OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” of Great American Insurance Company and its pooling affiliates, collectively referred to as Great American Insurance Companies (Great American). Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a-” and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) (Cincinnati, OH) [NYSE/NASDAQ: AFG]. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
Concurrently, A.M. Best has upgraded the Long-Term ICRs to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) of the property/casualty (P/C) members of the Republic and Summit Insurance Pool (collectively, Republic and Summit). The outlook for the FSR has been revised to positive from stable while the outlook for the Long-Term ICR remains positive. Two pool members – Republic Indemnity Company of America and Republic Indemnity Company of California – are headquartered in Encino, CA. The remaining members – Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company and Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company (collectively, the Summit companies) – are headquartered in Lakeland, FL.
A.M. Best also has upgraded the FSR to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs to “aa-” from “a+” of National Interstate Insurance Company (headquartered in Richfield, OH) and its affiliates (collectively referred to as National Interstate). The outlook of these ratings is stable.
In addition, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa-” of the P/C members of the Mid-Continent Group (Mid-Continent) (headquartered in Tulsa, OK). The outlook of these ratings is stable.
At the same time, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a+” of Great American Life Insurance Company (GALIC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company (AILIC), the key annuity subsidiaries of AFG. The outlook of these ratings is stable.
Furthermore, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSR of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” of Manhattan National Life Insurance Company (Manhattan National) (Cincinnati, OH), a life subsidiary of AFG. The outlook of these ratings is stable.
All companies are subsidiaries of AFG and headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, unless otherwise specified. (Please see link below for a detailed listing of the P/C and life and annuity companies and ratings.)
The ratings of Great American reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
Great American’s ratings consider the group’s balance sheet strength, which reflects its risk-adjusted capitalization being at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and the quality of its investments and reinsurance, consistently strong operating profitability, which has been sustained over the long term, and diversified business profile, which serves to protect its earnings stream. Great American’s strong operating performance reflects the profitable underwriting results derived through management’s disciplined operating strategy and specialty market knowledge, as well as the group’s multiple distribution channels, diversified product offerings, broad geographic spread of risk and access to data through its sophisticated technology platform.
These positive rating factors are somewhat offset by elevated investment in certain higher risk asset classes and by adverse prior-year loss reserve development occurring in certain lines of business, particularly relating to the run-off of its asbestos and environmental claims.
The ratings of Republic and Summit reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings of the members of Republic and Summit also reflect ratings lift from the lead rating unit, Great American, based on implicit and explicit support.
Republic and Summit’s Long-Term ICR upgrades recognize the pool’s continued smooth integration of the Summit companies, as evidenced by the group’s steadily improved combined ratios and overall profitability since the Summit companies were acquired. The positive outlooks reflect the potential for further rating upgrades over the next 12-24 months, should the group continue to generate overall operating performance comparable to recent results while maintaining the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by BCAR. Republic and Summit’s ratings otherwise reflect the pool’s sustained strong operating performance on an absolute basis and relative to the results of similarly rated peers within the workers’ compensation composite, while maintaining very strong balance sheet strength through its strongest level of risk adjusted capitalization, favorable development of prior years’ loss reserves and a solid investment portfolio. Republic and Summit also benefits from the expanded geographic diversification of its business that followed the addition of the Summit companies to the pool in 2014.
The ratings of National Interstate reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift from the lead rating unit, Great American, based on implicit and explicit support.
National Interstate’s rating upgrades reflect enhanced integration and shared resources with the broader AFG enterprise now that National Interstate is fully owned by AFG. The ratings otherwise reflect the group’s strong long-term operating performance; risk-adjusted capitalization being at the strongest level, as measured by BCAR, achieved through generally profitable underwriting results and demonstrated expertise within its niche transportation market. In addition, the ratings acknowledge the group’s experienced management team and conservative operating philosophy. The positive rating attributes are derived from management’s focus on maintaining rate integrity, controlled claims handling and detailed segmentation of risks that are supported by effective technology resources. Additionally, National Interstate’s focus on providing alternative risk transfer programs for the specialty transportation segment provides the group with a sustainable competitive advantage, particularly in terms of pricing, claims adjusting and loss control.
Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are adverse development of some recent calendar year loss reserves (although the 2014, 2015 and 2016 accident years have each developed favorably) and the associated deterioration in underwriting results in recent calendar years, although calendar year underwriting results have improved in each of the past three years. National Interstate’s ratings also consider its concentration of business within the passenger and truck transportation industries.
The ratings of Mid-Continent’s reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect ratings lift from the lead rating unit, Great American, recognizing the historical support provided by ultimate parent AFG to Mid-Continent.
Mid-Continent’s ratings consider its balance sheet strength, which is supported by risk-adjusted capitalization that measures in the strongest category, favorable investment portfolio and a high quality reinsurance panel. The balance sheet strength has benefited from favorable operating performance sustained over the long term and successful position within its targeted markets. The group’s favorable underwriting and operating results reflect management’s proven product knowledge and commitment to maintaining accurate pricing.
These positive rating factors are offset partially by adverse prior year loss reserve development in recent years arising from the product liability line of business, which has pressured underwriting results for the past several years. Additional offsetting factors include the group’s relatively limited geographic spread of business with the majority of it derived from Texas, Oklahoma and Florida, which exposes the operations to elevated degrees of regulatory, legislative and competitive risks.
The ratings of GALIC and AILIC reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift from the lead rating unit, Great American, based on implicit and explicit support.
The life group maintains strong risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by BCAR, along with strong liquidity and financial flexibility. The group also maintains a positive quality of capital with low financial leverage and low reinsurance dependence. The investment portfolio’s exposure to real estate-related investments, particularly residential mortgage-backed securities, remains high relative to its peers, with additional elevated exposure to collateralized loan obligations as a percentage of total capital. GALIC continues to generate strong earnings with increasing net investment income, although it lacks some premium diversification with a significant majority derived from annuities core lines of business. Although the company has reported net realized losses on a statutory basis over the past three years, a substantial portion of these losses has been offset by an increase in its common stock portfolio’s unrealized gain over the same time period.
GALIC and AILIC maintain a favorable and competitive market leading position in major lines of annuity business with good diversification in distribution channels and continued development of products. These characteristics are offset by a business mix that A.M. Best has on its product continuum at the high end of risk. Additionally, strong growth in the annuity business over the past several years has helped GALIC and AILIC become material contributors to AFG’s consolidated revenue and earnings.
Manhattan National’s ratings reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also recognize the strength and support of AFG.
Manhattan National has continued to report strong risk-adjusted capitalization, offset by its declining premium and statutory earnings trends. A.M. Best believes that the run-off block of ordinary life business remaining at the company is no longer central to the organization’s long-term strategy. Although the life insurance line should continue to provide some revenue and earnings diversification for AFG’s annuity operations, the contribution has been steadily decreasing. Net investment income continues to fluctuate due to lower invested assets and net yields.
Each of the groups discussed above also benefits from the financial flexibility provided by AFG, which maintains financial leverage that is in line with its current ratings, as well as additional liquidity sources given its access to capital markets and line of credit. A.M. Best expects that earnings and cash flows from AFG’s operating subsidiaries will allow it to support risk-adjusted capitalization, should the need arise. At the same time, surplus growth at each group has been limited over the past five years by the payment of significant stockholder dividends to AFG. These dividends vary based on capital needs at the various subsidiaries.
AFG’s debt-to-capital (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income) and interest coverage ratios remain within A.M. Best’s guidelines for its current ratings. AFG maintains sound liquidity and access to a revolving credit facility. AFG has no material debt maturing until 2026, further benefiting its liquidity position. AFG relies on stockholder dividends from its subsidiaries to fund interest expenses, repurchase company stock, redeem debt, reallocate capital to support its operating entities and for other corporate purposes. Nonetheless, management remains committed to maintaining capital at the rated entities at levels commensurate with their ratings.
For a complete list of American Financial Group, Inc.’s subsidiaries’ FSRs, Long-Term ICRs and Long-Term IRs, please visit American Financial Group, Inc.
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