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DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (DETAILS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 01, 2014 | Mar. 13, 2014 | Mar. 23, 2010 | Nov. 15, 2004 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 494,344 | $ 0
Redemption of senior notes |  |  |  |  | 0 | 500,000 | 0
Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Expense |  |  |  |  | 50,000 | $ 72,000 | $ 59,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 2004 AXIS Capital Holdings Limited Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | $ 500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate | 5.75% |  |  |  |  |  |
Issue price (percentage of face amount) |  |  |  | 99.785% |  |  |
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes |  |  |  | $ 496,000 |  |  |
Redemption of senior notes | $ 500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes [Member] | 2010 AXIS Specialty Finance LLC Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000 |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  | 5.875% |  |
Issue price (percentage of face amount) |  |  | 99.624% |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes |  |  | $ 495,000 |  |  |  |
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due 2019 Axis Specialty Finance PLC 2014 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount |  |  |  |  | $ 250,000 |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  | 2.65% |  |
Issue price (percentage of face amount) |  | 99.896% |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes |  | $ 248,000 |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due 2045 Axis Specialty Finance PLC 2014 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount |  |  |  |  | $ 250,000 |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  | 5.15% |  |
Issue price (percentage of face amount) |  | 99.474% |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes |  | $ 246,000 |  |  |  |  |
AXIS Specialty Finance LLC [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage ownership in subsidiary |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |
AXIS Specialty Finance PLC [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage ownership in subsidiary |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |

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