Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
A.M. Best: New Regulations, Market Conditions and Financial Crisis Wreak Havoc on Workers’ Comp Line
Sep 21 2009 // Challenging market conditions, the financial crisis and the recession drove profitability downward for the U.S. workers’ compensation market in 2008. Changing regulatory conditions and reforms have also impacted the...
New Markets
Sep 21 2009 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Misc. Medical Malpractice Market Detail:...
Ratings Recap: Grupo Nacional, BEST RE, Triple-S, Arab Re, Int’l. Energy, Asian Re
Sep 17 2009 // A. M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Mexico’s Grupo Nacional...
Ratings Recap: Lonpac, Tenet, Zurich (Notes), Generali (Notes)
Sep 15 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Malaysia’s Lonpac Insurance Bhd, both with stable outlooks. “The...
Ratings Roundup: Ind. Mutual Fire, HM Casualty, Constitution
Sep 15 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Illinois-based Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company, both with stable outlooks....
Ratings Recap: Berkley (Notes), Integon/Maiden, American Southern, Odyssey Re, Westward
Sep 11 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘BBB+’ senior debt rating on W.R. Berkley Corp.’s proposed issue of approximately $300 million senior unsecured notes, which are due in 2019....
A.M. Best: Workers’ Comp – How Bad Will It Get?
Sep 8 2009 // Challenging market conditions, the financial crisis and the recession drove profitability downward for the U.S. workers’ compensation market in 2008, and A.M. Best Co. expects the impact to linger through 2009 and...
Ratings Recap: Dah Sing, Everest Re, Omnium, First Takaful, TATIL
Sep 4 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to Bermuda-based Dah Sing Insurance Company Limited (DSI) with stable outlooks. “The...
Ratings: Syndicate 2003 (Catlin), La Colonial, United, Arch, Ballantyne Re
Sep 2 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 2003, which is managed by Catlin Underwriting Agency...
Ratings Recap: Western National, Westminster, Carolina Casualty, MedPro, Tower Hill
Sep 2 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings to “a” from “a-” of Western National Insurance...
A.M. Best: Reinsurers Stay Afloat In Sinking Economy
Aug 31 2009 // Two years into the global financial crisis, global reinsurers’ performance to date could be counted as an achievement, given the state of the financial services industry and the economy, says A.M. Best. The...
Florida’s Tower Hill Insurance Downgraded by A.M. Best; Tower Hill Responds
Aug 27 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) to D (Poor) from B (Fair) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “c” from “bb” of Tower Hill Preferred Insurance Co., Tower Hill Prime...
S&P, A.M. Best Rate Fairfax Financial’s Debt Issue
Aug 18 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and A.M. Best Co. have both assigned ratings to the C$400 million (US $368 million) 7.5 percent senior unsecured fixed rate notes due 2019 to be issued by Fairfax Financial...
New Markets
Aug 3 2009 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Vacant Property Market Detail: American...
New Markets
Jul 20 2009 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Nursing Homes/Assisted Living...
Employers Direct Stops Writing Workers’ Comp Insurance in California
Jul 20 2009 // Citing the strain of escalating medical costs on the workers’ compensation system, increasingly intense price competition, and the uncertainty over the sustainability of the 2003-2004 legislative reforms due to...
Property/Casualty Industry’s Earnings Down 87% in Q1
Jul 20 2009 // The U.S. property/casualty industry’s net income fell 87 percent to $1.2 billion in the first three months of 2009, according to A.M. Best. “The year-over-year decline in earnings was due primarily to the...
Ratings: Ocaso, HSB Engineering, Accident & General, Consumer Services, Royal Bank of Canada
Jul 16 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Spain’s Ocaso, S.A. Seguros y Reaseguros, both with stable outlooks....
Best Affirms Lloyd’s ‘A’ Ratings
Jul 14 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Reinsurance Company (China)...
A.M. Best: P/C Industry’s Earnings Down 87% in Q1
Jul 9 2009 // The U.S. property/casualty industry’s net income fell 87 percent to $1.2 billion in the first three months of 2009 according to A.M. Best. “The year-over-year decline in earnings was due primarily to the severe...
