KBRA Assigns Insurance Financial Strength Rating to Tower Hill Insurance Exchange

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns an Insurance Financial Strength Rating of BBB+ with a Stable Outlook to Tower Hill Insurance Exchange (THIE). THIE was formed as a Florida reciprocal exchange and will begin writing residential property insurance in Florida within its first year of operation and continue to expand in the Florida market over the subsequent two years.

The rating reflects its sound initial capitalization, conservative investment portfolio, and reasonable business plan. THIE will benefit from the established market presence, distribution, and risk management of the Tower Hill Insurance Group (Tower Hill) - a privately owned organization comprised of three Florida-domiciled direct writers, an affiliate offshore reinsurer, a managing general agency (MGA), and two claims services companies. Tower Hill is one of Florida’s largest residential property insurers with approximately 6% market share.

Balancing these strengths are THIE’s exposure to natural catastrophes, and a lack of geographic and product diversification. THIE’s revenues and earnings are expected to be concentrated in Florida, a state exposed to both natural catastrophes and significant legal challenges for residential property insurance writers. In addition, initial capital is solely funded through surplus notes with annual interest expenses of approximately $16 million. This is somewhat offset by THIE’s low start-up costs versus more typical start-ups.

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Disclosures

Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above.

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Temporary Registration Regime. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider.