CONTACTS:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK - MAY 19, 2017 01:02 PM (EDT)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of Palms Insurance Company, Limited (Palms) (George Town, Cayman Islands). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.
The ratings reflect Palms’ solid risk-adjusted capitalization, history of consistently strong operating performance and conservative balance sheet strategies, as well as the captive’s strong integration within the risk management structure of its parent, NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. (NEECH). The ratings also recognize Palms’ history of maintaining sufficient capital and financial resources to support its ongoing obligations.
Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are Palms’ limited market scope and high net loss potential stemming from a single, severe occurrence relative to surplus. Nevertheless, this is somewhat mitigated by the company’s excellent loss history, favorable geographic spread of risk and the history of support of Palms’ strong surplus position by its parent. Additionally, while Palms depends on third parties for processing, servicing and administration, the senior management of its ultimate parent, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) [NYSE: NEE], is closely involved in these operations.
Palms is a single parent or pure captive insurer wholly owned by NEECH, which in turn is wholly owned by NEE. Palms accepts insurance risks only from NEE and its affiliates, providing specialized direct and assumed property and casualty coverages, workers’ compensation, automobile liability, employers’ liability and property risk. Although Palms participates in a range of coverages for very large risks, these risks are underwritten with tight guidelines and significant loss control measures by the insured affiliates as evidenced by favorable loss ratios over the past five years. Nonetheless, prospective underwriting performance remains subject to volatility, due to exposure to low frequency, high severity claims in its property program, as the industry it operates in is fundamentally volatile.
A.M. Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States and 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.
A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.