Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
A Tale of Two P/C Insurance Segments From A.M. Best
Jan 23 2012 // A.M. Best Co. issued a stable 2012 outlook for P/C personal lines segment. That implies that the majority of 2012 rating actions for this segment are likely to be affirmations, with a fairly balanced distribution of...
2012 Commercial Lines Ratings Outlook Negative: A.M. Best
Jan 9 2012 // The rating outlook for U.S. commercial property/casualty insurance remains negative, while the outlook for personal lines is stable, according to a briefing from A.M. Best Co. The ratings firm said it continues to maintain...
Ratings of Dallas-Based Gramercy Insurance Co. Downgraded
Dec 29 2011 // The ratings of Dallas-based commercial property/casualty insurance company Gramercy Insurance Co. (GIC) have been downgraded by A.M. Best Co. The company’s financial strength rating was lowered to B (Fair) from B+...
Ratings Recap: Evergreen Re, Asian Re, Toa Re, Meritz
Dec 27 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Bermuda-based Evergreen Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (ERCL), both with stable outlooks....
Ratings: Transsib Re, Tokio Marine Pacific, MAPFRE Panama, Union Nationale, Sovereign (NZ), Labuan Re, Tugu, ARIG
Dec 22 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has upgraded the issuer credit rating to “bb+” from “bb” and affirmed the financial strength rating of B (Fair) of Russia’s OJSC Transsiberian...
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Austin Mutual Insurance
Dec 20 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Good) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “bbb” from “a-” of Austin Mutual Insurance Company (AM) in Maple Grove, Minn....
Best Puts Fireman’s Fund Companies on Review/Negative; Affirms Ratings
Dec 20 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with negative implications and has also affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of...
Ratings Roundup: BEST Re, BCRe, TUCI
Dec 13 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Malaysia’s BEST RE (L) Limited, both with stable...
Ratings: Bahrain Kuwait, Twin Bridges/Majestic, GTA Assur, Bahamas First, swisspartners (SPV & SPC)
Nov 28 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company B. S. C. (BKIC), both...
Ratings Recap: Standard Casualty, Grinnell, Erie & Niagara, Northwest GF Mutual
Nov 23 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb” of Texas-based Standard Casualty...
Ratings Recap: BEST RE, Garant, ZEP-RE, East Africa Re, Custodian
Nov 23 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A- ‘(Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Malaysia-based BEST RE Family (L) Limited, both with...
Workers’ Comp Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best
Nov 7 2011 // The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance segment continued to face competitive pricing, further rate decreases, weak macroeconomic factors, growing medical costs and an uptick in claim frequency during 2010. As a...
Medicus Gets “A” Rating from A.M. Best Following Acquisition by NORCAL
Nov 3 2011 // Insurance rating service A.M. Best has given Medicus Insurance Co. an A (Excellent) rating following the company’s acquisition by San Francisco, Calif.-based NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co. Medicus joins the NORCAL Group...
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance
Oct 19 2011 // A.M. Best Co. announced it has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and issuer credit ratings to “bbb-” from “bbb” of ILM Group (ILM) and its members, which include...
Workers’ Compensation Market Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best
Oct 18 2011 // The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance segment continued to face competitive pricing, further rate decreases, weak macroeconomic factors, growing medical costs and an uptick in claim frequency during 2010. As a...
Ratings Recap: HSB (UK), Nissan Global Re, Optima, Hatherley/Park
Oct 13 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A++’ (Superior) from ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating to “aa+” from...
Ratings: RetailFirst, ANICO, Mariah Re, German Mutual, Centurion, Mt. Morris
Oct 12 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit ratings of “bbb+” to RetailFirst Insurance Company and BusinessFirst Insurance Company, collectively referred...
Brokers See Changing Relationships, Expanding Technology
Oct 3 2011 // At the same time they are trying to figure out what their customers, markets and the economy are going to do, today’s intermediaries are also having to navigate changing relationships among carriers, wholesalers and...
Surplus Lines Industry Losing Its Edge?
Oct 3 2011 // The surplus lines industry continues to outperform the overall property/casualty industry but its advantage is not what it used to be. According to the annual A.M. Best special report, the surplus lines industry generated...
Ratings Recap: Gulf, Unity Re, Connaught, Macau
Sep 29 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘C++’ (Marginal) from ‘B’ (Fair) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to ‘b’ from of ‘bb+’ of Gulf Insurance...
