Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Unitrin Downgraded by A.M. Best
Nov 25 2002 // A.M. Best Co. downgraded the financial strength ratings of Dallas-based Unitrin Property and Casualty Insurance Group (Unitrin) to “A” (Excellent) from “A+” (Superior) and removed them from under...
W.R. Berkley Corp. Closes Public Offering, Subsidiaries Receive A.M. Best Rating
Nov 25 2002 // W. R. Berkley Corporation has closed its previously announced public offering of 4,715,000 shares of common stock. The number of shares sold includes 615,000 shares sold pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’...
A.M. Best Lowers SCOR Group Ratings to A- (Excellent)
Nov 25 2002 // A.M. Best announced that it has lowered the financial strength rating of French reinsurer SCOR and its subsidiaries from A (Excellent) to A- (Excellent), and will keep all of the group’s ratings under review with...
A.M. Best Affirms Debt Ratings on CNA and Subsidiaries
Nov 22 2002 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed various financial strength ratings on the wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries of CNA Financial Corporation, and the “bbb” debt rating on the parent’s existing...
A.M. Best Lowers Acceptance, American Growers Ratings, NYSE Suspends Shares
Nov 21 2002 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has downgraded the financial strength ratings of Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc.’s two operating subsidiaries, American Growers Insurance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, to...
A.M. Best Affirms Max Re ‘A-‘ (Excellent) Rating
Nov 19 2002 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of Bermuda-based Max Re Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Max Re Capital, with a stable outlook. Best’s report noted that...
A.M. Best: A&E Losses Increase in 2001, Reversing Two-Year Decline
Nov 11 2002 // The property/casualty industry is expected to ultimately incur more than $121 billion in net asbestos and environmental losses, according to the special report, “Largest Increase in A&E Losses to Date Seen in...
A.M. Best Affirms Rating of Royal & SunAlliance USA Pool
Nov 8 2002 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the A- (Excellent) financial strength rating of The Royal & SunAlliance USA Insurance Pool (pool). The outlook remains negative. The U.S. operations are now regarded by A.M. Best as...
R&SA Reports Improved 9 Month Earnings; A.M. Best Affirms ‘A-‘ (Excellent) Rating
Nov 7 2002 // The U.K.’s Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc reported that the Group’s combined operating result was $739 million for the first nine months of 2002, compared to $482 million for the same period in...
Platinum Formally Operational, A.M. Best Assigns ‘A’ (Excellent) Rating
Nov 5 2002 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has assigned an initial financial strength rating of ‘A ‘(Excellent) to the reinsurance subsidiaries of Bermuda-based Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd., the company formed by...
A.M. Best: A&E Losses Increase in 2001, Reversing Two-Year Decline
Nov 4 2002 // The property/casualty industry is expected to ultimately incur more than $121 billion in net asbestos and environmental losses, according to the special report, “Largest Increase in A&E Losses to Date Seen in...
A.M. Best Says Chubb Ratings Unaffected by Pretax Charge to Increase Revenues for 3rdQ Asbestos Liabilities
Oct 31 2002 // A.M. Best Co. stated the financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, (NYSE: CB) (Warren, NJ), the “aa” senior debt ratings of The Chubb Corporation, Chubb Capital...
A.M. Best Reports Med-Mal Crisis Adding to Health Insurer Woes
Oct 30 2002 // Rising medical-malpractice insurance premiums for doctors and hospitals are adding to already budget-busting medical-cost inflation, according to the special report, “The Impact of the Med-Mal Insurance Crisis on...
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings for Mercury Casualty Group
Oct 29 2002 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of A+ (Superior) for the Mercury Casualty Group (Los Angeles). Also, the financial strength ratings of A- (Excellent) of American Mercury Insurance Group (Oklahoma...
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings, Removes State Farm’s Calif., Texas Subsidiaries From Under Review
Oct 28 2002 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of B+ (Very Good) for two separately rated subsidiaries of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm General Insurance Company (both of...
Lloyd’s Syndicate Rating at ‘A-‘
Oct 28 2002 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s syndicate rating of “A-” of Lloyd’s syndicate 1243, which is managed by Euclidian Underwriting Limited, U.K. The outlook is stable. The rating reflects the...
A.M. Best Affirms Rating of Tryg-Baltica Insurance
Oct 25 2002 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the A-(Excellent) financial strength ratings of Denmark’s Tryg-Baltica Insurance, International Insurance Company (TBI), and its London-based subsidiary Tryg-Baltica...
A.M. Best Downgrades FPIC Group Rating
Oct 24 2002 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Very Good) from A- (Excellent) of FPIC Insurance Group Inc. (Jacksonville, Fla.). The rating action applies to the group’s four pool members: First...
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Trenwick Group
Oct 21 2002 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength ratings of Trenwick Group Ltd.’s various operating subsidiaries. Concurrent with these actions, the debt ratings relating to securities issued by various holding...
Ratings Roundup: S&P Lowers Eureko; A.M. Best Lowers Gerling and Trenwick
Oct 21 2002 // Standard & Poor’s has lowered its ratings on the Netherlands-based Eureko insurance group to single-‘A’-plus from double-‘A’-minus, while A.M. Best announced that it has lowered its...
