Latest AM Best Headlines

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

Nonstandard Auto Insurance Market Is Not For Everybody

Apr 13 2015 // The nonstandard auto market is not for every carrier or agency. Since 2007, carriers writing nonstandard auto policies have reported deteriorating operating performance and many have struggled to maintain market share. But...

Best: Indonesia Insurers’ Reinsurance Buying Habits Could Affect Capital Ratios

Apr 10 2015 // The purchase of reinsurance by Indonesian non-life insurers is high, which could have a significant effect on capital requirements and magnify the capital impact of changes to reinsurance asset quality, according to anA.M....

ASEAN Open Market Will Benefit Region’s Insurance Industry: Best’s Report

Apr 9 2015 // While the planned year-end timeline for 10 Southeast Asia nations forging ahead under a single, open economic market appears to be slipping, the region’s insurance industry has reached common ground on the benefits...

A.M. Best: Insurers Must Consider Risks of U.K. Exit From European Union

Apr 8 2015 // Insurers based in the United Kingdom underwriting a material amount of European business should be monitoring the potential consequences of the United Kingdom exiting or renegotiating its position within the European Union...

A.M. Best: European Reinsurers Report Strong Results, Growth Limited

Apr 6 2015 // Major European reinsurers have posted very strong full-year results for 2014 and continue to be well capitalized, with profitable underwriting results due to the absence of sizable natural catastrophes and ongoing reserve...

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Southern General Insurance Co.

Apr 6 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the issuer credit rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Southern General Insurance Co. (SGIC) of Marietta, Ga. The...

A.M. Best Revises Outlook for Southern Mutual Church Insurance Co.

Apr 1 2015 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative for the financial strength rating (FSR) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of Southern Mutual Church Insurance Co. (SMCIC) of Columbia, S.C., while affirming the...

A.M. Best: Germanwings Crash May Put More Pressure on Aviation War Sector

Mar 31 2015 // A.M. Best said the total insurance loss of Germanwings Flight 4U9525, which crashed in the French Alps on March 24, 2015 killing 150 people, may put further pressure on the beleaguered aviation war sector. The total...

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Southern General Insurance Co.

Mar 26 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the issuer credit rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Southern General Insurance Co. (SGIC) of Marietta, Ga. The...

IAIS’ International Capital Standards Have Ambitious Timeline: A.M. Best

Mar 25 2015 // Given the potential wide-reaching impacts on pricing, products, investment strategies and the cost of capital, A.M. Best doubts that the ambitious timeline can be met to develop and implement international capital...

A.M. Best: India Law to Raise Foreign Investment Interest in Insurance Sector

Mar 24 2015 // There will be heavy interest fromforeign investors in India’s insurance sector now that global insurers are permitted to increase their stakes in Indian companies, according to a new briefing from A.M. Best. The...

A.M. Best Downgrades South Carolina Farm Bureau Group Members

Mar 23 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit ratings to “bbb-” from “bbb” of South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and Palmetto...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Louisiana-Based AMERISAFE, Subsidiaries

Mar 20 2015 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of DeRidder, La.-based AMERISAFE Inc. and its property/casualty subsidiaries: American Interstate...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Third Point Reinsurance & Subsidiaries

Mar 20 2015 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Third Point Reinsurance Company Ltd. (TPRCL) (Bermuda) and Third Point Reinsurance...

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Greenville Casualty Insurance Co.

Mar 20 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the issuer credit rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Greenville Casualty Insurance Co. (Greer, SC). The outlook for...

A.M. Best Upgrades Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Ratings

Mar 18 2015 // A.M. Best has removed from under review with positive implications and upgraded the financial strength rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb” of...

A.M. Best Report: Caribbean General Insurers Still Profitable Despite Challenges

Mar 17 2015 // The Caribbean general insurance market remains profitable, albeit challenging, for participants, according to an A.M. Best special report titled “Caribbean-based General Insurers: What Lies Ahead?” The report...

A.M. Best: China’s Solvency Rules Will Alter Reinsurance Buying Decisions

Mar 12 2015 // China’s new solvency regime will encourage direct insurers to revise their reinsurance programs, or panel of insurers, in order to better manage their solvency requirement arising from reinsurance credit risk,...

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of South Carolina Farm Bureau Group Members

Mar 11 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit ratings to “bbb-” from “bbb” of South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and Palmetto...

What’s Driving Nonstandard Auto – Technology, Consolidation, Population Changes, Fuel Specialty, Opportunity

Mar 9 2015 // The nonstandard auto market is characterized by substandard operating performance. Since 2007, carriers writing nonstandard auto policies have reported deteriorating operating performance and many are struggling to...