AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Beneficial Insurance Limited

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good) of Beneficial Insurance Limited (Beneficial) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Beneficial’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Beneficial’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which remains at the strongest level. This reflects the company’s moderate net underwriting leverage and conservative investment strategy. Prospective risk-adjusted capitalisation is expected to be maintained through sufficient earnings retention over the medium term to support the company’s business initiatives. Offsetting balance sheet factors include the company’s small absolute capital base, which increases the sensitivity of capital adequacy to stress scenarios, and to changes in future performance. In addition, AM Best views the company to have limited financial flexibility, with a dependence on its privately held holding company, Beneficial Holdings Limited, for financial support, if required.

Beneficial has a track record of strong operating performance, with the company having reported a five-year weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 36.8% (fiscal years 2017-2021). Profitability continues to be driven by its strong underwriting performance supported by positive investment returns. Prospectively, AM Best expects Beneficial to maintain strong operating performance over the medium term, benefiting from steady revenue growth and continued low loss ratios, coupled with positive investment income.

AM Best considers Beneficial’s business profile to be limited, largely reflecting the company’s small-scale operations and its limited product and geographic diversification in New Zealand. The company is a niche insurer that focuses on pet insurance in New Zealand, with a small overall market share in the local general insurance industry. Prospectively, AM Best expects the company’s growth strategy to benefit from continued development of its pet insurance business, as well as its existing non-pet insurance related product offerings and new product initiatives.

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 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. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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