Note D – Reinsurance

The insurance subsidiaries cede portions of their gross premiums written to certain other insurers under excess of loss and quota share treaties and by facultative placements. Reinsurance treaties with other companies permit the recovery of a portion of related direct losses. Management determines the amount of net exposure it is willing to accept generally on a product line basis. Certain treaties covering fleet transportation risks include annual deductibles which must be exceeded before the Company can recover under the terms of the treaty. The Company retains a higher percentage of the direct premium in consideration of these deductible provisions. The Company remains liable to the extent the reinsuring companies are unable to meet their obligations under reinsurance contracts.

The Company also serves as an assuming reinsurer on treaties with direct writing insurance companies and, prior to January 1, 2014, under retrocessions from other reinsurers for catastrophic property coverages. Accordingly, the occurrence of catastrophic events can have a significant impact on the Company's operations. The Company also assumes reinsurance from direct writing insurance companies for casualty insurance coverages. In addition, the insurance subsidiaries participate in certain mandatory residual market pools which require insurance companies to provide coverages on assigned risks. The assigned risk pools allocate participation to all insurers based upon each insurer’s portion of premium writings on a state or national level. Historically, the operation of these assigned risk pools have resulted in net losses allocated to the Company although such losses have not been material in relation to the Company’s operations.

The following table summarizes the impact of reinsurance ceded and assumed on the Company’s net premium written and earned for the most recent three years:

	Premiums Written									Premiums Earned
	2014			2013			2012			2014			2013			2012
Direct	$	343,200		$	314,784		$	284,200		$	342,656		$	313,842		$	287,982
Ceded on direct		(118,942	)		(112,967	)		(105,292	)		(117,973	)		(111,057	)		(101,396	)
Net direct		224,258			201,817			178,908			224,683			202,785			186,586

Assumed		39,188			54,692			57,086			38,219			52,783			53,191
Ceded on assumed		(1,275	)		(2,825	)		(2,316	)		(1,275	)		(2,825	)		(2,316	)
Net assumed		37,913			51,867			54,770			36,944			49,958			50,875

Net	$	262,171		$	253,684		$	233,678		$	261,627		$	252,743		$	237,461

Net losses and loss expenses incurred for 2014, 2013 and 2012 have been reduced by ceded reinsurance recoveries of approximately $105,891, $107,321 and $90,899, respectively. Ceded reinsurance premiums and loss recoveries for the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance coverage on the Company’s net direct business were not material.

Net losses and loss expenses incurred for 2014, 2013 and 2012 include approximately $23,163, $20,014 and $16,486, respectively, net of retrocessional recoveries of $20,000 during 2012, relating to reinsurance assumed from non-affiliated insurance or reinsurance companies.

Components of reinsurance recoverable at December 31 are as follows:

	2014		2013
Case unpaid losses, net of valuation allowance	$	143,403	$	133,484
Incurred but not reported unpaid losses and loss expenses		66,325		52,157
Paid losses and loss expenses		6,910		4,126
Unearned premiums		3,583		5,801
	$	220,221	$	195,568