A.M. Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Evergreen Insurance Company Limited

HONG KONG--()--A.M. Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a-” from “a” of Evergreen Insurance Company Limited (EICL) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The rating downgrades reflect the reduced risk-adjusted capitalization due to a dividend payment made in 2016, which exceeded the total net income it generated in the past three fiscal years, and EICL’s issuance of a loan to the parent company, Evergreen International S.A. In addition, EICL underwrites sizeable gross risks relative to its capital level. Under the stress test scenario assuming a portion of EICL’s reinsurance ceded losses are unrecoverable due to reinsurer default, EICL would have less cash and capital buffer to support this reinsurance credit risk.

EICL is a pure captive of the Evergreen Group underwriting risks in marine, aviation, property, engineering, motor and other liability related to the group’s operations. The company’s profitability remains strong and its risk-adjusted capitalization is expected to improve gradually with no dividend payout in the medium term, notwithstanding the current soft market conditions and the company’s expectation of exposure growth from the group’s business expansion.

Positive rating action is unlikely in the near term. Negative rating action could occur if EICL’s absolute capitalization declines materially or its risk-adjusted capitalization further decreases sharply.

A.M. Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated throughout the world. For current Best’s Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

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.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2016 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

A.M. Best
Christie Lee
Director, Analytics
+852 2827 3413

christie.lee@ambest.com
or
Moungmo Lee
Managing Director, Analytics
+65 6589 8412

moungmo.lee@ambest.com
or
Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com
or
Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com

Contacts

A.M. Best
Christie Lee
Director, Analytics
+852 2827 3413

christie.lee@ambest.com
or
Moungmo Lee
Managing Director, Analytics
+65 6589 8412

moungmo.lee@ambest.com
or
Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com
or
Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com