A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of
A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of AXA
Insurance Company (New York, NY). The outlook for both ratings is
stable.
Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSRs of B++ (Good) and ICRs of
“bbb” of the other U.S. affiliates of AXA S.A. (France)
[NYSE:AXA], Coliseum Reinsurance Company (Coliseum Re) and its
wholly owned subsidiaries, AXA RE Property and Casualty Insurance
Company (AXA Re P&C), AXA Corporate Solutions Life Reinsurance
(ACSLRe), which are in run off. The outlook for these ratings is stable,
and these companies are domiciled in Wilmington, DE.
The ratings of AXA Insurance Company reflect its solid risk-adjusted
capitalization, which is supported by an extensive reinsurance program,
its favorable liquidity and enhanced strategic importance to its
ultimate parent, AXA S.A. within the overall AXA group. The company
serves as AXA group’s primary domestic insurer of reverse flow business
representing the U.S. portion of multinational accounts generated
primarily by the clients of AXA Corporate Solutions SA and AXA
Versicherung AG. AXA Insurance Company also provides 60% quota share
reinsurance coverage for the very profitable portfolio of AXA Art
Insurance Corporation (AXA Art) (New York, NY), an affiliate, to
better utilize its capital.
Acting essentially in a fronting role, most business is reinsured to AXA
Insurance Company’s affiliates through quota share reinsurance
agreements. While heavy reliance on affiliated reinsurance leads to high
ceded underwriting leverage, the predominant portion of the company’s
outstanding reinsurance recoverables is collateralized. The company also
benefits from the financial flexibility of the AXA group. Although
operating performance has historically been volatile and at times poor,
A.M. Best expects this performance to continue improving over the long
term based on AXA Insurance Company’s present and clearer strategy,
along with its continued reinsurance protection.
Both Coliseum Re and AXA Re P&C remain in run off. In January 2007, AXA
RE P&C entered into an aggregate quota share agreement with Coliseum Re,
its direct parent, reinsuring 100% of the remaining net technical
liabilities including any uncollectible insurance and reinsurance.
Coliseum Re continues to maintain a solid level of capitalization and
adequate liquidity relative to its run-off activities.
ACSLRe, a run-off subsidiary of Coliseum Re, reinsures the minimum
guaranteed benefits of a closed block of variable annuities. ACSLRe’s
operating results were poor in 2008, and capitalization declined
principally because of the need to substantially increase reserves due
to falling interest rates and sharp declines in equity market indices.
AXA group made a $250 million capital contribution to Coliseum Re, which
was passed through to ACSLRe as a surplus note.
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.
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