A.M. Best Affirms the Main Street America Group’s “A” Rating; Upgrades New Affiliate Grain Dealers Mutual to “A”

A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of "A" (Excellent) of super regional property-casualty insurance carrier The Main Street America Group and its five wholly owned subsidiaries: NGM Insurance Company, MSA Insurance Company, Main Street America Assurance Company, Old Dominion Insurance Company and Great Lakes Casualty Insurance Company. The outlook for all ratings is stable.

According to A.M. Best, the "A" rating reflects Main Street America's excellent risk-adjusted capitalization, trend of favorable operating performance, diversified product offerings and established regional presence along the East Coast. These positive factors are derived from Main Street America's focused marketing and branding strategies, disciplined underwriting philosophy and risk/market-based pricing approach. The rating also considers the financial flexibility afforded by its mutual holding company, Main Street America Group Mutual Holdings Inc.

A.M. Best has also upgraded the financial strength rating of new Main Street America Group affiliate Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company to "A" (Excellent) from "B+" (Good), as well as Grain Dealers Mutual's issuer credit rating to "a" from "bbb-" The outlook for both ratings has been revised to stable from positive.

According to A.M. Best, the upgrading of Grain Dealers Mutual's ratings to "A" is a result of the Indianapolis, Ind.-domiciled regional carrier becoming a fully reinsured affiliate of NGM Insurance Company (NGM) via a 100 percent quota share agreement effective Jan. 1, 2010. Because Grain Dealers Mutual is affiliated with NGM, it became a member of The Main Street America Group. Main Street America's affiliation with Grain Dealers Mutual closed in November 2009.

"We are very pleased with the affirmation of The Main Street America Group's financial strength and stability, as well as the upgrade of Grain Dealers Mutual," said Main Street America chairman, president and chief executive officer Tom Van Berkel. "These strong ratings from A.M. Best underscore the solid foundation from which we can continue to profitably grow our organization." About A.M. Best Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. About The Main Street America Group With roots dating back to 1923, The Main Street America Group is a super regional insurance company that operates six property-casualty insurance carriers: NGM Insurance Company, Old Dominion Insurance Company, Main Street America Assurance Company, MSA Insurance Company, Great Lakes Casualty Insurance Company and Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Main Street America offers a wide range of commercial and personal insurance, and fidelity and surety bond products to individuals, families and businesses throughout the United States.

With more than $815 million in premium written exclusively by 1,500-plus independent insurance agents, the 87-year-old company insures more than 600,000 policyholders in 24 states. A.M. Best Company rates The Main Street America Group as an "A" (Excellent). Main Street America is the founding company partner of Trusted Choice®, the global branding program of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. For more information about Main Street America, please visit www.msagroup.com.