Restricted cash and cash equivalents and restricted investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Schedule of restricted cash and cash equivalents

Restricted cash and cash equivalents and restricted investments as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	($ in thousands)
Restricted cash securing letter of credit facilities (1)	$	195,257	$	270,755
Restricted cash securing other reinsurance contracts (2)	170,194		60,160
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	365,451		330,915
Restricted investments securing other reinsurance contracts (2)	333,742		292,111
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents and restricted investments	$	699,193	$	623,026

(1) Restricted cash securing letter of credit facilities pertains to letters of credit issued to clients and cash securing these obligations that the Company will not be released from until the underlying reserves have been settled. The time period for which the Company expects these letters of credit to be in place varies from contract to contract, but can last several years.

(2) Restricted cash and restricted investments securing other reinsurance contracts pertain to trust accounts securing the Company’s contractual obligations under certain reinsurance contracts that the Company will not be released from until all underlying risks have expired or have been settled. Restricted investments include certain investments in debt securities including U.S. Treasury securities and sovereign debt. The time period for which the Company expects these trust accounts to be in place varies from contract to contract, but can last several years.