Press releases

Legal & General Retirement America and RGA Partner to Complete $700 Million Pension Risk Transfer Transaction with FirstEnergy

The transaction will secure the retirement benefits of approximately 2,000 retirees.

14 Mar 2024


Full press release

Legal & General Retirement America (LGRA), a division of Banner Life Insurance Company, and Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA) announced today they completed a pension risk transfer (PRT) transaction with FirstEnergy, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, for approximately $700 million.

The retiree lift-out was executed in December and covers approximately 2,000 retirees – representing about 8% of the company’s total pension liability associated with its former generation subsidiaries. LGRA is lead administrator and will be fully responsible for the service and administration of all participants transferred as part of the transaction. Aon and K&L Gates advised FirstEnergy on this transaction.

George Palms, President, Legal & General Retirement America: “Partnering with RGA enables us to deliver a unique risk-management solution to FirstEnergy and its annuitants that is backed by the financial strength and experience of two leading insurance companies.

"We take great pride in our level of dedicated customer service and through this transition, we look forward to servicing and protecting the retirement income for these participants.”

David Lipovics, Senior Vice President, Head of Institutional Markets at RGA: "RGA is dedicated to delivering attractive risk management solutions to U.S. pension plans and to ensuring the financial protection of pensioners and their families.

"This latest transaction is a natural extension of our 15-year history of support in the global pension risk transfer market and demonstrates our ability to provide trusted financial solutions in the U.S. retirement space."

April Marx, Director of Total Rewards for FirstEnergy: “Importantly, these pension benefits remain protected and retirees of our former subsidiaries and beneficiaries will see no changes in the value of their benefits as a result of this transition.”

Notes to editors

Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with £1.2 trillion in total assets under management (as at FY23) of which c40% (circa £0.5 trillion) is international.

We have a highly synergistic business model, which continues to drive strong returns. We are a leading international player in Institutional Retirement, in Retail Savings and Protection, and in both public and private markets through our Asset Management division. Across the Group, we are committed to responsible investing and dedicated to serving the long-term savings and investment needs of customers and society.

As at 7 June 2024, we estimate the Group’s Solvency II coverage ratio to be 224%.

As at 11 June 2024, Legal & General has a market capitalisation of £14.6 billion.

Legal & General Retirement America (LGRA) specializes in customized pension risk solutions for institutional clients in the US market. Established in 2015, Legal & General Retirement America is a business unit of Legal & General America, Urbana, MD. Legal & General America life insurance and retirement products are underwritten and issued by Banner Life Insurance Company, Urbana, MD and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York, Valley Stream, NY. Banner products are distributed in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. William Penn products are distributed exclusively in New York; Banner Life is not authorized as an insurer in and does not do business in New York. The Legal & General America companies are part of the worldwide Legal & General Group. CN12182023-1


More information on LGRA can be found at www.lgra.com.