Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Assigns “a-” Rating to Ameriprise
Nov 17 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of “a-” to Ameriprise Financial, Inc.’s announced issuance of $1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes to be drawn down from the $1.7 billion shelf registration...
A.M. Best Assigns FSR for Darwin Group, Subsidiaries
Nov 16 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned financial strength ratings (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” to the operating companies of Delaware-based Darwin Group Inc. (DGI), which consists of...
A.M. Best Upgrades North Pointe Holdings Rating to B++
Nov 11 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned an issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bb” to North Pointe Holdings Corp. and has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B++ (Very Good) from B+ (Very Good) of its subsidiary,...
Best Downgrades RenRe Ratings; Keeps Under Review/Negative
Nov 4 2005 // A.M. Best Co. followed Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings (See IJ Web site Nov. 3) in downgrading the financial strength ratings (FSR) and debt ratings of the operating subsidiaries of Bermuda-based...
Mississippi Farm Bureau Downgraded by A.M. Best
Nov 4 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B (Fair) from A- (Excellent) of Mississippi Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Jackson, Miss. The rating remains under review with negative...
Best Downgrades FSR for Endurance
Nov 2 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a-” from “a” of Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd....
Best Affirms FSR for Arch Insurance Co. (Europe)
Nov 1 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Arch Insurance Company (Europe) Limited (Arch Europe) (United Kingdom). The outlook for both...
Best Affirms PartnerRe S.A. Ratings
Oct 28 2005 // Along with affirming the parent company’s ratings (See previous article), A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A+†(Superior) and the issuer credit rating of...
Best Removes Allmerica from Under Review; Assigned Stable Outlook
Oct 18 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of the publicly-traded holding...
A.M. Best: P/C Insurers Report Strong Gains for First Half of 2005
Oct 17 2005 // The U.S. property/casualty industry recorded an underwriting profit of $13.2 billion during the first six months of 2005, a substantial gain from the record results posted during the comparable period of 2004, according to...
Quanta Reacts to Best Rating Action; Reports on Strategic Steps Taken
Oct 6 2005 // Bermuda-based Quanta Capital Holdings Ltd., provided the following comments on A.M. Best’s decision to place Quanta Reinsurance Ltd. and its subsidiaries and Quanta Europe Ltd. under review with negative implications...
Best Assigns FSR to East Africa Reinsurance Co.
Oct 4 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of B (Fair) and an issuer credit rating of “bb” to East Africa Reinsurance Company Limited (EARE) (Kenya). The outlook for both ratings is stable. The...
A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Progressive’s N.J. Insurers
Oct 3 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned the financial strength ratings of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings of “aa” to Progressive Garden State Insurance Company, Progressive Freedom Insurance Company and Drive New...
Best Report: Excess & Surplus 2005 – Premium Growth Decreases Amid Softening Market
Sep 26 2005 // In 2004, after growing significantly for three consecutive calendar years, direct premium volume for the surplus lines industry remained relatively flat, according to a special report released by A.M. Best Co. The...
Best Affirms Rating for Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co.
Sep 22 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (WMIC) (Winnipeg), including its branch, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, (United States Branch)...
Best Takes Various Rating Actions in Wake of Katrina
Sep 15 2005 // Due to the evolving effects of Hurricane Katrina, A.M. Best Co. has been aggregating public and private information in order to assess the financial impact it will have on insurers. A.M. Best expects all rated companies...
New Markets
Sep 5 2005 // Employment Practices Liability Program Nuts & Bolts: Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc.’s professional liability division launched an employment practices liability insurance program for small- and...
New Markets
Sep 5 2005 // Hospitality Program Nuts & Bolts: Venture Insurance Programs added “Venture Hospitality,” to its hospitality program to complement its workers’ compensation products. The package is ideally suited...
Alea Group 1st Half Profit Off 47% to $25.9 Million
Sep 1 2005 // The Bermuda-based Alea Group announced that its first half profits suffered a 47 percent decline to $25.9 million, compared to $48.8 million in the same period of 2004, due mainly to total reserve increases of $34.7...
Best: Most Insurers Will Meet Hurricane Katrina’s Financial Commitments
Sep 1 2005 // In response to Hurricane Katrina, A.M. Best Co. has begun to aggregate public and private information in order to assess the financial impact it will have on the global property/casualty insurance and reinsurance...
