Foresters receives A.M. Best "A" Excellent rating for 14th year

TORONTO, July 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Foresters™, an international financial services provider, has once again received an "A" (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best Company¹. This independent rating is an important measure of the organization's financial strength and stability, reflecting Foresters ability to pay claims. A.M. Best also gave Foresters an issuer credit rating of "a+". A.M Best has now affirmed Foresters "A" rating for 14 consecutive years.

In addition, A.M. Best assigned an "A-" (Excellent) rating for Foresters subsidiary Foresters Life Insurance Company and an "A-" (Excellent) rating for subsidiary First Investors Life Insurance Company. The outlook for all ratings is stable which means it is unlikely to change in the near future, assuming the organization's financial strength is maintained and its operations grow.

"The last 14 years have included an economic recession as well as a persistent low interest rate environment so receiving an "Excellent" rating every year is a testament to our financial strength and fiscal responsibility," says Tony Garcia, President and CEO, Foresters.  "We're looking forward to continued growth as we deliver on our purpose to champion family well-being."

Foresters has shared its financial strength with its members and their communities for 140 years and is today in a strong financial position with total funds under management of $25 billion CDN and assets of $10.5 billion CDN. Foresters gross premium income increased by 15% in 2013 and at the end of the year, it had more than 3 million certificates under management and over one million members in Canada, the US and the UK.

Foresters conservative investment strategy has resulted in a strong surplus of $1.7 billion CDN², assuring its ability to withstand adverse business and market conditions. With a Minimum Continuing Capital and Surplus Requirements (MCCSR) ratio of 409% as of December 31, 2013, Foresters solvency ratios³ are above local regulatory requirements and industry averages in all three countries in which it operates - Canada, the US and the UK.

For more information about A.M. Best Company's ratings, visit ambest.com.

About Foresters
For 140 years, Foresters™, an international financial services provider, has fulfilled its purpose to enhance family well-being for its members and the communities where they live.   A fraternal benefit society, Foresters offers quality life insurance and investment products, unique member benefits and inspiring community activities. Foresters shares its financial strength with more than one million members in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Foresters has assets of $10.5 billion, total funds under management of $25 billion and a surplus of $1.7 billion (all figures in Canadian dollars as of December 31, 2013) and maintains an "A" (Excellent) rating by A.M. Best¹. Foresters subsidiary Foresters Life Insurance Company's rating is "A-" and First Investors Life Insurance Company, also a Foresters subsidiary, received an "A-" rating. For more information, visit foresters.com.

Foresters^TM is the trade name and a trademark of The Independent Order of Foresters, a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9; its subsidiaries are licensed to use this mark.

¹ An "A" (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best assigns ratings from A++ to F, A++ and A+ being superior ratings and A and A- being excellent ratings. In assigning the ratings for The Independent Order of Foresters (Foresters) and its subsidiaries Foresters Life Insurance Company and First Investors Life Insurance Company on July 2, 2014, A.M. Best stated that the outlook for all ratings is "stable", which means they are unlikely to change in the near future. See ambest.com for the latest ratings.
²This surplus represents excess funds above the amount required as legal reserves for insurance and annuity certificates in force and provides additional assurances to members for Foresters long-term financial strength.
³Solvency ratios indicate that our ability to meet long-term obligations is above and beyond what is required.

SOURCE: Foresters

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