Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Ratings Recap: Pro Assurance, AES Global, Alfa Group, ARI Mutual, Springfield
Dec 23 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of ProAssurance Casualty Company, ProAssurance Indemnity Company, Inc....
Best Downgrades Tower Group and Subs Ratings; Under Review/Negative
Dec 23 2013 // Last Friday, A.M. Best Co. downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B (Fair) from B++ (Good) of the pooled and reinsured members of the Tower U.S. Pool. A.M. Best said the downgrade and other related actions take...
Best Affirms CNA Financial and Subs’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Dec 20 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the property/casualty subsidiaries of CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF),...
A.M. Best Special Report: Homeowners Profitability Is an Ongoing Challenge
Dec 16 2013 // Despite the various strategies employed by companies that write the business, homeowners insurance historically has produced volatile underwriting performance, according to A.M. Best. And while strategies to make...
Ratings Recap: Loudun Mutual, Hastings Mutual, Ellington Mutual, American Safety RRG
Dec 13 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating to “a” from “a-” of Virginia-based Loudoun...
Ratings Recap: SAC Re, ZEP-RE, IRB-Brasil, Malaysian Re, Bahrain National
Dec 12 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has commented that the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bermuda-based S.A.C. Re, Ltd. are unchanged and the ratings remain under review...
SCF Arizona and Subsidiaries Assigned A- ‘Excellent’ By A.M. Best
Dec 2 2013 // A.M. Best has assigned SCF Arizona and its wholly-owned subsidiaries an A- (Excellent) XII with a “stable outlook” rating. The company’s ratings are an indication of its “solid risk-adjusted...
Workers’ Compensation Results Improved in 2012
Dec 2 2013 // The workers’ compensation industry’s results improved in 2012. Premiums grew for the second straight year, the combined ratio improved, and claims frequency declined at a faster rate than severity increased,...
10 Things to Know About Pollution Liability
Dec 2 2013 // In 2013, pollution liability news included: a $500 million cleanup plan for N.Y.’s Gowanus Canal; a $47 million cleanup plan for the Ringwood, N.J., Superfund site; a $113 million suit alleging toxicity at the...
Workers’ Compensation Results Improved in 2012
Nov 19 2013 // The workers’ compensation industry’s results improved in 2012. Premiums grew for the second straight year, the combined ratio improved, and claims frequency declined at a faster rate than severity increased,...
Insurers’ Annual Incurred A&E Losses Rose 12% in 2012: A.M. Best
Nov 6 2013 // While generally not a material drag on the U.S. property/casualty industry’s earnings, industry losses from asbestos and environmental (A&E) claims resumed an upward climb in 2012, according to a new A.M. Best...
Ratings Recap: QBE Optima, Aviva (Canada), Syndicate 609, Adamjee
Oct 21 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Puerto Rico-based QBE Optima Insurance Company, both with stable outlooks. The...
A.M. Best, Fitch Explain Recent Downgrades of Tower Group
Oct 16 2013 // Rating agencies have downgraded Tower Group following the insurer’s announcement of loss reserve and goodwill charges in excess of what was expected. Tower has said that the company’s board of directors is...
Best Report: European Insurers See Improvements; Challenges Remain
Oct 15 2013 // European non-life and life insurers “are benefitting from a more stable economic environment, although they continue to adjust product offerings and adapt reinsurance purchasing in response to the low-yield...
Ratings Recap: Sirius, Sunderland Marine, Flagstone Re, Atradius, AmerInst
Oct 9 2013 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Sweden’s Sirius International...
Surplus Lines Took Hit from Sandy in 2012 But Appears Back on Track in 2013
Sep 23 2013 // Surplus lines insurers in 2012 posted one of their worst years overall as their underwriting performance fell below that of the total property/casualty (P/C) industry for the first time in more than a decade. Much of the...
Good Times in Surplus Lines
Sep 23 2013 // Wholesalers Thrive Amid Change The surplus lines industry is letting the good times roll. Well, not exactly. But times are good and getting better for wholesalers and insurers doing business in the specialty insurance...
Ratings Recap: Emirates, BMO Re, United, Oman Insurance, China Taiping (NZ)
Sep 18 2013 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of United Arab Emirates-based Emirates Insurance Company...
Property Losses Rose for U.S. Captives in 2012: A.M. Best
Aug 12 2013 // Captive insurance companies tightened margins and used capital more efficiently in 2012, according to research by ratings firm A.M. Best Co. Among A.M. Best’s captive composite, the loss and loss adjustment expense...
Meadowbrook Insurance Looking for ‘A-Rated’ Partner After Downgrade
Aug 5 2013 // Following a downgrade of its financial strength ratings (FSR) to “B++” from “A-” by A.M. Best Co. on Friday, Meadowbrook Insurance Group announced that it will seek to make arrangements with an...
