Group Ark and Vantage Risk have both received “Preliminary Credit Assessments” (“PCAs”) from A.M. Best. While Litmus believes these provide valuable insight for potential counterparties, brokers and others the agency makes it very clear that a PCA is not the same thing as a rating. In the
Read more →S&P says insurer ratings resilient for now but potential pressure coming from erosion of capital buffers S&P’s latest commentary on global insurance ratings continues the focus on COVID-19 as the current primary driver of ratings. The headline message remains that most insurer ratings are still ‘resilient’ given the extent of capital buffers. However, erosion of these is expected during the second half of 2020, as
Read more →A.M. Best moves to COVID-19 phase 2 Stuart ShipperleeHead of Analytics Rowena PotterSenior Consultant Analyst Earlier this week A.M. Best (“Best”) announced the results of its initial response to COVID-19, reviewing a set of capital adequacy “stress-tests” across its rated universe using its capital model (the “BCAR”).
Read more →Ratings activity from the major agencies has differed very substantially in the first months of the pandemic’s global impact Stuart ShipperleeHead of Analytics Rowena PotterSenior Consultant Analyst Despite highly similar headline views on the main drivers of the credit rating impact of COVID-19 on (re)insurers, in practice rating
Read more →An examination of the P&C treaty renewals of the big four European reinsurance groups Lewis PhillipsConsultant Analyst Lucy StupplesConsultant Analyst The big four European reinsurance groups reported divergent results from the 1 January 2020 renewals. The change in renewed premiums varied from +14% for Hannover Re to
Read more →Litmus LACE Event – Thursday 3rd October Moody’s post Monte Carlo reinsurance review – Can the positive vibes lift the market? Brandan Holmes, Vice President and Senior Analyst at Moody’s, will give Moody’s view on the more positive tone in the Monte-Carlo rendezvous discussions as price
Read more →Key changes to S&P’s Insurers Rating Methodology: A primer and Litmus guidance. S&P recently completed a “Request for Comment” (”RfC”) period for proposed changes to its Insurance Ratings Methodology*. It is now reviewing the comments and finalising the criteria and the related guidance. While these may therefore
Read more →What can you learn from financial statements? One Day course – London (City) Date: Wednesday 12th June 20199am – 5pm In house training also available, contact us for further details. For many, analysing insurer financial statements is not part of ‘the day job’, so the accounts remain
Read more →First thoughts on how brokers should consider the financial health of insurers In certain jurisdictions we have seen an increasing regulatory and market focus on the financial health of insurers, increasing the risk that brokers the blame for using an insurer that fails. In this discussion document,
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