A.M. Best affirms ratings of Premier Group Insurance Company

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Premier Group Insurance Company (Premier) (Murfreesboro, TN). The outlook for both ratings is stable.

The ratings reflect Premier’s excellent capitalization and liquidity, low leverage and conservative investment portfolio. The ratings also recognize Premier’s solid operating performance is driven by strong underwriting results, which compare favorably to the workers’ compensation industry composite average. The ratings also consider the financial benefits and enhanced business profile derived from Premier’s ultimate parent company, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC). Also recognized in the ratings are Premier’s stringent written risk management guidelines and procedures, which are ingrained in the culture of the company. Premier has been able to leverage its monoline focus and its role within NHC to achieve consistently profitable underwriting results.

Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the company’s relatively high retention per claim and its limited scale and business diversification. While Premier has a stable source of business from NHC and is able to write business from third parties, its business volume, growth opportunities and dividend policy are largely dependent on NHC’s strategies.

A.M. Best remains the leading rating agency of captive insurers rating a wide variety of more than 200 captives in the United States and throughout the world.

For current Best’s Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

The principal methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology -- Global Life and Non-Life Insurance Edition, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and highlights the different rating criteria employed. Additional key criteria utilized include: “Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies”; “Understanding BCAR for Property/Casualty Insurers”; “A.M. Best’s Rating Methodology for Captive Insurance Companies”; and “Rating Members of Insurance Groups.” Methodologies can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.