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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK, N.J. - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 12:00 AM (EDT)
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of the life/health and property/casualty operating subsidiaries of Colonial Group International Limited (Colonial Group). The outlook for all ratings is stable. Colonial Group is a wholly owned intermediate holding company of Edmund Gibbons Limited, the ultimate parent company. All companies are domiciled in Bermuda, unless otherwise specified. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies.)
The rating affirmations reflect the adequate risk-based capitalization at most of the Colonial Group subsidiaries, consistent increase in their total consolidated equity and diversified business profiles, with their focus being on life/health and property/casualty markets in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and the Caribbean.
Colonial Group’s life/health subsidiaries have reported favorable underwriting results in their most recent year with the exception of Colonial Life Assurance Company Limited (Colonial Life), which reported a net loss in 2011 due to a lack of critical mass. Despite operating results and risk-adjusted capitalization at Colonial Life having improved in 2012, its operations, which represent a relatively small part of the overall group operations, remain a challenge. Generating favorable operating results at Colonial Life should provide the basis for its capitalization to strengthen organically in the near future. Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited (Bermuda) and Atlantic Medical Insurance Limited (Bahamas) are regional companies with a continued strong presence in their respective health markets. On a net income and underwriting basis, the life/health subsidiaries’ combined results continue to be strong, but top line growth remains a challenge, mostly due to a weak economic environment.
Within the property/casualty operations, Colonial Group’s three operating subsidiaries, Colonial Insurance Company Limited, British Caymanian Insurance Company Limited (Cayman Islands) and Security and General Insurance Company Limited (Bahamas), have generally demonstrated good underwriting results and improved operating performance trends while continuing to benefit from being part of the overall Colonial Group. Furthermore, the property/casualty subsidiaries benefit from Colonial Group’s reinsurance leverage that manages its global property/casualty risks, which allows the subsidiaries to grow direct premium revenues in their core markets.
Partially offsetting these strengths are Colonial Group’s significant concentration risk in the health line of business in several geographic regions, its vulnerability to frequency and severity of catastrophic events within its property/casualty business and specific large inter-company balances.
Colonial Group is well positioned for its current rating level. Key rating factors that could lead to negative rating actions include a deterioration in the group subsidiaries’ risk-adjusted capital position, operating losses and increases in inter-company balances.
The FSRs of A- (Excellent) and ICRs of “a-” have been affirmed for the following life/health and property/casualty operating subsidiaries of Colonial Group International Limited:
- Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited
- Atlantic Medical Insurance Limited
- Colonial Life Assurance Company Limited
- Colonial Insurance Company Limited
- British Caymanian Insurance Company Limited
- Security and General Insurance Company Limited
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. Additional key criteria utilized include: “Evaluating Country Risk”; “Rating Members of Insurance Groups”; “Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies”; and “Understanding Universal BCAR.” Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.