Set . The compound Poisson distribution variance identity and the per-claim excess of loss reinsurance payouts give
Apply differentiation under the integral sign. The endpoint terms in the first two terms cancel, while the last integrand is zero at its lower endpoint. Equivalently, differentiate the two payout squares inside their expected values; the finite second moment supplies a dominating integrable function. This gives the total variance stationary condition for excess of loss
Hence the specified equality makes . When , its interpretation is , where the mean residual life is .
For the exponential distribution of mean , and
Thus is negative below and positive above it. The variance-minimizing exponential retention is the unique global minimizer
For an explicit value, put . The capped claim moments and the excess-claim second moment give
The sign argument establishes global minimality, rather than just stationarity.
For positive claim sizes with finite second moment in a compound Poisson distribution aggregate of parameter , the two excess of loss reinsurance payouts are and . The derivative of their total aggregate variance is . Thus the displayed condition characterizes stationarity. When the tail probability is positive it says that the retention equals the mean residual life. Global minimality requires an additional sign or comparison argument.