Ratings News

S&P Revises Outlook on Nationwide to Stable; Affirms Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. (NMIC) and its property/casualty (P/C) affiliates (collectively referred to as Nationwide) to stable from negative. S&P also revised its outlook on Nationwide Financial Services Inc. and …

Best Affirms SOVAG’s Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and the issuer credit rating of “bbb” of Germany’s SCHWARZMEER UND OSTSEE Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft SOVAG, both with stable outlooks Best noted that “SOVAG’s risk-adjusted capitalization is expected to remain …

S&P Threatens Downgrades of Finance Companies; ‘AAA’ Rated Insurers

Standard & Poor’s Friday put a broad range of financial firms on negative credit watch, warning they could all be downgraded if the United States has its credit rating cut. The S&P action takes in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, all …

S&P Sees No Ratings Change on Validus from Transatlantic Bid

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has said that its “ratings on Validus Holdings Ltd. (BBB/Stable/–) remain unchanged following the insurance company’s unsolicited offer to combine with Transatlantic Holdings Inc. (BBB+/Watch Pos/–) in response to the definitive merger agreement between Transatlantic …

Best Affirms Lloyd’s of London’s ‘A’ Ratings

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Insurance Company (China) Limited (LICCL). Best also affirmed the ICR of …

Head of S&P Germany Rejects Euro Zone Criticism

Standard & Poor’s hit back at criticism over the credit rating agencies’ role in the euro zone debt crisis on Thursday, with its German operations head saying rating agencies would lose credibility if they “kept silent”. “We risk our credibility …

Europe at Impasse on Greece, IMF Backs Investor Role

The International Monetary Fund joined Germany on Wednesday in pushing for private sector investors [presumably including the EU’s insurers] to help cut Greece’s debt mountain as the euro zone sought to break an impasse on how and when to grant …

S&P Downgrades 6 Cat Bonds; Removes 10 from Negative CreditWatch

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services today has removed its ratings on 10 natural peril catastrophe bonds from CreditWatch with negative implications. S&P also said it has lowered its “ratings on six of the bonds and affirmed our ratings on four” …

Best Affirms Navigators Group Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. announced at the end of June that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Navigators Insurance Group, which is comprised of Navigators Insurance Company and its …

Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084 Ratings; Withdraws Chaucer Holdings’ Rating

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084. In addition Best affirmed the ICR of “bbb” of Chaucer Holdings PLC …