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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK, N.J. - FEBRUARY 09, 2011 12:00 AM (EST)
A.M. Best Co. has commented that the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of "a" of the Chartis U.S. Insurance Group (Chartis) (New York, NY), whose members are wholly owned, indirect subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) (New York, NY) [NYSE: AIG], are unchanged following AIG's announcement of what is expected to be a $4.1 billion (net of discount and loss sensitive adjustments of $446 million) charge to strengthen its loss and loss adjustment reserves. The outlook for the ratings is negative.
Chartis' reserve strengthening relates primarily to prior year reserves on several of its long-tail businesses, including asbestos and excess casualty, as well as primary and excess workers' compensation. In addition, AIG announced that it has entered into an agreement with the United States Treasury, under which AIG will retain $2.0 billion of the net cash proceeds from the sale of AIG Star Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and AIG Edison Life Insurance Company. AIG will use these proceeds, along with other funds, to support the capital of the Chartis insurance subsidiaries in connection with the loss reserve strengthening.
Although this is a significant increase in Chartis' reserves, the ratings remain unchanged as A.M. Best contemplated a reserve shortfall in its most recent assessment of the group's reserves and thus views the charge as being within its previous estimate of the group's reserve deficiency. Furthermore, the capital contributions to the operating Chartis insurance companies are expected to neutralize any change in statutory surplus and Chartis' risk-adjusted capitalization as estimated by A.M. Best via Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio following the increase in reserves. A.M. Best also believes recent changes in AIG's risk management and actuarial functions contributed to the refinement in Chartis' reserve analysis and judgments used in estimating loss reserves, which should prove beneficial going forward. Consequently, no change in ratings is warranted at this time.
The principal methodology used in determining these ratings is Best's Credit Rating Methodology - Global Life and Non-Life Insurance Edition, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best's rating process and highlights the different rating criteria employed. Additional key criteria utilized include: "Understanding BCAR for Property/Casualty Insurers." Methodologies can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.