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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments InvestmentsIncluded in “Total investments” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is $97.1 million and $140.3 million, respectively, of assets managed on behalf of the trade capital providers, who are third-party participants that provide underwriting capital to the operations of Syndicates 1200 and 1910.
Fixed Maturities
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, allowance for credit losses, and fair value of fixed maturity investments were as follows:
September 30, 2021
(in millions)Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Allowance for Credit LossesFair
Value
Fixed maturities
U.S. Governments$404.8 $7.5 $2.1 $— $410.2 
Foreign Governments229.3 2.7 2.7 0.2 229.1 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions169.9 6.7 0.9 — 175.7 
Corporate bonds1,996.2 47.8 14.4 6.6 2,023.0 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities403.1 9.1 3.0 — 409.2 
Residential mortgage-backed securities488.1 10.6 4.8 — 493.9 
Asset-backed securities110.9 2.2 0.1 0.2 112.8 
Collateralized loan obligations342.9 1.8 1.3 — 343.4 
Total fixed maturities$4,145.2 $88.4 $29.3 $7.0 $4,197.3 
December 31, 2020
(in millions)Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Allowance for Credit LossesFair
Value
Fixed maturities
U.S. Governments$385.4 $14.7 $0.3 $— $399.8 
Foreign Governments284.1 11.6 0.7 0.2 294.8 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions163.1 7.7 0.3 0.1 170.4 
Corporate bonds1,925.9 75.3 13.3 6.1 1,981.8 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities324.8 15.2 0.3 — 339.7 
Residential mortgage-backed securities491.4 17.4 0.6 — 508.2 
Asset-backed securities120.5 2.9 0.4 0.2 122.8 
Collateralized loan obligations285.9 4.9 1.2 — 289.6 
Total fixed maturities$3,981.1 $149.7 $17.1 $6.6 $4,107.1 
Contractual Maturity
The amortized cost and fair values of fixed maturity investments as of September 30, 2021, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
(in millions)Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Due in one year or less$288.7 $292.9 
Due after one year through five years1,670.6 1,695.1 
Due after five years through ten years719.6 728.6 
Due after ten years121.3 121.4 
Structured securities1,345.0 1,359.3 
Total$4,145.2 $4,197.3 
The expected maturities may differ from the contractual maturities because debtors may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
Other Investments
Details regarding the carrying value and unfunded investment commitments of other investments as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:
September 30, 2021
(in millions)Carrying
Value
Unfunded
Commitments
Investment Type
Hedge funds$102.1 $— 
Private equity254.3 63.0 
Overseas deposits64.6 — 
Other4.8 — 
Total other investments$425.8 $63.0 
December 31, 2020
(in millions)Carrying
Value
Unfunded
Commitments
Investment Type
Hedge funds$111.2 $— 
Private equity211.4 80.0 
Overseas deposits102.1 — 
Other4.7 — 
Total other investments$429.4 $80.0 
The following describes each investment type:
Hedge funds: Hedge funds include funds that primarily buy and sell stocks, including short sales, multi-strategy credit, relative value credit and distressed credit.
Private equity: Private equity includes buyout funds, real asset/infrastructure funds, credit special situations funds, mezzanine lending funds and direct investments and strategic non-controlling minority investments in private companies that are principally accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Overseas deposits: Overseas deposits are principally invested in short-term sovereign fixed income and investment grade corporate securities and international stocks.
Other: Other includes participation in investment pools.
Unrealized Losses
An aging of unrealized losses on our investments in fixed maturities is presented below:
September 30, 2021Less Than One YearOne Year or GreaterTotal
(in millions)Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities
U.S. Governments$161.1 $1.7 $5.6 $0.4 $166.7 $2.1 
Foreign Governments117.7 2.4 1.3 0.3 119.0 2.7 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions28.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 28.7 0.9 
Corporate bonds626.4 10.8 40.7 3.6 667.1 14.4 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities136.9 2.6 8.9 0.4 145.8 3.0 
Residential mortgage-backed securities207.4 4.6 4.8 0.2 212.2 4.8 
Asset-backed securities21.3 0.1 — — 21.3 0.1 
Collateralized loan obligations126.8 1.3 2.4 — 129.2 1.3 
Total fixed maturities$1,425.9 $24.0 $64.1 $5.3 $1,490.0 $29.3 
December 31, 2020Less Than One YearOne Year or GreaterTotal
(in millions)Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities
U.S. Governments$40.6 $0.3 $— $— $40.6 $0.3 
Foreign Governments18.0 0.5 0.1 0.2 18.1 0.7 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions5.2 0.3 — — 5.2 0.3 
Corporate bonds202.5 6.7 17.5 6.6 220.0 13.3 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities21.8 0.3 — — 21.8 0.3 
Residential mortgage-backed securities74.4 0.4 3.0 0.2 77.4 0.6 
Asset-backed securities4.6 0.4 — — 4.6 0.4 
Collateralized loan obligations121.1 0.9 49.1 0.3 170.2 1.2 
Total fixed maturities$488.2 $9.8 $69.7 $7.3 $557.9 $17.1 
We hold a total of 5,377 fixed maturity securities, of which 577 were in an unrealized loss position for less than one year and 85 were in an unrealized loss position for a period one year or greater as of September 30, 2021.
Allowance for Credit Losses
For fixed maturities with a decline in the fair value between the amortized cost due to credit-related factors, an allowance is established for the difference between the estimated recoverable value and amortized cost with a corresponding charge to realized investment losses in the Statement of Income (Loss). The allowance is limited to the difference between amortized cost and fair value. The estimated recoverable value is the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, as determined by management. The difference between fair value and amortized cost that is not associated with credit-related factors is recognized in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Accrued interest is excluded from the measurement of the allowance for credit losses.
When determining if a credit loss has been incurred, we may consider the historical performance of the security, available market information and security specific considerations such as the priority payment of the security. In addition, inputs used in our analysis include, but are not limited to, credit ratings and downgrades, delinquency rates, missed scheduled interest or principal payments, purchase yields, underlying asset performance, collateral types, modeled default rates, modeled severity rates, call/prepayment rates, expected cash flows, industry concentrations, and potential or filed bankruptcies or restructurings.
We evaluate for credit losses each quarter. If we determine that all or a portion of a fixed maturity is uncollectible, the uncollectible amortized cost is written off with a corresponding reduction to the allowance for credit losses. If we collect cash flows that were previously written off, the recovery is recognized in realized investment gains. We also consider whether we intend to sell an available-for-sale security or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost. In these instances, a decline in fair value is recognized in net realized gains (losses) in the Statement of Income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security.
The following table presents a roll-forward of the changes in allowance for credit losses on available-for-sale fixed maturities by industry category for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively:
(in millions)Foreign GovernmentsObligations of states and political subdivisionsCorporate bondsAsset backed securitiesTotal
Beginning balance, June 30, 2021$0.2 $— $6.2 $— $6.4 
Securities for which allowance was not previously recorded— — 0.7 0.2 0.9 
Securities sold during the period— — (0.2)— (0.2)
Additional net increases (decreases) in existing allowance— — (0.1)— (0.1)
Ending balance, September 30, 2021$0.2 $— $6.6 $0.2 $7.0 
(in millions)Foreign GovernmentsObligations of states and political subdivisionsCorporate bondsAsset backed securitiesTotal
Beginning balance, June 30, 2020$0.3 $0.1 $39.7 $0.1 $40.2 
Securities for which allowance was not previously recorded0.1 — 13.6 — 13.7 
Securities sold during the period(0.2)— (14.7)— (14.9)
Additional net increases (decreases) in existing allowance— 0.1 (6.4)1.0 (5.3)
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$0.2 $0.2 $32.2 $1.1 $33.7 

(in millions)Foreign GovernmentsObligations of states and political subdivisionsCorporate bondsAsset backed securitiesTotal
Beginning balance, January 1, 2021$0.2 $0.1 $6.1 $0.2 $6.6 
Securities for which allowance was not previously recorded— — 2.7 0.2 2.9 
Securities sold during the period— — (1.1)— (1.1)
Additional net increases (decreases) in existing allowance— (0.1)(1.1)(0.2)(1.4)
Ending balance, September 30, 2021$0.2 $— $6.6 $0.2 $7.0 

(in millions)Foreign GovernmentsObligations of states and political subdivisionsCorporate bondsAsset backed securitiesTotal
Beginning balance, January 1, 2020$— $— $— $— $— 
Additions-initial adoption of accounting standard— — 6.8 0.1 6.9 
Securities for which allowance was not previously recorded0.3 0.3 14.4 — 15.0 
Securities sold during the period(0.2)— (15.5)— (15.7)
Additional net increases (decreases) in existing allowance0.1 (0.1)26.5 1.0 27.5 
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$0.2 $0.2 $32.2 $1.1 $33.7 
Total credit impairment (gains) losses included in net realized investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statement of Income was $0.8 million and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. Total credit impairment losses included in net realized investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statement of Income was $10.5 million and $43.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.
Investment Gains and Losses
The following table presents our gross realized investment gains (losses):
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)2021202020212020
Realized gains on fixed maturities and other
Fixed maturities$3.3 $7.2 $26.3 $30.5 
Other investments, including short-terms0.9 10.8 8.9 70.7 
Other assets— — 3.4 32.3 
4.2 18.0 38.6 133.5 
Realized losses on fixed maturities and other
Fixed maturities(0.4)(7.5)(5.0)(25.7)
Other investments, including short-terms(3.3)(12.6)(16.6)(58.4)
Other assets(1.4)(0.4)(14.0)(0.9)
Credit losses on fixed maturities(0.7)(10.5)(1.5)(43.0)
(5.8)(31.0)(37.1)(128.0)
Equity securities
Net realized gains (losses) on equity securities1.4 (3.2)0.3 (15.8)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities held at the end of the period(5.1)10.5 30.7 (13.7)
Net realized gains (losses) on equity securities(3.7)7.3 31.0 (29.5)
Net realized investment and other gains (losses) before income taxes(5.3)(5.7)32.5 (24.0)
Income tax (benefit) provision— (0.5)— (1.7)
Net realized investment gains (losses), net of income taxes$(5.3)$(5.2)$32.5 $(22.3)
The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) related to investments are summarized as follows:
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)2021202020212020
Change in unrealized gains (losses)
Fixed maturities$(23.0)$42.5 $(70.7)$66.9 
Other investments— 0.2 — (14.0)
Other and short-term investments(0.3)— (0.6)— 
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) before income taxes(23.3)42.7 (71.3)52.9 
Income tax provision (benefit)(4.4)7.0 (13.0)12.2 
Net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of income taxes$(18.9)$35.7 $(58.3)$40.7 
Foreign Currency Exchange Forward Contracts
We enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to manage operational currency exposure on our Canadian dollar investment portfolio and certain catastrophic events, minimize negative impacts to investment portfolio returns and gain exposure to a total return strategy which invests in multiple currencies.  The currency forward contracts are carried at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets in “Other liabilities” and “Other assets” at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The net realized gains and (losses) are included in “Net realized investment gains (losses)” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
The fair value of our foreign currency exchange forward contracts as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was as follows:
(in millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Operational currency exposure$(0.3)$0.4 
Asset manager investment exposure2.0 (0.2)
Total return strategy(3.4)0.7 
Total$(1.7)$0.9 
The following table represents our gross investment realized gains and losses on our foreign currency exchange forward contracts:
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in millions)2021202020212020
Realized gains
Operational currency exposure$— $4.2 $7.1 $10.1 
Asset manager investment exposure1.0 — 2.8 1.0 
Total return strategy6.9 10.3 13.0 43.5 
Gross realized investment gains7.9 14.5 22.9 54.6 
Realized losses
Operational currency exposure(5.2)(1.8)(17.8)(6.5)
Asset manager investment exposure— (0.9)(0.8)(1.9)
Total return strategy(6.9)(10.4)(12.0)(47.0)
Gross realized investment losses(12.1)(13.1)(30.6)(55.4)
Net realized investment (losses) gains on foreign currency exchange forward contracts
$(4.2)$1.4 $(7.7)$(0.8)
Regulatory Deposits, Pledged Securities and Letters of Credit
We are required to maintain assets on deposit with various regulatory authorities to support our insurance and reinsurance operations.  We maintain assets pledged as collateral in support of irrevocable letters of credit issued under the terms of certain reinsurance agreements for reported loss and loss expense reserves. The following table presents our components of restricted assets:
(in millions)September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Securities on deposit for regulatory and other purposes$205.3 $227.5 
Securities pledged as collateral for letters of credit and other191.0 189.4 
Securities and cash on deposit supporting Lloyd’s business (1)
331.2 409.2 
Total restricted investments$727.5 $826.1 
(1) As the corporate member for our Lloyd’s syndicates, Argo’s share of Argo (No. 604) Limited’s required Funds to maintain at Lloyd’s was $397.9 million at September 30, 2021, of which $179.0 million was provided by Argo Re, Ltd. (“Argo Re.”)
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal (or most advantageous) market that are independent, knowledgeable, able to transact for the asset or liability and willing to transfer the asset or liability.
Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and/or cost approach are used to measure fair value. The inputs of these valuation techniques are categorized into three levels.
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that can be accessed at the reporting date. We define actively traded as a security that has traded in the past seven days. We receive one quote per instrument for Level 1 inputs.
Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. We receive one quote per instrument for Level 2 inputs.
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs reflect our own judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances.
We receive fair value prices from third-party pricing services and our outside investment managers. These prices are determined using observable market information such as dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things. We have reviewed the processes used by the third-party providers for pricing the securities and have determined that these processes result in fair values consistent with GAAP requirements. In addition, we review these prices for reasonableness, and have not adjusted any prices received from the third-party providers as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. A description of the valuation techniques we use to measure assets at fair value is as follows:
Fixed Maturities (Available-for-Sale) Levels 1 and 2:
United States Treasury securities are typically valued using Level 1 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from third-party pricing services using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets at the reporting date.
United States Government agencies, non-U.S. Government securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, credit securities and foreign denominated government and credit securities are reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from third-party pricing services. Observable data may include dealer quotes, market spreads, yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things.
Asset and mortgage-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations are reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from third-party pricing services. Observable data may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things.
Fixed Maturities (Available-for-Sale) Levels 3: We own term loans that are valued using unobservable inputs.
Equity Securities Level 1: Equity securities are principally reported at fair value using Level 1 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from a third-party pricing service using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets at the reporting date.
Equity Securities Level 3: We own certain equity securities that are reported at fair value using Level 3 inputs. The valuation techniques for these securities include the following:
Fair value measurements for an investment in an equity fund obtained by applying final prices provided by the administrator of the fund, which is based upon certain estimates and assumptions.
Fair value measurements from brokers and independent valuation services, both based upon estimates, assumptions and other unobservable inputs.
Other Investments Level 2: Foreign regulatory deposits are assets held in trust in jurisdictions where there is a legal and regulatory requirement to maintain funds locally in order to protect policyholders. Lloyd’s is the appointed investment manager for the funds. These assets are invested in short-term government securities, agency securities and corporate bonds and are valued using Level 2 inputs based upon values obtained from Lloyd’s.
Short-term Investments: Short-term investments are principally reported at fair value using Level 1 inputs, with the exception of short-term corporate and governmental bonds reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs as described in the fixed maturities section above. Values for the investments categorized as Level 1 are obtained from various financial institutions as of the reporting date.
Based on an analysis of the inputs, our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis have been categorized as follows:
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in millions)September 30,
2021
Level 1 (a)
Level 2 (b)
Level 3 (c)
Fixed maturities
U.S. Governments$410.2 $398.3 $11.9 $— 
Foreign Governments229.1 — 229.1 — 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions175.7 — 175.7 — 
Corporate bonds2,023.0 — 2,019.2 3.8 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities409.2 — 409.2 — 
Residential mortgage-backed securities493.9 — 493.9 — 
Asset-backed securities112.8 — 112.8 — 
Collateralized loan obligations343.4 — 343.4 — 
Total fixed maturities4,197.3 398.3 3,795.2 3.8 
Equity securities181.8 156.3 — 25.5 
Other investments65.1 — 65.1 — 
Short-term investments508.6 497.4 11.2 — 
$4,952.8 $1,052.0 $3,871.5 $29.3 
(a)Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(b)Significant other observable inputs
(c)Significant unobservable inputs

Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in millions)December 31,
2020
Level 1 (a)
Level 2 (b)
Level 3 (c)
Fixed maturities
U.S. Governments$399.8 $383.5 $16.3 $— 
Foreign Governments294.8 — 294.8 — 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions170.4 — 170.4 — 
Corporate bonds1,981.8 — 1,974.8 7.0 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities339.7 — 339.7 — 
Residential mortgage-backed securities508.2 — 508.2 — 
Asset-backed securities122.8 — 122.8 — 
Collateralized loan obligations289.6 — 289.6 — 
Total fixed maturities4,107.1 383.5 3,716.6 7.0 
Equity securities176.7 159.2 — 17.5 
Other investments102.5 0.4 102.1 — 
Short-term investments542.6 526.5 16.1 — 
$4,928.9 $1,069.6 $3,834.8 $24.5 
(a)Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(b)Significant other observable inputs
(c)Significant unobservable inputs
The fair value measurements in the tables above do not equal “Total investments” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as they exclude certain other investments that are accounted for under the equity-method of accounting.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the investments categorized as Level 3 are as follows:
Fair Value Measurements Using Observable Inputs (Level 3)
(in millions)Corporate BondsEquity
Securities
Short Term InvestmentsTotal
Beginning balance, January 1, 2021$7.0 $17.5 $— $24.5 
Transfers into Level 3— 1.5 — 1.5 
Transfers out of Level 3— — — — 
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
Included in net income 0.1 6.5 — 6.6 
Included in other comprehensive income0.1 — — 0.1 
Purchases, issuances, sales, and settlements:
Purchases0.1 — — 0.1 
Issuances— — — — 
Sales(3.5)— — (3.5)
Settlements— — — — 
 Ending balance, September 30, 2021$3.8 $25.5 $— $29.3 
Amount of total gains or losses for the year included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at September 30, 2021$— $— $— $— 
(in millions)Credit FinancialEquity
Securities
Total
Beginning balance, January 1, 2020$7.4 $18.2 $25.6 
Transfers into Level 3— — — 
Transfers out of Level 3— — — 
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
Included in net income— (5.9)(5.9)
Included in other comprehensive loss(0.5)— (0.5)
Purchases, issuances, sales, and settlements:
Purchases0.1 5.2 5.3 
Issuances— — — 
Sales— — — 
Settlements— — — 
 Ending balance, December 31, 2020$7.0 $17.5 $24.5 
Amount of total gains or losses for the year included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at December 31, 2020$— $— $— 
At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we did not have any financial assets or financial liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis or any financial liabilities on a recurring basis.