This Global Financial Stability Note studies the growing trend of private equity (PE) investments into the life insurance industry. PE companies’ investments in life insurers are integral to their strategic growth as PE firms evolve beyond the traditional leveraged buyout transaction to acquire diverse businesses across private credit, structured credit, private real estate funds, and private infrastructure funds. This note reviews the growth in PE investments through the lens of the diverse acquisition incentives and strategies, the consequent changes to asset allocation and investment strategies of the acquired life businesses, and potential prudential and policy implications.

Rather than taking on more risk, US insurers hit hard by the crisis pulled back from risk taking, relative to insurers not hit as hard by the crisis. Capital requirements alone do not explain this risk reduction: insurers hit hard reduced risk within assets with identical regulatory treatment. State level US insurance regulation makes it unlikely this risk reduction was driven by moral suasion. Other financial institutions also reduce risk after large shocks: the same approach applied to banks yields similar results. My results suggest that, at least in some circumstances, franchise value can dominate, making gambling for resurrection too risky.

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An evolving regulatory landscape and changing economic conditions continue to affect business organization and capital requirements in the global insurance industry, leading to new participants, new transactions, and new challenges. PLI's new Insurance and Investment Management M&A Deskbook provides attorneys with an essential reference to keep up with emerging trends in insurance and investment management M&A. The Deskbook covers topics such as acquisitions of public insurance companies, blocks of insurance business and private acquisitions; the regulatory environment of the insurance industry and the financial services industry; investment in the insurance industry by private equity and pension funds; and the expansion of insurance industry participants into emerging markets around the globe. The Deskbook also provides specific guidance for understanding Lloyd's of London and the M&A market for mutual life insurers.