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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HONG KONG - NOVEMBER 20, 2014 12:18 PM (EST)
A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of "a" of Evergreen Insurance Company Limited (EICL) (Bermuda). The outlook for both ratings remains stable.
The ratings reflect EICL's strong risk-adjusted capitalization, its contribution to the risk management of the Evergreen Group and a favorable track record of underwriting results. As a pure captive of the Evergreen Group, EICL is the group's risk management platform and underwrites risks in marine, aviation, property, engineering, motor and other liability in relation to group operations. The ratings also recognize EICL's prudent and liquid investment portfolio in the past two years.
Offsetting rating factors include EICL's declining trend in its absolute capitalization in recent years, primarily due to dividend payments made to the group exceeding the profits it generated. On the other hand, the company's Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) is sensitive to a single catastrophic aviation loss scenario, which could give rise to substantial credit or dispute risk associated with a potentially large reinsurance recoverable relative to its capital size.
Upward rating movement is unlikely in the near term. Downward rating movement could occur if the declining trend in absolute capitalization continues or there is a sharp decline in its BCAR.
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.
The methodology used in determining these interactive 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:
Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication, and unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.
This rating announcement has been issued by A.M. Best Asia-Pacific Limited, which is a subsidiary of A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.