AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Most of Its Subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” (Superior) of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) (domiciled in Springfield, MA) and its life/health subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company (both domiciled in Enfield, CT). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) of “aa-” (Superior) on the surplus notes of MassMutual and “aa+” (Superior) on notes issued under the funding agreement-backed securities programs of MassMutual Global Funding II. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (rating) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the Long-Term IRs and Short-Term Issue Credit Rating.)

Additionally, AM Best has upgraded the FSR to A++ (Superior) from A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICR to “aa+” (Superior) from “aa-” (Superior) of MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company (MassMutual Ascend) and Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company (ALIC) (collectively referred to as MassMutual Ascend Life Group). The outlook of the Long-Term ICR has been revised to stable from positive while the outlook of the FSR is stable. Furthermore, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) of Manhattan National Life Insurance Company (Manhattan Life). The outlook of these ratings is stable. These companies are domiciled in Cincinnati, OH.

The ratings of MassMutual reflects its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management (ERM).

MassMutual’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is assessed at the strongest level, which supports the company’s ability to support its insurance, investment and business risks. The company’s capital levels generally increased over the years due to organic earnings growth and strong investment income. MassMutual holds elevated investment allocations in below investment grade bonds and Schedule BA assets, but these are managed effectively through MassMutual’s Barings investment subsidiary, and are monitored with good asset liability management capabilities and robust stress testing. Financial flexibility is supported by the organization’s proven ability to access the capital markets. MassMutual ensures that sufficient liquidity is on hand to meet sudden, unanticipated needs, which is monitored and stress-tested on a regular basis. MassMutual’s leverage ratios remain well within AM Best’s guidelines.

MassMutual has leading market positions in life insurance, fixed and fixed-indexed annuities, pensions and institutional asset management. The company’s business profile has shifted in recent years with more focus put on whole life, fixed annuity, pension risk transfer and institutional asset management. AM Best assesses MassMutual’s ERM program’s capabilities as strong relative to its risk profile. Proposed initiatives are reviewed in terms of its impact on capital and surplus, as well as how economic capital modeling is utilized. AM Best expects Mass Mutual to continue investing in technology and digital innovation further across all distribution platforms, and enhance its ERM and innovation programs going forward.

The ratings of MassMutual Ascend reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and very strong ERM.

The rating upgrades reflect the progress of integrating MassMutual Ascend into the MassMutual enterprise, and AM Best expects the company to benefit from the processes, management and distribution channels that MassMutual can offer going forward.

MassMutual Ascend’s balance sheet strength is assessed as very strong. The company’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by BCAR, is at the “very strong” level and supported by consistently strong earnings and a 2022 coinsurance arrangement with Martello Re Limited. The company’s invested assets are managed by an affiliate, Barings. While invested assets are of good credit quality, AM Best noted increased allocations to structured securities, private placements and NAIC class 2 bonds, similar to that of its parent company, MassMutual. Nearly all of MassMutual Ascend’s reserves are interest-sensitive.

MassMutual Ascend’s operating performance has been supported by favorable statutory earnings, although results may fluctuate due to the change in the fair value of derivatives held on its fixed-indexed annuities. Premium trends have been stable over the long term, although they increased in 2022.

AM Best assesses MassMutual Ascend’s business profile as positive, as the company is benefitting from MassMutual’s business profile and resources. MassMutual Ascend’s ERM is assessed as very strong as it has been integrated into MassMutual’s ERM program.

The ratings of Manhattan Life reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM.

Manhattan Life’s book of business is in run-off mode, with most of its liabilities reinsured through highly rated reinsurers. The company’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by BCAR, is assessed at the strongest level, and the parent company has demonstrated that they will support the life company with capital contributions when needed. Manhattan Life’s earnings trends have been volatile, as a small increase in life claims can have a relatively large impact on results. Partially mitigating factors include its modest portion of business relative to the enterprise and the support of its parent.

The following Long-Term IRs have been assigned with stable outlooks:

MassMutual Global Funding II -- “aa+” (Superior) program rating

— “aa+” (Superior) to the $500 million, 5.05% senior secured medium term notes, due June 14, 2028

— “aa+” (Superior) to the $500 million, 3.75% senior secured medium term notes, due Jan. 19, 2030

— “aa+” (Superior) to the $750 million, 4.5% senior secured medium term notes, due April 10, 2026

— “aa+” (Superior) to the $300 million, 3.98% senior secured medium term notes, due July 10, 2026

— “aa+” (Superior) to the $750 million, 5.05% senior secured medium term notes, due Dec. 7, 2027

— “aa+” (Superior) to the CHF 215 million, 2.65% senior secured medium term notes, due May 3, 2028

— “aa+” (Superior) to the $600 million, 1.2% senior secured medium term notes, due July 16, 2026

— “aa+” (Superior) to the NOK 1 billion, 3.98% senior secured medium term notes, due Feb. 3, 2031

The following Short-Term IR has been affirmed:

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company—

— AMB-1+ (Strongest) on commercial paper program

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

MassMutual Global Funding II -- “aa+” (Superior) program rating

— “aa+” (Superior) on all outstanding notes issued under the program

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company—

— “aa-” (Superior) on $250 million 7.625% surplus notes, due 2023 (of which $188 million remains outstanding)

— “aa-” (Superior) on $100 million 7.5% surplus notes, due 2024 (of which $75 million remains outstanding)

— “aa-” (Superior) on $250 million 5.625% surplus notes, due 2033 (of which $193 million remains outstanding)

— “aa-” (Superior) on $750 million 8.875% surplus notes, due 2039 (of which $129 million remains outstanding)

— “aa-” (Superior) on $400 million 5.375% surplus notes, due 2041 (of which $263 million remains outstanding)

— “aa-” (Superior) on $500 million 4.5% surplus notes, due 2065 (of which $254 million remains outstanding)

— “aa-” (Superior) on $475 million 4.9% surplus notes, due 2077

— “aa-” (Superior) on $838.5 million 3.729% surplus notes, due 2070

— “aa-” (Superior) on $700 million 3.375% surplus notes, due 2050

— “aa-” (Superior) on $500 million 5.672% surplus notes, due 2052

— “aa-” (Superior) on $675 million 3.2% surplus notes, due 2061

— “aa-” (Superior) on $800 million 5.077% surplus notes, due 2069

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM 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 AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Louis Silvers
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Source: AM Best