AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of 'a+' of MAPFRE Panama S.A. (MAPFRE Panama) (Panama City, Panama).
The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.
The ratings reflect MAPFRE Panama's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
The ratings reflect MAPFRE Panama's strong risk-adjusted capitalization, the geographic and strategic importance of its Central America presence to Spain's leading insurer, MAPFRE S.A. (MAPFRE Group), the integration of the MAPFRE Group's practices and procedures into MAPFRE Panama, as well as the synergies and operating efficiencies derived from being a group member. MAPFRE Panama maintained its market position in 2019, having ranked as Panama's third-largest insurer in 2019. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the competitive dynamics that persist in Panama's property/casualty (P/C) segment despite healthier growth rates.
MAPFRE Panama ranked second among Panama's health insurers and third in the country's auto and P/C segments. While Panama's insurance industry showed signs of contraction in 2019, MAPFRE Panama grew 3.7% during this period, after recovering from 2.8% decline in 2018. Fluctuations in growth are explained by a material decrease in assumed reinsurance business led by the growing competition from the bancassurance sector in 2018.
MAPFRE Panama's solid capital level and good reserve position provide a solid base for financial flexibility and strong risk-adjusted capitalization levels. AM Best expects that the company's ERM practices and procedures implemented from the MAPFRE Group will continue to affect MAPFRE Panama's future performance positively.
MAPFRE Panama's combined ratio for 2019 improved to 95.3% due to lower loss ratio, as underwriting, mainly in the health and automobile business lines, was adjusted to reflect its risk experience. Administrative and acquisition expenses have remained stable and well-contained.
The strong competitive environment in Panama's insurance market, especially in segments in which MAPFRE Panama has leading positions, continues to generate challenging conditions and has increased risk appetites across the industry, presenting operating performance challenges in specific segments such as auto, individual life and health.
Positive rating actions taken on its ultimate parent, MAPFRE S.A., also could result in further positive rating actions for MAPFRE Panama. Negative rating actions could result from a significant reduction in MAPFRE Panama's risk-adjusted capitalization, either by constant deterioration in its underwriting performance or unexpected losses that result in a level that no longer supports the current ratings, or if the company deviates significantly from the policies, practices and benefits assumed from its association with MAPFRE Group. Additionally, negative rating actions at its ultimate parent could lead to a downgrade of MAPFRE Panama ratings.
The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best's Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of AM Best's rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the ratin process. Best's Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
MAPFRE S.A. 
