Reinsurance

The following table contains a listing of direct, assumed, and ceded reinsurance amounts for premiums written, premiums earned, and loss and loss expenses incurred for the periods indicated. For more information concerning reinsurance, refer to

Note 8. “Reinsurance” in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2017 Annual Report.



	Quarter ended March 31,
($ in thousands)	2018			2017
Premiums written:
Direct	$	714,234		683,820
Assumed	6,271			5,691
Ceded	(95,945		)	(90,807	)
Net	$	624,560		598,704
Premiums earned:
Direct	$	683,733		646,728
Assumed	6,124			5,779
Ceded	(98,029		)	(91,653	)
Net	$	591,828		560,854
Loss and loss expenses incurred:
Direct	$	420,916		342,122
Assumed	8,004			4,437
Ceded	(43,979		)	(29,087	)
Net	$	384,941		317,472

Ceded premiums and losses related to our participation in the NFIP, under which 100% of our flood premiums, losses, and loss expenses are ceded to the NFIP, are as follows:



Ceded to NFIP	Quarter ended March 31,
($ in thousands)	2018			2017
Ceded premiums written	$	(56,669	)	(56,334	)
Ceded premiums earned	(58,991		)	(57,277	)
Ceded loss and loss expenses incurred	(15,719		)	(6,541	)