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| WTM > SEC Filings for WTM > Form 8-K on 31-Jul-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
31-Jul-2009
Results of Operations and Financial Condition, Financial Stat
On July 31, 2009, White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. issued a press release
announcing its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 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.
(d) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. dated July 31, 2009, furnished herewith.
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