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Best’s News & Research Service - November 13, 2019 01:31 PM (EST)

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Evergreen Insurance Company Limited

  • November 13, 2019 01:31 PM (EST)
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Hong Kong //BestWire// - AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of Evergreen Insurance Company Limited (EICL) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect EICL’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

As a pure captive of Evergreen Group, EICL underwrites mainly marine, aviation and property risks related to the group’s operations.

EICL’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), remained at the strongest level. It is underpinned by low net underwriting leverage, a highly conservative investment portfolio and prudent reinsurance arrangements with a diversified panel of financially sound reinsurers. The company’s small absolute capital size has experienced some volatility over the past five years due to dividend payouts. Going forward, AM Best expects the company to maintain a prudent approach in capital management by balancing business expansion needs and shareholder expectations.

The company continues to demonstrate a consistent trend of strong operating results, mainly attributed to favorable and better-than-industry claims experience, a stable level of operating expenses, as well as a stream of ceding commission income. Investment yields remain positive yet low due to the highly conservative investment portfolio.

As a pure captive, EICL continues to be an integral part of the overall risk management at Evergreen Group by providing value-added services such as underwriting solutions, operational safety and loss prevention services to affiliated companies. The company is equipped with strong underwriting knowledge and maintains a geographically diversified book of insured risks.

Offsetting rating factors include the potential volatility in risk-adjusted capitalization from heightened reinsurance credit risk in post major event scenarios due to the high reinsurance dependence in its captive business model. The risk is mitigated partially through the use of a diversified panel of domestic and overseas reinsurers of sound financial quality.

While positive rating actions are not likely over the short to intermediate term, negative rating actions could occur if there are material capital or dividend payouts that lead to a substantial decline in EICL’s risk-adjusted capitalization, or there is a deteriorating trend in the company’s operating performance.

AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated throughout the world. For current Best’s Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM 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 AM 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 AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data provider specializing in the insurance industry. The company does business in more than 100 countries. Headquartered in Oldwick, NJ, AM Best has offices in cities around the world, including London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.



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