Even Covid couldn’t stop insurers buying risky CLO tranches

NAIC rules make mezzanine debt more attractive than AAAs or corporate bonds with similar ratings

covid-risky-markets-1299489043.jpg

US insurance companies invested more money in collateralised loan obligations last year, even as the Covid-19 pandemic threatened to trigger a wave of defaults on the loans backing the securities.

Life insurers held 13.1% of their assets in asset-backed securities – the investment category that contains CLOs – at the end of 2020, compared with 11.4% in 2016, according to Mary Pat Campbell who researches the sector for Conning, a specialist asset manager.

“Yields for the entire US life industry

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Risk.net? View our subscription options

Register

Want to know what’s included in our free membership? Click here

This address will be used to create your account

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here