Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 49,868	$ 41,469	$ 62,856
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Amortization of the value of business acquired	0	25,500	0
Amortization and depreciation	6,312	5,284	3,466
Amortization of debt issuance costs	123	47
Restricted stock and stock option expense	3,531	10,271	2,900
Deferred federal income taxes	(2,727)	(7,201)	(828)
Amortization of bond premium and discount, net	9,828	13,643	9,103
Net realized investment (gains) losses	(21,721)	3,374	(35,860)
Equity in the earnings of equity method limited liability investments	(5,190)	(2,533)	0
Gain on the disposition of subsidiary	(6,857)
Changes in:
Premiums receivable, net	(2,849)	25,325	(6,698)
Reinsurance receivables, net	(28,180)	23,966	72,169
Funds held by ceding insurers	2,923	9,147	(6,514)
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses	(29,005)	(84,914)	(103,994)
Unearned premiums	699	(6,764)	4,186
Ceded balances payable	10,086	(11,430)	(2,377)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(15,065)	(6,070)	(3,398)
Contingent commissions	(1,615)	(6,264)	308
Federal income tax receivable/payable	5,047	(1,689)	(4,734)
Deferred acquisition costs, net	(1,384)	(31,279)	(3,061)
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	1,780	3,868	474
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(24,396)	3,750	(12,002)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash release from escrow for business acquisition		113,696
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(92,336)
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities	381,389	647,404	415,739
Proceeds from sale of equity securities	111,156	39,723	191,765
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock		1,540
Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturities	86,009	157,845	108,556
Proceeds from limited partnership distribution	9,450	5,959
Proceeds from sale of other invested assets			12
Proceeds from disposition of subsidiary, net of cash and cash equivalents disposed of $1,269	16,922
Cash deposited in escrow for purchase of American Reliable			(113,696)
Amount paid in connection with derivatives	(1,010)	(6,604)	(20,550)
Purchases of fixed maturities	(437,690)	(627,983)	(615,867)
Purchases of equity securities	(109,940)	(38,451)	(45,077)
Purchases of other invested assets	(14,125)	(3,550)	(30,120)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	42,161	197,243	(109,238)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under margin borrowing facilities	(9,000)	(99,027)	74,673
Redemption of ordinary shares		(189,770)
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes		100,000
Debt issuance cost	(14)	(3,659)
Purchases of A ordinary shares	(805)	(333)	(139)
Tax benefit on share-based compensation expense	127	10	37
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(9,692)	(192,779)	74,571
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	8,073	8,214	(46,669)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,037	58,823	105,492
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 75,110	$ 67,037	$ 58,823