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Significant Transactions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Significant Transactions [Abstract] |
Significant Transactions | Significant Transactions Dispositions OneBeacon On September 28, 2017, White Mountains received $1.3 billion in cash proceeds from the OneBeacon Transaction and recorded a net gain of $554.6 million, net of transaction costs. As a result of the OneBeacon Transaction, OneBeacon’s results have been reported as discontinued operations within White Mountains’s GAAP financial statements. See Note 19 — “Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations”. Star & Shield On March 7, 2017, White Mountains completed its sale of Star & Shield and its investment in SSIE surplus notes to K2 Insurances LLC. White Mountains did not recognize any gain or loss on the sale. Through December 31, 2016, Star & Shield’s assets and liabilities are reported as held for sale within White Mountains’s GAAP financial statements. See Note 19 — “Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations”. Tranzact On July 21, 2016, White Mountains completed the sale of Tranzact to an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC and received net proceeds of $221.3 million. In connection with the sale of Tranzact, the purchaser directly repaid $56.3 million for the portion of Tranzact’s debt attributable to White Mountains’s common shareholders. On October 5, 2016, White Mountains received additional proceeds of $1.2 million following the release of the post-closing purchase price adjustment escrow. White Mountains recorded a $51.9 million gain from the sale of Tranzact in discontinued operations, which included a $30.2 million tax expense for the reversal of a tax valuation allowance that is offset by a tax benefit recorded in continuing operations. See Note 6 — “Income Taxes”. The increase to White Mountains’s book value from the sale of Tranzact was $82.1 million. The following table presents a reconciliation of the gain reported in discontinued operations to the impact to White Mountains’s book value:
Millions |  | Year ended December 31, 2016
Gain from sale of Tranzact reported in discontinued operations |  | $ | 51.9 |
Add back reclassification from continuing operations for the release of a tax valuation allowance |  | 30.2 |
Increase to White Mountains’s book value from sale of Tranzact |  | $ | 82.1 |
Through July 21, 2016, Tranzact’s results of operations are reported as discontinued operations and assets and liabilities held for sale within White Mountains’s GAAP financial statements. See Note 19 — “Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations”. During 2017, White Mountains recorded a $3.2 million increase to the gain from sale of Tranzact in discontinued operations as a result of a change in state tax expense. Sirius Group On April 18, 2016, White Mountains completed the sale of Sirius Group to CMI for approximately $2.6 billion. $161.8 million of this amount was used to purchase certain assets to be retained by White Mountains out of Sirius Group, including shares of OneBeacon. The amount paid at closing was based on an estimate of Sirius Group’s closing date tangible common shareholder’s equity. During the third quarter of 2016, there was a final true-up to Sirius Group’s tangible common shareholder’s equity that resulted in a $4.0 million reduction to the gain. During 2016, White Mountains recorded $363.2 million of gain from sale of Sirius Group in discontinued operations and $113.3 million in other comprehensive income from discontinued operations from Sirius Group. During 2017, White Mountains recorded a $0.7 million reduction to the gain from sale of Sirius Group as a result of a change to the valuation of the accrued incentive compensation payable to Sirius Group employees. Through April 18, 2016, Sirius Group’s results are reported as discontinued operations and assets and liabilities held for sale within White Mountains’s GAAP financial statements. The transactions to purchase the shares of OneBeacon and the other investments held by Sirius Group prior to the closing are presented in the statement of cash flows as net settlement of investment cash flows within discontinued operations. See Note 19 — “Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations”. Acquisitions The following acquisitions are included in White Mountains’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been measured at their acquisition date fair values. Buzzmove On August 4, 2016, White Mountains acquired a 70.9% ownership share in Buzzmove for a purchase price of British Pound Sterling (“GBP”) 6.1 million (approximately $8.1 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate at the date of acquisition). White Mountains recognized total assets acquired related to Buzzmove of $11.5 million, including $7.6 million of goodwill and $1.1 million of other intangible assets, and total liabilities assumed of $0.1 million, reflecting acquisition date fair values. On August 1, 2017, White Mountains acquired 37,409 newly-issued preferred shares of Buzzmove for GBP 4.0 million (approximately $5.0 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate at the date of acquisition) and 5,808 common shares from the company founders for GBP 0.5 million (approximately $0.7 million based upon the spot rate at the date of acquisition). White Mountains’s ownership share in Buzzmove as of December 31, 2017 was 77.1%. MediaAlpha On January 15, 2016, MediaAlpha acquired certain assets from Oversee.net for an aggregate purchase price of $3.9 million. The majority of assets acquired, which are included in other intangible assets, consists of customer relationships, a customer contract, a non-compete agreement from the seller, domain names and technology. On October 5, 2017, MediaAlpha acquired certain assets associated with the Health, Life and Medicare insurance business of Healthplans.com for an aggregate purchase price of $28.0 million. The majority of assets acquired, which are included in other intangible assets, consists of customer relationships, a non-compete agreement from the seller and domain names. See Note 4 — “Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets”. On October 5, 2017, White Mountains acquired 131,579 newly-issued Class A common units of MediaAlpha for $12.5 million. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, White Mountains’s ownership share in MediaAlpha was 64.4% and 60.0%.

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- Definition Description of various transactions that are significant to White Mountains financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows. + References No definition available. + Details
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