AM Best Removes From Under Review and Downgrades Credit Ratings of National Western Life Group, Inc. and Most of Its Subsidiaries

AUGUST 23, 2024 08:19 AM (EDT)

AM Best Removes From Under Review and Downgrades Credit Ratings of National Western Life Group, Inc. and Most of Its Subsidiaries

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLDWICK - AUGUST 23, 2024 08:19 AM (EDT)
AM Best has removed from under review with negative implications and downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to "a-" (Excellent) from "a" (Excellent) of National Western Life Insurance Company (NWLIC) (Centennial, CO). Concurrently, AM Best has removed from under review with negative implications and downgraded the Long-Term ICR to "bbb-" (Good) from "bbb" (Good) of National Western Life Group, Inc. (National Western) (headquartered in Austin, TX). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. In addition, AM Best has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a-" (Excellent) of Ozark National Life Insurance Company (Ozark) (Kansas City, MO). The outlook assigned to these ratings is stable.

The ratings of NWLIC reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings of NWLIC were placed under review with negative implications on Oct. 11, 2023, following the announcement that National Western and S.USA Life Insurance Company, Inc. (S.USA), a subsidiary of Prosperity Life Group (Prosperity), and PHG Merger Inc. (a subsidiary of S.USA), signed a definitive merger agreement. The transaction closed on July 9, 2024, once regulatory approvals were received. In addition, redomestication of NWLIC to Arizona from Colorado has been completed and National Western has been delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange.

The sale was an all-cash offer of $1.9 billion with each common stock of National Western issued and outstanding being converted into the right to receive $500 per share in cash at closing. The acquisition of National Western is expected to bring significant size and scale to Prosperity's operations.

The downgrade in the ratings reflect the significant capital withdraw from NWLIC subsequent to closing as part of the overall deal funding. AM Best will continue to evaluate how transaction financing and future dividends will impact the risk-adjusted capitalization of NWLIC and monitor its integration into Prosperity.

The ratings of Ozark reflect its 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.

The ratings of Ozark were placed under review with developing implications on Oct. 11, 2023, following the same transaction between Prosperity and National Western. Ozark maintains risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), despite a capital withdraw related to the Prosperity acquisition. Overall balance sheet metrics remain in line the industry averages. AM Best expects no immediate impacts to assessment areas but will continue to monitor post-acquisition results.

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.