AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC - Quarter Report: 2014 September (Form 10-Q)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2014 | Commission File No. 1-13653 |
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001042046/000104204614000044/afglogo.jpg)
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Incorporated under the Laws of Ohio | IRS Employer I.D. No. 31-1544320 |
301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 579-2121
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
As of November 1, 2014, there were 87,870,863 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding, excluding 14.9 million shares owned by subsidiaries.
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AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
PART I
ITEM I — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in Millions)
September 30, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | ||||||
Assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,310 | $ | 1,639 | |||
Investments: | |||||||
Fixed maturities, available for sale at fair value (amortized cost — $28,409 and $25,366) | 29,965 | 26,456 | |||||
Fixed maturities, trading at fair value | 342 | 305 | |||||
Equity securities, at fair value (cost — $1,279 and $987) | 1,474 | 1,179 | |||||
Mortgage loans | 1,064 | 781 | |||||
Policy loans | 230 | 238 | |||||
Real estate and other investments | 766 | 715 | |||||
Total cash and investments | 35,151 | 31,313 | |||||
Recoverables from reinsurers | 3,134 | 3,157 | |||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 587 | 408 | |||||
Agents’ balances and premiums receivable | 901 | 739 | |||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 858 | 975 | |||||
Assets of managed investment entities | 2,946 | 2,888 | |||||
Other receivables | 1,140 | 854 | |||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) | 649 | 665 | |||||
Other assets | 985 | 903 | |||||
Goodwill | 201 | 185 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 46,552 | $ | 42,087 | |||
Liabilities and Equity: | |||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 7,645 | $ | 6,410 | |||
Unearned premiums | 2,114 | 1,757 | |||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | 23,044 | 20,944 | |||||
Life, accident and health reserves | 2,098 | 2,008 | |||||
Payable to reinsurers | 673 | 508 | |||||
Liabilities of managed investment entities | 2,625 | 2,567 | |||||
Long-term debt | 1,062 | 913 | |||||
Variable annuity liabilities (separate accounts) | 649 | 665 | |||||
Other liabilities | 1,564 | 1,546 | |||||
Total liabilities | 41,474 | 37,318 | |||||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||
Common Stock, no par value — 200,000,000 shares authorized — 88,490,967 and 89,513,386 shares outstanding | 88 | 90 | |||||
Capital surplus | 1,150 | 1,123 | |||||
Retained earnings: | |||||||
Appropriated — managed investment entities | 2 | 49 | |||||
Unappropriated | 2,946 | 2,777 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax | 718 | 560 | |||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 4,904 | 4,599 | |||||
Noncontrolling interests | 174 | 170 | |||||
Total equity | 5,078 | 4,769 | |||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 46,552 | $ | 42,087 |
2
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance net earned premiums | $ | 1,132 | $ | 949 | $ | 2,817 | $ | 2,345 | |||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | 27 | 29 | 82 | 87 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | 377 | 338 | 1,117 | 996 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities (*) | 13 | 56 | 44 | 154 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) of managed investment entities: | |||||||||||||||
Investment income | 29 | 32 | 84 | 98 | |||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | (25 | ) | 15 | (35 | ) | (21 | ) | ||||||||
Other income | 28 | 24 | 75 | 71 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,581 | 1,443 | 4,184 | 3,730 | |||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 784 | 680 | 1,815 | 1,503 | |||||||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 302 | 261 | 869 | 772 | |||||||||||
Annuity benefits | 157 | 140 | 491 | 394 | |||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | 37 | 42 | 119 | 120 | |||||||||||
Annuity and supplemental insurance acquisition expenses | 46 | 40 | 122 | 128 | |||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 18 | 18 | 53 | 54 | |||||||||||
Expenses of managed investment entities | 19 | 22 | 60 | 68 | |||||||||||
Other expenses | 73 | 98 | 219 | 248 | |||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 1,436 | 1,301 | 3,748 | 3,287 | |||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 145 | 142 | 436 | 443 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 54 | 44 | 155 | 155 | |||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 91 | 98 | 281 | 288 | |||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (25 | ) | 15 | (44 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||||||
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders | $ | 116 | $ | 83 | $ | 325 | $ | 313 | |||||||
Earnings Attributable to Shareholders per Common Share: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 1.30 | $ | 0.94 | $ | 3.64 | $ | 3.51 | |||||||
Diluted | $ | 1.28 | $ | 0.92 | $ | 3.56 | $ | 3.44 | |||||||
Average number of Common Shares: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 89.0 | 89.1 | 89.4 | 89.4 | |||||||||||
Diluted | 90.9 | 91.0 | 91.4 | 91.2 | |||||||||||
Cash dividends per Common Share | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.195 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.585 | |||||||
________________________________________ | |||||||||||||||
(*) Consists of the following: | |||||||||||||||
Realized gains before impairments | $ | 24 | $ | 61 | $ | 57 | $ | 160 | |||||||
Losses on securities with impairment | (11 | ) | (5 | ) | (13 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||
Non-credit portion recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
Impairment charges recognized in earnings | (11 | ) | (5 | ) | (13 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||
Total realized gains on securities | $ | 13 | $ | 56 | $ | 44 | $ | 154 |
3
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Millions)
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | $ | 91 | $ | 98 | $ | 281 | $ | 288 | |||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | (73 | ) | 4 | 194 | (162 | ) | |||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized gains included in net earnings | (8 | ) | (36 | ) | (28 | ) | (99 | ) | |||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities | (81 | ) | (32 | ) | 166 | (261 | ) | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (2 | ) | 3 | (5 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | (83 | ) | (29 | ) | 161 | (267 | ) | ||||||||
Total comprehensive income, net of tax | 8 | 69 | 442 | 21 | |||||||||||
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (27 | ) | 15 | (41 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders | $ | 35 | $ | 54 | $ | 483 | $ | 52 |
4
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in Millions)
Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common | Common Stock and Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comp | Noncon- trolling | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Surplus | Approp. | Unapprop. | Inc. (Loss) | Total | Interests | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2013 | 89,513,386 | $ | 1,213 | $ | 49 | $ | 2,777 | $ | 560 | $ | 4,599 | $ | 170 | $ | 4,769 | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | — | 325 | — | 325 | (44 | ) | 281 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | 158 | 158 | 3 | 161 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of losses of managed investment entities | — | — | (47 | ) | — | — | (47 | ) | 47 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on Common Stock | — | — | — | (59 | ) | — | (59 | ) | — | (59 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 972,847 | 34 | — | — | — | 34 | — | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other benefit plans | 227,782 | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend reinvestment plan | 9,749 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | 14 | — | — | — | 14 | — | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares acquired and retired | (2,209,007 | ) | (31 | ) | — | (96 | ) | — | (127 | ) | — | (127 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares exchanged — benefit plans | (23,790 | ) | — | — | (1 | ) | — | (1 | ) | — | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2014 | 88,490,967 | $ | 1,238 | $ | 2 | $ | 2,946 | $ | 718 | $ | 4,904 | $ | 174 | $ | 5,078 | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2012 | 88,979,303 | $ | 1,152 | $ | 75 | $ | 2,520 | $ | 831 | $ | 4,578 | $ | 170 | $ | 4,748 | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | — | 313 | — | 313 | (25 | ) | 288 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | (261 | ) | (261 | ) | (6 | ) | (267 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of losses of managed investment entities | — | — | (30 | ) | — | — | (30 | ) | 30 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on Common Stock | — | — | — | (52 | ) | — | (52 | ) | — | (52 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 1,350,551 | 44 | — | — | — | 44 | — | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other benefit plans | 376,574 | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | — | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend reinvestment plan | 10,514 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | 15 | — | — | — | 15 | — | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares acquired and retired | (1,448,156 | ) | (19 | ) | — | (51 | ) | — | (70 | ) | — | (70 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares exchanged — benefit plans | (45,179 | ) | — | — | (1 | ) | — | (1 | ) | — | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2013 | 89,223,607 | $ | 1,198 | $ | 45 | $ | 2,729 | $ | 570 | $ | 4,542 | $ | 168 | $ | 4,710 |
5
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Operating Activities: | |||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | $ | 281 | $ | 288 | |||
Adjustments: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 95 | 110 | |||||
Annuity benefits | 491 | 394 | |||||
Realized gains on investing activities | (48 | ) | (162 | ) | |||
Net (purchases) sales of trading securities | (39 | ) | 20 | ||||
Deferred annuity and life policy acquisition costs | (144 | ) | (148 | ) | |||
Change in: | |||||||
Reinsurance and other receivables | (459 | ) | (288 | ) | |||
Other assets | (38 | ) | (108 | ) | |||
Insurance claims and reserves | 505 | (7 | ) | ||||
Payable to reinsurers | 162 | 126 | |||||
Other liabilities | (92 | ) | 161 | ||||
Managed investment entities’ assets/liabilities | (44 | ) | (23 | ) | |||
Other operating activities, net | 4 | 25 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 674 | 388 | |||||
Investing Activities: | |||||||
Purchases of: | |||||||
Fixed maturities | (5,358 | ) | (4,903 | ) | |||
Equity securities | (356 | ) | (334 | ) | |||
Mortgage loans | (355 | ) | (100 | ) | |||
Real estate, property and equipment | (34 | ) | (43 | ) | |||
Businesses | (267 | ) | — | ||||
Proceeds from: | |||||||
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities | 2,252 | 2,356 | |||||
Repayments of mortgage loans | 74 | 97 | |||||
Sales of fixed maturities | 262 | 257 | |||||
Sales of equity securities | 97 | 278 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents of businesses acquired | 1,078 | — | |||||
Managed investment entities: | |||||||
Purchases of investments | (1,075 | ) | (1,061 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments | 1,153 | 1,515 | |||||
Other investing activities, net | 94 | 25 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (2,435 | ) | (1,913 | ) | |||
Financing Activities: | |||||||
Annuity receipts | 2,725 | 2,852 | |||||
Annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals | (1,289 | ) | (1,157 | ) | |||
Net transfers from variable annuity assets | 36 | 25 | |||||
Additional long-term borrowings | 145 | — | |||||
Reductions of long-term debt | (1 | ) | (40 | ) | |||
Issuances of managed investment entities’ liabilities | 538 | 747 | |||||
Retirement of managed investment entities’ liabilities | (571 | ) | (1,196 | ) | |||
Issuances of Common Stock | 35 | 45 | |||||
Repurchases of Common Stock | (127 | ) | (70 | ) | |||
Cash dividends paid on Common Stock | (59 | ) | (52 | ) | |||
Other financing activities, net | — | (3 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 1,432 | 1,151 | |||||
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents | (329 | ) | (374 | ) | |||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,639 | 1,705 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,310 | $ | 1,331 |
6
INDEX TO NOTES | |||||
A. | Accounting Policies | H. | Managed Investment Entities | ||
B. | Acquisitions | I. | Goodwill and Other Intangibles | ||
C. | Segments of Operations | J. | Long-Term Debt | ||
D. | Fair Value Measurements | K. | Shareholders’ Equity | ||
E. | Investments | L. | Income Taxes | ||
F. | Derivatives | M. | Contingencies | ||
G. | Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs | ||||
A. Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements for American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) and its subsidiaries are unaudited; however, management believes that all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals unless otherwise disclosed herein) necessary for fair presentation have been made. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to the current year’s presentation. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The results of operations of companies since their formation or acquisition are included in the consolidated financial statements. Events or transactions occurring subsequent to September 30, 2014, and prior to the filing of this Form 10-Q, have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure herein.
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Changes in circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimates.
Fair Value Measurements Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The standards establish a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (“inputs”) are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect AFG’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Other than the recording of the acquisition of Summit Holding Southeast, Inc. and its related companies (see Note B — “Acquisitions”), AFG did not have any significant nonrecurring fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and liabilities in the first nine months of 2014 or 2013.
Investments Fixed maturity and equity securities classified as “available for sale” are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in AFG’s Balance Sheet. Fixed maturity and equity securities classified as “trading” are reported at fair value with changes in unrealized holding gains or losses during the period included in net investment income. Mortgage and policy loans are carried primarily at the aggregate unpaid balance.
Premiums and discounts on fixed maturity securities are amortized using the interest method; mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) are amortized over a period based on estimated future principal payments, including prepayments. Prepayment assumptions are reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect actual prepayments and changes in expectations.
Gains or losses on securities are determined on the specific identification basis. When a decline in the value of a specific investment is considered to be other-than-temporary at the balance sheet date, a provision for impairment is charged to earnings (included in realized gains (losses) on securities) and the cost basis of that investment is reduced. If management can assert that it does not intend to sell an impaired fixed maturity security and it is not more likely than not that it will have to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, then the other-than-temporary impairment is separated into two components: (i) the amount related to credit losses (recorded in earnings) and (ii) the amount related to all other factors (recorded in other comprehensive income). The credit-related portion of an other-than-temporary impairment is measured by comparing a security’s amortized cost to the present value of its current expected cash flows discounted at its effective yield prior to the
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AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
impairment charge. Both components are shown in the Statement of Earnings. If management intends to sell an impaired security, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, an impairment charge to earnings is recorded to reduce the amortized cost of that security to fair value.
Derivatives Derivatives included in AFG’s Balance Sheet are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value of derivatives are included in earnings, unless the derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP consist primarily of (i) components of certain fixed maturity securities (primarily interest-only MBS) and (ii) the equity-based component of certain annuity products (included in annuity benefits accumulated) and related call options (included in other investments) designed to be consistent with the characteristics of the liabilities and used to mitigate the risk embedded in those annuity products.
To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of a derivative contract, AFG formally documents the relationship between the terms of the hedge and the hedged items and its risk management objective. This documentation includes defining how hedge effectiveness and ineffectiveness will be measured on a retrospective and prospective basis. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges are recorded in AOCI and are reclassified into earnings when the variability of the cash flows from the hedged items impact earnings. Any hedge ineffectiveness is immediately recorded in current period earnings. When the change in the fair value of a qualifying cash flow hedge is included in earnings, it is included in the same line item in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings as the cash flows from the hedged item. Qualifying highly effective cash flow hedges include interest rate swaps, which are used to mitigate interest rate risk related to certain floating-rate securities included in AFG’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities.
Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of cost of subsidiaries over AFG’s equity in their underlying net assets. Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to an impairment test at least annually. An entity is not required to complete the quantitative annual goodwill impairment test on a reporting unit if the entity elects to perform a qualitative analysis and determines that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying amount.
Reinsurance Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured policies. AFG’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries report as assets (i) the estimated reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses, including an estimate for losses incurred but not reported, and (ii) amounts paid or due to reinsurers applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in force. Payable to reinsurers includes ceded premiums due to reinsurers as well as ceded premiums retained by AFG’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries under contracts to fund ceded losses as they become due. AFG’s insurance subsidiaries also assume reinsurance from other companies. Earnings on reinsurance assumed is recognized based on information received from ceding companies.
A subsidiary cedes life insurance policies to a third party on a funds withheld basis whereby the subsidiary retains the assets (securities) associated with the reinsurance contract. Interest is credited to the reinsurer based on the actual investment performance of the retained assets. This reinsurance contract is considered to contain an embedded derivative (that must be adjusted to fair value) because the yield on the payable is based on a specific block of the ceding company’s assets, rather than the overall creditworthiness of the ceding company. AFG determined that changes in the fair value of the underlying portfolio of fixed maturity securities is an appropriate measure of the value of the embedded derivative. The securities related to this contract are classified as “trading.” The adjustment to fair value on the embedded derivative offsets the investment income recorded on the adjustment to fair value of the related trading portfolio.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DPAC”) Policy acquisition costs (principally commissions, premium taxes and certain underwriting and policy issuance costs) directly related to the successful acquisition or renewal of an insurance contract are deferred. DPAC also includes capitalized costs associated with sales inducements offered to fixed annuity policyholders such as enhanced interest rates and premium and persistency bonuses.
For the property and casualty companies, DPAC is limited based upon recoverability without any consideration for anticipated investment income and is charged against income ratably over the terms of the related policies. A premium deficiency is recognized if the sum of expected claims costs, claims adjustment expenses and unamortized acquisition costs exceed the related unearned premiums. A premium deficiency is first recognized by charging any unamortized acquisition costs to expense to the extent required to eliminate the deficiency. If the premium deficiency is greater than unamortized acquisition costs, a liability is accrued for the excess deficiency and reported with unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses.
DPAC related to annuities is deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and amortized, with interest, in relation to the present value of actual and expected gross profits on the policies. Expected gross profits consist principally of estimated future
8
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
investment margin (estimated future net investment income less interest credited on policyholder funds) and surrender, mortality, and other life and annuity policy charges, less death, annuitization and guaranteed withdrawal benefits in excess of account balances and estimated future policy administration expenses. To the extent that realized gains and losses result in adjustments to the amortization of DPAC related to annuities, such adjustments are reflected as components of realized gains (losses) on securities.
DPAC related to traditional life and health insurance is amortized over the expected premium paying period of the related policies, in proportion to the ratio of annual premium revenues to total anticipated premium revenues. See “Life, Accident and Health Reserves” below for details on the impact of loss recognition on the accounting for traditional life and health insurance contracts.
DPAC includes the present value of future profits on business in force of annuity and life, accident and health insurance companies acquired (“PVFP”). PVFP represents the portion of the costs to acquire companies that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from insurance contracts existing at the date of acquisition. PVFP is amortized with interest in relation to expected gross profits of the acquired policies for annuities and universal life products and in relation to the premium paying period for traditional life and health insurance products.
DPAC and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity, long-term care and life businesses are also adjusted, net of tax, for the change in expense that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from securities had actually been realized. These adjustments are included in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, a component of AOCI in AFG’s Balance Sheet.
Managed Investment Entities A company is considered the primary beneficiary of, and therefore must consolidate, a variable interest entity (“VIE”) based primarily on its ability to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact that entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of, or receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
AFG manages, and has investments in, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) that are VIEs (see Note H — “Managed Investment Entities”). Both the management fees (payment of which is subordinate to other obligations of the CLOs) and the investments in the CLOs are considered variable interests. AFG has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the CLOs because (i) its role as asset manager gives it the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the CLOs and (ii) it has exposure to CLO losses (through its investments in the CLO debt tranches) and the right to receive benefits (through its subordinated management fees and returns on its investments), both of which could potentially be significant to the CLOs.
Because AFG has no right to use the CLO assets and no obligation to pay the CLO liabilities, the assets and liabilities of the CLOs are shown separately in AFG’s Balance Sheet (at fair value). AFG has elected the fair value option for reporting on the CLO assets and liabilities to improve the transparency of financial reporting related to the CLOs. The excess of fair value of the CLOs’ assets over the fair value of the liabilities is recorded in AFG’s Balance Sheet as appropriated retained earnings — managed investment entities, representing amounts that ultimately will inure to the benefit of the CLO debt holders.
The net gain or loss from accounting for the CLO assets and liabilities at fair value is separately presented in AFG’s Statement of Earnings. CLO earnings attributable to AFG’s shareholders represent the change in fair value of AFG’s investments in the CLOs (including distributions) and management fees earned. All other CLO earnings (losses) are not attributable to AFG’s shareholders and will ultimately inure to the benefit of the CLO debt holders. As a result, such CLO earnings (losses) are included in net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in AFG’s Statement of Earnings and in appropriated retained earnings — managed investment entities in the Balance Sheet. As the CLOs approach maturity (2016 to 2026), it is expected that losses attributable to noncontrolling interests will reduce appropriated retained earnings towards zero as the fair values of the assets and liabilities converge and the CLO assets are used to pay the CLO debt.
At September 30, 2014, assets and liabilities of managed investment entities included $153 million in assets and $124 million in liabilities of a temporary warehousing entity that was established in connection with the formation of a new CLO that is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014. Upon closing, all warehoused assets are expected to be transferred to the new CLO and the liabilities will be repaid.
In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-13 to address the diversity in practice regarding the accounting for assets and liabilities of a consolidated collateralized financing entity (such as a CLO) when an election has
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been made to account for that entity’s assets and liabilities at fair value. As discussed above, the fair values of a CLO’s assets may differ from the fair values of its liabilities even though the liabilities only have recourse to the assets, which results in “appropriated retained earnings — managed investment entities” in AFG’s Balance Sheet. Under ASU 2014-13, AFG will have the option to set the carrying value of the CLO liabilities equal to the fair value of the CLO assets (which have more observable fair values) as an alternative to reporting those liabilities at fair value. Under this alternative, CLO earnings attributable to AFG’s shareholders would continue to be measured by the change in the fair value of AFG’s investments in the CLOs and management fees earned. However, as a result of setting the carrying value of the CLO liabilities equal to the fair value of the CLO assets, there would no longer be any excess carrying value of CLO assets over the carrying value of CLO liabilities to be reported as “appropriated retained earnings — managed investment entities” in AFG’s Balance Sheet or any CLO earnings to be attributed to noncontrolling interests in AFG’s Statement of Earnings. If AFG elects to continue to measure both the CLO assets and liabilities at fair value, ASU 2014-13 will require amounts currently reflected as “appropriated retained earnings — managed investment entities” to be reclassified to unappropriated retained earnings in the Balance Sheet and amounts currently attributed to noncontrolling interests in the Statement of Earnings to be included in earnings attributable to AFG shareholders. AFG will be required to adopt this guidance effective on January 1, 2016, but may elect to early adopt the guidance as of January 1, 2015 (as permitted). AFG expects to elect the alternative measurement guidance, which is not expected to have a material impact on AFG’s net earnings attributable to shareholders. Management is currently evaluating the early adoption provisions, transition guidance and overall impact of the ASU on AFG’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses The net liabilities stated for unpaid claims and for expenses of investigation and adjustment of unpaid claims represent management’s best estimate and are based upon (i) the accumulation of case estimates for losses reported prior to the close of the accounting period on direct business written; (ii) estimates received from ceding reinsurers and insurance pools and associations; (iii) estimates of unreported losses (including possible development on known claims) based on past experience; (iv) estimates based on experience of expenses for investigating and adjusting claims; and (v) the current state of the law and coverage litigation. Establishing reserves for asbestos, environmental and other mass tort claims involves considerably more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, an increase in bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos-related liabilities, novel theories of coverage, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage.
Loss reserve liabilities are subject to the impact of changes in claim amounts and frequency and other factors. Changes in estimates of the liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses are reflected in the Statement of Earnings in the period in which determined. Despite the variability inherent in such estimates, management believes that the liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are adequate.
Annuity Benefits Accumulated Annuity receipts and benefit payments are recorded as increases or decreases in annuity benefits accumulated rather than as revenue and expense. Increases in this liability for interest credited are charged to expense and decreases for policy charges are credited to other income.
For certain products, annuity benefits accumulated also includes reserves for accrued persistency and premium bonuses, guaranteed withdrawals and excess benefits expected to be paid on future deaths and annuitizations (“EDAR”). The liabilities for EDAR and guaranteed withdrawals are accrued for and modified using assumptions consistent with those used in determining DPAC and DPAC amortization, except that amounts are determined in relation to the present value of total expected assessments. Total expected assessments consist principally of estimated future investment margin, surrender, mortality, and other life and annuity policy charges, and unearned revenues once they are recognized as income.
Annuity benefits accumulated also includes amounts advanced from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.
Unearned Revenue Certain upfront policy charges on annuities are deferred as unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) and recognized in net earnings using the same assumptions and estimated gross profits used to amortize DPAC.
Life, Accident and Health Reserves Liabilities for future policy benefits under traditional life, accident and health policies are computed using the net level premium method. Computations are based on the original projections of investment yields, mortality, morbidity and surrenders and include provisions for unfavorable deviations unless a loss recognition event (premium deficiency) occurs. Claim reserves and liabilities established for accident and health claims are modified as necessary to reflect actual experience and developing trends.
For long-duration contracts (such as traditional life and long-term care policies), loss recognition occurs when, based on current expectations as of the measurement date, existing contract liabilities plus the present value of future premiums (including
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reasonably expected rate increases) are not expected to cover the present value of future claims payments and related settlement and maintenance costs (excluding overhead) as well as unamortized acquisition costs. If a block of business is determined to be in loss recognition, a charge is recorded in earnings in an amount equal to the excess of the present value of expected future claims costs and unamortized acquisition costs over existing reserves plus the present value of expected future premiums (with no provision for adverse deviation). The charge is recorded first to reduce unamortized acquisition costs and then as an additional reserve (if unamortized acquisition costs have been reduced to zero).
In addition, reserves for traditional life and long-term care policies are subject to adjustment for loss recognition charges that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains from securities had actually been realized. This adjustment is included in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, a component of AOCI in AFG’s Balance Sheet.
Variable Annuity Assets and Liabilities Separate accounts related to variable annuities represent the fair value of deposits invested in underlying investment funds on which AFG earns a fee. Investment funds are selected and may be changed only by the policyholder, who retains all investment risk.
AFG’s variable annuity contracts contain a guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) to be paid if the policyholder dies before the annuity payout period commences. In periods of declining equity markets, the GMDB may exceed the value of the policyholder’s account. A GMDB liability is established for future excess death benefits using assumptions together with a range of reasonably possible scenarios for investment fund performance that are consistent with DPAC capitalization and amortization assumptions.
Premium Recognition Property and casualty premiums are earned generally over the terms of the policies on a pro rata basis. Unearned premiums represent that portion of premiums written which is applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in force. On reinsurance assumed from other insurance companies or written through various underwriting organizations, unearned premiums are based on information received from such companies and organizations. For traditional life, accident and health products, premiums are recognized as revenue when legally collectible from policyholders. For interest-sensitive life and universal life products, premiums are recorded in a policyholder account, which is reflected as a liability. Revenue is recognized as amounts are assessed against the policyholder account for mortality coverage and contract expenses.
Noncontrolling Interests For Balance Sheet purposes, noncontrolling interests represents the interests of shareholders other than AFG in consolidated entities. In the Statement of Earnings, net earnings and losses attributable to noncontrolling interests represents such shareholders’ interest in the earnings and losses of those entities.
Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is established to reduce total deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized.
AFG recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained under examination by the appropriate taxing authority. Interest and penalties on AFG’s reserve for uncertain tax positions are recognized as a component of tax expense.
Stock-Based Compensation All share-based grants are recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over their vesting periods based on their calculated fair value at the date of grant. AFG uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to measure the fair value of employee stock options. See Note K — “Shareholders’ Equity” for further information.
Benefit Plans AFG provides retirement benefits to qualified employees of participating companies through the AFG 401(k) Retirement and Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan. AFG makes all contributions to the retirement fund portion of the plan and matches a percentage of employee contributions to the savings fund. Company contributions are expensed in the year for which they are declared. AFG and many of its subsidiaries provide health care and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees. AFG also provides postemployment benefits to former or inactive employees (primarily those on disability) who were not deemed retired under other company plans. The projected future cost of providing these benefits is expensed over the period employees earn such benefits.
Earnings Per Share Although basic earnings per share only considers shares of common stock outstanding during the period, the calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the following adjustments to weighted average common shares related to
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stock-based compensation plans: third quarter of 2014 and 2013 — 1.9 million and 1.9 million; first nine months of 2014 and 2013 — 2.0 million and 1.8 million, respectively.
AFG’s weighted average diluted shares outstanding excludes the following anti-dilutive potential common shares related to stock compensation plans: third quarter of 2014 and 2013 — 1.2 million and 1.0 million; first nine months of 2014 and 2013 — 1.0 million and 1.3 million, respectively. Adjustments to net earnings attributable to shareholders in the calculation of diluted earnings per share were nominal in the 2014 and 2013 periods.
Statement of Cash Flows For cash flow purposes, “investing activities” are defined as making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property and equipment. “Financing activities” include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on their investments, borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed. Annuity receipts, surrenders, benefits and withdrawals are also reflected as financing activities. All other activities are considered “operating.” Short-term investments having original maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents for purposes of the financial statements.
B. Acquisitions
On March 27, 2014, AFG completed a renewal rights agreement with Selective Insurance Company of America to acquire Selective’s pooled public entity book of business for $8 million. At the acquisition date, this book of business had approximately $38 million in in-force gross written premiums.
On April 1, 2014, AFG acquired Summit Holding Southeast, Inc. and its related companies (“Summit”), from Liberty Mutual Insurance for $259 million using cash on hand at the parent company. Immediately following the acquisition, AFG made a capital contribution of $140 million, bringing its total capital investment in the Summit business to $399 million. Summit is based in Lakeland, Florida and is a leading provider of specialty workers’ compensation solutions in the southeastern United States with over $500 million in net written premiums in 2013. Summit continues to operate under the Summit brand as a member of AFG’s Great American Insurance Group. Summit is included in the Specialty casualty sub-segment and generated a total of $268 million in net earned premiums in the second and third quarters of 2014.
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Expenses related to the acquisition were less than $1 million and were expensed as incurred. The purchase price was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities of Summit based on management’s best estimate of fair value as of the acquisition date. The allocation of the purchase price is shown in the table below (in millions):
Total purchase price | $ | 259 | |||||
Tangible assets acquired: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,078 | |||||
Fixed maturities, available for sale | 92 | ||||||
Recoverables from reinsurers | 116 | ||||||
Agents’ balances and premiums receivable | 41 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets, net (a) | 67 | ||||||
Other receivables | 21 | ||||||
Other assets | 11 | ||||||
Total tangible assets acquired | 1,426 | ||||||
Liabilities acquired: | |||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | 1,142 | ||||||
Unearned premiums | 3 | ||||||
Payable to reinsurers | 3 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 66 | ||||||
Total liabilities acquired | 1,214 | ||||||
Net tangible assets acquired, at fair value | 212 | ||||||
Excess purchase price over net tangible assets acquired | $ | 47 | |||||
Allocation of excess purchase price: | |||||||
Intangible assets acquired (b) | $ | 47 | |||||
Deferred tax on intangible assets acquired (a) | (16 | ) | |||||
Goodwill | 16 | ||||||
$ | 47 |
(a) | Included with AFG’s net deferred tax liabilities, which are included in Other liabilities in AFG’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. |
(b) | Included in Other assets in AFG’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. |
AFG believes that the agents’ balances and other acquired receivables are collectible. The intangible assets acquired include $1 million in indefinite lived intangible assets related to state insurance licenses and $46 million in finite lived intangibles, primarily related to agency relationships. The finite lived intangibles will be amortized over an average life of 7 years. The fair value of the acquired liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and related recoverables from reinsurers was estimated by discounting actuarial projected future net cash flows using the U.S. Treasury yield curve (with an adjustment for the illiquidity of insurance reserves) and then adding a risk adjustment to reflect the net present value of the profit that a market participant would require in return for the assumption of the risk associated with the reserves. The fair value of Summit’s agency relationship was estimated using a multi-period excess earnings method, which is a form of the income approach. The acquisition resulted in the recognition of $16 million in non-deductible goodwill based on the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired. The goodwill represents the fair value of acquired intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, including the value of Summit’s assembled workforce.
C. Segments of Operations
AFG manages its business as four segments: (i) Property and casualty insurance, (ii) Annuity, (iii) Run-off long-term care and life and (iv) Other, which includes holding company costs and the operations attributable to the noncontrolling interests of the managed investment entities.
AFG reports its property and casualty insurance business in the following Specialty sub-segments: (i) Property and transportation, which includes physical damage and liability coverage for buses, trucks and recreational vehicles, inland and ocean marine, agricultural-related products and other property coverages, (ii) Specialty casualty, which includes primarily excess and surplus, general liability, executive liability, professional liability, umbrella and excess liability, specialty coverage
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in targeted markets, customized programs for small to mid-sized businesses and workers’ compensation insurance, and (iii) Specialty financial, which includes risk management insurance programs for leasing and financing institutions (including collateral and lender-placed mortgage property insurance), surety and fidelity products and trade credit insurance. Premiums and underwriting profit included under Other specialty represent business assumed by AFG’s internal reinsurance program from the operations that make up AFG’s other Specialty sub-segments and amortization of deferred gains on retroactive reinsurance transactions related to the sales of businesses in prior years. AFG’s annuity business markets traditional fixed and fixed-indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions and education markets. AFG’s reportable segments and their components were determined based primarily upon similar economic characteristics, products and services. The following tables (in millions) show AFG’s revenues and earnings before income taxes by segment and sub-segment.
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||
Premiums earned: | |||||||||||||||
Specialty | |||||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 504 | $ | 517 | $ | 1,129 | $ | 1,111 | |||||||
Specialty casualty | 486 | 289 | 1,266 | 825 | |||||||||||
Specialty financial | 115 | 121 | 348 | 350 | |||||||||||
Other specialty | 27 | 22 | 74 | 59 | |||||||||||
Total premiums earned | 1,132 | 949 | 2,817 | 2,345 | |||||||||||
Net investment income | 76 | 65 | 219 | 196 | |||||||||||
Other income | 4 | 1 | 8 | 10 | |||||||||||
Total property and casualty insurance | 1,212 | 1,015 | 3,044 | 2,551 | |||||||||||
Annuity: | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 287 | 259 | 851 | 764 | |||||||||||
Other income | 20 | 17 | 57 | 46 | |||||||||||
Total annuity | 307 | 276 | 908 | 810 | |||||||||||
Run-off long-term care and life | 48 | 50 | 147 | 147 | |||||||||||
Other | 1 | 46 | 41 | 68 | |||||||||||
Total revenues before realized gains | 1,568 | 1,387 | 4,140 | 3,576 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | 13 | 56 | 44 | 154 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 1,581 | $ | 1,443 | $ | 4,184 | $ | 3,730 |
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Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | |||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||
Underwriting: | |||||||||||||||
Specialty | |||||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 11 | $ | 16 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | |||||
Specialty casualty | 32 | 19 | 100 | 70 | |||||||||||
Specialty financial | 21 | 22 | 46 | 50 | |||||||||||
Other specialty | 6 | 5 | 13 | 16 | |||||||||||
Other lines (a) | (24 | ) | (54 | ) | (25 | ) | (61 | ) | |||||||
Total underwriting | 46 | 8 | 133 | 70 | |||||||||||
Investment and other income, net | 64 | 53 | 180 | 169 | |||||||||||
Total property and casualty insurance | 110 | 61 | 313 | 239 | |||||||||||
Annuity (b) | 86 | 78 | 243 | 231 | |||||||||||
Run-off long-term care and life | 1 | (4 | ) | (3 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||||||
Other (c) | (65 | ) | (49 | ) | (161 | ) | (174 | ) | |||||||
Total earnings before realized gains and income taxes | 132 | 86 | 392 | 289 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | 13 | 56 | 44 | 154 | |||||||||||
Total earnings before income taxes | $ | 145 | $ | 142 | $ | 436 | $ | 443 |
(a) | Includes special charges of $24 million and $54 million in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, to increase asbestos and environmental (“A&E”) reserves. |
(b) | Includes a $5 million charge in the second quarter of 2013 to cover expected assessments from state guaranty funds related to the insolvency and liquidation of an unaffiliated life insurance company. |
(c) | Includes holding company expenses and earnings (losses) of managed investment entities attributable to noncontrolling interest of ($29) million and $12 million for the third quarter and ($47) million and ($30) million for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively. Holding company expenses includes special charges totaling $6 million in the third quarter of 2014 and $22 million in the third quarter of 2013 to increase A&E reserves related to AFG’s former railroad and manufacturing operations. |
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D. Fair Value Measurements
Accounting standards for measuring fair value are based on inputs used in estimating fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (markets in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis). AFG’s Level 1 financial instruments consist primarily of publicly traded equity securities and highly liquid government bonds for which quoted market prices in active markets are available and short-term investments of managed investment entities.
Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets (markets in which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, price quotations vary substantially over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly); and valuations based on other significant inputs that are observable in active markets. AFG’s Level 2 financial instruments include separate account assets, corporate and municipal fixed maturity securities, mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and investments of managed investment entities priced using observable inputs. Level 2 inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, corroborated broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads and benchmark securities. When non-binding broker quotes can be corroborated by comparison to similar securities priced using observable inputs, they are classified as Level 2.
Level 3 — Valuations derived from market valuation techniques generally consistent with those used to estimate the fair values of Level 2 financial instruments in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable or when the market for a security exhibits significantly less liquidity relative to markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements. The unobservable inputs may include management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use based on the best information available in the circumstances. AFG’s Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments, including liabilities of managed investment entities, whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker quotes or internally developed using significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, observable market information.
AFG’s management is responsible for the valuation process and uses data from outside sources (including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers) in establishing fair value. AFG’s internal investment professionals are a group of approximately 20 analysts whose primary responsibility is to manage AFG’s investment portfolio. These professionals monitor individual investments as well as overall industries and are active in the financial markets on a daily basis. The group is led by AFG’s chief investment officer, who reports directly to one of AFG’s Co-CEOs. Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by AFG’s internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price. To validate the appropriateness of the prices obtained, these investment managers consider widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. In addition, the Company communicates directly with the pricing service regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the service to value specific securities.
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Assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||
Available for sale (“AFS”) fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 168 | $ | 182 | $ | 15 | $ | 365 | |||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 6,304 | 66 | 6,370 | |||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 204 | — | 204 | |||||||||||
Residential MBS | — | 4,326 | 263 | 4,589 | |||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 2,464 | 27 | 2,491 | |||||||||||
Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) | — | 3,440 | 179 | 3,619 | |||||||||||
Corporate and other | 30 | 11,855 | 442 | 12,327 | |||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 198 | 28,775 | 992 | 29,965 | |||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | 30 | 312 | — | 342 | |||||||||||
Equity securities | 1,305 | 88 | 81 | 1,474 | |||||||||||
Assets of managed investment entities (“MIE”) | 281 | 2,636 | 29 | 2,946 | |||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | — | 649 | — | 649 | |||||||||||
Other investments — derivatives | — | 288 | — | 288 | |||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 1,814 | $ | 32,748 | $ | 1,102 | $ | 35,664 | |||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||
Liabilities of managed investment entities | $ | 242 | $ | — | $ | 2,383 | $ | 2,625 | |||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | — | — | 1,085 | 1,085 | |||||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | — | 13 | — | 13 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | 242 | $ | 13 | $ | 3,468 | $ | 3,723 | |||||||
December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||
Available for sale fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 147 | $ | 152 | $ | 15 | $ | 314 | |||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 5,311 | 61 | 5,372 | |||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 208 | — | 208 | |||||||||||
Residential MBS | — | 3,994 | 316 | 4,310 | |||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 2,696 | 28 | 2,724 | |||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | — | 2,418 | 75 | 2,493 | |||||||||||
Corporate and other | 28 | 10,672 | 335 | 11,035 | |||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 175 | 25,451 | 830 | 26,456 | |||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | — | 305 | — | 305 | |||||||||||
Equity securities | 1,023 | 125 | 31 | 1,179 | |||||||||||
Assets of managed investment entities | 266 | 2,592 | 30 | 2,888 | |||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | — | 665 | — | 665 | |||||||||||
Other investments — derivatives | — | 274 | — | 274 | |||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 1,464 | $ | 29,412 | $ | 891 | $ | 31,767 | |||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||
Liabilities of managed investment entities | $ | 156 | $ | — | $ | 2,411 | $ | 2,567 | |||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | — | — | 804 | 804 | |||||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | — | 10 | — | 10 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | 156 | $ | 10 | $ | 3,215 | $ | 3,381 |
(*) Variable annuity liabilities equal the fair value of variable annuity assets.
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During the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, there were no transfers from Level 1 to Level 2. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, nine perpetual preferred stocks with an aggregate fair value of $55 million were transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 due to insufficient trade data to warrant classification in Level 1. During the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014, there were fourteen perpetual preferred stocks with an aggregate fair value of $96 million transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 as a result of increases in trade frequency sufficient to warrant classification in Level 1. During the first nine months of 2013 (in the third quarter), there was one perpetual preferred stock with a fair value of $10 million transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 due to a decrease in trade frequency, resulting in lack of available trade data sufficient to warrant classification in Level 1. Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013 included six and ten perpetual preferred stocks with an aggregate fair value of $46 million and one common stock with a fair value of $16 million. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, one mandatory redeemable preferred stock with a fair value of $11 million was transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. All Level 2 to Level 1 transfers were a result of increases in trade frequency sufficient to warrant classification in Level 1. Approximately 3% of the total assets carried at fair value on September 30, 2014, were Level 3 assets. Approximately 85% ($919 million) of the Level 3 assets were priced using non-binding broker quotes, for which there is a lack of transparency as to the inputs used to determine fair value. Details as to the quantitative inputs are neither provided by the brokers nor otherwise reasonably obtainable by AFG. Since internally developed Level 3 asset fair values represent less than one-half of 1% of the total assets measured at fair value and approximately 2% of AFG’s shareholders’ equity, changes in unobservable inputs used to determine internally developed fair values would not have a material impact on AFG’s financial position.
The fair values of the liabilities of managed investment entities were determined using primarily non-binding broker quotes, which were reviewed by AFG’s investment professionals. AFG’s investment professionals are familiar with the cash flow models used by the brokers to determine the fair value of these liabilities and review the broker quotes based on their knowledge of the CLO market and the market for the underlying assets. Their review includes consideration of expected reinvestment, default and recovery rates on the assets supporting the CLO liabilities, as well as surveying general CLO liability fair values and analysis provided by third parties.
The only significant Level 3 assets or liabilities carried at fair value in the financial statements that were not measured using broker quotes are the derivatives embedded in AFG’s fixed-indexed annuity liabilities, which are measured using a discounted cash flow approach and had a fair value of $1.09 billion at September 30, 2014. The following table presents information about the unobservable inputs used by management in determining fair value of these embedded derivatives. See Note F — “Derivatives.”
Unobservable Input | Range | |
Adjustment for insurance subsidiary’s credit risk | 0.30% – 1.60% over the risk free rate | |
Risk margin for uncertainty in cash flows | 0.3% reduction in the discount rate | |
Surrenders | 4% – 16% of indexed account value | |
Partial surrenders | 2% – 6% of indexed account value | |
Annuitizations | 1% – 2% of indexed account value | |
Deaths | 1.5% – 2.5% of indexed account value | |
Budgeted option costs | 2.5% – 4.0% of indexed account value |
The range of adjustments for insurance subsidiary’s credit risk reflects credit spread variations across the yield curve. The range of projected surrender rates reflects the specific surrender charges and other features of AFG’s individual fixed-indexed annuity products with an expected range of 6% to 12% in the majority of future calendar years (4% to 16% over all periods). Increasing the budgeted option cost or risk margin for uncertainty in cash flows assumptions in the table above would increase the fair value of the fixed-indexed annuity embedded derivatives, while increasing any of the other unobservable inputs in the table above would decrease the fair value of the embedded derivatives.
18
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Changes in balances of Level 3 financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value during the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 and 2013 are presented below (in millions). The transfers into and out of Level 3 were due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs. All transfers are reflected in the table at fair value as of the end of the reporting period.
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2014 | Net income | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and Settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at September 30, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 15 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15 | |||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 61 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | — | — | 7 | — | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 256 | — | (1 | ) | 8 | (8 | ) | 20 | (12 | ) | 263 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 28 | (1 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | 204 | — | (3 | ) | 8 | (7 | ) | — | (23 | ) | 179 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 313 | (1 | ) | 1 | 51 | (13 | ) | 91 | — | 442 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 81 | — | (2 | ) | 2 | — | — | — | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets of MIE | 27 | — | — | 3 | (1 | ) | — | — | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities of MIE (*) | (2,322 | ) | 5 | — | (135 | ) | 69 | — | — | (2,383 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives | (1,026 | ) | (21 | ) | — | (51 | ) | 13 | — | — | (1,085 | ) |
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income includes gains of $6 million related to liabilities outstanding as of September 30, 2014. See Note H — “Managed Investment Entities.” |
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2013 | Net income | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at September 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 19 | ||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 63 | — | (1 | ) | — | — | — | — | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 329 | 1 | 8 | — | (13 | ) | 43 | (47 | ) | 321 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 28 | 1 | (1 | ) | — | — | — | — | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | 180 | — | — | — | (4 | ) | 11 | (1 | ) | 186 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 295 | — | (4 | ) | 6 | (3 | ) | — | (4 | ) | 290 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 78 | (2 | ) | — | — | — | — | (19 | ) | 57 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assets of MIE | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities of MIE (*) | (2,482 | ) | 17 | — | (95 | ) | 236 | — | — | (2,324 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives | (577 | ) | (33 | ) | — | (53 | ) | 10 | — | — | (653 | ) |
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income includes gains of $20 million related to liabilities outstanding as of September 30, 2013. See Note H — “Managed Investment Entities.” |
19
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2013 | Net income | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at September 30, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 15 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15 | |||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 61 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | — | — | 7 | — | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 316 | 3 | 5 | 8 | (23 | ) | 58 | (104 | ) | 263 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 28 | (1 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | 75 | 3 | (2 | ) | 68 | (23 | ) | 81 | (23 | ) | 179 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 335 | 4 | 4 | 72 | (59 | ) | 91 | (5 | ) | 442 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 31 | 1 | 2 | 48 | (9 | ) | 22 | (14 | ) | 81 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assets of MIE | 30 | (2 | ) | — | 3 | (2 | ) | — | — | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities of MIE (*) | (2,411 | ) | (3 | ) | — | (335 | ) | 366 | — | — | (2,383 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives | (804 | ) | (153 | ) | — | (162 | ) | 34 | — | — | (1,085 | ) |
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income includes gains of $12 million related to liabilities outstanding as of September 30, 2014. See Note H — “Managed Investment Entities.” |
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2012 | Net income | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at September 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 19 | ||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 58 | — | (2 | ) | 10 | — | — | (4 | ) | 62 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 371 | 5 | 7 | 6 | (42 | ) | 68 | (94 | ) | 321 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 22 | — | (1 | ) | — | — | 7 | — | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | 253 | 3 | (2 | ) | 12 | (49 | ) | 11 | (42 | ) | 186 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 236 | — | (14 | ) | 61 | (9 | ) | 24 | (8 | ) | 290 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 37 | (2 | ) | 2 | 48 | — | — | (28 | ) | 57 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assets of MIE | 40 | (3 | ) | — | 6 | (6 | ) | — | (6 | ) | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities of MIE (*) | (2,745 | ) | (22 | ) | — | (501 | ) | 925 | — | 19 | (2,324 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives | (465 | ) | (110 | ) | — | (102 | ) | 24 | — | — | (653 | ) |
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income includes gains of $2 million related to liabilities outstanding as of September 30, 2013. See Note H — “Managed Investment Entities.” |
20
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Fair Value of Financial Instruments The carrying value and fair value of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Carrying Value | Fair Value | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||||
September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,310 | $ | 1,310 | $ | 1,310 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,064 | 1,063 | — | — | 1,063 | ||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 230 | 230 | — | — | 230 | ||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 2,604 | $ | 2,603 | $ | 1,310 | $ | — | $ | 1,293 | |||||||||
Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 22,839 | $ | 22,286 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 22,286 | |||||||||
Long-term debt | 1,062 | 1,164 | — | 1,089 | 75 | ||||||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 23,901 | $ | 23,450 | $ | — | $ | 1,089 | $ | 22,361 | |||||||||
December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,639 | $ | 1,639 | $ | 1,639 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Mortgage loans | 781 | 779 | — | — | 779 | ||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 238 | 238 | — | — | 238 | ||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 2,658 | $ | 2,656 | $ | 1,639 | $ | — | $ | 1,017 | |||||||||
Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 20,741 | $ | 19,959 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 19,959 | |||||||||
Long-term debt | 913 | 985 | — | 909 | 76 | ||||||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 21,654 | $ | 20,944 | $ | — | $ | 909 | $ | 20,035 |
(*) Excludes life contingent annuities in the payout phase.
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value. Fair values for mortgage loans are estimated by discounting the future contractual cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. The fair value of policy loans is estimated to approximate carrying value; policy loans have no defined maturity dates and are inseparable from insurance contracts. The fair value of annuity benefits was estimated based on expected cash flows discounted using forward interest rates adjusted for the Company’s credit risk and includes the impact of maintenance expenses and capital costs. Fair values of long-term debt are based primarily on quoted market prices.
21
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
E. Investments
Available for sale fixed maturities and equity securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, consisted of the following (in millions):
September 30, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Gross Unrealized | Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Gross Unrealized | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gains | Losses | Gains | Losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 360 | $ | 365 | $ | 7 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 310 | $ | 314 | $ | 7 | $ | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 6,103 | 6,370 | 294 | (27 | ) | 5,360 | 5,372 | 156 | (144 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 195 | 204 | 9 | — | 198 | 208 | 10 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 4,189 | 4,589 | 416 | (16 | ) | 3,947 | 4,310 | 391 | (28 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 2,328 | 2,491 | 163 | — | 2,535 | 2,724 | 192 | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | 3,601 | 3,619 | 37 | (19 | ) | 2,477 | 2,493 | 35 | (19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 11,633 | 12,327 | 725 | (31 | ) | 10,539 | 11,035 | 604 | (108 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 28,409 | $ | 29,965 | $ | 1,651 | $ | (95 | ) | $ | 25,366 | $ | 26,456 | $ | 1,395 | $ | (305 | ) | |||||||||||||
Common stocks | $ | 908 | $ | 1,088 | $ | 216 | $ | (36 | ) | $ | 721 | $ | 914 | $ | 209 | $ | (16 | ) | |||||||||||||
Perpetual preferred stocks | $ | 371 | $ | 386 | $ | 19 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 266 | $ | 265 | $ | 9 | $ | (10 | ) |
The non-credit related portion of other-than-temporary impairment charges is included in other comprehensive income. Cumulative non-credit charges taken for securities still owned at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, were $222 million and $229 million. Gross unrealized gains on such securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $154 million and $150 million, respectively. Gross unrealized losses on such securities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $7 million and $13 million, respectively. These amounts represent the non-credit other-than-temporary impairment charges recorded in AOCI adjusted for subsequent changes in fair values and nearly all relate to residential MBS.
22
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
The following tables show gross unrealized losses (in millions) on fixed maturities and equity securities by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
Less Than Twelve Months | Twelve Months or More | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized Loss | Fair Value | Fair Value as % of Cost | Unrealized Loss | Fair Value | Fair Value as % of Cost | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | — | $ | 22 | 100 | % | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 15 | 88 | % | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (7 | ) | 617 | 99 | % | (20 | ) | 566 | 97 | % | |||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 84 | 100 | % | — | — | — | % | |||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (4 | ) | 330 | 99 | % | (12 | ) | 225 | 95 | % | |||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 44 | 100 | % | — | 11 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | (10 | ) | 1,490 | 99 | % | (9 | ) | 485 | 98 | % | |||||||||||
Corporate and other | (13 | ) | 1,277 | 99 | % | (18 | ) | 580 | 97 | % | |||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (34 | ) | $ | 3,864 | 99 | % | $ | (61 | ) | $ | 1,882 | 97 | % | |||||||
Common stocks | $ | (36 | ) | $ | 278 | 89 | % | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||
Perpetual preferred stocks | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 61 | 98 | % | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 57 | 95 | % | |||||||
December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | |||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 60 | 95 | % | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (135 | ) | 2,219 | 94 | % | (9 | ) | 73 | 89 | % | |||||||||||
Residential MBS | (9 | ) | 553 | 98 | % | (19 | ) | 212 | 92 | % | |||||||||||
Commercial MBS | (3 | ) | 106 | 97 | % | — | 2 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
Asset-backed securities | (18 | ) | 1,310 | 99 | % | (1 | ) | 28 | 97 | % | |||||||||||
Corporate and other | (101 | ) | 2,634 | 96 | % | (7 | ) | 85 | 92 | % | |||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (269 | ) | $ | 6,882 | 96 | % | $ | (36 | ) | $ | 400 | 92 | % | |||||||
Common stocks | $ | (16 | ) | $ | 158 | 91 | % | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||
Perpetual preferred stocks | $ | (6 | ) | $ | 91 | 94 | % | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 20 | 83 | % |
At September 30, 2014, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $95 million relate to 824 securities. Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 80% of the gross unrealized loss and 89% of the fair value.
AFG analyzes its MBS securities for other-than-temporary impairment each quarter based upon expected future cash flows. Management estimates expected future cash flows based upon its knowledge of the MBS market, cash flow projections (which reflect loan to collateral values, subordination, vintage and geographic concentration) received from independent sources, implied cash flows inherent in security ratings and analysis of historical payment data. In the first nine months of 2014, AFG recorded less than $1 million in other-than-temporary impairment charges related to its residential MBS.
Management believes AFG will recover its cost basis in the securities with unrealized losses and that AFG has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at September 30, 2014.
23
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
A progression of the credit portion of other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities for which the non-credit portion of an impairment has been recognized in other comprehensive income is shown below (in millions).
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Balance at June 30 | $ | 175 | $ | 191 | |||
Additional credit impairments on: | |||||||
Previously impaired securities | — | — | |||||
Securities without prior impairments | — | — | |||||
Reductions due to sales or redemptions | (2 | ) | — | ||||
Balance at September 30 | $ | 173 | $ | 191 | |||
Balance at January 1 | $ | 194 | $ | 192 | |||
Additional credit impairments on: | |||||||
Previously impaired securities | — | — | |||||
Securities without prior impairments | — | — | |||||
Reductions due to sales or redemptions | (21 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
Balance at September 30 | $ | 173 | $ | 191 |
The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of available for sale fixed maturities as of September 30, 2014 (in millions). Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
Amortized | Fair Value | |||||||||
Cost | Amount | % | ||||||||
Maturity | ||||||||||
One year or less | $ | 812 | $ | 826 | 3 | % | ||||
After one year through five years | 4,144 | 4,483 | 15 | % | ||||||
After five years through ten years | 7,910 | 8,277 | 27 | % | ||||||
After ten years | 5,425 | 5,680 | 19 | % | ||||||
18,291 | 19,266 | 64 | % | |||||||
ABS (average life of approximately 3-1/2 years) | 3,601 | 3,619 | 12 | % | ||||||
MBS (average life of approximately 4-1/2 years) | 6,517 | 7,080 | 24 | % | ||||||
Total | $ | 28,409 | $ | 29,965 | 100 | % |
Certain risks are inherent in connection with fixed maturity securities, including loss upon default, price volatility in reaction to changes in interest rates, and general market factors and risks associated with reinvestment of proceeds due to prepayments or redemptions in a period of declining interest rates.
There were no investments in individual issuers that exceeded 10% of Shareholders’ Equity at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
24
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Net Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities In addition to adjusting equity securities and fixed maturity securities classified as “available for sale” to fair value, GAAP requires that deferred policy acquisition costs and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity, long-term care and life businesses be adjusted to the extent that unrealized gains and losses from securities would result in adjustments to those balances had the unrealized gains or losses actually been realized. The following table shows (in millions) the components of the net unrealized gain on securities that is included in AOCI in AFG’s Balance Sheet.
Pretax | Deferred Tax and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | Net | |||||||||
September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||
Unrealized gain on: | |||||||||||
Fixed maturities — annuity segment (*) | $ | 1,077 | $ | (377 | ) | $ | 700 | ||||
Fixed maturities — all other | 479 | (177 | ) | 302 | |||||||
Equity securities | 195 | (71 | ) | 124 | |||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs — annuity segment | (496 | ) | 174 | (322 | ) | ||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (108 | ) | 38 | (70 | ) | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (41 | ) | 13 | (28 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue | 30 | (10 | ) | 20 | |||||||
$ | 1,136 | $ | (410 | ) | $ | 726 | |||||
December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||
Unrealized gain on: | |||||||||||
Fixed maturities — annuity segment (*) | $ | 729 | $ | (255 | ) | $ | 474 | ||||
Fixed maturities — all other | 361 | (133 | ) | 228 | |||||||
Equity securities | 192 | (70 | ) | 122 | |||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs — annuity segment | (345 | ) | 121 | (224 | ) | ||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (71 | ) | 25 | (46 | ) | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (8 | ) | 3 | (5 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue | 22 | (8 | ) | 14 | |||||||
$ | 880 | $ | (317 | ) | $ | 563 |
(*) | Unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments supporting AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated. |
Net Investment Income The following table shows (in millions) investment income earned and investment expenses incurred.
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Investment income: | |||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 342 | $ | 310 | $ | 1,007 | $ | 920 | |||||||
Equity securities | 16 | 15 | 48 | 36 | |||||||||||
Equity in earnings of partnerships and similar investments | 2 | — | 15 | — | |||||||||||
Other | 20 | 17 | 56 | 52 | |||||||||||
Gross investment income | 380 | 342 | 1,126 | 1,008 | |||||||||||
Investment expenses | (3 | ) | (4 | ) | (9 | ) | (12 | ) | |||||||
Net investment income | $ | 377 | $ | 338 | $ | 1,117 | $ | 996 |
Equity in the earnings of partnerships has not been material and was included in realized gains (losses) on securities prior to 2014.
25
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to fixed maturity and equity security investments are summarized as follows (in millions):
Fixed Maturities | Equity Securities | Mortgage Loans and Other Investments | Other (a) | Tax Effects | Noncon- trolling Interests | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized before impairments | $ | 10 | $ | 16 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (10 | ) | $ | — | $ | 14 | ||||||||||
Realized — impairments | (9 | ) | (5 | ) | — | 3 | 5 | — | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | (145 | ) | (40 | ) | — | 60 | 44 | 2 | (79 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized before impairments | $ | 6 | $ | 54 | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | (22 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 38 | |||||||||||
Realized — impairments | — | (5 | ) | — | — | 2 | — | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | (57 | ) | (28 | ) | — | 37 | 16 | — | (32 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized before impairments | $ | 32 | $ | 26 | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (21 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 35 | ||||||||||
Realized — impairments | (10 | ) | (6 | ) | — | 3 | 5 | — | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | 466 | 3 | — | (213 | ) | (90 | ) | (3 | ) | 163 | |||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized before impairments | $ | 33 | $ | 125 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | (57 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 101 | |||||||||||
Realized — impairments | — | (5 | ) | (1 | ) | — | 2 | — | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | (797 | ) | 26 | — | 370 | 140 | 6 | (255 | ) |
(a) | Primarily adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs and reserves related to annuities and long-term care business. |
Gross realized gains and losses (excluding impairment writedowns and mark-to-market of derivatives) on available for sale fixed maturity and equity security investment transactions included in the Statement of Cash Flows consisted of the following (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Fixed maturities: | |||||||
Gross gains | $ | 28 | $ | 36 | |||
Gross losses | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
Equity securities: | |||||||
Gross gains | 27 | 126 | |||||
Gross losses | — | (6 | ) |
F. Derivatives
As discussed under “Derivatives” in Note A — “Accounting Policies” to the financial statements, AFG uses derivatives in certain areas of its operations.
26
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Derivatives That Do Not Qualify for Hedge Accounting The following derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP are included in AFG’s Balance Sheet at fair value (in millions):
September 30, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative | Balance Sheet Line | Asset | Liability | Asset | Liability | |||||||||||||
MBS with embedded derivatives | Fixed maturities | $ | 161 | $ | — | $ | 140 | $ | — | |||||||||
Public company warrants | Equity securities | 17 | — | 19 | — | |||||||||||||
Interest rate swaptions | Other investments | — | — | 2 | — | |||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed annuities (embedded derivative) | Annuity benefits accumulated | — | 1,085 | — | 804 | |||||||||||||
Equity index call options | Other investments | 288 | — | 272 | — | |||||||||||||
Reinsurance contracts (embedded derivative) | Other liabilities | — | 12 | — | 10 | |||||||||||||
$ | 466 | $ | 1,097 | $ | 433 | $ | 814 |
The MBS with embedded derivatives consist primarily of interest-only MBS with interest rates that float inversely with short-term rates. AFG records the entire change in the fair value of these securities in earnings. These investments are part of AFG’s overall investment strategy and represent a small component of AFG’s overall investment portfolio.
Warrants to purchase shares of publicly traded companies, which represent a small component of AFG’s overall investment portfolio, are considered to be derivatives that must be marked to market through earnings.
AFG has $200 million notional amount of pay-fixed interest rate swaptions (options to enter into pay-fixed/receive floating interest rate swaps at future dates expiring in 2015) outstanding at September 30, 2014, which are used to mitigate interest rate risk in its annuity operations. AFG paid $4 million to purchase these swaptions, which represents its maximum potential economic loss over the life of the contracts.
AFG’s fixed-indexed annuities, which represented approximately one-half of annuity benefits accumulated at September 30, 2014, provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market index. AFG attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase of call options on the appropriate index. AFG receives collateral from its counterparties to support its purchased call option assets. This collateral ($252 million at September 30, 2014) is included in other assets in AFG’s Balance Sheet with an offsetting liability to return the collateral, which is included in other liabilities. AFG’s strategy is designed so that an increase in the liabilities, due to an increase in the market index, will be generally offset by unrealized and realized gains on the call options purchased by AFG. Both the index-based component of the annuities and the related call options are considered derivatives. Fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in the periodic measurement of fair value of the embedded derivative that management believes can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of these products.
As discussed under “Reinsurance” in Note A to the financial statements, certain reinsurance contracts are considered to contain embedded derivatives.
The following table summarizes the gain (loss) included in the Statement of Earnings for changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative | Statement of Earnings Line | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||
MBS with embedded derivatives | Realized gains on securities | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | 7 | $ | — | |||||||||
Public company warrants | Realized gains on securities | — | — | (2 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||
Interest rate swaptions | Realized gains on securities | — | — | (2 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed annuities (embedded derivative) | Annuity benefits | (21 | ) | (33 | ) | (153 | ) | (110 | ) | |||||||||
Equity index call options | Annuity benefits | 19 | 32 | 112 | 125 | |||||||||||||
Reinsurance contracts (embedded derivative) | Net investment income | 1 | 2 | (2 | ) | 7 | ||||||||||||
$ | (1 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (40 | ) | $ | 24 |
Derivatives Designated and Qualifying as Cash Flow Hedges In the third quarter of 2014, AFG entered into a five-year $431 million notional amount interest rate swap under which AFG receives fixed rate interest payments in exchange for variable interest payments based on one-month LIBOR. The purpose of the swap is to effectively convert a portion of AFG’s
27
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
floating rate MBS to fixed rate by offsetting the variability in cash flows attributable to changes in one-month LIBOR. The notional amount of the swap amortizes down over its five-year life in anticipation of an expected decline in AFG’s portfolio of MBS with interest rates based on one-month LIBOR. The fair value of the effective portion of the interest rate swap was less than $1 million at September 30, 2014, and is included in AOCI. In the third quarter of 2014, less than $1 million was reclassified from AOCI to net investment income and there was no ineffectiveness recorded in Net Earnings.
G. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
A progression of deferred policy acquisition costs is presented below (in millions):
P&C | Annuity and Run-off Long-term Care and Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred | Deferred | Sales | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Costs | Costs | Inducements | PVFP | Unrealized | Total | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2014 | $ | 219 | $ | 918 | $ | 141 | $ | 79 | $ | (551 | ) | $ | 587 | $ | 806 | ||||||||||||||
Additions | 129 | 42 | 1 | — | — | 43 | 172 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (127 | ) | (38 | ) | (7 | ) | (3 | ) | — | (48 | ) | (175 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (2 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | 55 | 55 | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2014 | $ | 219 | $ | 923 | $ | 136 | $ | 76 | $ | (496 | ) | $ | 639 | $ | 858 | ||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2013 | $ | 208 | $ | 797 | $ | 159 | $ | 92 | $ | (438 | ) | $ | 610 | $ | 818 | ||||||||||||||
Additions | 118 | 65 | 4 | — | — | 69 | 187 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (119 | ) | (32 | ) | (8 | ) | (3 | ) | — | (43 | ) | (162 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (1 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | 25 | 25 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2013 | $ | 206 | $ | 830 | $ | 155 | $ | 89 | $ | (413 | ) | $ | 661 | $ | 867 | ||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2013 | $ | 211 | $ | 875 | $ | 149 | $ | 85 | $ | (345 | ) | $ | 764 | $ | 975 | ||||||||||||||
Additions | 380 | 144 | 6 | — | — | 150 | 530 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (371 | ) | (98 | ) | (20 | ) | (9 | ) | — | (127 | ) | (498 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (1 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | (151 | ) | (151 | ) | (151 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2014 | $ | 219 | $ | 923 | $ | 136 | $ | 76 | $ | (496 | ) | $ | 639 | $ | 858 | ||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2012 | $ | 204 | $ | 787 | $ | 170 | $ | 99 | $ | (710 | ) | $ | 346 | $ | 550 | ||||||||||||||
Additions | 360 | 148 | 8 | — | — | 156 | 516 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (356 | ) | (105 | ) | (23 | ) | (10 | ) | — | (138 | ) | (494 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (2 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | 297 | 297 | 297 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2013 | $ | 206 | $ | 830 | $ | 155 | $ | 89 | $ | (413 | ) | $ | 661 | $ | 867 |
The present value of future profits (“PVFP”) amounts in the table above are net of $207 million and $198 million of accumulated amortization at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
28
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
H. Managed Investment Entities
AFG is the investment manager and its subsidiaries have investments ranging from 7.5% to 51.2% of the most subordinate debt tranche of twelve collateralized loan obligation entities or “CLOs,” which are considered variable interest entities. AFG’s subsidiaries also own portions of the senior debt tranches of certain of these CLOs. Upon formation between 2004 and 2014, these entities issued securities in various senior and subordinate classes and invested the proceeds primarily in secured bank loans, which serve as collateral for the debt securities issued by each particular CLO. None of the collateral was purchased from AFG. AFG’s investments in the subordinate debt tranches of these entities receive residual income from the CLOs only after the CLOs pay expenses (including management fees to AFG), and interest on and returns of capital to senior levels of debt securities. There are no contractual requirements for AFG to provide additional funding for these entities. AFG has not provided and does not intend to provide any financial support to these entities.
AFG’s maximum exposure to economic loss on its CLOs is limited to its investment in the CLOs, which had an aggregate fair value of $318 million (including $120 million invested in the most subordinate debt tranches) at September 30, 2014, and $271 million at December 31, 2013.
In July 2014, AFG formed a new CLO, which issued $410 million face amount of liabilities (including $68 million face amount purchased by subsidiaries of AFG). During the first nine months of 2014, AFG subsidiaries also purchased $8 million face amount of senior debt tranches of existing CLOs for $8 million and received redemption proceeds of $57 million from its CLO investments.
The revenues and expenses of the CLOs are separately identified in AFG’s Statement of Earnings, after the elimination of management fees and earnings attributable to shareholders of AFG as measured by the change in the fair value of AFG’s investments in the CLOs. Selected financial information related to the CLOs is shown below (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Gains (losses) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities (a): | |||||||||||||||
Assets | $ | (30 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | (32 | ) | $ | 1 | ||||
Liabilities | 5 | 17 | (3 | ) | (22 | ) | |||||||||
Management fees paid to AFG | 7 | 4 | 18 | 12 | |||||||||||
CLO earnings (losses) attributable to (b): | |||||||||||||||
AFG shareholders | 7 | 9 | 18 | 27 | |||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | (29 | ) | 12 | (47 | ) | (30 | ) |
(a) | Included in Revenues in AFG’s Statement of Earnings. |
(b) | Included in Earnings before income taxes in AFG’s Statement of Earnings. |
The aggregate unpaid principal balance of the CLOs’ fixed maturity investments exceeded the fair value of the investments by $42 million and $15 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The aggregate unpaid principal balance of the CLOs’ debt exceeded its fair value by $112 million and $109 million at those dates. The CLO assets include $2 million and $1 million in loans at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, for which the CLOs are not accruing interest because the loans are in default (aggregate unpaid principal balance of $6 million at both of those dates).
I. Goodwill and Other Intangibles
The carrying value of goodwill was $201 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $185 million at December 31, 2013, an increase of $16 million due to the April 1, 2014, acquisition of Summit as discussed in Note B — “Acquisitions.”
Included in other assets in AFG’s Balance Sheet is $55 million at September 30, 2014 and $14 million at December 31, 2013 in amortizable intangible assets related to property and casualty insurance acquisitions. These amounts are net of accumulated amortization of $86 million and $75 million, respectively. The increase in amortizable intangible assets in the first nine months of 2014 reflects the acquisition of Summit in April 2014 (see Note B — “Acquisitions”) and a renewal rights intangible asset established in connection with the acquisition of a small property and casualty book of business in the first quarter of 2014. Amortization of intangibles was $6 million and $3 million in the third quarters and $14 million and $10 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
29
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
J. Long-Term Debt
The carrying value of long-term debt consisted of the following (in millions):
September 30, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | ||||||
Direct Senior Obligations of AFG: | |||||||
9-7/8% Senior Notes due June 2019 | $ | 350 | $ | 350 | |||
6-3/8% Senior Notes due June 2042 | 230 | 230 | |||||
5-3/4% Senior Notes due August 2042 | 125 | 125 | |||||
7% Senior Notes due September 2050 | 132 | 132 | |||||
Other | 3 | 3 | |||||
840 | 840 | ||||||
Direct Subordinated Obligations of AFG: | |||||||
6-1/4% Subordinated Debentures due September 2054 | 150 | — | |||||
Subsidiaries: | |||||||
Notes payable secured by real estate due 2014 through 2016 | 60 | 61 | |||||
National Interstate bank credit facility | 12 | 12 | |||||
72 | 73 | ||||||
$ | 1,062 | $ | 913 |
Scheduled principal payments on debt for the balance of 2014, the subsequent five years and thereafter were as follows: 2014 — $1 million; 2015 — $14 million; 2016 — $45 million; 2017 — $12 million; 2018 — none; 2019 — $350 million and thereafter — $640 million.
As shown below (in millions), the majority of AFG’s long-term debt is unsecured obligations of the holding company and its subsidiaries:
September 30, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | ||||||
Senior unsecured obligations | $ | 852 | $ | 852 | |||
Subordinated unsecured obligations | 150 | — | |||||
Obligations secured by real estate | 60 | 61 | |||||
$ | 1,062 | $ | 913 |
AFG can borrow up to $500 million under its revolving credit facility which expires in December 2016. Amounts borrowed under this agreement bear interest at rates ranging from 1.00% to 1.875% (currently 1.375%) over LIBOR based on AFG’s credit rating. No amounts were borrowed under this facility at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
National Interstate can borrow up to $100 million under its unsecured credit agreement, which expires in November 2017. At September 30, 2014, there was $12 million outstanding under this agreement, bearing interest at 1.20% (six-month LIBOR plus 0.875%).
In September 2014, AFG issued $150 million in 6-1/4% Subordinated Debentures due 2054. The net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include repurchases of AFG’s outstanding Common Stock or the redemption of all or a portion of AFG’s $132 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 7% Senior Notes due September 2050, which become redeemable (at par) at AFG’s option beginning on September 30, 2015.
K. Shareholders’ Equity
AFG is authorized to issue 12.5 million shares of Voting Preferred Stock and 12.5 million shares of Nonvoting Preferred Stock, each without par value.
30
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax (“AOCI”) Comprehensive income is defined as all changes in Shareholders’ Equity except those arising from transactions with shareholders. Comprehensive income includes net earnings and other comprehensive income, which consists primarily of changes in net unrealized gains or losses on available for sale securities.
The progression of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income follows (in millions):
Other Comprehensive Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AOCI Beginning Balance | Pretax | Tax | Net of tax | Attributable to noncontrolling interests | Attributable to shareholders | AOCI Ending Balance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | $ | (111 | ) | $ | 38 | $ | (73 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (71 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (14 | ) | 6 | (8 | ) | — | (8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities (b) | $ | 805 | (125 | ) | 44 | (81 | ) | 2 | (79 | ) | $ | 726 | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | — | (2 | ) | — | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement plans adjustments | (4 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 799 | $ | (127 | ) | $ | 44 | $ | (83 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (81 | ) | $ | 718 | |||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | $ | 8 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 4 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (56 | ) | 20 | (36 | ) | 1 | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities | $ | 600 | (48 | ) | 16 | (32 | ) | — | (32 | ) | $ | 568 | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement plans adjustments | (6 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 599 | $ | (45 | ) | $ | 16 | $ | (29 | ) | $ | — | $ | (29 | ) | $ | 570 | |||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | $ | 300 | $ | (106 | ) | $ | 194 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 190 | ||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (44 | ) | 16 | (28 | ) | 1 | (27 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities (b) | $ | 563 | 256 | (90 | ) | 166 | (3 | ) | 163 | $ | 726 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 1 | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement plans adjustments | (4 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 560 | $ | 251 | $ | (90 | ) | $ | 161 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 158 | $ | 718 | ||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | $ | (248 | ) | $ | 86 | $ | (162 | ) | $ | 4 | $ | (158 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (153 | ) | 54 | (99 | ) | 2 | (97 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities | $ | 823 | (401 | ) | 140 | (261 | ) | 6 | (255 | ) | $ | 568 | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 14 | (6 | ) | — | (6 | ) | — | (6 | ) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pension and other postretirement plans adjustments | (6 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 831 | $ | (407 | ) | $ | 140 | $ | (267 | ) | $ | 6 | $ | (261 | ) | $ | 570 |
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AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(a) | The reclassification adjustment out of net unrealized gains on securities affected the following lines in AFG’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings: |
OCI component | Affected line in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings | |||
Pretax | Realized gains on securities | |||
Tax | Provision for income taxes | |||
Attributable to noncontrolling interests | Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(b) | Includes net unrealized gains of $60 million at both September 30, 2014 and June 30, 2014 and $54 million at December 31, 2013 related to securities for which only the credit portion of an other-than-temporary impairment has been recorded in earnings. |
Stock Incentive Plans Under AFG’s stock incentive plans, employees of AFG and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive equity awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and stock awards. In the first nine months of 2014, AFG issued 102,330 shares of restricted Common Stock (fair value of $56.44 per share) and granted stock options for 1.0 million shares of Common Stock (at an average exercise price of $56.47) under the Stock Incentive Plan. In addition, AFG issued 84,036 shares of Common Stock (fair value of $57.16 per share) in the first quarter of 2014 under the Equity Bonus Plan.
AFG uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the fair value of its option grants. The expected dividend yield is based on AFG’s current dividend rate. To determine expected volatility, AFG considers its daily historical volatility as well as implied volatility on traded options. The expected term was estimated based on historical exercise patterns and post vesting cancellations. The risk-free rate for periods associated with the expected term is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect on the grant date.
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Exercise price | $ | 56.47 | $ | 44.01 | |||
Expected dividend yield | 1.6 | % | 1.8 | % | |||
Expected volatility | 26 | % | 39 | % | |||
Expected term (in years) | 7.25 | 7.25 | |||||
Risk-free rate | 2.20 | % | 1.36 | % | |||
Grant date fair value | $ | 14.66 | $ | 15.10 |
Total compensation expense related to stock incentive plans of AFG and its subsidiaries was $4 million and $10 million in the third quarter and $18 million and $30 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
32
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
L. Income Taxes
The following is a reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory rate of 35% to the provision for income taxes as shown in the Statement of Earnings (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | ||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes (“EBT”) | $ | 145 | $ | 142 | $ | 436 | $ | 443 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income taxes at statutory rate | $ | 51 | 35 | % | $ | 50 | 35 | % | $ | 153 | 35 | % | $ | 155 | 35 | % | |||||||||||
Effect of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax exempt interest | (6 | ) | (4 | %) | (5 | ) | (3 | %) | (18 | ) | (4 | %) | (16 | ) | (4 | %) | |||||||||||
Losses of managed investment entities | 10 | 7 | % | (4 | ) | (3 | %) | 16 | 4 | % | 11 | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||
Subsidiaries not in AFG’s tax return | 1 | 1 | % | 1 | 1 | % | — | — | % | 1 | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Other | (2 | ) | (2 | %) | 2 | 1 | % | 4 | 1 | % | 4 | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes as shown in the Statement of Earnings | $ | 54 | 37 | % | $ | 44 | 31 | % | $ | 155 | 36 | % | $ | 155 | 35 | % |
In July 2014, AFG finalized a settlement with the IRS related to tax years 2008 and 2009. As a result, AFG’s uncertain tax positions are now effectively settled, allowing AFG to reduce its liability for previously uncertain tax positions and related interest by $20 million in the third quarter of 2014. The majority of the reduction in this liability resulted in offsetting adjustments to AFG’s deferred tax liability and did not impact AFG’s effective tax rate. The portion of the reduction in this liability that favorably impacted the effective tax rate was approximately $4 million.
M. Contingencies
Except for the $30 million in pretax charges to increase asbestos and environmental reserves discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Results of Operations — Special Asbestos and Environmental Reserve Charges,” there have been no significant changes to the matters discussed and referred to in Note M — “Contingencies” of AFG’s 2013 Form 10-K, which covers property and casualty insurance reserves for claims related to environmental exposures, asbestos and other mass tort claims, as well as environmental and occupational injury and disease claims of former subsidiary railroad and manufacturing operations.
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AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
ITEM 2
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
INDEX TO MD&A | ||||
Page | Page | |||
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “projects”, “estimates”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “will” or the negative version of those words or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings and investment activities; recoverability of asset values; expected losses and the adequacy of reserves for long-term care, asbestos, environmental pollution and mass tort claims; rate changes; and improved loss experience.
Actual results and/or financial condition could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons including but not limited to:
• | changes in financial, political and economic conditions, including changes in interest and inflation rates, currency fluctuations and extended economic recessions or expansions in the U.S. and/or abroad; |
• | performance of securities markets; |
• | AFG’s ability to estimate accurately the likelihood, magnitude and timing of any losses in connection with investments in the non-agency residential mortgage market; |
• | new legislation or declines in credit quality or credit ratings that could have a material impact on the valuation of securities in AFG’s investment portfolio; |
• | the availability of capital; |
• | regulatory actions (including changes in statutory accounting rules); |
• | changes in the legal environment affecting AFG or its customers; |
• | tax law and accounting changes; |
• | levels of natural catastrophes and severe weather, terrorist activities (including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events), incidents of war or losses resulting from civil unrest and other major losses; |
• | development of insurance loss reserves and establishment of other reserves, particularly with respect to amounts associated with asbestos and environmental claims and AFG’s run-off long-term care business; |
• | availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations; |
• | trends in persistency, mortality and morbidity; |
• | competitive pressures, including those in the annuity distribution channels; |
• | the ability to obtain adequate rates and policy terms; and |
• | changes in AFG’s credit ratings or the financial strength ratings assigned by major ratings agencies to AFG’s operating subsidiaries. |
The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this report. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
34
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
OVERVIEW
Financial Condition
AFG is organized as a holding company with almost all of its operations being conducted by subsidiaries. AFG, however, has continuing cash needs for administrative expenses, the payment of principal and interest on borrowings, shareholder dividends, and taxes. Therefore, certain analyses are most meaningfully presented on a parent only basis while others are best done on a total enterprise basis. In addition, because most of its businesses are financial in nature, AFG does not prepare its consolidated financial statements using a current-noncurrent format. Consequently, certain traditional ratios and financial analysis tests are not meaningful.
Results of Operations
Through the operations of its subsidiaries, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses and in the sale of fixed and fixed-indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions and education markets.
Net earnings attributable to AFG’s shareholders for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 were $116 million ($1.28 per share, diluted) and $325 million ($3.56 per share, diluted), respectively, compared to $83 million ($0.92 per share, diluted) and $313 million ($3.44 per share, diluted) reported in the same periods of 2013. Higher underwriting profits, including lower special A&E charges, and higher net investment income in the property and casualty insurance segment, higher annuity earnings, and lower holding company expenses in the 2014 periods were partially offset by lower realized gains on securities.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Significant accounting policies are summarized in Note A — “Accounting Policies” to the financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts reported in the financial statements. As more information becomes known, these estimates and assumptions change and, thus, impact amounts reported in the future. The areas where management believes the degree of judgment required to determine amounts recorded in the financial statements make accounting policies critical are as follows:
• | the establishment of insurance reserves, especially asbestos and environmental-related reserves and reserves for AFG’s closed block of long-term care insurance, |
• | the recoverability of reinsurance, |
• | the recoverability of deferred acquisition costs, |
• | the establishment of asbestos and environmental reserves of former railroad and manufacturing operations, and |
• | the valuation of investments, including the determination of “other-than-temporary” impairments. |
For a discussion of these policies, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Critical Accounting Policies” in AFG’s 2013 Form 10-K.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Ratios AFG’s debt to total capital ratio on a consolidated basis is shown below (dollars in millions):
September 30, 2014 | December 31, | |||||||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | 1,062 | $ | 913 | $ | 953 | ||||||
Total capital | 5,536 | 5,192 | 4,907 | |||||||||
Ratio of debt to total capital: | ||||||||||||
Including subordinated debt and debt secured by real estate | 19.2 | % | 17.6 | % | 19.4 | % | ||||||
Excluding subordinated debt and debt secured by real estate | 15.6 | % | 16.6 | % | 18.4 | % |
The ratio of debt to total capital is a non-GAAP measure that management believes is useful for investors, analysts and independent ratings agencies to evaluate AFG’s financial strength and liquidity and to provide insight into how AFG finances
35
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
its operations. The ratio is calculated by dividing AFG’s long-term debt by its total capital, which includes long-term debt, noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity (excluding unrealized gains (losses) related to fixed maturity investments and appropriated retained earnings related to managed investment entities).
AFG’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges, including annuity benefits as a fixed charge, was 1.84 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2.15 for the year ended December 31, 2013. Excluding annuity benefits, this ratio was 7.94 and 8.86, respectively. Although the ratio excluding annuity benefits is not required or encouraged to be disclosed under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, it is presented because interest credited to annuity policyholder accounts is not always considered a borrowing cost for an insurance company.
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows AFG’s principal sources of cash include insurance premiums, income from its investment portfolio and proceeds from the maturities, redemptions and sales of investments. Insurance premiums in excess of acquisition expenses and operating costs are invested until they are needed to meet policyholder obligations or made available to the parent company through dividends to cover debt obligations and corporate expenses, and to provide returns to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. AFG’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as detailed in its Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows are shown below (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 674 | $ | 388 | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (2,435 | ) | (1,913 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 1,432 | 1,151 | |||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (329 | ) | $ | (374 | ) |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities AFG’s property and casualty insurance operations typically produce positive net operating cash flows as premiums collected and investment income exceed policy acquisition costs, claims payments and operating expenses. AFG’s net cash provided by operating activities is impacted by the level and timing of property and casualty premiums, claim and expense payments and recoveries from reinsurers. AFG’s annuity operations typically produce positive net operating cash flows as investment income exceeds acquisition costs and operating expenses. Interest credited on annuity policyholder funds is a non-cash increase in AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated liability and annuity premiums, benefits and withdrawals are considered financing activities due to the deposit-type nature of annuities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $674 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $388 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $286 million. The $286 million increase in net cash provided by operating activities is due primarily to the timing of claims payments and reinsurance recoveries in the property and casualty insurance operations.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities AFG’s investing activities consist primarily of the investment of funds provided by its property and casualty and annuity products. Net cash used in investing activities was $2.44 billion for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $1.91 billion in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $522 million. Cash on hand in the annuity and run-off long-term care and life segments decreased by $179 million during the first nine months of 2014 as the investment of funds outpaced the net cash flows received from annuity policyholders. Investing activities also include the purchase and disposal of managed investment entity investments (collateralized loan obligations), which are presented separately in AFG’s Balance Sheet. Net investment activity in the managed investment entities was a $78 million source of cash in the first nine months of 2014 compared to a $454 million source of cash in the 2013 period. See Note A — “Accounting Policies — Managed Investment Entities” and Note H — “Managed Investment Entities” to the financial statements.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities AFG’s financing activities consist primarily of transactions with annuity policyholders, issuances and retirements of long-term debt, repurchases of common stock and dividend payments. Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.43 billion for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $1.15 billion in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $281 million. Annuity receipts exceeded annuity surrenders, benefits, withdrawals and transfers by $1.47 billion in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $1.72 billion in the first nine months of 2013, resulting in a $248 million decrease in net cash provided by financing activities in the 2014 period compared to the 2013 period. In September 2014, AFG issued $150 million of 6-1/4% Subordinated Debentures due 2054, the net proceeds of which accounted for a $145 million increase in net cash provided by financing activities in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. During the first nine months of 2014, AFG repurchased $127 million of its Common Stock compared to $70 million repurchased in the first nine months of 2013, which accounted for a $57 million decrease in net cash provided by
36
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
financing activities in the 2014 period compared to the 2013 period. Financing activities also include the issuance and retirement of managed investment entity liabilities, which are nonrecourse to AFG and presented separately in AFG’s Balance Sheet. The retirement of managed investment entity liabilities exceeded issuances by $33 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $449 million in the first nine months of 2013, representing a $416 million increase in net cash provided by financing activities in the 2014 period compared to the 2013 period. See Managed Investment Entities in Note A — “Accounting Policies” and Note H — “Managed Investment Entities” to the financial statements.
Parent and Subsidiary Liquidity
Parent Holding Company Liquidity Management believes AFG has sufficient resources to meet its liquidity requirements. If funds generated from operations, including dividends, tax payments and borrowings from subsidiaries, are insufficient to meet fixed charges in any period, AFG would be required to utilize parent company cash and marketable securities or to generate cash through borrowings, sales of other assets, or similar transactions.
AFG can borrow up to $500 million under its revolving credit facility which expires in December 2016. Amounts borrowed under this agreement bear interest at rates ranging from 1.00% to 1.875% (currently 1.375%) over LIBOR based on AFG’s credit rating. There were no borrowings under the agreement, or under any other parent company short-term borrowing arrangements, during 2013 or the first nine months of 2014. In September 2014, AFG issued $150 million of 6-1/4% Subordinated Debentures due 2054. AFG intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include repurchases of outstanding common stock and/or the redemption of all or a portion of the outstanding 7% Senior Notes due 2050, which become redeemable, at par, at AFG’s option beginning in September 2015.
On April 1, 2014, AFG completed the purchase of Summit Holding Southeast, Inc. and its related companies (“Summit”) from Liberty Mutual Insurance for $259 million using cash on hand at the parent company. In addition, AFG made a capital contribution of approximately $140 million, bringing its capital investment in the Summit business to $399 million. Summit’s results of operations are included in AFG’s consolidated results beginning in April of 2014.
During the first nine months of 2014, AFG repurchased 2.2 million shares of its Common Stock for $127 million. In October 2014, AFG repurchased 696,859 additional shares of its Common Stock for $40 million. During 2013, AFG repurchased 1.4 million shares of its Common Stock for $70 million.
Under tax allocation agreements with AFG, its 80%-owned U.S. subsidiaries generally pay taxes to (or recover taxes from) AFG based on each subsidiary’s contribution to amounts due under AFG’s consolidated tax return.
Subsidiary Liquidity Great American Life Insurance Company (“GALIC”), a wholly-owned annuity subsidiary, is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (“FHLB”). The FHLB makes advances and provides other banking services to member institutions, which provides the annuity operations with a substantial additional source of liquidity. These advances further the FHLB’s mission of improving access to housing by increasing liquidity in the residential mortgage-backed securities market. At September 30, 2014, GALIC had $440 million in outstanding advances from the FHLB (included in annuity benefits accumulated), bearing interest at rates ranging from 0.02% to 0.23% over LIBOR (average rate of 0.31% at September 30, 2014). While these advances must be repaid between 2016 and 2018, GALIC has the option to prepay all or a portion of the advances. GALIC has invested the proceeds from the advances in fixed maturity securities for the purpose of earning a spread over the interest payments due to the FHLB.
National Interstate Corporation, a 51%-owned property and casualty insurance subsidiary, can borrow up to $100 million under its unsecured credit agreement, which expires in November 2017. There was $12 million borrowed under this agreement at September 30, 2014, bearing interest at 1.20% (six-month LIBOR plus 0.875%).
The liquidity requirements of AFG’s insurance subsidiaries relate primarily to the liabilities associated with their products as well as operating costs and expenses, payments of dividends and taxes to AFG and contributions of capital to their subsidiaries. Historically, cash flows from premiums and investment income have generally provided more than sufficient funds to meet these requirements. Funds received in excess of cash requirements are generally invested in additional marketable securities. In addition, the insurance subsidiaries generally hold a significant amount of highly liquid, short-term investments.
The excess cash flow of AFG’s property and casualty group allows it to extend the duration of its investment portfolio somewhat beyond that of its claim reserves.
37
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
In the annuity business, where profitability is largely dependent on earning a “spread” between invested assets and annuity liabilities, the duration of investments is generally maintained close to that of liabilities. In a rising interest rate environment, significant protection from withdrawals exists in the form of temporary and permanent surrender charges on AFG’s annuity products. With declining rates, AFG receives some protection (from spread compression) due to the ability to lower crediting rates, subject to contractually guaranteed minimum interest rates (“GMIRs”). AFG began selling policies with GMIRs below 2% in 2003; almost all new business since late 2010 has been issued with a 1% GMIR. At September 30, 2014, AFG could reduce the average crediting rate on approximately $17 billion of traditional fixed and fixed-indexed deferred annuities without guaranteed withdrawal benefits by 54 basis points (on a weighted average basis).
AFG believes its insurance subsidiaries maintain sufficient liquidity to pay claims and benefits and operating expenses. In addition, these subsidiaries have sufficient capital to meet commitments in the event of unforeseen events such as reserve deficiencies, inadequate premium rates or reinsurer insolvencies. Nonetheless, changes in statutory accounting rules, significant declines in the fair value of the insurance subsidiaries’ investment portfolios or significant ratings downgrades on these investments, could create a need for additional capital.
Supplemental Catastrophe Reinsurance On March 31, 2014, AFG’s property and casualty insurance operations entered into a reinsurance agreement to obtain additional catastrophe protection through a catastrophe bond structure with Riverfront Re Ltd. (“Riverfront”). The reinsurance agreement provides supplemental reinsurance coverage up to $95 million (fully collateralized) for catastrophe losses in excess of $100 million occurring during the period from April 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016. In connection with the reinsurance agreement, Riverfront issued notes to unrelated investors for the full $95 million of coverage provided under the reinsurance agreement. At the time of the agreement, AFG concluded that Riverfront is a variable interest entity, but that it does not have a variable interest in the entity because the variability in Riverfront’s results is expected to be absorbed entirely by the investors in Riverfront. Accordingly, Riverfront is not consolidated in AFG’s financial statements and the reinsurance agreement is accounted for as ceded reinsurance. AFG’s cost for this coverage is approximately $5 million per year.
Investments AFG’s investment portfolio at September 30, 2014, contained $29.97 billion in fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale and $1.47 billion in equity securities, all carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in a separate component of shareholders’ equity on an after-tax basis. In addition, $342 million in fixed maturities were classified as trading with changes in unrealized holding gains or losses included in net investment income.
Fair values for AFG’s portfolio are determined by AFG’s internal investment professionals using data from nationally recognized pricing services as well as non-binding broker quotes. Fair values of equity securities are generally based on closing prices obtained from the pricing services. For mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), which comprise approximately 23% of AFG’s fixed maturities, prices for each security are generally obtained from both pricing services and broker quotes. For the remainder of AFG’s fixed maturity portfolio, approximately 82% are priced using pricing services and the balance is priced primarily by using non-binding broker quotes. When prices obtained for the same security vary, AFG’s internal investment professionals select the price they believe is most indicative of an exit price.
The pricing services use a variety of observable inputs to estimate fair value of fixed maturities that do not trade on a daily basis. Based upon information provided by the pricing services, these inputs include, but are not limited to, recent reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids or offers, reference data, and measures of volatility. Included in the pricing of MBS are estimates of the rate of future prepayments and defaults of principal over the remaining life of the underlying collateral. Due to the lack of transparency in the process that brokers use to develop prices, valuations that are based on brokers’ prices are classified as Level 3 in the GAAP hierarchy unless the price can be corroborated, for example, by comparison to similar securities priced using observable inputs.
Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by AFG’s internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price. To validate the appropriateness of the prices obtained, these investment managers consider widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. In addition, AFG communicates directly with pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the services to value specific securities.
38
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
In general, the fair value of AFG’s fixed maturity investments is inversely correlated to changes in interest rates. The following table demonstrates the sensitivity of such fair values to reasonably likely changes in interest rates by illustrating the estimated effect on AFG’s fixed maturity portfolio that an immediate increase of 100 basis points in the interest rate yield curve would have at September 30, 2014 (dollars in millions). Effects of increases or decreases from the 100 basis points illustrated would be approximately proportional.
Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | 30,307 | |
Pretax impact on fair value of 100 bps increase in interest rates | $ | (1,515 | ) |
Pretax impact as % of total fixed maturity portfolio | (5.0 | %) |
Approximately 86% of the fixed maturities held by AFG at September 30, 2014, were rated “investment grade” (credit rating of AAA to BBB) by nationally recognized rating agencies. Investment grade securities generally bear lower yields and lower degrees of risk than those that are unrated and non-investment grade. Management believes that the high quality investment portfolio should generate a stable and predictable investment return.
MBS are subject to significant prepayment risk due to the fact that, in periods of declining interest rates, mortgages may be repaid more rapidly than scheduled as borrowers refinance higher rate mortgages to take advantage of lower rates. Although interest rates have been low for the last few years, tighter lending standards have resulted in fewer buyers being able to refinance the mortgages underlying much of AFG’s non-agency residential MBS portfolio.
Summarized information for AFG’s MBS (including those classified as trading) at September 30, 2014, is shown (dollars in millions) in the table below. Agency-backed securities are those issued by a U.S. government-backed agency; Alt-A mortgages are those with risk profiles between prime and subprime. The majority of the Alt-A securities and substantially all of the subprime securities are backed by fixed-rate mortgages. The average life of the residential and commercial MBS is approximately 5 years and 4 years, respectively.
Amortized Cost | Fair Value | Fair Value as % of Cost | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | % Rated Investment Grade | ||||||||||||||
Collateral type | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential: | ||||||||||||||||||
Agency-backed | $ | 326 | $ | 334 | 102 | % | $ | 8 | 100 | % | ||||||||
Non-agency prime | 2,000 | 2,215 | 111 | % | 215 | 44 | % | |||||||||||
Alt-A | 972 | 1,081 | 111 | % | 109 | 19 | % | |||||||||||
Subprime | 900 | 968 | 108 | % | 68 | 16 | % | |||||||||||
Commercial | 2,333 | 2,496 | 107 | % | 163 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
$ | 6,531 | $ | 7,094 | 109 | % | $ | 563 | 59 | % |
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) assigns creditworthiness designations on a scale of 1 to 6 with 1 being the highest quality and 6 being the lowest quality. The NAIC retains third-party investment management firms to assist in the determination of appropriate NAIC designations for mortgage-backed securities based not only on the probability of loss (which is the primary basis of ratings by the major ratings firms), but also on the severity of loss and statutory carrying value. At September 30, 2014, 97% (based on statutory carrying value of $6.44 billion) of AFG’s MBS securities had a NAIC designation of 1 or 2.
Municipal bonds represented approximately 21% of AFG’s fixed maturity portfolio at September 30, 2014. AFG’s municipal bond portfolio is high quality, with 98% of the securities rated investment grade at that date. The portfolio is well diversified across the states of issuance and individual issuers. At September 30, 2014, approximately 72% of the municipal bond portfolio was held in revenue bonds, with the remainder held in general obligation bonds. General obligation securities of California, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico collectively represented approximately 1% of this portfolio.
39
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Summarized information for the unrealized gains and losses recorded in AFG’s Balance Sheet at September 30, 2014, is shown in the following table (dollars in millions). Approximately $282 million of available for sale fixed maturity securities and $92 million of equity securities had no unrealized gains or losses at September 30, 2014.
Securities With Unrealized Gains | Securities With Unrealized Losses | ||||||||
Available for Sale Fixed Maturities | |||||||||
Fair value of securities | $ | 23,937 | $ | 5,746 | |||||
Amortized cost of securities | $ | 22,286 | $ | 5,841 | |||||
Gross unrealized gain (loss) | $ | 1,651 | $ | (95 | ) | ||||
Fair value as % of amortized cost | 107 | % | 98 | % | |||||
Number of security positions | 4,278 | 824 | |||||||
Number individually exceeding $2 million gain or loss | 120 | 3 | |||||||
Concentration of gains (losses) by type or industry (exceeding 5% of unrealized): | |||||||||
States and municipalities | $ | 294 | $ | (27 | ) | ||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 579 | (16 | ) | ||||||
Banks, savings and credit institutions | 127 | (7 | ) | ||||||
Asset-backed securities | 37 | (19 | ) | ||||||
Gas and electric services | 124 | (2 | ) | ||||||
Percentage rated investment grade | 86 | % | 89 | % | |||||
Equity Securities | |||||||||
Fair value of securities | $ | 986 | $ | 396 | |||||
Cost of securities | $ | 751 | $ | 436 | |||||
Gross unrealized gain (loss) | $ | 235 | $ | (40 | ) | ||||
Fair value as % of cost | 131 | % | 91 | % | |||||
Number of security positions | 165 | 71 | |||||||
Number individually exceeding $2 million gain or loss | 38 | 5 |
The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of AFG’s available for sale fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2014, based on their fair values. Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
Securities With Unrealized Gains | Securities With Unrealized Losses | ||||||
Maturity | |||||||
One year or less | 3 | % | — | % | |||
After one year through five years | 18 | % | 3 | % | |||
After five years through ten years | 28 | % | 28 | % | |||
After ten years | 18 | % | 24 | % | |||
67 | % | 55 | % | ||||
Asset-backed securities (average life of approximately 3-1/2 years) | 7 | % | 34 | % | |||
Mortgage-backed securities (average life of approximately 4-1/2 years) | 26 | % | 11 | % | |||
100 | % | 100 | % |
40
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
The table below (dollars in millions) summarizes the unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturity securities by dollar amount:
Aggregate Fair Value | Aggregate Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Fair Value as % of Cost Basis | |||||||||
Fixed Maturities at September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||
Securities with unrealized gains: | |||||||||||
Exceeding $500,000 (1,032 securities) | $ | 11,886 | $ | 1,176 | 111 | % | |||||
$500,000 or less (3,246 securities) | 12,051 | 475 | 104 | % | |||||||
$ | 23,937 | $ | 1,651 | 107 | % | ||||||
Securities with unrealized losses: | |||||||||||
Exceeding $500,000 (30 securities) | $ | 526 | $ | (25 | ) | 95 | % | ||||
$500,000 or less (794 securities) | 5,220 | (70 | ) | 99 | % | ||||||
$ | 5,746 | $ | (95 | ) | 98 | % |
The following table summarizes (dollars in millions) the unrealized loss for all securities with unrealized losses by issuer quality and length of time those securities have been in an unrealized loss position:
Aggregate Fair Value | Aggregate Unrealized Loss | Fair Value as % of Cost Basis | |||||||||
Securities with Unrealized Losses at September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||
Investment grade fixed maturities with losses for: | |||||||||||
Less than one year (408 securities) | $ | 3,469 | $ | (27 | ) | 99 | % | ||||
One year or longer (272 securities) | 1,653 | (49 | ) | 97 | % | ||||||
$ | 5,122 | $ | (76 | ) | 99 | % | |||||
Non-investment grade fixed maturities with losses for: | |||||||||||
Less than one year (60 securities) | $ | 395 | $ | (7 | ) | 98 | % | ||||
One year or longer (84 securities) | 229 | (12 | ) | 95 | % | ||||||
$ | 624 | $ | (19 | ) | 97 | % | |||||
Common equity securities with losses for: | |||||||||||
Less than one year (50 securities) | $ | 278 | $ | (36 | ) | 89 | % | ||||
One year or longer (none) | — | — | — | % | |||||||
$ | 278 | $ | (36 | ) | 89 | % | |||||
Perpetual preferred equity securities with losses for: | |||||||||||
Less than one year (12 securities) | $ | 61 | $ | (1 | ) | 98 | % | ||||
One year or longer (9 securities) | 57 | (3 | ) | 95 | % | ||||||
$ | 118 | $ | (4 | ) | 97 | % |
When a decline in the value of a specific investment is considered to be “other-than-temporary,” a provision for impairment is charged to earnings (accounted for as a realized loss) and the cost basis of that investment is reduced by the amount of the charge. The determination of whether unrealized losses are “other-than-temporary” requires judgment based on subjective as well as objective factors as detailed in AFG’s 2013 Form 10-K under Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Investments.”
Based on its analysis, management believes AFG will recover its cost basis in the securities with unrealized losses and that AFG has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at September 30, 2014. Although AFG has the ability to continue holding its investments with unrealized losses, its intent to hold them may change due to deterioration in the issuers’ creditworthiness, decisions to lessen exposure to a particular issuer or industry, asset/liability management decisions, market movements, changes in views about appropriate asset allocation or the desire to offset taxable realized gains. Should AFG’s ability or intent change with regard to a particular security, a charge for impairment would likely be required. While it is not possible to accurately predict if or when a specific security will become impaired, charges for other-than-temporary impairment could be material to results of operations in future periods. Significant declines in the fair value of AFG’s investment portfolio could have a significant adverse effect on AFG’s liquidity.
41
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Uncertainties Management believes that the areas posing the greatest risk of material loss are the adequacy of its insurance reserves and contingencies arising out of its former railroad and manufacturing operations. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Uncertainties” in AFG’s 2013 Form 10-K. AFG has periodically conducted comprehensive studies of its asbestos and environmental (“A&E”) reserves, generally every two years, with the aid of specialty actuarial, engineering and consulting firms and outside counsel. An in-depth internal review is performed during the intervening years. See “Special Asbestos and Environmental Reserve Charges” under “Results of Operations — Property and Casualty Insurance.”
AFG will complete its periodic review (“loss recognition testing”) of the major actuarial assumptions in its run-off long-term care and life segment in the fourth quarter of 2014. While AFG had a loss recognition margin of $64 million in its long-term care operations as of December 31, 2013, further continuation of the recent low interest rate environment, including the drop in interest rates during October 2014, will reduce that margin. In addition, with the assistance of an external actuarial consulting firm, AFG is analyzing other assumptions that could have an impact on its loss recognition margin, including projected long-term care claims and persistency. In the event that the updated loss recognition testing assumptions result in a cumulative adverse impact in excess of $64 million, AFG would record a loss recognition charge equal to that excess amount. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Uncertainties — Run-off Long-term Care Insurance” in AFG’s 2013 Form 10‑K for details on the loss recognition margin, including the estimated impact of adverse changes in key assumptions on the margin.
MANAGED INVESTMENT ENTITIES
Accounting standards require AFG to consolidate its investments in collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) entities that it manages and owns an interest in (in the form of debt). See Note A — “Accounting Policies — Managed Investment Entities” and Note H — “Managed Investment Entities” to the financial statements. The effect of consolidating these entities is shown in the tables below (in millions). The “Before CLO Consolidation” columns include AFG’s investment and earnings in the CLOs on an unconsolidated basis.
42
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Before CLO Consolidation | Managed Investment Entities | Consol. Entries | Consolidated As Reported | ||||||||||||||
September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and investments | $ | 35,469 | $ | — | $ | (318 | ) | (a) | $ | 35,151 | |||||||
Assets of managed investment entities | — | 2,946 | — | 2,946 | |||||||||||||
Other assets | 8,456 | — | (1 | ) | (a) | 8,455 | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 43,925 | $ | 2,946 | $ | (319 | ) | $ | 46,552 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums | $ | 9,759 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 9,759 | |||||||||
Annuity, life, accident and health benefits and reserves | 25,142 | — | — | 25,142 | |||||||||||||
Liabilities of managed investment entities | — | 2,914 | (289 | ) | (a) | 2,625 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt and other liabilities | 3,948 | — | — | 3,948 | |||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 38,849 | 2,914 | (289 | ) | 41,474 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||||||||||||
Common Stock and Capital surplus | 1,238 | 30 | (30 | ) | 1,238 | ||||||||||||
Retained earnings: | |||||||||||||||||
Appropriated — managed investment entities | — | 2 | — | 2 | |||||||||||||
Unappropriated | 2,946 | — | — | 2,946 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax | 718 | — | — | 718 | |||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 4,902 | 32 | (30 | ) | 4,904 | ||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 174 | — | — | 174 | |||||||||||||
Total equity | 5,076 | 32 | (30 | ) | 5,078 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 43,925 | $ | 2,946 | $ | (319 | ) | $ | 46,552 | ||||||||
December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and investments | $ | 31,584 | $ | — | $ | (271 | ) | (a) | $ | 31,313 | |||||||
Assets of managed investment entities | — | 2,888 | — | 2,888 | |||||||||||||
Other assets | 7,887 | — | (1 | ) | (a) | 7,886 | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 39,471 | $ | 2,888 | $ | (272 | ) | $ | 42,087 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums | $ | 8,167 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 8,167 | |||||||||
Annuity, life, accident and health benefits and reserves | 22,952 | — | — | 22,952 | |||||||||||||
Liabilities of managed investment entities | — | 2,839 | (272 | ) | (a) | 2,567 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt and other liabilities | 3,632 | — | — | 3,632 | |||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 34,751 | 2,839 | (272 | ) | 37,318 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||||||||||||
Common Stock and Capital surplus | 1,213 | — | — | 1,213 | |||||||||||||
Retained earnings: | |||||||||||||||||
Appropriated — managed investment entities | — | 49 | — | 49 | |||||||||||||
Unappropriated | 2,777 | — | — | 2,777 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax | 560 | — | — | 560 | |||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 4,550 | 49 | — | 4,599 | |||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 170 | — | — | 170 | |||||||||||||
Total equity | 4,720 | 49 | — | 4,769 | |||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 39,471 | $ | 2,888 | $ | (272 | ) | $ | 42,087 |
(a) | Elimination of the fair value of AFG’s investment in CLOs and related accrued interest. |
43
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Before CLO Consolidation (a) | Managed Investment Entities | Consol. Entries | Consolidated As Reported | ||||||||||||||
Three months ended September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance net earned premiums | $ | 1,159 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,159 | |||||||||
Net investment income | 384 | — | (7 | ) | (b) | 377 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | 13 | — | — | 13 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) of managed investment entities: | |||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | 29 | — | 29 | |||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | (23 | ) | (2 | ) | (b) | (25 | ) | |||||||||
Other income | 35 | — | (7 | ) | (c) | 28 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,591 | 6 | (16 | ) | 1,581 | ||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and expenses | 1,326 | — | — | 1,326 | |||||||||||||
Expenses of managed investment entities | — | 33 | (14 | ) | (b)(c) | 19 | |||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money and other expenses | 91 | — | — | 91 | |||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 1,417 | 33 | (14 | ) | 1,436 | ||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 174 | (27 | ) | (2 | ) | 145 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 54 | — | — | 54 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 120 | (27 | ) | (2 | ) | 91 | |||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 4 | — | (29 | ) | (d) | (25 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholders | $ | 116 | $ | (27 | ) | $ | 27 | $ | 116 | ||||||||
Three months ended September 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance net earned premiums | $ | 978 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 978 | |||||||||
Net investment income | 347 | — | (9 | ) | (b) | 338 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | 56 | — | — | 56 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) of managed investment entities: | |||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | 32 | — | 32 | |||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | 14 | 1 | (b) | 15 | ||||||||||||
Other income | 28 | — | (4 | ) | (c) | 24 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,409 | 46 | (12 | ) | 1,443 | ||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and expenses | 1,163 | — | — | 1,163 | |||||||||||||
Expenses of managed investment entities | — | 32 | (10 | ) | (b)(c) | 22 | |||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money and other expenses | 116 | — | — | 116 | |||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 1,279 | 32 | (10 | ) | 1,301 | ||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 130 | 14 | (2 | ) | 142 | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 44 | — | — | 44 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 86 | 14 | (2 | ) | 98 | ||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 3 | — | 12 | (d) | 15 | ||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholders | $ | 83 | $ | 14 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 83 |
(a) | Includes $7 million and $9 million for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in net investment income representing the change in fair value of AFG’s CLO investments plus $7 million and $4 million in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in CLO management fees earned. |
(b) | Elimination of the change in fair value of AFG’s investments in the CLOs, including $7 million and $6 million in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in distributions recorded as interest expense by the CLOs. |
(c) | Elimination of management fees earned by AFG. |
(d) | Allocate earnings (losses) of CLOs attributable to other debt holders to noncontrolling interests. |
44
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Before CLO Consolidation (a) | Managed Investment Entities | Consol. Entries | Consolidated As Reported | ||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance net earned premiums | $ | 2,899 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,899 | |||||||||
Net investment income | 1,135 | — | (18 | ) | (b) | 1,117 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | 44 | — | — | 44 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) of managed investment entities: | |||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | 84 | — | 84 | |||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | (33 | ) | (2 | ) | (b) | (35 | ) | |||||||||
Other income | 93 | — | (18 | ) | (c) | 75 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 4,171 | 51 | (38 | ) | 4,184 | ||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and expenses | 3,416 | — | — | 3,416 | |||||||||||||
Expenses of managed investment entities | — | 96 | (36 | ) | (b)(c) | 60 | |||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money and other expenses | 272 | — | — | 272 | |||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 3,688 | 96 | (36 | ) | 3,748 | ||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 483 | (45 | ) | (2 | ) | 436 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 155 | — | — | 155 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 328 | (45 | ) | (2 | ) | 281 | |||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 3 | — | (47 | ) | (d) | (44 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholders | $ | 325 | $ | (45 | ) | $ | 45 | $ | 325 | ||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance net earned premiums | $ | 2,432 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,432 | |||||||||
Net investment income | 1,023 | — | (27 | ) | (b) | 996 | |||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | 154 | — | — | 154 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) of managed investment entities: | |||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | 98 | — | 98 | |||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | (25 | ) | 4 | (b) | (21 | ) | ||||||||||
Other income | 83 | — | (12 | ) | (c) | 71 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 3,692 | 73 | (35 | ) | 3,730 | ||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and expenses | 2,917 | — | — | 2,917 | |||||||||||||
Expenses of managed investment entities | — | 99 | (31 | ) | (b)(c) | 68 | |||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money and other expenses | 302 | — | — | 302 | |||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 3,219 | 99 | (31 | ) | 3,287 | ||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 473 | (26 | ) | (4 | ) | 443 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 155 | — | — | 155 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 318 | (26 | ) | (4 | ) | 288 | |||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 5 | — | (30 | ) | (d) | (25 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholders | $ | 313 | $ | (26 | ) | $ | 26 | $ | 313 |
(a) | Includes $18 million and $27 million for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in net investment income representing the change in fair value of AFG’s CLO investments plus $18 million and $12 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in CLO management fees earned. |
(b) | Elimination of the change in fair value of AFG’s investments in the CLOs, including $18 million and $19 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in distributions recorded as interest expense by the CLOs. |
(c) | Elimination of management fees earned by AFG. |
(d) | Allocate earnings (losses) of CLOs attributable to other debt holders to noncontrolling interests. |
45
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General Results of operations as shown in the accompanying financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP.
AFG’s net earnings attributable to shareholders, determined in accordance with GAAP, include certain items that may not be indicative of its ongoing core operations. The following table identifies such items and reconciles net earnings attributable to shareholders to core net operating earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure that AFG believes is a useful tool for investors and analysts in analyzing ongoing operating trends (in millions, except per share amounts):
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Core net operating earnings | $ | 127 | $ | 97 | $ | 317 | $ | 268 | |||||||
Realized gains on securities (*) | 8 | 35 | 27 | 97 | |||||||||||
Special A&E charges (*) | (19 | ) | (49 | ) | (19 | ) | (49 | ) | |||||||
ELNY guaranty fund assessments (*) | — | — | — | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholders | $ | 116 | $ | 83 | $ | 325 | $ | 313 | |||||||
Diluted per share amounts: | |||||||||||||||
Core net operating earnings | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.06 | $ | 3.47 | $ | 2.94 | |||||||
Realized gains on securities | 0.09 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 1.08 | |||||||||||
Special A&E charges | (0.21 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.54 | ) | |||||||
ELNY guaranty fund assessments | — | — | — | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholders | $ | 1.28 | $ | 0.92 | $ | 3.56 | $ | 3.44 |
(*) The tax effects of reconciling items are shown below (in millions):
Realized gains on securities | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (20 | ) | $ | (16 | ) | $ | (55 | ) | |||
Special A&E charges | 11 | 27 | 11 | 27 | |||||||||||
ELNY guaranty fund assessments | — | — | — | 2 |
In addition, realized gains are shown net of noncontrolling interests as follows (in millions):
Noncontrolling interests | $ | — | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (2 | ) |
Net earnings attributable to shareholders increased $33 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to higher underwriting profits in the property and casualty insurance segment, including lower special A&E charges, higher property and casualty net investment income due primarily to the investment of cash acquired in the Summit acquisition on April 1, 2014, higher earnings in the annuity segment and lower holding company expenses, partially offset by lower realized gains on securities. Core net operating earnings increased $30 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to higher underwriting profits and net investment income in the property and casualty insurance segment, higher earnings in the annuity segment and lower holding company expenses.
Net earnings attributable to shareholders increased $12 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 reflecting higher underwriting profits in the property and casualty insurance segment, including lower special A&E charges, higher net investment income in the property and casualty insurance segment, higher earnings in the annuity segment and lower holding company expenses, substantially offset by lower realized gains on securities. The 2013 results include an after-tax charge of $3 million related to guaranty fund assessments expected from various state funds for the insolvency and liquidation of Executive Life Insurance Company of New York (“ELNY”), an unaffiliated life insurance company. Core net operating earnings increased $49 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to higher underwriting profits and net investment income in the property and casualty insurance segment and lower holding company expenses.
46
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — QUARTERS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 AND 2013
Segmented Statement of Earnings AFG reports its business as four segments: (i) Property and casualty insurance (“P&C”), (ii) Annuity, (iii) Run-off long-term care and life and (iv) Other, which includes holding company costs and operations attributable to the noncontrolling interests of the managed investment entities (“MIEs”).
AFG’s net earnings attributable to shareholders, determined in accordance with GAAP, include certain items that may not be indicative of its ongoing core operations. The following tables for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 identify such items by segment and reconcile net earnings attributable to shareholders to core net operating earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure that AFG believes is a useful tool for investors and analysts in analyzing ongoing operating trends (in millions):
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&C | Annuity | Run-off long-term care and life | Consol. MIEs | Holding Co., other and unallocated | Total | Non-core reclass | GAAP Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance net earned premiums | $ | 1,132 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,132 | $ | — | $ | 1,132 | |||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | — | — | 27 | — | — | 27 | — | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 76 | 287 | 20 | (7 | ) | 1 | 377 | — | 377 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) of MIEs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | — | — | 29 | — | 29 | — | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | — | — | (25 | ) | — | (25 | ) | — | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 4 | 20 | 1 | (7 | ) | 10 | 28 | — | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,212 | 307 | 48 | (10 | ) | 11 | 1,568 | 13 | 1,581 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 760 | — | — | — | — | 760 | 24 | 784 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 302 | — | — | — | — | 302 | — | 302 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits | — | 157 | — | — | — | 157 | — | 157 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | — | — | 37 | — | — | 37 | — | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity and supplemental insurance acquisition expenses | — | 41 | 5 | — | — | 46 | — | 46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 1 | — | — | — | 17 | 18 | — | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses of MIEs | — | — | — | 19 | — | 19 | — | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 15 | 23 | 5 | — | 24 | 67 | 6 | 73 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 1,078 | 221 | 47 | 19 | 41 | 1,406 | 30 | 1,436 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 134 | 86 | 1 | (29 | ) | (30 | ) | 162 | (17 | ) | 145 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 42 | 28 | — | — | (10 | ) | 60 | (6 | ) | 54 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 92 | 58 | 1 | (29 | ) | (20 | ) | 102 | (11 | ) | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 4 | — | — | (29 | ) | — | (25 | ) | — | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Core Net Operating Earnings | 88 | 58 | 1 | — | (20 | ) | 127 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-core earnings attributable to shareholders (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities, net of tax | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | (8 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Special A&E charges, net of tax | (15 | ) | — | — | — | (4 | ) | (19 | ) | 19 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders | $ | 73 | $ | 58 | $ | 1 | $ | — | $ | (16 | ) | $ | 116 | $ | — | $ | 116 |
47
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&C | Annuity | Run-off long-term care and life | Consol. MIEs | Holding Co., other and unallocated | Total | Non-core reclass | GAAP Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance net earned premiums | $ | 949 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 949 | $ | — | $ | 949 | |||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | — | — | 29 | — | — | 29 | — | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 65 | 259 | 20 | (9 | ) | 3 | 338 | — | 338 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) of MIEs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | — | — | 32 | — | 32 | — | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | — | — | 15 | — | 15 | — | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 1 | 17 | 1 | (4 | ) | 9 | 24 | — | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,015 | 276 | 50 | 34 | 12 | 1,387 | 56 | 1,443 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 626 | — | — | — | — | 626 | 54 | 680 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 261 | — | — | — | — | 261 | — | 261 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits | — | 140 | — | — | — | 140 | — | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | — | — | 42 | — | — | 42 | — | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity and supplemental insurance acquisition expenses | — | 35 | 5 | — | — | 40 | — | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 1 | — | — | — | 17 | 18 | — | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses of MIEs | — | — | — | 22 | — | 22 | — | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 12 | 23 | 7 | — | 34 | 76 | 22 | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 900 | 198 | 54 | 22 | 51 | 1,225 | 76 | 1,301 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 115 | 78 | (4 | ) | 12 | (39 | ) | 162 | (20 | ) | 142 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 38 | 26 | (2 | ) | — | (11 | ) | 51 | (7 | ) | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 77 | 52 | (2 | ) | 12 | (28 | ) | 111 | (13 | ) | 98 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 2 | — | — | 12 | — | 14 | 1 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Net Operating Earnings | 75 | 52 | (2 | ) | — | (28 | ) | 97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-core earnings attributable to shareholders (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities, net of tax | — | — | — | — | 35 | 35 | (35 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Special A&E charges, net of tax | (35 | ) | — | — | — | (14 | ) | (49 | ) | 49 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders | $ | 40 | $ | 52 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | — | $ | (7 | ) | $ | 83 | $ | — | $ | 83 |
(a) | See the reconciliation of core earnings to GAAP net earnings under “Results of Operations — General” for details on the tax and noncontrolling interest impacts of these reconciling items. |
Property and Casualty Insurance Segment — Results of Operations Performance measures such as underwriting profit or loss and related combined ratios are often used by property and casualty insurers to help users of their financial statements better understand the company’s performance. Underwriting profitability is measured by the combined ratio, which is a sum of the ratios of losses and loss adjustment expenses, and commissions and other underwriting expenses to premiums. A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. The combined ratio does not reflect net investment income, other income, other expenses or federal income taxes.
AFG’s property and casualty insurance operations contributed $110 million in GAAP pretax earnings in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $61 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $49 million (80%). Property and casualty core pretax earnings were $134 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $115 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $19 million (17%).The increase in GAAP and core pretax earnings reflects improved underwriting results in the Specialty casualty group and higher net investment income (due primarily to the investment of cash acquired in the Summit acquisition
48
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
on April 1, 2014), partially offset by lower underwriting profit in the Property and transportation group. The increase in GAAP pretax earnings also reflects lower special A&E charges in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the 2013 third quarter.
The following table details AFG’s GAAP and core earnings before income taxes from its property and casualty insurance operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Gross written premiums | $ | 1,859 | $ | 1,768 | 5 | % | ||||
Reinsurance premiums ceded | (617 | ) | (701 | ) | (12 | %) | ||||
Net written premiums | 1,242 | 1,067 | 16 | % | ||||||
Change in unearned premiums | (110 | ) | (118 | ) | (7 | %) | ||||
Net earned premiums | 1,132 | 949 | 19 | % | ||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expenses (*) | 760 | 626 | 21 | % | ||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 302 | 261 | 16 | % | ||||||
Core underwriting gain | 70 | 62 | 13 | % | ||||||
Net investment income | 76 | 65 | 17 | % | ||||||
Other income and expenses, net | (12 | ) | (12 | ) | — | % | ||||
Core earnings before income taxes | 134 | 115 | 17 | % | ||||||
Pretax non-core special A&E charges | (24 | ) | (54 | ) | (56 | %) | ||||
GAAP earnings before income taxes | $ | 110 | $ | 61 | 80 | % | ||||
(*) Excluding non-core special A&E charges | ||||||||||
Combined Ratios: | ||||||||||
Specialty lines | Change | |||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 67.1 | % | 66.1 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 26.7 | % | 27.4 | % | (0.7 | %) | ||||
Combined ratio | 93.8 | % | 93.5 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||
Aggregate — including discontinued lines | ||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 69.3 | % | 71.7 | % | (2.4 | %) | ||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 26.7 | % | 27.4 | % | (0.7 | %) | ||||
Combined ratio | 96.0 | % | 99.1 | % | (3.1 | %) |
While AFG desires and seeks to earn an underwriting profit on all of its business, it is not always possible to do so. As a result, AFG attempts to expand in the most profitable businesses and control growth or even reduce its involvement in the least profitable businesses.
AFG reports the underwriting performance of its Specialty property and casualty insurance business in the following sub-segments: (i) Property and transportation, (ii) Specialty casualty and (iii) Specialty financial.
To understand the overall profitability of particular lines, the timing of claims payments and the related impact of investment income must be considered. Certain “short-tail” lines of business (primarily property coverages) generally have quick loss payouts, which reduce the time funds are held, thereby limiting investment income earned thereon. In contrast, “long-tail” lines of business (primarily liability coverages and workers’ compensation) generally have payouts that are either structured over many years or take many years to settle, thereby significantly increasing investment income earned on related premiums received.
49
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Gross Written Premiums
Gross written premiums (“GWP”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were $1.86 billion for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $1.77 billion for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $91 million (5%). Detail of AFG’s property and casualty gross written premiums is shown below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
GWP | % | GWP | % | % Change | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 995 | 54 | % | $ | 1,147 | 65 | % | (13 | %) | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 707 | 38 | % | 461 | 26 | % | 53 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 157 | 8 | % | 160 | 9 | % | (2 | %) | ||||||||
$ | 1,859 | 100 | % | $ | 1,768 | 100 | % | 5 | % |
Reinsurance Premiums Ceded
Reinsurance premiums ceded (“Ceded”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were 33% of gross written premiums for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 40% for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of 7 percentage points. Detail of AFG’s property and casualty reinsurance premiums ceded is shown below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change in | ||||||||||||||
Ceded | % of GWP | Ceded | % of GWP | % of GWP | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | (439 | ) | 44 | % | $ | (553 | ) | 48 | % | (4 | %) | ||||
Specialty casualty | (171 | ) | 24 | % | (136 | ) | 30 | % | (6 | %) | ||||||
Specialty financial | (36 | ) | 23 | % | (36 | ) | 23 | % | — | % | ||||||
Other specialty | 29 | 24 | ||||||||||||||
$ | (617 | ) | 33 | % | $ | (701 | ) | 40 | % | (7 | %) |
Net Written Premiums
Net written premiums (“NWP”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were $1.24 billion for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $1.07 billion for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $175 million (16%). Detail of AFG’s property and casualty net written premiums is shown below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
NWP | % | NWP | % | % Change | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 556 | 45 | % | $ | 594 | 56 | % | (6 | %) | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 536 | 43 | % | 325 | 30 | % | 65 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 121 | 10 | % | 124 | 12 | % | (2 | %) | ||||||||
Other specialty | 29 | 2 | % | 24 | 2 | % | 21 | % | ||||||||
$ | 1,242 | 100 | % | $ | 1,067 | 100 | % | 16 | % |
50
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Net Earned Premiums
Net earned premiums (“NEP”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were $1.13 billion for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $949 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $183 million (19%). Detail of AFG’s property and casualty net earned premiums is shown below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
NEP | % | NEP | % | % Change | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 504 | 45 | % | $ | 517 | 55 | % | (3 | %) | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 486 | 43 | % | 289 | 30 | % | 68 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 115 | 10 | % | 121 | 13 | % | (5 | %) | ||||||||
Other specialty | 27 | 2 | % | 22 | 2 | % | 23 | % | ||||||||
$ | 1,132 | 100 | % | $ | 949 | 100 | % | 19 | % |
The $91 million (5%) increase in gross written premiums for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 reflects $135 million in premiums from Summit (acquired in April 2014) as well as significant growth in other businesses within the Specialty casualty group, partially offset by lower crop premiums in the Property and transportation group. Excluding premiums from Summit, gross written premiums declined by 3% from the third quarter of 2013. Overall average renewal rates increased approximately 2% in the third quarter of 2014.
Property and transportation Gross written premiums decreased $152 million (13%) in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013. The decrease in gross written premiums was due primarily to lower 2014 commodity prices impacting the crop operations, coupled with the higher than average crop premiums reported in the third quarter of 2013 due to delayed acreage reporting from insureds as a result of excess moisture and late planting of corn and soybean crops. This decrease was partially offset by growth in the transportation businesses, primarily the result of rate increases. Excluding the impact of crop insurance premiums, gross written premiums increased by 6% for this group in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013. Average renewal rates were up approximately 5% for this group in the third quarter of 2014, including a 9% increase in National Interstate’s renewal rates. Reinsurance premiums ceded as a percentage of gross written premiums declined 4 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, reflecting lower cessions in the crop business, partially offset by higher cessions in the excess property business.
Specialty casualty Gross written premiums increased $246 million (53%) in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 reflecting $135 million in premiums generated by Summit, which was acquired on April 1, 2014. Excluding premiums from Summit, gross written premiums increased 24% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 as a result of increased premiums in nearly all businesses in this group. The successful renewal of a recently acquired block of public sector business, along with growth in the workers’ compensation, excess and surplus lines and non-profit social services businesses were the primary contributors to higher gross written premiums. New business opportunities and increased exposures from higher payroll on existing accounts have contributed to increased premiums in the workers’ compensation businesses. Strong premium growth in the excess and surplus lines is the result of broadening opportunities to write business coupled with the benefit from rate increases over multiple quarters. Average renewal rates were up approximately 1% for this group in the third quarter of 2014. Reinsurance premiums ceded as a percentage of gross written premiums declined 6 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 reflecting the impact of the acquisition of Summit, which cedes only about 1% of its premiums.
Specialty financial Gross written premiums decreased by $3 million (2%) in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013. Growth in gross written premiums in many of the Specialty financial businesses was more than offset by the impact of the October 2013 sale of a service contracts business, which ceded all of its premiums under reinsurance contracts. Average renewal rates for this group were down approximately 2% in the third quarter of 2014. Reinsurance premiums ceded as a percentage of gross written premiums remain unchanged for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, as the impact of the sale of the service contracts business was offset by $5 million of reinstatement premiums.
Other specialty The amounts shown as reinsurance premiums ceded represent business assumed by AFG’s internal reinsurance program from the operations that make up AFG’s other Specialty sub-segments.
51
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Combined Ratio
Performance measures such as the combined ratio are often used by property and casualty insurers to help users of their financial statements better understand the company’s performance. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) and underwriting expense ratios. These ratios are calculated by dividing each of the respective expenses by net earned premiums. The table below (dollars in millions) details the components of the combined ratio for AFG’s property and casualty segment:
Three months ended September 30, | Three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 80.7 | % | 78.8 | % | 1.9 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 17.1 | % | 18.3 | % | (1.2 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 97.8 | % | 97.1 | % | 0.7 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 11 | $ | 16 | ||||||||||||
Specialty casualty | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 63.7 | % | 60.3 | % | 3.4 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 29.6 | % | 33.1 | % | (3.5 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 93.3 | % | 93.4 | % | (0.1 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 32 | $ | 19 | ||||||||||||
Specialty financial | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 27.7 | % | 31.2 | % | (3.5 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 53.9 | % | 51.1 | % | 2.8 | % | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 81.6 | % | 82.3 | % | (0.7 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 21 | $ | 22 | ||||||||||||
Total Specialty | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 67.1 | % | 66.1 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 26.7 | % | 27.4 | % | (0.7 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 93.8 | % | 93.5 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 70 | $ | 62 | ||||||||||||
Aggregate — including discontinued lines | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 69.3 | % | 71.7 | % | (2.4 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 26.7 | % | 27.4 | % | (0.7 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 96.0 | % | 99.1 | % | (3.1 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 46 | $ | 8 |
The Specialty property and casualty insurance operations generated an underwriting profit of $70 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $62 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $8 million (13%). The higher profit in the 2014 third quarter reflects improved underwriting results in the Specialty casualty group, partially offset by lower underwriting profit in the Property and transportation group.
Property and transportation Underwriting profit for this group was $11 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $16 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $5 million (31%). Higher underwriting profit in the property and inland marine and transportation businesses was more than offset by lower underwriting profit in the agricultural operations.
Specialty casualty Underwriting profit for this group was $32 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $19 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $13 million (68%). Higher underwriting profit in the workers’ compensation businesses, including the impact of the Summit business acquired on April 1, 2014, and alternative markets businesses was partially offset by lower underwriting profits in the general liability lines of business, primarily the result of adverse prior year reserve development.
52
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Specialty financial Underwriting profit for this group was $21 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $22 million in the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $1 million (5%). Nearly all of the businesses in this group produced strong underwriting results in both periods.
Aggregate As discussed below in more detail under Net prior year reserve development, AFG recorded special charges to increase property and casualty A&E reserves (net of reinsurance) by $24 million in the third quarter of 2014 and $54 million in the third quarter of 2013.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
AFG’s overall loss and LAE ratio was 69.3% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 71.7% for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points. The components of AFG’s property and casualty losses and LAE amounts and ratio are detailed below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
Amount | Ratio | Change in | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | Ratio | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 411 | $ | 408 | 81.4 | % | 79.1 | % | 2.3 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (5 | ) | (1 | ) | (0.9 | %) | (0.2 | %) | (0.7 | %) | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 1 | — | 0.2 | % | (0.1 | %) | 0.3 | % | ||||||||
Property and transportation losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 407 | $ | 407 | 80.7 | % | 78.8 | % | 1.9 | % | ||||||
Specialty casualty | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 302 | $ | 177 | 62.0 | % | 61.4 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | 7 | (4 | ) | 1.3 | % | (1.2 | %) | 2.5 | % | |||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 1 | 1 | 0.4 | % | 0.1 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||||
Specialty casualty losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 310 | $ | 174 | 63.7 | % | 60.3 | % | 3.4 | % | ||||||
Specialty financial | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 42 | $ | 40 | 36.4 | % | 33.7 | % | 2.7 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (10 | ) | (4 | ) | (9.0 | %) | (3.2 | %) | (5.8 | %) | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | — | 1 | 0.3 | % | 0.7 | % | (0.4 | %) | ||||||||
Specialty financial losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 32 | $ | 37 | 27.7 | % | 31.2 | % | (3.5 | %) | ||||||
Total Specialty | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 768 | $ | 637 | 67.8 | % | 67.4 | % | 0.4 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (11 | ) | (13 | ) | (1.0 | %) | (1.4 | %) | 0.4 | % | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 3 | 2 | 0.3 | % | 0.1 | % | 0.2 | % | ||||||||
Total Specialty losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 760 | $ | 626 | 67.1 | % | 66.1 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||||
Aggregate — including discontinued lines | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 768 | $ | 638 | 67.8 | % | 67.4 | % | 0.4 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | 13 | 40 | 1.2 | % | 4.2 | % | (3.0 | %) | ||||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 3 | 2 | 0.3 | % | 0.1 | % | 0.2 | % | ||||||||
Aggregate losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 784 | $ | 680 | 69.3 | % | 71.7 | % | (2.4 | %) |
Current accident year losses and LAE, excluding catastrophe losses
The current accident year loss and LAE ratio for AFG’s Specialty property and casualty insurance operations was 67.8% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 67.4% for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of 0.4%.
Property and transportation The 2.3 percentage point increase in the loss and LAE ratio for the current year, excluding catastrophe losses is due primarily to lower profitability in the agricultural operations.
53
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Specialty casualty The 0.6 percentage point increase in the loss and LAE ratio for the current year, excluding catastrophe losses reflects the inclusion of Summit following its acquisition on April 1, 2014, which has a higher loss and LAE ratio than AFG’s overall Specialty casualty group.
Specialty financial The 2.7 percentage point increase in the loss and LAE ratio for the current year, excluding catastrophe losses is due primarily to slight increases in losses across multiple lines of business in this group.
Net prior year reserve development
AFG’s Specialty property and casualty insurance operations recorded net favorable reserve development related to prior accident years of $11 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $13 million in the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $2 million (15%).
Property and transportation Net favorable reserve development of $5 million in the third quarter of 2014 reflects lower than expected claim severity in commercial auto liability business written in the transportation businesses and lower than expected claim severity in the property inland marine business. Net favorable reserve development of $1 million in the third quarter of 2013 reflects lower claim severity in the property and inland marine and ocean marine businesses partially offset by an increase in claim severity in commercial auto liability business written in the transportation businesses.
Specialty casualty Net adverse reserve development of $7 million in the third quarter of 2014 reflects higher than expected claim severity in contractor claims and in a run-off book of casualty business, partially offset by lower than anticipated claim severity in workers’ compensation business, and favorable reserve development in the international business. Net favorable reserve development of $4 million in the third quarter of 2013 reflects lower than expected claim severity in directors and officers liability insurance partially offset by higher than expected claim severity in run-off casualty businesses.
Specialty financial Net favorable reserve development of $10 million in the third quarter of 2014 reflects lower than expected claim severity in the surety and fidelity businesses. Net favorable reserve development of $4 million in the third quarter of 2013 reflects lower than expected claim frequency and severity in the foreign credit business where economic conditions did not affect this line as adversely as previously anticipated.
Other specialty In addition to the development discussed above, total Specialty net favorable reserve development reflects amortization of the deferred gain on the retroactive insurance transaction entered into in connection with the sale of a business in 1998 and reserve development associated with AFG’s internal reinsurance program.
Special Asbestos and Environmental Reserve Charges During the third quarter of 2014, AFG completed an in-depth internal review of its asbestos and environmental exposures relating to the run-off operations of its property and casualty insurance segment and exposures related to its former railroad and manufacturing operations and sites. AFG has periodically conducted comprehensive external studies of its asbestos and environmental reserves with the aid of specialty actuarial, engineering and consulting firms and outside counsel, generally every two years, with an in-depth internal review during the intervening years.
As a result of the 2014 internal review, AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment recorded a $24 million pretax special charge to increase its asbestos reserves by $4 million (net of reinsurance) and its environmental reserves by $20 million (net of reinsurance). As the overall industry exposure to asbestos has matured, the focus of litigation has shifted to smaller companies and companies with ancillary exposures. AFG’s insureds with these exposures have been the driver of the property and casualty segment’s asbestos reserve increases in recent years. The increase in property and casualty environmental reserves was attributed primarily to AFG’s increased defense costs and a number of claims where the estimated costs of remediation have increased. There were no newly identified or emerging broad industry trends that management believes would significantly impact the overall adequacy of AFG’s A&E reserves.
At September 30, 2014, the property and casualty insurance segment’s insurance reserves include A&E reserves of $300 million, net of reinsurance recoverables. At September 30, 2014, the property and casualty insurance segment’s three-year survival ratios, excluding amounts associated with the settlements of two large asbestos claims, were 14.4 times paid losses for asbestos reserves, 6.1 times paid losses for environmental reserves and 9.9 times paid losses for total A&E reserves. These ratios compare favorably with data published by SNL Financial LC, which indicate that industry survival ratios were 10.5 for asbestos, 6.1 for environmental, and 9.2 for total A&E reserves at December 31, 2013.
54
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
In addition, the 2014 internal review encompassed reserves for asbestos and environmental exposures of AFG’s former railroad and manufacturing operations. For a discussion of the $6 million pretax special charge recorded for those operations, see “Results of Operations — Holding Company, Other and Unallocated.”
A comprehensive external study of AFG’s A&E reserves was completed in the third quarter of 2013 with the aid of specialty actuarial, engineering and consulting firms and outside counsel. As a result of the study, AFG recorded a $76 million pretax special charge to increase its property and casualty segment’s A&E reserves by $54 million and the reserves of its former railroad and manufacturing operations by $22 million. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Uncertainties — Asbestos and Environmental-related (“A&E”) Insurance Reserves” and Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Results of Operations — Holding Company, Other and Unallocated” in AFG’s 2013 Form 10-K.
Aggregate Aggregate net prior accident years reserve development for AFG’s property and casualty segment includes the special A&E charges discussed above.
Catastrophe losses
AFG generally seeks to reduce its exposure to catastrophes through individual risk selection, including minimizing coastal and known fault-line exposures, and the purchase of reinsurance. Based on data available at December 31, 2013, AFG’s exposure to a catastrophic earthquake or windstorm that industry models indicate could occur once in every 500 years (a “500-year event”) is expected to be less than 2.5% of AFG’s shareholders’ equity.
Commissions and Other Underwriting Expenses
AFG’s property and casualty commissions and other underwriting expenses (“U/W Exp”) were $302 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $261 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $41 million (16%). AFG’s underwriting expense ratio, calculated as commissions and other underwriting expenses divided by net premiums earned, was 26.7% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 27.4% for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points. Detail of AFG’s property and casualty commissions and other underwriting expenses and underwriting expense ratios is shown below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change in | ||||||||||||||
U/W Exp | % of NEP | U/W Exp | % of NEP | % of NEP | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 86 | 17.1 | % | $ | 94 | 18.3 | % | (1.2 | %) | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 144 | 29.6 | % | 96 | 33.1 | % | (3.5 | %) | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 62 | 53.9 | % | 62 | 51.1 | % | 2.8 | % | ||||||||
Other specialty | 10 | 34.6 | % | 9 | 35.7 | % | (1.1 | %) | ||||||||
$ | 302 | 26.7 | % | $ | 261 | 27.4 | % | (0.7 | %) |
The $41 million increase in commissions and other underwriting expenses reflects the acquisition of Summit on April 1, 2014. The overall decrease of 0.7% in AFG’s expense ratio in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013 reflects the inclusion of Summit following its acquisition on April 1, 2014, which has a lower expense ratio than AFG’s overall property and casualty operations.
Property and transportation Commissions and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 1.2 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 reflecting lower profitability based commissions paid to agents and brokers.
Specialty casualty Commissions and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 3.5 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 due primarily to the inclusion of Summit following its acquisition on April 1, 2014, which has a lower expense ratio than AFG’s overall Specialty casualty group, and the impact of higher premiums across the Specialty casualty group on the ratio.
Specialty financial Commissions and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net earned premiums increased 2.8 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 due primarily to the impact of lower premiums on the ratio.
55
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Property and Casualty Net Investment Income
Net investment income in AFG’s property and casualty operations was $76 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $65 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $11 million (17%). In recent years, yields available in the financial markets on fixed maturity securities have generally declined, placing downward pressure on AFG’s investment portfolio yield. The average invested assets and overall yield earned on investments held by AFG’s property and casualty operations are provided below (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 76 | $ | 65 | $ | 11 | 17 | % | ||||||
Average invested assets (at amortized cost) | $ | 8,360 | $ | 6,835 | $ | 1,525 | 22 | % | ||||||
Yield (net investment income as a % of average invested assets) | 3.64 | % | 3.80 | % | (0.16 | %) | ||||||||
Tax equivalent yield (*) | 4.26 | % | 4.37 | % | (0.11 | %) |
(*) Adjusts the yield on equity securities and tax-exempt bonds to the fully taxable equivalent yield.
The increase in average invested assets and net investment income in the property and casualty segment for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013 is due primarily to the investment of cash acquired in the Summit acquisition on April 1, 2014. The property and casualty segment’s overall yield on investments (net investment income as a percentage of average invested assets) was 3.64% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 3.80% for the third quarter of 2013, a decline of 0.16 percentage points, reflecting the impact of lower yields available in the financial markets.
Property and Casualty Other Income and Expense, Net
Other income and expenses, net for AFG’s property and casualty operations was a net expense of $12 million for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013. The table below details the items included in other income and expenses, net for AFG’s property and casualty operations (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Other income | |||||||
Income from the sale of real estate | $ | 2 | $ | — | |||
Other | 2 | 1 | |||||
Total other income | 4 | 1 | |||||
Other expenses | |||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 6 | 3 | |||||
Other | 9 | 9 | |||||
Total other expense | 15 | 12 | |||||
Interest expense | 1 | 1 | |||||
Other income and expenses, net | $ | (12 | ) | $ | (12 | ) |
Amortization of intangibles includes $2 million in the third quarter of 2014 related to the Summit acquisition.
Interest expense for AFG’s property and casualty operations includes interest charges on long-term debt within the property and casualty operations, primarily notes secured by real estate.
56
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Segment — Results of Operations
AFG’s annuity operations contributed $86 million in pretax earnings in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $78 million in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $8 million (10%). While AFG’s average annuity investments (at amortized cost) were 16% higher for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013, the benefit of this growth was partially offset by the run-off of higher yielding investments.
The following table details AFG’s earnings before income taxes from its annuity operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions).
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 287 | $ | 259 | 11 | % | ||||
Other income: | ||||||||||
Guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees | 9 | 7 | 29 | % | ||||||
Policy charges and other miscellaneous income | 11 | 10 | 10 | % | ||||||
Total revenues | 307 | 276 | 11 | % | ||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||
Annuity benefits (a) | 157 | 140 | 12 | % | ||||||
Acquisition expenses | 41 | 35 | 17 | % | ||||||
Other expenses | 23 | 23 | — | % | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 221 | 198 | 12 | % | ||||||
Earnings before income taxes | $ | 86 | $ | 78 | 10 | % |
(a) Annuity benefits consisted of the following (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Interest credited — fixed | $ | 126 | $ | 113 | 12 | % | ||||
Interest credited — fixed component of variable annuities | 2 | 2 | — | % | ||||||
Change in expected death and annuitization reserve | 5 | 4 | 25 | % | ||||||
Amortization of sales inducements | 7 | 8 | (13 | %) | ||||||
Change in guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve | 12 | 10 | 20 | % | ||||||
Change in other benefit reserves | 3 | 2 | 50 | % | ||||||
Subtotal before impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | 155 | 139 | 12 | % | ||||||
Derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities: | ||||||||||
Embedded derivative mark-to-market | 21 | 33 | (36 | %) | ||||||
Equity option mark-to-market | (19 | ) | (32 | ) | (41 | %) | ||||
Impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | 2 | 1 | 100 | % | ||||||
Total annuity benefits | $ | 157 | $ | 140 | 12 | % |
The profitability of a fixed annuity business is largely dependent on the ability of a company to earn income on the assets supporting the business in excess of the amounts credited to policyholder accounts plus expenses incurred (earning a “spread”). Performance measures such as net interest spread and net spread earned are often presented by annuity businesses to help users of their financial statements better understand the company’s performance.
57
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Net Spread on Fixed Annuities (excludes variable annuity earnings)
The table below (dollars in millions) details the components of these spreads for AFG’s fixed annuity operations (including fixed-indexed annuities):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Average fixed annuity investments (at amortized cost) | $ | 22,730 | $ | 19,519 | 16 | % | ||||
Average fixed annuity benefits accumulated | 22,475 | 19,035 | 18 | % | ||||||
As % of fixed annuity benefits accumulated (except as noted): | ||||||||||
Net investment income (as % of fixed annuity investments) | 5.01 | % | 5.27 | % | ||||||
Interest credited — fixed | (2.24 | %) | (2.38 | %) | ||||||
Net interest spread | 2.77 | % | 2.89 | % | ||||||
Policy charges and other miscellaneous income | 0.14 | % | 0.15 | % | ||||||
Other annuity benefit expenses, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees | (0.33 | %) | (0.38 | %) | ||||||
Acquisition expenses | (0.69 | %) | (0.72 | %) | ||||||
Other expenses | (0.37 | %) | (0.44 | %) | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | (0.04 | %) | — | % | ||||||
Net spread earned on fixed annuities | 1.48 | % | 1.50 | % |
The table below illustrates the impact of fair value accounting for derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities on the Annuity segment’s net spread earned on fixed annuities:
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Net spread earned on fixed annuities — before impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | 1.50 | % | 1.50 | % | |||
Impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities (*) | (0.02 | %) | — | % | |||
Net spread earned on fixed annuities | 1.48 | % | 1.50 | % |
(*) Change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities offset by an estimate of the related acceleration/deceleration of amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs.
Annuity Net Investment Income
Net investment income for the third quarter of 2014 was $287 million compared to $259 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $28 million (11%). This increase primarily reflects the growth in AFG’s annuity business, partially offset by the run-off of higher yielding investments. The overall yield earned on investments in AFG’s annuity operations, calculated as net investment income divided by average investment balances (at amortized cost), declined by 0.26 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013. This decline in net investment yield reflects the investment of new premium dollars at lower yields as compared to the existing investment portfolio and the impact of the reinvestment of proceeds from maturity and redemption of higher yielding investments at the lower yields available in the financial markets.
Annuity Interest Credited — Fixed
Interest credited — fixed for the third quarter of 2014 was $126 million compared to $113 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $13 million (12%). The impact of growth in the annuity business was partially offset by lower interest crediting rates on new premiums as compared to the crediting rates on policyholder funds surrendered or withdrawn. The average interest rate credited to policyholders, calculated as interest credited divided by average fixed annuity benefits accumulated, decreased 0.14 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013. During the third quarter of 2014, interest rates credited on new premiums of AFG’s principal fixed annuity products generally ranged from 1.00% to 2.00%.
58
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Excluding those annuities that have guaranteed withdrawal benefits, at September 30, 2014, AFG could reduce the average crediting rate on approximately $17 billion of traditional fixed and fixed-indexed deferred annuities by an additional 0.54% (on a weighted average basis). Annuity policies are subject to Guaranteed Minimum Interest Rates (“GMIRs”) at policy issuance. The table below shows the breakdown of annuity reserves by GMIR. The current interest crediting rates on substantially all of AFG’s annuities with a GMIR of 3% or higher are at their minimum.
% of | |||||
GMIR | Reserves | ||||
1 — 1.99% | 58% | ||||
2 — 2.99% | 10% | ||||
3 — 3.99% | 18% | ||||
4.00% and above | 14% |
Annuity Net Interest Spread
AFG’s net interest spread decreased 0.12 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to the run-off of higher yielding investments. In addition, features included in current annuity product offerings allow AFG to achieve its desired profitability at a lower net interest spread than historical product offerings. As a result of these two items, AFG expects its net interest spread to continue to narrow in the future.
Annuity Policy Charges and Other Miscellaneous Income
Annuity policy charges and other miscellaneous income, which consist primarily of surrender charges, were $11 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $10 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1 million (10%). This increase is due primarily to growth in the annuity business, as policy charges and other miscellaneous income as a percentage of average fixed annuity benefits accumulated decreased slightly in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013.
Other Annuity Benefits
Other annuity benefits, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees, for the third quarter of 2014 were $18 million compared to $17 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1 million (6%). In addition to interest credited to policyholders’ accounts and the change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities, annuity benefits expense also includes the following expenses (in millions, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees):
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Change in excess death and annuitization reserve | $ | 5 | $ | 4 | |||
Amortization of sales inducements | 7 | 8 | |||||
Change in guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve | 12 | 10 | |||||
Change in other benefit reserves | 3 | 2 | |||||
Other annuity benefits | 27 | 24 | |||||
Offset guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees | (9 | ) | (7 | ) | |||
Other annuity benefits, net | $ | 18 | $ | 17 |
Annuity Acquisition Expenses
AFG’s amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) and commission expenses as a percentage of average fixed annuity benefits accumulated was 0.69% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 0.72% for the third quarter of 2013 and has generally ranged between 0.70% and 0.80%. Variances from the general range relate primarily to the impact of (i) material changes in interest rates or the stock market on AFG’s fixed-indexed annuity business, and (ii) differences in actual experience from actuarially projected estimates and assumptions.
Annuity Other Expenses
Annuity other expenses for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013 were $23 million. Annuity other expenses represent primarily general and administrative expenses, as well as selling and issuance expenses that are not deferred. As a percentage of average fixed annuity benefits accumulated, these expenses decreased 0.07 percentage points for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013. In general, this percentage is expected to decrease as AFG’s annuity business grows and annuity other expenses remain relatively stable.
59
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Related to Fixed-Indexed Annuities
AFG’s fixed-indexed annuities, which represented approximately one-half of annuity benefits accumulated at September 30, 2014, provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market index. AFG attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase of call options on the appropriate index. AFG’s strategy is designed so that an increase in the liabilities, due to an increase in the market index, will generally be offset by unrealized and realized gains on the call options purchased by AFG. Both the index-based component of the annuities and the related call options are considered derivatives that must be marked-to-market through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. For a list of other factors impacting the fair value of the index-based component of AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated, see Note D — “Fair Value Measurements” to the financial statements. The net change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities increased annuity benefits by $2 million in the third quarter of 2014 and by $1 million in the third quarter of 2013.
Fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in the periodic measurement of fair value of the embedded derivative that management believes can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of these products. The table below illustrates the impact of fair value accounting for derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities on the Annuity segment’s earnings before income taxes:
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Earnings before income taxes — before change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | $ | 87 | $ | 78 | 12 | % | ||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 100 | % | ||||
Related impact on amortization of DPAC (*) | 1 | 1 | — | % | ||||||
Earnings before income taxes | $ | 86 | $ | 78 | 10 | % |
(*) An estimate of the related acceleration/deceleration of amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs.
Annuity Net Spread Earned on Fixed Annuities
AFG’s net spread earned on fixed annuities decreased 0.02 percentage points in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due to the 0.12 percentage points decrease in AFG’s net interest spread and the net impact of changes in the fair value of derivatives and related DPAC amortization offset discussed above. These items were partially offset by the impact of growth in AFG’s annuity business on other expenses and other annuity benefits as a percent of fixed annuity benefits accumulated discussed above. AFG expects its net spread earned on fixed annuities to be in the range of 1.35% to 1.40% for the full-year 2014 (1.50% to 1.55%, excluding the impact of fair value accounting for derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities) as compared to the 1.48% earned in the third quarter of 2014 and 1.60% earned for the full year 2013.
60
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Benefits Accumulated
Annuity premiums received and benefit payments are recorded as increases or decreases in annuity benefits accumulated rather than as revenue and expense. Increases in this liability for interest credited and other benefits are charged to expense and decreases for surrender and other policy charges are credited to other income.
For certain products, annuity benefits accumulated also includes reserves for accrued persistency and premium bonuses, excess benefits expected to be paid on future deaths and annuitizations (“EDAR”) and guaranteed withdrawal benefits. Annuity benefits accumulated also includes amounts advanced from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. The following table is a progression of AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated liability for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Beginning fixed annuity reserves | $ | 22,205 | $ | 18,564 | |||
Fixed annuity premiums (receipts) | 798 | 1,156 | |||||
Surrenders, benefits and other withdrawals | (426 | ) | (381 | ) | |||
Interest and other annuity benefit expenses: | |||||||
Interest credited | 126 | 113 | |||||
Embedded derivative mark-to-market | 21 | 33 | |||||
Change in other benefit reserves | 21 | 20 | |||||
Ending fixed annuity reserves | $ | 22,745 | $ | 19,505 | |||
Reconciliation to annuity benefits accumulated per balance sheet: | |||||||
Ending fixed annuity reserves (from above) | $ | 22,745 | $ | 19,505 | |||
Impact of unrealized investment gains | 107 | 84 | |||||
Fixed component of variable annuities | 192 | 196 | |||||
Annuity benefits accumulated per balance sheet | $ | 23,044 | $ | 19,785 |
Statutory Annuity Premiums
AFG’s annuity operations generated statutory premiums of $809 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $1.17 billion in the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $358 million (31%). The following table summarizes AFG’s annuity sales (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — indexed | $ | 333 | $ | 352 | (5 | %) | ||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — fixed | 62 | 198 | (69 | %) | ||||||
Retail single premium annuities — indexed | 339 | 509 | (33 | %) | ||||||
Retail single premium annuities — fixed | 18 | 48 | (63 | %) | ||||||
Education market — 403(b) fixed and indexed annuities | 46 | 49 | (6 | %) | ||||||
Total fixed annuity premiums | 798 | 1,156 | (31 | %) | ||||||
Variable annuities | 11 | 11 | — | % | ||||||
Total annuity premiums | $ | 809 | $ | 1,167 | (31 | %) |
Management attributes the 31% decrease in annuity premiums in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013 to AFG’s disciplined approach to product pricing in a declining interest rate environment and increased levels of competition.
61
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Earnings before Income Taxes Reconciliation
The following table reconciles the net spread earned on AFG’s fixed annuities to overall annuity pretax earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Earnings on fixed annuity benefits accumulated | $ | 83 | $ | 72 | |||
Earnings on investments in excess of fixed annuity benefits accumulated (*) | 3 | 6 | |||||
Earnings before income taxes | $ | 86 | $ | 78 |
(*) Net investment income (as a % of investments) of 5.01% and 5.27% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, multiplied by the difference between average fixed annuity investments (at amortized cost) and average fixed annuity benefits accumulated in each period.
Run-off Long-Term Care and Life Segment — Results of Operations The following table details AFG’s earnings (loss) before income taxes from its run-off long-term care and life operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||
Net earned premiums: | ||||||||||
Long-term care | $ | 18 | $ | 19 | (5 | %) | ||||
Life operations | 9 | 10 | (10 | %) | ||||||
Net investment income | 20 | 20 | — | % | ||||||
Other income | 1 | 1 | — | % | ||||||
Total revenues | 48 | 50 | (4 | %) | ||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits: | ||||||||||
Long-term care | 27 | 30 | (10 | %) | ||||||
Life operations | 10 | 12 | (17 | %) | ||||||
Acquisition expenses | 5 | 5 | — | % | ||||||
Other expenses | 5 | 7 | (29 | %) | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 47 | 54 | (13 | %) | ||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | 1 | $ | (4 | ) | (125 | %) |
Lower long-term care benefits expense in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013 reflects improved claims experience. AFG expects revenues and expenses related to the long-term care business to generally increase over time as this closed block of business ages. Due to the age and relatively small size of its long-term care business, AFG expects claims volatility from period to period. Management continues to monitor its claims experience and update its loss recognition assumptions as needed.
62
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Holding Company, Other and Unallocated — Results of Operations AFG’s net GAAP pretax loss outside of its insurance operations (excluding realized gains) totaled $36 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $61 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $25 million (41%). AFG’s net core pretax loss outside of its insurance operations totaled $30 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $39 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $9 million (23%).
The following table details AFG’s GAAP and core loss before income taxes from operations outside of its insurance operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1 | $ | 3 | (67 | %) | ||||
Other income | 10 | 9 | 11 | % | ||||||
Total revenues | 11 | 12 | (8 | %) | ||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 17 | 17 | — | % | ||||||
Other expenses (*) | 24 | 34 | (29 | %) | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 41 | 51 | (20 | %) | ||||||
Core loss before income taxes, excluding realized gains | (30 | ) | (39 | ) | (23 | %) | ||||
Pretax non-core special A&E charges | (6 | ) | (22 | ) | (73 | %) | ||||
GAAP loss before income taxes, excluding realized gains | $ | (36 | ) | $ | (61 | ) | (41 | %) |
(*) Excludes pretax non-core special A&E charges of $6 million and $22 million for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Holding Company and Other — Net Investment Income
AFG recorded investment income on investments held outside of its insurance operations of $1 million in the third quarter of 2014 and $3 million in the third quarter of 2013.
Holding Company and Other — Other Income
Other income in the table above includes $7 million and $4 million in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, in management fees paid to AFG by the AFG-managed CLOs (AFG’s consolidated managed investment entities). These fees are eliminated in consolidation — see the other income line in the Consolidate MIEs column under “Results of Operations — Segmented Statement of Earnings.” Excluding amounts eliminated in consolidation, AFG recorded other income outside of its insurance operations of $3 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $5 million in the third quarter of 2013.
Holding Company and Other — Interest Charges on Borrowed Money
AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its insurance operations recorded interest expense of $17 million in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013. AFG issued $150 million of 6-1/4% Subordinated Debentures in late September 2014. The following table details AFG’s long-term debt balances as of September 30, 2014 compared to September 30, 2013 (dollars in millions):
September 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013 | ||||||
Direct obligations of AFG: | |||||||
9-7/8% Senior Notes due June 2019 | $ | 350 | $ | 350 | |||
6-3/8% Senior Notes due June 2042 | 230 | 230 | |||||
5-3/4% Senior Notes due August 2042 | 125 | 125 | |||||
7% Senior Notes due September 2050 | 132 | 132 | |||||
6-1/4% Subordinated Debentures due September 2054 | 150 | — | |||||
Other | 3 | 3 | |||||
Total Holding Company Debt | $ | 990 | $ | 840 | |||
Weighted Average Interest Rate | 7.6 | % | 7.8 | % |
63
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Holding Company and Other — Special A&E Charges
As a result of the 2014 internal review and 2013 comprehensive external study of A&E exposures discussed under “Special Asbestos and Environmental Reserve Charges” in the “Results of Operations — Property and Casualty Insurance” segment, AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its insurance operations recorded non-core special charges of $6 million in the third quarter of 2014 and $22 million in the third quarter of 2013 to increase liabilities related to the A&E exposures of AFG’s former railroad and manufacturing operations. These charges related to slightly higher estimated operation and maintenance costs at sites where remediation is underway, coupled with higher estimated cleanup costs at a limited number of sites.
Holding Company and Other — Other Expenses
Excluding the non-core special A&E charges, AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its insurance operations recorded other expenses of $24 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $34 million in the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $10 million (29%). The $10 million decrease reflects lower holding company expenses associated with employee benefit plans that are tied to stock market performance and certain share-based incentive plans.
Consolidated Realized Gains on Securities AFG’s consolidated realized gains on securities, which are not allocated to segments, were $13 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $56 million in the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $43 million (77%). Realized gains (losses) on securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Realized gains (losses) before impairments: | |||||||
Disposals | $ | 25 | $ | 59 | |||
Change in the fair value of derivatives | — | 1 | |||||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | (1 | ) | 1 | ||||
24 | 61 | ||||||
Impairment charges: | |||||||
Securities | (14 | ) | (5 | ) | |||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | 3 | — | |||||
(11 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||
Realized gains on securities | $ | 13 | $ | 56 |
Consolidated Income Taxes AFG’s consolidated provision for income taxes was $54 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $44 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $10 million (23%). See Note L — “Income Taxes” to the financial statements for an analysis of items affecting AFG’s effective tax rate.
Consolidated Noncontrolling Interests AFG’s consolidated net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests was a net loss of $25 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to net earnings of $15 million for the third quarter of 2013. The following table details net earnings (loss) in consolidated subsidiaries attributable to holders other than AFG (dollars in millions):
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
National Interstate | $ | 4 | $ | 3 | 33 | % | ||||
Managed Investment Entities | (29 | ) | 12 | (342 | %) | |||||
Earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | $ | (25 | ) | $ | 15 | (267 | %) |
As discussed in Note A — “Accounting Policies,” and Note H — “Managed Investment Entities” to the financial statements, the earnings (losses) of Managed Investment Entities represent CLO earnings (losses) that ultimately inure to holders of the CLO debt.
64
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 AND 2013
Segmented Statement of Earnings AFG reports its business as four segments: (i) Property and casualty insurance (“P&C”), (ii) Annuity, (iii) Run-off long-term care and life and (iv) Other, which includes holding company costs and operations attributable to the noncontrolling interests of the managed investment entities (“MIEs”).
AFG’s net earnings attributable to shareholders, determined in accordance with GAAP, include certain items that may not be indicative of its ongoing core operations. The following tables for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 identify such items by segment and reconcile net earnings attributable to shareholders to core net operating earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure that AFG believes is a useful tool for investors and analysts in analyzing ongoing operating trends (in millions):
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&C | Annuity | Run-off long-term care and life | Consol. MIEs | Holding Co., other and unallocated | Total | Non-core reclass | GAAP Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance net earned premiums | $ | 2,817 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,817 | $ | — | $ | 2,817 | |||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | — | — | 82 | — | — | 82 | — | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 219 | 851 | 62 | (18 | ) | 3 | 1,117 | — | 1,117 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) of MIEs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | — | — | 84 | — | 84 | — | 84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | — | — | (35 | ) | — | (35 | ) | — | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 8 | 57 | 3 | (18 | ) | 25 | 75 | — | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 3,044 | 908 | 147 | 13 | 28 | 4,140 | 44 | 4,184 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 1,791 | — | — | — | — | 1,791 | 24 | 1,815 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 869 | — | — | — | — | 869 | — | 869 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits | — | 491 | — | — | — | 491 | — | 491 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | — | — | 119 | — | — | 119 | — | 119 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity and supplemental insurance acquisition expenses | — | 109 | 13 | — | — | 122 | — | 122 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 3 | — | — | — | 50 | 53 | — | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses of MIEs | — | — | — | 60 | — | 60 | — | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 44 | 65 | 18 | — | 86 | 213 | 6 | 219 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 2,707 | 665 | 150 | 60 | 136 | 3,718 | 30 | 3,748 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 337 | 243 | (3 | ) | (47 | ) | (108 | ) | 422 | 14 | 436 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 104 | 83 | (1 | ) | — | (36 | ) | 150 | 5 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 233 | 160 | (2 | ) | (47 | ) | (72 | ) | 272 | 9 | 281 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 2 | — | — | (47 | ) | — | (45 | ) | 1 | (44 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Core Net Operating Earnings | 231 | 160 | (2 | ) | — | (72 | ) | 317 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-core earnings attributable to shareholders (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities, net of tax | — | — | — | — | 27 | 27 | (27 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Special A&E charges, net of tax | (15 | ) | — | — | — | (4 | ) | (19 | ) | 19 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders | $ | 216 | $ | 160 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | — | $ | (49 | ) | $ | 325 | $ | — | $ | 325 |
65
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&C | Annuity | Run-off long-term care and life | Consol. MIEs | Holding Co., other and unallocated | Total | Non-core reclass | GAAP Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance net earned premiums | $ | 2,345 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,345 | $ | — | $ | 2,345 | |||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | — | — | 87 | — | — | 87 | — | 87 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 196 | 764 | 57 | (27 | ) | 6 | 996 | — | 996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities | — | — | — | — | — | — | 154 | 154 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) of MIEs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income | — | — | — | 98 | — | 98 | — | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities | — | — | — | (21 | ) | — | (21 | ) | — | (21 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 10 | 46 | 3 | (12 | ) | 24 | 71 | — | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 2,551 | 810 | 147 | 38 | 30 | 3,576 | 154 | 3,730 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and casualty insurance: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 1,449 | — | — | — | — | 1,449 | 54 | 1,503 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 772 | — | — | — | — | 772 | — | 772 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits | — | 394 | — | — | — | 394 | — | 394 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | — | — | 120 | — | — | 120 | — | 120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity and supplemental insurance acquisition expenses | — | 114 | 14 | — | — | 128 | — | 128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 3 | — | — | — | 51 | 54 | — | 54 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses of MIEs | — | — | — | 68 | — | 68 | — | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 34 | 66 | 20 | — | 101 | 221 | 27 | 248 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 2,258 | 574 | 154 | 68 | 152 | 3,206 | 81 | 3,287 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 293 | 236 | (7 | ) | (30 | ) | (122 | ) | 370 | 73 | 443 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 91 | 81 | (3 | ) | — | (40 | ) | 129 | 26 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 202 | 155 | (4 | ) | (30 | ) | (82 | ) | 241 | 47 | 288 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 2 | — | — | (30 | ) | 1 | (27 | ) | 2 | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Core Net Operating Earnings | 200 | 155 | (4 | ) | — | (83 | ) | 268 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-core earnings attributable to shareholders (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on securities, net of tax | — | — | — | — | 97 | 97 | (97 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Special A&E charges, net of tax | (35 | ) | — | — | — | (14 | ) | (49 | ) | 49 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
ELNY guaranty fund assessments, net of tax | — | (3 | ) | — | — | — | (3 | ) | 3 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders | $ | 165 | $ | 152 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 313 | $ | — | $ | 313 |
(a) | See the reconciliation of core earnings to GAAP net earnings under “Results of Operations — General” for details on the tax and noncontrolling interest impacts of these reconciling items. |
Property and Casualty Insurance Segment — Results of Operations AFG’s property and casualty insurance operations contributed $313 million in GAAP pretax earnings in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $239 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $74 million (31%). Property and casualty core pretax earnings were $337 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $293 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $44 million (15%). The increase in GAAP and core pretax earnings reflects higher underwriting profit in the Specialty casualty group and higher net investment income (due primarily to the investment of cash acquired in the Summit acquisition on April 1, 2014). The increase in GAAP pretax earnings also reflects lower non-core special A&E charges in 2014 as compared to 2013.
66
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
The following table details AFG’s GAAP and core earnings before income taxes from its property and casualty operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Gross written premiums | $ | 4,174 | $ | 3,734 | 12 | % | ||||
Reinsurance premiums ceded | (1,179 | ) | (1,214 | ) | (3 | %) | ||||
Net written premiums | 2,995 | 2,520 | 19 | % | ||||||
Change in unearned premiums | (178 | ) | (175 | ) | 2 | % | ||||
Net earned premiums | 2,817 | 2,345 | 20 | % | ||||||
Loss and loss adjustment expenses (*) | 1,791 | 1,449 | 24 | % | ||||||
Commissions and other underwriting expenses | 869 | 772 | 13 | % | ||||||
Core underwriting gain | 157 | 124 | 27 | % | ||||||
Net investment income | 219 | 196 | 12 | % | ||||||
Other income and expenses, net | (39 | ) | (27 | ) | 44 | % | ||||
Core earnings before income taxes | 337 | 293 | 15 | % | ||||||
Pretax non-core special A&E charges | (24 | ) | (54 | ) | (56 | %) | ||||
GAAP earnings before income taxes | $ | 313 | $ | 239 | 31 | % | ||||
(*) Excluding non-core special A&E charges | ||||||||||
Combined Ratios: | ||||||||||
Specialty lines | Change | |||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 63.6 | % | 61.5 | % | 2.1 | % | ||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 30.8 | % | 32.9 | % | (2.1 | %) | ||||
Combined ratio | 94.4 | % | 94.4 | % | — | % | ||||
Aggregate — including discontinued lines | ||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 64.4 | % | 64.1 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 30.8 | % | 32.9 | % | (2.1 | %) | ||||
Combined ratio | 95.2 | % | 97.0 | % | (1.8 | %) |
AFG reports the underwriting performance of its Specialty property and casualty insurance business in the following sub-segments: (i) Property and transportation, (ii) Specialty casualty and (iii) Specialty financial.
Gross Written Premiums
Gross written premiums (“GWP”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were $4.17 billion for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $3.73 billion for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $440 million (12%). Detail of AFG’s property and casualty gross written premiums is shown below (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
GWP | % | GWP | % | % Change | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 1,860 | 45 | % | $ | 1,945 | 52 | % | (4 | %) | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 1,869 | 45 | % | 1,331 | 36 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 445 | 10 | % | 458 | 12 | % | (3 | %) | ||||||||
$ | 4,174 | 100 | % | $ | 3,734 | 100 | % | 12 | % |
67
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Reinsurance Premiums Ceded
Reinsurance premiums ceded (“Ceded”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were 28% of gross written premiums for the first nine months of 2014 compared to 33% for the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of 5% percentage points. Detail of AFG’s property and casualty reinsurance premiums ceded is shown below (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change in | ||||||||||||||
Ceded | % of GWP | Ceded | % of GWP | % of GWP | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | (667 | ) | 36 | % | $ | (747 | ) | 38 | % | (2 | %) | ||||
Specialty casualty | (503 | ) | 27 | % | (428 | ) | 32 | % | (5 | %) | ||||||
Specialty financial | (88 | ) | 20 | % | (104 | ) | 23 | % | (3 | %) | ||||||
Other specialty | 79 | 65 | ||||||||||||||
$ | (1,179 | ) | 28 | % | $ | (1,214 | ) | 33 | % | (5 | %) |
Net Written Premiums
Net written premiums (“NWP”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were $3.00 billion for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $2.52 billion for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $475 million (19%). Detail of AFG’s property and casualty net written premiums is shown below (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
NWP | % | NWP | % | % Change | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 1,193 | 40 | % | $ | 1,198 | 47 | % | — | % | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 1,366 | 46 | % | 903 | 36 | % | 51 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 357 | 12 | % | 354 | 14 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||
Other specialty | 79 | 2 | % | 65 | 3 | % | 22 | % | ||||||||
$ | 2,995 | 100 | % | $ | 2,520 | 100 | % | 19 | % |
Net Earned Premiums
Net earned premiums (“NEP”) for AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment were $2.82 billion for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $2.35 billion for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $472 million (20%). Detail of AFG’s property and casualty net earned premiums is shown below (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
NEP | % | NEP | % | % Change | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 1,129 | 40 | % | $ | 1,111 | 47 | % | 2 | % | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 1,266 | 45 | % | 825 | 35 | % | 53 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 348 | 12 | % | 350 | 15 | % | (1 | %) | ||||||||
Other specialty | 74 | 3 | % | 59 | 3 | % | 25 | % | ||||||||
$ | 2,817 | 100 | % | $ | 2,345 | 100 | % | 20 | % |
The $440 million (12%) increase in gross written premiums for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflects $270 million in premiums from Summit (acquired in April 2014) as well as significant growth in other businesses within the Specialty casualty group. Excluding premiums from Summit, gross written premiums increased by 5% over the first nine months of 2013. Overall average renewal rates increased approximately 2% in the first nine months of 2014.
Property and transportation Gross written premiums decreased $85 million (4%) in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 reflecting the impact of lower 2014 commodity prices on the crop operations, partially offset by growth in the transportation businesses resulting from rate increases. Excluding the crop insurance business, gross written premiums increased by 6% for this group in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. Average renewal rates were up approximately 5% for this group in the first nine months of 2014. Reinsurance premiums ceded as a percentage of gross written premiums declined 2 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflecting lower cessions in the crop business, partially offset by higher cessions in the excess property business and certain captive programs in the transportation business, as well as a change in the mix of business.
68
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Specialty casualty Gross written premiums increased $538 million (40%) in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflecting $270 million in premiums generated by Summit, which was acquired on April 1, 2014. Excluding premiums from Summit, gross written premiums increased 20% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 as a result of increased premiums in nearly all businesses in this group, particularly in the workers’ compensation, excess and surplus lines and targeted markets operations. New business opportunities and increased exposures from higher payroll on existing accounts have contributed to increased premiums in the workers’ compensation businesses. Strong premium growth in the excess and surplus lines and targeted markets operations is the result of broadening opportunities to write business coupled with the benefit from rate increases over multiple quarters. Average renewal rates were up approximately 2% for this group in the first nine months of 2014. Reinsurance premiums ceded as a percentage of gross written premiums declined 5 percentage points for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflecting the impact of the acquisition of Summit, which cedes only about 1% of its premiums.
Specialty financial Gross written premiums decreased $13 million (3%) for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. The impact of the October 2013 sale of a service contract business, which ceded all of its premiums under reinsurance contracts, more than offset growth in gross written premiums across the remaining businesses in this group. Average renewal rates for this group decreased 1 percentage point in the first nine months of 2014. Reinsurance premiums ceded as a percentage of gross written premiums declined 3 percentage points for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflecting the sale of the service contract business, which was 100% reinsured, partially offset by higher cessions of certain business in the financial institutions operations.
Other specialty The amounts shown as reinsurance premiums ceded represent business assumed by AFG’s internal reinsurance program from the operations that make up AFG’s other Specialty sub-segments.
69
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Combined Ratio
The table below details the components of the combined ratio for AFG’s property and casualty segment for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013:
Nine months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 75.8 | % | 75.1 | % | 0.7 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 24.3 | % | 25.3 | % | (1.0 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 100.1 | % | 100.4 | % | (0.3 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting loss | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | ||||||||||
Specialty casualty | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 61.8 | % | 57.1 | % | 4.7 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 30.3 | % | 34.4 | % | (4.1 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 92.1 | % | 91.5 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 100 | $ | 70 | ||||||||||||
Specialty financial | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 33.6 | % | 33.3 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 53.1 | % | 52.5 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 86.7 | % | 85.8 | % | 0.9 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 46 | $ | 50 | ||||||||||||
Total Specialty | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 63.6 | % | 61.5 | % | 2.1 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 30.8 | % | 32.9 | % | (2.1 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 94.4 | % | 94.4 | % | — | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 158 | $ | 131 | ||||||||||||
Aggregate — including discontinued lines | ||||||||||||||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 64.4 | % | 64.1 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 30.8 | % | 32.9 | % | (2.1 | %) | ||||||||||
Combined ratio | 95.2 | % | 97.0 | % | (1.8 | %) | ||||||||||
Underwriting profit | $ | 133 | $ | 70 |
The Specialty property and casualty insurance operations generated an underwriting profit of $158 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $131 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $27 million (21%). The higher profit in the first nine months of 2014 is primarily the result of significantly higher underwriting profit in the Specialty casualty group and improved underwriting results in the Property and transportation group, including lower catastrophe losses. Overall catastrophe losses were $25 million (0.9 points on the combined ratio) during the first nine months of 2014 compared to $30 million (1.3 points), in the first nine months of 2013.
Property and transportation This group reported an underwriting loss of $1 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $5 million for the first nine months of 2013, an improvement of $4 million (80%). Higher underwriting profit in the property and inland marine operations, including lower catastrophe losses, and improved underwriting results in the transportation businesses more than offset lower underwriting profit in the agricultural operations. Catastrophe losses were $18 million (1.6 points) for this group during the first nine months of 2014 compared to $27 million (2.4 points) in the first nine months of 2013.
Specialty casualty Underwriting profit for this group was $100 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $70 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $30 million (43%). Higher underwriting profit in the workers’ compensation businesses, including the Summit business acquired on April 1, 2014, was partially offset by lower underwriting results in the general liability lines of business, primarily the result of adverse prior year reserve development, and lower favorable prior year reserve development in the executive liability business.
70
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Specialty financial Underwriting profit for this group was $46 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $50 million in the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $4 million (8%). Lower profitability in the trade credit and financial institutions businesses impacted these results.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
AFG’s overall loss and LAE ratio was 64.4% for the first nine months of 2014 compared to 64.1% for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of 0.3 percentage points. The components of AFG’s property and casualty losses and LAE amounts and ratio are detailed below:
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
Amount | Ratio | Change in | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | Ratio | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 825 | $ | 812 | 73.0 | % | 73.1 | % | (0.1 | %) | ||||||
Prior accident years development | 13 | (4 | ) | 1.2 | % | (0.4 | %) | 1.6 | % | |||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 18 | 27 | 1.6 | % | 2.4 | % | (0.8 | %) | ||||||||
Property and transportation losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 856 | $ | 835 | 75.8 | % | 75.1 | % | 0.7 | % | ||||||
Specialty casualty | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 800 | $ | 511 | 63.2 | % | 62.0 | % | 1.2 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (21 | ) | (42 | ) | (1.7 | %) | (5.0 | %) | 3.3 | % | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 3 | 1 | 0.3 | % | 0.1 | % | 0.2 | % | ||||||||
Specialty casualty losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 782 | $ | 470 | 61.8 | % | 57.1 | % | 4.7 | % | ||||||
Specialty financial | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 127 | $ | 124 | 36.6 | % | 35.6 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (13 | ) | (10 | ) | (3.9 | %) | (2.9 | %) | (1.0 | %) | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 3 | 2 | 0.9 | % | 0.6 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||||
Specialty financial losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 117 | $ | 116 | 33.6 | % | 33.3 | % | 0.3 | % | ||||||
Total Specialty | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 1,794 | $ | 1,482 | 63.7 | % | 63.3 | % | 0.4 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (29 | ) | (70 | ) | (1.0 | %) | (3.1 | %) | 2.1 | % | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 25 | 30 | 0.9 | % | 1.3 | % | (0.4 | %) | ||||||||
Total Specialty losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 1,790 | $ | 1,442 | 63.6 | % | 61.5 | % | 2.1 | % | ||||||
Aggregate — including discontinued lines | ||||||||||||||||
Current year, excluding catastrophe losses | $ | 1,794 | $ | 1,483 | 63.7 | % | 63.3 | % | 0.4 | % | ||||||
Prior accident years development | (4 | ) | (10 | ) | (0.2 | %) | (0.5 | %) | 0.3 | % | ||||||
Current year catastrophe losses | 25 | 30 | 0.9 | % | 1.3 | % | (0.4 | %) | ||||||||
Aggregate losses and LAE and ratio | $ | 1,815 | $ | 1,503 | 64.4 | % | 64.1 | % | 0.3 | % |
Current accident year losses and LAE, excluding catastrophe losses
The current accident year loss and LAE ratio for AFG’s Specialty property and casualty insurance operations was 63.7% for the first nine months of 2014 compared to 63.3% for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of 0.4%.
Specialty casualty The 1.2 percentage point increase in the loss and LAE ratio for the current year, excluding catastrophe losses reflects the inclusion of Summit following its acquisition on April 1, 2014, which has a higher loss and LAE ratio than AFG’s overall Specialty casualty group.
Net prior year reserve development
AFG’s Specialty property and casualty insurance operations recorded net favorable reserve development related to prior accident years of $29 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $70 million in the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $41 million (59%).
Property and transportation Net adverse reserve development of $13 million in the first nine months of 2014 reflects higher than expected severity in commercial auto liability losses written in the transportation businesses, partially offset by lower than expected claim frequency in the agribusiness, property and inland marine and ocean marine businesses. Net favorable reserve
71
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
development of $4 million in the first nine months of 2013 reflects lower than expected claims handling expense in the crop business and lower claim severity in the property inland marine and ocean marine businesses, substantially offset by adverse development from increased claim severity in the commercial auto liability business written by the transportation businesses.
Specialty casualty Net favorable reserve development of $21 million in the first nine months of 2014 reflects lower than expected claim severity in directors and officers liability insurance, lower than expected claim severity and frequency in excess liability insurance and lower than anticipated claim severity in specialty workers’ compensation business, partially offset by higher than expected claims severity in contractor claims and in a run-off book of casualty business. Net favorable reserve development of $42 million in the first nine months of 2013 reflects lower than expected claim severity in directors and officers liability insurance and lower than expected claim severity and frequency in excess liability business.
Specialty financial Net favorable reserve development of $13 million in the first nine months of 2014 reflects lower than expected claim severity in the surety and fidelity businesses and lower than expected claim frequency and severity in the foreign credit business and products for financial institutions. Net favorable reserve development of $10 million in the first nine months of 2013 is due to lower than expected claim frequency and severity in the foreign credit and financial institution services businesses as economic conditions did not affect these lines as adversely as had been anticipated.
Other specialty In addition to the development discussed above, total Specialty net favorable reserve development reflects amortization of the deferred gain on the retroactive insurance transaction entered into in connection with the sale of a business in 1998 and reserve development associated with AFG’s internal reinsurance program.
Special Asbestos and Environmental Reserve Charges See “Net prior year reserve development” under “Results of Operations — Property and Casualty Insurance” for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 for a discussion of the $24 million and $54 million special A&E charges recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Aggregate Aggregate net prior accident years reserve development for AFG’s property and casualty segment includes the special A&E charges mentioned above.
Catastrophe losses
AFG generally seeks to reduce its exposure to catastrophes through individual risk selection, including minimizing coastal and known fault-line exposures, and the purchase of reinsurance. The $18 million in catastrophe losses in the Property and transportation group in the first nine months of 2014 were primarily from winter storms in the month of January and multiple storms in the midwestern and central United States in the second quarter of 2014. The $27 million in catastrophe losses in the Property and transportation group in the first nine months of 2013 resulted primarily from spring storms in the southeastern United States.
Commissions and Other Underwriting Expenses
AFG’s property and casualty commissions and other underwriting expenses (“U/W Exp”) were $869 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $772 million for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $97 million (13%). AFG’s underwriting expense ratio was 30.8% for the first nine months of 2014 compared to 32.9% for the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points. Detail of AFG’s property and casualty commissions and other underwriting expenses and underwriting expense ratios is shown below (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change in | ||||||||||||||
U/W Exp | % of NEP | U/W Exp | % of NEP | % of NEP | ||||||||||||
Property and transportation | $ | 274 | 24.3 | % | $ | 281 | 25.3 | % | (1.0 | %) | ||||||
Specialty casualty | 384 | 30.3 | % | 285 | 34.4 | % | (4.1 | %) | ||||||||
Specialty financial | 185 | 53.1 | % | 184 | 52.5 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||||
Other specialty | 26 | 34.8 | % | 22 | 37.3 | % | (2.5 | %) | ||||||||
$ | 869 | 30.8 | % | $ | 772 | 32.9 | % | (2.1 | %) |
The $97 million increase in commissions and other underwriting expenses reflects the acquisition of Summit on April 1, 2014. The overall decrease of 2.1% in AFG’s expense ratio for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflects the inclusion of Summit following its acquisition on April 1, 2014, which has a lower expense ratio than AFG’s overall property and casualty operations.
72
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Property and transportation Commissions and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 1.0 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflecting lower profitability based commissions paid to agents and brokers, an increase in ceding commissions received from reinsurers and a change in mix of business.
Specialty casualty Commissions and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 4.1 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 due primarily to the inclusion of Summit following its acquisition on April 1, 2014, which has a lower expense ratio than AFG’s overall Specialty casualty group, and the impact of higher premiums across the Specialty casualty group on the ratio.
Specialty financial Commissions and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of net earned premiums increased 0.6 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013, due primarily to the impact of lower premiums on the ratio.
Property and Casualty Net Investment Income
Net investment income in AFG’s property and casualty operations was $219 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $196 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $23 million (12%). Net investment income in AFG’s property and casualty operations includes $7 million in the first nine months of 2014, from recording equity in the earnings of limited partnerships and similar investments. Equity in the earnings of these investments has not been material and was included in realized gains (losses) on securities prior to 2014. In recent years, yields available in the financial markets on fixed maturity securities have generally declined, placing downward pressure on AFG’s investment portfolio yield. The average invested assets and overall yield earned on investments held by AFG’s property and casualty operations are provided below (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 219 | $ | 196 | $ | 23 | 12 | % | ||||||
Average invested assets (at amortized cost) | $ | 7,651 | $ | 6,876 | $ | 775 | 11 | % | ||||||
Yield (net investment income as a % of average invested assets) | 3.82 | % | 3.80 | % | 0.02 | % | ||||||||
Tax equivalent yield (*) | 4.41 | % | 4.39 | % | 0.02 | % |
(*) Adjusts the yield on equity securities and tax-exempt bonds to the fully taxable equivalent yield.
The increase in average invested assets and net investment income in the property and casualty segment for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 is due primarily to the investment of cash acquired in the Summit acquisition on April 1, 2014. The property and casualty segment’s overall yield on investments (net investment income as a percentage of average invested assets) was 3.82% for the first nine months of 2014 compared to 3.80% for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of 0.02 percentage points. The impact of equity in the earnings of limited partnerships and similar investments and strong investment results in the first nine months of 2014 was partially offset by the impact of lower yields available in the financial markets.
73
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Property and Casualty Other Income and Expense, Net
Other income and expenses, net for AFG’s property and casualty operations was a net expense of $39 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $27 million for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $12 million (44%). The table below details the items included in other income and expenses, net for AFG’s property and casualty operations (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Other income | |||||||
Income from the sale of real estate | $ | 2 | $ | 4 | |||
Other | 6 | 6 | |||||
Total other income | 8 | 10 | |||||
Other expenses | |||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 14 | 10 | |||||
Tender offer expenses | 3 | — | |||||
Other | 27 | 24 | |||||
Total other expense | 44 | 34 | |||||
Interest expense | 3 | 3 | |||||
Other income and expenses, net | $ | (39 | ) | $ | (27 | ) |
Amortization of intangibles includes $3 million in the first nine months of 2014 related to the Summit acquisition.
AFG and its consolidated subsidiaries incurred $3 million in transaction expenses related to the February 2014 tender offer by Great American Insurance Company (“GAI”) to acquire all of the National Interstate Corporation common stock that GAI did not already own. These expenses consisted primarily of financial advisory and legal services. The tender offer was terminated in March 2014.
Interest expense for AFG’s property and casualty operations includes interest charges on long-term debt within the property and casualty operations, primarily notes secured by real estate.
74
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Segment — Results of Operations
AFG’s annuity operations contributed $243 million in GAAP pretax earnings in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $231 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $12 million (5%). AFG’s annuity operations contributed $243 million in core pretax earnings in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $236 million in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $7 million (3%). While AFG’s average annuity investments (at amortized cost) were 18% higher for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the first nine months of 2013, the benefit of this growth was partially offset by the run-off of higher yielding investments and the impact that fluctuations in interest rates in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013 had on the fair value accounting for fixed-indexed annuities.
The following table details AFG’s GAAP and core earnings before income taxes from its annuity operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions).
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 851 | $ | 764 | 11 | % | ||||
Other income: | ||||||||||
Guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees | 25 | 18 | 39 | % | ||||||
Policy charges and other miscellaneous income | 32 | 28 | 14 | % | ||||||
Total revenues | 908 | 810 | 12 | % | ||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||
Annuity benefits (a) | 491 | 394 | 25 | % | ||||||
Acquisition expenses | 109 | 114 | (4 | %) | ||||||
Other expenses (b) | 65 | 66 | (2 | %) | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 665 | 574 | 16 | % | ||||||
Core earnings before income taxes | 243 | 236 | 3 | % | ||||||
Pretax non-core ELNY guaranty fund assessments | — | (5 | ) | (100 | %) | |||||
GAAP earnings before income taxes | $ | 243 | $ | 231 | 5 | % |
(a) Annuity benefits consisted of the following (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Interest credited — fixed | $ | 370 | $ | 333 | 11 | % | ||||
Interest credited — fixed component of variable annuities | 5 | 5 | — | % | ||||||
Change in expected death and annuitization reserve | 14 | 14 | — | % | ||||||
Amortization of sales inducements | 20 | 23 | (13 | %) | ||||||
Change in guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve | 30 | 28 | 7 | % | ||||||
Change in other benefit reserves | 11 | 6 | 83 | % | ||||||
Subtotal before impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | 450 | 409 | 10 | % | ||||||
Derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities: | ||||||||||
Embedded derivative mark-to-market | 153 | 110 | 39 | % | ||||||
Equity option mark-to-market | (112 | ) | (125 | ) | (10 | %) | ||||
Impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | 41 | (15 | ) | (373 | %) | |||||
Total annuity benefits | $ | 491 | $ | 394 | 25 | % |
(b) Other expenses exclude the $5 million pretax non-core charge for ELNY guaranty fund assessments in 2013.
75
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Net Spread on Fixed Annuities (excludes variable annuity earnings)
The table below (dollars in millions) details the components of these spreads for AFG’s fixed annuity operations (including fixed-indexed annuities):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Average fixed annuity investments (at amortized cost) | $ | 22,077 | $ | 18,693 | 18 | % | ||||
Average fixed annuity benefits accumulated | 21,790 | 18,231 | 20 | % | ||||||
As % of fixed annuity benefits accumulated (except as noted): | ||||||||||
Net investment income (as % of fixed annuity investments) | 5.09 | % | 5.40 | % | ||||||
Interest credited — fixed | (2.26 | %) | (2.43 | %) | ||||||
Net interest spread | 2.83 | % | 2.97 | % | ||||||
Policy charges and other miscellaneous income | 0.13 | % | 0.14 | % | ||||||
Other annuity benefit expenses, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees | (0.30 | %) | (0.39 | %) | ||||||
Acquisition expenses | (0.63 | %) | (0.80 | %) | ||||||
Other expenses (*) | (0.37 | %) | (0.45 | %) | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | (0.25 | %) | 0.11 | % | ||||||
Net spread earned on fixed annuities | 1.41 | % | 1.58 | % |
(*) | Excludes the $5 million pretax non-core charge for ELNY guaranty fund assessments. Including this charge, the net spread earned on fixed annuities was 1.54% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. |
The table below illustrates the impact of fair value accounting for derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities on the Annuity segment’s net spread earned on fixed annuities:
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Net spread earned on fixed annuities — before impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | 1.57 | % | 1.51 | % | |||
Impact of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities (*) | (0.16 | %) | 0.07 | % | |||
Net spread earned on fixed annuities | 1.41 | % | 1.58 | % |
(*) | Change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities offset by an estimate of the related acceleration/deceleration of amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs. |
Annuity Net Investment Income
Net investment income for the first nine months of 2014 was $851 million compared to $764 million for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $87 million (11%). This increase primarily reflects the growth in AFG’s annuity business, partially offset by the run-off of higher yielding investments. The overall yield earned on investments in AFG’s annuity operations, calculated as net investment income divided by average investment balances (at amortized cost), declined by 0.31 percentage points for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. This decline in net investment yield reflects the investment of new premium dollars at lower yields as compared to the existing investment portfolio and the impact of the reinvestment of proceeds from maturity and redemption of higher yielding investments at the lower yields available in the financial markets.
Annuity Interest Credited — Fixed
Interest credited — fixed for the first nine months of 2014 was $370 million compared to $333 million for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $37 million (11%). The impact of growth in the annuity business was partially offset by lower interest crediting rates on new premiums as compared to the crediting rates on policyholder funds surrendered or withdrawn. The average interest rate credited to policyholders, calculated as interest credited divided by average fixed annuity benefits accumulated, decreased 0.17 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period of 2013. During the first nine months of 2014, interest rates credited on new premiums generally ranged from 1.00% to 2.00%.
76
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Net Interest Spread
AFG’s net interest spread decreased 0.14 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to the run-off of higher yielding investments.
Annuity Policy Charges and Other Miscellaneous Income
Annuity policy charges and other miscellaneous income, which consist primarily of surrender charges, were $32 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $28 million for the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $4 million (14%) reflecting growth in the business.
Other Annuity Benefits
Other annuity benefits, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees, for the first nine months of 2014 were $50 million compared to $53 million for the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $3 million (6%). In addition to interest credited to policyholders’ accounts and the change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed indexed annuities, annuity benefits expense also includes the following expenses (in millions, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Change in excess death and annuitization reserve | $ | 14 | $ | 14 | |||
Amortization of sales inducements | 20 | 23 | |||||
Change in guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve | 30 | 28 | |||||
Change in other benefit reserves | 11 | 6 | |||||
Other annuity benefits | 75 | 71 | |||||
Offset guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees | (25 | ) | (18 | ) | |||
Other annuity benefits, net | $ | 50 | $ | 53 |
The $3 million decrease in other annuity benefits, net of guaranteed withdrawal benefit fees, for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 reflects primarily increased fees from products with guaranteed withdrawal benefit features.
Annuity Acquisition Expenses
AFG’s amortization of DPAC and commission expenses as a percentage of average fixed annuity benefits accumulated was 0.63% for the first nine months of 2014 compared to 0.80% for the first nine months of 2013 and has generally ranged between 0.70% and 0.80%. Variances from the general range relate primarily to the impact of (i) material changes in interest rates or the stock market on AFG’s fixed-indexed annuity business, and (ii) differences in actual experience from actuarially projected estimates and assumptions. For example, the negative impact of lower interest rates during the first nine months of 2014 on the fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities (discussed below) resulted in a partially offsetting deceleration in the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs; conversely, higher interest rates during the first nine months of 2013 had a positive impact on the fair value of the derivatives, resulting in a partially offsetting acceleration in the amortization of DPAC.
Annuity Other Expenses
Annuity other expenses for the first nine months of 2014 were $65 million, compared to $66 million, excluding the non-core ELNY guaranty fund assessments charge, for the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $1 million (2%). Annuity other expenses represent primarily general and administrative expenses, as well as selling and issuance expenses that are not deferred. As a percentage of average fixed annuity benefits accumulated, these expenses declined 0.08 percentage points for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the first nine months of 2013. In general, this percentage is expected to decrease as AFG’s annuity business grows and annuity other expenses remain relatively stable.
Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Related to Fixed-Indexed Annuities
AFG’s fixed-indexed annuities, which represented approximately one-half of annuity benefits accumulated at September 30, 2014, provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market index. AFG attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase of call options on the appropriate index. AFG’s strategy is designed so that an increase in the liabilities, due to an increase in the market index, will generally be offset by unrealized and realized gains on the call options purchased by AFG. Both the index-based component of the annuities and the related call options are considered derivatives that must be marked-to-market through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. For a list of other factors impacting the fair value of the index-based component of AFG’s annuity benefits
77
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
accumulated, see Note D — “Fair Value Measurements” to the financial statements. The net change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities increased annuity benefits by $41 million in the first nine months of 2014, reflecting the negative impact of lower interest rates on the derivatives. Conversely, the net change in fair value of the derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities reduced annuity benefits by $15 million in the first nine months of 2013, reflecting the positive impact of higher interest rates.
Fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in the periodic measurement of fair value of the embedded derivative that management believes can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of these products. The table below illustrates the impact of fair value accounting for derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities on the Annuity segment’s earnings before income taxes:
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Core earnings before income taxes — before change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | $ | 269 | $ | 227 | 19 | % | ||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities | (41 | ) | 15 | (373 | %) | |||||
Related impact on amortization of DPAC (*) | 15 | (6 | ) | (350 | %) | |||||
Core earnings before income taxes | 243 | 236 | 3 | % | ||||||
Pretax non-core ELNY guaranty fund assessments | — | (5 | ) | (100 | %) | |||||
GAAP earnings before income taxes | $ | 243 | $ | 231 | 5 | % |
(*) | An estimate of the related acceleration/deceleration of amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs. |
Annuity Net Spread Earned on Fixed Annuities
AFG’s net spread earned on fixed annuities decreased 0.17 percentage points in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due to the 0.14 percentage points decrease in AFG’s net interest spread and the net impact of changes in the fair value of derivatives and related DPAC amortization offset discussed above. These items were partially offset by the impact of growth in AFG’s annuity business on other expenses and other annuity benefits as a percent of fixed annuity benefits accumulated discussed above. AFG expects its net spread earned on fixed annuities to be in the range of 1.35% to 1.40% for the full-year 2014 (1.50% to 1.55%, excluding the impact of fair value accounting for derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuities) as compared to the 1.60% earned for the full-year 2013.
78
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Benefits Accumulated
Annuity premiums received and benefit payments are recorded as increases or decreases in annuity benefits accumulated rather than as revenue and expense. Increases in this liability for interest credited and other benefits are charged to expense and decreases for surrender and other policy charges are credited to other income.
For certain products, annuity benefits accumulated also includes reserves for accrued persistency and premium bonuses, excess benefits expected to be paid on future deaths and annuitizations (“EDAR”) and guaranteed withdrawal benefits. Annuity benefits accumulated also includes amounts advanced from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. The following table is a progression of AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Beginning fixed annuity reserves | $ | 20,679 | $ | 17,274 | |||
Fixed annuity premiums (receipts) | 2,689 | 2,613 | |||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | — | 200 | |||||
Surrenders, benefits and other withdrawals | (1,209 | ) | (1,085 | ) | |||
Interest and other annuity benefit expenses: | |||||||
Interest credited | 370 | 333 | |||||
Embedded derivative mark-to-market | 153 | 110 | |||||
Change in other benefit reserves | 63 | 60 | |||||
Ending fixed annuity reserves | $ | 22,745 | $ | 19,505 | |||
Reconciliation to annuity benefits accumulated per balance sheet: | |||||||
Ending fixed annuity reserves (from above) | $ | 22,745 | $ | 19,505 | |||
Impact of unrealized investment gains | 107 | 84 | |||||
Fixed component of variable annuities | 192 | 196 | |||||
Annuity benefits accumulated per balance sheet | $ | 23,044 | $ | 19,785 |
Statutory Annuity Premiums
AFG’s annuity operations generated statutory premiums of $2.73 billion in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $2.65 billion in the first nine months of 2013, an increase of $73 million (3%). The following table summarizes AFG’s annuity sales (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — indexed | $ | 1,063 | $ | 604 | 76 | % | ||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — fixed | 271 | 427 | (37 | %) | ||||||
Retail single premium annuities — indexed | 1,128 | 1,314 | (14 | %) | ||||||
Retail single premium annuities — fixed | 82 | 112 | (27 | %) | ||||||
Education market — 403(b) fixed and indexed annuities | 145 | 156 | (7 | %) | ||||||
Total fixed annuity premiums | 2,689 | 2,613 | 3 | % | ||||||
Variable annuities | 36 | 39 | (8 | %) | ||||||
Total annuity premiums | $ | 2,725 | $ | 2,652 | 3 | % |
The 3% increase in annuity premiums in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 was largely the result of growth in the sales of fixed-indexed annuities in the financial institutions market during the first six months of 2014 resulting from new products, expanded distribution and improved market penetration within existing distribution channels. However, AFG experienced a decline in premiums in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to recent quarters, which management attributes to AFG’s disciplined approach to product pricing in a declining interest rate environment and increased competition.
79
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Annuity Earnings before Income Taxes Reconciliation
The following table reconciles the GAAP and core net spread earned on AFG’s fixed annuities to overall annuity pretax earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Earnings on fixed annuity benefits accumulated (a) | $ | 231 | $ | 216 | |||
Earnings on investments in excess of fixed annuity benefits accumulated (b) | 11 | 18 | |||||
Variable annuity earnings | 1 | 2 | |||||
Core earnings before income taxes | 243 | 236 | |||||
Pretax non-core ELNY guaranty fund assessments | — | (5 | ) | ||||
GAAP earnings before income taxes | $ | 243 | $ | 231 |
(a) Excludes the $5 million pretax non-core charge for ELNY guarantee fund assessments in 2013.
(b) Net investment income (as a % of investments) of 5.09% and 5.40% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, multiplied by the difference between average fixed annuity investments (at amortized cost) and average fixed annuity benefits accumulated in each period.
Run-off Long-Term Care and Life Segment — Results of Operations The following table details AFG’s loss before income taxes from its run-off long-term care and life operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||
Net earned premiums: | ||||||||||
Long-term care | $ | 56 | $ | 58 | (3 | %) | ||||
Life operations | 26 | 29 | (10 | %) | ||||||
Net investment income | 62 | 57 | 9 | % | ||||||
Other income | 3 | 3 | — | % | ||||||
Total revenues | 147 | 147 | — | % | ||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits: | ||||||||||
Long-term care | 84 | 85 | (1 | %) | ||||||
Life operations | 35 | 35 | — | % | ||||||
Acquisition expenses | 13 | 14 | (7 | %) | ||||||
Other expenses | 18 | 20 | (10 | %) | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 150 | 154 | (3 | %) | ||||||
Loss before income taxes | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (7 | ) | (57 | %) |
AFG expects revenues and expenses related to the long-term care business to generally increase over time as this closed block of business ages. Due to the age and relatively small size of its long-term care business, AFG expects claims volatility from period to period. Management continues to monitor its claims experience and update its loss recognition assumptions as needed.
80
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Holding Company, Other and Unallocated — Results of Operations AFG’s net GAAP pretax loss outside of its insurance operations (excluding realized gains) totaled $114 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $144 million for the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $30 million (21%). AFG’s net core pretax loss outside of its insurance operations (excluding realized gains) totaled $108 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $122 million for the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $14 million (11%).
The following table details AFG’s GAAP and core loss before income taxes from operations outside of its insurance operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 3 | $ | 6 | (50 | %) | ||||
Other income | 25 | 24 | 4 | % | ||||||
Total revenues | 28 | 30 | (7 | %) | ||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||
Interest charges on borrowed money | 50 | 51 | (2 | %) | ||||||
Other expenses (*) | 86 | 101 | (15 | %) | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 136 | 152 | (11 | %) | ||||||
Core loss before income taxes, excluding realized gains | (108 | ) | (122 | ) | (11 | %) | ||||
Pretax non-core special A&E charges | (6 | ) | (22 | ) | (73 | %) | ||||
GAAP loss before income taxes, excluding realized gains | $ | (114 | ) | $ | (144 | ) | (21 | %) |
(*) Excludes pretax non-core special A&E charges of $6 million and $22 million for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively. See “Results of Operations — Holding Company, Other and Unallocated” for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 for a discussion of these non-core charges.
Holding Company and Other — Net Investment Income
AFG recorded investment income on investments held outside of its insurance operations of $3 million in the first nine months of 2014 and $6 million in the first nine months of 2013.
Holding Company and Other — Other Income
Other income in the table above includes $18 million in the first nine months of 2014 and $12 million in the first nine months of 2013 of management fees paid to AFG by the AFG-managed CLOs (AFG’s consolidated managed investment entities). These fees are eliminated in consolidation — see the other income line in the Consolidate MIEs column under “Results of Operations — Segmented Statement of Earnings.” Excluding amounts eliminated in consolidation, AFG recorded other income outside of its insurance operations of $7 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $12 million in the first nine months of 2013. Other income for the first nine months of 2014 includes $1 million of income from the sale of real estate and other assets compared to $4 million in the first nine months of 2013.
Holding Company and Other — Interest Charges on Borrowed Money
AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its insurance operations recorded interest expense of $50 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $51 million in the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $1 million (2%).
Holding Company and Other — Special A&E Charges
See “Holding Company and Other — Special A&E Charges” under “Results of Operations — Holding Company, Other and Unallocated” for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 for a discussion of the $6 million and $22 million in non-core special A&E charges recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Holding Company and Other — Other Expenses
Excluding the non-core special A&E charges, AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its insurance operations recorded other expenses of $86 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $101 million in the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $15 million (15%). The decrease reflects lower holding company expenses associated with employee benefit plans that are tied to stock market performance and certain share-based incentive plans.
81
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Continued
Consolidated Realized Gains on Securities AFG’s consolidated realized gains on securities, which are not allocated to segments, were $44 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $154 million in the first nine months of 2013, a decrease of $110 million (71%). Realized gains (losses) on securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Realized gains (losses) before impairments: | |||||||
Disposals | $ | 55 | $ | 158 | |||
Change in the fair value of derivatives | 3 | 2 | |||||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | (1 | ) | — | ||||
57 | 160 | ||||||
Impairment charges: | |||||||
Securities | (16 | ) | (6 | ) | |||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | 3 | — | |||||
(13 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||
Realized gains on securities | $ | 44 | $ | 154 |
Realized gains on disposals include gains on sales of Verisk Analytics, Inc. of $49 million in the first nine months of 2013.
Consolidated Income Taxes AFG’s consolidated provision for income taxes was $155 million for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013. See Note L — “Income Taxes” to the financial statements for an analysis of items affecting AFG’s effective tax rate.
Consolidated Noncontrolling Interests AFG’s consolidated net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests was $44 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $25 million for the first nine months of 2013. The following table details net earnings (loss) in consolidated subsidiaries attributable to holders other than AFG (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||
National Interstate | $ | 3 | $ | 4 | (25 | %) | ||||
Managed Investment Entities | (47 | ) | (30 | ) | 57 | % | ||||
Other | — | 1 | (100 | %) | ||||||
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | $ | (44 | ) | $ | (25 | ) | 76 | % |
As discussed in Note A — “Accounting Policies,” and Note H — “Managed Investment Entities” to the financial statements, the losses of Managed Investment Entities represent CLO losses that ultimately inure to holders of the CLO debt.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See Note A — “Accounting Policies — Managed Investment Entities” to the financial statements for a discussion of a recent accounting standard update that will impact AFG’s accounting for its managed CLOs.
82
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
ITEM 3
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk
As of September 30, 2014, there were no material changes to the information provided in Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk of AFG’s 2013 Form 10-K.
ITEM 4
Controls and Procedures
AFG’s management, with participation of its Co-Chief Executive Officers and its Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated AFG’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, AFG’s Co-CEOs and CFO concluded that the controls and procedures are effective. There have been no changes in AFG’s internal control over financial reporting during the third fiscal quarter of 2014 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, AFG’s internal control over financial reporting. AFG acquired Summit Holding Southeast, Inc. and its related companies effective April 1, 2014. These companies have been excluded from management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting.
In the ordinary course of business, AFG and its subsidiaries routinely enhance their information systems by either upgrading current systems or implementing new systems. There has been no change in AFG’s business processes and procedures during the third fiscal quarter of 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, AFG’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 2
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities AFG repurchased shares of its Common Stock during the first nine months of 2014 as follows:
Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (a) | |||||||||
First Quarter | 419,938 | $ | 56.68 | 419,938 | 5,694,763 | |||||||
Second Quarter | 345,136 | $ | 57.95 | 345,136 | 5,349,627 | |||||||
July | 424,102 | $ | 57.45 | 424,102 | 4,925,525 | |||||||
August | 688,126 | $ | 56.72 | 688,126 | 4,237,399 | |||||||
September | 331,705 | $ | 58.62 | 331,705 | 3,905,694 | |||||||
Total | 2,209,007 | $ | 57.33 | 2,209,007 |
(a) | Represents the remaining shares that may be repurchased under the Plans authorized by AFG’s Board of Directors in August 2012 and February 2013. |
In addition, AFG acquired 23,790 shares of its Common Stock (at an average of $56.15 per share) in the first quarter of 2014 in connection with its stock incentive plans.
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AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 10-Q
ITEM 6
Exhibits
Number | Exhibit Description | |
12 | Computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges. | |
31(a) | Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31(b) | Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31(c) | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32 | Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
101 | The following financial information from American Financial Group’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, formatted in XBRL(Extensible Business Reporting Language): | |
(i) Consolidated Balance Sheet | ||
(ii) Consolidated Statement of Earnings | ||
(iii) Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | ||
(iv) Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity | ||
(v) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows | ||
(vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
American Financial Group, Inc. | |||
November 6, 2014 | By: | /s/ Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino | |
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino | |||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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