  the 
related DAC by the amount of the deficiency or to zero 
through  a  charge  to  current  period  earnings.  If  the 
deficiency is more than the related DAC balance, we 
then establish a premium deficiency reserve equal to 
the  excess,  through  a  charge  to  current  period 
earnings.

expected  future  premium  and  already  established 
reserves.  The discount rate used in the calculation 
of the premium deficiency reserve is based upon our 
pre-tax  investment  yield  at  year-end.  Products  are 
grouped  for  premium  deficiency  testing  purposes 
based  on  similarities  in  the  way  the  products  are 
acquired, serviced and measured for profitability.

Loss Reserves
Reserves  are  established  for  insurance  losses  and 
loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") when we receive 
notices  of  default  on  insured  mortgage  loans.  We 
consider  a  loan  in  default  when  it  is  two  or  more 
payments  past  due.  Even  though  the  accounting 
standard,  ASC  944,  regarding  accounting  and 
reporting by insurance entities specifically excludes 
mortgage insurance from its guidance relating to loss 
reserves, we establish loss reserves using the general 
principles  contained  in  the  insurance  standard. 
However,  consistent  with  industry  standards  for 
mortgage insurers, we do not establish loss reserves 
for  future  claims  on  insured  loans  which  are  not 
currently in default. Loss reserves are established by 
estimating  the  number  of  loans  in  our  inventory  of 
delinquent loans that will result in a claim payment, 
which  is  referred  to  as  the  claim  rate,  and  further 
estimating the amount of the claim payment, which 
is referred to as claim severity. Our loss estimates are 
established  based  upon  historical  experience, 
including  rescission  and  loan  modification  activity. 
Adjustments to reserve estimates are reflected in the 
financial  statements  in  the  years  in  which  the 
adjustments are made. The liability for reinsurance 
assumed  is  based  on  information  provided  by  the 
ceding companies.

Reserves are also established for estimated losses 
from  defaults  occurring  prior  to  the  close  of  an 
accounting  period  on  notices  of  default  not  yet 
reported  to  us.  These  incurred  but  not  reported 
reserves  are  also  established  using 
("IBNR") 
estimated claim rates and claim severities.

Reserves are also established for the estimated costs 
of settling claims, including legal and other expenses 
and  general  expenses  of  administering  the  claims 
settlement  process.  Reserves  are  also  ceded  to 
reinsurers under  our  reinsurance agreements.  (See 
Note  8  – 
“Loss  Reserves”  and  Note  9  – 
“Reinsurance.”)

Premium Deficiency Reserve
After  our  loss  reserves  are  initially  established,  we 
perform  premium  deficiency  tests  using  our  best 
estimate  assumptions  as  of  the  testing  date. 
Premium  deficiency  reserves  are  established,  if 
necessary, when the present value of expected future 
losses  and  expenses  exceeds the  present  value  of 

76 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

The  calculation  of  premium  deficiency  reserves 
requires  the  use  of  significant  judgments  and 
estimates  to  determine  the  present  value  of  future 
premium and present value of expected losses and 
expenses on our business.  The calculation of future 
premium  depends  on,  among  other 
things, 
assumptions  about  persistency  and  repayment 
patterns  on  underlying  loans.  The  calculation  of 
expected 
losses  and  expenses  depends  on 
assumptions relating to severity of claims and claim 
rates on  current  defaults,  and  expected  defaults  in 
future periods. These  assumptions  also  include  an 
estimate  of  expected  rescission  activity. Similar  to 
our 
loss  reserve  estimates,  our  estimates  for 
premium  deficiency  reserves  could  be  adversely 
affected by several factors, including a deterioration 
of  regional  or  economic  conditions  leading  to  a 
reduction in borrowers' income and thus their ability 
to make mortgage payments, and  a drop in housing 
values  can  influence  the  willingness  of  borrowers 
with  sufficient 
to  make  mortgage 
payments  to  do  so  when  the  mortgage  balance 
exceeds the value of the home, which could expose 
us to greater losses. Assumptions used in calculating 
the  deficiency  reserves  can  also  be  affected  by 
volatility in the current housing and mortgage lending 
industries. To the extent premium patterns and actual 
loss experience differ from the assumptions used in 
calculating  the  premium  deficiency  reserves,  the 
differences  between  the  actual  results  and  our 
estimate will affect future period earnings and could 
be material. 

resources 

We  previously  established  a  premium  deficiency 
reserve  in  2007  on  our  Wall  Street  Bulk  business, 
which  we  also  ceased  writing  in  that  year.  As  of 
December  31,  2015  a  premium  deficiency  reserve 
was  no  longer  required.  Changes  in  the  premium 
deficiency  reserve  from  period  to  period  were 
primarily  due  to  the  recognition  of  previously 
estimated  premiums,  losses,  and  expenses,  and 
changes in our assumptions relating to the present 
value  of  expected  future  premiums,  losses,  and 
expenses on the remaining Wall Street Bulk IIF. Our 
consolidated statements of operations for the years 
ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were affected by 
decreases in our premium deficiency reserves of $24 
million and $25 million, respectively. The decreases 
represented the net result of actual premiums, losses 

and expenses as well as a net change in assumptions 
for these periods.

Revenue Recognition
We  write  policies  which  are  guaranteed  renewable 
contracts at the insured's option on a monthly, single, 
or  annual  premium  basis.  We  have  no  ability  to 
reunderwrite or reprice these contracts.  Premiums 
written on monthly premium policies are earned as 
coverage  is  provided.  Premiums  written  on  single 
premium  policies  and  annual  premium policies  are 
initially deferred as unearned premium reserve and 
earned  over  the  estimated  policy  life.   Premiums 
written on policies covering more than one year are 
amortized  over  the  policy  life  in  relationship  to  the 
anticipated incurred loss pattern based on historical 
experience.   Premiums  written  on  annual  premium 
policies are earned on a monthly pro rata basis. When 
a policy is cancelled for a reason other than rescission 
or claim payment, all premium that is non-refundable 
is  immediately  earned.  Any  refundable  premium  is 
returned to the servicer or borrower. When a policy is 
cancelled due to rescission, all previously collected 
premium is returned to the servicer and when a policy 
is cancelled because a claim is paid, we return any 
premium  received  since  the  date  of  default.  The 
liability associated with our estimate of premium to 
be returned is accrued for separately and included in 
"Other liabilities" on our consolidated balance sheets. 
When  a  premium  deficiency  exists  the  premium 
refund  liability  is  included  in  “Premium  deficiency 
reserves”  on  our  consolidated  balance  sheets. 
Changes in these liabilities affect premiums written 
and  earned  and  change  in  premium  deficiency 
reserve,  respectively. The  actual  return  of  premium 
for all periods affects premiums written and earned. 
Policy cancellations also lower the persistency rate 
which  is  a  variable  used  in  calculating  the  rate  of 
amortization of deferred insurance policy acquisition 
costs.

Fee  income  of  our  non-insurance  subsidiaries  is 
earned and recognized as the services are provided 
and  the  customer  is  obligated  to  pay. Fee  income 
consists  primarily  of  contract  underwriting  and 
related fee-based services provided to lenders and is 
included  in  “Other  revenue”  on  the  consolidated 
statements of operations.

Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are provided under the liability 
method,  which  recognizes the  future tax  effects of 
temporary differences between amounts reported in 
the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  tax 
bases of these items.  The expected tax effects are 
computed at the enacted regular federal statutory tax 
rate.   Using  this  method,  we  have  recorded  a  net 
deferred  tax  asset  primarily  due  to  net  operating 

Notes

losses incurred in prior years. On a quarterly  basis, 
we review the need to maintain a deferred tax asset 
valuation allowance as an offset to the net deferred 
tax  asset,  before  valuation  allowance.  We  analyze 
several  factors,  among  which  are  the  severity  and 
frequency  of  operating losses,  our  capacity  for  the 
carryback  or  carryforward  of  any 
losses,  the 
existence  and  current  level  of  taxable  operating 
income, operating results on a three year cumulative 
basis, the expected occurrence of future income or 
loss,  the  expiration dates  of  the  carryforwards,  the 
cyclical nature of our operating results, and available 
tax  planning  strategies.  Based  on  our  analysis,  we 
reduced  our  benefit  from  income  tax  through  the 
recognition  of  a  valuation  allowance  from  the  first 
quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2015.  
In the third quarter of 2015, as discussed in Note 12 
–“Income Taxes,” we concluded that it was more likely 
than not that our deferred tax assets would be fully 
realizable and  we reversed the valuation allowance.
We provide for uncertain tax positions and the related 
interest and penalties based on our assessment of 
whether  a  tax  benefit  is  more  likely  than  not  to  be 
taxing 
sustained  under  any  examination  by 
authorities.

supplemental 

Benefit Plans
We have a non-contributory defined benefit pension 
plan covering substantially all employees, as well as 
a 
retirement  plan. 
executive 
Retirement benefits are based on compensation and 
years  of  service.   We  recognize  these  retirement 
benefit costs over the period during which employees 
render the service that qualifies them for benefits. Our 
policy is to fund pension cost as required under the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

We offer both medical and dental benefits for retired 
domestic  employees,  their  eligible  spouses  and 
dependents until the retiree reaches the age of 65. 
Under  the  plan  retirees  pay  a  premium  for  these 
benefits.  We  accrue  the  estimated  costs  of  retiree 
medical  and  dental  benefits  over the  period  during 
which  employees  render  the  service  that  qualifies 
them for benefits. (See Note 11 –  “Benefit Plans.”)

Reinsurance
Loss reserves and unearned premiums are reported 
before  taking  credit  for  amounts  ceded  under 
reinsurance  agreements.   Ceded  loss  reserves  are 
reflected  as  "Reinsurance  recoverable  on 
loss 
reserves."  Ceded unearned premiums are included in 
“Other assets.” Amounts due from reinsurers on paid 
claims are reflected as “Reinsurance recoverable on 
paid losses.” Ceded premiums payable are included 
in  “Other  liabilities.”  Any  profit  commissions  are 
included with “Premiums written –  Ceded” and any 
included  with  “Other 
ceding  commissions  are 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 77

Notes

underwriting  and  operating  expenses,  net.”  We 
remain liable for all insurance ceded.  (See Note 9 – 
“Reinsurance.”)

Share-Based Compensation
We  have  certain  share-based  compensation  plans. 
Under  the  fair  value method,  compensation  cost  is 
measured at the grant date based on the fair value of 
the award and is recognized over the service period 
which  generally  corresponds  to  the  vesting  period.  
The  fair  value  of  awards  classified  as  liabilities  is 
remeasured at each reporting period until the award 
is settled. Awards under our plans generally vest over 
periods ranging from one to three years.  (See Note 
15 –  “Share-based Compensation Plans.”)

Earnings per Share
Basic  earnings  per  share  ("EPS")  is  calculated  by 
dividing net income by the weighted average number 
of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted EPS 
includes the components of basic EPS and also gives 
effect  to  dilutive  common  stock  equivalents.  We 
calculate  diluted  EPS  using  the  treasury  stock 
method and if-converted method. Under the treasury 
stock  method,  diluted  EPS  reflects  the  potential 
dilution  that  could  occur  if  our  unvested  restricted 
stock units result in the issuance of common stock. 
Under the if-converted method, diluted EPS reflects 
the  potential  dilution  that  could  occur 
if  our 
convertible debt instruments result in the issuance of 
common  stock.  The  determination  of  potentially 
issuable shares does not consider the satisfaction of 
the  conversion  requirements  and  the  shares  are 
included in the determination of diluted EPS as of the 
beginning of the period, if dilutive. We have several 
debt  issuances  that  could  result  in  contingently 
issuable shares and consider each potential issuance 
of shares separately to reflect the maximum potential 
dilution.  Nonetheless,  our  dilutive  common  stock 
equivalents  may  not  reflect  all  of  the  contingently 
issuable shares that could be required to be issued 
upon  any  debt  conversion.  For  purposes  of 
calculating basic and diluted EPS, vested restricted 
stock  and  restricted  stock  units  ("RSUs")  are 
considered outstanding.

Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions during 2016, 
2015 or 2014.

78 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Notes

Recent accounting and reporting developments

Standard

Summary of guidance

Presentation of
Debt Issuance
Costs

• Requires the presentation of debt issuance costs in 
the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying 
amount of the related debt liability instead of as a 
deferred charge.

Effects on financial statements
and/or disclosures

• Adopted March 31, 2016 with

retrospective application to prior
periods.

• Does not impact the amortization method for these 

• There was no material impact on

costs.

Accounting for
Share-Based
Compensation
When the
Terms of an
Award Provide
That a
Performance
Target Could Be
Achieved after
the Requisite
Service Period

• Requires  that  a  performance  target  that  affects 
vesting and that can be achieved after the requisite 
service  period  be  treated  as  a  performance 
condition.

in  which 

• Compensation  cost  should  be  recognized  in  the 
it  become  probable  that  the 
period 
performance  target  will  be  achieved  and  should 
represent the compensation cost attributable to the 
periods for which service has been rendered.

•

If the performance target becomes probable of being 
achieved before  the  end  of  the  service  period,  the 
remaining  unrecognized  compensation  cost  for 
which requisite service has not yet been rendered is 
recognized prospectively over the remaining service 
period.

the consolidated balance
sheets, and no impact on our
statements of operations.

• For further information, see Note 

7. "Debt."

• Adopted March 31, 2016 with
application to performance
based awards granted in 2016.

• There was no material impact on

our consolidated financial
statements.

• For further information, see Note 
15. "Share-based Compensation 
Plans".

Disclosures 
about Short-
Duration 
Contracts

• Requires expanded disclosures designed to provide 
additional insight into an insurance entity's ability to 
underwrite  and  anticipate  costs  associated  with 
claims.

• This standard is not considered
applicable to our business and
therefore we have not adopted
these disclosure requirements.

• Disclosures include information about incurred and 
paid  claims  development,  on  a  net  of  reinsurance 
basis,  for  the  number  of  years  claims  incurred 
typically remain outstanding not to exceed ten years.

• Expanded disclosures also include more transparent 
information 
in 
methodologies and assumptions used to estimate 
claims,  and  the  timing,  frequency,  and  severity  of 
claims. 

significant 

changes 

about 

Classification
of Certain Cash
Receipts and
Cash Payments

• Provides  specific  guidance  on  the  presentation  of 
certain cash flow items including, but not limited to, 
debt  prepayment  and  debt  issuance  costs  and 
proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims.

• Adopted December 31, 2016

with application to prior periods.

• Cash flows related to debt

prepayment and debt issuance
transactions have been
reclassified as financing
activities from operating
activities.

• For further information on the 

impact our transactions had on 
our cash and cash equivalents 
see our consolidated 
statements of cash flows.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 79

Notes

Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Standards Issued but not yet Adopted

Standard

Summary of guidance

• Requires  equity 

for  under 

investments,  except 

those 
accounted 
the  equity  method  of 
accounting  that  have  a  readily  determinable  fair 
value to be measured at fair value with changes in 
fair value recognized in earnings. 

Effects on financial statements
and/or disclosures

• Required effective date: January

1, 2018.

Recognition 
and 
Measurement 
of Financial 
Assets and 
Financial 
Liabilities

Issued January 
2016

Improvements 
to Employee 
Share-Based 
Compensation 
Accounting

Issued March 
2016

Measurement 
of Credit 
Losses on 
Financial 
Statements

Issued June 
2016

• Equity 

investments  that  do  not  have  readily 
determinable fair values may be remeasured at fair 
value either upon the occurrence of an observable 
price change or upon identification of an impairment. 
A qualitative assessment for impairment is required 
for equity investments without readily determinable 
fair values.

• The potential impact from the

adoption of this guidance is not
expected to have a material
impact our consolidated balance
sheets, consolidated statements
of operations, or liquidity.

• Requires 

recognition  of  a  cumulative  effect 
adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning 
of the reporting period of adoption.

• For further information on our 
current equity investments see 
Note 5. "Investments."

• Required effective date: January

1, 2017.

• We are currently evaluating the
impacts the adoption of this
guidance will have on our
consolidated financial
statements.

• Required effective date: January

1, 2020.

• We are currently evaluating the
impacts the adoption of this
guidance will have on our
consolidated financial
statements, but do not expect it
to have a material impact.

• Requires that, prospectively, all tax effects related to 
share-based  compensation  be  made  through  the 
statement of operations at the time of settlement, 
rather than  recognizing  excess  tax  benefits  within 
paid-in capital. 

• Removes the requirement to delay recognition of a 
tax benefit until it reduces current taxes payable. This 
change  is  required  to  be  applied  on  a  modified 
retrospective basis.

• Requires  all  tax  related  cash  flows  resulting  from 
share-based  compensation  to  be  reported  as 
operating  activities,  a  change  from  the  existing 
requirement to present tax benefits as an inflow from 
financing  activities  and  an  outflow  from operating 
activities. 

• Entities, for tax withholding purposes, will be allowed 
to withhold an amount of shares up to an employee's 
maximum  individual  tax  rate  (as  opposed  to  the 
minimum  statutory  tax  rate) 
in  the  relevant 
jurisdiction without resulting in liability classification 
of the award. 

• Requires immediate recognition of estimated credit 
losses expected to occur over the remaining life of 
many financial instruments. Entities are required to 
use  a  current  expected  credit 
loss  ("CECL") 
methodology  that  incorporates  their  forecasts  of 
future economic conditions, unless such forecast is 
not  reasonable  or  supportable,  in  which  case  the 
entity will revert to historical loss experience.

• Amends  existing  guidance  for  available-for-sale 
fixed income securities to incorporate an allowance, 
rather  than  a  write-down  of  the  asset,  with  the 
amount of the allowance limited to the amount by 
which the fair value is less than amortized cost. The 
guidance  will  allow  for  reversals  of  impairment 
losses  in  the  event  that  the  credit  of  an  issuer 
improves. The length of time a security has been in 
an unrealized loss position will no longer impact the 
determination of whether a credit loss exists. 

• Updated guidance is not prescriptive about certain 
aspects  of  estimating  expected  credit 
losses, 
including  the  specific  methodology  to  use,  and 
therefore  will  require  significant 
in 
application. 

judgment 

80 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Note 4. Earnings Per Share

The  computation  of  basic  EPS 
includes  as 
"participating  securities"  unvested  share-based 
compensation  awards  that  contain  non-forfeitable 
rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether 
paid  or  unpaid,  under  the  "two-class"  method.  Our 
participating  securities  are  composed  of  vested 
restricted stock and restricted stock units with non-
forfeitable  rights  to  dividends  (of  which  none  have 
these 
been  declared  since 
participating securities). For each of the years ended 
December 31,  2016,  2015,  and  2014,  participating 
securities of 0.1 million have been included in basic 
EPS.

issuance  of 

the 

The computation of diluted EPS for the years ended 
December 31,  2016,  2015,  and  2014 
includes 
weighted  average  unvested  restricted  stock  units 
outstanding of 1.5 million, 2.1 million, and 3.1 million, 
respectively. 

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, all 
of  our  outstanding  Convertible  Senior  Notes  and 
Convertible  Junior  Subordinated  Debentures  are 
reflected in diluted earnings per share using the “if-
converted” method. Under this method, if dilutive, the 
common stock related to the outstanding Convertible 
Senior Notes and/or Convertible Junior Debentures 
is  assumed  issued  as  of  the  beginning  of  the 
reporting period and the related interest expense, net 
of tax, is added back to earnings in calculating diluted 
EPS. For the year ended December 31, 2014 our 5% 
Notes  and  9%  Debentures  were  not  included  in 
calculating diluted EPS as the result was anti-dilutive 
under the "if-converted" method.

Notes

The following table reconciles basic and diluted EPS 
amounts:

(In thousands, except per
share data)

Basic earnings per share:

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

Net income

$342,517

$1,172,000

$251,949

Weighted average common 
shares outstanding

342,890

339,552

338,523

Basic income per share

$

1.00

$

3.45

$

0.74

Diluted earnings per share:

Net income

$342,517

$1,172,000

$251,949

Interest expense, net of tax (1):

2% Notes

5% Notes

9% Debentures

Diluted income available to 
common shareholders

Weighted-average shares - 
Basic

Effect of dilutive securities:

Unvested restricted stock 
units

2% Notes

5% Notes

9% Debentures

6,111

6,362

15,893

7,928

12,197

12,228

22,786

—

—

$370,883

$1,214,942

$264,146

342,890

339,552

338,523

1,470

54,450

13,107

20,075

2,113

71,917

25,603

28,854

3,082

71,917

—

—

Weighted-average shares - 
Diluted

431,992

468,039

413,522

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.86

$

2.60

$

0.64

Anti-dilutive securities (in 
millions)

—

—

54.5

(1) 

Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2016
and December 31, 2015 has been tax effected at a rate of 
35%.  Due  to  the  valuation  allowance  recorded  against 
deferred tax assets, interest expense for the year ended 
December 31, 2014 was not tax effected.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 81

Notes

Note 5. Investments

The  amortized  cost,  gross  unrealized  gains  and  losses  and  fair  value  of  the  investment  portfolio  as  of 
December 31, 2016 and 2015 are shown below:

December 31, 2016

(In thousands)

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
government corporations and agencies

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

Corporate debt securities

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Total debt securities

Equity securities

Total investment portfolio

December 31, 2015

(In thousands)

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
government corporations and agencies

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

Corporate debt securities

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Debt securities issued by foreign sovereign governments

Total debt securities

Equity securities

Total investment portfolio

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross 
Unrealized 
Losses (1)

Fair Value

$

73,847

$

407

$

(724) $

73,530

2,147,458

1,756,461

59,519

231,733

327,042

121,151

20,983

6,059

74

102

769

226

(25,425)

(18,610)

(28)

(7,626)

(7,994)

(202)

2,143,016

1,743,910

59,565

224,209

319,817

121,175

4,717,211

28,620

(60,609)

4,685,222

7,144

8

(24)

7,128

$ 4,724,355

$

28,628

$

(60,633) $ 4,692,350

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross 
Unrealized 
Losses (1)

Fair Value

$

160,393

$

2,133

$

(1,942) $

160,584

1,766,407

2,046,697

116,764

265,879

237,304

61,345

29,359

4,684,148

5,625

33,410

2,836

56

161

162

3

2,474

41,235

38

(7,290)

1,792,527

(44,770)

2,004,763

(203)

(8,392)

(3,975)

(1,148)

(102)

116,617

257,648

233,491

60,200

31,731

(67,822)

4,657,561

(18)

5,645

$

4,689,773

$

41,273

$

(67,840) $

4,663,206

(1) 

There were no OTTI losses recorded in other comprehensive (loss) income as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

total investment portfolio amount shown above with 
a total fair value of $164.4 million.

The amortized cost and fair values of debt securities 
as of December 31, 2016, by contractual maturity, are 
shown  below.  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.  Because most asset-
backed  and  mortgage-backed  securities  and 
collateralized  loan  obligations  provide  for  periodic 
payments throughout their lives, they are listed below 
in separate categories.

including  proceeds 

During  the  first  quarter  of  2016  we  substantially 
liquidated  our  Australian  entities  and  repatriated 
most  assets, 
the 
monetization of our Australian investment portfolio. 
As of December 31, 2016 we held no investments in 
foreign sovereign governments. As of December 31, 
2015 our foreign investments primarily consisted of 
Australian  government  and  semi  government 
securities.

from 

As  discussed  in  Note  7  -  "Debt"  we  are  required to 
maintain collateral of at least 102% of the outstanding 
principal  balance  of  the  FHLB  Advance.  As  of 
December 31, 2016 that collateral is included in our 

82 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

December 31, 2016

(In thousands)

Due in one year or less

Due after one year through five years

Due after five years through ten years

Due after ten years

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Total as of December 31, 2016

Notes

Amortized
Cost

Fair Value

$

433,464

$

433,770

1,211,034

1,212,650

1,157,091

1,139,552

1,176,177

1,174,484

3,977,766

3,960,456

59,519

231,733

327,042

121,151

59,565

224,209

319,817

121,175

$ 4,717,211

$ 4,685,222

At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the investment portfolio had gross unrealized losses of $61 million and $68 
million, respectively.  For those securities in an unrealized loss position, the length of time the securities were 
in such a position, as measured by their month-end fair values, is as follows:

December 31, 2016

Less Than 12 Months

12 Months or Greater

Total

(In thousands)

U.S. Treasury securities and
obligations of U.S. government
corporations and agencies

Obligations of U.S. states and
political subdivisions

Corporate debt securities

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Equity securities

Fair Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair Value

Unrealized
Losses

$

48,642

$

(724) $

— $

— $

48,642

$

(724)

1,136,676

915,777

3,366

46,493

205,545

13,278

568

(24,918)

(16,771)

(28)

(857)

(7,529)

(73)

(15)

13,681

35,769

656

(507)

1,150,357

(1,839)

951,546

—

171,326

(6,769)

38,587

34,760

137

(465)

(129)

(9)

4,022

217,819

244,132

48,038

705

(25,425)

(18,610)

(28)

(7,626)

(7,994)

(202)

(24)

Total investment portfolio

$ 2,370,345

$

(50,915) $

294,916

$

(9,718) $ 2,665,261

$

(60,633)

December 31, 2015

Less Than 12 Months

12 Months or Greater

Total

(In thousands)

U.S. Treasury securities and
obligations of U.S. government
corporations and agencies

Obligations of U.S. states and
political subdivisions

Corporate debt securities

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Debt securities issued by foreign
sovereign governments

Equity securities

Fair Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair Value

Unrealized
Losses

$

60,548

$

(1,467) $

1,923

$

(475) $

62,471

$

(1,942)

417,615

1,470,628

86,604

35,064

134,488

—

4,463

355

(6,404)

(38,519)

(173)

(312)

(2,361)

—

(102)

(8)

37,014

114,982

5,546

209,882

69,927

51,750

—

171

(886)

454,629

(6,251)

1,585,610

(30)

(8,080)

(1,614)

(1,148)

—

(10)

92,150

244,946

204,415

51,750

4,463

526

(7,290)

(44,770)

(203)

(8,392)

(3,975)

(1,148)

(102)

(18)

Total investment portfolio

$ 2,209,765

$

(49,346) $

491,195

$

(18,494) $ 2,700,960

$

(67,840)

The  unrealized  losses  in  all  categories  of  our 
investments as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were 

primarily caused by changes in interest rates between 
the  time  of  purchase  and  the  respective  year  end. 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 83

Notes

There were 607 and 303 securities in an unrealized 
loss  position  as  of  December 31,  2016  and  2015, 
respectively. As of December 31, 2016, the fair value 
as a percent of amortized cost of the securities in an 
unrealized loss position was 98% and approximately 
14% of the securities in an unrealized loss position 
were backed by the U.S. Government.

There were no OTTI losses in earnings during 2016 
and 2015. We recognized OTTI losses of $0.1 million 
during 2014.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 
2014,  there  were  no  credit  losses  recognized  in 
earnings  for  which  a  portion  of  an  OTTI  loss  was 
recognized  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive 
loss.

The source of net investment income is as follows:

2016

2015

2014

$ 112,513

$ 105,882

$ 89,437

182

754

433

208

191

455

227

179

711

113,882

106,736

90,554

(In thousands)

Fixed income

Equity securities

Cash equivalents

Other

Investment
income

Investment
expenses

Net investment
income

realized 

The  net 
including 
impairment  losses,  and  change  in  net  unrealized 
gains (losses) of investments are as follows:

investment  gains, 

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Net realized
investment gains on
investments:

Fixed income

$

5,310

$ 28,335

$

1,000

3,622

—

26

—

356

1

$

8,932

$ 28,361

$

1,357

Equity securities

Other

Total net realized
investment gains

Change in net
unrealized gains
(losses):

Fixed income

$ (5,403) $ (33,687) $ 91,718

Equity securities

Other

Total (decrease)
increase in net
unrealized gains/
losses

(36)

14

(32)

1

66

(4)

$ (5,425) $ (33,718) $ 91,780

The gross realized gains, gross realized losses and 
impairment losses are as follows:

(3,216)

(2,995)

(2,907)

Gross realized gains

$ 11,909

$ 30,039

$

4,966

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

$ 110,666

$ 103,741

$ 87,647

Gross realized
losses

Other-than-
temporary-
impairment losses

Net realized
gains on
securities

(2,977)

(1,678)

(3,465)

—

—

(144)

$

8,932

$ 28,361

$

1,357

We  had  $13.6  million  and  $18.9  million  of 
investments  at  fair  value  on  deposit  with  various 
states  as  of  December 31,  2016  and  2015, 
respectively, due to regulatory requirements of those 
state insurance departments.

84 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Note 6. Fair Value Measurements

Assets  measured  at  fair  value  included  those  listed,  by  hierarchy  level,  in  the  following  tables  as  of 
December 31, 2016 and 2015:

Notes

December 31, 2016

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Quoted Prices 
in Active 
Markets for 
Identical 
Assets
(Level 1)

Significant 
Other 
Observable 
Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant 
Unobservable 
Inputs
(Level 3)

—

691

—

—

—

—

—

691

4,268

4,959

—

1,228

—

—

—

—

—

—

1,228

2,855

4,083

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
government corporations and agencies

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

Corporate debt securities

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Total debt securities

Equity securities (1)

Total investments
Real estate acquired (2)

December 31, 2015

$

73,530

$

30,690

$

42,840

$

2,143,016

1,743,910

59,565

224,209

319,817

121,175

4,685,222

7,128

$

$

4,692,350

11,748

$

$

—

—

—

—

—

—

30,690

2,860

2,142,325

1,743,910

59,565

224,209

319,817

121,175

4,653,841

—

33,550

$

4,653,841

$

— $

— $

11,748

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Quoted Prices 
in Active 
Markets for 
Identical 
Assets
(Level 1)

Significant 
Other
Observable 
Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant 
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

$

160,584

$

46,197

$

114,387

$

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
government corporations and agencies

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

Corporate debt securities

ABS

RMBS

CMBS

CLOs

Debt securities issued by foreign sovereign
governments

Total debt securities

Equity securities (1)

Total investments
Real estate acquired (2)

1,792,527

2,004,763

116,617

257,648

233,491

60,200

31,731

4,657,561

5,645

$

$

4,663,206

12,149

$

$

—

—

—

—

—

—

31,731

77,928

2,790

1,791,299

2,004,763

116,617

257,648

233,491

60,200

—

4,578,405

—

80,718

$

4,578,405

$

— $

— $

12,149

(1) 

(2) 

Equity securities in Level 3 are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. 

Real estate acquired through claim settlement, which is held for sale, is reported in other assets on the consolidated balance 
sheets.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 85

Notes

For assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reconciliation 
of the beginning and ending balances for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 is shown in 
the following tables. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 in those years and there we no losses 
included in earnings for those years attributable to the change in unrealized losses on assets still held at the 
end of each applicable year. 

Level 3 reconciliations:

(In thousands)

Obligations of 
U.S. States and 
Political 
Subdivisions

Equity
Securities

Total
Investments

Real Estate
Acquired

Balance at December 31, 2015

$

1,228

$

2,855

$

4,083

$

12,149

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses):

Included in earnings and reported as net realized
investment gains

Included in earnings and reported as losses
incurred, net

Purchases

Sales

—

—

—

(537)

3,579

3,579

—

—

4,258

(6,424)

—

4,258

(6,961)

(1,142)

36,859

(36,118)

11,748

Balance at December 31, 2016

$

691

$

4,268

$

4,959

$

(In thousands)

Obligations of 
U.S. States and 
Political 
Subdivisions

Equity
Securities

Total
Investments

Real Estate
Acquired

Balance at December 31, 2014

$

1,846

$

321

$

2,167

$

12,658

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses):

Included in earnings and reported as losses
incurred, net

Purchases

Sales

—

7

(625)

—

2,534

—

—

2,541

(625)

Balance at December 31, 2015

$

1,228

$

2,855

$

4,083

$

(2,322)

34,624

(32,811)

12,149

(In thousands)

Obligations of 
U.S. States and 
Political 
Subdivisions

Equity
Securities

Total
Investments

Real Estate
Acquired

Balance at December 31, 2013

$

2,423

$

321

$

2,744

$

13,280

Total realized/unrealized gains (losses):

Included in earnings and reported as losses
incurred, net

Purchases

Sales

—

30

(607)

—

—

—

—

30

(607)

Balance at December 31, 2014

$

1,846

$

321

$

2,167

$

(4,129)

42,247

(38,740)

12,658

Authoritative guidance over disclosures about the fair 
value  of  financial  instruments  requires  additional 
disclosure for financial instruments not measured at 
fair  value.  Certain  financial  instruments,  including 
insurance  contracts,  are  excluded  from  these  fair 
value disclosure requirements. The carrying values of 
cash  and  cash  equivalents  (Level  1)  and  accrued 
investment income (Level 2) approximated their fair 
values.

As  of  December 31,  2016,  the  majority  of  the  $5.0 
million  balance  of  Level  3  securities  are  equity 
securities that can only be redeemed or sold at their 

86 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

its 

remaining 

par  value  and  only  to  the  security  issuer,  with  the 
remainder of the balance held in a state premium tax 
credit  investment.  The  state  premium  tax  credit 
investment  has  an  average maturity  of  less  than  3 
years  and  a  credit  rating  of  AAA,  and  its  balance 
reflects 
scheduled  payments 
discounted at an average annual rate of 7.1%. As of 
December 31, 2015 our Level 3 securities were equity 
securities that can only be redeemed or sold at their 
par  value  and  only  to  the  security  issuer  and  state 
premium tax credit investments. As of December 31, 
2014 the majority of our Level 3 securities were state 
premium tax credit investments.

 
 
 
 
Additional  fair  value  disclosures  related  to  our 
investment  portfolio  are  included  in  Note  5  – 
“Investments.” 

We incur financial liabilities in the normal course of 
our  business.  The  following  table  presents  the 
carrying value and fair value of our financial liabilities 
disclosed,  but  not  carried,  at 
fair  value  at 
December 31, 2016 and 2015. The fair values of our 
5% Notes, 2% Notes, 5.75% Notes, and 9% Debentures 
were based on observable market prices and the fair 
value  of  the  FHLB  Advance  was  estimated  using 
discounted  cash  flows  on  current 
incremental 
borrowing rates for similar borrowing arrangements, 
and in all cases they are categorized as Level 2. See 
Note  7  -  "Debt"  for  a  description  of  the  financial 
liabilities in the table below.

(In thousands)

Financial
liabilities:

FHLB 
Advance

5% Notes

2% Notes

5.75% Notes

9% 
Debentures

Total financial
liabilities

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2015

Carrying
Value

Fair Value

Carrying 
Value

Fair Value

$ 155,000

$ 151,905

n/a

n/a

144,789

147,679

331,546

345,616

204,672

308,605

490,755

701,955

417,406

445,987

n/a

n/a

256,872

323,040

389,522

455,067

$1,178,739

$1,377,216

$1,211,823

$1,502,638

The  5%  Notes,  2%  Notes,  5.75%  Notes,  and  9% 
Debentures are obligations of our holding company, 
MGIC 
its 
subsidiaries. 

Investment  Corporation,  and  not  of 

Note 7.  Debt

Accounting standard update
As  of  March  31,  2016  we  adopted  the  accounting 
update related to the presentation of debt issuance 
costs in the consolidated financial statements. The 
change  in  accounting  guidance  has  been  applied 
retrospectively  to  prior  periods.  As  a  result,  a 
reclassification  of  approximately $11.2  million of 
debt issuance costs was made on our December 31, 
2015 balance sheet, resulting in a reduction to other 
assets and a reduction to long-term debt; there was 
impact  on  our  consolidated  statements  of 
no 
operations or retained earnings.

The impact of the reclassification of debt issuance 
costs  on  our  outstanding  debt  obligations  as  of 
December 31, 2015 is as follows.

Notes

December 31, 2015

As
previously
reported

Adjustment

As
Adjusted

$

333.5

$

(2.0) $

500.0

389.5

(9.2)

—

331.5

490.8

389.5

$

1,223.0

$

(11.2) $

1,211.8

(In millions)

5% Notes

2% Notes

9% Debentures

Total long-
term debt

Long-term debt
Long-term debt as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
consisted of the following obligations.

(In millions)

FHLB Advance

5% Notes

2% Notes

5.75% Notes

9% Debentures

Long-term debt, par value

Less: debt issuance costs

December 31,

2016

2015

$

155.0

$

145.0

207.6

425.0

256.9

1,189.5

10.8

—

333.5

500.0

—

389.5

1,223.0

11.2

Long-term debt, carrying value

$ 1,178.7

$ 1,211.8

Interest payments, on a consolidated basis, for our 
debt  obligations  existing  during  2016  and  2015
appear below.

(In millions)

5.375% Notes

FHLB Advance

5% Notes

2% Notes

5.75% Notes

9% Debentures

Years Ended December 31,

2016

2015

$

— $

2.4

10.6

9.1

—

27.4

3.3

—

17.3

10.0

—

35.1

65.7

Total interest payments

$

49.5

$

5.75% Notes
In  August  2016,  we  issued  $425  million  aggregate 
principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due in 2023 
("5.75% Notes") and received net proceeds, after the 
deduction  of  underwriting  fees,  of  $418.1  million. 
Interest on the 5.75% Notes is payable semi-annually 
on  February  15  and  August  15  of  each  year, 
commencing  on  February 15,  2017.  We  have  the 
option to redeem these notes, in whole or in part, at 
any time or from time to time prior to maturity at a 
redemption price equal to the greater of (i)100% of 
the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  notes  to  be 
redeemed and (ii) the make-whole amount, which is 
the  sum  of  the  present  values  of  the  remaining 
scheduled  payments  of  principal  and 
interest 
discounted at the treasury rate defined in the notes 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 87

Notes

plus  50  basis  points,  plus,  in  each  case,  accrued 
interest  thereon  to,  but  excluding,  the  redemption 
date.  In  addition  to  underwriting  fees,  we  incurred 
approximately  $1.2  million  of  other  expenses 
associated with the issuance of these notes.

The  5.75%  Notes  have  covenants  customary  for 
securities of this nature, including customary events 
of  default  and  further  provide  that  the  trustee  or 
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount 
of  the  outstanding  5.75%  Notes  may  declare  them 
immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of 
certain  events of default after the expiration of the 
applicable grace period. In addition, in the case of an 
event  of  default  arising  from  certain  events  of 
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to 
the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, the 
5.75%  Notes  will  become  due  and  payable 
immediately. This description is not intended to be 
complete in all respects and is qualified in its entirety 
by  the  terms  of  the  5.75%  Notes,  including  their 
covenants and events of default.

The  net  proceeds  from  the  5.75%  Notes  issuance 
were  primarily  used  as  (i)  cash  consideration  to 
repurchase  a  portion  of  our  2%  Notes,  and  (ii)  to 
repurchase the shares issued as partial consideration 
repurchases  of  our  2%  Notes,  as 
in 
further described below. The remaining proceeds are 
being held for general corporate purposes.

the 

FHLB Advance

In February 2016, MGIC borrowed $155.0 million in 
the  form  of  a  fixed  rate  advance  from  the  Federal 
Home  Loan  Bank  of  Chicago  ("FHLB  Advance"). 
Interest  on  the  Advance  is  payable  monthly  at  an 
annual  rate,  fixed  for  the  term  of  the  Advance, 
of 1.91%. The  principal  of  the  Advance matures on 
February 10, 2023. MGIC may prepay the Advance 
at any time. Such prepayment would be below par if 
interest  rates  have  risen  after  the  Advance  was 
originated, or above par if interest rates have declined. 
The Advance is secured by eligible collateral whose 
market  value  must  be  maintained  at 102% of  the 
principal  balance  of  the  Advance.  MGIC  provided 
eligible collateral from its investment portfolio.

5.375% Notes
We repaid the outstanding 5.375% Notes with cash 
at  the  holding  company  on  November  2,  2015. 
Interest on these notes was payable semi-annually in 
arrears  on  May  1  and  November  1  each  year. The 
repayment  of  our  Senior  Notes  had  no  material 
impact on our financial position or liquidity. 

88 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

5% Notes
As  of  December 31,  2016  and  2015  we  had 
outstanding  $145.0  million  and  $333.5  million, 
respectively,  principal  amount  of  5%  Notes  due  in 
2017 ("5% Notes"). In 2016, we repurchased $188.5 
million  in  aggregate principal  of  our  5%  Notes  at  a 
purchase  price  of  $195.5  million,  plus  accrued 
interest using funds held at our holding company. In 
2015,  we  purchased  $11.5  million  in  aggregate 
principal of our 5% Notes at a purchase price of $12.0 
million, plus accrued interest, using funds held at our 
holding  company.  In  each  of  2016  and  2015,  the 
excess of the purchase price over carrying value, plus 
the write-off of unamortized  issuance costs on the 
par value repurchased, is reflected as a loss on debt 
extinguishment  on  our  consolidated  statements  of 
operations.  Our  5%  Notes  repurchase  in  2015 
reduced  our  potentially  dilutive  shares  by 
approximately 0.9  million  shares, and  our  2016  5%
Notes  repurchases  reduced  our  potentially  dilutive 
shares by approximately 14.0 million shares.

Interest on the 5% Notes is payable semi-annually in 
arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The 
5% Notes will mature on May 1, 2017. The 5% Notes 
are  convertible,  at  the  holder's  option,  at  an  initial 
conversion  rate, which  is  subject  to  adjustment,  of 
74.4186 shares per $1,000 principal amount at any 
time  prior  to  the  maturity  date.  This  represents  an 
initial conversion price of approximately $13.44 per 
share.  These  5%  Notes  will  be  equal  in  right  of 
payment to our other senior debt and will be senior in 
right of payment to our 9% Debentures. Debt issuance 
costs are being amortized to interest expense over 
the  contractual life of  the  5%  Notes.  We have 10.8 
million  authorized  shares  reserved  for  conversion 
under our 5% Notes.

The  provisions  of  the  5%  Notes  are  complex. 
Covenants in the 5% Notes include a requirement to 
notify holders in advance of certain events and that 
we  and  the  designated  subsidiaries  preserve  our 
corporate existence, rights and franchises unless we 
or  any  such  subsidiary  determines  that  such 
preservation is no longer necessary in the conduct of 
its  business  and  that  the  loss  thereof  is  not 
disadvantageous to the holders of the 5% Notes. A 
designated  subsidiary  is  any  of  our  consolidated 
subsidiaries  which  has  shareholders'  equity  of  at 
least 15% of our consolidated shareholders' equity. 
Further,  the  notes  are  subject  to  the  indenture 
between us and the trustee that, among other terms, 
includes provisions that would constitute an event of 
default under the indenture. Upon such a default, the 
trustee  could  accelerate  the  maturity  of  the  notes 
independent of any action by holders of the 5% Notes. 
This description is not intended to be complete in all 
respect and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of 

the 5% Notes, including their covenants and events 
of default. We were in compliance with all covenants 
at December 31, 2016.

convert their notes irrespective of satisfaction of the 
conditions. 

Notes

2% Notes
As  of  December 31,  2016  and  2015,  we  had 
outstanding  $207.6  million  and  $500.0  million, 
respectively, principal amount of our 2% Notes due in 
2020 ("2% Notes"). In the third quarter  of 2016, we 
entered  into  privately  negotiated  agreements  to 
repurchase $292.4 million in aggregate principal of 
our  outstanding  2%  Notes  at  a  purchase  price  of 
$362.1 million, plus accrued interest. We funded the 
purchases  with  $230.7  million 
in  cash,  using 
proceeds from the issuance of our 5.75% Notes, and 
by  issuing  to  certain  sellers  approximately  18.3 
million shares of our common stock. The excess of 
the purchase price over carrying value, plus the write-
off of unamortized issuance costs on the par value 
repurchased, 
loss  on  debt 
is  reflected  as  a 
extinguishment  on  our  consolidated  statements  of 
operations  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2016. 
The  shares  issued  as  consideration  for  the  notes 
repurchases  have  been 
repurchased  as  of 
December 31, 2016 using cash from our 5.75% Notes 
issuance. The repurchases of the 2% Notes reduced 
potentially  dilutive  shares  by  approximately  42.1 
million shares, without considering the shares issued 
as partial  consideration in the purchases of the 2% 
Notes  or  the  repurchase  of  shares  to  offset  such 
shares issued.

Interest on the 2% Notes is payable semi-annually in 
arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. Debt 
issuance  costs  are  being  amortized  to  interest 
expense over the contractual life of the 2% Notes. The 
2% Notes will mature on April 1, 2020, unless earlier 
repurchased by us or converted. 

Prior to January 1, 2020, the 2% Convertible Senior 
Notes are convertible only upon satisfaction of one 
or more conditions. One such condition is that during 
any  calendar  quarter  commencing  after  March  31, 
2014,  the  last  reported  sale  price  of  our  common 
stock for each of at least 20 trading days during the 
30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, 
the  last  trading  day  of  the  immediately  preceding 
calendar quarter be greater than or equal to 130% of 
the  applicable  conversion  price  on  each  applicable 
trading day. This condition was met for the quarter 
ended  December  31,  2016.  The  2%  Notes  are 
convertible  at  an  initial  conversion  rate,  which  is 
subject to adjustment, of 143.8332 shares per $1,000 
initial 
principal  amount.  This 
conversion price of approximately $6.95 per share. 
130%  of  such  conversion  price  is  approximately 
$9.04.  On  or  after  January  1,  2020,  holders  may 

represents  an 

Prior  to  April  10,  2017,  the  notes  will  not  be 
redeemable. On any business day on or after April 10, 
2017 we may redeem for cash all or part of the notes, 
at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of 
the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, 
plus any accrued and unpaid interest, if the closing 
sale price of our common stock exceeds 130% of the 
then prevailing conversion price of the notes for at 
least 20 of the 30 trading days preceding notice of 
the  redemption.  We  have  29.9  million  authorized 
shares reserved for conversion under our 2% Notes.

The  provisions  of  the  2%  Notes  are  complex. 
Covenants in the 2% Notes include a requirement to 
notify holders in advance of certain events and that 
we and the designated subsidiaries (defined above) 
preserve  our  corporate  existence, 
rights  and 
franchises  unless  we  or  any  such  subsidiary 
determines  that  such  preservation  is  no  longer 
necessary in the conduct of its business and that the 
loss thereof is not disadvantageous to holders of the 
2%  Notes.  Further,  the  notes  are  subject  to  the 
indenture  between  us  and  the  trustee  that,  among 
other 
that  would 
includes  provisions 
constitute  an  event  of  default  under  the  indenture. 
Upon such a default, the trustee could accelerate the 
maturity of the notes independent of any action by 
holders  of  the  2%  Notes.  This  description  is  not 
intended to be complete in all respect and is qualified 
in its entirety by the terms of the 2% Notes, including 
their  covenants  and  events  of  default.  We  were  in 
compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2016. 
These 2% Notes will be equal in right of payment to 
our  other  senior  debt  and  will  be  senior  in  right  of 
payment to our 9% Debentures. 

terms, 

9% Debentures
As  of  December 31,  2016  and  2015  we  had 
outstanding  $256.9  million  and  $389.5  million, 
respectively, principal amount of our 9% Debentures 
due  in  2063  ("9%  Debentures").  In  February  2016, 
in  aggregate 
MGIC  purchased  $132.7  million 
principal  of  our  outstanding  9%  Debentures  at  a 
purchase  price  of  $150.7  million,  plus  accrued 
interest.  The  9%  Debentures  include  a  conversion 
feature that allows us, at our option, to make a cash 
payment  to  converting  holders  in  lieu  of  issuing 
shares of common stock upon conversion of the 9%
Debentures. The accounting standards applicable to 
extinguishment  of  debt  with  a  cash  conversion 
feature require the consideration paid to be allocated 
the 
between 
liability 
component  and 
the  equity 
component.  The  purchase  of  the  9%  Debentures 
loss  on  debt 
resulted 

the  extinguishment  of 
reacquisition  of 

in  an  $8.3  million 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 89

Notes

extinguishment  on  the  consolidated  statement  of 
operations  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2016, 
which  represents  the  difference  between  the  fair 
value and the carrying value of the liability component 
on the purchase date. In addition, our shareholders’  
equity was separately reduced by $6.3 million related 
to  the  reacquisition  of  the  equity  component.  For 
GAAP  accounting  purposes,  the  9%  Debentures 
owned  by  MGIC  are  considered  retired  and  are 
eliminated in our consolidated financial statements 
and  the  underlying  common  stock  equivalents, 
approximately 9.8 million shares, are not included in 
the computation of diluted shares.

When interest on the 9% Debentures is deferred, we 
are required, not later than a specified time, to use 
reasonable  commercial  efforts  to  begin  selling 
qualifying  securities  to  persons  who  are  not  our 
affiliates. The specified time is one business day after 
we pay interest on the 9% Debentures that was not 
deferred,  or  if  earlier,  the  fifth  anniversary  of  the 
scheduled  interest  payment  date  on  which  the 
deferral  started.  Qualifying  securities  are  common 
stock,  certain  warrants and  certain  non-cumulative 
perpetual  preferred  stock.  The  requirement  to  use 
such  efforts  to  sell  such  securities  is  called  the 
Alternative Payment Mechanism. 

The 9% Debentures are currently convertible, at the 
holder's option, at an initial conversion rate, which is 
subject  to adjustment,  of  74.0741  common  shares 
per $1,000 principal amount of the 9% Debentures at 
any time prior to the maturity date. This represents 
an  initial  conversion  price  of  approximately $13.50 
per  share.  If  a  holder  elects  to  convert  their  9% 
Debentures,  deferred  interest  owed  on  the  9% 
Debentures  being  converted  is  also  converted  into 
shares of our common stock. The conversion rate for 
any deferred interest is based on the average price 
that  our  shares  traded  at  during  a  5-day  period 
immediately prior to the election to convert. In lieu of 
issuing shares of common stock upon conversion of 
the  9%  Debentures,  we  may, at  our  option,  make  a 
cash payment to converting holders for all or some 
of  the  shares  of  our  common  stock  otherwise 
issuable  upon  conversion. We  have  19.0  million 
authorized shares reserved for conversion under our 
9% debentures.

We may redeem the 9% Debentures in whole or in part 
from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price 
equal  to  100%  of  the  principal  amount  of  the  9% 
Debentures being  redeemed, plus  any  accrued  and 
unpaid  interest,  if  the  closing  sale  price  of  our 
common stock exceeds 130% of the then prevailing 
conversion price of the 9% Debentures for at least 20 
of  the  30  trading  days  preceding  notice  of  the 
redemption. 130% of such conversion price is $17.55.

Interest  on  the  9%  Debentures  is  payable  semi-
annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each 
year. As long as no event of default with respect to 
the  debentures has  occurred and  is  continuing,  we 
interest,  under  an  optional  deferral 
may  defer 
provision,  for  one  or  more  consecutive  interest 
periods up to 10 years without giving rise to an event 
of  default.  Deferred  interest  will  accrue  additional 
interest at the rate then applicable to the debentures. 
During an optional deferral period we may not pay or 
declare dividends on our common stock.

The net proceeds of Alternative Payment Mechanism 
sales  are to  be  applied  to the  payment of  deferred 
interest, including the compound portion. We cannot 
pay  deferred  interest  other  than  from  the  net 
proceeds of Alternative Payment Mechanism sales, 
except at the final maturity of the debentures or at the 
tenth anniversary of the start of the interest deferral. 
The  Alternative  Payment  Mechanism  does  not 
require us to sell common stock or warrants before 
the fifth anniversary of the interest payment date on 
which  that  deferral  started  if  the  net  proceeds 
(counting  any  net  proceeds  of  those  securities 
previously  sold  under  the  Alternative  Payment 
Mechanism) would exceed the 2% cap. The 2% cap 
is  2%  of  the  average closing  price  of  our  common 
stock times the number of our outstanding shares of 
common stock. The average price is determined over 
a specified period ending before the issuance of the 
common  stock  or  warrants  being  sold,  and  the 
number of outstanding shares is determined as of the 
date  of  our  most  recent  publicly  released  financial 
statements.

We  are  not  required  to  issue  under  the  Alternative 
Payment Mechanism a total of more than 10 million
shares of common stock, including shares underlying 
qualifying  warrants.  In  addition,  we  may  not  issue 
under the Alternative Payment Mechanism qualifying 
preferred  stock  if  the  total  net  proceeds  of  all 
issuances  would  exceed  25%  of  the  aggregate 
principal amount of the debentures.

The Alternative Payment Mechanism does not apply 
during  any  period  between  scheduled 
interest 
payment dates if there is a “market disruption event” 
that occurs over a specified portion of such period. 
include  any  material 
Market  disruption  events 
adverse  change 
international 
economic or financial conditions.

in  domestic  or 

The  provisions  of  the  9%  Debentures  are  complex. 
The description above is not intended to be complete 
in all respects. Moreover, that description is qualified 
in  its  entirety  by  the  terms  of  the  9%  Debentures, 

90 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

including their covenants and events of default. We 
in  compliance  with  all  covenants  at 
were 
December 31, 2016. The 9% Debentures rank junior 
to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness.

Note 8. Loss Reserves

As  described  in  Note  3  –  “Summary of  Significant 
Accounting Policies –  Loss Reserves,” we establish 
reserves  to  recognize  the  estimated  liability  for 
losses  and  LAE  related  to  defaults  on  insured 
mortgage  loans.  Loss  reserves  are  established  by 
estimating  the  number  of  loans  in  our  inventory  of 
delinquent loans that will result in a claim payment, 
which  is  referred  to  as  the  claim  rate,  and  further 
estimating the amount of the claim payment, which 
is referred to as claim severity.

Estimation  of  losses  is  inherently  judgmental.  The 
conditions  that  affect  the  claim  rate  and  claim 
severity  include  the  current  and  future  state  of  the 
domestic  economy,  including  unemployment,  the 
current and future strength of local housing markets; 
exposure  on  insured  loans;  the  amount  of  time 
between  default  and  claim  filing,  and  curtailments 
and  rescissions.  The  actual  amount  of  the  claim 
payments may be substantially different than our loss 
reserve estimates. Our estimates could be adversely 
affected by several factors, including a deterioration 
of 
regional  or  national  economic  conditions, 
including  unemployment,  leading  to  a  reduction  in 
borrowers’  income  and  thus  their  ability  to  make 
mortgage  payments,  and  a  drop  in  housing  values 
which may affect borrower willingness to continue to 
make  mortgage  payments  when  the  value  of  the 
home is below the mortgage balance. Changes to our 
estimates  could  result  in  a  material  impact  to  our 
results of operations and capital position, even in a 
stable economic environment.

The  “Losses  incurred”  section  of  the  table  below 
shows losses incurred on defaults that occurred in 
the  current year and  in  prior  years.  The  amount  of 
losses incurred relating to defaults that occurred in 
the current year represents the estimated amount to 
be ultimately paid on such defaults.  The amount of 
losses incurred relating to defaults that occurred in 
prior  years  represents  the  actual  claim  rate  and 
severity associated  with  those  defaults  resolved in 
the current year differing from the estimated liability 
at  the  prior  year-end,  as  well  as  a  re-estimation  of 
amounts to be ultimately paid on defaults continuing 
from the end of the prior year.  This re-estimation of 
the claim rate and severity is the result of our review 
of  current  trends  in  the  default  inventory,  such  as 
percentages of defaults that have resulted in a claim, 
the amount of the claims relative to the average loan 

Notes

exposure, changes in the relative level of defaults by 
geography and changes in average loan exposure.

Losses  incurred  on  default  notices  received  in  the 
current year decreased in  2016  compared to 2015, 
and  in  2015  compared  to  2014,  primarily  due  to  a 
decrease in the number of new defaults, net of cures, 
as well as a decrease in the estimated claim rate on 
recently reported defaults.

The “Losses paid” section of the table below shows 
the breakdown between claims paid on new default 
notices  in  the  current  year,  and  claims  paid  on 
defaults from prior years. Until a few years ago, it took, 
on  average,  approximately  twelve  months  for  a 
default that is not cured to develop into a paid claim. 
Over the past several years, the average time it takes 
to  receive  a  claim  associated  with  a  default  has 
increased. This is, in part, due to new loss mitigation 
protocols established by servicers and to changes in 
some  state  foreclosure  laws  that  may  include,  for 
example, a requirement for additional review and/or 
mediation processes. It is difficult to estimate how 
long it may take for current and future defaults that 
do not cure to develop into paid claims.

During  2016,  our  losses  paid  included  $53  million
associated  with  settlements  for  claims  paying 
practices  and  NPL  settlements. These  settlements 
reduced  our  delinquent  inventory  by  1,273  notices. 
During  2015,  our  losses  paid  included  $10  million
associated  with  settlements  for  claim  paying 
practices. These settlements reduced our delinquent 
inventory by 1,121 notices. These settlements had no 
material impact on our losses incurred in either year.

liability  associated  with  our  estimate  of 
The 
premiums  to  be  refunded  on  expected  claim 
payments is accrued for separately at December 31, 
2016  and  2015  and  approximated  $85  million  and 
$102 million, respectively. This liability was included 
in  "Other  liabilities"  on  our  consolidated  balance 
sheets.

In each of 2016, 2015, and 2014, we paid $42 million
in connection with a 2012 settlement agreement with 
Freddie Mac regarding the aggregate loss limit under 
certain  pool  insurance  policies.  The  final  payment 
under  that  settlement  agreement  was  made  on 
December 1, 2016.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 91

Notes

The  following  table  provides  a  reconciliation  of 
beginning and ending loss reserves for each of the 
past three years:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

$1,893,402

$2,396,807

$3,061,401

44,487

57,841

64,085

1,848,915

2,338,966

2,997,316

Reserve at beginning of
year

Less reinsurance
recoverable

Net reserve at beginning
of year

Losses incurred:

Losses and LAE
incurred in respect of
default notices
received in:

Current year
Prior years (1)

387,815

453,849

596,436

(147,658)

(110,302)

(100,359)

Total losses incurred

240,157

343,547

496,077

Losses paid:

Losses and LAE paid in
respect of default
notices received in:

Current year

Prior years

Reinsurance 
terminations (2)

14,823

25,980

32,919

689,258

823,058

1,121,508

(3,329)

(15,440)

—

Total losses paid

700,752

833,598

1,154,427

Net reserve at end of
year

Plus reinsurance
recoverables

1,388,320

1,848,915

2,338,966

50,493

44,487

57,841

Reserve at end of year

$1,438,813

$1,893,402

$2,396,807

(1)  A negative number for prior year losses incurred indicates 
a redundancy of prior year loss reserves. See table below 
for more information about prior year loss development.

(2) 

In a termination, the reinsurance agreement is cancelled, 
with no future premium ceded and funds for any incurred 
but unpaid losses transferred to us. The transferred funds 
result in an increase in our investment portfolio (including 
cash and cash equivalents) and a decrease in net losses 
paid (reduction to losses incurred). In addition, there is an 
offsetting  decrease 
in  the  reinsurance  recoverable 
(increase  in  losses  incurred),  and  thus  there  is  no  net 
impact to losses incurred. (See Note 9 –  “Reinsurance”)

For  the  years  ended  December 31,  2016,  2015  and 
2014 we experienced favorable prior year loss reserve 
development. This development was, in part, due to 
the resolution of approximately 63%, 60% and 58% for 
the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, 
respectively,  of  the  prior  year  default  inventory.  In 
2016, 2015, and 2014 we experienced improved cure 
rates on prior year defaults. Additionally, during 2015 
the claim rate development was favorably impacted 
by  re-estimations  of  previously  recorded  reserves 
relating to disputes on our claims paying practices 
and adjustments to IBNR. The favorable development 
for the years ended 2016 and 2015 was offset, in part, 
by an increase in the estimated severity on prior year 
defaults  remaining in  the  delinquent  inventory. The 

92 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

decrease in the estimated severity in 2014 was based 
on the resolution of the prior year default inventory.

The prior year development of the reserves in 2016, 
2015 and 2014 is reflected in the table below.

(In millions)

2016

2015

2014

Decrease in estimated
claim rate on primary
defaults

Increase (decrease) in
estimated severity on
primary defaults

Change in estimates
related to pool
reserves, LAE
reserves, reinsurance
and other

Total prior year loss 
development (1)

$

(148) $

(141) $

(43)

9

43

(35)

(9)

(12)

(22)

$

(148) $

(110) $

(100)

(1)  A  negative  number  for  prior  year  loss  development 
indicates a redundancy of prior year loss reserves. 

in  the  table  below.  The 

Default Inventory
A rollforward of our primary default inventory for the 
years  ended  December 31,  2016,  2015  and  2014 
appears 
information 
concerning new notices and cures is compiled from 
monthly  reports  received  from  loan  servicers.  The 
level  of  new  notice  and  cure  activity  reported  in  a 
particular month can be influenced by, among other 
things,  the  date  on  which  a  servicer  generates  its 
report, the number of business days in a month and 
transfers of servicing between loan servicers.

Default inventory at
beginning of year

New Notices

Cures

Paids (including those
charged to a deductible
or captive)

Rescissions and
denials

Other items removed
from inventory

Default inventory at end
of year

2016

2015

2014

62,633

67,434

79,901

103,328

74,315

88,844

(65,516)

(73,610)

(87,278)

(12,367)

(16,004)

(23,494)

(629)

(848)

(1,306)

(1,273)

(1,121)

(193)

50,282

62,633

79,901

The  decrease  in  the  primary  default 
inventory 
experienced  during  2016  and  2015  was  generally 
across all markets and all book years prior to 2013. 
In  2016  and  2015,  the  percentage  of  loans  in  the 
inventory  that  had  been  in  default  for  12  or  more 
consecutive months had decreased compared to the 
respective prior years. Historically as a default ages 
it  becomes  more  likely  to  result  in  a  claim.  The 
percentage of loans that have been in default for 12 
or more consecutive months and the number of loans 
in our primary claims received inventory have been 

affected  by  our  suspended  rescissions  and  the 
resolution of certain of those rescissions discussed 
below and in Note 17 - "Litigation and Contingencies".

Pool insurance default inventory decreased to 1,883
at  December 31,  2016  from  2,739  at  December 31, 
2015 and 3,797 at December 31, 2014.

Notes

The number of consecutive months that a borrower 
has been delinquent is shown in the table below.

Consecutive months in default

December 31,

2016

2015

2014

12,194

24% 13,053

21% 15,319

19%

13,450

27% 15,763

25% 19,710

25%

24,638

49% 33,817

54% 44,872

56%

50,282

100% 62,633

100% 79,901

100%

3 months
or less

4 - 11
months

12 
months 
or 
more (1)

Total
primary
default
inventory

Primary
claims
received
inventory
included
in ending
default
inventory

Claims paying practices
Our  loss  reserving  methodology  incorporates  our 
estimates of future rescissions.  A variance between 
ultimate actual rescission rates and our estimates, as 
a result of the outcome of litigation, settlements or 
other factors, could materially affect our losses.

is  accrued 

The 
liability  associated  with  our  estimate  of 
premiums  to  be  refunded  on  expected  future 
rescissions 
separately.  At 
December 31,  2016  and  2015  the  estimate  of  this 
liability totaled $5 million and $7 million, respectively. 
This liability was included in "Other liabilities" on our 
consolidated balance sheets.

for 

For 
legal 
information  about  discussions  and 
proceedings  with  customers  with  respect  to  our 
claims  paying practices, including  settlements  that 
we believe are probable, as defined in ASC 450-20, 
see Note 17 –  “Litigation and Contingencies.”

1,385

3%

2,769

4%

4,746

6%

Note 9. Reinsurance 

Our  consolidated  financial  statements  reflect  the 
effects  of  assumed  and  ceded 
reinsurance 
transactions.  Assumed  reinsurance  refers  to  the 
acceptance  of  certain  insurance  risks  that  other 
insurance  companies  have  underwritten.  Ceded 
reinsurance  involves  transferring  certain  insurance 
risks  (along  with  the  related  earned  premiums)  we 
have underwritten to other insurance companies who 
agree to share these risks. The primary  purpose of 
ceded reinsurance is to protect us, at a cost, against 
a  fixed  percentage  of  losses  arising  from  policies 
covered by  the  agreement;  however we  also  utilize 
reinsurance  to  manage  our  capital  requirements 
under PMIERs. Reinsurance is currently placed on a 
quota-share  basis,  but  we  also  have  captive 
reinsurance  agreements  that  remain  in  effect.  The 
reinsurance  agreements  we  have  entered  into  are 
discussed below.

(1)  Approximately 47%, 50% and 53% of the primary default 
inventory in default for 12 consecutive months or more 
has been in default for at least 36 consecutive months as 
of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The length of time a loan is in the default inventory 
can  differ  from  the  number  of  payments  that  the 
borrower has not made or is considered delinquent. 
These  differences  typically  result  from  a  borrower 
making monthly payments that do not result in the 
loan becoming fully current. The number of payments 
that  a  borrower is  delinquent  is  shown  in  the  table 
below.

Number of payments delinquent

December 31,

2016

2015

2014

3
payments
or less

4 - 11
payments

12
payments
or more

Total
primary
default
inventory

18,419

36% 20,360

33% 23,253

29%

12,892

26% 15,092

24% 19,427

24%

18,971

38% 27,181

43% 37,221

47%

50,282

100% 62,633

100% 79,901

100%

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 93

Notes

The  effect  of  all  reinsurance  agreements  on 
premiums  earned  and  losses  incurred,  which  is 
reflected 
the  consolidated  statements  of 
in 
operations, is as follows:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Years ended December 31,

Premiums
earned:

Direct

Assumed

Ceded

Net premiums
earned

Losses incurred:

Direct

Assumed

Ceded

Net losses
incurred

$ 1,058,545

$ 997,892

$ 950,973

662

1,178

1,653

(133,981)

(102,848)

(108,255)

$ 925,226

$ 896,222

$ 844,371

$ 273,207

$ 369,680

$ 524,051

1,138

1,552

2,012

(34,188)

(27,685)

(29,986)

$ 240,157

$ 343,547

$ 496,077

Quota share reinsurance

2015 QSR Transaction
We utilize a quota-share reinsurance agreement with 
a group of unaffiliated reinsurers, each with an insurer 
financial strength rating of A- or better by Standard 
and  Poor's  Rating  Services,  A.M.  Best,  or  both,  to 
manage  our  exposure  to  losses  resulting  from  our 
mortgage  guaranty  policies  and 
to  provide 
reinsurance  capital  credit  under  the  PMIERs.  Our 
2015 quota share reinsurance agreement("2015 QSR 
Transaction"), which  became  effective July 1,  2015 
provides coverage on policies that were in the 2013 
quota  share  reinsurance  agreement  ("2013  QSR 
Transaction"); additional qualifying in force policies 
as of the agreement effective date which either had 
no history of defaults, or where a single default had 
been  cured  for  twelve  or  more  months  at  the 
agreement  effective  date;  and  all  qualifying  new 
insurance  written  through  December 31,  2016. The 
agreement cedes losses incurred and premiums on 
or  after  the  effective  date  through  December 31, 
2024,  at  which  time  the  agreement  expires.  Early 
termination of the agreement can be elected by us 
effective  December 31,  2018  for  a  fee,  or  under 
specified  scenarios  for  no  fee  upon  prior  written 
notice, including if we will receive less than 90% of 
the full credit amount under the PMIERs for the risk 
ceded in any required calculation period.

The 2015 QSR Transaction increased the amount of 
our IIF covered by reinsurance and will increase the 
amount of premiums and losses ceded. A higher level 
of losses ceded will reduce our profit commission. 
The structure of the 2015 QSR Transaction is a 30% 
quota share for all policies covered, with a 20% ceding 

94 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

commission  as  well  as  a  profit  commission. 
Generally, under  the  2015 QSR Transaction, we  will 
receive  a  profit  commission  provided  that  the  loss 
ratio  on  the  loans  covered  under  the  agreement 
remains below 60%.

2013 QSR Transaction
Effective  July 1,  2015,  we  settled  our  2013  QSR 
Transaction  by  commutation.  The  settlement 
included  unearned  premiums,  loss  reserves,  and 
profit commission. The commutation resulted in an 
increase in net premiums written and earned of $69.4 
million and $11.6 million, respectively, and a decrease 
in ceding commissions of $11.6 million in the third 
quarter of 2015. Receipt of our profit commission of 
$142.5 million, in addition to other premium and loss 
amounts,  was  also  completed  as  part  of  the 
settlement.

2017 QSR Transaction
We  have  agreed  to  terms  on  a  quota-share 
reinsurance  agreement  for  2017 
("2017  QSR 
Transaction") with a group of unaffiliated reinsurers, 
each with an insurer financial strength rating of A- or 
better by Standard and Poor's, A.M. Best or both, to 
manage  our  exposure  to  losses  resulting  from  our 
to  provide 
mortgage  guaranty  policies  and 
reinsurance  capital  credit  under  the  PMIERs.  The 
GSEs have approved the terms of our proposed 2017 
QSR  Transaction.  The  2017  QSR  Transaction  is 
expected to be executed during the first quarter  of 
2017 with an effective date retroactive to January 1, 
2017,  and  will  provide  coverage  on  new  business 
written January 1, 2017 through December 29, 2017 
that meets certain eligibility requirements. Under the 
agreed  upon  terms,  the  2017  QSR  Transaction will 
cede losses incurred and premiums on or after the 
effective date through December 31, 2028, at which 
time the agreement expires. Early termination of the 
agreement  can  be  elected  by  us  effective 
December 31,  2021  for  a  fee,  or  under  specified 
scenarios  for  no  fee  upon  prior  written  notice, 
including if we will receive less than 90% of the full 
credit amount under the PMIERs for the risk ceded in 
any required calculation period.

The  agreed  upon  structure  of  the  2017  QSR 
Transaction  is  a  30%  quota  share  for  all  policies 
covered, with a 20% ceding commission as well as a 
profit  commission.  Generally, under  the  2017  QSR 
Transaction,  we  will  receive  a  profit  commission 
provided that the loss ratio on the loans covered under 
the agreement remains below 60%.

Following  is  a  summary  of  our  quota  share 
reinsurance  agreements,  excluding  captive 
agreements, for 2016, 2015 and 2014.

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Years ended December 31,

2015 QSR
Transaction
(Effective July 1,
2015)

Ceded premiums 
written, net of 
profit 
commission (1)

Ceded premiums 
earned, net of 
profit 
commission (1)

Ceded losses
incurred

Ceding 
commissions (2)

Profit
commission

2013 QSR
Transaction

Ceded premiums
written, net of
profit
commission

Ceded premiums
earned, net of
profit
commission

Ceded losses
incurred

Ceding 
commissions (2)

Profit
commission

$ 125,460

$ 52,588

n/a

125,460

52,588

30,201

11,424

47,629

20,582

112,685

50,322

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$ (11,355) (3) $100,031

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

35,999 (3)

88,528

6,060

15,163

10,235 (3)

37,833

62,525 (3)

89,133

(1)  As of July 1, 2015, premiums are ceded on an earned 
and  received  basis  as  defined  in  our  2015  QSR 
Transaction.

(2)  Ceding  commissions  are  reported  within  Other 
underwriting  and  operating  expenses,  net  on  the 
consolidated statements of operations.

(3) 

The year ended December 31, 2015 includes the non-
recurring 
impact  of  commuting  our  2013  QSR 
Transaction. The commutation had no impact on ceded 
losses incurred.

Under  the  terms  of  2015  QSR  Transaction, 
reinsurance  premiums,  ceding  commission  and 
profit  commission  are  settled  net  on  a  quarterly 
basis.  The 
reinsurance  premium  due  after 
deducting  the  related  ceding  commission  and 
profit  commission 
is  reported  within  "Other 
liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheets.

The  reinsurance  recoverable  on  loss  reserves 
related  to  our  2015  QSR  Transaction  was  $31.8 

Notes

million as of December 31, 2016 and $10.9 million
reinsurance 
as  of  December 31,  2015.  The 
recoverable balance is secured by funds on deposit 
from the reinsurers which are based on the funding 
requirements of PMIERs that address ceded risk.

Captive reinsurance
In 
the  past,  MGIC  also  obtained  captive 
reinsurance. In a captive reinsurance arrangement, 
the reinsurer is affiliated with the lender for whom 
MGIC provides mortgage insurance. As part of our 
settlement  with  the  CFPB  in  2013  and  with  the 
Minnesota  Department  of  Commerce  in  2015, 
MGIC has agreed to not enter into any new captive 
reinsurance agreement or reinsure any new loans 
under any existing captive reinsurance agreement 
for  a  period  of  ten  years  subsequent  to  the 
respective  settlements.  In  accordance  with  the 
CFPB  settlement,  all  of  our  active  captive 
arrangements were placed into run-off. In addition, 
the GSEs will not approve any future reinsurance or 
risk sharing transaction with a mortgage enterprise 
or an affiliate of a mortgage enterprise.

The  reinsurance  recoverable  on  loss  reserves 
related to captive agreements was $19 million at 
December 31, 2016 which was supported  by $91 
million of trust assets, while at December 31, 2015
the  reinsurance  recoverable  on  loss  reserves 
related  to  captive  agreements  was  $34  million
which  was  supported  by  $137  million  of  trust 
assets.  Each  captive  reinsurer  is  required  to 
maintain  a  separate  trust  account  to  support  its 
combined reinsured risk on all annual books. MGIC 
is the sole beneficiary of the trusts.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 95

Notes

Note  10.  Other  Comprehensive  (Loss) 
Income

income  and  related 

The pretax components of our other comprehensive 
(loss) 
income  tax  benefit 
(expense)  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2016, 
2015 and 2014 are included in the table below:

The pretax and related income tax (expense) benefit 
components  of  the  amounts  reclassified  from  our 
accumulated  other  comprehensive 
loss  to  our 
consolidated statements of operations for the years 
ended  December 31,  2016,  2015  and  2014  are 
included in the table below:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Net unrealized investment
(losses) gains arising during
the year

Income tax benefit
(expense)
Valuation allowance (1)

$ (5,425) $(33,718) $ 91,782

1,776

11,738

(32,017)

—

62,383

31,374

Net of taxes

(3,649)

40,403

91,139

Net changes in benefit plan 
assets and obligations

Income tax benefit
Valuation allowance (1)

(14,799)

(12,818)

(52,112)

5,179

4,487

18,239

—

(7,383)

(18,239)

Net of taxes

(9,620)

(15,714)

(52,112)

Reclassification adjustment 
for net realized gains (losses) 
included in net income (1)

Income tax (expense)
benefit
Valuation allowance (2)

$ 6,207

$11,693

$ (6,816)

(2,050)

(4,076)

2,402

—

3,635

(2,502)

Net of taxes

4,157

11,252

(6,916)

Reclassification adjustment 
related to benefit plan assets 
and obligations (3)

Income tax expense
Valuation allowance (2)

Net of taxes

1,480

2,184

6,930

(518)

(764)

(2,425)

—

962

574

1,994

2,425

6,930

Net changes in unrealized 
foreign currency translation 
adjustment

Income tax benefit
Valuation allowance (1)

(1,463)

(5,699)

(4,067)

Reclassification adjustment 
related to foreign currency (4)

512

—

2,000

1,425

(529)

—

Income tax expense

Net of taxes

1,467

(513)

954

—

—

—

—

—

—

Net of taxes

(951)

(4,228)

(2,642)

Total other
comprehensive (loss)
income

Total income tax
benefit, net of
valuation allowance

Total other
comprehensive
(loss) income, net of
tax

(21,687)

(52,235)

35,603

7,467

72,696

782

$(14,220) $ 20,461

$ 36,385

(1) 

See  Note  12  –  “Income Taxes”  for  a  discussion  of  the 
valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets.

Total reclassifications

9,154

13,877

114

Total income tax
expense, net of
valuation allowance

Total reclassifications, 
net of tax

(3,081)

(631)

(100)

$ 6,073

$13,246

$

14

(1) 

Increases (decreases) Net realized investment gains on 
the consolidated statements of operations. 

(2) 

See  Note  12  –  “Income Taxes”  for  a  discussion  of  the 
valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets.
(3)  Decreases (increases) Other underwriting and operating 
expenses,  net  on  the  consolidated  statements  of 
operations. 

(4) 

Increases (decreases) Other revenue on the consolidated 
statements of operations.

96 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Notes

A rollforward of accumulated other comprehensive 
loss ("AOCL") for the years ended December 31, 2016, 
2015, and 2014, including amounts reclassified from 
accumulated other comprehensive loss, are included 
in the table below.

Net 
unrealized 
gains and 
losses on 
available-
for-sale 
securities

Net benefit 
plan assets 
and 
obligations 
recognized 
in 
shareholde
rs' equity

Net 
unrealized 
foreign 
currency 
translation

Total 
AOCL

(In thousands)

Balance, December
31, 2013, net of tax

$(148,690) $

23,174

$

7,790

$(117,726)

Other
comprehensive
income (loss)
before
reclassifications

Less: Amounts
reclassified from
AOCL

84,223

(45,182)

(2,642)

36,399

(6,916)

6,930

—

14

Balance, December
31, 2014, net of tax

(57,551)

(28,938)

5,148

(81,341)

Other
comprehensive
income (loss)
before
reclassifications

Less: Amounts
reclassified from
AOCL

51,655

(13,720)

(4,228)

33,707

11,252

1,994

—

13,246

Balance, December
31, 2015, net of tax

(17,148)

(44,652)

920

(60,880)

Other
comprehensive
income (loss)
before
reclassifications

Less: Amounts
reclassified from
AOCL

508

(8,658)

3

(8,147)

4,157

962

954

6,073

Balance, December
31, 2016, net of tax

$ (20,797) $ (54,272) $

(31)

(75,100)

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 97

 
Notes

Note 11. Benefit Plans

We have a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all domestic employees, as 
well as a supplemental executive retirement plan.  We also offer both medical and dental benefits for retired 
domestic employees and their eligible spouses under a postretirement benefit plan. The following tables 
provide  the  components  of  aggregate  annual  net  periodic  benefit  cost  for  each  of  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 and changes in the benefit obligation and the funded status of the pension, 
supplemental executive retirement and other postretirement benefit plans as recognized in the consolidated 
balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Pension and Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement Benefits

(In thousands)

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2014

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2014

1. Company Service Cost

$

9,130

$

10,256

$

8,565

$

2. Interest Cost

15,906

15,847

15,987

$

751

704

$

833

697

659

653

3. Expected Return on Assets

(19,508)

(21,109)

(21,030)

(4,886)

(4,991)

(4,648)

4. Other Adjustments

Subtotal

5. Amortization of :

a. Net Transition Obligation/(Asset)

b. Net Prior Service Cost/(Credit)

c. Net Losses/(Gains)

Total Amortization

6. Net Periodic Benefit Cost

7. Cost of settlements or
curtailments

—

5,528

—

(687)

5,856

5,169

10,697

1,277

—

4,994

—

(845)

5,485

4,640

9,634

3,172

—

3,522

—

(930)

1,083

153

3,675

302

—

—

—

(3,431)

(3,461)

(3,336)

—

(6,649)

—

(6,649)

—

(6,649)

(175)

(6,824)

—

(6,649)

(435)

(7,084)

(10,080)

(10,285)

(10,420)

—

—

—

8. Total Expense for Year

$

11,974

$

12,806

$

3,977

$

(10,080) $

(10,285) $

(10,420)

Development of Funded Status

(In thousands)

Actuarial Value of Benefit Obligations

1. Measurement Date

Pension and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

2. Accumulated Benefit Obligation

$

360,423

$

338,450

$

17,378

$

16,423

Funded Status/Asset (Liability) on the Consolidated
Balance Sheet

1. Projected Benefit Obligation

2. Plan Assets at Fair Value

3. Funded Status - Overfunded/Asset

4. Funded Status - Underfunded/Liability

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In thousands)

1. Net Actuarial (Gain)/Loss

2. Net Prior Service Cost/(Credit)

3. Net Transition Obligation/(Asset)

4. Total at Year End

$

(369,808) $

(349,483) $

(17,378) $

(16,423)

360,900

350,107

70,408

N/A $

624

$

53,030

$

(8,908)

N/A

N/A

65,568

49,145

N/A

Pension and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

$

103,861

$

95,636

$

(6,088) $

(5,311)

(2,286)

(2,989)

(11,991)

(18,640)

—

—

—

—

$

101,575

$

92,647

$

(18,079) $

(23,951)

98 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

The amortization of gains and losses resulting from actual experience different from assumed experience or 
changes in assumptions including discount rates is included as a component of Net Periodic Benefit Cost/
(Income) for the year.  The gain or loss in excess of a 10% corridor is amortized by the average remaining 
service period of participating employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.

The changes in the projected benefit obligation are as follows:

Change in Projected Benefit/Accumulated Benefit Obligation

(In thousands)

Pension and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

1. Benefit Obligation at Beginning of Year

$

349,483

$

379,324

$

16,423

$

18,225

2. Company Service Cost

3. Interest Cost

4. Plan Participants' Contributions

5. Net Actuarial (Gain)/Loss due to Assumption Changes

6. Net Actuarial (Gain)/Loss due to Plan Experience
7. Benefit Payments from Fund (1)

8. Benefit Payments Directly by Company

9. Plan Amendments

10. Other Adjustment

9,130

15,906

—

14,450

5,428

(21,831)

(2,669)

16

(105)

10,256

15,847

—

(24,118)

7,155

(32,646)

(7,661)

19

1,307

751

704

408

497

357

(1,678)

—

—

(84)

833

697

361

(2,083)

(397)

(1,147)

—

—

(66)

11. Benefit Obligation at End of Year

$

369,808

$

349,483

$

17,378

$

16,423

(1) 

Includes lump sum payments of $11.2 million and $22.4 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively, from our pension plan to 
eligible participants, which were former employees with vested benefits.

The increase in our pension and supplemental executive retirement plans obligation in 2016 compare to 2015 
was primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to calculate the obligation and a lower amount of 
benefits paid from the fund. The increase in our other postretirement plan obligation was primarily due a 
decrease in the discount rate used to calculate the obligation.

The changes in the fair value of the net assets available for plan benefits are as follows:

Change in Plan Assets

(In thousands)

Pension and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

1. Fair Value of Plan Assets at Beginning of Year

$

350,107

$

378,701

$

65,568

$

66,940

2. Company Contributions

3. Plan Participants' Contributions

4. Benefit Payments from Fund

5. Benefit Payments paid directly by Company

6. Actual Return on Assets

7. Other Adjustment

11,369

17,311

—

—

408

—

361

—

(21,831)

(2,669)

23,924

—

(32,646)

(1,678)

(1,147)

(7,661)

(5,094)

(504)

—

6,518

(408)

—

(225)

(361)

8. Fair Value of Plan Assets at End of Year

$

360,900

$

350,107

$

70,408

$

65,568

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 99

 
 
Notes

Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ("AOCI")

(In thousands)

1. AOCI in Prior Year

2. Increase/(Decrease) in AOCI

a. Recognized during year - Prior Service (Cost)/Credit

b. Recognized during year - Net Actuarial (Losses)/Gains

c. Occurring during year - Prior Service Cost

d. Occurring during year - Net Actuarial Losses/(Gains)

e.  Occurring during year - Net Settlement Losses/(Gains)

f. Other adjustments

3. AOCI in Current Year

Pension and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

$

92,647

$

89,390

$

(23,951) $

(33,511)

687

(5,856)

16

15,358

(1,277)

—

845

(5,485)

19

11,050

(3,172)

—

6,649

—

—

(777)

—

—

6,649

175

—

2,736

—

—

$

101,575

$

92,647

$

(18,079) $

(23,951)

Amortizations Expected to be Recognized During Next Fiscal Year Ending

(In thousands)

Pension and
Supplemental
Executive
Retirement Plans

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2017

12/31/2017

1. Amortization of Net Transition Obligation/(Asset)

$

— $

2. Amortization of Prior Service Cost/(Credit)

3. Amortization of Net Losses/(Gains)

(428)

6,141

—

(6,649)

—

The  projected  benefit  obligations,  net  periodic  benefit  costs  and  accumulated  postretirement  benefit 
obligation for the plans were determined using the following weighted average assumptions.

Actuarial Assumptions

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine

Benefit Obligations at year end

1. Discount Rate

2. Rate of Compensation Increase

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine

Net Periodic Benefit Cost for Year

1. Discount Rate

2. Expected Long-term Return on Plan Assets

3. Rate of Compensation Increase

Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates at year end

1. Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed for Next Year

2. Rate to Which the Cost Trend Rate is Assumed to Decline
(Ultimate Trend Rate)

3. Year That the Rate Reaches the Ultimate Trend Rate

Pension and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

4.30%

3.00%

4.65%

3.00%

3.95%

N/A

4.30%

N/A

4.65%

5.75%

3.00%

N/A

N/A

N/A

4.25%

5.75%

3.00%

N/A

N/A

N/A

4.30%

7.50%

N/A

4.00%

7.50%

N/A

6.50%

7.00%

5.00%

2020

5.00%

2020

100 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

data 

including  market 

securities are appropriately classified in the fair value 
hierarchy,  we  review  the  pricing  techniques  and 
methodologies  of  the  independent  pricing  sources 
and  believe  that  their  policies  adequately  consider 
market activity, either based on specific transactions 
for  the  issue  valued  or  based  on  modeling  of 
securities  with  similar  credit  quality, duration,  yield 
and structure that were recently traded. A variety of 
inputs are utilized by the independent pricing sources 
including  benchmark  yields,  reported  trades,  non-
binding  broker/dealer  quotes,  issuer  spreads,  two 
sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and 
reference 
research 
publications. Inputs may be weighted differently for 
any  security,  and  not  all  inputs  are  used  for  each 
security evaluation. Market indicators, industry and 
economic  events  are  also  considered.  This 
information  is  evaluated  using  a  multidimensional 
pricing  model.  In  addition,  on  a  quarterly  basis,  we 
perform  quality  controls  over  values  received  from 
the  pricing  source  (the  “Trustee”)  which  include 
comparing  values  to  other  independent  pricing 
sources. In addition, we review annually the Trustee’ s 
auditor’ s report  on  internal  controls  in  order  to 
determine 
their  controls  around  valuing 
securities  are  operating  effectively.  We  have  not 
made any adjustments to the prices obtained from 
the independent sources.

that 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair 
value hierarchy, the pension plan assets at fair value 
as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. There were no 
securities that utilized Level 3 inputs.

Pension Plan

Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2016

(In thousands)

Level 1

Level 2

Total

Domestic Mutual
Funds

Corporate Bonds

U.S. Government
Securities

Municipal Bonds

Foreign Bonds

ETFs

Pooled Equity
Accounts

$ 11,805

$

— $ 11,805

—

178,412

178,412

6,761

—

—

5,694

354

63,492

27,917

—

7,115

63,492

27,917

5,694

—

66,465

66,465

Total Assets at fair
value

$ 24,260

$ 336,640

$ 360,900

In  selecting  a  discount  rate,  we  performed  a 
hypothetical  cash  flow  bond  matching  exercise, 
matching  our  expected  pension  plan  and 
postretirement medical plan cash flows, respectively, 
against a selected portfolio of high quality corporate 
bonds. The  modeling  was  performed  using  a  bond 
portfolio  of  noncallable  bonds  with  at  least  $50 
million  outstanding.  The  average  yield  of  these 
hypothetical  bond  portfolios  was  used  as  the 
benchmark  for  determining  the  discount  rate.  In 
selecting  the  expected  long-term  rate  of  return  on 
assets, we considered the average rate of earnings 
expected on the classes of funds invested or to be 
invested to provide for the benefits of these plans.  
This included considering the trusts' targeted asset 
allocation for the year and the expected returns likely 
to be earned over the next 20 years.

The  year-end  asset  allocations  of  the  plans  are  as 
follows:

Plan Assets

1. Equity
Securities

2. Debt
Securities

3. Total

 Pension Plan

Other Postretirement
Benefits

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

12/31/2016

12/31/2015

23%

20%

100%

100%

77%

100%

80%

100%

—%

100%

—%

100%

In  accordance with  fair  value guidance,  we  applied 
the following fair value hierarchy in order to measure 
fair value of our benefit plan assets:

Level 1 –  Quoted prices for identical instruments 
in active markets that we can access. Financial 
assets  utilizing  Level  1  inputs  include  equity 
securities,  mutual  funds,  money  market  funds, 
certain  U.S.  Treasury  securities  and  exchange 
traded funds ("ETFs").

Level 2 –  Quoted prices for similar instruments 
in active markets; quoted prices for identical or 
similar instruments in markets that are not active; 
and  inputs,  other  than  quoted  prices,  that  are 
observable in the marketplace for the instrument. 
The  observable  inputs  are  used  in  valuation 
models  to  calculate  the  fair  value  of  the 
instruments.  Financial  assets  utilizing  Level  2 
inputs include certain municipal, corporate and 
foreign  bonds,  obligations  of  U.S.  government 
corporations  and  agencies,  and  pooled  equity 
accounts.

To determine the fair value of securities in Level 1 and 
Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, independent pricing 
sources have been utilized. One price is provided per 
security based on observable market data. To ensure 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 101

 
 
Notes

Pension Plan

Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2015

(In thousands)

Level 1

Level 2

Total

following 

table  sets 

the  other 
The 
postretirement benefits plan assets at fair value as 
of  December 31,  2016  and  2015.  All  are  Level  1 
assets.

forth 

Domestic Mutual
Funds

Corporate Bonds

U.S. Government
Securities

Municipal Bonds

Foreign Bonds

ETFs

Pooled Equity
Accounts

Total Assets at fair
value

$

1,442

$

— $

1,442

—

188,332

188,332

Other Postretirement Benefits Plan

3,133

—

—

5,676

497

61,206

25,251

—

3,630

61,206

25,251

5,676

—

64,570

64,570

Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2016

(In thousands)

Level 1

Total

Domestic Mutual Funds

$ 54,426

$ 54,426

International Mutual Funds

15,982

15,982

Total Assets at fair value

$ 70,408

$ 70,408

$ 10,251

$ 339,856

$ 350,107

Other Postretirement Benefits Plan

The  pension  plan  has  implemented  a  strategy  to 
reduce risk through the use of a targeted funded ratio.  
The  liability  driven  component  is  key  to  the  asset 
allocation.  The liability driven component seeks to 
align the duration of the fixed income asset allocation 
with  the  expected  duration of  the  plan  liabilities  or 
is 
benefit  payments.   Overall  asset  allocation 
dynamic and specifies target allocation weights and 
ranges based on the funded status.

An improvement in funded status results in the de-
risking of the portfolio, allocating more funds to fixed 
income and less to equity. A decline in funded status 
would  result  in  a  higher  allocation  to  equity.  The 
maximum equity allocation is 40%.

The  equity  investments  utilize  combinations  of 
mutual  funds,  ETFs,  and  pooled  equity  account 
structures focused on the following strategies: 

Strategy

Objective

Investment types

Return
seeking
growth

Return
seeking
bridge

Funded ratio
improvement
over the long
term
Downside
protection in the
event of a
declining equity
market

Global quality growth

Global low volatility

Enduring asset

Durable company

agency, 

government 

The fixed income objective is to preserve capital and 
to provide monthly cash flows for the payment of plan 
liabilities.   Fixed  income  investments  can  include 
government, 
corporate, 
mortgage-backed,  asset-backed,  and  municipal 
securities, and other classes of bonds.  The duration 
of the fixed income portfolio has an objective of being 
within one year of the duration of the accumulated 
benefit  obligation.   The  fixed  income  investments 
have an objective of a weighted average credit of A3/
A-/A- by Moody’ s, S&P, and Fitch, respectively.

Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2015

(In thousands)

Level 1

Total

Domestic Mutual Funds

$ 49,887

$ 49,887

International Mutual Funds

15,681

15,681

Total Assets at fair value

$ 65,568

$ 65,568

Our  postretirement  plan  portfolio  is  designed  to 
achieve  the  following  objectives  over  each  market 
cycle and for at least 5 years:

•   Total  return  should  exceed  growth 
Consumer Price Index by 5.75% annually

in  the 

•   Achieve competitive investment results

The  primary  focus  in  developing  asset  allocation 
ranges  for  the  portfolio  is  the  assessment  of  the 
portfolio's investment objectives and the level of risk 
that  is  acceptable  to  obtain  those  objectives.   To 
achieve  these  goals  the  minimum  and  maximum 
allocation  ranges  for  fixed  income  securities  and 
equity securities are:

Equities (long only)

Real estate

Commodities

Fixed income/Cash

Minimum

Maximum

70%

0%

0%

0%

100%

15%

10%

10%

Given the long term nature of this portfolio and the 
lack of any immediate need for significant cash flow, 
it  is  anticipated  that  the  equity  investments  will 
consist of growth stocks and will typically be at the 
higher end of the allocation ranges above.

Investment in international mutual funds is limited to 
a maximum of 30% of the equity range. The allocation 
as  of  December 31,  2016  included  3%  that  was 
primarily  invested  in  equity  securities  of  emerging 
market countries  and  another  20%  was  invested in 
securities  of  companies  primarily  based  in  Europe 
and the Pacific Basin.

102 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

 
 
The following tables show the current and estimated 
future contributions and benefit payments.

Company Contributions

Pension and
Supplemental
Executive
Retirement
Plans

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

(In thousands)

12/31/2016

12/31/2016

Company
Contributions for the
Year Ending:

1. Current

2. Current + 1

$

11,369

$

9,500

—

—

Notes

Profit sharing and 401(k)

We have a profit sharing and 401(k) savings plan for 
employees.   At  the  discretion  of  the  Board  of 
Directors, we may make a contribution of up to 5% of 
each participant's eligible compensation. We provide 
for 
a  matching  401(k)  savings  contribution 
employees on their before-tax contributions at a rate 
of 80% of the first $1,000 contributed and 40% of the 
next  $2,000  contributed.  For  employees hired after 
January  1,  2014,  the  match  is  100%  up  to  4%
contributed.   We  recognized  expenses  related  to 
these  plans  of  $5.9  million,  $5.1  million  and  $5.0 
million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Benefit Payments (Total)

Note 12. Income Taxes

Pension and
Supplemental
Executive
Retirement
Plans

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

Net  deferred  tax  assets  and 
December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

liabilities  as  of 

(In thousands)

2016

2015

(In thousands)

12/31/2016

12/31/2016

Total deferred tax assets

$ 636,449

$

791,286

Actual Benefit
Payments for the
Year Ending:

1. Current

$

24,500

$

1,355

Expected Benefit
Payments for the
Year Ending:

2. Current + 1

3. Current + 2

4. Current + 3

5. Current + 4

6. Current + 5

21,831

23,439

26,927

27,199

27,151

7. Current + 6 - 10

146,471

847

978

1,068

1,257

1,410

8,574

Health care sensitivities
For measurement purposes, a 7.0% health care trend 
rate  was  used  for  benefits  for  retirees  before  they 
reach  age  65  years  for  2016.  In  2017,  the  rate  is 
assumed to be 6.5%, decreasing to 5.0% by 2020 and 
remaining at this level beyond.

Assumed  health  care  cost  trend  rates  have  a 
significant  effect  on  the  amounts  reported  for  the 
other  postretirement benefits  plan.  A  1  percentage 
point change in the health care trend rate assumption 
would  have 
following  effects  on  other 
postretirement benefits:

the 

1-Percentage
Point Increase

1-Percentage
Point Decrease

$

237

$

(205)

(In thousands)

Effect on total service
and interest cost
components

Effect on
postretirement benefit
obligation

Total deferred tax liabilities

(28,794)

(29,206)

Net deferred tax asset

$ 607,655

$

762,080

The components of the net deferred tax asset as of 
December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

Unearned premium reserves

$

40,153

$

33,262

Benefit plans

Federal net operating loss

Loss reserves

Unrealized depreciation in
investments

Mortgage investments

Deferred compensation

Other, net

(12,350)

(14,283)

520,812

10,883

680,975

15,536

11,211

17,751

12,517

6,678

8,904

17,386

12,927

7,373

Net deferred tax asset

607,655

762,080

We review the need to maintain a deferred tax asset 
valuation allowance on a quarterly basis. We analyze 
several  factors,  among  which  are  the  severity  and 
frequency  of  operating losses,  our  capacity  for  the 
losses,  the 
carryback  or  carryforward  of  any 
existence  and  current  level  of  taxable  operating 
income, operating results on a three year cumulative 
basis, the expected occurrence of future income or 
loss,  the  expiration dates  of  the  carryforwards,  the 
cyclical nature of our operating results, and available 
tax  planning  strategies.  Based  on  our  analysis,  we 
reduced  our  benefit  from  income  tax  through  the 
recognition  of  a  valuation  allowance  from  the  first 
quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2015.  

2,382

(2,102)

In the third quarter of 2015, we concluded that it was 
more  likely  than  not  that  our  deferred  tax  assets 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 103

 
 
 
 
 
Notes

would  be  fully  realizable  and  that  the  valuation 
allowance was no longer necessary and we reversed 
the  valuation  allowance. 
  For  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2015, we reversed $161.1 million of our 
valuation allowance based on income from 2015.  The 
portion of the valuation allowance reversed related to 
deferred tax assets that are expected to be realized 
in future years, totaling $747.5 million, is treated as a 
is  recognized  as  a 
discrete  period 
component  of  the  tax  provision 
in  continuing 
operations in the period of release.  Furthermore, in 
determining  the  discrete  period  impact  from  the 
reversal,  we 
period 
disproportionate tax effects that had arisen in other 
comprehensive  income  because  of  the  valuation 
allowance. This  reduced  the  amount  of  tax  benefit 
included in net income and resulted in an allocation 
of tax benefit of $60.8 million to components of other 
comprehensive income. 

item  and 

removed 

prior 

the 

The  following  table  provides  a  rollforward  of  our 
deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the year 
ended December 31, 2015.

(In millions)

Balance at December 31, 2014

For the year
ended
December
31, 2015

$

902.3

Reduction in tax provision in current year

(161.1)

Amounts recorded in other comprehensive
income in the current year

Change in valuation allowance for
deferred tax assets in the current year

Reduction in tax provision for amounts to
be realized in future years

Amounts recorded in other comprehensive
income to be realized in future years

Change in valuation allowance for
deferred tax assets realizable in future
years

6.3

(154.8)

(686.7)

(60.8)

The  total  valuation  allowance  as  of  December  31, 
2014  was  $902.3  million.  The  remaining  valuation 
allowance was reversed in the third quarter of 2015. 
The  change  in  the  valuation  allowance  that  was 
included  in  other  comprehensive  income  was  a 
decrease of $54.5 million, and $13.1 million for the 
years  ended  December  31,  2015  and  2014, 
respectively. 

Giving  full  effect  to  the  carryback  of  net  operating 
losses  for  federal  income  tax  purposes,  we  have 
approximately  $1,489  million  of  net  operating  loss 
("NOL") carryforwards on a regular tax basis and $589 
million  of  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  for 
computing  the  alternative  minimum  tax  as  of 
December 31, 2016. Any unutilized carryforwards are 
scheduled  to  expire  at  the  end  of  tax  years  2030 
through 2033.
The  following  summarizes  the  components  of  the 
provision for (benefit from) income taxes:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Current Federal

$

9,470

$

8,067

$

2,391

Deferred Federal

160,657

(686,652)

Other

2,070

(5,728)

1

382

Provision for
(benefit from)
income taxes

$ 172,197

$(684,313) $

2,774

We paid $4.5 million, $5.4 million, and $1.3 million in 
federal 
in  2016,  2015  and  2014, 
respectively.

income  tax 

The reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax 
rate to the effective tax provision (benefit) rate is as 
follows:

2016

2015

2014

Federal statutory
income tax rate

35.0 %

35.0 %

35.0 %

(747.5)

Valuation allowance

— %

(173.8)%

(34.9)%

Balance at December 31, 2015

$

—

The effect of the change in valuation allowance on 
the provision for (benefit from) income taxes was as 
follows:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Provision for income
taxes before
valuation allowance

Change in valuation
allowance

Reversal of the
valuation allowance

Provision for
(benefit from)
income taxes

$ 172,197

$ 163,497

$ 91,607

—

—

(161,158)

(88,833)

(686,652)

—

$ 172,197

$(684,313) $

2,774

Tax exempt municipal
bond interest

Other, net

Effective tax
provision (benefit)
rate

(1.9)%

0.4 %

(0.8)%

(0.7)%

(0.4)%

1.4 %

33.5 %

(140.3)%

1.1 %

As previously disclosed, the Internal Revenue Service 
("IRS")  completed  examinations  of  our  federal 
income tax returns for the years 2000 through 2007 
and issued proposed assessments for taxes, interest 
and  penalties  related  to  our  treatment  of  the  flow-
through  income  and  loss  from  an  investment  in  a 
portfolio of residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage 
Investment Conduits ("REMICs"). The IRS indicated 
that it did not believe that, for various reasons, we had 
established sufficient tax basis in the REMIC residual 
interests to deduct the losses from taxable income. 

104 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

 
We appealed these assessments within the IRS and 
in  August  2010,  we  reached  a  tentative  settlement 
agreement with the IRS which was not finalized.

In  2014,  we 
received  Notices  of  Deficiency 
(commonly referred to as “90 day letters”) covering 
the 2000-2007 tax years. The Notices of Deficiency 
reflect  taxes  and  penalties  related  to  the  REMIC 
matters of $197.5 million and at December 31, 2016, 
there would also be interest related to these matters 
of approximately $200.6 million. In 2007, we made a 
payment  of  $65.2  million  to  the  United  States 
Department  of  the  Treasury  which  will  reduce  any 
amounts  we  would  ultimately  owe. The  Notices  of 
Deficiency  also  reflect  additional  amounts  due  of 
$261.4  million,  which  are primarily  associated  with 
the  disallowance  of  the  carryback  of  the  2009  net 
operating loss to the 2004-2007 tax years. We believe 
the  IRS  included  the  carryback  adjustments  as  a 
precaution to keep open the statute of limitations on 
collection of the tax that was refunded when this loss 
was carried back, and not because the IRS actually 
intends  to  disallow  the  carryback  permanently. 
Depending on the outcome of this matter, additional 
state income taxes and state interest may become 
due  when  a  final  resolution  is  reached.  As  of 
December 31,  2016,  those  state  taxes  and  interest 
would approximate $50.7  million. In  addition,  there 
could also be state tax penalties. Our total amount of 
unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2016 
is $108.2 million, which represents the tax benefits 
generated by the REMIC portfolio included in our tax 
returns  that  we  have  not  taken  benefit  for  in  our 
financial statements, including any related interest.

We filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court contesting 
most of the IRS’  proposed adjustments reflected in 
the Notices of Deficiency and the IRS filed an answer 
to our petition which continued to assert their claim. 
The case has twice been scheduled for trial and in 
each instance, the parties  jointly filed, and the U.S. 
Tax Court approved (most recently in February 2016), 
motions for continuance to postpone the trial date. 
Also in February 2016, the U.S. Tax Court approved a 
joint  motion  to  consolidate  for  trial,  briefing,  and 
opinion, our case with similar cases of Radian Group, 
Inc.,  as  successor  to  Enhance  Financial  Services 
Group,  Inc.,  et  al.  In  January  2017,  the  parties 
informed the Tax Court that they had reached a basis 
for settlement of the major issues in the case. Any 
agreed settlement terms will ultimately be subject to 
review by  the  Joint  Committee  on Taxation ("JCT") 
before a settlement can be completed and there is no 
assurance that a settlement will be completed. Based 
on information that we currently have regarding the 
status of our ongoing dispute, we expect to record a 
provision for additional taxes and interest of $15 to 
$25 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Notes

to  make 

Should  a  settlement  not  be  completed,  ongoing 
litigation to resolve our dispute with the IRS could be 
lengthy and costly in terms of legal fees and related 
expenses.  We  would  need 
further 
adjustments,  which  could  be  material,  to  our  tax 
provision and liabilities if our view of the probability 
of success in this matter changes, and the ultimate 
resolution  of  this  matter  could  have  a  material 
negative impact on our effective tax rate, results of 
operations, cash flows, available assets and statutory 
capital.  In  this  regard,  see  Note  14  -  "Statutory 
Information."

In  October  2014,  we  received  a  Revenue  Agent’ s 
Report from the IRS related to the examination of our 
federal  income  tax  returns  for  the  years  2011  and 
2012.  The result of this examination had no material 
effect on the financial statements.

Under  current  guidance,  when  evaluating  a  tax 
position for recognition and measurement, an entity 
shall presume that the tax position will be examined 
by  the  relevant  taxing  authority  that  has  full 
information.  The 
relevant 
knowledge  of  all 
interpretation  adopts  a  benefit  recognition  model 
with  a  two-step  approach,  a  more-likely-than-not 
threshold  for  recognition  and  derecognition,  and  a 
measurement attribute that is the greatest amount of 
benefit that is cumulatively greater than 50% likely of 
being realized. A reconciliation of the beginning and 
ending  amount  of  unrecognized  tax  benefits  is  as 
follows:

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Balance at beginning
of year

Additions based on
tax positions related
to the current year

Additions for tax
positions of prior
years

Reductions for tax
positions of prior
years

Settlements

$107,120

$ 106,230

$ 105,366

—

—

—

1,125

890

864

—

—

—

—

—

—

Balance at end of year

$108,245

$ 107,120

$ 106,230

The total amount of the unrecognized tax benefits, 
related  to  our  aforementioned  REMIC  issue,  which 
would affect our effective tax rate, is $94.6 million. 
We recognize interest accrued and penalties related 
to unrecognized tax benefits in income taxes. During 
2016,  we  recognized  $1.1  million  in  interest.  As  of 
December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had $28.9 million
and  $27.8  million  of  accrued  interest  related  to 
uncertain  tax positions, respectively. The statute of 
limitations related to the consolidated federal income 
tax return is closed for all years prior to 2000.  It is 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 105

Notes

reasonably possible that our 2000-2007 federal tax 
case will be resolved, other than through litigation. If 
it  is  resolved  under  the  basis  of  settlement  as 
disclosed above, our total unrecognized tax benefits 
would be reduced by $108.2 million during 2017. After 
taking into account prior payments and the effect of 
available net operating loss carrybacks, any net cash 
outflows would approximate $52 million.

Note 13. Shareholders' Equity

As  described  in  Note  7  -  "Debt",  we  entered  into 
privately  negotiated  agreements  to  repurchase,  for 
cash,  together with,  in  certain  cases,  shares of  our 
common  stock,  $292.4  million  aggregate  principal 
amount  of  our  outstanding  2%  Notes.  We  issued 
approximately  18.3  million  shares  of  our  common 
stock  as  partial  consideration  under 
these 
agreements.  As  of  December 31,  2016  we  have 
repurchased  all  of  the  shares  issued  as  partial 
consideration  for  our  2%  Notes  repurchases.  The 
the  share 
weighted  average  price  paid 
repurchases  was 
includes 
commissions, and the aggregate purchase amount 
was $147.1 million.

$8.03,  which 

for 

As  described  in  Note  7  -  "Debt"  the  purchase  of  a 
portion  of  our  9%  Debentures  by  MGIC,  and 
corresponding  elimination  of  the  purchased  9% 
Debentures in consolidation, resulted in a reduction 
to  our  consolidated  shareholders'  equity  of 
approximately $6.3 million as of December 31, 2016. 
This reduction represents the allocated portion of the 
consideration paid to reacquire the equity component 
of the 9% Debentures, net of tax. The reduction was 
recognized in paid-in capital and was less than the 
amount  ascribed  to  paid-in  capital  at  original 
issuance of the 9% Debentures.

Our Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated 
July 23, 2015 seeks to diminish the risk that our ability 
to  use  our  NOLs  to  reduce  potential  future  federal 
income  tax  obligations  may  become  substantially 
limited  and  to  deter  certain  abusive  takeover 
practices.  The  benefit  of  the  NOLs  would  be 
substantially limited, and the timing of the usage of 
the NOLs could be substantially delayed, if we were 
to experience an “ownership change” as defined by 
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Under the Agreement each outstanding share of our 
Common  Stock  is  accompanied  by  one  Right.  The 
Distribution  Date  occurs  on  the  earlier  of  ten  days 
after  a  public  announcement  that  a  person  has 
become an Acquiring Person, or ten business days 
after a person announces or begins a tender offer in 
which consummation of such offer would result in a 
person becoming an Acquiring Person. An Acquiring 

106 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Person  is  any  person  that  becomes,  by  itself  or 
together with its affiliates and associates, a beneficial 
owner of 5% or more of the shares of our Common 
Stock then outstanding, but excludes, among others, 
certain  exempt  and  grandfathered  persons  as 
defined  in  the  Agreement.  The  Rights  are  not 
exercisable until the Distribution Date. Each Right will 
initially entitle shareholders to buy one-tenth of one 
share of our Common Stock at a Purchase Price of 
$45 per full share (equivalent to $4.50 for each one-
tenth share), subject to adjustment. Each exercisable 
Right  (subject  to  certain  limitations)  will  entitle  its 
holder  to  purchase,  at  the  Rights’   then-current 
Purchase Price, a number of our shares of Common 
Stock (or if after the Shares Acquisition Date, we are 
acquired in a business combination, common shares 
of  the  acquiror)  having  a  market  value  at  the  time 
equal  to  twice  the  Purchase  Price.  The  Rights  will 
expire on August 1, 2018, or earlier as described in 
the Agreement. The Rights are redeemable at a price 
of  $0.001  per  Right  at  any  time  prior  to  the  time  a 
person  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person.  Other  than 
certain  amendments,  the  Board  of  Directors  may 
amend the Rights in any respect without the consent 
of the holders of the Rights.

Note 14. Statutory Information

Statutory Accounting Principles
The statutory financial statements of our insurance 
companies are presented on the basis of accounting 
practices prescribed or permitted by the Office of the 
Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin 
(the 
"OCI"),  which  has  adopted  the  National 
Association  of  Insurance  Commissioners  ("NAIC") 
statutory  accounting  practices  as  the  basis  of  its 
In 
statutory  accounting  practices 
converting 
typical 
adjustments  include  deferral  of  policy  acquisition 
costs, the inclusion of net unrealized holding gains or 
losses  in  shareholders'  equity  relating  to  fixed 
maturities  and  the 
inclusion  of  statutory  non-
admitted assets.

from  statutory 

to  GAAP, 

("SSAP"). 

In addition to the typical adjustments from statutory 
to GAAP, mortgage insurance companies are required 
to maintain contingency loss reserves equal to 50%
of  premiums  earned  under  SSAP  and  practices 
prescribed  by  the  OCI,  Such  amounts  cannot  be 
withdrawn  for  a  period  of  ten  years  except  as 
permitted by insurance regulations. With regulatory 
approval  a  mortgage  guaranty  insurance  company 
may  make  early  withdrawals  from  the  contingency 
reserve  when  incurred  losses  exceed  35%  of  net 
premiums  earned  in  a  calendar  year.  For  the  year 
ended 2016, MGIC's losses incurred were 26% of net 
premiums  earned.  Changes  in  contingency  loss 
the  statutory  statement  of 
reserves 

impact 

 
operations.   Contingency 
loss  reserves  are  not 
reflected  as  liabilities  under  GAAP  and  changes  in 
contingency loss reserves do not impact the GAAP 
statements  of  operations.  A  premium  deficiency 
reserve that may be recorded on a GAAP basis when 
the  present  value  of  expected  future  losses  and 
expenses  exceeds  the  present  value  of  expected 
future  premiums  and  already  established 
loss 
reserves, may not be recorded on a statutory basis if 
the present value of expected future premiums and 
already  established  loss  reserves  and  statutory 
contingency reserves, exceeds the present value of 
expected  future  losses  and  expenses.  On  a  GAAP 
basis, when calculating a premium deficiency reserve 
policies are grouped based on how they are acquired, 
serviced  and  measured.  On  a  statutory  basis,  a 
premium  deficiency  reserve  is  calculated  on  all 
policies in force.

The  statutory  net 
income  (loss),  policyholders' 
surplus  and  contingency  reserve  liability  of  the 
insurance subsidiaries  of  our  holding  company  are 
show in the following table. The statutory net loss in 
2015 was driven by the dissolution of an MGIC non-
insurance subsidiary. The surplus amounts included 
in the following table are the combined policyholders' 
surplus of our insurance operations as utilized in our 
risk-to-capital calculations.

As of and for the Years Ended
December 31,

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Statutory net
income (loss)

Statutory
policyholders'
surplus

Contingency
reserve

$ 106,326

$ (72,767) (1) $ 13,203

1,506,475

1,608,214

1,585,164

(1)

1,360,088

826,706

318,247

(1) 

The dissolution of an MGIC non-insurance subsidiary in 
2015  had  no  impact  on  statutory  surplus  as  the  equity 
value of the investment was fully reflected in surplus as 
an unrealized loss prior to 2015.

The  surplus  contributions  made  to  MGIC  and 
dividends paid by MGIC and distributions from other 
insurance subsidiaries to us, are shown in the table 
below. 

(In thousands)

2016

2015

2014

Years Ended December 31,

Additions to the surplus
of MGIC from parent
company funds

Dividends paid by MGIC
to the parent company

Distributions from other
insurance subsidiaries
to the parent company

$ 36,025

$ 64,000

—

—

$ 52,001

38,500

—

—

—

Notes

the 

Statutory Capital Requirements
The  insurance  laws  of  16  jurisdictions,  including 
Wisconsin, our domiciliary state, require a mortgage 
insurer to maintain a minimum amount of statutory 
capital  relative to the  RIF  (or  a  similar  measure) in 
order for  the mortgage  insurer to continue to write 
new business. We refer to these requirements as the 
“State Capital Requirements” and, together with the 
GSE  Financial  Requirements, 
“Financial 
Requirements.” While they vary among jurisdictions, 
the most common State Capital Requirements allow 
for a maximum risk-to-capital ratio of 25 to 1. A risk-
to-capital  ratio  will  increase  if  (i)  the  percentage 
decrease in capital exceeds the percentage decrease 
in  insured  risk,  or  (ii)  the  percentage  increase  in 
capital is less than the percentage increase in insured 
risk.  Wisconsin does not regulate capital by using a 
instead  requires  a 
risk-to-capital  measure  but 
("MPP").  The 
minimum  policyholder  position 
“policyholder position” of a mortgage insurer is its net 
worth or surplus, contingency reserve and a portion 
of the reserves for unearned premiums.

At  December 31,  2016,  MGIC’ s risk-to-capital  ratio 
was  10.7  to 1,  below  the  maximum  allowed  by  the 
jurisdictions with State Capital Requirements and its 
policyholder  position  was  $1.6  billion  above  the 
required MPP of $1.1 billion. In calculating our risk-
to-capital ratio and MPP, we are allowed full credit for 
the risk ceded under our reinsurance transaction with 
a group of unaffiliated reinsurers. It is possible that 
under  the  revised  State  Capital  Requirements 
discussed below, MGIC will not be allowed full credit 
for  the  risk  ceded  to  the  reinsurers.  If  MGIC  is  not 
allowed an agreed level of credit under either the State 
Capital  Requirements  or  the  PMIERs,  MGIC  may 
reinsurance  agreement,  without 
terminate 
penalty. At this time, we expect MGIC to continue to 
comply with the current State Capital Requirements; 
however, you should read the rest of these financial 
statement footnotes for information about matters 
that could negatively affect such compliance.

the 

At December 31, 2016, the risk-to-capital ratio of our 
combined  insurance  operations  (which  includes  a 
reinsurance  affiliate)  was  12.0  to  1.  Reinsurance 
transactions with our affiliate permit MGIC to write 
insurance with a higher coverage percentage than it 
could  on 
its  own  under  certain  state-specific 
requirements.  A  higher  risk-to-capital  ratio  on  a 
combined basis may indicate that, in order for MGIC 
to continue to utilize reinsurance arrangements with 
its 
capital 
contributions to the affiliate could be needed.

reinsurance 

additional 

affiliate, 

The NAIC previously announced that it plans to revise 
the  minimum  capital  and  surplus  requirements  for 
mortgage  insurers  that  are  provided  for  in  its 

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 107

Notes

Mortgage  Guaranty  Insurance  Model  Act.  In  May 
2016, a working group of state regulators released an 
exposure draft of a risk-based capital framework to 
establish capital requirements for mortgage insurers, 
although no date has been established by which the 
the  capital 
NAIC  must  propose  revisions 
requirements. We continue to evaluate the impact of 
the  framework  contained  in  the  exposure  draft, 
including the potential impact of certain  items that 
have  not  yet  been  completely  addressed  by  the 
framework which include: the treatment of ceded risk, 
minimum  capital  floors,  and  action  level  triggers. 
Currently  we  believe  that  the  PMIERs  contain  the 
more  restrictive  capital  requirements 
in  most 
circumstances.

to 

While  MGIC  currently  meets  the  State  Capital 
Requirements  of  Wisconsin  and  all  other 
jurisdictions, it could be prevented from writing new 
business in the future in all jurisdictions if it fails to 
meet the State Capital Requirements of Wisconsin, 
or it could be prevented from writing new business in 
a  particular  jurisdiction  if  it  fails  to  meet  the  State 
Capital Requirements of that jurisdiction and in each 
case  MGIC  does  not  obtain  a  waiver  of  such 
requirements. It is possible that regulatory action by 
one or more jurisdictions, including those that do not 
have  specific  State  Capital  Requirements,  may 
prevent MGIC from continuing to write new insurance 
in  such  jurisdictions.  If  we  are  unable  to  write 
business in all jurisdictions, lenders may be unwilling 
to procure insurance from us anywhere. In addition, 
a  lender’ s assessment  of  the  future  ability  of  our 
insurance  operations  to  meet  the  State  Capital 
Requirements  or 
its 
willingness to procure insurance from us. A possible 
future  failure  by  MGIC  to  meet  the  State  Capital 
Requirements  or  the  PMIERs  will  not  necessarily 
mean  that  MGIC  lacks  sufficient  resources  to  pay 
claims  on  its  insurance liabilities.  While  we  believe 
MGIC has sufficient claims paying resources to meet 
its claim obligations on its IIF on a timely basis, you 
should  read  the  rest  of  these  financial  statement 
footnotes for information about matters that could 
negatively affect MGIC’ s claims paying resources.

the  PMIERs  may  affect 

Dividend restrictions
In 2016, MGIC paid a total of $64 million in dividends 
to our holding company, its first dividends since 2008, 
and  we  expect  MGIC  to  continue  to  pay  quarterly 
dividends. During 2016, distributions of $52 million 
were  paid  to  our  holding  company  from  other 
insurance  subsidiaries.  These  distributions  were 
completed in conjunction with the transfer of risk and 
the final dissolution of those insurance entities during 
2016.  Our 
subsequently 
contributed  the  majority  of  the  funds  to  MGIC  in 
relation  to  the  transfer  of  risk.  During  2015, 

company 

holding 

108 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

distributions of $38.5 million were paid to our holding 
company from other insurance subsidiaries.

MGIC  is  subject  to  statutory  regulations  as  to 
payment  of  dividends.  The  maximum  amount  of 
dividends  that  MGIC  may  pay  in  any  twelve-month 
period without regulatory approval by the OCI is the 
lesser  of  adjusted  statutory  net  income  or  10%  of 
statutory policyholders' surplus as of the preceding 
calendar year end. Adjusted statutory net income is 
defined for this purpose to be the greater of statutory 
net income, net of realized investment gains, for the 
calendar year preceding the date of the dividend or 
statutory  net  income,  net  of  realized  investment 
gains, for the three calendar years preceding the date 
of the dividend less dividends paid within the first two
of  the  preceding  three  calendar  years.  The  OCI 
recognizes  only  statutory  accounting  practices 
prescribed or permitted by the State of Wisconsin for 
determining and reporting the financial condition and 
results of operations of an insurance company. The 
OCI  has  adopted  certain  prescribed  accounting 
practices that differ from those found in other states. 
Specifically, Wisconsin domiciled companies record 
changes  in  the  contingency  reserves  through  the 
income  statement  as  a  change  in  underwriting 
deduction. As a result, in periods in which MGIC is 
increasing  contingency  reserves,  statutory  net 
income is lowered. For the year ended December 31, 
2016, MGIC’ s statutory net income was reduced by 
$490  million  to  account  for  the 
in 
contingency reserves.

increase 

Note  15.  Share-based  Compensation 
Plans

We  have  certain  share-based  compensation  plans. 
Under  the  fair  value method,  compensation  cost  is 
measured at the grant date based on the fair value of 
the award and is recognized over the service period 
which  generally  corresponds  to  the  vesting  period.  
The  fair  value  of  awards  classified  as  liabilities  is 
remeasured at each reporting period until the award 
is settled. Awards under our plans generally vest over 
periods ranging from one to three years.

We have an omnibus incentive plan that was adopted 
on April 23, 2015.  When the 2015 plan was adopted, 
no further awards could be made under our previous 
2011  plan.    The  purpose  of  the  2015  plan  is  to 
motivate and incent performance by, and to retain the 
services  of,  key  employees  and  non-employee 
directors through receipt of equity-based and other 
incentive  awards  under  the  plan.  The  maximum 
number of shares of stock that can be awarded under 
the 2015 plan is 10.0 million. Awards issued under 
the plan that are subsequently forfeited will not count 
against the limit on the maximum number of shares 

that  may  be  issued  under  the  plan.  The  2015  plan 
provides  for  the  award  of  stock  options,  stock 
appreciation  rights,  restricted  stock  and  restricted 
stock  units,  as  well  as  cash  incentive  awards.  No 
awards may be granted after April 23, 2025 under the 
2015  plan.  The  vesting  provisions  of  options, 
restricted  stock  and  restricted  stock  units  are 
determined at the time of grant. Shares issued under 
the 2015 plan will be newly issued shares.

The  compensation  cost  that  has  been  charged 
against  income  for  share-based  plans  was  $11.4 
million, $11.9 million, and $9.2 million for the years 
ended  December 31,  2016,  2015  and  2014, 
tax  benefit 
respectively. The 
recognized  for  share-based  plans  was  $4.0  million 
and  $4.2  million  for  the  years  ended  December 31, 
2016 and 2015, respectively. The related income tax 
benefit,  before  valuation  allowance,  recognized  for 
share-based plans was, and $3.2 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2014. 

income 

related 

Notes

vested shares. A portion of the unrecognized costs 
associated with the performance shares may or may 
not be recognized in future periods, depending upon 
whether  or  not  the  performance  and  service 
conditions are met. The cost associated with the time 
vested  shares  is  expected  to  be  recognized over  a 
weighted-average period of 1.3 years.

At  December 31,  2016,  8.3  million  shares  were 
available  for  future  grant  under  the  2015  omnibus 
incentive plan.

Note 16. Leases

We  lease  certain  office  space  as  well  as  data 
processing  equipment  and  autos  under  operating 
leases that expire during the next five years. Generally, 
rental payments are fixed.

Total rental expense under operating leases was $2.1 
million in 2016, $2.2 million in 2015, and $2.8 million
in 2014.

A summary of restricted stock or restricted stock unit 
(collectively called “restricted stock”) activity during 
2016 is as follows:

At  December 31,  2016,  minimum  future  operating 
lease payments are as follows (in thousands):

Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair
Market Value

Shares

Restricted stock
outstanding at December
31, 2015

$

Granted

Vested

Forfeited

7.97

5.66

7.00

4.24

3,319,467

1,689,300

(1,707,711)

(154,384)

Restricted stock
outstanding at December
31, 2016

$

7.44

3,146,672

At  December 31,  2016,  the  3.1  million  shares  of 
restricted stock outstanding consisted of 2.3 million 
shares  that  are  subject  to  performance  conditions 
(“performance shares”) and  0.8  million  shares that 
are subject only to service conditions (“time vested 
shares”). The weighted-average grant date fair value 
of restricted stock granted during 2015 and 2014 was 
$9.03  and  $8.43,  respectively.  The  fair  value  of 
restricted  stock  granted  is  the  closing  price  of  the 
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on 
the  date  of  grant.  The  total  fair  value  of  restricted 
stock vested during 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $12.2 
million, $17.2 million, and $12.1 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016, there was $11.7 million of 
total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-
vested  share-based  compensation  agreements 
granted under the plans.  Of this total, $8.9 million of 
unrecognized  compensation  costs 
to 
performance shares and $2.8 million relates to time 

relate 

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021 and thereafter

Total

$

$

665

676

688

490

46

2,565

Note 17. Litigation and Contingencies

Before paying an insurance claim, we review the loan 
and servicing files to determine the appropriateness 
of the claim amount. When reviewing the files, we may 
determine that we have the right to rescind coverage 
on  the  loan.  We refer to  insurance rescissions  and 
denials  of  claims  collectively  as  “rescissions” and 
variations of that term. In addition, all of our insurance 
policies provide that we can reduce or deny a claim 
if  the  servicer  did  not  comply  with  its  obligations 
under our insurance policy. We call such reduction of 
claims “curtailments.” In 2015 and 2016, curtailments 
reduced  our  average  claim  paid  by  approximately 
6.7% and 5.5%, respectively.

Our  loss  reserving  methodology  incorporates  our 
estimates  of  future  rescissions,  curtailments,  and 
reversals of rescissions and curtailments. A variance 
between ultimate actual rescission, curtailment, and 
reversal rates and our estimates, as a result of the 
outcome  of  litigation,  settlements  or  other  factors, 
could materially affect our losses.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 109

 
the 

terms  of 

Through  a  non-insurance  subsidiary,  we  utilize  our 
to  provide  an  outsourced 
underwriting  skills 
underwriting  service  to  our  customers  known  as 
contract  underwriting.  As  part  of  the  contract 
underwriting activities, that subsidiary is responsible 
for  the  quality  of  the  underwriting  decisions  in 
accordance  with 
the  contract 
underwriting  agreements  with  customers.  That 
subsidiary  may  be  required  to  provide  certain 
remedies  to  its  customers  if  certain  standards 
relating to the quality of our underwriting work are not 
met,  and  we  have  an  established  reserve  for  such 
future obligations. Claims for remedies may be made 
a number of years after the underwriting work was 
performed. Beginning in the second half of 2009, our 
subsidiary  experienced  an  increase  in  claims  for 
contract  underwriting  remedies,  which  continued 
throughout 2012. The related contract underwriting 
remedy expense for the years ended December 31, 
2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, was immaterial 
to our consolidated financial statements.

In  addition  to  the  matters  described  above, we  are 
involved  in  other  legal  proceedings  in  the  ordinary 
course of business. In our opinion, based on the facts 
known at this time, the ultimate resolution of these 
ordinary  course  legal  proceedings  will  not  have  a 
material adverse effect on our financial position or 
consolidated results of operations.

See Note 12 –  “Income Taxes” for a description of 
federal income tax contingencies.

Notes

When  the  insured  disputes  our  right  to  rescind 
coverage  or  curtail  claims,  we  generally  engage  in 
discussions in an attempt to settle the dispute. If we 
are unable to reach a settlement, the outcome of a 
dispute  ultimately  would  be  determined  by  legal 
proceedings. 

Under  ASC  450-20,  until  a  liability  associated  with 
settlement  discussions  or 
legal  proceedings 
becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated, 
we consider our claim payment or rescission resolved 
for financial reporting purposes and do not accrue an 
estimated  loss.  Where  we  determine  that  a  loss  is 
probable and can be reasonably estimated we have 
recorded our best estimate of our probable loss. If we 
are not able to implement settlements we consider 
probable,  we  intend  to  defend  MGIC  vigorously 
against any related legal proceedings.

In addition to matters for which we have recorded a 
probable loss, we are involved in other discussions 
and/or proceedings with insureds with respect to our 
claims  paying  practices.  Although  it  is  reasonably 
possible that when these matters are resolved we will 
not  prevail  in  all  cases,  we  are  unable  to  make  a 
reasonable  estimate  or  range  of  estimates  of  the 
potential 
the  maximum 
exposure  associated  with  matters  where  a  loss  is 
reasonably  possible  to  be  approximately  $295 
million,  although  we  believe  (but  can  give  no 
assurance  that)  we  will  ultimately  resolve  these 
matters for significantly less than this amount. This 
estimate of our maximum exposure does not include 
interest or consequential or exemplary damages.

liability.  We  estimate 

insurers, 

Mortgage 
including  MGIC,  have  been 
involved in litigation and regulatory actions related to 
alleged violations of the anti-referral fee provisions of 
RESPA, and the notice provisions of the FCRA. 

While these proceedings in the aggregate have not 
resulted in material liability for MGIC, there can be no 
assurance  that  the  outcome  of  future  proceedings 
under  these  laws,  if  any,  would  have  a  material 
adverse affect on us. In addition, various regulators, 
including the CFPB, state insurance commissioners 
and state attorneys general may bring other actions 
seeking  various  forms  of  relief  in  connection  with 
alleged  violations  of  RESPA.  The  insurance  law 
provisions  of  many  states  prohibit  paying  for  the 
referral  of  insurance  business  and  provide  various 
mechanisms  to  enforce  this  prohibition.  While  we 
believe our practices are in conformity with applicable 
laws and regulations, it is not possible to predict the 
eventual  scope,  duration  or  outcome  of  any  such 
reviews or investigations nor is it possible to predict 
their effect on us or the mortgage insurance industry.

110 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Note 18. Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data

2016:

Quarter

(In thousands, except per share data)

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Notes

Full

Year

Net premiums earned

$

221,341

$

231,456

$

237,376

$

235,053

$

925,226

28,094

110,666

Investment income, net of expenses

Realized gains

Other revenue

Loss incurred, net

Underwriting and other expenses, net

Loss on debt extinguishment

Provision for income tax

Net income
Income per share (a) (b):

Basic

Diluted

2015:

27,809

3,056

6,373

85,012

56,439

13,440

34,497

69,191

0.20

0.17

27,515

5,092

3,867

60,897

53,981

75,223

27,131

56,618

0.16

0.14

27,248

836

3,994

46,590

49,837

1,868

56,018

109,221

0.32

0.26

Quarter

(52)

3,425

47,658

56,824

—

54,551

107,487

0.31

0.28

8,932

17,659

240,157

217,081

90,531

172,197

342,517

1.00

0.86

Full

Year

(In thousands, except per share data)

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Net premiums earned

$

217,288

$

213,508

$

239,234

$

226,192

$

896,222

Investment income, net of expenses

Realized (losses) gains

Other revenue

Loss incurred, net

Underwriting and other expenses, net

Loss on debt extinguishment

Provision for (benefit from) income tax

Net income
Income per share (a) (b):

Basic

Diluted

24,120

26,327

2,480

81,785

51,969

—

3,385

25,756

166

3,699

90,238

37,915

—

1,322

133,076

113,654

25,939

640

3,698

76,458

65,805

—

(695,604)

822,852

27,926

1,228

3,087

95,066

53,858

507

6,584

103,741

28,361

12,964

343,547

209,547

507

(684,313)

102,418

1,172,000

0.39

0.32

0.33

0.28

2.42

1.78

0.30

0.24

3.45

2.60

(a)  Due to the use of weighted average shares outstanding when calculating earnings per share, the sum of the quarterly per 

share data may not equal the per share data for the year.

(b) 

In periods where convertible debt instruments are dilutive to earnings per share the “if-converted” method of computing 
diluted EPS requires an interest expense adjustment, net of tax, to net income available to shareholders. The interest expense 
adjustment was not tax effected for the first and second quarter of 2015 due to our valuation allowance on deferred tax 
assets. See Note 4 –  “Earnings Per Share” for further discussion on our calculation of diluted EPS.

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors

Daniel A. Arrigoni
Former President & Chief
   Executive Officer
U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Corp.
Home loan originator
   and servicer

Cassandra C. Carr
Consultant

C. Edward Chaplin
Former President & CFO
MBIA Inc.
Provider of financial guarantee
   insurance

Officers

MGIC Investment Corporation

President &
   Chief Executive Officer
Patrick Sinks

Executive Vice Presidents
Jeffrey H. Lane
General Counsel and Secretary

Curt S. Culver
Chairman
Former Chief Executive Officer
MGIC Investment Corporation

Timothy A. Holt
Former Senior Vice President &
   Chief Investment Officer
Aetna, Inc.
Diversified health care benefits
  company

Kenneth M. Jastrow, II
Corporate Director & Private Investor
Former Chairman &
   Chief Executive Officer
Temple-Inland Inc.
Paper & forest products company
   with previous financial services
   and real estate interests

Michael E. Lehman
Interim Chief Information Officer
   & Special Advisor to the
   Chancellor
University of Wisconsin

Gary A. Poliner
Former President
Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. Co.
Financial services company

Patrick Sinks
President &
   Chief Executive Officer
MGIC Investment Corporation

Mark M. Zandi
Chief Economist
Moody’ s Analytics, Inc.
Risk measurement and
   management firm

Stephen C. Mackey
Chief Risk Officer

Timothy J. Mattke
Chief Financial Officer

Vice Presidents
Heidi A. Heyrman
Assistant Secretary

Lisa M. Pendergast
Treasurer

Brain M. Remington
Assistant Secretary

Julie K. Sperber
Controller & Chief Accounting
   Officer

Paul A. Spiroff
Assistant Treasurer

Dan D. Stilwell
Assistant Secretary

Martha F. Tsuchihashi
Assistant Secretary

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation
President &
   Chief Executive Officer
Patrick Sinks

Gary A. Antonovich
Internal Audit

Executive Vice Presidents
James J. Hughes
Sales and Business Development

Jeffrey H. Lane
General Counsel and Secretary

Stephen C. Mackey
Chief Risk Officer

Timothy J. Mattke
Chief Financial Officer

Salvatore A. Miosi
Business Strategies and
   Operations

Senior Vice Presidents
Gregory A. Chi
Chief Information Officer

Sean A. Dilweg
Government Relations

Carla A. Gallas
Claims

Robert K. Bates
National Accounts

Robert J. Candelmo
Chief Technology Officer

Geoffrey F. Cooper
Product Development

Margaret M. Crowley
Marketing and Customer
   Experience

Dean D. Dardzinski
Managing Director

Stephen M. Dempsey
Managing Director

Hans F. DeSelms
Loss Forecasting & Analytics

Sandra K. Dunst
Claims Operations

Edward G. Durant
Analytic Services

Kurt J. Thomas
Chief Human Resources Officer

Mary L. Elkins
Systems Development

Michael J. Zimmerman
Investor Relations

David A. Greco
Operational Risk

Vice Presidents
Terry A. Aikin
Managing Director

Heidi A. Heyrman
Regulatory Relations,
   Assistant General Counsel and
   Assistant Secretary

Eric B. Klopfer
Corporate Strategy

Mark J. Krauter
National Accounts

Michael L. Kull
National Accounts

Elyse M. Mitchell
National Accounts

Peter A. Semenak
Underwriting

Bryan D. Specht
Policy Acquisition & Servicing

Julie K. Sperber
Controller and
   Chief Accounting Officer

Paul A. Spiroff
Investments

Jerome J. Murphy
Business Process Transformation

Stacey B. Murphy
Talent Management

Dan D. Stilwell
Chief Compliance Officer,
   Assistant General Counsel and
   Assistant Secretary

Jeffrey N. Nielsen
Financial Planning/Analysis

Steven M. Thompson
Credit Policy and Pricing

Lisa M. Pendergast
Treasurer

Christopher T. Perry
Sales

W. Todd Pittman
Managing Director

Brian M. Remington
Loss Mitigation Counsel &
   Assistant Secretary

David H. Schroeder
Claims

John R. Schroeder
Risk Management

Martha F. Tsuchihashi
Securities Law Counsel,
   Assistant General Counsel and
   Assistant Secretary

Kathleen E. Valenti
Loss Mitigation

Carie L. Vos
Claims Administration

William E. Walker
Chief Information Security Officer

John S. Wiseman
Managing Director

Jerry L. Wormmeester
National Accounts

112 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report 

Performance Graph

The graph below compares the cumulative total return on (a) our Common Stock, (b) a composite peer group 
index selected by us, (c) the Russell 2000 Financial Index and (d) the S&P 500.  

Our peer group index consists of the peers against which we analyzed our 2016 executive compensation: 
Ambac  Financial  Group,  Inc.,  Arch  Capital  Group  Ltd.,  Assured  Guaranty  Ltd.,  Essent  Group  Ltd.,  Fidelity 
National Financial Inc., First American Financial Corp., Genworth Financial Inc., MBIA Inc., NMI Holdings Inc. 
and Radian Group. We selected this peer group because it includes all of our direct competitors that were 
public  throughout  2016  and  whose  mortgage  insurance  operations  are  a  significant  part  of  their  overall 
business, financial guaranty insurers, and other financial services companies focused on the residential real 
estate industry that are believed to be potential competitors for executive talent. 

Russell 2000 Financial Index
S&P 500
Peer  Index  (AMBC,  ACGL,  AGO, ESNT, FNF, FAF, 
GNW, MBI, NMIH, & RDN)

MGIC

2011
100
100

2012
121
116

100

100

125

71

2013
160
154

189

226

2014
174
174

187

250

2015
175
177

176

237

2016
229
198

214

273

MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report | 113

MGIC Stock
MGIC  Investment Corporation Common  Stock is 
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the 
symbol MTG.  At June 2, 2017, 370,556,561 shares 
were outstanding.  The following table sets forth 
for 2016 and 2015 by quarter the high and low sales 
prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock 
Exchange.

2016

2015

Quarter
1st
2nd
3rd
4th

Low

Low

High

High
$ 8.72 $ 5.63 $ 9.96 $ 8.00
9.47
9.07
8.72

11.55
11.72
10.05

6.31
8.23
10.58

5.92
5.45
7.84

In October 2008, the Company’ s Board suspended 
payment  of  our  dividend.    Accordingly,  no  cash 
dividends were paid in 2016 or 2015.  The payment 
of future dividends is subject to the discretion of 
our  Board  and  will  depend  on  many  factors, 
including our operating results, financial condition 
and  capital  position.    See  Note  7  -  “Debt” to our 
consolidated  financial  statements  for  dividend 
restrictions  that  apply  when  we  elect  to  defer 
interest on our Convertible Junior Debentures.

The  Company  is  a  holding  company  and  the 
payment  of  dividends 
insurance 
subsidiaries is restricted by insurance regulations.  
For a discussion of these restrictions, see Note 14 
- "Statutory Information, Dividend Restrictions” to 
our consolidated financial statements.

from 

its 

As of June 2, 2016, the number of shareholders of 
record was 213.  In addition, we estimate that there 
are  approximately  39,700  beneficial  owners  of 
shares held by brokers and fiduciaries. 

Shareholder Information

The Annual Meeting
The  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of  MGIC 
Investment  Corporation  will  convene  at  2  p.m. 
Central Time on July 26, 2017, at the Corporation's 
headquarters,  270  East  Kilbourn  Avenue, 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

10-K Report
Copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year  ended  December  31,  2016,  filed  with  the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  are 
available  without  charge  to  shareholders  on 
request from:

Secretary
MGIC Investment Corporation
P. O. Box 488
Milwaukee, WI  53201

The Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to above 
includes  as  exhibits  certifications  from  the 
Company’ s  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief 
Financial  Officer  under  Section  302  of  the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act.    Following the  2016  Annual 
Meeting  of  Shareholders,  the  Company’ s Chief 
Executive Officer submitted a Written Affirmation 
to the New York Stock Exchange that he was not 
aware  of  any  violation  by  the  Company  of  the 
corporate  governance 
listing  standards  of 
Exchange.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Wells Fargo Shareowner Services
P. O. Box 64874
St. Paul, Minnesota  55164-0874
(800) 468-9716

Corporate Headquarters

MGIC Plaza
250 East Kilbourn Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

Mailing Address

P. O. Box 488
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201

Shareholder Services

(414) 347-6596

114 | MGIC Investment Corporation 2016 Annual Report