E.9. Financial strength monitoring by third parties

The Group’s risks are also monitored by third parties such as the insurance regulators.

Also, the leading rating agencies periodically assess the financial strength of the whole Generali Group expressing a judgment on the ability to meet the ongoing obligations assumed toward policyholders.

This assessment is performed taking into account several factors such as, financial and economic data, the positioning of the Group within its market, and the strategies developed and implemented by the management.

As at 31 December 2014, the Parent Company has been rated by agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) with the long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to be BBB+ with a stable outlook. This assessment is constrained by those of its ultimate parent, Assicurazioni Generali.