Latest AM Best Headlines

All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.

A.M. Best Upgrades Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Co. of Texas

Jan 12 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “a” from “a-” for Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas...

New Markets

Jan 10 2010 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Stop All ID Fraud Market Detail: USX/S...

Ratings: Catholic Knights, Direct General, Progressive Motor, Prime, Pathfinder, National Contractors, Seven Seas

Dec 23 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B’ (Fair) from ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “bb+” from “bbb-” of Catholic Knights of Milwaukee,...

Ratings Recap: SecuriCan, Pioneer, Sovereign, Meritz, Island Capital

Dec 23 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb-” to Winnipeg, Manitoba-based SecuriCan General Insurance Company, both with stable...

Ratings Recap: Cattolica, Ghana Re, Al Ittihad, Grafton, RCHL

Dec 22 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of Italy’s Societa Cattolica di Assicurazione – Societa Cooperativa. Both...

New Markets

Dec 20 2009 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Surety and Fidelity Bonds for Hard-To-Place...

Ratings: NIPPONKOA, Russian Re, Lemma, Lakeside Re, Inter Hanover

Dec 18 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of Hong Kong-based NIPPONKOA Insurance Company (Asia) Limited, both with stable...

A.M. Best Assigns ‘A-‘ Rating to Texas-based Advocate, MD Insurance

Dec 11 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Austin, Texas-based medical professional liability insurer Advocate, MD Insurance of...

Ratings Recap: WUEBA (Chartis), Solid, West of England Club, Coface, InterGlobal

Dec 11 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has withdrawn the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” of German insurer Wuerttembergische und Badische Versicherungs-AG (WUEBA) and...

Ratings: Lincoln, Grain Dealers, National States, Hanover, Atradius, WRM America, Michigan Commercial

Dec 9 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘A-‘ issue credit rating to Lincoln National Corp.’s (LNC) $300 million issuance of senior notes. S&P also affirmed its...

P/C Insurers’ Asbestos Losses Down

Dec 7 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has revised its view of the U.S. property/casualty industry’s ultimate asbestos and environmental (A&E) losses downward to $117 billion from $121 billion. Asbestos exposures now are estimated at...

New Markets

Dec 6 2009 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Campgrounds, Dude Ranches & Other...

Best Affirms Ratings of Assurant and Its Subsidiaries; Several Upgraded

Nov 20 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of the P/C and life/health insurance subsidiaries of Assurant, Inc. Best also affirmed the ICR of “bbb” and debt...

Ratings Recap: Dongbu, China Taiping, Malaysian Re

Nov 18 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of South Korea’s Dongbu Insurance Company, Ltd., both with stable outlooks....

A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Lakeview Insurance Co

Nov 17 2009 // Ratings firm A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and an issuer credit rating of “bbb” to both Florida-based Lakeview Insurance Co., and its affiliate, Florida Family Insurance...

New Markets

Nov 15 2009 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Commercial Construction Liability Market...

Ratings Recap: Tokio Millennium Re, Nissan Global, Asia Capital, ACRe

Nov 11 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of’ A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Bermuda-based Tokio Millennium Re Ltd. (TMR), both with stable outlooks. Best noted...

Ratings Recap: Royal Star, East Africa Re, Bahamas First, New Technology, Connaught

Nov 9 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bahamas-based Royal Star Assurance Limited (RSA), both with stable outlooks. The...

Ratings Recap: Arbella, Wayne Mutual, Arrowhead, Unique, Oswego County

Nov 4 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from’ B++’ (Good) and issuer credit ratings to “a-” from “bbb+” of Arbella Insurance Group and...

A.M. Best Study: P/C Industry’s Risk-Adjusted Capital Fell in 2008

Nov 3 2009 // The U.S. property/casualty industry experienced a 17 percentage point decline in risk-adjusted capitalization in 2008, according to A.M. Best Co., which conducted a four-year study. However, the capital still exceeded...