| | Nine Months ended September 30, | |
($ in thousands) | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Operating Activities: | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 100,477 | | | | 81,083 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 31,059 | | | | 32,861 | |
Sale of renewal rights | | | (8,000 | ) | | | — | |
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations | | | — | | | | 997 | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 7,421 | | | | 7,428 | |
Undistributed (gains) losses of equity method investments | | | (131 | ) | | | 248 | |
Net realized gains | | | (26,988 | ) | | | (21,940 | ) |
Retirement income plan curtailment expense | | | — | | | | 16 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Increase in reserve for loss and loss expenses, net of reinsurance recoverables | | | 86,887 | | | | 112,876 | |
Increase in unearned premiums, net of prepaid reinsurance | | | 68,935 | | | | 120,288 | |
Decrease in net federal income taxes | | | 33,596 | | | | 8,990 | |
Increase in premiums receivable | | | (66,816 | ) | | | (84,826 | ) |
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs | | | (16,700 | ) | | | (21,688 | ) |
Increase in interest and dividends due or accrued | | | (82 | ) | | | (45 | ) |
(Decrease) increase in accrued salaries and benefits | | | (13,958 | ) | | | 8,286 | |
(Decrease) increase in accrued insurance expenses | | | (12,545 | ) | | | 6,895 | |
Other-net | | | (25,036 | ) | | | (13,480 | ) |
Net adjustments | | | 57,642 | | | | 156,906 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 158,119 | | | | 237,989 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Investing Activities: | | | | | | | | |
Purchase of fixed income securities, available-for-sale | | | (560,493 | ) | | | (838,634 | ) |
Purchase of equity securities, available-for-sale | | | (185,529 | ) | | | (112,742 | ) |
Purchase of other investments | | | (8,498 | ) | | | (7,864 | ) |
Purchase of short-term investments | | | (1,082,192 | ) | | | (1,619,948 | ) |
Sale of subsidiary | | | — | | | | 1,225 | |
Sale of fixed income securities, available-for-sale | | | 35,499 | | | | 6,851 | |
Sale of short-term investments | | | 1,074,850 | | | | 1,662,340 | |
Redemption and maturities of fixed income securities, held-to-maturity | | | 56,375 | | | | 87,952 | |
Redemption and maturities of fixed income securities, available-for-sale | | | 336,939 | | | | 413,722 | |
Sale of equity securities, available-for-sale | | | 186,001 | | | | 109,399 | |
Distributions from other investments | | | 13,514 | | | | 10,546 | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | | (9,178 | ) | | | (10,493 | ) |
Sale of renewal rights | | | 8,000 | | | | — | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (134,712 | ) | | | (297,646 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Financing Activities: | | | | | | | | |
Dividends to stockholders | | | (20,899 | ) | | | (20,532 | ) |
Acquisition of treasury stock | | | (2,920 | ) | | | (3,295 | ) |
Net proceeds from stock purchase and compensation plans | | | 3,554 | | | | 4,305 | |
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable, net of debt issuance costs | | | — | | | | 178,435 | |
Repayment of notes payable | | | — | | | | (100,000 | ) |
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements | | | 1,024 | | | | 1,479 | |
Repayment of capital lease obligations | | | (1,858 | ) | | | (768 | ) |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | | (21,099 | ) | | | 59,624 | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash | | | 2,308 | | | | (33 | ) |
Cash, beginning of year | | | 193 | | | | 210 | |
Cash, end of period | | $ | 2,501 | | | | 177 | |