Athene Holding Ltd. (AHL), a Bermuda exempted company, together with its subsidiaries (collectively, Athene, we, our, us, or the Company), is a leading retirement services company that issues, reinsures and acquires retirement savings products in all United States (U.S.) states and the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom (UK).

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation—We have prepared the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, considered necessary for fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Interim operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the entire year, particularly in light of the material risks and uncertainties surrounding the spread of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19), which has resulted in significant volatility in the financial markets.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited financial statements, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Therefore, these condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The preparation of financial statements requires the use of management estimates. Our estimates may vary as more information about the extent to which COVID-19 and the resulting impact on economic conditions and the financial markets become known. Actual results may differ from estimates used in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (PCD) Investments – We purchase certain structured securities, primarily residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS), and re-performing mortgage loans having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since their origination which upon our assessment have been determined to meet the definition of PCD investments. Additionally, structured securities classified as beneficial interests follow the initial measurement guidance for PCD investments if there is a significant difference between contractual cash flows adjusted for expected prepayments and expected cash flows at the date of recognition. The initial allowance for credit losses for PCD investments is recorded through a gross-up adjustment to the initial amortized cost. For mortgage loans, the initial allowance is determined using the methodology described in the Credit Losses – Assets Held at Amortized Cost and Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures section. For structured securities classified as beneficial interests, the initial allowance is calculated as the present value of the difference between contractual cash flows adjusted for expected prepayments and expected cash flows at the date of recognition. The non-credit purchase discount or premium is amortized into investment income using the effective interest method. The credit discount, represented by the allowance for expected credit losses, is remeasured each period following the policies for measuring credit losses described in the Credit Losses – Assets Held at Amortized Cost and Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures and Credit Losses – Available-for-Sale Securities sections below.

Credit Losses – Assets Held at Amortized Cost and Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures – We establish an allowance for expected credit losses at the time of purchase for assets held at amortized cost, which primarily includes our residential and commercial mortgage loan portfolios, but also includes certain other loans and reinsurance assets. The allowance for expected credit losses represents the portion of the asset's amortized cost basis that we do not expect to collect due to credit losses over the asset's contractual life, considering past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions or macroeconomic forecasts. We use a quantitative probability of default and loss given default methodology to develop our estimate of expected credit loss. We develop the estimate on a collective basis factoring in the risk characteristics of the assets in the portfolio. If an asset does not share similar risk characteristics with other assets, the asset is individually assessed.

Allowance estimates are highly dependent on expectations of future economic conditions and macroeconomic forecasts, which involve significant judgment and subjectivity. We use quantitative modeling to develop the allowance for expected credit losses. Key inputs into the model include data pertaining to the characteristics of the assets, historical losses and current market conditions. Additionally, the model incorporates management’s expectations around future economic conditions and macroeconomic forecasts over a reasonable and supportable forecast period, after which the model reverts to historical averages. These inputs, the reasonable and supportable forecast period, and reversion to historical average technique are subject to a formal governance and review process by management. Additionally, management considers qualitative adjustments to the model output to the extent that any relevant information regarding the collectability of the asset is available and not already considered in the quantitative model. If we determine that a financial asset has become collateral dependent, which we determine to be when foreclosure is probable, the allowance is measured as the difference between amortized cost and the fair value of the collateral, less any expected costs to sell.

The initial allowance for invested assets held at amortized cost other than for PCD investments, and subsequent changes in the allowance including PCD investments, are recorded through a charge to credit loss expense within investment related gains (losses) on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss). Credit loss expense for reinsurance assets held at amortized cost is recorded through policy and other operating expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

We limit accrued interest income on loans to 90 days of interest. Once a loan becomes 90 days past due, the loan is put on non-accrual status and any accrued interest is written off. Once a loan is on non-accrual status, we first apply any payments received to the principal of the loan, and once the principal is repaid, we include amounts received in net investment income. We have elected to present accrued interest receivable separately in accrued investment income on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We have also elected the practical expedient to exclude the accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost balance used to calculate the allowance given our policy to write off such balances in a timely manner. Any write-off of accrued interest is recorded through a reversal of net investment income on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

Upon determining that all or a portion of the amortized cost of an asset is uncollectible, which is generally when all efforts for collection are exhausted, the amortized cost is written off against the existing allowance. Any write off in excess of the existing allowance is recorded through credit loss expense within investment related gains (losses) on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

We also have certain off-balance sheet credit exposures for which we establish a liability for expected future credit losses. These exposures primarily relate to commitments to fund commercial or residential mortgage loans that are not unconditionally cancelable. The methodology for estimating the liability for these credit exposures is consistent with that described above, with the additional consideration pertaining to the probability of funding. At the time the commitment expires or is funded, the liability is reversed and an allowance for expected credit losses is established, as applicable. The liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures is included in other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The establishment of the initial liability and all subsequent changes are recorded through credit loss expense within investment related gains (losses) on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

Credit Losses – Available-for-Sale Securities – We evaluate available-for-sale (AFS) securities with a fair value that has declined below amortized cost to determine how the decline in fair value should be recognized. If we determine, based on the facts and circumstances related to the specific security, that we intend to sell a security or it is more likely than not that we would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, any existing allowance for credit losses is reversed and the amortized cost of the security is written down to fair value. If neither of these conditions exist, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit loss or other factors.

For non-structured AFS securities, we qualitatively consider relevant facts and circumstances in evaluating whether a decline below fair value is credit-related. Relevant facts and circumstances include but are not limited to: (1) the extent to which the fair value is less than amortized cost; (2) changes in agency credit ratings, (3) adverse conditions related to the security’s industry or geographical area, (4) failure to make scheduled payments, and (5) other known changes in the financial condition of the issuer or quality of any underlying collateral or credit enhancements. For structured AFS securities meeting the definition of beneficial interests, the qualitative assessment is bypassed, and any securities having experienced a decline in fair value below amortized cost move directly to a quantitative analysis.

If upon completion of this analysis it is determined that a potential credit loss exists, an allowance for expected credit losses is established equal to the amount by which the present value of expected cash flows is less than amortized cost, limited by the amount by which fair value is less than amortized cost. A non-structured security’s cash flow estimates are derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected corporate restructurings or the disposition of assets using security-specific facts and circumstances including timing, security interests and loss severity. A structured security’s cash flow estimates are based on security-specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity, prepayments and structural support, including subordination and guarantees. The expected cash flows are discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete a structured security. For securities with a contractual interest rate that varies based on changes in an independent factor, such as an index or rate, the effective interest rate is calculated based on the factor as it changes over the life of the security. Inherently under the discounted cash flow model, both the timing and amount of cash flows affect the measurement of the allowance for expected credit losses.

The allowance for expected credit losses is remeasured each period for the passage of time, any change in expected cash flows, and changes in the fair value of the security. All impairments, whether intent or requirement to sell or credit-related, are recorded through a charge to credit loss expense within investment related gains (losses) on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss). All changes in the allowance for expected credit losses are recorded through credit loss expense within investment related gains (losses) on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

We have elected to present accrued interest receivable separately in accrued investment income on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We have also elected the practical expedient to exclude the accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost balance used to calculate the allowance for expected credit losses, as we have a policy to write off such balances in a timely manner, when they become 90 days past due. Any write-off of accrued interest is recorded through a reversal of net investment income on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

This update limits the number of credit impairment models used for different assets and results in accelerated credit loss recognition on assets held at amortized cost, which primarily includes our commercial and residential mortgage loans, but also includes certain other loans and reinsurance assets. The identification of PCD financial assets includes all assets that have experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit since origination. Additionally, changes in the expected cash flows of purchased credit-deteriorated financial assets are recognized immediately in the income statement. AFS securities are not in scope of the new credit loss model, but were subject to targeted improvements including the establishment of a valuation allowance for credit losses versus the previous direct write down approach. We adopted this update effective January 1, 2020 with a cumulative-effect adjustment that decreased retained earnings by $117 million net of tax and offsetting impacts to DAC, DSI, VOBA and the SOP 03-1 reserve. The adjustment to retained earnings primarily relates to the establishment of an allowance on our commercial mortgage loan portfolio, which represented 1.59% of the amortized cost of the portfolio, but also includes immaterial impacts relating to other assets in scope, including residential mortgage loans, funds withheld at interest, and reinsurance recoverable.

Additionally, the update requires investments previously considered purchased credit impaired (PCI), which includes certain of our residential mortgage loans and RMBS to become subject to a modified PCD framework at the transition date. Any required allowance at transition for these assets is to be recorded through a gross-up of the amortized cost, rather than a charge to retained earnings. Additionally, under the AFS impairment model, the recording of an allowance is prohibited in instances where fair value exceeds amortized cost as such securities are not considered impaired under the AFS impairment model. Therefore, no allowance was recorded at transition for PCI RMBS that were in an unrealized gain position. The transition increase of amortized cost and corresponding valuation allowance for residential mortgage loans and RMBS was $36 million and $17 million, respectively.

The amendments in this update provide guidance on whether certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for as revenue under Topic 606, providing comparability in the presentation of revenue for certain transactions. We adopted this update effective January 1, 2020. This update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

The amendments in this update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing service arrangement with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred for internal-use software. We adopted this update on a prospective basis effective January 1, 2020. This update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

The amendments in this update modify the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying or adding certain disclosures. On October 1, 2018, we early adopted the removal and modification of certain disclosures as permitted. The additional disclosures in the update were adopted effective January 1, 2020. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

The amendments in this update simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating the comparison of the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill to determine the goodwill impairment loss. With the adoption of this guidance, a goodwill impairment is the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Entities continue to have the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if a quantitative impairment test is necessary. We do not have material goodwill and adopted this update on a prospective basis effective January 1, 2020. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

While we are currently required to adopt these updates on January 1, 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board has proposed a deferral to the adoption date, which, if codified, would require adoption on January 1, 2023. Certain provisions of the update are required to be adopted on a fully retrospective basis, while others may be adopted on a modified retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the tax accounting guidance related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities related to foreign investment ownership changes. It also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill and allocating consolidated income taxes to separate financial statements of entities not subject to income tax. We will be required to adopt this update January 1, 2021 and apply certain aspects of the update retrospectively while other aspects will be applied on a modified retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.