Almost six months after Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) started looking for suitable divestiture opportunities for its Individual Life and Retirement Plans segments as well as the Woodbury Financial Services unit, the company announced an agreement to sell the Retirement Plans business to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). The divestiture is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to the attainment of regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Hartford will receive a cash ceding commission of $400 million for the transaction. However, the amount is open to adjustment before the completion of the sale.

Although the transaction is unlikely to have a material impact on the companys results on a reported basis, it is expected to boost the net statutory capital, including ceding commission and lower risk-based capital requirement, by about $600 million. The impact on the financials can be revised at the time of closure of the transaction to include the impact of market conditions, Hartfords results as well as other adjustments.

Following the closure of the deal, Hartfords Retirement Plans business will be taken over by the Retirement Services Division of MassMutual. However, the agreement allows Harford to sell new retirement plans during the transition period. MassMutual will cover the risks and expenses related to the new plans under a reinsurance agreement. The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Greenhill & Co. Inc. (GHL) are acting as Hartfords financial advisors for the deal.

The deal is an outcome of Hartfords plan, announced in March this year, to divest its Individual Life and Retirement Plans segments along with Woodbury Financial Services under intense pressure from its largest shareholder, John Paulson. Woodbury is an indirectly-held, wholly-owned retail broker-dealer subsidiary, included in the Individual Life segments distribution network.

Subsequently, in August, Hartford entered into a strategic alliance with American International Group Inc. (AIG) to sell Woodbury. The deal is expected to consummate by the end of this year, subject to approval by regulatory bodies. According to Reuters, Hartford will receive $90 million pursuant to this acquisition. It will also receive an additional $25 million as dividend from Woodbury.

Currently, Hartfords shares carry a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold). Also, we maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.

Read the Full Research Report on HIG

Read the Full Research Report on GS

Read the Full Research Report on GHL

Read more from the original source:
Hartford Sells Retirement Plans Biz