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A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Nissan Global Reinsurance, Ltd.


CONTACTS:

Darian Ryan
Senior Financial Analyst
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5449
darian.ryan@ambest.com

Dan Ryan
Vice President
(908) 439-2200, ext.5325
daniel.ryan@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Assistant Vice President, Public Relations
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLDWICK - NOVEMBER 24, 2015 12:42 PM (EST)
A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Nissan Global Reinsurance, Ltd. (NGRe) (Hamilton, Bermuda). The outlook for both ratings is stable.

The ratings reflect NGRe’s strong capitalization, significantly improved underwriting performance over the past three years and its conservative underwriting strategy. The ratings also consider NGRe’s role as a captive insurer for its parent, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (Nissan) [NASDAQ: NSANY], as well as its role within the profitable extended service contract and extended warranty business initiated by Nissan. These factors are partially offset by the company’s concentration in asset-backed securities as well as its exposure to property-related catastrophes. The company’s sizable investments in asset-backed securities account for nearly two times policyholders’ surplus and are composed of the higher risk automobile loans originated at Nissan’s financing company. These risks are mitigated by diversification and materiality of the underlying loans, as well as the substantial cash flows that are generated and make up a principal source of earnings for NGRe. NGRe’s catastrophe exposure stems from its property and marine cargo coverages written for its affiliates.

NGRe is a single-parent captive of Nissan, one of the largest automakers in the world. In its role as a single-parent captive, NGRe provides Nissan with a host of insurance coverages in the United States and abroad.

Coverages include global property, global marine transport, global product and general liability, workers’ compensation and a global platform for extended service contract and extended warranty business. As a member of the Nissan family of companies, NGRe benefits from the group’s proprietary data warehouse, extensive risk management practices and loss control programs.

A.M. Best believes the ratings and outlook for NGRe are well-positioned at their current level, however, the company’s rating outlook could see positive movement if the company’s operating performance continues to improve and investment returns remain solid while maintaining a strong level of risk-adjusted capitalization.

The ratings could be negatively impacted if NGRe’s risk-adjusted capitalization and operating performance are adversely impacted by deterioration in its underwriting performance, increased frequency of catastrophe events or losses relating to its sizable asset-backed securities portfolio. Additionally, the ratings could be negatively impacted by deterioration in its parent’s credit profile, significant changes to Nissan’s financial or market position or changes to NGRe’s current business profile and status as a single-parent captive.

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 rating(s) 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 visit A.M. Best’s Ratings & Criteria Center.

A.M. Best Company is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.


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