-

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of DavidShield Insurance Company

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) of DavidShield Insurance Company (DSIC) (Israel). DSIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of DavidShield PassportCard Ltd (PassportCard Group), which is ultimately majority-owned by White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (WTM) [NYSE: WTM]. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect DSIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. DSIC’s ratings also reflect rating enhancement due to the explicit support received from WTM.

DSIC’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The company benefits from a conservative investment portfolio, as well as good financial flexibility and a strong liquidity profile. DSIC has a high dependency on reinsurance, given its business model as a fronting company; however, this is partially mitigated by a reinsurance panel of strong credit quality. The balance sheet assessment also considers the moderately high financial leverage within the wider PassportCard Group.

DSIC’s profitability is driven by robust reinsurance fee income, given that the company fully reinsures its underwriting risks. Despite various challenges including regional conflict, airspace closures and macroeconomic pressures in 2025, DSIC generated a return-on-equity of 18.3%, as calculated by AM Best, driven by continued positive performance in its Israeli travel and international private medical insurance (IPMI) lines of business.

DSIC has a long history of excellent gross underwriting performance (gross of reinsurance), which ultimately benefits DSIC through reinsurance commissions. The company’s stable investment income further supports its overall operating performance. AM Best’s performance analysis includes consideration of the wider PassportCard Group, which has seen substantial capital deployment across its subsidiaries in line with its strategic growth plans. AM Best expects the PassportCard Group to become sustainably profitable over the short-to-medium term as its foreign business gains scale.

DSIC is a fronting insurer for the PassportCard Group, providing insurance cover for its travel and IPMI lines exclusively in Israel. The company is the market leader in both lines, with its success driven by its innovative technological customer solutions, primarily the PassportCard product. Whilst it is concentrated in two lines of business, the company benefits from diversification through the geographical spread of its policyholders. DSIC also has a growing insurance administration services business with large international companies, which are looking to leverage their unique technology.

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 Performance Assessments, 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.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patrick McCrystal, FIA
Financial Analyst
+44 20 3808 2988
patrick.mccrystal@ambest.com

Jessica Botelho-Young, CA
Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0310
jessica.botelho-young@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

AM Best


Release Versions

Contacts

Patrick McCrystal, FIA
Financial Analyst
+44 20 3808 2988
patrick.mccrystal@ambest.com

Jessica Botelho-Young, CA
Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0310
jessica.botelho-young@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

More News From AM Best

Best's Market Segment Report: MENA Reinsurers Focus on Profitable Growth Opportunities Despite Geopolitical and Economic Uncertainties

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Although geopolitical tensions have intensified in the region, the Middle East and North Africa markets present good topline growth potential for reinsurers, and continue to attract international interest, according to a new AM Best report. In its Best’s Market Segment Report, "MENA Reinsurers are Focused on Profitable Growth Opportunities Despite Heightened Geopolitical and Economic Uncertainties", AM Best states that the growth potential for reinsurers is supported by...

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings for Palomar Holdings, Inc. and Its Member Companies and Affiliate

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb” (Good) of Palomar Holdings, Inc. (Palomar) (Delaware) [NASDAQ: PLMR], the ultimate parent and insurance holding company of Palomar Specialty Insurance Company (PSIC) (Portland, OR), Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company (PESIC) (Phoenix, AZ), Palomar Specialty Reinsurance Company Bermuda Ltd. (Palomar Re) (Bermuda), First Indemnity of America Insurance Company (FIA) (Morris Pl...

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Operating Subsidiaries of Essent Group Ltd.

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a” (Excellent) of the operating subsidiaries of Essent Group Ltd., which are Essent Guaranty, Inc. (domiciled in Radnor, PA) and Essent Reinsurance Ltd. (Hamilton, Bermuda) (collectively referred to as Essent). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Essent’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as stronges...
Back to Newsroom