AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of MLMIC Insurance Company

Business Wire

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “aa-” (Superior) of MLMIC Insurance Company (MLMIC) (Albany, NY). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect MLMIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings benefit from the financial support provided by MLMIC’s direct parent company, National Indemnity Company (NICO), which is ultimately owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. [NYSE: BRK.A and BRK.B].

MLMIC has a long track record of favorable reserve development and adequate underwriting returns. In the last seven years, the company’s net operating results have been skewed by the 100% loss portfolio transfer (LPT), and 85% quota share agreements with NICO, which were executed post MLMIC’s acquisition by NICO in 2018. As a result, favorable reserve developments related to prior accident years covered by the LPT (for all business written prior to the acquisition) do not benefit MLMIC’s underwriting results. The pace of favorable reserve development was slowed by the impact of the pandemic on the New York court system, which reduced the speed that claims were closed, as well as delayed the recognition of favorable reserve developments in more recent accident years not covered under the LPT. As a result, the company’s net underwriting results in the last seven years have not yet benefited from the same degree of reserve releases seen in previous years.

Nonetheless, gross underwriting and total operating results, as well as consistent cash from operations, remain in line with historical trends and support the current operating performance assessment of adequate. Over time, AM Best expects that MLMIC’s calendar-year underwriting results will continue to improve and approximate the company’s historically stronger results.

MLMIC’s insurance portfolio is concentrated in the medical professional liability (MPL) line of business. The company underwrites risks only within New York, which is one of the nation’s most challenging and litigious markets for MPL. As a mitigating factor, management has been able to operate successfully through underwriting cycles while maintaining MLMIC’s leading market position within New York. In addition, risk management capabilities have proven to be appropriate for the company’s risk profile.

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.