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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMSTERDAM - JULY 11, 2019 08:51 AM (EDT)
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “aa” of Munich Reinsurance Company (Munich Re) (Germany) and its subsidiaries. AM Best has also affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a” of Munich Re America Corporation (Munich Re America) (Princeton, NJ), along with the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of Munich Re and Munich Re America. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has assigned an FSR of A+ (Superior) and a Long-Term ICR of “aa” to Digital Advantage Insurance Company (Warwick, RI), Digital Affect Insurance Company (New York, NY), and Digital Edge Insurance Company (Wilmington, DE) (collectively referred to as Digital Partners), all of which are reinsured to Munich Re America. The outlook assigned to these ratings is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings).
The ratings reflect Munich Re’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as strongest, its strong operating performance, very favourable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management.
Munich Re’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation which, measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, exceeds the level required to support the strongest assessment by a wide margin. AM Best expects risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level, despite the group’s exposure to potentially large losses and its record of substantial dividend payments and share buy-backs. In addition, the group’s financial leverage is relatively low and it benefits from excellent financial flexibility.
The group’s operating performance is strong, demonstrated by a 10-year weighted average return on equity of 9% (2009-2018). In 2018, Munich Re reported a net profit of EUR 2.28 billion (2017: EUR 392 million).The group’s property/casualty (P/C) reinsurance division reported a net profit of EUR 1.14 billion despite exposure to last year’s catastrophe events, while life & health (L&H) reinsurance and ERGO reported good net profits of EUR 729 million and EUR 412 million, respectively, demonstrating the benefits of the group’s good earnings diversification.
Munich Re is a leading global reinsurer and its business profile benefits from excellent diversification, with the performance of its various life, health, P/C operations largely uncorrelated. The group’s strong global franchise, superior access to clients and considerable expertise provide some insulation against intensely competitive conditions in the P/C reinsurance market.
The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa” have been affirmed with a stable outlook for Munich Reinsurance Company and its following subsidiaries:
The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa” have been assigned with a stable outlook for the following Munich Reinsurance Company subsidiaries:
The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with a stable outlook:
Munich Reinsurance Company—
— “a+” on EUR 1.0 billion 6.0% subordinated fixed to floating rate bonds, due 2041
— “a+” on EUR 900 million 6.25% subordinated fixed to floating rate bonds, due 2042
— “a+” on GBP 450 million 6.625% subordinated fixed to floating rate bonds, due 2042
Munich Re America Corporation—
— “a” on USD 500 million 7.45% senior unsecured notes, due 2026
American Alternative Insurance Corporation—
— “a+” on USD 92.5 million 5.0% surplus notes
The Princeton Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Company—
— “a+” on USD 20.1 million 5.0% surplus notes
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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