Reinsurance

The following table contains a listing of direct, assumed, and ceded reinsurance amounts for premiums written, premiums earned, and loss and loss expenses incurred for the periods indicated. For more information concerning reinsurance, refer to

Note 8. “Reinsurance” in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2016 Annual Report.



	Quarter ended September 30,					Nine Months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2017			2016		2017			2016
Premiums written:
Direct	$	706,918		669,844		$	2,097,146		1,981,984
Assumed	8,506			7,644		20,685			21,752
Ceded	(111,147		)	(98,715	)	(301,036		)	(281,464	)
Net	$	604,277		578,773		$	1,816,795		1,722,272
Premiums earned:
Direct	$	666,048		627,520		$	1,967,364		1,846,587
Assumed	7,623			7,163		19,465			20,604
Ceded	(101,616		)	(92,254	)	(285,890		)	(270,372	)
Net	$	572,055		542,429		$	1,700,939		1,596,819
Loss and loss expenses incurred:
Direct	$	455,728		428,520		$	1,187,400		1,152,223
Assumed	5,420			5,929		17,623			18,424
Ceded	(116,561		)	(118,191	)	(201,405		)	(258,766	)
Net	$	344,587		316,258		$	1,003,618		911,881

Ceded premiums and losses related to our participation in the NFIP, under which 100% of our flood premiums, losses, and loss expenses are ceded to the NFIP, are as follows:



Ceded to NFIP	Quarter ended September 30,					Nine Months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2017			2016		2017			2016
Ceded premiums written	$	(68,132	)	(62,051	)	$	(188,274	)	(179,205	)
Ceded premiums earned	(59,847		)	(56,505	)	(174,779		)	(169,986	)
Ceded loss and loss expenses incurred	(112,994		)	(99,200	)	(134,675		)	(164,179	)