Income taxes - Deferred Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses	$ 26,835	$ 20,190
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards	6,275	6,428
Tax credit carryforwards	6,154	20,242
Federal offset to Canadian deferred tax liability	4,335	1,657
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,238	5,220
Allowance for uncollectible amounts	3,454	3,524
Fixed assets	2,067	2,094
Investments	978	3,369
Other	476	297
Deferred tax assets – gross	54,812	63,021
Valuation allowance	(2,457)	(2,217)
Deferred tax assets – net	52,355	60,804
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization – goodwill and other intangibles	(26,851)	(27,991)
Title loss provisions	(21,433)	(18,523)
Unrealized gains on investments	(3,873)	(4,811)
Deferred compensation on life insurance policies	(3,345)	(3,558)
Other	(849)	(2,328)
Deferred tax liabilities – gross	(56,351)	(57,211)
Net deferred income tax liability	$ (3,996)
Net deferred income tax asset		$ 3,593