Best’s News & Research Service - July 21, 2023 09:08 AM (EDT)
AM Best Revises Outlooks to Negative for Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited
- July 21, 2023 09:08 AM (EDT)
Singapore //BestWire// - AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited (Dhipaya) (Thailand).
The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Dhipaya’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
The negative outlooks reflect increasing pressure on Dhipaya’s balance sheet strength assessment. This is due to increased volatility and a reducing buffer in the company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR).
Dhipaya’s risk-adjusted capitalisation declined to the very strong level in 2022, driven by a large dividend payout that exceeded the company’s net profit for the period and fair value losses arising from investments. Other balance sheet factors include Dhipaya’s moderate risk investment strategy, given its notable allocation to equities and mutual funds. In addition, the company relies heavily on reinsurance, although this is mitigated partially by the typically high credit quality of its reinsurance counterparties. The balance sheet strength assessment also factors in a neutral holding company impact arising from the company’s ultimate ownership by Dhipaya Group Holdings Public Company Limited.
Dhipaya’s operating performance is assessed as strong, with a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 20.2% and combined ratio of 83.6% (2018-2022). While the company generated strong underwriting performance in 2022, it recorded a reduced technical profit as a result of unfavourable claims experience from COVID-19-related policies. Dhipaya’s investment income, which comprises interest and dividend income, continues to provide a sizable contribution to the overall earnings. Prospectively, underwriting performance is expected to normalise as the company will no longer be affected by COVID-19-related claims given that these policies expired in 2022.
AM Best assesses Dhipaya’s business profile as neutral. The company has a strong presence in Thailand’s non-life market, ranking second with a market share of 12% in 2022 based on direct premium written. Dhipaya holds a dominant market position in several major segments such as personal accident and health, fire and industrial all-risks. The company’s business profile also benefits from its strong shareholder support through business referrals and access to extensive countrywide distribution networks.
AM Best views Dhipaya’s risk management capabilities as appropriate relative to the profile of the key risks. The company has a defined risk appetite and tolerances for key risk categories, as well as developed risk management policies and tools to support its risk identification and control functions.
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 Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.