Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

DEBT

Long-Term Debt

The Company’s long-term debt consists of the following as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 (dollars in millions):

	2021		2020
$400 million 5.00% Senior Notes due 2021	$	—	$	400
$400 million 4.70% Senior Notes due 2023	400		399
$400 million 3.95% Senior Notes due 2026	400		400
$600 million 3.90% Senior Notes due 2029	599		599
$600 million 3.15% Senior Notes due 2030	597		597
$100 million 4.09% Promissory Note due 2039	80		83
$400 million 6.20% Subordinated Debentures due 2042	400		400
$500 million 4.00% Surplus Notes due 2051	500		—
$400 million 5.75% Subordinated Debentures due 2056	400		400
$400 million Variable Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2065	319		319
Sub-total	3,695		3,597
Unamortized issuance costs	(28)		(24)
Long-term Debt	$	3,667	$	3,573

RGA has entered into an interest rate swap on its Variable Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures that effectively fixes the interest rate on these securities at 4.82% until December 2037.

On December 13, 2021, RGA Reinsurance, a subsidiary of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, entered into a subscription agreement with unaffiliated financial institutions as purchasers (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which RGA Reinsurance has issued to the Purchasers 4.00% Surplus Notes due 2051 (the “Surplus Notes”). The proceeds of the Surplus Notes issued pursuant to the subscription agreement was $500 million. RGA Reinsurance will use the proceeds of the Surplus Notes for general corporate purposes. Capitalized issue costs were approximately $6 million.

On June 9, 2020, RGA issued 3.15% Senior Notes due June 15, 2030, with a face amount of $600 million. This security has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The net proceeds were approximately $593 million and were used in part to repay the Company’s $400 million 5.00% Senior Notes that matured in June 2021, and the remainder was used for general corporate purposes. Capitalized issue costs were approximately $5 million.

Certain of the Company’s debt agreements contain financial covenant restrictions related to, among others, liens, the issuance and disposition of stock of restricted subsidiaries, minimum requirements of consolidated net worth, maximum ratios of debt to capitalization and change of control provisions. A material ongoing covenant default could require immediate payment of the amount due, including principal, under the various agreements. Additionally, the Company’s debt agreements contain cross-default covenants, which would make outstanding borrowings immediately payable in the event of a material uncured covenant default under any of the agreements, including, but not limited to, non-payment of indebtedness when due for an amount in excess of the amounts set forth in those agreements, bankruptcy proceedings, or any other event that results in the acceleration of the maturity of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $3,695 million and $3,597 million, respectively, in outstanding borrowings under its debt agreements and was in compliance with all covenants under those agreements. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the average interest rate on long-term debt outstanding was 4.42% and 4.54%, respectively.

The ability of the Company to make debt principal and interest payments depends on the earnings and surplus of subsidiaries, investment earnings on undeployed capital proceeds, and the Company’s ability to raise additional funds. Future principal payments due on long-term debt, excluding discounts, as of December 31, 2021, were as follows (dollars in millions):

	Calendar Year
	2022		2023		2024		2025		2026		Thereafter
Long-term debt	$	3	$	403	$	3	$	4	$	404	$	2,883

Credit and Committed Facilities

The Company has obtained bank letters of credit in favor of various affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies from which the Company assumes business. These letters of credit represent guarantees of performance under the reinsurance agreements and allow ceding companies to take statutory reserve credits. Certain of these letters of credit contain financial covenant restrictions. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were approximately $53 million and $23 million, respectively, of undrawn outstanding bank letters of credit in favor of third parties. Additionally, the Company utilizes letters of credit primarily to secure reserve credits when it retrocedes business to its affiliated subsidiaries. The Company cedes business to its affiliates to help reduce the amount of regulatory capital required in certain jurisdictions such as the U.S. and the UK. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, $1,440 million and $1,508 million, respectively, in undrawn letters of credit from various banks were outstanding, primarily backing reinsurance between the various subsidiaries of the Company. The banks providing letters of credit to the Company are included on the NAIC list of approved banks.

The Company maintains seven committed credit facilities, a syndicated revolving credit facility and six letter of credit facilities. The committed credit facilities have a combined capacity of $988 million while the syndicated revolving credit facility is for $850 million and the remaining credit facilities have a capacity of $1,025 million. The Company may borrow cash and obtain letters of credit in multiple currencies under its syndicated revolving credit facility. The following table provides additional information on the Company’s existing committed credit facilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 (dollars in millions):

			Amount Utilized(1) December 31,
Current Capacity		Maturity Date	2021		2020		Basis of Fees
$	108	March 2022	$	108	$	107	Fixed
500		May 2022	376		210		Debt rating and utilization %
100		May 2023	70		75		Fixed
850		August 2023	21		21		Senior unsecured long-term debt rating
80 (2)		December 2023	80		100		Fixed
100		February 2024	51		51		Fixed
100		August 2024	40		100		Fixed

(1)Represents issued but undrawn letters of credit. There was no cash borrowed for the periods presented.

(2)Foreign currency denominated facility, amounts presented are in U.S. dollars.

Fees associated with the Company’s other letters of credit are not fixed for periods in excess of one year and are based on the Company’s ratings and the general availability of these instruments in the marketplace. Total fees expensed associated with the Company’s letters of credit were $11 million, $10 million and $8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are included in policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses.