MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” (Excellent) of Compañía Internacional de Seguros, S.A. (CIS) (Panama City, Panama). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect CIS’ balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses at the strongest level, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
CIS’ balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), historically positive technical and bottom-line results, its leading position in Panama’s insurance market, a strong reinsurance program, a seasoned management team, solid risk-management practices and increased geographic diversification through Aseguradora del Istmo (ADISA) S.A. in Costa Rica. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the challenges CIS faces operating in a relatively limited and increasingly competitive insurance market.
CIS initiated operations in 1910 as a multiline insurer and ranks among the top insurance companies in Panama in terms of premium market share. The company’s largest business lines include health, automobile, miscellaneous, group and individual life insurance. CIS operates through a network of brokers and office branches in several cities throughout Panama.
Historically, CIS has increased its capital base at a 7.6% compound annual growth rate as a result of positive bottom-line results, driven by a consistent inflow of underwriting and investment income, which reflects the management team’s market knowledge and experience. AM Best expects the company’s risk-adjusted capitalization to remain stable.
In 2022, CIS’ solid operating performance was reflected by a combined ratio of 87.8% and a return on earned premiums of 5.6%. These results were supported by continued positive performance in its surety, auto and health businesses, which were the main contributors to the company’s net income during the period. The company’s gross written premiums grew by 15.4% on a year-over-year basis, driven by the re-opening of important economic sectors previously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as business opportunities in the surety segment, the lift provided by bank assurance for the personal accidents segment and a large new group life account.
The company leverages its health segment performance through Blue Cross Blue Shield, a health care provider network in the United States.
Financial income continues to support CIS’ results; however, the company is not dependent on this revenue to achieve positive bottom-line results. Although CIS maintains a sound risk profile and its overall performance is strong, CIS presented reduced profitability in 2022, as measured by return on equity, with respect to historical trends due to the decline in U.S. equity markets, which generated mark-to-market losses.
Despite the many positive characteristics of CIS, the ratings are limited by the competitive environment present in its domestic market, as well as AM Best’s perception of country risk in Panama, which has an AM Best country risk tier ranking of CRT-4, the second-highest level in this scale.
AM Best considers CIS to be well-positioned at its current rating levels, and positive rating actions are not expected in the near term. Factors that might lead to negative rating actions include protracted adverse underwriting and overall operating performance, changes in strategic alliances, a significant deterioration in CIS’ risk-adjusted capitalization or a downgrade of Panama’s country risk tier rating.
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