WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP LTD
For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Nov 6, 2024.
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Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Nov 6, 2024
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is an exempted Bermuda limited liability company whose principal businesses are conducted through its subsidiaries and other affiliates. The Company’s headquarters is located at 26 Reid Street, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 11, its principal executive office is located at 23 South Main Street, Suite 3B, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-2053 and its registered office is located at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 11. The Company’s website is www.whitemountains.com. The information contained on White Mountains’s website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this report.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries (collectively with the Company, “White Mountains”) and other entities required to be consolidated under GAAP. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
These interim financial statements include all adjustments considered necessary by management to fairly state the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of White Mountains. These interim financial statements may not be indicative of financial results for the full year and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reportable Segments
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains conducted its operations through four reportable segments: (1) Ark/WM Outrigger, (2) HG Global, (3) Kudu and (4) Bamboo, with its remaining operating businesses, holding companies and other assets included in Other Operations. White Mountains has made its segment determination based on consideration of the following criteria: (i) the nature of the business activities of each of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates; (ii) the manner in which the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates are organized; (iii) the existence of primary managers responsible for specific subsidiaries and affiliates; and (iv) the organization of information provided to the Company’s chief operating decision makers and its Board of Directors. See Note 14 — “Segment Information.”
The Ark/WM Outrigger segment consists of Ark Insurance Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ark”) and Outrigger Re Ltd. Segregated Account 2023-1 (“WM Outrigger Re”) (collectively with Ark, “Ark/WM Outrigger”). Ark is a specialty property and casualty insurance and reinsurance company that offers a wide range of niche insurance and reinsurance products, including property, specialty, marine & energy, accident & health and casualty. Ark underwrites select coverages through Lloyd’s Syndicates 4020 and 3902 (the “Syndicates”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Group Ark Insurance Limited (“GAIL”). White Mountains acquired a controlling ownership interest in Ark on January 1, 2021 (the “Ark Transaction”). As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains owned 72.0% of Ark on a basic shares outstanding basis (61.9% after taking account of management’s equity incentives). The remaining shares are owned by current and former employees of Ark. In the future, management rollover shareholders could earn additional shares in Ark if and to the extent that White Mountains achieves certain thresholds for its multiple of invested capital return. If fully earned, these additional shares would represent 12.3% of the shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024. The liability related to these additional shares is recorded as contingent consideration. During the fourth quarter of 2022, Ark sponsored the formation of Outrigger Re Ltd., a Bermuda company registered as a special purpose insurer and segregated accounts company, to provide reinsurance capacity to Ark. White Mountains consolidates the results of its segregated account, WM Outrigger Re, in its financial statements. See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.” As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains owned 100.0% of WM Outrigger Re’ s preferred equity.
The HG Global segment consists of HG Global Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “HG Global”) and, prior to its deconsolidation on July 1, 2024, the consolidated results of Build America Mutual Assurance Company (“BAM”) (collectively with HG Global, “HG Global/BAM”). See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.” HG Global was established to fund the startup of BAM and, through its reinsurance subsidiary, HG Re Ltd. (“HG Re”), to provide first loss protection of up to 15%-of-par outstanding for each policy assumed from BAM. HG Global, together with its subsidiaries, funded the initial capitalization of BAM through the purchase of $503.0 million of surplus notes issued by BAM (the “BAM Surplus Notes”). As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains owned 96.9% of HG Global’s preferred equity and 88.4% of its common equity.
White Mountains does not have an ownership interest in BAM. However, through June 30, 2024, White Mountains was required to consolidate BAM’s results in its financial statements because BAM is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) for which White Mountains was the primary beneficiary. BAM’s results were all attributed to noncontrolling interests. On July 1, 2024, HG Re and BAM amended the terms of the first loss reinsurance treaty (“FLRT”) with respect to certain governance rights held by HG Re. As a result, and in combination with other governance changes at BAM, White Mountains concluded that it no longer has the power to direct BAM’s activities that most significantly impact its economic performance and is no longer BAM’s primary beneficiary. Accordingly, as of July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. Through June 30, 2024, BAM’s assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests, as well as its results of operations, are presented within the HG Global segment. See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.”
The Kudu segment consists of Kudu Investment Management, LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively “Kudu”). Kudu provides capital solutions for boutique asset and wealth managers for a variety of purposes including generational ownership transfers, management buyouts, acquisition and growth finance and legacy partner liquidity. Kudu also provides strategic assistance to investees from time to time. Kudu’s capital solutions generally are structured as minority preferred equity stakes with distribution rights, typically tied to gross revenues and designed to generate immediate cash yields. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains owned 90.1% and 89.6% of Kudu’s basic units outstanding (76.8% and 76.3% on a fully-diluted, fully-converted basis).
The Bamboo segment consists of PM Holdings LLC (“Bamboo Holdings”), Bamboo Ide8 Insurance Services LLC (“Bamboo MGA”) and Ide8 Limited (“Bamboo Captive”) (collectively with Bamboo Holdings and Bamboo MGA, “Bamboo”). Bamboo is a capital-light, tech- and data-enabled insurance distribution platform providing homeowners’ insurance and related products to the residential property market in California. Bamboo operates primarily through Bamboo MGA, its full-service managing general agent (“MGA”) business, where the company manages all aspects of the placement process on behalf of its fronting and reinsurance partners, including product development, marketing, underwriting, policy issuance and claims oversight, and it earns commissions based on the volume and profitability of the insurance that it places. It offers both admitted and non-admitted products. Bamboo also operates two separate but integrated businesses: (i) a retail agency, within Bamboo MGA, offering ancillary products on behalf of third parties and (ii) Bamboo Captive, a Bermuda-domiciled captive reinsurer that participates in the underwriting risk of Bamboo’s MGA programs to align interests with reinsurance partners. On January 2, 2024, White Mountains acquired a controlling interest in Bamboo. See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.” As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains owned 72.8% of the basic units outstanding of Bamboo (63.7% on a fully-diluted, fully-converted basis).
White Mountains’s other operations consist of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, White Mountains Capital, LLC (“WM Capital”), its other intermediate holding companies, its wholly-owned investment management subsidiary, White Mountains Advisors LLC (“WM Advisors”), investment assets managed by WM Advisors, its interests in MediaAlpha, Inc. (“MediaAlpha”), DavidShield PassportCard Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “PassportCard/DavidShield”), Elementum Holdings LP (“Elementum”), certain other consolidated and unconsolidated entities (“Other Operating Businesses”) and certain other assets (collectively, “Other Operations”).
On October 25, 2023, White Mountains announced the launch of White Mountains Partners LLC (“WTM Partners”), which will acquire businesses in non-insurance, non-financial services sectors including essential services, light industrial and specialty consumer. White Mountains expects to deploy up to $500.0 million of equity capital through WTM Partners over time. WTM Partners is included within Other Operations.
In April 2024, White Mountains committed to provide up to $30.0 million to a Bermuda special purpose collateralized reinsurance vehicle that provides reinsurance capacity to Bamboo (“Bamboo CRV”). During the second quarter of 2024, White Mountains capitalized Bamboo CRV by purchasing $12.1 million of preference shares that were deposited into a collateral trust account. Bamboo CRV entered into a collateralized quota share agreement with one of Bamboo’s fronting partners to provide reinsurance protection on Bamboo’s admitted and non-admitted business written in the 2024 treaty year. Bamboo CRV is included within Other Operations.
Significant Accounting Policies
In addition to the following, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion regarding White Mountains’s significant accounting policies.
BAM Surplus Notes
Upon election of the fair value option, White Mountains made the accounting policy election to present the interest income from the BAM Surplus Notes separately from the change in fair value of the BAM Surplus Notes.
Revenue Recognition
Bamboo’s revenues consist primarily of commission and fee revenues for placement of insurance policies. Commission and fee revenues are measured based on the contractual rates with insurance carriers, net of any amounts expected to be uncollectible and any amounts associated with expected policy cancellations and adjustments, and are recognized when contractual performance obligations have been fulfilled. Bamboo’s primary contractual performance obligations are generally satisfied upon the issuance of an insurance policy.
Bamboo’s premiums, commissions and fees receivable consist of insurance premiums and fees receivable from customers and commissions receivable from insurance carriers, net of a provision for amounts estimated to be uncollectible and any amounts associated with expected policy cancellations and adjustments.
Deferred revenues associated with unsatisfied performance obligations are recognized within other liabilities.
Broker Commission Expenses
Bamboo’s broker commission expense consists of commissions paid to sub-agents and brokers. Broker commission expense is measured in accordance with contractual terms and recognized when incurred, which is generally at the policy issuance date.
Note 2. Significant Transactions
Bamboo Transaction
On October 19, 2023, White Mountains entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Bamboo Merger Agreement”) with Bamboo MGA and John Chu, as the unitholders’ representative. Under the terms of the Bamboo Merger Agreement, White Mountains’s wholly-owned subsidiary, WM Pierce Merger Sub LLC, agreed to merge with and into Bamboo MGA, with Bamboo MGA continuing as the surviving company (the “Bamboo Merger”). Concurrently with the execution of the Bamboo Merger Agreement, certain Bamboo management unitholders agreed to roll over the majority of their existing equity in Bamboo MGA into Bamboo Holdings. White Mountains also agreed to make an equity contribution to Bamboo immediately following the Bamboo Merger (together with the Bamboo Merger and the rollover transactions, the “Bamboo Transaction”).
On January 2, 2024, White Mountains closed the Bamboo Transaction in accordance with the terms of the Bamboo Merger Agreement, investing $296.7 million of equity into Bamboo, which included the contribution of $36.0 million to retire Bamboo’s legacy credit facility and the contribution of $20.0 million of primary capital. The consideration is subject to customary purchase price adjustments. At closing, White Mountains owned 72.8% of Bamboo on a basic shares outstanding basis (63.7% on a fully-diluted/fully-converted basis, taking account of management’s equity incentives), while Bamboo management owned 16.1% of basic shares outstanding (26.6% on a fully-diluted/fully-converted basis).
White Mountains recognized total assets acquired related to the Bamboo Transaction of $479.5 million, total liabilities assumed of $91.7 million and noncontrolling interest of $111.1 million reflecting acquisition date fair values. Total assets acquired included $371.4 million of goodwill and other intangible assets. In connection with the acquisition, White Mountains incurred transaction costs of $4.0 million in Other Operations, of which $0.3 million were expensed in the first quarter of 2024.
The following presents additional details of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the January 2, 2024 acquisition date:
| Millions | As of January 2, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed maturity investments, at fair value | $8.2 | |
| Short-term investments, at fair value | 9.3 | |
| Cash (restricted $37.0) | 44.9 | (1) |
| Premiums and commissions receivable | 38.0 | |
| Other assets | 7.7 | |
| Total tangible assets | 108.1 | |
| Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | (9.3) | |
| Unearned insurance premiums | (20.1) | |
| Premiums and commissions payable | (49.2) | |
| Other liabilities | (13.1) | |
| Total tangible liabilities | (91.7) | |
| Net tangible assets acquired | 16.4 | |
| Goodwill | 270.4 | |
| Other intangible assets | 101.0 | |
| Total goodwill and other intangible assets | 371.4 | |
| Net assets acquired | $387.8 | |
(1) Cash excludes the White Mountains cash contribution of $20.0 as part of the Bamboo Transaction, which was not part of the purchase consideration.
Net tangible assets acquired and the resulting goodwill and other intangible assets were recorded at fair value using Level 3 inputs. The majority of the tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their carrying values, as their carrying values approximated their fair values due to their short-term nature. The fair values of other intangible assets were internally estimated based primarily on the income approach. The income approach estimates fair value based on the present value of the cash flows that the assets are expected to generate in the future. White Mountains developed internal estimates for the expected future cash flows and discount rates used in the present value calculations. See Note 4 — “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”
The value of the noncontrolling interest is recorded at the acquisition date fair value, based on the valuation implied in the Bamboo Transaction.
Bamboo’s segment income and expenses for three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are presented in Note 14 — “Segment Information.”
BAM
On July 1, 2024, HG Re and BAM amended the terms of the FLRT with respect to certain governance rights held by HG Re. As a result, and in combination with other governance changes at BAM, White Mountains concluded that it no longer has the power to direct BAM’s activities that most significantly impact its economic performance and is no longer BAM’s primary beneficiary. Accordingly, as of July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. See Note 15 — “Variable Interest Entities.”Through June 30, 2024, BAM’s assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests, as well as its results of operations, are presented within the HG Global segment.
Upon deconsolidation, the BAM Surplus Notes met the criteria to be accounted for under the fair value option, which White Mountains elected. Accordingly, the BAM Surplus Notes, including accrued interest receivable, were measured at an estimated fair value of $387.4 million as of July 1, 2024 resulting in an unrealized loss on deconsolidation of $114.5 million. This fair value includes the impact of a discount for the time value of money, which was previously included in adjusted book value per share as a non-GAAP adjustment to book value per share. See Note 10 — “Municipal Bond Guarantee Reinsurance”for the valuation techniques and inputs utilized to determine the fair value of the BAM Surplus Notes.
WM Outrigger Re
During the fourth quarter of 2022, Ark sponsored the formation of Outrigger Re Ltd., a Bermuda company registered as a special purpose insurer and segregated accounts company, to provide reinsurance capacity to Ark. Outrigger Re Ltd. was capitalized with $250.0 million of preference shares for business written in the 2023 underwriting year, of which White Mountains contributed $205.0 million. The remaining capital was provided by unrelated third-party investors. Outrigger Re Ltd. entered into collateralized quota share agreements with GAIL to provide reinsurance protection on Ark’s Bermuda global property catastrophe excess of loss portfolio written in the 2023 underwriting year. The proceeds from the issuance of the preference shares were deposited into collateral trust accounts to fund any potential obligations under the reinsurance agreements with GAIL. Outrigger Re Ltd.’s obligations under the reinsurance agreements with GAIL are subject to an aggregate limit equal to the assets in the collateral trusts at any point in time. The terms of the reinsurance agreements are renewable upon the mutual agreement of Ark and the applicable preference shareholder of Outrigger Re Ltd.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, Ark renewed Outrigger Re Ltd. for the 2024 underwriting year with $250.0 million of capital, of which White Mountains rolled over $130.0 million from its commitment to the 2023 underwriting year. The remaining capital was provided by new and continuing unrelated third-party investors.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, short-term investments of $199.9 million and $265.3 million were held in a collateral trust account required to be maintained in relation to WM Outrigger Re’s reinsurance agreements with GAIL.
White Mountains owns 100% of the preference shares linked to its segregated account, WM Outrigger Re. White Mountains consolidates WM Outrigger Re’s results in its financial statements. WM Outrigger Re’s quota share reinsurance agreements with GAIL eliminate in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, White Mountains received a return of capital of $68.1 million from WM Outrigger Re as a result of its reduced capital commitment relating to the 2024 underwriting year. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains received an additional $64.9 million from WM Outrigger Re, reflecting an initial profit distribution from the 2023 underwriting year.
Note 3. Investment Securities
White Mountains’s portfolio of investment securities held for general investment purposes consists of fixed maturity investments, short-term investments, common equity securities, its investment in MediaAlpha and other long-term investments. White Mountains’s portfolio of fixed maturity investments, including those within short-term investments, is classified as trading securities. Trading securities are reported at fair value as of the balance sheet date. Short-term investments also include interest-bearing money market funds and certificates of deposit that are carried at fair value. White Mountains’s portfolio of common equity securities, its investment in MediaAlpha and other long-term investments are measured at fair value. Other long-term investments consist primarily of unconsolidated entities, Kudu’s Participation Contracts, private equity funds and hedge funds, a bank loan fund, Lloyd’s trust deposits, insurance-linked securities (“ILS”) funds and private debt instruments. White Mountains has taken the fair value option for its equity method eligible investments. See Note 16 —“Equity Method Eligible Investments”. Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) are reported in pre-tax revenues.
Effective July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. Through June 30, 2024, White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements included BAM’s fixed income portfolio and related investment results. See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.”
Net Investment Income
White Mountains’s net investment income is comprised primarily of interest income associated with White Mountains’s fixed maturity investments and short-term investments, dividend income from common equity securities and distributions from other long-term investments.
The following table presents pre-tax net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Fixed maturity investments | $23.3 | $16.6 | $67.2 | $46.6 |
| Short-term investments | 13.2 | 13.8 | 45.3 | 34.8 |
| Common equity securities | .7 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 3.6 |
| Other long-term investments | 21.2 | 17.4 | 60.0 | 46.8 |
| Total investment income | 58.4 | 48.8 | 174.3 | 131.8 |
| Third-party investment expenses | (.7) | (.7) | (2.2) | (1.7) |
| Net investment income, pre-tax | $57.7 | $48.1 | $172.1 | $130.1 |
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)
The following table presents net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Realized investment gains (losses) | ||||
| Fixed maturity investments | $(.5) | $(.3) | $(9.2) | $(1.7) |
| Short-term investments | — | (.2) | (.3) | (.3) |
| Common equity securities | — | 1.2 | 3.5 | 13.8 |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | — | — | 91.2 | — |
| Other long-term investments | 4.8 | .6 | 34.0 | 48.9 |
| Net realized investment gains (losses) | 4.3 | 1.3 | 119.2 | 60.7 |
| Unrealized investment gains (losses) | ||||
| Fixed maturity investments | 56.9 | (27.9) | 49.7 | (9.7) |
| Short-term investments | .5 | (.6) | (.5) | .7 |
| Common equity securities | 24.7 | (18.5) | 63.6 | 29.8 |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | 88.2 | (46.8) | 68.5 | (38.9) |
| Other long-term investments | 49.2 | 34.2 | 89.9 | 108.6 |
| Net unrealized investment gains (losses) | 219.5 | (59.6) | 271.2 | 90.5 |
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) (1) | $223.8 | $(58.3) | $390.4 | $151.2 |
| Fixed maturity and short-term investments | ||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) | $56.9 | $(29.0) | $39.7 | $(11.0) |
| Less: net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities sold during the period | 1.2 | 2.5 | .8 | 4.7 |
| Net unrealized investment gains (losses) recognized during the period on investment securities held at the end of the period | $55.7 | $(31.5) | $38.9 | $(15.7) |
| Common equity securities and investment in MediaAlpha | ||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) on common equity securities | $24.7 | $(17.3) | $67.1 | $43.6 |
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from investment in MediaAlpha | 88.2 | (46.8) | 159.7 | (38.9) |
| Total net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) | 112.9 | (64.1) | 226.8 | 4.7 |
| Less: net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities sold during the period | — | (.1) | 35.4 | 3.7 |
| Net unrealized investment gains (losses) recognized during the period on investment securities held at the end of the period | $112.9 | $(64.0) | $191.4 | $1.0 |
(1) For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, includes $18.9 and $(12.8) of net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) related to foreign currency exchange. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, includes $7.1 and $(1.9) of net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) related to foreign currency exchange.
The following table presents total net unrealized gains (losses) attributable to Level 3 investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 for investments still held at the end of the period:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Total net unrealized investment gains on other long-term investments held at the end of the period, pre-tax | $31.3 | $24.6 | $82.6 | $76.0 |
Investment Holdings
The following tables present the cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized investment gains (losses), net foreign currency gains (losses) and carrying value of White Mountains’s fixed maturity investments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Millions | Cost orAmortizedCost | GrossUnrealizedGains | GrossUnrealizedLosses | Net ForeignCurrency Gains (Losses) | CarryingValue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Government and agency obligations | $446.0 | $4.8 | $(.6) | $— | $450.2 |
| Debt securities issued by corporations | 1,318.3 | 16.1 | (24.4) | .9 | 1,310.9 |
| Municipal obligations | 3.2 | .1 | — | — | 3.3 |
| Mortgage and asset-backed securities | 379.0 | 5.2 | (16.1) | — | 368.1 |
| Collateralized loan obligations | 287.6 | 1.2 | (.4) | 1.4 | 289.8 |
| Total fixed maturity investments | $2,434.1 | $27.4 | $(41.5) | $2.3 | $2,422.3 |
| Millions | Cost orAmortizedCost | GrossUnrealizedGains | GrossUnrealizedLosses | Net ForeignCurrencyGains (Losses) | CarryingValue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Government and agency obligations | $209.0 | $.3 | $(4.4) | $— | $204.9 |
| Debt securities issued by corporations | 1,085.9 | 5.6 | (45.4) | (1.1) | 1,045.0 |
| Municipal obligations | 275.1 | .9 | (15.1) | — | 260.9 |
| Mortgage and asset-backed securities | 417.2 | 2.0 | (29.8) | — | 389.4 |
| Collateralized loan obligations | 211.2 | .4 | (2.4) | (.1) | 209.1 |
| Total fixed maturity investments | $2,198.4 | $9.2 | $(97.1) | $(1.2) | $2,109.3 |
The following table presents the cost or amortized cost and carrying value of White Mountains’s fixed maturity investments by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2024. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without penalties.
| Millions | Cost or Amortized Cost | Carrying Value |
|---|---|---|
| Due in one year or less | $237.0 | $235.1 |
| Due after one year through five years | 1,277.8 | 1,280.7 |
| Due after five years through ten years | 228.4 | 223.3 |
| Due after ten years | 24.2 | 25.3 |
| Mortgage and asset-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations | 666.7 | 657.9 |
| Total fixed maturity investments | $2,434.1 | $2,422.3 |
The following tables present the cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized investment gains (losses), net foreign currency gains (losses) and carrying value of common equity securities, White Mountains’s investment in MediaAlpha and other long-term investments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Millions | Cost orAmortizedCost | GrossUnrealizedGains | GrossUnrealizedLosses | Net ForeignCurrency Gains (Losses) | CarryingValue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common equity securities | $537.0 | $120.2 | $— | $(1.8) | $655.4 |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | $59.2 | $264.2 | $— | $— | $323.4 |
| Other long-term investments | $1,638.6 | $547.9 | $(108.3) | $(7.1) | $2,071.1 |
| Millions | Cost orAmortizedCost | GrossUnrealizedGains | GrossUnrealizedLosses | Net ForeignCurrencyGains (Losses) | CarryingValue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common equity securities | $483.5 | $62.3 | $(1.2) | $(6.2) | $538.4 |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | $59.2 | $195.7 | $— | $— | $254.9 |
| Other long-term investments | $1,655.7 | $446.3 | $(94.5) | $(9.3) | $1,998.2 |
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value measurements are categorized into a hierarchy that distinguishes between inputs based on market data from independent sources (observable inputs) and a reporting entity’s internal assumptions based upon the best information available when external market data is limited or unavailable (unobservable inputs). Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities have the highest priority (Level 1), followed by observable inputs other than quoted prices, including prices for similar but not identical assets or liabilities (Level 2) and unobservable inputs, including the reporting entity’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use, having the lowest priority (Level 3). See Note 17 — “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.”
Fair Value Measurement By Level
The following tables present White Mountains’s fair value measurements for investments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 by level. The major security types were based on the legal form of the securities. White Mountains has disaggregated its fixed maturity investments based on the issuing entity type, which impacts credit quality, with debt securities issued by U.S. government entities carrying minimal credit risk, while the credit and other risks associated with other issuers, such as corporations, municipalities or entities issuing mortgage and asset-backed securities vary depending on the nature of the issuing entity type. White Mountains further disaggregates debt securities issued by corporations by industry sector because investors often reference commonly used benchmarks and their subsectors to monitor risk and performance. Accordingly, White Mountains has further disaggregated this asset class into subclasses based on the similar sectors and industry classifications it uses to evaluate investment risk and performance against commonly used benchmarks, such as the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Intermediate Aggregate.
| Millions | Fair Value | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed maturity investments: | ||||
| U.S. Government and agency obligations | $450.2 | $449.4 | $.8 | $— |
| Debt securities issued by corporations: | ||||
| Financials | 399.0 | — | 399.0 | — |
| Consumer | 253.5 | — | 253.5 | — |
| Industrial | 149.2 | — | 149.2 | — |
| Healthcare | 148.0 | — | 148.0 | — |
| Technology | 109.8 | — | 109.8 | — |
| Utilities | 73.0 | — | 73.0 | — |
| Communications | 60.9 | — | 60.9 | — |
| Energy | 62.9 | — | 62.9 | — |
| Materials | 54.6 | — | 54.6 | — |
| Total debt securities issued by corporations | 1,310.9 | — | 1,310.9 | — |
| Municipal obligations | 3.3 | — | 3.3 | — |
| Mortgage and asset-backed securities | 368.1 | — | 368.1 | — |
| Collateralized loan obligations | 289.8 | — | 289.8 | — |
| Total fixed maturity investments | 2,422.3 | 449.4 | 1,972.9 | — |
| Short-term investments | 890.3 | 880.8 | 9.5 | — |
| Common equity securities: | ||||
| Exchange-traded funds | 219.8 | 219.8 | — | — |
| Other (1) | 435.6 | — | 435.6 | — |
| Total common equity securities | 655.4 | 219.8 | 435.6 | — |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | 323.4 | 323.4 | — | — |
| Other long-term investments | 1,205.3 | — | 25.5 | 1,179.8 |
| Other long-term investments — net asset value (2) | 865.8 | — | — | — |
| Total other long-term investments | 2,071.1 | — | 25.5 | 1,179.8 |
| Total investments | $6,362.5 | $1,873.4 | $2,443.5 | $1,179.8 |
(1) Consists of investments in listed funds that predominantly invest in international equities.
(2) Consists of private equity funds and hedge funds, a bank loan fund, Lloyd’s trust deposits and ILS funds for which fair value is measured using net asset value (“NAV”) as a practical expedient. Investments for which fair value is measured at NAV are not classified within the fair value hierarchy.
| Millions | Fair Value | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed maturity investments: | ||||
| U.S. Government and agency obligations | $204.9 | $204.9 | $— | $— |
| Debt securities issued by corporations: | ||||
| Financials | 309.8 | — | 309.8 | — |
| Consumer | 214.6 | — | 214.6 | — |
| Industrial | 121.6 | — | 121.6 | — |
| Healthcare | 121.3 | — | 121.3 | — |
| Technology | 108.9 | — | 108.9 | — |
| Utilities | 70.2 | — | 70.2 | — |
| Communications | 46.3 | — | 46.3 | — |
| Energy | 28.9 | — | 28.9 | — |
| Materials | 23.4 | — | 23.4 | — |
| Total debt securities issued by corporations | 1,045.0 | — | 1,045.0 | — |
| Municipal obligations | 260.9 | — | 260.9 | — |
| Mortgage and asset-backed securities | 389.4 | — | 389.4 | — |
| Collateralized loan obligations | 209.1 | — | 209.1 | — |
| Total fixed maturity investments | 2,109.3 | 204.9 | 1,904.4 | — |
| Short-term investments | 1,487.9 | 1,457.6 | 30.3 | — |
| Common equity securities: | ||||
| Exchange-traded funds | 137.8 | 137.8 | — | — |
| Other (1) | 400.6 | — | 400.6 | — |
| Total common equity securities | 538.4 | 137.8 | 400.6 | — |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | 254.9 | 254.9 | — | — |
| Other long-term investments | 1,164.4 | — | 26.2 | 1,138.2 |
| Other long-term investments — NAV (2) | 833.8 | — | — | — |
| Total other long-term investments | 1,998.2 | — | 26.2 | 1,138.2 |
| Total investments | $6,388.7 | $2,055.2 | $2,361.5 | $1,138.2 |
(1) Consists of investments in listed funds that predominantly invest in international equities.
(2) Consists of private equity funds and hedge funds, a bank loan fund, Lloyd’s trust deposits and ILS funds for which fair value is measured using NAV as a practical expedient. Investments for which fair value is measured at NAV are not classified within the fair value hierarchy.
Investments Held on Deposit or as Collateral
Lloyd’s trust deposits are generally required of Lloyd's syndicates to protect policyholders in non-U.K. markets and are pledged into Lloyd’s trust accounts to provide a portion of the capital needed to support obligations at Lloyd’s. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Ark held Lloyd’s trust deposits with a fair value of $172.7 million and $158.0 million.
The underwriting capacity of a member of Lloyd’s must be supported by providing a deposit (“Funds at Lloyd’s”) in the form of cash, securities or letters of credit in an amount determined by Lloyd’s. The amount of such deposit is calculated for each member through an annual capital adequacy determination by Lloyd’s. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the fair value of Ark’s Funds at Lloyd’s investment deposits totaled $356.8 million and $344.7 million.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Ark held additional investments on deposit or as collateral for insurance regulators and reinsurance counterparties of $215.8 million and $244.5 million.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Ark had $208.0 million and $198.9 million of fixed maturity and short-term investments pledged as collateral under uncommitted standby letters of credit. See Note 7 — “Debt.”
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, short-term investments of $199.9 million and $265.3 million were held in a collateral trust account required to be maintained in relation to WM Outrigger Re’s reinsurance agreements with GAIL.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, investments of $641.4 million and $585.6 million were held in trusts required to be maintained in relation to HG Re’s reinsurance agreements with BAM.
HG Global is required to maintain an interest reserve account in connection with its senior notes issued in 2022. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the fair value of the interest reserve account, which is included in short-term investments, was $29.3 million and $30.4 million. See Note 7 — “Debt.”
Kudu is required to maintain an interest reserve account in connection with its credit facility. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the interest reserve account of $14.8 million and $14.9 million was held in short-term investments. See Note 7 - “Debt.”
As of September 30, 2024, fixed maturity and short-term investments of $32.9 million were held as collateral required to be maintained in relation to Bamboo Captive’s reinsurance agreements.
As of September 30, 2024, short-term investments of $12.1 million were held as collateral required to be maintained in relation to Bamboo CRV’s reinsurance agreements.
Debt Securities Issued by Corporations
The following table presents the credit ratings of debt securities issued by corporations held in White Mountains’s investment portfolio as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Fair Value at | ||
|---|---|---|
| Millions | September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 |
| AAA | $15.0 | $11.5 |
| AA | 82.3 | 83.8 |
| A | 577.6 | 552.4 |
| BBB | 625.5 | 390.9 |
| BB | 3.2 | — |
| Other | 7.3 | 6.4 |
| Debt securities issued by corporations (1) | $1,310.9 | $1,045.0 |
(1)Credit ratings are based upon issuer credit ratings provided by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“Standard & Poor’s”), or if unrated by Standard & Poor’s, long-term obligation ratings provided by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc.
Mortgage and Asset-backed Securities and Collateralized Loan Obligations
The following table presents the fair value of White Mountains’s mortgage and asset-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | Fair Value | Level 2 | Level 3 | Fair Value | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Mortgage-backed securities: | ||||||
| Agency: | ||||||
| FNMA | $194.8 | $194.8 | $— | $198.8 | $198.8 | $— |
| FHLMC | 142.1 | 142.1 | — | 137.2 | 137.2 | — |
| GNMA | 26.0 | 26.0 | — | 30.2 | 30.2 | — |
| Total agency (1) | 362.9 | 362.9 | — | 366.2 | 366.2 | — |
| Non-agency: | ||||||
| Commercial | .4 | .4 | — | — | — | — |
| Residential | .1 | .1 | — | .2 | .2 | — |
| Total non-agency | .5 | .5 | — | .2 | .2 | — |
| Total mortgage-backed securities | 363.4 | 363.4 | — | 366.4 | 366.4 | — |
| Other asset-backed securities: | ||||||
| Vehicle receivables | 1.7 | 1.7 | — | 17.2 | 17.2 | — |
| Credit card receivables | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | 3.3 | 3.3 | — |
| Other | 1.7 | 1.7 | — | 2.5 | 2.5 | — |
| Total other asset-backed securities | 4.7 | 4.7 | — | 23.0 | 23.0 | — |
| Total mortgage and asset-backed securities | 368.1 | 368.1 | — | 389.4 | 389.4 | — |
| Collateralized loan obligations | 289.8 | 289.8 | — | 209.1 | 209.1 | — |
| Total mortgage and asset-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations | $657.9 | $657.9 | $— | $598.5 | $598.5 | $— |
(1)Represents publicly traded mortgage-backed securities which carry the full faith and credit guaranty of the U.S. Government (i.e., GNMA) or are guaranteed by a government sponsored entity (i.e., FNMA, FHLMC).
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains’s investment portfolio included $289.8 million and $209.1 million of collateralized loan obligations that are within the senior tranches of their respective fund securitization structures. All of White Mountains’s collateral loan obligations were rated AAA or AA as of September 30, 2024.
Investment in MediaAlpha
White Mountains’s investment in MediaAlpha is accounted for at fair value based on the publicly traded share price of MediaAlpha’s common stock and is presented as a separate line item on the balance sheet.
During the second quarter of 2023, White Mountains completed a tender offer to purchase 5.9 million additional shares of MediaAlpha at a purchase price of $10.00 per share. During the second quarter of 2024, MediaAlpha completed a secondary offering of 7.6 million shares at $19.00 per share ($18.24 per share net of underwriting fees). In the secondary offering, White Mountains sold 5.0 million shares for net proceeds of $91.2 million.
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains owned 17.9 million shares of MediaAlpha, representing a 26.8% basic ownership interest (25.4% on a fully-diluted/fully-converted basis). See Note 16 — “Equity Method Eligible Investments.” At White Mountains’s September 30, 2024 level of ownership, each $1.00 per share increase or decrease in the share price of MediaAlpha will result in an approximate $7.00 per share increase or decrease in White Mountains’s book value per share. At the September 30, 2024 share price of $18.11 per share, the fair value of White Mountains’s investment in MediaAlpha was $323.4 million.
Other Long-Term Investments
The following tables presents the carrying values of White Mountains’s other long-term investments by reportable segment as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Millions | Ark/ WM Outrigger | Kudu | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kudu’s Participation Contracts | $— | $930.6 | $— | $930.6 |
| PassportCard/DavidShield | — | — | 150.0 | 150.0 |
| Elementum | — | — | 35.0 | 35.0 |
| Other unconsolidated entities (1) | — | — | 56.6 | 56.6 |
| Total unconsolidated entities | — | 930.6 | 241.6 | 1,172.2 |
| Private equity funds and hedge funds | 81.9 | — | 267.1 | 349.0 |
| Bank loan fund | 258.9 | — | — | 258.9 |
| Lloyd’s trust deposits | 172.7 | — | — | 172.7 |
| ILS funds | — | — | 71.2 | 71.2 |
| Private debt instruments | — | 6.2 | 9.6 | 15.8 |
| Other | 31.3 | — | — | 31.3 |
| Total other long-term investments | $544.8 | $936.8 | $589.5 | $2,071.1 |
(1)Includes White Mountains’s noncontrolling equity interests in certain preferred securities, private common equity securities, limited liability company units and Simple Agreement for Future Equity (“SAFE”) investments.
| Millions | Ark/ WM Outrigger | Kudu | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kudu’s Participation Contracts | $— | $890.5 | $— | $890.5 |
| PassportCard/DavidShield | — | — | 150.0 | 150.0 |
| Elementum | — | — | 35.0 | 35.0 |
| Other unconsolidated entities (1) | — | — | 48.1 | 48.1 |
| Total unconsolidated entities | — | 890.5 | 233.1 | 1,123.6 |
| Private equity funds and hedge funds | 55.5 | — | 257.4 | 312.9 |
| Bank loan fund | 194.4 | — | — | 194.4 |
| Lloyd’s trust deposits | 158.0 | — | — | 158.0 |
| ILS funds | — | — | 160.5 | 160.5 |
| Private debt instruments | — | 5.8 | 10.0 | 15.8 |
| Other | 33.0 | — | — | 33.0 |
| Total other long-term investments | $440.9 | $896.3 | $661.0 | $1,998.2 |
(1)Includes White Mountains’s noncontrolling equity interests in certain preferred securities, private common equity securities, limited liability company units and Simple Agreement for Future Equity (“SAFE”) investments.
Private Equity Funds and Hedge Funds
White Mountains invests in private equity funds and hedge funds, which are included in other long-term investments. The fair value of these investments is generally estimated using the NAV of the funds. As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains held investments inseventeen private equity funds andtwo hedge funds. The largest investment in a single private equity fund or hedge fund was $56.6 million and $57.3 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The following table presents the fair value of investments and unfunded commitments in private equity funds and hedge funds by investment objective and sector as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | Fair Value | UnfundedCommitments | Fair Value | UnfundedCommitments |
| Private equity funds | ||||
| Aerospace/Defense/Government | $169.0 | $46.8 | $157.2 | $17.4 |
| Financial services | 89.3 | 36.1 | 87.5 | 37.8 |
| Real estate | 3.7 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 2.5 |
| Total private equity funds | 262.0 | 85.3 | 248.6 | 57.7 |
| Hedge funds | ||||
| Long/short equity financials and business services | 56.5 | — | 54.4 | — |
| Long/short all cap global | 30.5 | — | — | — |
| European small/mid cap | — | — | 9.9 | — |
| Total hedge funds | 87.0 | — | 64.3 | — |
| Total private equity funds and hedge funds included in other long-term investments | $349.0 | $85.3 | $312.9 | $57.7 |
Investments in private equity funds are generally subject to a lock-up period during which investors may not request a redemption. Distributions prior to the expected termination date of the fund may be limited to dividends or proceeds arising from the liquidation of the fund’s underlying investments. In addition, certain private equity funds have the option to extend the lock-up period.
The following table presents investments in private equity funds that were subject to lock-up periods as of September 30, 2024:
| Millions | 1 – 3 years | 3 – 5 years | 5 – 10 years | >10 years | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private equity funds — expected lock-up period remaining | $18.5 | $55.9 | $184.5 | $3.1 | $262.0 |
Investors in private equity funds are generally subject to indemnification obligations outside of the capital commitment period and prior to the winding up of the fund. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains is not aware of any indemnification claims relating to its investments in private equity funds.
Redemption of investments in most hedge funds is subject to restrictions, including lock-up periods where no redemptions or withdrawals are allowed, restrictions on redemption frequency and advance notice periods for redemptions. Amounts requested for redemptions remain subject to market fluctuations until the redemption effective date, which generally falls at the end of the defined redemption period. White Mountains’s hedge fund investments are subject to monthly and quarterly restrictions on redemptions and advance written redemption notice period requirements that range between 45 and 90 calendar days.
Bank Loan Fund
White Mountains’s other long-term investments include a bank loan fund with a fair value of $258.9 million and $194.4 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The fair value of this investment is estimated using the NAV of the fund. The bank loan fund’s investment objective is to provide, on an unleveraged basis, high current income consistent with preservation of capital and low duration. The bank loan fund primarily invests in a broad portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated, non-investment grade, floating-rate senior secured loans and may invest in other financial instruments, such as secured and unsecured corporate debt, credit default swaps, reverse repurchase agreements, synthetic indices and cash and cash equivalents.
The investment in the bank loan fund is subject to restrictions on redemption frequency and advance notice periods for redemptions. Amounts requested for redemptions remain subject to market fluctuations until the redemption effective date, which generally falls at the end of the defined redemption period. White Mountains may redeem all or a portion of its bank loan fund investment as of any calendar month-end upon 15 calendar days advanced written notice.
Lloyd’s Trust Deposits
White Mountains’s other long-term investments include Lloyd’s trust deposits, which consist of non-U.K. deposits and Canadian comingled pooled funds. The Lloyd’s trust deposits invest primarily in short-term government securities, agency securities and corporate bonds held in trusts that are managed by Lloyd's of London. These investments are generally required of Lloyd's syndicates to protect policyholders in non-U.K. markets and are pledged into Lloyd’s trust accounts to provide a portion of the capital needed to support obligations at Lloyd’s. The fair value of the Lloyd’s trust deposits is generally estimated using the NAV of the funds. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains held Lloyd’s trust deposits with a fair value of $172.7 million and $158.0 million.
Insurance-Linked Securities Funds
White Mountains’s other long-term investments include ILS fund investments. The fair value of these investments is generally estimated using the NAV of the funds. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, White Mountains held investments in ILS funds with a fair value of $71.2 million and $160.5 million.
Investments in ILS funds are generally subject to restrictions, including lock-up periods where no redemptions or withdrawals are allowed, non-renewal clauses, restrictions on redemption frequency and advance notice periods for redemptions. From time to time, natural catastrophe, liquidity, market or other events will occur that make the determination of fair value for underlying investments in ILS funds less certain due to the potential for loss development. In such circumstances, the impacted investments may be subject to additional lock-up provisions.
ILS funds are typically subject to monthly and annual restrictions on redemptions and advance redemption notice period requirements that range between 30 and 90 calendar days. Amounts requested for redemption remain subject to market fluctuations until the redemption effective date, which is generally at the end of the defined redemption period or when the underlying investment has fully matured or been commuted.
Rollforward of Level 3 Investments
Level 3 measurements as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 consist of securities for which the estimated fair value has not been determined based upon quoted market price inputs for identical or similar securities. The following table presents the changes in White Mountains’s fair value measurements for Level 3 investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Level 3 Investments | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Millions · Other Long-termInvestments · Other Long-termInvestments | |||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $1,138.2 | Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $911.6 |
| Net realized and unrealized gains | 79.9 | Net realized and unrealized gains | 74.0 |
| Purchases and contributions | 3.1 | Purchases and contributions | 200.1 |
| Sales and distributions | (41.4) | Sales and distributions | (110.4) |
| Transfers in | — | Transfers in | — |
| Transfers out | — | Transfers out | — |
| Balance as of September 30, 2024 | $1,179.8 | Balance as of September 30, 2023 | $1,075.3 |
Fair Value Measurements — Transfers Between Levels - Three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Transfers between levels are recorded using the fair value measurement as of the end of the quarterly period in which the event or change in circumstance giving rise to the transfer occurred.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there were no fixed maturity investments or other long-term investments classified as Level 3 measurements in the prior period that were transferred to Level 2 measurements.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there were no fixed maturity investments or other long-term investments classified as Level 2 measurements in the prior period that were transferred to Level 3 measurements.
Significant Unobservable Inputs
The following tables present significant unobservable inputs used in estimating the fair value of White Mountains’s other long-term investments, classified within Level 3 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The tables below exclude $18.7 million and $19.0 million of Level 3 other long-term investments generally valued based on recent or expected transaction prices. The fair value of investments in private equity funds and hedge funds, bank loan funds, Lloyd’s trust deposits and ILS funds are generally estimated using the NAV of the funds.
| $ in Millions | September 30, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description · Valuation Technique(s) (1) · Fair Value (2) · Unobservable Inputs | ||||
| Discount Rate (5) · Terminal Cash Flow Exit Multiple (x) or Terminal Revenue Growth Rate (%) (5) | ||||
| Kudu’s Participation Contracts (3)(4) | Discounted cash flow | $930.6 | 16% - 24% | 7x - 22x |
| PassportCard/DavidShield | Discounted cash flow | $150.0 | 24% | 4% |
| Elementum | Discounted cash flow | $35.0 | 21% | 4% |
| Preferred Securities | Discounted cash flow | $30.1 | 7% | N/A |
| Private debt instruments | Discounted cash flow | $15.4 | 11% - 12% | N/A |
(1) Key inputs to the discounted cash flow analysis generally include projections of future revenue and earnings, discount rates and terminal exit multiples or growth rates.
(2) Includes the net unrealized investment gains (losses) associated with foreign currency; foreign currency effects based on observable inputs.
(3) Since Kudu’s Participation Contracts are not subject to corporate taxes within Kudu Investment Management, LLC, pre-tax discount rates are applied to pre-tax cash flows in determining fair values. The weighted average discount rate and weighted average terminal cash flow exit multiple applied to Kudu’s Participation Contracts was 19% and 14 x.
(4) In the first nine months of 2024, Kudu deployed a total of $0.2 into existing Participation Contracts.
(5) Increases (decreases) to the discount rates in isolation would result in lower (higher) fair value measurements, while increases (decreases) to the terminal cash flow exit multiples or terminal revenue growth rates in isolation would result in higher (lower) fair value measurements.
| $ in Millions | December 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description · Valuation Technique(s) (1) · Fair Value (2) · Unobservable Inputs | ||||
| Discount Rate (6) · Terminal Cash Flow Exit Multiple (x) or Terminal Revenue Growth Rate (%) (6) | ||||
| Kudu’s Participation Contracts (3)(4)(5) | Discounted cash flow | $890.5 | 18% - 25% | 7x - 22x |
| PassportCard/DavidShield | Discounted cash flow | $150.0 | 24% | 4% |
| Elementum | Discounted cash flow | $35.0 | 21% | 4% |
| Preferred securities | Discounted cash flow | $28.2 | 8% | N/A |
| Private debt instruments | Discounted cash flow | $15.5 | 11% - 12% | N/A |
(1) Key inputs to the discounted cash flow analysis generally include projections of future revenue and earnings, discount rates and terminal exit multiples or growth rates.
(2) Includes the net unrealized investment gains (losses) associated with foreign currency; foreign currency effects based on observable inputs.
(3) Since Kudu’s Participation Contracts are not subject to corporate taxes within Kudu Investment Management, LLC, pre-tax discount rates are applied to pre-tax cash flows in determining fair values. The weighted average discount rate and weighted average terminal cash flow exit multiple applied to Kudu’s Participation Contracts was 20% and 13 x.
(4)In 2023, Kudu deployed a total of $163.8 into new and existing Participation Contracts.
(5) As of December 31, 2023, one of Kudu’s Participation Contracts with a total fair value of $69.1 was valued using a probability weighted expected return method, which takes into account factors such as a discounted cash flow analysis, the expected value to be received in a pending sale transaction and the likelihood that a sales transaction will take place.
(6) Increases (decreases) to the discount rates in isolation would result in lower (higher) fair value measurements, while increases (decreases) to the terminal cash flow exit multiples or terminal revenue growth rates in isolation would result in higher (lower) fair value measurements.
Note 4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
White Mountains accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method. Under the acquisition method, White Mountains recognizes and measures the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entities at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill represents the excess of the amount paid to acquire a business over the fair value of identifiable net assets at the date of acquisition. The estimated acquisition date fair values, generally consisting of intangible assets and liabilities for contingent consideration, may be recorded at provisional amounts in circumstances where the information necessary to complete the acquisition accounting is not available at the reporting date. Any such provisional amounts are finalized as measurement period adjustments within one year of the acquisition date.
The following table presents the economic lives, acquisition date fair values, accumulated amortization and net carrying values for other intangible assets and goodwill as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| $ in Millions · Weighted Average Economic Life (in years) · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition Date Fair Value · Accumulated Amortization · Net Carrying Value · Acquisition Date Fair Value · Accumulated Amortization · Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ark | N/A | $116.8 | $— | $116.8 | $116.8 | $— | $116.8 | ||||||||||||
| Kudu | N/A | 7.6 | — | 7.6 | 7.6 | — | 7.6 | ||||||||||||
| Bamboo (1) | N/A | 270.4 | — | 270.4 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Other Operations | N/A | 44.4 | — | 44.4 | 44.4 | — | 44.4 | ||||||||||||
| Total goodwill | 439.2 | — | 439.2 | 168.8 | — | 168.8 | |||||||||||||
| Other intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ark | |||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting capacity | N/A | 175.7 | — | 175.7 | 175.7 | — | 175.7 | ||||||||||||
| Kudu | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.8 | .4 | 2.2 | 1.5 | .7 | ||||||||||||
| Bamboo (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 10.0 | 23.5 | 1.8 | 21.7 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Agency relationships | 6.0 | 72.4 | 9.1 | 63.3 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Developed technology | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 3.6 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Other | 0.3 | .4 | .4 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 101.0 | 12.4 | 88.6 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Other Operations | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 13.3 | 13.3 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 13.3 | 4.1 | 9.2 | ||||||||||||
| Customer relationships | 11.0 | 24.8 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 24.8 | 10.3 | 14.5 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 11.8 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | ||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 41.2 | 19.4 | 21.8 | 40.9 | 15.5 | 25.4 | |||||||||||||
| Total other intangible assets | 320.1 | 33.6 | 286.5 | 218.8 | 17.0 | 201.8 | |||||||||||||
| Total goodwill and other intangible assets | $759.3 | $33.6 | $725.7 | $387.6 | $17.0 | $370.6 | |||||||||||||
(1) The relative fair values of goodwill and other intangible assets recognized in connection with the acquisition of Bamboo had not yet been finalized as of September 30, 2024.
Intangible Assets Valuation Methods
The goodwill recognized for the entities shown above is attributed to expected future cash flows. The acquisition date fair values of other intangible assets with finite lives are estimated using income approach techniques, which use future expected cash flows to develop a discounted present value amount.
The multi-period-excess-earnings method estimates fair value using the present value of the incremental after-tax cash flows attributable solely to the other intangible asset over its remaining life. This approach was used to estimate the fair value of other intangible assets associated with the underwriting capacity, agency relationships and customer relationships.
The relief-from-royalty method was used to estimate fair value for other intangible assets that relate to rights that could be obtained via a license from a third-party owner. Under this method, the fair value is estimated using the present value of license fees avoided by owning rather than leasing the asset. This technique was used to estimate the fair value of trade names, patents and certain information technology platforms.
The with-or-without method estimates the fair value of other intangible assets that provide an incremental benefit. Under this method, the fair value of the other intangible asset is calculated by comparing the value of the entity with and without the other intangible asset. This approach was used to estimate the fair value of non-compete agreements.
On at least an annual basis beginning no later than the interim period included in the one-year anniversary of an acquisition, White Mountains evaluates goodwill and other intangible assets for potential impairment. Between annual evaluations, White Mountains considers changes in circumstances or events subsequent to the most recent evaluation that indicate an impairment may exist and, if necessary will perform an interim review for potential impairment.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, White Mountains didnot recognize any impairments to goodwill and other intangible assets.
Rollforward of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The following tables present the change in goodwill and other intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Millions | Goodwill | Other Intangible Assets | Total Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | Goodwill | Other Intangible Assets | Total Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets |
| Beginning balance | $439.2 | $291.8 | $731.0 | $168.8 | $204.8 | $373.6 |
| Amortization | — | (5.3) | (5.3) | — | (1.5) | (1.5) |
| Ending balance | $439.2 | $286.5 | $725.7 | $168.8 | $203.3 | $372.1 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Millions | Goodwill | Other Intangible Assets | Total Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | Goodwill | Other Intangible Assets | Total Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets |
| Beginning balance | $168.8 | $201.8 | $370.6 | $176.5 | $215.9 | $392.4 |
| Acquisition of businesses (1) | 270.4 | 101.0 | 371.4 | — | — | — |
| Acquisitions of intangible assets (2) | — | .3 | .3 | — | — | — |
| Dispositions (2) | — | — | — | (6.7) | (6.9) | (13.6) |
| Measurement period adjustments (3) | — | — | — | (1.0) | — | (1.0) |
| Amortization | — | (16.6) | (16.6) | — | (5.7) | (5.7) |
| Ending balance | $439.2 | $286.5 | $725.7 | $168.8 | $203.3 | $372.1 |
(1)Amounts relate to the fair values of goodwill and other intangible assets recognized in connection with the acquisition of Bamboo, which had not yet been finalized as of September 30, 2024.
(2) Relates to acquisitions and dispositions within Other Operations.
(3) Measurement period adjustments relate to updated information about acquisition date fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. During the nine
months ended September 30, 2023, adjustments relate to an acquisition within Other Operations.
Note 5. Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
P&C Insurance and Reinsurance
The following table summarizes the loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserve activity of the Ark/WM Outrigger segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Gross beginning balance | $1,890.1 | $1,421.0 | $1,605.1 | $1,296.5 |
| Less: beginning reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses (1) | (458.5) | (362.7) | (340.8) | (505.0) |
| Net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 1,431.6 | 1,058.3 | 1,264.3 | 791.5 |
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred relating to: | ||||
| Current year losses | 313.1 | 266.4 | 676.0 | 562.1 |
| Prior year losses | (24.8) | (.6) | (32.0) | 19.0 |
| Net incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses | 288.3 | 265.8 | 644.0 | 581.1 |
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses paid relating to: | ||||
| Current year losses | (19.1) | (8.8) | (27.4) | (18.4) |
| Prior year losses | (86.3) | (90.4) | (261.8) | (281.1) |
| Net paid loss and loss adjustment expenses | (105.4) | (99.2) | (289.2) | (299.5) |
| Change in TPC Providers’ participation (2) | — | — | — | 145.4 |
| Foreign currency translation and other adjustments to loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 11.3 | (5.5) | 6.7 | .9 |
| Net ending balance | 1,625.8 | 1,219.4 | 1,625.8 | 1,219.4 |
| Plus: ending reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 507.2 | 352.4 | 507.2 | 352.4 |
| Gross ending balance | $2,133.0 | $1,571.8 | $2,133.0 | $1,571.8 |
(1) The beginning reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses includes amounts attributable to TPC Providers of $145.4 as of December 31, 2022.
(2) Amount represents the impact to net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves due to a change in the TPC Providers’ participation related to the annual RITC process.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Ark/WM Outrigger segment recognized $24.8 million and $32.0 million of net favorable prior year loss reserve development, primarily due to property lines of business. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Ark/WM Outrigger segment recognized $0.6 million of net favorable prior year loss reserve development and $19.0 million of net unfavorable prior year loss reserve development. The net unfavorable prior year loss reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was driven primarily by Winter Storm Elliot and three large claims in the property and marine & energy lines of business.
Impact of Third-Party Capital
For the years of account prior to the Ark Transaction, a significant proportion of the Syndicates’ underwriting capital was provided by third-party insurance and reinsurance groups (“TPC Providers”) using whole account reinsurance contracts with Ark’s corporate member. For the years of account subsequent to the Ark Transaction, Ark is no longer using TPC Providers to provide underwriting capital for the Syndicates.
During the first quarter of 2023, a reinsurance to close (“RITC”) agreement was executed such that the outstanding loss and LAE reserves for claims arising out of the 2020 year of account, for which the TPC Providers’ participation in the total net results of the Syndicates was 42.8%, were reinsured into the 2021 year of account, for which the TPC Providers’ participation in the total net results of the Syndicates was 0.0%.
Financial Guarantee
HG Re does not have any outstanding loss and LAE reserves. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, HG Re recognized gross incurred loss and LAE of $0.3 million related to a delinquent payment by a reinsured BAM policyholder. Net of estimated recoveries, HG Re recognized no incurred loss and LAE.
P&C Insurance Distribution
As of September 30, 2024, Bamboo Captive has recorded loss and LAE reserves of $17.7 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Bamboo Captive recognized incurred loss and LAE of $4.4 million and $14.5 million.
As of September 30, 2024, Bamboo CRV has recorded loss and LAE reserves of $8.1 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Bamboo CRV recognized incurred loss and LAE of $4.2 million and $8.1 million.
Note 6. Third-Party Reinsurance
P&C Insurance and Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, Ark may seek to limit losses that may arise from catastrophes or other events by reinsuring certain risks with third-party reinsurers. Ark remains liable for risks reinsured in the event that the reinsurer does not honor its obligations under reinsurance contracts.
The following table summarizes the effects of reinsurance on written and earned premiums and on loss and LAE for the Ark/WM Outrigger segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Millions | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Written premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $239.0 | $189.4 | $863.4 | $727.1 |
| Assumed | 134.6 | 61.8 | 1,079.3 | 939.6 |
| Gross written premiums | 373.6 | 251.2 | 1,942.7 | 1,666.7 |
| Ceded (1) | (34.2) | (20.2) | (502.5) | (360.3) |
| Net written premiums | $339.4 | $231.0 | $1,440.2 | $1,306.4 |
| Earned premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $317.6 | $273.1 | $731.5 | $624.1 |
| Assumed | 432.6 | 370.0 | 805.3 | 684.6 |
| Gross earned premiums | 750.2 | 643.1 | 1,536.8 | 1,308.7 |
| Ceded (2) | (198.0) | (144.2) | (363.5) | (261.4) |
| Net earned premiums | $552.2 | $498.9 | $1,173.3 | $1,047.3 |
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses: | ||||
| Gross | $350.7 | $269.3 | $852.7 | $627.5 |
| Ceded (3) | (62.4) | (3.5) | (208.7) | (46.4) |
| Net loss and loss adjustment expenses | $288.3 | $265.8 | $644.0 | $581.1 |
(1) The three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 exclude $8.8 and $6.0, and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 exclude $82.0 and $108.4 ceded by Ark to WM Outrigger Re, which eliminate in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
(2)The three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 exclude $45.0 and $60.6, and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 exclude $62.8 and $75.4, ceded by Ark to WM Outrigger Re, which eliminate in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
(3) The three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 exclude $13.2 and $7.3, and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 exclude $13.6 and $7.9, ceded by Ark to WM Outrigger Re, which eliminate in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
The following table presents the Ark/WM Outrigger segment’s reinsurance recoverables as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Millions | September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses (1) | $507.2 | $340.8 |
| Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses | 27.9 | 27.4 |
| Ceded unearned premiums (2) | 212.9 | 73.8 |
| Reinsurance recoverables | $748.0 | $442.0 |
(1) The reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses exclude $28.0 and $15.6 ceded by Ark to WM Outrigger Re as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, which eliminate in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
(2) The ceded unearned premiums exclude $25.0 and $5.7 ceded by Ark to WM Outrigger Re as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
which eliminate in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
As reinsurance contracts do not relieve Ark of its obligation to its policyholders, Ark seeks to reduce the credit risk associated with reinsurance balances by avoiding over-reliance on specific reinsurers through the application of concentration limits and thresholds. Ark is selective with its reinsurers, placing reinsurance with only those reinsurers having a strong financial condition. Ark monitors the financial strength of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis.
The following table presents the Ark/WM Outrigger segment’s gross and net reinsurance recoverables by the reinsurer’s A.M. Best Company, Inc (“A.M. Best”) ratings as of September 30, 2024:
| $ in Millions | As of September 30, 2024 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.M. Best Rating(1) · Gross · Collateral · Net · % of Total | |||||||||
| A+ or better | $358.1 | $— | $358.1 | 78.9% | |||||
| A- to A | 84.2 | — | 84.2 | 18.5 | |||||
| B++ or lower and not rated | 92.8 | (2) | 81.1 | (2) | 11.7 | 2.6 | |||
| Total | $535.1 | $81.1 | $454.0 | 100.0% | |||||
(1)A.M. Best financial strength ratings as detailed above are: “A+ or better” (Superior) “A- to A” (Excellent), “B++” (Good).
(2) Excludes $28.0 ceded by Ark to WM Outrigger Re as of September 30, 2024, which eliminates in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
Reinsurance Contracts Accounted for as Deposits
Ark has an aggregate excess of loss contract with SiriusPoint Ltd. (“SiriusPoint”), which is accounted for using the deposit method and recorded within other assets. Ark earns an annual crediting rate of 3.0%, which is recorded within other revenue. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the carrying value of Ark’s deposit in SiriusPoint, including accrued interest, was $20.3 million and $20.4 million.
Financial Guarantee
See Note 10 — “Municipal Bond Guarantee Reinsurance”for third-party reinsurance balances and reinsurance contracts accounted for as deposits related to BAM’s municipal bond guarantee business prior to the deconsolidation of BAM on July 1, 2024.
Note 7. Debt
The following table presents White Mountains’s debt outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| $ in Millions | September 30, 2024 | Effective Rate | (1) | December 31, 2023 | Effective Rate | (1) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes, carrying value | $— | $30.0 | ||||||
| Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 1 | 43.6 | 42.7 | ||||||
| Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 2 | 47.0 | 47.0 | ||||||
| Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3 | 70.0 | 70.0 | ||||||
| Unamortized issuance cost | (3.8) | (4.2) | ||||||
| Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes, carrying value | 156.8 | 155.5 | ||||||
| Total Ark Subordinated Notes, carrying value | 156.8 | 12.1% | 185.5 | 11.0% | ||||
| HG Global Senior Notes (2) | 150.0 | 11.8% | 150.0 | 11.9% | ||||
| Unamortized discount and issuance cost | (2.7) | (3.1) | ||||||
| HG Global Senior Notes, carrying value | 147.3 | 146.9 | ||||||
| Kudu Credit Facility (2) | 225.3 | 10.5% | 210.3 | 10.1% | ||||
| Unamortized issuance cost | (6.8) | (6.5) | ||||||
| Kudu Credit Facility, carrying value | 218.5 | 203.8 | ||||||
| Other Operations debt | 22.6 | 10.1% | 28.9 | 10.2% | ||||
| Unamortized issuance cost | (.3) | (.5) | ||||||
| Other Operations debt, carrying value | 22.3 | 28.4 | ||||||
| Total debt | $544.9 | $564.6 | ||||||
(1)Effective rate includes the effect of the amortization of debt issuance costs and, where applicable, the original issue discount.
(2)Effective rate excludes the effect of the interest rate caps.
Ark Subordinated Notes
In March 2007, GAIL issued $30.0 million face value of floating rate unsecured junior subordinated deferrable interest notes to Alesco Preferred Funding XII Ltd., Alesco Preferred Funding XIII Ltd. and Alesco Preferred Funding XIV Ltd (the “Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes”). The Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes, which had a maturity date of June 2037, accrued interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month U.S. London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 4.6% per annum. During the first quarter of 2024, Ark repaid the outstanding balance of $30.0 million and extinguished the Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes.
In the third quarter of 2021, GAIL issued $163.3 million face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes at par in three separate transactions for proceeds of $157.8 million, net of debt issuance costs (collectively, the “Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes”). The Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes were issued in private placement offerings that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.
On July 13, 2021, Ark issued €39.1 million ($46.3 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of the date of the transaction) face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes (“Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 1”). The Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 1, which mature in July 2041, accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) plus 5.75% per annum.
On August 11, 2021, Ark issued $47.0 million face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes (“Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 2”). The Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 2, which mature in August 2041, accrued interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month U.S. LIBOR plus 5.75% per annum until August 2023. Effective August 2023, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 2 accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus a SOFR benchmark adjustment of 0.26% and a stated margin of 5.75% per annum.
On September 8, 2021, Ark issued $70.0 million face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes (“Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3”). The Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3, which mature in September 2041, accrued interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month U.S. LIBOR plus 6.1% per annum until September 2023. Effective September 2023, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3 accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month SOFR plus a SOFR benchmark adjustment of 0.26% and a stated margin of 6.1% per annum.
On theten-year anniversary of the issue dates, the interest rate for the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes will increase by 1.0% per annum. Ark has the option to redeem, in whole or in part, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes ahead of contractual maturity at the outstanding principal amounts plus accrued interest at theten-year anniversary or any subsequent interest payment date.
All payments of principal and interest under the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes are conditional upon GAIL’s solvency and compliance with the enhanced capital requirements of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”). The deferral of payments of principal and interest under these conditions does not constitute a default by Ark and does not give the noteholders any rights to accelerate repayment of the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes or take any enforcement action under the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes.
If the payments of principal and interest under the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes become subject to tax withholding on behalf of Bermuda or any political subdivision there, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes require the payment of additional amounts such that the amount received by the noteholders is the same as would have been received absent the tax withholding being imposed. The Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3 require the payment of additional interest of 1.0% per annum upon the occurrence of a premium load event until such event is remedied. Premium load events include the failure to meet payment obligations of the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3 when due, failure of GAIL to maintain an investment grade credit rating, failure to maintain 120% of GAIL’s Bermuda solvency capital requirement, failure of GAIL to maintain a debt to capital ratio below 40%, late filing of GAIL’s or Ark’s financial information, and making a restricted payment or distribution on GAIL’s common stock or other securities that rank junior or pari passu with the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3 when a different premium load event exists or will be caused by the restricted payment. As of September 30, 2024, there were no premium load events.
As of September 30, 2024, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 1 had an outstanding balance of €39.1 million ($43.6 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of September 30, 2024), the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 2 had an outstanding balance of $47.0 million, and the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes Tranche 3 had an outstanding balance of $70.0 million.
The Ark Subordinated Notes contain various affirmative and negative covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings.
Ark Standby Letter of Credit Facilities
In December 2021, Ark entered intotwo uncommitted secured standby letter of credit facility agreements to support the continued growth and expansion of GAIL’s insurance and reinsurance operations. The standby letter of credit facility agreements were executed with ING Bank N.V., London Branch (the “ING LOC Facility”), with capacity of $50.0 million on an uncollateralized basis, and with Citibank Europe Plc (the “Citibank LOC Facility”), with capacity of $125.0 million on a collateralized basis. In September 2022, Ark entered into an additional uncommitted standby letter of credit facility agreement with Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets PLC (the “Lloyds LOC Facility”), with capacity of $100.0 million on a collateralized basis.
As of January 1, 2024, the ING LOC Facility was undrawn and the availability period expired. Ark did not renew the credit facility. As of September 30, 2024, the Citibank LOC Facility had an outstanding balance of $107.9 million and short-term investments and cash pledged as collateral of $141.3 million. As of September 30, 2024, the Lloyds LOC Facility had an outstanding balance of $35.5 million and short-term investments and cash pledged as collateral of $66.9 million. Ark’s uncommitted secured standby letter of credit facility agreements contain various representations, warranties and covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings.
HG Global Senior Notes
On April 29, 2022, HG Global received the proceeds from the issuance of its $150.0 million face value floating rate secured senior notes (the “HG Global Senior Notes”). The HG Global Senior Notes, which mature in April 2032, accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month SOFR plus a SOFR benchmark adjustment of 0.26% and a stated margin of 6.0% per annum. Subsequent to thefive-year anniversary of the funding date, absent the occurrence of an early amortization trigger event, HG Global will be required to make payments of principal on a quarterly basis totaling $15.0 million annually. Upon the occurrence of an early amortization trigger event, HG Global is required to use all available cash flow to repay the notes. Early amortization trigger events include scenarios in which HG Re is effectively in runoff. HG Global has the option to redeem, in whole or in part, the HG Global Senior Notes after thefive-year anniversary of the funding date at the outstanding principal amount plus accrued interest.
On June 16, 2022, HG Global entered into an interest rate cap agreement, effective on July 25, 2022, to limit its exposure to the risk of interest rate increases on the HG Global Senior Notes (the “HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap”). Under the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap, the notional amount is $150.0 million, the maximum interest rate is 9.76% per annum, and the termination date is July 25, 2025. On August 22, 2024, HG Global entered into a new interest rate cap agreement, effective upon the termination of the prior interest rate cap (the “HG Global 2024 Interest Rate Cap”). Under the HG Global 2024 Interest Rate Cap, the initial notional amount is $150.0 million, the maximum interest rate is 10.76% per annum, and the termination date is July 25, 2028. See Note 9 — “Derivatives.”
The HG Global Senior Notes require HG Global to maintain an interest reserve account ofeight times the interest accrued for the most recent quarterly interest period, subject to a maximum required balance of $29.3 million as of September 30, 2024. The fair value of the interest reserve account, which is included in short-term investments, was $29.3 million as of September 30, 2024.
The HG Global Senior Notes are secured by the capital stock and other equity interests of HG Global’s subsidiaries, the interest reserve account, and all cash and non-cash proceeds from such collateral. The HG Global Senior Notes contain various affirmative and negative covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings.
If the payment of principal and interest under the HG Global Senior Notes becomes subject to tax withholding on behalf of a relevant governmental authority for certain indemnified taxes, the HG Global Senior Notes require the payment of additional amounts such that the amount received by the noteholders is the same as would have been received absent the tax withholding being imposed. The HG Global Senior Notes require the payment of additional interest of 1.0% per annum if the HG Global Senior Notes receive a non-investment grade rating or are no longer rated. As of September 30, 2024, the HG Global Senior Notes had an investment grade rating.
As of September 30, 2024, the HG Global Senior Notes had an outstanding balance of $150.0 million.
Kudu Credit Facility
On March 23, 2021, Kudu entered into a secured revolving credit facility (the “Kudu Credit Facility”) with Mass Mutual to repay its prior credit facility and to fund new investments and related transaction expenses. The maximum borrowing capacity of the Kudu Credit Facility was $300.0 million. On June 28, 2024, Kudu amended the Kudu Credit Facility, and the total commitment increased from $300.0 million to $350.0 million. The Kudu Credit Facility matures on March 23, 2036.
Through June 30, 2023, interest on the Kudu Credit Facility accrued at a floating interest rate equal to the greater of the three-month LIBOR or 0.25% plus, in each case,4.30% per annum. Effective July 2023, the Kudu Credit Facility accrued interest at a floating interest rate equal to the three-month SOFR plus a SOFR benchmark adjustment of 0.26% and a stated margin of 4.30% per annum. Under the amended terms, effective July 2024, the Kudu Credit Facility will accrue interest at a floating interest rate equal to the three-month SOFR plus a stated margin of 4.45% per annum with no SOFR benchmark adjustment.
On September 17, 2024, Kudu entered into an interest rate cap agreement, effective on September 30, 2024, to limit its exposure to the risk of interest rate increases on the Kudu Credit Facility (the “Kudu Interest Rate Cap”). Under the Kudu Interest Rate Cap, the notional amount is $150.0 million, the maximum interest rate is 8.95% per annum, and the termination date is September 30, 2027. See Note 9 — “Derivatives.”
The Kudu Credit Facility requires Kudu to maintain an interest reserve account of four times the interest accrued for the most recent quarterly interest period. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the interest reserve account of $14.8 million and $14.9 million was held in short term investments.
The Kudu Credit Facility requires Kudu to maintain a maximum ratio of the outstanding balance to the sum of the fair market value of Kudu’s other long-term investments and cash held in certain accounts (the “LTV Percentage”) for annual periods after the June 28, 2024 effective date of the amendment as follows:50% in years 0-3,40% in years 4-5,25% in years 6-7,15% in years 8-10 and 0% thereafter. As of September 30, 2024, Kudu had a 23.7% LTV Percentage.
Kudu may borrow undrawn balances until June 28, 2027, subject to customary terms and conditions, to the extent the amount borrowed under the Kudu Credit Facility does not exceed the borrowing base, which is equal to 35% of the fair value of Kudu’s qualifying Participation Contracts.
The following table presents the change in debt under the Kudu Credit Facility for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Kudu Credit Facility | ||||
| Beginning balance | $210.3 | $210.3 | $210.3 | $215.2 |
| Term loans | ||||
| Borrowings | 15.0 | — | 15.0 | 12.0 |
| Repayments | — | — | — | (16.9) |
| Ending balance | $225.3 | $210.3 | $225.3 | $210.3 |
The Kudu Credit Facility is secured by all property of the loan parties and contains various affirmative and negative covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings.
Other Operations Debt
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains’s Other Operations had debt with an outstanding balance of $22.6 million, which consisted offour secured credit facilities (collectively, “Other Operations debt”).
Compliance
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains was in compliance, in all material respects, with all of the covenants under its debt instruments.
Note 8. Income Taxes
The Company and its Bermuda-domiciled subsidiaries are not subject to income tax in Bermuda in 2024 and prior years. On December 27, 2023, Bermuda enacted a 15.0% corporate income tax that will generally become effective on January 1, 2025. The Bermuda legislation defers the effective date for five years for Bermuda companies in consolidated groups that meet certain requirements. White Mountains expects to meet the requirements to be exempt from the Bermuda corporate income tax until January 1, 2030. The Bermuda legislation also provides for an economic transition adjustment that will reduce future years’ taxable income. Under GAAP, this economic transition adjustment was required to be recognized as a net deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2023. Accordingly, White Mountains’s net income for 2023 included a net deferred tax benefit of $68.0 million, of which $51.0 million was recorded at Ark and $17.0 million was recorded at HG Global. As of July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. As a result of the deconsolidation, the BAM Surplus Notes are recorded at fair value, which resulted in the reversal of a $5.0 million deferred tax liability, generating a $5.0 million tax benefit in the third quarter of 2024.
The Company has subsidiaries and branches that operate in various other jurisdictions around the world and are subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which they operate. As of September 30, 2024, the primary jurisdictions in which the Company’s subsidiaries and branches operate and were subject to tax include Israel, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and the United States. On April 1, 2023, the U.K. corporate tax rate increased from 19.0% to 25.0%.
White Mountains’s income tax expense related to pre-tax income from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 represented an effective tax rate of 4.8% and 6.6%. The effective tax rate was different from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0%, driven primarily by full year forecasted income in jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the United States.
White Mountains’s income tax expense related to pre-tax income from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 represented an effective tax rate of 34.6%. The effective tax rate was different from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0%, driven primarily by an increase in the full valuation allowance at BAM, as well as withholding taxes and state income taxes, partially offset by full year forecasted income in jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the United States. White Mountains’s income tax expense related to pre-tax income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 represented an effective tax rate of 8.2%. The effective tax rate was different from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0%, driven primarily by full year forecasted income in jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the United States.
In arriving at the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, White Mountains forecasted all income and expense items including the change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) and net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ending December 31, 2024 and 2023.
White Mountains records a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets if it becomes more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in income tax expense in the period of change. In determining whether or not a valuation allowance, or change therein, is warranted, White Mountains considers factors such as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carryback and carryforward periods and strategies that if executed would result in the realization of a deferred tax asset.
With few exceptions, White Mountains is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2018.
Note 9. Derivatives
HG Global Interest Rate Caps
HG Global entered intotwo interest rate cap agreements to limit its exposure to the risk of interest rate increases on the HG Global Senior Notes.
On June 16, 2022, HG Global entered into the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap, effective on July 25, 2022. The notional amount of the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap is $150.0 million, and the termination date is July 25, 2025. HG Global paid initial premiums of $3.3 million for the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap.
On August 22, 2024, HG Global entered into the HG Global 2024 Interest Rate Cap, which is effective upon the termination of the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap on July 25, 2025. The initial notional amount of the HG Global 2024 Interest Rate Cap is $150.0 million, and the termination date is July 25, 2028. For interest periods after April 26, 2027, the notional amount of the HG Global 2024 Interest Rate Cap will decrease as the outstanding principal of the HG Global Senior Notes is paid down. HG Global paid initial premiums of $1.3 million for the HG Global 2024 Interest Rate Cap.
Under the interest rate caps, if the three-month SOFR on a quarterly determination date exceeds 3.5% through July 25, 2025 or 4.5% between July 25, 2025 and July 25, 2028, HG Global will receive a payment from the counterparty for the difference on the subsequent settlement date. As of September 30, 2024, the three-month SOFR was 4.6%.
HG Global accounts for the interest rate caps as derivatives at fair value within other assets, with changes in fair value recognized in current period earnings within interest expense. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains recognized a loss of $2.0 million and $2.1 million related to the change in fair value on both interest rate caps within interest expense. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, White Mountains recognized a gain of $0.0 million and $0.7 million related to the change in fair value of the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap within interest expense. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains received a payment of $0.7 million and $2.1 million related to the periodic settlement of the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, White Mountains received a payment of $0.6 million and $1.2 million related to the periodic settlement of the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap. As of September 30, 2024, the estimated fair value of both interest rate caps was $2.1 million. As of December 31, 2023, the estimated fair value of the HG Global 2022 Interest Rate Cap was $2.9 million. White Mountains classifies the interest rate caps as Level 2 measurements.
Kudu Interest Rate Cap
On September 17, 2024, Kudu entered into the Kudu Interest Rate Cap, effective on September 30, 2024, to limit its exposure to the risk of interest rate increases on the Kudu Credit Facility. The notional amount of the Kudu Interest Rate Cap is $150.0 million, and the termination date is September 30, 2027. Kudu paid initial premiums of $0.9 million for the Kudu Interest Rate Cap.
Under the Kudu Interest Rate Cap, if the three-month SOFR on a quarterly determination date exceeds 4.5%, Kudu will receive a payment from the counterparty for the difference on the subsequent settlement date. As of September 30, 2024, the three-month SOFR was 4.6%.
Kudu accounts for the Kudu Interest Rate Cap as a derivative at fair value within other assets, with changes in fair value recognized in current period earnings within interest expense. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains recognized a loss of $0.1 million related to the change in fair value on the Kudu Interest Rate Cap within interest expense. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains received no payment related to the periodic settlement of the interest rate cap. As of September 30, 2024, the estimated fair value of the Kudu Interest Rate Cap was $0.5 million. White Mountains classifies the Kudu Interest Rate Cap as a Level 2 measurement.
Note 10. Municipal Bond Guarantee Reinsurance
HG Global was established to fund the startup of BAM, a mutual municipal bond insurer. HG Global, together with its subsidiaries, provided the initial capitalization of BAM through the purchase of $503.0 million of the BAM Surplus Notes.
Reinsurance Treaties
FLRT
HG Re is a party to the FLRT with BAM, under which HG Re provides first loss protection of up to 15%-of-par outstanding for each policy assumed from BAM. For capital appreciation bonds, par is adjusted to the estimated equivalent par value for current interest paying bonds. BAM charges an insurance premium on each municipal bond insurance policy it underwrites. Historically, approximately 55% of the total insurance premium charged by BAM has been a member surplus contribution (“MSC”), and the remainder is a risk premium. In return for the reinsurance provided, HG Re receives approximately 60% of the risk premium charged, which is net of a ceding commission.
The FLRT is a perpetual agreement with terms that can be renegotiated every five years. For the next renegotiation period, either party may provide notice during 2028 to trigger a renegotiation that would take effect on January 1, 2030.
Prior to the deconsolidation of BAM on July 1, 2024, HG Re’s reinsurance balances under the FLRT eliminated in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements. Subsequent to the deconsolidation, White Mountains recognized gross written premiums of $14.0 million and earned premiums of $7.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
XOLT
HG Re is party to an excess of loss reinsurance agreement (the “XOLT”) with BAM. Under the XOLT, HG Re provides last dollar protection for exposures on municipal bonds insured by BAM in excess of the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) single issuer limits. As of September 30, 2024, the XOLT is subject to an aggregate limit equal to the lesser of $125.0 million or the assets held in the supplemental collateral trust (the “Supplemental Trust”) at any point in time. The XOLT is accounted for using deposit accounting, and any related financing revenues are recorded in other revenues, as the agreement does not meet the risk transfer requirements necessary to be accounted for as reinsurance.
Prior to the deconsolidation of BAM on July 1, 2024, HG Re’s reinsurance balances under the XOLT eliminated in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements. Subsequent to the deconsolidation, other revenues recognized by White Mountains for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 were insignificant.
Collateral Trusts
HG Re’s obligations under the FLRT are subject to an aggregate limit equal to the assets in two collateral trusts, the Supplemental Trust and the Regulation 114 Trust (together, the “Collateral Trusts”), at any point in time.
On a monthly basis, BAM deposits cash equal to ceded premiums net of ceding commissions, due to HG Re under the FLRT directly into the Regulation 114 Trust. The Regulation 114 Trust target balance is equal to HG Re’s unearned premiums and unpaid loss and LAE reserves, if any. If, at the end of any quarter, the Regulation 114 Trust balance is below the target balance, funds will be withdrawn from the Supplemental Trust and deposited into the Regulation 114 Trust in an amount equal to the shortfall. If, at the end of any quarter, the Regulation 114 Trust balance is above 102% of the target balance, funds will be withdrawn from the Regulation 114 Trust and deposited into the Supplemental Trust. The Regulation 114 Trust balance as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $363.2 million and $341.6 million.
The Supplemental Trust target balance is $603.0 million, less the amount of cash and securities in the Regulation 114 Trust in excess of its target balance (the “Supplemental Trust Target Balance”). If, at the end of any quarter, the Supplemental Trust balance exceeds the Supplemental Trust Target Balance, such excess may be distributed to HG Re. The distribution will be made first as an assignment of accrued interest on the BAM Surplus Notes and second in cash and/or fixed income securities.
As the BAM Surplus Notes are repaid over time, the BAM Surplus Notes will be replaced in the Supplemental Trust by cash and fixed income securities. The Supplemental Trust balance as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $613.2 million and $606.9 million.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Collateral Trusts held assets of $976.4 million and $948.5 million, which included $644.7 million and $588.6 million of cash, investments and accrued investment income, $317.1 million and $322.2 million of BAM Surplus Notes and $14.6 million and $37.7 million of accrued interest receivable on the BAM Surplus Notes.
BAM Surplus Notes
Through June 30, 2024, the interest rate on the BAM Surplus Notes was a variable rate equal to the one-year U.S. Treasury rate plus 300 basis points, set annually, with each payment applied pro rata between outstanding principal and interest. Accordingly, in 2024 the interest rate on the BAM Surplus Notes was 8.2% through June 30, 2024. Effective July 1, 2024 and through maturity, HG Global and BAM amended the interest rate on the BAM Surplus Notes to be 10.0%, with a higher proportion of each payment to be applied to outstanding principal.
Under its agreements with HG Global, BAM is required to seek regulatory approval to pay principal and interest on the BAM Surplus Notes only to the extent that its remaining qualified statutory capital and other capital resources continue to support its outstanding obligations, its business plan and its “AA/stable” rating from Standard & Poor’s. No payment of principal or interest on the BAM Surplus Notes may be made without the approval of the NYDFS.
In May 2024, BAM made a $8.0 million cash payment of principal and interest on the BAM Surplus Notes held by HG Global. Of this payment, $5.1 million was a repayment of principal held in the Supplemental Trust, $0.3 million was a payment of accrued interest held in the Supplemental Trust and $2.6 million was a payment of accrued interest held outside the Supplemental Trust.
In December 2023, BAM made a $27.4 million cash payment of principal and interest on the BAM Surplus Notes held by HG Global. Of this payment, $17.8 million was a repayment of principal held in the Supplemental Trust, $2.0 million was a payment of accrued interest held in the Supplemental Trust and $7.6 million was a payment of accrued interest held outside the Supplemental Trust.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, BAM madeno repayments of the BAM Surplus Notes or accrued interest.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the principal balance on the BAM Surplus Notes was $317.1 million and $322.2 million and total interest receivable on the BAM Surplus Notes was $192.7 million and $174.5 million.
Prior to the deconsolidation of BAM on July 1, 2024, the BAM Surplus Notes, including accrued interest receivable, were classified as intercompany notes carried at nominal value, which eliminated in consolidation. Upon deconsolidation, White Mountains elected the fair value option for the BAM Surplus Notes. As of July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024, the estimated fair value of the BAM Surplus Notes was $387.4 million and $411.1 million. The difference between the nominal value of the BAM Surplus Notes and the fair value as of July 1, 2024 was recorded as an unrealized loss on deconsolidation in the third quarter of 2024. This loss includes the impact of a discount for the time value of money, which was previously included in adjusted book value per share as a non-GAAP adjustment to book value per share.
Subsequent to the deconsolidation, White Mountains values the BAM Surplus Notes each quarter using a discounted cash flow analysis. The BAM Surplus Notes are classified as Level 3 measurements. The discounted cash flow analysis used to value the BAM Surplus Notes depends on key inputs, such as projections of future revenues and earnings for BAM, expected payments on the BAM Surplus Notes through maturity and a discount rate to reflect time value and related uncertainty of the repayment pattern. The expected payments on the BAM Surplus Notes are based on management judgment, considering current performance, budgets and projected future results. These expected payments depend on BAM’s ability to generate excess cash flows from its operations, driven primarily by assumptions regarding future trends for the issuance of municipal bonds, interest rates, credit spreads, insured market penetration, competitive activity in the market for municipal bond insurance and other factors affecting the demand for and pricing of BAM’s municipal bond insurance. The discount rate considers comparably-rated companies and instruments, adjusted for risks specific to BAM and the BAM Surplus Notes. As of July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024, White Mountains concluded that a discount rate, which is a significant unobservable input used in estimating the fair value of the BAM Surplus Notes, of 8.15% and 7.50% was appropriate. The change in the discount rate in the quarter was driven by a decline in market interest rates.
Subsequent to the deconsolidation of BAM on July 1, 2024, White Mountains recognized a gain of $15.8 million related to the change in fair value of the BAM Surplus Notes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Insured Obligations and Premiums
The following table presents a schedule of the HG Global segment’s insured obligations as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contracts outstanding | 15,524 | 14,485 | ||
| Remaining weighted average contract period (in years) (1) | 12.3 | 12.2 | (2) | |
| Outstanding first loss exposure from policies assumed (in millions) (1) | $17,667.2 | $16,341.0 | (3) | |
| Gross unearned insurance premiums (in millions) | $287.0 | $273.9 | (4) | |
(1) Under the FLRT, HG Re provides first loss protection of up to 15%-of-par outstanding for each policy assumed from BAM. For capital appreciation bonds, par is adjusted to the estimated equivalent par value for current interest paying bonds. Accordingly, HG Re has no exposure to future interest outstanding and HG Re’s remaining weighted average contract period is calculated using its outstanding first loss exposure from policies assumed.
(2) As of December 31, 2023, which was prior to the deconsolidation of BAM, HG Global/BAM’s remaining weighted average contract period was 11.1 years, calculated using HG Global/BAM’s total contractual debt service outstanding, including principal and interest.
(3) As of December 31, 2023, which was prior to the deconsolidation of BAM, HG Global/BAM’s total contractual debt service outstanding was $165,686.0, split between principal of $109,673.8 and interest of $56,012.2.
(4) As of December 31, 2023, which was prior to the deconsolidation of BAM, HG Global/BAM’s gross unearned insurance premiums was $325.8.
The following table presents a schedule of HG Global’s future premium revenues as of September 30, 2024:
| Millions | September 30, 2024 |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024 | $6.6 |
| January 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025 | 6.4 |
| April 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025 | 6.4 |
| July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025 | 6.2 |
| October 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 | 6.1 |
| Total 2025 | 25.1 |
| 2026 | 23.7 |
| 2027 | 22.3 |
| 2028 | 20.8 |
| 2029 | 19.3 |
| 2030 and thereafter | 169.2 |
| Total gross unearned insurance premiums | $287.0 |
The following tables present schedules of written premiums and earned premiums included in the HG Global segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Millions | HG Global |
|---|---|
| Written premiums: | |
| Direct | $— |
| Assumed | 14.0 |
| Gross written premiums (1) | $14.0 |
| Earned premiums: | |
| Direct | $— |
| Assumed | 7.5 |
| Gross earned premiums (1) | $7.5 |
(1) There are no ceded premium amounts in the periods presented, such that gross written premiums and gross earned premiums are equivalent to net written premiums and net earned premiums, respectively.
| Millions | HG Global | BAM | Eliminations | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $— | $16.5 | $— | $16.5 |
| Assumed | 14.2 | — | (14.2) | — |
| Gross written premiums (1) | $14.2 | $16.5 | $(14.2) | $16.5 |
| Earned premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $— | $7.4 | $— | $7.4 |
| Assumed | 6.6 | .5 | (6.6) | .5 |
| Gross earned premiums (1) | $6.6 | $7.9 | $(6.6) | $7.9 |
(1) There are no ceded premium amounts in the periods presented, such that gross written premiums and gross earned premiums are equivalent to net written premiums and net earned premiums, respectively.
| Millions | HG Global | BAM | Eliminations | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $— | $24.1 | $— | $24.1 |
| Assumed | 34.5 | — | (20.5) | 14.0 |
| Gross written premiums (1) | $34.5 | $24.1 | $(20.5) | $38.1 |
| Earned premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $— | $15.8 | $— | $15.8 |
| Assumed | 21.5 | 1.0 | (14.0) | 8.5 |
| Gross earned premiums (1) | $21.5 | $16.8 | $(14.0) | $24.3 |
(1) There are no ceded premium amounts in the periods presented, such that gross written premiums and gross earned premiums are equivalent to net written premiums and net earned premiums, respectively.
| Millions | HG Global | BAM | Eliminations | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $— | $37.3 | $— | $37.3 |
| Assumed | 31.9 | — | (31.9) | — |
| Gross written premiums (1) | $31.9 | $37.3 | $(31.9) | $37.3 |
| Earned premiums: | ||||
| Direct | $— | $21.4 | $— | $21.4 |
| Assumed | 19.4 | 1.9 | (19.4) | 1.9 |
| Gross earned premiums (1) | $19.4 | $23.3 | $(19.4) | $23.3 |
(1) There are no ceded premium amounts in the periods presented, such that gross written premiums and gross earned premiums are equivalent to net written premiums and net earned premiums, respectively.
Note 11. Earnings Per Share
White Mountains calculates earnings per share using the two-class method, which allocates earnings between common shares and unvested restricted common shares. Both classes of shares participate equally in dividends and earnings on a per share basis. Basic earnings per share amounts are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for unvested restricted common shares.
The following table presents the Company’s computation of earnings per share from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Basic and diluted earnings per share numerators (in millions): | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to White Mountains’s common shareholders | $179.0 | $23.6 | $360.8 | $222.7 |
| Allocation of (earnings) losses to participating restricted common shares (1) | (2.5) | (.3) | (4.6) | (3.1) |
| Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share numerators | $176.5 | $23.3 | $356.2 | $219.6 |
| Basic earnings per share denominators (in thousands): | ||||
| Total average common shares outstanding during the period | 2,568.1 | 2,560.5 | 2,564.8 | 2,564.2 |
| Average unvested restricted common shares (2) | (35.4) | (37.6) | (32.9) | (35.5) |
| Basic earnings (losses) per share denominator | 2,532.7 | 2,522.9 | 2,531.9 | 2,528.7 |
| Diluted earnings per share denominator (in thousands): | ||||
| Total average common shares outstanding during the period | 2,568.1 | 2,560.5 | 2,564.8 | 2,564.2 |
| Average unvested restricted common shares (2) | (35.4) | (37.6) | (32.9) | (35.5) |
| Diluted earnings (losses) per share denominator | 2,532.7 | 2,522.9 | 2,531.9 | 2,528.7 |
| Basic and diluted earnings per share (in dollars): | ||||
| Distributed earnings - dividends declared and paid | $— | $— | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Undistributed earnings (losses) | 69.68 | 9.19 | 139.66 | 85.82 |
| Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share | $69.68 | $9.19 | $140.66 | $86.82 |
(1) Restricted shares issued by White Mountains receive dividends, and therefore, are considered participating securities.
(2)Restricted shares outstanding vest upon a stated date. See Note 12 — “Employee Share-Based Incentive Compensation Plans.”
The following table presents the undistributed net earnings (losses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Undistributed net earnings: | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to White Mountains’s common shareholders, net of restricted common share amounts | $176.5 | $23.3 | $356.2 | $219.6 |
| Dividends declared, net of restricted common share amounts (1) | — | — | (2.5) | (2.5) |
| Total undistributed net earnings (losses), net of restricted common share amounts | $176.5 | $23.3 | $353.7 | $217.1 |
(1) Restricted shares issued by White Mountains receive dividends, and therefore, are considered participating securities.
Note 12. Employee Share-Based Incentive Compensation Plans
White Mountains’s share-based incentive compensation plans are designed to incentivize key employees to maximize shareholder value over long periods of time. White Mountains believes that this is best pursued by utilizing a pay-for-performance program that closely aligns the financial interests of management with those of its shareholders while rewarding appropriate risk taking. White Mountains accomplishes this by emphasizing variable long-term compensation that is contingent on performance over a number of years rather than fixed entitlements. White Mountains expenses all of its share-based compensation. As a result, White Mountains’s calculation of its owners’ returns includes the expense of all outstanding share-based compensation awards.
White Mountains’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “WTM Incentive Plan”) provides for grants of various types of share-based and non-share-based incentive awards to key employees and directors of White Mountains. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, White Mountains’s share-based incentive compensation awards consist of performance shares and restricted shares.
Performance Shares
Performance shares are designed to reward employees for meeting company-wide performance targets. Performance shares are conditional grants of a specified maximum number of common shares or an equivalent amount of cash. Awards generally vest at the end of athree-year service period, are subject to the attainment of pre-specified performance goals, and are valued based on the market value of common shares at the time awards are paid. Performance shares earned under the WTM Incentive Plan are typically paid in cash but may be paid in common shares. Compensation expense is recognized for the vested portion of the awards over the related service periods. The level of payout ranges from zero totwo times the number of shares initially granted, depending on White Mountains’s financial performance. Performance shares become payable at the conclusion of a performance cycle (typically three years) if pre-defined financial targets are met. The performance measures used for determining performance share payouts are growth in White Mountains’s adjusted book value per share and intrinsic value per share. Intrinsic value per share is generally calculated by adjusting adjusted book value per share for differences between the adjusted book value of certain assets and liabilities and White Mountains’s estimate of their underlying intrinsic values.
The following table presents the performance share activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 for performance shares granted under the WTM Incentive Plan:
| Three Months Ended September 30, · Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| $ in Millions | Target PerformanceShares Outstanding | AccruedExpense | Target PerformanceShares Outstanding | AccruedExpense | Target PerformanceShares Outstanding | AccruedExpense | Target PerformanceShares Outstanding | AccruedExpense |
| Beginning of period | 34,992 | $52.0 | 37,031 | $44.6 | 37,031 | $69.4 | 39,449 | $67.5 |
| Shares paid (1) (2) | — | — | — | — | (13,475) | (44.9) | (13,350) | (40.8) |
| New grants | — | — | — | — | 11,405 | — | 10,895 | — |
| Forfeitures and cancellations (3) | (133) | — | — | — | (102) | .3 | 37 | .2 |
| Expense recognized | — | 3.7 | — | 10.5 | — | 30.9 | — | 28.2 |
| End of period | 34,859 | $55.7 | 37,031 | $55.1 | 34,859 | $55.7 | 37,031 | $55.1 |
(1)WTM performance share payments for the 2021-2023 performance cycle were made in March 2024 at 188% of target.
(2) WTM performance share payments for the 2020-2022 performance cycle were made in March 2023 at 200% of target.
(3)Amounts include changes in assumed forfeitures, as required under GAAP.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains granted 11,405 performance shares for the 2024-2026 performance cycle. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, White Mountains granted 10,895 performance shares for the 2023-2025 performance cycle.
For the 2021-2023 performance cycle, the Company issued common shares for 100 performance shares earned, and all other performance shares earned were settled in cash. For the 2020-2022 performance cycle, all performance shares earned were settled in cash. If all outstanding performance shares had vested on September 30, 2024, the total additional compensation cost to be recognized would have been $28.1 million, based on accrual factors as of September 30, 2024 (common share price and payout assumptions).
The following table presents performance shares outstanding and accrued expense for performance shares awarded under the WTM Incentive Plan as of September 30, 2024 for each performance cycle:
| $ in Millions | Target PerformanceShares Outstanding | AccruedExpense |
|---|---|---|
| Performance cycle: | ||
| 2022 – 2024 | 13,150 | $40.7 |
| 2023 – 2025 | 10,835 | 11.8 |
| 2024 – 2026 | 11,405 | 4.0 |
| Sub-total | 35,390 | 56.5 |
| Assumed forfeitures | (531) | (.8) |
| Total | 34,859 | $55.7 |
Restricted Shares
Restricted shares are grants of a specified number of common shares that generally vest at the end of a 34-month service period. The following table presents the unrecognized compensation cost associated with the outstanding restricted share awards under the WTM Incentive Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Three Months Ended September 30, · Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · 2023 · 2024 · 2023 | ||||||||
| $ in Millions | RestrictedShares | UnamortizedIssue Date Fair Value | RestrictedShares | UnamortizedIssue Date Fair Value | RestrictedShares | Unamortized Issue Date Fair Value | RestrictedShares | Unamortized Issue Date Fair Value |
| Non-vested, | ||||||||
| Beginning of period | 35,525 | $28.8 | 37,595 | $24.3 | 37,595 | $16.2 | 38,350 | $15.5 |
| Issued | — | — | — | — | 11,405 | 20.0 | 10,895 | 16.0 |
| Vested | — | — | — | — | (13,475) | — | (11,650) | — |
| Forfeited | (135) | — | — | — | (135) | — | — | — |
| Expense recognized | — | (4.5) | — | (4.1) | — | (11.9) | — | (11.3) |
| End of period | 35,390 | $24.3 | 37,595 | $20.2 | 35,390 | $24.3 | 37,595 | $20.2 |
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains issued 11,405 restricted shares that vest on January 1, 2027. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, White Mountains issued 10,895 restricted shares that vest on January 1, 2026. The unamortized issue date fair value as of September 30, 2024 is expected to be recognized ratably over the remaining vesting periods.
Note 13. Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests consist of the ownership interests of noncontrolling shareholders in consolidated entities and are presented separately on the balance sheet. Effective July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. Through June 30, 2024, BAM’s results are attributed to noncontrolling interests in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.”
The following table presents the balance of noncontrolling interests included in White Mountains’s total equity and the related percentage of each consolidated entity’s total equity owned by noncontrolling shareholders as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ in Millions · Noncontrolling Percentage (1) · Noncontrolling Equity · Noncontrolling Percentage (1) · Noncontrolling Equity | ||||||
| Noncontrolling interests, excluding BAM | ||||||
| Ark | 28.0% | $397.9 | (2) | 28.0% | $336.9 | (2) |
| HG Global | 3.1% | (9.3) | 3.1% | .8 | ||
| Kudu | 9.9% | 133.7 | 10.5% | 113.8 | ||
| Bamboo | 27.2% | 117.6 | —% | — | ||
| Other | various | 9.3 | various | 9.4 | ||
| Total, excluding BAM | 649.2 | 460.9 | ||||
| BAM (3) | —% | — | 100.0% | (139.8) | ||
| Total noncontrolling interests | $649.2 | $321.1 | ||||
(1) The noncontrolling percentage represents the basic ownership interests held by noncontrolling shareholders with the exception of HG Global, for which the noncontrolling percentage represents the preferred share ownership held by noncontrolling shareholders.
(2) As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Ark’s noncontrolling equity includes $40.3 and $21.0 related to management’s equity incentives.
(3) Effective July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. Through June 30, 2024, BAM’s results are attributed to noncontrolling interests in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 14. Segment Information
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains conducted its operations through four reportable segments: (1) Ark/WM Outrigger, (2) HG Global, (3) Kudu and (4) Bamboo, with its remaining operating businesses, holding companies and other assets included in Other Operations. White Mountains has made its segment determination based on consideration of the following criteria: (i) the nature of the business activities of each of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates; (ii) the manner in which the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates are organized; (iii) the existence of primary managers responsible for specific subsidiaries and affiliates; and (iv) the organization of information provided to the chief operating decision makers and the Board of Directors. Significant intercompany transactions among White Mountains’s segments have been eliminated herein.
As a result of the Bamboo Transaction, White Mountains began consolidating Bamboo in its financial statements as of January 2, 2024. Effective July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. Through June 30, 2024, BAM’s assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests, as well as its results of operations, are presented within the HG Global segment. See Note 2 — “Significant Transactions.”
The following tables present the financial information for White Mountains’s segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| Ark/WM Outrigger · Other Operations · Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions · Ark · WM Outrigger Re · HG Global · Kudu · Bamboo | ||||||||||||||
| Earned insurance premiums (1) | $507.2 | $45.0 | $7.5 | $— | $10.6 | $11.2 | $581.5 | |||||||
| Net investment income (2) | 21.3 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 17.2 | .6 | 9.6 | 57.7 | |||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) (2) | 53.2 | — | 22.5 | 29.5 | .7 | 29.7 | 135.6 | |||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from investment in MediaAlpha | — | — | — | — | — | 88.2 | 88.2 | |||||||
| Interest income from BAM Surplus Notes | — | — | 7.9 | — | — | — | 7.9 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of BAM Surplus Notes | — | — | 15.8 | — | — | — | 15.8 | |||||||
| Unrealized loss on deconsolidation of BAM | — | — | (114.5) | — | — | — | (114.5) | |||||||
| Commission and fee revenues | — | — | — | — | 42.7 | 4.1 | 46.8 | |||||||
| Other revenues | 3.7 | — | — | .5 | 1.1 | 14.8 | 20.1 | |||||||
| Total revenues | 585.4 | 48.0 | (54.8) | 47.2 | 55.7 | 157.6 | 839.1 | |||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses | 275.1 | 13.2 | — | — | 4.4 | 4.2 | 296.9 | |||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 83.3 | 13.0 | 1.9 | — | 3.7 | 4.5 | 106.4 | |||||||
| Cost of sales | — | — | — | — | — | 7.6 | 7.6 | |||||||
| Broker commission expenses | — | — | — | — | 15.9 | — | 15.9 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 68.9 | — | .3 | 3.6 | 16.2 | 32.9 | 121.9 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 34.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 34.2 | |||||||
| Interest expense | 4.9 | — | 5.8 | 5.7 | — | .3 | 16.7 | |||||||
| Total expenses | 466.4 | 26.2 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 40.2 | 49.5 | 599.6 | |||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) | $119.0 | $21.8 | $(62.8) | $37.9 | $15.5 | $108.1 | $239.5 | |||||||
(1) Ark’s earned insurance premiums based on the location of Ark’s underwriting offices in the United Kingdom and Bermuda are $326.4 and $180.8.
(2) Bamboo’s net investment income and net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) are included in other revenues in the consolidated statement of operations.
| Ark/WM Outrigger · HG Global · Other Operations | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions · Ark · WM Outrigger Re · HG Global · BAM (1) · Kudu · Total | ||||||||||||||
| Earned insurance premiums (2) | $438.3 | $60.6 | $6.6 | $1.3 | $— | $— | $506.8 | |||||||
| Net investment income | 13.9 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 15.1 | 8.0 | 48.1 | |||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) | (6.6) | — | (13.6) | (10.5) | 11.2 | 8.0 | (11.5) | |||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from investment in MediaAlpha | — | — | — | — | — | (46.8) | (46.8) | |||||||
| Interest income (expense) from BAM Surplus Notes | — | — | 6.6 | (6.6) | — | — | — | |||||||
| Commission and fee revenues | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5 | 3.5 | |||||||
| Other revenues | 3.6 | — | — | .7 | — | 15.2 | 19.5 | |||||||
| Total revenues | 449.2 | 63.6 | 3.9 | (11.3) | 26.3 | (12.1) | 519.6 | |||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses | 258.5 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | 265.8 | |||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 71.0 | 19.3 | 2.0 | .1 | — | — | 92.4 | |||||||
| Cost of sales | — | — | — | — | — | 8.0 | 8.0 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 35.3 | .1 | .5 | 17.0 | 4.5 | 42.2 | 99.6 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 17.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 17.0 | |||||||
| Interest expense | 5.5 | — | 3.8 | — | 5.5 | .9 | 15.7 | |||||||
| Total expenses | 387.3 | 26.7 | 6.3 | 17.1 | 10.0 | 51.1 | 498.5 | |||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) | $61.9 | $36.9 | $(2.4) | $(28.4) | $16.3 | $(63.2) | $21.1 | |||||||
(1) BAM manages its affairs on a statutory accounting basis. BAM’s statutory surplus includes the BAM Surplus Notes and is not reduced by accruals of interest expense on the BAM Surplus Notes. BAM’s statutory surplus is reduced only after a payment of principal or interest has been approved by the NYDFS.
(2) Ark’s earned insurance premiums based on the location of Ark’s underwriting offices in the United Kingdom and Bermuda are $273.6 and $164.7.
| Ark/WM Outrigger · HG Global · Other Operations | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions · Ark · WM Outrigger Re · HG Global · BAM (1) (2) · Kudu · Bamboo · Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Earned insurance premiums (3) | $1,110.5 | $62.8 | $21.5 | $2.8 | $— | $27.0 | $19.8 | $1,244.4 | ||||||||
| Net investment income (4) | 57.6 | 8.9 | 17.3 | 8.8 | 50.1 | 1.5 | 27.9 | 172.1 | ||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) (4) | 84.1 | — | 13.2 | (5.1) | 77.5 | .6 | 60.4 | 230.7 | ||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from investment in MediaAlpha | — | — | — | — | — | — | 159.7 | 159.7 | ||||||||
| Interest income (expense) from BAM Surplus Notes | — | — | 21.1 | (13.2) | — | — | — | 7.9 | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of BAM Surplus Notes | — | — | 15.8 | — | — | — | — | 15.8 | ||||||||
| Unrealized loss on deconsolidation of BAM | — | — | (114.5) | — | — | — | — | (114.5) | ||||||||
| Commission and fee revenues | — | — | — | — | — | 97.3 | 11.1 | 108.4 | ||||||||
| Other revenues | 9.6 | — | — | 1.1 | .5 | 2.4 | 43.7 | 57.3 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 1,261.8 | 71.7 | (25.6) | (5.6) | 128.1 | 128.8 | 322.6 | 1,881.8 | ||||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses | 630.4 | 13.6 | — | — | — | 14.5 | 8.1 | 666.6 | ||||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 212.9 | 17.9 | 5.9 | .4 | — | 9.7 | 7.1 | 253.9 | ||||||||
| Cost of sales | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22.2 | 22.2 | ||||||||
| Broker commission expenses | — | — | — | — | — | 37.9 | — | 37.9 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 153.9 | .1 | 1.3 | 33.5 | 10.5 | 43.9 | 126.4 | 369.6 | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 47.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47.5 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 15.0 | — | 13.4 | — | 16.7 | — | 1.6 | 46.7 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 1,059.7 | 31.6 | 20.6 | 33.9 | 27.2 | 106.0 | 165.4 | 1,444.4 | ||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) | $202.1 | $40.1 | $(46.2) | $(39.5) | $100.9 | $22.8 | $157.2 | $437.4 | ||||||||
(1)Effective July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM. For the period from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024, BAM’s results of operations are presented within the HG Global segment.
(2)BAM manages its affairs on a statutory accounting basis. BAM’s statutory surplus includes the BAM Surplus Notes and is not reduced by accruals of interest expense on the BAM Surplus Notes. BAM’s statutory surplus is reduced only after a payment of principal or interest has been approved by the NYDFS.
(3) Ark’s earned insurance premiums based on the location of Ark’s underwriting offices in the United Kingdom and Bermuda are $697.5 and $413.0.
(4) Bamboo’s net investment income and net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) are included in other revenues in the consolidated statement of operations.
| Ark/WM Outrigger · HG Global · Other Operations | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions · Ark · WM Outrigger Re · HG Global · BAM (1) · Kudu · Total | ||||||||||||||
| Earned insurance premiums (2) | $971.9 | $75.4 | $19.4 | $3.9 | $— | $— | $1,070.6 | |||||||
| Net investment income | 33.5 | 7.7 | 12.4 | 10.5 | 44.0 | 22.0 | 130.1 | |||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) | 35.9 | — | (11.4) | (5.6) | 45.4 | 125.8 | 190.1 | |||||||
| Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from investment in MediaAlpha | — | — | — | — | — | (38.9) | (38.9) | |||||||
| Interest income (expense) from BAM Surplus Notes | — | — | 19.7 | (19.7) | — | — | — | |||||||
| Commission and fee revenues | — | — | — | — | — | 10.0 | 10.0 | |||||||
| Other revenues | (1.1) | — | — | 2.0 | — | 67.1 | 68.0 | |||||||
| Total revenues | 1,040.2 | 83.1 | 40.1 | (8.9) | 89.4 | 186.0 | 1,429.9 | |||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses | 573.2 | 7.9 | — | — | — | — | 581.1 | |||||||
| Acquisition expenses | 189.3 | 22.2 | 5.6 | .7 | — | — | 217.8 | |||||||
| Cost of sales | — | — | — | — | — | 33.5 | 33.5 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 105.3 | .2 | 1.9 | 47.8 | 12.3 | 130.7 | 298.2 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 16.8 | — | — | — | — | — | 16.8 | |||||||
| Interest expense | 15.7 | — | 10.8 | — | 15.5 | 2.9 | 44.9 | |||||||
| Total expenses | 900.3 | 30.3 | 18.3 | 48.5 | 27.8 | 167.1 | 1,192.3 | |||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) | $139.9 | $52.8 | $21.8 | $(57.4) | $61.6 | $18.9 | $237.6 | |||||||
(1) BAM manages its affairs on a statutory accounting basis. BAM’s statutory surplus includes the BAM Surplus Notes and is not reduced by accruals of interest expense on the BAM Surplus Notes. BAM’s statutory surplus is reduced only after a payment of principal or interest has been approved by the NYDFS.
(2) Ark’s earned insurance premiums based on the location of Ark’s underwriting offices in the United Kingdom and Bermuda are $588.3 and $383.6.
Note 15. Variable Interest Entities
Under GAAP, White Mountains is required to consolidate any entity in which it holds a controlling financial interest. A controlling financial interest is usually in the form of an investment representing the majority of the subsidiary’s voting interests. However, a controlling financial interest may also arise from a financial interest in a VIE through arrangements that do not involve ownership of voting interests. A VIE is a legal entity that (i) does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional financial support; (ii) is structured such that equity investors, as a group, lack the power, through voting or similar rights, to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; (iii) is structured such that the equity investors lack the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive returns from, the entity; or (iv) is structured with non-substantive voting rights. White Mountains determines whether an entity is a VIE at the inception of its variable interest in the entity and upon the occurrence of certain reconsideration events.
White Mountains consolidates a VIE if it determines that it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is defined as the entity that holds a variable interest that gives it both the power to direct the VIE’s activities that most significantly impact its economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive returns from, the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The identification of the primary beneficiary of a VIE may require significant assumptions and judgment. When White Mountains determines it has a variable interest in a VIE, it determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE by performing an analysis that principally considers: (i) the VIE’s purpose and design, including the risks the VIE was designed to create and pass through to its variable interest holders; (ii) the VIE’s capital structure; (iii) the identification of the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; (iv) the governance provisions and other contractual arrangements between the VIE and its variable interest holders and other parties involved with the VIE; and (v) related party relationships. At inception of its variable interest in the VIE, as well as on an ongoing basis, White Mountains performs qualitative assessments of its VIEs to determine whether White Mountains is the primary beneficiary of a VIE.
WM Outrigger Re
White Mountains has determined that Outrigger Re Ltd. and WM Outrigger Re are VIEs. White Mountains is not the primary beneficiary of Outrigger Re Ltd. or its other segregated accounts. White Mountains is the primary beneficiary of WM Outrigger Re, as it has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact WM Outrigger Re’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses, or the right to receive returns, that could potentially be significant to WM Outrigger Re. As a result, White Mountains consolidates WM Outrigger Re’s results in its financial statements. The assets of WM Outrigger Re can only be used to settle the liabilities of WM Outrigger Re, and there is no recourse to the Company for any creditors of WM Outrigger Re. WM Outrigger Re’s obligations under the reinsurance agreements with GAIL are subject to an aggregate limit equal to the assets in its collateral trust at any point in time. As of September 30, 2024, short-term investments of $199.9 million were held in its collateral trust account.
BAM
BAM is the first and only mutual municipal bond insurance company in the United States. HG Global, together with its subsidiaries, funded the initial capitalization of BAM through the purchase of $503.0 million of BAM Surplus Notes and, through its reinsurance subsidiary HG Re, provides first loss protection of up to 15%-of-par outstanding for each policy assumed from BAM. As a mutual insurance company, BAM is owned by and operated for the benefit of its members, the municipalities whose debt issuances are insured by BAM. White Mountains has determined that BAM is a VIE.
BAM’s underwriting process was determined to be the activity that most significantly impacts BAM’s economic performance. BAM’s underwriting guidelines define the types of credits that BAM may insure. Pursuant to the original FLRT, BAM’s underwriting guidelines could only be amended with the consent of HG Re. As a result, White Mountains concluded at inception and through June 30, 2024 that it had the power to direct BAM’s activities that most significantly impacted BAM’s economic performance and it was the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, White Mountains was required to consolidate BAM’s results in its financial statements. Since BAM is owned by its members, its equity and results of operations were included in noncontrolling interests.
On July 1, 2024, HG Re and BAM amended the terms of the FLRT with respect to certain governance rights held by HG Re. Under the amended FLRT, HG Re no longer has approval rights over changes to BAM’s underwriting guidelines; however, HG Re is only required to provide reinsurance on policies that fall within the FLRT underwriting guidelines agreed upon by HG Re. In conjunction with the amendments to the FLRT, HG Global and BAM increased the interest rate on the BAM Surplus Notes to 10.0%, with a higher proportion of each payment to be applied to outstanding principal prospectively. As a result, and in combination with other governance changes at BAM, White Mountains concluded that it no longer has the power to direct BAM’s activities that most significantly impact its economic performance and is no longer BAM’s primary beneficiary. Accordingly, as of July 1, 2024, White Mountains no longer consolidates BAM.
BAM’s assets can only be used to settle BAM’s obligations, and general creditors of BAM have no recourse to the Company or HG Global. HG Re’s obligations to BAM under the FLRT are subject to an aggregate limit equal to the assets in the Collateral Trusts at any point in time. As of September 30, 2024, the Collateral Trusts held assets of $976.4 million.
PassportCard/DavidShield
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains’s ownership interest in PassportCard/DavidShield was 53.8%. In 2024, PassportCard/DavidShield restructured its organizational structure such that White Mountains and its co-investor no longer have a direct investment in PassportCard Limited. The restructuring did not change PassportCard/DavidShield’s governance structure or White Mountains’s economic rights with respect to its investment in PassportCard/DavidShield. White Mountains has determined that PassportCard/DavidShield is a VIE but that White Mountains is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate PassportCard/DavidShield. The governance structure for PassportCard/DavidShield was designed to give White Mountains and its co-investor equal power to make the decisions that most significantly impact its operations. White Mountains does not have the unilateral power to direct the operations of PassportCard/DavidShield and does not hold a controlling financial interest. White Mountains’s ownership interest gives White Mountains the ability to exert significant influence over the significant financial and operating activities of PassportCard/DavidShield. Accordingly, White Mountains’s investment in PassportCard/DavidShield meets the criteria to be accounted for under the equity method. White Mountains has taken the fair value option for its investment in PassportCard/DavidShield. Changes in the fair value of PassportCard/DavidShield are recorded in net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses). As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains’s maximum exposure to loss on its equity investment in PassportCard/DavidShield and the non-interest-bearing loan to its co-investor is the total carrying value of $159.2 million.
Elementum
As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains’s ownership interest in Elementum was 26.6%. White Mountains has determined that Elementum is a VIE but that White Mountains is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate Elementum. White Mountains’s ownership interest gives White Mountains the ability to exert significant influence over the significant financial and operating activities of Elementum. Accordingly, Elementum meets the criteria to be accounted for under the equity method. White Mountains has taken the fair value option for its investment in Elementum. Changes in the fair value of Elementum are recorded in net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses). As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains’s maximum exposure to loss on its limited partnership interest in Elementum is the carrying value of $35.0 million.
Bamboo CRV
White Mountains has determined that Bamboo CRV is a VIE. White Mountains is the primary beneficiary of Bamboo CRV, as it has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Bamboo CRV’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses, or the right to receive returns, that could potentially be significant to Bamboo CRV. As a result, White Mountains consolidates Bamboo CRV’s results in its financial statements. The assets of Bamboo CRV can only be used to settle the liabilities of Bamboo CRV, and there is no recourse to the Company for any creditors of Bamboo CRV. As of September 30, 2024, Bamboo CRV’s obligations under its reinsurance agreements are subject to an aggregate limit equal to White Mountains’s total capital commitment of $30 million.
Limited Partnerships
White Mountains’s investments in limited partnerships are generally considered VIEs because the limited partnership interests do not have substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. White Mountains does not have the unilateral power to direct the operations of these limited partnerships, and therefore White Mountains is not the primary beneficiary and does not consolidate the limited partnerships. White Mountains has taken the fair value option for its investments in limited partnerships, which are generally measured at NAV as a practical expedient. As of September 30, 2024, White Mountains’s maximum exposure to loss on its investments in limited partnerships is the carrying value of $262.0 million.
Note 16. Equity Method Eligible Investments
White Mountains’s equity method eligible investments include Kudu’s Participation Contracts, White Mountains’s investment in MediaAlpha, PassportCard/DavidShield, Elementum and certain other unconsolidated entities, private equity funds and hedge funds in which White Mountains has the ability to exert significant influence over the investee’s operating and financial policies.
The following table presents the ownership interests and carrying values of White Mountains’s equity method eligible investments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ in Millions | Ownership Interest | Carrying Value | Ownership Interest | Carrying Value |
| Kudu’s Participation Contracts (1) | 4.1% - 30.0% | $930.6 | 4.1% - 30.0% | $890.5 |
| Investment in MediaAlpha | 26.8% | 323.4 | 34.9% | 254.9 |
| PassportCard/DavidShield | 53.8% | 150.0 | 53.8% | 150.0 |
| Elementum | 26.6% | 35.0 | 26.6% | 35.0 |
| Other equity method eligible investments, at fair value | Under 50.0% | 243.9 | Under 50.0% | 291.7 |
| Other equity method eligible investments, at fair value | 50.0% and over | — | 50.0% and over | 24.8 |
(1) Ownership interest generally references basic ownership interest with the exception of Kudu’s Participation Contracts, which are noncontrolling equity interests in the form of revenue and earnings participation contracts.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, White Mountains received dividend and income distributions from equity method eligible investments of $19.7 million and $57.9 million, which were recorded within net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, White Mountains received dividend and income distributions from equity method eligible investments of $13.2 million and $42.1 million.
Note 17. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
White Mountains records its financial instruments at fair value with the exception of debt obligations, which are recorded as debt at face value less unamortized original issue discount. See Note 7 — “Debt.”
The following table presents the fair value and carrying value of these financial instruments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millions | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value |
| Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes | $— | $— | $30.5 | $30.0 |
| Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes | $173.7 | $156.8 | $171.8 | $155.5 |
| HG Global Senior Notes | $158.1 | $147.3 | $158.7 | $146.9 |
| Kudu Credit Facility | $232.6 | $218.5 | $225.6 | $203.8 |
| Other Operations debt | $23.4 | $22.3 | $30.0 | $28.4 |
The fair value estimates for the Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes, Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes, HG Global Senior Notes, Kudu Credit Facility and Other Operations debt have been determined based on a discounted cash flow approach and are considered to be Level 3 measurements.
For the fair value level measurements associated with White Mountains’s investment securities see Note 3 — “Investment Securities.” For the fair value level measurements associated with White Mountains’s derivative instruments see Note 9 — “Derivatives.”For the fair value measurements associated with the BAM Surplus Notes, see Note 10 — “Municipal Bond Guarantee Reinsurance.”
Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Contingencies
White Mountains, and the insurance industry in general, is routinely subject to claims related litigation and arbitration in the normal course of business, as well as litigation and arbitration that do not arise from, nor are directly related to, claims activity. White Mountains’s estimates of the costs of settling matters routinely encountered in claims activity are reflected in the reserves for unpaid loss and LAE. See Note 5 — “Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”
White Mountains considers the requirements of ASC 450 when evaluating its exposure to non-claims related litigation and arbitration. ASC 450 requires that accruals be established for litigation and arbitration if it is probable that a loss has been incurred and it can be reasonably estimated. ASC 450 also requires that litigation and arbitration be disclosed if it is probable that a loss has been incurred or if there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may have been incurred. White Mountains does not have any current non-claims related litigation that may have a material adverse effect on White Mountains’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.