S&P News

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 …

Ratings Recap: United, Aviva Canada, Jupiter

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Barbados-based United Insurance Company Limited, both with stable outlooks. Best said then ratings reflect United’s “favorable capitalization, solid regional market profile …

S&P: Resilience of French Insurance Industry Will Be Tested Further

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has published a report – “French Insurance Industry Holds Up Under Pressure, But Challenges Still Lie Ahead” – on the challenges the French insurance industry is likely to face over the next two years. S&P …

S&P Downgrades Mariah Re’s Notes to ‘CCC+(sf)’; CreditWatch Developing

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its rating on Mariah Re Ltd.’s Series 2010-1 notes to ‘CCC+(sf)’ from ‘B(sf)’. S&P has also revised the CreditWatch status of the rating on the notes to developing from negative. “We placed the …

S&P Reports European Insurers Still ‘Nervous’ Despite Gains

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a report which “discusses why it thinks the European insurance industry seems nervous as it enters the second half of 2011.” The report – “European Insurance Credit Trends: Despite Strong Balance Sheets, Insurers …

Aviva’s Accident Recovery Sale to Carlyle Won’t Change Ratings Says S&P

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that the ratings on the U.K.-based Aviva Group (core operating entities rated AA-/Stable) are unchanged by its agreed sale of breakdown recovery firm RAC to The Carlyle Group for £1 billion [$1.597 billion] S&P …

S&P Lowers, Withdraws Ratings on First Takaful

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Kuwait’s First Takaful Insurance Co. to ‘BB-‘ from ‘BB+’, and assigned the ratings a negative outlook. S&P then withdrew the ratings on First Takaful at the …

Ratings Recap: PartnerRe (notes), Mariah Re (notes), Montana Re (notes)

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of “bbb” to the $325 million 7.25 percent Series E cumulative preferred shares of Bermuda-base PartnerRe, Ltd. ,with a stable outlook. The proceeds from the issuance will be used by PartnerRe for …

Ratings Roundup: Attorneys’ Liability, AMI

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Bermuda-based Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society (Bermuda) Ltd. and its Vermont-based operating unit, Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society Inc. RRG (collectively referred to as ALAS), to negative from stable, and has affirmed …

S&P Raises Allied World’s Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services raised its ratings on Bermuda-based Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings AG and its operating subsidiaries by one notch. The counterparty credit rating on the holding company was raised to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’ and the counterparty …