The revised outlooks reflect the declining trends in ERGO Insurance’s risk-adjusted capitalization and operating performance relative to its peers. The company’s risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), has trended downward due to high dividend payments and retained losses in 2016. Additionally, planned premium growth is expected to increase underwriting leverage, which could further lower its risk-adjusted capitalization going forward.

In response, ERGO Insurance has taken remedial actions by focusing on its historically profitable lines of business and adopting cost reduction measures to improve operating performance.

Partially offsetting these negative Credit Rating (rating) factors is the company’s broadened business profile as a member of the ERGO Group. Through focused marketing and branding strategies, ERGO Insurance has diversified its distribution network by developing of the brokerage channel. Nonetheless, as a small player in the market, the company is susceptible to adverse performance from large corporate risks and expense strain.

The outlooks could be revised to stable if the company improves its risk-adjusted capitalization or achieves consistent profitability that is better than its peers. Negative rating actions may arise from further deterioration of the company’s operating results or risk-adjusted capitalization.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication. 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. 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 A.M. 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.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.