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A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of JSC IC Kazkommerts-Policy


CONTACTS:

Yevgine Green
Financial Analyst
+44 20 7397 0316
yevgine.green@ambest.com

Catherine Thomas
Senior Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0281
catherine.thomas@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 - DECEMBER 14, 2017 09:06 AM (EST)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of C++ (Marginal) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “b+” of JSC IC Kazkommerts-Policy (Kazkommerts-Policy) (Kazakhstan). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Kazkommerts-Policy is a majority owned subsidiary of JSC Kazkommertsbank (Kazkommertsbank), which in turn is owned by JSC Halyk Bank (Halyk Bank), a leading retail bank in Kazakhstan.

The ratings reflect Kazkommerts-Policy’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorises as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and weak enterprise risk management.

Kazkommerts-Policy’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is assessed as strongest. However, balance sheet strength is affected negatively by the company’s high level of exposure to earthquake risk in Kazakhstan, combined with its weak reinsurance protection against catastrophe losses. Additionally, the company’s investments are exposed to high financial system risk in Kazakhstan, with approximately 40% of its fixed income portfolio being non-investment grade.

Operating performance has been profitable, albeit volatile, with investment income usually making up for the shortfall in underwriting performance. In 2016, the company reported an underwriting profit for the first time in five years (2012-2016), driven by reserve releases on its workers’ compensation portfolio. In the first nine months of 2017, based on the national accounting standards, the insurer recorded a combined ratio of 99%, with premium growth outpacing the cost of claims and expenses. In A.M. Best’s view, there is material uncertainty regarding the sustainability of improved underwriting performance over the longer term, given tough market conditions and the company’s still high, although somewhat improved, expense ratio (2016: 69.5%; 2015: 78.1%).

Kazkommerts-Policy has continued to grow rapidly in 2017, with net written premiums (NWP) forecast to be three times higher than in 2014. Growth over this period was in part fuelled by the company’s merger with another Kazakh non-life insurer in 2015. The company became the fourth-largest insurer in Kazakhstan’s non-life market in 2016, and has maintained this position (as measured by gross written premiums) in the first nine months of 2017. However, there are concerns regarding the company’s ability to defend its leading market position due to the intense competition in Kazakhstan’s non-life market. The underwriting portfolio has limited diversification by product and geography, with 45% of NWP sourced from compulsory business lines in 2016, which increases the company’s exposure to regulatory risk.

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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AMB# Company Name
090886 JSC IC Kazkommerts - Policy