The United Kingdom Mutual War Risks Association (UK War Risks Club) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an A- ‘Excellent’ financial strength rating with a ‘Stable’ outlook from AM Best, the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.
AM Best’s rating reflects the UK War Risks Club’s “excellent risk adjusted capitalisation”, “good operating performance” and “good business profile”. Although the rating agency expects performance to remain volatile, reflecting the inherent nature of war risks insurance, the UK War Risks Club is “sufficiently strong to withstand future earnings volatility.”
Andrew Ward, Director of Underwriting for UK War Risks, welcomed the rating announcement: “Being awarded the ‘Excellent’ rating by AM Best is a testament to the UK War Risks Club’s financial strength and stability. We are confident that both shipowners and their insurance brokers who are seeking an independent and trusted assessment in a volatile and niche class of insurance will find this an important affirmation.”
Despite the volatility of this sector, the UK War Risks Club has reported a post-tax surplus in four of the last five years. It has combined an average annual return of premium to members of 11% with an increase in free reserves to USD 31.3 million at financial year-end in February 2013.
