AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Seguros Reservas S.A. (Seguros Reservas) (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Seguros Reservas’ balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Seguros Reservas’ balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The ratings also reflect its strong operating performance, driven by consistent profitability, which comes from a diversified book of business, as well as a contained underwriting leverage, and the company’s affiliation with Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana, Banco de Servicios Múltiples (Banco de Reservas), the largest bank in the Dominican Republic.

Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is the strong competition in the Dominican Republic’s insurance market, which AM Best believes could pressure Seguros Reservas’ profitability and market share, its high dividend payout ratios, as well as an ERM framework that has room for further sophistication.

Seguros Reservas underwrites life and non-life businesses and is one of the leading insurers in the Dominican Republic, currently holding a 17.5% market share as of December 2023.

In 2023, fire insurance continued to represent Seguros Reservas’ main line of business, accounting for 33% of gross written premium, followed by auto (26%) and group life (12%), with the remainder (29%) in other lines of business. The company has shown disciplined underwriting in a highly competitive market, consistently reporting profitability that compares favorably with its closest competitors. In addition, investment income has remained stable, further contributing to positive bottom-line results.

Seguros Reservas’ risk-adjusted capitalization stands at the strongest level, as measured by BCAR. Adjusted capital has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 13.8% during the last five years, and AM Best expects this trend to continue supported by sound underwriting, prudent dividend and investment policies, as well as an effective cost containment strategy. Furthermore, Seguros Reservas continues to benefit from operating efficiencies afforded by Banco de Reservas.

Positive rating actions could take place as a result of the continued growth of Seguros Reservas’ capital base in the medium term, supportive of the current level of risk-adjusted capitalization and successful consolidation of the business strategy. Negative rating actions could occur if the company’s risk-adjusted capitalization deteriorates to a level no longer supportive of the current ratings. Negative rating actions also could take place as a result of a sustained deterioration in the company’s operating performance metrics to levels no longer supportive of the strong assessment.

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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