Income taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses	$ 14,435	$ 26,835
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards	6,483	6,275
Federal offset to Canadian deferred tax liability	6,300	4,335
Allowance for uncollectible amounts	1,133	3,454
Foreign currency translation adjustments	925	4,238
Investments	894	978
Tax credit carryforwards	1	6,154
Fixed assets	0	2,067
Other	711	476
Deferred tax assets – gross	30,882	54,812
Valuation allowance	(2,231)	(2,457)
Deferred tax assets – net	28,651	52,355
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization – goodwill and other intangibles	(18,155)	(26,851)
Title loss provisions	(17,889)	(21,433)
Deferred compensation on life insurance policies	(2,278)	(3,345)
Fixed assets	(1,968)	0
Unrealized gains on investments	(1,826)	(3,873)
Other	(1,383)	(849)
Deferred tax liabilities – gross	(43,499)	(56,351)
Net deferred income tax liability	$ (14,848)	$ (3,996)