AM Best


AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of General de Seguros, S.A.B.


CONTACTS:

Inger Rodríguez
Associate Financial Analyst
+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 108
inger.rodriguez@ambest.com

Eli Sanchez
Associate Director, Analytics
+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 122
eli.sanchez@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEXICO CITY - DECEMBER 03, 2021 03:05 PM (EST)
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) and the Mexico National Scale Rating (NSR) of “aaa.MX” (Exceptional) of General de Seguros, S.A.B. (Genseg) (Mexico City, Mexico). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Genseg’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings also recognize Genseg’s affiliation and strategic importance to its ultimate parent, Peña Verde, S.A.B., a leading group in Mexico’s insurance and reinsurance industries, which provides synergies and operating efficiencies, as well as the reinsurance support provided by affiliated company, Reaseguradora Patria, S.A.

Genseg initiated operations in Mexico City in 1972. The company mainly underwrites motor, accident and health, a mix of property/casualty and life insurance lines, and historically has participated in the crop insurance market. Genseg operates throughout Mexico with a network of independent agents, brokers and commercial offices.

Genseg’s balance sheet strength is supported by risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The company’s capitalization and liquidity provide Genseg with flexibility to cover deviations in claims or volatile securities market conditions without having to realize losses in its investment portfolio. The company’s capitalization is further supported by a reinsurance program placed with highly rated entities.

Historically, operating performance been limited by underwriting performance and investment valuation; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mexico’s stock market, as well as the decline in Mexico’s sovereign debt rating, have caused losses in the valuation of Genseg’s investments, further limiting operating performance in 2020. As of June 2021, investment income has shown improvement; however, profitability remains limited by underwriting results.

Genseg is undergoing a comprehensive transformation project, which includes the implementation of a new core system, which includes pricing and risk-assessment tools, digital platforms and products for agents and policyholders as part of its strategy to achieve premium sufficiency and increase its market scope.

The stable outlook reflects AM Best’s expectation that Genseg and its holding company will be able to make any necessary adjustments, either in capitalization or operating performance, to support Genseg’s capital base, amid the evolving organizational structure of the group.

The company’s ratings could come under pressure if risk-adjusted capitalization weakens as a result of extensive capital outflows or a lack of underwriting discipline that generates negative technical results, causing the capital base to erode to a level no longer supportive of the current ratings. Negative rating actions also could take place if the support provided by its group, Peña Verde, S.A.B., weakens in AM Best’s view.

The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology (Version Nov. 13, 2020), which provides a comprehensive explanation of AM Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

Key insurance criteria reports utilized:


  • Evaluating Country Risk (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Understanding Global BCAR (Version July 22, 2021)

  • Catastrophe Analysis in AM Best Ratings (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Available Capital & Holding Company Analysis (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • AM Best’s Ratings On a National Scale (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Scoring and Assessing Innovation (Version March 5, 2020)

View a general description of the policies and procedures used to determine credit ratings. For information on the meaning of ratings, structure, voting and the committee process for determining the ratings and monitoring activities, please refer to Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings.


  • Previous Rating Date: Nov. 5, 2020

  • Date Range of Financial Data Used: Dec. 31, 2015-June 30, 2021

This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on AM Best’s website. For additional 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.

AM Best does not validate or certify the information provided by the client in order to issue a credit rating.

While the information obtained from the material source(s) is believed to be reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. AM Best does not audit the company’s financial records or statements, or otherwise independently verify the accuracy and reliability of the information; therefore, AM Best cannot attest as to the accuracy of the information provided.

AM Best’s credit ratings are independent and objective opinions, not statements of fact. AM Best is not an Investment Advisor, does not offer investment advice of any kind, nor does the company or its Ratings Analysts offer any form of structuring or financial advice. AM Best’s credit opinions are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities, or to make any other investment decisions. View our entire notice for complete details.

AM Best receives compensation for interactive rating services provided to organizations that it rates. AM Best may also receive compensation from rated entities for non-rating related services or products offered by AM Best. AM Best does not offer consulting or advisory services. For more information regarding AM Best’s rating process, including handling of confidential (non-public) information, independence, and avoidance of conflicts of interest, please read the AM Best Code of Conduct. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, 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 specializing 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.


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