S&P Global revises UK P&I Club’s rating to A (Stable)

The UK P&I Club has had its rating revised from A (Negative) to A (Stable) by the rating agency S&P Global.

The rating remains in the ‘A’ range, a measure regarded as healthy within the insurance sector, and the Club’s financial position remains strong. It continues to comfortably meet all its regulatory capital requirements and exceeds S&P’s own ‘AAA’ capital benchmark with free reserves of $534 million as at 20 August 2021.

The P&I sector’s unsustainable premium rates led to an average combined ratio across the sector of over 120% last year. The market now faces increasing Pool claims and reinsurance costs as well as a steady flow of COVID-19 claims. As such, rates across the sector will need to increase accordingly.

Andrew Taylor, CEO of Thomas Miller P&I says: “We are naturally disappointed S&P has taken this step to revise our rating at this time. The estimated cost of Pool claims is the largest in history; this, coupled with premium levels that have failed to keep up with rising claims, has resulted in this change of rating from S&P. The whole P&I sector has been hit by the same factors. The resulting increases in combined ratios have placed pressure on ratings across the sector and resulted in the majority of the IG Clubs being placed on negative outlook.

“The UK Club remains very strong financially and this has allowed us to take a measured approach to addressing inadequate premium rates.  The combined ratio of 115% for the first half of 2021 was in line with the Club’s plan and the Club remains in a strong competitive position. The Club remains focused on its key aims of returning to balanced underwriting while providing excellent service to our Members.”