A.M. Best's Chief Rating Officer Stefan Holzberger discussed ratings, opportunities and capitalization in the EMEA markets during A.M. Best's recent briefing in London.
3. Disclaimer
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 6
US Securities Laws explicitly prohibit the issuance or maintenance of a credit rating where a person involved in the
sales or marketing of a product or service of the CRA also participates in determining or monitoring the credit rating, or
developing or approving procedures or methodologies used for determining the credit rating.
No part of this presentation amounts to sales / marketing activity and A.M. Best’s Rating Division employees
are prohibited from participating in commercial discussions.
Any queries of a commercial nature should be directed to A.M. Best’s Market Development function.
4. 2015 Insurance Market Briefing -
Europe
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 7
Stefan Holzberger
Chief Rating Officer
A.M. Best Company
EMEA Market Overview
5. 1%
5%
8%
20%
27%
10% 10%
14%
3% 1% 2% 1% 1% 0%
aa+ aa aa- a+ a a- bbb+ bbb bbb- bb+ bb bb- b+ b b-
Best's Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) distribution as at 31 July, 2015
MENAW Europe E Europe
0%
EMEA
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 8
Key Market Characteristics
• Global and local regulation adding pressure
• Search for yield
• Non-traditional risk transfer vehicles
• M&A activity
6. 1% 3%
11%
17%
33%
29%
4% 3%
0%
3%
0%
10%
18%
34%
29%
3% 3%
0%
aa+ aa aa- a+ a a- bbb+ bbb bbb-
Rating distribution as at 31 July 2015 Rating distribution as at 31 July 2014
Western Europe
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 9
Key Market Characteristics
• Search for growth
• Low yields an issue for life companies especially
• Predictive analytics / big data
• London Market business mix shift
7. Western Europe
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 10
Preview
• Continued focus on capital management at group level
• Subsidiaries redomiciling
• Solvency II goes live
– Surplus relief deals
Review
• Favourable rating fundamentals
• Companies managing down financial leverage
• Life companies launching new products 81%
2%
1%
16%
Rating Actions
Affirm
Upgrade
Downgrade
Initial
87%
8%
5%
Outlook Summary
Stable
Positive
Negative
8. Middle East & North Africa
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 11
8%
28%
22% 22%
18%
0%
2%
12%
16%
24% 24%
22%
0%
2%
a a- bbb+ bbb bbb- bb+ b
Rating distribution as at 31 July, 2015 Rating distribution as at 31 July, 2014
• Fiscal budgets under pressure from low oil prices
• Slowing growth from reduced gov. expenditure
• Ongoing political instability and conflict
• Sound capitalisation
• Sufficient to absorb investment risk
• Market leaders exhibit strong technical performance
• New market entrants struggle to attract good business
Key Market Characteristics
9. Middle East & North Africa
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 12
Review
• Regulatory developments
• Concerns over reserve adequacy
• Insurers writing inward facultative reinsurance
• Dominance of DIFC as regional hub
Preview
• Technical performance diverges
• Remains a key rating driver
• Regulatory developments improve transparency
• Potential for market consolidation
84%
2%
5%
9%
Rating Actions
Affirm
Upgrade
Downgrade
Initial
86%
10%
4%
Outlook Summary
Stable
Positive
Negative
10. Eastern Europe
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 13
22%
6%
11%
33%
6%
0%
11%
6%
29%
7%
14%
36%
7% 7%
0% 0%
a- bbb+ bbb bbb- bb+ bb bb- b+
Rating distribution as at 31 July, 2015 Rating distribution as at 31 July, 2014
Key Market Characteristics
• Economic uncertainty and market volatility
• Small markets with low insurance penetration
• Government stake in ‘national champion’
• Investment opportunities generally weak
• Risk management a weakness
• Regulators seeking to enhance monitoring
capabilities
11. Eastern Europe
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 14
Review
• Motor softening as insurers seek market share
• Severe cats in 2014 hurt several (re)insurers
• Heightened M&A activity
Preview
• Unease relating to sanctions on Russia
• MTPL producing losses in several markets
• Governments under fiscal pressure may be
opportunity for insurers (e.g. pension reforms)
77%
5%
5%
13%
Rating Actions
Affirm
Upgrade
Downgrade
Initial
66%
6%
28%
Outlook Summary
Stable
Positive
Negative
12. 2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe
Industry Capitalisation
4 November 2015 15
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Western Europe MENA Eastern
Europe
sub-Saharan
Africa*
2012
2013
2014
2015
BCAR**
(%)
Primary Insurers
* Primary Insurers & Reinsurers
** BCAR: Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio
13. 2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe
Industry Capitalisation
4 November 2015 16
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Western Europe MENA Eastern Europe
2012
2013
2014
2015
Reinsurers
BCAR*
(%)
* BCAR: Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio
14. Q & A
2015 Insurance Market Briefing - Europe 4 November 2015 17
Stefan Holzberger
Chief Rating Officer
A.M. Best Company
EMEA Market Overview