9.CONTINGENCIES In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in lawsuits, arbitrations and other formal and informal dispute resolution procedures, the outcomes of which will determine the Companys rights and obligations under insurance and reinsurance agreements.In some disputes, the Company seeks to enforce its rights under an agreement or to collect funds owing to it.In other matters, the Company is resisting attempts by others to collect funds or enforce alleged rights.These disputes arise from time to time and are ultimately resolved through both informal and formal means, including negotiated resolution, arbitration and litigation.In all such matters, the Company believes that its positions are legally and commercially reasonable.The Company considers the statuses of these proceedings when determining its reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. Aside from litigation and arbitrations related to these insurance and reinsurance agreements, the Company is not a party to any other material litigation or arbitration. In 1993 and prior, the Company had a business arrangement with The Prudential Insurance Company of America (The Prudential) wherein, for a fee, the Company accepted settled claim payment obligations of certain property and casualty insurers, and, concurrently, became the owner of the annuity or assignee of the annuity proceeds funded by the property and casualty insurers specifically to fulfill these fully settled obligations.In these circumstances, the Company would be liable if The Prudential, which has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best), was unable to make the annuity payments.The table below presents the estimated cost to replace all such annuities for which the Company was contingently liable for the periods indicated: (Dollars in thousands) At September 30, 2014 At December 31, 2013 $ 144,415 $ 144,734 Prior to its 1995 initial public offering, the Company purchased annuities from an unaffiliated life insurance company wit