Latest AM Best Headlines

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

Ratings Recap: Keystone, Forestry Mutual, Residential Re, National Unity, Dakota

May 12 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A+’ (Superior) from’ B++’ (Good) and the issuer credit ratings (ICRs) to “aa-” from “bbb” of Keystone...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha

May 10 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha (CSI) in Omaha, Neb. The outlook for both ratings is...

P/C Insurers Cautious About Adopting New RMS Hurricane Model

May 10 2011 // Property/casualty insurers appear to be in no rush to adopt a controversial revised catastrophe model that dramatically raises certain estimates of potential hurricane losses in the country. California-based modeling firm...

P/C Insurer Failures in 2010 Unrelated to Catastrophes: A.M Best

May 10 2011 // The majority of the 11 financially impaired property/casualty companies in 2010 got into trouble primarily due to deficient loss reserves and inadequate pricing. None of the 2010 impairments were directly attributable to...

Ratings Roundup: Aviva/Delta Lloyd, Montana Re (cat bonds), Montpelier Re (notes), Arab Orient

May 9 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has commented that the ratings for the UK’s Aviva plc and its subsidiary companies remain unchanged as a result of Aviva’s announcement to sell a portion of its...

Global Reinsurers at ‘Critical’ Point, Says Best’s Report

Apr 26 2011 // A new special report, compiled by A.M. Best, concludes that the string of major catastrophes, a persistent soft market and the near exhaustion of excess reserves have placed global reinsurers at a “critical”...

Ratings: Wilton Re, London General, Cattolica, Arab Re

Apr 22 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A- ‘(Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a” from “a-” for Wilton...

Ratings: Syndicate 1225 (Aegis), Pacific Int’l., Int’l. Energy, Flagstone Re (Africa)

Apr 19 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1225, which is managed by AEGIS...

Best Affirms Flagstone Re’s Ratings; Outlook Revised to Negative

Apr 18 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Flagstone Reassurance Suisse S.A. and Flagstone Alliance Insurance and...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of National Lloyds, American Summit

Apr 14 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Texas-based National Lloyds Insurance Company (National Lloyds) as well as the FSR of A...

A.M. Best Revises Outlook for The Hartford

Apr 12 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb+” of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. A.M. Best also has affirmed the financial...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of W.R. Berkley Group, Subsidiaries

Apr 12 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Berkley Insurance Group, Admiral Insurance Group, Berkley Regional Group and Nautilus...

Ratings: Madison Mutual, Lyndon Property, Great Northwest, Ocean Harbor

Apr 7 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “a” of Illinois-based Madison Mutual...

Ratings Recap: Omega US, Real State, USPlate, Safety

Mar 31 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with negative implications the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Illinois-based Omega US Insurance, Inc., a...

U.S. P/C Insurers’ Results for 2010 Get ‘Mixed Review’ from A.M. Best

Mar 24 2011 // The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry’s financial results for 2010 represented a mixed bag, with some good results and some that are of concern, according to a leading rating organization. A.M. Best Co....

Ratings Recap: Blue Whale Re, Michigan Millers, Constitutional

Mar 10 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of Vermont-based captive Blue Whale Re Ltd., both with stable outlooks. The ratings...

Ratings Roundup: Arab Union, GBG

Mar 10 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has placed under review with negative implications the financial strength rating of ‘B’ (Fair) and issuer credit rating of “bb+” of Syria’s Arab...

Best’s Special Report Analyzes EU’s Solvency II Impact on Ratings

Mar 8 2011 // A report from A.M. Best Co. provides a timely analysis of the fast approaching implementation of the European Commission’s long-awaited Solvency II insurance regulations, which are now scheduled to come into force as...

Ratings Recap: First Hawaii, Cumberland, Seven Seas, Main Street

Mar 3 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of First of Hawaii Group and its members. The outlook for all of the ratings...

Ratings Recap: Eurasia, Energas, Compania Internacional

Mar 1 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has upgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb+” from “bbb” and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘B++’ (Good) of...