A.M. Best Company
10/19/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/19/2022 08:30
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of MAPFRE Panamá S.A.
OCTOBER 19, 2022 10:13 AM (EDT)
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of MAPFRE Panamá S.A.
CONTACTS:
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Salvador Smith Senior Financial Analyst +52 55 1102 2720, ext. 109 [email protected]
Eli Sanchez |
Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 [email protected]
Al Slavin |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEXICO CITY - OCTOBER 19, 2022 10:13 AM (EDT)
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a+" (Excellent) of MAPFRE Panamá S.A. (MAPFRE Panamá) (Panama City, Panama). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
MAPFRE Panamá is a member of MAPFRE S.A., which on a consolidated basis has a balance sheet strength that AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
The ratings reflect MAPFRE Panamá's geographic and strategic importance to the MAPFRE group, given its Central America presence, as well as the integration of the MAPFRE group's practices, procedures, reinsurance, draft facilities, underwriting selection and ERM framework into MAPFRE Panamá, and the synergies and operating efficiencies derived from being a group member. MAPFRE Panamá was Panama's second-largest insurer in 2021. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the competitive dynamics that persist in Panama's property/casualty (P/C) segment.
MAPFRE Panamá ranks among the top companies in Panama for health and auto insurance segment. After posting marginal growth in 2020, MAPFRE Panamá showed signs of contraction during 2021.
The ratings also reflect MAPFRE Panamá's strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) on a consolidated basis, solid capital base and good reserve position that provides a sound financial flexibility. AM Best expects the company to sustain its capitalization level, in addition to its adherence to ERM practices and procedures implemented from the MAPFRE group.
MAPFRE Panamá's combined ratio for 2021 deteriorated above 100%, driven by its health and auto business lines that were impacted by claims frequency in conjunction with rising inflation. AM Best expects MAPFRE Panamá to resume positive technical results in the short term through its ongoing strict claims and expense containment strategies.
The strong competitive environment in Panama's insurance market, especially in segments in which MAPFRE Panamá has leading positions, continues to generate challenging conditions and increased risk appetites across the industry, presenting operating performance challenges in specific segments such as auto, individual life and health.
If there are negative rating actions on the MAPFRE group, as a result of a sustained decline in operating performance below AM Best's expectation for the strong assessment level, or a sustained deterioration in MAPFRE S.A.'s consolidated risk-adjusted capitalization, the ratings of MAPFRE Panamá would mirror those same actions.
A change in AM Best's perception regarding the actual or perceived level of MAPFRE Panamá's strategic importance to the MAPFRE group also could impact the company's ratings.
The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best's Credit Rating Methodology (Version Nov. 13, 2020), which provides a comprehensive explanation of AM Best's rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best's Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology .
Key insurance criteria reports utilized:
- Available Capital & Holding Company Analysis (Version Oct. 13, 2017)
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- Catastrophe Analysis in AM Best Ratings (Version Oct. 13, 2017)
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- Evaluating Country Risk (Version Oct. 13, 2017)
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- Scoring and Assessing Innovation (Version March 5, 2020)
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- Understanding Global BCAR (Version June 30, 2022)
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View a general description of the policies and procedures used to determine credit ratings. For information on the meaning of ratings, structure, voting and the committee process for determining the ratings and monitoring activities, please refer to Guide to Best's Credit Ratings.
- Previous Rating Date: Oct. 14, 2021
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- Date Range of Financial Data Used: Dec. 31, 2016-Aug. 31, 2022
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This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on AM Best's website. For additional 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 AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page.
AM Best does not validate or certify the information provided by the client in order to issue a credit rating.
While the information obtained from the material source(s) is believed to be reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. AM Best does not audit the company's financial records or statements, or otherwise independently verify the accuracy and reliability of the information; therefore, AM Best cannot attest as to the accuracy of the information provided.
AM Best's credit ratings are independent and objective opinions, not statements of fact. AM Best is not an Investment Advisor, does not offer investment advice of any kind, nor does the company or its Ratings Analysts offer any form of structuring or financial advice. AM Best's credit opinions are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities, or to make any other investment decisions. View our entire notice for complete details.
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AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.