Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value (amortized cost: 2017—$5,876,261; 2016—$5,584,599)	$ 5,858,348	$ 5,543,030
Short-term investments trading, at fair value (amortized cost: 2017—$3,381,714; 2016—$2,796,358)	3,381,757	2,796,170
Other investments, at fair value (cost: 2017—$330,416; 2016—$380,130)	355,218	405,712
Investments in investment affiliates, equity method (cost: 2017—$61,944; 2016—$84,840)	100,137	100,431
Cash and cash equivalents	754,990	419,976
Restricted cash	394,663	70,956
Total investments and cash	10,845,113	9,336,275
Premiums receivable	939,487	725,390
Deferred acquisition costs	213,816	209,227
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	132,938	77,996
Securities lending collateral	2,717	9,779
Loss reserves recoverable	1,233,997	430,421
Paid losses recoverable	46,873	35,247
Income taxes receivable	9,044	4,870
Deferred tax asset	52,467	43,529
Receivable for investments sold	12,182	3,901
Intangible assets	171,411	115,592
Goodwill	229,573	196,758
Accrued investment income	29,096	26,488
Other assets	508,165	134,282
Total assets	14,426,879	11,349,755
Liabilities
Reserve for losses and loss expenses	4,831,390	2,995,195
Unearned premiums	1,147,186	1,076,049
Reinsurance balances payable	331,645	54,781
Securities lending payable	2,717	10,245
Deferred tax liability	4,600	3,331
Payable for investments purchased	74,496	29,447
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,225,875	587,648
Notes payable to AlphaCat investors	1,108,364	278,202
Senior notes payable	245,564	245,362
Debentures payable	539,158	537,226
Total liabilities	9,510,995	5,817,486
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,004,094	1,528,001
Shareholders' equity
Preferred shares (Issued and Outstanding: 2017—16,000; 2016—6,000)	400,000	150,000
Common shares (Issued: 2017—161,994,491; 2016—161,279,976; Outstanding: 2017—79,319,550; 2016—79,132,252)	28,349	28,224
Treasury shares (2017—82,674,941; 2016—82,147,724)	(14,468)	(14,376)
Additional paid-in-capital	814,641	821,023
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(22,192)	(23,216)
Retained earnings	2,688,742	2,876,636
Total shareholders' equity available to Validus	3,895,072	3,838,291
Noncontrolling interests	16,718	165,977
Total shareholders' equity	3,911,790	4,004,268
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity	$ 14,426,879	$ 11,349,755