New York, December 05, 2011 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the Baa3 senior debt rating for
Symetra Financial Corporation (Symetra; NYSE: SYA) and the
A3 long-term insurance financial strength (IFS) rating of Symetra's
key life insurance operating subsidiary, Symetra Life Insurance
Company (Symetra Life), and changed their rating outlook to positive
from stable. Other affiliated ratings were also affirmed (see complete
ratings list, below).
RATINGS RATIONALE
According to Moody's Assistant Vice President, Shachar Gonen,
"The positive outlook on Symetra reflects the company's improving
financial profile, highlighted by excellent capital adequacy (NAIC
Risk Based Capital ratio exceeded 450% at September 30, 2011)--which
is expected to remain robust under a stress scenario--and
improving financial flexibility." Symetra has also strengthened
its business profile by diversifying its growing fixed annuity distribution
channel, and the company is also expanding its product portfolio,
which should diversify the company's product risk profile over time.
The rating agency noted that following senior management changes in 2010,
Symetra has embarked on a strategy to drive profitable growth in its current
markets and leverage its distribution strengths and customer relationships
with a variety of new product offerings, including individual and
group life, fixed indexed-annuities, and potentially
variable annuities (without living benefit guarantees). As the
company faces pressure to achieve results, Gonen added, "Moody's
expects the company to show measured growth in new product sales while
maintaining disciplined pricing." If sales growth is achieved
by compromising pricing discipline, there would be downward rating
pressure.
Moody's said the A3 IFS rating reflects Symetra's consistent
profitability, which has improved as asset losses have recovered
to near-historical levels, and good financial flexibility.
The rating is also supported by Symetra Life's relatively stable liability
profile, as well as its growing bank-distributed fixed annuity
business and broadening distribution network. However, given
the interest-sensitive nature of Symetra's deferred annuity
and structured settlement liabilities, the company will be pressured
if the current low interest rate environment persists. Symetra
is also challenged by its relatively modest position in the life insurance
market.
Moody's said the following factors could result in an upgrade:
return on capital (ROC) consistently above 6%; NAIC RBC ratio
maintained above 375%; consolidated financial leverage at
Symetra Financial below 30% and cash flow coverage of greater than
5x on a consistent basis; no more than 20% of bank distributed
annuity sales with a single financial institution.
Conversely, the following factors could lead to a return of Symetra's
outlook to stable: failure to maintain pricing discipline while
growing sales; gross asset losses above $100 million (pre-tax)
in 2012; consolidated financial leverage at Symetra Financial above
30% or cash flow coverage less than 5x.
The following ratings were affirmed and the outlook moved to positive
from stable:
Symetra Financial Corporation: senior debt at Baa3; junior
subordinated notes at Ba1 (hyb);
Symetra Life Insurance Company: long-term insurance financial
strength at A3; short-term insurance financial strength at
Prime-2.
Symetra Financial Corporation is a Bellevue-based, public
company that sells insurance and related financial products. At
September 30, 2011, it reported consolidated GAAP assets of
approximately $28 billion and consolidated GAAP shareholders' equity
of $3 billion. Symetra Life Insurance Company, its
wholly-owned life insurance subsidiary, reported total statutory
assets of approximately $24 billion and adjusted statutory capital
and surplus of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2011.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Moody's Global Rating
Methodology for Life Insurers published in May 2010. Please see
the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
Moody's insurance financial strength ratings are opinions of the ability
of insurance companies to pay punctually senior policyholder claims and
obligations. Please see Moody's website at www.moodys.com/insurance
for more information.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
Although this credit rating has been issued in a non-EU country
which has not been recognized as endorsable at this date, this credit
rating is deemed "EU qualified by extension" and may still
be used by financial institutions for regulatory purposes until 31 January
2012. ESMA may extend the use of credit ratings for regulatory
purposes in the European Community for three additional months,
until 30 April 2012, if ESMA decides that exceptional circumstances
arise that may imply potential market disruption or financial instability.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
office that has issued a particular Credit Rating is available on www.moodys.com.
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
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ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
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a rating.
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Consequently, Moody's provides a date that it believes is
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Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has
issued the rating.
Shachar Gonen
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Robert Riegel
MD - Insurance
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's affirms Symetra Financial (sr debt at Baa3); outlook to positive