march 17, 2013 rating captives: a.m. best’s perspective andrew f. colannino vice president june 3,...
TRANSCRIPT
March 17, 2013
Rating Captives:
A.M. Best’s Perspective
Andrew F. ColanninoVice President
June 3, 2014
A.M. Best Company Overview
A.M. Best Ratings
How Captives are Rated Differently
Captive Analysis
Contents
Established in 1899, pioneered the concept of insurer financial strength ratings in 1906
Provider of ratings, financial data, and news specific to the insurance industry
Multiple channels for obtaining public information from A.M. Best: www.ambest.com, daily and weekly newsletters, monthly publications, special technical reports, webinars, in-person appearances at industry events, annual publications
Coverage of approximately 3,500 companies in more than 70 countries
Only rating agency focused on the insurance industry: methodologies are specific to the insurance environment
analysts are industry specialists
A.M. Best Overview
A.M. Best Ratings
Financial Strength Rating (FSR)
an independent opinion of an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation
Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) an independent opinion of an issuer’s ability to meet its ongoing senior financial
obligations
All ratings are forward looking in nature
Ratings are composed of three key areas:
Balance Sheet Strength
Operating Performance
Business Profile
A.M. Best Rating Scales
FSR = Financial Strength RatingICR = Issuer Credit Rating
FSR ICR
Sec
ure
Inve
stm
ent
Gra
de
A++aaaaa+
A+aaaa-
Aa+a
A- a-
B++bbb+bbb
B+ bbb-
Rating Process
Rating Services Agreement
Obtain and review financial data (historical and projected)
Meeting with management
In-depth analysis including A.M. Best Quantitative Analysis Report and calculation of BCAR score
Recommendation developed by analyst
Presentation to rating committee and vote
Outcome conveyed to company
Rating release and publication of company report
A.M. Best Ratings
Ratings Methodology
Rating
Balance Sheet Strength
Operating Performance
Business Profile
INSURANCE COMPANY FINANCIAL STRENGTH
Country Risk
Enterprise RiskManagement
Balance Sheet Strength
• Best’s capital adequacy ratio (BCAR)
• Capital structure/holding company
• Quality/soundness of reinsurance
• Adequacy of loss reserves
• Quality/diversification of assets
• Liquidity
Operating Performance
• Profitability– Historical – Prospective
• Revenue composition/quality of earnings
• Sustainability of earnings
• Ability to meet plan
Business Profile
• Market risk
• Competitive advantages
• Spread of risk
• Event risk
• Regulatory risk
• Management experience and objectives
Why Business Profile & Operating Performance are Important
Leading Indicators of the Future Balance Sheet
Fin
anci
al S
tren
gth
Strong Business Profile and Operating Performance
Weak Business Profile and Operating Performance
Date of last Balance Sheet
Today Time
Country Risk Impact
Poor asset choices
Challenges unique to the country’s operating environment and must be explicitly addressed
“Burdensome” regulation
Inefficient legal system
Poor business infrastructure
Inadequate data
High vulnerability to financial crisis High risk to financial strength without extraordinary preparation
(capital)Inadequate regulation
Opacity in Legal System
Societal Instability & Violence Potential to be completely destabilizing for any company
(Most companies would be in the vulnerable range.)
Government Corruption
Weak economic structure
What is Risk Management?
• Let’s keep it simple…every company does some form of risk management
• AMB defines risk management as the risk and capital management process(es) and practice(s) employed by a company
Risk Management = (Identify + Understand + Measure + Manage) Risk
• No two companies are exactly alike• AMB’s assessment of risk management respects the
unique nature of every company we rate
Enterprise Risk Management
• ERM is the process through which insurers identify, quantify and manage risk on an enterprise-wide, holistic basis
• ERM takes into consideration the individual risks at hand, as well as any correlations and inter-dependencies of risk across the entire organization
• Insurers that create a more structured, integrated risk framework and apply it prudently can– Increase the value of the firm and – Provide financial security to the organization
Enterprise Risk Management
Business Profile
Operating Performanc
e
Balance Sheet
Strength
Enterprise Risk Management is the common thread that links balance sheet strength, operating performance, and business profile.
Risk Management = (Identify + Understand + Measure + Manage) Risk
Risk Management…A Wide Spectrum
• Wide spectrum of tools, techniques, approaches to risk management
• Differences in geographic and product complexity/diversity, as well as management team skill sets and mind sets, must be considered – Approaches range from a traditional “silo”
mentality to an integrated ERM platform with ICM, with many hybrids in between
– Companies may migrate from one approach to another over time as their profile, skill set and the business environment changes
• Bottom line: a company’s process must fit its profile and provide a stable, sustainable operating platform in good times and bad
Enterprise Risk Management
HIGH RISK
MODERATE RISK
LOW RISK
MINIMAL RISK
Risk ProfileRisk ManagementCapability
A company’s risk management capability needs to meet its risk profile
Superior
Strong
Good
Weak
Bringing it all Together
18
• Balance sheet strength is most important• Sustained, stable operating profitability
ensures future strength• Well-diversified, strong business profile
ensures stability and profitability– Management depth, experience and stability
influences profile• Risk Management links strategy to factors
above
• Dedicated team of 5 financial analysts that only cover captives
• Captives and ART (Alternative Risk Transfer) have a separate rating methodology
• Market profile assessment has the greatest divergence
• Operating performance stresses preservation of capital and reduction of insurance cost to insured’s of profitability and return measures
How Captives Are Rated Differently Than Commercial Insurers
How Captives Are Rated Differently Than Commercial Insurers
• Criteria for obtaining a captive rating are similar for all insurance entities, however the rating process does recognize and incorporate the unique characteristics of captives.
• Based on comprehensive analysis of balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile
How Captives Are Rated Differently Than Commercial Insurers
• Analysis of non-insurance parent included assessment of– Publicly available credit measures (other CRA’s)– Market based credit measures (CDS)– Independently performed financial analysis
including peer analysis• Analysis can result in lift or drag to the rated
insurance entity
How Captives Are Rated Differently Than Commercial Insurers
• Treatment of Letters of Credit for ART (Alternative Risk Transfer) entities.– Generally must have all of the following
characteristics:• Stand-Alone • Irrevocable • Evergreen • Funded - In favor of the ART entity • Drawn on a highly rated bank.
How Captives Are Rated Differently Than Commercial Insurers
• Customary definition of market profile does not apply to captives.
• Capital– Loan backs– Long term commitment
• ERM in captive should be part of overall parent risk management solution
A.M. Best Single-Parent Captives Industry Diversification
Agricu
lture
Airlin
e
Auto
Mak
ers
Chem
ical
Const
ruct
ion
Ener
gy
Ente
rtain
men
t
Banki
ng
Hospi
tals
Human
Ser
vice
s
Insp
ectio
n & W
aste
Insu
ranc
e
Manuf
actu
ring
Phar
ma
Relig
ious
Retai
l
Tele
com
mun
icatio
n
Trad
ing
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
4% 4%
6%
4%
8%
27%
2%
6%
4%
6%
4% 4% 4%
2% 2%
6%
4% 4%
Captive Composite Population DefinitionSAP Basis 2012
Number of Companies 203
Net Written Premium $8.3 billion
Net Income $1.6 billion
Admitted Assets $53.0 billion
Loss & LAE Reserves $18.3 billion
Year-end Surplus $24.7 billion
Captive Composite vs. Commercial CompositeLeverage Analysis
2012
Captive Commercial
Fav/(Unfav)
Net Written Premium to Surplus 0.3 to 1 0.8 to 1 0.5 to 1
Net Liabilities to Surplus 1.1 to 1 2.2 to 1 1.1 to 1
Net Leverage 1.4 to 1 3.0 to 1 1.6 to 1
Ceded Leverage 0.4 to 1 0.9 to 1 0.5 to 1
Gross Leverage 1.8 to 1 3.9 to 1 2.1 to 1
Captive Composite vs. Commercial CompositeOperating Performance Analysis
5-year Average Captive Commerci
alFav/
(Unfav)
Loss & LAE Ratio 68.1% 73.0% 4.9%
Underwriting Expense Ratio 20.1% 30.0% 9.9%
Combined Ratio Before PHD 88.2% 103.0% 14.8%
Policyholder Dividends 4.1% 0.3% (3.8%)
Combined Ratio After PHD 92.3% 103.3% 11.0%
Investment Ratio 16.3% 14.8% 1.5%
Operating Ratio 76.0% 88.5% 12.5%
Captive Composite vs. Commercial CompositeOperating Performance Analysis
10-year Average Captive Commerci
alFav/
(Unfav)
Loss & LAE Ratio 73.6% 73.1% (0.5%)
Underwriting Expense Ratio 19.9% 28.7% 8.8%
Combined Ratio Before PHD 93.5% 101.8% 8.3%
Policyholder Dividends 4.2% 0.2% (4.0%)
Combined Ratio After PHD 97.7% 102.0% 4.3%
Investment Ratio 16.2% 14.4% 1.8%
Operating Ratio 81.5% 87.6% 6.1%
Captive Composite vs. Commercial CompositeReturn Measures Analysis
5-year Average
Captive Commercial
Fav/(Unfav)
Investment Yield (Including Realized Capital Gains
3.2% 4.4% (1.2%)
Return on Revenue 20.6% 8.5% 12.1%
Return on Equity 8.4% 6.7% 1.7%
Captive Performance Analysis• Where Does Captive Surplus Growth Come From?• Captive Surplus Grew $7.5 billion over the Last 5-year Period Ended
12/31/2012.
Net Underwriting Income $3.5 billion
Net Investment Income (Including Realized and Unrealized Capital Gains
$7.9 billion
Income Tax ($2.5) billion
Contributed Capital $1.5 billion
Owner Dividends ($4.2) billion
Other Surplus Gain/(Loss) $1.3 billion
Surplus Increase $7.5 billion
Captive Investment Portfolio AnalysisYear End 2012
Long-Term Bonds $29.6 billion
64%
Equities $6.0 billion 13%
Real Estate $0.1 billion Nm
Cash and Short Term $4.1 billion 9%
Other $6.3 billion 14%
Total Non-affiliated Investments $46.1 billion
100%
RRG Composite Population DefinitionSAP Basis 2012
Number 42
Net Written Premium $1.3 billion
Net Income $321 million
Admitted Assets $7.6 billion
Loss & LAE Reserves $2.7 billion
Year-end Surplus $3.4 billion
RRG Composite vs. Commercial CompositeLeverage Analysis
2012
RRG Commercial
Fav/(Unfav)
Net Written Premium to Surplus 0.4 to 1 0.8 to 1 0.4 to 1
Net Liabilities to Surplus 1.2 to 1 2.2 to 1 1.0 to 1
Net Leverage 1.6 to 1 3.0 to 1 1.4 to 1
Ceded Leverage 1.7 to 1 0.9 to 1 (0.8 to 1)
Gross Leverage 3.3 to 1 3.9 to 1 0.6 to 1
RRG Composite vs. Commercial CompositeOperating Performance Analysis
5-year Average
RRG Commercial
Fav/(Unfav)
Loss & LAE Ratio 53.7% 73.0% 19.3%
Underwriting Expense Ratio 27.5% 30.0% 2.5%
Combined Ratio Before PHD 81.2% 103.0% 21.8%
Policyholder Dividends 3.9% 0.3% (3.6%)
Combined Ratio After PHD 85.1% 103.3% 18.2%
Investment Ratio 17.5% 14.8% 2.7%
Operating Ratio 67.6% 88.5% 20.9%
RRG Composite vs. Captive CompositeOperating Performance Analysis
5-year Average RRG Captive Fav/(Unfav)
Loss & LAE Ratio 53.7% 68.1% 14.4%
Underwriting Expense Ratio 27.5% 20.1% (7.4%)
Combined Ratio Before PHD 81.2% 88.2% 7.0%
Policyholder Dividends 3.9% 4.1% 0.2%
Combined Ratio After PHD 85.1% 92.3% 7.2%
Investment Ratio 17.5% 16.3% 1.2%
Operating Ratio 67.6% 76.0% 8.4%
Single-Parent Captive Composite vs. Commercial Composite
Operating Performance Analysis5-year Average
SPC Commercial Fav/(Unfav)
Loss & LAE Ratio 61.2% 73.4% 12.2%
Underwriting Expense Ratio 6.1% 29.3% 23.2%
Combined Ratio Before PHD 67.3% 102.7% 35.4%
Policyholder Dividends 19.3% 0.8% (18.5%)
Combined Ratio After PHD 86.6% 103.5% 16.9%
Investment Ratio 14.8% 15.6% (0.8%)
Operating Ratio 71.8% 87.9% 16.1%
Single-Parent Captive Composite vs.Captive Composite
Operating Performance Analysis5-year Average
SPC Captive Fav/(Unfav)
Loss & LAE Ratio 61.2% 68.1% 6.9%
Underwriting Expense Ratio 6.1% 20.1% 14.0%
Combined Ratio Before PHD 67.3% 88.2% 20.9%
Policyholder Dividends 19.3% 4.1% (15.2%)
Combined Ratio After PHD 86.6% 92.3% 5.7%
Investment Ratio 14.8% 16.3% (1.5%)
Operating Ratio 71.8% 76.0% 4.2%
• Take Aways:• Captive and RRG composite operational leverage is
approximately half of the commercial composite leverage.• Captive composite operating performance substantially
outperforms the commercial composite (12.5 points) on a 5-year basis and significantly outperforms (6.1 points) on a 10-year basis.
• RRG composite operating performance blows away the commercial composite (20.9 points!) on a 5-year basis.
• RRG composite operating performance significantly outperforms the captive composite (8.4 points) on a 5-year basis.
• Take Aways (cont.)• Single-parent captives operating performance substantially
outperforms the commercial composite (16.1 points) on a 5-year basis.
• Single-parent captives operating performance incrementally outperforms the captive composite (4.2 points) on a 5-year basis.
• No matter how you slice it, alternative risk outperforms!
© AM Best Company (AMB) and/or its licensors and affiliates. All rights reserved. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW AND NONE OF SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE COPIED OR OTHERWISE REPRODUCED, REPACKAGED, FURTHER TRANSMITTED, TRANSFERRED, DISSEMINATED, REDISTRIBUTED OR RESOLD, OR STORED FOR SUBSEQUENT USE FOR ANY SUCH PURPOSE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANY FORM OR MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER, BY ANY PERSON WITHOUT AM Best Company PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT. All information contained herein is obtained by AMB from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error as well as other factors, however, all information contained herein is provided “AS IS” without warranty of any kind. Under no circumstances shall AM Best Company have any liability to any person or entity for (a) any loss or damage in whole or in part caused by, resulting from, or relating to, any error (negligent or otherwise) or other circumstance or contingency within or outside the control of AM Best or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with the procurement, collection, compilation, analysis, interpretation, communication, publication or delivery of any such information, or (b) any direct, indirect, special, consequential, compensatory or incidental damages whatsoever (including without limitation, lost profits), even if AM Best Company is advised in advance of the possibility of such damages, resulting from the use of or inability to use, any such information. The ratings, financial reporting analysis, projections, and other observations, if any, constituting part of the information contained herein are, and must be construed solely as, statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities. NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH RATING OR OTHER OPINION OR INFORMATION IS GIVEN OR MADE BY AM BEST COMPANY IN ANY FORM OR MANNER WHATSOEVER. Each rating or other opinion must be weighed solely as one factor in any investment decision made by or on behalf of any user of the information contained herein, and each such user must accordingly make its own study and evaluation of each security and of each issuer and guarantor of, and each provider of credit support for, each security that it may consider purchasing, holding or selling.