Business combinations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business combination	Business combinations American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) On January 21, 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with AIG. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth therein, the Company will merge with an existing AIG subsidiary in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly–owned subsidiary of AIG (the “Surviving Company”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, holders of the Company’s common shares will be entitled to receive consideration of $68.00 in cash per common share. Each of the Company’s issued and outstanding Series A and Series B Preferred Shares will remain issued and outstanding as a “Series A Preferred Share” and “Series B Preferred Share,” respectively, of the Surviving Company. The Merger is expected to close in mid-2018, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Merger Agreement permits the Company to pay out regular quarterly cash dividends not to exceed $0.38 per common share, with its quarterly dividend for the second fiscal quarter for 2018 to be paid prior to the closing of the Merger even if such closing occurs prior to the regular record or payment date of such dividend. Crop Risk Services (“CRS”) On May 1, 2017, Western World, a wholly–owned subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of CRS for an aggregate purchase price of $185,576 in cash. CRS is a primary crop insurance managing general agent (“MGA”) based in Decatur, Illinois with 1,170 agents across 36 states. CRS does not have insurance licenses of its own, but acts solely as an MGA in that it can produce business for any properly licensed entity on a commission basis. Concurrent with closing of the transaction, Stratford, a wholly–owned subsidiary of Western World, was granted the required licenses to write crop insurance in the United States and executed several agreements to transfer the related agriculture book of business to Stratford. The CRS acquisition was undertaken to expand the Company’s presence in U.S. primary specialty lines. For segmental reporting purposes, the results of CRS’ operations, including the related agricultural book of business have been included within the Insurance segment in the Consolidated Financial Statements from the date of acquisition. For further information regarding the acquisition of CRS please refer to Note 5, “Business combinations,” included within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Business combinations

American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”)

On January 21, 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with AIG. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth therein, the Company will merge with an existing AIG subsidiary in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly–owned subsidiary of AIG (the “Surviving Company”).

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, holders of the Company’s common shares will be entitled to receive consideration of $68.00 in cash per common share. Each of the Company’s issued and outstanding Series A and Series B Preferred Shares will remain issued and outstanding as a “Series A Preferred Share” and “Series B Preferred Share,” respectively, of the Surviving Company.

The Merger is expected to close in mid-2018, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Merger Agreement permits the Company to pay out regular quarterly cash dividends not to exceed $0.38 per common share, with its quarterly dividend for the second fiscal quarter for 2018 to be paid prior to the closing of the Merger even if such closing occurs prior to the regular record or payment date of such dividend.

Crop Risk Services (“CRS”)

On May 1, 2017, Western World, a wholly–owned subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of CRS for an aggregate purchase price of $185,576 in cash. CRS is a primary crop insurance managing general agent (“MGA”) based in Decatur, Illinois with 1,170 agents across 36 states. CRS does not have insurance licenses of its own, but acts solely as an MGA in that it can produce business for any properly licensed entity on a commission basis. Concurrent with closing of the transaction, Stratford, a wholly–owned subsidiary of Western World, was granted the required licenses to write crop insurance in the United States and executed several agreements to transfer the related agriculture book of business to Stratford.

The CRS acquisition was undertaken to expand the Company’s presence in U.S. primary specialty lines.

For segmental reporting purposes, the results of CRS’ operations, including the related agricultural book of business have been included within the Insurance segment in the Consolidated Financial Statements from the date of acquisition.

For further information regarding the acquisition of CRS please refer to Note 5, “Business combinations,” included within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.