Generali to sell German life insurance unit to Viridium

Italian insurance giant Assicurazioni Generali has agreed to sell 89.9% stake in its German life insurance business to the Viridium Group for up to €1.9bn. The Italian firm holds a stake of 100% in Generali Lebensversicherung (Generali Leben) through its subsidiary Generali Deutschland, which will reduce its interest in the German life insurance business to 10.1% after the completion of the transaction. The deal values Generali Leben up to €1bn, which includes €125m as earn out in case of changes in the reservation rules. Apart from that, €882m of loans will be reimbursed to Generali. Generali Group CEO Philippe Donnet said: “This transaction will allow us to invest in innovative solutions for our German customers, guaranteeing a higher return for our shareholders. “Germany is a core market for Generali. The management team and all of our colleagues are working relentlessly to strengthen our position as a leader in the insurance industry. This commitment makes us confident about our future in the market.” Based in Germany, Viridium is a specialist for the management of life insurance portfolios. The company is owned by Cinven, a London-based global private equity firm and Hannover Re, a global German reinsurer. Upon completion of the deal, Generali Leben will become a new subsidiary of Viridium Group, joining Heidelberger Lebensversicherung, Skandia Leben and Entis. Viridium said that the acquisition will add a portfolio of nearly 4 million life insurance contracts to its existing platform.