Of Note: AB invests in reinsurance entity to expand Asia presence

AllianceBernstein has announced an equity investment in Fortitude Carlyle Asia Reinsurance, Ltd., with the move to allow the Nashville-based investment management firm to expand its insurance presence across Asia.

Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed in the release.

Fortitude Carlyle Asia Reinsurance (FCA Re), a reinsurance entity created by Nashville-based Fortitude Re, is focused on Asian liabilities.

AB has been named as one of the lead investors in FCA Re and intends to manage private alternative assets for FCA Re and will also appoint a member to the FCA Re Board of Directors.

FCA Re, a Class E licensed Bermuda-domiciled reinsurer, will initially assume a share of existing liabilities from Fortitude Re and will also reinsure a share of future transactions in Asia.

"Our firm has been serving insurance companies for more than 40 years," Onur Erzan, AB global head of private wealth, alternatives and distribution, said in the release.

"We look forward to bringing our differentiated fixed income and private credit origination capabilities to a strategic partner. Our investment in FCA Re demonstrates the continued momentum of our insurance asset management capabilities as we focus on growth across Asia."

AB's insurance platform currently manages nearly $190 billion in insurance-related assets.

As of Sept. 30, AllianceBernstein had $860 billion in assets under management.

Thistle Farms updates board

Local nonprofit Thistle Farms has announced the following new board officers:

Brooke Schiferle, attorney with Klein Solomon Mills and former assistant U.S. attorney and human trafficking coordinator, will serve as board chair for the 2025–26 term.

David Thompson (Womble Bond Dickinson), Vice Chair

Maeve McConville (Community Advocate and Retired CFO), Treasurer

Daina Storey (Fisher Storey Consulting), Secretary

In addition, Thistle Farms welcomes the following board members for the 2025–28 term:

Amber Brown, Forensics Interviewer, Homeland Security Investigations

Monty Burks, Deputy Director of Gov. Bill Lee's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Sarah Butler, US Program Director, Hope for Justice

Carrie Daughtrey, retired Attorney with the US Attorney's Office

David Hutchens, Author and Business Coach

Traci Nordberg, SVP People Services, Lifepoint

Chris Sizemore, Medical Director of Diana Health

Chelle Waller, Entrepreneur & Thistle Farms Graduate Advisory Council Member

Young Leaders Council Intern: Lindsey Landrum, IMG Sports Agent

Young Leaders Council Intern: Marley Pentecost, Dollar General CPA

Joining Thistle Farms as Vice President of Finance and Operations is Matthew Thigpen.

"We are delighted to welcome Matthew Thigpen to Thistle Farms as he steps into the role of leading our finance and operations teams," said Tasha Kennard, Thistle Farms CEO.

"Matthew brings a deep commitment to continuous learning, team development, and mission-driven leadership. His passion for stewarding resources with integrity and scaling justice-centered enterprises aligns beautifully with our vision."

Founded in 1997 by Becca Stevens, Thistle Farms focuses on housing and employing women who have faced trafficking, prostitution and addiction.

American Rebel stock value continues descent

American Rebel Holdings Inc. saw its stock dramatically decrease in value once again Tuesday, continuing a trend of rough trading days for the Nashville-based light beer brewer and manufacturer of gun safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel.

At the closing bell on the Nasdaq stock exchange, the stock (ticker: AREB) was valued at $1.25, down 33.15 percent (the equivalent decrease of $0.62 per share).

Volume was heavy, as approximately 2.9 million shares traded, according to Yahoo Finance. The daily average had been about 389,000 shares.

This followed a Monday during which the shares also lost value.

As the Post reported Oct. 17, American Rebel shares losing more than 40 percent of value at one point during that day (read here). That session followed the stock having fallen 16 percent or more on three consecutive trading days last week, according to Yahoo Finance.

On Oct. 3, and following a reverse stock split of outstanding shares of common stock undertaken at a ratio of 1-for-20, American Rebel shares were valued at $16.75.

The reverse stock split was to have reduced the number of issued and outstanding shares of the company's common stock from approximately 11.27 million to roughly 563,000, according to a release (meaning American Rebel shareholders would own fewer shares but with each share more valuable than previously).

Since that date, American Rebel has seen multiple trading days during which more than 1 million shares changed hands. For example, on Friday, more than 5.5 million shares traded, according to Yahoo Finance.

American Rebel recently announced a spring 2026 distribution of its American Rebel Beer in all 416 Southeastern Grocers locations, including flagships Winn-Dixie, Harvey's and Fresco y Más.

According to a release, the beer will be available in stores located in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The distribution "marks a major step in the brand's transition from independent retail traction to large-scale grocery chain presence."

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.