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Category: White Paper

BBB-rated Bond Exposure for Life Insurers

In this article, you’ll read about the significant increase in NAIC Class 2 bond holdings by U.S. life insurers since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, driven by a search for higher yields amidst stable economic conditions. The article also discusses how recent changes in risk-based capital regulations and economic challenges may impact the industry’s bond investment strategies and overall financial stability.

Fronting Companies Accredited and Sutton: A Tale of Two Troubled Parents

This ALIRT Research report explores the financial turmoil at the holding companies of Accredited and Sutton fronting insurers. Both companies faced significant challenges due to their parent companies’ financial distress, leading to ownership changes to avoid rating downgrades. The report underscores the importance of considering both the insurer and its parent company in due diligence, highlighting the complex dynamics between fronting insurers and private equity ownership.

Advantage Capital and the Fallout from 777 Re

In this report we explore ACAP’s relationship with 777 Re and the possible lingering ties that the ACAP life insurers may have to this now defunct reinsurer and its parent company 777 Partners.

Financial Struggles Deepen for the Columbian Financial Group

The two life insurers of the Columbian Financial Group (CFG), Columbian Mutual Life Insurance Company (CML) and CML subsidiary Columbian Life Insurance Company (CLIC), experienced weak and deteriorating financial positions for many years, which was driven by poor operating performance. CLIC incurred continued operating losses that have led to a low and declining risk-based capital (RBC) ratio, which was below the company action level at year-end 2023. CML also incurred sizable operating losses in three of the last four years, while CLIC’s losses and reduced surplus position also contributed to CML’s lower capitalization in aggregate and on a relative basis, given CML’s ownership of CLIC.

Privately-Owned Insurers in the U.S. Life Insurance Industry

In the wake of the 2008/2009 global financial crisis, the U.S. life insurance industry underwent a spate of business sales/exits, spin-offs, and product changes in the 2010s which has continued through the 2020s. ALIRT has discussed many of the trends and factors that contributed to this transition, and one of the most impactful developments has been the increased number of life insurance companies owned by asset managers, private investment funds, and other private investor groups.

PHL Variable Insurance Company: Negative Surplus Position

PHL Variable Insurance Company’s (PHLV) filed its year-end 2023 regulatory financial statement in late April 2024, seven weeks after the required filing date of March 1. The company reported a negative surplus1 position of -$92 million at 12/31/23, which was a $177 million deterioration from +$85 million at 12/31/22. The deterioration in surplus was driven by a large after-tax operating loss of $162 million incurred in 2023, which was not balanced by any capital support from PHLV’s parent company.

U.S. Life Insurer Exposure to Less Liquid Bonds

Life insurers have long held a mix of assets with various liquidity profiles, from the very liquid to the nearly illiquid. In this review we highlight some of the less liquid components of life insurer bond portfolios.

ALIRT Research – Three Weddings (and a Funeral?)

It is commonly held that the present six-year hard market pricing cycle has been a boon for U.S. commercial lines insurers. And this is certainly true, generally. But we must not forget that hard market conditions also generally arise after periods of extended soft pricing behavior and that the latter can result in substantial financial deterioration. It is, in fact, this financial deterioration that ultimately impairs insurers’ balance sheets and drives the “fear” phase of the rate cycle and hence higher rates and tighter terms and conditions.