Latest AM Best Headlines

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

Slow and Steady: Surplus Lines Industry Reverses Downward Trend; Optimism Good for 2012

Oct 8 2012 // Despite catastrophic events in 2011, low investment yields and competitive pressures, surplus lines specialists — especially market leaders — generated healthy operating profits and returns on both revenue and...

Ratings Recap: Nacional Re, Barents Re, PMG, MS Frontier Re

Oct 4 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Spain’s Nacional de Reaseguros, S.A., both with...

Ratings Recap: Casiopea Re, FM (UK), Jamaica Int’l., Salama, BEST RE

Sep 24 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Luxembourg-based Casiopea Re S.A., the reinsurance...

Best Affirms Factory Mutual and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

Sep 21 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of ‘”aa” of Factory Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, Appalachian...

Ratings Recap: Emirates, Sorford, BF&M, Unity Re

Sep 20 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Emirates Insurance Company P.S.C. (EIC), which is...

Ratings Recap: AmerInst, Trust Re, Flagstone Re Africa, Univé Stormher

Sep 14 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bermuda-based AmerInst Insurance Company Ltd., as well as the ICR of...

A.M. Best Downgrades, Withdraws Ratings of San Antonio Indemnity Co.

Aug 27 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and downgraded the financial strength rating to D (Poor) from B (Fair) and issuer credit rating to “c” from “bb” of San Antonio...

Ratings Recap: Oman Insurance, Abu Dhabi National, NLGIC, MEICO

Aug 24 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of...

Ratings Recap: Omega Insurance, Al Ittihad, Alliance

Aug 22 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” of Bermuda-based Omega Insurance Holdings Limited, an...

Ratings Recap: Great Plains, ProAssurance, Community, German Mutual

Aug 16 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and an issuer credit rating of “bbb” to Iowa-based Great Plains Casualty, Inc., both with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect...

Ratings Recap: Electrical Contractors’, Scotia, Société Centrale, Adamjee

Aug 10 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of UK-based Electrical Contractors’ Insurance...

Captives Feeling the Squeeze As Global Pressures Intrude: A.M. Best

Aug 6 2012 // Captive insurance firms in the United States are feeling the squeeze of an ongoing soft insurance market, low investment yields and a bleak global financial picture, a new report revealed. A composite of 209 U.S. captive...

Liberty Mutual: Much More Rate Hikes Needed to Correct Underpricing

Jul 26 2012 // The upward pricing trends are continuing in the U.S commercial lines, but much more rate increases are still needed to correct the chronic underpricing in the industry, Liberty Mutual CEO David Long remarked. “In...

Ratings Recap: CIBC Re, ACS (NZ) Ltd, CCR (Algeria)

Jul 19 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Barbados-based CIBC Reinsurance Company Limited (CIBC Re), both with stable outlooks....

Ratings Recap: Kuwait Re, Ageas, Al Fajer Re, Generali (Notes)

Jul 6 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Kuwait Reinsurance Company K.S.C. (Closed), but...

A.M. Best on Court Ruling: No Effect on Most Health Insurers But Watching Small Insurers

Jun 28 2012 // Insurance rating organization A.M. Best Co. says the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will not have a ratings impact to the majority of health insurers. However, A.M. Best...

Ratings Roundup: MAPFRE PRAICO, Tunis Re

Jun 28 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has commented that the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of MAPFRE PRAICO Insurance Company, its wholly owned subsidiary, MAPFRE...

Ratings Recap: Iron Horse, Imperial Fire, Plymouth Rock, Bunker Hill

Jun 25 2012 // A.M. Best Co has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Vermont-based Iron Horse Insurance Company, both with stable outlooks. The ratings...

Ratings Recap: Auto Owners, Stonebridge, Tokio Marine (U.S.), Courtesy, Young America, Old Glory

Jun 21 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A++’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa+” of Auto-Owners Insurance Company and its four wholly owned...

Ratings Recap: Validus Re, African Re, Arab Orient, Bosna Re, SOGAZ

Jun 21 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Bermuda-based Validus Re...