During 2004, White Mountains Re recorded $11 million of net unfavorable loss reserve development, which contributed 1 point to the loss ratio in 2004, as compared to $46 million, or 5 points in 2003. The 2003 unfavorable development is described in further detail in the section titled White Mountains Re Results-Year Ended December 31, 2003 versus Year Ended December 31, 2002, below. The majority of the unfavorable development recorded in 2004 resulted from certain discontinued lines at Folksamerica as well as run-off operations acquired as part of the Sirius Acquisition. This unfavorable development was partially offset by favorable development in the Sirius International reserve portfolio, stemming mainly from the three most recent underwriting years, and is indicative of the favorable terms and conditions that have existed in the global reinsurance marketplace during that time. Additionally, White Mountains Re recorded $10 million of unfavorable loss development on its workers compensation reserves acquired as part of the Sierra acquisition in 2004. This adverse development was offset dollar-for-dollar by the adjustable note discussed in Note 2-Significant Transactions.
White Mountains' Re's pretax income was $144 million for 2003, an increase of 40% over the $103 million recorded in 2002. White Mountains Re's GAAP combined ratio improved to 96% for 2003, from 102% for 2002. The improvement in White Mountains Re's combined ratio resulted primarily from more favorable terms and conditions in the reinsurance marketplace, and fewer catastrophe losses affecting White Mountains Re in 2003 as compared to 2002.
As of December 31, 2004, WMU had $3 million of cash and investments available for distribution during 2005. In addition, WMU has the ability to distribute its 2005 earnings without restriction. During 2004, WMU paid $60 million of cash dividends to its immediate parent.
In accordance with provisions of Swedish law, Sirius International can voluntarily transfer its pretax earnings, or a portion thereof, subject to certain limitations, into an untaxed reserve referred to as a safety reserve. The safety reserve is a Swedish regulatory concept that has no equivalent under GAAP. Accordingly, under GAAP, an amount equal to Sirius International's safety reserve of $1.1 billion at December 31, 2004, net of the related deferred tax liability established at the statutory Swedish tax rate of 28%, is classified as equity. Generally, this deferred tax liability is only required to be paid by Sirius
It is White Mountains' intention to generate low-cost float over time through a combination of acquisitions and/or by organic growth in its existing insurance and reinsurance operations. However, White Mountains will seek to increase its float organically only when market conditions allow for an expectation of generating underwriting profits.
Below is a schedule of White Mountains' material contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2004:
During the first quarter of 2004, White Mountains made payments amounting to $127 million, in cash or by deferral into certain non-qualified compensation plans of the Company or its subsidiaries, to participants in its long-term incentive compensation plans. These payments were made with respect to 167,782 performance shares at payout levels ranging from 93% to 200% of target.
During 2003, White Mountains declared and paid dividends of $8 million, $28 million and $2 million to holders of Common Shares, the Berkshire Preferred Stock and the Zenith Preferred Stock, respectively.
OneBeacon also incurred A&E losses via its participation in industry pools and associations. The most significant of these pools was Excess Casualty Reinsurance Association ("ECRA"), which provided excess liability reinsurance to U.S. insurers from 1950 until the early 1980s. ECRA incurred significant liabilities for A&E, of which OneBeacon bears approximately a 4.7% share, or $65 million at December 31, 2004 (compared to $66 million at December 31, 2003), which is fully reflected in OneBeacon's loss and LAE reserves.
For OneBeacon, the range of reserve estimates at December 31, 2004 was evaluated to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the actuarial methods applied against OneBeacon's historical claims experience data. The following table shows the recorded reserves and the high and low ends of OneBeacon's range of reasonable loss reserve estimates at December 31, 2004. The high and low ends of OneBeacon's range of reserve estimates in the table below are based on the results of various actuarial methods described above. The recorded reserve for each line is the result of the actuarial method that management believes to be most appropriate based on known facts and trends.
Upon notification of a loss from a ceding company, White Mountains Re establishes case reserves, including LAE reserves, based upon White Mountains Re's share of the amount of reserves established by the ceding company and our independent evaluation of the loss. In cases where available information indicates that reserves established by the ceding company are inadequate, White Mountains Re establishes case reserves or IBNR in excess of its share of the reserves established by the ceding company. In addition, specific claim information reported by ceding companies or obtained through claim audits can alert us to emerging trends such as changing legal interpretations of coverage and liability, claims from unexpected sources or classes of business, and significant changes in the frequency or severity of individual claims. Such information is often used to supplement estimates of IBNR.