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AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Positive for Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company


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Brian Virostek
Financial Analyst
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brian.virostek@ambest.com

Doniella Pliss
Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5104
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Christopher Sharkey
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Jim Peavy
Director, Communications
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLDWICK - DECEMBER 17, 2020 03:04 PM (EST)
AM Best has revised the outlook of the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb” of Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company (Gulf Guaranty Life) (Jackson, MS). The outlook of the FSR is stable.

These Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect the balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM).

The revised Long-Term ICR outlook reflects the strengthening of Gulf Guaranty Life’s ERM practices. In early 2020, the company engaged an ERM consultant to assess its inherent and residual risks, as well as controls over these risks, and also implement an ERM software application. This initiative enhanced the company’s existing qualitative risk management by quantifying its risk exposure. Additionally, Gulf Guaranty Life developed and implemented a formal risk appetite statement. AM Best will continue to monitor further evolution of Gulf Guaranty Life’s ERM program and its role in business decisions.

Gulf Guaranty Life’s balance sheet strength assessment of strong is based on its risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), partially offset by a relatively low level of absolute capital and surplus, and a high level of less liquid investments. The company’s favorable operating performance has been driven by pre-tax net operating gains owing to consistent investment income and improving underwriting experience. The company posted sizeable premium growth driven by market demand for its limited benefits medical product. While the company has shifted its business mix in recent years to more group limited benefit medical products in comparison with its credit and final expense products, it maintains a relatively modest, but growing, share of the highly competitive group limited benefit medical market. Additionally, premium is concentrated in this market, as well as in the Southeast United States.

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 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 analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.


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AMB# Company Name
008081 Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company