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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK - JULY 12, 2018 01:14 PM (EDT)
A.M. Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Ratings to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “a-” from “a” of Pacific Specialty Insurance Company and Pacific Specialty Property and Casualty Company, collectively referred to as Pacific Specialty Insurance Group (Pacific Specialty). The outlooks for all Credit Ratings (ratings) remain stable. Both companies are headquartered in Palo Alto, CA.
The ratings reflect Pacific Specialty’s balance sheet strength assessment, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
The rating actions reflect the significant decline in Pacific Specialty’s policyholders’ surplus over the past five years, which has led to above average net and gross underwriting leverage relative to industry norms. The policyholders’ surplus decline in 2014 was driven by the buyout of one of its owner’s one-third ownership share by the remaining two owners. The surplus decline in 2017 was driven by California wildfire and winter storm losses, the payment of a note due to its holding company, charges associated with a new policy/claims administration system, changes in net deferred tax assets and stockholder dividend payments to its holding company.
While Pacific Specialty’s five-year average underwriting results have been unfavorable, this is largely reflective of results in 2017, which were heavily impacted by unprecedented California wildfire activity. In most years, Pacific Specialty has produced favorable pre-tax operating income as reflected by its operating performance assessment of adequate. Pacific Specialty’s profile reflects its business concentration in California, which exposes its earnings and surplus to volatility from regulatory and judicial changes, market dislocations and catastrophe events. As a predominantly California homeowners and stand-alone earthquake policy writer, this is demonstrated by a high gross probable maximum loss (PML) from a 1-in-250-year earthquake relative to surplus. However, the net PML has been reduced to a moderate level through a comprehensive catastrophe reinsurance program.
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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