A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Louisiana-Based AMERISAFE, Subsidiaries

A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of DeRidder, La.-based AMERISAFE Inc. and its property/casualty subsidiaries: American Interstate Insurance Co.; Silver Oak Casualty Inc.; and American Interstate Insurance Co. in Austin, Texas.

Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the ICR of “bbb” of AMERISAFE Inc. The outlook for all ratings is stable. All companies are headquartered in DeRidder unless otherwise specified.

These rating actions reflect Amerisafe’s sound level of risk-adjusted capitalization, consistently profitable operating performance and its established position and experience in the workers’ compensation market for high hazard risks.

Driven by solid underwriting results, Amerisafe produces operating results that continue to outperform its peer composite average over the long term. Management’s adherence to prudent underwriting practices and pricing discipline, consistent reserving practices that have resulted in favorable calendar-year loss reserve development trends, focused loss control and safety programs and active claims management are the basis for the favorable underwriting results.

These positive rating factors are somewhat offset by Amerisafe’s product concentration and earnings volatility in earlier years that resulted from adverse development of several accident years. The stable outlook reflects A.M. Best’s expectation that operating results will remain strong, resulting in continued solid capitalization that is well supportive of Amerisafe’s ratings.

While the ratings for Amerisafe are stable, future positive rating actions may result from its continued strong underwriting and operating performance. However, negative rating actions could result if operating performance or risk-adjusted capitalization falls markedly short of A.M. Best’s expectations.

Source: A.M. Best