Latest AM Best Headlines

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

New Markets

Sep 22 2008 // 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. Insurance Intermediary E&O Market...

Best Upgrades Hiscox Ratings to ‘A’

Sep 18 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICRs) to “a” from “a-” of Hiscox...

Ratings Recap: AIG (Taiwan) Lehman Re, Swiss Re (Denmark), Connaught, Allianz (Austria), China Ins. (Singapore)

Sep 18 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its long-term counterparty credit rating and insurer financial strength rating on AIG General Insurance (Taiwan) Co. Ltd. (AIG Taiwan), to ‘A’ from...

A.M. Best: AIG Ratings Remain Downgraded to ‘A’ and Under Review

Sep 18 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has reported that all financial strength ratings (FSR) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and its subsidiaries are unchanged from the downgrades it issued earlier this...

Best Comments on Potential Impact of Hurricane Ike on P/C Industry

Sep 17 2008 // A.M. Best’s preliminary assessment of the potential financial impact from Hurricane Ike concludes that, even though its passage was a “sizeable catastrophic event, the overall financial impact to both the...

Amerisafe Receives Financial Size Category Increase from A.M. Best

Sep 8 2008 // Deridder, La.-based Amerisafe, Inc., a specialty writer of high hazard workers’ compensation insurance, recently announced that A.M. Best Co. has increased the Financial Size Category (FSC) of the company to IX,...

New Markets

Sep 1 2008 // 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 Property Market Detail: RISC...

Ratings: Am. Underwriters, Western General, North Pointe, Ameriprise, Fairfield, R.V.I. Guaranty, Mid Georgia, Hermitage

Aug 29 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B’ (Fair) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a-” from “bb+” of Arkansas’...

Best Comments on CastlePoint, Hermitage Deal

Aug 28 2008 // A.M. Best Co. said that all of the ratings and the under review with negative implications status of CastlePoint Insurance Company (CPIC), Bermuda-based CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Limited (CPRe) and CastlePoint...

Ratings: MAPFRE RE, Novae, Syndicate 2007, Infrassure, Glacier Re, CLICO

Aug 22 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa-” of Spain’s MAPFRE RE, Compania de Reaseguros, S.A. with a stable...

Ratings Recap: Allianz (UK), Generali (France), Generali (Germany), BEST Re

Aug 21 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa” of UK-based Allianz Insurance plc (AZI) with a stable outlook. Best stated:...

Business Moves

Aug 21 2008 // Chicago’s Specialty Underwriters, Hallmark Financial Chicago-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. (SUAI) announced it has responded to a letter, dated July 1, 2008, from Hallmark Financial Services Inc....

State Ranking In Number of Events

Aug 21 2008 // F5 Tornado damage in Parkersburg, Iowa, May 25, 2008. Tornado damage, Windsor, Colo. Prior to 1990, the average number of tornadoes per year in the Continental US was 772. In the period from 1990 through 2007, the average...

New Markets

Aug 21 2008 // New Markets 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. Builders Risk and Affiliated...

Ratings Roundup: SALAMA, MBIA/Ambac (Chile), Misr, SJ China, Starbound, Great American

Aug 18 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of SALAMA Islamic Arab Insurance Company (P.S.C.), which is based in the...

U.S. Insurers’ Exposure to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Manageable

Aug 18 2008 // The U.S. insurance industry’s exposure to securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that aid liquidity in the mortgage market, is substantial for a handful of...

A.M. Best Rates Florida-based PURE Group of Insurance Companies

Aug 8 2008 // A.M. Best Co. assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” to The PURE Group of Insurance Companies and its members: Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange and...

Best Puts Tower Group ‘Under Review with Negative Implications’

Aug 6 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Tower Group Companies and its members, Tower Insurance Company of New York and...

Best Sees Growing Interest for Euro-Captives’ Ratings

Aug 5 2008 // A.M. Best Co. reported that it is “seeing a growing interest in financial strength ratings (FSR) for captives and other alternative market vehicles in the European market.” The vehicles are already “one...

New Markets

Aug 4 2008 // 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. Personal Umbrella – Hard-To-Place...