A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A.M. Best Asia-Pacific Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of "a-" of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited (Fidelity Life) (New Zealand). The outlook for both ratings is stable.

“Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies”

The rating affirmations reflect Fidelity Life's strong risk-adjusted capitalization, profitable operation and high earnings retention.

Fidelity Life is adequately capitalized, as indicated by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which evaluates a company’s risk-based capital. The company also has maintained a track record of consistent profitability. In addition, most of Fidelity Life’s profits have been retained to support its business. From 2008 to 2012, total equity increased from NZD 88 million to NZD 140 million.

Although Fidelity Life’s BCAR is projected to decline as a result of new business strain, management will closely monitor its new business growth to maintain an adequate buffer above the minimum solvency requirements. A.M. Best expects that Fidelity Life’s capitalization will remain favorable to support its ongoing financial and operating risks.

Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is the impact of competitive pressures on Fidelity Life.

Competition remains intense in the independent adviser channel, which is the company's primary distribution channel. Competitive pressures may result in a higher lapse than expected and/or smaller premium increases than anticipated.

Fidelity Life's ratings could be upgraded and/or its outlook revised positively over the next few years if it can improve its mortality, morbidity, lapse and expense experience and if there are no material deviations from its projected solvency margin. Conversely, if the solvency margin falls significantly short of central projections, the outlook and/or ratings could be pressured.

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. Key criteria utilized include: “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. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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