Blackstone earned $450m in fees from four insurers last year
Expected to double this to $1bn in next five years, manager says
News
US life insurers will absorb any recession this year
Strong capital position means investments should withstand market downturn, S&P says
Higher rates likely to spur moves out of risk back into fixed income for US insurers
Insurers have piled into equities and private assets on low rates—this could change, S&P says
L&G invests in SunRoof solar tech firm
Part of €13.5m capital raise by Swedish startup
Insurer CLOs under the regulatory spotlight
NAIC's capital charges on risky assets will likely be revamped, Deloitte says
Comment - As Blackstone helps Clive Cowdery invest, watch Resolution Life's market risk
Blackstone's existing portfolio for Bermudian Harrington Re suggests a very active approach to origination and reallocation of GA
Nippon Life invests extra $1bn into Resolution Life
Brings Japanese life firm's total investment in Clive Cowdery's consolidator to $1.65bn
Comment - Staggering admission on outsourcing fees by Bermuda's insurers
Rates and structures of fees Bermuda's insurers pay their chosen outsourcing partners revealed
Insurance investors contribute to EGERIE's €30m fundraising
Tikehau Capital, Open CNP, la Banque des Territoires and TIIN Capital taking part
Allianz France invests in AI platform
Through InnovAllianz fund
L&G agrees £430m buy-in with the Tioxide Pension Fund
Securing the benefits of around 2,700 retirees and deferred members
MACIF invests €500k in shared housing provider
Through affiliated impact asset manager
Most insurers will increase investment risk this year
Biggest appetite for private assets, Conning survey finds
Rising reinvestment rates set to power US P&C profits in 2023, Swiss Re says
Investment yields will climb to 3.3% this year following disappointing 2022
Expect more political drama on US debt ceiling, Allianz IM warns
Debt limit was hit last week leading to threat of sovereign default
Comment - Markets tanking? Just remember Dad's Army, urges the PRA
PRA recognises key lesson of crises - market has too many Joneses, and too few Mainwarings
PRA warns lifers - don't assume junk bonds stay liquid in stressed markets
Charlotte Gerken issued warning in publishing regulatory stress test results today
Insurers scoop up first ever Opec Fund bond
Bond raised $1bn and will invest in sustainable projects
Blackstone raises $22bn for world's biggest secondaries fund
Attracts $2.7bn into another secondaries fund as well
Chart of the Week - EIOPA puts unit-linked returns and costs under spotlight
EIOPA reveals which countries' UL had the highest returns, volatility, and fees
PRI talks up ESG advantages of municipal bonds
US insurers have been among biggest investors in domestic munis
Nippon Life finances transition loan to Osaka Gas Co
To finance development of power plant
TIAA forms partnership with University of California
To create new investment product for retirement savings program
Vaudoise invests in scale-up tech company
Taking 20% share in NewCo
AXA Alts to develop housing in Madrid
The 44,000 sqm site in Tetuán was bought by AXA in 2019
Prudential appoints director of group ESG
Diana Guzmán joins from the WEF
ESG unit-linked outperforms standard unit-linked products by 2%, and cost less
EIOPA study examined unit-linked, with-profits and hybrid products' 2021 performance
Mutuals sustainable investments grow but sustainability reporting is lagging
ICMIF publishes results of its yearly sustainable investment survey
Last year was one of the worst for investing, Allianz's CEO Bäte says
Insurer now "benefitting tremendously" from rates rising
M&G appoints Joseph Pinto head of M&G Asset Management
Succeeds retiring Jack Daniels
Analysis
Pension Insurance Corporation foray into infrastructure assets
From financing social housing to helping the London School of Economics build sustainably, to UK trainline rolling stock, PIC is full-steam ahead on debt investments, as Elizabeth Cain, head of debt origination there, explains to David Walker
CRO Perspectives: forty years in the markets
In the first in a series of perspectives for Insurance Asset Risk, Nick Silitch, CRO at Prudential Financial, draws on his experience of 40 years to give thoughts on where the global economy is—and where it is headed. Compiled by Sarfraz Thind
CIOs prepare for 'symmetric warfare' over listed shareholdings
Europe's regulators are discussing almost doubling how far they allow the equities 'symmetric adjustment' to fluctuate. David Walker examines the implications for CIOs' capital consumption
Comment - Does a CIO need to be 'truly' brave?
Investing can take a steely nerve, but David Walker explores why it sometimes also requires true bravery
Zurich's surprisingly optimistic 2023 outlook after dire year
Guy Miller, chief market strategist at Zurich, discuss the insurer's 2023 outlook as the WEF publishes its annual global risk report. Interview by Vincent Huck
Going off-piste - how French CIOs are embracing alternatives
As French insurers venture 'off-piste' in their general accounts, David Walker examines if the 'black runs' of alternative asset classes will be simply exciting - or could break a leg or two
Comment - Why stranded assets (already) involves much more than fossil fuels in general accounts
Insurance Asset Risk hears properties are being 'stranded' as much as fossil fuel firms
AllianzGI offers hope for a brighter 2023
It has been a tough year for investors. Equities in particular have been jolted from one low to the next. So what can the markets expect from 2023? AllianzGI's global CIO for equities, Virginie Maisonneuve, gives her thoughts. Interview by Sarfraz Thind
Comment - How EIOPA helps Europe's insurers 'keep up with the Kardashians'
EIOPA - and, separately, Insurance Risk Data - is helping practitioners to learn the latest about Europe's insurers, and their outsourcing preferences. By David Walker
Baloise is sticking to its strategy
Matthias Henny, group chief investment officer at Baloise Group discusses inflation and the investment opportunities going forward. Interview by Abbie Wood