AM Best News

Ratings of Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Upgraded

A.M. Best has upgraded the financial strength rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb+” of Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (Louisiana Farm Bureau) in Baton Rouge. The outlook for both …

A.M. Best Revises Outlook for South Carolina’s Greenville Casualty

A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of B- (Fair) and the issuer credit rating of “bb-” of Greenville Casualty Insurance Company (Greenville) (Greer, SC). A.M. Best said the revised outlook …

Zurich’s Ratings Remain Unchanged Despite Projected Q4 2015 Losses: A.M. Best

The financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd. (ZIC) and its rated affiliates are unchanged, following Zurich Insurance Group’s preliminary update on the performance of its general insurance business, …

A.M. Best Appoints Ribeiro and Sutherland to Its Asia-Pacific Operations

A.M. Best announced the appointment of Jose Ribeiro as managing director – Asia-Pacific, and James Sutherland as commercial director – Asia-Pacific. As managing director, Asia-Pacific, Ribeiro will be responsible for raising the profile of A.M. Best’s brand in the region …

Tighter Construction Rules Would Help Minimize U.K.’s Flood Damage: Report

Tighter construction restrictions and incentives to build outside flood-prone areas would minimize damage to the U.K. economy from heavy rain and rising water levels, according to the Centre for Economic Performance. Thousands of families across northern England and Scotland have …

Flood Claims to Hit U.K. Insurers’ 2015 Earnings: A.M. Best

Flooding in the final month of 2015 will put pressure on the earnings of U.K. property insurers, according to a briefing published by A.M. Best. Initial estimates of combined insured losses from Storm Desmond, which hit the United Kingdom on …

Best Reports Bermuda Inching Toward Solvency II Equivalence

A.M. Best has issued a briefing report, which notes that “Bermuda moved one step closer to achieving Solvency II equivalence on November 26, 2015 when a delegated act regarding the equivalence of the supervisory regime for insurance and reinsurance undertakings …

Best Says Ironshore’s Ratings ‘Not Immediately Affected’ by Fosun Investigation

A.M. Best has commented that the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Ironshore Insurance Ltd. (Bermuda) and its affiliated operating companies: Ironshore Indemnity Inc. (Minneapolis, MN), Ironshore Specialty Insurance Company (Phoenix, …

Best Maintains Negative Outlook on Global Reinsurance Sector

A.M. Best announced that it is holding to “its 2016 outlook for the global reinsurance sector at negative, citing the significant ongoing market challenges that will hinder the potential for positive rating actions over time and may eventually translate into …

Ratings of Texas-Based National Unity Insurance Downgraded

A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating to “bbb-” from “bbb” of San Antonio-based National Unity Insurance Co. (National Unity). The outlook for both ratings is negative. National …