Stockholders Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Changes in Company's Issued and Outstanding Common Shares

The following table represents changes in our Company’s issued and outstanding common shares for the periods indicated. We completed a two-for-one stock split on January 20, 2017. All share and per share data prior to January 20, 2017 has been retroactively restated on a post-split basis.

	Years Ended December 31,
amounts in thousands	2017		2016		2015
Beginning Balance		29,124		28,862		28,562
Net Vested Stock Grants		343		220		254
Employee Stock Purchase Plan		40		42		42
Stock Options Exercised		—		—		4
Ending Balance		29,507		29,124		28,862

Amount and Nature of Net Assets Restricted from Payment of Dividends

The amount and nature of net assets that are restricted from payment of dividends as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are presented in the following table:

	As of December 31,
amounts in thousands	2017		2016
Restricted Net Assets:
NIC and NSIC:
Fixed Maturities at Fair Value (Amortized Cost: 2017, $9,856; 2016, $9,820)	$	10,655	$	10,690
Short Term Investments, at Fair Value		290		290
Cash		1,242		7,168
Total NIC and NSIC ⁽¹⁾	$	12,187	$	18,148
NHUK:
Fixed Maturities at Fair Value (Amortized Cost: 2017, $472,701; 2016, $457,225)	$	471,831	$	452,053
Short Term Investments, at Fair Value		83,778		63,729
Total NHUK ⁽²⁾	$	555,609	$	515,782
Total Restricted Net Assets	$	567,796	$	533,930

(1) - The restricted net assets for NIC and NSIC primarily consist of fixed maturities on deposit with various state insurance departments. The cash as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, as presented in the table above, was on deposit with a U.K. bank to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority for the underwriting activities of the U.K. Branch.

(2) - The restricted net assets for NHUK consists of fixed maturities and cash held in trust for the benefit of syndicate policyholders and short term investments primarily consisting of overseas deposits in various countries with Lloyd's to support underwriting activities in those countries.