AM Best


AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Negative for Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (A Risk Retention Group)


CONTACTS:

Edward J. Zonenberg
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5135
edward.zonenberg@ambest.com

Sharon Pereira Marks
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5477
sharon.marks@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLDWICK - FEBRUARY 22, 2019 02:04 PM (EST)
AM Best has revised the outlook to negative from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and Long-Term ICR of “a+” of Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (A Risk Retention Group) (OMIC) (Burlington, VT). The outlook of the FSR remains stable.

The ratings reflect OMIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The revised Long-Term ICR outlook reflects the reduction in underwriting and operating performance in 2017 and 2018 and the challenges that OMIC faces to improve results in the near term. Underwriting results in earlier years benefited from significant favorable development of prior accident year loss reserves, resulting in strong operating performance in those years. However, margins have compressed in recent years following the impacts of a rate decrease in 2016 and rising severity, as well as slight adverse development in 2017 and 2018, which placed the company’s profitability more in line with its peers. However, we emphasize that despite the recent underwriting results, OMIC’s risk-adjusted capitalization remains at the strongest level.

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 Understanding 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.

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AMB# Company Name
010844 Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Co (A RRG)