RAM Ratings assigns maiden LECA™ rating to Visionary Insurance

Published on 07 Oct 2021.

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RAM Ratings has assigned a maiden LECA™ rating of “a” to Visionary Insurance Company Limited (Visionary or the Insurer), a recently licensed general (re)insurer domiciled in Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC). The rating indicates the Insurer has adequate capacity to meet policyholder obligations and financial commitments.

The rating is supported by the Insurer’s low risk exposures, conservative risk management practices, as well as business and operational synergies with its parent company Sinoasia Alliance Group Limited (Sinoasia or the Group). Sinoasia, based in Hong Kong, is an established specialist insurance broker with a China-centric clientele and business network that Visionary can tap into. With its insurance license, Visionary will enable Sinoasia to expand its services into underwriting and other risk transfer products. 

Another important consideration for Visionary’s rating is the planned execution of a USD100 mil Promissory Note by a private equity investor, of which USD50 mil will be committed by June 2022. The Promissory Note may be used by Visionary to support its working capital and if required, to meet any potential claims from its contract liabilities. This provides financial flexibility to the Insurer, pending the organic accretion of reserves. 

As a newly established insurer in Labuan IBFC, Visionary has a limited franchise. As at end-June 2021, the Insurer’s business comprises solely of structured reinsurance, where it assumes no underwriting risk but earns a fee for administering insurance contracts underwritten by cedants. 

In the 6-months period ending June 2021, Visionary recorded net earned premiums of USD1.9 mil from structured reinsurance and a small profit of approximately USD43,000. Visionary is expected to be profitable in fiscal 2021, with projected gross written premiums (GWP) of USD11.75 mil. Visionary intimated that during its initial years, about 75% of GWP will be derived from structured reinsurance while assumption of complex or longer-tail underwriting will be capped below 30% of GWP. 

Visionary’s risk management framework, while still in development, is adequate given its scale, risk profile and targeted lines of business. Concentration risks, which are inevitable during the start-up phase, temper the rating. 

LECA™ is an assessment service from RAM Rating Services Berhad for companies based in the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre. LECA™ ratings are typically valid for up to 1 year after they are assigned. During this time, the assessment will be monitored by RAM Ratings and any material developments could change the rating assigned. 

For information on LECA™ ratings assigned, visit https://analytics.ram.com.my/LECARating. 

 

Analytical contact
Joanne Kek
(603) 3385 2520
joanne@ram.com.my

 

LECA™ ratings are not an opinion of a company’s specific financial obligations and terms thereof nor the legality and enforceability of the same, nor does it involve any audit by RAM Ratings. The information herein is strictly for information purposes and is not an offer, recommendation, solicitation or advice to buy or sell any investment product, securities or instruments, nor intended to be used as a recommendation to enter into, continue, suspend or terminate any contractual or financial obligation. Nothing in this publication constitutes accounting, legal, regulatory, tax, financial or other investment advice by RAM Ratings.

RAM Ratings reserves the right to add, remove, withdraw, amend or revise, as it deems fit and without prior notice to users, any detail related to any company for whom it has produced a LECA™ rating and report. Although every reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and objectivity of the information contained herein, RAM Ratings makes no representation or warranty, whether express or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness and objectivity and accept no responsibility or liability relating to any losses or damages (direct or indirect) howsoever suffered by any person arising from any reliance on the analysis, views or information contained in this publication.

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