A.M. Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Positive for CNO Financial Group, Inc. and Its Key
A.M. Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Positive for CNO Financial Group, Inc. and Its Key Life/Health Subsidiaries
OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "bbb" of the key life/health subsidiaries of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO Financial)(Carmel, IN) (NYS: CNO) . At the same time, A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) of the life/health subsidiaries of CNO Financial. The outlook for the FSR is stable. Concurrently, A.M. Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the ICR of "bb" and the existing senior debt ratings of CNO Financial. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)
The revised outlook for the ICRs and debt ratings reflects the continuing favorable trends in CNO Financial's statutory operating earnings, risk-adjusted capitalization and core life insurance sales. In addition, A.M. Best acknowledges CNO Financial's success in executing its strategic business plan. CNO Financial's enhanced operating results have been attributable to the growth in revenue in its life/health insurance subsidiaries, as well as its ongoing expense management. Improved revenue across several business segments, especially in its life products, has been driven by agent growth, timely rate increases, the introduction of new products and the modification of some existing products. CNO Financial's enhanced operating results, combined with its consistent investment performance, have resulted in improved risk-adjusted capitalization for the insurance operating companies. A.M. Best notes that Bankers Life and Casualty Company (Chicago, IL), the group's lead operating entity, has seen considerable improvement in its risk-adjusted capitalization over the past two years.
The revised outlook for the ICRs and debt ratings also reflects the success CNO Financial has had in executing its business strategy, which included focusing on markets where true competitive advantages are achievable while, at the same time, actively managing risk. This strategy included exiting/de-emphasizing non-core product lines through divestiture and/or reinsurance, considerable expense reductions and the completion of its recapitalization plan.
CNO Financial's debt restructuring, which was viewed favorably by A.M. Best, enhanced the organization's financial flexibility by reducing its cost of capital and improving its debt maturity profile. Moreover, A.M. Best believes the company's ability to maintain solid profitability and foster capital growth has better positioned the organization with respect to covenants within its credit facility. CNO Financial's debt-to-capital ratio, which is now under 20%, will continue to decline due to its expected scheduled amortization. The organization's interest coverage, which A.M. Best views to be sufficient for its current rating level, also has benefited from the ongoing amortization of debt.
While sales of CNO Financial's life insurance and supplemental health products have generally increased, A.M. Best has observed declining premium trends within some of its core lines of business, including annuity and long-term care (LTC) operations. Prior to 2013, persistent low interest rates had kept annuity sales depressed, consistent with industry trends. A.M. Best notes that the decline in LTC is largely due to a shift towards shorter-term care products.
A.M. Best notes that, despite the uncertain economy, CNO Financial has been experiencing favorable persistency and has generally maintained its target spreads in its annuity business segment. With regard to its long-term care product line, premiums remain lower due to more of an overall market shift to short-term care products, in addition to offering reduced benefits, including the elimination of lifetime benefits, for newly issued long-term care policies. Although CNO Financial's business profile has improved with the growth in its life insurance business segment, A.M. Best remains cautious regarding the sustainability of earnings across key product lines given the persistent low interest rate environment and the associated potential for lower net investment income.
A.M. Best also notes the potential for additional asset impairments given CNO Financial's exposure to commercial mortgages, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and below investment grade bonds. However, this risk is partially mitigated by the fact that the company has been actively de-risking its investment portfolio since the economic crisis, and its direct mortgage loans continue to perform well and remain fairly well diversified. Additionally, the collateral underlying its CMBS portfolio is performing better than in prior years as evident by the reduction in delinquencies and cumulative losses.
Factors that could result in favorable rating actions for CNO Financial and its key life/health operating companies over the near to medium term include a continued diversification in business mix, sizeable growth in risk-adjusted capitalization and sustained earnings growth. Factors that could lead to negative rating actions include sizeable realized losses, operating losses or significant deterioration in risk-adjusted capitalization.
A.M. Best also has affirmed the FSR of B- (Fair) and ICR of "bb-" of Conseco Life Insurance Company (CLIC)(Carmel, IN). The outlook for both ratings is stable.
CLIC's ratings recognize its consistent net investment income and improved investment performance, tempered by its significant decline in capitalization and declining premiums as the business in CLIC runs off. A.M. Best notes that management continues to actively manage its legacy blocks of business, including the challenge of securing re-rates to facilitate profitability in these lines of business. Additionally, A.M. Best will be closely monitoring CLIC's risk-adjusted capitalization due to the sizeable decrease in 2012, together with its volatile performance history.
The FSR of B++ (Good) and ICRs of "bbb" have been affirmed for the following key life/health subsidiaries of CNO Financial Group, Inc.:
Bankers Life and Casualty Company
Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company
Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company
Washington National Insurance Company
The following debt ratings have been affirmed:
CNO Financial Group, Inc.—
-- "bb" on $176.5 million 7.0% senior unsecured convertible debentures, due 2016 ($3.5 million outstanding)
-- "bb" on $275 million 6.375% senior secured notes, due 2020
The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best's Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best's rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best's Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.
A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visitwww.ambest.com.
Copyright © 2013 by A.M. Best Company, Inc.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
A.M. Best Co.
Tom Zitelli,908-439-2200, ext. 5412
Senior Financial Analyst
tom.zitelli@ambest.com
or
Thomas Rosendale,908-439-2200, ext. 5201
Assistant Vice President
thomas.rosendale@ambest.com
or
Rachelle Morrow, 908-439-2200, ext. 5378
Senior Manager, Public Relations
rachelle.morrow@ambest.com
or
Jim Peavy, 908-439-2200, ext. 5644
Assistant Vice President, Public Relations
james.peavy@ambest.com
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