OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and an issuer credit rating of ”bbb+” to Guggenheim Life & Annuity Company (GLAC) (Wilmington, DE). The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable. The company is ultimately owned by Guggenheim Capital, LLC. (Guggenheim).
The assigned ratings of GLAC reflect its core reinsurance segment position within Guggenheim’s diversified business platform, financial and investment support provided by Guggenheim, positive trends of premium growth, statutory operating earnings and more than adequate risk-adjusted capitalization.
GLAC operates in a niche position where it accepts mainly fixed and fixed indexed annuity reinsurance as well as the sales of life insurance to high net worth individuals. Since it began operations in 2008, GLAC has demonstrated continuing premium growth while generating positive operating results as a result of the improved spread margin on its reinsured fixed annuity book of business and fee-based income. GLAC’s more than adequate level of risk-adjusted capitalization is attributed to its high credit quality investment portfolio and the financial contributions from Guggenheim to support GLAC’s business growth.
Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is GLAC’s elevated exposure to structured securities within its fixed income portfolio, its large percentage of interest-sensitive fixed annuity liabilities, which may expose the company to spread compression due to the continuing low interest rate environment, and an elevated exposure to other invested assets that are comprised primarily of affiliated investments through Guggenheim.
A.M. Best notes the relatively limited track record of GLAC’s business plan and the need to maintain acceptable interest spread margins during various economic cycles.
Factors that could lead to positive rating actions for GLAC include increasing positive earnings trends, greater profitable premium and revenue diversification achieved by reducing the high concentration in interest sensitive liabilities and gradual reduction in exposure to structured securities.
Factors that could lead to downward rating actions include a weakening of the company’s risk-adjusted capitalization, reported financial results not meeting A.M. Best’s expectations or a loss of strategic and financial support of Guggenheim.
The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Key criteria utilized include: “Understanding BCAR for Life/Health Insurers”; “Rating New Company Formations”; and “Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies.” Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ambest.com%2Fratings%2Fmethodology&esheet=50380983&lan=en-US&anchor=www.ambest.com%2Fratings%2Fmethodology&index=1&md5=f7b0c315d97a6191223d6d159f7268ea.
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ambest.com&esheet=50380983&lan=en-US&anchor=www.ambest.com&index=2&md5=23f7a103d18d5b7604b6be0b57cf86a8
Copyright © 2012 by A.M. Best Company, Inc.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
A.M. Best Co.
Frank Walko, 908-439-2200, ext. 5072
Financial Analyst
mailto:frank.walko@ambest.com
or
Raj H. Shah, 908-439-2200, ext. 5409
Assistant Vice President
mailto:raj.shah@ambest.com
or
Rachelle Morrow, 908-439-2200, ext. 5378
Senior Manager, Public Relations
mailto:rachelle.morrow@ambest.com
or
Jim Peavy, 908-439-2200, ext. 5644
Assistant Vice President, Public Relations
mailto:james.peavy@ambest.com
Source: A.M. Best Co.
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Copyright Business Wire 2012 |
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