Prudential Financial to Reinsure $12.5B Guaranteed Universal Life Block with Somerset Re

Rhea-AI Summary

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) announces a reinsurance agreement with Somerset Re, resulting in approximately $450 million in proceeds. The transaction covers approximately $12.5 billion of reserves backing Prudential’s guaranteed universal life policies, reducing market sensitivity and increasing capital flexibility. The agreement does not impact customers and distribution partners.

Positive

• The reinsurance agreement is expected to increase Prudential's after-tax annual adjusted operating income by approximately $55 million upon closing, plus amortization of the cost or benefit of reinsurance, which is expected to be accretive to earnings. The transaction also demonstrates Prudential's commitment to offering a comprehensive portfolio of life insurance solutions to meet customer needs.

Negative

• One-time expenses of approximately $65 million are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023 due to the extinguishment of certain financing facilities, as a result of the transaction.

• Supports Prudential’s transformation strategy by reducing market sensitivity and increasing capital flexibility
• Does not result in any changes for customers and distribution partners

NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) announced today an agreement to reinsure a portion of its guaranteed universal life block with Somerset Re, resulting in approximately $450 million of proceeds.¹

Under the terms of the agreement, Somerset Re will reinsure approximately $12.5 billion of reserves backing Prudential’s guaranteed universal life policies issued by Pruco Life Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey. This transaction, covering policies written prior to 2015, represents approximately one-third of Prudential’s total guaranteed universal life statutory reserves.

“This transaction marks another significant milestone in our efforts to reduce market sensitivity and increase capital flexibility,” said Charles Lowrey, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “Looking ahead, we remain committed to offering a comprehensive and attractive portfolio of life insurance solutions to meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

“Somerset Re is pleased to expand its risk management support for Prudential Financial in this transaction,” said Jeffrey Burt, chairman and CEO of Somerset Re Group. “This represents our third reinsurance agreement with Prudential, demonstrating the breadth of solutions Somerset Re is bringing to its business partners.”

The agreement does not result in any changes for contracts included in the transaction. Prudential will continue to service the block and maintain its existing relationships with contract holders and distribution partners.² Prudential does not expect there to be any direct impact to employee head count as a result of the transaction.

The reinsurance transaction is structured on a modified coinsurance basis and contains significant structural protections, including overcollateralization and investment guidelines. In connection with the transaction, PGIM will retain an investment mandate related to a portion of the assets supporting the block.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approval, including the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Upon closing, Prudential anticipates an increase in after-tax annual adjusted operating income of approximately $55 million, plus amortization of the cost or benefit of reinsurance, which is currently expected to be accretive to earnings, but will be finalized at closing.³

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal counsel to Prudential for the transaction.

Mayer Brown LLP served as legal counsel to Somerset Re for the transaction, and RBC Capital Markets advised Somerset Re.

¹ Proceeds include approximately $425 million of capital that supports the block. Proceeds are subject to customary adjustments at closing.

² Prudential will retain responsibility for the ongoing relationships with mortality reinsurance providers.

³ As a result of the transaction, we expect to incur one-time expenses of approximately $65 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to the extinguishment of certain financing facilities.

About Prudential Financial, Inc.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for nearly 150 years. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

About Somerset Reinsurance Ltd.

Somerset Reinsurance Ltd. is a leading provider of reinsurance solutions for asset-intensive life insurance and annuity business, helping its clients manage capital efficiency and improve their financial results. Somerset Re solutions include programs for new business flow and management of legacy blocks of life insurance and annuities. Ceding companies ranked Somerset No. 1 in the Business Capability Index (BCI), as measured by NMG Consulting’s 2021 U.S. Structured Financial Solutions study in the Portfolio Transfer Segment. For further information, please visit www.somersetre.com.

Prudential Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements included in this release, such as those regarding the expected closing of the transaction, and the release of statutory capital and receipt and expected amount of the proceeds related thereto, Prudential’s strategy and product offerings, the expected increase in after-tax adjusted operating income as a result of the transaction, and the expected amount and timing of transaction expenses constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “includes,” “plans,” “assumes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “will,” “shall” or variations of such words are generally part of forward-looking statements. Prudential’s forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Prudential Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Prudential Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries will be those anticipated by management. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and there are certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements. Actual proceeds may differ from what Prudential currently expects due to adjustments at closing. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections included in Prudential’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Prudential does not undertake to update any particular forward-looking statement included in this document.

Prudential Non-GAAP Measures

This release includes a reference to adjusted operating income. Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP measure used by Prudential to evaluate segment performance and to allocate resources. Adjusted operating income excludes “Realized investment gains (losses), net, and related charges and adjustments.” A significant element of realized investment gains and losses are impairments and credit-related and interest rate-related gains and losses. Impairments and losses from sales of credit-impaired securities, the timing of which depends largely on market credit cycles, can vary considerably across periods. The timing of other sales that would result in gains or losses, such as interest rate-related gains or losses, is largely subject to our discretion and influenced by market opportunities as well as our tax and capital profile.

Realized investment gains (losses) within certain businesses for which such gains (losses) are a principal source of earnings, and those associated with terminating hedges of foreign currency earnings and current period yield adjustments, are included in adjusted operating income. Adjusted operating income generally excludes realized investment gains and losses from products that contain embedded derivatives, and from associated derivative portfolios that are part of an asset-liability management program related to the risk of those products. Adjusted operating income also excludes gains and losses from changes in value of certain assets and liabilities relating to foreign currency exchange movements that have been economically hedged or considered part of our capital funding strategies for our international subsidiaries, as well as gains and losses on certain investments that are designated as trading. Adjusted operating income also excludes investment gains and losses on assets supporting experience-rated contractholder liabilities and changes in experience-rated contractholder liabilities due to asset value changes, because these recorded changes in asset and liability values are expected to ultimately accrue to contractholders. Additionally, adjusted operating income excludes the changes in fair value of equity securities that are recorded in net income.

Adjusted operating income excludes “Change in value of market risk benefits, net of related hedging gains (losses),” which reflects the impact from changes in current market conditions, and market experience updates, reflecting the immediate impacts in current period results from changes in current market conditions on estimates of profitability, which we believe enhances the understanding of underlying performance trends. Adjusted operating income also excludes the results of Divested and Run-off Businesses, which are not relevant to our ongoing operations, and discontinued operations and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests, each of which is presented as a separate component of net income under GAAP. Additionally, adjusted operating income excludes other items, such as certain components of the consideration for acquisitions, which are recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service periods, and goodwill impairments. Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests is presented as a separate component of net income under GAAP and excluded from adjusted operating income. The tax effect associated with pre-tax adjusted operating income is based on applicable IRS and foreign tax regulations inclusive of pertinent adjustments.

Adjusted operating income does not equate to “Net income” as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted operating income is not a substitute for income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and our definition of adjusted operating income may differ from that used by other companies. The items above are important to an understanding of our overall results of operations. However, we believe that the presentation of adjusted operating income as we measure it for management purposes enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability of our businesses. Trends in the underlying profitability of our businesses can be more clearly identified without the fluctuating effects of the items described above.

We believe that our use of this non-GAAP measure helps investors understand and evaluate Prudential’s performance and financial position. The presentation of adjusted operating income as we measure it for management purposes enhances the understanding of the results of operations by highlighting the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability of our businesses. Trends in the underlying profitability of our businesses can be more clearly identified without the fluctuating effects of the items described below. However, this non-GAAP measure is not a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP, and the adjustments made to derive this measure is important to an understanding of our overall results of operations and financial position.

Due to the inherent difficulty in reliably quantifying future realized investment gains/losses and changes in asset and liability values given their unknown timing and potential significance, we cannot, without unreasonable effort, provide an estimate of expected lost net income, which is the GAAP measure most comparable to adjusted operating income.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230723518598/en/

Media:

Bill Launder, bill.launder@prudential.com

Source: Prudential Financial, Inc.

FAQ

What is the reinsurance agreement announced by Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU)?

Prudential announced a reinsurance agreement with Somerset Re, resulting in approximately $450 million in proceeds and covering approximately $12.5 billion of reserves backing guaranteed universal life policies, aiming to reduce market sensitivity and increase capital flexibility.

What is the expected impact of the reinsurance agreement on Prudential's after-tax annual adjusted operating income?

Upon closing, the reinsurance agreement is expected to increase Prudential's after-tax annual adjusted operating income by approximately $55 million, plus amortization of the cost or benefit of reinsurance, which is expected to be accretive to earnings.

What are the potential negative implications of the reinsurance agreement?

One-time expenses of approximately $65 million are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023 due to the extinguishment of certain financing facilities, as a result of the transaction.