Ratings News

Ratings Roundup: Lloyd’s (debt), PartnerRe, Pacific Int’l., Amerinst

A.M. Best Co. has commented that its ratings of Lloyd’s of London, Lloyd’s Reinsurance Company (China) Limited, the Society of Lloyd’s and of debt issued by the Society remain unchanged following the announcement that the Society has offered to repurchase …

Best Affirms QBE Re (U.S.) ‘A’ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a” of the New York-based QBE Re Group (U.S.) and its members. The rating actions apply to QBE Reinsurance Corporation, QBE Insurance Corporation …

S&P Reports ‘Pressure Builds on Europe’s Insurers,’ Despite Strength

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a new report, – “Europe’s Insurers Feel The Strain, But The Sector Retains Its Strength” – which indicates that for many insurers, market conditions over the past 18 months have “eroded the headroom …

S&P Sees AIU Holdings Vehicle as Boost to Insurer’s Financial Flexibility

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ratings on American International Group Inc. (AIG; A-/Negative/A-1) and its insurance subsidiaries (A+/Negative/–) are not affected by AIG’s announcement that it will transfer AIU Holdings Inc. to a special purpose vehicle and …

A.M. Best Calls AIU Vehicle ‘Positive First Step’ in AIG Insurance Rebranding

Rating organization A.M. Best Co. reported that its ratings and outlook of the property/ casualty subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) remain unchanged following the company’s announcement of the acceleration of its restructuring and rebranding of its global property/ …

Ratings: AXA Seguros, Tryggingamidstödin, Thai Insurers, Swedish Club

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘BBB+’ global scale long-term counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on AXA Seguros S.A. de C.V. (AXA Seguros; formerly known as Seguros ING S.A. de C.V.). S&P also affirmed its ‘mxAAA’ national …

Ratings: Am. Freedom, Columbia, Central States, Lyndon, Zurich (bonds)

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb+” of Illinois-based American Freedom Insurance Company. Best said the “ratings reflect American Freedom’s solid …

Universal North America’s Financial Rating Upgraded by Demotech

Universal Insurance Co. of North America has received an upgraded Financial Stability Rating of A’ (A Prime) Unsurpassed for its Florida operations from the rating organization Demotech. Demotech said it upgraded the rating after an evaluation of the company’s financial …

Ratings: HSB, Tall Pines, North Sea, MEMIC Indemnity, American Physicians, West Bend

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A+’ (Superior) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “aa-” from “a” of The Hartford Steam Boiler Group and its members (together, known as HSB Group). All …

S&P Analyzes Jordanian Insurance Sector

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a report, “Growing Supply Chases Slowing Demand In The Jordanian Insurance Market,” on its RatingsDirect web site. The report states: “The “insurance sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (foreign currency BB/Stable/B; local …