Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisitions	16. ACQUISITIONS During the first quarter of 2011, the Company made several acquisitions to expand its domestic and Canadian insurance operations. Below are descriptions of the transactions. On January 2, 2011, the Company acquired the entire business and operations of Heartland Crop Insurance, Inc. ("Heartland") of Topeka, Kansas for $55,000 thousand in cash, plus contingent payments in future periods based upon achievement of performance targets. Heartland is a managing general agent specializing in crop insurance. On January 28, 2011, the Company acquired the entire business and operations of Premiere of Toronto, Canada. Premiere is a managing general agent specializing in entertainment and sports and leisure risks. On January 31, 2011, the Company acquired the renewal rights and operations of the financial lines business of Executive Risk Insurance Services, Ltd. ("Executive Risk") of Toronto, Canada. The financial lines business of Executive Risk mainly underwrites Directors and Officers Liability, Fidelity, and Errors and Omissions Liability. Overall, the Company recorded $35,068 thousand of goodwill and $26,903 thousand of intangible assets related to these acquisitions, which are reported as part of other assets within the consolidated balance sheets. All intangible assets recorded as part of these acquisitions will be amortized on a straight line basis over seven years.

Acquisitions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

16. ACQUISITIONS

During the first quarter of 2011, the Company made several acquisitions to expand its domestic and Canadian insurance operations. Below are descriptions of the transactions.

On January 2, 2011, the Company acquired the entire business and operations of Heartland Crop Insurance, Inc. ("Heartland") of Topeka, Kansas for $55,000 thousand in cash, plus contingent payments in future periods based upon achievement of performance targets. Heartland is a managing general agent specializing in crop insurance.

On January 28, 2011, the Company acquired the entire business and operations of Premiere of Toronto, Canada. Premiere is a managing general agent specializing in entertainment and sports and leisure risks. On January 31, 2011, the Company acquired the renewal rights and operations of the financial lines business of Executive Risk Insurance Services, Ltd. ("Executive Risk") of Toronto, Canada. The financial lines business of Executive Risk mainly underwrites Directors and Officers Liability, Fidelity, and Errors and Omissions Liability.

Overall, the Company recorded $35,068 thousand of goodwill and $26,903 thousand of intangible assets related to these acquisitions, which are reported as part of other assets within the consolidated balance sheets. All intangible assets recorded as part of these acquisitions will be amortized on a straight line basis over seven years.