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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
a)
Concentrations of Credit Risk
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company’s assets where significant concentrations of credit risk may exist include investments, cash and cash equivalents, loan to related party, reinsurance balances receivable and reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses.
The reinsurers with the three largest balances accounted for 44.7%, 15.7% and 14.6%, respectively, of the Company's reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses balance at September 30, 2017 (December 31, 2016 – 54.8%, 31.6% and 2.9%, respectively). At September 30, 2017, 98.7% (December 31, 2016 - 97.2%) of the reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses was due from reinsurers with credit ratings from A.M Best of A or better, and 1.3% (December 31, 2016 - 2.8%) of the reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses was due from reinsurers with ratings of B++ or lower. At September 30, 2017, 89.1% (December 31, 2016 - 98.6%) of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, due from reinsurers with ratings of B++ or lower, were collateralized.
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no valuation allowance against reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses.
The Company manages concentration of credit risk in the investment portfolio through issuer and sector exposure limitations. The Company believes it bears minimal credit risk in its cash on deposit. The Company also monitors the credit risk related to the loan to related party and its reinsurance balances receivable, within which the largest balance is due from AmTrust. To mitigate credit risk, we generally have a contractual right of offset thereby allowing us to settle claims net of any premiums or loan receivable. The Company believes these balances will be fully collectible.
b)
Concentrations of Revenue
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, our gross premiums written from AmTrust accounted for $420,019 or 66.6% and $1,575,677 or 69.7%, respectively of our total gross premiums written (2016$520,104 or 73.6% and $1,591,902 or 70.5%, respectively).
c)
Dividends Declared
On August 3, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the following quarterly dividend:
 
 
Dividend per Share
 
Payable on:
 
Record date:
Common shares
 
$0.15
 
October 16, 2017
 
October 2, 2017

d)
Legal Proceedings
Except as noted below, the Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, the Company is subject to routine legal proceedings, including arbitrations, arising in the ordinary course of business. These legal proceedings generally relate to claims asserted by or against the Company in the ordinary course of insurance or reinsurance operations. Based on the Company's opinion, the eventual outcome of these legal proceedings is not expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
In April 2009, the Company learned that Bentzion S. Turin, the former Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Secretary of Maiden Holdings and Maiden Bermuda, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor claiming that his employment with the Company was terminated in retaliation for corporate whistle blowing in violation of the whistle blower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Mr. Turin alleged that he was terminated for raising concerns regarding corporate governance with respect to the negotiation of the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities Offering. He seeks reinstatement as Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Secretary of Maiden Holdings and Maiden Bermuda, back pay and legal fees incurred. On December 31, 2009, the U.S. Secretary of Labor found no reasonable cause for Mr. Turin’s claim and dismissed the complaint in its entirety. Mr. Turin objected to the Secretary's findings and requested a hearing before an administrative law judge in the U.S. Department of Labor. The Company moved to dismiss Mr. Turin's complaint, and its motion was granted by the Administrative Law Judge on June 30, 2011.
On July 13, 2011, Mr. Turin filed a petition for review of the Administrative Law Judge's decision with the Administrative Review Board in the U.S. Department of Labor. On March 29, 2013, the Administrative Review Board reversed the dismissal of the complaint on procedural grounds, and remanded the case to the administrative law judge. The administrative hearing began in September 2014. Twelve hearing days have taken place, and we expect the hearings to conclude in late 2017 or early 2018. The Company believes that it had good and sufficient reasons for terminating Mr. Turin's employment and, that the claim is without merit. The Company will continue to vigorously defend itself against this claim.