NAIC Launches Public Database

Kansas City – The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has launched a public database containing the regulatory status of certain insurer-owned securities. The database is intended to assist market participants that advise insurance companies and investment professionals working for insurance companies. The tool shows whether a publicly rated security is subject to regulatory guidance other than as indicated by its credit rating assigned by one or more public rating organizations.

All of the securities listed in the public database are rated by an NAIC ARO (a credit rating organization whose services are purchased by NAIC in connection with the administration of an insurer filing exemption) and designated or classified by the Securities Valuation Office (SVO).

This public database was one of five projects adopted by NAIC's Valuation of Securities Task Force as part of an initiative to improve the transparency of regulatory processes used to determine regulatory guidance for new securities. The project required a year of development of both systems and software.

NAIC designations, valuations and classifications available in the database are developed by the NAIC SVO strictly for use by state insurance regulators and are not intended for individual or institutional investors. NAIC designations and valuations may be assigned on the basis of state insurance financial solvency criterion or concerns not relevant to investors. Investors should not rely on an NAIC designation or valuation to buy or sell a security.

The new public database can be accessed on the NAIC SVO Web site.

Source: NAIC