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Basis of Preparation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Preparation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2018. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aspen Holdings and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated on consolidation.
The balance sheet as at December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2017 contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 22, 2018 (File No. 001-31909).
Assumptions and estimates made by management have a significant effect on the amounts reported within the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The most significant of these assumptions and estimates relate to losses and loss adjustment expenses, reinsurance recoverables, gross written premiums and commissions which have not been reported to the Company such as those relating to proportional treaty reinsurance contracts, unrecognized tax benefits, the fair value of derivatives and the fair value of other investments. All material assumptions and estimates are regularly reviewed and adjustments made as necessary, but actual results could turn out significantly different from those expected when the assumptions or estimates were made.
Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018
On August 12, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” which delayed the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2015-04 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption of this ASU during the three months ended March 31, 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as insurance contracts accounted for within the scope of Topic 944, Financial Services are exempt from this ASU and the Company has immaterial other revenue.
On January 5, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-1, “Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10)” which enhances the reporting model for financial instruments. Included within the requirements of this ASU are the following: a) equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; b) a simplification of the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values; c) public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; and d) clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. The amendments required as a result of this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption of this ASU during the three months ended March 31, 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company’s equity portfolio, prior to being sold, was classified as held for trading with changes in fair value recognized through net income and no valuation allowance was required in relation to deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities
Other accounting pronouncements were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2018 which were either not relevant to the Company or did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

On February 14, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)” which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2018-02 to determine how it will be affected, but no material impact is expected on the consolidated financial statements.

On February 28, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10)” which amends multiple areas in Subtopic 825-10 via improvements to clarify the Codification or to correct unintended application of guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2018-03 to determine how it will be affected, but no material impact is expected on the consolidated financial statements.
Other accounting pronouncements were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2018 which were either not relevant to the Company or did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.