Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Workers’ Comp Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best
Nov 7 2011 // The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance segment continued to face competitive pricing, further rate decreases, weak macroeconomic factors, growing medical costs and an uptick in claim frequency during 2010. As a...
Medicus Gets “A” Rating from A.M. Best Following Acquisition by NORCAL
Nov 3 2011 // Insurance rating service A.M. Best has given Medicus Insurance Co. an A (Excellent) rating following the company’s acquisition by San Francisco, Calif.-based NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co. Medicus joins the NORCAL Group...
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance
Oct 19 2011 // A.M. Best Co. announced it has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and issuer credit ratings to “bbb-” from “bbb” of ILM Group (ILM) and its members, which include...
Workers’ Compensation Market Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best
Oct 18 2011 // The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance segment continued to face competitive pricing, further rate decreases, weak macroeconomic factors, growing medical costs and an uptick in claim frequency during 2010. As a...
Ratings Recap: HSB (UK), Nissan Global Re, Optima, Hatherley/Park
Oct 13 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A++’ (Superior) from ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating to “aa+” from...
Ratings: RetailFirst, ANICO, Mariah Re, German Mutual, Centurion, Mt. Morris
Oct 12 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit ratings of “bbb+” to RetailFirst Insurance Company and BusinessFirst Insurance Company, collectively referred...
Brokers See Changing Relationships, Expanding Technology
Oct 3 2011 // At the same time they are trying to figure out what their customers, markets and the economy are going to do, today’s intermediaries are also having to navigate changing relationships among carriers, wholesalers and...
Surplus Lines Industry Losing Its Edge?
Oct 3 2011 // The surplus lines industry continues to outperform the overall property/casualty industry but its advantage is not what it used to be. According to the annual A.M. Best special report, the surplus lines industry generated...
Ratings Recap: Gulf, Unity Re, Connaught, Macau
Sep 29 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘C++’ (Marginal) from ‘B’ (Fair) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to ‘b’ from of ‘bb+’ of Gulf Insurance...
Ratings Roundup: Dryden Mutual, Western Ins., Ally Ins., FHM
Sep 21 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the issuer credit rating to ‘a+’ from ‘a’ and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) of New York-based Dryden Mutual Insurance Company, both...
Ratings Recap: NIPPONKOA (China), Leadway, B&B, Montpelier Re, Milli Re
Sep 21 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of ‘a-‘ to NIPPONKOA Insurance Company (China) Limited, both with stable outlooks. The ratings...
Ratings: AmerInst, Emirates, Jamaica Int’l., Salama/BEST RE, Colonial, Trust Re
Sep 15 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of ‘a-‘ of Bermuda-based AmerInst Insurance Company, Ltd., both with stable outlooks. AmerInst...
Ratings: Commerce Protective, Stonington/Lantana, Farmers Mutual, One Beacon Lloyd’s, Texas Medical
Sep 8 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B+’ (Good) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to ‘bbb-‘ from ‘bbb’ of Pennsylvania-based Commerce...
Ratings: Sunderland, Citadel Re, Alliance (Dubai), Oman Ins., SCRe (Morocco)
Aug 12 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of the UK’s Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance...
Sovereign Debt Pressure Spreads to Insurers’ Balance Sheets: A.M. Best
Aug 10 2011 // Continuing economic weakness in Europe and the debt crisis in the United States have elevated the risk profile of U.S. insurers, stirring insurance rating agency A.M. Best to stress test insurers for how they might be...
Insurance Captives’ Profitability Soars; Dividends Way Up: A.M. Best
Aug 8 2011 // Profitability soared by 49 percent and policyholder dividends were up 73 percent for captive insurance entities followed by rating analysts at A.M. Best in 2010. According to an A.M. Best special report, captives’...
Ratings: Gulf Re, Heddington, Cooperativa Seguros, Contractors Bonding (NZ)
Aug 3 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of...
Ratings Recap: Lemma, Adamjee, CCR (Algeria), Bosna Re
Jul 26 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of...
Best Names Holzberger as Managing Director – Analytics for EMEA
Jul 25 2011 // A.M. Best Co. announced that Stefan Holzberger has joined A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited as managing director, analytics. He will be based in London and will report directly to Roger Sellek, CEO –...
Ratings: Intrepid, John Deere, So. Carolina, Arkansas & Louisiana Farm Bureaus
Jun 30 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Michigan-based Intrepid Insurance Company, both with stable outlooks. The ratings...
