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Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Debt
 
The following table presents White Mountains’s debt outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
MillionsSeptember 30,
2021
Effective
  Rate
(1)December 31,
2020
Effective
  Rate
(1)
Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 1$30.0 $— 
Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 213.9 — 
Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes, carrying value43.9 — 
Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 145.3 — 
Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 247.0 — 
Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 370.0 — 
Unamortized issuance cost(5.5)
Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes, carrying value156.8 
    Total Ark Subordinated Notes, carrying value200.7 5.1%— 
NSM Bank Facility300.4 7.4%(2)277.4 7.5%(2)
Unamortized issuance cost(6.7)(6.1)
NSM Bank Facility, carrying value293.7 271.3 
Other NSM debt, carrying value1.3 3.3%1.3 2.5%
Kudu Credit Facility203.0 4.1%— 
Unamortized issuance cost(7.4)— 
Kudu Credit Facility, carrying value195.6 — 
Kudu Bank Facility 89.2 8.3%
Unamortized issuance cost (2.9)
Kudu Bank Facility, carrying value 86.3 
Other Operations debt19.5 7.4%18.0 7.4%
Unamortized issuance cost(.4)(.5)
Other Operations, carrying value19.1 17.5 
Total debt$710.4 $376.4 
 (1) Effective rate includes the effect of the amortization of debt issuance costs.
(2) NSM’s effective rate excludes the effect of the interest rate swap on the hedged portion of the debt. The weighted average interest rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, excluding the effect of amortization of debt issuance costs, was 6.7% and 7.0%. The weighted average interest rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 on the total NSM Bank Facility including both the effect of the amortization of debt issuance costs and the effect of the interest rate swap was 8.3% and 8.4%.
Ark Subordinated Notes

In March 2007, GAIL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ark, issued $30.0 million face value of floating rate unsecured junior subordinated deferrable interest notes to Alesco Preferred Funding XII Ltd., Alesco Preferred Funding XIII Ltd. and Alesco Preferred Funding XIV Ltd (the “Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 1”) and a €12.0 million floating rate subordinated note to Dekania Europe CDO II plc (the “Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 2”) (together, the “Ark 2007 Subordinated Notes”). The Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 1, which mature in June 2037, accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month U.S. LIBOR plus 4.6%. The Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 2, which matures in June 2027, accrues interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month EURIBOR plus 4.6%. As of September 30, 2021, the Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 1 had an outstanding balance of $30.0 million and the Ark 2007 Notes Tranche 2 had an outstanding balance of €12.0 million ($13.9 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of September 30, 2021).
In the third quarter of 2021, GAIL issued $163.3 million face value floating rate subordinated notes at par in three separate transactions for proceeds of $157.8 million, net of debt issuance costs. The Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes were issued in private placement offerings that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. On July 13, 2021, Ark issued €39.1 million ($46.3 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of the date of the transaction) face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes (“Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 1”). The Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 1, which mature in July 2041, accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month EURIBOR plus 5.75%. On August 11, 2021, Ark issued $47.0 million face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes (“Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 2”). The Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 2, which mature in August 2041, accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month U.S. LIBOR plus 5.75%. On September 8, 2021, Ark issued $70.0 million face value floating rate unsecured subordinated notes (“Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 3”). The Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 3, which mature in September 2041, accrue interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month U.S. LIBOR plus 6.1%. On the ten-year anniversary of the issue dates, the interest rate for the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes will increase by 1.0% per annum. Ark has the option to redeem, in whole or in part, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes ahead of contractual maturity at the outstanding principal amounts plus accrued interest at the ten-year anniversary or any subsequent interest payment date.
All payments of principal and interest under the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes are conditional upon GAIL’s solvency and compliance with the enhanced capital requirements of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”). The deferral of payments of principal and interest under these conditions does not constitute a default by Ark and does not give the noteholders any rights to accelerate repayment of the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes or take any enforcement action under the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes.
If the payments of principal and interest under the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes become subject to tax withholding on behalf of Bermuda or any political subdivision there, the Ark 2021 Subordinated Notes require the payment of additional amounts such that the amount received by the noteholders is the same as would have been received absent the tax withholding being imposed. The Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 3 require the payment of additional interest of 1.0% per annum upon the occurrence of a Premium Load Event until such event is remedied. Premium Load Events include the failure to meet payment obligations of the Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 3 when due, failure of GAIL to maintain an investment grade credit rating, failure to maintain 120% of GAIL’s Bermuda solvency capital requirement, failure of GAIL to maintain a debt to capital ratio below 40%, late filing of GAIL’s or Ark’s financial information, and making a restricted payment or distribution on GAIL’s common stock or other securities that rank junior or pari passu with the Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 3 when a different Premium Load Event exists or will be caused by the restricted payment.
As of September 30, 2021, the Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 1 had an outstanding balance of €39.1 million ($45.3 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of September 30, 2021), the Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 2 had an outstanding balance of $47.0 million, and the Ark 2021 Notes Tranche 3 had an outstanding balance of $70.0 million.

Ark Stand By Letter of Credit Facility

Ark has a secured stand by letter of credit facility (the “Ark LOC Facility”) with three lenders, Lloyds Bank plc, National Westminster Bank plc and ING Bank N.V, London Branch to provide capital support for the Syndicates. As of September 30, 2021, the utilized level of the facility was $45.0 million, with the ability to increase up to $150.0 million, subject to formal approval by Lloyd’s. The Ark LOC Facility has a termination date of December 31, 2025. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, Ark did not borrow or make any repayments under the Ark LOC Facility.
The Ark LOC Facility, which provides funds at Lloyd’s, is secured by all property of the loan parties and contains various affirmative, negative and financial covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings, including a minimum tangible net worth covenant.
NSM Bank Facility

NSM maintains a secured credit facility (the “NSM Bank Facility”) with Ares Capital Corporation. In both 2021 and 2020, NSM amended the terms of the facility. On April 7, 2020, NSM amended the NSM Bank Facility to increase the total commitment from $234.0 million, comprised of term loans of $224.0 million and a revolving credit loan commitment of $10.0 million, to $291.4 million, comprised of term loans of $276.4 million, including £42.5 million ($52.4 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of the date of the transaction) in a GBP term loan, and a revolving credit loan commitment of $15.0 million. In connection with the April 7, 2020 amendment, the reference rates for USD denominated borrowings increased. The USD-LIBOR rate floor increased to 1.25% and the margin over USD-LIBOR increased from a range of 4.25% to 4.75% to a range of 5.50% to 6.00%.
On June 2, 2021, NSM amended the NSM Bank Facility to reduce the margin over the reference interest rate for USD LIBOR loans from a range of 5.5% to 6.00% to a range of 4.50% to 5.00%, and reduce the margin over the reference rate for GBP loans from a range of 6.0% to 6.50% to a range of 5.00% to 5.50%. The amendment also increased the revolving credit loan commitment to $40.0 million and added a $50.0 million delayed-draw term loan commitment. The amendment also changed the reference interest rate for the GBP loan from GBP-LIBOR to SONIA. The maturity dates of the term loans and the revolving credit loans were not changed as part of the amendment. The term loans under the NSM Bank Facility mature on May 11, 2026, and the revolving loan matures on November 11, 2025. The reference interest rates under the NSM Bank Facility are generally subject to a 1.25% rate floor.
Under GAAP, if the terms of a debt instrument are amended, unless there is greater than 10% change in the expected discounted future cash flows of such instrument, the instrument’s carrying value does not change. White Mountains has determined that the impact of the 2021 and 2020 amendments to the NSM Bank Facility was less than 10% on the expected discounted future cash flows.
The following table presents the change in debt under the NSM Bank Facility for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
NSM Bank FacilityThree Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
Millions2021202020212020
Beginning balance$276.6 $273.4 $277.4 $221.3 
Term loans
Borrowings (1)
 —  52.4 
Repayments(.7)(.7)(2.1)(1.3)
Foreign currency translation(1.5)2.3 (.9)2.6 
Revolving credit loan
Borrowings (2)
35.0 — 35.0 — 
Repayments(9.0)— (9.0)— 
Ending balance300.4 275.0 $300.4 $275.0 
(1) Borrowings for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 included $52.4 for the funding of the acquisition of Kingsbridge.
(2) Borrowings for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 included $35.0 for the funding of the acquisition of J.C. Taylor.
As of September 30, 2021, the term loans had an outstanding balance of $274.4 million, including £41.9 million ($56.6 million based upon the foreign exchange spot rate as of September 30, 2021) in a GBP term loan, and the revolving credit loan had an outstanding balance of $26.0 million.
On June 15, 2018, NSM entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk on $151.0 million of its USD denominated variable rate term loans. See Note 9 — “Derivatives”.
As of September 30, 2021, $146.5 million of the outstanding term loans were hedged by the swap and $128.0 million of the outstanding term loans were unhedged.
The following table presents the NSM weighted average interest rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:

NSM Weighted Average Interest RateNine Months Ended September 30,
20212020
MillionsWeighted Average
Interest Expense (1)
Weighted Average Interest rateWeighted Average
Interest Expense (1)
Weighted Average Interest rate
Term loan - hedged$147.1 $10.0 9.1 %$148.5 $10.0 9.0 %
Term loan - unhedged129.57.37.5 %125.16.16.5 %
Total NSM Facility$276.6 $17.3 8.3 %$273.6 $16.1 7.8 %
(1) Interest expense includes the amortization of debt issuance costs and the effect of the interest rate swap and excludes interest expense related to the Other NSM Debt.

The NSM Bank Facility is secured by all property of the loan parties and contains various affirmative, negative and financial covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings, including a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio covenant.

Other NSM Debt

NSM also has a secured term loan related to its U.K. vertical. As of September 30, 2021, the secured term loan had an outstanding balance of $1.4 million and a maturity date of December 31, 2022.

Kudu Credit Facility and Kudu Bank Facility

On December 23, 2019, Kudu entered into a secured credit facility with Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC (the “Kudu Bank Facility”). On March 23, 2021, Kudu replaced the Kudu Bank Facility and entered into a secured revolving credit facility (the “Kudu Credit Facility”) with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company to repay the Kudu Bank Facility, and to fund new investments and related transaction expenses. The maximum borrowing capacity of the Kudu Credit Facility is $300.0 million. The Kudu Credit Facility matures on March 23, 2036. In connection with the replacement of the Kudu Bank Facility, Kudu recognized a total loss of $4.1 million, representing debt issuance costs and prepayment fees, which are included within interest expense for the year to date period ended September 30, 2021.
Interest on the Kudu Credit Facility accrues at a floating interest rate equal to the greater of the three-month USD-LIBOR and 0.25%, plus in each case, the applicable spread of 4.30%. The Kudu Credit Facility requires Kudu to maintain an interest reserve account, which is included in restricted cash. As of September 30, 2021, the interest reserve account is $4.5 million. The Kudu Credit Facility requires Kudu to maintain a ratio of outstanding balance to the sum of fair market value of participation contracts and cash held in certain accounts (the “LTV Percentage”) of less than 50% in years 0-3, 40% in years 4-6, 25% in years 7-8, 15% in years 9-10, and 0% thereafter. As of September 30, 2021, Kudu has a 34% LTV Percentage.
Kudu may borrow undrawn balances within the initial three-year availability period, subject to customary terms and conditions, to the extent the amount borrowed under the Kudu Credit Facility does not exceed the borrowing base, which is equal to 35% of the fair value of Kudu’s qualifying participation contracts. When considering White Mountains’s remaining equity commitment to Kudu and the fair value of Kudu’s qualifying participation contracts as of September 30, 2021, the available undrawn balance was $11.7 million.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Kudu borrowed $3.0 million and repaid the outstanding Kudu Bank Facility balance of $92.2 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, Kudu borrowed $101.0 million and $203.0 million and made no repayments on the Kudu Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2021, the Kudu Credit Facility had an undrawn balance of $97.0 million.     
The Kudu Credit Facility is secured by all property of the loan parties and contains various affirmative and negative covenants that White Mountains considers to be customary for such borrowings.
Other Operations Debt

As of September 30, 2021, debt in White Mountains’s Other Operations segment consisted of three secured credit facilities (collectively, “Other Operations debt”).
The first credit facility has a maximum borrowing capacity of $16.3 million, which is comprised of a term loan of $11.3 million, a delayed-draw term loan of $3.0 million and a revolving credit loan commitment of $2.0 million, all with a maturity date of March 12, 2024. The second credit facility has a maximum borrowing capacity of $15.0 million, which is comprised of a term loan of $9.0 million, a delayed-draw term loan of $4.0 million and a revolving credit loan commitment of $2.0 million, all with a maturity date of July 2, 2025. The third credit facility has a maximum borrowing capacity of $4.0 million, which is comprised of a revolving credit loan commitment, with a maturity date of October 26, 2021.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, White Mountains’s Other Operations segment borrowed $0.4 million and $0.7 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, White Mountains’s Other Operations segment made repayments of $1.2 million and $2.6 million. As of September 30, 2021, the Other Operations debt had an outstanding balance of $19.5 million.

Compliance

At September 30, 2021, White Mountains was in compliance in all material respects with the covenants under all of its debt instruments.