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WTM > SEC Filings for WTM > Form 8-K on 1-May-2009All Recent SEC Filings

Show all filings for WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP LTD | Request a Trial to NEW EDGAR Online Pro

Form 8-K for WHITE MOUNTAINS INSURANCE GROUP LTD


1-May-2009

Results of Operations and Financial Condition, Financial Stat


ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

On May 1, 2009, White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. issued a press release announcing its results for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The press release furnished herewith is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.
Certain information included in the press release constitutes non-GAAP financial measures (as defined in Regulation G of the Securities and Exchange Commission). Specifically, non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in the press release are adjusted comprehensive net income and adjusted book value per share. White Mountains believes these measures to be more relevant than comparable GAAP measures in evaluating White Mountains' financial performance.

Adjusted comprehensive net income is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the change in net unrealized gains and losses from Symetra's fixed maturity portfolio from comprehensive net income. In the calculation of comprehensive net income under GAAP, fixed maturity investments are marked-to-market while the liabilities to which those assets are matched are not. Symetra attempts to earn a "spread" between what it earns on its investments and what it pays out on its products. In order to try to fix this spread, Symetra invests in a manner that tries to match the duration and cash flows of its investments with the required cash outflows associated with its life insurance and structured settlements products. As a result, Symetra typically earns the same spread on in-force business whether interest rates fall or rise. Further, at any given time, some of Symetra's structured settlement obligations may extend 40 or 50 years into the future, which is further out than the longest maturing fixed maturity investments regularly available for purchase in the market (typically 30 years). For these long-dated products, Symetra is unable to fully match the obligation with assets until the remaining expected payout schedule comes within the duration of securities available in the market. If at that time, these fixed maturity investments have yields that are lower than the yields expected when the structured settlement product was originally priced, the spread for the product will shrink and Symetra will ultimately harvest lower returns for its shareholders. GAAP comprehensive net income increases when rates decline, which would suggest an increase in the value of Symetra - the opposite of what is happening to the intrinsic value of the business. Therefore, White Mountains' management and Board of Directors use adjusted comprehensive net income when assessing Symetra's quarterly financial performance. In addition, this measure is typically the predominant component of change in adjusted book value per share, which is used in calculation of White Mountains' performance for both short-term (annual bonus) and long-term incentive plans. A schedule is included in Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K that reconciles White Mountains' comprehensive net income to adjusted comprehensive net income.

Adjusted book value per share is a non-GAAP measure which is derived by expanding the GAAP calculation of book value per White Mountains common share to exclude net unrealized gains/ (losses) from Symetra's fixed maturity portfolio. In addition, the number of common shares outstanding used in the calculation of adjusted book value per share are adjusted to exclude unearned shares of restricted stock, the compensation cost of which, at the date of calculation, has yet to be amortized. A schedule is included in Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K that reconciles White Mountains' book value per share to adjusted book value per share.

During the second quarter of 2008, White Mountains changed its principal financial reporting measure from "fully diluted tangible book value per share" to "adjusted book value per share". Fully diluted tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP measure that differs from adjusted book value per share by excluding goodwill and other intangible assets. The change from fully diluted tangible book value per share to adjusted book value per share has been presented retroactively for all periods. As a result of the change, goodwill and other intangible assets are included in the calculation for all periods presented. For periods ended March 31, 2008 and prior, White Mountains had not recorded any significant intangible assets other than goodwill. The goodwill, which primarily relates to the FIN 46 consolidation of White Mountains' investment in the Tuckerman Funds, was $19.6 million, $19.5 million and $34.0 million as of March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008, and March 31, 2008, respectively. The inclusion of goodwill in adjusted book value per share did not have a significant effect on the calculation of changes per share for any periods presented.




ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. dated May 1, 2009, furnished herewith.

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