NOTE 4 – REINSURANCE

The Company seeks to reduce its risk of loss by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with other insurance enterprises or reinsurers, generally as of the beginning of the hurricane season on June 1st of each year. The Company’s current reinsurance program consists of catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreements. The Company is responsible for deductible amounts before reinsurance attaches and insured losses related to catastrophes and other events in excess of coverage provided by its reinsurance program. The Company remains responsible for the settlement of insured losses irrespective of whether any of its reinsurers fail to make payments otherwise due to the Company.

The Company eliminated the quota share ceded by UPCIC to its reinsurers beginning with the reinsurance program effective June 1, 2015. Under the quota share contracts that were effective June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015, the quota share ceded by UPCIC to its reinsurers was 30%. By eliminating the quota share, the Company expects to increase its profitability by retaining all premiums. The elimination of the quota share also decreases the amount of losses and LAE that may be ceded by UPCIC and effectively increases the amount of risk retained by UPCIC and the Company. The elimination of the quota share also eliminates ceding commissions earned from the Company’s quota share reinsurer during the contract term and eliminates deferred ceding commissions, netted against deferred policy acquisition costs.

The following table presents quota-share cession rates by reinsurance program and the years they were in effect:

Reinsurance Program		Cession Rate
June 2014 - May 2015		30%
June 2015 - May 2016		0%
June 2016 - May 2017		0%
June 2017 - May 2018		0%

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Reinsurance premiums, losses and LAE are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Ceding commissions received in connection with quota share reinsurance are deferred and netted against deferred policy acquisition costs and amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies.

To reduce credit risk for amounts due from reinsurers, the Insurance Entities seek to do business with financially sound reinsurance companies and regularly evaluate the financial strength of all reinsurers used.

The following table presents ratings from rating agencies and the unsecured amounts due from the Company’s reinsurers whose aggregate balance exceeded 3% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity as of the dates presented (in thousands):

Ratings as of December 31, 2017

Standard

and Poor's

Moody's

Due from as of

AM Best

Rating

Investors

December 31,

Reinsurer

Company

Services

Service, Inc.

2017

2016

Allianz Risk Transfer

A+

AA-

n/a

105,573

—

Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (1)

n/a

52,054

46,364

Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd

A+

AA-

22,545

—

Total (2)

180,172

46,364

(1)	No rating is available, because the fund is not rated.

(2)	Amounts represent prepaid reinsurance premiums reinsurance receivables, net recoverables for paid and unpaid losses, including incurred but not reported reserves, loss adjustment expenses, and offsetting reinsurance payables.

The Company’s reinsurance arrangements had the following effect on certain items in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the periods presented (in thousands):

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
							Losses and Loss
	Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment
	Written			Earned			Expenses
Direct	$	1,055,886		$	999,198		$	779,122
Ceded		(318,826	)		(310,405	)		(428,694	)
Net	$	737,060		$	688,793		$	350,428

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
							Losses and Loss
	Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment
	Written			Earned			Expenses
Direct	$	954,617		$	921,227		$	303,036
Ceded		(298,523	)		(288,811	)		(1,807	)
Net	$	656,094		$	632,416		$	301,229

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
							Losses and Loss
	Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment
	Written			Earned			Expenses
Direct	$	883,409		$	836,792		$	214,491
Ceded		(256,961	)		(332,793	)		(26,752	)
Net	$	626,448		$	503,999		$	187,739

The following prepaid reinsurance premiums (payable) and reinsurance recoverable and receivable are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the dates presented (in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2017		2016
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	$	132,806	$	124,385

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and LAE	$	182,405	$	106
Reinsurance recoverable (payable) on paid losses		—		(1,532	)
Reinsurance receivable, net		—		186
Reinsurance recoverable (payable) and receivable	$	182,405	$	(1,240	)