A M Best Affirms A- Financial Strength Rating for BRIT Insurance Limited

The rating reflects the company's excellent level of capitalisation and solvency, conservative reserving and investment strategies.
November 13,2000


The rating reflects the company's excellent level of capitalisation and solvency, conservative reserving and investment strategies, the strength of its management and underwriting teams, benefits accruing from the change in ownership in late 1999 and A.M. Best's confidence in the company's strategic business plan.
The company benefits from an excellent level of capital adequacy. Total assets of GBP 87.5 million and shareholders funds -- adjusted for equalisation provisions -- of GBP 56.8 million support a low volume of earned premium. The company's conservative solvency position -- net premiums written to capital and surplus -- of only 0.2 times provides sufficient capacity to expand its book of business in its new and existing business classes.
A focused strategic plan has been in operation since late 1998. This plan has resulted in the company diversifying into financial risks business on a direct or reinsurance basis, a class which is non-correlating with the catastrophe account. The financial risks business has enjoyed a successful start in line with the goals set out in the business plan and A.M. Best expects further significant growth in business volumes in the next three years.
The company has also benefited in the last year from its change of ownership. In November 1999, BRIT Insurance Holdings PLC acquired the remaining 70.01% of the company's share capital. Since that date the management and underwriting teams have been strengthened. Also, under BRIT PLC's ownership, the company is increasingly demonstrating its independence and the significant role it can play with a wider range of brokers and their clients. During 2000 the percentage of business received from brokers other than Benfield Greig has increased to 23% of net written premiums from 12% at the end of 1999. Although the current reliance on Benfield Greig remains an offsetting factor in the rating, the indications are that other brokers will account for an increased percentage of the company's overall income in 2001. To date the company has also been received a large percentage of its catastrophe business from two cedants. This situation is also set to change significantly for 2001.
Further offsetting factors affecting the rating include the impact of a disappointing operating return in 1999. Prior to 1999, the company had returned a profit on ordinary activities every year since its inception in 1994. During 1999, in common with many other catastrophe reinsurers, the company suffered from an exceptionally high incidence of loss events. Profitability is currently below the company's long-term expectations which is also exacerbated by the low volume of premium to its capital base. It is envisaged that the underwriting of financial risks business, which commenced in 1999, will lead to better utilisation of capital and more stable returns.
To date, the company has had a modest market profile in respect of catastrophe business and the class has been written only on a following basis. Following the recent recruitment of two specialist catastrophe underwriters, the company plans to build on its current franchise and establish itself as a leader in this field.
A.M. Best will continue to monitor the company's growth to ensure that the existing strong capital level is maintained.
 
Back To News

Search

Advanced Search
 
News Archive 2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001   2000   1999  
Sign up for Brit Alerts