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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK - FEBRUARY 20, 2018 02:20 PM (EST)
The proposed restructuring of the bankrupt Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) would not significantly impact A.M. Best-rated insurers as the vast majority have minimal exposure to their capital and surplus from PREPA bonds, according to a new A.M. Best briefing.
The Best’s Briefing, “PREPA: Worst-Case Scenario May Still Be Within Insurers’ Risk Appetite,” states that the insurance industry has reported a fairly dramatic decline in PREPA holdings’ book adjusted/carrying value over the last five years, dropping 62% since 2012 to $147.1 billion. The decline has been a combination of devaluation as well as unloading the bonds, as the number of holdings has dropped by half among insurers since 2012 to roughly 750 in 2016. PREPA bonds have fared a little better than Puerto Rico municipal bonds, which declined 68% since 2012.
The plan to privatize parts of the bankrupt PREPA over the next 18 months comes after Puerto Rico’s legislature passed an emergency funding measure in late January 2018 to ensure the struggling utility can maintain operations. The insurance industry holds just 2% of PREPA’s $8.2 billion in public debt outstanding.
Two rated companies, both of which are domiciled in Puerto Rico, have exposure to PREPA bonds amounting to more than 10% of their capital and surplus, and could be affected more severely as the economics of privatization typically don’t favor debt as bidders are going to be less interested investing to rebuild while having to pay for or retire existing debt.
To access the full copy of this briefing, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=270799 .
A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.