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 September 30,					Nine Months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2018			2017		2018			2017
Premiums written:
Direct	$	752,834		706,918		$	2,220,431		2,097,146
Assumed	7,084			8,506		19,891			20,685
Ceded	(108,250		)	(111,147	)	(308,846		)	(301,036	)
Net	$	651,668		604,277		$	1,931,476		1,816,795
Premiums earned:
Direct	$	706,497		666,048		$	2,086,953		1,967,364
Assumed	6,484			7,623		19,220			19,465
Ceded	(98,704		)	(101,616	)	(295,232		)	(285,890	)
Net	$	614,277		572,055		$	1,810,941		1,700,939
Loss and loss expenses incurred:
Direct	$	477,427		455,728		$	1,289,357		1,187,400
Assumed	6,529			5,420		16,897			17,623
Ceded	(104,757		)	(116,561	)	(175,786		)	(201,405	)
Net	$	379,199		344,587		$	1,130,468		1,003,618

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 September 30,					Nine Months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2018			2017		2018			2017
Ceded premiums written	$	(70,100	)	(68,132	)	$	(193,110	)	(188,274	)
Ceded premiums earned	(61,448		)	(59,847	)	(180,582		)	(174,779	)
Ceded loss and loss expenses incurred	(89,396		)	(112,994	)	(115,376		)	(134,675	)