POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS

Schedule of policy acquisition costs deferred and amortized to income

(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC)/VOBA, beginning of year	$	69,829	$	65,123	$	61,508
Deferred:
Direct commissions	$	150,390	$	146,507	$	142,887
Premium taxes		11,759		11,087		10,727
Ceding commissions		(17,488)		(17,403)		(20,483)
Net deferred	$	144,661	$	140,191	$	133,131
Amortized		141,343		135,485		129,516
DAC/VOBA*, end of year	$	73,147	$	69,829	$	65,123
Policy acquisition costs:
Amortized to expense - DAC	$	141,343	$	135,485	$	129,346
Amortized to expense - VOBA		—		—		170
Period costs:
Ceding commission - contingent		(1,524)		(1,834)		(1,956)
Other underwriting expenses		109,793		107,427		101,723
Total policy acquisition costs	$	249,612	$	241,078	$	229,283

*Includes asset for value of business acquired (VOBA) in CBIC acquisition, which was fully amortized at the end of 2014.