earnings News

Ratings Recap: Echelon, Calabash Re III

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb+” of Canada’s Echelon General Insurance Company. Best also affirmed the ICR of “bb+” of Echelon General’s publicly traded parent, EGI Financial …

Economy Forcing Changes in Carrier Investments

The current economic environment has produced several influences that in combination are negatively affecting, or at least stressing, property casualty insurance carriers in unique ways, according to one experienced industry analyst. Investments in financial services providers, such as banks, Fannie …

Best Affirms Travelers Ratings; Changes Outlook to Positive

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of Travelers Group, its P/C members and affiliate, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (TCSA) and TCSA’s affiliate, the UK-based Travelers Casualty …

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Group

A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Good) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings to ‘bbb+’ from ‘a-‘ of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Group and its members, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and AgSecurity Insurance …

Best Affirms American Modern and Subsidiaries ‘A+’ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Ohio-based American Modern Insurance Group and its P/C members. Best has also upgraded the FSR to ‘A+’ (Superior) from …

Ratings Recap: Allianz, Swiss Re (Notes), Everest Re (Ireland), Civic

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services issued a statement that its ratings and outlook on Germany’s Allianz SE (AZSE), currently ‘AA’/Stable/’A-1+’, and various core operating entities “are unaffected by the group’s marginal net income reported for first-quarter 2009.” S&P said its …

Capital, Capital, or Where Did All the Money Go?

At least the global depression has focused people’s minds on some important issues. The Group of 20 (G20) meeting in London acknowledged the need for more capital to shore-up the world’s financial system — essentially the U.S./UK view — as …

Best Analyzes Economic Issues Facing Europe’s Insurance Industry

In a recently published special report from BestWeek, A.M. Best analyzes the relative economic strength Europe’s 10 largest insurance groupsand the top five European reinsurers. “Ever since American International Group’s troubles sent ripples of panic through the financial markets in …

More European Insurers Hit by Market Writedowns

More European insurers unveiled writedowns on their investments in a second wave of first-quarter results on Thursday, although some said sales were proving relatively resilient. Analysts said investors were left with something of a mixed picture, with signs of improving …

Top 100 Profile: Locked into the Customer at No. 1 Lockton

As Insurance Journal prepares for another Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Agency List, to be published in our Aug. 3, 2009, magazine, the editors wanted to highlight a few of the current Top 100 agencies. Throughout the coming weeks, InsuranceJournal.com will …