Latest AM Best Headlines

All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.

A.M. Best Downgrades Providence Washington

Mar 31 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Very Good) from A- (Excellent) of Providence Washington Insurance Companies (Providence, RI) and placed the rating under review with negative implications....

A.M. Best Reaffirms Midland Sub’s ‘A+’ Rating

Mar 31 2004 // The Midland Co., a Cincinnati-based provider of specialty insurance products and services, reported that A.M. Best Co. recently reaffirmed the “A+” (superior) rating of its American Modern Insurance Group...

A.M. Best Affirms Cincinnati Financial’s Subsidiaries

Mar 19 2004 // Oldwick, N.J.-based insurer ratings agency A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of the insurance subsidiaries of Cincinnati Financial Corp. The affirmations include “A++” (superior) for the...

Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 1414 ‘A+’ Rating

Mar 19 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed its “A+” (Superior) Syndicate Rating of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1414 with a stable outlook. “The rating reflects explicit support from American Home Assurance...

Best Affirms West of England Ship Owners ‘A’ Rating

Mar 18 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) of Luxembourg-based West of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association (the Club or WOE), with a stable...

A.M. Best Affirms Rating for Sun Hung Kai Properties Insurance Ltd.

Mar 17 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of Sun Hung Kai Properties Insurance Limited (SHKPI) (Hong Kong). The outlook is stable. The rating reflects SHKPI’s satisfactory...

A.M. Best Comments on Safeco’s Announcement to Sell Life Operations

Mar 16 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has commented that the group financial strength rating of A (Excellent) of Redmond, Wash.-based Safeco Life Insurance Company and its life/health subsidiaries (collectively referred to as Safeco Life) remains...

Best Downgrades Bermuda’s Centre Solutions Rating

Mar 15 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has downgraded the financial strength rating to “B+” (Very Good) from “A-” (Excellent) of Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd. and its operating subsidiaries. Best also...

A.M. Best Report Targets New Company Formations

Mar 10 2004 // In recent years, regulatory and tax issues, as well as market dislocations, have contributed to the formation of new insurance and reinsurance companies. As a result, growing numbers of brokers, agents, lenders, capital...

Kingsway Comments on Best’s Rating Action

Mar 8 2004 // Kingsway Financial Services Inc. issued an announcement following the actions taken by A.M. Best, which lowered is ratings on two of the group’s subsidiaries, Kingsway General Insurance Company and York Fire &...

A.M. Best Reports on Financial Strength, Debt Ratings for American Re

Mar 8 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has commented that the financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) of American Re-Insurance Company and its direct subsidiaries, collectively American Re Corporation Group (American Re) (Princeton, N.J.), are...

Best Affirms GE Frankona ‘A’ Rating; Lowers Outlook

Mar 4 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) of the GE Frankona Group’s reinsurance subsidiaries, and has revised its outlook to negative from...

Best Affirms Zurich Specialties ‘A’ Rating; Assigns Stable Outlook

Mar 4 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) of Zurich Specialties London Limited (ZSL); has removed the rating from under review with negative implications, and...

Best Affirms ‘A’ Rating of Inter-Ocean Subsidiaries; Revises Outlook to Negative

Feb 26 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) of the reinsurance subsidiaries of Inter-Ocean Holdings Ltd. (Inter-Ocean) (Bermuda). The rating applies to...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Two Indian Insurers

Feb 19 2004 // A.M. Best Co. affirmed the “A” (Excellent) financial strength rating of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC) (Mumbai, India) and the “A” (Excellent) rating of New India Assurance Company...

Best Affirms Allianz ‘A+’ Ratings

Feb 12 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A+” (Superior) of Germany’s Allianz Aktiengesellschaft and its core subsidiaries. It has also affirmed the “aa-”...

A.M. Best’s P/C Review/Preview Report: Keeping Pace – Success for Some, but Pressures Remain

Feb 10 2004 // While underwriting improved, with a year-end 2003 combined ratio forecast at 101.1, the property/casualty industry has a long way to go before strong returns can be achieved, according to A.M. Best Co.’s annual...

A.M. Best Affirms FSR for Zenith National Insurance Group

Feb 6 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of California-based Zenith National Insurance Group (Zenith). The rating applies to three intercompany pool members and is based on the...

Best Revises St. Paul Review to Developing

Jan 30 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the implications of its review of The St. Paul Cos. Inc.’s financial strength and debt ratings from positive to developing. This rating action follows St. Paul’s announcement today...

Best Assigns ‘A-‘ Rating to Quanta U.S. Operations

Jan 29 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has assigned initial financial strength ratings of “A-” (Excellent) to Quanta Specialty Lines Insurance Company of Indianapolis, Ind. and Quanta Indemnity Company of Denver,...