Safety National is off to a great start in 2013. We continue to see steady top-line growth each and every year, resulting in a record-breaking 2012. All of our major product areas, including Excess Workers’ Compensation, Large Casualty, Treaty Reinsurance and Loss Portfolio Transfer, continue to make great strides in contributing to the expansion of our business. In addition, A.M. Best has recently reaffirmed Safety National’s financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+”.

As always, we continue to keep our finger on the pulse of trends within the workers’ compensation industry. I recently participated in a panel at Advisen’s Casualty Insights Conference in New York, where I joined CEOs from other insurance carriers to discuss trends related to the property/casualty market. The panel agreed that the outlook for firming rates, particularly in workers’ compensation, is still strong because of low return on equity due to loss deterioration and low investment income.

Finally, our last newsletter announced the closing of the acquisition between Delphi Financial and Tokio Marine Holdings. I’m happy to report that Safety National has transitioned seamlessly into the Tokio Marine Group and we are working with our new sister companies to explore possible synergies that could enable us to provide additional product options in the future.