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A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Ocaso, S.A. Seguros y Reaseguros


CONTACTS:

Jessica Botelho , CA
Financial Analyst
+44 20 7626 6264
jessica.botelho@ambest.com

Ghislain Le Cam, CFA, FRM
Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0268
ghislain.lecam@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

LONDON - JUNE 23, 2017 12:22 PM (EDT)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a+” of Ocaso, S.A. Seguros y Reaseguros (Ocaso) (Spain). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Ocaso’s excellent risk-adjusted capitalisation, solid operating performance, and strong business profile. Offsetting rating factors include the company’s almost exclusive focus on its domestic market and the impact that the strengthening of legacy funeral expense insurance (“decesos”) reserves has on its performance.

Ocaso’s balance sheet strength remains at an excellent level. Capital and surplus increased at an annual compound rate of 6.1% between 2011 and 2016, supported by strong internal capital generation, reaching EUR 971.8 million at year-end 2016. The company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is further supported by a modest level of gross premium leverage.

Operating earnings have remained solid over the past five years, and the company has produced combined ratios consistently below 90%. However, Ocaso’s non-life results have been impacted negatively over recent years by increases in reserves for legacy “decesos” books, following regulatory requirements introduced in the Spanish market in 2015. A.M. Best considers that the regulatory reserving schedule for “decesos” policies underwritten before 1999 will continue to have a negative effect on the company’s technical profits in the medium term. Despite the company’s life technical profitability continuing to be impacted negatively by the low interest rate environment, Ocaso reported a life technical result of EUR 1.4 million in 2016. A.M. Best expects the company’s profitability to benefit prospectively from the actions taken to increase the volume of unit-linked business.

Ocaso maintains a well-established competitive position in Spain, benefiting from a strong franchise and a broad distribution network. Moreover, Ocaso has a strong competitive standing in the “decesos” market, with a very stable customer base. Although A.M. Best considers the high concentration in Spain to be a potential source of earnings volatility, with approximately 97% of underwriting revenue sourced from the domestic market in 2016, Ocaso has demonstrated its ability to produce resilient results, even during periods of recession.

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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