AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Sompo Seguros Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “aa-” and the Mexico National Scale Rating of “aaa.MX” of Sompo Seguros Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Sompo Mexico) (Mexico City, Mexico). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

Sompo Mexico is a subsidiary of Sompo America Insurance Company (SAIC) and a member of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (SJ), the core operating unit of the SOMPO Holdings, Inc., (SOMPO Holdings), the ultimate parent and one of the largest non-life insurance groups in Japan. On a consolidated basis, SJ has a balance sheet strength that AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The ratings recognize Sompo Mexico’s integration and support from SJ through SAIC, which provides synergies and operating efficiencies to the Mexico subsidiary. Sompo Mexico maintains the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is the company’s small market share, even though its combined ratio and profitability levels compare well with the industry.

Sompo Mexico initiated business in 1998; the company underwrites property/casualty business and stands as a strategic hub from which SJ plans to continue expanding operations into other Latin America markets. Sompo Mexico follows the group’s international strategy and underwrites mostly referred business from SJ, but with a growing interest in the domestic market.

Sompo Mexico’s risk-adjusted capitalization also is supported by the company’s solid reinsurance program and small retention profile, as well as historical positive bottom-line results reflected in good profitability metrics and conservative profit retention policies. Sompo Mexico’s strong underwriting results are mainly a consequence of underwriting referred business for the Mexico operations of SJ’s global clients, as well as commissions from a diversified reinsurance program with highly rated reinsurers, which includes SJ as the program leader. In addition, the company’s conservative investment policies provide a steady flow of revenues in support of net income.

In 2019, Sompo Mexico maintained its steady operating performance, which reflected in an average five-year combined ratio of 10.9% and return-on-equity of 14.4%. The company still benefits from being integrated into SJ, gaining operational leverage through the same systems, procedures and ERM practices.

Rating actions taken on SJ will most likely result in equivalent rating actions for Sompo Mexico, unless AM Best determines that the strategic importance of the Mexico subsidiary to SJ has decreased. Sompo Mexico also has to maintain its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, supported by good technical and bottom-line results, in order for positive rating actions to occur. Negative rating actions could occur if there is a material decline in SJ’s risk-adjusted capitalization due to a significant investment impairment, or an erosion of capital from the higher frequency of large-scale catastrophe events. Negative rating actions could also occur if there is significant deterioration in SOMPO Holdings’ credit profile, including its risk-adjusted capitalization, financial leverage or interest coverage levels.

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 specializing 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.

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