Segment Reporting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule Of Underwriting Results For The Operating Segments To Income Before Taxes

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010			2009
Underwriting gain (loss)	$	(757,781	)	$	(109,200	)	$	424,529
Net investment income		620,041			653,463			547,793
Net realized capital gains (losses)		6,923			101,911			(2,312	)
Realized gain on debt repurchase		-			-			78,271
Net derivative gain (loss)		(11,261	)		(1,119	)		3,204
Corporate expenses		(16,461	)		(14,914	)		(17,607	)
Interest, fee and bond issue cost amortization expense		(52,319	)		(55,830	)		(72,081	)
Other income (expense)		(23,089	)		16,927			(22,476	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	(233,947	)	$	591,238		$	939,321

Schedule Of Gross Written Premiums Derived From Largest Non-U.S. Market

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011		2010		2009
United Kingdom	$	453,169	$	498,437	$	497,595

U.S. Reinsurance [Member]

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule Of Underwriting Results For The Operating Segments

U.S. Reinsurance	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010		2009
Gross written premiums	$	1,346,830		$	1,395,433	$	1,407,078
Net written premiums		1,344,273			1,392,637		1,397,182
Premiums earned	$	1,312,713		$	1,386,951	$	1,384,873
Incurred losses and LAE		1,034,111			900,938		738,134
Commission and brokerage		327,845			351,559		344,737
Other underwriting expenses		39,290			42,510		44,900
Underwriting gain (loss)	$	(88,533	)	$	91,944	$	257,102

Insurance [Member]

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule Of Underwriting Results For The Operating Segments

Insurance	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010			2009
Gross written premiums	$	975,639		$	865,371		$	842,564
Net written premiums		820,519			620,301			656,178
Premiums earned	$	821,159		$	641,108		$	671,119
Incurred losses and LAE		705,914			536,753			538,626
Commission and brokerage		137,653			120,785			124,388
Other underwriting expenses		89,501			69,676			74,627
Underwriting gain (loss)	$	(111,909	)	$	(86,106	)	$	(66,522	)

International [Member]

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule Of Underwriting Results For The Operating Segments

International	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010			2009
Gross written premiums	$	1,238,444		$	1,206,953		$	1,084,476
Net written premiums		1,218,561			1,199,594			1,081,337
Premiums earned	$	1,244,492		$	1,168,130		$	1,053,538
Incurred losses and LAE		1,372,309			1,050,079			613,251
Commission and brokerage		310,992			288,423			267,121
Other underwriting expenses		27,307			27,646			23,083
Underwriting gain (loss)	$	(466,116	)	$	(198,018	)	$	150,083

Bermuda [Member]

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule Of Underwriting Results For The Operating Segments

Bermuda	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010		2009
Gross written premiums	$	725,261		$	732,962	$	794,837
Net written premiums		725,546			733,046		795,064
Premiums earned	$	722,983		$	738,436	$	784,568
Incurred losses and LAE		613,870			457,942		484,047
Commission and brokerage		174,031			171,088		192,087
Other underwriting expenses		26,305			26,426		24,568
Underwriting gain (loss)	$	(91,223	)	$	82,980	$	83,866