DBRS Morningstar Changes Trend on Intact Financial Corporation to Positive from Stable; Confirms Other Ratings, Including the FSRs of the Operating Subsidiaries at AA (low)

DBRS Limited (DBRS Morningstar) changed the trend to Positive from Stable, and confirmed all ratings of Intact Financial Corporation (Intact or the Company) and its operating insurance subsidiaries, including the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of its main operating insurance subsidiaries at AA (low) and Intact’s “A” Issuer Rating. The trend on the ratings of RSA Insurance Group Limited, Intact’s UK-based subsidiary, was also changed to Positive (see “DBRS Morningstar Changes Trend on RSA Insurance Group Limited and its Operating Entities to Positive from Stable; Confirms Financial Strength Ratings at AA (low)”).

KEY RATING CONSIDERATIONS

The change in the trend to positive reflects the successful integration of RSA Insurance Group Plc (RSA), which has enhanced product, distribution, and geographic diversification, as well as the Company’s strong profitability metrics, including a low combined ratio. The sale of the Middle East and Danish operations that were part of RSA has also helped to reduce operational and integration risk. Moreover, Intact's financial leverage has improved to its pre-acquisition level faster than expected.

The confirmation of the ratings reflects the Company’s franchise strength as the largest provider of property and casualty (P&C) insurance in Canada, among the five largest P&C insurers in the UK and Ireland, and a global provider of specialty insurance. The Company benefits from its well-established multichannel distribution strategy and strong brand recognition, underwriting and pricing discipline, and sophisticated risk management framework that it applies across its diverse businesses spanning North America and Europe. The Company maintains ample liquidity resources and regulatory capital ratios with appropriate buffers above required solvency levels to withstand reasonably severe stress scenarios. The ratings also reflect Intact’s exposure to potential catastrophe losses given its larger U.S. property portfolio and to the global commercial cyber insurance market. These risks are somewhat offset by reduced exposure to earthquake risk in Canada and through Intact’s risk-mitigating actions, including policy wordings, insurance terms, and reinsurance. DBRS Morningstar also notes that additional technology and operational investments are expected in order to improve the underwriting performance of RSA’s UK operations.

RATING DRIVERS

The ratings would be upgraded if the Company continues to show strong earnings while maintaining a similar risk profile and appropriate capital buffers.

Given the trend change to Positive, a rating downgrade is unlikely. However, the Company would be downgraded if it experiences a persistent material decline in underwriting results or weakening in regulatory capital buffers combined with a sustained deterioration in financial leverage.

RATING RATIONALE

Intact is the largest provider of property and casualty (P&C) insurance in Canada. The acquisition of RSA in June 2021 solidified Intact's leadership position in Canada and further strengthened diversification in terms of its product lines, geographies, and distribution channels.

The Company’s risk profile reflects its prudent approach to risk management, and its high-quality investment portfolio is based on a high proportion of readily marketable bonds and equities. Derivatives are utilized strictly for hedging purposes. Intact’s approach to managing its investment portfolio has allowed it to earn significant investment returns over the years and to withstand market volatility reasonably well. The commercial products portfolio is well diversified, but DBRS Morningstar notes that it is exposed to systemic risk arising from its cyber insurance offerings. In addition to traditional catastrophic risk exposures, which it mitigates primarily through reinsurance and policy terms and conditions, the Company has undertaken actions to reduce its earthquake risk exposure in Canada, which DBRS Morningstar views positively.

Intact's earnings ability reflects its strong underwriting and pricing discipline across its business segments and geographies, combined with solid revenue generation from its distribution businesses. The Company’s net earnings have proven to be strong and resilient over time with a very good combined ratio of 90%, based on a three-year weighted average, as calculated by DBRS Morningstar.

The Company maintains ample liquidity resources to deal with potential cash demands under reasonably severe stress scenarios. Its investment portfolio consists of a high proportion of marketable bonds and equities, in addition to its substantial cash and short-term investment holdings. Reinsurance cover is available to limit the impact of losses that exceed retention thresholds.

Intact’s regulatory capital ratios for its standalone entities reflect appropriate buffers above required solvency levels, allowing the Company to handle reasonably adverse events. Fixed charge coverage ratios are high as a result of Intact’s consistently strong net earnings. Financial leverage has also returned to its pre-acquisition level.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE (ESG) CONSIDERATIONS
Environmental Factors
Environmental concerns regarding Climate & Weather Risks are relevant to the rating of Intact as a P&C insurer but did not affect the assigned rating or trend. As part of its P&C product offering, Intact is exposed to weather-related losses from natural catastrophic events such as wind, wildfire, hail, flooding, and other extreme weather events. These events can lead to earnings volatility and increased reinsurance cost. DBRS Morningstar considers this ESG factor as part of product risk when assessing the Company’s risk profile.

There were no Social or Governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found in the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/396929/dbrs-morningstar-criteria-approach-to-environmental-social-and-governance-risk-factors-in-credit-ratings. (May 17, 2022).

The Grid Summary Grades for Intact are as follows: Franchise Strength – Strong; Risk Profile – Strong/Good; Earnings Ability – Very Strong/Strong; Liquidity – Strong/Good; Capitalization – Strong/Good.

Notes:
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodology is the Global Methodology for Rating Insurance Companies and Insurance Organizations (August 31, 2022; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/402220/). In addition DBRS Morningstar uses the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings (May 17, 2022; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/396929/) in its consideration of ESG factors, and the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Guarantees and Other Forms of Support (April 4, 2022; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/394683/) was used to rate debt guaranteed by entities within the group.

The related regulatory disclosures pursuant to the National Instrument 25-101 Designated Rating Organizations are hereby incorporated by reference and can be found on the issuer page at www.dbrsmorningstar.com.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the rating process for this rating action. DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

This rating is endorsed by DBRS Ratings Limited for use in the United Kingdom, and by DBRS Ratings GmbH for use in the European Union, respectively. The following additional regulatory disclosures apply to endorsed ratings:

Each of the principal methodologies employed in the analysis addressed one or more particular risks or aspects of the rating and were factored into the rating decision. Specifically, the “Global Methodology for Rating Insurance Companies and Insurance Organizations” (August 31, 2022) was used to evaluate the issuer, the “DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings” (May 17, 2022) was used to assess ESG factors, and the “DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Guarantees and Other Forms of Support” (April 4, 2022) was used to rate debt guaranteed by entities within the group.

The conditions that lead to the assignment of a Negative or Positive trend are generally resolved within a 12-month period. DBRS Morningstar’s outlooks and ratings are monitored.

For further information on DBRS Morningstar historical default rates published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in a central repository, see: https://cerep.esma.europa.eu/cerep-web/statistics/defaults.xhtml. DBRS Morningstar understands further information on DBRS Morningstar historical default rates may be published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on its webpage: https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/credit-rating-agencies.

Lead Analyst: Nadja Dreff, Senior Vice President, Global FIG
Rating Committee Chair: Ross Abercromby, Managing Director, Global FIG
Initial Rating Date: February 20, 2006

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com.

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