“Senators Grill Regulators on Private Equity’s Control of Life Insurers” – Life Annuity Specialist
Life Annuity Specialist reported on the September 8th hearing of the Senate Banking Committee:
“Senate Banking Committee members grilled regulators Thursday on whether they are ‘stepping up’ to address perceived risks that private equity involvement in the life insurance industry poses to retirees and workers…
“[Senator Warren] said private equity-backed insurers can ‘jack up their returns and their short-term profits’ by making riskier and more complex investments. ‘But the pensions are more vulnerable to being wiped out by a market downturn which endangers the insurance companies’ insolvency,’ Warren added.
“She said that one-fifth of Athene’s portfolio is invested in risky asset-backed securities and leveraged loans made to companies highly in debt.”