Best Removes Allmerica from Under Review; Assigned Stable Outlook

October 18, 2005

A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of the publicly-traded holding company Allmerica Financial Corporation’s (Allmerica) property/casualty subsidiaries.

Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed Allmerica’s ICR of “bbb-” and debt ratings of “bbb-” for its senior debt and “bb” for capital securities. All ratings have been assigned a stable outlook.

These rating actions reflect A.M. Best’s review of the company’s financial position following an assessment of recent losses due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The ratings were placed under review with negative implications on Sept. 15, 2005 due to uncertainty of estimated losses sustained from Hurricane Katrina and its impact on capitalization.

Although some uncertainty remains regarding the ultimate loss, A.M. Best is comfortable with Allmerica’s estimates and expects the company will maintain risk-adjusted capitalization in line with its ratings.

Additionally, A.M. Best anticipates Allmerica will produce favorable operating earnings and believes its underwriting leverage and capitalization will further improve over the intermediate term.

Finally, the company maintains adequate reinsurance protection in the event of additional hurricane-related losses during 2005.

The FSR of A- (Excellent) and ICRs of “a-” have been removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed with a stable outlook for the following property/casualty subsidiaries of Allmerica Financial Corporation:

* Allmerica Financial Property & Casualty Companies
* Allmerica Financial Alliance Insurance Company
* Allmerica Financial Benefit Insurance Company
* Citizens Insurance Company of America
* Citizens Insurance Company of Ohio
* Citizens Insurance Company of the Midwest
* Citizens Insurance Company of Illinois
* The Hanover American Insurance Company
* The Hanover Insurance Company
* Hanover Lloyd’s Insurance Company
* The Hanover New Jersey Insurance Company
* Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company.

Topics Trends Carriers AM Best Property Casualty

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