Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies

NSM Contingent Liability

In connection with White Mountains’s acquisition of NSM, White Mountains and NSM entered into an agreement with AIG to help facilitate a sale of NSM’s U.S. collector car renewal rights owned by AIG to a third party by December 31, 2019. Under the terms of the agreement, if the Renewal Rights were not sold by December 31, 2019, AIG had the right to require NSM to purchase the Renewal Rights for $82.5 million. On June 28, 2019, NSM acquired the Renewal Rights from AIG for $82.5 million. The transaction satisfied NSM’s obligation to acquire the Renewal Rights from AIG.

Sirius Group Tax Contingency

A subsidiary of Sirius Group, which was sold by White Mountains in 2016, has been denied interest deductions by the Swedish Tax Authority (“STA”) for tax years 2013-2016.  In October 2018, the Swedish Administrative Court ruled against Sirius Group on its appeal of the Swedish Tax Agency’s denial of certain interest deductions relating to periods prior to the sale of Sirius Group to CMI. In connection with the sale, White Mountains indemnified Sirius Group against the loss of certain tax attributes, including those related to these interest deductions. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, White Mountains reported a liability of $15.7 million and $17.3 million, reflecting the value of these interest deductions. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the decrease in the liability of $0.9 million and $1.6 million is related to foreign currency translation and included within net gain on sale of discontinued operations. Sirius Group has appealed the decision to the Swedish Administrative Court of Appeal.

Legal Contingencies

White Mountains is subject to litigation and arbitration in the normal course of business. White Mountains recognizes an accrual for litigation and arbitration if it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. White Mountains discloses litigation and arbitration if it is probable that a loss has been incurred or if there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may have been incurred. White Mountains does not have any current litigation as of September 30, 2019 that is deemed probable of having a material adverse effect on White Mountains’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.