May 12, 2026

Conning Releases New Research on How VM-22 Is Reshaping Competition in the U.S. Pension Risk Transfer Market

HARTFORD, CT – May 12, 2026 – Conning today announced the release of a new research report, PRTs and VM-22: Changing the Competitive Landscape and Reserving, which finds that the introduction of VM-22 is materially reshaping competition, reserving outcomes, and execution dynamics in the U.S. pension risk transfer (PRT) market.

As one of the annuity industry’s most important growth areas enters a more competitive and segmented phase, the report examines how the new principles-based reserving framework is influencing pricing, asset-liability management (ALM), capital volatility, and insurers’ relative positioning in PRT bidding. VM-22 introduces greater sensitivity to asset strategy, modeling quality, and governance, driving increased dispersion in statutory outcomes across insurers bidding on similar transactions.

The study also highlights structural differences between PRT buyout and buy-in transactions, and how those differences influence reserve outcomes under the Single Scenario Test (SST) and Stochastic Exclusion Ratio Test (SERT). These distinctions can materially determine whether a PRT block is subject to deterministic or stochastic reserving treatment, with meaningful implications for operating cost, capital volatility, and bid competitiveness.

“VM-22 doesn’t just change how PRT reserves are calculated, it changes how insurers compete,” said Scott Hawkins, Head of Insurance Research at Conning. “As reserves become more sensitive to asset strategy, modeling assumptions, and execution discipline, statutory outcomes can diverge meaningfully across insurers. In 2026, the ability to industrialize VM-22 and defend reserve paths credibly is becoming a real commercial differentiator in PRT bidding.”

The report concludes that competitive advantage under VM-22 will increasingly favor insurers that combine disciplined ALM, advanced modeling infrastructure, and strong governance, as PRT competition shifts from balance sheet capacity toward execution effectiveness.

Conning’s PRTs and VM-22: Changing the Competitive Landscape and Reserving is available for purchase here or by calling (888) 707-1177.

 

 

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ABOUT CONNING
Conning (www.conning.com) is a leading investment management firm with a long history of serving the insurance industry. Conning supports institutional investors, including insurers and pension plans, with investment solutions, risk modeling software, and industry research. Founded in 1912, Conning has investment centers in Asia, Europe, and North America. Conning is part of Generali Investments Holding S.p.A. 

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Media Contacts
Insurance Research
Conning
888-707-1177
Insuranceresearch@conning.com