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The original criteria and objective definition for Super Regional P/C Insurers™ was established in the Feb. 12, 2007 issue of Insurance Journal. Prior to the establishment of an industry-wide definition, a number of property/casualty insurers had referred to themselves as Super Regionals. Demotech Inc., the official research partner of Insurance Journal, has once again compared the data to the criteria and updated the list of Super Regionals.
To continue the discussion regarding what constitutes a Super Regional and to give definition to this important group of insurers, Demotech, a financial analysis firm based in Columbus, Ohio, analyzed year-end 2010 data. This data was utilized to classify and stratify those insurers reporting data to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Demotech Classification System
The experts at Demotech have refined their classification system for property/casualty insurance companies. The Demotech Company Classification System categorizes all property/casualty insurers into one of 11 categories based on an analysis of data reported by the companies to the NAIC.
The 11 categories that comprise the system are Nationals, Near Nationals, Super Regionals, Regionals, State Specialists, Coverage Specialists, Strategic Subsidiaries, Risk Retention Groups, Surplus Lines Carriers, Reinsurers and companies with less than $1 million in direct premium written.
A company cannot be assigned to more than one category. Therefore, a company not designated as a Super Regional is given another classification, perhaps Near National, Regional, or State Specialist.
Super Regional Criteria and Thresholds
To select the companies for the Super Regional Property/Casualty Insurer™ list, Demotech used these specific, objective qualifying criteria and thresholds:
In general, a Super Regional Property/Casualty Insurer™ is an individual company writing multiple lines of insurance in multiple states. Risk retention groups, surplus lines insurers and reinsurers are not eligible for the Super Regional category.
The 2011 Super Regional Property/Casualty Insurers™
Utilizing these quantitative criteria, Demotech identified 162 Super Regional Property/Casualty Insurers™ for 2011, based upon year-end 2010 annual statement data. They are presented in this exclusive Insurance Journal special report both alphabetically and by size as ranked by direct premium written as of Dec. 31, 2010.
Also included in this report are the 10 companies that are new to the Super Regional list, as well as 13 insurers that are no longer classified as Super Regionals, but have been reclassified into another one of Demotech’s categories based on year-end 2010 information.
“Super Regional insurers are critically important to the insurance industry and to their agents, producers and insureds,” said Joseph Petrelli, president, Demotech. “These companies are strong, stable markets that work hard for their agents and insureds. This is why Insurance Journal expressed interest in quantifying and identifying what criteria can be used to define an insurer as a Super Regional.”
Insurance Journal and Demotech want this year’s report to continue the discussion on the role of Super Regionals, as well as the definition and criteria used in determining the classification, so that future reports can continue to refine an industry definition of Super Regional Property/Casualty Insurers™.
“Insurers and interested readers are encouraged to review the selection criteria and thresholds used to determine the list of 2011 Super Regionals. Our selection criteria remain quantitative and transparent. We are focused on setting benchmarks at levels that accurately categorize the industry,” comments Barry Koestler II, CFA, senior financial analyst and chief ratings officer, Demotech.
The authors stress that this is an objective stratification of the companies that comprise the industry, not ratings of the individual insurers. Inclusion on the list of Super Regionals is not meant to suggest that a company is superior to companies not categorized as Super Regionals.
Since 1985, Demotech Inc. (www.demotech.com) has been providing independent Financial Stability Ratings¨ of property/casualty insurers and title insurance underwriters. Other services include consulting and financial analysis.
Send suggestions, comments and criticisms on this report to Joseph Petrelli at jpetrelli@demotech.com or Andrew Simpson, vice president of content for Insurance Journal, at asimpson@insurancejournal.com.