A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Axéria Prévoyance and Axeria Re Limited

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Ratings of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” of Axéria Prévoyance (Axéria) (France) and Axeria Re Limited (Axeria Re) (Malta). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.

The ratings of Axéria reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Axéria’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by the company’s strongest risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), good asset quality, liquid investment portfolio and history of prudent reserving. A.M. Best expects risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain more than sufficient to absorb higher underwriting risks emanating from the company’s strategic development plan. In recent years, Axéria’s capital base has been strengthened through good earnings retention, with a dividend payout ratio of approximately 50%. Partially offsetting the balance sheet assessment is Axéria’s high dependence on reinsurance support.

Axéria’s business profile benefits from the strong market position of April S.A. (April), the holding company of the April group, a leader in France’s wholesale insurance brokerage sector. Axéria underwrites the group’s core business lines of corporate health and protection, individual health and credit insurance and is able to leverage April’s excellent distribution capabilities. Despite regulatory changes increasing competitive pressures within the health and loan insurance segments in France, Axéria has demonstrated its resilience by maintaining its technical margin through market segmentation and disciplined risk selection.

Axéria has a track record of solid operating performance, with a five-year average (2013-2017) return on equity of 7.8%. Axéria has continued to report good technical performance, although has seen some volatility in recent years. A.M. Best expects the company’s operating performance to remain adequate, supported by good technical performance and solid investment returns.

The ratings of Axeria Re reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorises as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also factor in rating enhancement given Axeria Re’s strategic importance to Axéria and the wider April group, as an internal reinsurer, providing reinsurance capacity and support to the group’s principal risk carriers, and in particular as a pivotal reinsurance partner for Axéria. Additionally, since 2015, Axeria Re has been providing stop-loss retrocession protection to Axéria’s external reinsurers, reinforcing its importance to the group.

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. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases.

A.M. Best is a global rating agency and information provider with a unique focus on the insurance industry. Visit www.ambest.com for more information.

Copyright © 2018 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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A.M. Best

Alex Rafferty, ACA

Senior Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0285

alex.rafferty@ambest.com

or

Ghislain Le Cam, CFA, FRM

Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0268

ghislain.lecam@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

Source: A.M. Best