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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments

3. Investments

(a) Unrealized Gains and Losses

The following tables present the amortized cost and the fair value of AFS securities as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Amortized

Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Allowance for Credit Losses(2)

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

As of September 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

 

$

1,187.3

 

 

$

52.1

 

 

$

(1.0

)

 

$

 

 

$

1,238.4

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

2,412.9

 

 

 

151.7

 

 

 

(3.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

2,561.1

 

Foreign government obligations

 

 

767.0

 

 

 

33.5

 

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

800.1

 

U.S. corporate bonds

 

 

3,697.1

 

 

 

275.8

 

 

 

(9.6

)

 

 

(5.3

)

 

 

3,958.0

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

1,260.1

 

 

 

48.0

 

 

 

(2.4

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

1,305.5

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMBS

 

 

2,432.8

 

 

 

80.1

 

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

2,511.9

 

CMBS

 

 

855.2

 

 

 

40.2

 

 

 

(12.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

883.2

 

Other asset-backed securities(1)

 

 

2,319.5

 

 

 

49.8

 

 

 

(47.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

2,321.7

 

Total debt securities

 

 

14,931.9

 

 

 

731.2

 

 

 

(77.7

)

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

15,579.9

 

Short-term investments

 

 

636.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

636.1

 

Total investments

 

$

15,568.0

 

 

$

731.2

 

 

$

(77.7

)

 

$

(5.5

)

 

$

16,216.0

 

 

 

 

Amortized

Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

 

$

1,198.5

 

 

$

19.3

 

 

$

(2.8

)

 

$

1,215.0

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

2,190.5

 

 

 

118.7

 

 

 

(1.3

)

 

 

2,307.9

 

Foreign government obligations

 

 

675.9

 

 

 

16.4

 

 

 

(1.6

)

 

 

690.7

 

U.S. corporate bonds

 

 

3,206.2

 

 

 

155.1

 

 

 

(2.3

)

 

 

3,359.0

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

1,348.1

 

 

 

32.2

 

 

 

(2.9

)

 

 

1,377.4

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMBS

 

 

1,785.1

 

 

 

56.1

 

 

 

(0.8

)

 

 

1,840.4

 

CMBS

 

 

849.9

 

 

 

23.2

 

 

 

(1.4

)

 

 

871.7

 

Other asset-backed securities(1)

 

 

2,544.5

 

 

 

24.8

 

 

 

(19.7

)

 

 

2,549.6

 

Total debt securities

 

 

13,798.7

 

 

 

445.8

 

 

 

(32.8

)

 

 

14,211.7

 

Short-term investments

 

 

914.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

914.8

 

Total investments

 

$

14,713.5

 

 

$

445.8

 

 

$

(32.8

)

 

$

15,126.5

 

 

(1)

Includes $760.5 million and $834.2 million of collateralized loan obligations as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

(2)

See Note 1(c) of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding Alleghany’s adoption of new credit loss accounting guidance.

(b) Contractual Maturity

The following table presents the amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2020. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

 

 

Amortized Cost

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

As of September 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments due in one year or less

 

$

636.1

 

 

$

636.1

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities(1)

 

 

5,607.5

 

 

 

5,716.8

 

Debt securities with maturity dates:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One year or less

 

 

488.0

 

 

 

492.5

 

Over one through five years

 

 

3,407.1

 

 

 

3,551.1

 

Over five through ten years

 

 

3,106.9

 

 

 

3,315.7

 

Over ten years

 

 

2,322.4

 

 

 

2,503.8

 

Total debt securities

 

$

14,931.9

 

 

$

15,579.9

 

 

(1)

Mortgage and asset-backed securities by their nature do not generally have single maturity dates.

(c) Net Investment Income

The following table presents net investment income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Interest income

 

$

109.1

 

 

$

130.1

 

 

$

337.6

 

 

$

376.6

 

Dividend income

 

 

4.9

 

 

 

9.7

 

 

 

20.2

 

 

 

28.9

 

Investment expenses

 

 

(7.6

)

 

 

(7.4

)

 

 

(22.1

)

 

 

(22.1

)

Partnerships and other investment results

 

 

22.9

 

 

 

15.4

 

 

 

24.2

 

 

 

30.2

 

Total

 

$

129.3

 

 

$

147.8

 

 

$

359.9

 

 

$

413.6

 

  

As of September 30, 2020, non-income producing invested assets were immaterial.

(d) Change in the Fair Value of Equity Securities

The proceeds from sales of equity securities were $0.1 billion and $0.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $1.4 billion and $2.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The following table presents changes in the fair value of equity securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Change in the fair value of equity securities sold during the period

 

$

3.4

 

 

$

(16.2

)

 

$

(110.8

)

 

$

57.7

 

Change in the fair value of equity securities held at the end of the period

 

 

89.4

 

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(77.2

)

 

 

461.6

 

Change in the fair value of equity securities

 

$

92.8

 

 

$

(16.7

)

 

$

(188.0

)

 

$

519.3

 

(e) Realized Gains and Losses

The proceeds from sales of debt securities were $0.4 billion and $0.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $2.9 billion and $2.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Realized capital gains and losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 primarily reflect the sale of debt securities. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, realized capital gains and losses include: (i) a $13.8 million realized gain on a partial settlement and remeasurement of fair value of certain outstanding contingent consideration liabilities by Alleghany Capital in connection with its 2018 acquisition of Concord (the “Concord Settlement Gain”); and (ii) impairment charges of $1.6 million and $76.0 million, respectively, from write-downs of SORC oil field assets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, realized capital gains and losses include: (i) a gain of $16.3 million on April 1, 2020 in connection with Alleghany Capital’s acquisition of an additional approximately 55 percent of Wilbert that it did not previously own, and the remeasurement its pre-existing approximately 45 percent equity ownership to estimated fair value (the “Wilbert Remeasurement Gain”); (ii) a $5.0 million realized gain from a reduction of certain contingent consideration liabilities at the PCT-level in connection with its acquisition of a provider of high-performance solid carbide end mills in June 2019; and (iii) a $7.1 million realized loss as a result of an early redemption of debt (see Note 11(a) of this Form 10-Q for further information on this early redemption). SORC’s oil field assets are held for sale and consequently, were written down to estimated fair value, which reflects a significant decline in oil prices, less costs to sell. In the third quarter of 2020, certain of SORC’s oil field assets were sold at values that approximated their reduced carrying value.

The following table presents amounts of gross realized capital gains and gross realized capital losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Gross realized capital gains

 

$

21.4

 

 

$

12.6

 

 

$

108.8

 

 

$

38.3

 

Gross realized capital (losses)

 

 

(4.6

)

 

 

(8.7

)

 

 

(117.1

)

 

 

(17.5

)

Net realized capital gains

 

$

16.8

 

 

$

3.9

 

 

$

(8.3

)

 

$

20.8

 

 

Gross realized capital losses exclude change in allowance for credit losses on AFS securities, as discussed below.

(f) Credit quality for AFS securities

Alleghany holds its debt securities as AFS and, as such, these securities are recorded at fair value. Credit losses for AFS securities are recorded through an allowance for credit losses. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded for (or as a reversal of) credit losses on AFS securities. Any portion of a decline in fair value related to a debt security that is believed to arise from factors other than credit is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income rather than charged against earnings.

Alleghany continually monitors the difference between amortized cost and the estimated fair value of its debt investments. The analysis of a security’s decline in value is performed in its functional currency. Debt securities in an unrealized loss position are evaluated for credit losses if they meet any of the following criteria: (i) they are trading at a discount of at least 20 percent to amortized cost and have a credit rating below investment grade or are not rated; (ii) there has been a negative credit or news event with respect to the issuer that could indicate the existence of a credit loss; or (iii) Alleghany intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that Alleghany will sell, the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

If Alleghany intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that Alleghany will sell, a debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the total amount of the unrealized loss position is recognized as a credit loss in earnings. To the extent that a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position is not impaired based on the preceding, Alleghany will consider a debt security to be impaired when it believes it to be probable that Alleghany will not be able to collect the entire amortized cost basis. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position as of the end of each quarter, Alleghany develops a best estimate of the present value of expected cash flows. If the results of the cash flow analysis indicate that Alleghany will not recover the full amount of its amortized cost basis in the debt security, Alleghany records a credit loss in earnings equal to the difference between the present value of expected cash flows and the amortized cost basis of the debt security. If applicable, the difference between the total unrealized loss position on the debt security

and the total loss recognized in earnings is the non-credit related portion, which is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.

In developing the cash flow analyses for debt securities, Alleghany considers various factors for the different categories of debt securities. For municipal bonds, Alleghany takes into account the taxing power of the issuer, source of revenue, credit risk and enhancements and pre-refunding. For mortgage and asset-backed securities, Alleghany discounts its best estimate of future cash flows at an effective rate equal to the original effective yield of the security or, in the case of floating rate securities, at the current coupon. Alleghany’s models include assumptions about prepayment speeds, default and delinquency rates, underlying collateral (if any), credit ratings, credit enhancements and other observable market data. For corporate bonds, Alleghany reviews business prospects, credit ratings and available information from asset managers and rating agencies for individual securities.

Change in allowance for credit losses on AFS securities in the first nine months of 2020 reflect $10.9 million of unrealized losses on debt securities, primarily related to the energy sector and lower-quality corporate bonds in other sectors due to a significant decline in their fair value relative to their amortized costs. The $10.9 million is net of a $3.4 million reduction of the allowance for credit losses on AFS securities in the third quarter of 2020, arising primarily from the improved bond market conditions and bond sales.

Change in allowance for credit losses on AFS securities in the first nine months of 2019 reflects $13.6 million of unrealized losses on debt securities, primarily related to the energy sector, and the deterioration of creditworthiness of the issuers. Of the $13.6 million of the change in allowance for credit losses on AFS securities, $3.6 million were incurred in the third quarter of 2019.

The following table presents a rollforward of Alleghany’s allowance for credit losses on AFS securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2020

 

 

September 30, 2020

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

($ in millions)

 

Beginning balance

 

$

8.9

 

 

$

 

Beginning balance - cumulative effect of an accounting change(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for credit losses

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

10.9

 

Charge-offs

 

 

 

 

 

(5.4

)

Recoveries

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2020

 

$

5.5

 

 

$

5.5

 

 

(1)

See Note 1(c) of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding Alleghany’s adoption of new credit loss accounting guidance.

The gross unrealized investment losses for debt securities as of September 30, 2020 were deemed to be temporary, based on, among other factors: (i) the relative magnitude to which the fair value of these investments had been below cost were not indicative of a credit loss; (ii) the absence of compelling evidence that would cause Alleghany to call into question the financial condition or near-term business prospects of the issuer of the security; and (iii) Alleghany’s ability and intent to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery.

Alleghany’s methodology for assessing credit losses contains inherent risks and uncertainties which could include, but are not limited to, incorrect assumptions about financial condition, liquidity or future prospects, inadequacy of any underlying collateral and unfavorable changes in economic conditions or social trends, interest rates or credit ratings.

Alleghany’s consolidated investment portfolio consists mainly of highly rated and liquid debt and equity securities listed on national securities exchanges. The overall credit quality of the debt securities portfolio is measured using the lowest rating of three large, reputable rating agencies. In this regard, the overall weighted-average credit quality rating of Alleghany’s debt securities portfolio as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, was AA-. Although a portion of Alleghany’s debt securities, which consist predominantly of municipal bonds, is insured by third-party financial guaranty insurance companies, the impact of such insurance was not significant to the debt securities’ credit quality rating as of September 30, 2020.

The following table presents the ratings of Alleghany’s debt securities as of September 30, 2020:

 

 

 

Ratings as of September 30, 2020

 

 

 

AAA / Aaa

 

 

AA / Aa

 

 

A

 

 

BBB / Baa

 

 

Below

BBB / Baa

or Not

Rated(1)

 

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

U.S. government obligations

 

$

 

 

$

1,238.4

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,238.4

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

222.4

 

 

 

1,772.2

 

 

 

463.8

 

 

 

95.7

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

2,561.1

 

Foreign government obligations

 

 

343.0

 

 

 

359.0

 

 

 

97.0

 

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

800.1

 

U.S. corporate bonds

 

 

9.5

 

 

 

284.2

 

 

 

1,715.9

 

 

 

1,580.2

 

 

 

368.2

 

 

 

3,958.0

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

238.5

 

 

 

94.5

 

 

 

612.1

 

 

 

324.8

 

 

 

35.6

 

 

 

1,305.5

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMBS

 

 

2.5

 

 

 

2,503.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

4.5

 

 

 

2,511.9

 

CMBS

 

 

280.6

 

 

 

420.8

 

 

 

181.5

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

883.2

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

891.8

 

 

 

582.0

 

 

 

408.7

 

 

 

341.8

 

 

 

97.4

 

 

 

2,321.7

 

Total debt securities

 

$

1,988.3

 

 

$

7,255.0

 

 

$

3,479.0

 

 

$

2,344.9

 

 

$

512.7

 

 

$

15,579.9

 

Percentage of debt securities

 

 

12.8

%

 

 

46.6

%

 

 

22.3

%

 

 

15.0

%

 

 

3.3

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

(1)

Consists of $138.6 million of securities rated BB / Ba, $181.7 million of securities rated B, $22.9 million of securities rated CCC, $0.4 million of securities rated CC, $3.5 million of securities rated below CC and $165.6 million of not rated securities.

(g) Aging of Gross Unrealized Losses

The following tables present gross unrealized losses and related fair values for Alleghany’s AFS securities for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded, grouped by duration of time in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Less Than 12 Months

 

 

12 Months or More

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

As of September 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

 

$

153.3

 

 

$

1.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

153.3

 

 

$

1.0

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

205.2

 

 

 

3.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

205.2

 

 

 

3.5

 

Foreign government obligations

 

 

110.7

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

110.8

 

 

 

0.4

 

U.S. corporate bonds

 

 

343.3

 

 

 

9.5

 

 

 

4.6

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

347.9

 

 

 

9.6

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

131.5

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

20.3

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

151.8

 

 

 

2.4

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMBS

 

 

289.4

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

289.8

 

 

 

1.0

 

CMBS

 

 

291.5

 

 

 

12.2

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

291.8

 

 

 

12.2

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

578.9

 

 

 

26.0

 

 

 

532.2

 

 

 

21.6

 

 

 

1,111.1

 

 

 

47.6

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

 

$

2,103.8

 

 

$

55.0

 

 

$

557.9

 

 

$

22.7

 

 

$

2,661.7

 

 

$

77.7

 

 

 

 

Less Than 12 Months

 

 

12 Months or More

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

 

$

120.3

 

 

$

2.0

 

 

$

99.7

 

 

$

0.8

 

 

$

220.0

 

 

$

2.8

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

90.2

 

 

 

1.3

 

 

 

4.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

94.5

 

 

 

1.3

 

Foreign government obligations

 

 

198.5

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

33.8

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

232.3

 

 

 

1.6

 

U.S. corporate bonds

 

 

113.8

 

 

 

1.6

 

 

 

27.6

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

141.4

 

 

 

2.3

 

Foreign corporate bonds

 

 

212.0

 

 

 

2.3

 

 

 

66.9

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

278.9

 

 

 

2.9

 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMBS

 

 

48.7

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

48.6

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

97.3

 

 

 

0.8

 

CMBS

 

 

126.8

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

128.0

 

 

 

1.4

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

422.9

 

 

 

2.7

 

 

 

715.9

 

 

 

17.0

 

 

 

1,138.8

 

 

 

19.7

 

Total temporarily impaired securities

 

$

1,333.2

 

 

$

12.8

 

 

$

998.0

 

 

$

20.0

 

 

$

2,331.2

 

 

$

32.8

 

 

As of September 30, 2020, Alleghany held a total of 843 debt securities that were in an unrealized loss position, of which 122 securities were in an unrealized loss position continuously for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses associated with these debt securities consisted of losses related primarily to other asset-backed securities, U.S. corporate bonds and CMBS.  

(h) Investments in Variable Interest Entities

In December 2012, TransRe obtained an ownership interest in Pillar Capital Holdings Limited (“Pillar Holdings”), a Bermuda- based insurance asset manager focused on collateralized reinsurance and catastrophe insurance-linked securities. Additionally, TransRe invested $175.0 million and AIHL invested $25.0 million in limited partnership funds managed by Pillar Holdings (the “Funds”). The objective of the Funds is to create portfolios with attractive risk-reward characteristics and low correlation with other asset classes, using the extensive reinsurance and capital market experience of the principals of Pillar Holdings. Alleghany has concluded that both Pillar Holdings and the Funds (collectively, the “Pillar Investments”) represent variable interest entities and that Alleghany is not the primary beneficiary, as it does not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact each entity’s economic performance. Therefore, the Pillar Investments are not consolidated and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Alleghany’s potential maximum loss in the Pillar Investments is limited to its cumulative net investment. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Alleghany’s carrying value in the Pillar Investments, as determined under the equity method of accounting, was $170.5 million and $205.5 million, respectively, which is reported as a component of other invested assets and is net of returns of capital received from the Pillar Investments.

See Note 9(c) of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding variable interest entities.

(i) Investments in Commercial Mortgage Loans

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the carrying value of Alleghany’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio was $691.9 million and $686.2 million, respectively, representing the unpaid principal balance on the loans, less allowance for credit losses. The estimated fair value of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio approximated carrying value as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The commercial mortgage loan portfolio consists primarily of first mortgages on commercial properties in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The loans earn interest at fixed- and floating-rates, and mature in two to ten years from loan origination. As of September 30, 2020, the vast majority of loans in Alleghany’s portfolio were originated in the 2016 through 2019 years.

The principal amounts of the loans were no more than approximately two-thirds of the property’s appraised value at the time the loans were made and the estimated fair value of underlying collateral was approximately double that of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio carrying value as of September 30, 2020.  Fair value estimates of underlying collateral are updated on a rolling basis at least annually, with a portion of the portfolio updated each quarter. As of September 30, 2020, there was no loan in default or in arrears.

The following table presents a rollforward of Alleghany’s allowance for credit losses on commercial mortgage loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2020

 

 

September 30, 2020

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

($ in millions)

 

Beginning balance

 

$

1.3

 

 

$

 

Beginning balance - cumulative effect of an accounting change(1)

 

 

 

 

 

0.8

 

Provision for credit losses

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.7

 

Charge-offs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recoveries

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2020

 

$

1.5

 

 

$

1.5

 

(1)

See Note 1(c) of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding Alleghany’s adoption of new credit loss accounting guidance.