AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of First American Title Insurance Group Members and First American Financial Corporation
24 Ottobre 2024 - 8:21PM
Business Wire
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR)
of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term
ICRs) of “a” (Excellent) of First American Title Insurance Company
(Omaha, NE) and its title affiliates, which are referred to as
First American Title Insurance Group (FATIG). In addition, AM Best
has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb” (Good) of the parent
holding company, First American Financial Corporation (FAF)
(Delaware) [NYSE: FAF]. The outlook of these Credit Ratings
(ratings) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the
companies and ratings.)
The ratings reflect FATIG’s balance sheet strength, which AM
Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating
performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise
risk management (ERM).
FATIG’s strongest balance sheet strength is supported by its
risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level, as measured by
Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), superior surplus levels and
conservative investment strategy. Additionally, FATIG benefits from
a strong franchise value, financial flexibility and operational
support from FAF, which maintains relatively modest financial
leverage and solid interest coverage. The group’s operating results
have been in line with the title industry composite averages and
supportive of the adequate operating performance assessment. FATIG
is the second-largest underwriter in the U.S. title insurance
industry and continues to maintain a solid market position based on
2023 direct premiums written, despite unfavorable macroeconomic
market conditions with rising interest rates and a slowdown in the
real estate sector. Policies are distributed on a direct basis and
through a network of independent agents. The group invests heavily
in its title plant, which is one of the most comprehensive in the
industry. The ratings also reflect FATIG’s robust ERM practices in
line with its corporate objectives, regulatory requirements and
rating agency guidelines.
Negative rating action could occur if challenges from rising
interest rates and a slowing economy pose a significant decline in
operating profitability or a material decline in risk-adjusted
capitalization levels. Negative rating action also could result
should the holding company experience liquidity issues or a
significant increase in leverage. Positive rating action could
occur if the group experiences significant improvements in
operating profitability and/or a material increase in risk-adjusted
capitalization levels.
The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a”
(Excellent) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for the members
of First American Title Insurance Group:
- First American Title Insurance Company
- First American Title Insurance Company of Australia Pty
Limited
- First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana
- First European Title Insurance Company Limited
- First Title Insurance plc
- Ohio Bar Title Insurance Company
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 © 2024 by A.M. Best Rating
Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Chul Lee Senior Financial Analyst +1 908 882
2005 chul.lee@ambest.com
Fred Eslami Associate Director +1 908 882
1759 fred.eslami@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
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