Starr International Insurance (Switzerland) AG

Starr International Insurance (Switzerland) AG (“SIIS” or “the Company”) was incorporated on 23 November 2020 in Switzerland, having registration number CHE-157.870.447, and was authorised to conduct insurance and reinsurance business in December 2020, commencing effective underwriting activities on 1 April 2021.

The Company’s material lines of business during 2021 were Aviation, Tech (Energy), Marine and Casualty, operating mainly in Switzerland the European Economic Area. The development of SIIS’s business had been based on the strategy of generating new business within the EEA and for renewing EEA risks inherited from affiliated insurers, mainly Starr Insurance (Europe) Limited (“SIEL”), a group company in the United Kingdom, and Starr Europe Insurance Limited (“SEIL”), a group company in Malta (EU). In addition to the base that the renewal business provides, SIIS also aims to utilise the Starr Group’s established market presence and relationships with established brokers, to attract new opportunities for the Company within Switzerland, specifically, and the EEA.

Licence

Starr International Insurance (Switzerland) AG (“SIIS” or “the Company”), is authorised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) to carry on general insurance and reinsurance business. The Company aims to continue to increase its market presence in Switzerland and the EEA across various classes of insurance business.

Key Performance Indicators

2022 was the second period of trading for SIIS as it build upon its presence within the local Swiss and the European markets. Throughout the financial year the Company has underwritten gross written premiums of CHF 23.5 million (2021: CHF 13.0 million). Net premiums written for the year amounted to CHF 5.3 million (2021: CHF 2.8 million), implying an average risk retention rate of around 22.6% (2021: 21.3%).

The Company generated 72% (2021: 95%) of the written premiums through property insurance contracts which were mainly underwritten within the European Union through assumed reinsurance from EEA territories. This class represented the highest grossing insurance class for the entity in terms of premium volumes. The Aviation, Marine and the Casualty classes of business generated 15% (2021: 0%), 2% (2021: 2%) and 11% (2021: 3%) of gross written premiums, respectively.

The total gross earned premium for the period was CHF 17.3 million (2021: CHF 5.9 million), whereas net earned premium for the period was CHF 3.7 million (2021: CHF 1.2 million). The Company registered unexpected loss levels, with underwriting losses of CHF 4.2 million (2021: CHF 4.6 million), which were a direct result of one large loss being incurred during the year.

The business strategy for the Company is to cede a significant portion of gross written premium to a stable panel of reinsurers, mainly through quota-share contracts and individual facultative policies. During the year, 77% of gross premiums were ceded to reinsurers (2021: 79%). The high reinsurance cessions enable the business to achieve significant reinsurance cede commissions, which, supplemented by disciplined cost control are the drivers for the favourable expense ratio.

On a Swiss Solvency Test (“SST”) basis, the Company has a risk bearing capital of CHF 43.1 million at 31 December 2022 (2021: CHF 46.2 million). The target capital calculated on the basis of the SST is CHF 17.9 million (2021: CHF 19.0 million). After adjusting for the value of MVM amounting to CHF 2.4 million (2021: CHF 1.9 million), the Company’s calculation yields a Solvency Ratio of 263% at 31 December 2022 (2021: CHF 260%). The solvency ratio is above the Company’s risk appetite.

 

  2022
CHF million
2021
CHF million
 Risk Bearing Capital less MVM  40.7  44.3
 Target Capital less MVM - required by SST  15.5  17.1
 Solvency Ratio  263%  260%
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