Latest AM Best Headlines
All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Affirms Lloyd’s ‘A’ Ratings
Jul 14 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Reinsurance Company (China)...
A.M. Best: P/C Industry’s Earnings Down 87% in Q1
Jul 9 2009 // The U.S. property/casualty industry’s net income fell 87 percent to $1.2 billion in the first three months of 2009 according to A.M. Best. “The year-over-year decline in earnings was due primarily to the severe...
Ratings Recap: Argus, Leadway, Scandinavia
Jul 8 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and assigned issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” to Argus Group Holdings Limited...
New Markets
Jul 6 2009 // 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. Fire & Water Restoration...
Employers Direct Stops Writing Workers’ Comp Insurance in California
Jul 1 2009 // Citing the strain of escalating medical costs on the workers’ compensation system, increasingly intense price competition, and the uncertainty over the sustainability of the 2003-2004 legislative reforms due to...
Ratings Roundup: CastlePoint, Doctors, Meadowbrook
Jun 29 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to CastlePoint Florida Insurance Company with stable outlooks. “CFIC is a newly...
Ratings: Argo Re, Heddington, La Colonial, Trinidad & Tobago, Lancashire, Brit
Jun 25 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Bermuda-based Argo Re Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiaries. Best also affirmed the ICR...
Ratings Roundup: Plymouth Rock, American Sterling, Mercer, Iron Horse, Agrinational, Intrepid
Jun 25 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Plymouth Rock Assurance Group...
Ratings Recap: Continental Re, Best Meridian, Al Fajer, Caisse Centrale Re
Jun 22 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B’ (Fair) and issuer credit rating of “bb+” of Nigeria’s Continental Reinsurance Plc, both with stable outlooks. “The ratings...
Ratings Recap: Argus, Universal No. Am., DTRIC, Knights of Columbus
Jun 22 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘D’ (Poor) from ‘C-‘ (Weak) and issuer credit rating to “c” from “ccc-” of Florida-based Argus Fire &...
A.M. Best Lower Outlook for Boston’s Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp.
Jun 19 2009 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to negative for Boston-based insurer Plymouth Rock Assurance Group. Despite the outlook downgrade, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit...
A.M. Best Downgrades State Farm Florida; Outlook Negative
Jun 18 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B (Fair) from B+ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “bb” from “bbb-” of State Farm Florida Insurance Co. The rating agency’s...
Ratings: Everest Re (Ireland), Bosna Re, Peace Hills, Farmers (NZ), Swiss Re (debt), Optimum
Jun 18 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘A+’ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings to Everest Reinsurance Co. (Ireland) Ltd. S&P also said the outlook on Everest Re...
Florida’s Argus Insurance Downgraded by A.M. Best
Jun 18 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to D (Poor) from C- (Weak) and issuer credit rating to “c” from “ccc-” of Argus Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. of North Miami Beach,...
New Markets
Jun 15 2009 // 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. Contractors General Liability Market...
Ratings Recap: AXA Art, National Interstate, ProMutual, Clearwater
Jun 10 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of AXA Art Insurance Corporation, which is based in New York City. The outlook for both...
Ratings: US Liability, Commercial Casualty, Stonetrust, Continental American, Prime Group, American Agri
Jun 8 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A++’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa+” of United States Liability Insurance Group and its members. The outlook for all of the...
Ratings: Guardian, Golden Bear, ARIC, SUIC, First American, Seminole
Jun 5 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb+” of Guardian Insurance Company,...
Ratings: Allianz (Italy), Hatherley, Jamaica, China Ins. (Singapore), Arab Orient
Jun 2 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of Allianz S.p.A. (Italy), both with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect the...
A.M. Best Concerned Over Insurers’ Exposure to the Florida Hurricane Fund
Jun 1 2009 // Based on the recently revised projected claims-paying capacity of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF), rating agency A.M. Best has updated its treatment of reinsurance provided to rated entities from this...
