Zurich Financial Strength

Financial strength ratings (as of September 30, 2014): A.M. Best > A+/Stable

Standard & Poor's > AA-/Stable

Recognition and awards:

Zurich named “Best Insurance Company” (Captive LIVE USA Conference, October 2014)

2014 Innovation Award: “What if?” Zurich Risk Grading™ Application (Business Insurance, March 2014)

Zurich winner of the AGC Community Award (Associated General Contractors of America, Annual Conference, March 2014)

2014 Innovation Showcase: “Zurich Risk Room” and “My Zurich Portal” (Best’s Review magazine, January 2014)

Zurich “Best Political Risk Insurer,” “Best Global Supply Chain/Trade Disruption Insurer,” “Best Property Insurer,” “Best D&O Insurer,” “Best Employment Practices Liability Insurer,” “Best Crime/Fidelity Insurer” and “Best General Liability Insurer” (Global Finance Magazine, October 2013)

Zurich’s Trade Credit and Political Risk group named “Best Private Insurer in Trade,” “Best Trade Insurer in North America,” “Best Trade Insurer in Asia Pacific” and “Best Trade Insurer in Latin America” (Trade Finance, June 2013)

2013 Innovation Award: Zurich Risk Room Mobile Application (Business Insurance, March 2013)

2013 “Innovation in Fronting” Award: UK Captive Services Awards (Captive Review, February 2013)

Zurich named “Best Fronter of the Year” (Captive LIVE USA Conference, September 2012)

Zurich’s Trade Credit and Political Risk group named “Best Private Insurer,” “Best Trade Insurer in Asia Pacific” and “Best Trade Insurer in North America” (Trade Finance, August 2012)

Zurich named “2011 Insurer of the Year” (Daimler Financial Services AG, August 2012)

Innovation Award for Zurich Multinational Insurance Application (Zurich MIA) (Business Insurance, March 2012)

Swiss Re Purchase of ERC

On June 10, 2006, Employers Reinsurance Corporation (ERC) was acquired by Swiss Re. Both Summit Re and ERC are excited about this business transaction, as it will increase our ability to provide you with the best financial security, expertise and service in the reinsurance industry. The transaction includes all of the Commercial Insurance operations of Employers Reinsurance Corporation. Swiss Re specifically sought to include the HMO reinsurance and employer stop loss product lines in this transaction and has plans to grow the Commercial Insurance operations.

Effective with the closing, the senior management of the Commercial Insurance division of ERC will remain in place, including Robin Sterneck, President, and Jeff Argotsinger, Vice President and medical excess product manager.

ERC, as a part of Swiss Re, will provide our customers with even more customized solutions. As a company focused solely on insurance and reinsurance risk worldwide, Swiss Re recognizes the value of building and growing customer relationships for the long term. Swiss Re is now the world’s largest reinsurance company in both property/casualty and life/health business.

As part of the transaction, General Electric, the former parent of ERC, has acquired 9% of Swiss Re shares and will have a board seat. GE is essentially taking a smaller share in a larger operation.

With this acquisition of ERC, Swiss Re took a strong balance sheet and made it even stronger. ERC is currently rated A by AM Best, and Swiss Re is A+. Below is a summary of the financials of the combined operation (2005 results were not yet available).

Summit Re and ERC have a long term agreement to underwrite catastrophic medical excess reinsurance together. We look forward to the opportunity to provide HMOs and other managed care plans with reinsurance through our exclusive relationship with ERC. Swiss Re management has re-approved our marketing plan, pricing / underwriting manuals and guidelines.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Summit Re Regional Vice President or call Brian Fehlhaber at 260-469-3004.

A. M. Best Affirms ERC’s Excellent Rating

A.M. Best affirmed its “A” (Excellent) financial strength rating of Employers Reinsurance Corporation (ERC).  The company assigned a stable outlook to its rating.  In a press release dated March 31, 2005, Ron Pressman, president and CEO of GE Insurance Solutions, said “We are pleased that A.M. Best has acknowledged in our discussions the tremendous strength of our investment portfolio, our strong capital level, our market presence and GE’s substantial support.” For a copy of the complete press release, please contact Mark Troutman, president of Summit Re, at 260-469-3010 or mtroutman@summit-re.com.

A. M. Best Affirms ERC’s Excellent Rating

The following comments are from a GE Insurance Solutions press release regarding a rating review by A.M. Best. “The affirmation of Employers Re'’s financial strength rating by A.M. Best reflects its excellent risk-adjusted capitalization, improving operating performance and its dominant market presence and distribution capabilities. With two years of improving underwriting results bolstered by asset sales and other capital management improvements, as well as significant third-party aggregate stop loss protection, Employers Re has maintained capital in line with an A (Excellent) rating and has exhibited prospective long-term earnings capability stemming from its well diversified business platform. In addition, over the past two years the company has executed underwriting actions, implemented tighter underwriting controls and has maintained its prominence in the worldwide reinsurance markets through its international distribution capabilities.”