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Basis of Presentation (Notes)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements of the Company. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included within our Annual Report on Form 10-K ("2016 Annual Report") for the year ended December 31, 2016.
The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates and their underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are recorded in the accounting period in which they are determined. The critical accounting estimates and assumptions in the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements include the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses; valuation of fixed maturities and equity investments; impairment assessment of investments; valuation of limited liability investment, at fair value; valuation of deferred income taxes; valuation and impairment assessment of intangible assets; goodwill recoverability; deferred acquisition costs; fair value assumptions for performance shares; fair value assumptions for subordinated debt obligations; and contingent consideration.
The fair values of the Company's investments in fixed maturities and equity investments, limited liability investment, at fair value, performance shares, subordinated debt and contingent consideration are estimated using a fair value hierarchy to categorize the inputs it uses in valuation techniques. The fair value of the Company's investment in investee is based on quoted market prices. Fair values for other investments approximate their unpaid principal balance. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate fair values for cash, short-term investments and certain other assets and other liabilities because of their short-term nature.
The Company's financial results contained herein are reported in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.