A.M. Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for Optimum Reassurance Inc. and Optimum Re Insurance Company

Business Wire

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” for Optimum Re Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and Optimum Reassurance Inc. (Montreal, QC) (collectively referred to as Optimum Re).

The ratings reflect Optimum Re’s 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.

The ratings reflect the very strong assessment of the combined entities’ risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio and a high quality asset portfolio. The positive rating outlooks of Optimum Re’s ratings are based on the group's continued and consistent favorable operating profitability and assumed premium growth. The company underwrites essentially low-risk mortality business through traditional life insurance products, as well as disability, travel and final expense insurance coverages. The ratings also reflect Optimum Re’s ability to maintain a leadership role in the niche markets it serves as a well-regarded North American life reinsurer. The company has developed certain niches while serving small to larger life insurers in the individual and group segments in Canada and the United States. The company’s risks are well-identified and risk management is secured through various inputs within the company, with a focus on conservatism. Both companies use retrocession as part of their risk management strategy.

Factors that could lead to a rating upgrade are continued and consistent favorable operating profitability and assumed premium growth. Factors that could lead to a downward outlook revision or a rating downgrade include unfavorable operating results or significant decline in risk-adjusted capital to a level that no longer supports the current ratings.

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.

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A.M. Best

Bruno Caron

Financial Analyst

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5144

[email protected]

or

Edward Kohlberg

Associate Director

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5664

[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]