Standard and Poor's (S&P) has decided to affirm SCOR's Group Financial Strength Rating of 'AA-' with a stable outlook as the company has demonstrated its ability to absorb the shock of the pandemic, to continue to grow, to maintain its profitability and to strengthen its solvency even further.

During the spring of 2020, S&P had lowered its outlook on the entire reinsurance sector from 'stable' to 'negative'. The decision was also maintained in September 2020 as S&P asserted that the sector would not earn its cost of capital due to COVID-19 losses, lower investment returns, increasingly expensive retrocession, high losses due to natural catastrophes, and lower Property & Casualty reserve releases.

The stable outlook was now confirmed to SCOR as it is well positioned in the emerging post-Covid era as follows:

• the pandemic is declining across the world thanks to vaccination campaigns;
• the positive phase of the P&C reinsurance cycle is ongoing;
• interest rates are trending upwards.

Denis Kessler, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SCOR, commented: "We welcome Standard & Poor's decision to affirm SCOR's financial rating. This decision testifies to the strength of the Group's operating performance, the depth of its franchise throughout the world, its shock-absorbing capacity and the very high level of solvency it offers to its clients."