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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value of Financial Instruments  
Fair Value of Financial Instruments

NOTE 17. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

White Mountains carries its financial instruments on its balance sheet at fair value with the exception of its fixed-rate, long-term indebtedness and the SIG Preference Shares, which are recorded as noncontrolling interest. For certain financial instruments where quoted market prices are not available, the fair values of these financial instruments were estimated using quoted market prices. Because considerable judgment is used, these estimates are not necessarily indicative of amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. The following summarizes the carrying value and fair value of financial instruments that are not accounted for at fair value.

 

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

Millions

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

OBH Senior Notes

 

$

277.4

 

$

269.8

 

$

435.1

 

$

419.6

 

SIG Senior Notes

 

418.6

 

399.3

 

390.9

 

399.2

 

SIG Preference Shares

 

217.5

 

250.0

 

212.5

 

250.0