Ratings News

S&P Revises Outlook on Willis to Stable; Rates New Debt Issue ‘BBB-‘

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Willis Group Holdings Ltd. to stable from negative, and has affirmed our ‘BBB-‘ counterparty credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Willis. S&P also assigned its ‘BBB-‘ senior unsecured debt …

Ratings Recap: Fairfax (debt), Swiss Re (notes), Rembrandt,

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its preliminary ‘BBB-‘ senior unsecured debt, ‘BB+’ subordinated unsecured debt, and ‘BB’ preferred shares ratings on Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.‘s US$2 billion universal shelf, which was filed on Sept. 18, 2009. S&P said …

Ratings Recap: Berkley (Notes), Selective, Fire Districts, Crestbrook

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of “a-” to the new issuance of $300 million 7.35 percent 10-year senior unsecured notes of W. R. Berkley Corporation, and has assigned them a stable outlook. Proceeds from the current offering …

Best Affirms Greenlight’s ‘A-‘ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Greenlight Reinsurance, Ltd., as well as the ICR of “bbb-” of Greenlight Re’s holding company, Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. “The …

Ratings Recap: Grupo Nacional, BEST RE, Triple-S, Arab Re, Int’l. Energy, Asian Re

A. M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Mexico’s Grupo Nacional Provincial, S. A.(GNP). Best said the “ratings reflect GNP’s …

Ratings Recap: Lonpac, Tenet, Zurich (Notes), Generali (Notes)

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Malaysia’s Lonpac Insurance Bhd, both with stable outlooks. “The ratings reflect Lonpac’s adequate capitalization and its ability to manage profitable …

Ratings Roundup: Ind. Mutual Fire, HM Casualty, Constitution

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Illinois-based Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company, both with stable outlooks. “The ratings reflect Independent Mutual Fire’s modest underwriting leverage, recognized …

Best Affirms Nipponkoa’s ‘A’ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a+” of Japanese insurer Nipponkoa Insurance Company Ltd., both with stable outlooks. “The ratings reflect Nipponkoa’s strong risk-adjusted capitalization, improvement in underwriting …

Ratings Recap: Berkley (Notes), Integon/Maiden, American Southern, Odyssey Re, Westward

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘BBB+’ senior debt rating on W.R. Berkley Corp.’s proposed issue of approximately $300 million senior unsecured notes, which are due in 2019. WRB will use the net proceeds of the issue to …

Best Removes Validus Ratings and Its Affiliates from Under Review

A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Validus Reinsurance, as well as IPCRe Limited (Bermuda) and IPCRe Europe …