Guarantor Financial Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]

Condensed consolidating balance sheet

	December 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)		Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)		Other ACGL Subsidiaries		Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Assets
Total investments	$	107	$	62,867	$	15,268,275	$	—		$	15,331,249
Cash	3,218		2,787		479,697		—			485,702
Investments in subsidiaries	6,536,644		1,685,185		—		(8,221,829		)	—
Due from subsidiaries and affiliates	48		7,517		370,429		(377,994		)	—
Premiums receivable	—		—		1,331,511		(382,816		)	948,695
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid and paid losses and loss adjustment expenses	—		—		5,584,973		(3,772,128		)	1,812,845
Contractholder receivables	—		—		1,309,192		—			1,309,192
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	—		—		1,373,008		(995,930		)	377,078
Deferred acquisition costs, net	—		—		414,525		—			414,525
Other assets	7,590		49,576		1,689,670		(416,579		)	1,330,257
Total assets	$	6,547,607	$	1,807,932	$	27,821,280	$	(14,167,276	)	$	22,009,543
Liabilities
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses	$	—	$	—	$	12,784,030	$	(3,747,582	)	$	9,036,448
Unearned premiums	—		—		3,227,508		(995,930		)	2,231,578
Reinsurance balances payable	—		—		589,289		(369,977		)	219,312
Contractholder payables	—		—		1,309,192		—			1,309,192
Deposit accounting liabilities	—		—		587,050		(259,666		)	327,384
Senior notes	300,000		500,000		—		—			800,000
Revolving credit agreement borrowings	100,000		—		—		—			100,000
Due to subsidiaries and affiliates	417		7,505		370,072		(377,994		)	—
Other liabilities	17,137		49,403		994,741		(194,298		)	866,983
Total liabilities	417,554		556,908		19,861,882		(5,945,447		)	14,890,897
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (1)	—		—		219,512		—			219,512
Shareholders' Equity
Total shareholders' equity available to Arch	6,130,053		1,251,024		6,970,805		(8,221,829		)	6,130,053
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests (1)	—		—		769,081		—			769,081
Total shareholders' equity	6,130,053		1,251,024		7,739,886		(8,221,829		)	6,899,134
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders' equity	$	6,547,607	$	1,807,932	$	27,821,280	$	(14,167,276	)	$	22,009,543

(1) See Note 4.

	December 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)		Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)		Other ACGL Subsidiaries		Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Assets
Total investments	$	2,530	$	408,957	$	13,200,247	$	—		$	13,611,734
Cash	3,223		509		430,325		—			434,057
Investments in subsidiaries	6,046,060		1,258,889		—		(7,304,949		)	—
Due from subsidiaries and affiliates	2,251		—		405,110		(407,361		)	—
Premiums receivable	—		—		1,085,369		(331,445		)	753,924
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid and paid losses and loss adjustment expenses	—		—		5,645,156		(3,840,826		)	1,804,330
Contractholder receivables	—		—		1,064,246		—			1,064,246
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	—		—		1,109,312		(780,969		)	328,343
Deferred acquisition costs, net	—		—		342,314		—			342,314
Other assets	6,598		60,342		1,714,651		(554,445		)	1,227,146
Total assets	$	6,060,662	$	1,728,697	$	24,996,730	$	(13,219,995	)	$	19,566,094
Liabilities
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses	$	—	$	—	$	12,625,766	$	(3,801,070	)	$	8,824,696
Unearned premiums	—		—		2,677,334		(780,969		)	1,896,365
Reinsurance balances payable	—		—		662,394		(466,227		)	196,167
Contractholder payables	—		—		1,064,246		—			1,064,246
Deposit accounting liabilities	—		—		758,490		(337,193		)	421,297
Senior notes	300,000		500,000		—		—			800,000
Revolving credit agreement borrowings	100,000		—		—		—			100,000
Due to subsidiaries and affiliates	18		10,250		397,093		(407,361		)	—
Other liabilities	13,148		33,206		691,699		(122,226		)	615,827
Total liabilities	413,166		543,456		18,877,022		(5,915,046		)	13,918,598
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		—		—		—			—
Shareholders' Equity
Total shareholders' equity available to Arch	5,647,496		1,185,241		6,119,708		(7,304,949		)	5,647,496
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		—		—		—			—
Total shareholders' equity	5,647,496		1,185,241		6,119,708		(7,304,949		)	5,647,496
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders' equity	$	6,060,662	$	1,728,697	$	24,996,730	$	(13,219,995	)	$	19,566,094

Condensed consolidating statement of income and comprehensive income

	Year Ended December 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)			Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)			Other ACGL Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Revenues
Net premiums earned	$	—		$	—		$	3,593,748		$	—		$	3,593,748
Net investment income	—			—			326,831			(24,246		)	302,585
Net realized gains	—			5			102,912			—			102,917
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	—			—			(30,150		)	—			(30,150		)
Other underwriting income	—			—			10,142			—			10,142
Equity in net income of investment funds accounted for using the equity method	—			—			19,883			—			19,883
Other income (loss)	—			—			(10,252		)	—			(10,252		)
Total revenues	—			5			4,013,114			(24,246		)	3,988,873
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	—			—			1,919,250			—			1,919,250
Acquisition expenses	—			—			657,262			—			657,262
Other operating expenses	46,074			3,387			556,763			—			606,224
Interest expense	23,423			25,817			20,640			(24,246		)	45,634
Net foreign exchange gains	—			—			(53,222		)	(30,522		)	(83,744		)
Total expenses	69,497			29,204			3,100,693			(54,768		)	3,144,626
Income (loss) before income taxes	(69,497		)	(29,199		)	912,421			30,522			844,247
Income tax benefit (expense)	—			10,125			(33,112		)	—			(22,987		)
Income (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries	(69,497		)	(19,074		)	879,309			30,522			821,260
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	903,852			53,584			—			(957,436		)	—
Net income	834,355			34,510			879,309			(926,914		)	821,260
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)	—			—			13,095			—			13,095
Net income available to Arch	834,355			34,510			892,404			(926,914		)	834,355
Preferred dividends	(21,938		)	—			—			—			(21,938		)
Net income available to Arch common shareholders	$	812,417		$	34,510		$	892,404		$	(926,914	)	$	812,417
Comprehensive income available to Arch	$	888,247		$	33,671		$	976,821		$	(1,010,492	)	$	888,247

(1) See Note 4.

	Year Ended December 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)			Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)			Other ACGL Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Revenues
Net premiums earned	$	—		$	—		$	3,145,952		$	—		$	3,145,952
Net investment income	—			31			307,449			(40,261		)	267,219
Net realized gains	—			—			74,018			—			74,018
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	—			—			(3,786		)	—			(3,786		)
Other underwriting income	—			—			7,639			—			7,639
Equity in net income of investment funds accounted for using the equity method	—			—			35,701			—			35,701
Other income (loss)	—			—			(586		)	—			(586		)
Total revenues	—			31			3,566,387			(40,261		)	3,526,157
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	—			—			1,679,424			—			1,679,424
Acquisition expenses	—			—			564,103			—			564,103
Other operating expenses	38,702			2,691			459,337			—			500,730
Interest expense	23,272			1,316			42,733			(40,261		)	27,060
Net foreign exchange losses	—			—			2,145			10,190			12,335
Total expenses	61,974			4,007			2,747,742			(30,071		)	2,783,652
Income (loss) before income taxes	(61,974		)	(3,976		)	818,645			(10,190		)	742,505
Income tax benefit (expense)	—			1,383			(34,157		)	—			(32,774		)
Income (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries	(61,974		)	(2,593		)	784,488			(10,190		)	709,731
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	771,705			25,644			—			(797,349		)	—
Net income	709,731			23,051			784,488			(807,539		)	709,731
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			—			—
Net income available to Arch	709,731			23,051			784,488			(807,539		)	709,731
Preferred dividends	(21,938		)	—			—			—			(21,938		)
Net income available to Arch common shareholders	$	687,793		$	23,051		$	784,488		$	(807,539	)	$	687,793
Comprehensive income (loss) available to Arch	$	497,678		$	(28,330	)	$	562,245		$	(533,915	)	$	497,678

	Year Ended December 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)			Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)			Other ACGL Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Revenues
Net premiums earned	$	—		$	—		$	2,935,140		$	—		$	2,935,140
Net investment income	4			8			321,805			(26,922		)	294,895
Net realized gains	—			—			194,228			—			194,228
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	—			—			(11,388		)	—			(11,388		)
Other underwriting income	—			—			8,090			—			8,090
Equity in net income of investment funds accounted for using the equity method	—			—			73,510			—			73,510
Other income (loss)	—			—			(12,094		)	—			(12,094		)
Total revenues	4			8			3,509,291			(26,922		)	3,482,381
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	—			—			1,861,277			—			1,861,277
Acquisition expenses	—			—			508,884			—			508,884
Other operating expenses	35,570			1,218			428,565			—			465,353
Interest expense	23,496			—			31,951			(26,922		)	28,525
Net foreign exchange losses	—			—			21,787			7,168			28,955
Total expenses	59,066			1,218			2,852,464			(19,754		)	2,892,994
Income (loss) before income taxes	(59,062		)	(1,210		)	656,827			(7,168		)	589,387
Income tax benefit	—			424			3,586			—			4,010
Income (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries	(59,062		)	(786		)	660,413			(7,168		)	593,397
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	652,459			9,738			—			(662,197		)	—
Net income	593,397			8,952			660,413			(669,365		)	593,397
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			—			—
Net income available to Arch	593,397			8,952			660,413			(669,365		)	593,397
Preferred dividends	(25,079		)	—			—			—			(25,079		)
Loss on repurchase of preferred shares	(10,612		)	—			—			—			(10,612		)
Net income available to Arch common shareholders	$	557,706		$	8,952		$	660,413		$	(669,365	)	$	557,706
Comprehensive income available to Arch	$	726,491		$	2,796		$	786,338		$	(789,134	)	$	726,491

Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows

	Year Ended December 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)			Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)			Other ACGL Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Operating Activities
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities	$	467,091		$	8,142		$	1,077,597		$	(515,700	)	$	1,037,130
Investing Activities
Purchases of fixed maturity investments	—			(78,509		)	(28,666,770		)	—			(28,745,279		)
Purchases of equity securities	—			—			(520,817		)	—			(520,817		)
Purchases of other investments	—			—			(2,257,481		)	—			(2,257,481		)
Proceeds from the sales of fixed maturity investments	—			16,011			26,807,181			—			26,823,192
Proceeds from the sales of equity securities	—			—			411,362			—			411,362
Proceeds from the sales of other investments	—			—			1,643,000			—			1,643,000
Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of fixed maturity investments	—			—			762,995			—			762,995
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments	2,423			408,591			166,112			—			577,126
Change in investment of securities lending collateral	—			—			57,470			—			57,470
Contributions to subsidiaries	—			(341,707		)	(128,825		)	470,532			—
Issuance of intercompany loans	—			(7,500		)	(7,500		)	15,000			—
Repayments of intercompany loans	—			—			38,964			(38,964		)	—
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired	—			—			(237,106		)	—			(237,106		)
Purchases of furniture, equipment and other assets	(271		)	—			(19,612		)	—			(19,883		)
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Investing Activities	2,152			(3,114		)	(1,951,027		)	446,568			(1,505,421		)
Financing Activities
Purchases of common shares under share repurchase program	(454,137		)	—			—			—			(454,137		)
Proceeds from common shares issued, net	6,827			—			470,532			(470,532		)	6,827
Proceeds from intercompany loans	—			7,500			7,500			(15,000		)	—
Repayments of intercompany loans	—			(10,250		)	(28,714		)	38,964			—
Change in securities lending collateral	—			—			(57,470		)	—			(57,470		)
Third party investment in non-redeemable noncontrolling interests (1)	—			—			796,903			—			796,903
Third party investment in redeemable noncontrolling interests (1)	—			—			219,233			—			219,233
Dividends paid to redeemable noncontrolling interests (1)	—			—			(14,448		)	—			(14,448		)
Dividends paid to parent (2)	—			—			(515,700		)	515,700			—
Other	—			—			64,973			—			64,973
Preferred dividends paid	(21,938		)	—			—			—			(21,938		)
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Financing Activities	(469,248		)	(2,750		)	942,809			69,132			539,943
Effects of exchange rates changes on foreign currency cash	—			—			(20,007		)	—			(20,007		)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(5		)	2,278			49,372			—			51,645
Cash beginning of year	3,223			509			430,325			—			434,057
Cash end of year	$	3,218		$	2,787		$	479,697		$	—		$	485,702

(1) See Note 4.

(2) Included in net cash provided by (used for) operating activities in the ACGL (Parent Guarantor) column.

	Year Ended December 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)			Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)			Other ACGL Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Operating Activities
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities	$	68,562		$	(6,569	)	$	908,375		$	(119,500	)	$	850,868
Investing Activities
Purchases of fixed maturity investments	—			—			(18,174,988		)	—			(18,174,988		)
Purchases of equity securities	—			—			(535,857		)	—			(535,857		)
Purchases of other investments	—			—			(1,326,729		)	—			(1,326,729		)
Proceeds from the sales of fixed maturity investments	—			—			17,196,614			—			17,196,614
Proceeds from the sales of equity securities	—			—			462,787			—			462,787
Proceeds from the sales of other investments	—			—			1,162,707			—			1,162,707
Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of fixed maturity investments	—			—			731,708			—			731,708
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments	5,799			(400,162		)	(356,250		)	—			(750,613		)
Change in investment of securities lending collateral	—			—			(55,643		)	—			(55,643		)
Contributions to subsidiaries	(160		)	(97,850		)	(20,250		)	118,260			—
Issuance of intercompany loans	—			—			(10,250		)	10,250			—
Purchases of furniture, equipment and other assets	(712		)	—			(16,787		)	—			(17,499		)
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Investing Activities	4,927			(498,012		)	(942,938		)	128,510			(1,307,513		)
Financing Activities
Purchases of common shares under share repurchase program	(57,796		)	—			—			—			(57,796		)
Proceeds from common shares issued, net	3,051			—			118,260			(118,260		)	3,051
Proceeds from intercompany loans	—			10,250			—			(10,250		)	—
Proceeds from borrowings	—			494,228			—			—			494,228
Change in securities lending collateral	—			—			55,643			—			55,643
Dividends paid to parent (1)	—			—			(119,500		)	119,500			—
Other	—			—			50,830			—			50,830
Preferred dividends paid	(21,938		)	—			—			—			(21,938		)
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Financing Activities	(76,683		)	504,478			105,233			(9,010		)	524,018
Effects of exchange rates changes on foreign currency cash	—			—			(4,357		)	—			(4,357		)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(3,194		)	(103		)	66,313			—			63,016
Cash beginning of year	6,417			612			364,012			—			371,041
Cash end of year	$	3,223		$	509		$	430,325		$	—		$	434,057

(1) Included in net cash provided by (used for) operating activities in the ACGL (Parent Guarantor) column.

	Year Ended December 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows	ACGL (Parent Guarantor)			Arch-U.S. (Subsidiary Issuer)			Other ACGL Subsidiaries			Consolidating Adjustments and Eliminations			ACGL Consolidated
Operating Activities
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities	$	209,500		$	(8,086	)	$	978,679		$	(258,490	)	$	921,603
Investing Activities
Purchases of fixed maturity investments	—			—			(17,568,592		)	—			(17,568,592		)
Purchases of equity securities	—			—			(268,999		)	—			(268,999		)
Purchases of other investments	—			—			(1,000,049		)	—			(1,000,049		)
Proceeds from the sales of fixed maturity investments	—			—			16,366,306			—			16,366,306
Proceeds from the sales of equity securities	—			—			313,617			—			313,617
Proceeds from the sales of other investments	—			—			443,630			—			443,630
Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of fixed maturity investments	—			—			1,115,594			—			1,115,594
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments	(5,094		)	1,986			189,027			—			185,919
Change in investment of securities lending collateral	—			—			6,190			—			6,190
Contributions to subsidiaries	—			—			(38,576		)	38,576			—
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired	—			—			28,948			—			28,948
Purchases of furniture, equipment and other assets	(65		)	—			(18,467		)	—			(18,532		)
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Investing Activities	(5,159		)	1,986			(431,371		)	38,576			(395,968		)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of Series C preferred shares issued, net	315,763			—			—			—			315,763
Repurchase of Series A and B preferred shares	(325,000		)	—			—			—			(325,000		)
Purchases of common shares under share repurchase program	(172,056		)	—			—			—			(172,056		)
Proceeds from common shares issued, net	7,033			—			38,576			(38,576		)	7,033
Repayments of borrowings	—			—			(310,868		)	—			(310,868		)
Change in securities lending collateral	—			—			(6,190		)	—			(6,190		)
Dividends paid to parent (1)	—			—			(258,490		)	258,490			—
Other	—			—			6,664			—			6,664
Preferred dividends paid	(28,381		)	—			—			—			(28,381		)
Net Cash Provided By (Used For) Financing Activities	(202,641		)	—			(530,308		)	219,914			(513,035		)
Effects of exchange rates changes on foreign currency cash	—			—			6,742			—			6,742
Increase (decrease) in cash	1,700			(6,100		)	23,742			—			19,342
Cash beginning of year	4,717			6,712			340,270			—			351,699
Cash end of year	$	6,417		$	612		$	364,012		$	—		$	371,041

(1) Included in net cash provided by (used for) operating activities in the ACGL (Parent Guarantor) column.