Latest AM Best Headlines

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

AM Best Affirms Ratings of Third Point Re While Revising Outlook to Negative

May 17 2019 // AM Besthas revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Third Point...

A.M. Best Warns of Ratings Downgrades If Terror Reinsurance Act Not Renewed

May 16 2019 // Property/casualty insurers that have relied heavily on the federal terrorism reinsurance program face the risk of rating downgrades if the program isn’t renewed by the end of 2020, ratings firm A.M. Best has...

Outlooks Revised to Stable for Illinois’ Specialty Risk of America

May 16 2019 // AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” of Specialty Risk of America (SPRISKA) in...

A.M. Best Ugrades Ratings of AmeriTrust Group Subsidiaries

May 13 2019 // AmeriTrust Group Inc.’s five insurance carrier subsidiaries have received an upgraded Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of “A-” (Excellent) from A.M. Best, the insurance industry credit rating...

Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Alabama-Based Alfa Insurance Group Members

Apr 18 2019 // AM Best has downgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a” from “a+” and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) of the members of Alfa Insurance Group....

Commercial Auto Forecast Improves, But Not Much: A.M. Best

Apr 15 2019 // A.M. Best maintains its negative outlook for the U.S. commercial auto insurance market even though its analysts believe it should improve somewhat in 2019. That forecast stems from commercial auto insurers having taken...

AM Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating of Louisiana Workers’ Comp Insurer Stonetrust

Apr 12 2019 // AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bbb+” from “bbb” and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) of Stonetrust Commercial Insurance Co....

AM Best: Most Homes in Midwest States Uninsured for Flooding

Apr 9 2019 // In a commentary on the recent Midwest flooding, AM Best said the states hit hardest by these floods — such as Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota — generally have National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured...

AM Best Downgrades Ratings of Tokio Marine GRV Re in Oklahoma City

Apr 7 2019 // AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “a” from “aa+” of Tokio Marine GRV Re Inc....

Commercial Auto Market Should Improve This Year But Not a Lot: A.M. Best

Apr 4 2019 // A.M. Best maintains its negative outlook for the U.S. commercial auto insurance market even though its analysts believe it should improve somewhat in 2019. That forecast stems from commercial auto insurers having taken...

Insurers Cautious About Marijuana Insurance Market

Apr 1 2019 // The marijuana industry is an opportunity for insurers as more states have legalized the drug. But there are still risks in play that could limit wider carrier participation, A.M. Best said in a new report, “Cannabis:...

Rates, Lower Loss Frequency, Innovation Drove Personal Auto Market Turnaround

Mar 29 2019 // After a weakened performance in 2015-2016, the U.S. private passenger auto segment has turned around as rate actions and underwriting initiatives have driven a 3.8-point year-over-year improvement in the sector’s...

Credit Ratings Assigned to Midwest Insurance Group by AM Best

Mar 27 2019 // AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” to Midwest Insurance Co. of Springfield, Illinois, and its affiliate, West River Insurance Co. in...

Ratings of Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Upgraded

Mar 15 2019 // AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a” from “a-” of Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co....

AM Best Revises Outlooks for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company

Mar 14 2019 // AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” for the members of the Virginia Farm Bureau...

Insurers Remain Cautious About Marijuana Insurance Market

Mar 14 2019 // The marijuana industry is an opportunity for insurers as more states have legalized the drug. But there are still risks in play that could limit wider carrier participation, A.M. Best said in a new report. One of the key...

Credit Rating Downgrades on U.S. P/C Insurers Doubled in 2018, Says A.M. Best

Mar 6 2019 // Credit rating downgrades in the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) insurance segment more than doubled year over year in 2018, reversing a trend of annual declines since 2014, according to a new A.M. Best report. The report says...

AM Best Opens Office in Amsterdam as Part of Brexit Planning

Mar 6 2019 // Credit rating agency AM Best will this week formally open its second European office, located in the city of Amsterdam. AM Best, which rates more than 3,500 companies in over 90 countries, currently has regional offices in...

AM Best Revises Status to Developing For California Capital Insurance Co. and Subsidiaries

Mar 4 2019 // AM Best has revised the implications of the under review status to developing from negative for the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” of...

A.M. Best Sees $12 Billion P/C Insurance Underwriting Loss for 2018

Feb 27 2019 // The U.S. property/casualty industry is expected to report that 2018 was its third consecutive year with an underwriting loss. A new A.M. Best analysis projects an estimated net underwriting loss of $12.1 billion in 2018,...