AM Best


A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of BUPA México Compañía de Seguros, S.A. de C.V.


CONTACTS:

Olga Rubo
Associate Financial Analyst
+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 134
olga.rubo@ambest.com

Alfonso Novelo
Senior Director, Analytics
+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107
alfonso.novelo@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

MEXICO CITY - AUGUST 09, 2017 02:25 PM (EDT)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” and the Mexico National Scale Rating of “aa-.MX” of BUPA Mexico Compañía de Seguros, S.A. de C.V. (BUPA Mexico) (Mexico). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is positive.

The ratings of BUPA Mexico reflect the importance and integration of the local subsidiary to its parent company, Bupa Insurance Company (BIC), and the operational and capital support from the ultimate parent organization, The British United Provident Association Limited (BUPA), a global health and care company. The ratings also consider the parent’s creditworthiness and the access to BUPA’s well-established network and other resources, which enhance BIC’s competitive advantage. A.M. Best anticipates that the operational support and financial flexibility afforded by BUPA will continue. A.M. Best will continue to monitor BIC’s strategic fit within the parent organization.

The ratings of BUPA Mexico also reflect the importance and integration of the local subsidiary to BIC, which provides the group access to one of Latin America’s largest insurance markets. The ratings also reflect BUPA Mexico’s favorable financial flexibility leveraged by a strong risk-adjusted capital position that is supported by a solid reinsurance program, as well as its experienced management team. Offsetting these positive rating factors is the subsidiary´s volatile and weak operating performance mainly derived from its 10% retention of premium, which makes the company dependent on capital injections from its group parent to support growth and maintain adequate capital under regulatory requirements.

The ratings also reflect BUPA Mexico’s affiliation with BIC, a widely recognized major medical individual and group coverage underwriter. The subsidiary offers the same array of products as BIC and adheres to its underwriting, risk management and investment policies. BUPA Mexico’s successful expansion into Mexico’s insurance market leverages the group’s global brand, reinsurance capacity and capital support provided from BIC.

Given the large capital support tendered by BIC, BUPA Mexico maintains strong risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which fosters underwriting growth and provides financial flexibility. Given the subsidiary’s 10% retention of premium, the main component of required capital is derived from reinsurance recoverables. A.M. Best does not view this as a major concern, considering that 100% of BUPA Mexico’s reinsurance program is placed with BIC, which provides an adequate level of security.

BUPA Mexico’s growth has outpaced the market for the past five years. A robust reinsurance program held with BIC involves a quota share contract under which the subsidiary cedes 90% of its premiums to BIC. This is complemented by an excess of loss agreement that further protects BUPA Mexico’s risk retention.

An offsetting rating factor is the small size of the subsidiary, reflected in the small market share within the major medical expenses for individuals segment, which results in volatile operating performance. BUPA Mexico ranks sixth in this line of business. In addition, BUPA Mexico has historically registered negative bottom line results, mainly as a result of elevated loss and administrative expense ratios given its low premium retention, making it more dependent on capital support from its parent. The company foresees costs stabilizing in the medium and long term.

If positive rating actions are taken on BIC as a result of consistent positive trend in earnings, diversified profitable premium growth or a continued strategic importance to BIC’s parent, the ratings of BUPA Mexico will move in tandem. Likewise, if there are negative rating actions taken on its immediate parent as a result of a significant deterioration in risk-adjusted capitalization, sizeable decline in operating results, or a material change of BIC’s strategic importance to its parent, the ratings of the BUPA Mexico will mirror those actions. Additionally, if A.M. Best’s view of the Mexican subsidiary’s strategic importance to the group deteriorates or if capital support narrows from historical levels, the ratings will likely be affected negatively.

The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

Key insurance criteria reports utilized:


  • A.M. Best’s Ratings On a National Scale (Version Sept. 5, 2014)

  • Analyzing Insurance Holding Company Liquidity (Version March 25, 2013)

  • Evaluating Country Risk (Version May 2, 2012)

  • Insurance Holding Company and Debt Ratings (Version May 6, 2014)

  • Rating Members of Insurance Groups (Version Dec. 15, 2014)

  • Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies (Version April 2, 2013)

  • Understanding BCAR for U.S. and Canadian Life/Health Insurers (Version May 10, 2017)

  • Understanding Universal BCAR (Version May 1, 2017)

View a general description of the policies and procedures used to determine credit ratings. For information on the meaning of ratings, structure, voting and the committee process for determining the ratings and monitoring activities, please refer to Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings.


  • Previous Rating Date: Aug. 5, 2016

  • Date of Financial Data Used: March 31, 2017

This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on A.M. Best’s website. For additional 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.

A.M. Best does not validate or certify the information provided by the client in order to issue a credit rating.

While the information obtained from the material source(s) is believed to be reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. A.M. Best does not audit the company’s financial records or statements, or otherwise independently verify the accuracy and reliability of the information; therefore, A.M. Best cannot attest as to the accuracy of the information provided.

A.M. Best’s credit ratings are independent and objective opinions, not statements of fact. A.M. Best is not an Investment Advisor, does not offer investment advice of any kind, nor does the company or its Ratings Analysts offer any form of structuring or financial advice. A.M. Best’s credit opinions are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities, or to make any other investment decisions. View our entire notice for complete details.

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