Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Assets and liabilities at fair value

			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
September 30, 2013
Fixed maturity securities
	U.S. government and government agency securities		$	97,279	$	20,226	$	0	$	117,505
	Fixed maturity securities of states, municipalities and
		political subdivisions		0		1,016,139		0		1,016,139
	Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and
		political subdivisions		0		2,287,625		9,213		2,296,838
	Corporate securities			0		1,297,554		150		1,297,704
	Residential mortgage-backed securities			0		592,957		0		592,957
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities			0		531,216		0		531,216
	Asset-backed securities			0		141,301		0		141,301
	Foreign government securities			0		200,965		0		200,965
		Total fixed maturity securities		97,279		6,087,983		9,363		6,194,625
Equity securities				433,345		0		0		433,345
Short-term investments*				107,350		121,841		0		229,191
Restricted cash and securities				0		1,846		0		1,846
Premium, claims and other receivables				0		65,490		0		65,490
Other assets				17		0		831		848
	Total assets measured at fair value		$	637,991	$	6,277,160	$	10,194	$	6,925,345
Notes payable*			$	0	$	701,881	$	-	$	701,881
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities - earnout liability				0		1,846		7,195		9,041
	Total liabilities measured at fair value		$	0	$	703,727	$	7,195	$	710,922

			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
December 31, 2012
Fixed maturity securities
	U.S. government and government agency securities		$	174,520	$	25,087	$	0	$	199,607
	Fixed maturity securities of states, municipalities and
		political subdivisions		0		1,065,811		0		1,065,811
	Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and
		political subdivisions		0		2,200,331		0		2,200,331
	Corporate securities			0		1,315,006		164		1,315,170
	Residential mortgage-backed securities			0		664,887		0		664,887
	Commercial mortgage-backed securities			0		524,289		0		524,289
	Asset-backed securities			0		33,275		0		33,275
	Foreign government securities			0		278,411		0		278,411
		Total fixed maturity securities		174,520		6,107,097		164		6,281,781
Equity securities				284,639		0		0		284,639
Short-term investments*				251,988		111,065		0		363,053
Other investments				20,925		0		0		20,925
Restricted cash and securities				0		2,043		0		2,043
Premium, claims and other receivables				0		68,207		0		68,207
Other assets				0		0		349		349
	Total assets measured at fair value		$	732,072	$	6,288,412	$	513	$	7,020,997
Notes payable*			$	-	$	636,363	$	-	$	636,363
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities - forward contract				-		3,194		-		3,194
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities - earnout liability				-		2,043		7,009		9,052
	Total liabilities measured at fair value		$	0	$	641,600	$	7,009	$	648,609

Changes in fair value of level 3 assets

		2013								2012
								Accounts
								payable
		Fixed						and		Fixed
		maturity		Other		Total		accrued		maturity		Other		Total
		securities		assets		assets		liabilities		securities		assets		assets
Nine months ended September 30
Balance at beginning of year		$	164	$	349	$	513	$	7,009	$	1,170	$	1,516	$	2,686
Purchases			9,430		0		9,430		0		0		0		0
Settlements			0		0		0		0		0		(1,863)		(1,863)
Gains (losses) reported in:
	Net earnings		37		482		519		(186)		(1)		553		552
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		(268)		0		(268)		0		8		0		8
Transfers out of Level 3			0		0		0		0		(1,015)		0		(1,015)
	Balance at September 30	$	9,363	$	831	$	10,194	$	7,195	$	162	$	206	$	368
Three months ended September 30
Balance at beginning of quarter		$	9,446	$	589	$	10,035	$	7,133	$	159	$	1,847	$	2,006
Settlements			0		0		0		0		0		(1,863)		(1,863)
Gains (losses) reported in:
	Net earnings		16		242		258		(62)		0		222		222
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		(99)		0		(99)		0		3		0		3
	Balance at September 30	$	9,363	$	831	$	10,194	$	7,195	$	162	$	206	$	368