AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to Federal Life Insurance Company

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Federal Life Insurance Company (Fed Life) (Riverwoods, IL). The outlook assigned to these Credit ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Fed Life’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The ratings also reflect AM Best’s assessment that, based on Fed Life’s business plan, the company will build and maintain a balance sheet assessment of very strong supported by risk-adjusted capitalization also at the very strong level, as measured by Best Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital contributions in 2023 and retained earnings through the forecast period are expected to support net premium growth. Direct premium growth is expected to be relatively rapid based on projections, but capital at Fed Life is anticipated to be managed through affiliated reinsurance and capital infusions as necessary. Financial flexibility is viewed as positive as the company has access to additional capital at the holding company level (Federal Life Group, Inc.), and from its ultimate parent organization, Insurance Capital Group, LLC (ICG). The holding company has access to additional capital from the ultimate owner, ICG. Investment risk is projected as low but may increase to moderate depending on the evolution of the liability profile of the company, which could impact future balance sheet metrics.

The adequate operating performance assessment and the neutral business profile assessment are based on Fed Life’s business plans presented to AM Best. The plan includes an expectation of rapid premium growth and improving operating profitability that supports an adequate operating performance assessment. In addition, it also includes the introduction of additional products, which in combination with a larger and more geographically diversified premium base, would support a neutral business profile assessment. Should Fed Life materially underperform its business plan these assessments would no longer be supported. An ERM structure has been established and is expected to evolve alongside the product risks and operational complexity of the business.

Fed Life, originally incorporated in 1899 and mutualized in 1962, was demutualized in 2018 and under its new ownership is focused now on a portfolio of accident and health, as well as life and annuity (L/A) products, which it plans to market nationwide. The company engaged with a largely new management team in 2022 and 2023 to support the plan, and introduced its first new product, a hospital indemnity product, in 2022. Additional new products are in development to supplement the company’s hospital indemnity product and legacy L/A book of business. Rapid premium growth in 2022 and 2023 evidence early successes of the plan; however, successful launches of new products and further development of distribution are key to realizing the growth and expansion milestones presented to AM Best. AM Best will monitor the performance of Fed Life against key milestones set out in the business plan and internal expectations to evaluate if ongoing performance remains supportive of the adequate operating performance and neutral business profile assessments.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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