AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Employers Holdings, Inc. and Its Subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of Employers Preferred Insurance Company and its pooled affiliates, collectively referred to as Employers Insurance Group (Employers). (See below for a detailed list of companies.) Concurrently, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term ICR to “bbb” (Good) from “bbb-” (Good) and the indicative Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of Employers Holdings, Inc. (EHI) [NYSE: EIG], the publicly traded ultimate parent of Employers. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) has been revised to stable from positive. All companies are headquartered in Reno, NV.

The ratings reflect Employers’ balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Employers’ balance sheet strength assessment is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalization being at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The group’s balance sheet strength is further complemented by its quality of capital, comprehensive reinsurance program, low-risk investment profile, and strength of reserves. Limiting factors include liquidity and underwriting leverage measures that are adequate but compare unfavorably with the composite; and the payment of consistent and significant stock-holder dividends. The group’s capital position reflects its consistent operating performance and a diversified, well-managed investment portfolio that provides a steady stream of net investment income. The ratings also reflect the financial flexibility afforded by its publicly traded parent, EHI.

The group’s operating performance assessment has been upgraded to strong from adequate. This assessment is supported by sustained improvement in the group’s underwriting results, combined with increasing levels of investment income, as it has reported sustained and significant levels of pre-tax earnings. Employers has a history of consistent underwriting profitability with results that in the long term compare favorably with peers. Improved underwriting margins are the result of Employers ongoing a multi-focus, multi-year strategy, which focuses on accounts with adequate pricing, proper risk selection, expedient claims handling and conservative investing. The group outperforms AM Best’s workers’ compensation composite averages in multiple metrics including return measures, loss experience and operating ratios. In aggregate, the group is well ahead of companies with adequate assessments and fares well when compared with companies that also have strong assessments.

The group’s business profile assessment remains limited as Employers maintains modest business concentration risk, operating as a monoline workers’ compensation insurer focusing on small businesses engaged in low-to-medium hazard industries, with a relatively high concentration of premium volume in a select number of states. While this concentration subjects the company to a heightened degree of economic, regulatory and judicial risks, this concern is mitigated partially by management’s significant market expertise.

The FSR has been upgraded to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR has been upgraded to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent), with outlooks revised to stable from positive, for the following pooled subsidiaries of Employers Holdings, Inc.:

• Employers Preferred Insurance Company
• Employers Compensation Insurance Company
• Employers Insurance Company of Nevada
• Employers Assurance Company
• Cerity Insurance Company

The following indicative Long-Term IRs under the shelf registration have been upgraded, with outlooks revised to stable from positive:

Employers Holdings, Inc.—
-- to “bbb” (Good) from “bbb-” (Good) on senior unsecured debt
-- to “bbb-” (Good) from “bb+” (Fair) on subordinated debt
-- to “bb+” (Fair) from “bb” (Fair) on preferred debt

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.

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