A&E Reserves
During the third quarter of 2023, AFG conducted an in-depth comprehensive review of its asbestos and environmental (A&E) exposures relating to the run-off operations of its P&C Group. During the 2023 review, no new trends were identified, and recent claims activity was generally consistent with our expectations resulting from our in-depth reviews in 2022 and 2021 and our most recent external study in 2020. As a result, and consistent with the internal review in the third quarter of 2022, the 2023 review resulted in no net change to the P&C Group’s A&E reserves.
At September 30, 2023, the P&C Group’s insurance reserves include A&E reserves of $374 million, net of reinsurance recoverables. At September 30, 2023, the property and casualty insurance segment’s three-year survival ratios were 22.7 times paid losses for asbestos reserves, 18.9 times paid losses for environmental reserves and 20.8 times paid losses for total A&E reserves. These ratios compare favorably with industry data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence as of December 31, 2022, which indicate that industry survival ratios were 8.6 times paid losses for asbestos, 7.3 times paid losses for environmental, and 8.3 times paid losses for total A&E reserves.
The 2023 in-depth comprehensive review also encompassed reserves for asbestos and environmental exposures of our former railroad and manufacturing operations. As a result of the study, AFG recorded a special non-core A&E charge to increase its liabilities for environmental exposures by $15 million ($12 million after-tax), due primarily to changes in the scope and costs of investigation and an increase in estimated remediation costs at a limited number of sites.
Investments
Net Investment Income – For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, property and casualty net investment income was approximately 17% higher than the comparable 2022 period. Excluding the impact of alternative investments, net investment income in our property and casualty insurance operations for the three months ended September 30, 2023, increased 33% year-over-year as a result of the impact of rising interest rates and higher balances of invested assets. The annualized return on alternative investments was approximately 4.2% for the 2023 third quarter compared to 7.1% for the prior year 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, 2022, was approximately 14%. Our guidance for the full year 2023 continues to assume a return of approximately 9% on alternative investments.
Non-Core Net Realized Gains (Losses) – AFG recorded third quarter 2023 net realized losses of $19 million ($0.21 per share loss) after tax, which included $6 million ($0.07 per share loss) in after-tax net losses to adjust equity securities that the Company continued to own at September 30, 2023, to fair value. AFG recorded net realized losses of $28 million ($0.32 per share loss) in the comparable 2022 period.
After-tax unrealized losses related to fixed maturities were $555 million at September 30, 2023. Our portfolio continues to be high quality, with 93% of our fixed maturity portfolio rated investment grade and 96% 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.
About American Financial Group, Inc.
American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company.
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