Third quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums increased 6% and 4%, respectively, when compared to the same prior year period. The primary drivers of growth were new business opportunities and favorable renewal pricing in several of our targeted markets businesses and our excess liability business. Our mergers & acquisitions business also benefitted from an increase in M&A activity. This growth was tempered by slightly lower workers’ compensation premiums. Excluding workers’ compensation, third quarter gross and net written premiums in this group both grew 8% year over year. Excluding workers’ compensation, renewal pricing for this group was up 10% in the third quarter, and up 8% including workers’ compensation. Both measures improved about 3 points from the renewal pricing in the previous quarter.
The Specialty Financial Group reported an underwriting profit of $22 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $29 million in the third quarter of 2023. Improved results in our lender services business were more than offset by lower profitability in our surety and fidelity businesses. Catastrophe losses for this group were $39 million (14.4 points on the combined ratio) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $22 million (9.3 points) in the prior year quarter. This group reported a combined ratio of 91.9% for the third quarter of 2024, 4.3 points higher than the prior year period.
Third quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums in this group were up 7% and 9%, respectively, when compared to the prior year period, due primarily to growth in our financial institutions business. Renewal pricing in this group was up 6% for the quarter, consistent with the previous quarter.
Carl Lindner III stated, “Although catastrophe losses, specifically Hurricane Helene, impacted our third quarter operating earnings in our P&C Segment, nearly all of our Specialty P&C businesses are meeting or exceeding targeted returns, and we continue to feel confident about the strength of our reserves. Our third quarter results also reflect an element of seasonality, as most of our crop insurance premiums are recorded in AFG’s third quarter. This business is booked at a more conservative combined ratio until the fourth quarter when we have a better view of profitability for the year. Based on what we know at this time, we are optimistic about an above average crop year. I’m pleased that we continued to grow our Specialty P&C businesses through increasing exposures, new business opportunities, and a continued overall favorable pricing environment.”
Further details about AFG’s Specialty P&C operations may be found in the accompanying schedules and in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
A&E Reserves
As in prior years, during the third quarter, AFG conducted an in-depth comprehensive review of its asbestos and environmental (A&E) exposures relating to the run-off operations of its P&C Group. During the 2024 review, no new trends were identified, and recent claims activity was generally consistent with our expectations resulting from our in-depth reviews in the prior three years, and our most recent external study in 2020. As a result, and consistent with the internal review in the third quarter of 2023, the 2024 review resulted in no net change to the P&C Group’s A&E reserves.
At September 30, 2024, the P&C Group’s insurance reserves include A&E reserves of $362 million, net of reinsurance recoverables. At September 30, 2024, the property and casualty insurance segment’s three-year survival ratios were 18.6 times paid losses for asbestos reserves, 25.1 times paid losses for environmental reserves and 21.1 times paid losses for total A&E reserves. These ratios compare favorably with industry data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence as of December 31, 2023, which indicate that industry survival ratios were 8.3 times paid losses for asbestos, 7.1 times paid losses for environmental, and 8.0 times paid losses for total A&E reserves.
Page 4