Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001 ‘A’ Ratings
Nov 24 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed its “A” (Excellent) Syndicate Rating and the issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001, which is managed by Amlin Underwriting Limited...
Best Assigns FSR to Wellington Specialty
Nov 24 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned an initial financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Wellington Specialty Insurance Company (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (Wellington Specialty), a...
Best Affirms Ratings of Lloyd’s Syndicate 510
Nov 19 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed its Syndicate Rating of “A” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 510, which is managed by the U.K.-based R J...
Best Study Finds P/C Industry “Well Capitalized;” 21.8% Increase in Surplus
Nov 19 2004 // A special report released by A.M. Best Co. cites “vastly improved operating earnings” recorded in 2003 and a considerable boost from unrealized capital gains, as fueling a 21.8 percent increase in the U.S....
Best: No Ratings Changes from Finite Reinsurance Probe
Nov 19 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has released a statement indicating that it “does not anticipate the re-evaluation of ratings as a result of the increased scrutiny of finite reinsurance transactions by regulators and other interested...
Rated Self-Insurance Pools Outperform Commercial Insurers and Captives, A.M. Best Study Shows
Nov 18 2004 // Self-insurance pools interactively rated by A.M. Best Co. bear out the effectiveness of the stringent entrance requirements of members, focused loss-mitigation activities, and ownership interest in both the loss exposure...
Multi-State, $120M Agreement with UnumProvident Requires Reassessing Claims Back to 1997
Nov 18 2004 // A multi-state settlement with UnumProvident Corp. over its disputed handling of disability claims would cost the firm more than $120 million to comply and require it to review more than seven years of claims. It also calls...
Best Upgrades FSR Ratings of Sierra Health Services
Nov 17 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Very Good) from B+ (Very Good) of Sierra Health Services Inc.’s core HMO subsidiaries, Health Plan of Nevada Inc. (both of Las Vegas, Nev.), and its...
A.M. Best Places Vesta Group Ratings Under Review with Negative Implications
Nov 11 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating of B (Fair) of the property/casualty affiliates of Alabama-based Vesta Insurance Group Inc. (Vesta) under review with negative implications. A.M. Best has also...
A.M. Best Upgrades Rating for Nonprofits’ Insurance Alliance of California
Nov 4 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) of Nonprofits’ Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC). The rating outlook is stable. According to Best, the rating...
Best Affirms Ratings of India’s GIC and New India
Oct 27 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed its ratings on two Indian insurers – General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), the country’s huge state-owned general insurer, and New India Assurance Company...
A.M. Best: Cycle Management Key to Reinsurance Industry Financial Strength
Oct 22 2004 // The reinsurance industry is facing a key test from the 2005 renewal season in terms of how it reacts in practice to pricing pressure from cedents, according to A.M. Best Co.. While the material levels of catastrophe losses...
A.M. Best Reassigns FSR for Kingsway Subs
Oct 22 2004 // Toronto-based Kingsway Financial Services Inc. announced that A.M. Best has reaffirmed the financial strength ratings of its subsidiaries. A.M. Best further commented that the affirmation of the ratings is due to Kingsway...
Best Reacts to Allstate Floridian’s Capital Management Efforts Following Hurricanes
Oct 18 2004 // A.M. Best Co. reported this week that it acknowledges Allstate Floridian Insurance Group’s (Allstate Floridian) (Northbrook, Ill.) capital management efforts following Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and...
A.M. Best Affirms FSR for Florida Farm Bureau Group
Oct 18 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) of the Florida Farm Bureau Group. The rating applies to Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company and its fully reinsured subsidiary, Florida...
Best Assigns Debt Rating to Society of Lloyd’s Subordinated Notes
Oct 13 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a “bbb+” debt rating to the forthcoming dated Subordinated Notes to be issued by the Society of Lloyd’s (United Kingdom). At the same time, A.M. Best has assigned an issuer...
A.M. Best Places Rating of Nationwide Under Review
Oct 4 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the A- (Excellent) financial strength rating of Nationwide Insurance Company of Florida (NICOF) under review with negative implications. This rating action has been taken as a result of anticipated...
Best Announces Rating Actions on QBE Group
Sep 21 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has assigned an issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb+” to Australia’s QBE Insurance Group Limited, the non-operating holding company of the QBE group of companies. Best also...
Pilgrim Insurance Lands Excellent Mark from Best
Sep 21 2004 // Pilgrim Insurance, a unit of The Plymouth Rock Group of Companies, announced receipt of an initial rating of A-/ Excellent from A.M. Best. Pilgrim, a business process outsourcer for Massachusetts auto insurance, has...
Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 382 ‘A’ Rating
Sep 17 2004 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed its Syndicate Rating of “A” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 382, which is managed by the U.K.’s...
