Ratings News

S&P Raises AFG’s Subsidiaries Ratings to ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on American Financial Group’s (AFG) core insurance subsidiaries to ‘A+’ from ‘A’. S&P also raised its counterparty credit rating on American Financial Group to ‘BBB+’ from …

Best Affirms FM Global Group’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings of “aa” of FM Global Group and its lead company, Factory Mutual Insurance Company, and its other members, which include FM Insurance Company Limited …

Best Affirms QBE US Subsidiaries Ratings; Upgrades Praetorian and NAU

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a” from “a-” of Pennsylvania-based Praetorian Insurance Company and Minnesota-based NAU Country Insurance Company. Both are operating companies …

Ratings Roundup: United (Aon), Fairfax, Sirius

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Cayman Islands-based United Insurance Company and its subsidiary, United Re (Europe) S.A., domiciled in Luxembourg. The outlook for all of ratings …

Best Affirms ‘A’ Ratings of QBE Insurance Group and Subsidiaries

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited, Australia-based QBE Insurance (International) Limited and QBE Reinsurance (Europe) Limited, …

Ratings Recap: Alterra (notes), Gulf Ltd., Barents Re, Middle East Insurance

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of “bbb” to the recently issued $350 million 6.25 percent senior unsecured notes due 2020 of Delaware-based Alterra Finance LLC. The senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Alterra Capital Holdings …

S&P Affirms AXA UK’s ‘AA-‘ Ratings; Removed from CreditWatch

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has removed its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on U.K.-based non-life insurer AXA Insurance U.K. PLC (AXAI) from CreditWatch with negative implications and affirmed them at ‘AA-‘. The outlook is stable. S&P …

Ratings Roundup: BEST RE, SALAMA, Adamjee, Lonpac

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Tunisia’s BEST RE, both with stable outlooks.The ratings of BEST RE reflect its “significant importance to its …

Ratings Recap: Tapiola, Congregational, Asian Re, Int’l. Energy, Leadway

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Finland’s Tapiola General Mutual Insurance Company (also known as Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio Tapiola). The outlook …

Ratings: WR Berkley (notes), Agri General, Horace Mann, Hingham/Danbury, Standard Casualty

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘BBB+’ senior unsecured debt rating to W.R. Berkley Corp.’s (WRB) proposed issue of $300 million of 5.375 percent senior unsecured notes, which are due in 2020. “WRB will use the net proceeds …