Investment margin on deferred annuities, which measures our investment performance less the cost of crediting for our deferred annuities, decreased by 37 basis points to 2.09% in 2020, from 2.46% in 2019, driven by a decrease in the net investment earned rate, partially offset by a decrease in the cost of crediting on deferred annuities from the prior year related to favorable rate actions and lower option costs, as we continue to focus on pricing discipline, managing interest rates credited to policyholders and managing the cost of options to fund the annual index credits on our FIA products.
The reconciliation of basic earnings per Class A common share to adjusted operating earnings per common share is as follows:
▪AARe capital maintenance calls arising from AARe collateral calls from modco reinsurance contracts; and
Dividends from ALRe are projected to be the primary source of AHL’s liquidity. Under the Bermuda Insurance Act, ALRe is prohibited from paying a dividend in an amount exceeding 25% of the prior year’s statutory capital and surplus, unless at least two members of ALRe’s board of directors and its principal representative in Bermuda sign and submit to the BMA an affidavit attesting that a dividend in excess of this amount would not cause ALRe to fail to meet its relevant margins. In certain instances, ALRe would also be required to provide prior notice to the BMA in advance of the payment of dividends. In the event that such an affidavit is submitted to the BMA in accordance with the Bermuda Insurance Act, and further subject to ALRe meeting its relevant margins, ALRe is permitted to distribute up to the sum of 100% of statutory surplus and an amount less than 15% of its total statutory capital. Distributions in excess of this amount require the approval of the BMA. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, ALRe was permitted to dividend or distribute up to $10.0 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively.
In light of the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting impact on economic conditions and the financial markets, additional funding of the type described above may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all. As a result of the economic consequences of the spread of COVID-19, we have observed an increase in our cost of debt. Though this trend has moderated as economic conditions have begun to stabilize, credit spreads remain elevated when compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. At the time of issuance, our 2028 Notes had a yield to maturity of 4.14% and a spread to benchmark treasury of T + 160 basis points. At the time of issuance, our 2030 Notes had a yield to maturity of 6.18% and a spread to benchmark treasury of T + 550 basis points. At the time of issuance, our 2031 Notes had a yield to maturity of 3.67% and a spread to benchmark treasury of T + 290 basis points.
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation-Our consolidated financial statements include our wholly owned subsidiaries and investees in which we hold a controlling financial interest, including variable interest entities (VIEs). Investees in which we do not hold a controlling financial interest, but have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financing decisions, other than investments for which we have elected the fair value option, are accounted for under the equity method. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
For a cash flow hedge, all changes in the fair value of the hedging derivative are reported within AOCI and the related gains or losses on the derivative are reclassified into the consolidated statements of income when the cash flows of the hedged item affect earnings.
•The update requires cash flow assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits to be updated at least annually and no longer allows a provision for adverse deviation. The remeasurement of the liability associated with the update of assumptions is required to be recognized in net income. Loss recognition testing is eliminated for traditional and limited-payment contracts. The update also requires the discount rate used in measuring the liability to be an upper-medium grade fixed-income instrument yield, which is to be updated at each reporting date. The change in liability due to changes in the discount rate is to be recognized in other comprehensive income.
Investment funds - Investment funds include non-fixed income, alternative investments in the form of limited partnerships or similar legal structures.
Fair Value Valuation Methods-We used the following valuation methods and assumptions to estimate fair value:
Effective July 1, 2020, we restructured our reinsurance agreement with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). MassMutual recaptured the existing coinsurance agreement and we immediately entered into a new funds withheld coinsurance agreement with our ALRe subsidiary. As a result, we recorded a $5,021 million increase in funds withheld at interest and a corresponding decrease in assets, primarily consisting of investments and cash.
The following summarizes dividends declared and paid per preferred stock share by series:
Historical fee structure - Prior to January 1, 2019, we paid AAM an annual fee of 0.40%, subject to certain discounts and exceptions, on all assets that AAM managed in accounts owned by us in the US and Bermuda or in accounts supporting reinsurance ceded to our US and Bermuda subsidiaries by third-party insurers (North American Accounts) up to $65,846 million and 0.30% per year on assets managed in excess of such amount. Additionally, for certain assets which required specialized sourcing and underwriting capabilities, AAM had chosen to mandate sub-advisors rather than build out in-house capabilities. AAM entered into Master Sub-Advisory Agreements (MSAAs) with certain Apollo affiliates to sub-advise AAM with respect to a portion of our assets, with the fees recharged to us, in addition to the gross fee paid to AAM as described above.
A significant voting interest in the Company is held by shareholders who are members of the Apollo Group. Also, James Belardi, our Chief Executive Officer, is an employee of ISG and receives remuneration from acting as Chief Executive Officer of ISG. Mr. Belardi also owns a 5% profit interest in ISG (Interest). It is expected that the Interest will be revised such that Mr. Belardi will receive a lesser interest in the equity of ISG and also receive a specified percentage of other fee streams earned by Apollo, potentially comprised of or including the sub-allocation fees. Additionally, six of the sixteen members of our board of directors are employees of or consultants to Apollo (including Mr. Belardi). In order to protect against potential conflicts of interest resulting from transactions into which we have entered and will continue to enter into with the Apollo Group, our bye-laws require us to maintain a conflicts committee comprised solely of directors who are not officers or employees of any member of the Apollo Group. The conflicts committee reviews and approves material transactions between us and the Apollo Group, subject to certain exceptions.