A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Navigators Insurance Company, Its Subsidiary and The Navigators Group, Inc.

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Navigators Insurance Company (Navigators) and its wholly owned and 100% reinsured subsidiary, Navigators Specialty Insurance Company (Specialty). Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the ICR of “bbb+” of Navigators’ publicly traded ultimate parent, The Navigators Group, Inc. (Navigators, Inc.) (NASDAQ: NAVG). A.M. Best also has affirmed the debt ratings of “bbb+” on $114 million senior unsecured notes and the shelf ratings of “bbb-“on preferred securities, “bbb” on subordinated notes and “bbb+” on senior unsecured notes of Navigators, Inc. The outlook for all ratings is stable. All companies are domiciled in New York, NY.

The ratings reflect Navigators’ strong level of risk-adjusted capitalization and historical operating profitability coupled with its leading position within the global marine sector. Furthermore, the ratings recognize management’s conservative approach to risk selection and its ongoing efforts to further diversify Navigators’ book of business by targeting specific niches of business.

These positive rating factors are somewhat offset by Navigators’ declining underwriting results in most recent years, elevated (though declining in recent years) ceded reinsurance leverage and growth in relatively new lines of business, some of which have been unprofitable. Despite Navigators’ historically strong overall underwriting performance, underwriting results declined in 2010 and 2011 due to adverse development of loss reserves for several lines of business, the continuation of the run-off of several programs and large industry-wide losses in the energy and marine segments.

Management continues to implement corrective actions that include re-underwriting and exiting unprofitable business. In addition, the companies continue to benefit from the financial flexibility and explicit support provided by Navigators, Inc. Furthermore, Navigators, Inc.’s financial leverage is conservative at 13.5% of debt-to-total tangible capital, with coverage and operating ratios that exceed A.M. Best’s requirements for its current rating level.

The stable outlook acknowledges A.M. Best’s expectations that Navigators will continue to maintain its level of capitalization and operating performance prospectively.

A.M. Best believes Navigators is well positioned at its current rating level. However, negative rating actions could occur if there is a significant decline in the company’s underwriting profitability and/or a considerable deterioration in its risk-adjusted capitalization as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

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: “Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies”; “Understanding BCAR for Property/Casualty Insurers”; “Rating Members of Insurance Groups”; “The Treatment of Terrorism Risk in the Rating Evaluation”; “Insurance Holding Company and Debt Ratings”; and “Catastrophe Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings.” Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2012 by A.M. Best Company, Inc.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A.M. Best Co.Adrienne Tortoriello, 908-439-2200, ext. 5088
Financial Analyst
adrienne.tortoriello@ambest.com
or
Jennifer Marshall, 908-439-2200, ext. 5327
Managing Senior Financial Analyst
jennifer.marshall@ambest.com
or
Rachelle Morrow, 908-439-2200, ext. 5378
Senior Manager, Public Relations
rachelle.morrow@ambest.com
or
Jim Peavy, 908-439-2200, ext. 5644
Assistant Vice President, Public Relations
james.peavy@ambest.com

Source: A.M. Best Co.