AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Company

Rhea-AI Summary

AM Best revises outlooks to positive for Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Company

Positive

• Southern Pioneer maintains favorable balance sheet strength positions, strong risk-adjusted capitalization, and solid liquidity and operating cash flows
• Surplus growth in four of the past five years driven by underwriting income
• Efforts to fortify operating results expected to benefit prospective results and future capital growth

Negative

• Net losses developed in 2022, leading to a decline in surplus that year

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) of Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Company (Southern Pioneer) (Jonesboro, AR).

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Southern Pioneer’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The revised outlooks to positive from stable reflect Southern Pioneer’s ability to maintain favorable balance sheet strength positions including the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Credit Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), a generally conservative investment portfolio with solid liquidity and operating cash flows, below average leverage metrics, and consistently favorable calendar-year loss reserve development. The company’s balance sheet strength further benefits from increased financial flexibility from its parent company, Biglari Holdings Inc. [NYSE: BH]. Southern Pioneer reported surplus growth in four of the past five years, driven primarily by underwriting income. Net losses developed in 2022, which were marked by elevated weather losses and coupled with unrealized capital losses, cumulatively led to a decline in surplus that year. Capital rebounded in 2023 reflecting improvement in investment performance and a return to net profit. In an effort to fortify operating results, the company increased rates, tightened underwriting guidelines, and enhanced homeowner pricing models. AM Best expect these efforts to benefit prospective results and future capital growth.

The limited business profile reflects geographical concentrations and niche focus on non-franchised auto dealerships. AM Best assesses Southern Pioneer’s ERM program as appropriate for its size and complexity, which includes stress testing for catastrophe risks. The company further employs a comprehensive reinsurance program that protects surplus against shock losses.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231027752372/en/

Quentin Harris

Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 882 1816

quentin.harris@ambest.com

Christopher Draghi

Associate Director

+ 1 908 882 1749

chris.draghi@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com

Source: AM Best

FAQ

What are the revised outlooks for Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Company?

The outlooks have been revised to positive from stable.

What are the Financial Strength Rating and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of Southern Pioneer?

The Financial Strength Rating is B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating is “bbb+” (Good).

What factors contribute to Southern Pioneer's balance sheet strength?

Southern Pioneer's balance sheet strength is assessed as very strong, with the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization and a conservative investment portfolio with solid liquidity and operating cash flows.

What caused the decline in surplus in 2022?

Net losses developed in 2022, coupled with unrealized capital losses, led to a decline in surplus that year.

How has Southern Pioneer improved its operating results?

Southern Pioneer increased rates, tightened underwriting guidelines, and enhanced homeowner pricing models to fortify operating results.