A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and Its Subsidiaries
June 03 2010 - 1:30PM
Business Wire
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings
(FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of
the property/casualty group, Horace Mann Insurance Group
(Horace Mann), its members and the life/health insurance company,
Horace Mann Life Insurance Company (Horace Mann Life)
(Springfield, IL). A.M. Best also has affirmed the ICR of “bbb-”
and debt ratings of the parent company, Horace Mann Educators
Corporation (HMEC) (headquartered in Springfield, IL) (NYSE:
HMN). The outlook for all ratings is stable. (See below for a
detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)
The affirmation of the ratings for Horace Mann reflects its
adequate level of capitalization, stable operating results driven
by recent underwriting and operating improvements, which helped the
group to withstand very volatile years in 2008 and 2009 in terms of
investment markets and elevated frequencies of severe weather
losses. Supplementing these factors was Horace Mann’s continued
expertise in writing personal lines products in the educator
market, which has enabled it to obtain numerous endorsements from
local, state and national educational associations. These strengths
are partially offset by the organization’s continued above average
underwriting leverage measures and the ever present susceptibility
of Horace Mann’s property book to severe weather.
The rating actions on Horace Mann Life recognize its important
role within HMEC and the benefits the company derives from HMEC’s
strong business franchise in the K-12 educators market. The rating
actions also acknowledge Horace Mann Life’s strong stand-alone
risk-adjusted capitalization that is enhanced by its profitable
operating results and improved investment performance, along with a
distribution model, which employs the use of both dedicated and
independent agents marketing its 403(b) tax-qualified annuity
products. Thus far, Horace Mann Life has been successful in
navigating through the industry-wide transition to the new Internal
Revenue Service 403(b) regulations, which is evidenced by the
continuation of the company’s growth momentum in the 403(b) market
and the preservation of the majority of its existing payroll slots
while garnering new payroll slots.
Partially offsetting these positive factors are the challenges
of spread management on Horace Mann Life’s fixed annuity block,
exposure to potential equity market volatility in the form of
reduced fee income from its variable annuity business and material
exposure to commercial mortgage-backed securities, which A.M. Best
believes could result in moderate investment losses should the
commercial mortgage markets soften further. The ratings also
reflect the challenges Horace Mann Life faces in growing its
proprietary ordinary life segment.
HMEC continues to operate through a corporate structure that
affords financial flexibility as a publicly traded holding company
with access to the capital markets, moderate financial leverage and
historically solid fixed charge coverage.
The FSR of A- (Excellent) and ICRs of “a-” have been affirmed
for Horace Mann Insurance Group and its following
members:
- Horace Mann Insurance
Company
- Horace Mann Property &
Casualty Insurance Company
- Teachers Insurance
Company
- Horace Mann Lloyds
The following debt ratings have been affirmed:
Horace Mann Educators Corporation—
-- “bbb-” on $75 million 6.05% senior unsecured notes, due
2015
-- “bbb-” on $125 million 6.85% senior unsecured notes due
2016
The following indicative ratings have been affirmed on
securities available under the $300 million shelf registration:
Horace Mann Educators Corporation—
-- “bbb-” on senior unsecured debt
-- “bb+” on subordinated debt
-- “bb” on preferred stock
For Best’s Credit Ratings, an overview of the rating process and
rating methodologies, please visit www.ambest.com/ratings.
The principal methodologies used in determining these ratings,
including any additional methodologies and factors that may have
been considered, can be found at
www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service
credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and
health care service industries, including insurance companies,
banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more
information, visit www.ambest.com.
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