Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Comments on CastlePoint, Hermitage Deal
Aug 28 2008 // A.M. Best Co. said that all of the ratings and the under review with negative implications status of CastlePoint Insurance Company (CPIC), Bermuda-based CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Limited (CPRe) and CastlePoint...
Ratings: MAPFRE RE, Novae, Syndicate 2007, Infrassure, Glacier Re, CLICO
Aug 22 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa-” of Spain’s MAPFRE RE, Compania de Reaseguros, S.A. with a stable...
Ratings Recap: Allianz (UK), Generali (France), Generali (Germany), BEST Re
Aug 21 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa” of UK-based Allianz Insurance plc (AZI) with a stable outlook. Best stated:...
Business Moves
Aug 21 2008 // Chicago’s Specialty Underwriters, Hallmark Financial Chicago-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. (SUAI) announced it has responded to a letter, dated July 1, 2008, from Hallmark Financial Services Inc....
State Ranking In Number of Events
Aug 21 2008 // F5 Tornado damage in Parkersburg, Iowa, May 25, 2008. Tornado damage, Windsor, Colo. Prior to 1990, the average number of tornadoes per year in the Continental US was 772. In the period from 1990 through 2007, the average...
New Markets
Aug 21 2008 // New Markets 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. Builders Risk and Affiliated...
Ratings Roundup: SALAMA, MBIA/Ambac (Chile), Misr, SJ China, Starbound, Great American
Aug 18 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of SALAMA Islamic Arab Insurance Company (P.S.C.), which is based in the...
U.S. Insurers’ Exposure to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Manageable
Aug 18 2008 // The U.S. insurance industry’s exposure to securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that aid liquidity in the mortgage market, is substantial for a handful of...
A.M. Best Rates Florida-based PURE Group of Insurance Companies
Aug 8 2008 // A.M. Best Co. assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” to The PURE Group of Insurance Companies and its members: Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange and...
Best Puts Tower Group ‘Under Review with Negative Implications’
Aug 6 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Tower Group Companies and its members, Tower Insurance Company of New York and...
Best Sees Growing Interest for Euro-Captives’ Ratings
Aug 5 2008 // A.M. Best Co. reported that it is “seeing a growing interest in financial strength ratings (FSR) for captives and other alternative market vehicles in the European market.” The vehicles are already “one...
New Markets
Aug 4 2008 // 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. Personal Umbrella – Hard-To-Place...
A.M. Best: Med-Mal Leads Captives’ Premium Decline
Jul 28 2008 // Falling medical malpractice premiums led to a 15 percent drop in net premiums written between 2006 and 2007 for a composite of captive insurance companies, but captives overall benefited from favorable underwriting...
Business Moves
Jul 21 2008 // Chicago’s Specialty Underwriters, Hallmark Financial Chicago-based Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc. (SUAI) announced it has responded to a letter, dated July 1, 2008, from Hallmark Financial Services Inc....
Midwest States High on List for Numbers of Tornadoes
Jul 21 2008 // While a rural area to the northeast of Denver, Colo., tops the nation when it comes to metropolitan areas most prone to tornadoes, Texas leads the states in the average total number of tornadoes per year in the continental...
Ratings Recap: White Mountain Insurance Gets an ‘A’
Jul 15 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-“to White Mountain Insurance Co. of Burlington, Vermont. The outlook assigned to both ratings is...
Ratings Recap: Kingsway Financial Downgraded
Jul 15 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the issuer credit ratings to “bb-” from “bb” of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. of Ontario and Kingsway America Inc. in Illinois. Concurrently, A.M. Best has downgraded...
A.M. Best: Few Companies Excel at Managing Through Market Cycles
Jul 15 2008 // The findings from A.M. Best Co.’s cycle management study show just how difficult it is for property/casualty companies to surpass the performance of their peers on a consistent, long-term basis. Only 14 percent of...
A.M. Best Affirms ‘A’ Rating of Lloyd’s
Jul 14 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Reinsurance Co. (China) Limited. A.M. Best said it...
New Markets
Jul 7 2008 // 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. International Energy Package Market Detail:...
