Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 41,469	$ 62,856	$ 61,690
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Amortization of trust preferred securities issuance costs			77
Amortization of the value of business acquired	25,500
Amortization and depreciation	5,284	3,466	3,807
Amortization of debt issuance costs	47
Restricted stock and stock option expense	10,271	2,900	4,349
Deferred federal income taxes	(7,201)	(828)	(3)
Amortization of bond premium and discount, net	13,643	9,103	6,696
Net realized investment (gains) losses	3,374	(35,860)	(27,412)
Equity in the earnings of a partnership	(2,533)	0	0
Gain on the disposition of subsidiary			(5,166)
Changes in:
Premiums receivable, net	25,325	(6,698)	(12,136)
Reinsurance receivables, net	23,966	72,169	43,940
Funds held by ceding insurers	9,147	(6,514)	(11,252)
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses	(84,914)	(103,994)	(99,639)
Unearned premiums	(6,764)	4,186	22,515
Ceded balances payable	(11,430)	(2,377)	976
Other assets and liabilities, net	(6,070)	(3,398)	(1,436)
Contingent commissions	(6,264)	308	2,766
Federal income tax receivable/payable	(1,689)	(4,734)	8,473
Deferred acquisition costs, net	(31,279)	(3,061)	(3,912)
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	3,868	474	746
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	3,750	(12,002)	(4,921)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash release from escrow for business acquisition	113,696
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(92,336)
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities	647,404	415,739	292,200
Proceeds from sale of equity securities	39,723	191,765	101,379
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock	1,540
Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturities	157,845	108,556	143,034
Proceeds from limited partnership distribution	5,959
Proceeds from sale of other invested assets		12
Proceeds from disposition of subsidiary, net of cash and cash equivalents disposed of $679			25,885
Cash deposited in escrow for purchase of American Reliable		(113,696)
Amount paid in connection with derivatives	(6,604)	(20,550)	(5,421)
Purchases of fixed maturities	(627,983)	(615,867)	(465,318)
Purchases of equity securities	(38,451)	(45,077)	(100,806)
Purchases of other invested assets	(3,550)	(30,120)	(16)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	197,243	(109,238)	(9,063)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under margin borrowing facilities	(99,027)	74,673	100,000
Redemption of ordinary shares	(189,770)
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes	100,000
Debt issuance cost	(3,659)
Purchases of A ordinary shares	(333)	(139)	(55)
Tax benefit on share-based compensation expense	10	37
Retirement of junior subordinated debentures			(30,929)
Principal payments of term debt			(54,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(192,779)	74,571	15,016
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	8,214	(46,669)	1,032
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	58,823	105,492	104,460
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 67,037	$ 58,823	$ 105,492