Many subsets of the alternative investment industry have a preference for either open-ended or closed-ended funds. Hedge funds tend to be almost always open-ended, whereas private equity or venture capital funds tend to be almost always closed-ended. The life settlement industry hasn’t – yet – settled on one or the other. But anecdotal evidence suggests that, at least at the moment, the closed-ended model is increasingly finding favour.
Insurers are favouring funded re as it helps firms manage the market and longevity risks associated with writing bulk purchase annuity (BPA) business by reducing capital charges and therefore making PRT deals more competitive.
Unsurprisingly, given its growth and potential for capital optimisation, UK regulators have been carefully watching the increased use of funded re. In June 2023, the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) sent a “Dear CRO’ letter to heads of risk at UK life insurers.
The letter outlined the regulator’s two main concerns from a sectoral review which it had carried out.
“One of the key risks arising in funded re is that firms recapture sub-optimal portfolios with depressed values and with limited ability to be transformed effectively to the firms’ preferred portfolio,” the PRA letter said.
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