AM Best News

Professional Liability Underwriters Feeling Pressure From COVID: AM Best

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating varying levels of disruption for writers in the U.S. professional liability insurance market, with many expecting a sizable increase in claims, according to a new AM Best report. With its Best’s Special Report, “Professional Liability …

AM Best’s Estimates for U.S. Insurers’ Asbestos & Environmental Losses Unchanged

AM Best said its estimates of $100 billion in asbestos losses and $46 billion in environmental losses for the U.S. property/casualty industry remain unchanged as of year-end 2019. In a report, AM Best notes that A&E loss reserves have declined …

Golden Bear in California Upgraded by AM Best

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 Golden Bear Insurance Co. in Stockton, Calif. The outlook of these ratings has been revised …

Ratings of Texas’ Hallmark Financial No Longer Under Review with Negative Implications

AM Best has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb-” and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of Hallmark Financial Services Inc. (Hallmark Financial), headquartered in Dallas. Concurrently, …

AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings for Members of Arbella Insurance Group

AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “a” from “a-” of Arbella Mutual Insurance Company and its three pooled insurance entities, Covenant Insurance Company in Farmington, …

COVID-19 Crisis Renews Attention on Systemic (Uninsurable) Risks

Reinsurers and insurers for years have been worried about systemic risks – those uninsurable risks with the potential of surpassing the capital of the industry. The COVID-19 crisis has renewed attention on these risks, which could also include a global …

Insurers, Policyholders, Analysts React to UK’s COVID-19 Business Interruption Ruling

Insurers and observers are weighing in on the ruling by a London court in a test case brought by Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to clarify insurance coverage for COVID-19 related business interruption claims. The FCA says the court brought …

Reinsurance Sector ‘Stable’ Despite Major Headwinds: AM Best

The tailwinds propelling the global reinsurance sector are sufficient impetus for the ratings agency AM Best to retain its stable outlook for the reinsurance industry, despite multiple challenges. During a virtual press briefing on Sunday, the ratings agency described the …

After Beirut Port Explosion, AM Best Comments on Potential Insurance Exposures

The devastating explosion at the Beirut’s port on Tuesday, Aug. 4 caused many casualties and considerable damage, but local insurance penetration rates in Lebanon generally are low, said AM Best in a market commentary. For the international market, however, marine …

AM Best Removes from Under Review, Affirms Ratings of Texas’ National Lloyds Group

AM Best has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a” of Dallas-based National Lloyds Insurance Co. (NLIC) and American Summit Insurance Co. (ASIC), …