AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to The Japan Ship Owners’ Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association (Japan P&I or the Club) (Japan). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Japan P&I’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The Club’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). While the Club’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is susceptible to potential volatility from large claim losses given its relatively small capital base, it has financial flexibility underpinned by the ability to levy additional calls on its members, as evidenced by an unbudgeted supplementary call in the fiscal year ended March 2023 (FY2022). The Club has a conservative and liquid investment portfolio that is mainly composed of cash and high quality fixed-income securities. Despite its moderately high dependence on reinsurance for writing large risks, the Club’s credit risk is partially mitigated by the International Group of P&I Clubs’ pooling agreement and joint reinsurance cover with reinsurers of good credit quality.

Japan P&I’s operating performance in the most recent five years is largely in line with the global protection & indemnity (P&I) segment. The Club’s average return-on-equity ratio and combined ratio of the past five years (FY2019-FY2023) stood at 6.5% and 106.5%, respectively, as calculated by AM Best. As a P&I underwriter, the Club’s underwriting performance bears some level of volatility. Its combined ratio deteriorated materially in FY2021 due to a number of large claims and COVID-19-related losses, but the Club reported notable improvement in recent years following several rounds of general increases and unbudgeted supplementary calls. The Club’s stable stream of investment profits partially mitigates the inherent underwriting volatility, although it is subject to moderate impact from foreign exchange movements.

Japan P&I, established in 1950 under the Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Law, is one of the 12 clubs of the International Group of P&I Clubs. It has a dominant market position in Japan’s P&I industry, leveraging its long-standing relationships with shipowners and brokerages. The Club also has a developed ERM framework and puts considerable effort into loss prevention activities.

Negative rating actions may occur if the Club’s balance sheet strength no longer supports the current assessment, for example, due to material deterioration in the level of risk-adjusted capitalisation. Negative rating actions may also arise if the Club’s operating performance demonstrates a sustained and material deteriorating trend, for example, due to continued adverse underwriting results. Although considered unlikely, positive rating pressure could arise if the Club demonstrates a sustained improvement in its operating performance over the medium term.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

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