General	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
General [Abstract]
General	GENERAL Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG, a Swiss holding company (“Allied World Switzerland”), through its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), provides property and casualty insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis. References to “$” are to the lawful currency of the United States and to “CHF” are to the lawful currency of Switzerland. On December 18, 2016, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”), whereby Fairfax will acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Allied World Switzerland. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Allied World Switzerland shareholders will receive a combination of Fairfax subordinate voting shares and cash having a value equal to $54.00 per Allied World Switzerland share (based on the closing price of Fairfax’s subordinate voting shares on December 16, 2016). The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by both companies’ Board of Directors. The acquisition is expected to be consummated following the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The acquisition is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2017. There can be no assurances that the acquisition will occur.

General

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

GENERAL

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG, a Swiss holding company (“Allied World Switzerland”), through its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), provides property and casualty insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis. References to “$” are to the lawful currency of the United States and to “CHF” are to the lawful currency of Switzerland.

On December 18, 2016, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”), whereby Fairfax will acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Allied World Switzerland. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Allied World Switzerland shareholders will receive a combination of Fairfax subordinate voting shares and cash having a value equal to $54.00 per Allied World Switzerland share (based on the closing price of Fairfax’s subordinate voting shares on December 16, 2016). The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by both companies’ Board of Directors. The acquisition is expected to be consummated following the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The acquisition is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2017. There can be no assurances that the acquisition will occur.