Common Shareholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Common Shareholder's Equity

Common Shareholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests

Common Shares Repurchased and Retired

During the past several years, White Mountains’s board of directors authorized the Company to repurchase its common shares, from time to time, subject to market conditions. Shares may be repurchased on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The repurchase authorizations do not have a stated expiration date. As of December 31, 2015, White Mountains may repurchase an additional 476,253 shares under these board authorizations. In addition, from time to time White Mountains has also repurchased its common shares through tender offers that were separately approved by its board of directors.

During 2015, the Company repurchased 387,495 common shares for $284.2 million at an average share price of $733, which were comprised of 361,839 common shares repurchased under the board authorization for $267.4 million at an average share price of $739 and 10,802 common shares repurchased pursuant to employee benefit plans. Shares repurchased pursuant to employee benefit plans do not fall under the board authorizations referred to above.

During 2014, the Company repurchased 217,879 common shares for $134.5 million at an average share price of $617, which were comprised of 207,404 common shares repurchased under the board authorization for $128.2 million at an average share price of $618 and 10,475 common shares repurchased pursuant to employee benefit plans.

During 2013, the Company repurchased 141,535 common shares for $79.8 million at an average share price of $564, which were comprised of 140,000 common shares repurchased in a private transaction under the board authorization for $78.9 million at an average share price of $564 and 1,535 common shares repurchased pursuant to employee benefit plans.

Common Shares Issued

During 2015, the Company issued a total of 25,016 common shares, which consisted of 23,640 restricted shares issued to key management personnel and 1,376 shares issued to directors of the Company. During 2014, the Company issued a total of 28,405 common shares, which consisted of 23,440 restricted shares issued to key management personnel, 3,570 shares issued in satisfaction of performance shares and 1,395 shares issued to directors of the Company. During 2013, the Company issued a total of 27,310 common shares, which consisted of 25,720 restricted shares to key personnel and 1,590 shares issued to directors of the Company.

Dividends on Common Shares

For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company declared and paid cash dividends totaling $6.0 million, $6.2 million and $6.2 million (or $1.00 per common share).

Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests consist of the ownership interests of non-controlling shareholders in consolidated entities and are presented separately on the balance sheet. The following table details the balance of non-controlling interests included in White Mountains’s total equity and the related percentage of each consolidated entity’s total equity owned by non-controlling shareholders as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:

	December 31, 2015					December 31, 2014
$ in millions	Non-controlling Percentage		Non-controlling Equity			Non-controlling Percentage		Non-controlling Equity
OneBeacon Ltd.	24.5	%	$	245.6		24.7	%	$	258.4
SIG Preference Shares	100.0		250.0			100.0		250.0
Other, excluding mutuals and reciprocals
HG Global	3.1		17.1			3.1		17.9
MediaAlpha	40.0		14.4			40.0		22.6
Tranzact	36.8		79.4			36.8		88.2
Wobi	3.9		.6			36.7		5.4
Prospector Offshore Fund	—		—			23.4		31.1
Dewar	19.0		3.7			18.0		3.4
Total other, excluding mutuals and      reciprocals			115.2					168.6
Mutuals and reciprocals
BAM	100.0		(140.0		)	100.0		(121.9		)
SSIE	100.0		(16.0		)	100.0		(12.4		)
Total non-controlling interests			$	454.8				$	542.7