HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” (Excellent) of Evergreen Insurance Company Limited (EICL) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect EICL’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
EICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), remains at the strongest level, and is underpinned by a low net underwriting leverage, a highly conservative and liquid investment portfolio and comprehensive reinsurance arrangements. Although the company’s capital and surplus has shown a mild downward trend over the last three years due to dividend payouts to its parents (Evergreen International S.A. and Evergreen International Corp.), its BCAR remains at the strongest level. AM Best expects the company to maintain a sufficient buffer in its risk-adjusted capitalisation to support its risk profile over the next three years.
EICL has demonstrated a track record of strong underwriting and operating performance, owing to its group-related business. In view of its high-severity, low-frequency risk profile that involves mainly marine and aviation businesses, the company has ceded more than half of its premiums to a panel of financially sound reinsurers and maintained a low retention ratio. EICL’s net claims experience has been highly favourable over the last few years, while gross losses fluctuated due to a few major loss events in marine and aviation hull. EICL also projects enhanced investment returns in 2023 driven by higher interest rate for USD fixed deposits. Going forward, AM Best expects that EICL’s underwriting results, in particular for its marine business, will continue to be the main driver of its bottom-line results.
As a pure captive of Evergreen Group, EICL’s underwriting book primarily consists of marine, aviation and property risks related to the group’s operations. EICL continues to be an integral part of the group; its risk management is well-embedded into the group’s risk framework and is viewed as appropriate to support its risk profile.
Negative rating actions could occur if there is a significant deterioration in the company’s operating performance, such as it no longer supports the strong assessment. Negative rating actions could also occur if there is significant deterioration in the credit profile of its ultimate parent, Evergreen International S.A. Positive rating actions could occur if there is a significant improvement in the EICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation and absolute capital size, for example, through capital raising from its shareholders or organic growth from earnings.
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