AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Korean Reinsurance Company

HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of �a” of Korean Reinsurance Company (KRE) (South Korea). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect KRE’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

KRE’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is assessed as being at the strongest level, supported by solid and stable internal capital generation over the past five years. The impact of a series of share buybacks in 2020, which amounted to approximately 4% of the company’s capital and surplus at year-end 2019, had limited impact on its risk-adjusted capitalisation. The company’s balance sheet strength also is underpinned by its strong financial flexibility, proven by a track record of successful hybrid bond issuance in overseas and domestic capital markets, as well as its conservative investment portfolio that is focused on good quality fixed income securities.

KRE’s adequate operating performance is underpinned by relatively low volatility in its underwriting profit yet with a thin margin over the past five years, thanks to a large proportion of personal line business. Its operating performance also is supported by robust investment income mainly generated from fixed income securities, which provide a sufficient buffer to its overall earnings.

Through its retrocession programmes, the company effectively limited its net losses from an increasing number of natural catastrophe events especially in Asia in recent years. Despite additional losses incurred from COVID-19 over the first nine months of 2020, its overseas business remained profitable.

Profitability of the domestic personal line, which largely accounted for more than half of KRE’s net premium base, worsened in 2019 due to recent deterioration in the loss ratios of the primary medical and auto segments. Although the magnitude was limited effectively by appropriate treaty commission schemes, KRE plans to reduce the share of this business gradually over the coming years.

As the only local reinsurer in South Korea, KRE maintains a dominant position with a share of approximately 60% of the non-life reinsurance market. Given its long-term relationship with primary insurers, profound market knowledge, and better pricing capabilities derived from its immense market database, AM Best expects the company’s lead position in the domestic market to remain unchallenged over the medium term despite increasing competition. Nonetheless, through the course of its continual global expansion, the company’s overseas portfolio gradually expanded over the past five years to account for 25% of total gross premium written in 2019, of which 45% was sourced from non-Asian markets.

Negative rating actions could occur if there is a material decline in its risk-adjusted capitalisation triggered by large-scale catastrophe losses, or there is a significant deterioration in its operating performance. Positive rating actions could occur if risk-adjusted capitalisation improves materially.

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 AM 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 AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media – Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Chanyoung Lee
Senior Financial Analyst
+852 2827 3404
chanyoung.lee@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Christie Lee
Senior Director, Analytics
+852 2827 3413
christie.lee@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com