Best’s News & Research Service - October 12, 2018 10:09 AM (EDT)
A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Rembrandt Insurance Company, Ltd.
- October 12, 2018 10:09 AM (EDT)
London //BestWire// - A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of Rembrandt Insurance Company, Ltd. (Rembrandt) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.
Rembrandt is a captive (re)insurer of Vitol Holding B.V. (Vitol), a holding company of a group engaged principally in trading petroleum-related products and commodities.
The ratings reflect Rembrandt’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorises as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
Rembrandt’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). A.M. Best expects Rembrandt’s risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level, supported by low net underwriting leverage and an outward reinsurance programme that is placed with a panel of financially strong reinsurers. Partly offsetting factors in the balance sheet strength assessment include the captive’s reliance on reinsurance and its concentrated asset base, with a loan provided by Rembrandt to the Vitol group that represented 53% of the captive’s total assets at year-end 2017 (2016: 59%). The risks associated with this loan are mitigated somewhat by terms that allow it to be redeemed at short notice.
Rembrandt’s strong operating performance is demonstrated by its five-year average return on capital of 13.2% (2013-2017) and is primarily driven by its excellent underwriting results, with a five-year average combined ratio of 15.7% (2013-2017). Operating results are further supported by stable, albeit modest, investment returns. Rembrandt’s business profile assessment of limited reflects the company’s relatively small insurance portfolio, which is concentrated by product. Approximately 90% of the captive’s premiums derive from marine cargo and liability risks. Over the past five years, Rembrandt’s premium revenue has declined at an average annual rate of approximately 11%, adversely affected by the soft rate environment and low oil prices.
A.M. 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.
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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