A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Delphi Financial Group, Inc. and its Subsidiaries
January 08 2008 - 3:01PM
Business Wire
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of �bbb�
of Delphi Financial Group, Inc. (Delphi Financial) (Wilmington, DE)
(NYSE:DFG). A.M. Best also has affirmed the financial strength
rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and ICRs of �a� of Delphi Financial�s
primary life insurance subsidiaries, Reliance Standard Life
Insurance Company (Reliance Standard) (Chicago, IL) and First
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (New York, NY).
Additionally, A.M. Best has affirmed all debt ratings of Delphi
Financial, Delphi Funding L.L.C. (Delaware) and Reliance Standard
Life Global Funding (Illinois). The outlook for all ratings is
stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies and
ratings.) These rating affirmations reflect the continued favorable
operating results reported by Delphi Financial and its life
insurance subsidiaries, as well as the organization�s established
niche in the small to mid-sized employee benefit market, which
focuses on group disability income and life product offerings.
Reliance Standard, the principal life insurance subsidiary of
Delphi Financial, has reported consistent growth in its book of
business, as well as an increased market presence. The life
operations, which have demonstrated favorable results in a
competitive market, gain diversification through their traditional
fixed individual annuity products along with a newly introduced
indexed annuity product. A.M. Best believes that Reliance
Standard�s core small case group disability and life products will
likely encounter increasing competitive challenges going forward as
more carriers are beginning to focus on its market niche. However,
both the absence management and the integrated disability service
offerings create differentiation as well as cross-selling
opportunities. Also, the company continues to emphasize its
voluntary disability sales in addition to the promotion of its
recently added limited benefit medical offering. Although Delphi
Financial has a less aggressive investment philosophy than in the
past, it recently reported losses in its trading account due to
volatile market conditions. The trading account, CDOs and moderate
sub-prime and alt-a mortgage holdings, which combined comprise
approximately 7% of Delphi Financial�s investment portfolio, bears
watching. A.M. Best notes the current favorable capitalization of
the organization, which offsets this risk somewhat. As with all
disability income writers, Reliance Standard continues to face the
challenge of operating profitably in an extended low interest rate
environment and the potential of a weaker economy. The ICR of �bbb�
has been affirmed for Delphi Financial Group, Inc. The FSR of A
(Excellent) and the ICRs of �a� have been affirmed for the
following subsidiaries of Delphi Financial Group, Inc.: Reliance
Standard Life Insurance Company First Reliance Standard Life
Insurance Company The following debt ratings have been affirmed: �
Delphi Financial Group, Inc.-- -- "bbb" on $143.8 million 8% senior
unsecured notes, due 2033 -- "bb+" on $175.0 million 7.376% junior
subordinated debentures, due 2037 � Delphi Funding L.L.C.-- --
"bbb-" on $100 million 9.31% capital securities, due 2027 �
Reliance Standard Life Global Funding-- -- "a" on $100 million
medium-term notes (MTNs) � The following indicative ratings have
been affirmed for debt securities available under the shelf
registration: � Delphi Financial Group, Inc.-- -- "bbb" on senior
unsecured debt -- "bbb-" on subordinated debt -- "bbb-" on
preferred securities -- "bb+" on preferred stock 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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