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Maiden Holdings, Ltd. - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission File No. 001-34042

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
98-0570192
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
94 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
HM08
(Zip Code)

(441) 298-4900
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act).
Yes o No x

As of November 2, 2018, the number of the Registrant's Common Stock ($.01 par value) outstanding was 82,942,737.




INDEX
 
 
Page
PART I - Financial Information
 
 
 

 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II - Other Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)
 
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost 2018: $2,867,251; 2017: $2,699,297)
 
$
2,781,553

 
$
2,707,516

Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value 2018: $1,019,741; 2017: $1,125,626)
 
1,032,885

 
1,097,801

Other investments, at fair value
 
22,586

 
6,600

Total investments
 
3,837,024

 
3,811,917

Cash and cash equivalents
 
94,578

 
54,470

Restricted cash and cash equivalents
 
169,996

 
94,905

Accrued investment income
 
29,658

 
28,798

Reinsurance balances receivable, net (includes $125,046 and $94,597 from related parties in 2018 and 2017, respectively)
 
161,436

 
72,494

Loan to related party
 
167,975

 
167,975

Deferred commission and other acquisition expenses (includes $396,799 and $379,395 from related parties in 2018 and 2017, respectively)
 
419,265

 
380,204

Other assets
 
41,083

 
131,608

Assets held for sale
 
1,615,486

 
1,901,818

Total assets
 
$
6,536,501

 
$
6,644,189

LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses (includes $2,749,601 and $2,337,096 from related parties in 2018 and 2017, respectively)
 
$
2,851,685

 
$
2,386,722

Unearned premiums (includes $1,223,736 and $1,170,397 from related parties in 2018 and 2017, respectively)
 
1,298,933

 
1,230,882

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
18,460

 
90,069

Senior notes - principal amount
 
262,500

 
262,500

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs
 
7,860

 
8,018

Senior notes, net
 
254,640

 
254,482

Liabilities held for sale
 
1,339,618

 
1,449,408

Total liabilities
 
5,763,336

 
5,411,563

Commitments and Contingencies
 


 


EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Preference shares
 
465,000

 
465,000

Common shares ($0.01 par value; 87,932,287 and 87,730,054 shares issued in 2018 and 2017, respectively; 82,942,737 and 82,974,895 shares outstanding in 2018 and 2017, respectively)
 
879

 
877

Additional paid-in capital
 
749,214

 
748,113

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(116,369
)
 
13,354

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
 
(294,656
)
 
35,472

Treasury shares, at cost (4,989,550 and 4,755,159 shares in 2018 and 2017, respectively)
 
(31,514
)
 
(30,642
)
Total Maiden shareholders’ equity
 
772,554

 
1,232,174

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
 
611

 
452

Total equity
 
773,165

 
1,232,626

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
6,536,501

 
$
6,644,189


See accompanying notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018

2017

2018

2017
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
 
$
484,494

 
$
443,001

 
$
1,629,347

 
$
1,650,762

Net premiums written
 
$
482,806

 
$
432,677

 
$
1,626,485

 
$
1,603,414

Change in unearned premiums
 
37,271

 
24,601

 
(85,207
)
 
(90,977
)
Net premiums earned
 
520,077

 
457,278

 
1,541,278

 
1,512,437

Other insurance revenue
 
1,870

 
2,488

 
7,629

 
7,816

Net investment income
 
34,419

 
30,950

 
101,548

 
91,597

Net realized (losses) gains on investment
 
(225
)
 
5,859

 
(282
)
 
8,316

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
(479
)
 
—

 
(479
)
 
—

Total revenues
 
555,662

 
496,575

 
1,649,694

 
1,620,166

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
600,296

 
370,847

 
1,323,503

 
1,090,608

Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
167,618

 
145,352

 
497,026

 
487,771

General and administrative expenses
 
18,936

 
15,439

 
48,343

 
38,161

Interest and amortization expenses
 
4,829

 
4,829

 
14,487

 
18,430

Accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,809

Foreign exchange losses (gains)
 
552

 
3,550

 
(1,862
)
 
12,193

Total expenses
 
792,231

 
540,017

 
1,881,497

 
1,649,972

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
 
(236,569
)
 
(43,442
)
 
(231,803
)
 
(29,806
)
Less: income tax (benefit) expense
 
(7,437
)
 
1,704

 
(930
)
 
(1,978
)
Net loss from continuing operations
 
(229,132
)
 
(45,146
)
 
(230,873
)
 
(27,828
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
(71,100
)
 
(9,908
)
 
(44,336
)
 
(17,060
)
Net loss
 
(300,232
)
 
(55,054
)
 
(275,209
)
 
(44,888
)
Add: net (income) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(62
)
 
3

 
(180
)
 
34

Net loss attributable to Maiden
 
(300,294
)
 
(55,051
)
 
(275,389
)
 
(44,854
)
Dividends on preference shares
 
(8,545
)
 
(8,545
)
 
(25,636
)
 
(20,611
)
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(308,839
)
 
$
(63,596
)
 
$
(301,025
)
 
$
(65,465
)
Basic and diluted loss from continuing operations per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(2.86
)
 
$
(0.62
)
 
$
(3.09
)
 
$
(0.56
)
Basic and diluted loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(0.86
)
 
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(0.53
)
 
$
(0.20
)
Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(3.72
)
 
$
(0.74
)
 
$
(3.62
)
 
$
(0.76
)
Dividends declared per common share
 
$
0.05

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.35

 
$
0.45

Weighted average number of common shares - basic and diluted
 
83,089,172

 
85,859,201

 
83,085,441

 
86,256,481


See accompanying notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net loss
 
$
(300,232
)
 
$
(55,054
)
 
$
(275,209
)
 
$
(44,888
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holdings (losses) gains on available-for-sale fixed maturities arising during the period
 
(24,658
)
 
25,019

 
(141,926
)
 
68,798

Adjustment for reclassification of net realized losses (gains) recognized in net income
 
785

 
(3,650
)
 
40

 
1,123

Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
4,458

 
(10,828
)
 
12,123

 
(38,803
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax
 
(19,415
)
 
10,541

 
(129,763
)
 
31,118

Income tax benefit (expense) related to components of other comprehensive income
 
2

 
(25
)
 
19

 
5

Other comprehensive (loss) income, after tax
 
(19,413
)
 
10,516

 
(129,744
)
 
31,123

Comprehensive loss
 
(319,645
)
 
(44,538
)
 
(404,953
)
 
(13,765
)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(62
)
 
3

 
(180
)
 
34

Other comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
3

 
(12
)
 
21

 
(41
)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(59
)
 
(9
)
 
(159
)
 
(7
)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Maiden
 
$
(319,704
)
 
$
(44,547
)
 
$
(405,112
)
 
$
(13,772
)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

2018

2017
Preference shares - Series A, C and D
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
465,000

 
$
315,000

Issuance of Preference Shares – Series D
 
—

 
150,000

Ending balance
 
465,000

 
465,000

Common shares
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
877

 
873

Exercise of options and issuance of shares
 
2

 
4

Ending balance
 
879

 
877

Additional paid-in capital
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
748,113

 
749,256

Exercise of options and issuance of common shares
 
13

 
1,072

Share-based compensation expense
 
1,088

 
2,194

Issuance costs of Preference Shares - Series D
 
—

 
(5,058
)
Ending balance
 
749,214

 
747,464

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
13,354

 
14,997

Change in net unrealized (losses) gains on investment
 
(141,867
)
 
69,926

Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
12,144

 
(38,844
)
Ending balance
 
(116,369
)
 
46,079

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
35,472

 
285,662

Net loss attributable to Maiden
 
(275,389
)
 
(44,854
)
Dividends on preference shares
 
(25,636
)
 
(20,611
)
Dividends on common shares
 
(29,103
)
 
(38,687
)
Ending balance
 
(294,656
)
 
181,510

Treasury shares
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
(30,642
)
 
(4,991
)
Shares repurchased
 
(872
)
 
(14,912
)
Ending balance
 
(31,514
)
 
(19,903
)
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
452

 
355

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
180

 
(34
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
(21
)
 
41

Ending balance
 
611

 
362

Total equity
 
$
773,165

 
$
1,421,389


See accompanying notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(275,209
)
 
$
(44,888
)
Less: net loss from discontinued operations
 
44,336

 
17,060

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation, amortization and share-based compensation
 
4,774

 
8,464

Net realized losses (gains) on investment
 
282

 
(8,316
)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
479

 
—

Foreign exchange (gains) losses
 
(1,862
)
 
12,193

Changes in assets – (increase) decrease:
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance balances receivable, net
 
(92,904
)
 
(22,098
)
Accrued investment income
 
(1,000
)
 
1,124

Deferred commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(40,097
)
 
(38,773
)
Other assets
 
91,422

 
(22,804
)
Changes in liabilities – increase (decrease):
 
 
 
 
Reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
481,227

 
325,221

Unearned premiums
 
72,200

 
94,489

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
(66,401
)
 
6,877

Net cash provided by continuing operations
 
217,247

 
328,549

Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations
 
(54,624
)
 
46,265

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
162,623

 
374,814

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Purchases of fixed-maturities – available-for-sale
 
(517,839
)
 
(538,429
)
Purchases of other investments
 
(17,532
)
 
(986
)
Proceeds from sales of fixed-maturities – available-for-sale
 
185,089

 
116,306

Proceeds from maturities, paydowns and calls of fixed maturities – available-for-sale
 
196,275

 
224,940

Proceeds from maturities and calls of fixed maturities – held to maturity
 
62,018

 
20,744

Proceeds from sale and redemption of other investments
 
2,160

 
11,119

Other, net
 
(2,985
)
 
(1,997
)
Net cash used in investing activities for continuing operations
 
(92,814
)
 
(168,303
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities for discontinued operations
 
119,965

 
(16,710
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 
27,151

 
(185,013
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Repurchase of common shares, net of issuance
 
(857
)
 
(13,836
)
Dividends paid – Maiden common shareholders
 
(37,400
)
 
(38,935
)
Dividends paid – preference shares
 
(25,636
)
 
(20,611
)
Preference shares, net of issuance costs
 
—

 
144,942

Redemption of 2012 senior notes
 
—

 
(100,000
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(63,893
)
 
(28,440
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash and cash equivalents
 
(1,131
)
 
3,379

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents
 
124,750

 
164,740

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
191,503

 
149,535

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
316,253

 
314,275

Less: cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period
 
(51,679
)
 
(88,606
)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period
 
$
264,574

 
$
225,669

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents reported within Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total shown above:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
94,578

 
$
154,152

Restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
169,996

 
71,517

Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
264,574

 
$
225,669

See accompanying notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

7
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Maiden Holdings, Ltd. ("Maiden Holdings") and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Maiden"). They have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
These interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative, if annualized, of those to be expected for the full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, including these notes, should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited Consolidated Financial Statements, and related notes thereto, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Certain prior year comparatives have been reclassified for 2017 to conform to the 2018 presentation including as discussed below. The effect of these reclassifications had no impact on previously reported shareholders' equity or net income (loss).

Discontinued Operations
As part of the strategic review initiated by the Company's Board of Directors earlier in 2018, during the third quarter of 2018, the Company made the strategic decision to divest its U.S. reinsurance treaty operations. Except as explicitly described as held for sale or as discontinued operations, and unless otherwise noted, all discussions and amounts presented herein relate to the Company's continuing operations except for net loss, net loss attributable to Maiden and net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders. Please see “Note 8. Discontinued Operations" for additional information related to discontinued operations. All prior years presented in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to this new presentation.
Background
On August 29, 2018, the Company announced that it had entered into a Renewal Rights Agreement ("Renewal Rights"), dated as of August 29, 2018, with Transatlantic Reinsurance Company ("TransRe"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell, and TransRe agreed to purchase, Maiden Reinsurance North America, Inc.'s ("Maiden US") rights to: (i) renew Maiden US’s treaty reinsurance agreements upon their expiration or cancellation, (ii) solicit renewals of and replacement coverages for the treaty reinsurance agreements and (iii) replicate and use the products and contract forms used in Maiden US’s business. The sale was consummated on August 29, 2018. The payment received for the sale of the Renewal Rights was $7,500 subject to potential additional amounts payable in the future in accordance with the agreement.
On August 31, 2018, the Company announced that its subsidiary, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. ("Maiden NA"), entered into a sale agreement ("Master Transaction Agreement") dated as of August 31, 2018, with Enstar Group Limited ("Enstar"), pursuant to which Maiden NA agreed to sell, and Enstar agreed to purchase Maiden NA’s subsidiary Maiden US. Pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Master Transaction Agreement:
(i)Maiden NA will sell, and Enstar will purchase, all of the share capital of Maiden US (the “Maiden US Sale”) for a price of $321,500, which is subject to certain closing adjustments;
(ii)Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited ("Cavello"), Enstar’s Bermuda reinsurance affiliate, and Maiden Reinsurance Ltd. ("Maiden Bermuda"), the Company’s Bermuda reinsurance subsidiary, will enter into a novation agreement pursuant to which certain assets and liabilities associated with the Company’s U.S. treaty reinsurance business held by Maiden Bermuda will be novated for a ceding commission payable by Maiden Bermuda of $12,250;
(iii)Cavello and Maiden Bermuda will enter into a retrocession agreement pursuant to which certain assets and liabilities associated with the Motors Insurance business held by Maiden Bermuda will be retroceded to Cavello in exchange for a $1,750 ceding commission; and
(iv)Maiden Bermuda will provide Enstar with adverse loss reserve development cover up to a maximum of $25,000 when losses are more than $100,000 in excess of the net loss and loss adjustment expenses recorded as of June 30, 2018, for no additional consideration.
The transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The Company’s current analysis indicates that the conditions to redeem the 2013 Senior Notes as stipulated by the securities may exist. Should final analysis support such a conclusion, the Company expects to redeem all of the $152,500 2013 Senior Notes at that time pursuant to the terms of the underlying securities.
The assets and liabilities related to the sale of Maiden US were classified as held for sale in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as at September 30, 2018 and reclassified as held for sale as at December 31, 2017. The operations of the Company's U.S. reinsurance treaty business have been reported as discontinued operations in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 since the Company has determined that the divestiture


8
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


1. Basis of Presentation (continued)
represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on its ongoing operations and financial results and all of the held for sale criteria have been met. Please refer to "Note 8. Discontinued Operations" for additional information regarding the effect of the reclassifications on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Segments
As a result of the strategic decision to divest all of the Company's U.S. treaty reinsurance operations noted above, the Company has revised the composition of its reportable segments. As described in more detail below under “Note 3. Segment Information”, the reportable segments include: (i) Diversified Reinsurance which consists of a portfolio of property and casualty reinsurance business focusing on regional and specialty property and casualty insurance companies located primarily in Europe; and (ii) AmTrust Reinsurance which includes all business ceded to the Company from subsidiaries of AmTrust Financial Services Inc. ("AmTrust"). In addition to these reportable segments, the results of operations of the former National General Holdings Corporation Quota Share ("NGHC Quota Share") segment is included in the "Other" category. All prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to this new presentation.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company's AmTrust Reinsurance segment accounted for 93.5% and 93.2%, respectively (2017 - 94.8% and 95.5%, respectively), of the Company's total consolidated gross premiums written.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 except for the following:
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Updates
Revenue Recognition
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-09 guidance that supersedes most existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard excludes from its scope the accounting for insurance contracts, leases, financial instruments, and certain other agreements that are governed under other GAAP guidance, but could affect the revenue recognition for certain of our other insurance revenue activities. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company has adopted the guidance in ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018. Our analysis of revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 indicates that substantially all of our revenues are from sources not within the scope of the standard. The Company generates an insignificant amount of fee income which is reported under other insurance revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and is within the scope of ASU 2014-09. The Company’s current accounting policy for this revenue is to recognize fee income as earned when the related services are performed which is consistent with the guidance in this ASU. Other insurance revenue is currently less than 1% of total revenues so the expanded disclosure requirements mandated by this ASU are not required or deemed relevant due to materiality. As substantially all of our revenue sources are not within the scope of the standard, the adoption of the standard did not have a material effect on our reported condensed consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Scope of Modification Accounting
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09 to amend the guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company currently has a number of share based payment awards as disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2018 did not have an impact on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as no modifications were made in any of its current share based payment awards.
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 that will change how entities measure certain equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option that are attributable to their own credit. Under the new guidance, entities will have to measure many equity investments at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income unless the investments qualify for the new practicability exception. This includes investments in partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures and limited liability companies that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method. Entities will no longer be able to recognize unrealized holding gains and losses on equity securities they classify today as available-for-sale ("AFS") in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI"). The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2018 resulted in the recognition of $465 of net unrealized losses and $358 of net unrealized gains on our investments in limited partnerships within net income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Our investments in limited partnerships do not have a readily determinable fair value and therefore, the new guidance was adopted prospectively. Please refer to "Note 4. Investments (d) - Realized Gains on Investment" for additional information.
Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 guidance to clarify how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance amends Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 230 Statement of Cash Flows, a principles based requiring judgment to determine the appropriate classification of cash flow as operating, investing or financing activities which created diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments were classified. The new guidance

9
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
clarifies that if a receipt or payment has aspects of more than one class of cash flows and cannot be separated, the classification will depend on the predominant source or use. While the new guidance attempts to clarify how the predominance principle should be applied, judgment will still be required. The guidance is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein. Entities will have to apply the guidance retrospectively, but if it is impracticable to do so for an issue, the amendments related to that issue would be applied prospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Presentation of Restricted Cash in the Statement of Cash Flows
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18 guidance that require entities to show the changes in the total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, entities will no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. When cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet, the new guidance requires a reconciliation of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related captions in the balance sheet. This reconciliation can be presented either on the face of the statement of cash flows or in the notes to the financial statements. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations and disclosures, other than the presentation of restricted cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The financial impact in the consolidated statements of cash flows has eliminated the presentation of changes in restricted cash and cash equivalents from cash flows from investing activities. Therefore, changes that result from transfers between cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents are no longer presented as cash flow activities in the statement of cash flows. Additionally, a reconciliation between the statement of financial position and the statement of cash flows has been disclosed to show the movement in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents from the prior period.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07 guidance that simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to non-employees for goods and services. Under the guidance, most of the guidance on such payments to non-employees would be aligned with the requirements for share-based payments granted to employees as the board viewed the awards to both employees and non-employees to be economically similar and that two different accounting models are not justified. Under the new guidance, i) non-employee share-based payment awards should be measured at the grant date fair value rather than the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever can be more reliably measured, ii) the measurement date for equity classified non-employee share-based payment awards is at the grant date and not the earlier of the date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty is reached and the date at which the counterparty's performance is complete, and iii) entities should consider the probability of satisfying the performance conditions when awards contain such conditions. The amendments in this guidance are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted, but not earlier than an entity's adoption date of Topic 606. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company's results of operations and financial position; however, it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Codification Improvements
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09 which includes clarifications to existing codifications or corrections of unintended application of guidance that is not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. The amendments in this update include items raised for board consideration through the codification's feedback system that met the scope of this project, making due process necessary. The amendments affect a wide variety of topics in the codification. The amendments apply to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected accounting guidance. None of the topics deemed applicable have a material impact in the Company's interim consolidated financial statements. However, the Company is currently evaluating the impact of applicable sections on its results of operations and financial position once those sections are adopted beginning after December 15, 2018.
Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11 for targeted improvements related to Update 2016-02 which provides entities with an additional transition method to apply the new standard. Under the new optional transition method, an entity initially applies ASC 842 at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Updates related to Topic 842 become effective for the Company during the first quarter of 2019 and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company intends to elect the new transition method permitted by ASU No. 2018-11.
The Company's future minimum lease payments, which represent minimum annual rental commitments excluding taxes, insurance and other operating costs for non-cancellable operating leases, and which will be subject to this new guidance, will be recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a lease liability with a corresponding right-of-use asset. However, under this guidance, the Company shall continue to recognize the related leasing expense within net income. Therefore, adoption of this standard will impact the Company’s consolidated balance sheets but is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.

10
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 for changes to the disclosure framework related to Topic 820 which amends the disclosure requirements for fair value measurement. The following disclosure requirements were removed from Topic 820: (i) amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, (ii) policy for timing of transfers between levels, and (iii) valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. The amendments clarify that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date. The following disclosure requirements were added to Topic 820: (i) changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period; and (ii) range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, an entity may disclose other quantitative information (such as the median or arithmetic average) in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements.
The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of this Update. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of this Update and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. These amendments only impact disclosures made in "Note 5. Fair Value Measurements" therefore, the adoption of this standard will not impact the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.
 
3. Segment Information
The Company currently has two reportable segments: Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance. Our Diversified Reinsurance segment consists of a portfolio of predominantly property and casualty reinsurance business focusing on regional and specialty property and casualty insurance companies located primarily in Europe. Our AmTrust Reinsurance segment includes all business ceded to our wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Bermuda, from AmTrust, primarily the AmTrust Quota Share and the European Hospital Liability Quota Share. In addition to our reportable segments, the results of operations of the former NGHC Quota Share segment have been included in the "Other" category. Please refer to "Note 10. Related Party Transactions" for additional information.
As a result of the strategic decision to divest all of the Company's U.S. treaty reinsurance operations as discussed in "Note 1. Basis of Presentation" and "Note 8. Discontinued Operations", the Company has revised the composition of its reportable segments. Previously, the underwriting results associated with the discontinued operations of the Company's U.S. treaty reinsurance business were included within the Diversified Reinsurance segment and the operating results associated with the remnants of the U.S. excess and surplus business were included within the Other category. These are now excluded and all prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to this new presentation.
The Company evaluates segment performance based on segment profit separately from the results of our investment portfolio. General and administrative expenses are allocated to the segments on an actual basis except salaries and benefits where management’s judgment is applied. The Company does not allocate general corporate expenses to the segments. In determining total assets by reportable segment, the Company identifies those assets that are attributable to a particular segment such as reinsurance balances receivable, deferred commission and other acquisition expenses, loans, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments and reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses, unearned reinsurance premiums ceded and funds withheld receivable (presented as part of other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet). All remaining assets are allocated to Corporate.
The following tables summarize our reporting segment's underwriting results and the reconciliation of our reportable segments and Other category's underwriting results to our consolidated net loss from continuing operations:















11
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


3. Segment Information (continued)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Diversified Reinsurance
 
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
31,699

 
$
452,795

 
$
—

 
$
484,494

Net premiums written
 
$
31,291

 
$
451,515

 
$
—

 
$
482,806

Net premiums earned
 
$
28,784

 
$
491,293

 
$
—

 
$
520,077

Other insurance revenue
 
1,870

 
—

 
—

 
1,870

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses ("loss and LAE")
 
(19,764
)
 
(579,163
)
 
(1,369
)
 
(600,296
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(8,961
)
 
(158,657
)
 
—

 
(167,618
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(4,256
)
 
(952
)
 
—

 
(5,208
)
Underwriting loss
 
$
(2,327
)
 
$
(247,479
)
 
$
(1,369
)
 
(251,175
)
Reconciliation to net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income and realized losses on investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34,194

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(479
)
Interest and amortization expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(4,829
)
Foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(552
)
Other general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(13,728
)
Income tax benefit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7,437

Net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(229,132
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio(1)
 
64.5
%
 
117.9
%
 
 
 
115.0
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio(2)
 
29.2
%
 
32.3
%
 
 
 
32.1
%
General and administrative expense ratio(3)
 
13.9
%
 
0.2
%
 
 
 
3.6
%
Expense ratio(4)
 
43.1
%
 
32.5
%
 
 
 
35.7
%
Combined ratio(5)
 
107.6
%
 
150.4
%
 
 
 
150.7
%

12
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

3. Segment Information (continued)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Diversified Reinsurance
 
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
22,982

 
$
420,019

 
$
—

 
$
443,001

Net premiums written
 
$
22,484

 
$
410,193

 
$
—

 
$
432,677

Net premiums earned
 
$
20,925

 
$
436,353

 
$
—

 
$
457,278

Other insurance revenue
 
2,488

 
—

 
—

 
2,488

Net loss and LAE
 
(13,979
)
 
(355,030
)
 
(1,838
)
 
(370,847
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(6,702
)
 
(138,650
)
 
—

 
(145,352
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(4,158
)
 
(771
)
 
—

 
(4,929
)
Underwriting loss
 
$
(1,426
)
 
$
(58,098
)
 
$
(1,838
)
 
(61,362
)
Reconciliation to net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income and realized gains on investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
36,809

Interest and amortization expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(4,829
)
Foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3,550
)
Other general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(10,510
)
Income tax expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,704
)
Net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(45,146
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio(1)
 
59.7
%
 
81.4
%
 
 
 
80.6
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio(2)
 
28.6
%
 
31.7
%
 
 
 
31.6
%
General and administrative expense ratio(3)
 
17.8
%
 
0.2
%
 
 
 
3.4
%
Expense ratio(4)
 
46.4
%
 
31.9
%
 
 
 
35.0
%
Combined ratio(5)
 
106.1
%
 
113.3
%
 
 
 
115.6
%


13
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

3. Segment Information (continued)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Diversified Reinsurance
 
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
111,139

 
$
1,518,208

 
$
—

 
$
1,629,347

Net premiums written
 
$
109,279

 
$
1,517,206

 
$
—

 
$
1,626,485

Net premiums earned
 
$
82,838

 
$
1,458,440

 
$
—

 
$
1,541,278

Other insurance revenue
 
7,629

 
—

 
—

 
7,629

Net loss and LAE
 
(51,828
)
 
(1,270,306
)
 
(1,369
)
 
(1,323,503
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(28,261
)
 
(468,765
)
 
—

 
(497,026
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(13,330
)
 
(2,954
)
 
—

 
(16,284
)
Underwriting loss
 
$
(2,952
)
 
$
(283,585
)
 
$
(1,369
)
 
(287,906
)
Reconciliation to net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income and realized losses on investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101,266

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(479
)
Interest and amortization expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(14,487
)
Foreign exchange gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,862

Other general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(32,059
)
Income tax benefit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
930

Net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(230,873
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio(1)
 
57.3
%
 
87.1
%
 
 
 
85.5
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio(2)
 
31.3
%
 
32.1
%
 
 
 
32.1
%
General and administrative expense ratio(3)
 
14.7
%
 
0.2
%
 
 
 
3.1
%
Expense ratio(4)
 
46.0
%
 
32.3
%
 
 
 
35.2
%
Combined ratio(5)
 
103.3
%
 
119.4
%
 
 
 
120.7
%


14
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

3. Segment Information (continued)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Diversified Reinsurance
 
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
75,085

 
$
1,575,677

 
$
—

 
$
1,650,762

Net premiums written
 
$
73,434

 
$
1,529,980

 
$
—

 
$
1,603,414

Net premiums earned
 
$
61,626

 
$
1,450,811

 
$
—

 
$
1,512,437

Other insurance revenue
 
7,816

 
—

 
—

 
7,816

Net loss and LAE
 
(41,548
)
 
(1,047,222
)
 
(1,838
)
 
(1,090,608
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(21,982
)
 
(465,789
)
 
—

 
(487,771
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(11,831
)
 
(2,240
)
 
—

 
(14,071
)
Underwriting loss
 
$
(5,919
)
 
$
(64,440
)
 
$
(1,838
)
 
(72,197
)
Reconciliation to net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income and realized gains on investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
99,913

Interest and amortization expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(18,430
)
Accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2,809
)
Foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(12,193
)
Other general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(24,090
)
Income tax benefit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,978

Net loss from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(27,828
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio(1)
 
59.8
%
 
72.2
%
 
 
 
71.7
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio(2)
 
31.7
%
 
32.1
%
 
 
 
32.1
%
General and administrative expense ratio(3)
 
17.0
%
 
0.1
%
 
 
 
2.5
%
Expense ratio(4)
 
48.7
%
 
32.2
%
 
 
 
34.6
%
Combined ratio(5)
 
108.5
%
 
104.4
%
 
 
 
106.3
%
(1)
Calculated by dividing net loss and LAE by the sum of net premiums earned and other insurance revenue.
(2)
Calculated by dividing commission and other acquisition expenses by the sum of net premiums earned and other insurance revenue.
(3)
Calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by the sum of net premiums earned and other insurance revenue.
(4)
Calculated by adding together the commission and other acquisition expense ratio and general and administrative expense ratio.
(5)
Calculated by adding together net loss and LAE ratio and the expense ratio.    
The following tables summarize the financial position of our reportable segments including the reconciliation to our consolidated assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
September 30, 2018
 
Diversified Reinsurance
 
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
Total
Total assets - reportable segments
 
$
180,676

 
$
4,297,992

 
$
4,478,668

Corporate assets
 
—

 
—

 
442,347

Assets held for sale
 
—

 
—

 
1,615,486

Total Assets
 
$
180,676

 
$
4,297,992

 
$
6,536,501

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
Diversified Reinsurance
 
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
Total
Total assets - reportable segments
 
$
167,638

 
$
4,258,607

 
$
4,426,245

Corporate assets
 
—

 
—

 
316,126

Assets held for sale
 
—

 
—

 
1,901,818

Total Assets
 
$
167,638

 
$
4,258,607

 
$
6,644,189



15
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

3. Segment Information (continued)
The following tables set forth financial information relating to net premiums written by major line of business and reportable segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Net premiums written
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
Diversified Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International
 
$
31,291

 
6.5
%
 
$
22,503

 
5.2
 %
Casualty
 
—

 
—
%
 
(19
)
 
—
 %
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
31,291

 
6.5
%
 
22,484

 
5.2
 %
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
232,163

 
48.1
%
 
295,499

 
68.3
 %
Specialty Program
 
94,077

 
19.5
%
 
63,816

 
14.7
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
125,275

 
25.9
%
 
50,878

 
11.8
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
451,515

 
93.5
%
 
410,193

 
94.8
 %
Total Net Premiums Written
 
$
482,806

 
100.0
%
 
$
432,677

 
100.0
 %
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Net premiums written
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
Diversified Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International
 
$
109,238

 
6.7
%
 
$
73,475

 
4.6
 %
Casualty
 
41

 
—
%
 
(41
)
 
—
 %
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
109,279

 
6.7
%
 
73,434

 
4.6
 %
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
879,403

 
54.1
%
 
1,028,905

 
64.2
 %
Specialty Program
 
286,404

 
17.6
%
 
255,767

 
15.9
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
351,399

 
21.6
%
 
245,308

 
15.3
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
1,517,206

 
93.3
%
 
1,529,980

 
95.4
 %
Total Net Premiums Written
 
$
1,626,485

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,603,414

 
100.0
 %
The following tables set forth financial information relating to net premiums earned by major line of business and reportable segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Net premiums earned
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
Diversified Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International
 
$
28,784

 
5.5
%
 
$
20,943

 
4.6
 %
Casualty
 
—

 
—
%
 
(18
)
 
—
 %
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
28,784

 
5.5
%
 
20,925

 
4.6
 %
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
273,456

 
52.6
%
 
314,773

 
68.8
 %
Specialty Program
 
98,359

 
18.9
%
 
59,143

 
12.9
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
119,478

 
23.0
%
 
62,437

 
13.7
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
491,293

 
94.5
%
 
436,353

 
95.4
 %
Total Net Premiums Earned
 
$
520,077

 
100.0
%
 
$
457,278

 
100.0
 %



16
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

3. Segment Information (continued)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Net premiums earned
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
Diversified Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International
 
$
82,797

 
5.4
%
 
$
61,667

 
4.1
 %
Casualty
 
41

 
—
%
 
(41
)
 
—
 %
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
82,838

 
5.4
%
 
61,626

 
4.1
 %
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
882,679

 
57.3
%
 
946,782

 
62.6
 %
Specialty Program
 
283,592

 
18.4
%
 
251,153

 
16.6
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
292,169

 
18.9
%
 
252,876

 
16.7
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
1,458,440

 
94.6
%
 
1,450,811

 
95.9
 %
Total Net Premiums Earned
 
$
1,541,278

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,512,437

 
100.0
 %



17
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

4. Investments
a)
Fixed Maturities
The original or amortized cost, estimated fair value and gross unrealized gains and losses of fixed maturities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows:
September 30, 2018
 
Original or amortized cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
AFS fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
125

 
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
124

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
1,484,434

 
830

 
(58,068
)
 
1,427,196

U.S. agency bonds – other
 
24,870

 
—

 
(1,180
)
 
23,690

Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
22,550

 
122

 
(1,827
)
 
20,845

Asset-backed securities
 
226,652

 
552

 
(2,000
)
 
225,204

Corporate bonds
 
1,108,620

 
8,834

 
(32,960
)
 
1,084,494

Total AFS fixed maturities
 
2,867,251

 
10,338

 
(96,036
)
 
2,781,553

Held-to-maturity ("HTM") fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
974,947

 
6,103

 
(18,190
)
 
962,860

Municipal bonds
 
57,938

 
—

 
(1,057
)
 
56,881

Total HTM fixed maturities
 
1,032,885

 
6,103

 
(19,247
)
 
1,019,741

Total fixed maturity investments
 
$
3,900,136

 
$
16,441

 
$
(115,283
)
 
$
3,801,294

December 31, 2017
 
Original or amortized cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
AFS fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
35,093

 
$
4

 
$
—

 
$
35,097

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
1,475,682

 
6,181

 
(13,723
)
 
1,468,140

U.S. agency bonds – other
 
19,868

 
—

 
(149
)
 
19,719

Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
32,380

 
231

 
(1,713
)
 
30,898

Asset-backed securities
 
225,015

 
3,457

 
(79
)
 
228,393

Corporate bonds
 
911,259

 
28,423

 
(14,413
)
 
925,269

Total AFS fixed maturities
 
2,699,297

 
38,296

 
(30,077
)
 
2,707,516

HTM fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
1,037,464

 
28,694

 
(913
)
 
1,065,245

Municipal bonds
 
60,337

 
128

 
(84
)
 
60,381

Total HTM fixed maturities
 
1,097,801

 
28,822

 
(997
)
 
1,125,626

Total fixed maturity investments
 
$
3,797,098

 
$
67,118

 
$
(31,074
)
 
$
3,833,142


During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we did not designate any additional fixed maturities as HTM. During 2017, we designated additional fixed maturities with a fair value of $391,934 as HTM reflecting our intent to hold these securities to maturity. The net unrealized holding gain of $4,313 as at the designation date continues to be reported in the carrying value of the HTM securities and is amortized through other comprehensive income over the remaining life of the securities using the effective yield method in a manner consistent with the amortization of any premium or discount.

18
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

4. Investments (continued)
The contractual maturities of our fixed maturities are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
 
AFS fixed maturities
 
HTM fixed maturities
September 30, 2018
 
Amortized cost
 
Fair value
 
Amortized cost
 
Fair value
Maturity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
3,873

 
$
3,522

 
$
9,297

 
$
9,289

Due after one year through five years
 
596,895

 
583,069

 
371,750

 
372,294

Due after five years through ten years
 
555,397

 
542,562

 
651,838

 
638,158

 
 
1,156,165

 
1,129,153

 
1,032,885

 
1,019,741

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
1,484,434

 
1,427,196

 
—

 
—

Asset-backed securities
 
226,652

 
225,204

 
—

 
—

Total fixed maturities
 
$
2,867,251

 
$
2,781,553

 
$
1,032,885

 
$
1,019,741


The following tables summarize fixed maturities in an unrealized loss position and the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position:
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
September 30, 2018
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
124

 
$
(1
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
124

 
$
(1
)
U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
831,457

 
(25,160
)
 
595,740

 
(32,908
)
 
1,427,197

 
(58,068
)
U.S. agency bonds – other
 
23,689

 
(1,180
)
 
—

 
—

 
23,689

 
(1,180
)
Non–U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
6,637

 
(148
)
 
14,209

 
(1,679
)
 
20,846

 
(1,827
)
Asset-backed securities
 
221,300

 
(1,896
)
 
3,904

 
(104
)
 
225,204

 
(2,000
)
Corporate bonds
 
1,793,528

 
(31,031
)
 
253,825

 
(20,119
)
 
2,047,353

 
(51,150
)
Municipal bonds
 
56,882

 
(1,057
)
 
—

 
—

 
56,882

 
(1,057
)
Total temporarily impaired fixed maturities
 
$
2,933,617

 
$
(60,473
)
 
$
867,678

 
$
(54,810
)
 
$
3,801,295

 
$
(115,283
)

At September 30, 2018, there were approximately 406 securities in an unrealized loss position with a fair value of $3,801,295 and unrealized losses of $115,283. Of these securities, there were 99 securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater with a fair value of $867,678 and unrealized losses of $54,810.
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
December 31, 2017
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
$
632,142

 
$
(5,299
)
 
$
327,339

 
$
(8,424
)
 
$
959,481

 
$
(13,723
)
U.S. agency bonds – other
 
19,718

 
(149
)
 
—

 
—

 
19,718

 
(149
)
Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
1,909

 
(2
)
 
25,192

 
(1,711
)
 
27,101

 
(1,713
)
Asset-backed securities
 
12,408

 
(30
)
 
3,017

 
(49
)
 
15,425

 
(79
)
Corporate bonds
 
161,661

 
(1,557
)
 
290,592

 
(13,769
)
 
452,253

 
(15,326
)
Municipal bonds
 
39,492

 
(84
)
 
—

 
—

 
39,492

 
(84
)
Total temporarily impaired fixed maturities
 
$
867,330

 
$
(7,121
)
 
$
646,140

 
$
(23,953
)
 
$
1,513,470

 
$
(31,074
)


19
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

4. Investments (continued)
At December 31, 2017, there were approximately 156 securities in an unrealized loss position with a fair value of $1,513,470 and unrealized losses of $31,074. Of these securities, there were 89 securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater with a fair value of $646,140 and unrealized losses of $23,953.
Other-than-temporarily impaired ("OTTI")
The Company performs quarterly reviews of its fixed maturities in order to determine whether declines in fair value below the amortized cost basis were considered other-than-temporary in accordance with applicable guidance. At September 30, 2018, we have determined that the unrealized losses on fixed maturities were primarily due to interest rates rising as well as the impact of foreign exchange rate changes on certain foreign currency denominated AFS fixed maturities since their date of purchase. All fixed maturity securities in the investment portfolio continue to pay the expected coupon payments under the contractual terms of the securities. Any credit-related impairment related to fixed maturity securities that the Company does not plan to sell and for which the Company is not more likely than not to be required to sell is recognized in net earnings, with the non-credit related impairment recognized in comprehensive earnings. Based on our analysis, our fixed maturity portfolio is of high credit quality and we believe we will recover the amortized cost basis of our fixed maturity securities. We continually monitor the credit quality of our fixed maturity investments to assess if it is probable that we will receive our contractual or estimated cash flows in the form of principal and interest. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized $479 in OTTI charges in earnings on one fixed maturity security. Comparatively, there were no OTTI losses recognized in earnings on the fixed maturity portfolio in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
The following summarizes the credit ratings of our fixed maturities:
Ratings(1) at September 30, 2018
 
Amortized cost
 
Fair value
 
% of Total
fair value
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
125

 
$
124

 
—
%
U.S. agency bonds
 
1,509,304

 
1,450,886

 
38.2
%
AAA
 
166,512

 
163,099

 
4.3
%
AA+, AA, AA-
 
174,111

 
169,207

 
4.4
%
A+, A, A-
 
1,136,634

 
1,113,761

 
29.3
%
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
 
851,348

 
839,940

 
22.1
%
BB+ or lower
 
62,102

 
64,277

 
1.7
%
Total fixed maturities
 
$
3,900,136

 
$
3,801,294

 
100.0
%
Ratings(1) at December 31, 2017
 
Amortized cost
 
Fair value
 
% of Total
fair value
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
35,093

 
$
35,097

 
0.9
%
U.S. agency bonds
 
1,495,550

 
1,487,859

 
38.8
%
AAA
 
156,631

 
159,682

 
4.2
%
AA+, AA, AA-
 
146,264

 
147,054

 
3.8
%
A+, A, A-
 
1,089,230

 
1,106,430

 
28.9
%
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
 
824,351

 
845,244

 
22.1
%
BB+ or lower
 
49,979

 
51,776

 
1.3
%
Total fixed maturities
 
$
3,797,098

 
$
3,833,142

 
100.0
%
(1)
Based on Standard & Poor’s ("S&P"), or equivalent, ratings
b)
Other Investments
The table below shows our portfolio of other investments:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Fair value
 
% of Total
fair value
 
Fair value
 
% of Total
fair value
Investment in limited partnerships
 
$
3,554

 
15.7
%
 
$
5,100

 
77.3
%
Other
 
19,032

 
84.3
%
 
1,500

 
22.7
%
Total other investments
 
$
22,586

 
100.0
%
 
$
6,600

 
100.0
%

The Company has a remaining unfunded commitment on its investment in limited partnerships of approximately $414 at September 30, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $306).

20
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

4. Investments (continued)
The Company also has a remaining unfunded commitment on its other investments of approximately $7,468 at September 30, 2018. There were no such commitments outstanding at December 31, 2017.
c)
Net Investment Income
Net investment income was derived from the following sources:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Fixed maturities
 
$
32,443

 
$
30,496

 
$
97,485

 
$
91,954

Cash and cash equivalents
 
905

 
899

 
1,596

 
1,328

Loan to related party
 
1,658

 
913

 
4,651

 
2,441

Other
 
471

 
569

 
1,061

 
1,460

 
 
35,477

 
32,877

 
104,793

 
97,183

Investment expenses
 
(1,058
)
 
(1,927
)
 
(3,245
)
 
(5,586
)
Net investment income
 
$
34,419

 
$
30,950

 
$
101,548

 
$
91,597


d)
Realized Gains (Losses) on Investment
Realized gains or losses on the sale of investments are determined on the basis of the first in first out cost method. The following provides an analysis of net realized gains on investment included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Gross gains
 
Gross losses
 
Net
AFS fixed maturities
 
$
40

 
$
(558
)
 
$
(518
)
Other investments
 
293

 
—

 
293

Net realized gains (losses) on investment
 
$
333

 
$
(558
)
 
$
(225
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Gross gains
 
Gross losses
 
Net
AFS fixed maturities
 
$
1,366

 
$
(997
)
 
$
369

Other investments
 
5,490

 
—

 
5,490

Net realized gains (losses) on investment
 
$
6,856

 
$
(997
)
 
$
5,859

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Gross gains
 
Gross losses
 
Net
AFS fixed maturities
 
$
2,979

 
$
(5,256
)
 
$
(2,277
)
Other investments
 
1,995

 
—

 
1,995

Net realized gains (losses) on investment
 
$
4,974

 
$
(5,256
)
 
$
(282
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Gross gains
 
Gross losses
 
Net
AFS fixed maturities
 
$
3,854

 
$
(1,253
)
 
$
2,601

Other investments
 
5,715

 
—

 
5,715

Net realized gains (losses) on investment
 
$
9,569

 
$
(1,253
)
 
$
8,316


Proceeds from sales of AFS fixed maturities were $20,198 and $185,089 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively (2017 - $30,440 and $116,306, respectively).


21
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

4. Investments (continued)
Net unrealized (losses) gains on investments, including those allocated to discontinued operations and classified as held for sale, were as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Fixed maturities
 
$
(119,919
)
 
$
20,586

Other investments
 
—

 
1,381

Total net unrealized (losses) gains
 
(119,919
)
 
21,967

Deferred income tax
 
(59
)
 
(78
)
Net unrealized (losses) gains, net of deferred income tax
 
$
(119,978
)
 
$
21,889

Change, net of deferred income tax
 
$
(141,867
)
 
$
42,605

The portion of unrealized gains recognized in net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 that are related to other investments still held at the end of the reporting period were as follows:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Net gains recognized in net income on other investments during the period
 
$
293

 
$
5,490

Net realized gains recognized on other investments divested during the period
 
(758
)
 
(5,490
)
Net unrealized losses recognized on other investments still held at end of period
 
$
(465
)
 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Net gains recognized in net income on other investments during the period
 
$
1,995

 
$
5,715

Net realized gains recognized on other investments divested during the period
 
(1,637
)
 
(5,715
)
Net unrealized gains recognized on other investments still held at end of period
 
$
358

 
$
—

    

e)
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments
We are required to maintain assets on deposit to support our reinsurance operations and to serve as collateral for our reinsurance liabilities under various reinsurance agreements. We also utilize trust accounts to collateralize business with our reinsurance counterparties. These trust accounts generally take the place of letter of credit requirements. The assets in trust as collateral are primarily cash and highly rated fixed maturities. The fair value of our restricted assets was as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Restricted cash – third party agreements
 
$
20,884

 
$
21,889

Restricted cash – related party agreements
 
149,112

 
73,016

Total restricted cash
 
169,996

 
94,905

Restricted investments – in trust for third party agreements at fair value (amortized cost: 2018 – $75,279; 2017 – $212,507)
 
75,233

 
211,331

Restricted investments AFS – in trust for related party agreements at fair value (amortized cost: 2018 – $2,515,190; 2017 – $2,281,668)
 
2,447,970

 
2,294,367

Restricted investments HTM – in trust for related party agreements at fair value (amortized cost: 2018 – $1,032,885; 2017 – $1,097,801)
 
1,019,741

 
1,125,626

Total restricted investments
 
3,542,944

 
3,631,324

Total restricted cash and investments
 
$
3,712,940

 
$
3,726,229


5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
(a) Fair Values of Financial Instruments
Fair Value Measurements — ASC Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" ("ASC 820") defines fair value as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between open market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:
•
Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation

22
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)
of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include: U.S. Treasury bonds;
•
Level 2 — Valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g. interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs include: U.S. government-sponsored agency securities; non-U.S. government and supranational obligations; commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"); collateralized loan obligations ("CLO"); corporate and municipal bonds; and
•
Level 3 — Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions about assumptions that market participants would use. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include: an investment in preference shares of a start-up insurance producer.
The availability of observable inputs can vary and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires significantly more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by management in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. We use prices and inputs that are current at the measurement date. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified between levels.
For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, the Company uses the quoted market prices as fair value and includes these prices in the amounts disclosed in the Level 1 hierarchy. The Company receives the quoted market prices from a third party nationally recognized provider, the Pricing Service. When quoted market prices are unavailable, the Company utilizes the Pricing Service to determine an estimate of fair value. The fair value estimates are included in the Level 2 hierarchy. The Company will challenge any prices for its investments which are considered not to be representation of fair value. If quoted market prices and an estimate from the Pricing Service are unavailable, the Company produces an estimate of fair value based on dealer quotations for recent activity in positions with the same or similar characteristics to that being valued or through consensus pricing of a pricing service. The Company determines whether the fair value estimate is in the Level 2 or Level 3 hierarchy depending on the level of observable inputs available when estimating the fair value. The Company bases its estimates of fair values for assets on the bid price as it represents what a third party market participant would be willing to pay in an orderly transaction.
ASC 825, "Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments", requires all entities to disclose the fair value of their financial instruments, both assets and liabilities recognized and not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate fair value. The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine the fair value of financial instruments held at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
U.S. government and U.S. agency — Bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. The fair values of U.S. treasury bonds are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and are included in the Level 1 fair value hierarchy. We believe the market for U.S. treasury bonds is an actively traded market given the high level of daily trading volume. The fair values of U.S. agency bonds are determined using the spread above the risk-free yield curve. As the yields for the risk-free yield curve and the spreads for these securities are observable market inputs, the fair values of U.S. agency bonds are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.
Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds — These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services. The Pricing Service may use current market trades for securities with similar quality, maturity and coupon. If no such trades are available, the Pricing Service typically uses analytical models which may incorporate spreads, interest rate data and market/sector news. As the significant inputs used to price non-U.S. government and supranational bonds are observable market inputs, the fair values of non-U.S. government and supranational bonds are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.
Asset-backed securities — These securities comprise CMBS and CLO originated by a variety of financial institutions that on acquisition are rated BBB-/Baa3 or higher. These securities are priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. As the significant inputs used to price the CMBS and CLO are observable market inputs, the fair value of the CMBS and CLO securities are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.
Corporate bonds — Bonds issued by corporations that on acquisition are rated BBB-/Baa3 or higher. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services. The spreads are sourced from broker/dealers, trade prices and the new issue market. Where pricing is unavailable from pricing services, we obtain non-binding quotes from broker-dealers. As the significant inputs used to price corporate bonds are observable market inputs, the fair values of corporate bonds are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.
Municipal bonds — Bonds issued by U.S. state and municipality entities or agencies. The fair values of municipal bonds are generally priced by independent pricing services. The pricing services typically use spreads obtained from broker-dealers, trade prices and the new issue market. As the significant inputs used to price the municipal bonds are observable market inputs, municipal bonds are included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.

23
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)
Other investments — Includes unquoted investments comprised of investments in limited partnerships and other investments which includes investments in lending vehicles as well as investments in start-up insurance entities. The fair values of the limited partnerships are determined by the fund manager based on recent filings, operating results, balance sheet stability, growth and other business and market sector fundamentals. The fair value of these investments are measured using the NAV practical expedient and therefore have not been categorized within the fair value hierarchy. If there is a reporting lag between the current period end and reporting date of the latest available fund valuation, we estimate fair values by starting with the most recently available valuation and adjusting for return estimates as well as any subscriptions and distributions that took place during the current period. The fair value of the other investments, including those investments in lending vehicles and start-up insurance entities, was determined using recent private market transactions and as such, the fair value is included in the Level 3 fair value hierarchy.
Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted amounts), accrued investment income, reinsurance balances receivable, and certain other assets and liabilities — The carrying values reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair value due to their short term nature and are classified as Level 2.
Loan to related party — The carrying value reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for this financial instrument approximates its fair value and it is included in the Level 2 hierarchy.
Senior notes — The amount reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for these financial instruments represents the carrying value of the notes. The fair values are based on indicative market pricing obtained from a third-party service provider and as such, are included in the Level 2 hierarchy.
(b) Fair Value Hierarchy
The Company’s estimates of fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are based on the framework established in ASC 820. The framework is based on the inputs used in valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates in the ASC 820 hierarchy is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s significant market assumptions.
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we classified our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the following valuation hierarchy:    
September 30, 2018
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Fair Value Based on NAV Practical Expedient
 
Total Fair Value
AFS fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
124

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
124

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
—

 
1,427,196

 
—

 
—

 
1,427,196

U.S. agency bonds – other
 
—

 
23,690

 
—

 
—

 
23,690

Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
—

 
20,845

 
—

 
—

 
20,845

Asset-backed securities
 
—

 
225,204

 
—

 
—

 
225,204

Corporate bonds
 
—

 
1,084,494

 
—

 
—

 
1,084,494

Other investments
 
—

 
—

 
19,032

 
3,554

 
22,586

Total
 
$
124

 
$
2,781,429

 
$
19,032

 
$
3,554

 
$
2,804,139

As a percentage of total assets
 
—
%
 
42.6
%
 
0.3
%
 
0.1
%
 
43.0
%



24
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)
December 31, 2017
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Fair Value Based on NAV Practical Expedient
 
Total Fair Value
AFS fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
35,097

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
35,097

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
—

 
1,468,140

 
—

 
—

 
1,468,140

U.S. agency bonds – other
 
—

 
19,719

 
—

 
—

 
19,719

Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
—

 
30,898

 
—

 
—

 
30,898

Asset-backed securities
 
—

 
228,393

 
—

 
—

 
228,393

Corporate bonds
 
—

 
925,269

 
—

 
—

 
925,269

Other investments
 
—

 
—

 
1,500

 
5,100

 
6,600

Total
 
$
35,097

 
$
2,672,419

 
$
1,500

 
$
5,100

 
$
2,714,116

As a percentage of total assets
 
0.5
%
 
40.2
%
 
—
%
 
0.1
%
 
40.8
%

The Company utilizes a Pricing Service to assist in determining the fair value of our investments; however, management is ultimately responsible for all fair values presented in the Company’s financial statements. This includes responsibility for monitoring the fair value process, ensuring objective and reliable valuation practices and pricing of assets and liabilities and pricing sources. The Company analyzes and reviews the information and prices received from the Pricing Service to ensure that the prices represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value.
The Pricing Service was utilized to estimate fair value measurements for 100.0% and 99.8% of our fixed maturities at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Pricing Service utilizes market quotations for fixed maturity securities that have quoted market prices in active markets. Since fixed maturities other than U.S. treasury bonds generally do not trade actively on a daily basis, the Pricing Service prepares estimates of fair value measurements using relevant market data, benchmark curves, sector groupings and matrix pricing and these have been classified as Level 2.
At December 31, 2017, 0.2% of the fixed maturities are valued using the market approach. Three securities or approximately $9,489 of Level 2 fixed maturities, were priced using a quotation from a broker and/or custodian as opposed to the Pricing Service due to lack of information available. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we have not adjusted any pricing provided to us based on the review performed by our investment managers. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 and there were no transfers to or from Level 3 during the periods represented by these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
(c) Level 3 Financial Instruments
At September 30, 2018, the Company has other investments of $19,032 (December 31, 2017 - $1,500) including investments in lending vehicles as well as investments in start-up insurance entities, the fair value of each was determined using recent private market transactions. Due to the significant unobservable inputs in these valuations, the Company includes the estimate of the fair value of these unquoted investments as Level 3. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, there have been no transfers into or out of Level 3.
(d) Financial Instruments not measured at Fair Value
The following table presents the fair value and carrying value or principal amount of the financial instruments not measured at fair value:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Financial Assets
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
HTM – corporate bonds
 
$
974,947

 
$
962,860

 
$
1,037,464

 
$
1,065,245

HTM – municipal bonds
 
57,938

 
56,881

 
60,337

 
60,381

Total financial assets
 
$
1,032,885

 
$
1,019,741

 
$
1,097,801

 
$
1,125,626

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Notes - MHLA – 6.625%
 
$
110,000

 
$
75,812

 
$
110,000

 
$
101,200

Senior Notes - MHNC – 7.75%
 
152,500

 
124,135

 
152,500

 
149,029

Total financial liabilities
 
$
262,500

 
$
199,947

 
$
262,500

 
$
250,229


25
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The goodwill and intangible assets are assigned to our Diversified Reinsurance segment. The following table shows the change in the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets held:
 
 
Goodwill
 
Intangible Assets
 
Total
December 31, 2016
 
$
57,192

 
$
20,523

 
$
77,715

Amortization
 
—

 
(2,132
)
 
(2,132
)
December 31, 2017
 
$
57,192

 
$
18,391

 
$
75,583

Amortization
 
—

 
(1,387
)
 
(1,387
)
Impairment losses
 
(57,192
)
 
(17,004
)
 
(74,196
)
September 30, 2018
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—


The goodwill and intangible assets are subject to annual impairment testing on October 1 or when “triggering events” occur or circumstances change that could potentially reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value.

The announced sale of our U.S. treaty reinsurance operations resulted in a triggering event and consequently during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company has written off the remaining balance of goodwill and intangible assets. The goodwill and intangible assets were deemed to be permanently impaired due to the sale of the U.S. treaty reinsurance renewal rights and the anticipated sale of the U.S. Diversified Reinsurance business. Please refer to "Note 8. Discontinued Operations" for further details of this disposal. The Company recognized an impairment loss of $74,196 as a result of these dispositions, which is presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income as part of the loss from discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. No impairment was recorded during the same periods in 2017.

The following tables show the analysis of goodwill and intangible assets classified as held for sale at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (please refer to "Note 8. Discontinued Operations" for further details):
September 30, 2018
 
Gross
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Accumulated Impairment
 
Net
 
Useful Life
Goodwill
 
$
58,992

 
$
—

 
$
(58,992
)
 
$
—

 
Indefinite
State licenses
 
4,527

 
—

 
(4,527
)
 
—

 
Indefinite
Customer relationships
 
51,400

 
(38,923
)
 
(12,477
)
 
—

 
15 years double declining
Net balance
 
$
114,919

 
$
(38,923
)
 
$
(75,996
)
 
$
—

 
 
December 31, 2017
 
Gross
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Accumulated Impairment
 
Net
 
Useful Life
Goodwill
 
$
58,992

 
$
—

 
$
(1,800
)
 
$
57,192

 
Indefinite
State licenses
 
4,527

 
—

 
—

 
4,527

 
Indefinite
Customer relationships
 
51,400

 
(37,536
)
 
—

 
13,864

 
15 years double declining
Net balance
 
$
114,919

 
$
(37,536
)
 
$
(1,800
)
 
$
75,583

 
 


7. Long-Term Debt
Senior Notes
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Maiden Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden NA, both have an outstanding public debt offering of senior notes, (the "Senior Notes"). The 2013 Senior Notes issued by the subsidiary are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Maiden Holdings. The Senior Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company. As discussed in "Note 1. Basis of Presentation", the transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The Company’s current analysis indicates that the conditions to redeem the 2013 Senior Notes as stipulated by the securities may exist. Should final analysis support such a conclusion, the Company expects to redeem all of the $152,500 2013 Senior Notes at that time pursuant to the terms of the underlying securities.





26
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

7. Long-Term Debt (continued)

The following table details the Company's Senior Notes issuances as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:    
September 30, 2018
 
2016 Senior Notes
 
2013 Senior Notes
 
Total
Principal amount
 
$
110,000

 
$
152,500

 
$
262,500

Less: unamortized issuance costs
 
3,622

 
4,238

 
7,860

Carrying value
 
$
106,378

 
$
148,262

 
$
254,640

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
2016 Senior Notes
 
2013 Senior Notes
 
Total
Principal amount
 
$
110,000

 
$
152,500

 
$
262,500

Less: unamortized issuance costs
 
3,654

 
4,364

 
8,018

Carrying value
 
$
106,346

 
$
148,136

 
$
254,482

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other details:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Original debt issuance costs
 
$
3,715

 
$
5,054

 
 
Maturity date
 
June 14, 2046

 
Dec 1, 2043

 
 
Earliest redeemable date (for cash)
 
June 14, 2021

 
Dec 1, 2018

 
 
Coupon rate
 
6.625
%
 
7.75
%
 
 
Effective interest rate
 
7.07
%
 
8.04
%
 
 


The interest expense incurred on the Senior Notes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $4,776 and $14,329, respectively (2017 - $4,776 and $18,218, respectively) of which $1,342 was accrued at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The issuance costs related to the Senior Notes were capitalized and are being amortized over the life of the Senior Notes. The amount of amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $53 and $158, respectively (2017 - $53 and $212, respectively).
On June 27, 2017, we fully redeemed all of the 2012 Senior Notes using a portion of the proceeds from the Preference Shares - Series D issuance as previously disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The 2012 Senior Notes were redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of $100,000 plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed up to, but not including, the redemption date. As a result, the Company accelerated the amortization of the remaining 2012 Senior Note issuance cost of $2,809 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

8. Discontinued Operations
Sale of U.S. Treaty Reinsurance operations
As described in "Note 1. Basis of Presentation", on August 29, 2018, the Company entered into a Renewal Rights transaction with TransRe. The Company continues to earn premiums and remain liable for losses occurring subsequent to August 29, 2018 for any policies in force prior to and as of August 29, 2018, until those policies expire. Subsequently, on August 31, 2018, the Company entered into a Master Transaction Agreement with Enstar.
The Company estimated the fair value of the net assets held for sale to be based on the estimated selling price less costs to sell and was classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018. The classes of assets and liabilities to be sold and classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consist of the following:










27
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


8. Discontinued Operations (continued)
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value
 
$
1,153,793

 
$
1,336,854

Cash and cash equivalents
 
16,723

 
13,449

Restricted cash and cash equivalents
 
34,956

 
28,679

Accrued investment income
 
6,575

 
6,195

Reinsurance balances receivable, net
 
227,454

 
272,549

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses
 
75,197

 
92,728

Deferred commission and other acquisition expenses
 
50,532

 
59,393

Goodwill and intangible assets, net
 
—

 
75,583

Other assets
 
50,256

 
16,388

Total assets held for sale
 
$
1,615,486

 
$
1,901,818

LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
1,098,119

 
$
1,160,526

Unearned premiums
 
224,794

 
246,156

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
16,705

 
42,726

Total liabilities held for sale
 
$
1,339,618

 
$
1,449,408


The following table summarizes the major classes of line items constituting the total loss from discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in which the results of operations of the discontinued operations are presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross premiums written
 
$
130,200

 
$
187,971

 
$
492,222

 
$
608,835

Net premiums written
 
$
128,398

 
$
184,653

 
$
479,640

 
$
598,536

Net premiums earned
 
170,579

 
196,588

 
502,156

 
562,038

Net investment income
 
9,675

 
9,873

 
29,729

 
31,895

Net loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
(129,414
)
 
(165,121
)
 
(371,085
)
 
(454,549
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(44,158
)
 
(48,110
)
 
(122,109
)
 
(137,759
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(10,929
)
 
(4,053
)
 
(21,046
)
 
(14,091
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
(462
)
 
(533
)
 
(1,387
)
 
(1,599
)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes
 
(4,709
)
 
(11,356
)
 
16,258

 
(14,065
)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations
 
(66,697
)
 
—

 
(66,697
)
 
—

Income tax benefit (expense)
 
306

 
1,448

 
6,103

 
(2,995
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
$
(71,100
)
 
$
(9,908
)
 
$
(44,336
)
 
$
(17,060
)

The loss on disposal from discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 includes the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets of $74,196 that was recognized due to the sale of Maiden US partly offset by the proceeds of the sale of the Renewal Rights of $7,500. Please refer to "Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets" for additional information regarding the Company's impairment of goodwill and intangible assets that was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.




28
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


9. Reserve for Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
The Company uses both historical experience and industry-wide loss development factors to provide a reasonable basis for estimating future losses. In the future, certain events may be beyond the control of management, such as changes in law, judicial interpretations of law, and inflation, which may favorably or unfavorably impact the ultimate settlement of the Company’s loss and LAE reserves.
The anticipated effect of inflation is implicitly considered when estimating liabilities for loss and LAE. While anticipated changes in claim costs due to inflation are considered in estimating the ultimate claim costs, changes in average severity of claims are caused by a number of factors that vary with the individual type of policy written. Ultimate losses are projected based on historical trends adjusted for implemented changes in underwriting standards, policy provisions, and general economic trends. Those anticipated trends are monitored based on actual development and are modified if necessary.
The reserving process begins with the collection and analysis of paid losses and incurred claims data for each of our contracts. While reserves are reviewed on a contract by contract basis, paid losses and incurred claims data is also aggregated into reserving segments. The segmental data is disaggregated by reserving class and further disaggregated by either accident year (i.e. the year in which the loss event occurred) or by underwriting year (i.e. the year in which the contract generating the premium and losses incepted). The Company uses underwriting year information to analyze our Diversified Reinsurance segment and subsequently allocate reserves to the respective accident years. Our reserve for loss and LAE comprises:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Reserve for reported loss and LAE
 
$
1,577,494

 
$
1,393,560

Reserve for losses incurred but not reported ("IBNR")
 
1,274,191

 
993,162

Reserve for loss and LAE
 
$
2,851,685

 
$
2,386,722

The following table represents a reconciliation of our beginning and ending gross and net loss and LAE reserves:
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Gross loss and LAE reserves, January 1
 
$
2,386,722

 
$
1,845,407

Less: reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, January 1
 
24,883

 
35,948

Net loss and LAE reserves, January 1
 
2,361,839

 
1,809,459

Net incurred losses related to:
 
 
 
 
Current year
 
1,073,052

 
979,416

Prior years
 
250,451

 
111,192

 
 
1,323,503

 
1,090,608

Net paid losses related to:
 
 
 
 
Current year
 
(283,477
)
 
(273,050
)
Prior years
 
(555,718
)
 
(501,799
)
 
 
(839,195
)
 
(774,849
)
Commuted recoverables
 
19,929

 
—

Effect of foreign exchange movements
 
(16,202
)
 
48,622

Net loss and LAE reserves, September 30
 
2,849,874

 
2,173,840

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, September 30
 
1,811

 
45,643

Gross loss and LAE reserves, September 30
 
$
2,851,685

 
$
2,219,483


Effective July 1, 2018, Maiden Bermuda commuted its retrocessional quota share agreements with a highly rated global insurer which incepted on January 1, 2015.
Prior period development arises from changes to loss estimates recognized in the current year that relate to loss reserves in previous calendar years. The development reflects changes in management's best estimate of the ultimate losses under the relevant reinsurance policies after review of changes in actuarial assessments. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized approximately $212,473 and $250,451, respectively (2017 - $64,044 and $111,192, respectively) of net adverse development in both the Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance segments as well as in its run-off business.
In the Diversified Reinsurance segment, the adverse prior year loss development was $671 and $1,756, respectively for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 (2017 - $1,079 and $8,482, respectively) primarily due to adverse prior year loss development in facultative reinsurance run-off partially offset by favorable development in International Auto.
 

29
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

9. Reserve for Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses (continued)
In the AmTrust Reinsurance segment, the adverse prior year loss development was $210,433 and $247,326 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively (2017 - $61,127 and $100,872, respectively). The 2018 development was largely from Workers Compensation which represented nearly half of the adverse development and was primarily driven by accident years 2014 to 2017, and to a lesser extent, development in European hospital liability and Commercial Auto and General Liability lines of business. The development in 2017 was primarily due to Worker's Compensation, General liability as well as Commercial Auto liability lines of business for both Specialty Programs and Small Commercial Business where elevated loss activity had been observed.
Our Other category also incurred adverse prior year loss development of $1,369 for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 (2017 - $1,838 and $1,838, respectively) due to increased reserves in the run-off of the NGHC Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement.
10. Related Party Transactions
The Founding Shareholders of the Company are Michael Karfunkel, George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind. Michael Karfunkel passed away on April 27, 2016. Based on each individual's most recent public filing, Leah Karfunkel (wife of Michael Karfunkel) owns or controls approximately 8.2% of the outstanding shares of the Company and Barry Zyskind (the Company's non-executive chairman) owns or controls approximately 7.7% of the outstanding shares of the Company. George Karfunkel owns or controls less than 5.0% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Leah Karfunkel and George Karfunkel are directors of AmTrust, and Barry Zyskind is the president, chief executive officer and chairman of AmTrust. Leah Karfunkel, George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind own or control approximately 44.0% of the outstanding shares of AmTrust. AmTrust owns 1.6% of the issued and outstanding shares of National General Holdings Corporation ("NGHC"), and Leah Karfunkel and the Michael Karfunkel 2005 Family Trust (which is controlled by Leah Karfunkel) owns 41.7% of the outstanding common shares of NGHC.
AmTrust
The following describes transactions between the Company and AmTrust:
AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement
Effective July 1, 2007, the Company and AmTrust entered into a master agreement, as amended (the "Master Agreement"), by which they caused Maiden Bermuda, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and AmTrust's Bermuda reinsurance subsidiary, AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. ("AII"), to enter into a quota share reinsurance agreement (the "Reinsurance Agreement") by which AII retrocedes to Maiden Bermuda an amount equal to 40% of the premium written by subsidiaries of AmTrust, net of the cost of unaffiliated inuring reinsurance and 40% of losses. The Master Agreement further provided that AII receives a ceding commission of 31% of ceded written premiums. On June 11, 2008, Maiden Bermuda and AII amended the Reinsurance Agreement to add Retail Commercial Package Business to the Covered Business. AII receives a ceding commission of 34.375% on Retail Commercial Package Business.
On July 1, 2016, the agreement was renewed through June 30, 2019. The agreement automatically renews for successive three-year periods thereafter unless AII or Maiden Bermuda elects to so terminate the Reinsurance Agreement by giving written notice to the other party not less than five months prior to July 1, 2019 or not less than nine months prior to the expiration of any successive three-year period. Either party is entitled to terminate on thirty days' notice or less upon the occurrence of certain early termination events, which include a default in payment, insolvency, change in control of AII or Maiden Bermuda, run-off, or a reduction of 50% or more of the shareholders' equity of Maiden Bermuda or the combined shareholders' equity of AII and the AmTrust subsidiaries. On August 8, 2018, the Company’s and AmTrust’s Board of Directors agreed to extend the renewal provision for the Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement between Maiden Bermuda and AII. The new written notice date for renewal of the agreement has been extended from September 30, 2018 to January 31, 2019.
Effective July 1, 2018, the amount AEL cedes to the Company was reduced to 20%.
Additionally, for the Specialty Program portion of Covered Business only, AII will be responsible for ultimate net loss otherwise recoverable from Maiden Bermuda to the extent that the loss ratio to Maiden Bermuda, which shall be determined on an inception to date basis from July 1, 2007 through the date of calculation, is between 81.5% and 95%. Above and below the defined corridor, Maiden Bermuda will continue to reinsure losses at its proportional 40% share per the Reinsurance Agreement.
AmTrust European Hospital Liability Quota Share Agreement ("European Hospital Liability Quota Share")
Effective April 1, 2011, Maiden Bermuda, entered into a quota share reinsurance contract with AEL and AmTrust International Underwriters Limited ("AIUL"), both wholly owned subsidiaries of AmTrust. Pursuant to the terms of the contract, Maiden Bermuda assumed 40% of the premiums and losses related to policies classified as European Hospital Liability, including associated liability coverages and policies covering physician defense costs, written or renewed on or after April 1, 2011. The contract also covers policies written or renewed on or before March 31, 2011, but only with respect to losses that occur, accrue or arise on or after April 1, 2011. The maximum limit of liability attaching shall be €5,000 (€10,000 effective January 1, 2012) or currency equivalent (on a 100% basis) per original claim for any one original policy. Maiden Bermuda will pay a ceding commission of 5%. The agreement is renewed through March 31, 2019 and can be terminated at any April 1 by either party on four months notice.
Effective July 1, 2016, the contract was amended such that Maiden Bermuda assumes from AEL 32.5% of the premiums and losses of all policies written or renewed on or after July 1, 2016 until June 30, 2017 and 20% of all policies written or renewed on or after July 1, 2017.

30
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

10. Related Party Transactions (continued)
The table below shows the effect of both of these quota share arrangements with AmTrust on the Company's results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross and net premiums written
 
$
452,795

 
$
420,019

 
$
1,518,208

 
$
1,575,677

Net premiums earned
 
491,613

 
451,372

 
1,472,614

 
1,492,948

Net loss and LAE
 
(579,240
)
 
(364,574
)
 
(1,275,723
)
 
(1,080,480
)
Commission expenses
 
(152,511
)
 
(138,171
)
 
(456,861
)
 
(460,667
)


Collateral provided to AmTrust
a) AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement
In order to provide AmTrust's U.S. insurance subsidiaries with credit for reinsurance on their statutory financial statements, AII, as the direct reinsurer of the AmTrust's insurance subsidiaries, has established trust accounts ("Trust Accounts") for their benefit. Maiden Bermuda has agreed to provide appropriate collateral to secure its proportional share under the Reinsurance Agreement of AII's obligations to the AmTrust subsidiaries to whom AII is required to provide collateral. This collateral may be in the form of (a) assets loaned by Maiden Bermuda to AII for deposit into the Trust Accounts, pursuant to a loan agreement between those parties, (b) assets transferred by Maiden Bermuda for deposit into the Trust Accounts, (c) a letter of credit obtained by Maiden Bermuda and delivered to an AmTrust subsidiary on AII's behalf, or (d) premiums withheld by an AmTrust subsidiary at Maiden Bermuda's request in lieu of remitting such premiums to AII. Maiden Bermuda may provide any or a combination of these forms of collateral, provided that the aggregate value thereof equals Maiden Bermuda's proportionate share of its obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement with AII. Maiden Bermuda satisfied its collateral requirements under the Reinsurance Agreement with AII as follows:
•by lending funds in the amount of $167,975 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 pursuant to a loan agreement entered into between those parties. Advances under the loan, are secured by promissory notes. Effective December 18, 2017, the maturity date with respect to each advance shall be the earliest of (i) June 30, 2019, (ii) such time as there are no remaining obligations due to AmTrust under the Reinsurance Agreement in respect of which such advance was originally made or (iii) such time as AII is no longer required to secure its proportionate share of such obligations. This loan was assigned by AII to AmTrust effective December 31, 2014 and is carried at cost. Effective December 18, 2017, interest is payable at a rate equivalent to the Federal Funds Effective Rate ("Fed Funds") plus 200 basis points per annum. Prior to that date, the interest was payable at a rate equivalent to the one-month LIBOR plus 90 basis points per annum; and
•effective December 1, 2008, the Company entered into a Reinsurer Trust Assets Collateral agreement to provide to AII sufficient collateral to secure its proportional share of AII's obligations to the U.S. AmTrust subsidiaries. The amount of the collateral at September 30, 2018 was approximately $3,351,365 (December 31, 2017 - $3,328,757) and the accrued interest was $22,391 (December 31, 2017 - $20,830). Please refer to "Note 4. (e) Investments" for additional information.
b) European Hospital Liability Quota Share
AEL requested that Maiden Bermuda provide collateral to secure its proportional share under the European Hospital Liability Quota Share agreement. Please refer to "Note 4. (e) Investments" for additional information.
Brokerage Agreement
Effective July 1, 2007, the Company entered into a reinsurance brokerage agreement with AII Reinsurance Broker Ltd. ("AIIB"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AmTrust. Pursuant to the brokerage agreement, AIIB provides brokerage services relating to the Reinsurance Agreement and the European Hospital Liability Quota Share agreement for a fee equal to 1.25% of the premium assumed. AIIB is not the Company's exclusive broker. The agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice by either party. Maiden Bermuda recorded approximately $6,145 and $18,408 of reinsurance brokerage expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively (2017 - $5,642 and $18,662, respectively) and deferred reinsurance brokerage of $15,297 at September 30, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $14,741) as a result of this agreement.
Asset Management Agreement
Effective July 1, 2007, the Company entered into an asset management agreement with AII Insurance Management Limited ("AIIM"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AmTrust, pursuant to which AIIM has agreed to provide investment management services to the Company. Effective January 1, 2018, AIIM provides investment management services for a quarterly fee of 0.02125% of the average value of the account. Prior to that date, the fee was payable at a rate of 0.0375%. The agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice by either party. The Company recorded approximately $1,055 and $3,137 of investment management fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively (2017 - $1,927 and $5,586, respectively) as a result of this agreement.

31
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

10. Related Party Transactions (continued)
Other
The Company entered into time sharing agreements for the lease of aircraft owned by AmTrust Underwriters, Inc. ("AUI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AmTrust, and by AmTrust on March 1, 2011 and November 5, 2014, respectively. The agreements automatically renew for successive one-year terms unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the agreements. Pursuant to the agreements, the Company will reimburse AUI and AmTrust for actual expenses incurred as allowed by Federal Aviation Regulations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded an expense of $21 and $54, respectively (2017 - $0 and $39, respectively) for the use of the aircraft.
NGHC Quota Share
Maiden Bermuda, effective March 1, 2010, had a 50% participation in the NGHC Quota Share, by which it received 25% of net premiums of the personal lines automobile business and assumed 25% of the related net losses. On August 1, 2013, the Company received notice from NGHC of the termination of the NGHC Quota Share effective on that date. The Company and NGHC mutually agreed that the termination is on a run-off basis.
11. Commitments and Contingencies
a)
Concentrations of Credit Risk
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, 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 (presented as part of other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet).
The Company's reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses balance at September 30, 2018 was $1,811 (December 31, 2017 - $24,883). At September 30, 2018, 94.6% (December 31, 2017 - 99.5%) of the reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses was due from reinsurers and retrocessionaires with credit ratings from A.M Best of A+ or better. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, 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. 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 as at September 30, 2018 will be fully collectible.
b)
Concentrations of Revenue
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, our gross premiums written from AmTrust accounted for $452,795 or 93.5% and $1,518,208 or 93.2%, respectively, of our total gross premiums written (2017 – $420,019 or 94.8% and $1,575,677 or 95.5%, respectively).
c)
Dividends Declared
On August 8, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the following quarterly dividend:
 
 
Dividend per Share
 
Payable on:
 
Record date:
Common shares
 
$0.05
 
October 15, 2018
 
October 1, 2018
    
d)
Redemption of 2013 Senior Notes
As discussed in "Note 1. Basis of Presentation", the transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The Company's current analysis indicates that the conditions to redeem the 2013 Senior Notes as stipulated by the securities may exist. Should final analysis support such a conclusion, the Company expects to redeem all of the $152,500 2013 Senior Notes at that time pursuant to the terms of the underlying securities.
e)
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 whistleblowing in violation of the whistleblower 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,

32
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

11. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
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, and we expect the hearings to conclude in 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.
12. Earnings per Common Share
The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
Net loss from continuing operations
 
$
(229,132
)
 
$
(45,146
)
Add: net (income) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(62
)
 
3

Net loss attributable to Maiden from continuing operations
 
(229,194
)
 
(45,143
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense
 
(71,100
)
 
(9,908
)
Net loss attributable to Maiden
 
(300,294
)
 
(55,051
)
Dividends on preference shares – Series A, C and D
 
(8,545
)
 
(8,545
)
Amount allocated to participating common shareholders(1)
 
(8
)
 
(6
)
Net loss allocated to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(308,847
)

$
(63,602
)
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares – basic and diluted
 
83,089,172

 
85,859,201

Basic and diluted loss from continuing operations per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(2.86
)
 
$
(0.62
)
Basic and diluted loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
(0.86
)
 
(0.12
)
Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders:
 
$
(3.72
)
 
$
(0.74
)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
Net loss from continuing operations
 
$
(230,873
)
 
$
(27,828
)
Add: net (income) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(180
)
 
34

Net loss attributable to Maiden from continuing operations
 
(231,053
)
 
(27,794
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense
 
(44,336
)
 
(17,060
)
Net loss attributable to Maiden
 
(275,389
)
 
(44,854
)
Dividends on preference shares – Series A, C and D
 
(25,636
)
 
(20,611
)
Amount allocated to participating common shareholders(1)
 
(17
)
 
(17
)
Net loss allocated to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(301,042
)

$
(65,482
)
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares – basic and diluted
 
83,085,441

 
86,256,481

Basic and diluted loss from continuing operations per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(3.09
)
 
$
(0.56
)
Basic and diluted loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
(0.53
)
 
(0.20
)
Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders:
 
$
(3.62
)
 
$
(0.76
)
(1)
This represents earnings allocated to the holders of non-vested restricted shares issued to the Company's employees under the 2007 Share Incentive Plan.


33
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

13. Shareholders' Equity
a)
Common Shares
At September 30, 2018, the aggregate authorized share capital of the Company is 150,000,000 shares from which the Company has issued 87,932,287 common shares, of which 82,942,737 common shares are outstanding, and 18,600,000 preference shares, all of which are outstanding. The remaining 43,467,713 are undesignated at September 30, 2018. For further discussion on the components of Shareholders' Equity, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
b)
Treasury Shares
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company repurchased a total of 29,391 (2017 - 38,122) shares at an average price per share of $6.57 (2017 - $15.06) from employees, which represent withholdings in respect of tax obligations on the vesting of restricted shares and performance based shares.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, 205,000 shares (2017 - 2,015,700) were repurchased on the open market at an average price per share of $3.31 (2017- $7.11) under the Company's share repurchase plan which has a remaining authorization of $74,245 at September 30, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $74,924).
c)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
The following tables set forth financial information regarding the changes in the balances of each component of AOCI:
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Change in net unrealized gains on investment
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Total
Beginning balance
 
$
(96,107
)
 
$
(918
)
 
$
(97,025
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
 
(24,656
)
 
4,458

 
(20,198
)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to net income, net of tax
 
785

 
—

 
785

Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(23,871
)
 
4,458

 
(19,413
)
Ending balance
 
(119,978
)
 
3,540

 
(116,438
)
Less: AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
—

 
(69
)
 
(69
)
Ending balance, Maiden shareholders
 
$
(119,978
)
 
$
3,609

 
$
(116,369
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Change in net unrealized gains on investment
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Total
Beginning balance
 
$
27,866

 
$
7,629

 
$
35,495

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 
24,994

 
(10,828
)
 
14,166

Amounts reclassified from AOCI to net income, net of tax
 
(3,650
)
 
—

 
(3,650
)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
21,344

 
(10,828
)
 
10,516

Ending balance
 
49,210

 
(3,199
)
 
46,011

Less: AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
—

 
(68
)
 
(68
)
Ending balance, Maiden shareholders
 
$
49,210

 
$
(3,131
)
 
$
46,079



















34
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)


13. Shareholders' Equity (continued)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Change in net unrealized gains on investment
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Total
Beginning balance
 
$
21,889

 
$
(8,583
)
 
$
13,306

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
 
(141,907
)
 
12,123

 
(129,784
)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to net income, net of tax
 
40

 
—

 
40

Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(141,867
)
 
12,123

 
(129,744
)
Ending balance
 
(119,978
)
 
3,540

 
(116,438
)
Less: AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
—

 
(69
)
 
(69
)
Ending balance, Maiden shareholders
 
$
(119,978
)
 
$
3,609

 
$
(116,369
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Change in net unrealized gains on investment
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Total
Beginning balance
 
$
(20,716
)
 
$
35,604

 
$
14,888

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 
68,803

 
(38,803
)
 
30,000

Amounts reclassified from AOCI to net income, net of tax
 
1,123

 
—

 
1,123

Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
69,926

 
(38,803
)
 
31,123

Ending balance
 
49,210

 
(3,199
)
 
46,011

Less: AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
—

 
(68
)
 
(68
)
Ending balance, Maiden shareholders
 
$
49,210

 
$
(3,131
)
 
$
46,079


14. Subsequent Events
On November 9, 2018, the Company signed an agreement ("Enstar Master Agreement") with Enstar, pursuant to which, an Enstar subsidiary would enter into a retrocession agreement to effect a loss portfolio transfer in which the Enstar subsidiary would assume all of the liabilities for loss reserves as of June 30, 2018 associated with the quota share reinsurance agreements that Maiden Bermuda has with AmTrust or its subsidiaries. Enstar will assume $2,675,000 of net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves upon closing, subject to adjustment for paid losses since June 30, 2018. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
Both of the Company’s current quota share reinsurance contracts with AmTrust remain in-force. As previously disclosed in "Note 10. Related Party Transactions", the Company and AmTrust have mutually agreed to extend the notice period of non-renewal for the current Master Agreement until January 31, 2019.



35

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this "Form 10-Q" or this "Report"). References in this Form 10-Q to the terms "we", "us", "our", "the Company" or other similar terms mean the consolidated operations of Maiden Holdings, Ltd. and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. References in this Form 10-Q to the term "Maiden Holdings" means Maiden Holdings, Ltd. only. Certain reclassifications have been made for 2017 to conform to the 2018 presentation and have no impact on consolidated net income and total equity previously reported.
Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes projections concerning financial information and statements concerning future economic performance and events, plans and objectives relating to management, operations, products and services, and assumptions underlying these projections and statements. These projections and statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside our control. These projections and statements may address, among other things, our strategy for growth, product development, financial results and reserves. Our actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from these projections and statements and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ, possibly materially, from those in the specific projections and statements are discussed throughout this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 1, 2018, however these factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

36

Overview
We are a Bermuda-based holding company, primarily focused on serving the needs of regional and specialty insurers in the United States ("U.S."), Europe and select other global markets by providing innovative reinsurance solutions designed to support their capital needs. We specialize in reinsurance solutions that optimize financing and risk management by providing coverage within the more predictable and actuarially credible lower layers of coverage and/or reinsuring risks that are believed to be lower hazard, more predictable and generally not susceptible to catastrophe claims. Our tailored solutions include a variety of value added services focused on helping our clients grow and prosper.
Our Board of Directors initiated a review of strategic alternatives earlier this year to evaluate ways to increase shareholder value as a result of continuing higher than targeted combined ratios and lower returns on equity than planned.
On August 29, 2018, we entered into a Renewal Rights Agreement (“Renewal Rights”), with Transatlantic Reinsurance Company ("TransRe"), pursuant to which we agreed to sell, and TransRe agreed to purchase, Maiden Reinsurance North America, Inc.'s ("Maiden US") rights to: (i) renew its treaty reinsurance agreements upon their expiration or cancellation, (ii) solicit renewals of and replacement coverages for the treaty reinsurance agreements and (iii) replicate and use the products and contract forms used in Maiden US’s business. The sale was consummated on August 29, 2018. We continue to earn premiums and remain liable for losses occurring subsequent to August 29, 2018 for any policies in force prior to and as of August 29, 2018, until those policies expire. The payment received for sale of the Renewal Rights was $7.5 million, subject to further increases in accordance with the agreement.
On August 31, 2018, we entered into a sale agreement (the “Master Transaction Agreement”), with Enstar Group Limited ("Enstar"), pursuant to which Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. ("Maiden NA") will sell, and Enstar will purchase, all of the capital stock of our subsidiary Maiden US, the entity that conducts our U.S. reinsurance business. Maiden Reinsurance Ltd. ("Maiden Bermuda") will enter into a novation agreement and a retrocession agreement pursuant to which certain assets and liabilities associated with the U.S. treaty reinsurance business held by Maiden Bermuda will be novated or retroceded to Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited (“Cavello”), Enstar’s Bermuda reinsurance affiliate in exchange for a ceding commission of $14.0 million, and (iii) Maiden Bermuda will provide Enstar with a reinsurance cover for adverse reinsurance cover for loss reserve development up to a maximum of $25,000 when losses are more than $100,000 in excess of the net loss and loss adjustment expenses recorded as of June 30, 2018. The purchase price for the Maiden US Sale is $321.5 million payable in cash, which amount is gross of the ceding commission referred to above and subject to certain closing adjustments. The transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The Company’s current analysis indicates that the conditions to redeem the 2013 Senior Notes as stipulated by the securities may exist. Should final analysis support such a conclusion, the Company expects to redeem all of the $152.5 million 2013 Senior Notes at that time pursuant to the terms of the underlying securities.
As a result of the above decision to divest all of our U.S. reinsurance treaty operations, these operations are now classified as discontinued operations, and except as explicitly described as held for sale or as discontinued operations, and unless otherwise noted, all discussions and amounts presented herein relate to the Company's continuing operations, except for net loss, net loss attributable to Maiden and net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders.
While the transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement have significantly reduced revenues in our Diversified Reinsurance segment, we expect to continue to pursue our international reinsurance solutions written through Maiden Bermuda and in our AmTrust Reinsurance segment, also through Maiden Bermuda. The current AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. ("AmTrust") reinsurance agreements expire on March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, respectively, and are subject to renewal negotiations between AmTrust and us.
We continue to provide reinsurance in Europe through our wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Bermuda. Internationally, we continue to provide insurance sales and distribution services through Maiden Global Holdings, Ltd. ("Maiden Global") and its subsidiaries. Maiden Global primarily focuses on providing branded auto and credit life insurance products through insurer partners to retail clients in the European Union ("EU") and other global markets. These products also produce reinsurance programs which are underwritten by Maiden Bermuda. Certain international credit life business is written on a primary basis by Maiden Life Försäkrings AB ("Maiden LF").
Our principal operating subsidiaries, Maiden Bermuda and Maiden US, each currently has a financial strength rating of "A-" (Excellent, the fourth highest out of sixteen rating levels) with a negative outlook by A.M. Best Company ("A.M. Best"). Our common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market ("NASDAQ") under the symbol "MHLD".
Our business consists of two reportable segments: Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance. As a result of the strategic decision to divest all of the Company's U.S. treaty reinsurance operations as discussed above, the Company has revised the composition of its reportable segments. Our Diversified Reinsurance segment now only consists of a portfolio of predominantly property and casualty reinsurance business focusing on regional and specialty property and casualty insurance companies located primarily in Europe. Our AmTrust Reinsurance segment includes all business ceded by AmTrust to Maiden Bermuda, primarily the AmTrust Quota Share and the European Hospital Liability Quota Share.
On November 9, 2018, the Company signed an agreement ("Enstar Master Agreement") with Enstar, pursuant to which, an Enstar subsidiary would enter into a retrocession agreement to effect a loss portfolio transfer in which the Enstar subsidiary would assume all of the liabilities for loss reserves as of June 30, 2018 associated with the quota share reinsurance agreements that Maiden Bermuda has with AmTrust or its subsidiaries. Enstar will assume $2.675 billion of net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves upon closing, subject to adjustment for paid losses since June 30, 2018. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.


37

Both of the Company’s current quota share reinsurance contracts with AmTrust remain in-force. As previously disclosed, the Company and AmTrust have mutually agreed to extend the notice period of non-renewal for the current Master Agreement until January 31, 2019.
The reinsurance industry is mature and highly competitive. Reinsurance companies compete on the basis of many factors, including premium rates, company and underwriter relationships, general reputation and perceived financial strength, the terms and conditions of the products offered, ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, speed of claims payments, reputation and experience in risks underwritten, capacity and coverages offered and various other factors. These factors operate at the individual market participant level and generally in the aggregate across the reinsurance industry. In addition, underlying economic conditions and variations in the reinsurance buying practices of ceding companies, by participant and in the aggregate, contribute to cyclical movements in rates, terms and conditions and may impact industry aggregate results and subsequently the level of competition in the reinsurance industry.
As market conditions continue to develop, we continue to maintain our adherence to disciplined underwriting by declining business when pricing terms and conditions do not meet our underwriting standards.
Please refer to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for further information.
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 Financial Highlights
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Summary Consolidated Statement of Income Data:
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
Net loss
 
$
(300,232
)
 
$
(55,054
)
 
$
(245,178
)
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
(308,839
)
 
(63,596
)
 
(245,243
)
Non-GAAP operating loss(1)
 
(235,114
)
 
(54,159
)
 
(180,955
)
Basic and diluted loss per common share(9):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders(2)
 
(3.72
)
 
(0.74
)
 
(2.98
)
Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders(1)
 
(2.83
)
 
(0.63
)
 
(2.20
)
Dividends per common share
 
0.05

 
0.15

 
(0.10
)
Gross premiums written
 
484,494

 
443,001

 
41,493

Net premiums earned
 
520,077

 
457,278

 
62,799

Underwriting loss(1)(3)
 
(251,175
)
 
(61,362
)
 
(189,813
)
Net investment income
 
34,419

 
30,950

 
3,469

Combined ratio(4)
 
150.7
 %
 
115.6
 %
 
35.1

Annualized non-GAAP operating return on average common shareholders' equity(1)
 
(196.7
)%
 
(21.6
)%
 
(175.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018

2017

Change
Summary Consolidated Statement of Income Data:
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
Net loss
 
$
(275,209
)
 
$
(44,888
)
 
$
(230,321
)
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
(301,025
)
 
(65,465
)
 
(235,560
)
Non-GAAP operating loss(1)
 
(256,421
)
 
(39,881
)
 
(216,540
)
Basic and diluted loss per common share(9):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders(2)
 
(3.62
)
 
(0.76
)
 
(2.86
)
Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders(1)
 
(3.09
)
 
(0.46
)
 
(2.63
)
Dividends per common share
 
0.35

 
0.45

 
(0.10
)
Gross premiums written
 
1,629,347

 
1,650,762

 
(21,415
)
Net premiums earned
 
1,541,278

 
1,512,437

 
28,841

Underwriting loss(1)(3)
 
(287,906
)
 
(72,197
)
 
(215,709
)
Net investment income
 
101,548

 
91,597

 
9,951

Combined ratio(4)
 
120.7
 %
 
106.3
 %
 
14.4

Annualized non-GAAP operating return on average common shareholders' equity(1)
 
(63.8
)%
 
(5.3
)%
 
(58.5
)

38

 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Change
Consolidated Financial Condition
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents(5)
 
$
4,101,598

 
$
3,961,292

 
$
140,306

Total assets
 
6,536,501

 
6,644,189

 
(107,688
)
Reserve for loss and loss adjustment expenses ("loss and LAE")
 
2,851,685

 
2,386,722

 
464,963

Senior notes - principal amount
 
262,500

 
262,500

 
—

Maiden common shareholders' equity
 
307,554

 
767,174

 
(459,620
)
Maiden shareholders' equity
 
772,554

 
1,232,174

 
(459,620
)
Total capital resources(6)
 
1,035,054

 
1,494,674

 
(459,620
)
Ratio of debt to total capital resources
 
25.4
%
 
17.6
%
 
7.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book value per common share(7)
 
$
3.71

 
$
9.25

 
$
(5.54
)
Accumulated dividends per common share
 
4.27

 
3.92

 
0.35

Book value per common share plus accumulated dividends
 
$
7.98

 
$
13.17

 
$
(5.19
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted book value per common share(8)
 
$
3.70

 
$
9.18

 
$
(5.48
)
(1)
Non-GAAP operating loss, non-GAAP operating loss per common share, non-GAAP operating return on average common equity and underwriting loss income are non-GAAP financial measures. See "Key Financial Measures" for additional information and a reconciliation to the nearest U.S. GAAP financial measure net income.
(2)
Please refer to "Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 12. Earnings per Common Share" for the calculation of basic and diluted loss per common share.
(3)
Underwriting loss is a non-GAAP measure and is calculated as net premiums earned plus other insurance revenue less net loss and LAE, commission and other acquisition expenses and general and administrative expenses directly related to underwriting activities.
(4)
Calculated by adding together the net loss and LAE ratio and the expense ratio.
(5)
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents includes both restricted and unrestricted.
(6)
Total capital resources is the sum of the Company's principal amount of debt and Maiden shareholders' equity. See "Key Financial Measures" for additional information.
(7)
Book value per common share is calculated using Maiden common shareholders’ equity (shareholders' equity excluding the aggregate liquidation value of our preference shares) divided by the number of common shares outstanding.
(8)
Diluted book value per common share is calculated by dividing Maiden common shareholders' equity, adjusted for assumed proceeds from the exercise of dilutive options, by the number of outstanding common shares plus dilutive options and restricted share units (assuming exercise of all dilutive share based awards).
(9)
During a period of loss, the basic weighted average common shares outstanding is used in the denominator of the diluted loss per common share computation
as the effect of including potential dilutive shares would be anti-dilutive.
Key Financial Measures
In addition to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, management uses certain key financial measures, some of which are non-GAAP measures, to evaluate its financial performance and the overall growth in value generated for the Company’s common shareholders. Management believes that these measures, which may be defined differently by other companies, explain the Company’s results in a manner that allows for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in the Company’s business. The non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These key financial measures are:
Non-GAAP operating loss and non-GAAP diluted operating loss per common share: Management believes that the use of non-GAAP operating loss and non-GAAP diluted operating loss per share enables investors and other users of the Company’s financial information to analyze its performance in a manner similar to how management analyzes performance. Management also believes that these measures generally follow industry practice and, therefore, allow the users of financial information to compare the Company’s performance with its industry peer group, and that the equity analysts and certain rating agencies which follow the Company, and the insurance industry as a whole, generally exclude these items from their analyses for the same reasons. Non-GAAP operating loss should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income.
Non-GAAP operating loss is an internal performance measure used by management as these measures focus on the underlying fundamentals of the Company's operations by excluding, on a recurring basis: (1) net realized gains or losses on investment; (2) total other-than-temporary impairment losses; (3) foreign exchange gains or losses; and (4) loss and related activity from our NGHC Quota Share run-off operations. It also excludes on a non-recurring basis: (1) in 2017, accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost; and (2) in 2018, loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax.
We exclude net realized gains or losses on investment, total other-than-temporary impairment losses and foreign exchange gains or losses as we believe these are influenced by market opportunities and other factors. We do not believe loss and related activity from our NGHC Quota Share run-off operations, accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost and loss from discontinued operations are representative of our ongoing and future business. We believe all of these amounts are largely independent of our business and future underwriting process and including them distorts the analysis of trends in our operations.
Underwriting loss is a non-GAAP measure and is calculated as net premiums earned plus other insurance revenue less net loss and LAE, commission and other acquisition expenses and general and administrative expenses directly related to underwriting

39

activities. Management believes that this measure is important in evaluating the underwriting performance of the Company and its segments. This measure is also a useful tool to measure the profitability of the Company separately from the investment results and is also a widely used performance indicator in the insurance industry. A reconciliation of the Company's underwriting results can be found in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Please refer to "Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 3. Segment Reporting" for further details.
Non-GAAP operating loss and non-GAAP diluted operating loss per common share can be reconciled to the nearest U.S. GAAP financial measure as follows:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(308,839
)
 
$
(63,596
)
Add (subtract):
 
 
 
 
Net realized losses (gains) on investment
 
225

 
(5,859
)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
479

 
—

Foreign exchange losses
 
552

 
3,550

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
71,100

 
9,908

Loss from divested NGHC Quota Share run-off
 
1,369

 
1,838

Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(235,114
)
 
$
(54,159
)
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted loss per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(3.72
)
 
$
(0.74
)
Add (subtract):
 
 
 
 
Net realized losses (gains) on investment
 
—

 
(0.07
)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
0.01

 
—

Foreign exchange losses
 
0.01

 
0.04

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
0.85

 
0.12

Loss from divested NGHC Quota Share run-off
 
0.02

 
0.02

Non-GAAP diluted operating loss per common share
 
$
(2.83
)
 
$
(0.63
)
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(301,025
)
 
$
(65,465
)
Add (subtract):
 
 
 
 
Net realized losses (gains) on investment
 
282

 
(8,316
)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
479

 
—

Foreign exchange (gains) losses
 
(1,862
)
 
12,193

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
44,336

 
17,060

Loss from divested NGHC Quota Share run-off
 
1,369

 
1,838

Accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost
 
—

 
2,809

Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(256,421
)
 
$
(39,881
)
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted loss per share attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(3.62
)
 
$
(0.76
)
Add (subtract):
 
 
 
 
Net realized losses (gains) on investment
 
—

 
(0.10
)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
0.01

 
—

Foreign exchange (gains) losses
 
(0.03
)
 
0.14

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
0.53

 
0.20

Loss from divested NGHC Quota Share run-off
 
0.02

 
0.02

Accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost
 
—

 
0.04

Non-GAAP diluted operating loss per common share
 
$
(3.09
)
 
$
(0.46
)
Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders increased by $181.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. This was largely due to an increased underwriting loss of $189.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 particularly caused by both significantly

40

higher adverse prior year loss development and reserve strengthening during the period in our AmTrust Reinsurance segment. As a result of these factors, the total loss ratio increased by 34.4 points year-over-year. Please refer to "Results of Operations - Net Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses" on page 46 for the reasons regarding the changes in the loss ratio.
Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders increased by $216.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. This was largely due to an increased underwriting loss of $215.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 particularly caused by both significantly higher adverse prior year loss development and reserve strengthening during the period in our AmTrust Reinsurance segment. As a result of these factors, the total loss ratio increased by 13.8 points year-over-year. This was partially offset by net investment income which increased $10.0 million compared to the same period in 2017.
Non-GAAP Operating Return on Average Common Equity ("Non-GAAP Operating ROACE"): Management uses non-GAAP operating return on average common shareholders' equity as a measure of profitability that focuses on the return to common shareholders. It is calculated using non-GAAP operating loss available to common shareholders (as defined above) divided by average common shareholders' equity. Management has set, as a target, a long-term average of 15% non-GAAP Operating ROACE, which management believes provides an attractive return to shareholders for the risk assumed from our business.
Non-GAAP Operating ROACE for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was computed as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Non-GAAP operating loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(235,114
)
 
$
(54,159
)
 
$
(256,421
)
 
$
(39,881
)
Opening Maiden common shareholders’ equity
 
640,742

 
1,035,399

 
767,174

 
1,045,797

Ending Maiden common shareholders’ equity
 
307,554

 
956,027

 
307,554

 
956,027

Average Maiden common shareholders’ equity
 
474,148

 
995,713

 
537,364

 
1,000,912

Non-GAAP Operating ROACE
 
(196.7
)%
 
(21.6
)%
 
(63.8
)%
 
(5.3
)%
Book Value per Common Share and Diluted Book Value per Common Share: Management uses growth in both of these metrics as a prime measure of the value we are generating for our common shareholders, as management believes that growth in each metric ultimately results in growth in the Company’s common share price. These metrics are impacted by the Company’s net income and external factors, such as interest rates, which can drive changes in unrealized gains or losses on our investment portfolio. At September 30, 2018, book value per common share decreased by 59.9% and diluted book value per common share decreased by 59.7%, compared to December 31, 2017, primarily due to the decrease in retained earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 caused by our net loss during both periods as well as the decline in AOCI during the period due to unrealized losses on our investment portfolio. Please see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Investments" on page 54 for further information on the change in fair value of our fixed maturity investment portfolio.
Book value and diluted book value per common share at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were computed as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
($ in thousands except share and per share data)
Ending Maiden common shareholders’ equity
 
$
307,554

 
$
767,174

Proceeds from assumed conversion of dilutive options
 
583

 
9,416

Numerator for diluted book value per common share calculation
 
$
308,137

 
$
776,590

 
 
 
 
 
Common shares outstanding
 
82,942,737

 
82,974,895

Shares issued from assumed conversion of dilutive options and restricted share units
 
349,368

 
1,627,236

Denominator for diluted book value per common share calculation
 
83,292,105

 
84,602,131

 
 
 
 
 
Book value per common share
 
$
3.71

 
$
9.25

Diluted book value per common share
 
$
3.70

 
$
9.18


41

Ratio of Debt to Total Capital Resources: Management uses this non-GAAP measure to monitor the financial leverage of the Company. This measure is calculated using the total principal amount of debt divided by the sum of total capital resources. The ratio of Debt to Total Capital Resources at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was computed as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
($ in thousands)
Senior notes - principal amount
 
$
262,500

 
$
262,500

Maiden shareholders’ equity
 
772,554

 
1,232,174

Total capital resources
 
$
1,035,054

 
$
1,494,674

Ratio of debt to total capital resources
 
25.4
%
 
17.6
%
Certain Operating Measures and Relevant Factors
Refer to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for a general discussion on "Certain Operating Measures" utilized by the Company and the "Relevant Factors" associated with these Certain Operating Measures.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company's critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018. The critical accounting policies and estimates should be read in conjunction with "Part I, Item 1 - Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies" included in this Form 10Q and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies" included within the audited Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018. There have been no material changes in the application of our critical accounting estimates subsequent to that report.

42

Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our selected unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income data for each of the periods indicated:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross premiums written
 
$
484,494

 
$
443,001

 
$
1,629,347

 
$
1,650,762

Net premiums written
 
$
482,806

 
$
432,677

 
$
1,626,485

 
$
1,603,414

Net premiums earned
 
$
520,077

 
$
457,278

 
$
1,541,278

 
$
1,512,437

Other insurance revenue
 
1,870

 
2,488

 
7,629

 
7,816

Net loss and LAE
 
(600,296
)
 
(370,847
)
 
(1,323,503
)
 
(1,090,608
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(167,618
)
 
(145,352
)
 
(497,026
)
 
(487,771
)
General and administrative expenses(1)
 
(5,208
)
 
(4,929
)
 
(16,284
)
 
(14,071
)
Underwriting loss(2)
 
(251,175
)
 
(61,362
)
 
(287,906
)
 
(72,197
)
Other general and administrative expenses(1)
 
(13,728
)
 
(10,510
)
 
(32,059
)
 
(24,090
)
Net investment income
 
34,419

 
30,950

 
101,548

 
91,597

Net realized (losses) gains on investment
 
(225
)
 
5,859

 
(282
)
 
8,316

Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
(479
)
 
—

 
(479
)
 
—

Accelerated amortization of senior note issuance cost
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,809
)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains
 
(552
)
 
(3,550
)
 
1,862

 
(12,193
)
Interest and amortization expenses
 
(4,829
)
 
(4,829
)
 
(14,487
)
 
(18,430
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
 
7,437

 
(1,704
)
 
930

 
1,978

Net loss from continuing operations
 
(229,132
)
 
(45,146
)
 
(230,873
)
 
(27,828
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax
 
(71,100
)
 
(9,908
)
 
(44,336
)
 
(17,060
)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(62
)
 
3

 
(180
)
 
34

Dividends on preference shares
 
(8,545
)
 
(8,545
)
 
(25,636
)
 
(20,611
)
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders
 
$
(308,839
)
 
$
(63,596
)
 
$
(301,025
)
 
$
(65,465
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio(3)
 
115.0
%
 
80.6
%
 
85.5
%
 
71.7
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio(4)
 
32.1
%
 
31.6
%
 
32.1
%
 
32.1
%
General and administrative expense ratio(5)
 
3.6
%
 
3.4
%
 
3.1
%
 
2.5
%
Expense ratio(6)
 
35.7
%
 
35.0
%
 
35.2
%
 
34.6
%
Combined ratio(7)
 
150.7
%
 
115.6
%
 
120.7
%
 
106.3
%
(1)
Underwriting related general and administrative expenses is a non-GAAP measure. Please refer to "General and Administrative Expenses" below for additional information related to these corporate expenses and the reconciliation to those presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2)
Underwriting loss is a non-GAAP measure and is calculated as net premiums earned plus other insurance revenue less net loss and LAE, commission and other acquisition expenses and general and administrative expenses directly related to underwriting activities.
(3)
Calculated by dividing net loss and LAE by the sum of net premiums earned and other insurance revenue.
(4)
Calculated by dividing commission and other acquisition expenses by the sum of net premiums earned and other insurance revenue.
(5)
Calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by the sum of net premiums earned and other insurance revenue.
(6)
Calculated by adding together commission and other acquisition expense ratio and general and administrative expense ratio.
(7)
Calculated by adding together net loss and LAE ratio and the expense ratio.

43

Net Loss
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $308.8 million compared to $63.6 million for the same period in 2017. The net increase in net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily the result of the following:
•
increased underwriting loss of $251.2 million compared to an underwriting loss of $61.4 million in the same period in 2017. The higher underwriting loss was principally due to:
◦
higher adverse prior year loss development for the AmTrust Reinsurance segment which was $210.4 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $61.1 million for the same period in 2017; and
◦
partially offset by the impact of higher premiums earned which increased in both our operating segments compared to the same period in 2017.
•
realized losses on investment of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to realized gains of $5.9 million for the same period in 2017; and
•
total general and administrative expenses increased by $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to increases in compensation benefits paid under certain executive separation agreements, greater corporate insurance costs incurred and higher technology-related expenses.
The unfavorable movements above were offset by the following:
•
net investment income increased by $3.5 million or 11.2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to an increase in average yields to 3.3% during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 3.1% during the same period in 2017. Also, average investable assets increased by 5.5% from the same period in 2017. Please refer to the Net Investment Income section below for further discussion of the movement in average yields.
Net loss attributable to Maiden common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $301.0 million compared to a net loss of $65.5 million for the same period in 2017. The net decrease in results for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to the following:
•
an underwriting loss of $287.9 million compared to an underwriting loss of $72.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The deterioration in the underwriting result was principally due to:
◦
higher adverse prior year loss development for the AmTrust Reinsurance segment which was $247.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $100.9 million for the same period in 2017; and
◦
partially offset by the impact of higher premiums earned which increased in both our operating segments compared to the same period in 2017.
•
realized losses on investment of $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to realized gains of $8.3 million for the same period in 2017;
•
total general and administrative expenses increased by $10.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to increases in compensation benefits paid under certain executive separation agreements, higher audit, legal and other professional fees incurred and higher technology-related expenses; and
•
higher dividends paid to preference shareholders of $25.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $20.6 million for the same period in 2017 due to the issuance of Preference Shares - Series D on June 15, 2017.
The unfavorable movements above were offset by the following:
•
net investment income increased by $10.0 million or 10.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 largely due to higher average investable assets which grew by 7.9% from the same period in 2017. Please refer to the Net Investment Income section below for further discussion of the movement in average yields which remained at 3.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017;
•
lower interest and amortization expenses which decreased by $3.9 million or 21.4% compared to the same period in 2017 due to the redemption of the 2012 Senior Notes on June 27, 2017. The prior period also included a charge of $2.8 million resulting from the acceleration of the amortization of the 2012 Senior Notes issuance cost; and
•
foreign exchange gains of $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to foreign exchange losses of $12.2 million for the same period in 2017 due to the recent weakening of the euro and British pound against the U.S. dollar.
Net Premiums Written
Net premiums written increased by $50.1 million or 11.6% and $23.1 million or 1.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The tables below compare net premiums written by our reportable segments, reconciled to the total consolidated net premiums written for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

44

For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
($ in thousands)
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
31,291

 
6.5
%
 
$
22,484

 
5.2
%
 
$
8,807

 
39.2
 %
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
451,515

 
93.5
%
 
410,193

 
94.8
%
 
41,322

 
10.1
 %
Total
 
$
482,806

 
100.0
%
 
$
432,677

 
100.0
%
 
$
50,129

 
11.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
($ in thousands)
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
109,279

 
6.7
%
 
$
73,434

 
4.6
%
 
$
35,845

 
48.8
 %
AmTrust Reinsurance
 
1,517,206

 
93.3
%
 
1,529,980

 
95.4
%
 
(12,774
)
 
(0.8
)%
Total
 
$
1,626,485

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,603,414

 
100.0
%
 
$
23,071

 
1.4
 %
Net premiums written for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased by 11.6% compared to the same period in 2017 due to the following:
•
AmTrust Reinsurance segment increased by $41.3 million or 10.1% generated by growth in specialty lines of business partially offset by reduced premiums in workers compensation due to a combination of market conditions and underwriting measures applied by AmTrust during the period. The increase in net premiums written was also due to the reduction in the utilization of retrocessional capacity in 2018 compared to the same period in 2017; and
•
Diversified Reinsurance segment increased by $8.8 million or 39.2% generated by new account growth and expansion of client relationships in our European capital solutions business.
Net premiums written for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased by 1.4% compared to the same period in 2017 due to the following:
•
Diversified Reinsurance segment increased by $35.8 million or 48.8% due to new account growth and expansion of the Australia Warranty program, German Auto program and other client relationships in our European capital solutions business during 2018 as well as new business development; and
•
AmTrust Reinsurance segment decreased by $12.8 million or 0.8% mainly due to a combination of market conditions and underwriting measures applied by AmTrust during the period on Small Commercial Business, particularly workers compensation.
Please refer to the analysis below of our Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance segments for further details.
Net Premiums Earned
Net premiums earned increased by $62.8 million or 13.7% and $28.8 million or 1.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The tables below compare net premiums earned by our reportable segments, reconciled to the total consolidated net premiums earned, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
($ in thousands)
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
28,784

 
5.5
%
 
$
20,925

 
4.6
%
 
$
7,859

 
37.6
%
AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance
 
491,293

 
94.5
%
 
436,353

 
95.4
%
 
54,940

 
12.6
%
Total
 
$
520,077

 
100.0
%
 
$
457,278

 
100.0
%
 
$
62,799

 
13.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
($ in thousands)
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
82,838

 
5.4
%
 
$
61,626

 
4.1
%
 
$
21,212

 
34.4
%
AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance
 
1,458,440

 
94.6
%
 
1,450,811

 
95.9
%
 
7,629

 
0.5
%
Total
 
$
1,541,278

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,512,437

 
100.0
%
 
$
28,841

 
1.9
%
NM - not meaningful
Net premiums earned in the AmTrust Reinsurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased by $54.9 million or 12.6% and $7.6 million or 0.5% compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively, mainly due to growth in net premiums written in the specialty lines of the AmTrust quota share. Please refer to the analysis of our AmTrust Reinsurance segment on page 50 for further discussion.
Net premiums earned in our Diversified Reinsurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased by $7.9 million or 37.6% and $21.2 million or 34.4% compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively, driven by new client

45

development and favorable growth in the German auto programs. Please refer to the analysis of our Diversified Reinsurance segment on page 48 for further discussion.
Other Insurance Revenue 
All of our Other Insurance Revenue is produced by our Diversified Reinsurance segment. Please refer to page 49 for further discussion.
Net Investment Income and Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Investment
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, net investment income increased by $3.5 million or 11.2% and $10.0 million or 10.9% compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively, partly due to the growth in average investable assets of 5.5% and 7.9% respectively. This was also driven by the increase in average book yield from 3.1% to 3.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, with no change in the average book yield of 3.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the respective prior period. Also, the increase was driven by higher interest income on the loan to related party as the terms of the agreement changed effective December 18, 2017.
Net realized losses on investment were $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to net realized gains of $5.9 million and $8.3 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
The following table details the Company's average investable assets and average book yield for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Average investable assets(1)
 
$
4,226,404

 
$
4,004,898

 
$
4,172,955

 
$
3,868,964

Average book yield(2)
 
3.3
%
 
3.1
%
 
3.2
%
 
3.2
%
(1)
The average of the Company's investments, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and loan to related party at each quarter-end during the period.
(2)
Ratio of net investment income over average investable assets at fair value.
Net Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Net loss and LAE increased by $229.4 million and $232.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively, due to significant adverse prior year loss development compared to the prior periods. This development, which is discussed in greater detail in the individual segment discussion and analysis, was primarily in our AmTrust Reinsurance segment where significant reserve strengthening occurred during the third quarter. The net loss and LAE ratios were 115.0% and 85.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 80.6% and 71.7% for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Excluding the impact of prior year loss development, our net loss and LAE ratio would have been 74.3% and 69.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 66.7% and 64.4% for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The increase in loss ratios reflects higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned in both our Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance segments factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience.
As a result of these factors, as well as the adverse prior year loss development experienced in the AmTrust Reinsurance segment, the combined ratio increased by 35.1 and 14.4 points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Commission and Other Acquisition Expenses
Commission and other acquisition expenses increased by $22.3 million or 15.3% and $9.3 million or 1.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The commission and other acquisition expense ratios increased slightly to 32.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 31.6% for the prior period in 2017 and remained flat at 32.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The commission and other acquisition expense ratio is largely dependent on the mix of business within the AmTrust Reinsurance segment and the mix of pro-rata and excess of loss business within the Diversified Reinsurance segment. Please refer to the reasons for the changes in the combined ratio discussed in the Net Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses section above.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses include expenses which are segregated for analytical purposes as a component of underwriting income. General and administrative expenses consist of:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
General and administrative expenses – segments
 
$
5,208

 
$
4,929

 
$
16,284

 
$
14,071

General and administrative expenses – corporate
 
13,728

 
10,510

 
32,059

 
24,090

Total general and administrative expenses
 
$
18,936

 
$
15,439

 
$
48,343

 
$
38,161


46

Total general and administrative expenses increased by $3.5 million, or 22.7% and increased by $10.2 million, or 26.7%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The increased expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the respective prior periods was due to higher compensation benefits paid under certain executive separation agreements as well as higher audit, legal, and other professional fees and technology-related expenses. The general and administrative expense ratio increased to 3.6% and 3.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 from 3.4% and 2.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as a result of significantly higher compensation benefits despite higher earned premiums compared to the prior periods.
Interest and Amortization Expenses
The interest and amortization expenses related to Senior Notes were $4.8 million and $14.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $4.8 million and $18.4 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The decrease in interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior period was due to the redemption of the 8.0% 2012 Senior Notes on June 27, 2017.  
As a result of this redemption, the Company accelerated the amortization of the remaining 2012 Senior Note issuance cost of $2.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Please refer to "Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 7. Long Term Debt" for details on the Company’s Senior Notes. The weighted average effective interest rate for the Company's debt was 7.64% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 7.64% and 7.77% for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Foreign Exchange (Losses) Gains
Net foreign exchange losses amounted to $0.6 million and net foreign exchange gains were $1.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to net foreign exchange losses of $3.6 million and $12.2 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Income Tax Expense
The Company recorded income tax benefit of $7.4 million and $0.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $1.7 million and income tax benefit of $2.0 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. These amounts relate to income tax on the earnings of our international subsidiaries and state taxes incurred by our U.S. subsidiaries. The effective rate of income tax was 3.1% and 0.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to (3.9)% and 6.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Dividends on Preference Shares
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, dividends paid to preference shareholders remain flat at $8.5 million and increased by $5.0 million or 24.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is attributable to the dividends paid on the Preference Shares - Series D (the "Preference Shares - Series D") that were issued on June 15, 2017 since the same period in 2017 incurred only $2.5 million of dividends paid on such preference shares. Please refer to "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 13. Shareholders' Equity" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for details on the Company’s preference shares.

47

Underwriting Results by Reportable Segment
Diversified Reinsurance Segment
The underwriting results and associated ratios for our Diversified Reinsurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross premiums written
 
$
31,699

 
$
22,982

 
$
111,139

 
$
75,085

Net premiums written
 
31,291

 
22,484

 
109,279

 
73,434

Net premiums earned
 
28,784

 
20,925

 
82,838

 
61,626

Other insurance revenue
 
1,870

 
2,488

 
7,629

 
7,816

Net loss and LAE
 
(19,764
)
 
(13,979
)
 
(51,828
)
 
(41,548
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(8,961
)
 
(6,702
)
 
(28,261
)
 
(21,982
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(4,256
)
 
(4,158
)
 
(13,330
)
 
(11,831
)
Underwriting loss
 
$
(2,327
)
 
$
(1,426
)
 
$
(2,952
)
 
$
(5,919
)
Ratios
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio
 
64.5
%
 
59.7
%
 
57.3
%
 
59.8
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio
 
29.2
%
 
28.6
%
 
31.3
%
 
31.7
%
General and administrative expense ratio
 
13.9
%
 
17.8
%
 
14.7
%
 
17.0
%
Expense ratio
 
43.1
%
 
46.4
%
 
46.0
%
 
48.7
%
Combined ratio
 
107.6
%
 
106.1
%
 
103.3
%
 
108.5
%
The combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased to 107.6% compared to 106.1% for the same period in 2017 primarily due to the following:
•
combined ratio increased by 1.5 points for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 which reflects higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned during the period partially offset by lower adverse prior year loss development of $0.7 million compared to $1.1 million during the third quarter of 2017; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 would have been 105.4% compared to 101.5% for the same period in 2017.
The combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased to 103.3% compared to 108.5% for the same period in 2017. The combined ratio decreased by 5.2 points primarily due to the following:
•
lower net adverse prior year loss development which was $1.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $8.5 million for the same period in 2017. The 2018 development was due to adverse facultative reinsurance run-off partially offset by favorable development in International Auto. Prior year adverse loss development during 2017 was primarily from facultative reinsurance run-off lines as well as claims activity in International auto programs; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have been 101.3% compared to 96.3% for the same period in 2017, reflecting higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned during the period.
Premiums - Gross premiums written increased by $8.7 million or 37.9% and increased by $36.1 million or 48.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively, primarily generated by new account growth and expansion of client relationships in our European capital solutions business and growth in German auto programs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Contributing to the increase in gross premiums written during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were new business development and account growth within the Life and General international lines.
Net premiums written increased by $8.8 million or 39.2% during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. Net premiums written for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased by $35.8 million or 48.8%. Both period increases are mainly due to new account growth and expansion of client relationships in our European capital solutions business and higher net written premiums in our German auto programs, new business development and lower utilization of retrocessional capacity.


48

The tables below show net premiums written by line of business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Written
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
International
 
31,291

 
100.0
%
 
22,503

 
100.1
 %
 
8,788

 
39.1
 %
Casualty
 
—

 
—
%
 
(19
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
19

 
(100.0
)%
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
31,291

 
100.0
%
 
$
22,484

 
100.0
 %
 
$
8,807

 
39.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018

2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Written
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
International
 
109,238

 
100.0
%
 
73,475

 
100.1
 %
 
35,763

 
48.7
 %
Casualty
 
41

 
—
%
 
(41
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
82

 
(200.0
)%
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
109,279

 
100.0
%
 
$
73,434

 
100.0
 %
 
$
35,845

 
48.8
 %
Net premiums earned increased by $7.9 million or 37.6% and $21.2 million or 34.4% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The tables below show net premiums earned by line of business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Earned
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
International
 
28,784

 
100.0
%
 
20,943

 
100.1
 %
 
7,841

 
37.4
 %
Casualty
 
—

 
—
%
 
(18
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
18

 
(100.0
)%
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
28,784

 
100.0
%
 
$
20,925

 
100.0
 %
 
$
7,859

 
37.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Earned
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
International
 
82,797

 
100.0
%
 
61,667

 
100.1
 %
 
21,130

 
34.3
 %
Casualty
 
41

 
—
%
 
(41
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
82

 
(200.0
)%
Total Diversified Reinsurance
 
$
82,838

 
100.0
%
 
$
61,626

 
100.0
 %
 
$
21,212

 
34.4
 %
International experienced increased net premiums earned for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017 largely due to  new account growth and expansion of client relationships in our European capital solutions business and overall growth in German Auto programs and other underwriting actions taken in 2017 and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 to generate new business development within the Life and General international lines.
Other Insurance Revenue - Other insurance revenue, which represents fee income from our IIS business that is not directly associated with premium revenue assumed by the Company decreased by $0.6 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Net Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses - Net loss and LAE increased by $5.8 million or 41.4% and $10.3 million or 24.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. Net loss and LAE ratios increased to 64.5% and decreased to 57.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared with 59.7% and 59.8% during the same periods in 2017, respectively.
During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the net loss and LAE ratio increased by 4.8 points compared to the same period in 2017 due to the following factors:
•
higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned during the period partially offset by lower adverse prior year loss development which was $0.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 2017; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the net loss and LAE ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 would have been 62.3% compared to 55.1% for the same period in 2017.

49

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the net loss and LAE ratio decreased by 2.5 points compared to the same period in 2017 due to the following factors:
•
lower adverse prior year loss development which was $1.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $8.5 million for the same period in 2017. The 2018 development was from facultative reinsurance run-off lines partially offset by favorable development in International auto programs. The development in 2017 was primarily due to adverse development in facultative reinsurance run-off lines as well as claims activity in International auto programs; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the net loss and LAE ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have been 55.3% compared to 47.6% for the same period in 2017 which reflects higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned during the period factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience.
The impact on the net loss and LAE ratios should be considered in conjunction with the commission and other acquisition expense ratio as changes to either ratio can be effected by the changes in the mix of business and the impact of the increase in the commission and other acquisition expense rates on pro-rata contracts with loss sensitive features. As a result of these factors, as well as the impacts on the loss ratio described above, the combined ratio increased by 1.5 and decreased by 5.2 points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Commission and Other Acquisition Expenses - Commission and other acquisition expenses increased by $2.3 million or 33.7% and $6.3 million or 28.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The commission and other acquisition expense ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased to 29.2% compared to 28.6% for the same period in 2017, reflecting the higher proportion of pro-rata premium earned during the quarter compared to last year. The commission and other acquisition expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased slightly to 31.3% compared to 31.7% for the same period in 2017.
The variation in ratios for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were primarily due to the change in the mix of pro rata versus excess of loss premiums written as well as loss sensitive features in our Diversified Reinsurance segment driven by adverse prior year loss development. Please refer to the reasons for the changes in the combined ratio discussed in the preceding paragraphs.
General and Administrative Expenses - General and administrative expenses increased by $0.1 million or 2.4% and $1.5 million or 12.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The general and administrative expense ratio decreased to 13.9% and 14.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 17.8% and 17.0% for the same periods in 2017, respectively, as a result of higher earned premium compared to the prior periods. The overall expense ratio (including commission and other acquisition expenses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 43.1% and 46.0% compared to 46.4% and 48.7% for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
AmTrust Reinsurance Segment
The AmTrust Reinsurance segment reported an underwriting loss of $247.5 million and $283.6 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $58.1 million and $64.4 million in the comparative periods in 2017, respectively. This was primarily due to higher adverse prior year loss development compared to the same periods in 2017 and higher initial current year loss ratios for premiums earned during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The underwriting results and associated ratios for the AmTrust Reinsurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross premiums written
 
$
452,795

 
$
420,019

 
$
1,518,208

 
$
1,575,677

Net premiums written
 
451,515

 
410,193

 
1,517,206

 
1,529,980

Net premiums earned
 
491,293

 
436,353

 
1,458,440

 
1,450,811

Net loss and LAE
 
(579,163
)
 
(355,030
)
 
(1,270,306
)
 
(1,047,222
)
Commission and other acquisition expenses
 
(158,657
)
 
(138,650
)
 
(468,765
)
 
(465,789
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(952
)
 
(771
)
 
(2,954
)
 
(2,240
)
Underwriting loss
 
$
(247,479
)
 
$
(58,098
)
 
$
(283,585
)
 
$
(64,440
)
Ratios
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss and LAE ratio
 
117.9
%
 
81.4
%
 
87.1
%
 
72.2
%
Commission and other acquisition expense ratio
 
32.3
%
 
31.7
%
 
32.1
%
 
32.1
%
General and administrative expense ratio
 
0.2
%
 
0.2
%
 
0.2
%
 
0.1
%
Expense ratio
 
32.5
%
 
31.9
%
 
32.3
%
 
32.2
%
Combined ratio
 
150.4
%
 
113.3
%
 
119.4
%
 
104.4
%

50

The combined ratio increased to 150.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 113.3% for the same period in 2017 due to the following:
•
higher adverse prior year loss development which was $210.4 million during the third quarter of 2018 compared to $61.1 million for the same period in 2017. The adverse prior year loss development in 2018 was largely from Workers Compensation which represented nearly half of the adverse development and was primarily driven by accident years 2014 to 2017, and to a lesser extent, development in European hospital liability, Commercial Auto and General liability. Prior year adverse loss development in 2017 was primarily related to Worker's Compensation, General liability as well as Commercial Auto liability lines for both Specialty Programs and Small Commercial Business where elevated loss activity had been observed; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the combined ratio for the current period would have been 107.6% compared to 99.3% for 2017, reflecting higher initial loss ratios for current year premiums earned during the period factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience as well as elevated actual current year activity in the Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty lines.
The combined ratio increased to 119.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 104.4% for the same period in 2017 due to the following:
•
higher adverse prior year loss development which was $247.3 million in 2018, compared to $100.9 million for the same period in 2017. Prior year adverse loss development in 2018 was largely from Workers Compensation and European hospital liability, with a smaller contribution from General and Commercial Auto Liability. Prior year adverse loss development in 2017 was from General liability as well as Auto liability and Workers Compensation lines for both Specialty Programs and Small Commercial Business where elevated loss activity had been observed; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the combined ratio for the current period would have been 102.4% compared to 97.4% for 2017 reflecting higher initial loss ratios for current year premiums earned during the period factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience as well as elevated actual current year activity in the Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty lines.
Premiums - Gross premiums written increased by $32.8 million or 7.8% and decreased by $57.5 million or 3.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The change in gross premiums written for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017 reflects reductions in the Small Commercial Business lines combined with growth in Specialty Program, Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty.
The tables below show net premiums written by category for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Written
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
$
232,163

 
51.4
%
 
$
295,499

 
72.0
%
 
$
(63,336
)
 
(21.4
)%
Specialty Program
 
94,077

 
20.8
%
 
63,816

 
15.6
%
 
30,261

 
47.4
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
125,275

 
27.8
%
 
50,878

 
12.4
%
 
74,397

 
146.2
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
$
451,515

 
100.0
%
 
$
410,193

 
100.0
%
 
$
41,322

 
10.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Written
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
$
879,403

 
57.9
%
 
$
1,028,905

 
67.3
%
 
$
(149,502
)
 
(14.5
)%
Specialty Program
 
286,404

 
18.9
%
 
255,767

 
16.7
%
 
30,637

 
12.0
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
351,399

 
23.2
%
 
245,308

 
16.0
%
 
106,091

 
43.2
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
$
1,517,206

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,529,980

 
100.0
%
 
$
(12,774
)
 
(0.8
)%
Net premiums written in our AmTrust Reinsurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased by $41.3 million or 10.1% and decreased by $12.8 million or 0.8% compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior period was due to growth in the Specialty lines of business partially offset by reductions in Small Commercial Business. The decline in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior period was due to reductions in Small Commercial Business assumed from AmTrust partially offset by growth in the Specialty lines of business and the lower utilization of retrocessional capacity compared to comparative period in 2017. The decrease in Small Commercial Business was due to a combination of market conditions and underwriting measures applied by AmTrust during the period. The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written increased to 99.7% and 99.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 97.7% and 97.1% for the same periods in 2017, respectively.

51

Net premiums earned increased by $54.9 million or 12.6% and $7.6 million or 0.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively, mainly due to growth in net premiums written on the Specialty lines within the AmTrust quota share. The tables below detail net premiums earned by category for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Earned
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
$
273,456

 
55.7
%
 
$
314,773

 
72.1
%
 
$
(41,317
)
 
(13.1
)%
Specialty Program
 
98,359

 
20.0
%
 
59,143

 
13.6
%
 
39,216

 
66.3
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
119,478

 
24.3
%
 
62,437

 
14.3
%
 
57,041

 
91.4
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
$
491,293

 
100.0
%
 
$
436,353

 
100.0
%
 
$
54,940

 
12.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change in
 
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
Total
 
% of Total
 
$
 
%
Net Premiums Earned
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Small Commercial Business
 
$
882,679

 
60.5
%
 
$
946,782

 
65.3
%
 
$
(64,103
)
 
(6.8
)%
Specialty Program
 
283,592

 
19.5
%
 
251,153

 
17.3
%
 
32,439

 
12.9
 %
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty
 
292,169

 
20.0
%
 
252,876

 
17.4
%
 
39,293

 
15.5
 %
Total AmTrust Reinsurance
 
$
1,458,440

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,450,811

 
100.0
%
 
$
7,629

 
0.5
 %
Net Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses - Net loss and LAE increased by $224.1 million or 63.1% and $223.1 million or 21.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. Net loss and LAE ratios increased to 117.9% and 87.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 81.4% and 72.2% for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the net loss and LAE ratio increased by 36.5 points compared to the same period in 2017 due to the following factors:
•
higher adverse prior year loss development which was $210.4 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $61.1 million for the same period in 2017. The 2018 development was largely from Workers Compensation which represented nearly half of the adverse development and was primarily driven by accident years 2014 to 2017, and to a lesser extent, development in European hospital liability and Commercial Auto and General Liability lines of business. The development in 2017 was primarily due to Worker's Compensation, General liability as well as Commercial Auto liability lines of business for both Specialty Programs and Small Commercial Business where elevated loss activity had been observed; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the net loss and LAE ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2018 would have been 75.1% compared to 67.4% for the same period in 2017, reflecting higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned during the period factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience as well as elevated actual current year activity in Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty lines.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the net loss and LAE ratio increased by 14.9 points compared to the same period in 2017 due to the following factors:
•
higher adverse prior year loss development which was $247.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $100.9 million recorded in the same period in 2017. The adverse prior year loss development in 2018 was largely from Workers Compensation and European hospital liability, with a smaller contribution from Commercial Auto and General liability. The 2017 adverse development was primarily related to General liability line of business as well as Auto liability and Workers Compensation lines for both Specialty Programs and Small Commercial Business where elevated loss activity had been observed; and
•
excluding prior year loss development, the net loss and LAE ratio for the current period in 2018 would have been 70.1% compared to 65.2% for 2017, reflecting higher initial loss ratios on current year premiums earned during the period factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience as well as elevated actual current year activity in Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty lines.
Commission and Other Acquisition Expenses - Commission and other acquisition expenses increased by $20.0 million or 14.4% and $3.0 million or 0.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The commission and other acquisition expense ratio increased to 32.3% and remained flat at 32.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 31.7% and 32.1% for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The fluctuations in the ratios during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the comparative periods in 2017 reflect the

52

change in the mix of business. The commission ratio is also affected by the commission associated with the retrocession premium ceded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017.
General and Administrative Expenses - General and administrative expenses slightly increased by $0.2 million or 23.5% and $0.7 million or 31.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017, respectively. The general and administrative expense ratio remained flat at 0.2% and increased slightly to 0.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 0.2% and 0.1% for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The overall expense ratio (including commission and other acquisition expenses) increased slightly to 32.5% and 32.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to 31.9% and 32.2% for the same periods in 2017, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Maiden Holdings is a holding company and transacts no business of its own. We therefore rely on cash flows in the form of dividends, advances, loans and other permitted distributions from our subsidiary companies to make dividend payments on our common and preference shares. The jurisdictions in which our operating subsidiaries are licensed to write business impose regulations requiring companies to maintain or meet statutory solvency and liquidity requirements. Some jurisdictions also place restrictions on the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions.
On November 9, 2018, the Company signed the Enstar Master Agreement with Enstar, pursuant to which, an Enstar subsidiary would enter into a retrocession agreement to effect a loss portfolio transfer in which the Enstar subsidiary would assume all of the liabilities for loss reserves as of June 30, 2018 associated with quota share reinsurance agreements that Maiden Bermuda has with AmTrust or its subsidiaries. Enstar will assume $2.675 billion of net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves upon closing, subject to adjustment for paid losses since June 30, 2018. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
Both of the Company’s current quota share reinsurance contracts with AmTrust remain in-force. As previously disclosed, the Company and AmTrust have mutually agreed to extend the notice period of non-renewal for the current Master Agreement until January 31, 2019.
The regulatory and liquidity requirements of the Company's operating segments are discussed in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10- K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018.
Pursuant to Bermuda law, Maiden must ensure that the value of the group's assets exceeds the amount of the group's liabilities by the aggregate minimum margin of solvency of each qualifying member of the group ("Group MSM"). Since December 31, 2013, we have been required to maintain available group capital and surplus at a level equal to or in excess of the Group Enhanced Capital Requirement ("Group ECR") which is established by reference to either the Group BSCR model or an approved group internal capital model. As discussed in "Note 1. Basis of Presentation" and "Note 14. Subsequent Events", the transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement and the Enstar Master Agreement are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. At such time, the Group will exceed both the Group ECR and the Group MSM. However, pending completion of these transactions, as of September 30, 2018, the Group does not meet the Group MSM and ECR standards established by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”). The Company has communicated such condition to the BMA and is following the guidelines of a reportable “event” as stipulated by Bermuda insurance law. Finally, the amount of dividends that can be distributed from Maiden Bermuda is, under certain circumstances, limited under Bermuda law and Bermuda regulatory requirements, which requires our Bermuda operating subsidiary to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity in accordance with the BSCR and presently we are not paying any dividends out of Maiden Bermuda without express consent of the BMA.
Our sources of funds primarily consist of premium receipts net of commissions and brokerage, investment income, net proceeds from capital raising activities, which may include the issuance of debt and common and preference shares, and proceeds from sales and redemption of investments. Cash is used primarily to pay loss and LAE, ceded reinsurance premium, general and administrative expenses, interest expense and dividends, with the remainder in excess of our operating requirements, made available to our investment managers for investment in accordance with our investment policy.
The table below summarizes our operating, investing and financing cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

53

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
($ in thousands)
Operating activities
 
$
162,623

 
$
374,814

Investing activities
 
27,151

 
(185,013
)
Financing activities
 
(63,893
)
 
(28,440
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash
 
(1,131
)
 
3,379

Total increase in cash and cash equivalents (including restricted)
 
124,750

 
164,740

Less: increase in cash and cash equivalents (including restricted) of discontinued operations
 
9,551

 
49,473

Total increase in cash and cash equivalents (including restricted) of continuing operations
 
$
115,199

 
$
115,267

Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $162.6 million compared to $374.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, a 56.6% decrease. Cash flows used in discontinued operations were $54.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to cash flows provided by discontinued operations of $46.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Cash flows provided by continuing operating activities were $217.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $328.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.The decrease in operating cash flows from continuing operations was primarily the result of higher payment of losses and decreased gross premiums written during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash flows from investing activities consist primarily of proceeds from the sales and maturities of investments and payments for investments acquired. The Company continues to deploy available cash for longer-term investments as investment conditions permit and to maintain, where possible, cash and cash equivalents balances at low levels. Net cash provided by investing activities was $27.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $185.0 million for the same period in 2017.
Cash flows provided by discontinued operations was $120.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to cash flows used in discontinued operations of $16.7 million for the same period in 2017. Cash flows used in continuing operations was $92.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $168.3 million for the same period in 2017 as the purchases of fixed maturity securities were lower and the proceeds from the sales of fixed maturities were higher in 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, purchases exceeded the proceeds from the sales, maturities and calls of fixed maturities by $74.5 million compared to $176.4 million for the same period in 2017.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Cash flows used in financing activities were $63.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $28.4 million for the same period in 2017. The cash outflow during the current period primarily relates to higher dividends paid to holders of preference shares of $5.0 million, due to the issuance of Preference Shares Series D on June 15, 2017. There were also slightly lower dividends paid to holders of common shares by $1.5 million, reflecting a reduction in dividend per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 and a lower number of common shares outstanding throughout the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The reduced number of outstanding common shares was due to the repurchase of 3,667,134 common shares in the second half of 2017, which was made under the Company's authorized share repurchase program.
The lower net cash outflow for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the current period was due to the issuance of new preference shares with net proceeds of $144.9 million on June 15, 2017, which was partially used to redeem the 2012 senior note issuance of $100.0 million as well as the repurchase of common shares, net of issuance of $13.8 million during the third quarter of 2017. The Company did not have any major capital transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Restrictions, Collateral and Specific Requirements
The Company's restrictions, collateral and specific requirements are discussed in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018.
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, restricted cash and cash equivalents and fixed maturity investments used as collateral remained flat at $3.7 billion, respectively. This collateral represents 91.3% and 93.6% of the fair value of our total fixed maturity investments and cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash and cash equivalents) at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Investments
The investment of our funds is designed to ensure safety of principal while generating current income. Accordingly, our funds are invested in liquid, investment-grade fixed income securities which are designated as either available-for-sale ("AFS") or held-to-maturity ("HTM"). Please see "Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 4. Investments" included under Part I Item 1 "Financial Information" of this Form 10-Q.

54

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond increased by 65 basis points to 3.05%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury is the key risk-free determinant in the fair value of many of the securities in our AFS portfolio. The upward shift in the U.S. Treasury yield curve during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 reflects a strengthening U.S. economy with an expansionary fiscal policy contributing to strong labor markets. These factors have resulted in central banks to steadily move away from the monetary easing policy of the last number of years at a steady pace.
The movement in the market values of our AFS fixed maturity portfolio was a net reduction of $93.9 million, primarily due to rising interest rates and widening credit spreads that have resulted in negative returns for U.S. corporate and agency bonds during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Please see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Resources" on page 59 for further information.
At September 30, 2018, we consider the levels of cash and cash equivalents we are holding to be within our targeted ranges. During periods when interest rates experience greater volatility, we have periodically maintained more cash and cash equivalents in order to better assess current market conditions and opportunities within our defined risk appetite, and may do so in future periods. In order to limit our exposure to unexpected interest rate increases which would reduce the value of our fixed income securities and reduce our shareholders' equity, we attempt to maintain the duration of our fixed maturity investment portfolio combined with our cash and cash equivalents, both restricted and unrestricted, within a reasonable range of the duration of our loss reserves. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, these respective durations in years were as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Fixed maturities and cash and cash equivalents
 
4.4
 
4.4
Reserve for loss and LAE
 
3.8
 
3.6
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the weighted average duration of our fixed maturity investment portfolio was unchanged at 4.4 years and the duration for reserve for loss and LAE increased by 0.2 years to 3.8 years. The differential in duration between these assets and liabilities may fluctuate over time and in the case of fixed maturities, is affected by factors such as market conditions, changes in asset mix and prepayment speeds in the case of both our agency mortgage-backed securities ("Agency MBS") and commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"). The average yield and average duration of our fixed maturities, by asset class, and our cash and cash equivalents (restricted and unrestricted) are as follows:
September 30, 2018
 
Original or Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Average yield(1)
 
Average duration(2)
AFS fixed maturities
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
125

 
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
124

 
1.3
%
 
0.6

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
1,484,434

 
830

 
(58,068
)
 
1,427,196

 
3.0
%
 
5.5

U.S. agency bonds – other
 
24,870

 
—

 
(1,180
)
 
23,690

 
3.3
%
 
5.4

Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
22,550

 
122

 
(1,827
)
 
20,845

 
3.3
%
 
4.5

Asset-backed securities
 
226,652

 
552

 
(2,000
)
 
225,204

 
4.2
%
 
2.4

Corporate bonds
 
1,108,620

 
8,834

 
(32,960
)
 
1,084,494

 
2.9
%
 
4.3

Total AFS fixed maturities
 
2,867,251

 
10,338

 
(96,036
)
 
2,781,553

 
3.1
%
 
4.8

HTM fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
974,947

 
6,103

 
(18,190
)
 
962,860

 
3.7
%
 
4.6

Municipal Bonds
 
57,938

 
—

 
(1,057
)
 
56,881

 
3.2
%
 
4.2

Total HTM fixed maturities
 
1,032,885

 
6,103

 
(19,247
)
 
1,019,741

 
3.6
%
 
4.6

Cash and cash equivalents
 
264,574

 
—

 
—

 
264,574

 
2.2
%
 
0.0

Total
 
$
4,164,710

 
$
16,441

 
$
(115,283
)
 
$
4,065,868

 
3.1
%
 
4.4


55

December 31, 2017
 
Original or Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Average yield(1)
 
Average duration(2)
AFS fixed maturities
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury bonds
 
$
35,093

 
$
4

 
$
—

 
$
35,097

 
1.2
%
 
0.1

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
1,475,682

 
6,181

 
(13,723
)
 
1,468,140

 
2.9
%
 
4.8

U.S. agency bonds – other
 
19,868

 
—

 
(149
)
 
19,719

 
3.1
%
 
8.7

Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
32,380

 
231

 
(1,713
)
 
30,898

 
2.7
%
 
3.3

Asset-backed securities
 
225,015

 
3,457

 
(79
)
 
228,393

 
4.4
%
 
2.4

Corporate bonds
 
911,259

 
28,423

 
(14,413
)
 
925,269

 
2.7
%
 
4.6

Total AFS fixed maturities
 
2,699,297

 
38,296

 
(30,077
)
 
2,707,516

 
2.9
%
 
4.5

HTM fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
 
1,037,464

 
28,694

 
(913
)
 
1,065,245

 
3.6
%
 
5.0

Municipal bonds
 
60,337

 
128

 
(84
)
 
60,381

 
3.2
%
 
4.8

Total HTM fixed maturities
 
1,097,801

 
28,822

 
(997
)
 
1,125,626

 
3.6
%
 
5.0

Cash and cash equivalents
 
149,375

 
—

 
—

 
149,375

 
0.2
%
 
0.0

Total
 
$
3,946,473

 
$
67,118

 
$
(31,074
)
 
$
3,982,517

 
2.9
%
 
4.4

(1)
Average yield is calculated by dividing annualized investment income for each sub-component of AFS and HTM securities and cash and cash equivalents (including amortization of premium or discount) by amortized cost.
(2)
Average duration in years.

56

The following table summarizes the Company's fixed maturity investment portfolio holdings by contractual maturity at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
($ in thousands)
 
AFS fixed maturities
 
HTM fixed maturities
 
AFS fixed maturities
 
HTM fixed maturities
 
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
Due in one year or less
 
$
3,522

 
$
9,297

 
$
64,996

 
$
40,533

Due after one year through five years
 
583,069

 
371,750

 
440,560

 
333,003

Due after five years through ten years
 
542,562

 
651,838

 
487,592

 
724,265

Due after ten years
 
—

 
—

 
17,835

 
—

 
 
1,129,153

 
1,032,885

 
1,010,983

 
1,097,801

U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed
 
1,427,196

 
—

 
1,468,140

 
—

Asset-backed securities
 
225,204

 
—

 
228,393

 
—

Total fixed maturities
 
$
2,781,553

 
$
1,032,885

 
$
2,707,516

 
$
1,097,801

At September 30, 2018, 98.4% of the Company’s U.S. agency bond holdings are mortgage-backed. Additional details on the Agency MBS at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
U.S. agency bonds - mortgage-backed
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed ("RMBS")
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GNMA – fixed rate
 
$
155,684

 
10.7
%
 
$
191,118

 
12.8
%
GNMA – variable rate
 
10,873

 
0.8
%
 
—

 
—
%
FNMA – fixed rate
 
720,157

 
49.6
%
 
743,461

 
50.0
%
FHLMC – fixed rate
 
540,482

 
37.3
%
 
533,561

 
35.9
%
Total U.S. agency bonds - mortgage-backed
 
1,427,196

 
98.4
%
 
1,468,140

 
98.7
%
U.S. agency bonds - fixed rate
 
23,690

 
1.6
%
 
19,719

 
1.3
%
Total U.S. agency bonds
 
$
1,450,886

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,487,859

 
100.0
%

Our Agency MBS portfolio is 37.4% of our fixed maturity investments at September 30, 2018. Given the relative size of this portfolio to our total investments, if faster prepayment patterns were to occur over an extended period of time, this could potentially limit the growth in our investment income in certain circumstances, or even potentially reduce the total amount of investment income we earn.
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, 98.3% and 98.7%, respectively, of our fixed maturity investments consisted of investment grade securities. We define a security as being below investment grade if it has an S&P credit rating of BB+ or equivalent, or less. Please see "Part I, Item 1 - Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 4. Investments" for additional information on the credit rating of our fixed income portfolio. The security holdings by sector and financial strength rating of our corporate bond holdings at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:
 
 
Ratings(1)
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
AAA
 
AA+, AA, AA-
 
A+, A, A-
 
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
 
BB+ or lower
 
Fair Value
 
% of Corporate bonds portfolio
Corporate bonds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Basic Materials
 
—
%
 
2.6
%
 
0.8
%
 
—
%
 
0.6
%
 
$
83,048

 
4.0
%
Communications
 
—
%
 
5.0
%
 
2.5
%
 
0.5
%
 
—
%
 
162,599

 
8.0
%
Consumer
 
—
%
 
15.2
%
 
13.4
%
 
0.5
%
 
1.0
%
 
616,520

 
30.1
%
Energy
 
—
%
 
3.9
%
 
4.7
%
 
0.8
%
 
0.8
%
 
209,139

 
10.2
%
Financial Institutions
 
1.6
%
 
10.1
%
 
23.7
%
 
3.1
%
 
—
%
 
786,440

 
38.5
%
Industrials
 
—
%
 
2.7
%
 
2.7
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
112,210

 
5.4
%
Technology
 
—
%
 
0.9
%
 
1.6
%
 
0.6
%
 
0.7
%
 
77,398

 
3.8
%
Total
 
1.6
%
 
40.4
%
 
49.4
%
 
5.5
%
 
3.1
%
 
$
2,047,354

 
100.0
%

57

 
 
Ratings(1)
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
AAA
 
AA+, AA, AA-
 
A+, A, A-
 
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
 
BB+ or lower
 
Fair Value
 
% of Corporate bonds portfolio
Corporate bonds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
Basic Materials
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
1.8
%
 
4.0
%
 
0.8
%
 
$
131,339

 
6.6
%
Communications
 
—
%
 
0.2
%
 
1.3
%
 
6.4
%
 
—
%
 
155,574

 
7.9
%
Consumer
 
—
%
 
0.7
%
 
12.7
%
 
13.2
%
 
—
%
 
530,455

 
26.6
%
Energy
 
—
%
 
0.5
%
 
4.3
%
 
2.2
%
 
1.0
%
 
160,216

 
8.0
%
Financial Institutions
 
1.9
%
 
2.9
%
 
24.0
%
 
10.9
%
 
—
%
 
789,418

 
39.7
%
Industrials
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
2.9
%
 
4.0
%
 
0.1
%
 
138,260

 
7.0
%
Technology
 
—
%
 
0.6
%
 
2.1
%
 
0.8
%
 
0.7
%
 
85,252

 
4.2
%
Total
 
1.9
%
 
4.9
%
 
49.1
%
 
41.5
%
 
2.6
%
 
$
1,990,514

 
100.0
%
(1)
Ratings as assigned by S&P, or equivalent
At September 30, 2018, the Company’s ten largest corporate holdings, 80.7% of which are U.S. dollar denominated and 69.5% of which are in the Financial Institutions sector, as carried at fair value and as a percentage of all fixed income securities were as follows:
September 30, 2018
 
Fair Value
 
% of Holdings
Based on Fair
Value of All
Fixed Income
Securities
 
Rating(1)
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
BNP Paribas, 5.00% Due 1/15/2021
 
$
19,760

 
0.5
%
 
A
Brookfield Asset Management Inc, 4.00%, Due 1/15/2025
 
19,660

 
0.5
%
 
A-
Gilead Sciences Inc, 3.65% Due 3/1/2026
 
19,640

 
0.5
%
 
A
AT&T Inc, 2.625%, Due 12/1/2022
 
19,285

 
0.5
%
 
BBB
Rabobank Nederland Utrec, 3.875% Due 2/8/2022
 
19,244

 
0.5
%
 
A+
Bank of Montreal, 2.35% Due 9/11/2022
 
19,182

 
0.5
%
 
A+
Electricite de France, 4.625%, Due 9/11/2024
 
18,223

 
0.5
%
 
A-
Wells Fargo & Co. 1.125%, Due 10/29/2021
 
17,856

 
0.5
%
 
A-
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 3.70%, Due 11/16/2025
 
17,812

 
0.5
%
 
AA-
UBS Group Funding (Jersey) Ltd, 2.65%, Due 2/1/2022
 
16,433

 
0.4
%
 
A-
Total
 
$
187,095

 
4.9
%
 
 
(1)
Ratings as assigned by S&P, or equivalent
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, we hold the following non-U.S. dollar denominated securities:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
($ in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
Non-U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds
 
$
420,397

 
95.3
%
 
$
434,963

 
93.4
%
Non-U.S. government and supranational bonds
 
20,846

 
4.7
%
 
30,899

 
6.6
%
Total non-U.S. dollar denominated AFS securities
 
$
441,243

 
100.0
%
 
$
465,862

 
100.0
%
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, these non-U.S. securities are invested in the following currencies:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
($ in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
Euro
 
$
372,562

 
84.5
%
 
$
398,680

 
85.6
%
British Pound
 
41,867

 
9.5
%
 
43,252

 
9.3
%
Australian Dollar
 
19,524

 
4.4
%
 
14,182

 
3.0
%
Canadian Dollar
 
5,031

 
1.1
%
 
5,254

 
1.1
%
All other
 
2,259

 
0.5
%
 
4,494

 
1.0
%
Total non-U.S. dollar denominated AFS securities
 
$
441,243

 
100.0
%
 
$
465,862

 
100.0
%

58

The net decrease in non-U.S. denominated fixed maturities is primarily due to sales of euro-denominated corporate bonds during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all of the Company's non-U.S. government and supranational issuers have a rating of A or higher by S&P. For our non-U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds, the following table summarizes the composition of the fair value of our fixed maturity investments at the dates indicated by ratings:
Ratings(1)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
($ in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
AAA
 
$
31,843

 
7.6
%
 
$
37,719

 
8.7
%
AA+, AA, AA-
 
42,171

 
10.0
%
 
35,686

 
8.2
%
A+, A, A-
 
182,355

 
43.4
%
 
176,657

 
40.6
%
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
 
158,567

 
37.7
%
 
184,901

 
42.5
%
BB+ or lower
 
5,461

 
1.3
%
 
—

 
—
%
Total non-U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds
 
$
420,397

 
100.0
%
 
$
434,963

 
100.0
%
(1)
Ratings as assigned by S&P, or equivalent
The Company does not employ any credit default protection against any of the fixed maturities held in non-U.S. denominated currencies at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Other Balance Sheet Changes
The following table summarizes the Company's other material balance sheet changes at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
($ in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Change
 
Change %
Reinsurance balances receivable, net
 
$
161,436

 
$
72,494

 
$
88,942

 
122.7
%
Deferred commission and other acquisition expenses, net
 
419,265

 
380,204

 
39,061

 
10.3
%
Reserve for loss and LAE
 
2,851,685

 
2,386,722

 
464,963

 
19.5
%
Unearned premiums
 
1,298,933

 
1,230,882

 
68,051

 
5.5
%
The higher amount of reinsurance balances receivable, net, deferred commission and other acquisition expenses, net and unearned premiums as at September 30, 2018 compared to December 31, 2017 was due to the growth in business underwritten by the Company, primarily in the Diversified Reinsurance segment, which generally incept at the beginning of the year. The reserve for loss and LAE increased due to higher loss ratio picks factoring in both market conditions and recent loss trends and experience as well as significant adverse prior year loss development recognized in our AmTrust Reinsurance segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Capital Resources
Capital resources consist of funds deployed in support of our operations. In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, our total capital resources decreased by $459.6 million, or 30.8% compared to December 31, 2017 due to the unfavorable movement in unrealized losses on our AFS investment portfolio and significant adverse loss development within our AmTrust Reinsurance segment. The Company’s management believes its current sources of liquidity are adequate to meet its cash requirements for the next 12 months. The following table shows the movement in total capital resources at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
($ in thousands)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Change
 
Change %
Preference shares
 
$
465,000

 
$
465,000

 
$
—

 
—
 %
Common shareholders' equity
 
307,554

 
767,174

 
(459,620
)
 
(59.9
)%
Total Maiden shareholders' equity
 
772,554

 
1,232,174

 
(459,620
)
 
(37.3
)%
Senior Notes - principal amount
 
262,500

 
262,500

 
—

 
—
 %
Total capital resources
 
$
1,035,054

 
$
1,494,674

 
$
(459,620
)
 
(30.8
)%
The major factors contributing to the net decrease in capital resources were as follows:
Maiden shareholders' equity
Shareholders' equity at September 30, 2018 decreased by $459.6 million, or 37.3%, compared to December 31, 2017 primarily due to:
•
a net decrease in AOCI of $129.7 million which arose due to: 1) an increase in net unrealized losses on investment of $141.9 million resulting from the net decrease in our investment portfolio relating to market price movements due to rising interest rates and widening credit spreads during the nine months ended September 30, 2018; and partially offset by 2) an increase in cumulative translation adjustments of $12.1 million due to the effect of the recent depreciation of

59

the euro and British pound relative to the original currencies on our non-U.S. dollar net liabilities (excluding non-U.S. dollar denominated AFS fixed maturities);
•
dividends declared of $54.7 million related to the Company’s common and preferred shares;     
•
net loss attributable to Maiden of $275.4 million. Please see "Results of Operations" on page 43 for a discussion of the Company’s net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018; partially offset by
•
net increase in share based transactions of $0.2 million.
On February 21, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of the Company's common shares from time to time at market prices. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company repurchased a total of 205,000 common shares at an average price of $3.31 per share under its share repurchase authorization. At September 30, 2018, the Company has a remaining authorization of $74.2 million for share repurchases.
Please refer to "Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 13. Shareholders' Equity" included under Part I Item 1 "Financial Information" of this Form 10-Q for a discussion of the equity instruments issued by the Company at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Senior Notes
There were no changes in the Company’s Senior Notes at September 30, 2018 compared to December 31, 2017 and the Company did not enter into any short-term borrowing arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Please refer to "Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 7. Long Term Debt" included under Part I Item 1 "Financial Information" of this Form 10-Q for a discussion of the Company’s Senior Notes.
As discussed in "Note 1. Basis of Presentation of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements", the transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The Company’s current analysis indicates that the conditions to redeem the 2013 Senior Notes as stipulated by the securities may exist. Should final analysis support such a conclusion, the Company expects to redeem all of the $152.5 million 2013 Senior Notes at that time pursuant to the terms of the underlying securities.
We have, and expect to continue, to fund a portion of our capital requirements through issuances of senior securities, including secured and unsecured debt securities, or issuances of common or preference shares. For flexibility, we have a current universal shelf registration statement that allows for the public offering and sale of our debt securities, common shares, preference shares and warrants to purchase such securities. The issuance of debt or equity securities will depend on future market conditions, funding needs and other factors and there can be no assurance that any such issuance will occur or be successful.
Financial Strength Ratings
The Company's principal operating subsidiaries are rated A- (Excellent) with a negative outlook by A.M. Best Company ("A.M. Best"). The rating of A- (Excellent) is the fourth highest of sixteen rating levels provided by A.M. Best. There are no other changes in the Company's ratings as previously disclosed in the "Financial Strength Ratings" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Aggregate Contractual Obligations
In the normal course of business, the Company is a party to a variety of contractual obligations as summarized in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. These contractual obligations are considered by the Company when assessing its liquidity requirements and the Company is confident in its ability to meet all of its obligations. As a result of the pending sale of Maiden US, the Company’s contractual obligations particularly related to senior notes and reserve for loss and LAE could materially change from when they were disclosed in the Company’s table of contractual obligations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. As discussed previously, the Company’s current analysis indicates that the conditions to redeem the 2013 Senior Notes as stipulated by the securities may exist. Should final analysis support such a conclusion, the Company expects to redeem all of the $152.5 million 2013 Senior Notes at that time pursuant to the terms of the underlying securities.
Currency and Foreign Exchange
We conduct business in a variety of foreign (non-U.S.) currencies, the principal exposures being the euro, the British pound, the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar and the Swedish krona. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are exposed to changes in currency exchange rates. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, and exchange rate fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar may materially impact our results and financial position. Our principal exposure to foreign currency risk is our obligation to settle claims in foreign currencies. In addition, in order to minimize this risk, we maintain and expect to continue to maintain a portion of our investment portfolio in investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. We may employ various strategies (including hedging) to manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. To the extent that these exposures are not fully hedged or the hedges are ineffective, our results of operations or equity may be adversely effected. At September 30, 2018, no such hedges or hedging strategies were in force or had been entered into. We measure monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at period end exchange rates, with the resulting foreign exchange gains and losses recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Revenues and expenses in foreign currencies are converted at average exchange rates during the period. The effect of the translation adjustments for foreign operations is included in AOCI.
Net foreign exchange losses amounted to $0.6 million and net foreign exchange gains were $1.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to net foreign exchange losses of $3.6 million and $12.2 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively.


Effects of Inflation
The anticipated effects of inflation are considered explicitly in the pricing of the insured exposures, which are used as the initial estimates of reserves for loss and LAE. In addition, inflation is also implicitly accounted for in subsequent estimates of loss and LAE reserves, as the expected rate of emergence is in part predicated upon the historical levels of inflation that impact ultimate claim costs. To the extent inflation causes these costs, particularly medical treatments and litigation costs, to vary from the assumptions made in the pricing or reserving estimates, the Company will be required to change the reserve for loss and LAE with a corresponding change in its earnings in the period in which the variance is identified. The actual effects of inflation on the results of operations of the Company cannot be accurately known until claims are ultimately settled.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
At September 30, 2018, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined by Item 303(a) (4) of Regulation S-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See "Part I, Item 1 - Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies" for a discussion on recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that we will incur losses in our investments due to adverse changes in market rates and prices. Market risk is directly influenced by the volatility and liquidity in the market in which the related underlying assets are invested. We believe that we are principally exposed to three types of market risk: changes in interest rates, changes in credit quality of issuers of investment securities and reinsurers and changes in foreign exchange rates.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that we may incur economic losses due to adverse changes in interest rates. The primary market risk to the investment portfolio is interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturity securities. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. At September 30, 2018, we had AFS fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $2.8 billion that are subject to interest rate risk.
The table below summarizes the interest rate risk associated with our fixed maturity securities by illustrating the sensitivity of the fair value and carrying value of our fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2018 to selected hypothetical changes in interest rates, and the associated impact on our shareholders’ equity. Temporary changes in the fair value of our fixed maturity securities that are held as AFS do impact the carrying value of these securities and are reported in our shareholders’ equity as a component of AOCI. The selected scenarios in the table below are not predictions of future events, but rather are intended to illustrate the effect such events may have on the fair value of our AFS fixed maturity securities and on our shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2018:
Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates
 
Fair Value
 
Estimated Change in Fair Value
 
Hypothetical % (Decrease) Increase in Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
200 basis point increase
 
$
2,502,106

 
$
(279,447
)
 
(36.2
)%
100 basis point increase
 
2,641,798

 
(139,755
)
 
(18.1
)%
No change
 
2,781,553

 
—

 
—
 %
100 basis point decrease
 
2,917,453

 
135,900

 
17.6
 %
200 basis point decrease
 
3,043,134

 
261,581

 
33.9
 %
The interest rate sensitivity on the $168.0 million loan to related party means that a change in interest rates would impact our earnings and cash flows but would not affect the carrying value of the loan, which is carried at cost. Effective December 18, 2017, the loan carries an interest rate equivalent to the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 200 basis points per annum. Therefore, an increase of 100 and 200 basis points in the Federal Funds Effective Rate would increase our earnings and cash flows by $1.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively, on an annual basis.
Counterparty Credit Risk
The concentrations of the Company’s counterparty credit risk exposures have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2017. The Company has exposure to credit risk primarily as a holder of fixed income securities. The Company controls this exposure by emphasizing investment grade credit quality in the fixed income securities it purchases. The table below summarizes the credit ratings by major rating category of the Company's fixed maturity investments at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

60

Ratings(1)
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
AA+ or better
 
43.0
%
 
43.4
%
AA, AA-, A+, A, A-
 
33.2
%
 
33.2
%
BBB+, BBB, BBB-
 
22.1
%
 
22.1
%
BB+ or lower
 
1.7
%
 
1.3
%
 
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
(1)
Ratings as assigned by S&P, or equivalent
The Company believes this high quality concentration reduces its exposure to credit risk on fixed income investments to an acceptable level. At September 30, 2018, the Company is not exposed to any significant credit concentration risk on its investments, excluding securities issued by the U.S. government and agencies which are rated AA+ (please see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Investments" on page 54), with the largest corporate issuer and the top 10 corporate issuers accounting for only 0.5% and 4.9% of the Company’s total fixed income securities, respectively.
The Company is subject to the credit risk of its cedants in the event of their insolvency or their failure to honor the value of the funds held balances due to the Company for any other reason. However, the Company’s credit risk in some jurisdictions is mitigated by a mandatory right of offset of amounts payable by the Company to a cedant against amounts due to the Company. In certain other jurisdictions, the Company is able to mitigate this risk, depending on the nature of the funds held arrangements, to the extent that the Company has the contractual ability to offset any shortfall in the payment of the funds held balances with amounts owed by the Company to cedants for losses payable and other amounts contractually due. Funds held balances for which the Company receives an investment return based upon either the results of a pool of assets held by the cedant or the investment return earned by the cedant on its investment portfolio are exposed to an additional layer of credit risk.
The Company has exposure to credit risk as it relates to its reinsurance balances receivable. Reinsurance balances receivable from the Company’s clients at September 30, 2018 were $161.4 million, including balances both currently due and accrued, 77.5% of which is from AmTrust. We are subject to the credit risk that AII and/or AmTrust will fail to perform their obligations to pay interest on and repay the principal pursuant to its loan agreement with Maiden Bermuda, and to reimburse Maiden Bermuda for any assets or other collateral of Maiden that AmTrust’s U.S. insurance company subsidiaries apply or retain, and income on those assets.
The Company believes that credit risk related to these balances is mitigated by several factors, including but not limited to, credit checks performed as part of the underwriting process and monitoring of aged receivable balances. In addition, as the vast majority of its reinsurance agreements permit the Company the right to offset reinsurance balances receivable from losses payable to them, the Company believes that the credit risk in this area is substantially reduced. Provisions are made for amounts considered potentially uncollectible. There was no allowance for uncollectible reinsurance balances receivable at September 30, 2018.
Foreign Currency Risk
The Company is generally able to match foreign currency denominated assets against its net reinsurance liabilities both by currency and duration to protect the Company against foreign exchange and interest rate risks. However, a natural offset does not exist for all currencies. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and as at September 30, 2018, 9.3% of our net premiums written and 12.7% of our reserve for loss and LAE were transacted in euro, respectively.
We may employ various strategies to manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. To the extent that these exposures are not fully hedged or the hedges are ineffective, our results of operations or equity may be reduced by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. At September 30, 2018, no hedging instruments have been entered into. Our principal foreign currency exposure is to the euro and British pound, however, assuming all other variables remain constant and disregarding any tax effects, a strengthening (weakening) of the U.S. dollar exchange rate of 10% or 20% relative to the non-U.S. currencies held by the Company would result in a decrease (increase) in the Company's net assets of $3.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 Our management, with the participation and under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide an absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our Company have been detected.
During the most recent fiscal quarter, there were no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
See "Part I, Item 1 - Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies" for an update on legal matters. Except as disclosed above, there are no material changes from the legal proceedings previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including those identified in Item 1A. of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from period to period. The risks described in our 2017 Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity.
There are no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 except for the following:
The occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Master Transaction Agreement with Enstar could adversely affect our future business.
There are significant risks and uncertainties associated with the pending sale of substantially all of our U.S. treaty reinsurance operations to Enstar pursuant to the Master Transaction Agreement. The occurrence of certain events, changes or any other circumstances could give rise to the termination of the Master Transaction Agreement and cause the sale not to be completed. For instance, there is no assurance that the parties will receive the necessary state insurance regulatory approvals required to close the transaction. If the parties fail to obtain such approvals or to meet other conditions necessary to complete the sale as set forth in the Master Transaction Agreement, we will not be able to close the transaction and we will not realize the anticipated benefits to our business.
Our proposed transaction with Enstar may present certain risks to our business and operations.
Our operations will be restricted by the terms of the Master Transaction Agreement and the Enstar Master Agreement, which may prevent or delay the pursuit of other strategic corporate or business opportunities and result in our inability to respond effectively and/or timely to competitive pressures and industry developments.
•
The proposed transaction may disrupt our current business plans and operations.
•
Our management’s attention may be directed towards the completion of the transaction and diverted away from our day-to-day business operations and the execution of our current business plans.
•
Current and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with us, which might adversely effect our ability to attract and retain employees who generate and service our business.
•
Uncertainties regarding our business could cause brokers, customers and other counterparties to change existing business relationships which could negatively affect our revenues, earnings and cash flows.
•
Third-party rating agencies may downgrade or revoke our financial strength or debt ratings in connection with the Master Transaction Agreement and the Enstar Master Agreement.
•
We may incur significantly higher transaction costs than we currently anticipate, such as legal, financing and accounting fees, and other costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the transaction, whether or not the Master Transaction Agreement and the Enstar Master Agreement are completed.
•
We could be subject to litigation related to the proposed transaction, which could result in significant costs and expenses.
•
The Master Transaction Agreement and the Enstar Master Agreement may not be completed, which may have an adverse effect on our stock price to the extent that the current market price reflects assumption that the transaction will be completed, result in negative reactions from our shareholder and other investors, rating agencies, employees, brokers or customers, and adversely affect our future business and financial results.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity and Use of Proceeds
Items 2. (a) and (b) are not applicable.
2. (c) Share Repurchases
On February 21, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of the Company's common shares from time to time at market prices. The table below details the repurchases that were made during the three months ended September 30, 2018, under the share repurchase authorization:
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Total number of shares repurchased
 
Average price paid per share
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (a)
 
Dollar amount still available under trading plan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
July 1, 2018 - July 31, 2018
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
$
74,924

August 1, 2018 - August 31, 2018
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
$
74,924

September 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018
 
205,000

 
$
3.31

 
205,000

 
$
74,245

Total
 
205,000

 
$
3.31

 
205,000

 
$
74,245

Subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2018 and through the period ended November 9, 2018, the Company did not repurchase any additional common shares.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Executive Ownership and Sales
From time to time, some of the Company’s executives may determine that it is advisable to diversify their investments for personal financial planning reasons, or may seek liquidity for other reasons, and may sell common shares of the Company in the open market, in private transactions or to the Company. To effect such sales, some of the Company’s executives have entered into, and may in the future enter into, trading plans designed to comply with the Company’s Insider Trading and Outside Investments Policy and the provisions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The trading plans will not reduce any of the executives’ ownership of the Company’s shares below the applicable executive stock ownership guidelines. The Company does not undertake any obligation to report Rule 10b5-1 plans that may be adopted by any employee or director of the Company in the future, or to report any modifications or termination of any publicly announced plan.
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
The Company extended the term of the employment agreements for each of Lawrence F. Metz and Patrick J. Haveron, which now expire on November 1, 2021.



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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit
No.
 
Description
10.1
 
10.2
 
10.3
 
31.1
 
31.2
 
32.1
 
32.2
 
101.1
 
The following materials from Maiden Holdings, Ltd. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, formatted in XBRL (eXtensive Business Reporting Language): (i) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity, (v) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
 
By:
 
November 9, 2018
 
/s/ Lawrence F. Metz
 
 
Lawrence F. Metz
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Patrick J. Haveron
 
 
Patrick J. Haveron
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Michael J. Tait
 
 
Michael J. Tait
Chief Accounting Officer


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