Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
A.M. Best: Med-Mal Leads Captives’ Premium Decline
Jul 28 2008 // Falling medical malpractice premiums led to a 15 percent drop in net premiums written between 2006 and 2007 for a composite of captive insurance companies, but captives overall benefited from favorable underwriting...
Business Moves
Jul 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....
Midwest States High on List for Numbers of Tornadoes
Jul 21 2008 // While a rural area to the northeast of Denver, Colo., tops the nation when it comes to metropolitan areas most prone to tornadoes, Texas leads the states in the average total number of tornadoes per year in the continental...
Ratings Recap: White Mountain Insurance Gets an ‘A’
Jul 15 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-“to White Mountain Insurance Co. of Burlington, Vermont. The outlook assigned to both ratings is...
Ratings Recap: Kingsway Financial Downgraded
Jul 15 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the issuer credit ratings to “bb-” from “bb” of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. of Ontario and Kingsway America Inc. in Illinois. Concurrently, A.M. Best has downgraded...
A.M. Best: Few Companies Excel at Managing Through Market Cycles
Jul 15 2008 // The findings from A.M. Best Co.’s cycle management study show just how difficult it is for property/casualty companies to surpass the performance of their peers on a consistent, long-term basis. Only 14 percent of...
A.M. Best Affirms ‘A’ Rating of Lloyd’s
Jul 14 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Reinsurance Co. (China) Limited. A.M. Best said it...
New Markets
Jul 7 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. International Energy Package Market Detail:...
Middle East/Africa Ratings Recap: Trust Re, Arab Orient, Leadway, E. Africa Re, Africa Re
Jun 30 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Bahrain-based Trust International Insurance & Reinsurance Company...
Captive Ratings: American Road, First Beacon, Toyota Motor, Agrinational
Jun 25 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb” of The American Road Insurance Company (TARIC), but with negative outlooks. “The...
Ratings: Old Republic Group, Clarendon, Associated Gen’l. Contractors, ECM, Bankers, Titan, Cumberland
Jun 25 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Chicago-based Old Republic Insurance (formerly known as Old Republic...
Ratings Recap: Tugu, Pacific Indemnity, Torus, SIAT, Farmers Mutual (NZ), MAPFRE (Puerto Rico)
Jun 24 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb” of Hong Kong’s Tugu Insurance Company Limited with stable outlooks. Best said: The...
Ratings: Argonaut, MAPFRE (Fla.), Pekin, Penn National, AXA Art, Tennessee Farmers, ALPS, BancInsure
Jun 23 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the Texas-based Argonaut Insurance Group and its members. Best also...
Ratings Recap: Markel Int’l. & Lloyd’s Syndicate, Lancashire, Caribbean Alliance, Globe Re
Jun 20 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of the UK-based Markel International Insurance Company Limited (MIICL) with...
Ratings Roundup: Agri-Business, Vantapro, Sooner, Intrepid, Columbia
Jun 19 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a-” from “bbb” of American...
Ratings: Commerce, Aspen, Med Mutual, Kodiak, Hermitage, ProAssurance, US Liability, Provident, Hereford, Polish Roman
Jun 16 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Commerce Group, its lead company, The Commerce Insurance Company, and four...
New Markets
Jun 16 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. Custom Home Builders Market Detail: Lemac...
Ratings: Willis, Erie, Farmers-Flemington, Am. Resources, Am. General, Stnd. Mutual, Wisconsin County
Jun 12 2008 // Fitch Ratings has placed its ratings on Willis North America Inc. (WNA) and Willis Group Holdings Ltd. (Willis) on its rating watch negative list. Fitch said its rating action follows the announcement that Willis has...
Ratings Recap: Mapfre/Commerce, Eurasia, Gulf Re, Central Re, Pioneer
Jun 6 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ratings and outlook on Spain’s Mapfre S.A. (A+/Stable/–; core operating entities Mapfre Empresas, Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros, S.A. and Mapfre Re...
Ratings: Mercer, Hallmark, Auto Club, Southern States, Meadowbrook, Iron Horse, Courtesy, Alabama Muni, Am. Millers
Jun 6 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Mercer Insurance Group of Pennington, NJ. The ratings apply to the following...
