Mr. Lindner added, “Based on results through the first six months, we continue to expect an overall 2022 calendar year combined ratio in the range of 85% to 87%, and we now expect net written premiums to be 9% to 13% higher than the $5.6 billion reported in 2021, an increase from our previous guidance of growth in the range of 8% to 12%. We expect the market to remain firm throughout 2022, allowing us to act on business opportunities and achieve adequate renewal rate increases.”
Further details about AFG’s Specialty P&C operations may be found in the accompanying schedules and in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
Investments
Net Investment Income – For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, net investment income was slightly higher than the comparable 2021 period. Both periods included strong earnings from alternative investments, with an annualized return of approximately 12.4% for the 2022 quarter and 21.1% for the 2021 quarter. Earnings from alternative investments may vary from quarter to quarter based on the reported results of the underlying investments, and generally are reported on a quarter lag. The average annual return on alternative investments over the five calendar years ended December 31, 2021 was approximately 13%.
The $62 million in pretax earnings from alternative investments in the second quarter of 2022 included $38 million in earnings from the sale of certain multi-family housing investments in a very favorable market. Excluding the impact of alternative investments, net investment income in our property and casualty insurance operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022 increased 18% year-over-year as a result of the impact of rising interest rates and higher balances of invested assets.
Non-Core Net Realized Gains (Losses) – AFG recorded second quarter 2022 net realized losses on securities of $73 million ($0.86 per share loss) after tax, which included $65 million ($0.76 per share loss) in after-tax net losses to adjust equity securities that the Company continued to own at June 30, 2022, to fair value. By comparison, AFG recorded net realized gains on securities of $34 million ($0.40 per share) in the comparable 2021 period.
After-tax unrealized losses on fixed maturities were $326 million at June 30, 2022. Our portfolio continues to be high quality, with 91% of our fixed maturity portfolio rated investment grade and 98% of our P&C fixed maturity portfolio with a National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ designation of NAIC 1 or 2, its highest two categories.
More information about the components of our investment portfolio may be found in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
Discontinued Annuity Operations
In May 2021, AFG completed the sale of its Annuity business to Mass Mutual for cash proceeds of $3.57 billion. AFG recognized an after-tax non-core gain on the sale of $656 million ($7.62 per AFG share) in the first half of 2021. The sale continues to be subject to tax-related post-closing adjustments, which are not expected to be material and are expected to be settled in 2022.
Redemption of 3.500% Senior Notes due 2026
On June 3, 2022, the Company redeemed all of its approximately $375 million in outstanding 3.500% Senior Notes due 2026 under a make-whole call. The redemption price was 101.757% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date. The early redemption of the Notes resulted in an after-tax non-core loss of approximately $7 million ($0.08 per share loss) during the second quarter of 2022.
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