A.M. Best Removes From Under Review With Developing Implications and Upgrades Credit Ratings of EC Insurance Company Limited

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has removed from under review with developing implications and upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a+” from “a-” of EC Insurance Company Limited (ECIC) (United Kingdom). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings were placed under review with developing implications in September 2017 following the announcement that ECIC’s intermediate parent, EC Insurance Holdings Limited, has entered into an agreement for the sale of ECIC to Markel Capital Holdings Limited, the ultimate parent of which is Markel Corporation (Markel). The acquisition closed in November 2017.

The ratings have been removed from under review as A.M. Best has completed its assessment of Markel’s plans for ECIC and the impact on ECIC’s rating fundamentals.

The rating upgrades reflect the substantial reinsurance support ECIC receives from an affiliated company, Markel International Insurance Company Limited (MIICL), which is a member of Markel’s lead rating unit, Markel North America Insurance Group. Under the loss portfolio transfer reinsurance agreement between the two entities, 100% of the losses incurred by ECIC are reinsured by MIICL. The agreement also covers any new business written by ECIC.

ECIC also has entered into a renewal rights transfer agreement with MIICL and A.M. Best anticipates that ECIC may cease to write business and potentially enter run off during 2018.

The ratings of ECIC reflect Markel North America Insurance Group’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorises as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

This press release relates to rating(s) 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.

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A.M. Best

George Athanasopoulos, +44 20 7397 0330

Financial Analyst

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Mathilde Jakobsen, +44 20 7397 0266

Director, Analytics

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

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

Director, Public Relations

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Source: A.M. Best