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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINGAPORE - MARCH 01, 2019 09:00 AM (EST)
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of BNZ Life Insurance Limited (BNZ Life) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect BNZ Life’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). In addition, the ratings factor in a neutral impact from the company’s ultimate ownership by National Australia Bank Limited (NAB).
BNZ Life’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which is at the strongest level. While the company has exhibited a high dividend payout ratio over the past five years, earnings retention remained sufficient to support new business growth and maintain the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization. A partially offsetting balance sheet factor is the company’s modest absolute capital base, which AM Best views as a factor that increases its sensitivity to shock events, as well as to changes in future performance and dividend payments.
AM Best views BNZ Life’s operating performance as strong, with the company having generated a five-year average return on equity ratio of 30% (fiscal years 2014-2018). The company has a track record of favorable earnings driven by the strong underwriting performance of its in-force life business, coupled with stable investment returns. Prospectively, AM Best expects a robust pricing strategy and steady revenue growth to support the maintenance of the strong operating performance.
AM Best views BNZ Life’s business profile as neutral. The company is a small to medium-sized insurer in New Zealand’s life insurance industry, with a market share of approximately 5% based on 2018 gross written premiums. BNZ Life benefits from a strong distribution network driven by the bancassurance channel with an affiliated company, Bank of New Zealand Limited (BNZ), which also is owned ultimately by NAB. BNZ’s banking network, which includes branches nationwide, as well as the low distribution costs associated with the distribution channel, provide BNZ Life a key competitive advantage.
BNZ Life’s ERM is viewed as appropriate given the size and complexity of its operations. The company also benefits from a level of risk management oversight and governance from the NAB group.
Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM 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 AM 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 AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.
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