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Article: Big insurers may need U.S. lifeline; MetLife, Pru, others see losses overwhelm their cash cushions.
- Article from:
- Crain's New York Business
- Article date:
- April 6, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Aaron Elstein
Life insurance companies were some of the most enthusiastic consumers of Wall Street's most toxic junk during the boom years. Now they're suffering a most serious case of indigestion: They face billions worth of investment losses that threaten to wipe out their coffers, forcing them to raise cash when doing so is just about impossible.
Unless the federal government intervenes for yet another financial sector bailout, experts warn of the biggest wave of life insurer failures in 20 years. "The industry is getting hit from all directions,'' says Rob Haines, an analyst at independent debt research firm CreditSights. "I never imagined ...