US specialty insurance group Assurant has sold its prearranged funeral insurance and final expense business, Global Preneed, to CUNA Mutual Group for $1.5 billion in cash.
The Global Preneed sale will generate approximately $1.2 billion of net proceeds.
As previously announced, the company intends to return approximately $900 million of the net proceeds to shareholders through share repurchases within one year of closing.
This is in addition to returning $470 million in 2021 via share repurchases and common stock dividends under the company’s existing three-year, $1.35 billion capital return plan, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The company intends to invest the remainder of the net proceeds primarily in support of its connected world businesses, comprised of Connected Living, Global Automotive and Multifamily Housing, to enable long-term profitable growth and further strengthen its competitive position.
Assurant CEO Alan Colberg commented: “This sale marks an important milestone in the transformation of Assurant, sharpening our focus on our market-leading lifestyle and housing businesses, and better positioning our company to capitalise on future growth opportunities emerging around the connected consumer.
“I want to thank all Global Preneed employees for their dedication to serving their two million policyholders and for building a business that will be a great strategic fit as a part of CUNA Mutual Group.”
