CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 804,564	$ 727,465	$ 547,241
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net realized investment gains	(132,108)	(75,564)	(127,469)
Net realized and unrealized gains on other investments	(57,621)	(128,814)	(87,623)
Amortization of fixed maturities	113,879	139,667	135,297
Other amortization and depreciation	24,970	23,272	13,821
Share-based compensation expense	63,237us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	57,168us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	67,912us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Changes in:
Accrued interest receivable	13,788	88	1,126
Reinsurance recoverable balances	(16,204)	(66,169)	(93,490)
Deferred acquisition costs	(11,026)	(66,874)	18,279
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	(25,185)	(14,585)	(77,053)
Reserve for loss and loss expenses	46,903	523,409	633,686
Unearned premiums	58,376	229,157	230
Insurance and reinsurance balances, net	(102,593)	(250,463)	3,218
Other items	81,202	(789)	85,442
Net cash provided by operating activities	862,182	1,096,968	1,120,617
Cash flows from investing activities:
Fixed maturities	(12,047,004)	(12,230,274)	(13,513,143)
Equity securities	(564,562)	(240,926)	(377,749)
Other investments	(75,542)	(166,835)	(110,084)
Short-term investments	(669,494)	(198,168)	(383,981)
Proceeds from the sale of:
Fixed maturities	10,799,112	10,261,256	11,144,351
Equity securities	740,900	323,423	468,473
Other investments	213,508	93,277	53,590
Short-term investments	526,460	197,690	354,924
Proceeds from redemption of fixed maturities	1,086,244	1,407,676	1,456,553
Proceeds from redemption of short-term investments	80,474	61,715	69,751
Purchase of other assets	(20,857)	(24,304)	(35,322)
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	(223,315)	26,183	10,256
Net cash used in investing activities	(154,076)	(489,287)	(862,381)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes	494,344	0	0
Redemption of senior notes	500,000us-gaap_MaturitiesOfSeniorDebt	0us-gaap_MaturitiesOfSeniorDebt	0us-gaap_MaturitiesOfSeniorDebt
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares	0	218,449	393,544
Repurchase of preferred shares	0	(100,000)	(404,073)
Repurchase of common shares	(543,202)	(472,263)	(317,687)
Dividends paid - common shares	(117,619)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(118,426)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(120,487)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Dividends paid - preferred shares	(40,088)	(39,193)	(38,228)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	5,550	20,339	5,120
Sale of shares to noncontrolling interests	25,000	50,000	0
Return of capital to noncontrolling interests	(10,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	0us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	0us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
Net cash used in financing activities	(686,015)	(441,094)	(481,811)
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash and cash equivalents	(23,587)	(3,078)	1,543
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,496)	163,509	(222,032)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	923,326	759,817	981,849
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	921,830	923,326	759,817
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid	7,654us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	22,472us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	10,897us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Interest paid	$ 68,850us-gaap_InterestPaid	$ 58,125us-gaap_InterestPaid	$ 58,125us-gaap_InterestPaid

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities, the change in fair value of investment-related derivatives not designated as hedges and any hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings in relation to investment portfolio-related fair value hedges.

No definition available.