White Mountains Reports Fourth Quarter Results
White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. [WTM] reported book value per share of $896 and adjusted book value per share of $888 as of December 31, 2018.
For the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018, book value per share decreased 5% and 4% and adjusted book value per share decreased 4% and 3%, including dividends. Including the estimated gain of $55 per share for the MediaAlpha transaction, December 31, 2018 book value per share would have been $951 and adjusted book value per share would have been $943.
Manning Rountree, CEO, commented, “We had a tough fourth quarter, with ABVPS down 4%. This result was driven largely by the impact of the rout in the equity markets on our investment portfolio. BAM enjoyed a strong fourth quarter, ending the year at new highs for par in force, total premiums and claims paying resources and, in December, making a $23 million cash payment on the surplus notes.
“NSM posted mixed results across its existing business lines in the quarter, while closing two new bolt-on acquisitions. MediaAlpha had yet another strong quarter, ending the year at new highs for revenues and EBITDA. The recently announced MediaAlpha transaction will increase ABVPS by 6%, recognizing the significant value created to date and setting the stage for further value creation.
“During 2018, we returned $519 million to shareholders through share repurchases and allocated roughly $300 million to new business opportunities, ending the year with $1.2 billionof undeployed capital.”
Comprehensive loss attributable to common shareholders was $141 million and $146 million in the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018, compared to comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders of $23 million and $631 million in the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. Results for the year ended December 31, 2017 include the $557 million gain from the sale of OneBeacon.
