Reinsurance Group (RGA) Expands Capacity With Launch of Ruby Re
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated RGA recently announced the launch of a third-party life reinsurance sidecar, Ruby Reinsurance Company (“Ruby Re”), domiciled in Missouri. It has completed the first round of funding and secured capital commitments in the form of equity from major investors like Sammons Financial Group, Golub Capital, and Hudson Structured Capital Management Ltd.
Ruby Re will be established as a non-market-facing sidecar, which would reinsure the portfolio of the sponsor, RGA, through a quota share arrangement and not deal with clients directly. RGA will retrocede $2.5 billion of current liabilities to Ruby Re and transfer a portion of premiums to compensate for the risk taken. This will reduce the dollar amount of risk shown in RGA’s accounts.
The aim of a reinsurance sidecar is to spread the underwriting risk assumed by its sponsor and provide additional reinsurance capacity when the market is constrained. RGA could have reinsured itself by ceding premiums to a reinsurance company. However, another alternative is to form a financial entity and solicit private investment at comparatively lower costs. Investors in the sidecar gain from premiums earned and the ability to enter the reinsurance market for a limited time in favorable market conditions.
This move bodes well for RGA as it expands its capacity to reinsure more risks and gives the opportunity to earn a stable fee income for underwriting, client servicing and administration for the sidecar. Moreover, RGA might earn a profit commission and a ceding commission in case underwritten risks turn out to be profitable. As more investors enter the reinsurance market through investments in sidecars, reinsurers will be compelled to offer more competitive rates, aiding companies like RGA in need of reinsurance.
RGA stands to benefit from the growing U.S. asset-intensive business through Ruby Re. The U.S. asset-intensive business is expected to grow from improving transaction and fees, favorable longevity experience and equity markets as well as higher variable investment income from commercial loan prepayments.
Zacks Rank & Price Performance
Reinsurance Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Shares of the company have gained 13% in the past three months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 6.7%.
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