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Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments Investments
Available for sale fixed maturities held by AFG’s continuing operations at December 31 consisted of the following (in millions):
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit LossesGross UnrealizedNet
Unrealized
Fair
Value
GainsLosses
December 31, 2021
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies$216 $— $$(2)$— $216 
States municipalities and political subdivisions1,758 — 74 — 74 1,832 
Foreign government248 — — (2)(2)246 
Residential MBS915 — 48 (3)45 960 
Commercial MBS102 — — 104 
Collateralized loan obligations1,643 (2)1,643 
Other asset-backed securities2,677 17 (11)2,676 
Corporate and other2,634 55 (8)47 2,680 
Total fixed maturities$10,193 $$201 $(28)$173 $10,357 
December 31, 2020
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies$192 $— $$— $$198 
States municipalities and political subdivisions2,196 — 116 — 116 2,312 
Foreign government172 — — 176 
Residential MBS859 — 57 (1)56 915 
Commercial MBS89 — — 92 
Collateralized loan obligations1,065 (4)— 1,062 
Other asset-backed securities2,040 27 (13)14 2,047 
Corporate and other2,199 88 (3)85 2,282 
Total fixed maturities$8,812 $12 $305 $(21)$284 $9,084 
Available for sale fixed maturities that are included in assets of discontinued annuity operations at December 31, 2020, consisted of the following (in millions):
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit LossesGross UnrealizedNet
Unrealized
Fair
Value
GainsLosses
December 31, 2020
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies
$39 $— $$— $$44 
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
3,053 — 370 (2)368 3,421 
Foreign government
31 — — 35 
Residential MBS
1,953 194 (4)190 2,140 
Commercial MBS
659 — 40 (1)39 698 
Collateralized loan obligations
3,491 10 23 (13)10 3,491 
Other asset-backed securities
5,098 11 142 (53)89 5,176 
Corporate and other
17,272 1,874 (24)1,850 19,118 
Total fixed maturities$31,596 $28 $2,652 $(97)$2,555 $34,123 

Equity securities held by AFG’s continuing operations, which are reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings, consisted of the following at December 31 (in millions):
20212020
Fair ValueFair Value
Actualover (under)Actualover (under)
CostFair ValueCostCostFair ValueCost
Common stocks$491 $586 $95 $516 $510 $(6)
Perpetual preferred stocks403 456 53 369 379 10 
Total equity securities carried at fair value
$894 $1,042 $148 $885 $889 $

Investments accounted for using the equity method held by AFG’s continuing operations, by category, carrying value and net investment income are as follows (in millions):
Carrying ValueNet Investment Income
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020202120202019
Real estate-related investments (*)$1,130 $915 $226 $92 $67 
Private equity352 266 100 18 24 
Private debt35 54 (5)(11)
Total investments accounted for using the equity method$1,517 $1,235 $321 $99 $97 
(*)Includes 88% with underlying investments in multi-family properties, 1% in single family properties and 11% in other property types as of December 31, 2021 and 87% with underlying investments in multi-family properties, 2% in single family properties and 11% in other property types as of December 31, 2020.

The earnings (losses) from these investments are generally reported on a quarter lag due to the timing required to obtain the necessary information from the funds. AFG regularly reviews and discusses fund performance with the fund managers to corroborate the reasonableness of the underlying reported asset values and to assess whether any events have occurred within the lag period that may materially affect the valuation of these investments.

With respect to partnerships and similar investments, AFG’s continuing operations had unfunded commitments of $366 million and $290 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Assets of discontinued annuity operations included investments accounted for under the equity method of $646 million as of December 31, 2020.
The following table shows gross unrealized losses (dollars in millions) on available for sale fixed maturities held by AFG’s continuing operations by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at the following balance sheet dates.
  
Less Than Twelve MonthsTwelve Months or More
Unrealized
Loss
Fair
Value
Fair Value as
% of Cost
Unrealized
Loss
Fair
Value
Fair Value as
% of Cost
December 31, 2021
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies
$(1)$92 99 %$(1)$22 96 %
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
— 100 %— 13 100 %
Foreign government(2)160 99 %— — — %
Residential MBS(3)419 99 %— 100 %
Commercial MBS— 34 100 %— — — %
Collateralized loan obligations(1)806 100 %(1)77 99 %
Other asset-backed securities(8)1,250 99 %(3)81 96 %
Corporate and other(8)500 98 %— 26 100 %
Total fixed maturities$(23)$3,270 99 %$(5)$226 98 %
December 31, 2020
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Government and government agencies
$— $23 100 %$— $— — %
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
— 39 100 %— 10 100 %
Foreign government— 100 %— — — %
Residential MBS(1)86 99 %— 100 %
Commercial MBS— 100 %— 100 %
Collateralized loan obligations(1)192 99 %(3)366 99 %
Other asset-backed securities(10)465 98 %(3)92 97 %
Corporate and other(2)133 99 %(1)17 94 %
Total fixed maturities$(14)$952 99 %$(7)$497 99 %

At December 31, 2021, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $28 million relate to 514 securities. Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 84% of the gross unrealized loss and 95% of the fair value.

To evaluate fixed maturities for expected credit losses (impairment), management considers whether the unrealized loss is credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates, the extent to which fair value is less than cost basis, historical operating, balance sheet and cash flow data from the issuer, third party research and communications with industry specialists and discussions with issuer management.

AFG analyzes its MBS securities for expected credit losses (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.

Management believes AFG will recover its cost basis (net of any allowance) 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 December 31, 2021.
Credit losses on available for sale fixed maturities are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows compared to amortized cost. Beginning January 1, 2020, impairment losses are recognized through an allowance instead of directly writing down the amortized cost. Recoveries of previously impaired amounts are recorded as an immediate reversal of all or a portion of the allowance. In addition, the allowance on available for sale fixed maturities cannot cause the amortized cost net of the allowance to be below fair value. Accordingly, future changes in the fair value of an impaired security (when the allowance was limited by the fair value) due to reasons other than issuer credit (e.g. changes in market interest rates) result in increases or decreases in the allowance, which are recorded through realized gains (losses) on securities. A progression of the allowance for expected credit losses on fixed maturity securities held by AFG’s continuing operations is shown below (in millions):
Structured securities (*)Corporate and otherTotal
Balance at January 1, 2020$— $— $— 
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy— — — 
Initial allowance for purchased securities with credit deterioration— — — 
Provision for expected credit losses on securities with no previous allowance11 16 
Additions (reductions) to previously recognized expected credit losses(1)(2)(3)
Reductions due to sales or redemptions— (1)(1)
Balance at December 31, 2020$10 $$12 
Initial allowance for purchased securities with credit deterioration— — — 
Provision for expected credit losses on securities with no previous allowance— 
Additions (reductions) to previously recognized expected credit losses(2)— (2)
Reductions due to sales or redemptions— (2)(2)
Balance at December 31, 2021$$$
(*)Includes mortgage-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations and other asset-backed securities.

In 2021 and 2020, AFG’s continuing operations did not purchase any securities with expected credit losses.

The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of AFG’s available for sale fixed maturities as of December 31, 2021 (dollars 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.
  
AmortizedFair Value
Cost, net (*)Amount%
Maturity
One year or less$1,228 $1,240 12 %
After one year through five years2,483 2,548 25 %
After five years through ten years812 844 %
After ten years332 342 %
4,855 4,974 48 %
Collateralized loan obligations and other ABS (average life of approximately 3 years)
4,312 4,319 42 %
MBS (average life of approximately 3.5 years)
1,017 1,064 10 %
Total$10,184 $10,357 100 %
(*)Amortized cost, net of allowance for expected credit losses.

Certain risks are inherent in 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 December 31, 2021 or 2020.
Net Unrealized Gain on Fixed Maturity Securities  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.
PretaxDeferred TaxNet
December 31, 2021
Net unrealized gain on fixed maturities$173 $(37)$136 
December 31, 2020
Net unrealized gain on fixed maturities held by continuing operations$284 $(60)$224 
Discontinued operations (*):
Net unrealized gain on fixed maturities$2,555 $(536)$2,019 
Deferred policy acquisition costs — annuity segment(934)196 (738)
Annuity benefits accumulated(324)68 (256)
Life, accident and health reserves(3)— (3)
Unearned revenue11 (2)
Total net unrealized gain from discontinued operations1,305 (274)1,031 
Total net unrealized gain on fixed maturity securities$1,589 $(334)$1,255 
(*)In addition to adjusting 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 AFG’s discontinued 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.

Net Investment Income   The following table shows (in millions) investment income earned and investment expenses incurred in AFG’s continuing operations.
202120202019
Investment income:
Fixed maturities$290 $303 $315 
Equity securities:
Dividends
30 35 51 
Change in fair value (a) (b)61 22 
Equity in earnings of partnerships and similar investments
321 99 97 
Other40 23 53 
Gross investment income742 467 538 
Investment expenses(12)(6)(6)
Net investment income (b)$730 $461 $532 
(a)Although the change in the fair value of the majority of AFG’s equity securities is recorded in realized gains (losses) on securities, AFG records holding gains and losses in net investment income on equity securities classified as “trading” under previous guidance and on a small portfolio of limited partnership and similar investments that do not qualify for the equity method of accounting.
(b)Net investment income in 2020 includes losses of $5 million on investments held by the companies that comprise the Neon exited lines due primarily to the $7 million loss recorded in first quarter of 2020 on equity securities that were carried at fair value through net investment income.
Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from continuing operations included in AOCI related to fixed maturity securities are summarized as follows (in millions):
20212020
Realized gains (losses)Realized gains (losses)
Before ImpairmentsImpairment AllowanceTotalChange in UnrealizedBefore ImpairmentsImpairment AllowanceTotalChange in Unrealized
Fixed maturities$(1)$$— $(111)$$(13)$(7)$61 
Equity securities110 — 110 — (70)— (70)— 
Mortgage loans and other investments— — — — — — 
Total pretax109 110 (111)(62)(13)(75)61 
Tax effects(23)— (23)23 13 16 (13)
Net of tax$86 $$87 $(88)$(49)$(10)$(59)$48 
2019
Realized gains (losses)
Before ImpairmentsImpairmentsTotalChange in Unrealized
Fixed maturities$$(8)$(1)$174 
Equity securities155 — 155 — 
Mortgage loans and other investments— — 
Total pretax163 (8)155 174 
Tax effects(34)(32)(36)
Net of tax$129 $(6)$123 $138 

All equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method are carried at fair value through net earnings. AFG recorded net holding gains (losses) on equity securities from continuing operations during 2021, 2020 and 2019 on securities that were still owned at December 31 of each year presented as follows (in millions):
202120202019
Included in realized gains (losses)$65 $(44)$105 
Included in net investment income54 12 21 
$119 $(32)$126 

Gross realized gains and losses (excluding changes in impairment allowance and mark-to-market of derivatives) on available for sale fixed maturity investment transactions from continuing operations consisted of the following (in millions):
202120202019
Gross gains$$12 $
Gross losses(1)(5)(2)