26 April 2018Insurance

AXA raises $3.2bn from pre-IPO restructuring to finance XL acquisition

French insurer AXA has received $3.2 billion following the completion of its reorganisation transactions ahead of the planned initial public offering (IPO) of its US operations.

AXA said the proceeds would help finance its acquisition of re/insurer XL Group, a $15.3 billion all-cash deal for which AXA has agreed to pay significantly more than other suitors.

According to the statement, the restructuring deal included the repayment of all internal loans provided by AXA Group and the purchase of Alliance Bernstein units previously owned by AXA and its affiliates.

Earlier in March, rating agency Fitch had threatened to downgrade AXA following the plan to acquire XL Group due to financing risks related to the planned IPO of AXA’s US subsidiary.

AXA said it expects to finance the cash consideration via €3.5 billion available cash resources, €6 billion from the IPO of AXA's US operations (Life & Savings and Alliance Bernstein) planned in the second quarter of 2018, and related pre-IPO transactions and €3 billion via issuance of subordinated debt.

The target completion period for the acquisition is the second half of 2018, subject to regulatory approvals and approval by XL shareholders.

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More on this story

Insurance
14 May 2018   The initial public offering (IPO) of AXA’s US unit was priced below the indicative price range but the proceeds, combined with a bond issue will still substantially secure the funding for AXA's planned acquisition of XL Group, according to Moody’s.
Insurance
10 May 2018   French insurer AXA has priced its offering of $750 million of bonds mandatorily exchangeable for a number of shares of common stock of its US subsidiary AXA Equitable Holdings (AEH).
Insurance
3 May 2018   As it prepares to be taken over by AXA, Bermuda-based XL Group posted stable profits in the first quarter of 2018 while also enjoying solid growth in gross written premiums driven by rate increases.