A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Aspen Insurance UK Limited and Aspen Insurance Limited
December 19 2008 - 11:22AM
Business Wire
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of A
(Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of �a� of Aspen
Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) (United Kingdom) and Aspen Insurance
Limited (AIL) (Bermuda). A.M. Best has also affirmed the ICR of
�bbb� of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (Aspen) (Bermuda) [NYSE:
AHL], the non-operating holding company of the Aspen group of
companies, and the debt rating of �bbb� on the USD 250 million 6%
senior unsecured notes issued by Aspen. The USD 200 million
perpetual non-cumulative preference shares and the USD 230 million
perpetual preferred income equity replacement securities, also
issued by Aspen, have been upgraded to �bb+� from �bb�. In
addition, A.M. Best has affirmed the ratings for Aspen�s universal
shelf registrations of �bbb,� �bbb-� and �bbb-� on senior unsecured
debt, subordinated debt and the junior subordinated debt and
upgraded the preferred stock to �bb+� from �bb�. The outlook for
all ratings remains stable. A.M. Best believes that AIL and AIUK
are likely to maintain excellent risk-adjusted capitalisation in
2008. Additionally, AIL and AIUK will continue to benefit from the
financial flexibility of their parent, which is expected to
maintain excellent consolidated risk-adjusted capitalisation in
2008. Aspen continues to balance its spread of risk between AIL and
AIUK through the use of the group�s intra-group quota share
arrangements. In A.M. Best�s opinion, the level of capital held at
AIL is likely to be sufficiently strong to support the company�s
increased underwriting exposure, arising from the overall higher
reinsurance ceded through quota shares from AIUK and its new
reinsurance arrangement with Aspen Underwriting Limited (AUL)
(Aspen�s corporate member for Lloyd�s Syndicate 4711). A.M. Best
believes that AIL and AIUK will report strong pre-tax profits in
2008. Good underwriting performance is anticipated, notwithstanding
the impact of hurricanes Gustav and Ike and softening in rates.
A.M. Best believes that Aspen will generate a positive, albeit
lower investment return in 2008, despite the turbulence in the
financial markets. Financial performance for both entities is
expected to be enhanced by the group�s conservative investment
strategy. Further ahead, A.M. Best expects prudent reserving
practices and the group�s comprehensive reinsurance programme to
support stable results. In A.M. Best�s opinion, AIL and AIUK
benefit from Aspen�s profile, which has developed as a result of
the range of business written and its wide spread of branch
operations. Both entities underwrite a well-diversified portfolio
of property, casualty and specialty business (insurance and
reinsurance), supported by the intra-group quota share
arrangements. Additionally, AIL underwrites a book of structured
property and casualty risks. AIUK is the largest subsidiary within
AHL, representing approximately 75% of the group�s consolidated
premium income in 2008, whilst AIL�s income before intra-group
quota shares is expected to contribute approximately 20%. A.M. Best
anticipates that the proportion of premium written by AIUK will
decline in the future, as Aspen expands through syndicate 4711 and
Aspen Specialty Insurance Company (ASIC) (wholly owned U.S.
subsidiary of Aspen). The premium contribution from AIL is expected
to remain relatively unchanged. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company
is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to
serving the financial and health care service industries, including
insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system
providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
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