Stockholders Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

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.

	Years Ended December 31,
amounts in thousands	2018		2017		2016
Beginning Balance		29,507		29,124		28,862
Net Vested Stock Grants		230		343		220
Employee Stock Purchase Plan		45		40		42
Ending Balance		29,782		29,507		29,124

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, 2018 and 2017 are presented in the following table:

	As of December 31,
amounts in thousands	2018		2017
Restricted Net Assets:
NIC and NSIC:
Fixed Maturities at Fair Value (Amortized Cost: 2018, $9,890; 2017, $9,856)	$	10,441	$	10,655
Cash ⁽¹⁾		6,074		3,118
Total NIC and NSIC ⁽²⁾	$	16,515	$	13,773
NHUK:
Fixed Maturities at Fair Value (Amortized Cost: 2018, $481,501; 2017, $472,701)	$	474,128	$	471,831
Other Invested Assets ⁽¹⁾		46,528		28,767
Cash ⁽¹⁾		60,233		53,111
Total NHUK ⁽³⁾	$	580,889	$	553,709
All other Entities:
Cash	$	13	$	—
Total All other Entities	$	13	$	—
Total Restricted Net Assets	$	597,417	$	567,482

(1) - Cash and overseas deposits that were misclassified within Short-Term Investments prior to 2018 were reclassified, representing an immaterial correction. Refer to Note 1 Organization & Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further information.

(2) - 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, 2018 and 2017, as presented in the table above, is held in various collateral accounts to support underwriting activities.

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