AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlooks to Stable for California Casualty Group Members

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B (Fair) and the Long-Term ICRs of “bb+” (Fair) of The California Casualty Indemnity Exchange (San Mateo, CA) and its wholly owned subsidiaries: California Casualty General Insurance Company of Oregon (Portland, OR), California Casualty & Fire Insurance Company (San Mateo, CA) and California Casualty Insurance Company (Portland, OR). All of these companies comprise the California Casualty Group (California Casualty). The outlook of the FSR is stable.

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect California Casualty’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM).

The revision of the Long-Term ICRs outlooks to stable from negative and the affirmation of the ratings reflects the group’s improved operating performance, which has exceeded management’s expectations. AM Best expects California Casualty to maintain adequate balance sheet strength, supported by a very strong level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The improvement in BCAR reflects a strengthened surplus position, reduced catastrophe exposure and improved underwriting margins. The improvement in California Casualty’s surplus was driven by better rate adequacy, expense reduction initiatives and improved loss experience.

The strategic business initiatives of California Casualty, including realignment of its business mix toward stronger-performing affinity groups and exit from underperforming regions, have contributed to the organization’s improved earnings stability and a more sustainable loss ratio. While these actions and enhancements to the ERM are expected to support operating performance and organic surplus growth, California Casualty remains exposed to elevated execution risk. Positive rating actions could occur if the transformation of the group’s ERM practices lead to sustained improvements in overall balance sheet strength and profitability.

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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