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Investing.com -- Moody’s Ratings has upgraded FWD Group Holdings Limited’s issuer rating to Baa1 from Baa2 and changed the outlook to stable from positive, the rating agency announced Thursday.
The upgrade also applies to the insurance financial strength ratings (IFSR) of FWD’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, FWD Life Insurance (NSE:LIFI) Company (Bermuda) Limited and FWD Reinsurance SPC, Ltd, which were raised to A2 from A3 with stable outlooks.
According to Moody’s, the rating action reflects FWD’s improved profitability, enhanced capital-generating capabilities, and increased financial flexibility following its recent listing and deleveraging efforts.
The insurance group has demonstrated strong growth in 2024 and continued this momentum into 2025, with a 32% year-on-year increase in value of new business and a 55% rise in new business contractual service margin during the first quarter of 2025.
FWD Group maintains solid capitalization with a Group-Wide Supervision coverage ratio on a prescribed capital requirement basis at 260% as of end-2024. Its key operating companies have maintained strong local solvency ratios while increasing net capital remittance to the group from 2023 through the first half of 2025.
The company’s successful listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in July 2025 raised approximately $442 million, equivalent to 6.5% of its shareholders’ equity as of end-2024, further strengthening its capital buffer and enhancing access to capital markets.
Moody’s expects FWD Group’s earnings and capital generation to improve steadily over the next 12-18 months, supported by its expanding profitable in-force book, improving cost efficiency, and the favorable interest rate environment.
The rating agency noted that FWD’s strengths include its strengthened market presence in the region, multichannel distribution strategy, diversified product offering, and good investment portfolio quality with over 80% of investments in fixed-income holdings.
These positive factors are partially offset by FWD’s weak earnings track record and low interest coverage. The company also faces higher operational risks due to growing exposure to less-developed markets including Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Moody’s indicated that further rating upgrades could occur if FWD continues to improve profitability with return on capital above 6% on a sustained basis, reduces financial leverage, expands market share, or strengthens internal capital generation while maintaining its group coverage ratio above 200%.
Conversely, ratings could be downgraded if earnings quality deteriorates, the coverage ratio falls below 180%, financial leverage increases substantially, or if distribution channels are significantly disrupted.
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