AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Berkley International Seguros México S.A.
BISM is a member of W. R. Berkley Insurance Group (Berkley Group), which on a consolidated basis has a balance sheet strength that AM Best assesses at the strongest level, as well as strong operating performance, a favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
The positive outlook for the Long-Term ICR reflects the Berkley Group's favorable operating performance and balance sheet metrics. Berkley Group has grown its GAAP surplus organically over the most recent 10-year period. Additionally, Berkley Group has improved its financial leverage.
These Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect BISM's substantial reinsurance support from its group through the Berkley Insurance Company (BIC). Additionally, the ratings factor in BISM's integration with its parent company, W. R. Berkley Corporation (W. R. Berkley), in terms of underwriting, ERM and capital commitments.
BISM was formed in November 2016 and is one of W. R. Berkley's two Mexico subsidiaries. The company received regulatory approval for operations in June 2017 and issued its first policy in July of that same year. BISM offers a diversified slate of property/casualty products, backed up by treaty and facultative reinsurance contracts with BIC.
BISM's strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is derived from its sound capital position, further strengthened by the 95/5 percent quota share and excess of loss contracts provided by BIC. Furthermore, AM Best recognizes W. R. Berkley's commitment to its subsidiaries through additional capital fungibility to the Mexico operation.
BISM has been able to grow its business volume during the past eight years. Management and underwriting teams have successfully navigated changes in the market's economic dynamics in recent years. The company continues to take advantage of the reinsurance support received from the Berkley Group, which allowed BISM to generate positive bottom-line results in 2024, marking the fifth time since BISM began operations. This performance is also underpinned by premium sufficiency and further strengthened by investment income.
If positive rating actions are taken due to the ultimate parent's operating performance showing continued and sustained outperformance of the strong peer group, BISM ratings would mirror those actions. A positive rating action could also occur if the ultimate parent's balance sheet metrics continue to improve, underpinned by improvement in its financial leverage while maintaining organic surplus growth.
Negative rating actions could occur to the Berkley Group's insurance operations if the financial position of the ultimate parent weakens, requiring either the withdrawal of capital from the various insurance companies, an increase in financial leverage or a decline in interest coverage that is not supportive of the current ratings. BISM's ratings would reflect any rating actions taken as a result of the aforementioned scenarios.
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 use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments.
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