A.M. Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Rural Mutual Insurance Company

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “aa-” from “a+” of Rural Mutual Insurance Company (Rural Mutual) (Madison, WI). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) has been revised to stable from positive.

These ratings reflect Rural Mutual’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The rating upgrades reflect management’s disciplined underwriting strategy, which has produced strong underwriting results and multiple years of consistent policyholder surplus growth. Rural Mutual’s profitability has been driven by effective risk and exposure management, a conservative investment philosophy, strong local market knowledge and sound catastrophe reinsurance. As a result, the company’s five-year pre-tax and total returns on revenue and equity exceed the private passenger standard auto and homeowners composite averages. In addition, the company’s five-year average combined and operating ratios also compare favorably with these composites, reflective of the company’s excellent loss and loss adjustment expense and underwriting expense ratios. Low underwriting expenses also compares favorably with the composite. As a single state writer, the company is exposed to frequent and severe weather-related events, as well as judicial, regulatory and economic concerns. However, management has a proven track record of successful strong risk management practices and a market leadership position as an insurer of farm-related business in Wisconsin.

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.

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A.M. Best

Angelo Lozano, +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5169

Financial Analyst

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or

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

Manager, Public Relations

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or

Joseph Burtone, +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5125

Director

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or

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

Director, Public Relations

[email protected]

Source: A.M. Best