AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC

Holding Company, Other and Unallocated — Results of Operations

AFG’s net GAAP pretax loss outside of its property and casualty insurance segment (excluding realized gains and losses) totaled $191 million in 2023 compared to $180 million in 2022, an increase of $11 million (6%). AFG’s net core pretax loss outside of its property and casualty insurance segment (excluding realized gains and losses) totaled $177 million in 2023 compared to $171 million in 2022, an increase of $6 million (4%).

AFG’s net GAAP pretax loss outside of its property and casualty insurance segment (excluding realized gains and losses) totaled $180 million in 2022 compared to $219 million in 2021, a decrease of $39 million (18%). AFG’s net core pretax loss outside of its property and casualty insurance segment (excluding realized gains and losses) totaled $171 million in 2022 compared to $208 million in 2021, a decrease of $37 million (18%).

The following table details AFG’s GAAP and core loss from continuing operations before income taxes from operations outside of its property and casualty insurance segment in 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in millions):

(*)Excludes a pretax non-core special A&E charge of $15 million and a pretax non-core gain on retirement of debt of $1 million in 2023, a pretax non-core loss on retirement of debt of $9 million in 2022 and a pretax non-core loss of $11 million related to the settlement of pension liabilities of a small former manufacturing operation in 2021.

Holding Company and Other — Net Investment Income

AFG recorded net investment income on investments held outside of its property and casualty insurance segment of $40 million, $24 million and $36 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The $16 million (67%) increase in 2023 compared to 2022 and the $12 million (33%) decrease in 2022 compared to 2021 reflect the impact of a small portfolio of securities held at the holding company that were carried at fair value through net investment income. These securities, all of which were sold in 2022, declined in value by $7 million in 2022 and increased in value by $14 million in 2021. Excluding the change in fair value of these equity securities, net investment income outside of AFG’s property and casualty insurance segment increased $9 million in 2023 compared to 2022 reflecting the impact of higher interest rates on cash and fixed maturity investments, partially offset by lower average investment balances and increased $9 million in 2022 compared to 2021 reflecting an increase in average investments, income from directly owned real estate investments acquired from the annuity subsidiaries in conjunction with the sale of the annuity business in May 2021 and the impact of higher interest rates.

Holding Company and Other — P&C Fees and Related Expenses

Summit, a workers’ compensation insurance subsidiary, collects fees from a small group of unaffiliated insurers for providing underwriting, policy administration and claims services. In addition, certain of AFG’s property and casualty insurance businesses collect fees from customers for ancillary services such as workplace safety programs and premium financing. In 2023, AFG collected $91 million in fees for these services compared to $82 million in 2022 and $73 million in 2021. Management views this fee income, net of the $57 million in 2023, $51 million in 2022 and $47 million in 2021, in expenses incurred to generate such fees, as a reduction in the cost of underwriting its property and casualty insurance policies. In addition, AFG’s property and casualty insurance businesses earned $34 million in fees as compensation for providing services during the second half of 2023 related to the administration of crop insurance business generated by CRS for its former owner prior to the acquisition date and $7 million in fees from AFG’s disposed annuity operations in both 2022 and 2021 as compensation for certain services provided under a transition services agreement. The expenses related to providing such services are embedded in property and casualty underwriting expenses. Consistent with internal management reporting, these fees and the related expenses are netted and recorded as a reduction of loss adjustment and other underwriting expenses in AFG’s segmented results.

Holding Company and Other — Other Income

Other income in the table above includes $16 million in 2023, $17 million in 2022 and $16 million in 2021, in management fees paid to AFG by the AFG-managed CLOs (AFG’s consolidated managed investment entities). The management fees are eliminated in consolidation — see the other income line in the Consolidated MIEs column under“Results of Operations — Segmented Statement of Earnings.” Excluding amounts eliminated in consolidation, AFG recorded other income outside of its property and casualty insurance segment of $5 million in 2023, $16 million in 2022 and $6 million in 2021. The decrease in 2023 compared to 2022 and the increase in 2022 compared to 2021 is due primarily to income from the sale of real estate in 2022.

Holding Company and Other — Other Expenses

Excluding the non-core special A&E charge and the non-core gain (loss) on retirement of debt discussed below, AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its property and casualty insurance segment recorded other expenses of $162 million in 2023 compared to $143 million in 2022, an increase of $19 million (13%) reflecting the favorable impact of poor stock market performance in 2022 on expenses related to deferred compensation obligations to employees that are tied to stock market performance. To mitigate the impact of fair value changes related to the equity components of these obligations, AFG entered into a total return swap in the second half of 2022.

Excluding the non-core loss on retirement of debt and the non-core loss on pension settlement discussed below, AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its property and casualty insurance segment recorded other expenses of $143 million in 2022 compared to $172 million in 2021, a decrease of $29 million (17%). This decrease reflects lower holding company expenses related to deferred compensation obligations to employees that are tied to stock market performance, partially offset by higher charges (included in AFG’s core operating earnings) to increase the liabilities related to the A&E exposures of AFG’s former railroad and manufacturing operations.

Holding Company and Other — Interest Charges on Borrowed Money

AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its property and casualty insurance segment recorded interest expense of $76 million in 2023, $85 million in 2022 and $94 million in 2021. The $9 million (11%) decrease in interest expense in 2023 compared to 2022 and the $9 million (10%) decrease in interest expense in 2022 compared to 2021 is due primarily to the retirement of AFG’s $425 million principal amount of 3.50% Senior Notes during the first six months of 2022.

Holding Company and Other — Special A&E Charge

As a result of the in-depth internal reviews of A&E exposures discussed under“Uncertainties — Asbestos and Environmental-related (“A&E”) Insurance Reserves,”AFG’s holding companies and other operations outside of its property and casualty insurance segment recorded a pretax non-core special charge of $15 million in 2023 and minor charges in 2022 and 2021 (included in AFG’s core operating earnings) to increase liabilities related to the A&E exposures of AFG’s former railroad and manufacturing operations. The 2023 charge reflects changes in the scope and costs of investigation and an increase in estimated remediation costs at a limited number of sites. AFG has also increased its reserve for asbestos and toxic substance exposures arising out of these operations. Total charges recorded to increase liabilities for A&E exposures of AFG’s former railroad and manufacturing operations (included in other expenses) were $22 million in 2023, $17 million in 2022 and $9 million in 2021.

Holding Company and Other — Gain (Loss) on Retirement of Debt

During the first six months of 2023, AFG repurchased $23 million principal amount of its senior notes, which resulted in a $2 million pretax non-core gain and recorded a $1 million pretax non-core loss related to the write-off of debt issue costs associated with its previous revolving credit facility, which was replaced in June 2023. During 2022, AFG retired $472 million principal amount of its senior notes, which resulted in a $9 million pretax non-core loss.

Holding Company and Other — Loss on Pension Settlement

In the second quarter of 2021, AFG settled pension liabilities related to a small former manufacturing operation resulting in a pretax non-core loss of $11 million.

Realized Gains (Losses) on Securities

AFG’s realized gains (losses) on securities were net losses of $36 million in 2023 compared to $116 million in 2022, a decrease of $80 million (69%). AFG’s consolidated realized gains (losses) on securities were net losses of $116 million in 2022 compared to net gains of $110 million in 2021, a change of $226 million (205%). Realized gains (losses) on securities consisted of the following (in millions):

The $33 million net realized loss from disposals in 2023 includes losses of $15 million from the sale of investments in banks and $5 million from the sale of municipal bonds.

The $10 million net realized gain from the change in the fair value of equity securities in 2023 includes gains of $8 million on investments in retail companies, $7 million on investments in banks and financing companies, $5 million on investments in capital goods companies and $4 million on investments in natural gas companies, partially offset by losses of $8 million on investments in media companies and $6 million on investments in energy companies.

The $96 million net realized loss from the change in the fair value of equity securities in 2022 includes losses of $51 million on investments in banks and financing companies, $21 million on investments in media companies, $14 million on investments in healthcare companies, $7 million on investments in technology companies and $3 million on investments in retail companies, partially offset by gains of $17 million on investments in energy and natural gas companies.

The $110 million net realized gain from the change in the fair value of equity securities in 2021 includes gains of $29 million on investments in energy and natural gas companies, $18 million on investments in banks and financing companies, $17 million on investments in media companies, $14 million on investments in healthcare companies and $9 million on investments in capital goods companies.

Realized Gain (Loss) on Subsidiaries

In the third quarter of 2023, AFG recorded a realized loss on subsidiary of $4 million, consisting of a $26 million goodwill impairment charge, partially offset by a $22 million reduction in the fair value of a contingent consideration liability, both related to AFG’s investment in Verikai. See Note E — “Fair Value Measurements” and Note I — “Goodwill and Other Intangibles”to the financial statements.

In 2021, AFG recognized a pretax gain on sale of subsidiary of $4 million related to contingent consideration received on the sale of Neon.

Consolidated Income Taxes on Continuing Operations

AFG’s consolidated provision for income taxes on continuing operations was $221 million in 2023 compared to $225 million in 2022, a decrease of $4 million (2%). AFG’s consolidated provision for income taxes on continuing operations was $225 million in 2022 compared to $254 million in 2021, a decrease of $29 million (11%). See Note M — “Income Taxes”to the financial statements for an analysis of items affecting AFG’s effective tax rate.