Best’s News & Research Service - September 21, 2023 09:42 AM (EDT)
AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings for Members of Ally Insurance Group
- September 21, 2023 09:42 AM (EDT)
Oldwick //BestWire// - AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) for the members of Ally Insurance Group (Ally Insurance). The members include Motors Insurance Corporation and its reinsured subsidiaries, MIC Property and Casualty Insurance Corporation and CIM Insurance Corporation, as well as an affiliate, Ally International Insurance Company Ltd. (AIICL). All companies are domiciled in Detroit, MI, except AIICL, which is domiciled in Bermuda. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect Ally Insurance’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also reflect the neutral impact from the ultimate parent, Ally Financial Inc. [NYSE: ALLY], a bank holding company headquartered in Detroit, MI.
While historically the ratings of the members of Ally Insurance reflected the drag by the lower ratings of the group’s ultimate parent, AM Best considers the financial condition of Ally Financial, Inc., to have a neutral impact on these ratings. Despite the current economic and inflationary conditions impacting the auto, credit and banking industries, the ultimate parent’s operating performance, capital levels and conservative corporate culture have been a benefit to the overall organization, and Ally Financial, Inc.’s lower credit ratings have not adversely impacted the financial performance of the members of Ally Insurance.
Ally Insurance’s balance sheet strength assessment is supported by its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), modest underwriting leverage (despite premium sessions to producer-owned reinsurance companies), prudent reserving and a conservative investment asset base. The group’s history of large dividend payments to its ultimate parent, after exceeding capital targets, has led to fluctuating surplus growth. However, the group’s quality of capital remains high as its earnings capacity remains solid through disciplined underwriting and a steady stream of investment income on its growing investment asset base. The group’s operating performance remains adequate, but was negatively impacted in 2023 by weather-related losses in its auto physical damage line, as well as the continued impact of the macroeconomic challenges facing the auto industry, which have depressed premium writings for the group’s commercial products.
Ally Insurance has a well-established presence as a specialized writer of vehicle service contracts (VSC) and guaranteed asset protection (GAP) products throughout the United States and Canada, and is also a leading provider of selected commercial insurance coverages, primarily auto physical damage for dealers’ vehicle inventory, throughout the United States. The group has taken steps in recent years to expand into other lines of business and product services, and benefits from strategic alliances in non-auto markets. Ally Insurance also benefits from its leading innovative processes aligned with its ultimate parent, as well as its appropriate risk management capabilities.
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.