A.M. Best has affirmed the long-term issue credit rating of “a” on the $800 million floating rate insured notes due 2037 (notes) issued by Northwind Holdings, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unum Group.
Northwind Holdings formed for the limited purpose of holding the stock of Northwind Reinsurance Company (Northwind Re), issuing the notes and engaging in activities incidental to its duties.
Northwind Holdings is the sole shareholder of Northwind Re, a special purpose financial captive insurance company domiciled in Vermont.
Northwind Re was established to provide reinsurance coverage to three of Unum’s subsidiaries, Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company, The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company and Unum Life Insurance Company of America, as well as to facilitate the funding of a portion of the capital required to support a closed block of individual disability income policies.
A.M. Best stated that the long-term issuer credit rating affirmation takes into consideration the amount held in the debt service coverage account for the remaining interest and principal payments; the adequacy of cash flows from Northwind Re available to be transferred as dividends to Northwind Holdings to service the notes, and Unum’s operating subsidiaries’ current financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and long-term issuer credit ratings of “a”.
However, A.M. Best said that they didn’t consider the payment assurance or support provided by MBIA Insurance Corporation, the financial guarantor, which ensures the timely payment of scheduled interest and the repayment of principal at maturity to the noteholders.
According to the rating firm, Northwind Holdings’ long-term issuer credit rating and outlook may come under negative pressure if any of the following events occur: cash flows to service the note obligations become insufficient; the credit rating of Unum Group deteriorates, or the coverage ratio of the reserves and surplus to policy benefits deteriorates.”
However, the long-term issue credit rating and its outlook could benefit if a favourable trend occurs in the aforementioned categories, A.M. Best added.
