Reinsurance

The effect of reinsurance on premiums earned, benefits incurred and reserve changes for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:



	Three months ended June 30,												Nine months ended June 30,
	2015						2014						2015						2014
	Insurance premiums			Benefits and other changes in policy reserves			Insurance premiums			Benefits and other changes in policy reserves			Insurance premiums			Benefits and other changes in policy reserves			Insurance premiums			Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Direct	$	68.2		$	144.1		$	65.6		$	324.0		$	195.5		$	698.2		$	200.3		$	876.8
Assumed	—			(43.9		)	8.8			12.0			17.4			(14.8		)	27.6			27.3
Ceded	(50.4		)	(43.9		)	(61.1		)	(70.9		)	(168.9		)	(190.4		)	(185.9		)	(207.8		)
Net	$	17.8		$	56.3		$	13.3		$	265.1		$	44.0		$	493.0		$	42.0		$	696.3

Amounts payable or recoverable for reinsurance on paid and unpaid claims are not subject to periodic or maximum limits. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, FGL and Front Street Cayman did not write off any reinsurance balances. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, FGL did not commute any ceded reinsurance.

FGL and Front Street Cayman also assume policy risks from other insurance companies.

FGL

FGL reinsures portions of its policy risks with other insurance companies. The use of reinsurance does not discharge an insurer from liability on the insurance ceded. The insurer is required to pay in full the amount of its insurance liability regardless of whether it is entitled to or able to receive payment from the reinsurer. The portion of risks exceeding FGL’s retention limit is reinsured with other insurers. FGL seeks reinsurance coverage in order to limit its exposure to mortality losses and enhance capital management. FGL follows reinsurance accounting when there is adequate risk transfer. Otherwise, the deposit method of accounting is followed.

No policies issued by FGL have been reinsured with any foreign company, which is controlled, either directly or indirectly, by a party not primarily engaged in the business of insurance. FGL has not entered into any reinsurance agreements in which the reinsurer may unilaterally cancel any reinsurance for reasons other than non-payment of premiums or other similar credit issues.

Effective April 1, 2015 Security Life of Denver ("SLD") recaptured a traditional life block of business previously assumed by FGL and simultaneously ceded to Wilton Re.

Front Street

As discussed in Note 3, Acquisitions, during the nine months ended June 30, 2015, Front Street Cayman purchased Ability Re from Ability Re Holdings. The Ability Re acquisition consisted of approximately $368.0 of assets supporting two closed block long-term care reinsurance agreements and the associated capital. The acquired reinsurance agreements complement Front Street Cayman’s existing in force long-duration insurance liabilities. The fair value of the assumed liabilities upon the acquisition was $346.9. Front Street Cayman manages the assets supporting reserves in accordance with the internal investment policy of Ability Re and applicable law.