Risk retention groups show financial stability

Risk retention groups reported stable financial results for the third quarter of 2015, says a report issued Wednesday.

Risk retention groups “have a great deal of financial stability and remain committed to maintaining adequate capital to handle losses,” says the report issued by Dublin, Ohio-based financial analysis firm Demotech Inc.

The report by Demotech senior financial analyst Douglas A. Powell says risk retention groups reported $1.6 billion in net premiums written through this year’s third quarter, a 7.6% increase over the third quarter of 2014. They posted a 98.7% combined ratio through third quarter 2015, vs. 101.2% for the comparable period in 2014.

“These ratios have remained fairly stable for each of the last five years and within a profitable range,” says the report.

Over the five-year period from third quarter 2011 through third quarter 2015, risk retention groups collectively increased their policyholder surplus 65.8%, or by more than $1.8 billion, according to the report.