XML 104 R94.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Investment Securities (Significant Unobservable Inputs) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Investment
Dec. 31, 2013
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Transfers out $ 97,800,000wtm_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTransfersOut $ 217,600,000wtm_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTransfersOut
Number of Investments with Significant Unobseravble Inputs 1wtm_NumberOfInvestmentsWithSignificantUnobseravbleInputs  
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Redeemable preferred stocks | Discounted cash flows    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 71,100,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
71,000,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Redeemable preferred stocks | Discount Yield    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Discount Yield (as a percent) 7.10%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountYieldMember
7.40%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountYieldMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity funds | Multiple of GAAP book value    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Book Value Multiple to Calculate Fair Value 110.00%wtm_BookValueMultipleToCalculateFairValue
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_MultipleOfGaapBookValueMember
100.00%wtm_BookValueMultipleToCalculateFairValue
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_MultipleOfGaapBookValueMember
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 40,200,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_MultipleOfGaapBookValueMember
35,600,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_MultipleOfGaapBookValueMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity funds | Recent transaction [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 20,100,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecenttransactionMember
10,500,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecenttransactionMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity funds | Average Share Price [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Average Share Price Used As Unobservable Input 1.06wtm_AverageSharePriceUsedAsUnobservableInput
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_AverageSharePriceMember
1.10wtm_AverageSharePriceUsedAsUnobservableInput
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_AverageSharePriceMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity securities | Recent transaction [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Average Share Price Used As Unobservable Input   0.71wtm_AverageSharePriceUsedAsUnobservableInput
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecenttransactionMember
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 4,500,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecenttransactionMember
3,000,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecenttransactionMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity securities | Multiple of EBITDA [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Unobservable Inputs 6.00wtm_UnobservableInputs
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_MultipleofEBITDAMember
 
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 3,800,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_MultipleofEBITDAMember
 
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities | Broker Pricing    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure   22,000,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_BrokerPricingMember
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Seller Priority Surplus Note [Member] | Discounted cash flows    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Timing of Interest Payments 5 years  
Discount Yield (as a percent) 9.30%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= wtm_SellerPrioritySurplusNoteMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
 
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 44,000,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= wtm_SellerPrioritySurplusNoteMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
 
Timing of principal payments 10 years  
Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Pari Passu Surplus Note [Member] | Discounted cash flows    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Timing of Interest Payments 5 years  
Discount Yield (as a percent) 13.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= wtm_PariPassuSurplusNoteMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
 
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 21,100,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= wtm_PariPassuSurplusNoteMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
 
Timing of principal payments 10 years  
Level 2    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Transfers out 0wtm_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTransfersOut
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
97,200,000wtm_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTransfersOut
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Level 3 Inputs | Fixed maturity investments    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Transfers out 97,600,000wtm_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTransfersOut
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
119,400,000wtm_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTransfersOut
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
durchblicker.at [Member] | Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity funds | Recent Transaction Two [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Average Share Price Used As Unobservable Input 290.96wtm_AverageSharePriceUsedAsUnobservableInput
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= wtm_Durchblicker.atMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecentTransactionTwoMember
 
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 10,400,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= wtm_Durchblicker.atMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecentTransactionTwoMember
 
BE Reinsurance [Member] | Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Private equity funds | Recent Transaction Three [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Average Share Price Used As Unobservable Input 0.13wtm_AverageSharePriceUsedAsUnobservableInput
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= wtm_BEReinsuranceMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecentTransactionThreeMember
 
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 15,800,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= wtm_BEReinsuranceMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_RecentTransactionThreeMember
 
Centrus [Member] | Standard Poors NR Rating [Member] | Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities | Discounted cash flows    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
Unobservable Inputs 0.10wtm_UnobservableInputs
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= wtm_CentrusMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
 
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure $ 5,600,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ invest_CreditRatingSourceAxis
= wtm_StandardPoorsNrRatingMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ invest_InvestmentAxis
= wtm_CentrusMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= wtm_DiscountedCashFlowValuationTechniqueMember
 
Pari Passu Surplus Note [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
basis points 2.50%wtm_Basispoints
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= wtm_PariPassuSurplusNoteMember
 
Seller Priority Surplus Note [Member]    
Quantitative information for Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Assets    
basis points 2.50%wtm_Basispoints
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= wtm_SellerPrioritySurplusNoteMember