Investments

Income Statement

Investment Income. The following table summarizes investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:



	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018			March 31, 2017
	($ in millions)
Fixed income securities — Available for sale	$	33.3		$	33.9
Fixed income securities — Trading	12.0			10.1
Short-term investments — Available for sale	0.2			0.1
Short-term investments — Trading	0.2			0.2
Fixed term deposits (included in cash and cash equivalents)	2.4			0.7
Equity securities — Trading	1.2			5.2
Catastrophe bonds — Trading	0.6			0.4
Total	$	49.9		$	50.6
Investment expenses	(2.6		)	(2.9		)
Net investment income	$	47.3		$	47.7

The following table summarizes the net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses recorded in the statement of operations and the change in unrealized gains and losses on investments recorded in other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:



	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018			March 31, 2017
	($ in millions)
Available for sale:
Fixed income securities — gross realized gains	$	1.8		$	2.2
Fixed income securities — gross realized (losses)	(1.8		)	(1.3		)
Short-term investments — gross realized gains	—			0.1
Cash and cash equivalents — gross realized gains	0.2			—
Cash and cash equivalents — gross realized (losses)	(0.1		)	—
Other-than-temporary impairments	—			(0.3		)
Trading:
Fixed income securities — gross realized gains	1.6			1.8
Fixed income securities — gross realized (losses)	(7.0		)	(2.0		)
Cash and cash equivalents — gross realized gains	1.6			—
Equity securities — gross realized gains	94.5			4.5
Equity securities — gross realized (losses)	(20.3		)	(1.4		)
Catastrophe bonds — net unrealized (losses)/gains	0.9			—
Net change in gross unrealized (losses)/gains	(108.8		)	40.9
Other investments:
Gross realized and unrealized (loss) in MVI	(0.1		)	—
Gross realized (loss)/gain in Chaspark	—			1.7
Gross realized and unrealized (loss) in Bene	(0.2		)	—
Total net realized and unrealized investment (losses)/gains recorded in the statement of operations	$	(37.7	)	$	46.2

Change in available for sale net unrealized (losses)/gains:
Fixed income securities	(82.9		)	2.0
Total change in pre-tax available for sale unrealized (losses)/gains	(82.9		)	2.0
Change in taxes	5.5			0.1
Total change in net unrealized gains, net of taxes, recorded in other comprehensive income	$	(77.4	)	$	2.1

Balance Sheet

Fixed Income Securities and Short-Term Investments — Available For Sale. The following tables present the cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair market value of available for sale investments in fixed income securities and short-term investments as at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:



	As at March 31, 2018
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
	($ in millions)
U.S. government	$	1,311.3	$	2.5	$	(21.6	)	$	1,292.2
U.S. agency	52.9		0.2		(0.4		)	52.7
Municipal	46.5		1.7		(0.6		)	47.6
Corporate	2,471.3		16.3		(41.4		)	2,446.2
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate	98.2		0.1		(0.5		)	97.8
Non-U.S. government	480.7		4.5		(1.8		)	483.4
Asset-backed	18.7		—		(0.2		)	18.5
Agency mortgage-backed	985.6		8.6		(20.4		)	973.8
Total fixed income securities — Available for sale	5,465.2		33.9		(86.9		)	5,412.2
Total short-term investments — Available for sale	54.7		—		(0.1		)	54.6
Total	$	5,519.9	$	33.9	$	(87.0	)	$	5,466.8



	As at December 31, 2017
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
	($ in millions)
U.S. government	$	1,166.5	$	4.5	$	(11.6	)	$	1,159.4
U.S. agency	51.8		0.5		(0.2		)	52.1
Municipal	53.0		2.1		(0.2		)	54.9
Corporate	2,391.4		36.1		(11.8		)	2,415.7
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate	91.5		0.3		(0.5		)	91.3
Non-U.S. government	479.7		6.4		(1.2		)	484.9
Asset-backed	26.3		—		(0.1		)	26.2
Agency mortgage-backed	941.0		13.7		(8.2		)	946.5
Total fixed income securities — Available for sale	5,201.2		63.6		(33.8		)	5,231.0
Total short-term investments — Available for sale	90.0		—		(0.1		)	89.9
Total	$	5,291.2	$	63.6	$	(33.9	)	$	5,320.9

Fixed Income Securities, Short-Term Investments, Equities and Catastrophe Bonds — Trading. The following tables present the cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and estimated fair market value of trading investments in fixed income securities, short-term investments, equity securities and catastrophe bonds as at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:



	As at March 31, 2018
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
	($ in millions)
U.S. government	$	141.8	$	0.6	$	(0.7	)	$	141.7
Municipal	75.0		—		(0.7		)	74.3
Corporate	1,014.5		5.8		(16.7		)	1,003.6
Non-U.S government-backed corporate	1.0		—		—			1.0
Non-U.S. government	216.2		3.4		(3.0		)	216.6
Asset-backed	8.4		—		(0.1		)	8.3
Agency mortgage-backed	195.8		0.3		(4.0		)	192.1
Total fixed income securities — Trading	1,652.7		10.1		(25.2		)	1,637.6
Total short-term investments — Trading	27.0		—		—			27.0
Total catastrophe bonds — Trading	35.0		—		(0.2		)	34.8
Total	$	1,714.7	$	10.1	$	(25.4	)	$	1,699.4



	As at December 31, 2017
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
	($ in millions)
U.S. government	$	162.3	$	0.4	$	(0.8	)	$	161.9
Municipal	32.4		—		(0.2		)	32.2
Corporate	1,036.5		14.0		(4.2		)	1,046.3
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate	1.0		—		—			1.0
Non-U.S. government	196.1		6.9		(0.5		)	202.5
Asset-backed	9.9		—		—			9.9
Agency mortgage-backed	196.7		0.2		(1.4		)	195.5
Total fixed income securities — Trading	1,634.9		21.5		(7.1		)	1,649.3
Total short-term investments — Trading	73.0		—		—			73.0
Total equity securities — Trading	414.8		83.5		(7.3		)	491.0
Total catastrophe bonds — Trading	33.5		—		(1.1		)	32.4
Total	$	2,156.2	$	105.0	$	(15.5	)	$	2,245.7

The Company classifies the financial instruments presented in the tables above as held for trading as this most closely reflects the facts and circumstances of the investments held.

Catastrophe Bonds. The Company has invested in catastrophe bonds with a total value of $34.8 million as at March 31, 2018. The bonds receive quarterly interest payments based on variable interest rates with scheduled maturities ranging from 2018 to 2021. The redemption value of the bonds will adjust based on the occurrence of a covered event, such as windstorms and earthquakes in the United States, Canada, the North Atlantic, Japan or Australia.

Other Investments. In January 2015, the Company established, along with seven other insurance companies, a micro-insurance venture consortium and micro-insurance incubator (“MVI”) domiciled in Bermuda. The MVI is a social impact organization that provides micro-insurance products to assist global emerging consumers. The Company’s initial investment in the MVI was $0.8 million. The Company made an additional investment of $0.1 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2017.

On July 26, 2016, the Company purchased through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Acorn Limited, a 20% share of Bene Assicurazioni (“Bene”), an Italian-based motor insurer for a total consideration of $3.3 million. The investment is accounted for under the equity method and adjustments to the carrying value of this investment are made based on the Company’s share of capital, including share of income and expenses.

On January 1, 2017, the Company purchased through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aspen U.S. Holdings, Inc. (“Aspen U.S. Holdings”), a 49% share of Digital Risk Resources, LLC (“Digital Re”), a U.S.-based enterprise engaged in the business of developing, marketing and servicing turnkey information security and privacy liability insurance products, for a total consideration of $2.3 million. The investment is accounted for under the equity method and adjustments to the carrying value of this investment are made based on the Company’s share of capital, including share of income and expenses.

On December 18, 2017, the Company acquired through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aspen U.S. Holdings, a 23.2% share of Crop Re Services LLC (“Crop Re”), a newly formed U.S.-based subsidiary of CGB Diversified Services, Inc (“CGB DS”) in exchange for the sale of AG Logic Holdings, LLC (“AgriLogic”), the Company’s former U.S. crop insurance business. Total consideration for the sale of AgriLogic consisted of the 23.2% share of Crop Re valued at $62.5 million and cash in the amount of $5.9 million. Crop Re is responsible for directing the placement of reinsurance on behalf of CGB DS and CGB Insurance Company (“CGBIC”), an Indiana insurance company affiliate of CGB DS and an RMA licensed crop insurer. The remaining 76.8% of Crop Re is owned by CGB DS. AAIC’s primary crop insurance coverage will be run-off and AAIC, or an affiliate of AAIC, will provide quota share reinsurance to CGBIC for both federal and state regulated crop insurance as part of Aspen’s ownership in Crop Re. The investment in Crop Re represents the Company’s share of the net assets of Crop Re plus the difference between the cost of the investment and the amount of underlying equity in net assets, the basis difference. The Company has determined that this basis difference of $62.5 million represents the value attributable to the ability of Crop Re to direct the placement of reinsurance business under the reinsurance commitment contained within the operating agreement between Crop Re and the Company. The investment in Crop Re is accounted for under the equity method and adjustments to the carrying value of this investment are made based on the Company’s share of capital, including share of income and expenses.

The tables below show the Company’s investments in the MVI, Bene, Digital Re and Crop Re for the three months ended March 31, 2018:



	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	MVI			Bene			Digital Re		Crop Re		Total
	($ in millions)
Opening undistributed value of investment	$	0.5		$	2.9		$	0.5	$	62.5	$	66.4
Realized/unrealized losses for the three months to March 31, 2018	(0.1		)	(0.2		)	—		—		(0.3		)
Closing undistributed value of investment	$	0.4		$	2.7		$	0.5	$	62.5	$	66.1

Fixed Income Securities. The scheduled maturity distribution of available for sale fixed income securities as at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is set forth in the tables below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers of securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.



	As at March 31, 2018
	Amortized Cost or Cost		Fair Market Value		Average S&P Ratings by Maturity
	($ in millions)
Due one year or less	$	592.2	$	593.2	AA
Due after one year through five years	2,608.0		2,582.6		AA-
Due after five years through ten years	1,153.4		1,128.1		AA-
Due after ten years	107.3		116.0		A+
Subtotal	4,460.9		4,419.9
Agency mortgage-backed	985.6		973.8		AA+
Asset-backed	18.7		18.5		AAA
Total fixed income securities — Available for sale	$	5,465.2	$	5,412.2



	As at December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost or Cost		Fair Market Value		Average S&P Ratings by Maturity
	($ in millions)
Due one year or less	$	561.7	$	562.4	AA
Due after one year through five years	2,486.7		2,492.2		AA-
Due after five years through ten years	1,092.2		1,097.4		A+
Due after ten years	93.3		106.3		A
Subtotal	4,233.9		4,258.3
Agency mortgage-backed	941.0		946.5		AA+
Asset-backed	26.3		26.2		AAA
Total fixed income securities — Available for sale	$	5,201.2	$	5,231.0

Guaranteed Investments. The Company held no investments which are guaranteed by mono-line insurers, excluding those with explicit government guarantees as March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company’s exposure to other third-party guaranteed debt is primarily to investments backed by non-U.S. government guaranteed issuers.

Gross Unrealized Loss. The following tables summarize, by type of security, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has been in an unrealized loss position in the Company’s available for sale portfolio as at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:



	As at March 31, 2018
	0-12 months					Over 12 months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Market Value		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Market Value		Gross Unrealized Loss			Number of Securities
	($ in millions)
U.S. government	$	772.9	$	(12.7	)	$	286.8	$	(8.9	)	$	1,059.7	$	(21.6	)	112
U.S. agency	30.8		(0.4		)	5.5		—			36.3		(0.4		)	12
Municipal	36.0		(0.6		)	—		—			36.0		(0.6		)	11
Corporate	1,544.3		(26.3		)	320.4		(15.0		)	1,864.7		(41.3		)	661
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate	50.0		(0.4		)	10.0		(0.1		)	60.0		(0.5		)	17
Non-U.S. government	247.5		(1.4		)	23.8		(0.4		)	271.3		(1.8		)	58
Asset-backed	13.4		(0.1		)	5.0		(0.1		)	18.4		(0.2		)	7
Agency mortgage-backed	427.5		(8.6		)	290.5		(11.8		)	718.0		(20.4		)	228
Total fixed income securities — Available for sale	3,122.4		(50.5		)	942.0		(36.3		)	4,064.4		(86.8		)	1,106
Total short-term investments — Available for sale	41.8		(0.1		)	—		—			41.8		(0.1		)	10
Total	$	3,164.2	$	(50.6	)	$	942.0	$	(36.3	)	$	4,106.2	$	(86.9	)	1,116



	As at December 31, 2017
	0-12 months					Over 12 months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Market Value		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Market Value		Gross Unrealized Loss			Number of Securities
	($ in millions)
U.S. government	$	652.1	$	(5.1	)	$	259.8	$	(6.5	)	$	911.9	$	(11.6	)	101
U.S. agency	20.1		(0.2		)	6.1		—			26.2		(0.2		)	10
Municipal	28.5		(0.2		)	—		—			28.5		(0.2		)	9
Corporate	699.3		(3.4		)	360.7		(8.4		)	1,060.0		(11.8		)	412
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate	43.5		(0.3		)	13.3		(0.2		)	56.8		(0.5		)	15
Non-U.S. government	206.2		(0.8		)	32.0		(0.4		)	238.2		(1.2		)	47
Asset-backed	11.1		—			10.5		(0.1		)	21.6		(0.1		)	11
Agency mortgage-backed	257.6		(1.9		)	301.9		(6.3		)	559.5		(8.2		)	156
Total fixed income securities — Available for sale	1,918.4		(11.9		)	984.3		(21.9		)	2,902.7		(33.8		)	761
Total short-term investments — Available for sale	46.9		(0.1		)	—		—			46.9		(0.1		)	8
Total	$	1,965.3	$	(12.0	)	$	984.3	$	(21.9	)	$	2,949.6	$	(33.9	)	769

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments. A security is potentially impaired when its fair value is below its amortized cost. The Company reviews its available for sale fixed income portfolios on an individual security basis for potential other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) each quarter based on criteria including issuer-specific circumstances, credit ratings actions and general macro-economic conditions. The total OTTI charge for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $Nil (2017 —$0.3 million). For a more detailed description of accounting policies for OTTI, please refer to Note 2(c) of the “Notes to the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements” in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.