A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Transmonde Services Insurance Company Limited

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of Transmonde Services Insurance Company Limited (Transmonde) (Hamilton, Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.

The ratings reflect Transmonde’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Partially offsetting these rating factors are Transmonde’s high retentions and concentration in liability lines with significant loss severity potential, and its limited market profile as a single parent captive. Transmonde provides professional, general and pollution liability coverages to members of the International Association of Superintendents, which are subsidiaries of SGS SA (SGS), a publicly traded Swiss company [SWX: SGSN].

Transmonde has maintained very conservative underwriting leverage ratios, as surplus has remained strong to support its business volumes. Historically, surplus growth is the result of retained earnings from highly profitable operating results driven by excellent underwriting performance. The company has posted low loss and loss adjustment expense ratios, which reflect SGS’s effective risk management. Its relatively high per-occurrence retentions are mitigated by significant deductibles and conservative reserving practices.

While the rating outlooks are stable, factors that could lead to positive rating actions include a material increase in Transmonde's risk-adjusted capitalization and consistently favorable operating results at SGS S.A. Factors that may lead to negative rating actions include sustained adverse global economic conditions affecting SGS S.A. and Transmonde, material loss of risk-adjusted capitalization, deterioration of operating performance or an increase in net retention.

A.M. Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States and throughout the world. For current Best’s Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

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

Guilherme (Guy) Monteiro Simoes

Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5301

guy.simoes@ambest.com

or

Steven M. Chirico, CPA

Director

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5087

steven.chirico@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