Cincinnati Financial
Annual Report 2017

Plain-text annual report

2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K HAPPENS HERE Cincinnati Financial Corporation stands among the 25 largest property Business Home & Auto Life casualty insurers in the nation, based on net written premiums. A select group of independent agencies actively markets our business, home and auto insurance in 42 states. These agents offer our standard market and excess and surplus commercial lines policies in 39 states and our personal lines policies in 38 states. Within this select group, we seek to become the life insurance carrier of choice and to help agents and their clients – our policyholders – by offering leasing and financing services. Three competitive advantages distinguish your company, positioning us to build shareholder value and long-term success: 1 Commitment to our network of professional independent insurance agencies and to their continued success 2 Operating structure that supports local decision making, showcasing the strength of our field claims service, field underwriting and field support services 3 Financial strength to fulfill our promises and be a consistent market for our agents’ business, supporting stability and confidence These advantages help us to become Everything Insurance Should Be® for the professional independent insurance agents who represent us and for the people and businesses in their communities. Learn more about where we are today and how we plan to create value for shareholders, agents, policyholders and associates by reviewing our publications on cinfin.com/investors. United States Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. For the transition period from _____________________ to _____________________. Commission file number 000-04604 Cincinnati Financial Corporation (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Ohio (State of incorporation) 31-0746871 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 6200 S. Gilmore Road Fairfield, Ohio 45014-5141 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (513) 870-2000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: $2.00 par, common stock (Title of Class) 6.125% Senior Notes due 2034 (Title of Class) 6.9% Senior Debentures due 2028 (Title of Class) 6.92% Senior Debentures due 2028 (Title of Class) Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 1 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 if Regulation S- T(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer Emerging growth company Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant based on the closing price of $72.45 per share as reported on Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 30, 2017, was $11,075,393,319. As of February 19, 2018, there were 163,988,318 shares of common stock outstanding. Document Incorporated by Reference Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 5, 2018, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 2 2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I Item 1. Item 1A. Item 1B. Item 2. Item 3. Item 4. Part II Item 5. Item 6 Item 7. Item 7A. Item 8. Item 9. Item 9A. Item 9B. Part III Item 10. Item 11. Item 12. Item 13. Item 14. Part IV Item 15. Business Cincinnati Financial Corporation – Introduction Our Business and Our Strategy Our Segments Other Regulation Risk Factors Unresolved Staff Comments Properties Legal Proceedings Mine Safety Disclosures Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Selected Financial Data Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Introduction Executive Summary Critical Accounting Estimates Recent Accounting Pronouncements Financial Results Liquidity and Capital Resources Safe Harbor Statement Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Responsibility for Financial Statements Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consolidated Balance Sheets Consolidated Statements of Income Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Controls and Procedures Other Information Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Executive Compensation Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Principal Accounting Fees and Services Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 3 4 4 4 5 16 27 27 30 38 38 38 38 39 39 42 43 43 44 49 56 57 89 104 106 112 112 113 114 116 117 118 119 120 121 167 167 167 168 168 170 170 170 170 171 171 ITEM 1. Business Part I Cincinnati Financial Corporation – Introduction We are an Ohio corporation formed in 1968. Our lead subsidiary, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, was founded in 1950. Our main business is property casualty insurance marketed through independent insurance agencies in 42 states. Our headquarters is in Fairfield, Ohio. At year-end 2017, we employed 4,925 associates, including 3,262 headquarters associates who provide support to 1,663 field associates. Cincinnati Financial Corporation owns 100 percent of three subsidiaries: The Cincinnati Insurance Company, CSU Producer Resources Inc. and CFC Investment Company. In addition, the parent company has an investment portfolio, owns the headquarters property and is responsible for corporate borrowings and shareholder dividends. The Cincinnati Insurance Company owns 100 percent of four additional insurance subsidiaries. Our standard market property casualty insurance group includes two of those subsidiaries – The Cincinnati Casualty Company and The Cincinnati Indemnity Company. This group writes a broad range of business, homeowner and auto policies. The Cincinnati Insurance Company also conducts the business of our reinsurance assumed operations, known as Cincinnati ReSM. Other subsidiaries of The Cincinnati Insurance Company include: The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company (Cincinnati Life), which provides life insurance, disability income policies and fixed annuities; and The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company (Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters), which offers excess and surplus lines insurance products. In this report and elsewhere we often refer to any or all of these five companies as The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. The two noninsurance subsidiaries of Cincinnati Financial Corporation are CSU Producer Resources, which offers insurance brokerage services to our independent agencies so their clients can access our excess and surplus lines insurance products; and CFC Investment Company, which offers commercial leasing and financing services to our agencies, their clients and other customers. Our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are available on our website, cinfin.com/investors, as soon as possible after they have been filed with the SEC. Reports filed with the SEC may also be viewed at sec.gov or obtained at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. Information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800- SEC-0330. These filings include annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In this report we reference various websites. These websites, including our own, are not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Periodically, we refer to estimated industry data so that we can give information about our performance versus the overall U.S. insurance industry. Unless otherwise noted, the industry data is prepared by A.M. Best Co., a leading insurance industry statistical, analytical and insurer financial strength and credit rating organization. Information from A.M. Best is presented on a statutory accounting basis. When we provide our results on a comparable statutory accounting basis, we label it as such; all other company data is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 4 Our Business and Our Strategy Introduction The Cincinnati Insurance Company was founded more than 65 years ago by four independent insurance agents. They established the mission that continues to guide all of the companies in the Cincinnati Financial Corporation family – to grow profitably and enhance the ability of local independent insurance agents to deliver quality financial protection to the people and businesses they serve by: • • • providing insurance market stability through financial strength producing competitive, up-to-date products and services developing associates committed to superior service At year-end 2017, a select group of independent agencies in 42 states actively marketed our property casualty insurance within their communities. Standard market commercial lines and excess and surplus lines policies were marketed in 39 of those states, while personal lines policies were marketed in 35 of those states plus three additional states. Within our select group of agencies, we also seek to become the life insurance carrier of choice and to help agents and their clients – our policyholders – by offering leasing and financing services. Three competitive advantages distinguish our company, positioning us to build shareholder value and to be successful overall: • Commitment to our professional independent insurance agencies and to their continued success • Financial strength to fulfill our promises and be a consistent market for our agents’ business, supporting stability and confidence • Operating structure that supports local decision making, showcasing our claims excellence and allowing us to balance growth with underwriting discipline The primary sources of our company’s net income are summarized below. We discuss the contribution to net income from each source in Item 7, Corporate Financial Highlights of Management’s Discussion and Analysis. • Underwriting profit (loss) – Includes revenues from earned premiums for insurance and reinsurance policies or contracts, reduced by losses and loss expenses from associated insurance coverages. Those revenues are further reduced by underwriting expenses associated with marketing policies or related to administration of our insurance operation. The net result represents an underwriting profit when revenues exceed losses and expenses. • Investment income – Is generated primarily from investing the premiums collected for insurance policies sold, until funds are needed to pay losses for insurance claims or other expenses. Interest income from bond investments or dividend income from stock investments are the main categories of our investment income, with additional contribution from compounding effects over time. • Realized investment gains (losses) – Occur from appreciation or depreciation of invested assets over time. Gains or losses are generally recognized when invested assets are sold or become impaired. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 5 Independent Insurance Agency Marketplace The U.S. property casualty insurance industry is a highly competitive marketplace with more than 2,000 stock and mutual companies operating independently or in groups. No single company or group dominates across all product lines and states. Standard market insurance companies (carriers) can market a broad array of products nationally or: choose to sell a limited product line or only one type of insurance (monoline carrier) target a certain segment of the market (for example, personal insurance) focus on one or more states or regions (regional carrier) Standard market property casualty insurers generally offer insurance products through one or more distribution channels: independent agents, who represent multiple carriers captive agents, who represent one carrier exclusively direct marketing to consumers • • • • • • For the most part, we compete with standard market insurance companies that market through independent insurance agents. Agencies marketing our commercial lines products typically represent six to 12 standard market insurance carriers for commercial lines products, including both national and regional carriers, most of which are mutual companies. Our agencies typically represent four to six standard personal lines carriers. We also compete with carriers that market personal lines products through captive agents and direct writers. Some of our agencies describe their roles as brokers instead of agents. Distribution through independent insurance agents or brokers represents nearly 60 percent of overall U.S. property casualty insurance premiums and approximately 80 percent of commercial property casualty insurance premiums, according to studies by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. We are fully committed to the independent agency channel for marketing our insurance policies, while our reinsurance assumed operation typically markets through broker organizations or similar intermediaries that specialize in reinsurance. The independent agencies that we choose to market our standard lines insurance products share our philosophies. They do business person to person; offer broad, value-added services; maintain sound balance sheets; and manage their agencies professionally, targeting long-term success. We develop our relationships with agencies that are active in their communities, providing important knowledge of local market trends, opportunities and challenges. We work to support agencies with tools and resources that help communicate the value of our insurance policies to their clients and prospective clients. We plan to build on our recent marketing efforts and continue with our national advertising campaign in 2018. Our intent is to increase the visibility of our company, supporting our agents' efforts as they recommend policies and services offered through The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. We also continue to build our social media presence, focusing on providing content that agents can share on their own sites. We help our agencies meet the broader needs of their clients and increase and diversify their revenues and profitability by offering insurance solutions beyond our standard market property casualty insurance products. We market life insurance products through the agencies that offer our property casualty products and through other independent life agencies that represent The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company without also representing our other subsidiaries. We operate our own excess and surplus lines insurance brokerage firm and insurance carrier so that we can offer our excess and surplus lines products exclusively to the independent agencies who market our other property casualty insurance products. For our life insurance operation, property casualty agencies make up the main distribution system. To help that operation build scale, we also develop life insurance business from other independent life insurance agencies in geographic markets underserved through our property casualty agencies. We are careful to solicit business from these other agencies in a manner that does not compete with the life insurance marketing and sales efforts of our property casualty agencies. Cincinnati Life emphasizes up-to-date products, responsive underwriting, high-quality service and competitive pricing. Our excess and surplus lines insurance operation helps meet the specific insurance needs of certain agency clients. Generally, excess and surplus lines insurance carriers provide insurance that is unavailable in the standard Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 6 market due to market conditions or characteristics of the insured persons or organizations that are caused by their nature, claim history or the characteristics of their business. Insurers operating in the excess and surplus lines marketplace generally market business through excess and surplus lines brokers, whether they are small specialty insurers or specialized divisions of larger insurance organizations. Agencies have access to Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters' product line through CSU Producer Resources, the wholly owned insurance brokerage subsidiary of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. By providing superior service, we can help our agencies grow while also profitably growing our property casualty insurance business. The table below includes data about property casualty agency relationships that market our standard market insurance products. Agency Data Property casualty agency relationships, January 1 New appointments that market all or most of The Cincinnati Insurance Companies' products New appointments that market only personal lines insurance products for Cincinnati Insurance Changes due to consolidation and other Property casualty agency relationships, December 31 Property casualty reporting locations New relationship appointments Active states Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 1,614 107 104 (123) 1,702 1,526 81 116 (109) 1,614 2,256 2,090 138 42 156 41 The annual total of agency new appointments may be partially offset by other changes in agency structures, such as consolidation through mergers or acquisitions. An increasing number of agencies have multiple, separately identifiable locations, reflecting their growth as well as consolidation of ownership within the independent agency marketplace. The number of reporting agency locations indicates our agents’ regional scope and the extent of our presence within our active states. The difference between new appointments in total and the number of new relationships represents either: new branch offices opened by existing Cincinnati agencies; or agencies that merged with another Cincinnati agency and we still believed would produce a meaningful amount of new business premiums. On average, we have a 9.2 percent share of the standard lines property casualty insurance purchased through our reporting agency locations, according to 2016 data from agency surveys. Our share is 15.2 percent in reporting agency locations that have represented us for more than 10 years; 8.1 percent in agencies that have represented us for six to 10 years; 3.3 percent in agencies that have represented us for two to five years; and 0.3 percent in agencies that have represented us for one year or less. Our largest single agency relationship accounted for approximately 0.8 percent of our total property casualty earned premiums in 2017. No aggregate locations under a single ownership structure accounted for more than 4 percent of our earned premiums in 2017. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 7 Financial Strength We believe that our financial strength and strong capital and surplus position, reflected in our insurer financial strength ratings, are clear, competitive advantages in the segments of the insurance marketplace that we serve. This strength supports the consistent, predictable performance that our policyholders, agents, associates and shareholders have always expected and received, helping us withstand significant challenges. While the potential exists for short-term financial performance variability due to our exposures to possible natural or man-made catastrophes or to significant capital market losses, the rating agencies consistently assert that we have built appropriate financial strength and flexibility to manage that variability. We remain committed to strategies that emphasize being a consistent, stable market for our agents’ business rather than seeking short-term benefits that might accrue by quick, opportunistic reaction to changes in market conditions. We use various principles and practices such as diversification and enterprise risk management to maintain strong capital. For example, we maintain a diversified investment portfolio by reviewing and applying diversification parameters and tolerances. • Our $10.699 billion fixed-maturity portfolio is diversified and exceeds total insurance reserves. The portfolio had an average rating of A2/A, and its fair value exceeded total insurance reserve liabilities by approximately 34 percent at December 31, 2017. No corporate bond exposure accounted for more than 0.7 percent of our fixed- maturity portfolio, and no municipal exposure accounted for more than 0.3 percent. • The strength of our fixed-maturity portfolio provides an opportunity to invest for potential capital appreciation by purchasing equity securities. Our $6.249 billion equity portfolio minimizes concentrations in single stocks or industries. At December 31, 2017, no single security accounted for more than 4.0 percent of our portfolio of publicly traded common stocks, and no single sector accounted for more than 20 percent. Strong liquidity increases our flexibility through all periods to maintain our cash dividend and to continue to invest in and expand our insurance operations. At December 31, 2017, we held $2.546 billion of our cash and invested assets at the parent-company level, of which $2.275 billion, or 89.4 percent, was invested in common stocks, and $199 million, or 7.8 percent, was cash and cash equivalents. We minimize reliance on debt as a source of capital, with a debt-to-total-capital ratio of 9.0 percent at year-end 2017. Long-term debt at year-end 2017 totaled $787 million, matching year-end 2016, and our short-term debt was $24 million, up from $20 million at the end of the prior year. The long-term debt consists of three nonconvertible, noncallable debentures, two due in 2028 and one in 2034. Ratings for our long-term debt are discussed in Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Additional Sources of Liquidity. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 8 At year-end 2017 and 2016, risk-based capital (RBC) for our standard market property casualty insurance, excess and surplus lines insurance and life insurance subsidiaries was strong, far exceeding regulatory requirements. • We ended 2017 with a 1.0-to-1 ratio of property casualty premiums to surplus, a key measure of property casualty insurance company capacity and security. A lower ratio indicates more security for policyholders and greater capacity for growth by an insurer. We believe our ratio provides ample flexibility to diversify risk by expanding our operations into new geographies and product areas. The estimated industry average ratio was 0.8-to-1 at year-end 2017. • We ended 2017 with a 6.7 percent ratio of life statutory adjusted risk-based surplus to liabilities, a key measure of life insurance company capital strength. The estimated industry average ratio was 10.8 percent at year-end 2017. A higher ratio indicates an insurer’s stronger security for policyholders and capacity to support business growth. (Dollars in millions) Statutory Information Standard market property casualty insurance subsidiary Statutory capital and surplus Risk-based capital Authorized control level risk-based capital Risk-based capital to authorized control level risk-based capital ratio Written premium to surplus ratio Excess and surplus lines insurance subsidiary Statutory capital and surplus Risk-based capital Authorized control level risk-based capital Risk-based capital to authorized control level risk-based capital ratio Written premium to surplus ratio Life insurance subsidiary Statutory capital and surplus Risk-based capital Authorized control level risk-based capital Total liabilities excluding separate account business Risk-based capital to authorized control level risk-based capital ratio Life statutory risk-based adjusted surplus to liabilities ratio At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ $ $ $ $ 5,094 5,127 686 7.5 1.0 436 436 35 12.3 0.5 195 229 45 3,436 5.1 6.7 4,686 4,715 645 7.3 1.0 372 372 36 10.4 0.5 200 229 40 3,317 5.8 7.0 The consolidated property casualty insurance group’s ratio of investments in common stock, at fair value, to statutory capital and surplus was 73.5 percent at year-end 2017 compared with 69.9 percent at year-end 2016. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 9 Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s senior debt is rated by four independent rating firms. In addition, the rating firms award our property casualty and life operations insurance financial strength ratings based on their quantitative and qualitative analyses. These ratings assess an insurer’s ability to meet financial obligations to policyholders and do not necessarily address all of the matters that may be important to shareholders. Ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the ratings agency, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. At February 22, 2018, our insurance subsidiaries continued to be highly rated. Rating agency Standard market property casualty insurance subsidiary Life insurance subsidiary Excess and surplus lines insurance subsidiary Outlook Insurer Financial Strength Ratings A+ Superior Rating Tier 2 of 16 A Excellent Rating Tier 3 of 16 A+ Superior Rating Tier 2 of 16 Stable/ Positive/ Stable A+ Strong 5 of 21 A+ Strong 5 of 21 A1 Good 5 of 21 - - - A+ Strong 5 of 21 A+ Strong 5 of 21 - - - - - - - - - Stable Stable Stable A. M. Best Co. ambest.com Fitch Ratings fitchratings.com Moody's Investors Service moodys.com S&P Global Ratings spratings.com On January 31, 2018, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength rating of The Cincinnati Insurance Company, and its property casualty insurance subsidiaries, that it had assigned in December 2008, continuing its stable outlook. On the same date, A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength rating of The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, revising its outlook to positive. On November 28, 2017, Fitch Ratings affirmed the ratings that it had assigned to us in August 2009, continuing its stable outlook. On June 27, 2017, S&P Global Ratings affirmed the ratings that it had assigned to us in June 2015, continuing its stable outlook. On May 24, 2016, Moody's Investors Service affirmed the ratings that it had assigned to us in September 2008, continuing its stable outlook. Our debt ratings are discussed in Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Additional Sources of Liquidity. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 10 Operating Structure We offer our broad array of insurance products through the independent agency distribution channel. We recognize that locally based independent agencies have relationships in their communities and local marketplace intelligence that can lead to profitable business and policyholder satisfaction and loyalty. Several of our strategic initiatives are intended not only to help us compete but also to enhance support of agencies that represent us, thereby contributing to agency success. We seek to be a consistent and predictable property casualty carrier that agencies can rely on to serve their clients. In our 10 highest volume states for consolidated property casualty premiums, 1,170 reporting agency locations wrote 59.7 percent of our 2017 consolidated property casualty earned premium volume compared with 1,140 locations and 61.4 percent in 2016. We continue efforts to geographically diversify our property casualty risks. Our 10 largest states based on property casualty premium volume are shown in the table below. (Dollars in millions) Year ended December 31, 2017 Ohio Illinois Georgia Indiana North Carolina Pennsylvania Michigan Tennessee Virginia Kentucky Earned premiums % of total earned Agency locations Average premium per location $ 765 296 270 265 250 238 237 184 161 155 16.2% 6.3 5.7 5.6 5.3 5.0 5.0 3.9 3.4 3.3 247 $ 146 105 115 107 129 140 66 66 49 3.1 2.0 2.6 2.3 2.3 1.8 1.7 2.8 2.4 3.2 Field Focus Emphasizing Service We rely on our force of 1,663 field associates to provide service and be accountable to our agencies for decisions we make at the local level. These associates live in the communities our agents serve, so they are readily available when agencies or policyholders need them. While their work is often conducted at the premises of the agency or policyholder, they also work from offices in their homes. Headquarters associates support agencies and field associates with underwriting, accounting, technology assistance, training and other services. Company executives and headquarters associates regularly travel to visit agencies, strengthening the personal relationships we have with these organizations. Agents have opportunities for direct, personal conversations with our senior management team, and headquarters associates have opportunities to refresh their knowledge of marketplace conditions and field activities. The field team is coordinated by field marketing representatives responsible for underwriting new commercial lines business. They are joined by field representatives specializing in claims, loss control, personal lines, excess and surplus lines, machinery and equipment, management liability and surety, premium audit and life insurance. The field team provides a variety of services, such as recommending specific actions to improve the safety of the policyholder’s operations. We seek to develop long-term relationships by understanding the unique needs of each agency's clients, who are also our policyholders. Service enhanced through technology provides our agencies access to our systems for ease of processing business transactions. Policyholders can also conveniently access pertinent policy information, helping to reduce costs for agencies and the company. We also provide and continue to develop enhanced, tailored services offered at the time a claim is reported for an insured loss event. Those services include assisting with car rental or towing, arranging temporary housing and coordinating emergency repairs to damaged homes so additional damage is minimized. Technology also helps our associates collaborate and process business efficiently, providing more time for personal service to agencies and their clients when needed. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 11 Our claims philosophy reflects our belief that we prosper as a company by responding to claims person to person, paying covered claims promptly, preventing false claims from unfairly adding to overall premiums and building financial strength to meet future obligations. Our 943 locally based field claims associates work from their homes and are assigned to specific agencies. They respond personally to policyholders and claimants, and are equipped to handle a claim from nearly anywhere. We believe we have a competitive advantage because of the person-to-person approach and the resulting high level of service that our field claims representatives deliver. We also help our agencies provide prompt service to policyholders by providing them authority to immediately pay, up to $2,500, most first-party claims covered by our standard market policies. Agencies also have the option of submitting those claims to our Express Claims Center where professional headquarters associates will provide immediate customer service, processing the claims promptly and efficiently. We believe this same local approach to handling claims is a competitive advantage for our agents providing excess and surplus lines coverage in their communities. Handling of these claims includes guidance from headquarters-based excess and surplus lines claims managers. Catastrophe response teams are comprised of our experienced field claims staff who have the authority they need to do their jobs. In times of widespread loss, our field claims representatives confidently and quickly resolve claims, often providing claims payments on the same day they inspect the loss. Technology helps to enable fast initial contact with policyholders and easy sharing of information and data among storm teams, headquarters staff and local field claims representatives. When hurricanes or other weather events are predicted, we can identify through mapping technologies the expected number of our policyholders that may be impacted by the event and choose to have catastrophe response team members travel to strategic locations near the expected impact area. They are then in position to quickly get to the affected area, set up temporary offices and start calling on policyholders. We staff a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) with former law enforcement and claims professionals whose qualifications make them well suited to gathering facts to uncover potential fraud. While we believe our job is to pay what is due under each policy contract, we also want to prevent false claims from unfairly increasing overall premiums. Our SIU also operates a computer forensics lab, using sophisticated software to recover data and mitigate the cost of computer-related claims for business interruption and loss of records. We seek to attract and retain high-quality independent insurance agencies with knowledgeable, professional staffs. In turn, we make an exceptionally strong commitment to assist them in keeping their knowledge up to date and educating new people they bring on board as they grow. This includes offering classes, usually at no cost to agencies, except travel-related expenses they may incur, and other training support. We also offer noninsurance financial services. We believe that providing these services enhances agency relationships with the company and their clients, increasing loyalty while diversifying the agency’s revenues. Insurance Products We provide well-designed property casualty and life insurance to bring policyholders convenience, discounts and a reduced risk of coverage gaps or disputes. For most agencies that represent us, we believe we offer insurance solutions for approximately 75 percent of the typical insurable risks of their clients. Products for various business lines within our reporting segments include insurance coverages for business property and liability, automobiles and homes. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 12 The following table shows net written premiums by segment and business line at year-end 2017, 2016 and 2015: (Dollars in millions) Segment: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Life insurance Other Total Business line: Commercial lines insurance: Commercial casualty Commercial property Commercial auto Workers' compensation Other commercial Personal lines insurance: Personal auto Homeowner Other personal Total personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Life insurance: Term life insurance Universal life insurance Other life insurance, annuity and disability income products Subtotal Cincinnati Re Total 2017 2016 2015 Percent of total 2017 $ 3,202 1,294 $ 3,122 1,198 219 278 125 189 281 71 3,025 1,128 175 256 33 62.6% 25.3 4.3 5.4 2.4 5,118 $ 4,861 $ 4,617 100.0% 1,082 $ 1,061 $ 1,025 21.1% $ $ $ 919 651 326 224 880 611 352 218 603 542 149 1,294 219 167 41 70 278 125 563 500 135 1,198 189 156 36 89 281 71 845 575 357 223 3,025 524 474 130 1,128 175 145 41 70 256 33 18.0 12.7 6.4 4.4 62.6 11.8 10.6 2.9 25.3 4.3 3.2 0.8 1.4 5.4 2.4 $ 5,118 $ 4,861 $ 4,617 100.0% Total commercial lines insurance 3,202 3,122 We discuss our insurance segments in their respective sections later in this report. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 13 Strategic Initiatives to Manage Insurance Profitability and Drive Premium Growth Management has identified a strategy that can position us for long-term success. The board of directors and management expect execution of our strategic plan to create significant value for shareholders over time. We broadly group key strategic initiatives into two areas of focus – managing insurance profitability and driving premium growth. These areas correlate with how we measure progress toward our long-term financial objectives. Our strategic priorities include meeting the wants and needs of our agent customers, attracting and developing talented associates, providing comprehensive product solutions, achieving best-in-class field service and continually enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness. We believe successful execution of our long-term strategy and related shorter-term initiatives will help us achieve our long-term objectives despite potential unfavorable shorter-term effects of difficult economic, market or pricing cycles. We describe our expectations for the results of these initiatives in Item 7, Executive Summary of Management's Discussion and Analysis. Effective capital management is an important part of creating long-term shareholder value, serving as a foundation to support other strategic areas focused on profitable growth of our insurance business. Our capital management philosophy is intended to preserve and build our capital while maintaining appropriate liquidity. A strong capital position provides the capacity to support premium growth, and liquidity provides for our investment in the people and infrastructure needed to implement our strategic initiatives. Our strong capital and liquidity also provide financial flexibility for shareholder dividends or other capital management actions. We continue to enhance our property casualty underwriting expertise and to effectively and efficiently underwrite individual policies and process transactions. Ongoing initiatives supporting this work include expanding our pricing and segmentation capabilities through experience and use of predictive analytics and additional data. Our segmentation efforts emphasize identification and retention of insurance policies we believe have relatively stronger pricing, while seeking more aggressive renewal terms and conditions on policies we believe have relatively weaker pricing. We will continue collaborative efforts to address underpriced or underperforming business in 2018, including improving underwriting and rate adequacy for our commercial auto and personal auto lines of business. We take ongoing actions intended to improve efficiency and make it easier for agencies and their clients to do business with us. In addition to benefiting agencies we serve, improved processes support our strategy, helping to more quickly deploy product or service enhancements. They also help reduce internal costs and allow us to focus more resources on agency services and providing local, individualized insurance solutions for small businesses and other agency clients. Initiatives include continuing to enhance the experiences of agencies and policy consumers through real-time messaging to an agency's management system and further development of online portals providing more robust policy information for billing, claims and other areas. Other ongoing initiatives aim for continuous improvement of workflow tools and processes for underwriters. We also seek to further penetrate insurance markets as we strive to be the best company serving independent insurance agencies. We expect initiatives aimed at specific market opportunities, along with enhancements to provide industry-leading services, to encourage our agents to grow and to increase our share of their business. Our growth plans incorporate general business statistics and historical profitability trends to estimate premium growth from existing agencies and to make careful projections to assess the number of additional agencies needed. Our focus remains on key components of agent satisfaction based on factors that agents tell us are most important. We continue to appoint new agencies to develop additional points of distribution. In 2018, we are planning approximately 100 appointments of independent agencies that offer most or all of our property casualty insurance products. We generally earn a 10 percent share of an agency’s business within 10 years of its appointment. See Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Independent Insurance Agency Marketplace, for additional discussion. We also plan to appoint other agencies that focus on high net worth personal lines clients. In 2018, we are targeting the appointment of approximately 100 agencies that market only personal lines insurance products for us, primarily ones with a high net worth focus. In 2017, we appointed 104 new agencies that meet that criteria. As we continue to expand availability of our Executive Capstone™ suite of insurance products and services to additional states over the next several years, we intend to appoint additional agencies as we work to become the carrier of choice for this portion of our agencies’ accounts. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 14 For all of our insurance products, we will work to increase penetration with recently appointed agencies. This includes increasing opportunities for agencies to cross-serve their clients by providing updated products and services that aim to meet their life insurance needs. We will also continue to add field marketing representatives or provide target market expertise where needed for additional agency support in selected areas. We expect our strategy and initiatives to contribute to our objective of being ranked the No. 1 or No. 2 carrier based on premium volume in agencies that have represented us for at least five years. We continued to reach that objective in nearly 75 percent of such agencies based on 2016 premiums. During 2018, we will continue to produce premiums through the disciplined expansion of Cincinnati Re – our reinsurance assumed operation. Cincinnati Re assumes risks through reinsurance treaties covering various lines of business where we receive a share of premiums and associated liabilities from other insurers and reinsurers. We have staffed this operation with seasoned underwriting and analytical talent and strive to assume risks that we understand well, both quantitatively and qualitatively. We seek risks that have attractive underwriting margins on a stand-alone basis as well as on a diversified risk-adjusted return basis. We have adequate capital to support this operation and intend to be selective and patient in its expansion. To help guide our strategic efforts, we have placed an emphasis on innovation to accelerate improvement and to also favorably position us for the future. We find innovative ideas in many places, including: internally through management and other associates, with our traditional business partners and in the start-up business community. These efforts are primarily focused on operational improvements, customer engagement and improving pricing and risk selection. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 15 Our Segments Consolidated financial results primarily reflect the results of our five reporting segments. These segments are defined based on financial information we use to evaluate performance and to determine the allocation of assets. • Commercial lines insurance • Personal lines insurance • Excess and surplus lines insurance • • Life insurance Investments Revenues, income before income taxes and identifiable assets for each segment are shown in Item 8, Note 18 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Some of that information is discussed in this section, where we explain the business operations of each segment. The financial performance of each segment is discussed in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Commercial Lines Insurance Segment In 2017, the commercial lines insurance segment contributed net earned premiums of $3.165 billion, representing 55.2 percent of consolidated total revenues. This segment reported profit before income taxes of $119 million. Commercial lines net earned premiums rose 2 percent in 2017 and 3 percent in 2016. We believe that our commercial lines business is best measured and evaluated on a segment basis. However, we also provide selected line of business data to summarize growth and profitability trends separately for our business lines. The five commercial business lines are: • Commercial casualty – Provides coverage to businesses against third-party liability from accidents occurring on their premises or arising out of their operations, including injuries sustained from products or liability related to professional services. Specialized casualty policies may include similar coverage such as umbrella liability or employment practices. The commercial casualty business line includes liability coverage written as part of commercial package policies. • Commercial property – Provides coverage for loss or damage to buildings, inventory and equipment caused by covered causes of loss such as fire, wind, hail, water, theft and vandalism, as well as business interruption resulting from a covered loss. Commercial property also includes other coverages such as inland marine, which covers losses related to builder’s risk, cargo or equipment. Various property coverages can be written as stand-alone policies or can be added to a commercial package policy. • Commercial auto – Protects businesses against liability to others for both bodily injury and property damage, medical payments to insureds and occupants of their vehicles, physical damage to an insured’s own vehicle from collision and various other perils, and damages caused by uninsured motorists. • Workers’ compensation – Covers employers for government-specified benefits from work-related injuries to employees. • Other commercial lines – This includes several other types of insurance products for businesses, including: Management liability and surety – Includes director and officer (D&O) liability insurance, which covers liability for actual or alleged errors in judgment, breaches of duty or other wrongful acts related to activities of organizations and can optionally include other liability coverages. We market primarily to nonprofit organizations, privately held businesses, healthcare organizations, financial institutions and educational institutions. The for-profit portion includes approximately 205 bank or savings and loan financial institutions, with only five having assets of $1 billion or more. The surety portion includes contract and commercial surety bonds for losses resulting from dishonesty, failure to perform and other acts and also includes fidelity bonds for fraudulent acts by specified individuals or dishonest acts by employees. Specialty packages – Includes coverages for property, liability and business interruption tailored to meet the needs of specific industry classes such as artisan contractors, dentists or smaller main street businesses. Machinery and equipment – Specialized coverage provides protection for loss or damage to boilers and machinery, including production and computer equipment and business interruption, due to sudden and accidental mechanical breakdown, steam explosion or artificially generated electrical current. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 16 Our history of emphasizing products and services that agencies can market to small or midsized businesses in their communities remains a critical piece of our strategy even as we expand our appetite to insure larger businesses. While some of our property casualty agencies market only our personal lines or management liability and surety products, approximately 87 percent offer some or all of our standard market commercial insurance products. In 2017, our 10 highest volume commercial lines states generated 59.1 percent of our earned premiums compared with 59.4 percent in 2016 as we continued efforts to geographically diversify our property casualty risks. Earned premiums in the 10 highest volume states increased 2 percent in 2017, compared with 3 percent in the remaining states. The aggregate number of reporting agency locations in our 10 highest volume states increased to 1,134 in 2017 from 1,115 in 2016. Our 10 largest states based on commercial lines premium volume are shown in the table below. (Dollars in millions) Year ended December 31, 2017 Ohio Illinois Pennsylvania Indiana North Carolina Georgia Michigan Tennessee Virginia Texas Earned premiums % of total earned Agency locations Average premium per location $ 455 214 199 180 165 150 138 131 126 112 14.4% 6.8 6.3 5.7 5.2 4.7 4.4 4.1 4.0 3.5 243 $ 138 118 115 104 94 131 64 61 66 1.9 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.1 2.0 2.1 1.7 For new commercial lines business, case-by-case underwriting and pricing is coordinated by our locally based field marketing representatives who are also responsible for selecting new independent agencies. Our agents and our team of field associates get to know the people and businesses in their communities and can make informed decisions about each risk. Commercial lines policy renewals are managed by headquarters underwriters who are assigned to specific agencies and consult with local field staff as needed. As part of our team approach, headquarters underwriters also help oversee agency growth and profitability. They are responsible for formal issuance of all new business and renewal policies as well as policy endorsements. Further, the headquarters underwriters provide day-to-day customer service to agencies and our field marketing representatives by offering product training, answering underwriting questions, helping to determine underwriting eligibility and assisting with the mechanics of premium determination. We also continue a target markets emphasis to analyze opportunities and to develop new products and services, new coverage options and improvements to existing insurance products. Understanding evolving market conditions is a critical function for our success, accomplished through both informal commentary and formal reviews. Informally, our field marketing representatives, underwriters and product development associates routinely receive market intelligence from a variety of channels, including from the agencies with which they work. This market information helps identify the top competitors and our market strengths and weaknesses. The information obtained encompasses pricing, breadth of coverage and use of underwriting guidelines. Our historical emphasis on small to midsized businesses is reflected in the mix of our commercial lines premium volume by policy size. Approximately 80 percent of our commercial in-force policies have annual premiums of $10,000 or less, accounting in total for approximately one-quarter of our 2017 commercial lines premium volume. The remainder of policies have annual premiums greater than $10,000, including policies with annual premiums greater than $100,000 that account for approximately 21 percent of our 2017 commercial lines premium volume. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 17 Our commercial lines packages typically are offered on a three-year policy term for most insurance coverages – a key competitive advantage. In our experience, multi-year packages appeal to the quality-conscious insurance buyers who we believe are typical clients of our independent agents. Customized insurance programs on a three- year term complement the long-term relationships these policyholders typically have with their agents and with our company. By reducing annual administrative efforts, multi-year policies lower expenses for our company and for our agents. The commitment we make to policyholders encourages long-term relationships and reduces their need to annually re-evaluate their insurance carrier or agency. We believe that the advantages of three-year policies in terms of improved policyholder convenience, increased account retention and reduced administrative costs outweigh the potential disadvantage of these policies, even in periods of rising rates. Although we offer three-year policy terms, premiums for some coverages within those policies are adjustable at anniversary for the next annual period, and policies may be canceled at any time at the discretion of the policyholder. Contract terms often provide that rates for property, general liability, inland marine and crime coverages, as well as policy terms and conditions, are fixed for the term of the policy. However, the exposure we insure is reviewed annually, near the policy anniversary date, and the amount of premiums may be adjusted based on changes to that exposure. The general liability exposure basis may be audited annually. Commercial auto, workers’ compensation, professional liability and most umbrella liability coverages within multi-year packages are rated at each of the policy’s annual anniversaries for the next one-year period. The annual pricing could incorporate rate changes approved by state insurance regulatory authorities between the date the policy was written and its annual anniversary date, as well as changes in risk exposures and premium credits or debits relating to loss experience and other underwriting judgment factors. We estimate that approximately 75 percent of 2017 commercial premiums were subject to annual rating or were written on a one-year policy term. That 75 percent includes approximately one-third of policies offered on a three-year policy term that expire during any given year. We believe our commercial lines insurance segment premiums reflect a higher concentration, relative to industry commercial lines premiums, in contractor-related businesses. Since economic activity related to construction, which can heavily influence insured exposures of contractors, may experience cycles that vary significantly with the economy as a whole, our commercial lines premium trends could vary from commercial lines premium trends for the property casualty insurance industry. In 2017, we estimated that 39 percent of our general liability premiums, and 38 percent of our workers’ compensation premiums, came from the construction industry based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 18 Personal Lines Insurance Segment The personal lines insurance segment contributed net earned premiums of $1.241 billion to 2017 consolidated total revenues, or 21.7 percent of the total, and reported a loss before income taxes of $32 million. Personal lines net earned premiums rose 7 percent in 2017 and 6 percent in 2016. We prefer to write personal lines coverage in accounts that include both auto and homeowner coverages as well as coverages that are part of our other personal business line. At the end of 2017, for example, 83.8 percent of our homeowner policies were accompanied by a personal auto policy in the same account. As a result of our account- based approach, we believe that our personal lines business is best measured and evaluated on a segment basis. However, we provide line of business data to summarize growth and profitability trends separately for three business lines: • Personal auto – Protects against liability to others for both bodily injury and property damage, medical payments to insureds and occupants of their vehicle, physical damage to an insured’s own vehicle from collision and various other perils, and damages caused by uninsured motorists. In addition, many states require policies to provide first-party personal injury protection, frequently referred to as no-fault coverage. • Homeowner – Protects against losses to dwellings and contents from a wide variety of perils, as well as liability arising out of personal activities both on and off the covered premises. We also offer coverage for condominium unit owners and renters. • Other personal lines – This includes the other types of insurance products we offer to individuals, including dwelling fire, inland marine, personal umbrella liability and watercraft coverages. At year-end 2017, we marketed personal lines insurance products through 1,624, or approximately 72 percent, of our 2,256 agency reporting locations. The 1,624 personal lines agency locations were in 38 of the 42 states in which we offered property casualty insurance. Those agencies produced more than 1.1 million personal lines policies in force for us, representing approximately 435,000 policyholders. We continue to evaluate opportunities to expand our marketing of personal lines to other states. Primary factors considered in the evaluation of a potential new state include market opportunity or potential, weather-related catastrophe history and the legal climate. Expansion of our personal lines insurance segment includes marketing through independent agencies to profitably grow our premiums for products and services offered to their high net worth personal lines clients. In 2017, Massachusetts, Texas and Washington became new states for our personal lines operation when we began offering our Executive Capstone program for high net worth clients and appointing new agencies. At year-end 2017, our appointed agencies produced for us nearly $250 million in annual premiums from policyholders with insured home values of $1 million or more. We estimate those policyholders represent approximately 7 percent of our total personal lines policyholders. In 2017, our 10 highest volume personal lines states generated 74.0 percent of our earned premiums compared with 77.1 percent in 2016. Earned premiums in the five highest volume states increased 3 percent in 2017 while increasing 11 percent in the remaining states, reflecting progress toward our long-term objective of geographic diversification through new states for our personal lines operation. The aggregate number of reporting agency locations in our 10 highest volume states increased to 881 in 2017 from 878 in 2016. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 19 Our 10 largest states based on personal lines premium volume are shown in the table below. (Dollars in millions) Year ended December 31, 2017 Ohio Georgia Michigan North Carolina Indiana Illinois Alabama Kentucky Tennessee Minnesota Earned premiums % of total earned Agency locations Average premium per location $ 293 105 92 76 73 65 63 57 48 48 23.6% 8.5 7.4 6.1 5.9 5.2 5.0 4.6 3.9 3.8 222 $ 90 104 88 83 92 48 44 52 58 1.3 1.2 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.3 0.9 0.8 New and renewal personal lines business reflects our risk-specific underwriting philosophy. Each agency selects personal lines business primarily from within the geographic territory that it serves, based in part on agency staff’s knowledge of the risks in those communities or familiarity with the policyholder. At year-end 2017, we had 20 full-time personal lines field marketing representatives who have underwriting authority and visit agencies on a regular basis. They focus primarily on key states targeted for growth, reinforcing the advantages of our personal lines products and offering training in the use of our policy processing system. Personal lines activities are further supported by headquarters associates assigned to individual agencies. Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Segment The excess and surplus lines segment contributed net earned premiums of $209 million to 2017 consolidated total revenues, or 3.6 percent of the total, and reported profit before income taxes of $61 million. Excess and surplus lines net earned premium increased 14 percent in 2017 and 9 percent in 2016. Our excess and surplus lines policies typically cover business risks with unique characteristics, such as the nature of the business or its claim history, that are difficult to profitably insure in the standard commercial lines market. Excess and surplus lines insurers have more flexibility in coverage terms and rates compared with standard lines companies, generally resulting in policies with higher rates and terms and conditions customized for specific risks, including restricted coverage where appropriate. We target small to midsized risks, and policyholders in many cases also have standard market insurance with one of our other subsidiaries. Our average excess and surplus lines policy size is approximately $6,000 in annual premiums, and the majority have coverage limits of $1 million or less. All of our excess and surplus lines policies are written for a maximum term of one year. Approximately 88 percent of our 2017 earned premiums for the excess and surplus lines insurance segment provided commercial casualty coverages and about 12 percent provided commercial property coverages. Those coverages are described below. • Commercial casualty – Covers businesses for third-party liability from accidents occurring on their premises or arising out of their operations, including injuries sustained from products. Other coverages available include miscellaneous errors and omissions, professional liability and excess liability. Typical businesses covered include contractors, manufacturers, real estate owners and managers, retail, consultants, and bars or taverns. Policies covering liability at special events are also available. • Commercial property – Insures buildings, inventory, equipment and business income from loss or damage due to causes such as fire, wind, hail, water, theft and vandalism. Examples of property we commonly insure with excess and surplus lines policies include temporarily vacant buildings, habitational, restaurants and relatively higher-hazard manufacturing classes. At the end of 2017, we marketed excess and surplus lines insurance products in each of the 39 states in which we offer standard market commercial lines insurance. Offering excess and surplus lines helps agencies representing The Cincinnati Insurance Companies meet the insurance needs of their clients when coverage is unavailable in the Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 20 standard market. By providing outstanding service, we can help agencies grow and prosper while also profitably growing our property casualty business. In 2017, our 10 highest volume excess and surplus lines states generated 58.1 percent of our earned premiums, matching 2016. Our 10 largest states based on excess and surplus lines premium volume are shown in the table below. (Dollars in millions) Year ended December 31, 2017 Texas Ohio Illinois Georgia Indiana North Carolina Pennsylvania Alabama Missouri Minnesota Earned premiums % of total earned $ 17 17 17 14 12 10 9 9 8 8 8.2% 8.2 8.1 6.7 5.8 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.0 3.8 Agencies representing The Cincinnati Insurance Companies produce approximately $3 billion in annual premiums for all carriers writing excess and surplus lines policies for their clients. We estimate that approximately half of that premium volume matches the targeted business types and coverages we offer through our excess and surplus lines insurance segment. We structured the operations of this segment to meet the needs of these agencies and to market exclusively through them. Agencies have access to Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters' product line through CSU Producer Resources, the wholly owned insurance brokerage subsidiary of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. CSU Producer Resources has binding authority on all classes of business written through Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters and maintains appropriate agent and surplus lines licenses. We seek to earn a share of each agency’s best excess and surplus lines accounts by offering several unique benefits. Agency producers have direct access through CSU Producer Resources to a group of our underwriters who focus exclusively on excess and surplus lines business. Those underwriters can tap into broader services we offer to provide policyholders additional value and help producers build the relationship through experienced and responsive loss control services and claims handling. CSU Producer Resources gives extra support to our independent agency producers by remitting surplus lines taxes and stamping fees and retaining admitted market diligent search affidavits, where required. Agencies marketing through CSU Producer Resources instead of a competing brokerage generally receive a higher commission because use of our internal brokerage subsidiary eliminates some of the intermediary costs. This business is factored in their profit-sharing agreement with The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. We also offer prompt service, generally issuing approximately 95 percent of policies within 24 hours of a request to bind a policy. Life Insurance Segment The life insurance segment contributed $232 million of net earned premiums, representing 4.1 percent of 2017 consolidated total revenues, and reported a loss before income taxes of $1 million. Life insurance net earned premiums grew 2 percent in 2017 and 9 percent in 2016. The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company supports our agency-centered business model by deepening the relationships we have with agents while also diversifying revenue and profitability for both the agency and our company. We primarily focus on life products that feature a steady stream of premium payments and that have the potential for generating revenue growth through increasing demand. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 21 Life Insurance Business Lines Four lines of business – term life insurance, universal life insurance, worksite products and whole life insurance – account for 96.0 percent of the life insurance segment’s revenues: • Term life insurance – Policies under which a death benefit is payable only if the insured dies during a specific period of time. Policy options include a return of premium provision, a benefit equal to the sum of all paid base premiums that is payable if the insured person survives to the end of the term. The policies are fully underwritten using traditional and accelerated methods. • Universal life insurance – Long-duration life insurance policies that are fully underwritten. Contract premiums are neither fixed nor guaranteed; however, the contract does specify a minimum interest crediting rate and a maximum cost of insurance charge and expense charge. The cash values, available as a loan collateralized by the cash surrender value, are not guaranteed and depend on the amount and timing of actual premium payments and the amount of actual contract assessments. • Worksite products – Term life insurance, return of premium term life insurance, whole life insurance and disability insurance offered to employees through their employer. Premiums are collected by the employer using payroll deduction. Policies are issued using a simplified underwriting approach and on a guaranteed issue basis. Worksite insurance products provide our property casualty agency force with excellent cross-serving opportunities for both commercial and personal accounts. • Whole life insurance – Policies that provide life insurance for the entire lifetime of the insured. The death benefit is guaranteed never to decrease and premiums are guaranteed never to increase. While premiums are fixed, they must be paid as scheduled. These policies provide guaranteed cash values that are available as loans collateralized by the cash surrender value. The policies are fully underwritten. In addition, Cincinnati Life markets: • Disability income insurance that provides monthly benefits to offset the loss of income when the insured person is unable to work due to accident or illness. • Deferred annuities that provide regular income payments that commence after the end of a specified period or when the annuitant attains a specified age. During the deferral period, any payments made under the contract accumulate at the crediting rate declared by the company but not less than a contract-specified guaranteed minimum interest rate. A deferred annuity may be surrendered during the deferral period for a cash value equal to the accumulated payments plus interest less the surrender charge, if any. • Immediate annuities that provide some combination of regular income and lump-sum payments in exchange for a single premium. Life Insurance Distribution Our life insurance subsidiary is licensed in 49 states and the District of Columbia. At year-end 2017, approximately 84 percent of our 2,256 property casualty agency reporting locations offered Cincinnati Life products to their clients. We also develop life business from approximately 582 other independent life insurance agencies. We are careful to solicit business from these other agencies in a manner that does not conflict with or compete with the marketing and sales efforts of our property casualty agencies. When marketing through our property casualty agencies, we have specific competitive advantages: • Because our property casualty operations are held in high regard, property casualty agency management is predisposed to consider selling our life products. • Marketing efforts for both our property casualty and life insurance businesses are directed by our field marketing department, coordinated with our life field marketing representatives, which assures consistency of communication and operations. Life field marketing representatives are available to meet face-to-face with agency personnel and their clients as well. Our life headquarters underwriters and other associates are available to the agents and field team to assist in the placement of business. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 22 We continue to emphasize the cross-serving opportunities of our life insurance, including term and worksite products, for the property casualty agency’s personal and commercial accounts. In both the property casualty and independent life agency distribution systems, we enjoy the advantages of offering competitive, up-to-date products and providing personal attention in combination with financial strength and stability. • Term life insurance is our largest life insurance product line. We continue to develop and offer term products with features our agents indicate are important, such as a return of premium benefit and an option for an accelerated underwriting product for our personal lines agents. • We also offer products addressing the needs of businesses with key person and buy-sell coverages. We offer quality, personal life insurance coverage to personal and commercial clients of our agencies. Because of our strong capital position, we can offer a competitive product portfolio, including guaranteed products, giving our agents a marketing edge. Our life insurance company maintains strong insurer financial strength ratings: A.M. Best, A (Excellent); Fitch, A+ (Strong); and S&P Global Ratings A+ (Strong). Our life insurance company has chosen not to establish a Moody’s rating. In 2017, our five highest volume states for life insurance premiums, based on information contained in statements filed with state insurance departments, are reflected in the table below. (Dollars in millions) Year ended December 31, 2017 Ohio Pennsylvania Indiana Illinois Michigan Premiums % of total earned $ 52 21 18 18 15 17.5% 7.2 6.1 6.0 5.0 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 23 Investments Segment Revenues of the investments segment are primarily from net investment income and from net realized investment gains and losses from investment portfolios managed for the holding company and each of the operating subsidiaries. Our investment department operates under guidelines set forth in our investment policy along with oversight of the investment committee of our board of directors. These guidelines set parameters for risk tolerances governing, among other items, the allocation of the portfolio as well as security and sector concentrations. These parameters are part of an integrated corporate risk management program. When allocating cash to various asset classes, we consider market-based factors such as risk adjusted after-tax yields as well as internal measures based in part on insurance department regulations and rating agency guidance. The fair value of our investment portfolio was $16.948 billion and $15.419 billion at year-end 2017 and 2016, respectively, as shown in the table below. The overall portfolio remained in an unrealized gain position as equity markets were up significantly in 2017. Value stocks and stocks with above market yields, similar to the general makeup of our portfolio, underperformed the broader market in 2017. The unrealized gain position in our fixed- maturity investments increased in 2017, due to a slight decrease in interest rates and a narrowing of corporate credit spreads. (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 At December 31, 2016 Taxable fixed maturities Tax-exempt fixed maturities Common equity securities Nonredeemable preferred equity securities Cost or amortized cost 6,383 $ Percent of total Fair value 6,637 47.6% $ Percent of total Cost or amortized cost Percent of total Fair value 6,630 49.9% $ Percent of total 43.0% 39.2% $ 3,931 2,918 29.3 21.8 4,062 6,039 24.0 35.6 26.7 22.0 3,455 5,123 22.4 33.2 176 1.3 210 1.2 183 1.4 211 1.4 6,381 3,418 2,812 Total $ 13,408 100.0% $ 16,948 100.0% $ 12,794 100.0% $ 15,419 100.0% The cash we generate from insurance operations historically has been invested in two broad categories of investments: • Fixed-maturity investments – Includes taxable and tax-exempt bonds and redeemable preferred stocks. During 2017, the combined effect of purchases and a net increase in unrealized gains offset sales and calls of fixed-maturity securities in our portfolio. During 2016, purchases offset the combined effect of a net decrease in unrealized gains, sales and calls. • Equity investments – Includes common and nonredeemable preferred stocks. During 2017, purchases and a net increase in unrealized gains offset sales of equity securities in our portfolio. Likewise during 2016, the combined effect of a net increase in unrealized gains and purchases offset sales of equity securities. At year-end 2017, less than 1 percent of the value of our investment portfolio was made up of securities that are classified as Level 3 assets and that require management’s judgment to develop pricing or valuation techniques. We generally obtain at least two outside valuations for these assets and generally use the more conservative estimate. These investments include private placements, small issues and various thinly traded securities. See Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Fair Value Measurements, and Item 8, Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, for additional discussion of our valuation techniques. In addition to securities held in our investment portfolio, other invested assets included $31 million of life policy loans, $35 million of private equity investments and $37 million of real estate through direct property ownership and development projects in the United States at year-end 2017. Our investment portfolio is further described below. Additional information about the composition of investments is included in Item 8, Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. A detailed listing of our portfolio is updated on our website, cinfin.com/investors, each quarter when we report our quarterly financial results. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 24 Fixed-Maturity Securities Investments By maintaining a well-diversified fixed-maturity portfolio, we attempt to manage overall interest rate, reinvestment, credit and liquidity risk. We pursue a buy-and-hold strategy and do not attempt to make large-scale changes to the portfolio in anticipation of rate movements. By investing new money on a regular basis and analyzing risk-adjusted after-tax yields, we work to achieve a laddering effect to our portfolio that may mitigate some of the effects of adverse interest rate movements. At December 31, 2017, our investment-grade and noninvestment-grade fixed-maturity securities represented 87.4 percent and 3.8 percent of the portfolio, respectively. The remaining 8.8 percent represented fixed-maturity securities that were not rated by Moody’s or S&P Global Ratings. Our nonrated securities include smaller municipal issues and private placement corporate securities. Many of these, although not rated by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s, are rated by the NAIC’s Securities’ Valuation Office. Also included in this category are smaller public corporate securities, many of which carry a rating by an agency other than Moody’s or S&P, such as Fitch or Kroll. Other selected attributes of the fixed-maturity portfolio are shown in the table below. Additional maturity periods and other information for our fixed-maturity portfolio are shown in Item 8, Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Weighted average yield-to-amortized cost Weighted average maturity Effective duration At December 31, 2016 2017 4.40 % 4.54 % 7.7 yrs 5.2 yrs 7.1 yrs 5.0 yrs The fair values of our taxable fixed-maturity securities portfolio at the end of the last two years were: (Dollars in millions) Investment-grade corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Noninvestment-grade corporate Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States government Foreign government Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached Total At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ 5,252 403 401 286 254 31 10 — 6,637 $ $ 5,336 373 445 287 164 10 10 5 6,630 While our strategy typically is to buy and hold fixed-maturity investments to maturity, we monitor credit profiles and fair value movements when determining holding periods for individual securities. With the exception of U.S. agency issues, no individual issuer's securities accounted for more than 1.1 percent of the taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at year-end 2017. Investment-grade corporate bonds had an average rating of Baa2 by Moody’s or BBB+ by S&P at year-end 2017. Most of the $403 million of securities issued by states, municipalities and political subdivisions included in our taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at the end of 2017 were Build America Bonds. Relative to a broad bond market index such as the Barclay’s Aggregate, we are most heavily exposed to the investment grade corporate bond asset class. Within that asset class we have a weighting of 46.6 percent for the financial sector, higher than the 28.9 percent weighting for the financial sector of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate Index. Relative to the Barclay’s Aggregate Index we are overweight in the commercial mortgage- backed securities asset class while having no exposure to the much larger residential mortgage-backed market. At December 31, 2017, we had $4.062 billion of tax-exempt fixed-maturity securities with an average rating of Aa2/ AA by Moody’s and S&P. The portfolio is well diversified among approximately 1,450 municipal bond issuers. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 25 No single municipal issuer accounted for more than 0.6 percent of the tax-exempt fixed-maturity portfolio at year- end 2017. Equity Securities Investments After covering both our intermediate and long-range insurance obligations with fixed-maturity investments, we historically have used some available cash flow to invest in equity securities. Our equity securities portfolio includes common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks. Investment in equity securities has played an important role in achieving our portfolio objectives and has contributed to portfolio appreciation. We remain committed to our long-term equity focus, which we believe is key to our company’s long-term growth and stability. We believe our strategy of primarily investing in a diversified selection of larger-capitalization, high-quality, dividend-increasing companies generally results in reduced volatility relative to the broader equity markets. At year-end 2017, no holding had a fair value greater than 4.0 percent of our common stock portfolio. JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) was our largest single common stock investment, comprising 4.0 percent of our publicly traded common stock portfolio and 1.4 percent of the entire investment portfolio. The parent company held 37.7 percent of our common stock holdings (measured by fair value). The distribution of the portfolio among industry sectors is shown in the table below. Common Stock Portfolio Industry Sector Distribution Sector: Information technology Financial Industrials Consumer discretionary Healthcare Energy Consumer staples Materials Utilities Telecomm services Real estate Total Percent of common stock portfolio At December 31, 2017 At December 31, 2016 Cincinnati Financial S&P 500 Industry Weightings Cincinnati Financial S&P 500 Industry Weightings 19.5% 16.2 14.3 13.6 13.2 7.3 6.2 5.6 2.1 1.7 0.3 100.0% 23.7% 14.8 10.3 12.2 13.8 6.1 8.2 3.0 2.9 2.1 2.9 100.0% 17.6% 15.6 14.9 10.4 12.6 8.5 10.3 5.8 2.2 2.1 — 100.0% 20.8% 14.8 10.3 12.0 13.6 7.5 9.4 2.8 3.2 2.7 2.9 100.0% We evaluate nonredeemable preferred stocks in a manner similar to our evaluation of fixed-maturity investments, seeking attractive relative yields. We generally focus on investment-grade nonredeemable preferred stocks issued by companies with strong histories of paying common dividends, providing us with another layer of protection. Consideration is also given to nonredeemable preferred stocks that offer a dividend received deduction for income tax purposes. We purchased $10 million of nonredeemable preferred stocks, converted $3 million to common stock and sold $15 million in this portfolio during 2017. During 2016, we did not purchase any nonredeemable preferred stocks and sold $7 million. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 26 Other We report as Other the noninvestment operations of the parent company and its noninsurer subsidiary CFC Investment Company. At year-end 2017, this subsidiary had $61 million in receivables related to its commercial leasing and financing services, compared with $51 million in receivables at year-end 2016. We also report as Other the results of our Cincinnati Re reinsurance assumed operations. Cincinnati Re has contracts, also referred to as treaties, with other insurance or reinsurance companies to assume a portion of their insured risk in exchange for a portion of premiums from insurance policies covering those risks. The treaties and their exposure to losses are diverse in nature, including various lines of business and geographies for the reinsured risks. Some of our treaties reflect a type of contract commonly referred to as participating or proportional, typically sharing premiums and losses between the reinsured entity and us, as reinsurer, on a pro rata basis. Some are a contract type commonly referred to as excess of loss, where we indemnify the reinsured entity only for losses exceeding a predetermined amount. Net written premiums for Cincinnati Re totaled $125 million in 2017, compared with $71 million in 2016. Approximately 30 percent of 2017 net written premiums was for property exposures that include risk of loss from natural catastrophes and approximately 60 percent was for casualty exposures from various liability risks. The remainder of approximately 10 percent was a combination of what we consider to be more specialized coverages that include, but are not limited to, transactional liability and credit risk transfer related to residential mortgages. When we disclose probable maximum loss (PML) estimates on a gross basis, we also typically disclose amounts on a basis that is net of income taxes and applicable reinsurance ceded, including any retrocessions for reinsurance assumed. Based on treaties in effect at January 1, 2018, Cincinnati Re increased other property casualty catastrophe probable maximum loss estimates disclosed in Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, 2018 Reinsurance Ceded Programs, by the following amounts: $77 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $80 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. Those amounts represent a marginal basis, reflecting differences between the Cincinnati Re reinsurance portfolio and property casualty insurance written on a direct basis by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. Ignoring diversification effects provided by those two components, on a standalone basis, probable maximum loss estimates for Cincinnati Re include the following amounts: $89 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $109 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. Each of those effects represent a single hurricane event and are net of income taxes, based on probable maximum loss estimates from Applied Insurance Research's Touchstone® version 4.2 catastrophe model. Regulation The business of insurance is primarily regulated by state law. All of our insurance company subsidiaries are domiciled in the state of Ohio except The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company, which is domiciled in Delaware. Each insurance subsidiary is primarily governed by the insurance laws and regulations in its respective state of domicile. We also are subject to regulatory authorities of all states in which we write insurance. The state laws and regulations that have the most significant effect on our insurance operations and financial reporting are discussed below. • Insurance Holding Company Regulation – We are regulated as an insurance holding company system in the respective states of domicile of our primary standard market property casualty company subsidiary and its surplus lines and life insurance subsidiaries. These regulations require that we annually furnish financial and other information about the operations of the individual companies within the holding company system. Information about the risks posed by any noninsurance company subsidiaries must also be disclosed. All transactions within a holding company system affecting insurers must be fair and equitable. Notice to the state insurance commissioner is required prior to the consummation of transactions affecting the ownership or control of an insurer and prior to certain material transactions between an insurer and any person or entity in its holding company group. In addition, some of those transactions cannot be consummated without the commissioner’s prior approval. • Subsidiary Dividends – The Cincinnati Insurance Company is fully owned by Cincinnati Financial Corporation. The dividend-paying capacity of The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its fully owned subsidiaries is regulated by the laws of the applicable state of domicile. Under these laws, our insurance subsidiaries must provide a 10-day advance informational notice to the insurance commissioner for the domiciliary state prior to payment of any dividend or distribution to its shareholders. Generally, the most our insurance subsidiary can pay without prior regulatory approval is the greater of 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus or 100 percent of statutory net income for the prior calendar year. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 27 • The insurance company subsidiaries must give 30 days of notice to, and obtain prior approval from, the state insurance commissioner before the payment of an extraordinary dividend as defined by the state’s insurance code. You can find information about the dividends paid by our insurance subsidiary in 2017 in Item 8, Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Insurance Operations – All of our insurance subsidiaries are subject to licensing and supervision by departments of insurance in the states in which they do business. The nature and extent of such regulations vary, but generally are rooted in statutes that delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to state insurance departments. Such regulations, supervision and administration of the insurance subsidiaries include: the standards of solvency that must be met and maintained; the licensing of insurers and their agents and brokers; the nature and limitations on investments; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; regulation of standard market policy forms and premium rates; policy cancellations and nonrenewals; test audit programs; periodic examination of the affairs of insurance companies; annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition of insurers or for other purposes; requirements regarding reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other matters; the nature of and limitations on dividends to policyholders and shareholders; the nature and extent of required participation in insurance guaranty funds; the involuntary assumption of hard-to-place or high-risk insurance business, primarily workers’ compensation insurance; and the collection, remittance and reporting of certain taxes and fees. Our primary insurance regulators have adopted the Model Audit Rule for annual statutory financial reporting. This regulation closely mirrors the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on matters such as auditor independence, corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting. The regulation permits the audit committee of Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s board of directors to also serve as the audit committee of each of our insurance subsidiaries for purposes of this regulation. • Insurance Guaranty Associations – For certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants, states assess each member insurer in an amount relative to the insurer’s proportionate share of business written by all member insurers in the state. While the amount of such assessments has not been material in recent years, we cannot predict the amount and timing of any future assessments or refunds on our insurance subsidiaries under these laws. • Shared Market and Joint Underwriting Plans – Assigned risk plans, reinsurance facilities and joint underwriting associations are mechanisms that generally provide applicants with various basic insurance coverages when they are not available in voluntary markets. States can require participation based upon the amount of an insurance company’s voluntary market share, and underwriting results related to these pools could be adverse to our company. • Statutory Accounting – For public reporting, insurance companies prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, certain data also must be calculated according to statutory accounting rules as defined in the NAIC’s Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. While not a substitute for any GAAP measure of performance, statutory data frequently is used by industry analysts and other recognized reporting sources to facilitate comparisons of the performance of insurance companies. • • Insurance Reserves – State insurance laws require that property casualty and life insurers annually analyze the adequacy of reserves. Our appointed actuaries must submit an opinion that reserves are adequate for policy claims-paying obligations and related expenses. Investment Regulation – Insurance company investments must comply with laws and regulations pertaining to the type, quality and concentration of investments. Such laws and regulations permit investments in federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, preferred and common equity securities, mortgage loans, real estate and certain other investments, subject to specified limits and other qualifications. • Risk-Based Capital Requirements – The NAIC’s risk-based capital (RBC) requirements for property casualty and life insurers serve as an early warning tool for the NAIC and state regulators to identify companies that may be undercapitalized and may merit further regulatory action. The NAIC has a standard formula for annually assessing RBC. The formula for calculating RBC for property casualty companies takes into account asset and credit risks but places more emphasis on underwriting factors for reserving and pricing. The formula for calculating RBC for life insurance companies takes into account factors relating to insurance, business, asset and interest-rate risks. Although the federal government and its regulatory agencies generally do not directly regulate the business of insurance, federal legislation and administrative rules adopted can affect our business. Privacy laws, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA) are the federal laws that most affect our day-to-day operations. These apply to us because we gather and use personal nonpublic information to underwrite insurance and process claims. We also are subject to other federal laws, such as the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), anti-money laundering statute (AML), the Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 28 Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA), and the rules and regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Title V of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank) created the Federal Insurance Office to monitor the insurance industry and gather information to identify issues or gaps in the regulation of insurers that could contribute to a systemic crisis in the insurance industry that affects the United States’ financial system and to recommend to the Financial Stability Oversight Council that it designate an insurer as a systemically significant entity requiring additional supervision by the Federal Reserve Board. We do not expect Dodd-Frank to result in federal oversight of our operations as a systemically significant entity. We do not expect to have any material effects on our expenditures, earnings or competitive position as a result of compliance with any federal, state or local provisions enacted or adopted relating to the protection of the environment. We currently do not have any material estimated capital expenditures for environmental control facilities. Enterprise Risk Management We manage enterprise risk through formal risk management programs overseen by our chief risk officer, an executive officer of the company. Our ERM framework includes an enterprise risk management committee, which is responsible for overseeing risk activities and is comprised of senior executive-level risk owners from across the enterprise. The risk committee's activities are supported by a team of representatives from business areas that focus on identifying, evaluating and developing risk plans for emerging risks. A comprehensive report is provided quarterly to our chairman, our president and chief executive officer, our board of directors and our senior executive team, as appropriate, on the status of risk metrics relative to identified tolerances and limits, risk assessments and risk plans. Our use of operational audits, strategic plans and departmental business plans, as well as our culture of open communications and our fundamental respect for our Code of Conduct, continue to help us manage risks on an ongoing basis. Our risk management programs include a formalized risk appetite element and a risk identification and quantification process. The overall enterprise objective is to appropriately balance risk and reward to achieve an appropriate return on risk capital. The company’s key risks are discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors, including risks related to natural catastrophes, investments and operations. We continue to study emerging risks, including climate-change risk and its potential financial effects on our results of operation and on those we insure. These effects include deterioration in the credit quality of our municipal or corporate bond portfolios and increased losses without sufficient corresponding increases in premiums. As with any risk, we seek to identify the extent of the risk exposure and possible actions to mitigate potential negative effects of risk at an enterprise level. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 29 ITEM 1A. Risk Factors Our business involves various risks and uncertainties that may affect achievement of our business objectives. Many of the risks could have ramifications across our organization. For example, while risks related to setting insurance rates and establishing and adjusting loss reserves are insurance activities, errors in these areas could have an impact on our investment activities, growth and overall results. The following discussion should be viewed as a starting point for understanding the significant risks we face. It is not a definitive summary of their potential impacts or of our strategies to manage and control the risks. Please see Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for a discussion of those strategies. If any risks or uncertainties discussed here develop into actual events, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In that case, the market price of our common stock could decline materially. The failure of our risk management strategies could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Readers should carefully consider this information together with the other information we have provided in this report and in other reports and materials we file periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as news releases and other information we disseminate publicly. We rely primarily on independent insurance agents to distribute our products. We market our main products, insurance policies for businesses and individuals, through independent, nonexclusive insurance agents. These agents are not obligated to promote our products and can and do sell our competitors’ products. We must offer insurance products that meet the needs of these agents and their clients. We need to maintain good relationships with the agents who market our products. If we do not, these agents may market our competitors’ products instead of ours, which may lead to us having a less desirable mix of business and could affect our results of operations. In addition to insurance policies for businesses and individuals, a relatively small part of our business is reinsuring policies written by other insurance companies. Reinsurance assumed is marketed through reinsurance intermediaries and is generally not offered by the typical independent agents who market our insurance policies. Certain events or conditions could diminish our agents’ desire to produce business for us and the competitive advantage that our independent agents enjoy, including: • Downgrade of the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. We believe our strong insurer financial strength ratings, in particular, the A+ (Superior) ratings from A.M. Best for our standard market property casualty insurance group and each subsidiary in that group, are an important competitive advantage. See Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Financial Strength, for additional discussion of our financial strength ratings. • Concerns that doing business with us is difficult or not profitable, perceptions that our level of service is no longer a distinguishing characteristic in the marketplace, perceptions that our products do not meet the needs of our agents’ clients or perceptions that our business practices are not compatible with agents’ business models. • Mergers and acquisitions could result in a concentration of a significant amount of premium in one agency. • Delays in the development, implementation, performance and benefits of technology systems and enhancements or independent agent perceptions that our technology solutions do not match their needs. A reduction in the number of independent agencies marketing our products, the failure of agencies to successfully market our products or pay amounts due to us, changes in the strategy or operations of agencies or the choice of agencies to reduce their writings of our products could affect our results of operations if we were unable to replace them with agencies that produce adequate and profitable premiums. Further, policyholders may choose a competitor’s product rather than our own because of real or perceived differences in price, terms and conditions, coverage or service. If the quality of the independent agencies with which we do business were to decline, that also might cause policyholders to purchase their insurance through different agencies or channels. Consumers, especially in the personal insurance industry segment, may increasingly choose to purchase insurance from distribution channels other than independent insurance agents, such as direct marketers. Increased advertising by insurers, especially direct marketers, could cause consumers to shift Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 30 their buying habits, bypassing independent agents altogether. Innovation, new or changing technologies and/or buying trends or consumer preferences could reduce or eliminate the need or demand for products we sell. Our credit ratings or financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries could be downgraded. A downgrade in one or more of our company’s credit or debt ratings could adversely impact our borrowing costs or limit our access to capital. Financial strength ratings reflect a rating agency’s opinion of our insurance subsidiaries’ financial strength, operating performance, strategic position and ability to meet obligations to policyholders. Our ratings are subject to periodic review and there is no assurance that our ratings will not be changed. Ratings agencies could change or expand their requirements or could find that our insurance subsidiaries no longer meet the criteria established for current ratings. If our property casualty insurer financial strength ratings were to be downgraded, our agents might find it more difficult to market our products or might choose to emphasize the products of other carriers. See Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Additional Sources of Liquidity, for additional discussion of ratings for our long-term debt. We could experience an unusually high level of losses due to catastrophic, terrorism or pandemic events or risk concentrations. In the normal course of our business, both in our insurance and reinsurance operations, we provide coverage against perils for which estimates of losses are highly uncertain, in particular catastrophic and terrorism events. Catastrophes can be man-made or caused by natural perils. Man-made catastrophes to which we may be exposed include, but are not limited to, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, social unrest and riot. Natural peril catastrophe events to which we may be exposed include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, landslides, hailstorms, flooding, severe winter weather and wildfires. Due to the nature of these events, we are unable to predict precisely the frequency or potential cost of catastrophe occurrences. Various scientists and other experts believe that changing climate conditions have added to the unpredictability, frequency and severity of such natural disasters in certain parts of the world and have created additional uncertainty as to future trends and exposures. We cannot predict the impact that changing climate conditions may have on our results of operations nor can we predict how any legal, regulatory or social responses to concerns about climate change may impact our business. Additionally, man-made events, such as hydraulic fracturing, could cause damage from earth movement or create environmental and/or health hazards. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured and reinsured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Our ability to appropriately manage catastrophe risk depends partially on catastrophe models, which may be affected by inaccurate or incomplete data, the uncertainty of the frequency and severity of future events and the uncertain impact of climate change. Additionally, these models are recalibrated and changed over time, with more data availability and changing opinions regarding the effect of current or emerging loss patterns and conditions. According to these models, probable maximum loss estimates from a single hurricane event that combine the effects of property casualty insurance written on a direct basis by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies and the Cincinnati Re reinsurance portfolio include the following amounts, net of amounts recoverable through reinsurance ceded, and also income taxes: $173 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $413 million for a once-in-a-250- year event. Please see Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, 2018 Reinsurance Programs, for a discussion of modeled losses considered in evaluating our risk mitigation strategy, which includes our ceded reinsurance program. The geographic regions in which we market insurance and reinsurance are exposed to numerous natural catastrophes, such as: • Hurricanes in the gulf, eastern, southeastern and northeastern coastal regions. • Earthquakes in many regions, most particularly in the New Madrid fault zone, California, the Northwest and Southwest. • Tornado, wind and hail in the Midwest, South, Southeast, Southwest and the mid-Atlantic. • Wildfires. • On a worldwide basis, in the event of a severe catastrophic event or terrorist attack we may be exposed to material losses through our reinsurance assumed operations. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 31 The occurrence of terrorist attacks in the geographic areas we serve could result in substantially higher claims under our insurance policies than we have anticipated. While our insurance policies provide coverage for terrorism risk in all areas we serve, we have identified our major terrorism exposure geographically as general commercial risks in the Tier 1 cities of metropolitan Chicago, Dallas and New York areas, and to a much lesser degree, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. We have a greater amount of business in less hazardous Tier 2 cities such as Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix-Mesa, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Tampa-St. Petersburg. We have exposure to small co-op utilities, water utilities, wholesale fuel distributors, small shopping malls and small colleges throughout our 42 active states and, because of the number of associates located there, our Fairfield, Ohio, headquarters. Additionally, our life insurance subsidiary could be adversely affected in the event of a terrorist event or an epidemic such as the avian or swine flu, particularly if the epidemic were to affect a broad range of the population beyond just the very young or the very old. Our associate health plan is self-funded and could similarly be affected. Our results of operations would be adversely affected if the level of losses we experience over a period of time were to exceed our actuarially determined expectations. In addition, our financial condition may be adversely affected if we were required to sell securities prior to maturity or at unfavorable prices to pay an unusually high level of loss and loss expenses. Securities pricing might be even less favorable if a number of insurance or other companies and other investors needed to sell securities during a short period of time because of unusually high losses from catastrophic events. Our geographic concentration ties our performance to business, economic, environmental and regulatory conditions in certain states. We market our standard market property casualty insurance products in 42 states, but our business is concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast. We also have exposure in states where we do not actively market insurance when clients of our independent agencies have businesses or properties in multiple states. The Cincinnati Insurance Company is expanding in the area of reinsurance assumed and has staffed this operation with seasoned underwriting and analytical talent who strive to assume risks that we understand well, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Business written includes treaties that provide coverage for property catastrophe and terrorism events on a worldwide basis. At January 1, 2018, the largest loss exposure to us for our Cincinnati Re reinsurance assumed operation is from natural catastrophe events. That exposure includes probable maximum loss estimates, on a marginal basis, of the following amounts: $77 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $80 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. Those effects represent a single hurricane event and are net of income taxes, with the marginal basis reflecting diversification effects of the Cincinnati Re reinsurance portfolio and property casualty insurance written on a direct basis by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. If there is a high frequency of large property catastrophe or terrorism events, or a single extreme event, during the coverage period of these treaties, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected. Additionally, the companies we invest in might be severely affected by a severe catastrophic event or terrorist attack, which could affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our reinsurers might experience significant losses, potentially jeopardizing their ability to pay losses we cede to them. It could also reduce the availability of reinsurance. If we cannot obtain adequate coverage at a reasonable cost, it could constrain where we can write business or reduce the amount of business we can write in certain areas. We also may be exposed to state guaranty fund assessments if other carriers in a state cannot meet their obligations to policyholders. A catastrophe or epidemic event also could affect our operations by damaging our headquarters facility, injuring associates and visitors at our Fairfield, Ohio, headquarters or disrupting our associates’ ability to perform their assigned tasks. Our ability to achieve our performance objectives could be affected by changes in the financial, credit and capital markets or the general economy. We invest premiums received from policyholders and other available cash to generate investment income and capital appreciation, while also maintaining sufficient liquidity to pay covered claims and operating expenses, service our debt obligations and pay dividends. The value of our invested assets is an important component of shareholders’ equity, also known as book value. Changes in the valuation of invested assets can significantly affect changes in book value per share, a key performance objective as discussed in Item 7, Executive Summary of Management’s Discussion and Analysis. For fixed-maturity investments such as bonds, which represented 63.2 percent of the fair value of our investment portfolio at the end of 2017, the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices leads to falling bond Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 32 values during periods of increasing interest rates. A significant increase in the general level of interest rates could have an adverse effect on our shareholders’ equity. Investment income is an important component of our revenues and net income. The ability to increase investment income and generate longer-term growth in book value is affected by factors beyond our control, such as: inflation, economic growth, interest rates, world political conditions, changes in laws and regulations, terrorism attacks or threats, adverse events affecting other companies in our industry or the industries in which we invest, market events leading to credit constriction, and other widespread unpredictable events. These events may adversely affect the economy generally and could cause our investment income or the value of securities we own to decrease. A significant decline in our investment income could have an adverse effect on our net income, and thereby on our shareholders’ equity and our statutory capital and surplus. For example, a significant increase in the general level of interest rates could lead to falling bond values. For a more detailed discussion of risks associated with our investments, please refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. We have issued life contracts with guaranteed minimum returns, referred to as bank-owned life insurance contracts (BOLIs). BOLI investment assets must meet certain criteria established by the regulatory authorities in the jurisdiction for which the group contract holder is subject. Therefore, sales of investments may be mandated to maintain compliance with these regulations, possibly requiring gains or losses to be recorded. We could experience losses if the assets in the accounts were less than liabilities at the time of maturity or termination. Our investment performance also could suffer because of the types of investments, industry groups and/or individual securities in which we choose to invest. Market value changes related to these choices could cause a material change in our financial condition or results of operations. At year-end 2017, common stock holdings made up 35.6 percent of our investment portfolio. Adverse news or events affecting the global or U.S. economy or the equity markets could affect our net income, book value and overall results, as well as our ability to pay our common stock dividend. See Item 7, Investments Results, and Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, for a discussion of our investment activities. Deterioration in the banking sector or in banks with which we have relationships could affect our results of operations. Our ability to maintain or obtain short-term lines of credit could be affected if the banks from which we obtain these lines are acquired, fail or are otherwise negatively affected. We may lose premium revenue if a bank that owns appointed agencies were to change its strategies. We could experience increased losses in our director and officer liability line of business if claims were made against insured financial institutions. A deterioration of credit and market conditions could also impair our ability to access credit markets and could affect existing or future lending arrangements. Our overall results could be affected if a significant portion of our commercial lines policyholders, including those purchasing surety bonds, are adversely affected by marked or prolonged economic downturns and events such as a downturn in construction and related sectors, tightening credit markets and higher fuel costs. Such events could make it more difficult for policyholders to finance new projects, complete projects or expand their businesses, leading to lower premiums from reduced payrolls and sales and lower purchases of equipment and vehicles. These events could also cause claims, including surety claims, to increase due to a policyholder’s inability to secure necessary financing to complete projects or to collect on underlying lines of credit in the claims process. Such economic downturns and events could have a greater impact in the construction sector where we have a concentration of risks and in geographic areas that are hardest hit by economic downturns. Deteriorating economic conditions could also increase the degree of credit risk associated with amounts due from independent agents who collect premiums for payment to us and could hamper our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers. Our ability to properly underwrite and price risks and increased competition could adversely affect our results. Our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows depend on our ability to underwrite and set rates accurately for a full spectrum of risks. We establish our pricing based on assumptions about the level of losses that may occur within classes of business, geographic regions and other criteria. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 33 To properly price our products, we must collect, properly analyze and use data to make decisions and take appropriate action; the data must be sufficient, reliable and accessible; we need to develop appropriate rating methodologies and formulae; and we may need to identify and respond to trends quickly. We may overestimate or underestimate loss cost trends or these trends may unexpectedly change, leading to losing business by pricing risks above our competitors or charging rates too low to maintain profitability. Inflation trends, especially outside of historical norms, may make it more difficult to determine adequate pricing. If rates are not accurate, we may not generate enough premiums to offset losses and expenses, or we may not be competitive in the marketplace. Our ability to set appropriate rates could be hampered if states where we write business refuse to allow rate increases that we believe are necessary to cover the risks insured. A state could also hamper our ability to set appropriate rates if it no longer allowed us to use factors that we believe are predictive of loss, such as credit-based factors. Multiple states require us to purchase reinsurance from a mandatory reinsurance fund. Such reinsurance funds can create a credit risk for insurers if not adequately funded by the state and, in some cases, the existence of a reinsurance fund could affect the prices charged for our policies. The effect of these and similar arrangements could reduce our profitability in any given period or limit our ability to grow our business. The insurance industry is cyclical and intensely competitive. From time to time, the insurance industry goes through prolonged periods of intense competition during which it is more difficult to attract new business, retain existing business and maintain profitability. Competition in our insurance business is based on many factors, including: • Competitiveness of premiums charged • Relationships among carriers, agents, brokers and policyholders • Underwriting and pricing methodologies that allow insurers to identify and flexibly price risks • Compensation provided to agents • Underwriting discipline • Terms and conditions of insurance coverage • Speed with which products are brought to market • Product and marketing innovations, including advertising • Technological competence and innovation • Ability to control expenses • Adequacy of financial strength ratings by independent ratings agencies such as A.M. Best • Quality of services and tools provided to agents and policyholders • Claims satisfaction and reputation We compete with major U.S., Bermuda, European, and other international insurers and reinsurers and with underwriting syndicates, some of which have greater financial, marketing and management resources than we do. Recent industry consolidation, including business combinations among insurance and other financial services companies, has resulted in larger competitors with even greater financial resources. We also compete with new companies that continue to enter the insurance and reinsurance markets. In addition, capital market participants have created alternative products that are intended to compete with reinsurance products that we sell in our reinsurance assumed operations. Increased competition could result in fewer submissions, lower premium rates, and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could reduce our underwriting margins and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. If our pricing was incorrect or we were unable to compete effectively because of one or more of these factors, our premium writings could decline and our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Large competitors could intentionally disrupt the market by targeting certain lines or underpricing the market. Please see the discussion of our Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Excess and Surplus Lines and Life Insurance Segments in Item 1, Our Segments, for a discussion of our competitive position in the insurance marketplace. Our pricing and capital models could be flawed. We use various predictive pricing models, stochastic models and/or forecasting techniques to help us understand our business, analyze risk and estimate future trends. The output of these models is used to assist us in making Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 34 underwriting, pricing, reinsurance, reserving and capital decisions and helps us set our strategic direction. These models contain numerous assumptions, including the assumption that the data used is sufficient and accurate. They are also subject to uncertainties and limitations inherent in any statistical analysis. Actual results may be materially different from modeled output, resulting in pricing our products incorrectly, overestimating or underestimating reserves, or inaccurately forecasting the impact of modeled events on our results. This could materially adversely impact the results of our operations. Our loss reserves, our largest liability, are based on estimates and could be inadequate to cover our actual losses. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared using GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. For a discussion of the significant accounting policies we use to prepare our financial statements, the material implications of uncertainties associated with the methods, assumptions and estimates underlying our critical accounting policies and the process used to determine our loss reserves, please refer to Item 8, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Life Insurance Policy Reserves. Our most critical accounting estimate is loss reserves. Loss reserves are the amounts we expect to pay for covered claims and expenses we incur to settle those claims. The loss reserves we establish in our financial statements represent an estimate of amounts needed to pay and administer claims arising from insured events that have already occurred, including events that have not yet been reported to us. Loss reserves are estimates and are inherently uncertain; they do not and cannot represent an exact measure of liability. Inflationary scenarios, especially scenarios outside of historical norms or regulatory changes that affect the assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates, may make it more difficult to estimate loss reserves. Accordingly, our loss reserves for past periods could prove to be inadequate to cover our actual losses and related expenses. Any changes in these estimates are reflected in our results of operations during the period in which the changes are made. An increase in our loss reserves would decrease earnings, while a decrease in our loss reserves would increase earnings. Unforeseen losses, the type and magnitude of which we cannot predict, may emerge. These additional losses could arise from changes in the legal environment, laws and regulations, climate change, catastrophic events, increases in loss severity or frequency, environmental claims, mass torts or other causes. Such future losses could be substantial. Inflationary scenarios may cause the cost of claims, especially medical claims, to rise, impacting reserve adequacy and our results of operations. In addition to the risks stated above, reinsurance assumed reserves are subject to uncertainty because a reinsurer relies on the original underwriting decisions and claims reserving practices of ceding companies. As a result, we are subject to the risk that our ceding companies may not have adequately evaluated the risks reinsured by us and the premiums ceded may not adequately compensate us for the risks we assume. In addition, there is generally a longer lapse of time from the occurrence of the event to the reporting of the loss or benefit to the reinsurer and ultimate resolution or settlement of the loss. Our ability to obtain or collect on our reinsurance protection could affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We buy property casualty and life reinsurance coverage to mitigate the liquidity risk and earnings volatility risk of an unexpected rise in claims severity or frequency from catastrophic events or a single large loss. The availability, amount and cost of reinsurance depend on market conditions and may vary significantly. If we were unable to obtain reinsurance on acceptable terms and in appropriate amounts, our business and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, we are subject to credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. Although we purchase reinsurance to manage our risks and exposures to losses, this reinsurance does not discharge our direct obligations under the policies we write. We would remain liable to our policyholders even if we were unable to recover what we believe we are entitled to receive under our reinsurance contracts. Reinsurers might refuse or fail to pay losses that we cede to them, or they might delay payment. For long-tail claims, the creditworthiness of our reinsurers may change before we can recover amounts to which we are entitled. A reinsurer’s insolvency, inability or unwillingness to make payments under the terms of its reinsurance agreement with our insurance subsidiaries could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 35 Please see Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, 2018 Reinsurance Ceded Programs, for a discussion of selected reinsurance transactions. Our business depends on the uninterrupted operation of our facilities, systems and business functions. Our business depends on our associates’ ability to perform necessary business functions, such as processing new and renewal policies and handling claims. We increasingly rely on technology and systems to accomplish these business functions in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion. Our inability to access our headquarters facilities or a failure of technology, telecommunications or other systems or the loss or failure of services provided by key vendors, could significantly impair our ability to perform such functions on a timely basis or affect the accuracy of transactions. If sustained or repeated, such a business interruption or system failure could result in a deterioration of our ability to write and process new and renewal business, serve our agents and policyholders, pay claims in a timely manner, collect receivables or perform other necessary business functions. If our disaster recovery and business continuity plans did not sufficiently consider, address or reverse the circumstances of an interruption or failure, this could result in a materially adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. This risk is exacerbated because approximately 66 percent of our associates work at our Fairfield, Ohio, headquarters. Our ability to successfully execute business functions also depends on hiring and retaining qualified associates. Competition for high-quality executives and other key associates occurs within the insurance industry and from other industries. We also must effectively develop and manage associates, including providing training and resources. Such tools and information can allow them to effectively perform critical business functions and adapt to changing business needs. If we were unable to attract and retain certain associates, or if we fail to provide adequate training or resources, we could limit the success of executing our strategic plans and vital business functions. The effects of changes in industry practices, laws and regulations on our business are uncertain. As industry practices and legal, judicial, legislative, regulatory, political, social and other environmental conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to insurance pricing, claims and coverage may emerge. These issues may adversely affect our business by impeding our ability to obtain adequate rates for covered risks or otherwise extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent, by increasing the number or size of claims, by varying assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates or by increasing duties owed to policyholders beyond contractual obligations. In some instances, unforeseeable emerging and latent claim and coverage issues may not become apparent until sometime after we have issued the insurance policies that could be affected by the changes. As a result, the full extent of liability under our insurance contracts may not be known for many years after a policy is issued and our pricing and reserve estimates may not accurately reflect its effect. We are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative organizations, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the SEC. Future changes required to be adopted could change the current accounting treatment that we apply and could result in material adverse effects on our results of operations and financial condition. Our investment income benefits from tax rate preferences for municipal bond interest and dividend income from equity securities. Market valuations for these securities also benefit from the tax-preference aspect of current tax laws, affecting the value of our investment portfolio and also shareholders’ equity. Future changes in tax laws could result in material adverse effects on our results of operations and financial condition. The NAIC, state insurance regulators and state legislators continually re-examine existing laws and regulations governing insurance companies and insurance holding companies, specifically focusing on modifications to statutory accounting principles, interpretations of existing laws, regulations relating to product forms and pricing methodologies and the development of new laws and regulations that affect a variety of financial and nonfinancial components of our business. Any proposed or future legislation, regulation or NAIC initiatives, if adopted, may be more restrictive on our ability to conduct business than current regulatory requirements or may result in higher costs. The loss or significant restriction on the use of a particular variable, such as credit, in pricing and underwriting our products could lead to future unprofitability and increased costs. Federal laws and regulations and the influence of international laws and regulations, including those that may be enacted in the wake of the financial and credit crises, may have adverse effects on our business, potentially including a change from a state-based system of regulation to a system of federal regulation, the repeal of the McCarran Ferguson Act, and/or measures under the Dodd-Frank Act that establish the Federal Insurance Office Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 36 and provide for a determination that a nonbank financial company presents systemic risk and therefore should be subject to heightened supervision by the Federal Reserve Board. It is not known how this federal office will coordinate and interact with the NAIC and state insurance regulators. Adoption or implementation of any of these measures may restrict our ability to conduct our insurance business, govern our corporate affairs or increase our cost of doing business. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may affect the ability of the company to grow profitably. The effects of such changes could adversely affect our results of operations. Please see Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Life Insurance Policy Reserves, for a discussion of our reserving practices. Managing technology initiatives and meeting data security requirements are significant challenges. While technology can streamline many business processes and ultimately reduce the costs of operations, technology initiatives present short-term cost and also have implementation and operational risks. In addition, we may have inaccurate expense projections, implementation schedules or expectations regarding the effectiveness and user acceptance of the end product. These issues could escalate over time. If we were unable to find and retain associates with key technical knowledge, our ability to develop and deploy key technology solutions could be hampered. We necessarily collect, use and hold data concerning individuals and businesses with whom we have a relationship. Threats to data security, including unauthorized access and cyberattacks, rapidly emerge and change, exposing us to additional costs for protection or remediation and competing time constraints to secure our data in accordance with customer expectations and statutory and regulatory requirements. While we take commercially reasonable measures to keep our systems and data secure, it is difficult or impossible to defend against every risk being posed by changing technologies as well as criminals intent on committing cybercrime. Increasing sophistication of cyber criminals and terrorists make keeping up with new threats difficult and could result in a breach. Patching and other measures to protect existing systems and servers could be inadequate, especially on systems that are being retired. Controls employed by our U.S., off-shore and cloud vendors could prove inadequate. We could also experience a breach by intentional or negligent conduct on the part of associates or other internal sources. Our systems and those of our third-party vendors may become vulnerable to damage or disruption due to circumstances beyond our or their control, such as from catastrophic events, power anomalies or outages, natural disasters, network failures, and viruses and malware. A breach of our security or the security of a vendor that results in unauthorized access to our data could expose us to a disruption or challenges relating to our daily operations as well as to data loss, litigation, damages, fines and penalties, significant increases in compliance costs and reputational damage. Our status as an insurance holding company with no direct operations could affect our ability to pay dividends in the future. Cincinnati Financial Corporation is a holding company that transacts substantially all of its business through its subsidiaries. Our primary assets are the stock in our operating subsidiaries and our investments. Consequently, our cash flow to pay cash dividends and interest on our long-term debt depends on dividends we receive from our operating subsidiaries and income earned on investments held at the parent-company level. Dividends received from our insurance subsidiary are restricted by the insurance laws of Ohio, its domiciliary state. These laws establish minimum solvency and liquidity thresholds and limits. In 2018, the maximum dividend that may be paid without prior regulatory approval is limited to the greater of 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus or 100 percent of statutory net income for the prior calendar year, up to the amount of statutory unassigned capital and surplus as of the end of the prior calendar year. Dividends exceeding these limitations may be paid only with prior approval of the Ohio Department of Insurance. We might not be able to receive dividends from our insurance subsidiary, or we might not receive dividends in the amounts necessary to meet our debt obligations or to pay dividends on our common stock without liquidating securities. This could affect our financial position. Please see Item 1, Regulation, and Item 8, Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, for a discussion of insurance holding company dividend regulations. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 37 ITEM 1B. None Unresolved Staff Comments Properties ITEM 2. Cincinnati Financial Corporation owns our headquarters building located on 102 acres of land in Fairfield, Ohio. This building has 1,508,200 square feet of total space. The property, including land is recorded in our financial statements at $130 million at December 31, 2017, and is classified as land, building and equipment, net, for company use. John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co. Inc., a related party, occupies 6,750 square feet (less than 1 percent). This property is used for the operations described in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. Cincinnati Financial Corporation owns Gilmore Pointe, located on the northwest corner of our headquarters property. This four-story building contains approximately 103,000 square feet of usable space. The property is recorded in the financial statements at $6 million at December 31, 2017, and is classified as investment property in Other Invested Assets, net. At December 31, 2017, unaffiliated tenants occupied 88 percent, Cincinnati Financial affiliates occupy 12 percent. The Cincinnati Insurance Company owns the CFC Winton Center used for multiple operations with approximately 48,000 square feet of total space, located approximately six miles from our headquarters. The property, including land, is recorded in our financial statements at $9 million at December 31, 2017, and is classified as land, building and equipment, net, for company use. Legal Proceedings ITEM 3. Neither the company nor any of our subsidiaries is involved in any material litigation other than ordinary, routine litigation incidental to the nature of its business. ITEM 4. This item is not applicable to the company. Mine Safety Disclosures Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 38 Part II Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and ITEM 5. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Cincinnati Financial Corporation had approximately 95,000 shareholders of record as of December 31, 2017. While approximately 13,000 shareholders are registered, the majority of shareholders are beneficial owners whose shares are held in “street name” by brokers and institutional accounts. We believe many of our independent agent representatives and most of the 4,925 associates of our subsidiaries own the company’s common stock. Our common shares are traded under the symbol CINF on Nasdaq. (Source: Nasdaq Global Select Market) Quarter: High Low Period-end close Cash dividends declared 1st $ 76.71 68.24 72.27 0.50 2017 2nd $ 73.98 68.49 72.45 0.50 3rd $ 81.98 71.60 76.57 0.50 2016 4th $ 77.76 70.07 74.97 1.00 1st $ 65.99 53.64 65.36 0.48 2nd $ 74.89 63.87 74.89 0.48 3rd $ 78.09 73.88 75.42 0.48 4th $ 79.60 68.11 75.75 0.48 We discuss the factors that affect our ability to pay cash dividends and repurchase shares in Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources. Regulatory restrictions on dividends our insurance subsidiary can pay to the parent company are discussed in Item 8, Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following summarizes securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2017: Plan category Equity compensation plans approved by security holders Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders Total Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights at December 31, 2017 (a) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) at December 31, 2017 (c) 3,065,909 $ — 3,065,909 $ 49.14 — 49.14 11,307,489 — 11,307,489 The number of securities remaining available for future issuance includes: 9,510,094 shares available for issuance under the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (the 2016 Plan), 1,674,127 shares available for issuance under the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (the 2012 Plan), and 123,268 shares available for issuance of share grants under the Director’s Stock Plan of 2009. The number of securities remaining available for future issuance assumes the number of securities to be issued from performance-based awards are issued at the target-level performance level. Both the 2016 Plan and 2012 Plan allow for issuance of stock options, service-based or performance-based restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights or other equity-based grants. Awards other than stock options granted from the 2016 and 2012 plans are counted as three shares against the plan for each one share of common stock actually issued. Additional information about share-based associate compensation granted under our equity compensation plans is available in Item 8, Note 17 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 39 The following summarizes shares purchased under our repurchase programs: Period October 1-31, 2017 November 1-30, 2017 December 1-31, 2017 Totals Total number of shares purchased Average price paid per share — 300,000 — 300,000 $ — 72.45 — 72.45 Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs — 300,000 — 300,000 2,542,065 2,242,065 2,242,065 We did not sell any of our shares that were not registered under the Securities Act during 2017. Our repurchase program was expanded on October 22, 2007, to increase our repurchase authorization to approximately 13 million shares. Our repurchase program does not have an expiration date. We have 2,242,065 shares available for purchase under our program at December 31, 2017. On January 26, 2018, an additional 15 million shares were authorized, which expanded our current repurchase program. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 40 Cumulative Total Return As depicted in the graph below, the five-year total return on a $100 investment made December 31, 2012, assuming the reinvestment of all dividends, was 127.3 percent for Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s common stock compared with 145.0 percent for the Standard & Poor’s Composite 1500 Property & Casualty Insurance Index and 108.1 percent for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The Standard & Poor’s Composite 1500 Property & Casualty Insurance Index included 25 companies at year-end 2017: The Allstate Corporation, AMERISAFE Inc., Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, Chubb Limited, Cincinnati Financial Corporation, Employers Holdings Inc., First American Financial Corporation, The Hanover Insurance Group Inc., HCI Group Inc., Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation, Mercury General Corporation, The Navigators Group Inc., Old Republic International Corporation, ProAssurance Corporation, The Progressive Corporation, RLI Corp., Safety Insurance Group Inc., Selective Insurance Group Inc., Stewart Information Services Corporation, The Travelers Companies Inc., United Fire Group Inc., United Insurance Holdings Corp., Universal Insurance Holdings Inc., W. R. Berkley Corporation and XL Group Ltd. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index includes a representative sample of 500 leading companies in a cross section of industries of the U.S. economy. Although this index focuses on the large capitalization segment of the market, it is widely viewed as a proxy for the total market. The following graph depicts $100 invested on December 31, 2012, in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. The years shown represent each respective fiscal year ending December 31. Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 41 ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data (In millions, except per share data and shares outstanding in thousands) Years ended December 31, Consolidated Income Statement Data Earned premiums Investment income, net of expenses Realized investment gains, net * Total revenues Net income Net income per common share: Basic Diluted Cash dividends per common share: Ordinary declared Ordinary paid Special declared and paid Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Consolidated Balance Sheet Data Total investments Net unrealized investment portfolio gains Deferred policy acquisition costs Total assets Gross loss and loss expense reserves Life policy and investment contract reserves Long-term debt Shareholders' equity Book value per share Shares outstanding Value creation ratio Consolidated Property Casualty Operations Data Earned premiums Unearned premiums Gross loss and loss expense reserves Investment income, net of expenses Loss and loss expense ratio Underwriting expense ratio Combined ratio 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 $ 4,954 609 148 5,732 1,045 $ 6.36 6.29 2.00 1.98 0.50 166.0 $ 17,051 3,540 670 21,843 5,273 2,729 787 8,243 50.29 163,899 $ $ 4,710 595 124 5,449 591 3.59 3.55 1.92 1.90 — 166.5 $ $ 4,480 572 70 5,142 634 3.87 3.83 1.84 1.82 0.46 165.6 $ $ 4,243 549 133 4,945 525 3.21 3.18 1.76 1.74 — 165.1 $ 15,500 2,625 637 20,386 5,085 2,671 787 7,060 42.95 164,387 $ 14,423 2,094 616 18,888 4,718 2,583 786 6,427 39.20 163,944 $ 14,386 2,719 578 18,748 4,485 2,497 786 6,573 40.14 163,747 $ $ 3,902 529 83 4,531 517 3.16 3.12 1.655 1.6425 — 165.4 $ 13,564 2,335 565 17,657 4,311 2,390 785 6,070 37.21 163,109 22.9% 14.5% 3.4% 12.6% 16.1% $ $ $ 4,722 2,403 5,219 392 66.4% 31.1 97.5% 4,482 2,306 5,035 384 63.8% 31.0 94.8% $ $ 4,271 2,200 4,660 368 60.2% 30.9 91.1% 4,045 2,081 4,438 358 65.0% 30.6 95.6% 3,713 1,970 4,241 348 61.9% 31.9 93.8% We retrospectively adopted ASU 2015-15, Interest-Imputation of Interest: Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, as of December 31, 2015. All prior year information has been restated. * Realized investment gains and losses are integral to our financial results over the long term, but our substantial discretion in the timing of investment sales may cause this value to fluctuate substantially. Also, applicable accounting standards require us to recognize gains and losses from certain changes in fair values of securities and embedded derivatives without actual realization of those gains and losses. We discuss realized investment gains for the past three years in Item 7, Investments Results. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 42 ITEM 7. Results of Operations Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Introduction The purpose of Management’s Discussion and Analysis is to provide an understanding of Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with Item 6, Selected Financial Data, and Item 8, Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes. We present per share data on a diluted basis unless otherwise noted, adjusting those amounts for all stock splits and stock dividends. We begin with an executive summary of our results of operations, followed by other highlights, an overview of our strategy, an outlook for future performance and details about critical accounting estimates. In several instances, we refer to estimated industry data so that we can provide information on our performance within the context of the overall insurance industry. Unless otherwise noted, the industry data is prepared by A.M. Best Co., a leading insurance industry statistical, analytical and financial strength rating organization. Information from A.M. Best is presented on a statutory accounting basis. When we provide our results on a comparable statutory accounting basis, we label it as such; all other company data is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Through The Cincinnati Insurance Company, Cincinnati Financial Corporation is one of the 25 largest property casualty insurers in the nation, based on net written premium volume for the first nine months of 2017, among approximately 2,000 U.S. stock and mutual insurer groups. We market our insurance products through a select group of independent insurance agencies in 42 states as discussed in Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy. The U.S. economy, the insurance industry and our company continue to face many challenges. Our long-term perspective has allowed us to address immediate challenges while also focusing on the major decisions that best position the company for success through all market cycles. We believe that this forward-looking view consistently benefits our shareholders, agents, policyholders and associates. To measure our progress, we have defined a measure of value creation that we believe captures the contribution of our insurance operations, the success of our investment strategy and the importance we place on paying cash dividends to shareholders. We refer to this measure as our value creation ratio, or VCR, and it is made up of two primary components: (1) our rate of growth in book value per share plus (2) the ratio of dividends declared per share to beginning book value per share. This measure, intended to be all-inclusive regarding changes in book value per share, uses originally reported book value per share in cases where book value per share has been adjusted, such as after the adoption of Accounting Standards Updates with a cumulative effect of a change in accounting. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 43 Executive Summary Our value creation ratio, defined above, is our primary performance target. VCR trends are shown in the table below. Value creation ratio: As of December 31, 2017 As of December 31, 2016 As of December 31, 2015 One year Three-year % average Five-year % average 22.9% 14.5 3.4 13.6% 10.2 10.7 13.9% 11.8 10.1 We are targeting an annual value creation ratio averaging 10 percent to 13 percent over the next five-year period. At 22.9 percent for 2017, we significantly exceeded the high end of that range. We slightly exceeded the high end of that range for the three-year and five-year periods that ended in December 2017. The table below shows the primary components of our value creation ratio on a percentage basis. Analysis of the components aids understanding of our financial performance. Our financial results are further analyzed in the Corporate Financial Highlights section below. Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 Value creation ratio major components: Net income before net realized gains Change in fixed-maturity securities, realized and unrealized gains Change in equity securities, realized and unrealized gains Other Value creation ratio 13.5% 1.1 8.6 (0.3) 22.9% 7.9% (0.2) 6.8 0.0 14.5% 8.9% (2.6) (2.9) 0.0 3.4% The 2017 value creation ratio improved by 8.4 percentage points, compared with 2016, and again included a significant contribution of operating results. VCR in 2017 also included a 7.0 percent contribution from a tax benefit due to net deferred income tax liability revaluation related to U.S. tax reform. The 2017 ratio improvement included a rise in market valuation, with contributions of 1.8 percentage-points from our equity securities investment portfolio and 1.3 points from our fixed-maturity securities investment portfolio. The 2016 value creation ratio was 11.1 percentage points higher than in 2015, driven by a 12.1 point increase in the contribution from realized gains plus the change in unrealized gains from our investment portfolios in aggregate. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 44 We believe our value creation ratio is a useful measure. With the continuation of economic and market uncertainty in recent years, the long-term nature of this measure provides a meaningful measure of our long-term progress in creating shareholder value. The table below shows calculations for VCR. (Dollars are per share) Value creation ratio: End of period book value* Less beginning of period book value Change in book value Dividend declared to shareholders Total value creation Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ $ 50.29 42.95 7.34 2.50 9.84 $ $ 42.95 39.20 3.75 1.92 5.67 $ $ 39.20 40.14 (0.94) 2.30 1.36 Value creation ratio from change in book value** Value creation ratio from dividends declared to shareholders*** Value creation ratio 17.1% 5.8 22.9% 9.6% 4.9 14.5% (2.3)% 5.7 3.4 % * Book value per share is calculated by dividing end of period total shareholders' equity by end of period shares outstanding ** Change in book value divided by the beginning of year book value *** Dividend declared to shareholders divided by beginning of year book value When looking at our longer-term objectives, we see three primary performance drivers for our value creation ratio: • Premium growth – We believe over any five-year period our agency relationships and initiatives can lead to a property casualty written premium growth rate that exceeds the industry average. The compound annual growth rate of our net written premiums was 6.8 percent over the five-year period 2013 through 2017, nearly double the 3.8 percent estimated growth rate for the property casualty insurance industry. The industry’s growth rate excludes its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business. • Combined ratio – We believe our underwriting philosophy and initiatives can drive performance to achieve our underwriting profitability target of a GAAP combined ratio over any five-year period that consistently averages within the range of 95 percent to 100 percent. Our GAAP combined ratio averaged 94.6 percent over the five-year period 2013 through 2017, better than the performance target range. Performance as measured by the combined ratio is discussed in Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Results. Our statutory combined ratio averaged 94.0 percent over the five-year period 2013 through 2017, compared with an estimated 99.6 percent for the property casualty industry. The industry’s ratio again excludes its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business. • Investment contribution – We believe our investment philosophy and initiatives can drive investment income growth and lead to a total return on our equity investment portfolio over a five-year period that exceeds the five-year total return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Investment income growth, on a pretax basis, had a compound annual growth rate of 2.8 percent over the five-year period 2013 through 2017. It has grown every year since 2009, except for 2013 with its slight decrease of less than 1 percent. Over the five years ended December 31, 2017, our equity portfolio compound annual total return was 15.3 percent compared with a compound annual total return of 15.8 percent for the Index. Our equity portfolio favors larger-capitalization, high-quality, dividend growing stocks with a slight value orientation. In recent years, returns for this type of stocks have generally lagged the broader market. For the year 2017, our annual equity portfolio total return was 21.0 percent, compared with 21.8 percent for the Index. The board of directors is committed to rewarding shareholders directly through cash dividends and share repurchase authorizations. Through 2017, the company has increased the annual cash dividend rate for 57 consecutive years, a record we believe is matched by only eight other publicly traded U.S. companies. In addition to regular dividends, strong capital and excellent company performance provided opportunities to further reward shareholders with special dividends paid in December 2017 and in December 2015. The board regularly evaluates relevant factors in dividend-related decisions, and the 2017 increase to the regular dividend reflected confidence in our strong capital, liquidity and financial flexibility, as well as progress through our initiatives to Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 45 improve earnings performance while growing insurance premium revenues. We discuss our financial position in more detail in Liquidity and Capital Resources. Corporate Financial Highlights In addition to the value creation ratio discussion and analysis in the Executive Summary, we further analyze our financial results in the sections below. Balance Sheet Data (Dollars in millions, except share data) Total investments Total assets Short-term debt Long-term debt Shareholders' equity Book value per share Debt-to-total-capital ratio At December 31, 2017 At December 31, 2016 $ $ 17,051 21,843 24 787 8,243 50.29 9.0% 15,500 20,386 20 787 7,060 42.95 10.3% Total investments grew 10 percent during 2017 on a fair value basis, with an increase in our securities portfolio valuation that added to the 5 percent increase in its cost basis. Entering 2018, we believe the portfolio continues to be well diversified and is well positioned to withstand short-term fluctuations. We discuss our investment strategy in Item 1, Investments Segment, and results for the segment in Investments Results. Total assets rose 7 percent. Shareholders’ equity and book value per share each grew by 17 percent, for reasons discussed in the preceding Executive Summary. The amount of our debt obligations increased by $4 million in 2017, compared with 2016. Our 9.0 percent ratio of debt to total capital (debt plus shareholders’ equity) at year-end 2017 decreased by 1.3 percentage points compared with the prior-year ratio. Income Statement and Per Share Data (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Earned premiums Investment income, net of expenses (pretax) Realized investment gains, net (pretax) Total revenues Net income Comprehensive income Net income per share - diluted Cash dividends declared per share Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ 4,954 609 148 5,732 1,045 1,648 6.29 2.50 166.0 $ 4,710 595 124 5,449 591 940 3.55 1.92 166.5 4,480 572 70 5,142 634 234 3.83 2.30 165.6 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 5 4 77 6 (7) 302 (7) (17) 1 5 2 19 5 77 75 77 30 0 Net income in 2017 increased $454 million or 77 percent compared with 2017, including a $495 million benefit from net deferred income tax liability revaluation due to U.S. tax reform, a $15 million increase in net realized investment gains after taxes and a $13 million increase in investment income after taxes. The 2017 increase in net income was partially offset by a decrease in property casualty underwriting income of $74 million after taxes, including $3 million from higher catastrophe losses, as discussed below. Our investment operation’s performance is discussed further in Investments Results. Net income decreased $43 million in 2016, compared with 2015, primarily due to a $94 million decrease in property casualty underwriting income after taxes that included $114 million from higher catastrophe losses. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 46 As discussed in Investments Results, sales of securities that had appreciated in value led to realized investment gains in all three years. Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses are integral to our financial results over the long term. We have substantial discretion in the timing of investment sales and, therefore, also the gains or losses that are recognized in any period. That discretion generally is independent of the insurance underwriting process. Contribution from Insurance Operations (Dollars in millions) Consolidated property casualty data: Net written premiums Earned premiums Underwriting profit GAAP combined ratio Statutory combined ratio Written premium to statutory surplus Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 2017 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % $ 4,840 4,722 128 $ 4,580 4,482 242 $ 4,361 4,271 386 6 5 (47) Pt. Change 97.5% 97.2 1.0 94.8% 94.5 1.0 91.1% 90.6 1.0 2.7 2.7 0.0 5 5 (37) Pt. Change 3.7 3.9 0.0 Property casualty net written premiums grew 6 percent and earned premiums grew 5 percent in 2017, reflecting average renewal price increases, a higher level of insured exposures and premium growth initiatives. Premium growth rates in 2017 were similar to 2016. Trends and related factors are discussed in Commercial Lines, Personal Lines and Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Results, respectively. Our property casualty insurance operations generated underwriting profits for each of the three years ending in 2017. The $114 million decrease in 2017, compared with 2016, included a $4 million increase in losses from natural catastrophe events and less benefit from net favorable reserve development on prior accident years. The $144 million decrease in 2016, compared with 2015, included a $175 million increase in losses from natural catastrophe events. We measure property casualty underwriting profitability primarily by the combined ratio. Our combined ratio measures the percentage of each earned premium dollar spent on claims plus all expenses related to our property casualty operations, all on a pretax basis. A lower ratio indicates more favorable results and better underlying performance. A ratio below 100 percent represents an underwriting profit. Initiatives to improve our combined ratio are discussed in Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Strategic Initiatives. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, favorable development on reserves for claims that occurred in prior accident years helped offset other incurred losses and loss expenses. Reserve development is discussed further in Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves. Losses from weather-related catastrophes are another important item influencing the combined ratio and are discussed along with other factors in Financial Results for our property casualty business and related segments. Our life insurance segment reported a $1 million loss in 2017 and a $1 million profit in 2016. We discuss results for the segment in Life Insurance Results. Most of this segment’s investment income is included in our investments segment results. In addition to investment income, realized investment gains from the life insurance investment portfolio are also included in our investments segment results. Strategic Initiatives Overview Management has worked to identify a strategy that can lead to long-term success, with concurrence by the board of directors. Our strategy is intended to position us to compete successfully in the markets we have targeted while appropriately managing risk. We discuss our long-term, proven strategy in Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy. We believe successful implementation of initiatives that support our strategy will help us better serve our agent customers and reduce volatility in our financial results while we also grow earnings and book value over the long term, successfully navigating challenging economic, market or industry pricing cycles. • Manage insurance profitability – Implementation of these initiatives is intended to enhance underwriting expertise and knowledge, thereby increasing our ability to manage our business while also gaining efficiency. Better profit Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 47 margins can arise from additional information and more focused action on underperforming product lines, plus pricing capabilities we are expanding through the use of technology and analytics. In addition to enhancing company efficiency, improving internal processes also supports the ability of the independent agencies that represent us to grow profitably by allowing them to serve clients faster and to more efficiently manage agency expenses. • Drive premium growth – Implementation of these initiatives is intended to further penetrate each market we serve through our independent agencies. Strategies aimed at specific market opportunities, along with service enhancements, can help our agents grow and increase our share of their business. Premium growth initiatives also include expansion of Cincinnati Re. Diversified growth also may reduce variability of losses from weather- related catastrophes. Detailed discussion of recent-year financial performance influenced by our strategic initiatives appears below in Financial Results and Liquidity and Capital Resources. Factors Influencing Our Future Performance Our view of the shareholder value we can create over the next five years relies largely on three assumptions – each highly dependent on the external environment. First, we anticipate our property casualty average insurance prices will increase in proportion to, or in excess of, our loss cost trends. Second, we assume that the economy can maintain a long-term growth track. Third, we assume that valuations of our marketable securities will vary within a typical range over time, based on historical trends. If those assumptions prove to be inaccurate, we may not be able to achieve our performance targets even if we accomplish our strategic objectives. Other factors that could influence our ability to achieve our targets include: • We expect the insurance marketplace to remain competitive, which is likely to cause carriers to pursue strategies that they believe could lead to economies of scale, market share gains or the potential for an improved competitive posture. • We expect the independent insurance agency system to remain strong, with continued agency consolidation. If soft insurance market conditions return in the near term, it will create additional risk for agencies. • A return of soft insurance market pricing could significantly affect growth rates and earned premium levels for some time into the future. If the economy falters, we may experience low or no premium growth for our property casualty segments. Premium growth also may lag as some of our growth initiatives require more time to reach their full contribution. In addition, economic factors, including inflation, may increase our claims and settlement expenses related to medical care, litigation and construction. • Financial markets continued to display volatility in recent years, and some predict more turbulence in the future from effects such as changes in government policy, growth challenges for emerging country economies or other geopolitical events that could also affect the U.S. economy and markets. Should financial markets decline temporarily, which could occur as part of typical market volatility patterns, the related book value component of our value creation ratio could also register a weak or negative result. We discuss in Item 1A, Risk Factors, many potential risks to our business and our ability to achieve our qualitative and quantitative objectives. These are real risks, but their probability of occurring may not be high. We also believe that our risk management programs generally could mitigate their potential effects, in the event they would occur. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 48 Critical Accounting Estimates Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s financial statements are prepared using U.S. GAAP. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the financial statements are discussed in Item 8, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. In conjunction with that discussion, material implications of uncertainties associated with the methods, assumptions and estimates underlying the company’s critical accounting policies are discussed below. The audit committee of the board of directors reviews the annual financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. These discussions cover the quality of earnings, review of reserves and accruals, reconsideration of the suitability of accounting principles, review of highly judgmental areas including critical accounting estimates, audit adjustments and such other inquiries as may be appropriate. Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves We establish loss and loss expense reserves for our property casualty insurance business as balance sheet liabilities. Unpaid loss and loss expenses are the estimated amounts necessary to pay for and settle all outstanding insured claims, including incurred but not reported (IBNR) claims. These reserves account for unpaid loss and loss expenses as of a financial statement date. For some lines of business that we write, a considerable and uncertain amount of time can elapse between the occurrence, reporting and payment of insured claims. The amount we will actually have to pay for such claims also can be highly uncertain. This uncertainty, together with the size of our reserves, makes the loss and loss expense reserves our most significant estimate. Gross loss and loss expense reserves were $5.219 billion at year-end 2017 compared with $5.035 billion at year-end 2016. How Reserves Are Established Our field claims representatives establish case reserves when claims are reported to the company to provide for our unpaid loss and loss expense obligation associated with known claims. Field claims managers supervise and review all claims with case reserves less than $100,000. Additionally, a headquarters supervisor and regional claims manager review all claims under $100,000 if litigation or a certain specialty claim is involved. All claims with case reserves of $100,000 or greater are reviewed and approved by an experienced headquarters supervisor and regional claims manager. Upper-level headquarters claims managers also review case reserves of $175,000 or more. Our claims representatives base their case reserve estimates primarily upon case-by-case evaluations that consider: • • • • • type of claim involved circumstances surrounding each claim policy provisions pertaining to each claim potential for subrogation or salvage recoverable general insurance reserving practices Case reserves of all sizes are subject to review on a 90-day cycle, or more frequently if new information about a loss becomes available. As part of the review process, we monitor industry trends, cost trends, relevant court cases, legislative activity and other current events in an effort to ascertain new or additional loss exposures. We also establish IBNR reserves to provide for all unpaid loss and loss expenses not accounted for by case reserves: • For events designated as natural catastrophes resulting in losses incurred related to direct premiums, we calculate IBNR reserves directly as a result of an estimated IBNR claim count and an estimated average claim amount for each event. Once case reserves are established for a catastrophe event, we reduce the IBNR reserves. Our claims department management coordinates the assessment of these events and prepares the related IBNR reserve estimates. Such an assessment involves a comprehensive analysis of the nature of the event, of policyholder exposures within the affected geographic area and of available claims intelligence. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 49 Depending on the nature of the event, available claims intelligence could include surveys of field claims associates within the affected geographic area, feedback from a catastrophe claims team sent into the area, as well as data on claims reported as of the financial statement date. To determine whether an event is designated as a catastrophe, we generally use the catastrophe definition provided by Property Claims Service (PCS), a division of Insurance Services Office (ISO). PCS defines a catastrophe as an event that causes countrywide damage of $25 million or more in insured property losses and affects a significant number of policyholders and insureds. • For events designated as natural catastrophes resulting in losses incurred related to our reinsurance assumed operations, Cincinnati Re, we calculate IBNR reserves for losses incurred separately from losses related to direct premiums. That process begins with a review of our occurrence and aggregate in-force reinsurance limits for our portfolio of ceding companies likely to be affected by such events. Using third party catastrophe models combined with our own proprietary adjustments, we model a range of stochastic and scenario events for each ceding company to make an initial estimate of potential losses. Consideration of industry loss estimates promulgated by a variety of third parties provides a base to perform a market share loss analysis for each ceding company. We obtain loss estimates from ceding companies based on their view of losses, which includes their claim reports, actual claim payments and reserve estimates. Based on these data points, we estimate ultimate losses that we reinsure for each ceding company. We then benchmark individual ceding company reports against what we expected and use this information across our portfolio to refine our ultimate loss estimates. Once known payments and reserves are reported by individual ceding companies, we establish case reserves by reinsurance treaty. IBNR reserves are then calculated as the difference between the estimate of the ultimate loss and loss expenses incurred for each catastrophe event, reduced by the sum of total loss and loss expense payments and total case reserves. Incurred losses from catastrophe events for our reinsurance assumed operations can include non-U.S. experience reported by the ceding companies, in addition to events designated as catastrophes by PCS. • For asbestos and environmental claims, we calculate IBNR reserves by deriving an actuarially-based estimate of total unpaid loss and loss expenses. We then reduce the estimate by total case reserves. We discuss the reserve analysis that applies to asbestos and environmental reserves in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Asbestos and Environmental Reserves. • For loss expenses that pertain primarily to salaries and other costs related to our claims department associates, also referred to as adjusting and other expense or AOE, we calculate reserves based on an analysis of the relationship between paid losses and paid AOE. Reserves for AOE are allocated to company, line of business and accident year based on a claim count algorithm. Claim counts reported and used in the reserving process are primarily measured by insurance coverages that are triggered when a loss occurs and a reserve is established. Coverages are defined as unique combinations of certain attributes such as line of business and cause of loss. Claims that are opened and closed without payment are included in the reported claim counts. Claim counts are presented on a direct basis only and do not reflect any assumed or ceded reinsurance. In 2009, we refined our claim count logic such that the definition of an open claim, a closed claim, and a claim that closes without payment was uniform amongst all of our systems, including legacy systems. • For all other claims and events, including reinsurance assumed or ceded, IBNR reserves are calculated as the difference between an actuarial estimate of the ultimate cost of total loss and loss expenses incurred reduced by the sum of total loss and loss expense payments and total case reserves estimated for individual claims. Reserve amounts for those other claims and events are significant, and represent the majority of amounts shown as IBNR reserves and loss expense reserves in the table included in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves. We discuss below the development of actuarially based estimates of the ultimate cost of total loss and loss expenses incurred. Our actuarial staff applies significant judgment in selecting models and estimating model parameters when preparing reserve analyses. Unpaid loss and loss expenses are inherently uncertain as to timing and amount. Uncertainties relating to model appropriateness, parameter estimates and actual loss and loss expense amounts are referred to as model, parameter and process uncertainty, respectively. Our management and actuarial staff address these uncertainties in the reserving process in a variety of ways. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 50 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Our actuarial staff bases its IBNR reserve estimates for these losses primarily on the indications of methods and models that analyze accident year data. Accident year is the year in which an insured claim, loss or loss expense occurred. The specific methods and models that our actuaries have used for the past several years are: paid and reported loss development methods paid and reported loss Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods individual and multiple probabilistic trend family models Our actuarial staff uses diagnostics provided by stochastic reserving software to evaluate the appropriateness of the models and methods listed above. The software’s diagnostics have indicated that the appropriateness of these models and methods for estimating IBNR reserves for our lines of business tends to depend on a line’s tail. Tail refers to the time interval between a typical claim’s occurrence and its settlement. For our long-tail lines such as workers’ compensation and commercial casualty, models from the probabilistic trend family tend to provide superior fits and to validate well compared with models underlying the loss development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods. The loss development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods, particularly the reported loss variations, tend to produce the more appropriate IBNR reserve estimates for our short-tail lines such as homeowner and commercial property. For our mid-tail lines such as personal and commercial auto liability, all models and methods provide useful insights. Our actuarial staff also devotes significant time and effort to the estimation of model and method parameters. The loss development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods require the estimation of numerous loss development factors. The Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods also involve the estimation of numerous expected loss ratios by accident year. Models from the probabilistic trend family require the estimation of development trends, calendar year inflation trends and exposure levels. Consequently, our actuarial staff monitors a number of trends and measures to gain key business insights necessary for exercising appropriate judgment when estimating the parameters mentioned, such as: company and industry pricing company and industry exposure company and industry loss frequency and severity past large loss events such as hurricanes company and industry premium company in-force policy count These trends and measures also support the estimation of expected accident year loss ratios needed for applying the Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods and for assessing the reasonability of all IBNR reserve estimates computed. Our actuarial staff reviews these trends and measures quarterly, updating parameters derived from them as necessary. Quarterly, our actuarial staff summarizes their reserve analysis by preparing an actuarial best estimate and a range of reasonable IBNR reserves intended to reflect the uncertainty of the estimate. An inter-departmental committee that includes our actuarial management team reviews the results of each quarterly reserve analysis. The committee establishes management’s best estimate of IBNR reserves, which is the amount that is included in each period’s financial statements. In addition to the information provided by actuarial staff, the committee also considers factors such as: large loss activity and trends in large losses new business activity judicial decisions general economic trends such as inflation trends in litigiousness and legal expenses product and underwriting changes changes in claims practices Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 51 The determination of management’s best estimate, like the preparation of the reserve analysis that supports it, involves considerable judgment. Changes in reserving data or the trends and factors that influence reserving data may signal fundamental shifts or may simply reflect single-period anomalies. Even if a change reflects a fundamental shift, the full extent of the change may not become evident until years later. Moreover, since our methods and models do not explicitly relate many of the factors we consider directly to reserve levels, we typically cannot quantify the precise impact of such factors on the adequacy of reserves prospectively or retrospectively. Due to the uncertainties described above, our ultimate loss experience could prove better or worse than our carried reserves reflect. To the extent that reserves are inadequate and increased, the amount of the increase is a charge in the period that the deficiency is recognized, raising our loss and loss expense ratio and reducing earnings. To the extent that reserves are redundant and released, the amount of the release is a credit in the period that the redundancy is recognized, reducing our loss and loss expense ratio and increasing earnings. Key Assumptions – Loss Reserving Our actuarial staff makes a number of key assumptions when using their methods and models to derive IBNR reserve estimates. Appropriate reliance on these key assumptions essentially entails determinations of the likelihood that statistically significant patterns in historical data may extend into the future. The four most significant of the key assumptions used by our actuarial staff and approved by management are: • Emergence of loss and defense and cost containment expenses, also referred to as DCCE, on an accident year basis. Historical paid loss, reported loss and paid DCCE data for the business lines we analyze contain patterns that reflect how unpaid losses, unreported losses and unpaid DCCE as of a financial statement date will emerge in the future. Unless our actuarial staff or management identifies reasons or factors that invalidate the extension of historical patterns into the future, these patterns can be used to make projections necessary for estimating IBNR reserves. Our actuaries significantly rely on this assumption in the application of all methods and models mentioned above. • Calendar year inflation. For long-tail and mid-tail business lines, calendar year inflation trends for future paid losses and paid DCCE do not vary significantly from a stable, long-term average. Our actuaries base reserve estimates derived from probabilistic trend family models on this assumption. • Exposure levels. Historical earned premiums, when adjusted to reflect common levels of product pricing and loss cost inflation, can serve as a proxy for historical exposures. Our actuaries require this assumption to estimate expected loss ratios and expected DCCE ratios used by the Bornhuetter-Ferguson reserving methods. They may also use this assumption to establish exposure levels for recent accident years, characterized by “green” or immature data, when working with probabilistic trend family models. • Claims having atypical emergence patterns. Characteristics of certain subsets of claims, such as high frequency, high severity, or mass tort claims, have the potential to distort patterns contained in historical paid loss, reported loss and paid DCCE data. When testing indicates this to be the case for a particular subset of claims, our actuaries segregate these claims from the data and analyze them separately. Subsets of claims that could fall into this category include hurricane claims or claims for other weather events where total losses we incurred were very large, individual large claims and asbestos and environmental claims. These key assumptions have not changed since 2005, when our actuarial staff began using probabilistic trend family models to estimate IBNR reserves. Paid losses, reported losses and paid DCCE are subject to random as well as systematic influences. As a result, actual paid losses, reported losses and paid DCCE are virtually certain to differ from projections. Such differences are consistent with what specific models for our business lines predict and with the related patterns in the historical data used to develop these models. As a result, management does not closely monitor statistically insignificant differences between actual and projected data. Reserve Estimate Variability Management believes that the standard error of a reserve estimate, a measure of the estimate’s variability, provides the most appropriate measure of the estimate’s sensitivity. The reserves we establish depend on the models we use and the related parameters we estimate in the course of conducting reserve analyses. However, the actual amount required to settle all outstanding insured claims, including IBNR claims, as of a financial statement date depends on stochastic, or random, elements as well as the systematic elements captured by our models and estimated model Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 52 parameters. For the lines of business we write, process uncertainty – the inherent variability of loss and loss expense payments – typically contributes more to the imprecision of a reserve estimate than parameter uncertainty. Consequently, a sensitivity measure that ignores process uncertainty would provide an incomplete picture of the reserve estimate’s sensitivity. Since a reserve estimate’s standard error accounts for both process and parameter uncertainty, it reflects the estimate’s full sensitivity to a range of reasonably likely scenarios. The table below provides standard errors and reserve ranges by major property casualty lines of business and in total for net loss and loss expense reserves as well as the potential effects on our net income, assuming a 21 percent federal tax rate. Standard errors and reserve ranges for assorted groupings of these lines of business cannot be computed by simply adding the standard errors and reserve ranges of the component lines of business, since such an approach would ignore the effects of product diversification. See Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves, Range of Reasonable Reserves, for more details on our total reserve range. While the table reflects our assessment of the most likely range within which each line’s actual unpaid loss and loss expenses may fall, one or more lines’ actual unpaid loss and loss expenses could nonetheless fall outside of the indicated ranges. (Dollars in millions) Net loss and loss expense range of reserves At December 31, 2017 Total Commercial casualty Commercial property Commercial auto Workers' compensation Personal auto Homeowners Carried reserves Low point High point Standard error Net income effect $ $ $ $ 5,032 2,027 308 642 958 315 133 $ $ $ $ 4,709 1,826 279 604 813 292 121 5,155 2,215 324 663 996 317 137 $ $ 223 195 23 29 92 13 8 176 154 18 23 73 10 6 Life Policy and Investment Contract Reserves We establish the reserves for traditional life insurance policies based on expected expenses, mortality, morbidity, withdrawal rates and investment yields, including a provision for uncertainty. Once these assumptions are established, they generally are maintained throughout the lives of the contracts. We use both our own experience and industry experience adjusted for historical trends in arriving at our assumptions for expected mortality and morbidity. We use our own experience and historical trends for setting our assumptions for expected withdrawal rates and expenses. We base our assumptions for expected investment income on our own experience adjusted for current economic conditions. We establish reserves for our universal life, deferred annuity and investment contracts equal to the cumulative account balances, which include premium deposits plus credited interest less charges and withdrawals. Some of our universal life insurance policies contain no-lapse guarantee provisions. For these policies, we establish a reserve in addition to the account balance based on expected no-lapse guarantee benefits and expected policy assessments. Asset Impairment Our fixed-maturity and equity investment portfolios are our largest assets. The company’s asset impairment committee continually monitors the holdings in these portfolios and all other assets for signs of other-than- temporary or permanent impairment. The committee monitors decreases in the fair value of invested assets; an accumulation of company costs in excess of the amount originally expected to acquire or construct an asset; uncollectability of all receivable assets; or other factors such as bankruptcy, deterioration of creditworthiness, failure to pay interest or dividends; signs indicating that the receivable carrying amount may not be recoverable; and changes in legal factors or in the business climate. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 53 The application of our impairment policy resulted in other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges that reduced our income before income taxes by $9 million in 2017, $2 million in 2016 and $52 million in 2015. OTTI losses represent noncash charges to income and are reported as realized investment losses. Our internal investment portfolio managers monitor their assigned portfolios. If a security is valued below cost or amortized cost, the portfolio managers undertake additional reviews. Such declines often occur in conjunction with events taking place in the overall economy and market, combined with events specific to the industry or operations of the issuing organization. Managers review quantitative measurements such as a declining trend in fair value, the extent of the fair value decline and the length of time the value of the security has been depressed, as well as qualitative measures such as pending events, credit ratings and issuer liquidity. We are even more proactive when these declines in valuation are greater than might be anticipated when viewed in the context of overall economic and market conditions. We provide information about valuations of our invested assets in Item 8, Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. All securities valued below 100 percent of cost or amortized cost are reported to the asset impairment committee for evaluation. Securities valued between 95 percent and 100 percent of cost or amortized cost are reviewed but not monitored separately by the committee. When evaluating for OTTI, the committee considers the company’s intent and ability to retain a security for a period adequate to recover its cost. Securities that have previously been other-than-temporarily impaired are evaluated based on their adjusted cost or amortized cost and further written down if deemed appropriate. We provide detailed information about securities fair valued in a continuous loss position at year-end 2017 in Item 7A, Application of Asset Impairment Policy. Impairment charges are recorded for other-than-temporary declines in value if fair value is below cost or amortized cost and, in the asset impairment committee’s judgment, the fair value is not expected to be recouped within a designated recovery period. When determining OTTI charges for our fixed-maturity portfolio, management places significant emphasis on whether issuers of debt are current on contractual payments and whether future contractual amounts are likely to be paid. Our invested asset impairment policy states that fixed maturities with fair values below their amortized cost that the company (1) intends to sell or (2) more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery of their amortized cost basis are deemed to be OTTI. The amortized cost of any such securities is reduced to fair value as the new cost basis, and a realized loss is recorded in the period in which it is recognized. When these two criteria are not met, and the company believes that full collection of interest and/or principal is not likely, we determine the net present value of future cash flows by using the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition as the discount rate and compare that amount with the amortized cost and fair value of the security. The difference between the net present value of the expected future cash flows and amortized cost of the security is considered a credit loss and recognized as a realized loss in the period in which it occurred. The difference between the fair value and the net present value of the cash flows of the security, the noncredit loss, is recognized in other comprehensive income as an unrealized loss. When determining OTTI charges for our equity portfolio, our invested asset impairment policy considers quantitative and qualitative factors, including facts and circumstances specific to individual securities, asset classes, the financial condition of the issuer, changes in dividend payment, the length of time fair value had been less than cost, the severity of the decline in fair value below cost, the volatility of the security and our ability and intent to hold each position until its forecasted recovery. For each of our equity securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2017, we applied the objective quantitative and qualitative criteria of our invested asset impairment policy for OTTI. Based on the individual quantitative and qualitative factors, as discussed above, we evaluate and determine an expected recovery period for each security. A change in the condition of a security can warrant impairment before the expected recovery period. If the security has not recovered cost within the expected recovery period, the security is other-than-temporarily impaired. Our long-term equity investment philosophy, emphasizing companies with strong indications of paying and growing dividends, combined with our strong statutory capital and surplus, liquidity and cash flow, provide us the ability to hold these investments through what we believe to be slightly longer recovery periods during times of historic levels of market volatility. Securities considered to have a temporary decline would be expected to recover their cost or amortized cost, which may be at maturity. Under the same accounting treatment as fair value gains, temporary declines (changes in the fair value of these securities) are reflected in shareholders’ equity on our Consolidated Balance Sheets in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), net of tax, and have no impact on net income. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 54 Fair Value Measurements Valuation of Financial Instruments Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value as the exit price or the amount that would be (1) received to sell an asset or (2) paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between marketplace participants at the measurement date. When determining an exit price, we must, whenever possible, rely upon observable market data. We have categorized our financial instruments, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument. While we consider pricing data from outside services, we ultimately determine whether the data or inputs used by these outside services are observable or unobservable. Financial assets and liabilities recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as described in Item 8, Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Level 1 and Level 2 Valuation Techniques Over 99 percent of the $16.948 billion of securities in our investment portfolio at year-end 2017, measured at fair value, are classified as Level 1 or Level 2. Financial assets that fall within Level 1 and Level 2 are priced according to observable data from identical or similar securities that have traded in the marketplace. Also within Level 2 are securities that are valued by outside services or brokers where we have evaluated and verified the pricing methodology and determined that the inputs are observable. Level 3 Valuation Techniques At December 31, 2017, total Level 3 assets were less than 1 percent of our investment portfolio measured at fair value. Financial assets that fall within the Level 3 hierarchy are valued based upon unobservable market inputs, normally because they are not actively traded on a public market. Pricing for each Level 3 security is based upon inputs that are market driven, including quotes from brokers or other external sources. We placed in the Level 3 hierarchy securities for which we were unable to obtain the pricing methodology or we could not consider the price provided as binding. Pricing for securities classified as Level 3 could not be corroborated by similar securities priced using observable inputs. Management ultimately determined the pricing for each Level 3 security that we considered to be the best exit price valuation. Broker quotes are obtained for thinly traded securities that subsequently fall within the Level 3 hierarchy. We have generally obtained and evaluated two nonbinding quotes from brokers; our investment professionals determine our best estimate of fair value. Employee Benefit Pension Plan We have a defined benefit pension plan that was modified during 2008; refer to Item 8, Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, for additional information. Contributions and pension costs are developed from annual actuarial valuations. These valuations involve key assumptions including discount rates, expected return on plan assets and compensation increase rates, which are updated annually. Any adjustments to these assumptions are based on considerations of current market conditions. Therefore, changes in the related pension costs or credits may occur in the future due to changes in assumptions. Key assumptions used in developing the benefit obligation at year-end 2017 for our qualified plan were a 3.73 percent discount rate and rates of compensation increases ranging from 2.75 percent to 3.25 percent. To determine the discount rate, a theoretical settlement portfolio of high-quality, rated corporate bonds was chosen to provide payments approximately matching the plan’s projected benefit payments. A single interest rate was determined, resulting in a discounted value of the plan’s benefit payments that equates to the market value of the selected bonds. The discount rate is reflective of current market interest rate conditions and our plan's liability characteristics. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 55 Key assumptions used in developing the 2017 net pension expense for our qualified plan were a 4.30 percent discount rate, a 7.25 percent expected return on plan assets and rates of compensation increases ranging from 2.75 percent to 3.25 percent. In 2017, the net pension expense was $7 million. In 2018, we expect the net pension expense to be approximately $3 million. Holding all other assumptions constant, a 0.5 percentage-point decrease in the discount rate would decrease our 2018 income before income taxes by approximately $1 million. A 0.5 percentage-point decrease in the expected return on plan assets would decrease our 2018 income before income taxes by approximately $2 million. The fair value of the plan assets exceeded the accumulated benefit obligation by $23 million and $6 million at year- end 2017 and 2016, respectively. The fair value of the plan assets were $6 million and $25 million less than the projected plan benefit obligation at year-end 2017 and 2016, respectively. Market conditions and interest rates significantly affect future assets and liabilities of the pension plan. During the first quarter of 2018, we contributed $5 million to our qualified plan. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs We establish a deferred asset for expenses associated with successfully acquiring property casualty and life insurance policies, primarily commissions, premium taxes and underwriting costs. Underlying assumptions are updated periodically to reflect actual experience, and we evaluate our deferred acquisition cost recoverability. For property casualty insurance policies, deferred acquisition costs are amortized over the terms of the policies. These costs are principally agent commissions, premium taxes and certain underwriting costs related to successful contract acquisition, which are deferred and amortized into net income as premiums are earned. We assess recoverability of deferred acquisition costs at a level consistent with the way we acquire, service and manage insurance policies and measure profitability. Deferred acquisition costs track with the change in premiums. For life insurance policies, acquisition costs are amortized into income either in proportion to premium revenue recognized or in accordance with the recognition of gross profit from the contract, depending on the policy type. These costs are principally agent commissions and underwriting costs related to successful contract acquisition. We analyze our acquisition cost assumptions periodically to reflect actual experience; we evaluate our deferred acquisition cost for recoverability; and we regularly conduct reviews for potential premium deficiencies or loss recognition. Changes in the amounts or timing of estimated future profits could result in adjustments to the accumulated amortization of these costs. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Information about recent accounting pronouncements is provided in Item 8, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 56 Financial Results Consolidated financial results primarily reflect the results of our five reporting segments. These segments are defined based on financial information we use to evaluate performance and to determine the allocation of assets. • Commercial lines insurance • Personal lines insurance • Excess and surplus lines insurance • • Life insurance Investments We report as Other the noninvestment operations of the parent company and its noninsurer subsidiary, CFC Investment Company, and the financial results of our reinsurance assumed operations. We measure profit or loss for our commercial lines, personal lines, excess and surplus lines and life insurance segments based upon underwriting results (profit or loss), which represent net earned premium less loss and loss expenses and underwriting expenses on a pretax basis. We also evaluate results for our consolidated property casualty insurance operations. That is the total of our standard market segments (commercial lines and personal lines), our excess and surplus lines insurance segment and our reinsurance assumed operations. For analysis of our consolidated property casualty insurance results, it is important to include our reinsurance assumed operations earned premiums, loss and loss expenses and also underwriting expenses reported as Other. Underwriting results and segment pretax operating income are not substitutes for net income determined in accordance with GAAP. For our consolidated property casualty insurance operations as well as the insurance segments, statutory accounting data and ratios are key performance indicators that we use to assess business trends and to make comparisons to industry results, since GAAP-based industry data generally is not as readily available. Investments held by the parent company and the investment portfolios for the insurance subsidiaries are managed and reported as the investments segment, separate from our underwriting business. Net investment income and net realized investment gains and losses for our investment portfolios are discussed in the Investments Results. The calculations of segment data are described in more detail in Item 8, Note 18, of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following sections provide analysis and discussion of results of operations for each of the five segments. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 57 Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Results Earned and net written premiums for our consolidated property casualty operations grew in 2017, reflecting average renewal price increases, a higher level of insured exposures and strategic initiatives for targeted growth. A key measure of property casualty profitability is underwriting profit or loss. Our 2017 underwriting profit of $128 million was $114 million less than in 2016, caused in part by a $4 million unfavorable effect from a higher amount of natural catastrophe losses, mostly caused by severe weather. An increase in payments and reserves for losses and loss expenses, largely for our commercial casualty line of business, was responsible for much of the 2017 underwriting profit decrease, largely offsetting benefits of higher pricing, and our ongoing initiatives to improve pricing precision and loss experience related to claims and loss control practices. Underwriting profit trends are discussed further below and includes prior accident year loss experience before catastrophes during 2017 that was less favorable than in 2016. The table below highlights property casualty results, with analysis and discussion in the sections that follow. That analysis and discussion includes sections by segment. Overview – Three-Year Highlights (Dollars in millions) Earned premiums Fee revenues Total revenues Loss and loss expenses from: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Underwriting profit Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Combined ratio Combined ratio: Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Years ended December 31, 2017 2015 2016 $ 4,722 $ 4,271 $ 4,482 11 8 10 4,733 4,279 4,492 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 5 25 5 5 10 5 2,889 368 (91) (28) 3,138 1,467 128 $ 2,684 345 (159) (9) 2,861 1,389 242 $ 2,579 177 (168) (16) 2,572 1,321 386 $ 8 7 43 (211) 10 6 (47) 61.1% 7.8 (1.9) (0.6) 66.4 31.1 97.5% 59.8% 7.7 (3.5) (0.2) 63.8 31.0 94.8% Pt. Change 1.3 0.1 1.6 (0.4) 2.6 0.1 2.7 60.4% 4.1 (3.9) (0.4) 60.2 30.9 91.1% 97.5% 94.8% 91.1% 5.3 4.0 (0.2) 92.2% 90.8% 91.3% 2.7 1.3 1.4 4 95 5 44 11 5 (37) Pt. Change (0.6) 3.6 0.4 0.2 3.6 0.1 3.7 3.7 4.2 (0.5) Performance highlights for consolidated property casualty operations include: • Premiums – Agency renewal written premiums rose $126 million in 2017 and represented approximately half of the growth in earned premiums and net written premiums that rose in each of our property casualty segments. The renewal premium increase was largely due to average renewal price increases and a higher level of insured exposures. Price increases with enhanced precision continue to benefit operating results. New business written premiums produced through agencies increased $75 million in 2017, compared with 2016. Agents appointed during 2017 or 2016 produced a 2017 increase in standard lines new business of $58 million. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 58 Growth initiatives also favorably affect growth in subsequent years, particularly as newer agency relationships mature over time. Net written premiums increased $54 million in 2017 from expansion of reinsurance assumed operations, known as Cincinnati ReSM. Cincinnati Re assumes risks through reinsurance treaties and in some cases cedes part of the risk and related premiums to one or more unaffiliated reinsurance companies through transactions known as retrocessions. In 2017, earned premiums for Cincinnati Re totaled $107 million. Other written premiums consist primarily of premiums ceded to reinsurers as part of our ceded reinsurance program and in total contributed $5 million more in 2017 to net written premiums than in 2016. An increase in ceded premiums, other than Cincinnati Re premiums, reduced net written premium growth by $2 million in 2017, compared with 2016. The table below analyzes premium revenue components and trends. (Dollars in millions) Agency renewal written premiums Agency new business written premiums Cincinnati Re net written premiums Other written premiums Net written premiums Unearned premium change Earned premiums Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 2017 $ $ 4,198 626 125 (109) 4,840 (118) 4,722 $ $ 4,072 551 71 (114) 4,580 (98) 4,482 $ $ 3,925 532 33 (129) 4,361 (90) 4,271 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 4 4 115 12 5 (9) 5 3 14 76 4 6 (20) 5 • Combined ratio – The 2017 combined ratio increased 2.7 percentage points compared with 2016, including a 0.3 percentage-point decrease in the ratio for natural catastrophe losses. The 2017 ratio for current accident year losses and loss expenses before catastrophes increased by 1.3 percentage points, in part due to large losses and the corresponding ratios for new losses above $1 million described below, and partially offset what we believe are improvements to some of our loss experience due to recent-year initiatives to improve pricing precision and claims and loss control practices. The remainder of the 2017 combined ratio increase included 1.6 percentage-points less benefit in the ratio for prior accident year losses and loss expenses before catastrophes. We further discuss ratios related to reserve development in the sections that follow the Catastrophe Losses Incurred table below. Our statutory combined ratio was 97.2 percent in 2017 compared with 94.5 percent in 2016 and 90.6 percent in 2015. The estimated statutory combined ratio for the property casualty industry, with the industry’s ratio excluding its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business, was 105.1 percent in 2017, 100.9 percent in 2016 and 98.3 percent in 2015. The contribution of catastrophe losses to our statutory combined ratio was 7.2 percentage points in 2017, 7.5 percentage points in 2016 and 3.7 percentage points in 2015, compared with industry estimates of 8.8, 4.7 and 3.5 percentage points, respectively. Components of the combined ratio are discussed below. Catastrophe loss trends are an important factor in assessing trends for overall underwriting results. Our 10-year historical annual average contribution of catastrophe losses to the combined ratio was 6.8 percentage points at December 31, 2017. Our five-year average was 5.7 percentage points. The following table shows catastrophe losses incurred for the past three calendar years, net of reinsurance, as well as the effect of loss development on prior period catastrophe reserves. We individually list declared catastrophe events for which our incurred losses reached or exceeded $10 million. Included in all other 2017 catastrophes for Cincinnati Re is approximately $8 million for estimated assumed losses in total for wildfires in California and approximately $8 million in aggregate for other international catastrophe events, including Hurricane Maria. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 59 Catastrophe Losses Incurred (Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance) Dates 2017 Events Regions Commercial Personal lines lines Excess and surplus lines Cincinnati Re Total $ — $ — $ $ 159 $ 135 $ $ — $ — $ $ 20 26 19 8 14 3 4 7 18 5 14 6 38 (23) 23 11 9 15 1 10 15 3 1 2 18 4 27 (4) $ 5 48 8 17 17 9 12 10 7 22 25 7 39 7 — 4 8 11 2 3 — 5 23 20 3 27 Feb. 28-Mar. 1 Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South $ Mar. 6-9 Flood, hail, wind Midwest, Northeast, South Mar. 21-22 Flood, hail, wind South Apr. 4-6 May 8-11 Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South, West May 15-18 Flood, hail, wind Midwest, Northeast, South Jun. 11 Jun. 16-19 Jun. 27-29 Flood, hail, wind Midwest Flood, hail, wind Midwest, Northeast, South Flood, hail, wind Midwest Aug. 25-Sep. 1 Flood, hail, wind Sep. 6-12 Nov. 5-6 Flood, hail, wind Flood, hail, wind Midwest South South All other 2017 catastrophes Development on 2016 and prior catastrophes Calendar year incurred total 2016 Apr. 2-3 Apr. 10-15 Apr. 25-28 Hail, wind Midwest, Northeast, South $ Flood, hail, wind South Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South Apr. 29-May 3 Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South May 7-10 May 11-12 May 21-28 Jul. 28-29 Sep. 19-23 Oct. 6-9 Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South, West Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South, West Flood, hail, wind West Flood, hail, wind Midwest Flood, wind Nov. 28-30 Fire Nov. 28-Dec. 1 Flood, hail, wind All other 2016 catastrophes South South South Development on 2015 and prior catastrophes Calendar year incurred total 2015 Feb. 16-27 Apr. 7-10 Apr. 18-20 Jul. 12-14 Freezing, ice, snow, wind Midwest, Northeast, South Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South Flood, hail, wind Midwest, South All other 2015 catastrophes Development on 2014 and prior catastrophes Calendar year incurred total $ $ Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 60 — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — 2 — — — — — — — — 10 19 — 16 (1) $ 44 $ 1 — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — 3 $ — — — — — — — — 3 — — — — 3 43 37 28 23 15 13 19 10 19 17 52 10 82 (28) 340 12 49 12 25 28 11 15 10 12 48 46 10 67 44 21 10 12 90 (16) 161 (5) (4) 221 $ 109 $ (9) $ 336 35 $ 7 4 5 54 (12) 9 14 6 7 35 (3) $ — $ — $ — — — 1 (1) — — — — — $ 93 $ 68 $ — $ — $ Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expenses Loss and loss expenses include both net paid losses and reserve changes for unpaid losses as well as the associated loss expenses. For all property casualty lines of business in aggregate, net loss and loss expense reserves at December 31, 2017, were $295 million higher than at year-end 2016, including $192 million for incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves. The $295 million reserve increase raised year-end 2017 net loss and loss expense reserves by 6 percent, compared with a 5 percent increase in 2017 earned premiums. For our commercial casualty line of business in 2017, we experienced a rising trend in paid losses and loss expenses that was more than we expected. As a result, we increased our actuarial best estimates of ultimate loss and loss expense ratios at the end of 2017, compared with year-end 2016. Net loss and loss expense reserves at December 31, 2017, for our commercial casualty line of business was $126 million higher than at year-end 2016. The IBNR portion of the reserve increase was $98 million. Most of the incurred losses and loss expenses shown in the consolidated property casualty insurance results three- year highlights table are for the respective current accident years, with reserve development on prior accident years shown separately. Since less than half of our consolidated property casualty current accident year incurred losses and loss expenses represents net paid amounts, the majority represents reserves for our estimate of ultimate losses and loss expenses. These reserves develop over time, and we re-estimate previously reported reserves as we learn more about the development of the related claims. The table below illustrates that development. For example, the 67.5 percent accident year 2016 loss and loss expense ratio reported as of December 31, 2016, developed favorably by 1.0 percentage points to 66.5 percent due to claims settling for less than previously estimated, or due to updated reserve estimates for unpaid claims, as of December 31, 2017. Accident years 2016 and 2015 have both developed favorably, as indicated by the progression over time for the ratios in the table. (Dollars in millions) Accident year loss and loss expenses incurred and ratios to earned premiums: Accident year: as of December 31, 2017 as of December 31, 2016 as of December 31, 2015 2017 2016 2015 $ 3,257 $ $ 2,979 3,029 2,654 2,664 2,756 2017 68.9% 2016 66.5% 67.5 2015 62.1% 62.4 64.5 Catastrophe loss trends, discussed above, accounted for some of the movement in the current accident year loss and loss expense ratio for 2017, compared with 2016. Catastrophe losses added 7.8 percentage points in 2017, 7.7 points in 2016 and 4.1 points in 2015 to the respective consolidated property casualty current accident year loss and loss expense ratios in the table above. The 61.1 percent ratio for current accident year loss and loss expenses before catastrophe losses for 2017 increased 1.3 percentage points compared with the 59.8 percent accident year 2016 ratio measured as of December 31, 2016. Contributors to the increase included more current accident year losses of $1 million or more per claim, shown in the table below. Reserve development on prior accident years continued to net to a favorable amount in 2017, and was primarily due to less-than-anticipated loss emergence on known claims. We recognized $119 million of favorable development in 2017, compared with $168 million in 2016 and $184 million in 2015. Of the $49 million decrease in 2017, compared with 2016, $31 million was attributable to our commercial casualty line of business. Approximately 73 percent of our net favorable reserve development on prior accident years recognized during 2017 occurred in our commercial property and workers’ compensation lines of business. In 2016, our commercial casualty, commercial property and workers' compensation lines of business were responsible for approximately 70 percent of the favorable reserve development. As discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves, Property Casualty Insurance Development of Estimated Reserves by Accident Year, commercial casualty and workers' compensation are considered long-tail lines with the potential for revisions inherent in estimating reserves. Favorable development recognized during 2015 was primarily from our commercial casualty and workers’ compensation lines of business. Development by accident year is further discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Insurance Development of Estimated Reserves by Accident Year. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 61 Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Losses by Size (Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance) Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 $ 2017 Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 29 26 45 $ $ Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large losses incurred Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total losses incurred Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large loss ratio Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total loss ratio 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % (10) 15 15 73 212 51 308 54 1,903 327 185 (6) 205 164 1,699 327 161 27 217 70 1,682 156 $ 2,592 $ 2,395 $ 2,125 nm 50 (67) 12 0 8 Pt. Change 1.0% 4.5 1.0 6.5 1.1 40.3 7.0 54.9% 0.6% 4.1 (0.1) 4.6 3.7 37.8 7.3 53.4% 0.7% 3.8 0.6 5.1 1.6 39.5 3.6 49.8% 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.9 (2.6) 2.5 (0.3) 1.5 nm (6) 134 1 110 13 Pt. Change (0.1) 0.3 (0.7) (0.5) 2.1 (1.7) 3.7 3.6 In 2017, total large losses incurred increased by $103 million, or 50 percent, net of reinsurance. The corresponding ratio increased 1.9 percentage points. Our analysis of large losses incurred indicated no unexpected concentration of these losses and reserve increases by geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. We believe the inherent volatility of aggregate loss experience for our portfolio of larger policies is greater than that of our portfolio of smaller policies, and we continue to monitor the volatility in addition to general inflationary trends in loss costs. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 62 Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Underwriting Expenses (Dollars in millions) Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Policyholder dividends Total underwriting expenses Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Policyholder dividends Total underwriting expense ratio $ Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 792 819 514 555 15 15 $ 1,321 $ 1,389 2017 866 587 14 $ 1,467 $ $ 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 3 8 0 5 6 6 (7) 6 18.3% 12.5 0.3 31.1% 18.3% 12.4 0.3 31.0% Pt. Change 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 18.5% 12.1 0.3 30.9% Pt. Change (0.2) 0.3 0.0 0.1 Consolidated property casualty commission expenses rose $47 million, or 6 percent, in 2017, with profit-sharing commissions for agencies increasing by $5 million. Commission expenses as a percent of earned premiums resulted in a 2017 ratio that matched 2016. The 2017 ratio for other underwriting expenses increased by 0.1 percentage-point compared with 2016, as earned premiums rose at a pace slightly less than other underwriting expenses. During 2017, we continued to carefully manage expenses while also making strategic investments that include enhancement of underwriting expertise, such as personal lines staff additions to support high net worth market expansion. Commission expenses include our profit-sharing commissions, which are primarily based on one-year and three- year profitability of an agency’s business. The aggregate profit trend for agencies that earn these profit-based commissions can differ from the aggregate profit trend for all agencies reflected in our consolidated property casualty results. Salaries, benefits and payroll taxes for our associates account for approximately half of our property casualty other underwriting expenses. Most of our associates either provide direct service to the property casualty portion of our agencies’ businesses or provide support to those associates. Discussions below of our property casualty insurance segments provide additional details about our results. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 63 Commercial Lines Insurance Results Overview – Three-Year Highlights (Dollars in millions) Earned premiums Fee revenues Total revenues Loss and loss expenses from: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Underwriting profit Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Combined ratio Combined ratio: Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Years ended December 31, 2017-2016 2016-2015 2017 $ 3,165 5 3,170 1,933 182 (50) (23) 2,042 1,009 119 $ 2016 $ 3,089 5 3,094 2015 $ 2,996 4 3,000 Change % Change % 3 25 3 2 0 2 1,831 226 (124) (5) 1,928 982 184 $ 1,757 105 (142) (12) 1,708 947 345 $ 6 (19) 60 (360) 6 3 (35) 4 115 13 58 13 4 (47) 61.1% 5.7 (1.6) (0.7) 64.5 31.9 96.4% 59.3% 7.3 (4.0) (0.2) 62.4 31.8 94.2% Pt. Change 1.8 (1.6) 2.4 (0.5) 2.1 0.1 2.2 58.6% 3.5 (4.7) (0.4) 57.0 31.6 88.6% Pt. Change 0.7 3.8 0.7 0.2 5.4 0.2 5.6 96.4% 94.2% 88.6% 3.4 3.1 (1.6) 93.0% 91.1% 90.2% 2.2 0.3 1.9 5.6 4.7 0.9 Performance highlights for the commercial lines insurance segment include: • Premiums – Earned premiums and net written premiums rose in 2017, primarily due to a $48 million increase in renewal written premiums that continued to include a price increase for an average policy. New business written premiums in 2017 increased $25 million, or 7 percent, compared with 2016. The increase was driven by production from agencies appointed since the beginning of 2016. • Combined ratio – The 2017 combined ratio increased 2.2 percentage points compared with 2016, including a 2.1 percentage-point decrease in the ratio for natural catastrophe losses. The 2017 ratio for current accident year losses and loss expenses before catastrophes increased by 1.8 percentage points, including 0.4 points from more current accident year losses of $1 million or more per claim, shown in the table below. Development on prior accident years’ loss and loss expense reserves before catastrophes during 2017 was 2.4 percentage points less favorable than in 2016, including 3.1 points from paid losses and loss expenses. Our largest commercial line of business, commercial casualty, drove the paid component of the increase in the commercial lines segment ratio for loss and loss expenses from prior accident years before catastrophe losses, reflecting paid losses emerging at levels higher than we previously expected. Despite a significant increase in prior accident year paid losses, our commercial casualty 2017 loss and loss expense ratio remained below 64 percent, indicating an underwriting profit of approximately $40 million once underwriting expenses are considered. As discussed in Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves, stable historical paid loss patterns are a key assumption used to make projections necessary for estimating IBNR reserves. During 2017, we observed paid losses or re-estimates of case reserves emerging at levels higher than Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 64 expected for commercial casualty. Considering that new data at December 31, 2017, we estimated commercial casualty IBNR reserves for accident year 2017 at levels more likely to be adequate, $47 million higher than accident year 2016 estimates at the end of 2016. The increase in IBNR reserves for commercial casualty was largely responsible for the 1.8 percentage-point increase in the commercial lines ratio for current accident year losses and loss expenses before catastrophes. Commercial auto, representing 20 percent of 2017 earned premiums for our commercial lines insurance segment, was the only major line of business in that segment with a 2017 total loss and loss expense ratio significantly higher than we desired. During 2017, our commercial auto policies experienced average renewal estimated price percentage increases near the low end of the high-single-digit range, which we believe will help improve future profitability. We also continued to improve premium rate classification and use of other rating variables in risk selection and pricing. Pricing precision and other initiatives to improve commercial lines underwriting profitability complement our business practices that continue to leverage the local presence of our field staff. Field marketing representatives meet with local agencies to assess each risk, determine limits of insurance and establish appropriate terms and conditions. They continue to underwrite new business while field loss control, machinery and equipment and claims representatives continue to conduct on-site inspections. Field claims representatives also assist underwriters by preparing full reports on their first-hand observations of risk quality. Our commercial lines statutory combined ratio was 96.2 percent in 2017, compared with 93.9 percent in 2016 and 88.3 percent in 2015. The estimated commercial lines combined ratio for the industry was 103.5 percent in 2017, 99.6 percent in 2016 and 97.5 percent in 2015. The industry’s ratio excludes its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business. The contribution of catastrophe losses to our commercial lines statutory combined ratio was 5.0 percentage points in 2017, 7.1 percentage points in 2016 and 3.1 percentage points in 2015, compared with industry estimates of 7.0, 2.9 and 2.1 percentage points, respectively. Commercial Lines Insurance Premiums (Dollars in millions) Agency renewal written premiums Agency new business written premiums Other written premiums Net written premiums Unearned premium change Earned premiums Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 2017 $ $ 2,880 397 (75) 3,202 (37) 3,165 $ $ 2,832 372 (82) 3,122 (33) 3,089 $ $ 2,756 365 (96) 3,025 (29) 2,996 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 3 2 15 3 (14) 3 2 7 9 3 (12) 2 We continue to refine our use of predictive analytics tools to improve pricing precision as we further segment commercial lines policies, emphasizing identification and retention of policies we believe have relatively stronger price adequacy. These tools better align individual insurance policy pricing to risk attributes, providing our underwriters with enhanced abilities to target profitability and to discuss pricing impacts with agency personnel. We also continue to leverage our local relationships with agents through the efforts of our teams that work closely with them. We believe our field focus is unique and has several advantages, including providing us with quality intelligence on local market conditions. We seek to maintain appropriate pricing discipline for both new and renewal business as management continues to emphasize the importance of our agencies and underwriters assessing account quality to make careful decisions on a case-by-case basis whether to write or renew a policy. Premium rate credits may be used to retain renewals of quality business and to earn new business, but we do so selectively in order to avoid commercial accounts that we believe have insufficient profit margins. Our 2 percent increase in 2017 agency renewal written premiums included higher average pricing. We measure average changes in commercial lines renewal pricing as the rate of change in renewal premium for the new policy period compared with the premium for the expiring policy period, assuming no change in the level of insured exposures or policy coverage between those periods for respective policies. In 2017, our standard commercial lines policies averaged an estimated pricing change at a percentage in the low-single-digit range, slightly higher than in 2016. Our average commercial lines pricing change includes the flat pricing effect of certain coverages within package policies written for a three-year term that were in force but did not expire during the period being Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 65 measured. Therefore, the average commercial lines pricing change we report reflects a blend of policies that did not expire and other policies that did expire during the measurement period. For only those commercial lines policies that did expire and were then renewed during 2017, we estimate that the average price increase was near the high end of the low-single-digit range, slightly higher in that range than full-year 2016. During 2017, we continued to further segment our commercial lines policies, emphasizing identification and retention of policies we believed had relatively stronger price adequacy. Conversely, we continued to seek more aggressive renewal terms and conditions on policies we believed had relatively weaker pricing, in turn retaining fewer of those policies. Changes in the economy can affect insured exposures that directly relate to premium amounts charged for some policies. For commercial accounts, we usually calculate initial estimates for general liability premiums based on estimated sales or payroll volume, while we calculate workers’ compensation premiums based on estimated payroll volume. A change in sales or payroll volume generally indicates a change in demand for a business’s goods or services, as well as a change in its exposure to risk. Policyholders who experience sales or payroll volume changes due to economic factors may also have other exposures requiring insurance, such as commercial auto or commercial property. Premium levels for these other types of coverages generally are not linked directly to sales or payroll volumes. Premiums resulting from audits of actual sales or payrolls that confirmed or adjusted initial premium estimates have had a mixed effect on premium trends in recent years. On an earned premium basis for our commercial lines insurance segment, audits contributed negative $7 million to the $77 million earned premiums increase in 2017, negative $5 million to the $93 million earned premiums increase in 2016 and $23 million to the $140 million earned premiums increase in 2015. On a net written premium basis, audits contributed negative $5 million to the $81 million net written premiums increase in 2017, negative $1 million to the $97 million net written premiums increase in 2016 and $20 million to the $103 million net written premiums increase in 2015. These net written premium amounts are included with agency renewal written premiums in the Commercial Lines Insurance Premiums table above. In 2017, our commercial lines new business premiums written by our agencies increased $25 million, or 7 percent, compared with 2016. New business premium volume in recent years has been significantly influenced by new agency appointments. Agencies appointed since the beginning of 2016 produced commercial lines new business written premiums of $36 million, in aggregate, during 2017, up $28 million from what they produced during 2016. All other agencies contributed the remaining $361 million, down $3 million from the $364 million they produced in 2016. For new business, our field associates are frequently in our agents’ offices to: help judge the quality of each account; emphasize the Cincinnati value proposition; call on sales prospects with those agents; carefully evaluate risk exposure; and provide their best quotes. Some of our new business comes from accounts that are not new to the agent. We believe these seasoned accounts tend to be priced more accurately than business that is new to us and the agency. As we appoint new agencies who choose to move accounts to us, we report these accounts as new business to us. Other written premiums primarily consist of premiums that are ceded to reinsurers and that lower our net written premiums. An increase in ceded premiums reduced net written premium growth by $1 million for 2017, compared with 2016. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 66 Commercial Lines Insurance Loss and Loss Expenses Loss and loss expenses include both net paid losses and reserve changes for unpaid losses as well as the associated loss expenses. For our commercial casualty and commercial auto lines of business in 2017, we experienced higher volumes in paid losses and loss expenses than we expected for certain accident years. As a result, we increased our actuarial best estimate of ultimate loss and loss expense ratios for a number of accident years within those lines at year-end 2017, compared with year-end 2016. Net loss and loss expense reserves for commercial casualty at December 31, 2017, were $126 million, or 7 percent, higher than at year-end 2016. The IBNR portion of the reserve increase was $99 million. Net loss and loss expense reserves for commercial auto at December 31, 2017, were $83 million, or 15 percent, higher than at year-end 2016. The IBNR portion of the reserve increase was $55 million. Most of the incurred losses and loss expenses shown in the commercial lines insurance segment three-year highlights table are for the respective current accident years, with reserve development on prior accident years shown separately. Since less than half of our commercial lines insurance segment current accident year incurred losses and loss expenses represents net paid amounts, the majority represents reserves for our estimate of ultimate losses and loss expenses. These reserves develop over time, and we re-estimate previously reported reserves as we learn more about the development of the related claims. The table below illustrates that development. For example, the 66.6 percent accident year 2016 loss and loss expense ratio reported as of December 31, 2016, developed favorably by 1.1 percentage points to 65.5 percent due to claims settling for less than previously estimated, or due to updates to reserve estimates for unpaid claims, as of December 31, 2016. Accident years 2016 and 2015 for the commercial lines insurance segment have both developed favorably, as indicated by the progression over time of the ratios in the table. (Dollars in millions) Accident year loss and loss expenses incurred and ratios to earned premiums: Accident year: as of December 31, 2017 as of December 31, 2016 as of December 31, 2015 2017 2016 2015 $ 2,115 $ $ 2,023 2,057 1,793 1,797 1,862 2017 66.8% 2016 65.5% 66.6 2015 59.9% 60.0 62.1 Catastrophe losses, as discussed in Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Results, explain some of the movement in the current accident year loss and loss expense ratio for accident year 2017, compared with 2016. Catastrophe losses added 5.7 percentage points in 2017, 7.3 points in 2016 and 3.5 points in 2015 to the respective commercial lines current accident year loss and loss expense ratios in the table above. The 61.1 percent ratio for current accident year loss and loss expenses before catastrophe losses for 2017 increased 1.8 percentage points compared with the 59.3 percent accident year 2016 ratio measured as of December 31, 2016. Higher commercial casualty IBNR reserves in 2017, noted above, contributed to the increase. Large losses, described below, and the corresponding ratios for new losses above $1 million, contributed a 0.4 percentage-point increase to the 2017 ratio. Those unfavorable contributions offset the favorable effects from initiatives, such as those to improve pricing precision and loss experience related to claims and loss control practices. Commercial lines reserve development on prior accident years of $73 million in 2017 continued to net to a favorable amount, but provided a smaller benefit than the $129 million recognized in 2016. The $56 million net decrease in 2017 included $31 million from our commercial casualty line of business. Most of our commercial lines net favorable reserve development on prior accident years recognized during 2017 occurred in our commercial property and workers’ compensation lines of business, with workers' compensation representing 74 percent. Favorable development recognized during 2016 was mostly from our commercial casualty, commercial property and workers’ compensation lines of business. Favorable development recognized during 2015 was mostly from our commercial casualty and workers’ compensation lines of business. Development by accident year and other trends for commercial lines loss and loss expenses and the related ratios are further discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Insurance Development of Estimated Reserves by Accident Year. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 67 Commercial Lines Insurance Losses by Size (Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance) Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 $ Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large losses incurred Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total losses incurred Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large loss ratio Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total loss ratio 2017 Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 29 26 39 $ $ 166 47 252 61 1,184 150 162 2 190 125 1,055 214 112 25 166 51 1,076 88 $ 1,647 $ 1,584 $ 1,381 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 50 2 nm 33 (51) 12 (30) 4 (10) 45 (92) 14 145 (2) 143 15 1.2% 5.3 1.5 8.0 1.9 37.4 4.7 52.0% 0.8% 5.3 0.1 6.2 4.0 34.2 6.9 51.3% Pt. Change 0.4 1.0% 3.7 0.8 5.5 1.7 35.9 3.0 46.1% 0.0 1.4 1.8 (2.1) 3.2 (2.2) 0.7 Pt. Change (0.2) 1.6 (0.7) 0.7 2.3 (1.7) 3.9 5.2 In 2017, total large losses incurred increased by $62 million, or 33 percent, net of reinsurance. The corresponding ratio increased 1.8 percentage points. The 2017 increases on both a dollar and ratio basis were primarily due to higher amounts for our commercial casualty and commercial property lines of business. In 2016, total large losses incurred and the corresponding ratio were higher than in 2015, also largely due to higher amounts of large losses for our commercial casualty and commercial property lines of business. Our analysis indicated no unexpected concentration of these losses and reserve increases by geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. We believe the inherent volatility of aggregate loss experience for our portfolio of larger policies is greater than that of our portfolio of smaller policies, and we continue to monitor the volatility in addition to general inflationary trends in loss costs. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 68 Commercial Lines Insurance Underwriting Expenses (Dollars in millions) Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Policyholder dividends Total underwriting expenses Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Policyholder dividends Total underwriting expense ratio $ Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 550 565 382 402 15 15 947 982 2017 577 418 14 $ 1,009 $ $ $ $ 18.2% 13.3 0.4 31.9% 18.3% 13.0 0.5 31.8% 18.4% 12.7 0.5 31.6% 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 3 5 0 4 Pt. Change 2 4 (7) 3 Pt. Change (0.1) 0.3 (0.1) 0.1 (0.1) 0.3 0.0 0.2 Commercial lines commission expenses as a percent of earned premiums decreased slightly in 2017, compared with 2016, reflecting a decrease in the ratio for agency commissions other than profit sharing. The ratio for 2016 decreased slightly compared with 2015, reflecting a decrease in the ratio for agency profit-sharing commissions. In 2017, other underwriting expenses as a percent of earned premiums increased compared with 2016, as strategic investments that include enhancement of underwriting expertise offset the favorable effects of higher earned premiums and ongoing expense management efforts. In 2016, the ratio rose similarly, compared with 2015. Commercial Lines Insurance Outlook Net written premiums for the commercial lines industry in 2018 may grow approximately 1 percent, according to A.M. Best projections, with the industry statutory combined ratio estimated at approximately 101 percent, excluding its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business. Over the past several years, renewal and new business pricing has experienced significant competitive pressure, reinforcing the need for more pricing analytics and careful risk selection. While competition remains intense, industrywide commercial lines market pricing turned positive toward the end of 2011 and continued to firm for a period of time, according to several industry surveys. Average renewal pricing for our commercial lines insurance segment generally followed a similar trend. Commentary regarding the commercial lines market within the property casualty insurance industry indicates commercial lines pricing in 2018 may be generally similar to 2017. Despite challenging market conditions from strong competition, we believe we can manage our business and execute strategic initiatives to offset market pressures to some extent and profitably grow our commercial lines insurance segment. We intend to keep marketing our products to a broad range of business classes with a package approach, while also continuing to improve our pricing precision and further segmenting among commercial lines policies. We intend to maintain our underwriting selectivity and carefully manage our rate levels as well as our programs that seek to accurately match exposures with appropriate premiums. We will continue to evaluate each risk individually and to make decisions about rates, the use of three-year commercial policies and other policy conditions on a case- by-case basis, even in lines and classes of business that are under competitive pressure. For our commercial auto line of business, we will continue to improve premium rate classification and the use of other rating variables in risk selection and pricing. We believe that our initiatives to improve pricing precision and lower loss costs will continue to benefit commercial lines profitability during 2017, and that recent-year premium growth initiatives will continue to grow commercial lines premiums at a rate exceeding the industry. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 69 Personal Lines Insurance Results Overview – Three-Year Highlights (Dollars in millions) Earned premiums Fee revenues Total revenues Loss and loss expenses from: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Underwriting loss Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Combined ratio Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 $ 1,097 $ 1,161 3 4 1,100 1,165 2017 $ 1,241 5 1,246 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 6 33 6 7 25 7 793 139 (10) (4) 918 360 (32) $ 731 113 — (4) 840 337 (12) $ 713 71 8 (3) 789 323 (12) $ 8 23 nm 0 9 7 (167) 64.0% 11.2 (0.9) (0.3) 74.0 29.0 103.0% 101.4% 63.0% 9.7 0.0 (0.3) 72.4 29.0 Pt. Change 1.0 1.5 (0.9) 0.0 1.6 0.0 1.6 64.9% 6.5 0.8 (0.3) 71.9 29.4 101.3% 3 59 (100) (33) 6 4 0 Pt. Change (1.9) 3.2 (0.8) 0.0 0.5 (0.4) 0.1 0.1 2.4 (2.3) Combined ratio: 103.0% 101.4% 101.3% Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development 10.0 9.4 7.0 93.0% 92.0% 94.3% 1.6 0.6 1.0 Performance highlights for the personal lines insurance segment include: • Premiums – Earned premiums and net written premiums continued to grow in 2017, largely due to higher renewal written premiums that included price increases. Renewal written premiums rose $57 million, or 5 percent, in 2017, compared with 2016. • Combined ratio – The 2017 combined ratio rose 1.6 percentage points, compared with 2016, driven by a 1.5 percentage-point increase in the ratio for 2017 natural catastrophe losses. The total large loss ratio for losses of $1 million or more per claim, shown in the table below, increased by 3.1 percentage points, largely due to higher losses for homeowner claims and personal umbrella claims related to auto accidents. Personal auto, representing 47 percent of 2017 earned premiums for our personal lines insurance segment, was the only major line of business in that segment with a 2017 total loss and loss expense ratio significantly higher than we desired. During 2017, our personal auto policies experienced estimated premium rate increases averaging near the low end of the high-single-digit range. We believe the rate increases and other actions to improve pricing precision and reduce loss costs will improve future profitability. A similar approach was used to improve the total loss and loss expense ratio for our homeowner line of business to a satisfactory result in recent years. We have increased our pricing precision and implemented numerous rate increases in recent years to improve our personal lines insurance segment results. In addition, we have made greater use of higher minimum loss deductibles and enhanced our property inspection processes to verify condition and insurance to value. We have worked to improve our geographic diversification by expanding our personal lines operation to several states less prone to catastrophes. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 70 Our personal lines statutory combined ratio was 102.4 percent in 2017, up from 100.8 percent in 2016 and 100.0 percent in 2015. By comparison, the estimated industry personal lines combined ratio was 104.9 percent in 2017, 102.5 percent in 2016 and 99.6 percent in 2015. Our concentration of business in areas affected by catastrophe events contributed to recent-year results that differed from the overall industry, an issue we are addressing in part through gradual geographic expansion. The contribution of catastrophe losses to our personal lines statutory combined ratio was 10.9 percentage points in 2017, 9.4 percentage points in 2016 and 6.2 percentage points in 2015, compared with industry estimates of 8.5, 5.8 and 4.8 percentage points, respectively. Personal Lines Insurance Premiums (Dollars in millions) Agency renewal written premiums Agency new business written premiums Other written premiums Net written premiums Unearned premium change Earned premiums Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ 1,156 161 (23) 1,294 (53) 1,241 $ $ 1,099 122 (23) 1,198 (37) 1,161 $ $ 1,041 111 (24) 1,128 (31) 1,097 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 6 10 4 6 (19) 6 5 32 0 8 (43) 7 Personal lines insurance is a strategic component of our overall relationship with most of our agencies and is an important component of our agencies’ relationships with their clients. We believe agents recommend our personal insurance products to their clients who seek to balance quality and price and who are attracted by our superior claims service and the benefits of our package approach. We also believe our continuing efforts to improve pricing precision are helping us attract and retain more of our agencies’ preferred business, while also obtaining higher rates for more thinly priced business. Our progress toward broader geographic diversification is reflected in part through premium growth trends. Personal lines earned premiums in our five highest volume states increased in aggregate by 3 percent in 2017, while premiums for the remaining states, including our newer areas of operation, increased 11 percent in aggregate. The 5 percent increase in agency renewal written premiums in 2017 largely reflected various rate changes. We estimate that premium rates for our personal auto line of business increased at average percentages near the low end of the high-single-digit range during 2017, with some individual policies experiencing lower or higher rate changes based on enhanced pricing precision enabled by predictive models, which consider variables of specific risks. For our homeowner line of business, we estimate that rate increases during 2017 averaged in the mid-single-digit range. Similar to our personal auto line of business, that average varied widely by state, and some individual policies experienced lower or higher rate changes based on pricing precision and current rate level indications that help determine appropriate premium rates. Personal lines new business written premiums grew $39 million, or 32 percent, during 2017, compared with 2016. That growth was driven by policies from high net worth clients of our agencies. Personal lines new business written premiums from our high net worth policies totaled approximately $58 million for 2017, compared with approximately $28 million for 2016, an increase of $30 million. The remaining increase of approximately $9 million in new business written premiums came from the part of our personal lines segment we sometimes refer to as middle market business and includes the effect of various premium rate increases and additional marketing efforts directed toward our agencies. Marketing efforts included assisting agencies with processing qualified policies expiring from other insurance companies, sometimes referred to as “book rolls”. Similar to recent years, such processing has not materially contributed to 2017 increases or decreases in personal lines new business written premiums. Some of what we report as new business came from accounts that were not new to our agents. We believe our agents’ seasoned accounts tend to be priced more accurately than business that may be less familiar to them. Other written premiums primarily consist of premiums that are ceded to reinsurers and that lower our net written premiums. Ceded premiums for 2017 essentially matched 2016. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 71 Personal Lines Insurance Loss and Loss Expenses Loss and loss expenses include both net paid losses and reserve changes for unpaid losses as well as the associated loss expenses. Most of the incurred losses and loss expenses shown in the personal lines insurance segment three-year highlights table are for the respective current accident years, with reserve development on prior accident years shown separately. Since approximately two-thirds of our personal lines current accident year incurred losses and loss expenses represent net paid amounts, the remaining one-third represents reserves for our estimate of ultimate losses and loss expenses. These reserves develop over time, and we re-estimate previously reported reserves as we learn more about the development of the related claims. The table below illustrates that development. For example, the 72.7 percent accident year 2016 loss and loss expense ratio reported as of December 31, 2016, developed favorably by 0.7 percentage points to 72.0 percent due to claims settling for less than previously estimated, or due to updated reserve estimates for unpaid claims, as of December 31, 2017. Accident year 2015 for the personal lines insurance segment developed favorably during 2016 and then developed unfavorably by a relatively small amount during 2017, as indicated by the progression over time for the ratios in the table. (Dollars in millions) Accident year loss and loss expenses incurred and ratios to earned premiums: Accident year: as of December 31, 2017 as of December 31, 2016 as of December 31, 2015 2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015 $ 932 $ $ 835 844 775 773 784 75.2% 72.0% 72.7 70.6% 70.4 71.4 Catastrophe losses, as discussed in Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Results, explain much of the movement in the current accident year loss and loss expense ratio for accident year 2017, compared with accident year 2016. Catastrophe losses added 11.2 percentage points in 2017, 9.7 points in 2016 and 6.5 points in 2015 to the respective personal lines current accident year loss and loss expense ratios in the table above. Personal lines catastrophe losses for 2017 resulted in a ratio near our 10.7 percent 10-year annual average for personal lines that included 22.8 percent for 2011. Our personal lines catastrophe loss ratios for 2016 and 2015 reflect an average closer to our 9.5 percent average over the same 10-year period, excluding the unusually high ratio for 2011. Personal lines catastrophe losses are inherently volatile, as discussed above and in Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Results. The 64.0 percent ratio for current accident year loss and loss expenses before catastrophe losses for 2017 rose 1.0 percentage points compared with the 63.0 percent accident year 2016 ratio measured as of December 31, 2016. The increase included a 2.2 percentage-point increase in the ratio for current accident year losses of $1 million or more per claim, shown in the table below, that were primarily for homeowner claims and personal umbrella claims related to auto accidents. Personal lines loss and loss expense reserve development on prior accident years recognized in 2017 was favorable by $14 million, in aggregate, compared with $4 million in 2016. The 2017 net favorable reserve development included $11 million for our homeowner line of business, primarily for accident year 2016. In 2016, our personal auto line of business prior accident year net reserve development was unfavorable by $18 million, partially offsetting favorable development in our homeowner and other personal lines of business. Development by accident year and other trends for personal lines loss and loss expenses and the related ratios are further discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Insurance Development of Estimated Reserves by Accident Year. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 72 Personal Lines Insurance Losses by Size (Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance) Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 $ Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large losses incurred Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total losses incurred $ Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large loss ratio Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total loss ratio Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 6 43 3 52 (9) 629 132 804 0.5% 3.4 0.3 4.2 (0.7) 50.7 10.6 64.8% $ — $ $ $ 19 (7) 12 35 592 107 746 0.0% 1.7 (0.6) 1.1 3.0 51.0 9.2 64.3% — 45 — 45 18 566 66 695 0.0% 4.1 0.0 4.1 1.6 51.6 6.0 63.3% nm 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % nm (58) nm (73) 94 126 333 nm nm 6 23 8 5 62 7 Pt. Change Pt. Change 0.5 1.7 0.9 3.1 (3.7) (0.3) 1.4 0.5 0.0 (2.4) (0.6) (3.0) 1.4 (0.6) 3.2 1.0 In 2017, personal lines total large losses incurred increased by $40 million, compared with 2016, net of reinsurance. The ratio for 2017 large losses as a percent of earned premiums increased 3.1 percentage points. The 2017 increases on both a dollar and ratio basis were largely due to higher amounts for homeowner claims and personal umbrella claims related to auto accidents. In 2016, total large losses decreased, compared with 2015, primarily due to lower amounts of homeowner claims and personal umbrella claims related to auto accidents. Our analysis indicated no unexpected concentration of these losses and reserve increases by risk category, geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. We believe the inherent volatility of aggregate loss experience for our portfolio of larger policies is greater than that of our portfolio of smaller policies, and we continue to monitor the volatility in addition to general inflationary trends in loss costs. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 73 Personal Lines Insurance Underwriting Expenses (Dollars in millions) Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Total underwriting expenses Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Total underwriting expense ratio $ $ Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 $ $ 209 128 337 $ $ 206 117 323 2017 223 137 360 18.0% 11.0 29.0% 18.0% 11.0 29.0% 18.8% 10.6 29.4% 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 1 9 4 Pt. Change 7 7 7 Pt. Change 0.0 0.0 0.0 (0.8) 0.4 (0.4) Personal lines commission expense as a percent of earned premiums in 2017 matched 2016, as earned premiums rose at a pace similar to the rate of increase in commission expenses. Likewise, other underwriting expenses as a percent of earned premiums in 2017 matched 2016. Personal Lines Insurance Outlook A.M. Best projections for 2018 indicate personal lines written premiums for the U.S. property casualty industry may grow approximately 5 percent, with an industry statutory combined ratio estimated at approximately 100 percent. We believe our growth rate will likely be higher than the industry projection for 2018, driven by our rate increases, stable policy retention rate, new state entry, accelerated pace of new agency appointments in recent years and increased focus on the high net worth personal lines market. Our high net worth initiative, along with various other actions to improve performance in our personal lines insurance segment, is discussed in greater detail in Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Strategic Initiatives and Personal Lines Insurance Results. Our personal lines pricing trends need to exceed loss trends to improve personal lines profitability, thereby helping to achieve our corporate financial targets. We discuss our overall outlook for our property casualty insurance operations in the Executive Summary. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 74 Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Results Overview – Three-Year Highlights $ $ (Dollars in millions) Earned premiums Fee revenues Total revenues Loss and loss expenses from: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Underwriting profit Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year before catastrophe losses Current accident year catastrophe losses Prior accident years before catastrophe losses Prior accident years catastrophe losses Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Combined ratio Combined ratio: Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 168 183 1 1 169 184 2017 209 1 210 $ $ 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 9 0 9 14 0 14 113 2 (29) — 86 63 61 $ 99 3 (34) — 68 54 62 $ 104 1 (34) (1) 70 48 51 14 (33) 15 0 26 17 (2) 54.0% 1.1 (13.6) (0.1) 41.4 29.7 71.1% 54.4% 1.6 (18.3) (0.1) 37.6 29.4 67.0% Pt. Change (0.4) (0.5) 4.7 0.0 3.8 0.3 4.1 62.1% 0.5 (20.6) (0.1) 41.9 28.1 70.0% 71.1% 67.0% 70.0% (12.6) (16.8) (20.2) 4.1 4.2 83.7% 83.8% 90.2% (0.1) (5) 200 0 nm (3) 13 22 Pt. Change (7.7) 1.1 2.3 0.0 (4.3) 1.3 (3.0) (3.0) 3.4 (6.4) Our excess and surplus lines insurance segment includes results of The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company and CSU Producer Resources Inc. Performance highlights for this segment include: • Premiums – Earned premiums and net written premiums continued to grow during 2017. Growth was driven by higher renewal written premiums that included average renewal estimated price increases in the low-single-digit range. New business written premiums grew 19 percent in 2017, reflecting an increase in our marketing efforts as we continued to carefully underwrite each policy in a highly competitive market. • Combined ratio – The combined ratio rose 4.1 percentage points in 2017, primarily due to less favorable reserve development on prior accident years. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 75 Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Premiums (Dollars in millions) Agency renewal written premiums Agency new business written premiums Other written premiums Net written premiums Unearned premium change Earned premiums Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ 162 68 (11) 219 (10) 209 $ $ 141 57 (9) 189 (6) 183 $ $ 128 56 (9) 175 (7) 168 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 10 2 0 9 14 9 15 19 (22) 16 (67) 14 The $21 million increase in 2017 renewal premiums reflected the opportunity to renew many policies for the first time as well as higher renewal pricing. Average renewal estimated price increases were in the low-single-digit range during 2017. We measure average changes in excess and surplus lines renewal pricing as the rate of change in renewal premium for the new policy period compared with the premium for the expiring policy period, assuming no change in the level of insured exposures or policy coverage between those periods for respective policies. New business written premiums rose $11 million, largely due to an increase in our marketing efforts. Other written premiums in 2017 were similar to amounts in 2016. Other written premiums are primarily premiums that are ceded to reinsurers and that lower our net written premiums. Excess and Surplus Lines Loss and Loss Expenses Loss and loss expenses include both net paid losses and reserve changes for unpaid losses, as well as the associated loss expenses. The majority of the total incurred losses and loss expenses shown above in the three-year highlights table are for the respective current accident years, with reserve development on prior accident years shown separately. Since less than 20 percent of our 2017 excess and surplus lines current accident year incurred losses and loss expenses represents net paid amounts, a large majority represents reserves for our estimate of unpaid losses and loss expenses. These reserves develop over time, and we update our estimates of previously reported reserves as we learn more about the development of the related claims. The table below illustrates that development. For example, the 56.0 percent accident year 2016 loss and loss expense ratio reported as of December 31, 2016, developed favorably by 2.8 percentage points to 53.2 percent due to claims settling for less than previously estimated, or due to updated reserve estimates for unpaid claims, as of December 31, 2017. Accident years 2016 and 2015 for this segment have both developed favorably, as indicated by the progression over time of the ratios in the table. (Dollars in millions) Accident year loss and loss expenses incurred and ratios to earned premiums: Accident year: as of December 31, 2017 as of December 31, 2016 as of December 31, 2015 2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015 $ 115 $ 98 $ 102 82 91 105 55.1% 53.2% 56.0 49.0% 53.9 62.6 Catastrophe losses, as discussed in Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Results, explain some of the movement in the current accident year loss and loss expense ratio for accident year 2017, compared with 2016. Catastrophe losses added 1.1 percentage points in 2017, 1.6 percentage points in 2016 and 0.5 percentage points in 2015, to the respective excess and surplus lines current accident year loss and loss expense ratios in the table above. The 54.0 percent ratio for current accident year loss and loss expenses before catastrophe losses for 2017 decreased 0.4 percentage points compared with the 54.4 percent accident year 2016 ratio measured as of December 31, 2016. The improvement included a 0.2 percentage-point decrease in the ratio for current accident year losses of $1 million or more per claim, shown in the table below. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 76 Excess and surplus lines reserve development on prior accident years continued to net to a favorable amount in 2017 as $29 million was recognized, compared with $34 million in 2016. Approximately two-thirds of the 2017 favorable development was for accident years 2015 and 2014, in aggregate, and was primarily due to lower-than-anticipated loss emergence on known claims. We believe the loss and loss expense reserves for our excess and surplus lines business are adequate. The amount of outstanding reserves for our excess and surplus lines operation can be seen in a table in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves. One indication of how long it takes for most of the outstanding reserves to be settled is to measure outstanding reserves by accident year at different points in time, using Item 8, Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. For example, for accident years 2012 and 2011, in aggregate, after subtracting cumulative paid amounts from incurred amounts at December 31, 2012, reserves for estimated unpaid losses, plus the portion of loss expenses known as ALAE, equaled $91 million. For those same accident years, at December 31, 2017, the reserve estimate for the remaining unpaid amount can be calculated as $6 million. The inherent uncertainty in estimating reserves is discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves. Development trends by accident year are further discussed in Property Casualty Insurance Development of Estimated Reserves by Accident Year. Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Losses by Size (Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance) Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 $ Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large losses incurred Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total losses incurred $ Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Current accident year losses greater than $5,000,000 Current accident year losses $1,000,000-$5,000,000 Large loss prior accident year reserve development Total large loss ratio Losses incurred but not reported Other losses excluding catastrophe losses Catastrophe losses Total loss ratio Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 — $ 3 1 4 2 44 2 52 $ 0.0% 1.5 0.4 1.9 0.8 21.6 0.8 25.1% — $ — 3 — 3 5 31 3 42 $ 0.0% 1.7 (0.3) 1.4 2.9 16.8 1.5 22.6% 4 3 7 2 35 1 45 0.0% 2.4 1.7 4.1 1.0 21.2 0.4 26.7% 0 nm nm 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % nm (25) nm (57) 150 (11) 200 (7) 33 (60) 42 (33) 24 Pt. Change Pt. Change 0.0 (0.2) 0.7 0.5 (2.1) 4.8 (0.7) 2.5 0.0 (0.7) (2.0) (2.7) 1.9 (4.4) 1.1 (4.1) In 2017, total large losses incurred increased by $1 million or 33 percent, net of reinsurance. The ratio for 2017 large losses as a percent of earned premiums increased 0.5 percentage points. That ratio for 2016 trended in the opposite direction, due to 2016 total large losses decreasing from 2015. Our analysis indicated no unexpected concentration of these losses and reserve increases by risk category, geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. We believe the inherent volatility of aggregate loss experience for our portfolio of larger policies is greater than that of our portfolio of smaller policies, and we continue to monitor the volatility in addition to general inflationary trends in loss costs. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 77 Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Underwriting Expenses (Dollars in millions) Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Total underwriting expenses Ratios as a percent of earned premiums: Commission expenses Other underwriting expenses Total underwriting expenses ratio $ $ Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 $ $ 36 18 54 $ $ 33 15 48 2017 41 22 63 19.2% 10.5 29.7% 19.4% 10.0 29.4% 19.2% 8.9 28.1% 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 9 20 13 Pt. Change 0.2 1.1 1.3 14 22 17 Pt. Change (0.2) 0.5 0.3 Excess and surplus lines commission expense as a percent of earned premiums for 2017 decreased slightly from 2016 and matched 2015. Other underwriting expenses increased in 2017, compared with 2016, largely due to strategic investments such as enhancements to systems used in billing excess and surplus lines insurance policies. In 2016, the ratio also rose, in part due to upgrades to systems used in underwriting excess and surplus lines insurance policies. Those ratio-increase effects offset the favorable ratio-decrease effects of higher earned premiums and ongoing expense management efforts. Excess and Surplus Lines Outlook The excess and surplus lines market is expected to see the magnitude of rate increases continue to decline on several classes of business due to increased capacity in the market. Competition is expected to remain strong, especially on large accounts, due primarily to standard market insurance companies insuring businesses that previously were written by excess and surplus lines insurers. Firming is expected to continue for specific classes of business where loss costs are exceeding rates, such as habitational for property coverages and general liability for liquor liability coverages and hired and non-owned auto liability. Industry reports suggest that there are opportunities for profitability and growth through greater use of technology. Technology and data are also being used by excess and surplus lines insurance companies to identify new exposures in emerging businesses that need insurance protection or other value-added services. Our strategy of providing superior service is expected to continue to grow our excess and surplus lines insurance segment and to achieve profitability despite challenging market conditions. We intend to keep carefully selecting and pricing risks, providing prompt delivery of insurance quotes and policies and giving outstanding claims and loss control service from local field representatives who also handle the standard lines business for their assigned agencies. These local representatives are supported by headquarters underwriters and claims managers who specialize in excess and surplus lines. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 78 Life Insurance Results Overview – Three-Year Highlights (Dollars in millions) Earned premiums Fee revenues Total revenues Contract holders' benefits incurred Investment interest credited to contract holders' Underwriting expenses incurred Total benefits and expenses Life insurance segment (loss) profit Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ 232 5 237 252 (93) 79 238 $ (1) $ 228 5 233 246 (90) 76 232 1 $ $ 209 5 214 236 (86) 66 216 (2) 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 9 0 9 4 (5) 15 7 nm 2 0 2 2 (3) 4 3 nm Performance highlights for the life insurance segment include: • Revenues – Earned premiums rose 2 percent for the year 2017, as shown in the table below that includes details by major line of business. Our largest life insurance product line, term life insurance, rose 6 percent. Net in-force policy face amounts rose 8 percent to $61.177 billion at year-end 2017 from $56.808 billion at year-end 2016 and $52.735 billion at year-end 2015. • Profitability – The life insurance segment frequently reports only a small profit or loss because most of its investment income is included in the investments segment results. We include only investment income credited to contract holders (interest assumed in life insurance policy reserve calculations) in life insurance segment results. The segment reported a $1 million loss in 2017, following a profit of $1 million in 2016 and a loss of $2 million in 2015. It has averaged a profit of less than $1 million over the past five years. Earned premiums rose $4 million in 2017, primarily due to growth in our term life insurance business, as shown in the table below. Growth in 2016 was also primarily due to term life insurance. (Dollars in millions) Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 Term life insurance Universal life insurance Other life insurance, annuity and disability income products Net earned premiums $ $ 158 38 36 232 $ $ 149 37 42 228 $ $ 136 39 34 209 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 10 (5) 6 3 (14) 2 24 9 We market term, whole and universal life products, fixed annuities and disability income products. In addition, we offer term, whole life and disability insurance to employees at their worksite. These products provide our property casualty agency force with excellent cross-serving opportunities for both commercial and personal accounts. Over the past several years, we have worked to maintain a portfolio of simple, yet competitive, products primarily under the LifeHorizons banner. Our product development efforts emphasize death benefit protection and guarantees. Distribution expansion within our property casualty insurance agencies remains a high priority. Our 34 life field marketing representatives work in partnership with our 140 property casualty field marketing representatives. Approximately 62 percent of our term and other life insurance product premiums were generated through our property casualty insurance agency relationships. Life insurance segment expenses consist principally of: • Contract holders’ benefits incurred, related to traditional life and interest-sensitive products, accounted for 76.1 percent of 2017 total benefits and expenses compared with 76.4 percent in 2016 and 78.1 percent in 2015. Total contract holders’ benefits increased as net death claims were higher in 2017, compared with 2016. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 79 Net death claims increased from 2016, and were below our mortality projections while remaining within our range of pricing expectations. • Underwriting expenses incurred, net of deferred acquisition costs, accounted for 23.9 percent of 2017 total benefits and expenses compared with 23.6 percent in 2016 and 21.9 percent in 2015. Expenses in 2017 increased 4 percent, 2 percentage points more than the 2 percent growth in earned premiums, primarily due to increased operating expenses related to premium growth. In 2016, the percentage increase for expenses was 6 percentage points more than growth in earned premiums. Life insurance segment profitability depends largely on premium levels, the adequacy of product pricing, underwriting skill and operating efficiencies. This segment’s results include only investment interest credited to contract holders (interest assumed in life insurance policy reserve calculations). The remaining investment income is reported in the investments segment results. The life investment portfolio is managed to earn target spreads between earned investment rates on general account assets and rates credited to policyholders. We consider the value of assets under management and investment income for the life investment portfolio as key performance indicators for the life insurance segment. We seek to maintain a competitive advantage with respect to benefits paid and reserve increases by consistently achieving better than average claims experience due to skilled underwriting. Commissions paid by the life insurance operation are on par with industry averages. We recognize that assets under management, capital appreciation and investment income are integral to evaluation of the success of the life insurance segment because of the long duration of life products. On a basis that includes investment income and realized gains or losses from life insurance-related invested assets, our life insurance subsidiary reported net income of $155 million in 2017, compared with net income of $48 million in 2016 and $41 million in 2015. Net income in 2017 included a nonrecurring item, a $111 million benefit from net deferred income tax liability revaluation due to U.S. tax reform. The life insurance subsidiary portfolio had after-tax net realized investment gains of $4 million in 2017, compared with $5 million in 2016 and less than $1 million in 2015. Realized investment gains and losses are discussed under Investments Results. We exclude most of our life insurance company investment income from investments segment results. Life Insurance Outlook We believe the life insurance market is undergoing significant change. Distribution is evolving along with the customer experience at point of sale. Technology and data are being used to segment markets, offer products and underwrite business. We believe we are taking the appropriate steps to stay on the leading edge of all of these developments where it makes sense to do so. Our new term product provides for instant confirmation of coverage. It allows our property casualty agents to offer life insurance in a selling process that makes them more comfortable. We also have made progress at enhancing how regularly underwritten business is submitted. In addition to more streamlined electronic applications, we are building a new business platform that will allow for more automated decision making. We expect this new system to lead to significant improvements in our turnaround time and lower our per unit underwriting expense. We were pleased with the impact that principle-based reserves had on our statutory operating results. We expect pressure on our statutory surplus to ease going into 2018 and beyond as more business is written under the new rules. We believe this will allow us more options with respect to capital management. We view the new tax environment as very favorable. We look forward to competing in 2018, and beyond, on a more level playing field from a tax perspective, in what is still a very competitive term market. We believe that the interest rate and regulatory environments are the biggest sources of risk for our segment of the life industry. Recent upticks in the yield curve are welcome but spreads remain very tight. If yields on fixed income assets fall or fail to improve, then pressure will continue to build on life companies to look for alternative assets or accept lower earnings due to anemic investment income growth. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 80 Investments Results Overview – Three-Year Highlights Investments Results (Dollars in millions) Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 Total investment income, net of expenses Investment interest credited to contract holders' Realized investment gains, net Investments profit, pretax $ $ $ 609 (93) 148 $ 595 (90) 124 664 $ 629 $ 572 (86) 70 556 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % 4 (5) 77 2 (3) 19 6 13 The investments segment contributes investment income and realized gains and losses to results of operations. Investments provide our primary source of pretax and after-tax profits. • Investment income – Pretax investment income grew $14 million, or 2 percent, in 2017, including increases from both interest and dividends. Dividend income reflected rising dividend rates that offset a small amount of net sales of equity securities. Interest income also rose, as net purchases of fixed-maturity securities offset the continuing effects on bond yields of the low interest rate environment. Pretax investment income rose 4 percent in 2016, reflecting increases in both dividend income and interest income. Average yields in the investment income table below are based on the average invested asset and cash amounts indicated in the table using fixed- maturity securities valued at amortized cost and all other securities at fair value. • Realized investment gains and losses – We reported realized investment gains in all three years, largely due to investment sales that were discretionary in timing and amount. Those gains were reduced by OTTI charges. We believe it is useful to analyze our overall investment performance by using total investment return over several years. Total investment return considers changes in unrealized gains and losses, which are not included in net income, in addition to net investment income and realized investment gains and losses that are included in net income. Changes in unrealized gains and losses shown in the table below include other invested assets. Considering investment gains and losses, both realized and unrealized, over several years helps evaluate performance since gains and losses may experience typical variability during shorter periods of time. The table below shows total return based on calculation assumptions that simplify cash flow timing that is commonly used in total return measures. This simplified calculation uses data shown in our consolidated financial statements or notes to those statements. Added to invested asset amounts from our consolidated balance sheets are 50 percent of annual amounts pertaining to invested asset categories included in net cash used in investing activities from our consolidated statements of cash flows. The cash flow amounts are reduced by realized gains on investments, with the net result reduced by 50 percent to represent estimated new cash invested during each respective year. All new cash is assumed to be invested at the midpoint of the year. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 81 Total investment return of 10.5 percent in 2017 was significantly more than in 2016. The 2017 contribution from all three components of total investment return was higher than in 2016. Investment income rose $14 million, realized investment gains rose $24 million and the invested assets net change in unrealized gains and losses rose $388 million. The base component of the return calculation, annual average invested assets, was up 8 percent in 2017. For 2016 compared with 2015, total investment return rose 8.4 percentage points, reflecting an increase in the contribution of investment income, realized investment gains and the net change in unrealized gains and losses. The base component of the return calculation, annual average invested assets, decreased less than 1 percent in 2016. (Dollars in millions) Invested assets beginning balance: Fixed maturities Equity securities Other invested assets Invested assets beginning balance Average acquisitions (dispositions), net Annual average invested assets Total investment return: Total investment income, net of expenses Total realized investment gains Total invested assets change in unrealized gains and losses Total Years ended December 31, 2015 2016 2017 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % $10,085 5,334 81 15,500 341 $15,841 $ 609 148 913 $ 1,670 $ 9,650 4,706 67 14,423 291 $ 14,714 $ 9,460 4,858 68 14,386 350 $ 14,736 $ 595 124 525 $ 1,244 $ $ 572 70 (625) 17 5 13 21 7 17 8 2 19 74 34 2 (3) (1) — (17) — 4 77 (184) nm Total return on invested assets before tax 10.5% 8.5% 0.1% Investment Income The primary drivers of investment income are highlighted below, followed by investments results additional details. • Interest income rose $5 million, or 1 percent, in 2017. The average fixed-maturity pretax yield declined by approximately 18 basis points but was offset by a larger average fixed-maturity portfolio that rose 5 percent on an amortized cost basis. Interest income increased 3 percent in 2016 when that yield declined by approximately 10 basis points while the portfolio rose 5 percent on an amortized cost basis. • Dividend income rose $9 million, or 6 percent, in 2017, after rising 7 percent in 2016. Increases in dividend payment rates for most of the holdings in our common stock portfolio during both 2017 and 2016 drove the increases in dividend income. A small net decrease in funds invested in that portfolio, during both 2017 and 2016, also affected dividend income. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 82 (Dollars in millions) Investment income: Interest Dividends Other Less investment expenses Investment income, pretax Less income taxes Total investment income, after-tax Investment returns: Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % $ $ 445 170 4 10 609 142 467 $ $ 440 161 3 9 595 141 454 $ $ 428 150 3 9 572 135 437 1 6 33 11 2 1 3 3 7 0 0 4 4 4 Average invested assets plus cash and cash equivalents $16,657 $ 15,316 $ 14,515 Average yield pretax Average yield after-tax Effective tax rate Fixed-maturity returns: Average amortized cost Average yield pretax Average yield after-tax Effective tax rate 3.66% 3.88% 3.94% 2.80 23.4 2.96 23.8 3.01 23.6 $10,057 $ 9,562 $ 9,098 4.42% 4.60% 4.70% 3.24 26.7 3.35 27.3 3.43 27.1 In 2017, we continued to invest available cash flow in both fixed income and equity securities in a manner that we believe balances current income needs with longer-term invested asset growth goals. While our bond portfolio more than covers our insurance reserve liabilities, we believe our diversified common stock portfolio of mainly blue chip, dividend-paying companies represents one of our best investment opportunities for the long term. We position our portfolio with consideration to both the challenges presented by the current low interest rate environment and the risks presented by potential future inflation. As bonds in our generally laddered portfolio mature or are called over the near term, we will be challenged to replace their current yield. The table below summarizes pretax yield to amortized costs excluding any book value adjustments due to impairment for bonds in our fixed-maturity portfolio by various maturity periods. % Yield Principal redemptions 5.56% $ 6.09 4.75 5.48 834 702 680 $ 2,216 At December 31, 2017 Fixed-maturity yield profile: Expected to mature during 2018 Expected to mature during 2019 Expected to mature during 2020 Average yield and total expected redemptions from 2018 through 2020 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 83 The average pretax yield of 3.61 percent for fixed-maturity securities acquired during 2017, shown in the table below, was lower than the 4.40 percent average yield-to-amortized cost of the fixed-maturity securities portfolio at the end of 2017. Average pretax yield-to-amortized cost on new fixed-maturities: Acquired taxable fixed-maturities Acquired tax-exempt fixed-maturities Average total fixed-maturities acquired Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 3.88% 3.29 3.61 4.11% 3.04 3.75 We discussed our portfolio strategies in Item 1, Investments Segment. We discuss risks related to our investment income and our fixed-maturity and equity investment portfolios in Item 7a, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses and Change in Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses Net realized investment gains and losses are made up of gains or losses from the disposal of securities, changes in the valuation of embedded derivatives within certain convertible securities and OTTI charges from impaired securities. The factors we consider when evaluating impairments are discussed in Critical Accounting Estimates, Asset Impairment. Investment gains or losses are recognized upon the sales of investments or as otherwise required under GAAP. The timing of realized gains or losses from sales can have a material effect on results in any given period. However, such gains or losses usually have little, if any, effect on total shareholders’ equity because most equity and fixed-maturity investments are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gain or loss included as a component of other comprehensive income. As appropriate, we buy, hold or sell both fixed-maturity and equity securities on an ongoing basis to help achieve our portfolio objectives. We generally purchase fixed-maturity securities with the intention to hold until maturity. If they no longer meet our investment criteria, they are divested. Sales of fixed-maturity securities are usually due to a change in credit fundamentals. Pretax realized investment gains in the past three years largely were due to the sale of equity holdings. Additional information about realized and unrealized investment gains or losses is included in Item 8, Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. (Dollars in millions) Realized investment gains and losses: Fixed maturities: Realized gains, net Other-than-temporary impairments Equity securities: Realized gains, net Other-than-temporary impairments Other Total Change in unrealized investment gains and losses: Fixed maturities Equity securities Total Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ $ $ $ $ 25 (6) 123 (3) 9 $ 25 (2) 99 — 2 148 $ 124 $ 99 816 915 $ $ (40) $ 571 531 $ 18 (18) 103 (34) 1 70 (263) (362) (625) Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 84 OTTI charges from the investment portfolio by the asset classes we described in Item 1, Our Segments, Investments Segment, are summarized below: (Dollars in millions) Taxable fixed maturities: Impairment amount New amortized cost Percent to total amortized cost owned Number of securities other-than-temporarily impaired Percent to number of securities owned Tax-exempt fixed maturities: Impairment amount New amortized cost Percent to total amortized cost owned Number of securities other-than-temporarily impaired Percent to number of securities owned Common equities: Impairment amount New cost Percent to total cost owned Number of securities other-than-temporarily impaired Percent to number of securities owned Nonredeemable preferred equities: Impairment amount New cost Percent to total cost owned Number of securities other-than-temporarily impaired Percent to number of securities owned Totals: Impairment amount New cost or amortized cost Percent to total cost or amortized cost owned Number of securities other-than-temporarily impaired Percent to number of securities owned Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 6 $ — $ —% 1 —% — $ — $ —% — —% $ $ 3 19 1% 5 7% — $ — $ —% — —% $ $ 9 19 —% 6 —% $ $ 2 1 —% 2 —% — $ $ 1 —% 2 —% — $ — $ —% — —% — $ — $ —% — —% $ $ 2 2 —% 4 —% 18 9 —% 2 —% — — —% 1 —% 33 43 2% 14 21% 1 19 10% 3 8% 52 71 1% 20 1% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 85 OTTI charges from the investment portfolio by industry are summarized as follows: (Dollars in millions) Fixed maturities: Basic industry Banks Utilities Total fixed maturities Common equities: Energy Total common equities Nonredeemable preferred equities: Financials Total nonredeemable preferred equities Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ — $ 6 — 6 3 3 — — — $ — 2 2 — — — — Total $ 9 $ 2 $ 18 — — 18 33 33 1 1 52 Investments Outlook Interest rates were flat to down slightly in 2017 while corporate credit spreads continued their tightening trend. With available yields below long-term market norms it has been a challenge to invest new money at levels to match the embedded yield in the fixed income portfolio as well as that of securities we have lost to calls and maturities. We continue to focus on portfolio strategies to balance near-term income generation and long-term book value growth. In 2017, we expect to continue to allocate a portion of cash available for investment to equity securities, taking into consideration corporate liquidity and income requirements, as well as insurance department regulations and rating agency comments. We discuss our portfolio strategies in Item 1, Our Segments, Investments Segment. We believe that a reversal of the slow but steady improvement in economic conditions could heighten the risk of renewed pressure on securities markets, which could lead to additional OTTI charges. Our asset impairment committee continues to monitor the investment portfolio. The current asset impairment policy is described in Critical Accounting Estimates, Asset Impairment. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 86 Other Total revenues in 2017 for our Other operations increased, compared with 2016, primarily due to earned premiums of Cincinnati Re, our reinsurance assumed operation. Other also includes noninvestment operations of the parent company and its commercial leasing and financial services subsidiary, CFC Investment Company. Total expenses for Other also increased in 2017, primarily due to losses and loss expenses and underwriting expenses from Cincinnati Re. Other loss in the table below represents losses before income taxes. For each year shown, Other loss was largely driven by interest expense from debt of the parent company. Net results of Cincinnati Re were an underwriting loss of approximately $20 million in 2017, reflecting an increase in losses for natural catastrophes, following an underwriting profit of approximately $8 million in 2016 and approximately $1 million in 2015. (Dollars in millions) Interest and fees on loans and leases Earned premiums Other revenues Total revenues Interest expense Loss and loss expenses Underwriting expenses Operating expenses Total expenses Other loss Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 2017-2016 2016-2015 Change % Change % $ $ $ 4 107 1 112 53 92 35 13 193 (81) $ $ 4 49 1 54 53 25 16 12 106 (52) $ 5 10 2 17 53 5 3 13 74 (57) 0 118 0 107 0 268 119 8 82 (56) (20) 390 (50) 218 0 400 433 (8) 43 9 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 87 Taxes We had a $315 million income tax benefit in 2017 compared with $221 million of income tax expense in 2016 and $247 million in 2015. Our corporate effective tax rate for 2017 was negative 43.2 percent compared with 27.2 percent in 2016 and 28.0 percent in 2015. The change in our effective tax rate was primarily due to the revaluation of our net deferred tax liability, due to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) on December 22, 2017. Changes in pretax income from underwriting results, realized investment gains and losses and the current year tax benefit under ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, with immaterial changes in the amount of permanent book-tax differences, also had an impact on our effective tax rate. Historically, we have pursued a strategy of investing some portion of cash flow in tax-advantaged, fixed-maturity and equity securities to minimize our overall tax liability and maximize after-tax earnings. See Item 1, Our Segments, Tax-Exempt Fixed Maturities, for further discussion on municipal bond purchases in our fixed-maturity investment portfolio. For our property casualty insurance subsidiaries, approximately 85 percent of interest from tax- advantaged fixed-maturity investments and approximately 60 percent of dividends from qualified equities are exempt from federal tax after applying proration from the 1986 Tax Reform Act. Our noninsurance companies own an immaterial amount of tax-advantaged, fixed-maturity investments. For our noninsurance companies, the dividend received deduction exempts 70 percent of dividends from qualified equities. Our life insurance company does not own tax-advantaged, fixed maturity investments or equities subject to the dividend received deduction. The Tax Act lowers the U.S. corporate income tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35 percent to a flat rate of 21 percent and changes the amount of dividends received deduction and proration effective January 1, 2018. Under the Tax Act, for our property casualty insurance subsidiaries, approximately 75 percent of interest from tax- advantaged, fixed-maturity investments and approximately 40 percent of dividends from qualified equities are exempt from federal tax after applying proration. For our noninsurance companies, the dividend received deduction exempts 50 percent of dividends from qualified equities. Assuming similar pretax income and portfolio mix for 2018 compared to 2017, we estimate our overall corporate effective tax rate will be approximately 16 percent and our investment income effective tax rate is also estimated to be approximately 16 percent. For all noninvestment income, we estimate our effective tax rate will be 21 percent. Our effective tax rate reconciliation is found in Item 8, Note 11 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 88 Liquidity and Capital Resources We seek to maintain prudent levels of liquidity and financial strength for the protection of our policyholders, creditors and shareholders. We manage liquidity at two levels to meet the short- and long-term cash requirements of business obligations and growth needs. The first is the liquidity of the parent company. The second is the liquidity of our insurance subsidiary. Management of liquidity at both levels is essential because each has different funding needs and sources, and each is subject to certain regulatory guidelines and requirements. Parent Company Liquidity At December 31, 2017, the parent company had $2.511 billion in cash and marketable securities, providing strong liquidity to fund cash outflows, as needed. The payment of dividends to shareholders is largely based upon receiving subsidiary dividends. Alternatively, we could sell investments or use our line of credit to support the dividend payment. The parent company’s primary sources of cash inflows are dividends from our insurance subsidiary, investment income and sale proceeds from investments. The parent company’s cash outflows are primarily interest and principal payments on long- and short-term debt, dividends to shareholders, common stock repurchases and general operating expenses. The table below shows a summary, by the direct cash flow method, of the major sources and uses of cash flow of the parent company. (Dollars in millions) Sources of liquidity: Insurance subsidiary dividends received Investment income received Proceeds from stock options exercised Uses of liquidity: Shareholders' dividend payments Debt interest payments Share repurchases Pension contribution Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ 465 62 13 400 52 92 12 $ $ 475 56 21 306 52 39 13 447 53 24 366 52 53 5 Dividends received from the subsidiary in 2017 were $10 million less than 2016 while shareholder’s dividend payments increased $94 million, largely as a result of a special dividend declared and paid during the fourth quarter of 2017. We expect 2018 parent company sources of cash flow to be similar to 2017. The expenditures for the parent company have been fairly consistent during the last three years, and we expect future expenditures to remain stable. Share repurchases are discretionary depending on cash availability and capital management decisions. On January 26, 2018, an additional 15 million shares were authorized, which expanded our current repurchase program. Insurance Subsidiary Liquidity The parent company’s insurance subsidiary is largely the operations of the property casualty segments. The primary sources of cash inflows are collection of premiums, investment income, maturity of fixed-income securities and sale proceeds from investments. Property casualty insurance premiums generally are received before losses are paid under the policies purchased with those premiums. Cash outflows are primarily loss and loss expenses, commissions, salaries, taxes, operating expenses and investment purchases. Over the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, premium receipts and investment income have been more than sufficient to pay claims and operating expenses. Excess cash flows were partially used to pay dividends to the parent company. We are not aware of any known trends that would materially change historical cash flow results other than fluctuations in catastrophe claims and other large losses either individually or in aggregate. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 89 The table below shows a summary of operating cash flow for property casualty insurance (direct method). Historically, annual variation in operating cash flow has been largely related to changes in amounts of catastrophe losses. (Dollars in millions) Premiums collected Loss and loss expenses paid Commissions and other underwriting expenses paid Cash flow from underwriting Investment income received Cash flow from operations Other Sources of Liquidity Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ 4,846 (2,843) (1,471) 532 411 943 $ $ 4,466 (2,503) (1,375) 588 397 985 $ $ 4,379 (2,349) (1,306) 724 379 1,103 Cash in excess of operating requirements is invested in fixed-maturity and equity securities. Cash generated from investment income provides an important investment contribution to cash flow and liquidity. The sale of investments could provide an additional source of liquidity at either the parent company or insurance subsidiary level, if required. In addition to possible sales of investments, proceeds of call or maturities of fixed-maturity securities also can provide liquidity. During the five-year period beginning in 2017, fair value of $3.358 billion, or 31.4 percent, of our fixed-maturity portfolio is scheduled to mature. At year-end 2017, net unrealized gains in the investment portfolio, before deferred income taxes, were $3.540 billion. Financial resources of the parent company also could be made available to our insurance subsidiaries, if circumstances required. This flexibility would include our ability to access the capital markets and short-term bank borrowings. We generally have minimized our reliance on debt financing although we may use the line of credit to fund short-term cash needs. Long-Term Debt We provide details of our three long-term notes in Item 8, Note 8 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. None of the notes are encumbered by rating triggers. The total principal amount of our long-term debt at December 31, 2017, was $793 million and included: • • • $28 million aggregate principal amount of 6.900% senior debentures due 2028. $391 million aggregate principal amount of 6.920% senior debentures due 2028. $374 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior debentures due 2034. The company’s senior debt is rated investment grade by independent rating firms. None of the four rating agencies made changes to our debt ratings in 2017. In early 2018, A.M. Best revised its outlook of our debt rating from stable to positive. Our debt ratings at February 22, 2018, were: a- from A.M. Best, A- from Fitch Ratings, A3 from Moody’s Investors Service and BBB+ from Standard & Poor’s. Note Payable At December 31, 2017, we had a $225 million line of credit with commercial banks, with $24 million borrowed. That line of credit had a $20 million balance at December 31, 2016. During 2017, we borrowed a net $4 million as part of routine cash management. Access to this line of credit requires compliance with various covenants, including maintaining a minimum consolidated net worth and not exceeding a 30 percent debt-to-total capital ratio, as defined by the agreement. At December 31, 2017, we had approximately $550 million of net worth in excess of our covenant net worth requirement. We are considerably within compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement, and believe we will remain in compliance. The credit agreement provides alternative interest charges based on the type of borrowing and our debt rating. The interest rate charged is adjusted LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The $225 million unsecured revolving line of credit is administered by PNC Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:PNC). The agreement was established in 2012, extended for two years in 2014, and will expire in May 2019. Our subsidiary CFC Investment Company also is a borrower under this line of Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 90 credit. PNC Bank is the lead participant bookrunner with a $65 million share. Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq:FITB) is the syndication agent with a $65 million share. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), BB&T Corp (NYSE:BBT) and Huntington Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:HBAN) each provide $25 million of capacity, and Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq:NTRS), provides $20 million of capacity. Capital Resources Capital resources consisting of shareholders’ equity and total debt represent our overall financial strength to support current obligations and growth in our insurance businesses. At December 31, 2017, we had total capital of $9.054 billion. Shareholders’ equity was $8.243 billion, an increase of $1.183 billion, or 17 percent, from the prior year. Our total debt was $811 million, up $4 million from a year ago. We seek to maintain a solid financial position and provide capital flexibility by keeping our ratio of debt to total capital moderate. At year-end 2017, the ratio was 9.0 percent, compared with 10.3 percent at year-end 2016. At the discretion of the board of directors, the company can return capital directly to shareholders as discussed below. • Dividends to shareholders –The ability of our company to continue paying cash dividends is subject to factors the board of directors deem relevant. While the board and management believe there is merit to sustaining the company’s long record of dividend increases, our first priority is the company’s financial strength. Over the past 10 years, the company has paid an average of 67 percent of net income as dividends. Through 2017, the board had increased our cash dividend for 57 consecutive years. The board decision in January 2018 to increase the dividend demonstrated confidence in the company’s strong capital, liquidity, financial flexibility and initiatives to grow earnings. • Common stock repurchase – Generally, our board believes that share repurchases can help fulfill our commitment to enhancing shareholder value. Consequently, the board has authorized the repurchase of outstanding shares, giving management discretion to purchase shares at reasonable prices in light of circumstances at the time of purchase. Our approach has been to hold capital adequate to support future growth of our insurance operations and repurchase shares at management's discretion. Repurchases are intended to offset the issuance of shares through equity compensation plans, primarily due to vesting of service-based restricted stock units of equity awards granted in the past. The amount of future repurchases may be more, or less, than the past, depending on circumstances and discretion exercised by management. Our corporate Code of Conduct restricts repurchases during certain time periods. The details of the repurchase authorizations and activity are described in Item 5, Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. Obligations We pay obligations to customers, suppliers and associates in the normal course of our business operations. Some are contractual obligations that define the amount, circumstances and/or timing of payments. We have other commitments for business expenditures; however, the amount, circumstances and/or timing of our other commitments are not dictated by contractual arrangements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 91 Contractual Obligations At December 31, 2017, we estimated our future contractual obligations as follows: (Dollars in millions) Payment due by period Year 2018 Years Years 2019-2020 2021-2022 There- after Gross property casualty loss and loss expense payments $ 1,714 $ 1,843 $ 94 52 — 24 134 12 74 122 104 — — — 17 21 741 193 104 — — — 9 6 $ 921 $ 4,946 423 793 — — 2 12 Total 5,219 5,355 683 793 24 134 40 113 $ 2,104 $ 2,107 $ 1,053 $ 7,097 $ 12,361 Gross life policyholder obligations Interest on long-term debt Long-term debt Short-term debt Profit-sharing commissions Capital lease obligations Other liabilities Total Other Commitments At December 31, 2017, we believe our most significant other commitments were: • Commissions – We expect commission payments to generally track with written premiums. • Other operating expenses – Many of our operating expenses are not contractual obligations but reflect the ongoing expenses of our business. For example, we anticipate capitalizing development costs for approximately $6 million in spending for key technology initiatives in 2018, compared with actual capitalization totaling $7 million in 2017 and $8 million in 2016. These activities are conducted at our discretion, and we have no material contractual obligations for activities planned as part of these projects. • Other invested assets – We expect to fund approximately $38 million for our private equity investments over the next several years. Liquidity and Capital Resources Outlook At December 31, 2017, we had $657 million in cash and cash equivalents. During 2018, our insurance subsidiary can declare $509 million in dividends to our parent company without regulatory approval. That strong liquidity and our consistent cash flows give us the flexibility to meet current obligations and commitments while building value by prudently investing where we see potential for both current income and long-term return. Our cash provides adequate financial cushion when short-term operating results do not meet our objectives. A long-term perspective governs our liquidity and capital resources decisions, with the goal of benefiting our policyholders, agents, shareholders and associates over time. Our underwriting philosophy and initiatives can drive performance to achieve our underwriting profitability target of a GAAP combined ratio over any five-year period that consistently averages within the range of 95 percent to 100 percent. Our GAAP combined ratio averaged 94.6 percent over the five-year period 2013 through 2017, resulting in strong underwriting profits. In any year, we consider the most likely source of pressure on liquidity would be an unusually high level of catastrophe loss payments within a short period of time. There could be additional obligations for our insurance operations due to increasing severity or frequency of noncatastrophe claims. To address the risk of unusually large insurance loss obligations including catastrophe events, we maintain property casualty reinsurance contracts with highly rated reinsurers, as discussed under 2018 Reinsurance Ceded Programs. We also monitor the financial condition of our reinsurers because their insolvency could jeopardize a portion of our $432 million reinsurance recoverable asset at December 31, 2017. Parent-company liquidity could also be constrained by Ohio regulatory requirements that restrict the dividends insurance subsidiaries can pay. Economic weakness also has the potential to affect our liquidity and capital resources in a number of different ways, including delinquent payments from agencies, defaults on interest payments by fixed-maturity holdings in our portfolio, dividend reductions by holdings in our equity portfolio or declines in the market value of holdings in our portfolio. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 92 Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements We do not use any special-purpose financing vehicles or have any undisclosed off-balance-sheet arrangements (as that term is defined in applicable SEC rules) that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on the company’s financial condition, results of operation, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves Our estimate of future gross property casualty loss and loss expense payments of $5.219 billion is lower than loss and loss expense reserves of $5.273 billion reported on our balance sheet at December 31, 2017. The $54 million difference is due to certain life and health loss reserves. Reserving practices are discussed in Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves. For the business lines in the commercial and personal lines insurance segments, and in total for the excess and surplus lines insurance segment, the following table details gross reserves among case, IBNR and loss expense reserves, net of salvage and subrogation. The $184 million increase in total gross reserves was primarily due to a $120 million increase in IBNR loss reserves and a $51 million increase in loss expense reserves. Total gross reserves for our commercial auto line of business rose $82 million, for our commercial casualty line of business they rose $34 million and for our Cincinnati Re reinsurance assumed operation they rose $86 million. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 93 Property Casualty Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Commercial lines insurance: Commercial casualty Commercial property Commercial auto Workers' compensation Other commercial Subtotal Personal lines insurance: Personal auto Homeowner Other personal Subtotal Excess and surplus lines Cincinnati Re Total At December 31, 2016 Commercial lines insurance: Commercial casualty Commercial property Commercial auto Workers' compensation Other commercial Subtotal Personal lines insurance: Personal auto Homeowner Other personal Subtotal Excess and surplus lines Cincinnati Re Total Loss reserves Case reserves IBNR reserves Loss expense reserves Total gross reserves Percent of total $ $ $ $ 890 232 401 393 108 2,024 240 101 55 396 104 20 2,544 928 253 374 382 116 2,053 228 102 46 376 94 8 2,531 $ $ $ $ 611 18 119 533 14 1,295 35 2 46 83 87 110 1,575 553 28 86 553 19 1,239 24 22 47 93 86 37 1,455 $ $ $ $ 570 65 125 96 61 917 70 33 5 108 73 2 1,100 556 58 103 95 75 887 66 29 5 100 61 1 1,049 $ $ $ $ 2,071 315 645 1,022 183 4,236 345 136 106 587 264 132 5,219 2,037 339 563 1,030 210 4,179 318 153 98 569 241 46 5,035 39.7% 6.0 12.4 19.6 3.5 81.2 6.6 2.6 2.0 11.2 5.1 2.5 100.0% 40.5 % 6.7 11.2 20.4 4.2 83.0 6.3 3.0 2.0 11.3 4.8 0.9 100.0 % Asbestos and Environmental Loss and Loss Expense Reserves We carried $84 million of net loss and loss expense reserves for asbestos and environmental claims and $45 million of reserves for mold claims at year-end 2017, compared with $85 million and $45 million, respectively, for such claims at year-end 2016. The asbestos and environmental claims amounts for each respective year constituted 1.7 percent and 1.8 percent of total net loss and loss expense reserves at these year-end dates. We believe our exposure to asbestos and environmental claims is limited, largely because our reinsurance retention was $500,000 or below prior to 1987. We also were predominantly a personal lines company in the 1960s and 1970s, when asbestos and pollution exclusions were not widely used by commercial lines insurers. During the 1980s and early 1990s, commercial lines grew as a percentage of our overall business and our exposure to asbestos and environmental claims grew accordingly. Over that period, we endorsed to or included in most policies an asbestos and environmental exclusion. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 94 Additionally, since 2002, we have revised policy terms where permitted by state regulation to limit our exposure to mold claims prospectively and further reduce our exposure to other environmental claims generally. Finally, we have not engaged in any mergers or acquisitions through which such a liability could have been assumed. We continue to monitor our claims for evidence of material exposure to other mass tort classes, but we have found no such credible evidence to date. Reserving data for asbestos and environmental claims has characteristics that limit the usefulness of the methods and models used to analyze loss and loss expense reserves for other claims. Specifically, asbestos and environmental loss and loss expenses for different accident years do not emerge independently of one another as loss development and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods assume. In addition, asbestos and environmental loss and loss expense data available to date did not reflect a well-defined tail, greatly complicating the identification of an appropriate probabilistic trend family model. At year-end 2017, we used a weighted average of a paid survival ratio method and report year method to estimate reserves for IBNR asbestos and environmental claims. Our exposure to such claims is limited; we believe a weighted average of both methods produces a sufficient level of reserves. Gross Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Payments While we believe that historical performance of property casualty and life loss payment patterns is a reasonable source for projecting future claim payments, there is inherent uncertainty in this estimate of contractual obligations. We believe that we could meet our obligations under a significant and unexpected change in the timing of these payments because of the liquidity of our invested assets, strong financial position and access to lines of credit. Our estimates of gross property casualty loss and loss expense payments do not include reinsurance receivables or ceded losses. As discussed in 2018 Reinsurance Ceded Programs, we purchase reinsurance to mitigate our property casualty risk exposure. Ceded property casualty reinsurance unpaid receivables of $187 million at year- end 2017 are an offset to our gross property casualty loss and loss expense obligations. Our reinsurance program mitigates the liquidity risk of a single large loss or an unexpected rise in claim severity or frequency due to a catastrophic event. Reinsurance does not relieve us of our obligation to pay covered claims. The financial strength of our reinsurers is important because our ability to recover losses under our reinsurance agreements depends on the financial viability of the reinsurers. We direct our associates and agencies to settle claims and pay losses as quickly as is practical, and we made $2.843 billion of net claim payments during 2017. At year-end 2017, total net property casualty reserves of $5.032 billion reflected $2.434 billion in unpaid amounts on reported claims (case reserves), $1.088 billion in loss expense reserves and $1.510 billion in estimates of claims that were incurred but had not yet been reported (IBNR). The specific amounts and timing of obligations related to case reserves and associated loss expenses are not set contractually. The amounts and timing of obligations for IBNR claims and related loss expenses are unknown. We discuss our methods of establishing loss and loss expense reserves and our belief that reserves are adequate in Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves. The historical pattern of using premium receipts for the payment of loss and loss expenses has enabled us to extend slightly the maturities of our investment portfolio beyond the estimated settlement date of the loss reserves. The effective duration of our consolidated property casualty fixed-maturity portfolio was 5.2 years at year-end 2017. By contrast, the duration of our loss and loss expense reserves was approximately 3.8 years. We believe this difference in duration does not affect our ability to meet current obligations because cash flow from operations is sufficient to meet these obligations. In addition, investment holdings could be sold, if necessary, to meet higher than anticipated loss and loss expenses. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 95 Range of Reasonable Reserves The company established a reasonably likely range for net loss and loss expense reserves of $4.709 billion to $5.155 billion at year-end 2017, with the company carrying net reserves of $5.032 billion. The likely range was $4.449 billion to $4.894 billion at year-end 2016, with the company carrying net reserves of $4.738 billion. Our loss and loss expense reserves are not discounted for the time-value of money, but we have reduced the reserves by an estimate of the amount of salvage and subrogation payments we expect to recover. The low point of each year’s range corresponds to approximately one standard error below each year’s mean reserve estimate, while the high point corresponds to approximately one standard error above each year’s mean reserve estimate. We discussed management’s reasons for basing reasonably likely reserve ranges on standard errors in Critical Accounting Estimates, Reserve Estimate Variability. The ranges reflect our assessment of the most likely unpaid loss and loss expenses at year-end 2017 and 2016. However, actual unpaid loss and loss expenses could nonetheless fall outside of the indicated ranges. Management’s best estimate of total loss and loss expense reserves as of year-end 2017 and 2016 was consistent with the corresponding actuarial best estimate. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 96 Property Casualty Insurance Development of Estimated Reserves by Accident Year The following table shows net reserve changes at year-end 2017, 2016 and 2015 by property casualty segment and accident year: (Dollars in millions) As of December 31, 2017 2016 accident year 2015 accident year 2014 accident year 2013 accident year 2012 accident year 2011 accident year 2010 and prior accident years (Favorable)/unfavorable As of December 31, 2016 2015 accident year 2014 accident year 2013 accident year 2012 accident year 2011 accident year 2010 accident year 2009 and prior accident years (Favorable)/unfavorable As of December 31, 2015 2014 accident year 2013 accident year 2012 accident year 2011 accident year 2010 accident year 2009 accident year 2008 and prior accident years (Favorable)/unfavorable Commercial lines Personal lines E&S lines Cincinnati Re Totals $ $ $ $ $ $ (35) $ (4) (10) (12) 11 (20) (3) (73) $ (64) $ (41) (21) (2) (4) (2) 5 (129) $ (27) $ (41) (42) (7) 3 (11) (29) (154) $ (8) $ 2 (2) (5) 1 — (2) (14) $ (12) $ 7 2 (1) 1 1 (2) (4) $ (20) $ 11 4 4 3 1 2 5 $ (5) $ (8) (11) (4) (1) — — (29) $ (15) $ (7) (9) (2) (1) — — (34) $ (14) $ (10) (10) (2) 1 — — (35) $ (3) $ — — — — — — (3) $ (1) $ — — — — — — (1) $ — $ — — — — — — — $ (51) (10) (23) (21) 11 (20) (5) (119) (92) (41) (28) (5) (4) (1) 3 (168) (61) (40) (48) (5) 7 (10) (27) (184) Overall favorable development for consolidated property casualty reserves of $119 million in 2017 illustrated the potential for revisions inherent in estimating reserves, especially for long-tail lines such as commercial casualty and workers’ compensation. As noted in Critical Accounting Estimates, Key Assumptions Loss Reserving, our models predict that actual loss and loss expense emergence will differ from projections, and we do not attempt to monitor or identify such normal variations. The table in Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves shows reserves by segment and lines of business and the components of gross reserves among case, IBNR and loss expense reserves. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 97 Favorable reserve development of $54 million for our workers’ compensation line accounted for approximately 74 percent of our commercial lines insurance segment net total in 2017, while favorable reserve development was $33 million for our commercial property line of business. Our commercial auto line of business experienced $33 million of unfavorable reserve development on prior accident years recorded during 2017, and that 2017 measure for our commercial casualty line of business was also unfavorable at $11 million. Drivers of significant reserve development typically reflect loss emergence on known claims that was more favorable or less favorable than previously anticipated for various lines of business and are discussed below. • Commercial casualty – During 2017, we experienced unfavorable development on prior accident years in total for this line of business. However, results varied between component coverages and by accident year within coverage. For example, our umbrella liability coverage within commercial casualty experienced favorable results for some prior accident years and adverse development on other accident years to end the calendar year favorably on all prior years combined. Commercial multi-peril coverage developed adversely for many prior accident years, but products liability developed favorably. • Workers’ compensation – We continue to see favorable reserve development, for all prior accident years in aggregate. During 2017, the trend for estimated payments to be made in future calendar years was stable compared to 2016. However, we continue to monitor this line closely, as a sudden increase in trend for future payments has a highly leveraged effect. • Commercial auto – Loss emergence continued to develop unfavorably during calendar year 2017. This line of business has been troublesome for the industry as a whole in recent years. As part of the U.S. economic recession of a few years ago, slowing business activity influenced our estimates of reserves for ultimate losses and loss expenses during that period. As the economy slowly recovered, we believe we have been slow to recognize some of the higher loss cost effects in current accident year reserve estimates for at least part of that period. As claims that occurred during that period have become more mature, paid and reported loss cost trends resulted in us increasing our estimated ultimate losses. Initiatives to improve profitability of our commercial auto line of business are discussed in Commercial Lines Insurance Results. • Personal auto – Loss emergence continued to develop unfavorably during calendar year 2017. This line of business is subject to many of the same cost pressures related to the economic slowdown as commercial auto. Initiatives to improve profitability of our personal auto line of business are discussed in Personal Lines Insurance Results. In consideration of the data’s credibility, we analyze commercial and personal umbrella liability reserves together and then allocate the derived total reserve estimate to the commercial and personal coverages. Consequently, all of the umbrella factors that contributed to commercial lines reserve development also contributed to personal lines reserve development through the other personal line, of which personal umbrella coverages are a part. For the excess and surplus lines insurance segment, the table showing reserves by segment and lines of business in Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves, shows the components of gross reserves among case, IBNR and loss expense reserves. Total gross reserves were up $23 million from year-end 2016 primarily due to the increase in premiums and exposures for this segment, as we discussed in Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Results. Favorable development during 2017 of $29 million for excess and surplus lines insurance segment reserves, shown in the table above, illustrates the potential for revisions inherent in estimating reserves. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 98 Life Insurance Policyholder Obligations and Reserves Gross Life Insurance Policyholder Obligations Our estimates of life, annuity and disability policyholder obligations reflect future estimated cash payments to be made to policyholders for future policy benefits, policyholders’ account balances and separate account liabilities. These estimates include death and disability income claims, policy surrenders, policy maturities, annuity payments, minimum guarantees on separate account products, commissions and premium taxes offset by expected future deposits and premiums on in-force contracts. Our estimates of gross life, annuity and disability obligations do not reflect net recoveries from reinsurance agreements. Ceded life reinsurance receivables were $238 million at year-end 2017. As discussed in 2018 Reinsurance Programs, we purchase reinsurance to mitigate our life insurance risk exposure. At year-end 2017, ceded death benefits represented approximately 38.7 percent of our total gross policy face amounts in force. These estimated cash outflows are undiscounted with respect to interest. As a result, the sum of the cash outflows for all years of $5.355 billion (total of life insurance obligations) exceeds the liabilities recorded in life policy and investment contract reserves and separate accounts for future policy benefits and claims of $3.498 billion (total of life insurance policy reserves and separate account policy reserves). Separate account policy reserves make up all but $11 million of separate accounts liabilities. We have made significant assumptions to determine the estimated undiscounted cash flows of these policies and contracts that include mortality, morbidity, timing of claims, future lapse rates and interest crediting rates. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could materially differ from actual results. Life Insurance Reserves Gross life policy reserves were $2.729 billion at year-end 2017, compared with $2.671 billion at year-end 2016. The increase was primarily due to reserves for traditional life insurance contracts. We establish reserves for traditional life insurance policies based on expected expenses, mortality, morbidity, withdrawal rates and investment yields, including a provision for uncertainty. Once these assumptions are established, they generally are maintained throughout the lives of the contracts. We use both our own experience and industry experience adjusted for historical trends in arriving at our assumptions for expected mortality and morbidity. We use our own experience and historical trends for setting our assumptions for expected withdrawal rates and expenses. We base our assumptions for expected investment income on our own experience adjusted for current economic conditions. We establish reserves for our universal life, deferred annuity and investment contracts equal to the cumulative account balances, which include premium deposits plus credited interest less charges and withdrawals. Some of our universal life insurance policies contain no-lapse guarantee provisions. For these policies, we establish a reserve in addition to the account balance based on expected no-lapse guarantee benefits and expected policy assessments. We regularly review our life insurance business to ensure that any deferred acquisition cost associated with the business is recoverable and that our actuarial liabilities (life insurance segment reserves) make sufficient provision for future benefits and related expenses. 2018 Reinsurance Ceded Programs A single large loss or an unexpected rise in claims severity or frequency due to a catastrophic event is a risk to the company's liquidity and financial strength. In an effort to control such losses, we avoid marketing property casualty insurance in specific geographic areas and monitor our exposure in certain coastal regions. An example of this is the reduction in recent years of our homeowner policies in the southeastern U.S. coastal region. Loss exposures in that area had been identified as a major contributor to our catastrophe probable maximum loss estimates shown in the table below. Those estimates were subsequently reduced, in large part due to less exposure from southeastern U.S. homeowner policies. We also continually review aggregate exposures to huge disasters and purchase reinsurance protection to cover these exposures. For business other than Cincinnati Re, we use the Risk Management Solutions (RMS) and Applied Insurance Research (AIR) models to evaluate exposures to a once-in- a-100-year and a once-in-a-250-year event to help determine appropriate reinsurance coverage programs. In conjunction with these activities, we also continue to evaluate information provided by our reinsurance broker. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 99 Examples include deterministic modeling of probable maximum loss contribution from growth in new geographic territories. To help determine appropriate reinsurance coverage for hurricane, earthquake and tornado/hail exposures, for business other than Cincinnati Re we use the RMS and AIR models to estimate the probable maximum loss from a single event or multiple events occurring in a one-year period. The models are proprietary in nature, and the vendors that provide them periodically update the models, sometimes resulting in significant changes to their estimate of probable maximum loss. As of the end of 2017, both models indicated that a hurricane event represents our largest amount of exposure to losses. The table below summarizes estimated probabilities and the corresponding probable maximum loss from a single hurricane event occurring in a one-year period, for business other than Cincinnati Re, and indicates the effect of such losses on consolidated shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2017. Net losses are net of reinsurance and income taxes, assuming a 21 percent federal tax rate, and assume our 2018 reinsurance programs apply. (Dollars in millions) RMS Model AIR Model Probability at December 31, 2017 2.0% (1 in 50 year event) 1.0% (1 in 100 year event) 0.4% (1 in 250 year event) 0.2% (1 in 500 year event) Gross losses Net losses $ 337 $ 539 906 1,259 88 96 333 610 Percent of total equity Gross losses Net losses 1.1% $ 1.2 4.0 7.4 339 $ 493 755 983 88 94 205 379 Percent of total equity 1.1% 1.1 2.5 4.6 The modeled losses according to RMS in the table are based on its RiskLink version 17.0 catastrophe model and use a long-term storm catalog methodology. The modeled losses according to AIR in the table are based on its AIR Touchstone® version 5.0 catastrophe model and use a long-term methodology. The AIR and RMS storm catalogs include decades of documented weather events used in simulations for probable maximum loss projections. Reinsurance mitigates the risk of highly uncertain exposures and limits the maximum net loss that can arise from large risks or risks concentrated in areas of exposure. Management’s decisions about the appropriate structure of reinsurance protection and level of risk retention are affected by various factors, including changes in our underwriting practices, capacity to retain risks and reinsurance market conditions. Reinsurance does not relieve us of our obligation to pay covered claims. The financial strength of our reinsurers is important because our ability to recover for losses covered under any reinsurance agreement depends on the financial viability of the reinsurer. For 2018, the primary participants on our standard market property and casualty per-risk and per-occurrence reinsurance ceded programs include Hannover Reinsurance Company, Munich Reinsurance America, Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. and Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation, all of which had A.M. Best insurer financial strength ratings of A (Excellent) or better as of December 31, 2017. Our property catastrophe program is subscribed through a broker by reinsurers from the United States, Bermuda, London and the European markets. The largest participant in our property catastrophe program, representing approximately 48 percent of total participation, is the Lloyds of London placement that features numerous syndicates, with Amlin Underwriting Limited and the Catlin Syndicate taking the largest participations. Other primary participants in our property catastrophe program include Liberty Syndicate, R.J. Kiln & Company Limited, and Fidelis. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 100 The following table shows our five largest property casualty reinsurance receivable amounts by reinsurer at year- end 2017 and 2016. Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association is a mandatory non-profit association which runs a reinsurance program funded by an annual premium assessment per vehicle. This assessment covers Michigan’s automobile no-fault policies which provide unlimited lifetime coverage for medical expenses resulting from auto accidents. Third Point Reinsurance is one of several reinsurers that Cincinnati Re transacts business with to cede part of its risk to unaffiliated reinsurance companies through retrocessions. The A.M. Best insurer financial strength ratings as of the end of the two most recent years are also shown for each of those reinsurers that are rated by Best. (Dollars in millions) Name of reinsurer Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation Third Point Reinsurance General Reinsurance Corporation Munich Reinsurance America 2017 2016 Total receivable 40 $ 36 34 30 21 A.M. Best Rating NA A+ A- A++ A+ Total receivable 38 $ 46 48 36 30 A.M. Best Rating NA A+ A- A++ A+ Primary components of the 2018 property and casualty reinsurance program are summarized below. The premium estimates below occurred near the beginning of each respective year, when direct written premiums that were subject to applicable reinsurance treaties were also estimated. • Property per risk treaty – The primary purpose of the property treaty is to provide capacity up to $50 million, adequate for the majority of the risks we write. It also includes protection for extra-contractual liability coverage losses. We retain the first $10 million of each loss. Losses between $10 million and $50 million are reinsured at 100 percent. The 2018 ceded premium estimate was $26 million, compared with $24 million for the 2017 estimate. • Property excess treaty – For 2018, we purchased a new property reinsurance treaty that provide an additional $50 million in protection for property losses. This treaty, along with the property per risk treaty, provides a total of $100 million of protection. The 2018 ceded premium estimate was approximately $2 million. • Casualty per occurrence treaty – The casualty treaty provides capacity up to $25 million. Similar to the property treaty, it provides sufficient capacity to cover the vast majority of casualty accounts we insure and also includes protection for extra-contractual liability coverage losses. We retain the first $10 million of each loss. Losses between $10 million and $25 million are reinsured at 100 percent. The 2018 ceded premium estimate was $12 million, essentially unchanged from the 2017 estimate. • Casualty excess treaty – We purchase a casualty reinsurance treaty that provides an additional $45 million in protection for certain casualty losses. This treaty, along with the casualty per occurrence treaty, provides a total of $70 million of protection for workers’ compensation, extra-contractual liability coverage and clash coverage losses, which would apply when a single occurrence involves multiple policyholders of The Cincinnati Insurance Companies or multiple coverages for one insured. The 2018 ceded premium estimate was approximately $3 million, essentially unchanged from the 2017 estimate. • Property catastrophe treaty – To protect against catastrophic events such as wind and hail, hurricanes or earthquakes, we purchased property catastrophe reinsurance with a limit up to $600 million. Losses from the same occurrence can now be aggregated into one limit over a 120-hour period and applied to the treaty towards recovery. The treaty contains one reinstatement provision. The 2018 ceded premium estimate was $43 million, compared with a $39 million estimate for 2017. We retain the first $100 million of any loss, and a share of losses up to $600 million, as indicated below: 5.0 percent of losses between $100 million and $200 million 5.0 percent of losses between $200 million and $300 million 5.0 percent of losses between $300 million and $400 million 5.0 percent of losses between $400 million and $600 million Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 101 • Beginning in 2013 we added an alternative reinsurance structure to protect against certain catastrophic events, and a similar structure is in place for 2017 through 2019. For certain exposures in the United States, we arranged for the purchase of collateralized reinsurance funded through the issuance of collateralized risk-linked securities, known as catastrophe bonds with Skyline Re Ltd ("Skyline"). The catastrophe bond arrangements generally provide reinsurance coverage for specific types of losses in specific geographic locations. They are generally designed to supplement coverage provided under the property catastrophe treaty. Effective January 2017, we have a catastrophe bond arrangement providing up to $200 million in earthquake reinsurance protection or $80 million in severe convective storm coverage or various combinations of those coverages. It expires in January 2019 and meets the requirements to be accounted for as reinsurance in accordance with the guidance for reinsurance contracts. The earthquake coverage is countrywide, excluding California, and the severe convective storm coverage territory is also countrywide, excluding Florida. The storm coverage provides loss recovery when storm losses for all events in aggregate exceed $190 million, after an $8 million deductible per event. After reinsurance, and before any applicable benefit from our catastrophe bond, our maximum exposure to a catastrophic event that causes $600 million in covered losses in 2018 would be $125 million, matching our retention for 2017. The largest catastrophe loss event in our history occurred during 2011 from a May 20-27 storm system that included a tornado in Joplin, Missouri, and also significant losses from hail in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Our losses from that storm were estimated at December 31, 2017, to be $226 million before reinsurance. Individual risks with insured values in excess of $100 million, as identified in the policy, are handled through a different reinsurance mechanism. We typically reinsure property coverage for individual risks with insured values between $100 million and $200 million under an automatic facultative agreement. For risks with property values exceeding $200 million, we negotiate the purchase of facultative coverage on an individual certificate basis. For casualty coverage on individual risks with limits exceeding $25 million, facultative reinsurance coverage is placed on an individual certificate basis. For risks with casualty limits that are between $25 million and $27 million, we sometimes forego facultative reinsurance and retain an additional $2 million of loss exposure. Terrorism coverage at various levels has been secured in most of our reinsurance agreements. The broadest coverage for this peril is found in the property and casualty working treaties, the property per risk treaty and the casualty per occurrence treaty, which provide coverage for commercial and personal risks. Our property catastrophe treaty provides terrorism coverage for personal risks, and coverage for commercial risks with total insured values of $15 million or less. For insured values between $15 million and $100 million, there also may be coverage in the property working treaty. A form of reinsurance is also provided through The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA). TRIA was originally signed into law on November 26, 2002, and extended on several occasions, including the most recent extension on January 12, 2015. TRIA provides a temporary federal backstop for losses related to the writing of the terrorism peril in property casualty insurance policies. Under regulations promulgated under this statute, insurers are required to offer terrorism coverage for certain lines of property casualty insurance, including property, commercial multi-peril, fire, ocean marine, inland marine, liability, aircraft and workers’ compensation. In the event of a terrorism event defined by TRIA, the federal government would reimburse terrorism claim payments subject to the insurer’s deductible. The deductible is calculated as a percentage of subject written premiums for the preceding calendar year. Our deductible in 2017 was $529 million (20 percent of 2016 subject premiums), and we estimate it is $541 million (20 percent of 2017 subject premiums) for 2018. Reinsurance protection for the company’s surety business is covered under a separate treaty with many of the same reinsurers that write the property casualty working treaties. The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company has separate property and casualty reinsurance treaties for 2018 through its parent, The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Primary components of the treaties include: • Property per risk treaty – The property treaty provides limits up to $5 million, which is adequate capacity for the risk profile we insure. It also includes protection for extra-contractual liability coverage losses. Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters retains the first $500,000 of any policy loss. Losses between $500,000 and $5 million are reinsured at 100 percent by The Cincinnati Insurance Company. • Casualty treaties – The casualty treaty is written on an excess of loss basis and provide limits up to $6 million, which is adequate capacity for the risk profile we insure. A second treaty layer of $5 million excess of $6 million is written to provide coverage for extra contractual obligations or clash exposures. The maximum retention for any Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 102 one casualty loss is $1 million by Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters. Losses between $1 million and $6 million are reinsured at 100 percent by The Cincinnati Insurance Company. • Basket retention – Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters has purchased this coverage to limit our retention to $1 million in the event that the same occurrence results in both a property and a casualty loss. • Property catastrophe treaty – As a subsidiary of The Cincinnati Insurance Company, Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters is a named insured under our corporate property catastrophe treaty, and for our collateralized reinsurance funded through the issuance of catastrophe bonds. All terms and conditions of this reinsurance coverage apply to policies underwritten by Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters. For property risks with limits exceeding $5 million or casualty risks with limits exceeding $6 million, underwriters place facultative reinsurance coverage on an individual certificate basis. Cincinnati Life, our life insurance subsidiary, purchases reinsurance under separate treaties with many of the same reinsurers that write the property casualty working treaties. Our corporate retention is $1 million on a single life. For most of our core term life insurance line of business, we retain no more than a $500,000 exposure on a single policy, ceding the balance using excess over retention mortality coverage, and retaining the policy reserve. Because of the conservative nature of statutory reserving principles, retaining the policy reserve unduly depresses our statutory earnings and requires a large commitment of our capital. Effective November 1, 2015, we increased our retention to $1 million for issue ages up to 61 years on new term life insurance sales. For issue ages 61 years or older, our retention remains $500,000. For term life insurance business written prior to 2005, we retain 10 percent to 25 percent of each term policy, not to exceed $500,000, ceding the balance of mortality risk and policy reserve. We also have catastrophe reinsurance coverage on our life insurance operations that reimburses us for covered net losses in excess of $10 million. Our recovery is capped at $75 million for losses involving our associates. The following table shows our five largest life reinsurance receivable amounts by reinsurer at year-end 2017 and 2016. The A.M. Best insurer financial strength ratings are also shown. (Dollars in millions) Name of reinsurer Swiss Re Life & Health America, Inc. Lincoln National Life Insurance Company General Re Life Corporation Security Life of Denver Insurance Company Pacific Life Insurance Company 2017 2016 Total receivable 80 $ 38 35 27 14 A.M. Best Rating A+ A+ A++ A u A+ Total receivable 84 $ 40 33 30 15 A.M. Best Rating A+ A+ A++ A A+ Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 103 Safe Harbor Statement This is our “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our business is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements in this report. Some of those risks and uncertainties are discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: • Unusually high levels of catastrophe losses due to risk concentrations, changes in weather patterns, • environmental events, terrorism incidents or other causes Increased frequency and/or severity of claims or development of claims that are unforeseen at the time of policy issuance Inadequate estimates, assumptions or reliance on third-party data used for critical accounting estimates • • Declines in overall stock market values negatively affecting the company’s equity portfolio and book value • Prolonged low interest rate environment or other factors that limit the company’s ability to generate growth in investment income or interest rate fluctuations that result in declining values of fixed-maturity investments, including declines in accounts in which we hold bank-owned life insurance contract assets • Domestic and global events resulting in capital market or credit market uncertainty, followed by prolonged periods of economic instability or recession, that lead to: Significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of a particular security or group of securities and impairment of the asset(s) Significant decline in investment income due to reduced or eliminated dividend payouts from a particular security or group of securities Significant rise in losses from surety and director and officer policies written for financial institutions or other insured entities • Recession or other economic conditions resulting in lower demand for insurance products or increased payment delinquencies • Difficulties with technology or data security breaches, including cyberattacks, that could negatively affect our ability to conduct business and our relationships with agents, policyholders and others • Disruption of the insurance market caused by technology innovations such as driverless cars that could decrease consumer demand for insurance products • Delays, inadequate data developed internally or from third parties, or performance inadequacies from ongoing development and implementation of underwriting and pricing methods, including telematics and other usage-based insurance methods, or technology projects and enhancements expected to increase our pricing accuracy, underwriting profit and competitiveness • Increased competition that could result in a significant reduction in the company’s premium volume • Changing consumer insurance-buying habits and consolidation of independent insurance agencies that • • could alter our competitive advantages Inability to obtain adequate ceded reinsurance on acceptable terms, amount of reinsurance coverage purchased, financial strength of reinsurers and the potential for nonpayment or delay in payment by reinsurers Inability to defer policy acquisition costs for any business segment if pricing and loss trends would lead management to conclude that segment could not achieve sustainable profitability Inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends consistent with current or past levels • • Events or conditions that could weaken or harm the company’s relationships with its independent agencies and hamper opportunities to add new agencies, resulting in limitations on the company’s opportunities for growth, such as: Downgrades of the company’s financial strength ratings Concerns that doing business with the company is too difficult Perceptions that the company’s level of service, particularly claims service, is no longer a distinguishing characteristic in the marketplace Inability or unwillingness to nimbly develop and introduce coverage product updates and innovations that our competitors offer and consumers expect to find in the marketplace • Actions of insurance departments, state attorneys general or other regulatory agencies, including a change to a federal system of regulation from a state-based system, that: Impose new obligations on us that increase our expenses or change the assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates Place the insurance industry under greater regulatory scrutiny or result in new statutes, rules and regulations Restrict our ability to exit or reduce writings of unprofitable coverages or lines of business Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 104  Add assessments for guaranty funds, other insurance related assessments or mandatory reinsurance arrangements; or that impair our ability to recover such assessments through future surcharges or other rate changes Increase our provision for federal income taxes due to changes in tax law Increase our other expenses Limit our ability to set fair, adequate and reasonable rates Place us at a disadvantage in the marketplace Restrict our ability to execute our business model, including the way we compensate agents • Adverse outcomes from litigation or administrative proceedings • Events or actions, including unauthorized intentional circumvention of controls, that reduce the company’s future ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 • Unforeseen departure of certain executive officers or other key employees due to retirement, health or other causes that could interrupt progress toward important strategic goals or diminish the effectiveness of certain longstanding relationships with insurance agents and others • Events, such as an epidemic, natural catastrophe or terrorism, that could hamper our ability to assemble our workforce at our headquarters location Further, the company’s insurance businesses are subject to the effects of changing social, global, economic and regulatory environments. Public and regulatory initiatives have included efforts to adversely influence and restrict premium rates, restrict the ability to cancel policies, impose underwriting standards and expand overall regulation. The company also is subject to public and regulatory initiatives that can affect the market value for its common stock, such as measures affecting corporate financial reporting and governance. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these initiatives are uncertain. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 105 ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Introduction Market risk is the potential for a decrease in securities value resulting from broad yet uncontrollable forces such as inflation, economic growth, interest rates, world political conditions or other widespread unpredictable events. It is comprised of many individual risks that, when combined, create a macroeconomic impact. The company accepts and manages risks in its investment portfolio as part of the means of achieving portfolio objectives. Some of the risks are: • Political – the potential for a decrease in value due to the real or perceived impact of governmental policies or conditions • Regulatory – the potential for a decrease in value due to the impact of legislative proposals or changes in laws or regulations • Economic – the potential for a decrease in value due to changes in general economic factors (recession, inflation, deflation, etc.) • Revaluation – the potential for a decrease in value due to a change in relative value (change in market multiple) of the market brought on by general economic factors • Interest-rate – the potential for a decrease in value of a security or portfolio due to its sensitivity to changes (increases or decreases) in the general level of interest rates Company-specific risk is the potential for a particular issuer to experience a decline in value due to the impact of sector or market risk on the holding or because of issues specific to the firm: • Fraud – the potential for a negative impact on an issuer’s performance due to actual or alleged illegal or improper activity of individuals it employs • Credit – the potential for deterioration in an issuer’s financial profile due to specific company issues, problems it faces in the course of its operations or industry-related issues • Default – the possibility that an issuer will not make a required payment (interest payment or return of principal) on its debt. Generally this occurs after its financial profile has deteriorated (credit risk) and it no longer has the means to make its payments The investment committee of the board of directors monitors the investment risk management process primarily through its executive oversight of our investment activities. We take an active approach to managing market and other investment risks, including the accountabilities and controls over these activities. Actively managing these market risks is integral to our operations and could require us to change the character of future investments purchased or sold or require us to shift the existing asset portfolios to manage exposure to market risk within acceptable ranges. Sector risk is the potential for a negative impact on a particular industry due to its sensitivity to factors that make up market risk. Market risk affects general supply or demand factors for an industry and affects companies within that industry to varying degrees. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 106 Risks associated with the asset classes described in Item 1, Our Segments, Investments Segment, can be summarized as follows (H – high, A – average, L – low): Political Regulatory Economic Revaluation Interest rate Fraud Credit Default Taxable fixed maturities A A A A H A A A Tax-exempt fixed maturities H A A A H L L L Common equities A A H H A A A A Nonredeemable preferred equities A A A A H A A A Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 107 Fixed-Maturity Securities Investments For investment-grade corporate bonds, the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices leads to falling bond values during periods of increasing interest rates. We address this risk by attempting to construct a generally laddered maturity schedule that allows us to reinvest cash flows at prevailing rates. Although the potential for a worsening financial condition, and ultimately default, does exist with investment-grade corporate bonds, we address this risk by performing credit analysis and monitoring as well as maintaining a diverse portfolio of holdings. The primary risk related to high-yield corporate bonds is credit risk. A weak financial profile can lead to rating downgrades from the credit rating agencies, which can put further downward pressure on bond prices. Interest rate risk, while significant, is less of a factor with high-yield corporate bonds, as valuation is related more directly to underlying operating performance than to general interest rates. This puts more emphasis on the financial results achieved by the issuer rather than on general economic trends or statistics within the marketplace. We address this concern by analyzing issuer- and industry-specific financial results and by closely monitoring holdings within this asset class. The primary risks related to tax-exempt bonds are interest rate risk and political risk associated with the specific economic environment within the political boundaries of the issuing municipal entity. We address these concerns by focusing on municipalities’ general-obligation debt and on essential-service bonds. Essential-service bonds derive a revenue stream from municipal services that are vital to the people living in the area (water service, sewer service, etc.). Another risk related to tax-exempt bonds is regulatory risk or the potential for legislative changes that would negate the benefit of owning tax-exempt bonds. We monitor regulatory activity for situations that may negatively affect current holdings and our ongoing strategy for investing in these securities. The final, less significant risk is our exposure to credit risk for a portion of the tax-exempt portfolio that has support from corporate entities. Examples are bonds insured by corporate bond insurers or bonds with interest payments made by a corporate entity through a municipal conduit or authority. Our decisions regarding these investments primarily consider the underlying municipal situation. The existence of third-party insurance is intended to reduce risk in the event of default. In circumstances in which the municipality is unable to meet its obligations, risk would be increased if the insuring entity were experiencing financial duress. Because of our diverse exposure and selection of higher-rated entities with strong financial profiles, we do not believe this is a material concern as we discuss in Item 1, Our Segments, Investments Segment. Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis Because of our strong shareholders’ equity, long-term investment horizon and ability to hold most fixed-maturity investments to maturity, we believe the company is well positioned if interest rates were to rise. A higher rate environment would provide the opportunity to invest cash flow in higher-yielding securities, while reducing the likelihood of untimely redemptions of currently callable securities. While higher interest rates would be expected to increase the number of fixed-maturity holdings fair valued below 100 percent of amortized cost, we believe lower fixed-maturity security values due solely to interest rate changes would not signal a decline in credit quality. Our dynamic financial planning model uses analytical tools to assess market risks. As part of this model, the effective duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio is continually monitored by our investment department to evaluate the theoretical impact of interest rate movements. The table below summarizes the effect of hypothetical changes in interest rates on fair value of our fixed- maturity portfolio. (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 At December 31, 2016 -200 $ $ 11,803 11,131 -100 Effect from interest rate change in basis points — 10,699 10,085 100 10,133 9,577 11,249 10,603 $ $ $ $ $ $ 200 $ $ 9,589 9,094 The effective duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio was 5.2 years at year-end 2017, compared with 5.0 years at year-end 2016. A 100-basis-point movement in interest rates would result in an approximately 5.2 percent change in the fair value of the fixed-maturity portfolio. Generally speaking, the higher a bond is rated, the more directly correlated movements in its fair value are to changes in the general level of interest rates, exclusive of call features. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 108 The fair values of average- to lower-rated corporate bonds are additionally influenced by the expansion or contraction of credit spreads. In the dynamic financial planning model, the selected interest rate change of 100 to 200 basis points represents our views of a shift in rates that is quite possible over a one-year period. The rates modeled should not be considered a prediction of future events as interest rates may be much more volatile in the future. The analysis is not intended to provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in rates on our results or financial condition, nor does it take into account any actions that we might take to reduce exposure to such risks. Equity Securities Investments Our equity portfolio is subject to a variety of risk factors encompassed under the umbrella of market risk. General economic swings influence the performance of the underlying industries and companies within those industries. Industry- and company-specific risks also have the potential to substantially affect the value of our portfolio. Our investment guidelines help address these risks by diversifying the portfolio and establishing parameters to help manage exposures. The table below summarizes the effect of hypothetical changes in market prices on fair value of our equity portfolio. (Dollars in millions) Effect from market price change in percent At December 31, 2017 At December 31, 2016 -30% -20% -10% $ $ 4,374 3,734 $ $ 4,999 4,267 $ $ 5,624 4,801 $ $ — 6,249 5,334 10% 20% 30% $ $ 6,874 5,867 $ $ 7,499 6,401 $ $ 8,124 6,934 Our equity holdings represented $6.249 billion in fair value and accounted for approximately 89 percent of the net unrealized gains and losses of the entire portfolio at year-end 2017. No holding had a fair value greater than 4.0 percent of our $6.039 billion publicly traded common stock portfolio. We had 30 holdings among eight different sectors each with a fair value greater than $100 million. See Item 1, Our Segments, Investments Segment and Item 8, Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, for additional details on our holdings. The primary risks related to preferred stocks are similar to those related to investment grade corporate bonds. Rising interest rates adversely affect market values due to the normal inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices. Credit risk exists due to the subordinate position of preferred stocks in the capital structure. We minimize this risk by primarily purchasing investment-grade preferred stocks of issuers with a strong history of paying a common stock dividend. Application of Asset Impairment Policy As discussed in Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Asset Impairment, our fixed-maturity and equity investment portfolios are evaluated differently for other-than-temporary impairments. The company’s asset impairment committee monitors a number of significant factors for indications of investments fair valued below the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The application of our impairment policy resulted in OTTI charges that reduced our income before income taxes by $9 million in 2017, $2 million in 2016 and $52 million in 2015. Impairments are discussed in Item 7, Investments Results. We expect the number of securities fair valued below 100 percent of cost or amortized cost to fluctuate as interest rates rise or fall and credit spreads expand or contract due to prevailing economic conditions. Further, cost or amortized cost for some securities have been revised due to impairment charges recognized in prior periods. At year-end 2017, 440 of the 3,598 securities we owned were fair valued below 100 percent of cost or amortized cost compared with 784 of the 3,315 securities we owned at year-end 2016 and 414 of the 3,163 securities we owned at year-end 2015. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 109 The 440 holdings fair valued below cost or amortized cost at year-end 2017 represented 8.8 percent of the investment portfolio and $38 million in unrealized losses. • • 425 of these holdings were fair valued between 90 percent and 100 percent of cost or amortized cost. The value of these securities fluctuates primarily because of changes in interest rates. The fair value of these 425 securities was $1.450 billion at year-end 2017, and they accounted for $31 million in unrealized losses. 15 of these holdings were fair valued between 70 percent and 90 percent of cost or amortized cost. The fair value of these holdings was $41 million, and they accounted for $7 million in unrealized losses. • No securities had a fair value below 70 percent of cost or amortized cost. The following table summarizes the length of time securities in the investment portfolio have been in a continuous unrealized loss position. (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Fixed maturity securities: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises Foreign government United States government Subtotal Equity securities: Common equities Subtotal Total At December 31, 2016 Fixed maturity securities: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States government Subtotal Equity securities: Common equities Nonredeemable preferred equities Subtotal Total Less than 12 months Fair value Unrealized losses 12 months or more Fair value Unrealized losses Total Fair value Unrealized losses $ 330 $ 4 $ 252 $ 88 33 96 10 23 580 229 229 809 $ 1 — 1 — — 6 14 14 20 $ 264 36 124 — 6 682 — — 682 $ 9 5 1 3 — — 18 — — 18 $ 582 $ 352 69 220 10 29 1,262 229 229 1,491 $ $ 733 $ 15 $ 189 $ 11 $ 922 $ 989 89 155 6 1,972 103 4 107 2,079 $ 42 2 3 — 62 9 — 9 71 $ — 2 — — 191 — — — 191 $ — — — — 11 — — — 11 $ 989 91 155 6 2,163 103 4 107 2,270 $ $ $ $ 13 6 1 4 — — 24 14 14 38 26 42 2 3 — 73 9 — 9 82 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 110 The following table summarizes our investment portfolio, classifying securities based on fair values relative to cost or amortized cost: Number of issues Cost or amortized cost Fair value Gross unrealized gain (loss) Gross investment income (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Taxable fixed maturities: Fair valued below 70% of amortized cost Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost Fair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost Investment income on securities sold in current year Total Tax-exempt fixed maturities: Fair valued below 70% of amortized cost Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost Fair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost Investment income on securities sold in current year Total Common equities: Fair valued below 70% of cost Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost Fair valued at 100% and above of cost Investment income on securities sold in current year Total Nonredeemable preferred equities: Fair valued below 70% of cost Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost Fair valued at 100% and above of cost Investment income on securities sold in current year Total Portfolio summary: Fair valued below 70% of cost or amortized cost Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost or amortized cost Fair valued at 100% and above of cost or amortized cost Investment income on securities sold in current year Total At December 31, 2016 Portfolio summary: — $ — $ — $ 287 1,202 — 1,489 — 138 1,874 — 2,012 — 15 53 — 68 — — 29 — 29 — 440 3,158 — 3,598 $ 1,019 5,364 — 6,383 — 267 3,664 — 3,931 — 243 2,675 — 2,918 — — 176 — 176 1,000 5,637 — 6,637 — 262 3,800 — 4,062 — 229 5,810 — 6,039 — — 210 — 210 — 1,529 11,879 — 13,408 $ — 1,491 15,457 — 16,948 — $ (19) 273 — 254 — (5) 136 — 131 — (14) 3,135 — 3,121 — — 34 — 34 — (38) 3,578 — 3,540 $ $ — 24 270 28 322 — 6 112 5 123 — 7 140 11 158 — — 11 1 12 — 37 533 45 615 — 62 501 38 601 Fair valued below 70% of cost or amortized cost Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost or amortized cost Fair valued at 100% and above of cost or amortized cost Investment income on securities sold in current year Total — $ — $ — $ — $ 784 2,531 — 3,315 $ 2,352 10,442 — 12,794 $ 2,270 13,149 — 15,419 $ (82) 2,707 — 2,625 $ Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 111 ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Responsibility for Financial Statements We have prepared the consolidated financial statements of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and our subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2017, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). We are responsible for the integrity and objectivity of these financial statements. The amounts, presented on an accrual basis, reflect our best estimates and judgment. These statements are consistent in all material aspects with other financial information in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our accounting system and related internal controls are designed to assure that our books and records accurately reflect the company’s transactions in accordance with established policies and procedures as implemented by qualified personnel. Our board of directors has established an audit committee of independent outside directors. We believe these directors are free from any relationships that could interfere with their independent judgment as audit committee members. The audit committee meets periodically with management, our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal auditors to discuss how each is handling its respective responsibilities. The audit committee reports its findings to the board of directors. The audit committee recommends to the board the annual appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm. The audit committee reviews with this firm the scope of the audit assignment and the adequacy of internal controls and procedures. Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, audited the consolidated financial statements of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2017. Deloitte & Touche LLP met with our audit committee to discuss the results of its examination. They have the opportunity to discuss the adequacy of internal controls and the quality of financial reporting without management present. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 112 Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting The management of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: • Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; • Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the company; and • Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention of overriding controls. Accordingly, even effective internal control can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time. The company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Management’s assessment was based on the criteria established in the Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and was designed to provide reasonable assurance that the company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. The assessment led management to conclude that, as of December 31, 2017, the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria. The company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. /S/ Steven J. Johnston Steven J. Johnston, FCAS, MAAA, CFA, CERA President and Chief Executive Officer /S/ Michael J. Sewell Michael J. Sewell, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) February 23, 2018 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 113 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Cincinnati Financial Corporation Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(c) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO. Basis for Opinions The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions. Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 114 Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. /S/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Cincinnati, Ohio February 23, 2018 We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1980. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 115 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Assets Investments Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2017—$10,314; 2016—$9,799) Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2017—$3,094; 2016—$2,995) Other invested assets Total investments Cash and cash equivalents Investment income receivable Finance receivable Premiums receivable Reinsurance recoverable Prepaid reinsurance premiums Deferred policy acquisition costs Land, building and equipment, net, for company use (accumulated depreciation: 2017—$253; 2016—$237) Other assets Separate accounts Total assets Liabilities Insurance reserves Loss and loss expense reserves Life policy and investment contract reserves Unearned premiums Other liabilities Deferred income tax Note payable Long-term debt and capital lease obligations Separate accounts Total liabilities Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 16) Shareholders' Equity Common stock, par value—$2 per share; (authorized: 2017 and 2016—500 million shares; issued: 2017 and 2016—198.3 million shares) Paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Treasury stock at cost (2017—34.4 million shares and 2016—33.9 million shares) Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 116 December 31, December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 10,699 6,249 103 17,051 657 134 61 1,589 432 42 670 185 216 806 21,843 5,273 2,729 2,404 792 745 24 827 806 13,600 10,085 5,334 81 15,500 777 134 51 1,533 545 62 637 183 198 766 20,386 5,085 2,671 2,307 786 865 20 826 766 13,326 — — 397 1,265 5,180 2,788 (1,387) 8,243 21,843 $ 397 1,252 5,037 1,693 (1,319) 7,060 20,386 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Revenues Earned premiums Investment income, net of expenses Realized investment gains, net Fee revenues Other revenues Total revenues Benefits and Expenses Insurance losses and contract holders' benefits Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses Interest expense Other operating expenses Total benefits and expenses Income Before Income Taxes Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes Current Deferred Total provision (benefit) for income taxes Net Income Per Common Share Net income—basic Net income—diluted Years ended December 31, 2016 2017 2015 $ 4,954 609 148 16 5 5,732 3,390 1,546 53 13 5,002 730 129 (444) (315) 1,045 6.36 6.29 $ $ $ $ $ 4,710 595 124 15 5 5,449 3,107 1,465 53 12 4,637 812 183 38 221 591 3.59 3.55 4,480 572 70 13 7 5,142 2,808 1,387 53 13 4,261 881 231 16 247 634 3.87 3.83 $ $ $ Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 117 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Dollars in millions) Net Income Other Comprehensive Income Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ 1,045 $ 591 $ 634 Change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax of $317, $186 and $(220), respectively Amortization of pension actuarial gains and losses and prior service cost, net of tax of $7, $6 and $(2), respectively Change in life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other, net of tax of $1, $(4) and $4, respectively Other comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income 598 7 (2) 603 345 10 (6) 349 $ 1,648 $ 940 $ (405) (4) 9 (400) 234 Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 118 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Dollars in millions) Common Stock Beginning of year Share-based awards End of year Paid-In Capital Beginning of year Share-based awards Share-based compensation Other End of year Retained Earnings Beginning of year Net income Dividends declared Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income End of year Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Beginning of year Other comprehensive income (loss) Reclassification of certain tax effects to retained earnings End of year Treasury Stock Beginning of year Share-based awards Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization Shares acquired - share-based compensation plans Other End of year Years ended December 31, 2016 2017 2015 $ $ 397 — 397 $ 397 — 397 1,252 (18) 26 5 1,265 5,037 1,045 (410) (492) 5,180 1,693 603 492 2,788 (1,319) 26 (92) (7) 5 (1,387) 1,232 (8) 23 5 1,252 4,762 591 (316) — 5,037 1,344 349 — 1,693 (1,308) 36 (39) (13) 5 (1,319) 397 — 397 1,214 (7) 20 5 1,232 4,505 634 (377) — 4,762 1,744 (400) — 1,344 (1,287) 41 (53) (16) 7 (1,308) Total Shareholders' Equity $ 8,243 $ 7,060 $ 6,427 (In millions) Common Stock - Shares Outstanding Beginning of year Share-based awards Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization Shares acquired - share-based compensation plans Other End of year 164.4 0.8 (1.3) (0.1) 0.1 163.9 163.9 1.0 (0.5) (0.2) 0.2 164.4 163.7 1.3 (1.0) (0.3) 0.2 163.9 Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 119 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Dollars in millions) Cash Flows From Operating Activities Net income Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Years ended December 31, 2016 2017 2015 $ 1,045 $ 591 $ 634 Depreciation and amortization Realized investment gains, net Share-based compensation Interest credited to contract holders' Deferred income tax expense Changes in: Investment income receivable Premiums and reinsurance receivable Deferred policy acquisition costs Other assets Loss and loss expense reserves Life policy and investment contract reserves Unearned premiums Other liabilities Current income tax receivable/payable Net cash provided by operating activities Cash Flows From Investing Activities Sale of fixed maturities Call or maturity of fixed maturities Sale of equity securities Purchase of fixed maturities Purchase of equity securities Investment in finance receivables Collection of finance receivables Investment in buildings and equipment Change in other invested assets, net Net cash used in investing activities Cash Flows From Financing Activities Payment of cash dividends to shareholders Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization Changes in note payable Proceeds from stock options exercised Contract holders' funds deposited Contract holders' funds withdrawn Excess tax benefits on share-based compensation Other Net cash used in financing activities Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information Interest paid Income taxes paid Noncash Activities Conversion of securities Equipment acquired under capital lease obligations Cashless exercise of stock options Other assets and other liabilities 55 (148) 26 48 (444) — 77 (36) (43) 188 96 97 24 67 1,052 23 1,172 523 (1,723) (513) (32) 23 (16) (15) (558) (400) (92) 4 13 79 (164) — (54) (614) (120) 777 657 52 60 5 14 7 75 $ $ $ 48 (124) 23 48 38 (5) (113) (26) 34 367 102 106 61 (35) 1,115 15 1,511 465 (1,994) (439) (17) 30 (13) (14) (456) (306) (39) (15) 21 95 (155) 5 (32) (426) 233 544 777 52 213 4 20 13 53 $ $ $ 52 (70) 20 44 16 (6) (48) (18) (39) 233 101 119 55 (18) 1,075 43 1,199 342 (1,722) (493) (14) 30 (10) 1 (624) (366) (53) (14) 24 83 (148) 4 (28) (498) (47) 591 544 52 245 3 20 16 27 $ $ $ Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 120 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements NOTE 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CFC) operates through our insurance group and two complementary subsidiary companies. The Cincinnati Insurance Company leads our insurance group that also includes two subsidiaries: The Cincinnati Casualty Company and The Cincinnati Indemnity Company. This group markets a broad range of standard market commercial and personal policies. The group focuses on delivery of quality customer service to our select group of 1,702 independent insurance agencies with 2,256 reporting locations across 42 states. Other subsidiaries of The Cincinnati Insurance Company include The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, which markets life and disability income insurance and fixed annuities, and The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company, which offers excess and surplus lines property casualty insurance products. The Cincinnati Insurance Company also conducts the business of our reinsurance assumed operations, Cincinnati ReSM. The two CFC complementary subsidiaries are CSU Producer Resources Inc., which provides insurance brokerage services to our independent agencies so their clients can access our excess and surplus lines insurance products, and CFC Investment Company, which offers commercial leasing and financing services to our agents, their clients and other customers. Basis of Presentation Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent and its wholly owned subsidiaries and are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Our actual results could differ from those estimates. Investments Our portfolio investments are primarily in publicly traded fixed-maturity and equity security investments. Fixed- maturity investments (taxable bonds, tax-exempt bonds, redeemable preferred equities and commercial mortgage- backed securities) and equity investments (common and nonredeemable preferred equities) are classified as available for sale and recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. The number of fixed-maturity securities with fair value below 100 percent of amortized cost can be expected to fluctuate as interest rates rise or fall. Because of our strong capital and long-term investment horizon, our general intent is to hold fixed-maturity investments until maturity, regardless of short-term fluctuations in fair values. Impairment charges for fixed maturities are recorded for other-than-temporary declines in value if fair value is below amortized cost and, in the asset impairment committee’s judgment, the fair value is not expected to be recouped within a designated recovery period. Our invested asset impairment policy also states that fixed maturities below their amortized cost that the company (1) intends to sell or (2) more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery of their amortized cost basis are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired (OTTI). The amortized cost of any such securities is reduced to fair value as the new cost basis, and a realized loss is recorded in the period in which it is recognized. When these two criteria are not met, and the company believes that full collection of interest and/or principal is not likely, we determine the net present value of future cash flows by using the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition as the discount rate and compare that amount with the amortized cost and fair value of the security. The difference between the net present value of the expected future cash flows and amortized cost of the security is considered a credit loss and recognized as a realized loss in the period in which it occurred. The difference between the fair value and the net present value of the cash flows of the security, the noncredit loss, is recognized in other comprehensive income as an unrealized loss. We had no fixed-maturity securities with a noncredit loss for the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 121 When determining OTTI charges for our equity portfolio, our invested asset impairment policy considers qualitative and quantitative factors, including facts and circumstances specific to individual securities; asset classes; the financial condition of the issuer; changes in dividend payment; the length of time fair value had been less than cost; the severity of the decline in fair value below cost; the volatility of the security; and our ability and intent to hold each position until its forecasted recovery. We include the noncredit portion of fixed-maturity OTTI charges and all other unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of taxes, in shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). Realized gains and losses on investments are recognized in net income based on the trade date accounting method. Included within our other invested assets were $31 million and $31 million of life policy loans, $35 million and $23 million of private equity investments and $37 million and $27 million of real estate through direct property ownership and development projects in the United States at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Life policy loans are carried at the receivable value. The private equity investments provide their financial statements to us and generally report investments on their balance sheets at fair value. We use the equity method of accounting for private equity and real estate development investments. Investment income, net of expenses, consists mainly of interest and dividends. We record interest on an accrual basis and record dividends at the ex-dividend date. We amortize premiums and discounts on fixed-maturity securities using the effective interest method over the expected life of the security. Fair Value Disclosures Fair value is defined as the exit price or the amount that would be (1) received to sell an asset or (2) paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between marketplace participants at the measurement date. When determining an exit price, we rely upon observable market data whenever possible. We primarily base fair value for investments in equity and fixed-maturity securities (including redeemable preferred stock and assets held in separate accounts) on quoted market prices or on prices from the company’s nationally recognized pricing vendor, an outside resource that supplies global securities pricing, dividend, corporate action and descriptive information to support fund pricing, securities operations, research and portfolio management. The company obtains and reviews the pricing service’s valuation methodologies and related inputs and validates these prices by replicating a sample across each asset class using a discounted cash flow model. When a price is not available from these sources, as in the case of securities that are not publicly traded, we determine the fair value using various inputs including quotes from independent brokers. The fair value of investments not priced by the company’s nationally recognized pricing vendor is less than 1 percent of the fair value of our total investment portfolio. For the purpose of ASC 825 disclosure, we estimate the fair value of our long-term senior notes on market pricing of similar debt instruments that are actively trading. We estimate the fair value of our note payable on the year-end outstanding balance because it is short term and tied to a variable interest rate. We estimate the fair value of liabilities for investment contracts and annuities using discounted cash flow calculations across a wide range of economic interest rate scenarios with a provision for our nonperformance risk. We estimate the fair value for policyholder loans on insurance contracts using a discounted cash flow model. Determination of fair value for structured settlements assumes the discount rates used to calculate the present value of expected payments are the risk-free spot rates plus an A3 rated bond spread for financial issuers at December 31, 2017, to account for nonperformance risk. See Note 3, Fair Value Measurements, for further details. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid instruments that include liquid debt instruments with original maturities of less than three months. These are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Property Casualty Insurance The consolidated property casualty companies actively write property casualty insurance through independent agencies in 42 states. Our 10 largest states generated 59.7 percent and 61.4 percent of total earned premiums in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Ohio, our largest state, accounted for 16.2 percent and 16.8 percent of total earned premiums in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Illinois, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan each accounted for between 5 percent and 7 percent of total earned premiums in 2017. Our largest single agency relationship accounted for approximately 0.8 percent of our total property casualty earned premiums in 2017. No aggregate agency relationship locations under a single ownership structure accounted for Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 122 more than 4 percent of our total property casualty earned premiums in 2017. We record revenues for installment charges as fee revenues in the consolidated statements of income. Property casualty written premiums are deferred and recorded as earned premiums on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies. We record as unearned premiums the portion of written premiums that applies to unexpired policy terms. Expenses associated with successfully acquiring insurance policies – commissions, premium taxes and underwriting costs – are deferred and amortized over the terms of the policies. We assess recoverability of deferred acquisition costs at a level consistent with the way we acquire, service and manage insurance policies and measure profitability. We analyze our acquisition cost assumptions to reflect actual experience, and we evaluate potential premium deficiencies. Certain property casualty policies are not entered into policy underwriting systems as of the effective date of coverage. An estimate is recorded for these unprocessed written premiums. A large majority of the estimate is unearned and has no material impact on earned premiums. Premiums receivable are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis. We maintain an allowance for uncollectible premiums. We establish reserves to cover the expected cost of claims, losses and expenses related to investigating, processing and resolving claims. Although the appropriate amount of reserves is inherently uncertain, we base our decisions on past experience and current facts. Reserves are based on claims reported prior to the end of the year and estimates of unreported claims. We regularly review and update reserves using the most current information available. Any resulting adjustments are reflected in current calendar year insurance losses and policyholder benefits. We estimate that we may recover some of our costs through salvage and subrogation. Policyholder Dividends Certain workers’ compensation policies include the possibility of a policyholder earning a return of a portion of premium in the form of a policyholder dividend. The dividend generally is calculated by determining the profitability of a policy year along with the associated premium. We reserve for all probable future policyholder dividend payments. We record policyholder dividends as other underwriting expenses. Life Insurance We offer several types of life insurance and disability income insurance, and we account for each according to the duration of the contract. Short-duration life and health contracts are written to cover claims that arise during a short, fixed term of coverage. We generally have the right to change the amount of premium charged or cancel the coverage at the end of each contract term. We record premiums for short-duration life and health contracts similarly to property casualty contracts. Long-duration contracts are written to provide coverage for an extended period of time. Traditional long-duration contracts require policyholders to pay scheduled gross premiums, generally not less frequently than annually, over the term of the coverage. Premiums for these contracts, such as whole life insurance and disability income insurance, are recognized as revenue when due. Some traditional long-duration contracts, such as ten-pay whole life insurance, have premium payment periods shorter than the period over which coverage is provided. For these contracts, the excess of premium over the amount required to pay expenses and benefits is recognized over the term of the coverage rather than over the premium payment period. We establish a liability for traditional long-duration contracts as we receive premiums. The amount of this liability is the present value of future expenses and benefits less the present value of future net premiums. Net premium is the portion of gross premium required to provide for all expenses and benefits. We estimate future expenses and benefits and net premium using assumptions for expected expenses, mortality, morbidity, withdrawal rates and investment income. We include a provision for deviation, meaning we allow for some uncertainty in making our assumptions. We establish our assumptions when the contract is issued, and we generally maintain those assumptions for the life of the contract. We use both our own experience and industry experience, adjusted for historical trends, in arriving at our assumptions for expected mortality, morbidity and withdrawal rates. We use our own experience and historical trends for setting our assumption for expected expenses. We base our assumption for expected investment income on our own experience, adjusted for current economic conditions. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 123 We capitalize acquisition costs for traditional long-duration contracts. We charge these capitalized costs associated with successfully acquiring traditional long-duration contract insurance policies in proportion to premium revenue recognized. We use the same assumptions used in establishing the liability for the contract. We update our acquisition cost assumptions periodically to reflect actual experience, and we evaluate our deferred acquisition costs for recoverability. Universal life contracts are long-duration contracts for which contractual provisions are not fixed, unlike whole life insurance. Universal life contracts allow policyholders to vary the amount of premium, within limits, without our consent. However, we may vary the mortality, expense charges and the interest crediting rate, within limits, used to accumulate policy values. We do not record universal life premiums as revenue. Instead we recognize as revenue the mortality charges, administration charges and surrender charges when received. Some of our universal life contracts assess administration charges in the early years of the contract that are compensation for services we will provide in the later years of the contract. These administration charges are deferred and are recognized over the period when we provide those future services. We maintain a policy reserve liability equal to the policyholder account value. There is no provision for adverse deviation. Some of our universal life policies contain no-lapse guarantee provisions. For these policies, we establish a reserve in addition to the account balance, based on expected no-lapse guarantee benefits and expected policy assessments. We capitalize acquisition costs associated with successfully acquiring universal life long-duration contracts. We charge these capitalized costs to expenses over the term of coverage of the contract in accordance with the recognition of gross profit from the contract. When we charge deferred policy acquisition costs to expenses, we use assumptions based on our best estimates of long-term experience. We review and modify these assumptions on a regular basis. Separate Accounts We have issued universal life contracts with guaranteed minimum returns, referred to as bank-owned life insurance contracts (BOLIs). A BOLI is designed so the bank is the policy owner and the policy beneficiary. We legally segregate and record as separate accounts the assets and liabilities for some of our BOLIs, based on the specific contract provisions. We guarantee minimum investment returns, account values and death benefits for our separate account BOLIs. Our other BOLIs are general account products. We carry the assets of separate account BOLIs at fair value. The liabilities on separate account BOLIs primarily are the contract holders’ claims to the related assets and are carried at an amount equal to the contract holders’ account value. At December 31, 2017, the current fair value of the BOLI invested assets and cash exceeded the current fair value of the contract holders’ account value by approximately $29 million. If the BOLI projected fair value were to fall below the value we guaranteed, a liability would be established with a corresponding charge to the company’s earnings. Generally, investment income and realized investment gains and losses of the separate accounts accrue directly to the contract holder, and we do not include them in the consolidated statements of income. Revenues and expenses related to separate accounts consist of contractual fees and mortality, surrender and expense risk charges. Also, each separate account BOLI includes a negotiated capital gain and loss sharing arrangement between the company and the bank. A percentage of each separate account’s realized capital gain and loss representing contract fees and assessments accrues to us and is transferred from the separate account to our general account and is recognized as revenue or expense. We record as revenues separate account investment management fees in fee revenues of the consolidated statements of income. Reinsurance The Cincinnati Insurance Company offers reinsurance assumed for casualty and specialty (predominantly domestic exposure) and property (worldwide exposure). Treaties are written on a pro rata and excess of loss basis. We also continue to assume risk with limited exposure as a reinsurer for involuntary state pools. Written premium is recorded, net of contract specific retrocessions, on an ultimate estimate basis and earned on a pro rata basis over the coverage period of the treaty. Expenses are recorded as per contract terms and deferred over the earning period of the premium. We establish known loss reserves when reported. We establish reserves for losses in excess of reported activity in the form of IBNR. Reserves are established using actuarial analysis which includes models and methods Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 124 traditionally used for the types of exposures written. We establish reserves for event specific occurrences using modeling data and company specific data when available. We enter into other reinsurance transactions to reduce risk and uncertainty by buying property casualty reinsurance and retrocessional reinsurance as well as life reinsurance. Reinsurance and retrocessional reinsurance contracts do not relieve us from our obligation to policyholders, but rather help protect our financial strength to perform that duty. All of these ceded reinsurance contracts transfer the economic risk of loss. Premiums that we cede are deferred and recorded as earned premiums on a pro rata basis over the terms of the contracts. We estimate loss amounts recoverable from our reinsurers based on the reinsurance policy terms. Historically, our claims with reinsurers have been paid. We establish an insignificant allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. Income Taxes We calculate deferred income tax liabilities and assets using tax rates in effect when temporary differences in the consolidated financial statement income and taxable income are expected to reverse. We recognize deferred income taxes for numerous temporary differences between our taxable income and consolidated financial statement income and other changes in shareholders’ equity. Such temporary differences relate primarily to unrealized gains and losses on investments and differences in the recognition of deferred acquisition costs, unearned premiums, insurance reserves and basis differences in the carrying value of investments held. We charge deferred income taxes associated with balances that impact other comprehensive income, such as unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments (except the amount related to the effect of income tax rate changes), to shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). We charge deferred taxes associated with other differences to income. Although no Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalties currently are accrued, if incurred, they would be recognized as a component of income tax expense. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017, and reduced U.S. corporate income tax rates from 35 percent to 21 percent. The effect of the rate change was recorded as a one-time noncash benefit to income tax expense in our consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2017. See Note 11, Income Taxes, for further detail on the Tax Act, our uncertain tax positions and other income tax items. Earnings per Share Net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each of the respective years. We calculate net income per common share (diluted) assuming the exercise or conversion of share based awards using the treasury stock method. Land, Building and Equipment We record land at cost, and record building and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation. Equipment held under capital leases also is classified as property and equipment with the related lease obligations recorded as liabilities. We capitalize and amortize costs for internally developed computer software during the application development stage. These costs generally consist of external consulting, internal payroll and payroll-related costs. Our depreciation is based on estimated useful lives (ranging from three years to 39.5 years) using straight-line and accelerated methods. Depreciation expense was $28 million for 2017, $30 million for 2016 and $36 million for 2015. We review our accumulated depreciation for our building, equipment and software assets and write off fully depreciated assets for obsolesce and nonuse. We monitor land, building and equipment and software assets for potential impairments. Potential impairments may include a significant decrease in the fair values of the assets, considerable cost overruns on projects, a change in legal factors or business climate or other factors that indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable or useful. There were no recorded land, building and equipment impairments for 2017, 2016 or 2015. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 125 Finance Receivables Our leasing subsidiary provides auto and equipment direct financing (leases and loans) to commercial and individual clients. We generally transfer ownership of the property to the client as the terms of the leases expire. Our lease contracts contain bargain purchase options. We account for these leases and loans as direct financing-type leases. We capitalize and amortize lease or loan origination costs over the life of the financing, using the effective interest method. These costs may include, but are not limited to finder fees, broker fees, filing fees and the cost of credit reports. We record income as other revenues over the financing term using the effective interest method in the consolidated statements of income. Finance receivables are reviewed for impairment and are insignificant to our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Employee Benefit Pension Plan We sponsor a defined benefit pension plan that was modified during 2008. We closed entry into the pension plan, and only participants 40 years of age or older could elect to remain in the plan. Our pension expense is based on certain actuarial assumptions and also is composed of several components that are determined using the projected unit credit actuarial cost method. Refer to Note 13, Employee Retirement Benefits, for more information about our defined benefit pension plan. Share-Based Compensation We grant qualified and nonqualified share-based compensation under authorized plans. The stock options generally vest on a graded scale over three years following the date of grant and are exercisable over 10-year periods. We grant service-based restricted stock units that cliff vest three years after the date of grant as well as service- based restricted stock units that vest ratably over the three-year vesting term. We also grant performance-based restricted stock units that vest if certain market conditions are attained. In 2017, the CFC compensation committee approved share-based awards including incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, service-based restricted and performance-based restricted stock units. See Note 17, Share-Based Associate Compensation Plans, for further details. Subsequent Events There were no subsequent events requiring adjustment to the consolidated financial statements or disclosure. Adopted Accounting Updates ASU 2016-07, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-07, Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting. ASU 2016-07 eliminates the requirement to retroactively adjust an investment, results of operations, and retained earnings once an investment qualifies for use of the equity method. It requires the equity method investor to add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor's previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting without retroactive adjustment. The effective date of ASU 2016-07 was for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and was applied prospectively. The company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017, and it did not have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The effective date of ASU 2016-09 was for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The recognition and classification of the excess tax benefit provisions were applied prospectively in the results of operations and statement of cash flows. This adoption resulted in excess tax benefits of $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, which reduced our current provision for income taxes in our results of operations. The statutory tax withholding classification, which are cash payments made to taxing authorities for shares withheld, were applied retrospectively and reclassified the statutory Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 126 tax withholding requirements in the statement of cash flows from Other liabilities in operating activities to Other in financing activities. This statutory tax withholding reclassification resulted in $13 million, $12 million and $11 million being included in financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. There were no cumulative effect adjustments upon adoption of this ASU. ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”). ASU 2018-02 eliminates the stranded tax effects within AOCI resulting from the application of current GAAP in response to the change in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent as part of the Tax Act. Stranded tax effects unrelated to the Tax Act are released from AOCI using the security-by-security approach. The effective date of ASU 2018-02 is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted for public entities for which financial statements had not yet been issued. The company elected to early adopt ASU 2018-02 effective for the year ended December 31, 2017, and applied the provisions retrospectively within our consolidated balance sheets and statements of shareholders' equity. This adoption resulted in a one-time reclassification of the effect of remeasuring deferred tax liabilities related to items, primarily unrealized gains and losses on investments, within AOCI to retained earnings resulting from the change in the U.S. corporate income tax rate. This reclassification resulted in an increase to AOCI and a decrease to retained earnings in the amount of $492 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, with no net impact to total shareholders' equity. Pending Accounting Updates ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. Insurance contracts do not fall within the scope of this ASU. The effective date of ASU 2014-09 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted and will not have a material impact on our company’s consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 revises the accounting related to the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. Our results of operations will be impacted as changes in fair value of equity securities will be reported in net income instead of other comprehensive income. The effective date of ASU 2016-01 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and will be applied prospectively. The ASU has not yet been adopted. Upon adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2018, $2.503 billion of after-tax unrealized gains on equity securities will be reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings. ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The main provision of ASU 2016-02 requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The effective date of ASU 2016-02 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it is not expected to have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 127 ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 amends previous guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by adding an impairment model that allows an entity to recognize expected credit losses as an allowance rather than impairing as they are incurred. The new guidance is intended to reduce complexity of credit impairment models and result in a more timely recognition of expected credit losses. The effective date of ASU 2016-13 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The ASU has not yet been adopted. Management is currently evaluating the impact on our company’s consolidated financial position, cash flows and results of operations. ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The effective date of ASU 2016-15 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it will not have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Costs. ASU 2017-07 provides guidance on how to present the components of net periodic benefit costs in the income statement for pension plans and other post-retirement benefit plans. The effective date of ASU 2017-07 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it will not have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU 2017-08 amends guidance on the amortization period of premiums on certain purchased callable debt securities. The amendments shorten the amortization period of premiums on certain purchased callable debt securities to the earliest call date. The amendments should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. The effective date of ASU 2017-08 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it will not have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. ASU 2017-09 clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share- based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis. The effective date of ASU 2017-09 is for interim and annual reporting periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it will not have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 128 NOTE 2 – Investments The following table provides cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value for our fixed-maturity and equity securities: (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Fixed-maturity securities: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States government Foreign government Subtotal Equity securities: Common equities Nonredeemable preferred equities Subtotal Total At December 31, 2016 Fixed-maturity securities: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States government Foreign government Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached Subtotal Equity securities: Common equities Nonredeemable preferred equities Subtotal Total Cost or amortized cost Gross unrealized gains losses Fair value $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 5,420 4,316 280 257 31 10 10,314 2,918 176 3,094 13,408 5,555 3,770 282 167 10 10 5 9,799 $ $ $ 246 155 7 1 — — 409 3,135 34 3,169 3,578 252 100 7 — — — — 359 2,812 183 2,995 12,794 $ 2,320 28 2,348 2,707 $ 13 6 1 4 — — 24 14 — 14 38 26 42 2 3 — — — 73 9 — 9 82 $ $ $ $ 5,653 4,465 286 254 31 10 10,699 6,039 210 6,249 16,948 5,781 3,828 287 164 10 10 5 10,085 5,123 211 5,334 15,419 The net unrealized investment gains in our fixed-maturity portfolio at December 31, 2017, are primarily the result of the continued low interest rate environment that increased the fair value of our fixed-maturity portfolio. Our commercial mortgage-backed securities had an average rating of Aa1/AA at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The seven largest net unrealized investment gains in our common stock portfolio are from JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Honeywell International Incorporated (NYSE:HON), BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq:MFST), Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL), 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) and Johnson and Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), which had a combined gross unrealized gain of $1.013 billion. At December 31, 2017, JP Morgan Chase & Co. was our largest single equity holding with a fair value of 4.0 percent of our publicly traded common equities portfolio and 1.4 percent of the total investment portfolio. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 129 The table below provides fair values and unrealized losses by investment category and by the duration of the securities’ continuous unrealized loss positions: (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Fixed-maturity securities: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises Foreign government United States government Subtotal Equity securities: Common equities Subtotal Total At December 31, 2016 Fixed-maturity securities: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States government Subtotal Equity securities: Common equities Nonredeemable preferred equities Subtotal Total Less than 12 months Unrealized losses Fair value 12 months or more Fair value Unrealized losses Total Fair value Unrealized losses $ 330 $ 4 $ 252 $ 9 $ 582 $ 88 33 96 10 23 580 229 229 809 $ $ 1 — 1 — — 6 14 14 20 $ 264 36 124 — 6 682 — — 682 $ 5 1 3 — — 18 — — 18 352 69 220 10 29 1,262 229 229 $ 1,491 $ $ 733 $ 15 $ 189 $ 11 $ 922 $ 989 89 155 6 1,972 103 4 107 $ 2,079 $ 42 2 3 — 62 9 — 9 71 $ — 2 — — 191 — — — 191 $ — — — — 11 — — — 11 989 91 155 6 2,163 103 4 107 $ 2,270 $ 13 6 1 4 — — 24 14 14 38 26 42 2 3 — 73 9 — 9 82 Contractual maturity dates for fixed-maturity investments were: (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Maturity dates: Due in one year or less Due after one year through five years Due after five years through ten years Due after ten years Total Amortized cost Fair value % of fair value $ $ 511 2,736 3,921 3,146 10,314 $ $ 519 2,839 4,058 3,283 10,699 4.9% 26.5 37.9 30.7 100.0% Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities when there is a right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the company had fixed-maturity investments with a fair value of $101 million and $72 million, respectively, on deposit with various states in compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition, cash and fixed-maturity investments deposited with third parties used as collateral to secure liabilities on behalf of insureds, cedants and other creditors had a fair value of $57 million and $22 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 130 In the normal course of investing activities, the company enters into investments in limited partnerships, including private equity and real estate investments, and asset-backed securities issued by third-parties. The company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the investment carrying values included in the company’s consolidated balance sheets and any unfunded commitments. The following table provides investment income and realized investment gains and losses: (Dollars in millions) Investment income: Interest Dividends Other Total Less investment expenses Total Realized investment gains and losses: Fixed maturities: Gross realized gains Gross realized losses Other-than-temporary impairments Equity securities: Gross realized gains Gross realized losses Other-than-temporary impairments Other Total Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ 445 170 4 619 10 609 25 — (6) 195 (72) (3) 9 148 $ $ $ $ 440 161 3 604 9 595 26 (1) (2) 152 (53) — 2 124 $ $ $ $ 428 150 3 581 9 572 18 — (18) 129 (26) (34) 1 70 For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were no credit losses on fixed-maturity securities for which a portion of OTTI has been recognized in other comprehensive income. During 2017, we other-than-temporarily impaired six securities. At December 31, 2017, 249 fixed-maturity investments with a total unrealized loss of $18 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, no fixed-maturity investments had fair values below 70 percent of amortized cost. There were no equity security investments in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2017. During 2016, we other-than-temporarily impaired four securities. At December 31, 2016, 32 fixed-maturity investments with a total unrealized loss of $11 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, no fixed-maturity investments had fair values below 70 percent of amortized cost. There were no equity security investments in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2016. During 2015, we other-than-temporarily impaired 20 securities. At December 31, 2015, 69 fixed-maturity investments with a total unrealized loss of $37 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, five fixed-maturity investments had fair values below 70 percent of amortized cost. There were no equity security investments in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2015. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 131 NOTE 3 – Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Hierarchy The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices with readily available independent data in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable market inputs (Level 3). When various inputs for measurement fall within different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the lowest observable input that has a significant impact on fair value measurement is used. Our valuation techniques have not changed from those used at December 31, 2016, and ultimately management determines fair value. Financial instruments reported at fair value in our consolidated financial statements are categorized based upon the following characteristics or inputs to the valuation techniques: • • Level 1 – Financial assets and liabilities for which inputs are observable and are obtained from reliable quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. This is the most reliable fair value measurement and includes, for example, active exchange-traded equity securities. Level 2 – Financial assets and liabilities for which values are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which values are based on similar assets and liabilities that are actively traded. This also includes pricing models for which the inputs are corroborated by market data. The technique used for the Level 2 fixed-maturity securities and taxable fixed maturities in separate accounts is the application of market based modeling. The inputs used for all classes of fixed-maturity securities listed in the table below include relevant market information by asset class, trade activity of like securities, marketplace quotes, benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, interest rates, U.S. Treasury or swap curves, yield to maturity and economic events. Specific to commercial mortgage-backed securities, key inputs also include prepayment and default projections based on past performance of the underlying collateral and current market data. All of the Level 2 fixed-maturity securities are priced by a nationally recognized pricing vendor. The Level 2 nonredeemable preferred equities technique used is the application of market based modeling. The inputs used, similar to those used by the pricing vendor for our fixed-maturity securities, include relevant market information, trade activity of like securities, yield to maturity, corporate action notices and economic events. All of the Level 2 nonredeemable preferred equities are priced by a nationally recognized pricing vendor. • Level 3 – Financial assets and liabilities for which values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Level 3 inputs include the following: Quotes from brokers or other external sources that are not considered binding; Quotes from brokers or other external sources where it cannot be determined that market participants would in fact transact for the asset or liability at the quoted price; or Quotes from brokers or other external sources where the inputs are not deemed observable. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 132 The following tables illustrate the fair value hierarchy for those assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 and 2016. We do not have any liabilities carried at fair value. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Fixed maturities, available for sale: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States Government Foreign government Subtotal Common equities, available for sale Nonredeemable preferred equities, available for sale Separate accounts taxable fixed maturities Top Hat savings plan mutual funds and common equity (included in Other assets) Total At December 31, 2016 Fixed maturities, available for sale: Corporate States, municipalities and political subdivisions Commercial mortgage-backed Government-sponsored enterprises United States Government Foreign government Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached Subtotal Common equities, available for sale Nonredeemable preferred equities, available for sale Separate accounts taxable fixed maturities Top Hat savings plan mutual funds and common equity (included in Other assets) Total Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total $ $ $ $ — $ — — — 31 — 31 6,039 — — 31 6,101 $ — $ — — — 10 — — 10 5,123 — — $ $ $ 5,652 4,460 286 254 — 10 10,662 — 210 795 — 11,667 5,703 3,828 287 164 — 10 5 9,997 — 211 750 24 5,157 $ — 10,958 $ 1 5 — — — — 6 — — — — 6 78 — — — — — — 78 — — — — 78 $ $ $ 5,653 4,465 286 254 31 10 10,699 6,039 210 795 31 17,774 5,781 3,828 287 164 10 10 5 10,085 5,123 211 750 24 16,193 $ Each financial instrument that was deemed to have significant unobservable inputs when determining valuation is identified in the following tables by security type with a summary of changes in fair value for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Total Level 3 assets continue to be less than 1 percent of financial assets measured at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. Assets presented in the table below were valued based primarily on broker/dealer quotes for which there is a lack of transparency as to inputs used to develop the valuations. Transfers into Level 3 included situations where a fair value quote was not provided by the company's nationally recognized pricing vendor and as a result the price was stale or had been replaced with a broker quote where the inputs had not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the security being classified as Level 3. Transfers out of Level 3 included situations where a broker quote was used without observable inputs or data that could not be corroborated by our pricing vendors in the prior period and significant observable inputs were identified in the current period. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 133 The following table provides the change in Level 3 assets during 2017 and 2016: (Dollars in millions) Asset fair value measurements using significant unobservable input Beginning balance, January 1, 2017 Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized): Included in net income Included in other comprehensive income Purchases Sales Transfers into Level 3 Transfers out of Level 3 Ending balance, December 31, 2017 Beginning balance, January 1, 2016 Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized): Included in net income Included in other comprehensive income Purchases Sales Transfers into Level 3 Transfers out of Level 3 Ending balance, December 31, 2016 Separate accounts taxable fixed maturities States, municipalities and political subdivisions fixed maturities Nonredeemable preferred equities Total $ — $ — $ — $ 78 Corporate fixed maturities 78 $ — — — — — (77) 1 51 — — 57 (1) 13 (42) 78 $ $ $ $ $ $ — — — — — — — $ 1 $ — — — — — (1) — $ — — 5 — — — 5 $ — $ — — — — — — — $ — — — — — — — $ 3 $ — (1) — (2) — — — $ — — 5 — — (77) 6 55 — (1) 57 (3) 13 (43) 78 With the exception of the above table, additional disclosures for the Level 3 category are not material, and therefore not provided. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 134 Fair Value Disclosure for Assets and Liabilities Not Carried at Fair Value The disclosures below are presented to provide information about the effects of current market conditions on financial instruments that are not reported at fair value in our consolidated financial statements. The following table shows fair values of our note payable and long-term debt: (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Note payable 6.900% senior debentures, due 2028 6.920% senior debentures, due 2028 6.125% senior notes, due 2034 Total At December 31, 2016 Note payable 6.900% senior debentures, due 2028 6.920% senior debentures, due 2028 6.125% senior notes, due 2034 Total Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total $ $ $ $ — $ — — — — $ — $ — — — — $ 24 34 505 477 1,040 20 33 488 435 976 $ $ $ $ — $ — — — — $ — $ — — — — $ 24 34 505 477 1,040 20 33 488 435 976 Fair value of the note payable was determined based upon the outstanding balance at December 31, 2017 and 2016, because it is short term and tied to a variable interest rate. Fair value of the long-term debt was determined under the fair value measurements and disclosure accounting rules based on market pricing of similar debt instruments that are actively trading. We determine fair value for our debt the same way that we value corporate fixed maturities in our investment portfolio. Fair value can vary with macroeconomic conditions. Regardless of the fluctuations in fair value, the outstanding principal amount of our long-term debt is $793 million at both December 31, 2017 and 2016. None of the long-term debt is encumbered by rating triggers. The note payable and long-term debt were classified as Level 2 as an active market does not exist, but fair value is determined based on observable inputs. The following table shows the fair value of our life policy loans, included in other invested assets: (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Life policy loans At December 31, 2016 Life policy loans Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) $ $ — $ — $ 41 $ — $ — $ 40 $ Total 41 40 Outstanding principal and interest for these life policy loans totaled $31 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016. To determine the fair value, we make the following significant assumptions: (1) the discount rates used to calculate the present value of expected payments are the risk-free spot rates, as nonperformance risk is minimal; and (2) the loan repayment rate by which policyholders pay off their loan balances is in line with past experience. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 135 The following table shows fair value of our deferred annuities and structured settlements included in life policy and investment contract reserves: (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Deferred annuities Structured settlements Total At December 31, 2016 Deferred annuities Structured settlements Total Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) $ $ $ $ — $ — — $ — $ — — $ — $ 210 210 $ — $ 206 206 $ 834 — 834 839 — 839 $ $ $ $ Total 834 210 1,044 839 206 1,045 Recorded reserves for the deferred annuities were $835 million and $861 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Recorded reserves for the structured settlements were $161 million and $170 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Fair values for deferred annuities were calculated based upon internally developed models because active markets and observable inputs do not exist. To determine the fair value, we made the following significant assumptions: (1) the discount rates used to calculate the present value of expected payments are the risk-free spot rates plus an A3 rated bond spread for financial issuers at December 31, 2017 and 2016, to account for nonperformance risk; (2) the rate of interest credited to policyholders is the portfolio net earned interest rate less a spread for expenses and profit; and (3) additional lapses occur when the credited interest rate is exceeded by an assumed competitor credited rate, which is a function of the risk-free rate of the economic scenario being modeled. Fair values for structured settlements were calculated based on internally developed models which assume the discount rates used to calculate the present value of expected payments are the risk-free spot rates plus an A3 rated bond spread for financial issuers at December 31, 2017 and 2016, to account for nonperformance risk. The structured settlements were classified as Level 2 as an active market does not exist, but fair value is based on observable inputs. NOTE 4 – Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expenses We use actuarial methods, models and judgment to estimate, as of a financial statement date, the property casualty loss and loss expense reserves required to pay for and settle all outstanding insured claims, including incurred but not reported (IBNR) claims, as of that date. The actuarial estimate is subject to review and adjustment by an inter-departmental committee that includes actuarial, claims, underwriting, loss prevention and accounting management. This committee is familiar with relevant company and industry business, claims and underwriting trends, as well as general economic and legal trends that could affect future loss and loss expense payments. The amount we will actually have to pay for claims can be highly uncertain. This uncertainty, together with the size of our reserves, makes the loss and loss expense reserves our most significant estimate. Our reserving process takes into account known facts and interpretations of circumstances and factors including the type of claim, policy provisions pertaining to each claim, potential subrogation or salvage recoverable, large loss activity and trends, new business activity, judicial decisions, economic conditions, changes in law and regulation and product and underwriting changes. There have been no significant changes in methodologies and assumptions used in calculating loss and loss expense reserves for all years presented. There were no material additional premiums or return premiums accrued for as a result of prior-year effects. Our field claims representatives establish case reserves when claims are reported to provide for our unpaid loss and loss expense obligation associated with individual claims. For events designated as natural catastrophes resulting in losses incurred related to direct premiums, we calculate IBNR reserves directly as a result of an estimated claim counts and estimated average dollar amount per claim for each event. Once individual case reserves are established for a catastrophe event, we reduce the IBNR reserves. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 136 Our actuarial staff uses generally accepted actuarial methods and models to derive ultimate loss and IBNR reserve estimates. The time interval between a claims occurrence and its settlement is one of the crucial attributes when estimating ultimate losses and IBNR reserves. Due to the uncertainties inherent with loss reserves, our ultimate loss experience could prove better or worse than what our carried reserves reflect. To the extent that reserves are inadequate and are required to be increased, the amount of the increase is a charge in that period, raising our loss and loss expense ratio and reducing earnings. To the extent that reserves are redundant and are required to be released, the amount of the release is a credit in that period, reducing our loss and loss expense ratio and increasing earnings. This table summarizes activity for our consolidated property casualty loss and loss expense reserves: (Dollars in millions) Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 Gross loss and loss expense reserves, January 1 $ 5,035 $ 4,660 $ Less reinsurance recoverable Net loss and loss expense reserves, January 1 Net incurred loss and loss expenses related to: Current accident year Prior accident years Total incurred Net paid loss and loss expenses related to: Current accident year Prior accident years Total paid Net loss and loss expense reserves, December 31 Plus reinsurance recoverable 298 4,737 3,257 (119) 3,138 1,404 1,439 2,843 5,032 187 281 4,379 3,029 (168) 2,861 1,260 1,243 2,503 4,737 298 Gross loss and loss expense reserves, December 31 $ 5,219 $ 5,035 $ 4,438 282 4,156 2,756 (184) 2,572 1,152 1,197 2,349 4,379 281 4,660 In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the reserve for loss and loss expense in the consolidated balance sheets also included $54 million, $50 million and $58 million, respectively, for certain life and health loss and loss expense reserves. Additional disclosures for reserves related to these health claims are not material and therefore not provided. During 2017, we experienced $119 million of favorable development on prior accident years including $73 million of favorable development in commercial lines, $14 million of favorable development in personal lines, $29 million of favorable development in excess and surplus lines and $3 million of favorable development in our reinsurance assumed operations. We recognized favorable development of $54 million for the workers' compensation line, $33 million for the commercial property line and $30 million for the other commercial lines due to reduced uncertainty of prior accident year loss and loss expense for these lines. This illustrates the potential for revisions inherent in estimating reserves, especially for long-tail lines such as workers’ compensation. We recognized unfavorable reserve development of $33 million for the commercial auto line due to higher loss cost effects in recent accident years, resulting in an increase of our reserve estimate for claims that have not yet been settled. Commercial casualty developed unfavorably by $11 million due to paid losses or re-estimates of case reserves at higher than expected levels. During 2016, we experienced $168 million of favorable development on prior accident years including $129 million of favorable development in commercial lines, $4 million of favorable development in personal lines, $34 million of favorable development in excess and surplus lines and $1 million of favorable development in our reinsurance assumed operations. We recognized favorable development of $69 million for the workers' compensation line, $29 million for the commercial property line, $20 million for commercial casualty line and $42 million for the other commercial lines due to reduced uncertainty of prior accident year loss and loss expense for these lines. We recognized unfavorable reserve development of $31 million for the commercial auto line and $18 million for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 137 personal auto line. Both lines developed unfavorable due to higher loss cost effects in recent accident years, resulting in an increase of our reserve estimate for claims that have not yet been settled. During 2015, we experienced $184 million of favorable development on prior accident years including $154 million of favorable development in commercial lines, $5 million of adverse development in personal lines and $35 million of favorable development in excess and surplus lines. We recognized favorable development of $93 million for the workers’ compensation line, largely due to more favorable 2015 workers' compensation trends for estimated payments to be made in future calendar years that were down slightly from 2014. We recognized favorable development of $63 million for the commercial casualty line. Development for products liability was favorable for most prior accident years and development of prior years for commercial umbrella coverage improved slightly better than expected. Therefore, estimated ultimate losses were lowered. Our commercial auto line experienced $31 million of adverse development due to higher loss cost effects in recent accident years, resulting in an increase of our reserve estimate for claims that have not yet been settled. Included in our lines of business are asbestos and environmental claims. We carried $84 million and $85 million of net loss and loss expense reserves for asbestos and environmental claims at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The asbestos and environmental claims amounts for each respective year constituted less than 2.0 percent of total net loss and loss expense reserves at these year-end dates. We believe our exposure to asbestos and environmental claims is limited, largely because our reinsurance retention was $500,000 or below prior to 1987. We also were predominantly a personal lines company in the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s and early 1990s, commercial lines grew as a percentage of our overall business and our exposure to asbestos and environmental claims grew accordingly. Over that period, we included an asbestos and environmental exclusion in almost all policies or endorsed the exclusion to the policies. We have not engaged in any mergers or acquisitions through which such a liability could have been assumed. We continue to monitor our claims for evidence of material exposure to other mass tort classes but have found no such credible evidence to date. The following table provides a reconciliation of the property casualty incurred losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses (ALAE) development and paid losses and ALAE development information at December 31, 2017. (Dollars in millions) Cumulative incurred losses and ALAE as reported within the triangles, net of reinsurance Cumulative paid losses and ALAE as reported within the triangles, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE for accident years not presented in the triangles, net of reinsurance Total liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses Commercial casualty $ 4,434 $ 2,573 $ 83 $ 1,944 $ Workers' compensation Commercial auto Commercial property Personal auto Homeowner Excess and surplus Other lines 2,259 1,955 2,353 1,774 1,466 441 1,598 1,380 2,095 1,503 1,358 195 267 16 12 5 3 94 928 591 270 276 111 340 43 64 4 7 31 3 3 Total liabilities for loss and ALAE reserves Unallocated loss adjustment expense reserves Gross loss and loss expense reserves Total liabilities for gross loss and loss expense reserves $ 1,987 992 595 277 307 114 343 315 4,930 289 5,219 $ For all lines of business, the claim counts reported are primarily measured by insurance coverages that are triggered when a loss occurs and a reserve is established. For this purpose, coverages are defined as unique combinations of certain attributes such as line of business and cause of loss. Claims that are opened and closed without payment are included in the reported claim counts. Claim counts are presented on a direct basis only and do not reflect any assumed or ceded reinsurance. In the following tables, commercial casualty and workers' compensation each disclose 10 accident years of loss and ALAE reserves and nine accident years of the cumulative number of reported claims. In 2009, we refined our claim count logic such that the definition of an open claim, a closed claim and a claim that closes without payment Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 138 was uniform amongst all of our systems, including legacy systems. Therefore, consistent definitions are only available for accident year 2009 and forward. We will increase the commercial casualty and workers’ compensation cumulative number of reported claims by one year in future periods, not to exceed 10 years. Commercial auto, commercial property, personal auto and homeowner each disclose five accident years of loss and ALAE reserves and cumulative number of reported claims as each of these lines have five year cumulative average annual percentage payouts of approximately 95 percent or higher. The excess and surplus lines began operations in 2008 with earned premiums and loss and ALAE reserves being immaterial prior to 2011. Accordingly, we disclosed seven accident years of loss and ALAE reserves and cumulative number of reported claims for the excess and surplus lines, and will disclose additional accident years in subsequent annual filings, not to exceed 10 years. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 139 Commercial Casualty The following table shows the commercial casualty incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total $ 516 $ 458 $ 409 $ 387 $ 362 $ 359 $ 357 $ 357 $ 355 $ 366 Unaudited 2017 484 409 495 412 394 466 360 378 404 466 370 349 377 414 448 365 347 377 417 443 503 357 348 375 394 431 496 533 357 349 380 394 416 479 526 563 353 343 366 404 413 476 529 574 610 $ 4,434 As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses 11 $ 10 19 17 43 64 82 170 247 381 Cumulative number of reported claims — 20 20 19 18 19 21 20 19 15 Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 31 $ 93 $ 158 $ 212 $ 262 $ 293 $ 315 $ 325 $ 331 $ 339 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total 27 75 33 151 92 27 213 159 93 27 267 203 149 88 35 295 256 227 170 90 34 310 285 266 232 159 97 38 322 300 298 288 232 172 108 46 328 314 315 330 286 287 200 126 48 2,573 83 $ 1,944 All outstanding liabilities before 2008, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the commercial casualty line of business: Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average annual percentage payout 7.9% 14.9% 18.0% 17.7% 13.7% 8.8% 4.8% 3.5% 1.6% 1.8% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 140 Workers’ Compensation The following table shows the workers’ compensation incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total $ 298 $ 305 $ 310 $ 302 $ 299 $ 299 $ 297 $ 296 $ 296 $ 293 Unaudited 2017 307 278 283 263 274 284 238 248 251 265 238 242 246 245 264 235 240 242 234 246 261 234 239 239 220 221 233 246 234 240 236 213 212 214 220 230 232 237 231 211 208 203 208 218 218 $ 2,259 As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses 28 $ 18 22 22 26 28 31 60 72 89 Cumulative number of reported claims — 27 26 24 21 20 19 17 16 13 Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 72 $ 155 $ 195 $ 217 $ 233 $ 242 $ 247 $ 251 $ 254 $ 256 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total 65 132 67 163 134 65 179 164 131 62 188 181 161 121 61 193 192 177 147 119 56 198 198 186 162 144 110 47 201 202 190 171 157 134 93 46 202 204 192 175 164 148 115 97 45 1,598 267 $ 928 All outstanding liabilities before 2008, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the workers’ compensation line of business: Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average annual percentage payout 25.9% 26.9% 12.4% 7.0% 4.2% 2.4% 1.5% 1.4% 0.8% 0.5% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 141 Commercial Auto The following table shows the commercial auto incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, $ 292 $ Unaudited $ 305 333 Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 141 $ $ 199 159 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses Cumulative number of reported claims 2017 5 8 15 36 127 46 51 51 53 47 $ $ 315 346 374 246 223 173 322 351 384 417 285 273 244 184 $ $ $ $ $ 322 358 394 430 451 1,955 307 310 303 273 187 1,380 16 591 The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the commercial auto line of business. Commercial auto includes both physical damage and liability losses. A majority of the incurred losses paid after year 2 are the result of liability losses. Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years Average annual percentage payout 1 43.3% 2 18.7% 3 14.5% 4 11.2% 5 6.7% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 142 Commercial Property The following table shows the commercial property incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, $ 389 $ Unaudited $ 359 452 Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 227 $ $ 330 297 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses Cumulative number of reported claims 2017 1 2 2 7 24 14 17 17 17 16 $ $ 352 444 454 344 412 279 356 441 414 590 349 432 388 358 $ $ $ $ $ 357 442 416 551 587 2,353 352 437 407 504 395 2,095 12 270 The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the commercial property line of business: Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years Average annual percentage payout 1 66.0% 2 26.9% 3 4.4% 4 1.1% 5 0.9% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 143 Personal Auto The following table shows the personal auto incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, $ 280 $ Unaudited $ 280 317 Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 190 $ $ 245 210 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total All outstanding liabilities before 2013 net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses Cumulative number of reported claims 2017 — — — 8 55 96 105 108 110 102 $ $ 293 317 343 272 267 229 298 325 356 383 287 298 292 243 $ $ $ $ $ 298 324 356 384 412 1,774 293 313 325 316 256 1,503 5 276 The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the personal auto line of business. Personal auto includes both physical damage and liability losses. A majority of the incurred losses paid after year 2 are the result of liability losses. Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years Average annual percentage payout 1 63.7% 2 18.1% 3 9.4% 4 4.8% 5 1.9% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 144 Homeowner The following table shows the homeowner incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, $ 252 $ Unaudited $ 246 297 Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 180 $ $ 236 224 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total All outstanding liabilities before 2013, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses Cumulative number of reported claims 2017 — 1 1 3 8 25 26 24 23 24 $ $ 247 283 284 242 273 203 247 286 275 315 244 281 260 208 $ $ $ $ $ 246 285 275 304 356 1,466 246 283 269 283 277 1,358 3 111 The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the homeowner line of business: Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years Average annual percentage payout 1 74.4% 2 21.3% 3 3.0% 4 0.7% 5 0.4% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 145 Excess and Surplus Lines The following table shows the excess and surplus lines incurred and paid losses and ALAE development by accident year. The table also shows the IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported losses and claim frequency: (Dollars in millions, reported claims in thousands) Incurred losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance Accident 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years ended December 31, As of December 31, 2017 Total of incurred but not reported liabilities plus expected development on reported losses Cumulative number of reported claims 2017 $ 48 $ $ 47 67 Unaudited $ 44 56 74 Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Cumulative paid losses and ALAE, net of reinsurance $ 8 $ $ 14 9 $ 23 15 7 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance Liabilities for loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance 1 1 4 16 22 34 64 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 $ $ 38 49 64 95 27 19 12 9 $ $ 36 40 54 82 96 30 25 20 17 8 $ 35 37 45 75 81 93 32 29 27 27 19 10 $ $ $ $ 35 36 42 64 73 87 104 441 34 31 32 37 29 21 11 195 94 340 The following table shows the average annual percentage payout of incurred losses for the excess and surplus lines insurance segment. Excess and surplus lines consist mostly of commercial casualty and commercial property coverages. A majority of the incurred losses paid after year 2 are the result of commercial casualty losses. Average annual percentage payout of incurred losses by age, net of reinsurance (unaudited) Years 1 2 3 4 5 Average annual percentage payout 16.0% 14.1% 17.5% 14.7% 10.7% 6 7.2% 7 1.1% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 146 NOTE 5 – Life Policy and Investment Contract Reserves We establish the reserves for traditional life insurance policies based on expected expenses, mortality, morbidity, withdrawal rates, timing of claim presentation and investment yields, including a provision for uncertainty. Once these assumptions are established, they generally are maintained throughout the lives of the contracts. We use both our own experience and industry experience, adjusted for historical trends, in arriving at our assumptions for expected mortality, morbidity and withdrawal rates as well as for expected expenses. We base our assumptions for expected investment income on our own experience adjusted for current economic conditions. We establish reserves for the company’s universal life, deferred annuity and structured settlement policies equal to the cumulative account balances, which include premium deposits plus credited interest less charges and withdrawals. Some of our universal life policies contain no-lapse guarantee provisions. For these policies, we establish a reserve in addition to the account balance, based on expected no-lapse guarantee benefits and expected policy assessments. This table summarizes our life policy and investment contract reserves: (Dollars in millions) Life policy reserves: Ordinary/traditional life Other Subtotal Investment contract reserves: Deferred annuities Universal life Structured settlements Other Subtotal Total life policy and investment contract reserves At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ 1,080 47 1,127 835 601 160 6 1,602 2,729 $ $ 1,011 45 1,056 861 578 170 6 1,615 2,671 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 147 NOTE 6 – Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Expenses directly related to successfully acquired insurance policies – primarily commissions, premium taxes and underwriting costs – are deferred and amortized over the terms of the policies. We update our acquisition cost assumptions periodically to reflect actual experience, and we evaluate the costs for recoverability. The table below shows the deferred policy acquisition costs and asset reconciliation: (Dollars in millions) Property casualty: Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, January 1 Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, December 31 Life: Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, January 1 Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs Amortized shadow deferred policy acquisition costs Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, December 31 Consolidated: Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, January 1 Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs Amortized shadow deferred policy acquisition costs Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, December 31 Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ $ $ 408 897 (867) 438 229 51 (46) (2) 232 637 948 (913) (2) 670 $ $ $ $ $ $ 388 840 (820) 408 228 49 (43) (5) 229 616 889 (863) (5) 637 $ $ $ $ $ $ 379 801 (792) 388 199 45 (37) 21 228 578 846 (829) 21 616 No premium deficiencies were recorded in the consolidated statements of income in 2017, 2016 and 2015, as the sum of the anticipated loss and loss expenses, policyholder dividends and unamortized deferred acquisition expenses did not exceed the related unearned premiums and anticipated investment income. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 148 NOTE 7 – Note Payable We have one line of credit through multiple commercial banks with a borrowing capacity of $225 million and an additional $50 million accordion feature. Our unsecured revolving credit facility has a term of five years that expires May 13, 2019. We had no compensating balance requirements on short-term debt for either 2017 or 2016. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, $24 million and $20 million was drawn on the line of credit, respectively. The interest rate charged on our borrowings on this credit agreement ranged from 1.65 percent to 2.45 percent during 2017 and ranged from 1.31 percent to 1.49 percent during 2016. NOTE 8 – Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations This table summarizes the principal amounts of our long-term debt excluding unamortized discounts, none of which are encumbered by rating triggers: (Dollars in millions) Interest rate 6.900% 6.920% 6.125% Year of issue 1998 2005 2004 Book value At December 31, Principal amount At December 31, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Senior debentures, due 2028 Senior debentures, due 2028 Senior notes, due 2034 Total $ $ 26 391 370 787 $ $ 26 391 370 787 $ $ 28 391 374 793 $ $ 28 391 374 793 Capital lease obligations, excluding an insignificant amount of interest, totaled $40 million and $39 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Below are the expected capital lease obligations that we expect to pay over the next six years: (Dollars in millions) Capital lease obligations 2018 12 $ Years ended December 31, 2020 7 $ 2021 5 $ 2019 10 $ 2022 $ 4 $ 2023 2 NOTE 9 – Shareholders’ Equity and Dividend Restrictions Declared cash dividends per share were $2.50, $1.92 and $2.30 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our insurance subsidiary declared dividends to the parent company of $465 million in 2017, $475 million in 2016 and $447 million in 2015. State regulatory requirements restrict the dividends insurance subsidiaries can pay. Generally, the most our insurance subsidiary can pay without prior regulatory approval is the greater of 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus or 100 percent of statutory net income for the prior calendar year. Dividends exceeding these limitations may be paid only with approval of the insurance department of the domiciliary state. During 2018, the total that our insurance subsidiary, which is the parent of all other insurance subsidiaries, may declare in dividends is approximately $509 million. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income The table below shows beginning and end of year accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for investments, pension obligations, life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other. The changes from the beginning of year to the end of year are the result of changes to other comprehensive income or loss (OCI). Additionally, as a result of the early adoption of ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, included in the table below is the reclassification of $492 million which increased AOCI and decreased retained earnings. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further explanation of this ASU. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 149  (Dollars in millions) Investments: AOCI, January 1 OCI before realized gains recognized in net income Realized gains recognized in net income OCI Adjustment to reclassify certain tax effects from AOCI AOCI, December 31 Pension obligations: AOCI, January 1 OCI excluding amortization recognized in net income Amortization recognized in net income OCI AOCI, December 31 Life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other: Before tax 2017 Income tax Net Before tax 2016 Income tax Net Before tax 2015 Income tax Net $2,625 $ 908 $ 1,717 $2,094 $ 722 $ 1,372 $2,719 $ 942 $ 1,777 1,054 366 688 653 229 424 (556) (196) (360) (139) 915 (49) 317 (90) 598 (122) 531 (43) 186 (79) 345 (69) (625) (24) (220) (45) (405) — $3,540 (492) $ 733 492 $ 2,807 — $2,625 — $ 908 — $ 1,717 — $2,094 — $ 722 — $ 1,372 $ (26) $ (8) $ (18) $ (42) $ (14) $ (28) $ (36) $ (12) $ (24) 12 6 2 14 $ (12) $ 1 7 (1) $ 6 1 7 (11) 13 5 8 (12) (5) 3 16 $ (26) $ 1 6 (8) $ 2 10 (18) 6 (6) $ (42) $ 3 (2) (14) $ (7) 3 (4) (28) AOCI, January 1 $ (9) $ (3) $ (6) $ 1 $ 1 $ — $ (12) $ (3) $ (9) OCI before realized gains recognized in net income Realized gains recognized in net income OCI AOCI, December 31 Summary of AOCI: AOCI, January 1 Investments OCI Pension obligations OCI Life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other OCI Total OCI Adjustment to reclassify certain tax effects from AOCI AOCI, December 31 8 5 (9) (1) $ (10) $ (4) 1 (2) $ 3 (5) (2) (8) (8) (3) (2) (10) (9) $ $ (1) (4) (3) $ (5) (1) (6) (6) $ 14 (1) 13 1 $ 5 (1) 4 1 9 — 9 $ — $2,590 915 14 $ 897 317 7 $ 1,693 598 7 $2,053 531 16 $ 709 186 6 $ 1,344 345 10 $2,671 (625) (6) $ 927 (220) (2) $ 1,744 (405) (4) (1) 928 1 325 (2) 603 (10) 537 (4) 188 (6) 349 13 (618) 4 (218) 9 (400) — $3,518 (492) $ 730 492 $ 2,788 — $2,590 — $ 897 — $ 1,693 — $2,053 — $ 709 — $ 1,344 Investments realized gains and life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other realized gains are recorded in the realized investment gains, net, line item in the consolidated statements of income. Amortization on pension obligations is recorded in the insurance losses and contract holders' benefits and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses line items in the consolidated statements of income. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 150 NOTE 10 – Reinsurance Primary components of our property casualty reinsurance assumed operations include involuntary and voluntary assumed as well as contracts from our reinsurance assumed operations, known as Cincinnati Re. Primary components of our ceded reinsurance include a property per risk treaty, property excess treaty, casualty per occurrence treaty, casualty excess treaty, property catastrophe treaty and catastrophe bonds and retrocessions on our reinsurance assumed operations. Management’s decisions about the appropriate level of risk retention are affected by various factors, including changes in our underwriting practices, capacity to retain risks and reinsurance market conditions. The tables below summarize our consolidated property casualty insurance net written premiums, earned premiums and incurred loss and loss expenses: (Dollars in millions) Direct written premiums Assumed written premiums Ceded written premiums Net written premiums (Dollars in millions) Direct earned premiums Assumed earned premiums Ceded earned premiums Earned premiums (Dollars in millions) Direct incurred loss and loss expenses Assumed incurred loss and loss expenses Ceded incurred loss and loss expenses Incurred loss and loss expenses Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 4,854 125 (139) 4,840 $ $ 4,646 103 (169) 4,580 $ $ 4,461 77 (177) 4,361 Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 4,752 132 (162) 4,722 $ $ 4,567 77 (162) 4,482 $ $ 4,396 29 (154) 4,271 Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 2,961 113 64 3,138 $ $ 2,874 43 (56) 2,861 $ $ 2,596 12 (36) 2,572 $ $ $ $ $ $ Our changes in direct incurred and ceded incurred compared to prior years resulted primarily from a large settlement paid by USAIG, a joint underwriting association of individual insurance companies that collectively functions as a worldwide aviation insurance market. This settlement resulted in offsetting amounts to direct incurred and ceded incurred with no change to our net incurred loss and loss expenses. We terminated our participation in the USAIG pool after policy year 2002. Our life insurance company purchases reinsurance for protection of a portion of risks that are written. Primary components of our life reinsurance program include individual mortality coverage, aggregate catastrophe and accidental death coverage in excess of certain deductibles. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 151 The tables below summarize our consolidated life insurance earned premiums and contract holders' benefits incurred: (Dollars in millions) Direct earned premiums Ceded earned premiums Earned premiums (Dollars in millions) Direct contract holders' benefits incurred Ceded contract holders' benefits incurred Contract holders' benefits incurred Years ended December 31, 2016 2017 2015 300 (68) 232 $ $ 290 (62) 228 $ $ Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 319 (67) 252 $ $ 303 (57) 246 $ $ 271 (62) 209 292 (56) 236 $ $ $ $ The ceded benefits incurred can vary depending on the type of life insurance policy held and the year the policy was issued. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 152 NOTE 11 – Income Taxes The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31 were as follows: (Dollars in millions) Deferred tax assets: Loss and loss expense reserves Unearned premiums Investments Other Total gross deferred tax assets Deferred tax liabilities: Unrealized investment gains and other, net Deferred acquisition costs Life policy reserves Investments Other Total gross deferred tax liabilities Net deferred income tax liability At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ 123 100 — 27 250 740 123 111 10 11 995 745 $ $ 199 158 5 52 414 907 195 162 — 15 1,279 865 Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amount recognized for tax purposes. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when management believes it is more likely than not that some, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. After considering all positive and negative evidence of taxable income in the carryback and carryforward periods as permitted by law, we believe it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax asset will be realized. As a result, we have no valuation allowance as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. The differences between the 35 percent statutory federal income tax rate and our effective income tax rate were as follows: (Dollars in millions) Tax at statutory rate: Increase (decrease) resulting from: Tax-exempt income from municipal bonds Dividend received exclusion Deferred tax benefit due to tax rate change Other Provision for income taxes $ 2017 Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 $ 256 35.0 % $ 284 35.0% $ 308 35.0% (36) (34) (495) (6) (315) (4.9) (4.7) (67.8) (0.8) (43.2)% $ (34) (33) — 4 221 (4.2) (4.1) — 0.5 27.2% $ (33) (32) — 4 247 (3.7) (3.6) — 0.3 28.0% Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 153 The Tax Act was enacted on December 22, 2017, and represented one of the most comprehensive changes in U.S. corporate income taxation since 1986. The Tax Act revises the U.S. corporate income tax by lowering the corporate income tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35 percent to a flat rate of 21 percent. In addition to lowering tax rates, changes were made to the amount of the dividends received deduction and the required proration addback for qualified dividend income and tax exempt municipal interest. The Tax Act is effective January 1, 2018. The reduction in corporate income tax rate decreased our net deferred tax liability as of December 22, 2017, by $495 million. The effect of the rate change was recorded as a one-time noncash benefit to income tax expense in our consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2017, with an effective tax rate benefit of 67.8 percent. This benefit results from re-measuring our net deferred tax liability at the newly enacted corporate income tax rate of 21 percent (the rate at which the deferred items are expected to be reversed) versus the 35 percent rate at which the net deferred tax benefits were previously carried. Of this $495 million benefit, $492 million relates to net unrealized gains on investments and other AOCI amounts. The remainder relates to differences in the recognition of deferred acquisition costs, unearned premiums, insurance reserves and basis differences in the carrying value of investments held. We expect to complete determination of the effects of the Tax Act on our deferred tax assets and liabilities as part of the annual income tax return filing process which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018. The provision for federal income taxes is based upon filing a consolidated income tax return for the company and its subsidiaries. Included in Other above is the current year tax benefit under ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which decreased both the provision for income taxes and the effective income tax rate by $7 million and 1 percent, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we had no operating or capital loss carryforwards. Unrecognized Tax Benefits As a result of positions either taken in our 2014 through 2016 federal tax returns filed with the IRS or expected to be taken in the 2017 filing, we believe it is more likely than not that our tax liability will be sustained upon examination by the IRS. We therefore carry no amount for unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended 2014 through 2017. The statute of limitations for federal tax purposes has closed for tax years 2013 and earlier. There are no federal returns under examination and we have not been notified of any upcoming IRS examinations. Income taxes paid in our consolidated statements of cash flows are shown net of refunds received of $18 million in 2017, $2 million in 2016 and an immaterial amount in 2015. In addition to our IRS filings, we file income tax returns with immaterial amounts in various state jurisdictions. The statute of limitations for state income tax purposes has closed for tax years 2013 and earlier. There are no state income returns under examination and we have not been notified of any upcoming state examinations. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 154 NOTE 12 – Net Income Per Common Share Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. The table shows calculations for basic and diluted earnings per share: (In millions, except per share data) Numerator: Net income—basic and diluted Denominator: Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding Effect of share-based awards: Stock options Nonvested shares Diluted weighted-average shares Earnings per share: Basic Diluted Number of anti-dilutive share-based awards Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ 1,045 $ 591 $ 634 164.2 1.1 0.7 166.0 164.5 1.1 0.9 166.5 $ $ 6.36 6.29 0.7 $ 3.59 3.55 0.3 164.0 1.0 0.6 165.6 3.87 3.83 0.4 The current sources of dilution of our common shares are certain equity-based awards as discussed in Note 17, Share-Based Associate Compensation Plans. The above table includes the number of anti-dilutive share-based awards at year-end 2017, 2016 and 2015. We did not include these share-based awards in the computation of net income per common share (diluted) because their exercise would have anti-dilutive effects. Our 2017 net income and basic and diluted earnings per share were impacted by the Tax Act as discussed in Note 11, Income Taxes. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 155 NOTE 13 – Employee Retirement Benefits We sponsor a qualified defined benefit pension plan that we closed entry into for new associates as of June 30, 2008, and only participants 40 years of age or older as of August 31, 2008, could elect to continue to participate. During 2008, we changed the form of retirement benefit we offer some associates to a company match on contributions to a 401(k) plan as further explained below. For participants remaining in the pension plan, we continue to fund future benefit obligations. Benefits for the defined benefit pension plan are based on years of credited service and compensation level. Contributions are based on the prescribed method defined in the Pension Protection Act. Our net periodic benefit cost is based on certain actuarial assumptions and also is composed of several components that are determined using the projected unit credit actuarial cost method. The qualified plan has been amended to allow for distribution of vested balances to terminated participants. We sponsor a defined contribution plan (401(k) plan) with matching company contributions totaling $16 million, $14 million and $12 million during the years 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Associates who are not accruing benefits under the pension plan are eligible to receive the company match of up to 6 percent of cash compensation. Participants vest in the company match for the 401(k) plan after three years of eligible service. We maintain a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) with a benefit obligation of $9 million at year-end 2017 and $15 million at year-end 2016, which is included in the projected benefit obligation. The company also makes available to a select group of associates the CFC Top Hat Savings Plan, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which had a fair value of $31 million and $24 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Company matching contributions to the CFC Top Hat Savings Plan totaled $1 million for the year 2017 and less than $1 million for both years 2016 and 2015. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assumptions We evaluate our pension plan assumptions annually and update them as necessary. This is a summary of the weighted-average assumptions used to determine our benefit obligations at December 31 for the plans: Discount rate Rate of compensation increase Qualified Pension Plan 2017 2016 3.73% 2.75-3.25 4.30% 2.75-3.25 SERP 2017 3.61% 2.75-3.25 2016 4.10% 2.75-3.25 To determine the discount rate for each plan, a theoretical settlement portfolio of high-quality rated corporate bonds was chosen to provide payments approximately matching the plan’s projected benefit payments. A single interest rate for each plan was determined resulting in a discounted value of the plan's benefit payments that equates to the market value of the selected bonds. The discount rate is reflective of current market interest rate conditions and our plan's liability characteristics. Based on this analysis, we decreased the rate from the prior year by 0.57 percentage points for the qualified pension plan and by 0.49 percentage points for the SERP. Compensation increase assumptions reflect anticipated rates of inflation, real return on wage growth and merit and promotional increases. The mortality assumption is updated annually to reflect the updated scale. The RP-2014 Employee Mortality Tables and RP-2014 Annuitant Mortality Tables for males and females projected generationally with Scale MP-2017, Scale MP-2016 and Scale MP-2015 were used for the years 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The updated mortality table did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements as our qualified plan assumes the majority of benefits will be paid in the form of lump sums. This is a summary of the weighted-average assumptions used to determine our net periodic benefit cost for the plans: Discount rate Expected return on plan assets Rate of compensation increase Qualified Pension Plan 2016 2017 2015 4.30% 7.25 2.75-3.25 4.55% 7.25 4.25% 7.25 2.75-3.25 2.75-3.25 2017 4.10% n/a 2.75-3.25 SERP 2016 4.30% n/a 2.75-3.25 2015 4.05% n/a 2.75-3.25 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 156 The discount rate was decreased by 0.25 percentage points for the qualified pension plan and 0.20 percentage points for the SERP due to market interest rate conditions at the beginning of 2017. The discount rate assumptions for our benefit obligation generally track with high-quality rated corporate bond yields chosen in our theoretical settlement portfolio, and yearly adjustments reflect any changes to those bond yields. We believe the expected return on plan assets is representative of the expected long-term rate of return on these assets, which is consistent with 2017 expectations of interest rates and based partially on the fact that the plan’s common stock holdings pay dividends. We review historical actual return on plan assets when determining our expected long-term rate of return. Total portfolio return for 2017 was 17.4 percent and for 2016 was 16.6 percent. Our compensation increase assumptions in 2017 reflect anticipated rates of inflation, real return on wage growth and merit and promotional increases. Benefit obligation activity using an actuarial measurement date for our qualified pension plan and SERP at December 31 follows: (Dollars in millions) Change in projected benefit obligation: Benefit obligation, January 1 Service cost Interest cost Actuarial loss Benefits paid Projected benefit obligation, December 31 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets, January 1 Actual return on plan assets Employer contribution Benefits paid Fair value of plan assets, December 31 Funded status, December 31 Accumulated benefit obligation At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ $ $ $ $ 340 11 14 20 (34) 351 315 52 12 (34) 345 $ $ $ $ (6) $ 322 $ 323 11 14 13 (21) 340 278 45 13 (21) 315 (25) 309 Our unfunded status improved for 2017 primarily due to better-than-expected return on plan assets partially offset by actuarial losses resulting largely from decreases in discount rate and assumed lump sum rates. A reconciliation follows of the funded status for our qualified plan and SERP at the end of the measurement period to the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31: (Dollars in millions) Pension amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets: Other liabilities Total Pension amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: Net actuarial loss Prior service cost Total At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ $ $ (6) $ (6) $ 12 — 12 $ $ (25) (25) 26 — 26 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 157 Below are the components of our net periodic benefit cost, as well as other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income for our qualified plan and SERP at December 31: (Dollars in millions) Net periodic benefit cost: Service cost Interest cost Expected return on plan assets Amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost Other Net periodic benefit cost Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income: Current year actuarial (gain) loss Amortization of actuarial loss Amortization of prior service cost Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (income) loss Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ $ 11 14 (21) 2 1 7 $ $ (11) $ (3) — (14) $ (7) $ 11 14 (19) 3 — 9 $ $ (13) $ (2) (1) (16) $ (7) $ 12 14 (18) 6 1 15 13 (6) (1) 6 21 The 2017 amount recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income remained unchanged from 2016. The 2016 change in the amount recognized in other comprehensive income from 2015 is largely due to better-than-expected investment return partially offset with decreases in discount and assumed lump sum rates. The estimated costs to be amortized from AOCI into net periodic benefit cost over the next year for our plans are $1 million in actuarial loss and less than $1 million in prior service cost. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets The pension plan assets are managed to maximize total return over the long term while providing sufficient liquidity and current return to satisfy the cash flow requirements of the plan. The plan’s day-to-day investment decisions are managed by our internal investment department; however, overall investment strategies are discussed with our employee benefits committee. Our investment strategy, currently driven by the low interest rate environment, is to weight our portfolio towards large-cap, high-quality, dividend-growing equities that we have historically favored. As our plan matures and interest rates normalize, we expect a greater allocation to fixed-income securities to better align asset and liability market risks. Our fixed-maturity bond portfolio is investment grade. The plan does not engage in derivative transactions. Excluding cash, during 2017 we held approximately 80 percent of our pension portfolio in domestic common equity investments. The remainder of the portfolio consisted of 9 percent in states, municipalities and taxable political subdivisions fixed-maturity investments and 11 percent in domestic corporate fixed-maturity investments. Our common equity portfolio consisted of 22 percent in both the the information technology sector and financial sector, 15 percent in the healthcare sector, 13 percent in the consumer discretionary sector and 12 percent in the industrial sector at year-end 2017. No additional sectors accounted for 10 percent or more of our common equity portfolio balance at year-end 2017. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 158 Investments in securities are valued based on the fair value hierarchy outlined in Note 3, Fair Value Measurements. The pension plan did not have any liabilities carried at fair value during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. There have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. The following table shows the fair value hierarchy for those assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017 and 2016. Excluded from the table below is cash on hand of $18 million and $11 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. (Dollars in millions) At December 31, 2017 Fixed maturities, available for sale: States, municipalities and political subdivisions Corporate Total fixed maturities, available for sale Common equities, available for sale Total At December 31, 2016 Fixed maturities, available for sale: States, municipalities and political subdivisions Corporate Total fixed maturities, available for sale Common equities, available for sale Total Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total $ $ $ $ — $ — — 262 262 $ — $ — — 253 253 $ 31 34 65 — 65 31 20 51 — 51 $ $ $ $ — $ — — — — $ — $ — — — — $ 31 34 65 262 327 31 20 51 253 304 Our pension plan assets included 232,113 shares of the company’s common stock at both December 31, 2017 and 2016, which had a fair value of $17 million and $18 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The defined benefit pension plan did not purchase any shares of our common stock during 2017 and 2016. No shares of our common stock were sold during 2017. During 2016, the pension plan sold 35,000 shares of the company’s common stock. The company paid $1 million in 2017 and less than $1 million in 2016 in cash dividends on our common stock to the pension plan. We contributed $5 million to our qualified plan during the first quarter of 2018 and estimate $5 million of benefit payments from the SERP during 2018. We expect to make the following benefit payments for our qualified plan and SERP, reflecting expected future service: (Dollars in millions) Years ended December 31, Expected future benefit payments $ 26 $ 24 $ 25 $ 29 $ 26 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 - 2027 $ 146 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 159 NOTE 14 – Statutory Accounting Information Insurance companies’ statutory financial statements are presented on the basis of accounting practices prescribed or permitted by applicable state insurance departments of domicile. Insurance companies use statutory accounting practices (SAP) as recognized by various states. We have adopted the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures manual, version effective January 1, 2001, and updates through the current year as a component of prescribed or permitted practices by laws of the state of domicile. The primary differences between SAP and GAAP include the valuation of unrealized investment gains and losses, expensing of policy acquisition costs, actuarial assumptions for life insurance reserves and deferred income taxes based on differences in statutory and taxable income. Statutory net income (loss) and capital and surplus are determined in accordance with SAP prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities for five legal entities, our insurance subsidiary and its four insurance subsidiaries. Statutory capital and surplus for our insurance subsidiary, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, includes capital and surplus of its four insurance subsidiaries. All capital and surplus amounts exceed statutory risk-based capital requirements. The statutory net income (loss) and statutory capital and surplus are presented below: (Dollars in millions) Net income (loss) Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Casualty Company The Cincinnati Indemnity Company The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company $ $ 401 21 4 58 12 $ 434 11 4 57 2 534 12 3 49 (11) Capital and surplus At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ 5,094 392 100 436 195 4,686 360 93 372 200 NOTE 15 – Transactions With Affiliated Parties We paid certain officers and directors, or insurance agencies of which they are shareholders, commissions of $7 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, on premium volume of $45 million, $44 million and $42 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. NOTE 16 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities In the ordinary course of conducting business, the company and its subsidiaries are named as defendants in various legal proceedings. Most of these proceedings are claims litigation involving the company's insurance subsidiaries in which the company is either defending or providing indemnity for third-party claims brought against insureds or litigating first-party coverage claims. The company accounts for such activity through the establishment of unpaid loss and loss expense reserves. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to such ordinary- course claims litigation, after consideration of provisions made for potential losses and costs of defense, is immaterial to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The company and its subsidiaries also are occasionally involved in other legal and regulatory proceedings, some of which assert claims for substantial amounts. These actions include, among others, putative class actions seeking certification of a state or national class. Such proceedings have alleged, for example, breach of an alleged duty to search national databases to ascertain unreported deaths of insureds under life insurance policies. The company's insurance subsidiaries also are occasionally parties to individual actions in which extra-contractual damages, punitive damages or penalties are sought, such as claims alleging bad faith handling of insurance claims or writing unauthorized coverage or claims alleging discrimination by former or current associates. On a quarterly basis, we review these outstanding matters. Under current accounting guidance, we establish accruals when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and we can reasonably estimate its potential exposure. The company accounts for such probable and estimable losses, if any, through the establishment of legal expense reserves. Based on our quarterly review, we believe that our accruals for probable and estimable losses are reasonable and that the amounts accrued do not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. However, if any one or more of these matters results in a judgment against us or settlement for an amount that is significantly greater than the amount accrued, the resulting liability could have a material effect Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 160 on the company's consolidated results of operations or cash flows. Based on our most recent review, our estimate for any other matters for which the risk of loss is not probable, but more than remote, is immaterial. NOTE 17 – Share-Based Associate Compensation Plans Four equity compensation plans currently permit us to grant various types of equity awards. We currently grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, service-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units to associates, including some with market-based performance objectives under our shareholder-approved plans. We also have a Holiday Stock Plan that permits annual awards of one share of common stock to each full-time associate for each full calendar year of service up to a maximum of 10 shares. One of our equity compensation plans permits us to grant stock to our outside directors as a component of their annual compensation. We used treasury shares for share-based compensation award issues or exercises during 2017 and 2016. Share-based compensation cost after tax was $17 million, $15 million and $14 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The related income tax benefit recognized was $9 million, $8 million, and $6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, had intrinsic value of $19 million, $25 million and $15 million, respectively. Intrinsic value is the market price less the exercise price. Options vested during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, had total intrinsic value of $8 million, $11 million and $7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, we had $28 million of unrecognized total compensation cost related to nonvested stock options and restricted stock unit awards. That cost will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years. Stock Options Stock options are granted to associates at an exercise price equal to the fair value as determined by the average high and low sales price reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the grant date and are exercisable over 10-year periods. The stock options generally vest ratably over a three-year period. In determining the share-based compensation amounts, we estimate the fair value of each option granted on the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. We make the following assumptions to develop the binomial option-pricing model as follows: • Weighted-average expected term is based on historical experience of similar awards with consideration for current exercise trends. • Expected volatility is based on our stock price over a historical period that approximates the expected term. • Dividend yield is determined by dividing the annualized per share dividend by the stock price on the date of grant. • Risk-free rates are the implied yield currently available on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term. The following weighted average assumptions were used in determining fair value for option grants issued: Weighted-average expected term Expected volatility Dividend yield Risk-free rates Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the period 2017 8 years 16.95% 2.83% 2.33% $10.79 2016 8 years 2015 8-9 years 24.88-25.75% 25.04-26.15% 2.58-3.12% 1.44-1.60% $13.21 3.52% 1.94-2.01% $11.15 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 161 Below is a summary of option information for the year 2017: (Dollars in millions, except exercise price. Shares in thousands) Weighted- average exercise price Aggregate intrinsic value Shares Weighted- average remaining contractual life Outstanding option shares at January 1, 2017 Granted Exercised Forfeited or expired Outstanding option shares at December 31, 2017 $ 3,012 706 (527) (125) 3,066 42.12 70.70 38.33 47.07 49.14 Options exercisable at end of period 2,072 $ 40.69 $ $ 79 71 5.61 years 4.13 years Cash received from the exercise of options was $13 million, $21 million and $24 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We acquired 96,030, 186,097 and 292,414 shares totaling $7 million, $13 million and $16 million, respectively, from associates in consideration for option exercises during 2017, 2016 and 2015. The weighted-average remaining contractual life for options expected to vest as of December 31, 2017, was 8.69 years. Under all active shareholder approved plans, a total of 17.3 million shares were authorized to be granted. At December 31, 2017, 11.3 million shares remained available for future issuance under the plans. During 2017, we granted 15,040 shares of common stock to our directors for 2016 board service fees. Restricted Stock Units Service-based restricted stock units granted to associates are valued at fair value of the shares on the date of grant less the present value of the dividends that holders of restricted stock units do not receive on the shares underlying the restricted stock units during the vesting period. Service-based restricted stock units generally cliff vest three years after the date of grant. We also grant restricted stock units which vest on a three year ratable vesting schedule. Service-based restricted stock units vested during the year had an intrinsic value of $23 million, $23 million and $26 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We have performance-based awards that vest on the first day of March after a three-calendar-year performance period. These awards vest according to the level of three-year total shareholder return achieved compared with a peer group over a three-year performance period with payouts ranging from 0 to 200 percent for awards granted in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Three-year total shareholder return is calculated by using annualized total return of a stock to an investor due to capital gain appreciation plus reinvestment of all dividends. For the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2017, our total shareholder return exceeded five of our nine peers. We expect payout of these shares at the target level to occur in March of 2018. During 2017, we issued 87,228 shares of performance-based restricted stock units at the target-level performance hurdle for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2016, as our total shareholder return exceeded five of nine peers in our 2014 peer group. We issued 25,461 shares of performance-based restricted stock units during 2016 at the threshold-level performance hurdle for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2015, as we achieved a three-year total shareholder return that exceeded four of 10 peers in our 2013 peer group. Performance- based awards vested during the year had an intrinsic value of $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $6 million for both years ended 2016 and 2015. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 162 These performance-based awards are valued using a Monte-Carlo valuation on the date of grant, which uses a risk-neutral framework to model future stock price movements based upon the risk-free rate of return, the volatility of each peer and the pairwise correlations of each peer being modeled. Compensation cost is recognized regardless of whether the market-based performance objective has been satisfied. We make assumptions to develop the Monte-Carlo model as follows: • Correlation coefficients are based upon the stock price data used to calculate the historical volatilities. The correlation coefficients are used to model the way the price of each entity's stock tends to move in relation to each other. • Expected volatility is based on each company's historical volatility using daily stock price observations with the period commensurate with the performance measurement period. • Dividend yield has been modeled assuming dividends are reinvested in additional shares of the issuing entity on the ex-dividend date during the performance period. • Risk-free rates are equal to the yield, as of the measurement date, of the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bill that is commensurate with the performance measurement period. The following assumptions were used in determining fair value for performance-based grants issued: Expected term Expected volatility Dividend yield Risk-free rates 2017 2.89 years 15.75-28.35% 2.83% 1.44% 2016 2.44-2.88 years 15.42-33.64% 2.58-3.12% 0.77-0.87% 2015 2.88 years 13.78-34.69% 3.52% 0.99% Below is a summary of service-based and performance-based share information, assuming a target payout for performance-based shares, for the year 2017: (Shares in thousands) Nonvested at January 1, 2017 Granted Vested Forfeited or canceled Nonvested at December 31, 2017 Service-based shares 888 292 (311) (26) 843 Weighted- average grant date fair value 48.59 $ 65.16 43.05 55.59 56.16 Performance-based shares 236 57 (87) — 206 Weighted- average grant date fair value 49.64 $ 43.26 36.73 — 53.35 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 163 NOTE 18 – Segment Information We operate primarily in two industries, property casualty insurance and life insurance. Our chief operating decision maker regularly reviews our reporting segments to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. Our reporting segments are: • Commercial lines insurance • Personal lines insurance • Excess and surplus lines insurance • • Life insurance Investments We report as Other the noninvestment operations of the parent company and its noninsurer subsidiary, CFC Investment Company and Cincinnati Re, our reinsurance assumed operations. Revenues come primarily from unaffiliated customers: • All four insurance segments record revenues from insurance premiums earned. • Fee revenues for the commercial, personal and excess and surplus insurance segments primarily represent installment fees. Fee revenues for the life insurance segment represent separate account investment management fees. • Our investments’ revenues consist of pretax net investment income and realized investment gains and losses. • Other revenues are primarily finance income and earned premiums of Cincinnati Re. Income or loss before income taxes for each segment is reported based on the nature of that business area’s operations: • Income before income taxes for the insurance segments is defined as underwriting profit or loss. For commercial lines, personal lines and excess and surplus lines insurance segments, we calculate underwriting profit or loss as premiums earned and fee revenue minus loss and loss expenses and underwriting expenses incurred. For the life insurance segment, we calculate underwriting profit or loss as premiums earned and fee revenue, minus contract holders’ benefits and expenses incurred, plus investment interest credited to contract holders. • • Income before income taxes for the investments segment is net investment income plus realized investment gains and losses for investments of the entire company, minus investment interest credited to contract holders of the life insurance segment. Loss before income taxes for the Other category is primarily due to interest expense from debt of the parent company, operating expenses of our headquarters and premiums earned minus loss and loss expenses and underwriting expenses of Cincinnati Re. Identifiable assets are used by each segment in its operations. We do not separately report the identifiable assets for the commercial, personal or excess and surplus lines segments because we do not use that measure to analyze the segments. We include all investment assets, regardless of ownership, in the investments segment. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 164 Segment information is summarized in the following table: (Dollars in millions) Revenues: Commercial lines insurance Commercial casualty Commercial property Commercial auto Workers' compensation Other commercial Commercial lines insurance premiums Fee revenues Total commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Personal auto Homeowner Other personal Personal lines insurance premiums Fee revenues Total personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Fee revenues Total excess and surplus lines insurance Life insurance premiums Fee revenues Total life insurance Investments Investment income, net of expenses Realized investment gains, net Total investment revenue Other Cincinnati Re insurance premiums Other Total other revenue Total revenues Income (loss) before income taxes: Insurance underwriting results Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Life insurance Investments Other Total income before income taxes Identifiable assets: Property casualty insurance Life insurance Investments Other Total Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ 1,072 903 634 335 221 3,165 5 3,170 582 518 141 1,241 5 1,246 209 1 210 232 5 237 609 148 757 107 5 112 5,732 119 (32) 61 (1) 664 (81) 730 $ $ $ $ 1,050 867 594 354 224 3,089 5 3,094 543 486 132 1,161 4 1,165 183 1 184 228 5 233 595 124 719 49 5 54 5,449 184 (12) 62 1 629 (52) 812 $ $ $ $ 1,010 815 561 367 243 2,996 4 3,000 506 463 128 1,097 3 1,100 168 1 169 209 5 214 572 70 642 10 7 17 5,142 345 (12) 51 (2) 556 (57) 881 December 31, December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ 2,863 1,409 17,112 459 21,843 $ $ 2,967 1,366 15,569 484 20,386 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 165 NOTE 19 – Quarterly Supplementary Data This table includes unaudited quarterly financial information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016: (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Quarter 2017 Revenues Income before income taxes Net income Net income per common share—basic Net income per common share—diluted 2016 Revenues Income before income taxes Net income Net income per common share—basic Net income per common share—diluted 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Full year $ $ $ $ 1,523 276 201 1.22 1.21 1,364 265 188 1.14 1.13 $ $ 1,386 128 100 0.61 0.60 1,371 166 123 0.75 0.74 $ $ 1,412 129 102 0.62 0.61 1,402 253 180 1.09 1.08 $ $ 1,411 197 642 3.92 3.88 1,312 128 100 0.61 0.60 5,732 730 1,045 6.36 6.29 5,449 812 591 3.59 3.55 The sum of the quarterly reported per share amounts may not equal the full year as each is computed independently. Revenues including realized investment gains and losses, which are integral to our financial results over the long term, may cause this value to fluctuate substantially because we have substantial discretion in the timing of investment sales. Also, applicable accounting standards require us to recognize gains and losses from certain changes in fair values of securities and embedded derivatives without actual realization of those gains and losses. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 166 ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure We had no disagreements with the independent registered public accounting firm on accounting and financial disclosure during the last two fiscal years. ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures – The company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)). Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The company’s management, with the participation of the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2017. Based upon that evaluation, the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures provided reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that: • • information required to be disclosed in the company’s reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and such information is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting – During the three months ended December 31, 2017, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are set forth in Item 8. ITEM 9B. Other Information None Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 167 Part III Our Proxy Statement will be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2018, in preparation for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 5, 2018. As permitted in Paragraph G(3) of the General Instructions for Form 10-K, we are incorporating by reference to that statement portions of the information required by Part III as noted in Item 10 through Item 14 below. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance ITEM 10. a) The following sections of our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2018, are incorporated herein by reference: “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Information about the Board of Directors,” and “Governance of Your Company.” b) Information about the “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers” appeared in the 2004 Proxy Statement as an appendix and is available at cinfin.com/investors. Our Code of Ethics applies to those who are responsible for preparing and disclosing our financial information. This includes our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and others performing similar functions. c) Set forth below is information concerning the company’s executive officers who are not also directors of the company, as of February 23, 2018. Name and Age as of February 23, 2018 Roger A. Brown, FSA, MAAA, CLU (46) Teresa C. Cracas, Esq. (52) Donald J. Doyle, Jr., CPCU, AIM (51) Sean M. Givler, CIC, CRM (42) Theresa A. Hoffer (56) Martin F. Hollenbeck, CFA, CPCU (58) John S. Kellington (56) Lisa A. Love, Esq. (58) Primary Title(s) and Business Responsibilities Since February 2013 Senior vice president and chief operating officer of The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company. Responsible for life insurance underwriting and operations. Chief risk officer and senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for strategic planning and risk management, including oversight of modeling for financial analysis, property casualty reserving, pricing and insurance regulatory filings, as well as reinsurance assumed operations. Senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for excess and surplus lines underwriting and operations. Senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for property casualty insurance sales and marketing operations since 2016, including management of field underwriters and independent agency relationships. Field sales manager for Alabama, Montana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas from 2012 to 2016. Senior vice president and treasurer of The Cincinnati Insurance Company since 2016. Responsible for corporate accounting and SEC reporting operations. Vice president and treasurer in corporate accounting until 2016. President and chief operating officer of CFC Investment Company, a commercial lease and finance subsidiary. Chief investment officer and senior vice president, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. Chief investment officer and senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for all investment operations. Chief information officer and senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for enterprise strategic technology and oversight of all technology activities. Senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for corporate legal, governance and compliance activities, including oversight of regulatory and compliance, shareholder services, corporate communications, government relations, litigation and contract administration. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 168 Executive Officer Since 2016 2011 2008 2017 2017 2008 2010 2011 Name and Age as of February 23, 2018 Martin J. Mullen, CPCU (62) Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. (65) Michael J. Sewell, CPA (54) Stephen M. Spray (51) William H. Van Den Heuvel (51) Primary Title(s) and Business Responsibilities Since February 2013 Chief claims officer and senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for oversight of all headquarters and field claims operations, including special investigations and claims administration. Chief insurance officer and executive vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for executive oversight of business and personal property casualty insurance sales, marketing, underwriting, related field services, relationships with independent agents and ceded reinsurance programs. Chief financial officer, principal accounting officer and senior vice president of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and The Cincinnati Insurance Company, and treasurer of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. Responsible for oversight of all accounting, finance, financial reporting, purchasing, investor relations, administrative services and facilities maintenance and security. Senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for commercial lines underwriting and operations, including oversight of target markets commercial products, management liability and surety insurance, machinery and equipment insurance, loss control and premium audit. Until 2016, responsible for sales and marketing, including management of field underwriters and independent agency relationships. Senior vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company. Responsible for all personal lines operations, including underwriting, product management and risk management. Chief operating officer and executive vice president for U.S. and Canada personal lines insurance at AIG until 2014. Executive Officer Since 2008 1995 2011 2012 2014 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 169 Executive Compensation ITEM 11. The “Compensation of Named Executive Officers and Directors,” section of our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference. It includes the “Report of the Compensation Committee,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and ITEM 12. Related Stockholder Matters a) The “Security Ownership of Principal Shareholders and Management” section of our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference. b) Information on securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans appears in Part II, Item 5, Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. Additional information on share-based compensation under our equity compensation plans is available in Item 8, Note 17 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence ITEM 13. The following sections of our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2018, are incorporated herein by reference: “Governance of Your Company – Director Independence” and “Governance of Your Company – Certain Relationships and Transactions.” Principal Accounting Fees and Services ITEM 14. The “Audit-Related Matters,” section of our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference. It includes the “Proposal 5 – Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” “Report of the Audit Committee,” “Fees Billed by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Services Provided by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.” Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 170 Part IV ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules a) Financial Statements – information contained in Part II, Item 8, of this report, Page 112 to Page 166 b) Exhibits – see Index of Exhibits, Page 184 c) Financial Statement Schedules Schedule I – Summary of Investments – Other Than Investments in Related Parties, Page 172 Schedule II – Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company, Page 174 Schedule III – Supplementary Insurance Information, Page 178 Schedule IV – Reinsurance, Page 180 Schedule V – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, Page 181 Schedule VI – Supplementary Information Concerning Property Casualty Insurance Operations, Page 182 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 171 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties Schedule I (Dollars in millions) Type of investment Fixed maturities: States, municipalities and political subdivisions: The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Casualty Company The Cincinnati Indemnity Company The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company CSU Producer Resources Inc. Cincinnati Financial Corporation Total United States government: The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Casualty Company The Cincinnati Indemnity Company Total Government-sponsored enterprises: The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company Total Foreign government: The Cincinnati Insurance Company Total All other corporate bonds: The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Casualty Company The Cincinnati Indemnity Company The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company CSU Producer Resources Inc. Cincinnati Financial Corporation Total Total fixed maturities Cost or amortized cost At December 31, 2017 Fair value Balance sheet $ $ 3,310 184 44 306 469 1 2 4,316 28 2 1 31 257 257 10 10 2,644 99 28 137 2,758 1 33 5,700 10,314 $ $ 3,421 190 46 320 485 1 2 4,465 28 2 1 31 254 254 10 10 2,747 104 29 143 2,880 1 35 5,939 10,699 $ $ 3,421 190 46 320 485 1 2 4,465 28 2 1 31 254 254 10 10 2,747 104 29 143 2,880 1 35 5,939 10,699 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 172 Schedule I (continued) Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties (Dollars in millions) Type of investment Equity securities: Common equities: The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Casualty Company The Cincinnati Indemnity Company The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company CSU Producer Resources Inc. Cincinnati Financial Corporation Total Nonredeemable preferred equities: The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company Cincinnati Financial Corporation Total Total equity securities Other invested assets: Policy loans: The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company Private equity: Cincinnati Financial Corporation (1) The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company (1) Real estate: The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company (1) Cincinnati Financial Corporation (1) Total other invested assets Total investments Cost or amortized cost At December 31, 2017 Fair value Balance sheet $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 1,615 56 13 61 15 1,158 2,918 170 5 1 176 3,094 31 29 6 31 6 103 13,511 3,479 118 25 120 23 2,274 6,039 200 9 1 210 6,249 $ $ — $ — — — — — $ — $ 3,479 118 25 120 23 2,274 6,039 200 9 1 210 6,249 31 29 6 31 6 103 17,051 Notes to Schedule I: (1) These other invested assets are accounted for under the equity method. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 173 Schedule II (Dollars in millions) Assets Investments Cincinnati Financial Corporation (parent company only) Condensed Balance Sheets Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2017—$35; 2016—$46) Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2017—$1,159; 2016—$1,084) Other invested assets Total investments Cash and cash equivalents Equity in net assets of subsidiaries Investment income receivable Land, building and equipment, net, for company use (accumulated depreciation: 2017—$115; 2016—$111) Income tax receivable Other assets Due from subsidiaries Total assets Liabilities Dividends declared but unpaid Deferred federal income tax Long-term debt Other liabilities Total liabilities Shareholders' Equity Common stock Paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Treasury stock at cost Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity At December 31, 2017 2016 $ $ $ $ 37 2,275 35 2,347 199 6,542 8 130 15 52 107 9,400 82 234 787 54 1,157 397 1,265 5,180 2,788 (1,387) 8,243 9,400 $ $ $ $ 52 1,833 29 1,914 248 5,790 8 132 10 35 106 8,243 79 252 787 65 1,183 397 1,252 5,037 1,693 (1,319) 7,060 8,243 This condensed financial information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in Part II, Item 8. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 174 Schedule II (continued) Cincinnati Financial Corporation (parent company only) Condensed Statements of Income (Dollars in millions) Revenues Investment income, net of expenses Realized investment gains and (losses), net Other revenue Total revenues Expenses Interest expense Other expenses Total expenses Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Earnings of Subsidiaries Benefit for income taxes Net Income (Loss) Before Earnings of Subsidiaries Increase in equity of subsidiaries Net Income Years ended December 31, 2017 2015 2016 $ $ 62 28 15 105 52 28 80 56 27 15 98 52 27 79 25 (161) 186 859 $ 1,045 19 (6) 25 566 $ 591 $ 53 (19) 15 49 52 28 80 (31) (23) (8) 642 $ 634 This condensed financial information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in Part II, Item 8. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 175 Schedule II (continued) (Dollars in millions) Net Income Cincinnati Financial Corporation (parent company only) Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income Years ended December 31, 2017 2015 2016 $ 1,045 $ 591 $ 634 Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax Unrealized gains and (losses) on investments available for sale Unrealized gains and (losses) on investments held by subsidiaries Reclassification adjustment for (gains) and losses included in net income Reclassification adjustment for (gains) included in net income on subsidiaries Unrealized (losses) and gains on other Unrealized gains and (losses) on other subsidiaries Unrealized gains and (losses) on investments available for sale, investments held by subsidiaries and other Amortization of pension actuarial gains (losses) and prior service cost Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax Income taxes on above of other comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 391 672 (28) (120) (2) 1 914 14 928 325 603 221 434 (27) (97) (6) (4) 521 16 537 188 349 Comprehensive Income $ 1,648 $ 940 (111) (444) 19 (89) — 13 (612) (6) (618) (218) (400) $ 234 This condensed financial information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in Part II, Item 8. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 176 Schedule II (continued) Cincinnati Financial Corporation (parent company only) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Dollars in millions) Cash Flows From Operating Activities Net income Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ 1,045 $ 591 $ 634 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Realized investment (gains) and losses, net Dividends from subsidiaries Changes in: Increase in equity of subsidiaries Investment income receivable Current federal income taxes Deferred income tax Other assets Other liabilities Intercompany receivable for operations Net cash provided by operating activities Cash Flows From Investing Activities Call or maturity of fixed maturities Sale of equity securities Purchase of fixed maturities Purchase of equity securities Investment in buildings and equipment Change in other invested assets, net Net cash used in investing activities Cash Flows From Financing Activities Payment of cash dividends to shareholders Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization Proceeds from stock options exercised Other Net cash used in financing activities Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 7 (28) 465 (859) — (5) (150) (20) 15 13 483 14 230 (2) (293) (3) — (54) (400) (92) 13 1 (478) (49) 248 $ 199 $ 6 (27) 475 (566) (2) (4) 8 (4) (1) 20 496 5 135 — (175) (2) 6 (31) (306) (39) 21 1 (323) 142 106 248 $ 7 19 447 (642) — (7) (10) (3) 13 16 474 8 54 — (110) — 1 (47) (366) (53) 24 2 (393) 34 72 106 This condensed financial information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in Part II, Item 8. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 177 Schedule III (Dollars in millions) Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplementary Insurance Information Years ended December 31, 2016 2017 2015 Deferred policy acquisition costs: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Gross future policy benefits, losses, claims and expense losses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total (1) Gross unearned premiums: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total (1) Other policy claims and benefits payable: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total (1) Earned premiums: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 284 121 17 16 438 232 670 4,236 587 264 132 5,219 2,753 7,972 1,548 683 105 67 2,403 1 2,404 $ $ $ $ $ $ — $ — — — — 30 30 $ 3,165 1,241 209 107 4,722 232 4,954 $ $ 271 110 16 11 408 229 637 4,179 569 241 46 5,035 2,693 7,728 1,510 629 93 74 2,306 1 2,307 $ $ $ $ $ $ — $ — — — — 28 28 $ 3,089 1,161 183 49 4,482 228 4,710 $ $ 264 103 15 6 388 228 616 3,925 498 227 10 4,660 2,605 7,265 1,472 593 87 48 2,200 1 2,201 — — — — — 36 36 2,996 1,097 168 10 4,271 209 4,480 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 178  Schedule III (continued) Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplementary Insurance Information (Dollars in millions) Investment income, net of expenses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance (2) Life insurance Total Benefits, claims losses and settlement expenses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total (3) Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total (3) Net written premiums: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Accident health insurance Total Years ended December 31, 2016 2017 2015 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ — $ — — — 392 155 547 $ — $ — — — 384 155 539 $ 2,042 918 86 92 3,138 252 3,390 590 225 35 17 867 46 913 419 135 28 18 600 33 633 3,202 1,294 219 125 4,840 3 4,843 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 1,928 840 68 25 2,861 246 3,107 570 209 31 10 820 43 863 412 128 23 6 569 33 602 3,122 1,198 189 71 4,580 2 4,582 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ — — — — 368 150 518 1,708 789 70 5 2,572 236 2,808 552 210 28 2 792 37 829 395 113 20 1 529 29 558 3,025 1,128 175 33 4,361 2 4,363 Notes to Schedule III: (1) The sum of gross future policy benefits, losses, claims and expense losses, gross unearned premium and other policy claims and benefits payable is equal to the sum of Loss and loss expense reserves, Life policy reserves and investment contract reserves and Unearned premiums reported in the company’s consolidated balance sheets. (2) This segment information is not regularly allocated to segments and reviewed by company management in making decisions about resources to be allocated to the segments or to assess their performance. (3) The sum of amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and other underwriting and insurance expenses is equal to Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 179 Schedule IV Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Reinsurance (Dollars in millions) Gross amounts: Life insurance in force Earned premiums Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Ceded amounts to other companies: Life insurance in force Earned premiums Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Assumed amounts from other companies: Life insurance in force Earned premiums Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Net amounts: Life insurance in force Earned premiums Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Percentage of amounts assumed to net: Life insurance in force Earned premiums Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total property casualty insurance Life insurance Total Years ended December 31, 2016 2015 2017 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 99,888 3,258 1,275 219 — 4,752 300 5,052 38,711 99 35 10 18 162 68 230 $ $ $ $ $ $ 95,533 3,180 1,195 192 — 4,567 290 4,857 38,724 98 35 9 20 162 62 224 $ $ $ $ $ $ — $ — $ 6 1 — 125 132 — 132 61,177 3,165 1,241 209 107 4,722 232 4,954 $ $ $ $ $ 7 1 — 69 77 — 77 56,808 3,089 1,161 183 49 4,482 228 4,710 $ $ $ $ $ 91,451 3,088 1,131 177 — 4,396 271 4,667 38,716 102 35 9 8 154 62 216 — 10 1 — 18 29 — 29 52,735 2,996 1,097 168 10 4,271 209 4,480 —% —% —% 0.2% 0.1 — 116.1 2.8 — 2.7 0.2% 0.1 — 140.8 1.7 — 1.6 0.3% 0.1 — 188.0 0.7 — 0.7 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 180 Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Schedule V (Dollars in millions) Allowance for doubtful receivables: Beginning balance, January 1 Additions charged to costs and expenses Deductions Ending balance, December 31 At December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ $ 5 $ 6 (5) 6 $ 4 $ 5 (4) 5 $ 3 3 (2) 4 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 181 Schedule VI (Dollars in millions) Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplementary Information Concerning Property Casualty Insurance Operations Deferred policy acquisition costs: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Reserves for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Reserve discount deducted Gross unearned premiums: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Earned premiums: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Investment income, net of expenses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total (1) Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 $ 284 121 17 16 $ 271 110 16 11 438 $ 408 $ 264 103 15 6 388 4,236 $ 4,179 $ 3,925 587 264 132 569 241 46 498 227 10 5,219 $ 5,035 $ 4,660 — $ — $ — 1,548 $ 1,510 $ 683 105 67 629 93 74 1,472 593 87 48 2,403 $ 2,306 $ 2,200 3,165 $ 3,089 $ 1,241 209 107 1,161 183 49 2,996 1,097 168 10 4,722 $ 4,482 $ 4,271 — $ — $ — — — — — — 392 $ 384 $ — — — — 368 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Note to Schedule VI: (1) This segment information is not regularly allocated to segments and not reviewed by company management in making decisions about resources to be allocated to the segments or to assess their performance. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 182  Schedule VI (continued) Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplementary Information Concerning Property Casualty Insurance Operations (Dollars in millions) Loss and loss expenses incurred related to current accident year: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Loss and loss expenses incurred related to prior accident years: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Paid loss and loss expenses: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Net written premiums: Commercial lines insurance Personal lines insurance Excess and surplus lines insurance Cincinnati Re Total Years ended December 31, 2017 2016 2015 2,115 $ 2,057 $ 1,862 932 115 95 844 102 26 784 105 5 3,257 $ 3,029 $ 2,756 (73) $ (129) $ (154) (14) (29) (3) (4) (34) (1) 5 (35) — (119) $ (168) $ (184) $ 590 225 35 17 $ 570 209 31 10 867 $ 820 $ 1,866 $ 1,675 $ 898 61 18 771 55 2 552 210 28 2 792 1,575 731 43 — 2,843 $ 2,503 $ 2,349 3,202 $ 3,122 $ 1,294 219 125 1,198 189 71 3,025 1,128 175 33 4,840 $ 4,580 $ 4,361 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 183 Index of Exhibits Exhibit No. 3.1 Exhibit Description Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, Exhibit 3.1) 3.2 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 Regulations of Cincinnati Financial Corporation, as amended through May 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, Exhibit 3.2) Indenture with The Bank of New York Trust Company (incorporated by reference to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 2, 2004, filed with respect to the issuance of the company’s 6.125% Senior Notes due November 1, 2034) Supplemental Indenture with The Bank of New York Trust Company (incorporated by reference to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 2, 2004, filed with respect to the issuance of the company’s 6.125% Senior Notes due November 1, 2034) Second Supplemental Indenture with The Bank of New York Trust Company (incorporated by reference to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 9, 2005, filed with respect to the completion of the company’s exchange offer and rescission offer for its 6.90% senior debentures due 2028) Form of 6.125% Exchange Note Due 2034 (included in Exhibit 4.2) Form of 6.92% Debentures Due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.3) Indenture with the First National Bank of Chicago (subsequently assigned to The Bank of New York Trust Company) (incorporated by reference to the company’s registration statement on Form S-3 filed on May 20, 1998 (File No. 333-51677)) Form of 6.90% Debentures Due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.6) Cincinnati Financial Corporation Directors’ Stock Plan of 2009 (incorporated by reference to the company’s definitive Proxy Statement dated March 20, 2009) Cincinnati Financial Corporation Stock Option Plan No. VII (incorporated by reference to the company’s definitive Proxy Statement dated March 8, 2002) (File No. 000-04604) Cincinnati Financial Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan of 2009, as amended January 31, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 3, 2014) Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2006 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to the company’s definitive Proxy Statement dated March 30, 2006) Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to the company’s definitive Proxy Statement dated March 16, 2012) Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to the company’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated March 16, 2016, Appendix B) First Amendment of Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 filed with the Company’s current report on Form 8-K dated April 11, 2016) Amended and Restated Cincinnati Financial Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan dated January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 filed with the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated February 27, 2013) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for Stock Option Plan VII (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 20, 2006) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Stock Option Plan VII (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 20, 2006) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the 2006 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 20, 2006) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for the 2006 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 20, 2006) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (performance-based) for use under the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2006 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 18, 2008) Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 184 Exhibit No. 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 10.28 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 Exhibit Description Form of Incentive Compensation Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan of 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2009) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 2013) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 2013) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 2013) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/ratable) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 2015) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (performance based) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 2013) Form of Incentive Compensation Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan of 2009 (as amended January 31, 2014) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/cliff) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/ratable) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (performance-based) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/cliff) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/ratable) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (performance based) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017) Amended and Restated Cincinnati Financial Corporation Top Hat Savings Plan dated January 1, 2018 Cincinnati Financial Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Agreement by and between the Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Michael J. Sewell, dated as of October 25, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011) Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 185 Exhibit No. 10.33 10.34 10.35 10.36 11 14 21 23 31A 31B 32 Exhibit Description Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Cincinnati Financial Corporation, CFC Investment Company, PNC Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, PNC Capital Markets LLC, as Sole Bookrunner and Joint Lead Arranger, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., as Joint Lead Arranger and Syndication Agent, The Huntington National Bank and U.S. Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agents, dated May 13, 2014 (incorporated by reference to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2014, Exhibit 10.1) First Amendment of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Cincinnati Financial Corporation, CFC Investment Company, PNC Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, PNC Capital Markets LLC, as Sole Bookrunner and Joint Lead Arranger, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., as Joint Lead Arranger and Syndication Agent, The Huntington National Bank and U.S. Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agents, dated February 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2016) Second Amendment of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Cincinnati Financial Corporation, CFC Investment Company, PNC Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, PNC Capital Markets, LLC, as Sole Bookrunner and Joint Lead Arranger, Fifth Third Bank, N.A. as Joint Lead Arranger and Syndication Agent, The Huntington National Bank and U.S. Bank, N.A. as Documentation Agents, dated March 31, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 4, 2016) Continuing Reimbursement Agreement for Letters of Credit by and between U.S. Bank and The Cincinnati Insurance Company, dated April 25, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.) Statement re: Computation of per share earnings for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, contained in Part II, Item 8, Note 12, to the Consolidated Financial Statements Cincinnati Financial Corporation Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to the company’s definitive Proxy Statement dated March 18, 2004 (File No. 000-04604)) Cincinnati Financial Corporation subsidiaries contained in Part I, Item 1, of this report Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 – Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 – Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 XBRL Instance Document 101.INS 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document 101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document 101.LAB 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 186 Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Cincinnati Financial Corporation /S/ Michael J. Sewell By: Title: Date: Michael J. Sewell, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) February 23, 2018 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature /S/ Kenneth W. Stecher Kenneth W. Stecher /S/ Steven J. Johnston Steven J. Johnston /S/ Michael J. Sewell Michael J. Sewell /S/ William F. Bahl William F. Bahl /S/ Gregory T. Bier Gregory T. Bier /S/ Dirk J. Debbink Dirk J. Debbink /S/ Linda W. Clement-Holmes Linda W. Clement-Holmes /S/ Kenneth C. Lichtendahl Kenneth C. Lichtendahl /S/ W. Rodney McMullen W. Rodney McMullen /S/ David P. Osborn David P. Osborn /S/ Gretchen W. Price Gretchen W. Price /S/ Thomas R. Schiff Thomas R. Schiff /S/ Douglas S. Skidmore Douglas S. Skidmore /S/ John F. Steele, Jr. John F. Steele, Jr. /S/ Larry R. Webb Larry R. Webb Title Date Chairman of the Board February 23, 2018 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 February 23, 2018 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2017 10-K - Page 187 EXHIBIT 31A CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002 I, Steven J. Johnston, certify that: 1. 2. 3. 4. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cincinnati Financial Corporation; Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: a) b) c) d) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) b) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. Date: February 23, 2018 /S/ Steven J. Johnston Steven J. Johnston, FCAS, MAAA, CFA, CERA President and Chief Executive Officer EXHIBIT 31B CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002 I, Michael J. Sewell, certify that: 1. 2. 3. 4. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cincinnati Financial Corporation; Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: a) b) c) d) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) b) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. Date: February 23, 2018 /S/ Michael J. Sewell Michael J. Sewell, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) EXHIBIT 32 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002 The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with this report on Form 10-K for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code. Steven J. Johnston, the chief executive officer, and Michael J. Sewell, the chief financial officer, of Cincinnati Financial Corporation each certifies that, to the best of his knowledge: 1. 2. the report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and the information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. Date: February 23, 2018 /S/ Steven J. Johnston Steven J. Johnston, FCAS, MAAA, CFA, CERA President and Chief Executive Officer /S/ Michael J. Sewell Michael J. Sewell, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | As of February 23, 2018 DIRECTORS William F. Bahl, CFA, CIC Chairman of the Board Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel Inc. (Independent registered investment adviser) Director** since 1995 (A)(C)(E)(I)(N*) Gregory T. Bier, CPA (Ret.) Managing Partner (Ret.), Cincinnati Office Deloitte LLP (Independent registered public accounting firm) Director since 2006 (A)(C)(I) Linda W. Clement-Holmes Chief Information Officer (Ret.) The Procter & Gamble Company (Consumer products) Director since 2010 (A)(C)(N) Dirk J. Debbink Chairman and Chief Executive Officer MSI General Corporation (Design/build construction firm) Director since 2012 (A)(N) Steven J. Johnston, FCAS, MAAA, CFA, CERA President and Chief Executive Officer Cincinnati Financial Corporation Director since 2011 (E*)(I) Kenneth C. Lichtendahl Director of Development and Sales Heliosphere Designs LLC (Solar product marketing) Director since 1988 (A)(C) W. Rodney McMullen Chairman and Chief Executive Officer The Kroger Co. (Retail grocery chain) Director since 2001 (C*)(E)(I) David P. Osborn, CFA President Osborn Williams & Donohoe LLC (Independent registered investment adviser) Director since 2013 (A)(I) Gretchen W. Price Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Arbonne International LLC (Beauty and nutritional products) Director since 2002 (A*)(C)(N) Thomas R. Schiff Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co. Inc. (Independent insurance agency) Director since 1975 (I) Douglas S. Skidmore Chief Executive Officer Skidmore Sales & Distributing Company Inc. (Food ingredient distributor) Director since 2004 (A)(N) Kenneth W. Stecher Chairman of the Board Former President and Chief Executive Officer Cincinnati Financial Corporation Director since 2008 (E)(I*) John F. Steele, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hilltop Basic Resources Inc. (Supplier of aggregates and concrete) Director since 2005 (A)(E) Larry R. Webb, CPCU President Webb Insurance Agency Inc. (Independent insurance agency) Director since 1979 (E)(I) (A) Audit Committee (C) Compensation Committee (E) Executive Committee (I) Investment Committee; also Richard M. Burridge, CFA, adviser (N) Nominating Committee * Committee Chair ** Lead Independent Director OFFICERS Steven J. Johnston, FCAS, MAAA, CFA, CERA President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Sewell, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer Martin F. Hollenbeck, CFA, CPCU Chief Investment Officer, Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer Lisa A. Love, Esq. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary DIRECTORS EMERITI James E. Benoski Michael Brown Jackson H. Randolph John J. Schiff, Jr., CPCU Frank J. Schultheis David B. Sharrock John M. Shepherd Alan R. Weiler, CPCU E. Anthony Woods William H. Zimmer W.F. Bahl G.T. Bier L.W. Clement- Holmes D.J. Debbink S.J. Johnston K.C. Lichtendahl W.R. McMullen D.P. Osborn G.W. Price T.R. Schiff D.S. Skidmore K.W. Stecher J. F. Steele, Jr. L.R. Webb | SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION COMMON STOCK PRICE AND DIVIDEND DATA Common shares are traded under the symbol CINF on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. (Source: Nasdaq Global Select Market) Quarter: 2017 2016 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th High ......................................................................................... Low .......................................................................................... Period-end close .................................................................... Cash dividends declared ...................................................... $ 76.71 $ 73.98 $ 81.98 $ 77.76 70.07 68.24 74.97 72.27 1.00 0.50 71.60 76.57 0.50 68.49 72.45 0.50 $ 65.99 $ 74.89 $ 78.09 $ 79.60 68.11 53.64 75.75 65.36 0.48 0.48 73.88 75.42 0.48 63.87 74.89 0.48 ANNUAL MEETING Shareholders are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Cincinnati Financial Corporation at 9:30 a.m. ET, on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at the Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio. You may listen to an audio webcast of the event by visiting cinfin.com/investors. INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Deloitte & Touche LLP 250 East Fifth St., Suite 1900 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-5109 SHAREHOLDER SERVICES American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC is the transfer agent and administrator for all registered shareholder accounts. Services available to registered shareholder accounts include dividend direct deposit, Shareholder Investment Plan (including dividend reinvestment), direct registration of shares and electronic delivery. Registered shareholders may also access your individual account at astfinancial.com, where you can complete transactions online at any time, including changing your address, opting out of receiving paper statements, changing your current dividend reinvestment option and viewing recent transactions. CONTACT INFORMATION You may direct communications to Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Lisa A. Love, Esq. for sharing with the appropriate individual(s). Or, you may directly access services: Investors: Investor Relations responds to investor inquiries about the company and its performance. Dennis E. McDaniel, CPA, CMA, CFM, CPCU – Vice President, Investor Relations Officer 513-870-2768 or investor_inquiries@cinfin.com Shareholders: Shareholder Services administers the company’s stock compensation plans and fulfills requests for shareholder materials. C. Brandon McIntosh, CEP, CPA – Assistant Secretary and Manager, Shareholder Services 513-870-2639 or shareholder_inquiries@cinfin.com American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC provides the company’s stock transfer and recordkeeping services, including assisting registered shareholders with updating account information or enrolling in shareholder plans. 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 866-638-6443 or help@astfinancial.com Media: Corporate Communications assists media representatives seeking information or comment from the company or its subsidiaries. Betsy E. Ertel, CPCU, AIM, API – Vice President, Corporate Communications 513-603-5323 or media_inquiries@cinfin.com CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION The Cincinnati Insurance Company The Cincinnati Casualty Company The Cincinnati Indemnity Company The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company CSU Producer Resources Inc. CFC Investment Company MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 145496 Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496 STREET ADDRESS 6200 South Gilmore Road Fairfield, Ohio 45014-5141 Phone: 888-242-8811 or 513-870-2000 Email: cfc_corporate@cinfin.com Web: cinfin.com 

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