Miami, Florida. We lease approximately 2,819 square feet of office space for our claims related administration. The lease commenced February 15, 2015 and has an initial term of three years.
Net Investment Income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $3,978,000 and $4,888,000, respectively. The decrease in 2015 is primarily due to $3,245,000 of net losses related to our limited partnership investments. See Note 4 - “Investments” under Net Investment Income to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Income Tax Expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $40,331,000 and $38,298,000, respectively, for state, federal and foreign income taxes resulting in an effective tax rate of 38.0% for 2015 and 37.9% for 2014.
Due to the impact our reinsurance costs have on net premiums earned from period to period, our management believes the combined ratio measured to gross premiums earned is more relevant in assessing overall performance. The combined ratio to gross premiums earned for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 42.5% compared with 45.2% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in 2015 was primarily attributable to the factors described above.
The following is a reconciliation of our total Net Premiums Written to Net Premiums Earned for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):
Policy Acquisition and Other Underwriting Expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 of approximately $37,952,000 and $31,619,000, respectively, primarily reflect brokerage fees and the amortization of deferred acquisition costs related to commissions payable to agents for production and renewal of policies and premium taxes. The increase in 2014 was primarily attributable to commissions and premium taxes related to the policies assumed from Citizens in 2013 that had renewed and were included in 2014 direct written premiums.
The expense ratio applicable to the year ended December 31, 2014 was 34.0% compared with 29.7% for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in our expense ratio is primarily attributable to the increase in 2014 specific to interest expense and compensation and related costs.
Finally, we employ the frequency/severity method for exposures that do not tend to follow historical payment and reported patterns, such as catastrophes. For such exposures, we estimate future development of reported claims and average projected loss on IBNR claims. We combine this estimate with our open claims in order to derive an estimate of expected unreported losses. Paid losses are added to this estimate in order to derive an estimate of ultimate losses. This method is based on the assumption that future unreported claims and the average severity of open claims and unreported claims can be reasonably estimated from the experience available.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of HCI Group, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015, and our report dated March 4, 2016, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
The Company reviews all securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a monthly basis. When the fair value of any investment is lower than its cost, an assessment is made to determine whether the decline is temporary or other-than-temporary. If the decline is determined to be other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value and an impairment loss is recognized in income in the period in which the Company makes such determination.
conditions, the Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period when it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. Compensation expense related to all awards is included in other operating expense. In addition, the Company receives and recognizes in additional paid-in capital a windfall tax benefit for certain stock option exercises during the period of exercise and for restricted stock awards if these awards vest at a higher value than the value used to recognize compensation expense. In the event the restricted stock awards vest at a lower value than the value used to recognize compensation expense, the Company experiences a tax shortfall. This shortfall is charged to additional paid-in-capital in the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity to the extent of the Company’s pool of windfall tax benefits with any remainder recognized in income tax expense. For 2015, all shortfall amounts were charged to additional paid-in-capital with no additional income tax expense recognized for these shortfalls.
The following is the aggregated summarized unaudited financial information of the limited partnerships, which in certain cases is presented on a three-month lag due to the unavailability of information at the Company’s respective balance sheet dates. In applying the equity method of accounting, the Company uses the most recently available financial information provided by the general partner of each of these partnerships. The financial statements of these limited partnerships are audited annually.
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise stated)
The Company has a 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing Plan (“401(k) Plan”) that qualifies as a defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the 401(k) Plan, participating employees are eligible for company matching and discretionary profit sharing contributions. Plan participants may elect to defer up to one hundred percent of their pre-tax gross wages, subject to annual limitations. The Company matching contribution is limited to a maximum of four percent of the employee’s annual salary or wage and is fully vested when contributed. Eligibility and vesting of the Company’s discretionary profit sharing contribution is subject to the plan participant’s years of service. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company contributed approximately $371, $311 and $183, respectively, in matching contributions, which are included in other operating expenses. There has been no discretionary profit sharing contribution since the plan’s inception.
Prior to June 1, 2014, Claddaugh also had one reinsurance treaty with Moksha Re SPC Ltd. and multiple capital partners whereby a portion of the business assumed from HCPCI was ceded by Claddaugh to Moksha. With respect to the period from June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014, Moksha assumed approximately $15,400 of the total covered exposure for approximately $4,300 in premiums, a rate which management believes to be competitive with market rates available to Claddaugh. The $4,300 premium was fully paid by Claddaugh on June 27, 2013. Moksha deposited funds into a trust account to satisfy certain collateral requirements under its reinsurance contract with Claddaugh. This contract also contained retrospective provisions resulting in a profit commission of $1,485, which was received by the Company in June 2014. Among the Moksha capital partner participants are the Company’s chief executive officer, Paresh Patel, and certain of his immediate family members and Sanjay Madhu, one of the Company’s non-employee directors. This agreement terminated effective May 31, 2014 and has not been renewed.