Derivatives

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

As discussed under “Derivatives” in Note A — “Accounting Policies,” AFG uses derivatives to mitigate certain market risks related to its investment portfolio and deferred compensation obligations to employees.

The following table presents the classification of derivative assets and liabilities included in AFG’s Balance Sheet at fair value (in millions):


		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Balance Sheet Line	Asset		Liability		Asset		Liability
Derivatives designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps	Other assets/Other liabilities	$	2	$	28	$	—	$	37

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
MBS with embedded derivatives	Fixed maturities	40		—		40		—
Total return swap	Other assets/Other liabilities	2		—		—		5
		$	44	$	28	$	40	$	42

AFG’s interest rate swaps are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges to mitigate interest rate risk related to certain floating-rate securities included in AFG’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities. The purpose of each of these swaps is to effectively convert a portion of AFG’s floating-rate fixed maturity securities to fixed rates by offsetting the variability in cash flows attributable to changes in short-term reference rates (LIBOR or SOFR).

Under the terms of the swaps, AFG receives fixed-rate interest payments in exchange for variable interest payments based on short-term LIBOR or SOFR. The notional amounts of the interest rate swaps generally decline over each swap’s respective life (the swaps expire between July 2024 and July 2028) in anticipation of the expected decline in AFG’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities with floating interest rates based on short-term LIBOR or SOFR. The total outstanding notional amount of AFG’s interest rate swaps was $1.34 billion at March 31, 2023 compared to $1.25 billion at December 31, 2022, reflecting the issuance of three new swaps with a total notional amount of $120 million in the first three months of 2023, partially offset by scheduled amortization. In the first three months of 2023 and 2022, a loss of $5 million and income of $1 million, respectively, were reclassified from AOCI to net earnings. A collateral receivable supporting these swaps of $57 million and $62 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, is included in other assets in AFG’s Balance Sheet.

The MBS with embedded derivatives consist of interest-only and principal-only MBS. AFG records the 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.

AFG is exposed to fair value changes from certain equity and fixed maturity market-based exposures related to its deferred compensation obligations to certain employees. To mitigate this risk, AFG entered into a total return swap in 2022. A payable of $1 million to return collateral related to this swap is included in other liabilities in AFG’s Balance Sheet at March 31, 2023 and a collateral receivable of $7 million supporting this swap is included in other assets in AFG’s Balance Sheet at December 31, 2022.

The following table summarizes the gains (losses) included in AFG’s Statement of Earnings for changes in the fair value of derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in millions):


		Three months ended March 31,
	Statement of Earnings Line		2023		2022
Qualifying cash flow hedges - gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI to net earnings:
Interest rate swaps	Net investment income		$	(5)	$	1

Non-designated hedges - gains (losses) included in net earnings:
MBS with embedded derivatives	Realized gains (losses) on securities		$	1	$	(5)
Total return swap	Other expenses		6		—
Earnings (losses) on non-designated hedges			7		(5)
Total earnings (losses) on derivatives			$	2	$	(4)

Based on forward interest rate curves at March 31, 2023, management estimates that it will reclassify approximately $22 million of pre-tax net losses on interest rate swaps in AOCI to net investment income over the next twelve months. The actual amount will vary based on interest rates at the reset dates, which occur every one to three months.