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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK - NOVEMBER 05, 2019 04:54 PM (EST)
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” of the main subsidiaries of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) (headquartered in New York, NY) [NYSE: TRV], collectively known as Travelers Group (Travelers). In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa+” of Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (TCSA) (Hartford, CT) and its affiliates, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited (TCSCE) (United Kingdom) and Travelers Insurance Company of Canada (TICC) (Ontario).
Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICRs and the senior Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of “a+” of TRV and its two wholly owned downstream holding companies, Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc. (both headquartered in Hartford, CT). All outstanding securities issued by the two downstream holding companies are guaranteed by TRV. All other Long-Term IRs and Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Short-Term IR) guaranteed by TRV, and TRV’s indicative Long-Term IRs also have been affirmed. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
AM Best also has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a” of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (Dominion) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). The outlook of these ratings is stable.
Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a-” of First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company (First Floridian) (Tampa, FL). The outlook of these ratings is stable. (Please see link below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)
The ratings of Travelers reflect the group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
Historically, risk-adjusted capitalization has consistently been strongly supportive of the group’s ratings. It exceeds the threshold for the strongest categorization by a wide margin, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The assessment of the group’s balance sheet strength also reflects its stable loss reserve position, the use of a comprehensive reinsurance program and high quality reinsurance partners. While Travelers reported overall adverse development of its loss reserves through the first nine months of 2019 on a GAAP basis, the amount is relatively modest relative to the group’s reserve base. AM Best expects that the group’s reserves will reflect a continuation of its prudent approach to the impact of societal trends on claims settlements but does not anticipate any material impact on risk-adjusted capitalization in the near term.
The group’s very strong operating performance reflects consistently profitable results supported by typically strong underwriting results and steady investment income. Underwriting performance in 2019 will be impacted negatively by the adverse loss reserve development and catastrophe losses. The group has reported positive underwriting income in nine of the past 10 years, with 2011 being the exception due to an increased amount of catastrophes.
Based on 2018 direct premiums written, Travelers has the leading market share in commercial lines and is the ninth-largest personal lines writer in the United States. Overall, Travelers ranks as the sixth-largest property/casualty (P/C) writer in the United States. Travelers maintains a broad spread of risk in that it offers a wide array of P/C coverages spread geographically in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, England and Ireland.
The ratings of TCSA and TCSCE reflect the group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate ERM.
The ratings of TICC reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its direct parent, TCSA, as well as from its ultimate parent, TRV.
The ratings of Dominion reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV.
The ratings of First Floridian reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM.
A complete listing of The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s FSRs, Long-Term ICRs and Long- and Short-Term IRs also is available.
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 Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.
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