Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

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, 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 corporate and municipal fixed maturity securities, asset-backed securities (“ABS”), mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), certain non-affiliated common stocks 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 at the valuation date. Financial instruments 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 are classified as Level 3. The contingent consideration liability (included in other liabilities in AFG’s Balance Sheet) relates to AFG’s acquisition of Verikai as discussed in Note C — “Acquisitions and Sale of Businesses.” The liability is remeasured at fair value at each balance sheet date with changes in fair value recognized in net earnings. To estimate the fair value of the contingent consideration liability, AFG uses a weighted probability-based income approach which includes significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3.

As discussed in Note A — “Accounting Policies — Managed Investment Entities,” AFG has set the carrying value of its 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 separately measured fair values. As a result, the CLO liabilities are categorized within the fair value hierarchy on the same basis (proportionally) as the related CLO assets. Since the portion of the CLO liabilities allocated to Level 3 is derived from the fair value of the CLO assets, these amounts are excluded from the progression of Level 3 financial instruments.

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 investment professionals 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 services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the service to value specific securities.

Assets and liabilities of continuing operations measured and carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):


	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
December 31, 2021
Assets:
Available for sale (“AFS”) fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies	$	215	$	1	$	—	$	216
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		1,791		41		1,832
Foreign government	—		246		—		246
Residential MBS	—		946		14		960
Commercial MBS	—		104		—		104
Collateralized loan obligations	—		1,643		—		1,643
Other asset-backed securities	—		2,398		278		2,676
Corporate and other	11		2,402		267		2,680
Total AFS fixed maturities	226		9,531		600		10,357
Trading fixed maturities	—		28		—		28
Equity securities	679		50		313		1,042
Assets of managed investment entities (“MIE”)	390		4,893		13		5,296
Total assets accounted for at fair value	$	1,295	$	14,502	$	926	$	16,723
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration - acquisitions	$	—	$	—	$	23	$	23
Liabilities of managed investment entities	384		4,823		13		5,220
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value	$	384	$	4,823	$	36	$	5,243

December 31, 2020
Assets:
Available for sale fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies	$	195	$	3	$	—	$	198
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		2,273		39		2,312
Foreign government	—		176		—		176
Residential MBS	—		877		38		915
Commercial MBS	—		90		2		92
Collateralized loan obligations	—		1,046		16		1,062
Other asset-backed securities	—		1,742		305		2,047
Corporate and other	4		2,140		138		2,282
Total AFS fixed maturities	199		8,347		538		9,084
Trading fixed maturities	—		24		—		24
Equity securities	665		48		176		889
Assets of managed investment entities	217		4,733		21		4,971
Total assets accounted for at fair value	$	1,081	$	13,152	$	735	$	14,968
Liabilities:
Liabilities of managed investment entities	$	215	$	4,678	$	21	$	4,914
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value	$	215	$	4,678	$	21	$	4,914

Approximately 6% of the total assets of continuing operations carried at fair value at December 31, 2021, were Level 3 assets. Approximately 15% ($142 million) of those 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. Approximately $55 million (6%) of the Level 3 assets were priced by pricing services where either a single price was not corroborated, prices varied enough among the providers, or other market factors led management to determine these securities be classified as Level 3 assets. Approximately 18% ($166 million) of the Level 3 assets were equity investments (that do not qualify for equity method accounting) in limited partnerships whose prices were determined based on financial information provided by the limited partnerships.

Internally developed fixed maturities are priced using a variety of inputs, including appropriate credit spreads over the treasury yield (of a similar duration), trade information and prices of comparable securities and other security specific features (such as optional early redemption). Internally developed Level 3 asset fair values of continuing operations represent approximately $557 million (60%) of the total fair value of Level 3 assets at December 31, 2021. Approximately 55% ($307 million) of these internally developed Level 3 assets are priced using a pricing model that uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value of fixed maturity securities. The credit spread applied by management is the significant unobservable input of the pricing model. In instances where the pricing model suggests a price in excess of 100% and the security is currently callable at 100%, management caps the fair value at 100%. Approximately 26% ($144 million) of these internally developed Level 3 assets are equity securities which are priced primarily using broker quotes and internal models with some inputs that are not market observable. Management believes that any justifiable changes in unobservable inputs used to determine internally developed fair values would not have resulted in a material change in AFG’s financial position.

Changes in balances of Level 3 financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value during 2021, 2020 and 2019 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 December 31, 2020		Net earnings (loss)		OCI		Purchases and issuances		Sales and settlements		Transfer into Level 3		Transfer out of Level 3		Sale of annuity business		Balance at December 31, 2021
AFS fixed maturities:
U.S. government agency	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
State and municipal	39		—		—		—		(4)		8		(2)		—		41
Residential MBS	38		(4)		—		6		(3)		6		(29)		—		14
Commercial MBS	2		—		—		—		—		—		(2)		—		—
Collateralized loan obligations	16		1		—		—		(2)		—		(15)		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	305		1		—		154		(156)		14		(40)		—		278
Corporate and other	138		(1)		(5)		184		(45)		5		(9)		—		267
Total AFS fixed maturities	538		(3)		(5)		344		(210)		33		(97)		—		600
Equity securities	176		99		—		78		(28)		—		(12)		—		313
Assets of MIE	21		—		—		5		—		1		(14)		—		13
Assets of discontinued annuity operations	2,971		85		(22)		209		(327)		32		(229)		(2,719)		—
Total Level 3 assets	$	3,706	$	181	$	(27)	$	636	$	(565)	$	66	$	(352)	$	(2,719)	$	926

Contingent consideration — acquisitions	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(23)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(23)
Liabilities of discontinued annuity operations	(3,933)		(223)		—		(146)		159		—		—		4,143		—
Total Level 3 liabilities	$	(3,933)	$	(223)	$	—	$	(169)	$	159	$	—	$	—	$	4,143	$	(23)


			Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in
	Balance at December 31, 2019		Net earnings (loss)		OCI		Purchases and issuances		Sales and settlements		Transfer into Level 3		Transfer out of Level 3		Balance at December 31, 2020
AFS fixed maturities:
U.S. government agency	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
State and municipal	40		—		1		—		(2)		—		—		39
Residential MBS	45		(1)		(1)		—		(6)		9		(8)		38
Commercial MBS	6		—		—		—		—		1		(5)		2
Collateralized loan obligations	1		—		5		—		—		52		(42)		16
Other asset-backed securities	256		(7)		5		106		(89)		42		(8)		305
Corporate and other	223		1		—		68		(60)		4		(98)		138
Total AFS fixed maturities	571		(7)		10		174		(157)		108		(161)		538
Equity securities	161		(12)		—		37		(7)		9		(12)		176
Assets of MIE	17		(6)		—		2		—		8		—		21
Assets of discontinued annuity operations	3,092		(17)		59		568		(442)		495		(784)		2,971
Total Level 3 assets	$	3,841	$	(42)	$	69	$	781	$	(606)	$	620	$	(957)	$	3,706

Liabilities of discontinued annuity operations	$	(3,730)	$	(283)	$	—	$	(242)	$	322	$	—	$	—	$	(3,933)
Total Level 3 liabilities	$	(3,730)	$	(283)	$	—	$	(242)	$	322	$	—	$	—	$	(3,933)


			Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in
	Balance at December 31, 2018		Net earnings (loss)		OCI		Purchases and issuances		Sales and settlements		Transfer into Level 3		Transfer out of Level 3		Balance at December 31, 2019
AFS fixed maturities:
U.S. government agency	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(1)	$	—	$	—	$	—
State and municipal	—		—		(1)		—		—		45		(4)		40
Residential MBS	37		3		(1)		—		(3)		12		(3)		45
Commercial MBS	8		1		—		—		—		—		(3)		6
Collateralized loan obligations	31		(1)		2		—		—		3		(34)		1
Other asset-backed securities	188		—		—		157		(43)		—		(46)		256
Corporate and other	277		(2)		3		166		(84)		1		(138)		223
Total AFS fixed maturities	542		1		3		323		(131)		61		(228)		571
Equity securities	124		(6)		—		19		(1)		25		—		161
Assets of MIE	21		(5)		—		1		—		—		—		17
Assets of discontinued annuity operations	2,834		—		72		1,235		(433)		158		(774)		3,092
Total Level 3 assets	$	3,521	$	(10)	$	75	$	1,578	$	(565)	$	244	$	(1,002)	$	3,841

Liabilities of discontinued annuity operations	$	(2,720)	$	(919)	$	—	$	(333)	$	242	$	—	$	—	$	(3,730)
Total Level 3 liabilities	$	(2,720)	$	(919)	$	—	$	(333)	$	242	$	—	$	—	$	(3,730)

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 at December 31 are summarized below (in millions):


	Carrying		Fair Value
	Value		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
2021
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,131	$	2,131	$	2,131	$	—	$	—
Mortgage loans	520		533		—		—		533
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value	$	2,651	$	2,664	$	2,131	$	—	$	533

Long-term debt	$	1,964	$	2,261	$	—	$	2,258	$	3
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value	$	1,964	$	2,261	$	—	$	2,258	$	3

2020
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,665	$	1,665	$	1,665	$	—	$	—
Mortgage loans	377		382		—		—		382
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value	$	2,042	$	2,047	$	1,665	$	—	$	382

Long-term debt	$	1,963	$	2,325	$	—	$	2,322	$	3
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value	$	1,963	$	2,325	$	—	$	2,322	$	3

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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