Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Available-for-sale securities at fair value:
Equity securities (cost: 2016 - $2,816,572; 2015 - $2,740,984)		$ 3,109,523		$ 3,005,908
Debt securities (amortized cost: 2016 - $12,927,103; 2015 - $13,529,923)		12,983,213		13,605,963
Short-term investments		778,410		365,810
Marketable Securities, Total		16,871,146		16,977,681
Other invested assets		645,245		676,811
Total investments		18,111,269		17,832,439
Cash		594,091		475,267
Accrued investment income		113,763		115,313
Premium balances receivable		743,692		752,103
Reinsurance recoverables		1,272,219		1,249,948
Ceded unearned premiums		201,023		190,368
Deferred acquisition costs		448,634		419,448
Property and equipment at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization		112,920		101,306
Goodwill	[1]	284,974		141,015
Intangible assets, net of amortization	[1]	378,680		212,790
Current taxes receivable		25,950		12,129
Net deferred tax assets		354,852		468,440
Funds held under reinsurance agreements		591,602		234,549
Other assets		522,922		633,964
Total assets		23,756,591		22,839,079
Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Stockholders' Equity
Loss and loss adjustment expenses		11,087,199	[2]	10,799,242
Unearned premiums		2,175,498		2,076,061
Senior Notes and other debt		1,476,489		1,419,363
Reinsurance payable		90,659		69,297
Other liabilities		912,081		894,690
Total liabilities		15,741,926		15,258,653
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		74,720		25,719
Common stock (shares authorized: 2016 and 2015 - 22,000,000; shares issued: 2016 and 2015 - 17,459,961)		17,460		17,460
Contributed capital		3,611,993		3,611,631
Accumulated other comprehensive income		109,284		116,273
Treasury stock, at cost (2016 - 2,049,797 shares; 2015 - 1,915,884 shares)		(812,840)		(747,784)
Retained earnings		5,014,048		4,557,127
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders		7,939,945		7,554,707
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders' equity		23,756,591		22,839,079
Commercial Mortgage Loan Portfolio
Available-for-sale securities at fair value:
Commercial mortgage loans		$ 594,878		$ 177,947

[1] Goodwill and intangible assets have been reduced by amounts written-down in prior periods.

[2] Includes unallocated LAE, which aggregate to 1.3 percent of gross loss and LAE reserves as of December 31, 2016. Net loss and LAE Reserves by component are shown in the preceding tables, and consolidated gross loss and LAE reserves is presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.