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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK - NOVEMBER 14, 2018 10:15 AM (EST)
A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” of Family Guardian Insurance Company Limited (Family Guardian). Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb-” of FamGuard Corporation Limited (FamGuard) [BISX: FAM] (both domiciled in Nassau, Bahamas). Family Guardian is a wholly owned subsidiary of its publicly traded parent, FamGuard. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect Family Guardian’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
Family Guardian’s balance sheet strength assessment is supported by its strong level of risk-adjusted capitalization and sustained trends of actual capital growth, and adequate liquidity position. Partially offsetting the strong level of risk-adjusted capital is its limited investment diversification. Exchange-control regulations in the Bahamas limit the company’s ability to diversify its investment portfolio meaningfully, resulting in the company holding a high proportion of sovereign securities and mortgage loan assets. A.M. Best notes that while the company’s allocation to mortgage loans is elevated, the level of non-performing loans is low and decreasing.
Additionally, mortgage loans as a percentage of equity has continued to decline and A.M. Best views this risk exposure as manageable. The company’s operating performance is considered to be strong based on a long-standing trend of profitability, including strong returns on equity, earnings diversity, and low overall volatility. A.M. Best expects these operating performance trends to continue based on projections and recent performance measures.
While Family Guardian continues to generate positive earnings and has a good market position in the Bahamas, it operates almost exclusively in the Bahamas, limiting its ability to achieve meaningful growth. Growth is further impacted by the health of the Bahamas economy, which relies heavily on tourism and can be impacted by individual weather events such as hurricanes. A.M. Best recognizes that despite the limited growth opportunities in its local market, Family Guardian has been able to grow premium income in core business lines. Family Guardian’s core life and health business segments provide business diversification and competitive advantages in a generally limited and mature marketplace. A.M. Best considers Family Guardian’s ERM program to be appropriate for the company’s risk profile. The company has a good risk management oversight structure, a well-developed framework and clear risk appetite and tolerance levels in place.
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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