Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. is an insurance holding company originally organized as Universal Heights, Inc. The Company changed its name to Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. on January 12, 2001. In April 1997, the Company organized a subsidiary, Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPCIC). UPCIC was formed to participate in the transfer of homeowner insurance policies from the Florida Residential Property and Casualty Joint Underwriting Association. The Company has since evolved into a vertically integrated insurance holding company that, through its various subsidiaries, covers substantially all aspects of insurance underwriting, distribution and claims processing. On October 29, 1997, the Florida Department of Insurance approved UPCICs application for a permit to organize as a domestic property and casualty insurance company in the State of Florida.