Ultimate Parent: AMERCO CHRISTIAN FIDELITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

Transcription

1 Dallas, Texas B++ Ultimate Parent: AMERCO CHRISTIAN FIDELITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Exec/Admin: 2721 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ Web: Tel: Fax: AMB#: NAIC#: Ultimate Parent#: FEIN#: BEST S FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATING Based on our opinion of the consolidated Financial Strength of the life/health members of Oxford Group, which operate under a group structure, this group member is assigned a Best s Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good). The company is assigned the Financial Size Category of Class VIII which is the Financial Size Category of the parent. RATING RATIONALE Rating Rationale: The rating of Christian Fidelity Life Insurance Company (CFLIC) is based on the consolidated financial strength and operating performance of Oxford Life Insurance Company (OLIC). CFLIC maintains a strong risk-adjusted capitalization. In addition, the company s core line of Medicare supplement insurance maintains consistent loss ratios and earnings. Partially offsetting factors include decreases in capital related to dividends to OLIC, downward trend in net written premiums and lack of earnings diversification. The rating of Oxford Life Insurance Company (OLIC) and its three life insurance subsidiaries reflects the group s consolidated financial strength, which is supported by its positive operating trends, strong risk-based capital position, and favorable liquidity and investment quality. Oxford Life and its three operating subsidiaries, Christian Fidelity Life, North American Insurance, and Dallas General Life, have experienced a growing focus in the senior marketplace through final expense and Medicare supplement businesses. Overall positive earnings trends, added final expense and single premium whole life insurance business growth, and continued strength of its investment portfolio with minimum below-investment-grade holdings have also contributed to the group s strengthened capital position. Partially offsetting these positive factors are concerns of sustaining the earnings momentum of the Medicare supplement business with additional reliance on the potential acquisition of books of this business, as intense competition and regulatory hurdles for these market niches remain at the forefront. The continued profitable operating results over the past several years have generated an increased surplus level. The company s programs to enhance its niche senior market focus with producers have resulted in significant growth in its final expense and single premium whole life business. Additionally, with its strong capital position, the company has deployed capital towards strategic acquisitions. OLIC s investment portfolio remains strong, with improved matching of assets to liabilities, reduced exposure to below-investment-grade risk, and avoidance of structured products. OLIC continues to make significant progress to achieve critical mass through both organic growth in its core product lines and oppor A.M. Best Company, Oldwick, NJ Printed June 30, Page 1 of 5

2 tunistic acquisitions. Its core Medicare supplement business, although consistently profitable, remains vulnerable to intense competition and regulatory challenges as previously noted. Senior life insurance sales, currently a large portion of new business, have been increasing and are producing statutory strain challenges as a result of the capital-intensive nature of these products. OLIC and its three life subsidiaries are ultimately owned by AMERCO, which is the parent of U-Haul International, Inc., the largest moving and storage operator in North America. These companies remain a unique fit within the organization. However, AMERCO has demonstrated a long history of commitment to them and has maintained support of the companies strategic growth plans. Best s Financial Strength Rating: B++g Outlook: Stable KEY FINANCIAL INDICATORS ($000) Total Capital Capital Condit l Net Net Surplus Reserve Premiums Invest Net Year Assets Funds Funds Written Income Income ,488 21, ,259 3,969 2, ,114 25, ,439 3,865 4, ,902 34, ,082 4,011 4, ,089 39, ,893 3,719 6, ,159 32, ,951 3,822 4,347 BUSINESS REVIEW Christian Fidelity Life Insurance Company (CFLIC) is a whollyowned subsidiary of Oxford Life Insurance Company (OLIC). OLIC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMERCO, a publicly-traded Nevada corporation that is engaged in moving and storage operations, real estate, and insurance in the United States and Canada through various subsidiaries. The acquisition of CFLIC in 2000 was part of OLIC s strategic diversification plan. OLIC has integrated CFLIC into its operating platform and CFLIC benefits from streamlined administration, and strengthened underwriting and marketing fundamentals. While CFLIC is licensed in 31 jurisdictions, operations are primarily conducted in Texas and Missouri, which represents the vast majority of its direct premium. Medicare supplement is the company s core product offering in both states, with current expansion into additional midwestern states. CFLIC s producers focus their sales in the senior market, offering Medicare supplement and final expense life insurance. The company also has small amounts of life, annuities, and other health currently in run-off. CFLIC continues to be the primary distribution source of Medicare supplement coverage within the group. As a strategic decision, CFLIC acquired Dallas General Life Insurance Company (DGLIC) on February 28, 2006, which allowed the company to add existing inforce business with similar experience to earlier acquired CFLIC Medicare supplement business, and expand its distribution force throughout the state of Texas. Oxford Life Insurance Company (OLIC) is a wholly owned stock subsidiary of AMERCO, a publicly traded Nevada corporation that is engaged in moving and storage, real estate, and insurance in the United States and Canada through various subsidiaries. OLIC is licensed in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Over the years, OLIC has transitioned itself from a company that derived its business mainly from reinsurance activities to being primarily a direct writer of quality senior market insurance products. To reduce product line and business concentration risk, the company has expanded its direct sales efforts by increasing the number of producers and the products it can sell. During 2010 and 2009, the success of this effort was evidenced by the substantial increase in direct premium writings of single premium life, launched in mid Additionally, final expense premiums increased as well through strategic acquisitions. Individual accident and health business accounts for approximately one-half of the company s premium income currently. OLIC s distribution is primarily through traditional independent licensed producers. OLIC s primary lines of business include single premium life insurance and final expense insurance sold to the senior market. The company has a sizeable amount of Medicare supplement business in run-off status, acquired mainly through reinsurance. In addition, there are small blocks of credit and health insurance, but no new business was written after March 1, 2006, and all blocks are now entirely in run-off. In 2007, Encore Financial, Inc., the former holding company for North American Insurance (NAI), was merged into OLIC. On February 28, 2006, a subsidiary, Christian Fidelity Life Insurance Company (CFLIC), acquired Dallas General Life Insurance Company (DGLIC), further reinforcing its business plan of growing premiums within the senior market and expanding its distribution force in Texas. EARNINGS CFLIC has historically maintained profitable operations in its core individual accident and health lines. The company has consistently reported net operating gains over the past several years. However, CFLIC has reported little growth in premiums over the past five years, with a declining trend from 2007 through Total business has declined slowly, as lapses have exceeded new production and rate increases. Profit margins on its Medicare supplement business remained at prior year levels as the company continues to pursue appropriate rate increases on a timely basis and prudent claim adjudication. CFLIC s direct written business remained favorable for both lapse and death experience. However, sales of new Medicare supplement business have been reduced as a result of competing Medicare supplement and previous Medicare Advantage plans. A.M. Best believes the company s core Medicare supplement business will remain challenged at least in the near term as a result of continuing competition in that market. Historically, the vast majority of statutory operating gains had been produced by a combination of the core individual annuity segment and the reinsurance of run-off blocks. Over the past few years, earnings have been impacted primarily as a result of the strain from the increased level of new life business. The company has seen a strong increase in single premium ordinary life business in recent years A.M. Best Company, Oldwick, NJ Printed June 30, Page 2 of 5

3 Additionally, premium growth in 2010 is driven by capital deployment transactions. Effective September 2010, Oxford Life and its subsidiary NAI acquired $55 million in annualized Medicare supplement polices from National States Insurance Company through an assumption reinsurance transaction. Additionally, Oxford Life entered into a quota share indemnity coinsurance agreement with Equitable Life and Casualty Insurance Co. for a closed block of final expense business. Oxford Life also grew their agency force through a transaction with the Puritan Financial Companies, Inc., which helped bolster sales in both 2010 and On a statutory basis the ceding allowances and increase in reserves related to these transactions generated a strong amount of strain on earnings for the year. Although, OLIC s earnings were positive for 2010 due to a $12 million dividend from their subsidiary CFLIC. On a consolidated GAAP basis, OLIC and its affiliates had reported balanced results in recent years from the accident and health, individual life and individual annuity lines. CAPITALIZATION CFLIC s risk-adjusted capitalization remains favorable, due to decreased asset risk and the run-off of group health and group annuity premiums. The company s capital and surplus levels reported continued growth from 2007 through The current year s surplus decrease was the result of a $12 million ordinary dividend payment to its parent, OLIC. Although, risk based capital levels have continued to grow in The surplus reduction in 2006 was the result of the DGLIC acquisition. Certain receivables arising from reserve differences with the former owner were non-admitted, in addition to statutory limitations on CFLIC s investment in DGLIC at that time. Capitalization at OLIC has remained strong over the past several years. It decreased slightly in 2010 for the first time in five years due to strain on statutory earnings driven by business growth and investment in the Reinsurance transactions with National States Insurance Co. and Equitable Life and Casualty Insurance Co. Operating earnings, together with the prior divestiture of riskier assets, have enabled the company to substantially strengthen its risk-adjusted capital position over the past few years. During 2008, OLIC repaid the remaining balance of a surplus note owed to its parent company, AMERCO. In December 2009, OLIC paid a dividend of $3.2 million to AMERCO, CFLIC paid a dividend of $4 million to OLIC, and NAI paid a dividend of $2 million to OLIC. During 2010, CFLIC paid a $12 million dividend to its parent. At the parent company level, AMERCO maintains a leveraged capital position as a result of the capital-intensive nature of its core business activities. The life company operations are not responsible for the repayment of any of AMERCO s outstanding debt. AMERCO management expects that the operations of U-Haul will fund requirements through internally generated funds, including the disposition of older trucks and other asset sales. AMERCO continues to improve upon the utilization of its rental fleet and storage facilities, and increase margins. Overall, AMERCO expects these efforts will improve returns on its core rental and leasing operations, and ultimately service its debt. INVESTMENTS AND LIQUIDITY Invested assets are concentrated in long-term bonds, mortgage loans, common stock of a subsidiary, cash and short-term investments. Fixed income securities represent more than three-quarters of the portfolio and are primarily investment grade corporate issues with less than ten-year average maturities. Management also continued to reduce its exposure to less than investment grade holdings. The mortgage portfolio primarily consists of 15-year loans for Texas church properties and some additional properties in Nevada and Utah. The mortgage portfolio continues to decrease as the mortgage loans continue to pay-off. The performance of the mortgage loan portfolio has historically been good and provided a favorable return on investment. While some delinquencies have occurred, all mortgages have been carefully underwritten and monitored on a regular basis. A little over seven-tenths of OLIC s investment portfolio is represented by fixed income securities, which include some mortgagebacked and asset-backed securities. Below-investment-grade holdings represented only 2% of the bond portfolio. Previously, the company had been exposed to a higher amount of interest rate risk through its holdings in mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. These holdings have been reduced over the past few years. Mortgage loans represent approximately 6% of invested assets and are geographically diversified across the United States. A vast majority of all mortgage loans are backed by retail properties, with the remainder allocated among residential properties, apartment buildings, offices, and warehouses. Most of the mortgages are performing to original standards, primarily due to the lower-risk profile of these small-size loans, geographic diversity, and strict underwriting guidelines. The remainder of the investment portfolio includes holdings in preferred and common stock, short-term investments, and cash. OLIC s preferred stock is comprised of banks and other financial firms, and its common stock is held in subsidiaries, NAI and CFLIC. Short-term investments include certificates of deposit and money market funds. MANAGEMENT Officers: President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark A. Haydukovich; Vice President and Treasurer, Charles E. Miller, Jr.; Vice Presidents, Eric N. Johansson, Don C. Smith; Secretary, Jan M. Riedell. Directors: Jason A. Berg, Mark A. Haydukovich, Henry E. Martin, Daniel R. Mullen, Rocky D. Wardrip. TERRITORY The company is licensed in AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OH, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV and WY A.M. Best Company, Oldwick, NJ Printed June 30, Page 3 of 5

4 Balance Sheet Assets ($000) 12/31/2010 *Total bonds $64,578 *Total common stocks ,697 Mortgage loans ,611 Real estate Contract loans Cash & short-term inv Net deferred tax asset ,276 Prems and consids due Accrued invest income Other assets Assets $83,159 Liabilities ($000) Net policy reserves $39,503 Policy claims ,075 Deposit type contracts Interest maint reserve Comm taxes expenses ,858 Asset val reserve Other liabilities ,873 Total Liabilities $50,360 Common stock ,520 Unassigned surplus ,541 Other surplus ,738 Total $83,159 *Securities are reported on the bases prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners A.M. Best Company, Oldwick, NJ Printed June 30, Page 4 of 5

5 Why is this Best s Rating Report important to you? A Rating Report from the A.M. Best Company represents an independent opinion from the leading provider of insurer ratings of a company's financial strength and ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. The A.M. Best Company is the oldest, most experienced rating agency in the world and has been reporting on the financial condition of insurance companies since The Best's Financial Strength Rating opinion addresses the relative ability of an insurer to meet its ongoing insurance obligations. The rating is not assigned to specific insurance policies or contracts and does not address any other risk, including, but not limited to, an insurer's claims-payment policies or procedures; the ability of an insurer to dispute or deny claims payment on grounds of misrepresentation or fraud; or any specific liability contractually borne by the policy or contract holder. A Best's Financial Strength Rating is not a recommendation to purchase, hold or terminate any insurance policy, contract or any other financial obligation issued by an insurer, nor does it address the suitability of any particular policy or contract for a specific purpose or purchaser. The company information appearing in this pamphlet is an extract from the complete company report prepared by the A.M. Best Company. A Best's Financial Strength Rating is assigned after a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company's balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. Best's Financial Strength Ratings are assigned according to the following scale: Secure Best's Financial Strength Ratings A++ and A Superior A and A Excellent B++ and B Good Vulnerable Best's Financial Strength Ratings B and B Fair C++ and C Marginal C and C Weak D Poor E Under Regulatory Supervision F In Liquidation S Rating Suspended For the latest Best's Financial Strength Ratings and AMB Credit Reports visit the A.M. Best web site at You may also obtain AMB Credit Reports by calling our Customer Service department at , ext To expedite your request, please provide the company's identification number (AMB #) A.M. Best Company, Oldwick, NJ Printed June 30, Page 5 of 5