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A.M. Best Places Credit Ratings of Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company B.S.C. Under Review With Developing Implications


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Thomas Bateman
Financial Analyst
+44 20 7397 0329
thomas.bateman@ambest.com

Salman Siddiqui, ACA
Associate Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0311
salman.siddiqui@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LONDON - JUNE 16, 2017 09:56 AM (EDT)
A.M. Best has placed under review with developing implications the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” of Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company B.S.C. (BKIC) (Bahrain).

These Credit Rating (rating) actions follow BKIC increasing its shareholding in Takaful International Company B.S.C. (TIC) (Bahrain) to 64% and making an offer to acquire the remaining 36% from minority interest shareholders. BKIC initially acquired 41% of TIC’s shareholding in 2015, and in April 2017 acquired an additional 23%, for a total cash consideration of BHD 1.35 million (USD 3.61 million). As a result of its increased shareholding in TIC, Bahrain’s capital market regulations required BKIC to make a mandatory offer for the remaining minority interest stake of TIC. The offer, made on 10 May 2017, is for a cash price of BHD 0.095 per share, and is set to expire on 20 June 2017.

BKIC is one of the leading conventional insurers in Bahrain, with additional operations in Kuwait, whilst TIC is the leading takaful operator in Bahrain. A.M. Best understands that BKIC does not intend to change TIC’s status as a takaful operator. The under review with developing implications status reflects the uncertainty regarding the take-up of BKIC’s offer to minority shareholders and the resulting impact to BKIC’s risk-adjusted capitalisation and operating performance in the medium-term. Furthermore, the level of integration between the two companies, and BKIC’s ability to manage the execution risk associated with this transaction, will likely be important to the success of this acquisition.

The under review status is expected to be resolved following the expiration of the offer period and A.M. Best’s assessment of its impact on BKIC’s risk-adjusted capitalisation and prospective operating performance.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases.

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