A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” of Indianapolis, Ind.-based Baldwin & Lyons Group, which includes Protective Insurance Co. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sagamore Insurance Co. A.M. Best also has affirmed the ICR of “a” of the group’s publicly traded parent, Baldwin & Lyons Inc.
Concurrently, A.M. Best has assigned an FSR of A (Excellent) and an ICR of “a” to the wholly owned subsidiary of Protective Insurance Company, Protective Specialty Insurance Company (PSIC). The outlook for all ratings is stable.
The group’s ratings reflect its superior risk-adjusted capitalization, excellent operating performance and solid market position in its core commercial trucking market.
In addition, the group increasingly operates as a well-diversified carrier through its expansion of products and markets, including non-standard personal automobile coverage, small fleet trucking programs, assumed reinsurance and, more recently, Florida commercial business owners policies (BOP) operations and miscellaneous professional lines errors and omissions business.
These positive rating factors are partially offset by the long-term competitive nature of the group’s core commercial trucking and non-standard personal automobile markets; elevated exposure to investment variability due to above average common stock and limited partnership investments (as demonstrated by realized and unrealized capital losses and gains experienced by the group in 2008 and 2009, respectively); shareholder dividend requirements of the parent; and a degree of concentration with its largest customer.
Source: A.M. Best
Topics AM Best
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