A.M. Best Comments on Credit Ratings of Various Plymouth Rock Affiliates and Managed Entities Following Acquisition Announcement

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has commented that the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” of the members of Plymouth Rock Assurance Group: Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation, Mt. Washington Assurance Corporation and Pilgrim Insurance Company (all headquartered in Boston, MA) remain unchanged following the announcement that Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MAPFRE Insurance Company of New York from MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp.

Additionally, other Plymouth Rock-managed entities, Palisades Safety and Insurance Association (a member of Palisades Group) and Palisades Property and Casualty Insurance Company (a member of High Point Homeowners Group), have entered into a renewal rights transaction for personal automobile and home insurance business, respectively, with American Commerce Insurance Company (ACIC), a MAPFRE company. Accordingly, the FSR of B++ (Good) and Long-Term ICR of “bbb” of the members of Palisades Group and High Point Homeowners Group remain unchanged. All companies, excluding ACIC, are headquartered in Red Bank, NJ.

The purchase of MAPFRE Insurance Company of New York includes personal automobile and home insurance business written in New York. The renewal rights purchase is for New Jersey personal automobile and home business. Given the relatively modest amount of premium relative to each entity’s existing writings and capital, A.M. Best does not expect the transactions to materially impact its assessment of risk-adjusted capitalization. Additionally, it is anticipated that the overall performance of the acquired business will improve, based on the group’s planned re-underwriting initiatives. Lastly, the group has a history of successfully acquiring books of business, particularly in the New Jersey market.

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 the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180615005717/en/

A.M. Best

Kenneth Tappen

Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5248

[email protected]

or

Richard Attanasio

Senior Director

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5432

[email protected]

or

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

[email protected]

or

Jim Peavy

Director, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

[email protected]

Source: A.M. Best