A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Kansas City Life Insurance Company and Its Subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “a” of Kansas City Life Insurance Company (Kansas City Life). Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a-” of Kansas City Life’s wholly owned subsidiary, Sunset Life Insurance Company of America, and its final expense life insurance subsidiary, Old American Insurance Company. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. All companies are domiciled in Kansas City, MO. These companies are collectively referred to as Kansas City Life Group.

The ratings of Kansas City Life Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Kansas City Life Group maintains the strongest risk-based capital assessment, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, and the group’s capital is not aided by any surplus notes, other forms of debt or use of captives. The balance sheet liability profile is diverse due to its broad product offerings. Additionally, the group has been able to maintain top-line sales growth despite a run-off on closed blocks of business. A.M. Best expects the successful acquisition of Grange Life Insurance Company, announced in June 2018, to improve further the group’s liability profile, as the reserve book of business being acquired is largely ordinary life policies, and the acquisition likely will be accretive to earnings.

An offsetting rating factor is the declining level of capital and surplus due to several one-time events, operating performance that has lagged similarly rated peers and a high dividend payout ratio. Operating performance also has been impacted negatively by the low interest rate environment and resulting decline in portfolio yield relative to the company’s crediting rates on its products, many of which are at their guaranteed crediting minimums.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. 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 A.M. Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases.

A.M. Best is a global rating agency and information provider with a unique focus on the insurance industry. Visit www.ambest.com for more information.

Copyright © 2018 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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A.M. Best

Erik Miller, CFA, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5187

Senior Financial Analyst

erik.miller@ambest.com

or

Christopher Sharkey, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5159

Manager, Public Relations

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

or

Kenneth Johnson, CFA, CAIA, FRM, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5056

Senior Director

ken.johnson@ambest.com

or

Jim Peavy, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5644

Director, Public Relations

james.peavy@ambest.com

Source: A.M. Best