v2.3.0.15
Ceded Reinsurance
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Ceded Reinsurance 
Ceded Reinsurance
NOTE 4. CEDED REINSURANCE

The Company purchases reinsurance and other protection to manage its risk portfolio and to reduce its exposure to large losses. The Company currently has in place contracts that provide for recovery of a portion of certain claims and claim expenses, generally in excess of various retentions or on a proportional basis. In addition to loss recoveries, certain of the Company's ceded reinsurance contracts provide for recoveries of additional premiums, reinstatement premiums and for lost no-claims bonuses, which are incurred when losses are ceded to other reinsurance contracts. The Company remains liable to the extent that any reinsurance company fails to meet its obligations.

 

The following tables set forth the effect of reinsurance and retrocessional activity on premiums written and earned and on net claims and claim expenses incurred:

 

0000000000 0000000000

Three months ended September 30,

   2011     2010  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Premiums written

    

Direct

   $ 6,423      $ 1,466   

Assumed

     133,515        110,077   

Ceded

     (36,928     (29,236
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums written

   $ 103,010      $ 82,307   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Premiums earned

    

Direct

   $ 5,262      $ 1,696   

Assumed

     342,019        294,567   

Ceded

     (118,057     (83,908
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

   $ 229,224      $ 212,355   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Claims and claim expenses

    

Gross claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ 179,664      $ 95,312   

Claims and claim expenses recovered

     (101,834     (17,376
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ 77,830      $ 77,936   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
0000000000 0000000000

Nine months ended September 30,

   2011     2010  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Premiums written

    

Direct

   $ 21,984      $ 5,545   

Assumed

     1,370,022        1,128,549   

Ceded

     (408,426     (315,294
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums written

   $ 983,580      $ 818,800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Premiums earned

    

Direct

   $ 11,777      $ 3,416   

Assumed

     1,043,311        909,806   

Ceded

     (303,148     (238,043
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

   $ 751,940      $ 675,179   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Claims and claim expenses

    

Gross claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ 1,207,657      $ 201,691   

Claims and claim expenses recovered

     (350,029     (45,218
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ 857,628      $ 156,473