v2.4.0.6

STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (DETAILS) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |
Statutory net income | $ 99,000,000 | $ 921,000,000 | $ 685,000,000
Bermuda [Member] |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |
Required statutory capital and surplus | 2,004,439,000 | 1,719,284,000 |
Actual statutory capital and surplus | 3,887,670,000 | 4,206,359,000 |
Maximum dividend/distribution payable | 1,000,000,000 |  |
Maximum dividend/distribution limit (without a signed affidavit) - percentage of prior year statutory capital and surplus | 25.00% |  |
Number of directors required to sign affidavit in order to pay dividend/distribution greater than 25% of prior year statutory capital and surplus | 2 |  |
Ireland [Member] |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |
Required statutory capital and surplus | 262,879,000 | 212,767,000 |
Actual statutory capital and surplus | 820,891,000 | 814,032,000 |
Maximum dividend/distribution payable | 89,000,000 |  |
United States [Member] |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |
Required statutory capital and surplus | 325,998,000 | 317,588,000 |
Actual statutory capital and surplus | 1,237,046,000 | 1,141,176,000 |
Maximum dividend/distribution payable | $ 124,000,000 |  |
Maximum dividend limit - percentage of total statutory capital and suprlus | 10.00% |  |

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- Definition The potential limit (expressed as a percentage of prior year total statutory capital and surplus) to the maximum dividend/distribution that may be paid, without signed affidavits from the entity's directors attesting that a dividend and/or distribution in excess of this amount would not cause the entity to fail to meet its relevant margins. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of the entity's directors required to issue signed affidavits in order to pay a dividend and/or distribution in excess of a specified percentage. The directors must attest that the dividend and/or distribution would not cause the entity to fail to meet its relevant margins. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The potential limit (expressed as a percentage of total statutory capital and surplus) to the maximum dividend and/or distribution that may be paid. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount available as of the balance sheet date for dividend payments after computation of statutory restrictions on capital surplus. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 60 -Subparagraph h -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529 + Details
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- Definition The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.23(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 60 -Subparagraph h -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-5 -Paragraph 8, 9 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 7 -Section 03 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph c + Details
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- Definition Amount of statutory capital required to be maintained as of the balance sheet date under prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 60 -Subparagraph h(2) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529 + Details
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- Definition Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 7 -Section 03 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.23(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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