Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Policy Acquisition Costs

On January 1, 2012, OneBeacon adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-26, Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, codified within Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 944. ASU 2010-26 changes the types of policy acquisition costs that are eligible for deferral. Specifically, ASU 2010-26 limits deferrable costs to those that are incremental direct costs of contract acquisition and certain costs related to acquisition activities performed by the insurer, such as underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical and inspection costs and sales force contract selling. ASU 2010-26 defines incremental direct costs as those costs that result directly from and were essential to the contract acquisition and would not have been incurred absent the acquisition. Accordingly, under ASC 2010-26, deferrable acquisition costs are limited to costs related to successful contract acquisitions. Acquisition costs that are not eligible for deferral are to be charged to expense in the period incurred.

OneBeacon adopted ASU 2010-26 prospectively. As a result of adopting ASU 2010-26, $5.6 million of unamortized deferred acquisition costs as of January 1, 2012, primarily relating to a portion of profit sharing commission that had been deferred under prior guidance, have been determined to no longer be deferrable and will be recognized in expense over the original amortization period. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, $0.9 million and $5.3 million, respectively, of the $5.6 million of unamortized acquisitions costs as of January 1, 2012 were recognized in expense. If OneBeacon had followed ASU 2010-26 in 2011, $1.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, of acquisition costs that had been deferred would have been recognized in expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

On January 1, 2012, OneBeacon adopted ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in US GAAP and IFRS (ASC 820). ASU 2011-04 clarifies existing guidance with respect to the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise and measuring instruments classified within a reporting entity’s shareholders’ equity. ASU 2011-04 also clarifies disclosure requirements, requiring disclosure of quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 also amends existing guidance. In circumstances where a reporting entity manages a portfolio of financial assets and liabilities based on the net market and counterparty credit risk exposures, ASU 2011-04 permits determination of the fair value of those instruments to be based on the net risk exposure. In addition, ASU 2011-04 permits the application of premiums or discounts to be applied in a fair value measurement to the extent that market participants would consider them in valuing the financial instruments. ASU 2011-04 also expands the required disclosures for Level 3 measurements, requiring that reporting entities provide a narrative description of the sensitivity of Level 3 fair value measurements to changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those inputs, if any. As a result of adopting ASU 2011-04, OneBeacon expanded its fair value disclosures. See Note 5.

Comprehensive Income

On January 1, 2012, OneBeacon adopted ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220). ASU 2011-05 requires all components of comprehensive income to be reported in a continuous financial statement or in two consecutive statements displaying the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income. Since OneBeacon already presents comprehensive income in a continuous financial statement, adoption of ASU 2011-05 had no effect on OneBeacon’s financial statement presentation.

Goodwill Impairment

On January 1, 2012, OneBeacon adopted ASU 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (ASC 350). ASU 2011-08 amends the guidance that requires an entity to test goodwill for impairment on at least an annual basis using a two-step quantitative test. The new guidance permits an entity to first assess facts and circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the entity determines on the basis of this assessment that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performance of the two-step quantitative test is not required. Upon adoption, ASU 2011-08 had no effect on OneBeacon’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Off Setting assets and liabilities

On December 16, 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASC 210). The new standard expands the required disclosures in circumstance where either balances have been offset or the right of offset exists. The required disclosures are intended to provide information to enable financial statement users to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on a reporting entity’s financial position. Disclosures required under the new standard include the gross amount of assets and liabilities recognized; the amounts that have been offset to arrive at the amounts presented in the statement of financial position; and any amounts subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement, whether or not such amounts have been offset. In addition, a description of the rights of offset should be disclosed. ASU 2011-11 is effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. OneBeacon is currently evaluating the effect adoption will have on its disclosures, but does not expect adoption to have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.