Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
A.M. Best: Volatility of China Stock Market Not Expected to Hit Insurer Ratings
Jul 14 2015 // The recent volatility of China’s stock market is not expected to affect the ratings of domestic insurers, according to a new briefing issued by A.M. Best*. Putting the volatility into context, A.M. Best noted that...
A.M. Best: Eurozone Insurers Remain Robust Despite Instability in Greece
Jul 10 2015 // The impact of Greece exiting the eurozone is likely to hit market confidence in the region, although (re)insurers operating in the economic bloc are well positioned to withstand a continued period of volatility, according...
Low Interest Rates Challenge European Insurers: A.M. Best Report
Jun 23 2015 // The low interest rate environment represents a significant challenge for insurers, according to a report published by A.M. Best. “European insurers are struggling to generate investment income as the majority of...
A.M. Best: European Insurers Tap Capital Markets Ahead of Solvency II
Jun 16 2015 // Low interest rates together with highly liquid and stable financial markets have prompted European insurers to tap the capital markets in their efforts to lower the cost of capital and optimize levels of risk-adjusted...
A.M. Best: London Market Insurers Face Challenges; Balance Sheets Strong
Jun 2 2015 // Trading conditions are difficult in the London market as insurers contend with changing buying habits, an influx of alternative capital and global economic uncertainty, according to a special report published by A.M....
A.M. Best: Nigeria Insurance Sector Offers Significant Potential for Investors
May 26 2015 // Although fluctuating oil prices threaten Nigeria’s economic expansion, the country’s insurance sector offers significant potential for foreign investors attempting to build a profile in the market, according to...
A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Coverys Specialty in New Jersey
May 22 2015 // A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a” to Coverys Specialty Insurance Company. The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable. Coverys Specialty...
A.M. Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Ratings of Medical Mutual of North Carolina
May 21 2015 // A.M. Best has upgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) of Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina (Medical...
A.M. Best: Middle Eastern Insurance Market Primed for M&As, Stakebuilding
May 18 2015 // Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity and stakebuilding is gaining momentum in the Middle East as financially strong and profitable insurers seek to deploy surplus capital to broaden their profiles and satisfy...
A.M. Best: Australia’s Nat Cat Losses Will Challenge Underwriting Profits
May 12 2015 // A string of recent major natural catastrophe events in Australia is expected to materially affect non-life insurers’ upcoming earnings for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2015, according to an A.M....
Nepal Quake Impact ‘Minimal on Global Reinsurers;’ Locally Severe: A.M. Best
May 8 2015 // A.M. Best’s analysis of the damages caused by the earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, describes the “significant property damages and fatalities in the Himalayan country.” However, no accurate...
A.M. Best Revises Outlook to Stable for Georgia Farm Bureau Group Members
May 1 2015 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and the issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and Georgia...
Ratings of Illinois-Based Specialty Risk of America Downgraded
Apr 17 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb-” from “bbb+” of Specialty Risk of America (SPRISKA) in...
A.M. Best: Takaful Operators Struggle With Fierce Competition, Profitability
Apr 14 2015 // The significant premium growth in the global takaful sector is expected to continue and reach USD$20 billion by 2017, with the majority of that increase originating from Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, according to a new A.M....
Nonstandard Auto Insurance Market Is Not For Everybody
Apr 13 2015 // The nonstandard auto market is not for every carrier or agency. Since 2007, carriers writing nonstandard auto policies have reported deteriorating operating performance and many have struggled to maintain market share. But...
Best: Indonesia Insurers’ Reinsurance Buying Habits Could Affect Capital Ratios
Apr 10 2015 // The purchase of reinsurance by Indonesian non-life insurers is high, which could have a significant effect on capital requirements and magnify the capital impact of changes to reinsurance asset quality, according to anA.M....
ASEAN Open Market Will Benefit Region’s Insurance Industry: Best’s Report
Apr 9 2015 // While the planned year-end timeline for 10 Southeast Asia nations forging ahead under a single, open economic market appears to be slipping, the region’s insurance industry has reached common ground on the benefits...
A.M. Best: Insurers Must Consider Risks of U.K. Exit From European Union
Apr 8 2015 // Insurers based in the United Kingdom underwriting a material amount of European business should be monitoring the potential consequences of the United Kingdom exiting or renegotiating its position within the European Union...
A.M. Best: European Reinsurers Report Strong Results, Growth Limited
Apr 6 2015 // Major European reinsurers have posted very strong full-year results for 2014 and continue to be well capitalized, with profitable underwriting results due to the absence of sizable natural catastrophes and ongoing reserve...
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Southern General Insurance Co.
Apr 6 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the issuer credit rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Southern General Insurance Co. (SGIC) of Marietta, Ga. The...
