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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINGAPORE - FEBRUARY 02, 2018 03:17 PM (EST)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bb+” of Pinnacle Life Limited (Pinnacle Life) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect Pinnacle Life’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
Pinnacle Life’s balance sheet strength assessment mainly reflects its large intangible assets (predominantly insurance contract assets), high reinsurance leverage and modest regulatory capital position. In addition, A.M. Best expects the company’s in-force portfolio to remain consistently profitable, based on a product portfolio that is expected to deliver high underlying margins. The claims experience and expense ratio have each improved in recent years. Although overall earnings have exhibited moderate volatility, this was driven mainly by discount rate movements.
Pinnacle Life is a small-sized insurer in the New Zealand life insurance industry, with a market share of less than 1% based on in-force premiums and new business premiums. The company has a low product risk profile, with a majority of its in-force premium related to mortality risk; the remainder is mostly funeral policies and trauma cover. While the marketing of new business is done primarily through Pinnacle Life’s website and digital advertising, capital constraints continue to challenge the company’s ability to increase profitable market share.
Pinnacle Life has a developed risk management program based on the company’s current size and complexity. The company has demonstrated an overall adequate ability to address most of its risks, primarily through adequate pricing, holding highly liquid assets in its investment portfolio and partnering with a highly rated reinsurer to reduce its claims volatility. Therefore, A.M. Best considers Pinnacle Life’s risk management capabilities to be aligned appropriately with its risk profile.
Positive rating actions may occur if there is substantial improvement in Pinnacle Life’s solvency capital and financial flexibility. Negative rating actions may occur if there are large impairments in net insurance contract assets due to higher-than-expected lapses for its in-force business. Additionally, downward rating pressure could occur if the company’s solvency margin deteriorates significantly due to higher-than-budgeted operating expenses or greater-than-assumed claims.
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 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 see A.M. 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 A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases.
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