Additional Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Additional Information

Additional Information

Allowance for Uncollectible Reinsurance   AFG’s aggregate allowance for uncollectible reinsurance recoverables was $18 million at both December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. AFG reviews the allowance quarterly and adjusts it as necessary to reflect changes in estimates of uncollectible balances. AFG recorded net expense reductions against the allowance of less than $1 million in 2019, $2 million in 2018 and less than $1 million in 2017. In 2017, the allowance was reduced by reinsurance recoverable write-offs of $2 million.

See Note A — “Accounting Policies — Credit Impairment Guidance Effective in 2020” for a discussion of accounting guidance adopted on January 1, 2020, which provides a new credit loss model for determining credit-related impairments for reinsurance recoverables and requires an entity to estimate the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure or pool of exposures. The new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on AFG’s results of operations or financial position.

Financial Instruments — Unfunded Commitments   On occasion, AFG and its subsidiaries have entered into financial instrument transactions that may present off-balance-sheet risks of both a credit and market risk nature. These transactions include commitments to fund loans, loan guarantees and commitments to purchase and sell securities or loans. At December 31, 2019, AFG and its subsidiaries had commitments to fund credit facilities and contribute capital to limited partnerships and limited liability corporations of approximately $897 million.

Benefit Plans   AFG expensed approximately $39 million in 2019, $37 million in 2018 and $45 million in 2017 for its retirement and employee savings plans.