{"text":[[{"start":7.6,"text":"The US insurance industry’s standard setter has begun to examine credit risks linked to data centre projects, which are increasingly showing up in insurers’ investment portfolios."}],[{"start":17.7,"text":"The National Association of Insurance Commissioners — the organisation that seeks to unify state-level insurance regulations — was reviewing insurers’ data centre holdings and whether the credit ratings underpinning these projects were justified, according to people familiar with the matter."}],[{"start":34.349999999999994,"text":"While the US insurance industry is regulated on a state level rather than by the federal government, the NAIC’s guidelines are closely followed by individual state regulators and often enacted through state legislation. "}],[{"start":47.8,"text":"The rulemaker would evaluate areas including the creditworthiness of data centre tenants, the exit clauses of leasing contracts, as well as the construction company’s record such as project delays and cost overruns, one of the people said. "}],[{"start":61.05,"text":"“The NAIC’s Securities Valuation Office reviews investments across a wide range of asset types and sectors, including data centres, as part of its ongoing work on behalf of state insurance regulators,” the rulemaker told the FT in an email statement."}],[{"start":76.7,"text":"The scrutiny comes as insurance capital plays a growing role in AI infrastructure build-outs in the US. Many early-stage data centre projects are obtaining investment-grade ratings to attract large institutional investors such as insurers and pension funds, even while facilities are still under construction."}],[{"start":96.85,"text":"These credit ratings are mostly privately issued, but are required to be filed to the NAIC as part of the process to determine insurance companies’ capital requirements. Insurers with lower-quality investments must hold larger capital reserves."}],[{"start":110.3,"text":"Since January, the NAIC has the power to challenge and override credit ratings if they differ from the regulatory body’s own analysis by more than three rating notches. The NAIC says its assessment covers both public and private ratings."}],[{"start":127.35,"text":"About 20 per cent of US life insurers’ fixed-income portfolios are linked to private and illiquid bonds, according to Moody’s Ratings. The sector’s rising exposure to private credit has turned some investors away, leading to higher borrowing costs in recent months."}],[{"start":143.25,"text":"Last month, US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent met with state insurance commissioners to discuss regulatory responses over life insurers’ increased exposure to private assets."}],[{"start":154.25,"text":"“Secretary Bessent emphasised the need for fit-for-purpose regulation that encourages innovation while appropriately managing risk,” the Department of the Treasury said in a statement in May."}],[{"start":172.85,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781248213_8035.mp3"}