A.M. Best Assigns Issuer Credit Rating to ACR Capital Holdings Pte, Ltd.; Affirms Ratings of Its Associated Companies

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Mon Nov 9, 2009 11:44am EST

OLDWICK, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of A- (Excellent) and
the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "a-" of Asia Capital Reinsurance Group Pte.
Ltd. (ACR) (Singapore), ACR ReTakaful SEA Berhad (ACR ReTakaful SEA) (Malaysia)
and ACR ReTakaful MEA B.S.C. (c) (ACR ReTakaful MEA) (Bahrain). A.M. Best also
has affirmed the ICR of "bbb-" of ACR ReTakaful Holdings Limited (United Arab
Emirates). The outlook for these ratings is stable. 

Concurrently, A.M. Best has assigned an ICR of "bbb-" to ACR Capital Holdings
Pte, Ltd. (Singapore). The outlook assigned to this rating is stable. 

These rating actions reflect ACR, ACR ReTakaful SEA and ACR ReTakaful MEA`s
solid capitalization and strong risk management capabilities. A.M. Best also
acknowledges ACR`s prudent reserving practice. 

As demonstrated by Best`s Capital Adequacy Ratio, ACR, ACR ReTakaful SEA and ACR
ReTakaful MEA`s risk-adjusted capitalization levels are adequate to support
their forecasted premium growth. 

ACR recorded a relatively high combined ratio driven by volatility in a growing
book of business for a young company. If this trend continues, it could slow
down the surplus growth and exert pressure on the company`s risk-adjusted
capitalization. 

Given the start-up status of ACR ReTakaful MEA and ACR ReTakaful SEA, the
underwriting performance of these two companies remains to be seen. A.M. Best
will closely monitor ACR, ACR ReTakaful SEA and ACR ReTakaful MEA`s overall
profitability trends in the coming years. 

For Best`s Credit Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating
methodologies, please visit www.ambest.com/ratings. 

The principal methodologies used in determining these ratings, including any
additional methodologies and factors that may have been considered, can be found
at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology. 

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.

A.M. Best Co.
Analysts:
Billy Kwan, +852-2827-3405
billy.kwan@ambest.com
or
Moungmo Lee, +852-2827-3402
moungmo.lee@ambest.com
or
Public Relations:
Jim Peavy, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com
or
Rachelle Morrow, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5378
rachelle.morrow@ambest.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

Comments (0)
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.