Back to GetFilings.com

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission file number 1-8993

WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

80 SOUTH MAIN STREET, HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03755-2053
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(603) 640-2200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ý No o

        As of November 2, 2004, 10,769,451 common shares with a par value of $1.00 per share ("Common Shares") were outstanding (which includes 15,000 restricted Common Shares which were not vested at such date).

WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.
Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3

WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Unaudited

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4

WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Unaudited

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5

WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

        These interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (the "Company" or the "Registrant") and its subsidiaries (collectively, "White Mountains") and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The Company is a Bermuda limited liability company with its headquarters located at the Bank of Butterfield Building, 42 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda. The Company's principal executive office is located at 80 South Main Street, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-2053 and its registered office is located at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.

        The Company's reportable segments are OneBeacon, White Mountains Re, Esurance and Other Operations.

        The OneBeacon family of companies are U.S.-based property and casualty insurance writers, which were acquired by White Mountains from Aviva plc ("Aviva", formerly CGNU plc) on June 1, 2001 (the "OneBeacon Acquisition").

        White Mountains' reinsurance operations are conducted primarily through its recently formed global reinsurance organization ("White Mountains Re"), which oversees the operations of Folksamerica, Sirius, and WMU, as described below.

        Folksamerica Holding Company Inc. (together with its reinsurance subsidiary, Folksamerica Reinsurance Company, "Folksamerica") became a wholly-owned subsidiary of White Mountains in 1998. In connection with the OneBeacon Acquisition, Folksamerica was contributed to OneBeacon. On March 31, 2004, OneBeacon distributed its interest in Folksamerica back to its parent, Fund American Companies, Inc. ("Fund American").

        On April 16, 2004, White Mountains acquired Sirius Insurance Holding Sweden AB and its subsidiaries ("Sirius"), a group of international insurers and reinsurers that focuses mainly on property and other short-tailed lines, from ABB Ltd. (See Note 2). Subsequent to White Mountains' acquisition of Sirius, Fund American Reinsurance Company Ltd. ("Fund American Re") was sold to Sirius by the Company. The results of Fund American Re are now included in Sirius' results throughout this report. White Mountains' reinsurance operations also include its wholly owned subsidiaries, White Mountains Underwriting Limited (domiciled in Ireland) and White Mountains Underwriting (Bermuda) Limited (collectively, "WMU"). WMU is an underwriting advisory company specializing in international property and marine excess reinsurance.

        Esurance has been a unit of White Mountains since October 2000. Esurance markets personal auto insurance directly to customers and through select online agents.

        White Mountains' Other Operations consists of the Company and its intermediate holding companies, as well as the International American Group, Inc. (the "International American Group"). The International American Group, which was acquired by White Mountains in 1999, consists of American Centennial Insurance Company ("American Centennial") and British Insurance Company of Cayman ("British Insurance Company") and, prior to its sale in January 2004, also included Peninsula Insurance Company ("Peninsula").

        White Mountains has completed numerous significant transactions during the periods presented which have affected the comparability of the financial statement information presented herein. White Mountains' consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income include the results of acquired businesses beginning as of the date each respective acquisition was completed. Net changes in

7

assets and liabilities reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows exclude those assets and liabilities acquired or sold during the periods presented.

        All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial statements include all adjustments considered necessary by management to fairly present 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 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of 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. Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation. Refer to the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion regarding White Mountains' significant accounting policies.

Recently Adopted Changes in Accounting Principles

Variable Interest Entities

        In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" ("FIN 46"), which addresses consolidation issues surrounding special purpose entities and certain other entities, collectively termed variable interest entities ("VIE"), to which the usual condition for consolidation does not apply. A VIE is an entity in which the equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Under FIN 46, the primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE in its financial statements. The primary beneficiary is an entity that has a variable interest that will absorb the majority of the VIE's expected losses if they occur, receive a majority of the entity's expected residual returns if they occur, or both. White Mountains adopted the disclosure provisions of FIN 46 beginning with its December 31, 2002 Form 10-K and its consolidation provisions as of March 31, 2004.

        For purposes of FIN 46, New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association is considered to be a VIE and as a result, the balance sheet accounts and the results of operations of the Association have been consolidated in White Mountains' financial statements since March 31, 2004. See Note 11.

Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions

Sirius

        On April 16, 2004, White Mountains completed its acquisition of Sirius from ABB Ltd. (the "Sirius Acquisition") for SEK 3.27 billion (approximately $427.5 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate at the date of acquisition), which includes $10.5 million of expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition. The principal companies acquired were Sirius International Insurance Corporation ("Sirius International"), Sirius America Insurance Company ("Sirius America") and Scandinavian Reinsurance Company Ltd. ("Scandinavian Re"). Stockholm-based Sirius International is the largest reinsurance company in Scandinavia and has offices in Stockholm, London, Hamburg, Zurich, Belgium and Singapore. Sirius America is a U.S.-based insurer focused on primary insurance programs that was acquired by Folksamerica as part of the transaction. Scandinavian Re is a Bermuda-based finite reinsurer that is in runoff.

        The Sirius Acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method of accounting and, therefore, the identifiable assets and liabilities of Sirius were recorded by White Mountains at their fair values on

8

April 16, 2004. The process of determining the fair value of such assets and liabilities acquired was as follows: (I) the purchase price of Sirius was preliminarily allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities, based on their respective estimated fair values at April 16, 2004; (ii) the excess of the estimated fair value of acquired net assets over the purchase price was used to reduce the estimated fair values of all non-current, non-financial assets acquired to zero; and (iii) the remaining excess of the estimated fair value of net assets over the purchase price was recorded as an extraordinary gain.

        The fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired on April 16, 2004 were as follows (in millions):

        Significant assets and liabilities acquired through Sirius included $1,851.9 million of cash and investments, $790.1 million of funds held by ceding companies, $286.2 million of reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses, $245.8 million of insurance and reinsurance balances receivable, $24.3 million of deferred acquisition costs, $1,612.7 million of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, $432.2 million of reserves for structured settlements, $276.5 million of unearned insurance premiums and $289.4 million of deferred tax liabilities.

        Supplemental unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement information for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004, which assumes that the Sirius Acquisition had occurred as of January 1, 2004, and for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2003, which assumes the Sirius Acquisition had occurred as of January 1, 2003, follows:

(1)

Because Sirius is a foreign company that has not previously reported interim financial information in accordance with GAAP, pro forma information for the Sirius Acquisition is not available for the 2003 interim periods.

        The unaudited pro forma information presented above for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004 and the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2003 has been supplied for comparative purposes only and does not purport to reflect the actual results that would have been reported had the Sirius Acquisition been consummated at January 1, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Additionally, such pro forma financial information does not purport to represent results that may occur in the future.

Symetra

        On August 2, 2004, White Mountains, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire") and several other private investors capitalized Symetra Financial Corporation ("Symetra") in order to purchase the life and investment operations of Safeco Corporation for $1.35 billion. The acquired companies, which are now operating under the Symetra brand, focus mainly on group insurance, individual life insurance,

9

structured settlements and retirement services. Symetra had an initial capitalization of approximately $1.4 billion, consisting of $1,065 million of common equity and $315 million of bank debt. White Mountains invested $194.7 million in Symetra in exchange for 2.0 million common shares of Symetra. In addition, White Mountains and Berkshire each received warrants to acquire an additional 1.1 million common shares of Symetra at $100 per share. White Mountains owns approximately 19% of the outstanding common shares of Symetra, which are accounted for under the equity method, and approximately 24% of Symetra on a fully-converted basis including the warrants, which are accounted for under the provisions of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("FAS 133"). Three White Mountains designees serve on Symetra's eight member board of directors.

        White Mountains recorded its initial investment in Symetra in accordance with GAAP by allocating the $194.7 million purchase price between the common shares and the warrants. The allocation was determined by recording the warrants at their fair value of $35.4 million, with the remaining $159.3 million allocated to the common shares. White Mountains then recognized an extraordinary gain of $40.7 million, representing the difference between the initial cost of the common shares and the amount of White Mountains' equity in the underlying net assets of Symetra, as required by APB 18, "The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock".

        The following table summarizes White Mountains' investment in Symetra for the three months ended September 30, 2004:

        White Mountains' carrying value of its investment in Symetra includes the change in net unrealized gains from Symetra's fixed maturity portfolio. Under GAAP, Symetra is required to record its fixed maturity investments at fair value, which results in unrealized gains during periods when interest rates fall and unrealized losses in periods when interest rates rise. Because the liabilities related to the life insurance and structured settlement products that these assets support are not marked to market under GAAP, it is likely that the economic impact on Symetra would be the opposite of that shown under GAAP (i.e., in general, Symetra's intrinsic value increases when interest rates rise and decreases when interest rates fall).

Other acquisitions and dispositions

        On October 6, 2004, Sirius entered into an agreement to acquire Tryg-Baltica Forsikring, internationalt forsikringsselskab A/S ("Tryg Baltica") from Tryg Forsikring A/S, a Tryg Vesta Group company based in Denmark. Under the terms of the agreement, Sirius will pay approximately DKK 315 million ($52.6 million). Following the closing, Sirius will place the company into runoff, though it is anticipated that select business will be renewed by Sirius. Sirius is not acquiring any infrastructure or employees and Sirius will manage the company's runoff administration. The transaction, which Sirius expects to close during the fourth quarter of 2004, is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

10

        On March 31, 2004, OneBeacon acquired Atlantic Specialty Insurance Company ("Atlantic Specialty"), a subsidiary of Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company ("Atlantic Mutual"), and the renewal rights to Atlantic Mutual's segmented commercial insurance business, including the unearned premiums on the acquired book (the "Atlantic Specialty Transaction"). The overall gross written premium for this book of business totals approximately $400 million. Under the terms of the agreement, OneBeacon will pay Atlantic Mutual a renewal commission on the premiums renewed. In connection with its acquisition of Atlantic Specialty, OneBeacon issued a $20.0 million note to the seller (See Note 6).

        On March 31, 2004, Folksamerica completed its acquisition of the Sierra Insurance Group companies (the "Sierra Group"), consisting of California Indemnity Insurance Company and its three subsidiaries, from Nevada-based Sierra Health Services, Inc. Folksamerica paid $76.2 million for the Sierra Group, which included $14.2 million in cash and a $62.0 million purchase note (see Note 6), of which $58.0 million will be adjusted over its six-year term to reflect favorable or adverse loss reserve development on the acquired reserve portfolio and runoff of remaining policies in force (mainly workers compensation business) as well as certain other balance sheet protections. The acquired companies' net assets at the time of the close were $84.8 million, including $270.3 million of investments, $174.4 million of reinsurance balances recoverable, $406.9 million of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and $25.1 million of unearned premium. The acquisition resulted in an $8.6 million extraordinary gain, which White Mountains recognized in the first quarter of 2004.

        During the first quarter of 2004, White Mountains sold a portion of its investment in Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. ("Montpelier") common shares to third parties. As a result of this sale, as well as changes to the composition of the Board of Directors of both Montpelier and White Mountains, White Mountains changed the method of accounting for its remaining common share investment in Montpelier as of March 31, 2004 from an equity method investment in an unconsolidated affiliate to a common equity security classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. See Note 5.

        In January 2004, Folksamerica sold Peninsula to the Donegal Group for $23.3 million, or 107.5% of its GAAP book value, resulting in a pretax gain of $2.1 million, which White Mountains recognized in the first quarter of 2004.

11

Note 3. Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

        The following table summarizes the loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") reserve activities of White Mountains' insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003:

(1)

Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses acquired in the Sirius and Sierra Group acquisitions totalled $283.8 million and $162.5 million, respectively.

        White Mountains experienced $41.1 million and $72.2 million of net unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004. OneBeacon recorded $53 million of prior accident year reserve development in the third quarter of 2004, related primarily to run-off workers compensation and general liability reserves, due to the expectation that more workers compensation claims will reopen and increased litigation costs associated with general liability claims. White Mountains' unfavorable loss development for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 included an additional $30 million that resulted from emerging claims experienced in OneBeacon's run-off operations and increases in reserves at OneBeacon as a result of audits of national account and program claims administered by third parties.

        White Mountains recorded $106.9 million and $137.3 million of net unfavorable development on prior accident year loss and LAE reserves during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, of which $100 million and $120 million, respectively, were experienced by OneBeacon. The net unfavorable development at OneBeacon in the third quarter of 2003 primarily related to construction defect claims as part of the review of all claims recalled from Liberty Mutual by OneBeacon. The development at OneBeacon during the first nine months of 2003 also included approximately $12 million for a significant 1995 property claim from a pool in which OneBeacon had participated (the Industrial Risk Insurers pool) which had been in litigation and was settled through an arbitration decision during the second quarter of 2003.

        In connection with purchase accounting for the acquisition of OneBeacon, White Mountains was required to adjust to fair value OneBeacon's loss and LAE reserves and the related reinsurance

12

recoverables by $646.9 million and $346.9 million, respectively, on OneBeacon's acquired balance sheet. This net reduction to loss and LAE reserves of $300.0 million at June 1, 2001 ($88.9 million at September 30, 2004) is being recognized through an income statement charge ratably with and over the period the claims are settled. As such, White Mountains recognized $6.5 million and $26.7 million of such charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively, and $10.1 million and $38.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively.

        In connection with purchase accounting for the Sirius Acquisition, White Mountains was required to adjust to fair value the loss and LAE reserves on Sirius International's acquired balance sheet by $58.1 million. This fair value adjustment is being recognized through an income statement charge ratably with and over the period the claims are settled. As such, White Mountains recognized $3.7 million and $6.4 million of such charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively.

Note 4. Third Party Reinsurance

        In the normal course of business, White Mountains' insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries seek to limit losses that may arise from catastrophes or other events by reinsuring with third party reinsurers. White Mountains remains liable for risks reinsured in the event that the reinsurer is unable to honor its obligations under reinsurance contracts.

OneBeacon

        In connection with the OneBeacon Acquisition, Aviva caused OneBeacon to purchase two reinsurance contracts; a full risk-transfer cover from National Indemnity Company ("NICO") for up to $2.5 billion in old asbestos and environmental ("A&E") claims and certain other exposures (the "NICO Cover") and an adverse development cover from General Reinsurance Corporation ("GRC") for up to $400.0 million of adverse development on losses occurring in years 2000 and prior (the "GRC Cover") in addition to $170.0 million of reserves ceded as of the date of the OneBeacon Acquisition.

        Under the terms of the NICO Cover, NICO receives reinsurance recoverables from certain of OneBeacon's third party reinsurers in existence at the time the NICO Cover was executed ("Third Party Recoverables"). As a result, the Third Party Recoverables serve to protect the $2.5 billion limit of NICO coverage for the benefit of OneBeacon. Third Party Recoverables are typically for the amount of loss in excess of a stated level each year. White Mountains estimates that on an incurred basis, net of Third Party Recoverables, it has exhausted approximately $1.7 billion of the coverage provided by NICO at September 30, 2004. Approximately $590.0 million of these incurred losses have been paid by NICO through September 30, 2004. To the extent that actual experience differs from White Mountains' estimate of ultimate A&E losses and Third Party Recoverables, future losses could utilize some or all of the protection remaining under the NICO Cover.

        At September 30, 2004, OneBeacon had $31.6 million of reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and $2,887.3 million (gross of $283.6 million in purchase accounting adjustments, as described in Note 3) that will become recoverable if claims are paid in accordance with current reserve estimates. Because reinsurance contracts do not relieve OneBeacon of its primary obligation to its policyholders, the collectibility of balances due from OneBeacon's reinsurers is critical to OneBeacon's financial strength. OneBeacon is selective with regard to its reinsurers, placing reinsurance with only those reinsurers having strong financial condition. OneBeacon monitors the financial strength of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis. As a result, uncollectible amounts have not historically been significant. The

13

following table provides a listing of OneBeacon's top reinsurers based upon recoverable amounts, the percentage of total reinsurance recoverables and the reinsurer's A.M. Best rating.

(1)

At September 30, 2004, OneBeacon had assumed balances payable and expenses payable of approximately $100.6 million under its renewal rights agreement with Liberty Mutual Insurance Group ("Liberty Mutual"), which expired on October 31, 2003. In the event of Liberty Mutual insolvency, OneBeacon has the right to offset these balances against its reinsurance recoverable due from Liberty Mutual.

(2)

Represents non-U.S. insurance entities whose balances are fully collateralized through funds held, letters of credit and/or trust agreements.

(3)

A.M. Best ratings as detailed above are: "A++" (Superior, which is the highest of fifteen ratings), "A+" (Superior, which is the second highest of fifteen ratings) and "A" (Excellent, which is the third highest of fifteen ratings).

White Mountains Re

        In 2000, Folksamerica purchased a reinsurance contract from Imagine Re (the "Imagine Cover") to reduce its statutory operating leverage and protect its surplus from adverse development relating to A&E exposures as well as the reserves assumed in several acquisitions. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 113, "Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts", amounts related to reserves transferred to Imagine Re for liabilities incurred as a result of past insurable events have been accounted for as retroactive reinsurance. At September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, Folksamerica's reinsurance recoverables included $260.0 million and $312.4 million, respectively, recorded under the Imagine Cover. All balances due from Imagine Re are fully collateralized, either with Folksamerica as the beneficiary of invested assets in a trust, with funds held, or through a letter of credit. As of December 31, 2003, the entire $115.0 million of coverage available under this contract had been fully utilized. At September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, Folksamerica had also recorded $44.3 million and $50.6 million in deferred gains, respectively, related to adverse development on loss reserves incurred as a result of past insurable events transferred to Imagine Re at the inception of the Imagine Cover.

        At September 30, 2004, White Mountains Re had $35.8 million of reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and $1,293.2 million that will become recoverable if claims are paid in accordance with current reserve estimates. Because reinsurance contracts do not relieve White Mountains Re of its obligation to its ceding companies, the collectibility of balances due from its reinsurers is critical to White Mountains Re's financial strength. White Mountains Re is selective with regard to its reinsurers, placing reinsurance with only those reinsurers having strong financial condition. White Mountains Re monitors the financial strength of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis. The following table provides a listing of

14

White Mountains Re's top reinsurers based upon recoverable amounts, the percentage of total recoverables and the reinsurer's A.M. Best Rating.

(1)

Represents non-U.S. insurance entities whose balances are fully collateralized through funds held, letters of credit or trust agreements.

(2)

A.M. Best ratings as detailed above are: "A++" (Superior, which is the highest of fifteen ratings), "A" (Excellent, which is the third highest of fifteen ratings) and "A-" (Excellent, which is the fourth highest of fifteen ratings).

Note 5. Investment Securities

        White Mountains' portfolio of fixed maturity investments is comprised primarily of corporate debt securities, U.S. government agency and foreign government securities and mortgage-backed securities and are classified as available for sale. Nearly all of the fixed maturity securities currently held by White Mountains are publicly traded and greater than 98% of the market value of such securities are considered to be investment grade (meaning rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's).

        White Mountains' net investment income is comprised primarily of interest income associated with the fixed maturity investments of its consolidated insurance and reinsurance operations, dividend income from its equity investments and interest income from its short-term investments. Net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

15

        The composition of realized investment gains (losses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

        During the first quarter of 2004, White Mountains sold 4.5 million common shares of Montpelier to third parties for net proceeds of $155.3 million, resulting in a pretax realized gain of $35.2 million (see Note 2). Also during the first quarter of 2004, White Mountains purchased additional warrants to acquire 2,390,786 common shares of Montpelier from an existing warrant holder for $54.1 million in cash, thereby raising the total number of such warrants owned by White Mountains to 7,172,358. The Montpelier warrants have an exercise price of $16.67 per share (as adjusted for stock splits) and are exercisable until December 2011.

        The following table summarizes White Mountains' investment in Montpelier as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003:

        White Mountains accounts for its Montpelier and Symetra warrants (see Note 2) under FAS 133 as a component of other investments, recording the instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through the income statement as a realized investment gain or loss.

        White Mountains recorded investment gains of $10.9 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and investment gains (losses) of $(6.4) million and $5.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 related to its Montpelier warrants. White Mountains recorded an investment gain of $.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 related to its Symetra warrants.

Impairment

        Temporary losses on investment securities are recorded as unrealized losses. Temporary losses do not impact net income and earnings per common share but serve to reduce comprehensive net income, shareholders' equity and tangible book value. Unrealized losses subsequently identified as other-than-temporary impairments are recorded as realized losses. Other-than-temporary impairments previously recorded as unrealized losses do not impact comprehensive net income, shareholders' equity and tangible book value but serve to reduce net income and earnings per common share.

        White Mountains' methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the balance sheet date. As a result, subsequent adverse changes in an issuers' credit quality or subsequent weakening of market conditions that differ from expectations could result in additional other-than-temporary impairments. In addition, the sale of a fixed maturity security with a previously recorded unrealized loss would result in a realized loss. Either

16

of these situations would adversely impact net income and earnings per common share but would not impact comprehensive net income, shareholders' equity or tangible book value.

        The following table presents an analysis of the continuous periods during which White Mountains has held investment positions which were carried at an unrealized loss as of September 30, 2004 (excluding short-term investments):