A.M. Best placed under review with negative implications the
financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the issuer credit
ratings (ICR) of "aa-" of Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd.
(RenRe) and Renaissance Reinsurance of Europe (Dublin, Ireland).
A.M. Best also has placed under review with negative implications the
ICR of "a-" and all debt ratings of RenaissanceRe Holdings
Ltd. (RenaissanceRe) [NYSE: RNR] and the FSR of A (Excellent) and
the ICR of "a" of RenaissanceRe Specialty Risks Ltd. In
addition, A.M. Best has placed under review with negative implications
the FSR of A (Excellent) and the ICR of "a" of RenaissanceRe
Specialty U.S. Ltd. (RenRe Specialty US). Concurrently, A.M. Best
has placed under review with negative implications the FSR of A
(Excellent) and the ICR of "a+" of DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd.
(DaVinci) and the ICR of "bbb+" of DaVinci Re Holdings Ltd.
All aforementioned companies are domiciled in Bermuda, unless otherwise
specified. (See below for a detailed listing of the debt ratings.)
The under review status is based on the recent announcement that
RenaissanceRe has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Platinum
Underwriters Holdings Ltd. (Platinum) (Bermuda). This transaction
would give RenaissanceRe additional scale and help broaden its product
offering. However, this transaction also represents a significant
commitment on the part of RenaissanceRe to continue its move into
casualty business, which is outside of the organization’s core
competency of property catastrophe reinsurance.
The under review status will be removed once the deal closes and A.M.
Best completes its analysis. Factors that could result in negative
rating actions include weakened risk-adjusted capitalization levels as a
result of the acquisition, the perception that prospective operating
results will be below that of the organization’s historical run rate,
the lack of retention of key personnel or details of the transaction
that are not known to A.M. Best at this time. Factors that could lead to
rating affirmations are strong risk-adjusted capital levels coupled with
a well-thought out business plan that demonstrates strong and stable
operating performances throughout the organization going forward. In
addition, A.M. Best is interested in understanding the tactical
execution of the business plan as it relates to the combined
organization.
The following debt ratings have been placed under review with negative
implications:
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.—
-- "bbb" on $250 million 6.08%
Series C perpetual preferred stock
-- "bbb" on $275 million 5.375%
Series E perpetual preferred stock
RenaissanceRe North America Holdings Inc.—(guaranteed by
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.)
-- "a-" on $250 million 5.75%
senior unsecured notes, due 2020
The following indicative shelf debt ratings have been placed under
review with negative implications:
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.—
-- "a-" on senior unsecured
--
"bbb+" on subordinated
-- "bbb" on preferred stock
RenaissanceRe Capital Trust II—
-- "bbb" on trust preferred
securities
The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit
Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M.
Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria
employed in the rating process. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be
found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
Key insurance criteria reports utilized:
-
Catastrophe Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings
-
Rating Members of Insurance Groups
-
Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies
-
Understanding Universal BCAR
-
Insurance Holding Company and Debt Ratings
This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on
A.M. 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 visit Ratings
& Criteria Center.
A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative
insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Copyright © 2014 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
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