AM Best


AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company


CONTACTS:

Michael Adams
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5133
michael.adams@ambest.com

Thomas Rosendale
Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5201
thomas.rosendale@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLDWICK - DECEMBER 05, 2019 02:17 PM (EST)
AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb” to Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company (GGLIC) (Jackson, MS). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect GGLIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management.

The ratings assigned to GGLIC reflect its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), its minimal use of reinsurance and adequate liquidity, as approximately 30% of its general account investment portfolio is composed of cash and short-term investments. However, these positive balance sheet factors are offset partially by the company’s relatively low amount of capital, which was approximately $12.6 million as of third-quarter 2019, and concentration of higher risk and less liquid assets in its investment portfolio. These include common stocks, real estate that is made up primarily of undeveloped land and residential mortgage loans. These assets combined comprise well over half of the company’s invested assets and almost 90% of capital and surplus. While GGLIC’s fixed-income securities are all investment grade, they remain highly concentrated within the financial sector.

GGLIC has experienced modestly positive operating results over the most-recent five-year period and a significant increase in premiums in more recent periods due its focus on growing its limited benefit medical expense group accident and health product line. While management is focused on growing its presence in the southeastern United States, the majority of premiums remain concentrated in just two states. Additionally, although the company has multiple product offerings that include final expense and credit life and accident and health insurance, the group accident and health line of business has driven premium growth solely in recent periods. AM Best expects this trend to continue over the near term, but notes that GGLIC has planned for additional product offerings to enhance its product portfolio.

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.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data provider specializing in the insurance industry. The company does business in more than 100 countries. Headquartered in Oldwick, NJ, AM Best has offices in cities around the world, including London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.


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AMB# Company Name
008081 Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company