A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Vietnam National Reinsurance Corporation

Business Wire

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” of Vietnam National Reinsurance Corporation (VINARE) (Vietnam). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

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

VINARE’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is supported by its low net and gross underwriting leverage. The company’s investment portfolio is conservative, with a majority of its assets invested in cash and deposits.

VINARE has maintained good operating performance throughout the past five years, driven by underwriting and investment activities. The company achieved an average combined ratio of approximately 87% from 2013 to 2017, lower than many direct insurers in Vietnam and its peers across the region.

In terms of business profile, VINARE continues to receive support from its shareholders, namely the State Capital Investment Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd (Swiss Re) and other direct insurers in Vietnam, which are also its cedants. Swiss Re, VINARE’s second-largest shareholder, provides the company with technical support and modeling capabilities.

An offsetting rating factor is the company’s low earnings retention. This could impede capital growth relative to its cedants, which are experiencing capital increases from organic growth and foreign investment. In addition, Vietnam continues to attract international and regional reinsurance capacity.

While VINARE is well-positioned at its current rating level, negative rating actions may arise from material deterioration in its operating performance or risk-adjusted capitalization.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

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 the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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A.M. Best

Wesley Chia+65-6303-5018

Financial Analyst

wesley.chia@ambest.com

or

Chi-Yeung Lok, +65-6303-5016

Director, Analytics

chi-yeung.lok@ambest.com

or

Christopher Sharkey, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5159

Manager, Public Relations

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

or

Jim Peavy, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5644

Director, Public Relations

james.peavy@ambest.com