Prudential PLC (LON:PRU) has agreed a reinsurance deal for its US business with Athene Holding Ltd (NYSE:ATH), which will buy an 11% stake in the FTSE 100 life insurer’s Jackson arm.
Athene, which is spending US$500mln on the equity investment ahead of a planned Jackson initial public offer (IPO), has agreed to reinsure Jackson’s US$27.6bn in-force fixed and fixed indexed annuity portfolio.
READ: Prudential sales in Asia drop 24% but profits up
It said preparations are ongoing for a minority IPO of Jackson, as well as continuing to look at other options to create an independent US business after bowing to activist investor pressure earlier in the year.
Pru said Athene's investment, in the form of a cash subscription, will be deployed in Jackson to strengthen its capital base.
The combined effects of the investment and reinsurance transactions are expected to increase Jackson's risk-based capital cover ratio by approximately 80 percentage points, the life insurer said.
“After the transaction, Prudential's US business will have an anchor investor of Athene's standing bringing a long-term commitment to Jackson and its development, while Prudential will retain full strategic flexibility in relation to the business,” Pru said.