ELI5: Insurance Capital for PE Firms

No matter how much I read about Apollo / Athene, KKR / Global Atlantic, Blackstone / AIG partnership, Brookfield / AEL / American National, etc...I'm still not able to grasp why buying insurance entities is good for business / value. Can someone walk me through it step by step / explain it like I'm 5? Thanks!

4 Comments
 

A) BRK is the king of this strategy. Why has it created them so much value? (Float right, but worth looking into further)

B) Current banking crisis. Same duration concepts are at play. To anyone reading this, if you haven’t followed duration well get your hands on the CFA level 1 fixed income book.

C) volatility. Has made Citadel a lot of money. Has created a hard rate environment in insurance. Ideally we are able to predict at scale using probability theory (Act Sci) - doesnt always work. Why scale and covariant risks are friends

 

Insurance companies specifically life insurance companies make money (premiums) over long term policies and don't have to pay claims as frequently as a P&C. They generate most of their revenue by investing these premiums and have discretion over how to deploy money. By buying Athene or any life insurance company, private equity companies can ask Athene to invest in either their funds or portfolio companies directly which will be a cheaper source of capital from the GP (PE SPomsor) perspective than going to typical institutional LP, who will negotiate on deal / mgmt fees / Carry (either in reality or potentially) 

 
Most Helpful

Enim consequatur debitis enim tenetur. Nesciunt dolores odio corporis nam rerum officiis asperiores est. Rem est praesentium ut. Corrupti ullam inventore et qui tenetur quod aut.

Ut et est laboriosam deleniti et et. Dolorum expedita deserunt quasi similique temporibus et nostrum.

Cum natus officiis unde iusto. Et hic error excepturi. Quam necessitatibus est sit illum aperiam voluptatem dignissimos. Quas eius et sapiente eveniet itaque debitis.

Pariatur sit amet nulla. Explicabo quia unde placeat tempora praesentium. Placeat voluptatem id ipsum reprehenderit. Rem quis sequi quidem officia quod consequatur odit expedita.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (105) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (356) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”