AM Best


A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Aseguradora Ancón, S.A.


CONTACTS:

Elí Sánchez
Senior Financial Analyst
+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 108
eli.sanchez@ambest.com

Alfonso Novelo
Senior Director, Analytics
+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107
alfonso.novelo@ambest.com
Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
(908) 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
(908) 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEXICO CITY - OCTOBER 10, 2018 02:23 PM (EDT)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” of Aseguradora Ancón, S.A. (Ancón) (Panama). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Ancón’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Ancón maintains adequate risk-adjusted capitalization at an assessed level of adequate, supported by a well-structured reinsurance program that covers the company’s different business lines, as well as a stable loss ratio. Offsetting these positive rating factors is the slow dynamism of Panama’s insurance market in recent years and the strong competition Ancón faces in its main segments.

Ancón is the sixth-largest insurer in Panama with a market share of 3.6% as of June 2018. Property/casualty products compose 68% of its business portfolio, with the remaining 32% made up of life products (including accident and health). The company’s main segments are auto and health, representing 37% and 21%, respectively, of its gross written premiums. The company holds two subsidiaries in Puerto Rico: Multinational Insurance Company (Multinational), a property/casualty insurer, and Multinational Life Insurance Company (Multinational Life), a life insurance company.

In 2017, the company’s combined ratio deteriorated, derived from lower commissions from ceded premiums; however, Ancón maintained a stable loss ratio and continued to benefit from reserve releases that started in 2014.

The prudent business strategy in terms of retention and growth has allowed Ancón to maintain stable levels of required capital while producing positive results and growth of its reported surplus. A comprehensive reinsurance program set with highly rated reinsurers further supports Ancón’s risk adjusted capital.

Panama’s insurance market so far in 2018 has shown improvements over the past two years, and as of June 2018, it has grown 3.8% on a year-to-year basis in real terms. Opportunities are still limited given the lack of dynamism in certain sectors (e.g., new cars sales and new infrastructure projects); however, A.M. Best expects Ancón to maintain a steady underwriting performance based on its current strategy, as evidenced by its loss ratio of 43.3% as of June 2018, an improvement from the loss ratio of 57.8% recorded at year-end 2017.

Positive movement in Ancón’s ratings or outlooks could take place if the company continues to implement its strategy in a profitable manner with continued support from its strong reinsurance program and stable levels of risk-adjusted capitalization. Negative rating actions could occur if the company’s operating results show a negative trend of sustained losses that affect its capitalization or business profile.

The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology .

Key insurance criteria reports utilized:


  • Available Capital & Holding Company Analysis (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Evaluating Country Risk (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Understanding Universal BCAR (Version May 14, 2018)

View a general description of the policies and procedures used to determine credit ratings. For information on the meaning of ratings, structure, voting and the committee process for determining the ratings and monitoring activities, please refer to Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings.


  • Previous Rating Date: Nov. 8, 2017.

  • Date of Financial Data Used: June 30, 2018.

This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on A.M. Best’s website. For additional 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.

A.M. Best does not validate or certify the information provided by the client in order to issue a credit rating.

While the information obtained from the material source(s) is believed to be reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. A.M. Best does not audit the company’s financial records or statements, or otherwise independently verify the accuracy and reliability of the information; therefore, A.M. Best cannot attest as to the accuracy of the information provided.

A.M. Best’s credit ratings are independent and objective opinions, not statements of fact. A.M. Best is not an Investment Advisor, does not offer investment advice of any kind, nor does the company or its Ratings Analysts offer any form of structuring or financial advice. A.M. Best’s credit opinions are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities, or to make any other investment decisions. View our entire notice for complete details.

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