Best’s News & Research Service - September 14, 2017 08:34 AM (EDT)
A.M. Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for Golden Bear Insurance Company
- September 14, 2017 08:34 AM (EDT)
Oldwick //BestWire// - A.M. Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” of Golden Bear Insurance Company (Golden Bear) (Stockton, CA).
The ratings are based upon Golden Bear’s supportive risk-adjusted capitalization, strong operating performance and prudent risk management strategies. The revision in the outlooks is due to the company’s consistently favorable underwriting and operating profitability, supportive risk-adjusted capitalization and well-established profile as a specialty underwriter. Golden Bear has a long-standing tradition as an opportunistic underwriter via their holding company/agency M.J. Hall & Company, Inc. Through this agency, they provide underwriting and brokerage services for strong reinsurance partners, in addition to their direct underwriting services. In recent years, Golden Bear has expanded their capabilities by becoming an authorized surplus lines carrier in additional states.
Offsetting these positive rating factors is Golden Bear’s vulnerability to reinsurance availability and pricing, given its heavy dependence upon reinsurance, as well as its geographic concentration of risk and the somewhat limited financial flexibility of its parent. The geographic concentration exposes Golden Bear to significant shock losses and competitive, regulatory and legislative market pressures.
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